Bacteria beware: Researchers have a natural sidekick that may resolve the antibiotic-resistant bacteria dilemma

Mice infected with Escherichia coli (E. coli) or Staphylococcus aureus(S. aureus) bacteria were given molecules called specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs) along with antibiotics. SPMs are naturally found in our bodies, and are responsible for mediating anti-inflammatory responses and resolve inflammation. An anti-inflammatory response is the body's attempt to protect itself from infectious agents and initiate the healing process.

The researchers found that specific types of SPM molecules, called resolvins and protectins, were key in the anti-inflammatory response to limit tissue damage by stimulating the body's white blood cells to contain, kill and clear the bacteria.

Administered with antibiotics, resolvins and protectins heightened immune response by commanding white blood cells to attack and engulf the bacteria, thereby quickly reducing the amount of bacteria in the blood and tissues.

RvD5-a type of resolvin-in particular was also helpful in regulating fever caused by E.coli, as well as counter-regulating genes responsible for mounting excess inflammation associated with infections; hence, limiting the collateral damage to the body while fighting infection.

Serhan and colleagues are the first to demonstrate RvD5, as well as its actions against bacterial invasion. The BWH team, collaborating with Fredrik Bäckhed, PhD of the Sahlgrenska Center for Cardiovascular and Metabolic Research in Sweden, found that germ-free animals produce high levels of resolvins.

Ref : http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v484/n7395/full/nature11042.html

Bacteria beware: Researchers have a natural sidekick that may resolve the antibiotic-resistant bacteria dilemma

Eating more berries may reduce cognitive decline in the elderly

In continuation of my update on berries

Eating more berries may reduce cognitive decline in the elderly: Blueberries and strawberries, which are high in flavonoids, appear to reduce cognitive decline in older adults according to a new study. The study results suggest that cognitive aging could be delayed by up to 2.5 years in elderly who consume greater amounts of the flavonoid-rich berries.

Mystery of Bacterial Growth and Resistance Resolved ?

In continuation of my update on the mechanism of bacterial resistance...

Scientists at The Scripps Research Institute have unraveled a complex chemical pathway that enables bacteria to form clusters called biofilms. Such improved understanding might eventually aid the development of new treatments targeting biofilms, which are involved in a wide variety of human infections and help bacteria resist antibiotics. 

Biofilm formation is a critical phenomenon that occurs when bacterial cells adhere to each other and to surfaces, at times as part of their growth stage and at other times to gird against attack. In such aggregations, cells on the outside of a biofilm might still be susceptible to natural or pharmaceutical antibiotics, but the interior cells are relatively protected. This can make them difficult to kill using conventional treatments.

Past research had also revealed that nitric oxide is involved in influencing bacterial biofilm formation. Nitric oxide in sufficient quantity is toxic to bacteria, so it's logical that nitric oxide would trigger bacteria to enter the safety huddle of a biofilm. But nobody knew precisely how. In the new study, the scientists set out to find what happens after the nitric oxide trigger is pulled. "The whole project was really a detective story in a way," said Plate.

To learn more, the researchers used a technique called phosphotransfer profiling. This involved activating the histidine kinase and then allowing them to react separately with about 20 potential targets. Those targets that the histidine kinase rapidly transferred phosphates to had to be part of the signaling pathway.

"It's a neat method that we used to get an answer that was in fact very surprising," said Plate. 

The experiments revealed that the histidine kinase phosphorylated three proteins called response regulators that work together to control biofilm formation for the project's primary study species, the bacterium Shewanella oneidensis, which is found in lake sediments.

Further work showed that each regulator plays a complementary role, making for an unusually complex system. One regulator activates gene expression, another controls the activity of an enzyme producing cyclic diguanosine monophosphate, an important bacterial messenger molecule that is critical in biofilm formation, and the third tunes the degree of activity of the second.

Since other bacterial species use the same chemical pathway uncovered in this study, the findings pave the way to further explore the potential for pharmaceutical application. As one example, researchers might be able to block biofilm formation with chemicals that interrupt the activity of one of the components of this nitric oxide cascade.

Ref : http://www.scripps.edu/news/press/2012/20120426marletta.html

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1097276512002602

Ranbaxy Marks World Malaria Day by Unveiling "Indigenously" Developed Anti-Malaria Drug

Ranbaxy Marks World Malaria Day by Unveiling "Indigenously" Developed Anti-Malaria Drug:

Indian pharmaceutical giant Ranbaxy announced at a conference in New Delhi that it has developed a new "indigenous" anti-malaria drug.

The new drug, called Synriam, which is effective against the deadliest malaria microbe, Plasmodium Falciparum, would be a boon for millions of malaria patients around the globe, said Ranbaxy chief executive and managing director Arun Sawhney.

New drug to tackle body fat problems

Leptin regulates energy homeostasis, fertility, and the immune system, making it an important drug target. However, due to a complete lack of structural data for the obesity receptor (ObR), leptin's mechanism of receptor activation remains poorly understood. Researchers have crystallized the Fab fragment of a leptin-blocking monoclonal antibody (9F8), both in its uncomplexed state and bound to the leptin-binding domain (LBD) of human ObR. They describe the structure of the LBD-9F8 Fab complex and the conformational changes in 9F8 associated with LBD binding. A molecular model of the putative leptin-LBD complex reveals that 9F8 Fab blocks leptin binding through only a small (10%) overlap in their binding sites, and that leptin binding is likely to involve an induced fit mechanism. This crystal structure of the leptin-binding domain of the obesity receptor will facilitate the design of therapeutics to modulate leptin signaling.

Ref : http://www.shef.ac.uk/mediacentre/2012/drug-tackles-fat-problems.html

New drug to tackle body fat problems

Novartis drug Afinitor® approved by FDA as first medication to treat patients with non-cancerous kidney tumors associated with TSC

In continuation of my update on AFINITOR^®(everolimus)...

Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation ("Novartis") announced today that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Afinitor® (everolimus) tablets* for the treatment of adult patients with kidney tumors known as renal angiomyolipomas and tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), who do not require immediate surgery. This marks the first approval of a medical treatment in this patient population......

Media Release...

Ref : http://www.novartisoncology.com/media/press-releases.jsp?id=1606656&year=2012&page=1

Pistachio Intake May Endorse a Valuable Gut Environment

Pistachio Intake May Endorse a Valuable Gut Environment: 

Eating pistachios can help adjust levels of potentially valuable bacteria in the gut, a finding that holds promise for supporting digestive health counsels a preliminary 16-person study. The research, presented as an abstract this week at the Experimental Biology conference, is the first study of pistachios and almonds and their modulating role on the gut microbiota composition.

"Gut microbiota, or the microbial environment in the gastrointestinal tract, provides ...

Re: FDA Approves Votrient for Advanced Soft Tissue Sarcoma...

In continuation of my update on Pazopanib..


U.S. Food and Drug Administration, approved Votrient (pazopanib) to treat patients with advanced soft tissue sarcoma who have previously received chemotherapy. Soft tissue sarcoma is a cancer that begins in the muscle, fat, fibrous tissue, and other tissues.

Votrient is a pill that works by interfering with angiogenesis, the growth of new blood vessels needed for solid tumors to grow and survive.


A rare cancer with many subtypes, soft tissue sarcoma occurs in about 10,000 cases annually in the United States. More than 20 subtypes of sarcoma were included in the clinical trial leading to approval of Votrient. The drug is not approved for patients with adipocytic soft tissue sarcoma and gastrointestinal stromal tumors.

"Soft tissue sarcomas are a diverse group of tumors and the approval of Votrient for this general class of tumors is the first in decades," said Richard Pazdur, M.D., director of the Office of Hematology and Oncology Products in the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. "Drug development for sarcomas has been especially challenging because of the limited number of patients and multiple subtypes of sarcomas."

The safety and effectiveness of Votrient was evaluated in a single clinical study in 369 patients with advanced soft tissue sarcoma who had received prior chemotherapy. Patients were randomly selected to receive Votrient or a placebo. The study was designed to measure the length of time a patient lived without the cancer progressing (progression-free survival). The disease did not progress for a median of 4.6 months for patients receiving Votrient, compared with 1.6 months for those receiving the placebo.

The most common side effects in Votrient-treated patients were fatigue, diarrhea, nausea, weight loss, high blood pressure, decreased appetite, vomiting, tumor and muscle pain, hair color changes, headache, a distorted sense of taste, shortness of breath, and skin discoloration.

Votrient carries a boxed warning alerting patients and health care professionals to the potential risk of liver damage (hepatotoxicity), which can be fatal. Patients should be monitored for liver function and treatment should be discontinued if liver function declines.

Ref : http://www.gsk.com/media/pressreleases/2009/2009_pressrelease_10113.htm

Gabapentin drug helps people to quit cannabis..

We know that, Gabapentin (see structure; brand names Fanatrex, Gabarone, Gralise, Neurontin, Nupentin) is a pharmaceutical drug, specifically a GABA analogue. It was originally developed for the treatment of epilepsy, and currently is also used to relieve neuropathic pain. 

Now Scientists at The Scripps Research Institute have found clinical evidence that the drug gabapentin, currently on the market to treat neuropathic pain and epilepsy, helps people to quit smoking marijuana (cannabis). Unlike traditional addiction treatments, gabapentin targets stress systems in the brain that are activated by drug withdrawal.

In a 12-week trial of 50 treatment-seeking cannabis users, those who took gabapentin used less cannabis, experienced fewer withdrawal symptoms such as sleeplessness, and scored higher on tests of attention, impulse-control, and other cognitive skills, compared to patients who received a placebo. If these results are confirmed by ongoing larger trials, gabapentin could become the first FDA-approved pharmaceutical treatment for cannabis dependence.

"A lot of other drugs have been tested for their ability to decrease cannabis use and withdrawal, but this is the first to show these key effects in a controlled treatment study," said Barbara J. Mason, the Pearson Family Chair and Co-Director of the Pearson Center for Alcoholism and Addiction Research at Scripps Research. "The other nice thing about gabapentin is that it is already widely prescribed, so its safety is less likely to be an issue."

Ref : http://www.nature.com/npp/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/npp201214a.html 

Seeking HIV treatment clues in the neem tree

Seeking HIV treatment clues in the neem tree

Soy protein alleviates symptoms of fatty liver disease, study suggests

In continuation of my update on Soy

Soy protein alleviates symptoms of fatty liver disease, study suggests

Forty-year-old Fourier transform mass spectrometry phasing problem solved

Forty-year-old Fourier transform mass spectrometry phasing problem solved: Scientists have developed a computation which simultaneously doubles the resolution, sensitivity and mass accuracy of Fourier Transform Mass Spectrometry (FTMS) at no extra cost.

Liquorice root found to contain anti-diabetic substance

In continuation of my update on Liquorice roots

Liquorice root found to contain anti-diabetic substance

Omega-3 fatty acids may help to reduce the physical harm caused by smoking

In continuation of my update on Omega-3-fatty acids...

Omega-3 fatty acids may help to reduce the physical harm caused by smoking: Omega-3 fatty acids may help to reduce the physical harm caused by smoking, according to a new study.

Experts share top 5 springtime fruits and vegetables that fight cancer

Experts share top 5 springtime fruits and vegetables that fight cancer: The price of springtime fruits and vegetables seems to increase each year. But when buyers break this expense down to cents, they realize stocking up on these cancer-fighting foods still makes economical sense, say experts from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

EMA CHMP recommends approval of AMAG’s ferumoxytol

EMA CHMP recommends approval of AMAG’s ferumoxytol: AMAG Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has issued a positive opinion for the approval of ferumoxytol, an intravenous (IV) iron therapy, for the treatment of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in adult patients with chronic kidney disease.

More info on Ferumoxytol : http://www.druginformation.com/RxDrugs/F/Ferumoxytol%20Injection.html

Consumption of long-chain omega-3 PUFAs lowers risk of colorectal polyps in women

In continuation of my update on omega fatty acids

Consumption of long-chain omega-3 PUFAs lowers risk of colorectal polyps in women: New research finds that omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) found in seafood (long-chain omega-3s) may reduce the risk of precancerous colorectal polyps in women, enhance the muscular benefits of strength training in older women and improve eye health after corneal surgery.

Natural products isolated from marine mollusks and sponges can reverse multidrug resistance in cancer cells

Oceans are a treasure trove of naturally produced chemical compounds with impressive and varied biological activity. One class of these compounds, the lamellarins, has some members that are cytotoxic, while others are able to reverse multidrug resistance in certain cancer cells. These lamellarins (see below structure) act by inhibiting the so-called P-glycoprotein, which enhances transport of anticancer agents out of cancer cells, thus rendering the cells multidrug resistant.

Now researchers lead by Professor Rob Capon, have set out to determine the structures of a variety of lamellarins and correlate them to the activity of the compounds. As they report in Chemistry—An Asian Journal, the activity is not determined by the core structure of the compounds but rather depends on the exact nature of pendant groups adorning the periphery of the molecule. Those compounds in which many hydroxy (OH) groups had been replaced with methoxy (OCH₃) were able to reverse multidrug resistance in human colon cancer cells, while those featuring a large number of hydroxy groups showed higher cytotoxic activity.

Natural products such as the lamellarins are often valued for their cytotoxic properties for use as anticancer drugs. Capon, however, comments, "Our investigation reaffirms the view that non-cytotoxic natural products can exhibit valuable biological properties that allude to both an ecological advantage and a pharmacological potential....

Ref : http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/asia.201101049/abstract;jsessionid=D96AD6C21A9E2EAF7D966C0743768A2A.d01t03

Coffee's Unique Health Benefits........

In continuation of my update on coffee, 

 

• Coffee is the greatest source of antioxidants in the American diet.3,4 And the good news is that sound scientific studies have found that the common fears about excess coffee consumption are invalid, and higher intake means bigger benefits. 
• An impressive number of studies have shown a strong association between higher consumption of coffee and a significantly reduced risk of most chronic diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and others.
• With over 1,000 phytochemicals, coffee's unparalleled antioxidant punch no doubt plays a role in its protection against disease. But a multitude of direct biological actions on the body are suspected, such as an improvement in intracellular signaling,95,96 which may help prevent cancer, diabetes and more.
• Drinking just one cup of coffee a day - caffeinated or decaffeinated - can decrease the risk of developing diabetes by 13%.24 But at 12 cups a day, the risk of getting diabetes is slashed by 67%.21
• Far from being a risky habit, coffee has now been shown to provide powerful protection against an epidemic of diabetes and a rising tide of other age-related diseases. It's an all-natural and inexpensive elixir - to go!

 While I wanted to compile all the benefits of coffee in one article, I found a detailed article and many interesting ones at  Life Extension Magazine.  

At the same I was impressed with A graphic on coffee- How  Coffee Revolutionized the world !. It gives an idea about how the coffee revolutionized the world since 800 AD to 2012, well done Tony Shin.. 

Neupro Approved by U.S. FDA for Parkinson's Disease and Restless Legs Syndrome

 We know that, Rotigotine (see below structure, Neupro) is a non-ergoline dopamine agonist indicated for the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD) and restless legs syndrome (RLS) in Europe and the United States. It is formulated as a once-daily transdermal patch which provides a slow and constant supply of the drug over the course of 24 hours.

 

Neupro Approved by U.S. FDA for Parkinson's Disease and Restless Legs Syndrome:  UCB announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Neupro (rotigotine transdermal system) for the treatment of the signs and symptoms of advanced stage idiopathic...

Victoza Label Updated to Include Data Showing Superior Efficacy When Compared to Januvia

 In continuation of my update on Liraglutide

Victoza Label Updated to Include Data Showing Superior Efficacy When Compared to Januvia:  Novo Nordisk received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to update the product label for Victoza (liraglutide [rDNA origin] injection) to include data showing superior blood...

Weight loss pill Qnexa wins panel vote and awaits approval

We know that, The combination of the drugs phentermine (see structure-1) and topiramate (structure -2) (trade name Qnexa) is an investigational medication for the treatment ofobesity and related conditions such as type 2 diabetes and has been found to lower blood pressure and cholesterol.  Qnexa is being developed by Vivus, a California pharmaceutical company.  Phentermine is an appetite suppressant and stimulant of the amphetamine andphenethylamine class. Topiramate is an anticonvulsant that has weight loss side effects.

Structure 1

Structure-2

       

Weight loss pill Qnexa wins panel vote and awaits approval: The drug was rejected in a 10-6 vote the first time it came before a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory panel, in 2010, due to safety concerns. However when the medication returned for another review in February, the advisory committee gave it near-unanimous approval (20-2). Because the FDA often follows the advisory panel's advice, Qnexa is likely to get FDA approval, probably by mid-April.

                                                                                                                       

Sucampo announces positive results from lubiprostone phase 3 trial on OBD

We know that, Lubiprostone (rINN, marketed under the trade name Amitiza) is a medication used in the management of chronic idiopathicconstipation and irritable bowel syndrome. It was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for this purpose on 31 January 2006.

Sucampo announces positive results from lubiprostone phase 3 trial on OBD: Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced positive top-line results from an open-label phase 3 clinical trial designed to evaluate the long-term safety and efficacy of lubiprostone in opioid-induced bowel dysfunction (OBD) patients with chronic, non-cancer-related pain.

Metformin may protect against liver cancer

In continuation of my update on Metformin

Metformin may protect against liver cancer: Metformin, a widely used, well-tolerated drug prescribed for patients with diabetes, may protect against liver cancer, according to a new study.

Potential Method to Control Obesity: Red Wine, Fruit Compound Could Help Block Fat Cell Formation

A compound found in red wine, grapes and other fruits, and similar in structure to resveratrol, is able to block cellular processes that allow fat cells to develop, opening a door to a potential method to control obesity, according to a Purdue University study. 

While similar in structure to resveratrol -- the compound found in red wine, grapes and peanuts that is thought to combat cancer, heart disease and neurodegenerative diseases -- piceatannol might be an important weapon against obesity. Resveratrol is converted to piceatannol in humans after consumption.

"Piceatannol (see structure) actually alters the timing of gene expressions, gene functions and insulin action during adipogenesis, the process in which early stage fat cells become mature fat cells," Kim said. "In the presence of piceatannol, you can see delay or complete inhibition of adipogenesis."

Ref : http://www.jbc.org/content/287/14/11566.abstract?sid=709d2cb0-7757-468e-9a5b-4160072e5e24 

Antipsychotic drug, Olanzapine, may be helpful treatment for anorexia nervosa

In continuation of my update on Olanzapine..

Low doses of a commonly used atypical antipsychotic drug improved survival in a mouse model of anorexia nervosa, University of Chicago researchers report this month. The result offers promise for a common and occasionally fatal eating disorder that currently lacks approved drugs for treatment.

Antipsychotic drug may be helpful treatment for anorexia nervosa

Use of common pesticide, imidacloprid, linked to bee colony collapse

We know that, Imidacloprid is a systemic insecticide which acts as an insect neurotoxin and belongs to a class of chemicals called the neonicotinoids which act on the central nervous system of insects with much lower toxicity to mammals. The chemical works by interfering with the transmission of stimuli in the insect nervous system. Specifically, it causes a blockage in a type of neuronal pathway (nicotinergic) that is abundant in insects and not in warm-blooded animals (making the chemical selectively toxic to insects and not warm-blooded animals). This blockage leads to the accumulation of acetylcholine, an important insect neurotransmitter, resulting in the insect's paralysis, and eventually death. It is effective on contact and via stomach action

Use of common pesticide, imidacloprid, linked to bee colony collapse: The likely culprit in sharp worldwide declines in honeybee colonies since 2006 is imidacloprid, one of the most widely used pesticides, according to a new study.

Immunotherapy and Chemotherapy Regimen May Prolong Survival in Advanced Cancers

In continuation of my update on interleukin and retinoic acid

Cancer patients who receive a combination of low-dose interleukin-2 and retinoic acid after conventional therapy seem to live longer than those who don't get the combination. 

Retinoic acid is derived from vitamin A. Interleukin-2, a compound that fortifies the immune system, is approved at high doses to treat "metastatic" melanoma and kidney cancer. Metastatic means that a cancer has spread.

The study showed that "these biological compounds may work at low doses. Bigger doses are not always better," said lead author Dr. Francesco Recchia, director of the oncology department at Civilian Hospital in Avezzano, Italy.

Recchia stumbled upon the possibility of using low-dose interleukin-2 (IL-2) when he switched a patient with metastatic melanoma who didn't tolerate high doses to a lower dose, and the patient had an extended response to the therapy.

This study involved 500 patients who had already responded well to chemotherapy. They had a variety of cancers, including ovarian, lung, colon, stomach, kidney, melanoma, breast and pancreatic.

Immunotherapy and Chemotherapy Regimen May Prolong Survival in Advanced Cancers

Berries, Tea May Cut Men's Odds for Parkinson's: Study

In continuation of my update on the benefits of   berries, apple, tea...

Berries, Tea May Cut Men's Odds for Parkinson's: Study:  - Regularly consumption of food and drink rich in substances called flavonoids, such as berries, apples, tea and red wine, can lower a man's risk of developing Parkinson's disease by 40 percent, new research suggests.

Antipsychotic drug may be helpful treatment for anorexia nervosa

In continuation of my update on Olanzapine...

Antipsychotic drug may be helpful treatment for anorexia nervosa

Cruciferous vegetable intake may boost survival of breast cancer patients

In continuation of my update on Broccoli and cabbage

Researchers with Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center and the Shanghai Cancer Institute in China have discovered a possible link between a diet rich in certain vegetables and a decreased risk for breast cancer.

Corresponding author Jay Fowke, Ph.D., assistant professor of Medicine, said 3,035 women diagnosed with breast cancer were identified through the Shanghai Cancer Registry. They were closely matched with 3,037 women randomly chosen from the general population.

Ref : http://www.vicc.org/news/2008/03/study-tracks-link-between-cancer-vegetables/

Experimental Cholesterol Drug Could Be 'Game Changing'

 Initially, I was reluctant about  "Monoclonal antibody therapy". Recently  there is surge of interest in " human monoclonal antibodies". 

History behind this surge : The idea of a "magic bullet" was first proposed by Paul Ehrlich, who, at the beginning of the 20th century, postulated that, if a compound could be made that selectively targeted against a disease-causing organism, then a toxin for that organism could be delivered along with the agent of selectivity. He and Élie Metchnikoff received the 1908 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine for this work, which led to an effective syphilis treatment by 1910....

Experimental Cholesterol Drug Could Be 'Game Changing': Experimental Cholesterol Drug Could Be 'Game Changing' [St.Joseph News-Press (Mo)] From St. Joseph News-Press (MO) (March 22, 2012) (CNN) -- A new, experimental cholesterol-fighting drug is creating quite a buzz among researchers and other...

FDA Approves First Boniva Generics to Treat Or Prevent Osteoporosis

FDA Approves First Boniva Generics to Treat Or Prevent Osteoporosis: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved the first generic versions of Boniva (ibandronate) tablets, a once-monthly product to treat or prevent osteoporosis in women after

menopause. The most common type of bone disease...

Olaparib Maintenance Therapy in Platinum-Sensitive Relapsed Ovarian Cancer — NEJM

We know that Olaparib, is a experimental chemotherapeutic agent, developed by KuDOS Pharmaceuticals and later by Astra Zeneca, that failed to progress through clinical trials to approval. It is an inhibitor of poly ADP ribose polymerase (PARP), an enzyme involved in DNA repair. It acts against cancers in people with hereditary BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations, which includes many ovarian, breast and prostate  

Olaparib Maintenance Therapy in Platinum-Sensitive Relapsed Ovarian Cancer — NEJM

FDA Approves Intelence (Etravirine) for Pediatric Patients...

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Intelence (etravirine) to be administered in combination with other antiretroviral (ARV) medications for treatment of human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) in treatment-experienced pediatric patients (6 years to <18 years old) who are experiencing virologic failure with HIV-1 strains resistant to a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) and other ARVs.

This approval, which follows FDA priority review of the company’s supplemental New Drug Application, expands the Intelence indication and makes it the only NNRTI indicated for this use in both treatment-experienced children and adults with resistance to an NNRTI and other ARVs. The approval includes a new 25mg dose to allow for weight-based dosing in pediatric patients (6 years to <18 years old and weighing at least 16kg or 35.2 lbs). The 25mg tablet is expected to be available in the first half of May.

Ref : http://www.janssentherapeutics.com/news-center/fda-approves-edurant-rilpivirine-for-use-in-treatment-naive-adults-with-hiv

Paclitaxel drug slows damage and symptoms in (Alzheimer's disease) animal model

A compound,  epothilone D (EpoD) that previously progressed to Phase II clinical trials for cancer treatment slows neurological damage and improves brain function in an animal model of Alzheimer's disease, according to a new study.  Compound is effective in preventing further neurological damage and improving cognitive performance in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The results establish how the drug might be used in early-stage AD patients......

Potential Alzheimer's disease drug slows damage and symptoms in animal model

Healthy lactic acid bacteria in wild honey bees can fight bacterial infections

In continuation of my update on the usefulness of honey...

Healthy lactic acid bacteria in wild honey bees can fight bacterial infections: The stomachs of wild honey bees are full of healthy lactic acid bacteria that can fight bacterial infections in both bees and humans. A collaboration between researchers at three universities in Sweden ¬- Lund University, the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and Karolinska Institutet - has produced findings that could be a step towards solving the problems of both bee deaths and antibiotic resistance...

A New Approach to Faster Anticancer Drug Discovery

A new approach to drug discovery, according to scientists at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine who used the approach to uncover a potential treatment for prostate cancer, using a drug Peruvoside (see below structure) currently marketed for congestive heart failure.  

A New Approach to Faster Anticancer Drug Discovery

Researchers unlock mystery of how an inflammatory molecule is produced in the body

Researchers unlock mystery of how an inflammatory molecule is produced in the body: Cedars-Sinai researchers have unlocked the mystery of how an inflammatory molecule is produced in the body, a discovery they say could lead to advances in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, Type 2 diabetes and numerous other chronic diseases that affect tens of millions of people.

DNDi commences Oxaborole SCYX-7158 Phase I clinical trial for sleeping sickness

DNDi commences Oxaborole SCYX-7158 Phase I clinical trial for sleeping sickness: The Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) has commenced a Phase I clinical trial in healthy adults in Paris, France, to determine the safety and tolerability of a promising oral drug candidate Oxaborole SCYX-7158 (see below structure) , to treat human African trypanosomiasis (HAT, or sleeping sickness) for stage 1 and stage 2 of the disease.

Ref : http://www.dndi.org/press-releases/1169-oxa-phasei.html

Antidepressant, TCP (Trabylcypromine) could help the workings of anticancer drug used in leukemia...

A new study shows that an antidepressant could be crucial in helping cancer treatment drugs reach their full potential.

The study by scientists at the Institute of Cancer Research found that tranylcypromine (TCP - cis and trans iosmers - below structures) – which can be used to treat psychotic depressive states - can make cancer cells vulnerable to the effects of a vitamin A- derivative drug called ATRA (above structure).

Retinoids are a class of chemical compounds related chemically to vitamin A. ATRA is already used successfully to treat a rare form of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), but up until now, has not been effective against other types of the disease. ATRA works by encouraging leukemia cells to mature and die naturally, but the researchers lead by Ar. Arthur Zelent say that the reason many AML patients do not respond to the treatment is because the genes that ATRA normally attacks are switched off by an enzyme called LSD1. The scientists discovered that using TCP to block this 'off switch' could reactivate these genes, making the cancer cells susceptible to ATRA.

The team has already joined forces with the University of Munster in Germany to start a Phase II clinical trial of the drug combination in AML patients. The authors also commented that both the retinoid ATRA and the antidepressant TCP are already available in the UK and off-patent, so these drugs should not be expensive for the health service. 

Ref : http://www.icr.ac.uk/research/new_research_highlights/research_highlights/22625.shtml

New RAGE inhibitor shows promise against Alzheimer's

In continuation on drug discovery for Alzheimer's disease....
New RAGE inhibitor shows promise against Alzheimer's: Researchers have taken another crack at a promising approach to stopping Alzheimer's disease that encountered a major hurdle last year. In research published this week in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, scientists have developed a compound that targets a molecular actor known as RAGE (Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products), which plays a central role in mucking up the brain tissue of people with the disease.

Anti-inflammatory drugs may offer novel treatment for CHD

Anti-inflammatory drugs may offer novel treatment for CHD: A large international study indicates that anti-inflammatory drugs may become a new tool for preventing and treating coronary heart disease (CHD), the leading global cause of death.

H. pylori bacteria associated with elevated levels of HbA1c

In continuation of my update on H.Pylori

H. pylori bacteria associated with elevated levels of HbA1c: A new study by researchers at NYU Langone Medical Center reveals that the presence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) bacteria is associated with elevated levels of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), an important biomarker for blood glucose levels and diabetes.

Prazosin drug shows promise against PTSD-related nightmares

Prazosin drug shows promise against PTSD-related nightmares: Mayo Clinic researchers this week will announce the use of the blood pressure drug prazosin as an effective treatment to curb post- traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)-related nightmares.

Ivabradine could save thousands of heart failure patients

In continuation of my update on Ivabradine

Ivabradine could save thousands of heart failure patients: Researchers behind a major trial of Procoralan believe the pill could save 10,000 lives a year in Britain alone. Ivabradine works by slowing the beating of the heart, helping it to pump blood more efficiently.

Berry fruits help the brain stay healthy in several ways

Berry fruits help the brain stay healthy in several ways: Strong scientific evidence exists that eating blueberries, blackberries, strawberries and other berry fruits has beneficial effects on the brain and may help prevent age-related memory loss and other changes, scientists report.

Experimental Drug Shows Promise Against Cushing's Disease

Experimental Drug Shows Promise Against Cushing's Disease: WEDNESDAY, March 7 -- An experimental drug called pasireotide reduced levels of the "stress hormone" cortisol and improved symptoms in patients with Cushing's disease, a new study found.