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Scientists discover weakness of human louse

Scientists have discovered the human louse's Achilles' heel which could lead to new treatments to rid us of body and head lice infestations.

23 Jun 2010

Phase I/II clinical trials show crizotinib reduces lung cancer tumors

Patients with a specific kind of lung cancer may benefit from a Phase III clinical trial offered by the Moores UCSD Cancer Center. The new drug, crizotinib, under development by Pfizer, showed dramatic results in reducing lung cancer tumors in some patients during Phase I and II clinical trials.

23 Jun 2010

Fructose makes cells mature into fat cells in belly fat, study finds

Fructose, the sugar widely used as high-fructose corn syrup in soft drinks and processed foods, often gets some of the blame for the widespread rise in obesity. Now a laboratory study has found that when fructose is present as children's fat cells mature, it makes more of these cells mature into fat cells in belly fat and less able to respond to insulin in both belly fat and fat located below the skin.

22 Jun 2010

International team obtains genome sequence of human body louse

An international team has obtained the genome sequence of the human body louse (Pediculus humanus humanus), a parasite that feeds on the blood of its host and a vector of pathogens that cause diseases such as epidemic typhus, relapsing fever and trench fever.

22 Jun 2010

Beneficial effects of LifeVantage's Protandim on DMD mouse model published in Journal of Dietary Supplements

LifeVantage Corporation, the maker of Protandim®, a patented, science-based solution to oxidative stress, announced today that a peer-reviewed manuscript was published in the Journal of Dietary Supplements examining the beneficial effects of Protandim® on a mouse model of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), an X-linked inherited disease affecting one in 3,500 males.

22 Jun 2010

Protea Biosciences, Mayoly-Spindler commence Phase I/IIA human clinical trial for new recombinant Lipase

Protea Biosciences, Inc., a leading developer of new technology for pharmaceutical research, announced today that the company, in partnership with Mayoly-Spindler, a European pharmaceutical company, has commenced a Phase I/IIA human clinical trial for a new recombinant Lipase.

22 Jun 2010

Enobia reports positive interim data from ENB-0040 enzyme replacement therapy study for children with HPP

Enobia Pharma today announced positive interim data from a clinical study of ENB-0040, a bone targeted enzyme replacement therapy, under investigation for the treatment of hypophosphatasia (HPP). After 12 weeks of treatment with ENB-0040, children with HPP showed marked improvements in bone mineralization and function including increases in strength, endurance and mobility and reduction in pain. These findings were presented by Dr. Michael Whyte at ENDO 2010, the 92nd Annual Meeting of The Endocrine Society.

22 Jun 2010

EPA honors Merck and Codexis with Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award

Merck and Codexis, Inc. today announced that they have jointly been awarded the annual Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for the development of a novel biocatalytic method for the synthesis of sitagliptin. In addition, a paper co-authored by Merck and Codexis scientists and published online June 17 in the peer-reviewed journal Science, details how an enzyme was systematically customized using Codexis technology to perform the key chemical step in the sitagliptin synthesis process.

22 Jun 2010

Electron cryomicroscopy helps observe molecules in hydrated state close to natural state

Gene expression takes place in two stages: the transcription of DNA to RNA by an enzyme called RNA polymerase, , followed by the translation of this RNA into proteins, whose behaviour affects the characteristics of each individual.

21 Jun 2010

Ostarine increases muscle mass and strength in postmenopausal women: Study

GTx, Inc. announced that Ostarine (GTx-024, formerly MK-2866) increased lean body mass and leg press strength in a head to head study evaluating Ostarine and another selective androgen receptor modulator, MK-3984, in postmenopausal women. The data were presented yesterday at the 2010 Annual Meeting of the Endocrine Society. GTx is developing its lead SARM, Ostarine, for the treatment of cancer induced muscle wasting (cancer cachexia).

21 Jun 2010

Severity of appendicitis can be predicted from blood sample, shows thesis

The symptoms of appendicitis are often diffuse and it can be difficult to obtain an accurate diagnosis early in the course of the disease. It may be possible to predict the severity from a blood sample, and in this way determine the treatment on an individual basis. This is the conclusion of a thesis presented at the University of Gothenburg, sweden.

21 Jun 2010

Investigators discover new way to harness thrombin's anti-blood clotting properties

In research led by a Saint Louis University investigator, molecular biologists have discovered a way to harness the enzyme thrombin's anti-blood clotting properties. The finding opens the door to new medications that will treat diseases related to thrombosis, the presence of blood clots in blood vessels, which is responsible for nearly a third of all deaths in the U.S.

19 Jun 2010

UCSB physicists create microscopic device to help biologists understand protein folding

Physicists at UC Santa Barbara have created a microscopic device to assist biologists in making very fast molecular measurements that aid the understanding of protein folding. This development may help elucidate biological processes associated with diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Since proteins in the body perform different functions according to their shape, the folding process is considered a key area of study.

18 Jun 2010

Trial eases concerns over effects of gamma secretase inhibitors for Alzheimer's disease treatment

The first trial of a new model for testing Alzheimer's treatments has reassured researchers that a promising class of drugs does not exacerbate the disease if treatment is interrupted.

18 Jun 2010

UF administers Lumizyme for late-onset Pompe disease

The first commercially available treatment in the United States for patients with late-onset Pompe disease was administered Wednesday, June 16, at the University of Florida.

18 Jun 2010

VCU researchers discover mechanism that regulates gene expression and growth in melanoma cells

Virginia Commonwealth University researchers have discovered a mechanism by which an enzyme regulates gene expression and growth in melanoma cells, a finding that could someday lead to more effective drugs to attack cancers and make them more treatable.

18 Jun 2010

Possible mechanism identified for how lithium treats bipolar disorder

Lithium has been established for more than 50 years as one of the most effective treatments for manic depression, clinically termed bipolar disorder. However, scientists have never been entirely sure exactly why it is beneficial.

18 Jun 2010

Biological mechanism associated with remission during pregnancy

During pregnancy, many women experience remission of autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis and uveitis. Now, scientists have described a biological mechanism responsible for changes in the immune system that helps to explain the remission.

17 Jun 2010

Study reveals increase of enzyme MAO-A in female brain during immediate postpartum period

Within the first week after giving birth, up to 70 percent of all women experience symptoms of the baby blues. While most women recover quickly, up to 13 percent of all new mothers suffer from symptoms of a clinical-level postpartum depression. Postpartum depression is defined as a major depressive episode starting within 4 weeks after delivery and is a significant public health problem. Postpartum blues represents a major risk factor for developing postpartum depression and severe postpartum blues symptoms can be viewed as a prodromal stage for postpartum depression.

17 Jun 2010

Smokeless tobacco affects normal function of CYP-450 family of enzymes: Report

Far from having adverse effects limited to the mouth, smokeless tobacco affects the normal function of a key family of enzymes found in almost every organ in the body, according to the first report on the topic in ACS' monthly journal Chemical Research in Toxicology. The enzymes play important roles in production of hormones, including the sex hormones estrogen and testosterone; production of cholesterol and vitamin D; and help the body breakdown prescription drugs and potentially toxic substances.

17 Jun 2010

Enzyme News and Research

Scientists discover weakness of human louse

Phase I/II clinical trials show crizotinib reduces lung cancer tumors

Fructose makes cells mature into fat cells in belly fat, study finds

International team obtains genome sequence of human body louse

Beneficial effects of LifeVantage's Protandim on DMD mouse model published in Journal of Dietary Supplements

Protea Biosciences, Mayoly-Spindler commence Phase I/IIA human clinical trial for new recombinant Lipase

Enobia reports positive interim data from ENB-0040 enzyme replacement therapy study for children with HPP

EPA honors Merck and Codexis with Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award

Electron cryomicroscopy helps observe molecules in hydrated state close to natural state

Ostarine increases muscle mass and strength in postmenopausal women: Study

Severity of appendicitis can be predicted from blood sample, shows thesis

Investigators discover new way to harness thrombin's anti-blood clotting properties

UCSB physicists create microscopic device to help biologists understand protein folding

Trial eases concerns over effects of gamma secretase inhibitors for Alzheimer's disease treatment

UF administers Lumizyme for late-onset Pompe disease

VCU researchers discover mechanism that regulates gene expression and growth in melanoma cells

Possible mechanism identified for how lithium treats bipolar disorder

Biological mechanism associated with remission during pregnancy

Study reveals increase of enzyme MAO-A in female brain during immediate postpartum period

Smokeless tobacco affects normal function of CYP-450 family of enzymes: Report

Biochemical Assays for Efficient Hit Prioritization After Screening eBook

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