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New approach to protein misfolding may lead to novel therapies for a number of diseases

In an encouraging new development, a team led by Scripps Research Institute scientists has restored partial function to lung cells collected from patients with cystic fibrosis. While there is still much work to be done before the therapy can be tested in humans, the discovery opens the door to a new class of therapies for this and a host of other chronic diseases.

7 Dec 2009

Dabigatran etexilate offers effective therapy to prevent recurrent VTE

Results from the landmark RE-COVER(TM) study were presented today at the American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting and published online in the New England Journal of Medicine.

6 Dec 2009

New treatment options for leukemia and myeloproliferative disorders introduced

Leukemia and myeloproliferative disorders are serious and often deadly blood cancers. Research presented today at the 51st Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology introduces potential new treatment options and improved diagnostic methods for patients suffering from acute promyelocytic leukemia, chronic myeloid leukemia, infant acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and myelofibrosis that are based on a better understanding of the underlying genetic causes of these conditions.

6 Dec 2009

Critical enzyme activity provides new insight into heart disease mechanisms

Using a new mathematical model of heart cells, University of Iowa investigators have shown how activation of a critical enzyme, calmodulin kinase II (CaM kinase), disrupts the electrical activity of heart cells.

5 Dec 2009

FDA approves Zyprexa in tablet form for schizophrenia and manic treatment

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today approved Zyprexa® (olanzapine) in tablet form as an option for the treatment of schizophrenia and manic or mixed episodes associated with bipolar I disorder in adolescents aged 13-17 years old.

4 Dec 2009

Researchers discover mechanism that explains how chromosomal translocations are not random

Researchers at the UC San Diego School of Medicine have pinpointed a mechanism that may help explain how chromosomal translocations - the supposedly random shuffling of large chunks of DNA that frequently lead to cancer - aren't so random after all. They have developed a model of such chromosomal mix-ups in prostate cancer which indicates that the male sex hormone (androgen) receptor unexpectedly plays a key role in driving specific translocations in the development of cancer.

4 Dec 2009

New step in the proofreading process that helps maintain accuracy of DNA replication identified

Wayne State researchers have for the first time observed the movement of a single molecule of DNA polymerase as it incorporates nucleotides one by one. More significantly, they have identified a previously unknown step that they speculate is part of the proofreading process known to prevent the polymerase from producing cancer-causing mutations.

4 Dec 2009

Protein plays a key role in cancer and DNA repair

A protein that plays a key role in copying DNA also plays a vital role in repairing breaks in it, UC Davis scientists have found. The work is helping researchers understand how cancer cells can resist radiation and chemotherapy, as well as how cells become cancerous in the first place.

4 Dec 2009

Discovery of antibiotic molecule may lead to the development of potent antibacterial drugs

An antibiotic that binds to a well-established target in a novel and unexpected way could be the inspiration for designing new, more potent antibacterial drugs.

4 Dec 2009

Lunasin may have important health benefits, two new studies report

Two new University of Illinois studies report that lunasin, a soy peptide often discarded in the waste streams of soy-processing plants, may have important health benefits that include fighting leukemia and blocking the inflammation that accompanies such chronic health conditions as diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.

3 Dec 2009

NHLBI awards new federal grant to improve the quality of stored transfusion blood

A new, $2.8 million, four-year federal grant will support researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and their collaborators at Wake Forest University as they study why the quality of stored transfusion blood degrades over time and how to address the problem.

3 Dec 2009

Researchers discover ability of stem cells in brain cancer glioma to resist radiation therapy

Duke University Medical Center researchers have figured out how stem cells in the malignant brain cancer glioma may be better able to resist radiation therapy. And using a drug to block a particular signaling pathway in these cancer stem cells, they were able to kill many more glioma cells with radiation in a laboratory experiment.

2 Dec 2009

Over twenty new drug metabolism assays launched by Absorption Systems

Absorption Systems, a leader in drug safety and ADMET (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicity) testing, today announced the introduction of a more complete series of drug metabolism assays designed to support the pharmaceutical R&D process, from early-stage discovery through late-stage clinical development.

2 Dec 2009

New preventive screening packages for heart disease

HealthYes!®, a leading mobile medical screening provider, is offering several new preventive screenings directly focused on heart disease. The new tests include: a six-lead electrocardiogram (EKG), cholesterol finger-stick, and 10-year Framingham Cardiac Risk Score as well as diabetes and liver function testing.

2 Dec 2009

Study identifies genetic link between vitamin D and heart disease

Previous studies have shown a link between low vitamin D status and heart disease. Now a new study shows that patients with high blood pressure who possess a gene variant that affects an enzyme critical to normal vitamin D activation are twice as likely as those without the variant to have congestive heart failure.

2 Dec 2009

Bonn scientists discover a promising new approach to combat obesity

Brown adipose tissue is different from white fat pads. It contains loads of mitochondria, miniature power stations which among other things can 'burn' fat. In doing this, they normally generate a voltage similar to that of a battery, which then provides energy for cellular processes.

1 Dec 2009

Missouri scientists discover aspirin and Tylenol can inhibit vaccine efficacy

With flu season in full swing and the threat of H1N1 looming, demand for vaccines is at an all-time high. Although those vaccines are expected to be effective, University of Missouri researchers have found further evidence that some over-the-counter drugs, such as aspirin and Tylenol, that inhibit certain enzymes could impact the effectiveness of vaccines.

1 Dec 2009

Positive results from Ardea Biosciences' ongoing drug-drug interaction study of RDEA594 and febuxostat

Ardea Biosciences, Inc. announced positive results from the first dosing group of an ongoing drug-drug interaction and pharmacodynamic study of RDEA594, its lead product candidate for the treatment of hyperuricemia and gout, and febuxostat (Uloric®, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited; Adenuric®, Ipsen). This

1 Dec 2009

Pfizer, Protalix team up to develop and market plant-based enzyme for Gaucher’s disease treatment

Pfizer and Protalix (NYSE-Amex: PLX) today announced that they have entered into an agreement to develop and commercialize taliglucerase alfa, a plant-cell expressed form of glucocerebrosidase (GCD) in development for the potential treatment of Gaucher’s disease.

1 Dec 2009

Scientists provide the first comprehensive picture of minimal cell

What are the bare essentials of life, the indispensable ingredients required to produce a cell that can survive on its own? Can we describe the molecular anatomy of a cell, and understand how an entire organism functions as a system? These are just some of the questions that scientists in a partnership between the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Heidelberg, Germany, and the Centre de Regulacio Genòmica (CRG) in Barcelona, Spain, set out to address.

28 Nov 2009

Enzyme News and Research

New approach to protein misfolding may lead to novel therapies for a number of diseases

Dabigatran etexilate offers effective therapy to prevent recurrent VTE

New treatment options for leukemia and myeloproliferative disorders introduced

Critical enzyme activity provides new insight into heart disease mechanisms

FDA approves Zyprexa in tablet form for schizophrenia and manic treatment

Researchers discover mechanism that explains how chromosomal translocations are not random

New step in the proofreading process that helps maintain accuracy of DNA replication identified

Protein plays a key role in cancer and DNA repair

Discovery of antibiotic molecule may lead to the development of potent antibacterial drugs

Lunasin may have important health benefits, two new studies report

NHLBI awards new federal grant to improve the quality of stored transfusion blood

Researchers discover ability of stem cells in brain cancer glioma to resist radiation therapy

Over twenty new drug metabolism assays launched by Absorption Systems

New preventive screening packages for heart disease

Study identifies genetic link between vitamin D and heart disease

Bonn scientists discover a promising new approach to combat obesity

Missouri scientists discover aspirin and Tylenol can inhibit vaccine efficacy

Positive results from Ardea Biosciences' ongoing drug-drug interaction study of RDEA594 and febuxostat

Pfizer, Protalix team up to develop and market plant-based enzyme for Gaucher’s disease treatment

Scientists provide the first comprehensive picture of minimal cell

Understanding the DNA Damage Response in Innate Immunity eBook

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