Toxins News and Research

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Sorrento Therapeutics acquires Concortis Biosystems

Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc. announced today that it has completed its acquisition of Concortis Biosystems, Corp., providing Sorrento with a comprehensive technology platform to create a new generation of homogenous antibody drug conjugates with site-specific toxin conjugation and consistent drug-antibody ratios. With the close of the deal, Sorrento has issued an aggregate of 1,331,978 shares of its common stock to the Concortis shareholders. Based on the closing share price on December 18, 2013, the transaction is valued at $11.3 million.

19 Dec 2013

Women are more susceptible to damaging effects of alcohol than men

Women are more susceptible to the damaging effects of alcohol than men because they are generally smaller in stature and have less body water than men, according to a leading Houston hepatologist.

16 Dec 2013

Transport of bacterial substrates through injectisome observed almost in real time

When attacking body cells, bacteria, such as salmonellae or Yersinia (plague pathogens), inject specific bacterial proteins through hollow, syringe-like structures - called injectisomes - into the host cells. These substances reprogram the cells and can thus overcome their defense. From then on, they can infiltrate the cells unhindered in large numbers, and trigger diseases such as typhus, plague, or cholera.

13 Dec 2013

Study: Electronic cigarettes may involuntarily expose non-users to nicotine

Electronic cigarettes, when used indoors, may involuntarily expose non-users to nicotine, according to a study led by Maciej Goniewicz, PhD, PharmD, of Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) and published by the journal Nicotine and Tobacco Research.

13 Dec 2013

Researchers see links between high levels of perfluorinated compounds in blood and diabetes

Perfluorinated compounds are environmental toxins that are found in fire extinguishing foam and water-repellent textiles and, for example. In a new study, a research team led from Uppsala University has seen links between high levels of perfluorinated compounds in the blood and diabetes.

12 Dec 2013

Scientists discover how lymphotoxin controls production of immunoglobulins in gut

Lymphotoxin is a cytokine, or intercellular messenger, and plays an important role in the immunological balance of the gastrointestinal tract. It regulates the immune system of the digestive tract, which is made up of immune cells, immunoglobulins (antibodies) as well as intestinal bacteria.

10 Dec 2013

‘Flesh-eating’ disease treatments: an interview with Dr. John Crew, Seton Medical Center

Untreated, the mortality probably exceeds 70%. Flesh eating is a description of Toxic Inflammatory Cellulitis which usually starts by bacterial subcutaneous infection followed by freezing in phase II healing which is inflammatory.

9 Dec 2013

New research offers fresh insights to drug designers searching for better pain treatments

In a technical tour de force, UC San Francisco scientists have determined, at near-atomic resolution, the structure of a protein that plays a central role in the perception of pain and heat.

5 Dec 2013

TSRI scientists discover natural mechanism that cells use to protect mitochondria

Scientists at The Scripps Research Institute have discovered a natural mechanism that cells use to protect mitochondria, the tiny but essential "power plants" that provide chemical energy for cells throughout the body. Damage to mitochondria is thought to be a significant factor in common neurodegenerative disorders, cancer and even the aging process. The TSRI researchers' discovery could lead to new methods for protecting mitochondria from such damage, thereby improving human health.

4 Dec 2013

Biotest, EpiVax partner to develop novel, non-immunogenic Factor VIII for hemophilia treatment

Biotest AG, Dreieich, Germany and EpiVax, Inc., Providence, Rhode Island, USA are pleased to announce a new Collaborative Research Agreement. With this collaboration a novel, non-immunogenic Factor VIII should be developed.

3 Dec 2013

Nanosponge vaccine blocks adverse effects of alpha-haemolysin toxin from MRSA

Nanosponges that soak up a dangerous pore-forming toxin produced by MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) could serve as a safe and effective vaccine against this toxin. This "nanosponge vaccine" enabled the immune systems of mice to block the adverse effects of the alpha-haemolysin toxin from MRSA-both within the bloodstream and on the skin. Nanoengineers from the University of California, San Diego described the safety and efficacy of this nanosponge vaccine in the December 1 issue of Nature Nanotechnology.

2 Dec 2013

Viewpoints: Senate should reconsider treaty on protections for people with disabilities; HHS treading wrong way on payments for bone marrow donors

About a year ago the Senate fell five votes short of ratifying an international treaty that would improve protections for the disabled. It was an ignoble spectacle as the opponents rebuffed Bob Dole, a former colleague and disabled veteran, who came to the Senate floor to lobby for it.

26 Nov 2013

PCBs banned by the US 3 decades ago hurt seniors' cognitive performance

Although PCBs have been banned in the United States since 1979, University of Montreal and CHU Sainte-Justine researcher Maryse Bouchard has found that higher levels of the toxin was associated with lower cognitive performance in seniors.

25 Nov 2013

NeutroPhase irrigation therapy and NPWT help treat severe flesh eating and wound infections

NovaBay Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing topical non-antibiotic antimicrobial products, today announced the publication of a scientific paper by Dr. John R. Crew of Seton Medical Center, Daly City, California, describing the first use of adjunctive NeutroPhase irrigation therapy in conjunction with Negative Pressure Wound Therapy to successfully manage the severely-infected wound in the arm of a patient with life-threatening 'flesh-eating' disease.

20 Nov 2013

Advanced cytotoxins help bacteria survive antibiotics treatment

In spite of the fact that the first antibiotics were discovered almost a century ago, infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, encephalitis and meningitis are still serious diseases for humans in the twenty-first century. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that there are more than 8 million new cases of tuberculosis per year on a global scale, and that more than 300,000 of these are due to multidrug-resistant strains that are not only difficult to treat, but are also emerging rapidly in regions such as Eastern Europe.

20 Nov 2013

Pregnant women's proximity to organic compounds impacts risk of heart defects in children

Children's congenital heart defects may be associated with their mothers' exposure to specific mixtures of environmental toxins during pregnancy, according to research presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2013.

18 Nov 2013

Small molecule compound shows significant success in controlling polyomaviruses

A team of scientists reports that a small molecule compound showed significant success in controlling the infectivity and spread of three polyomaviruses in human cell cultures. To date there has been no medicine approved to treat such viruses, which prey on transplant recipients, people with HIV, and others whose immune systems have been weakened.

15 Nov 2013

Identifying 'sensome' of microglia could improve treatments for neurodegenerative disorders

Massachusetts General Hospital investigators have used a new sequencing method to identify a group of genes used by the brain's immune cells - called microglia - to sense pathogenic organisms, toxins or damaged cells that require their response.

15 Nov 2013

Kaiser Permanente to open doors to brand new specialty center in Lone Tree, Colorado

After years of planning, construction and preparation, Kaiser Permanente will open the doors to a brand new specialty center in Lone Tree on December 2nd. This is the largest construction project and the most significant addition to the health plan's brick-and-mortar presence in Colorado in nearly a decade.

15 Nov 2013

Sorrento Therapeutics to acquire San Diego-based Concortis Biosystems

Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc. announced today the entry into a definitive agreement to acquire San Diego-based Concortis Biosystems, Corp. in a deal that provides Sorrento with a comprehensive technology platform for generation of antibody drug conjugates (ADC). Under the terms of the agreement dated November 11, 2013, subject to satisfaction of certain closing conditions, upon closing, Sorrento will issue an aggregate of 1,331,978 shares of its common stock to the Concortis shareholders.

14 Nov 2013

Toxins News and Research

Sorrento Therapeutics acquires Concortis Biosystems

Women are more susceptible to damaging effects of alcohol than men

Transport of bacterial substrates through injectisome observed almost in real time

Study: Electronic cigarettes may involuntarily expose non-users to nicotine

Researchers see links between high levels of perfluorinated compounds in blood and diabetes

Scientists discover how lymphotoxin controls production of immunoglobulins in gut

‘Flesh-eating’ disease treatments: an interview with Dr. John Crew, Seton Medical Center

New research offers fresh insights to drug designers searching for better pain treatments

TSRI scientists discover natural mechanism that cells use to protect mitochondria

Biotest, EpiVax partner to develop novel, non-immunogenic Factor VIII for hemophilia treatment

Nanosponge vaccine blocks adverse effects of alpha-haemolysin toxin from MRSA

Viewpoints: Senate should reconsider treaty on protections for people with disabilities; HHS treading wrong way on payments for bone marrow donors

PCBs banned by the US 3 decades ago hurt seniors' cognitive performance

NeutroPhase irrigation therapy and NPWT help treat severe flesh eating and wound infections

Advanced cytotoxins help bacteria survive antibiotics treatment

Pregnant women's proximity to organic compounds impacts risk of heart defects in children

Small molecule compound shows significant success in controlling polyomaviruses

Identifying 'sensome' of microglia could improve treatments for neurodegenerative disorders

Kaiser Permanente to open doors to brand new specialty center in Lone Tree, Colorado

Sorrento Therapeutics to acquire San Diego-based Concortis Biosystems

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