ScienceDaily: Pharmacology News

New resistance mechanism to chemotherapy in breast and ovarian cancer

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:38:38 EDT

A new study explains why tumors with BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations stop responding to PARP inhibitor drugs.

Nanog protein promotes growth of head and neck cancer

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:38:38 EDT

Researchers have identified a biochemical pathway in cancer stem cells that is essential for promoting head and neck cancer. The study shows that a protein called Nanog, which is normally active in embryonic stem cells, promotes the growth of cancer stem cells in head and neck cancer. The findings provide information essential for designing novel targeted drugs that might improve the treatment of head and neck cancer.

New approach to battling tuberculosis

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:36:36 EDT

Scientists have discovered a drug that cripples tuberculosis bacteria (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) in a novel way, by dissolving the protecting fatty coating of the bacteria. The drug killed the bacterium in culture without the emergence of drug resistance.

Aspirin may fight cancer by slowing DNA damage

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 10:11:11 EDT

Aspirin is known to lower risk for some cancers, and a new study points to a possible explanation, with the discovery that aspirin slows the accumulation of DNA mutations in abnormal cells in at least one pre-cancerous condition.

'Undruggable' cancer may be druggable after all: New target identified

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 17:31:31 EDT

Researchers have identified in the most aggressive forms of cancer a gene known to regulate embryonic stem cell self-renewal, beginning a creative search for a drug that can block its activity.

New compound excels at killing persistent and drug-resistant tuberculosis

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 17:31:31 EDT

Scientists have identified a highly promising new anti-tuberculosis compound that attacks the tuberculosis bacterium in two different ways.

Missing enzyme linked to drug addiction

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 17:28:28 EDT

A missing brain enzyme increases concentrations of a protein related to pain-killer addiction, according to an animal study.

New drug reverses loss of brain connections in Alzheimer's

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:08:08 EDT

The first experimental drug to boost brain synapses lost in Alzheimer's disease has been developed by researchers. The drug, called NitroMemantine, combines two FDA-approved medicines to stop the destructive cascade of changes in the brain that destroys the connections between neurons, leading to memory loss and cognitive decline.

New medication treats drug-resistant prostate cancer in the laboratory

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:07:07 EDT

A new drug called pyrvinium pamoate inhibits aggressive forms of prostate cancer that are resistant to standard drugs, according to a study conducted in an animal model.

'Chemical architects' build materials with potential applications in drug delivery and gas storage

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 14:23:23 EDT

Home remodelers understand the concept of improving original foundations with more modern elements. Using this same approach -- but with chemistry -- researchers have now designed a family of materials that could make drug delivery, gas storage, and gas transport more efficient and at a lower cost.

Preventing eggs' death from chemotherapy: Scientists discover cause of immature eggs' death from cancer drug and how to prevent it

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 14:23:23 EDT

Young women who have cancer treatment often lose their fertility because chemotherapy and radiation can damage or kill their immature ovarian eggs, called oocytes. Now, scientists have found the molecular pathway that can prevent the death of immature ovarian eggs due to chemotherapy, potentially preserving fertility and endocrine function. Scientists achieved this in mice by adding a currently approved chemotherapy drug, imatinib mesylate, to another chemotherapy drug cisplatin.

Testosterone therapy may help improve pain in men with low testosterone

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 14:20:20 EDT

Testosterone therapy is associated with decreased pain perception in men with low testosterone levels related to opioid (narcotic) pain relievers (analgesics), a new study finds.

Investigational drug improves sleep disorder among the blind

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 14:20:20 EDT

An investigational new drug significantly improved a common and debilitating circadian rhythm sleep disorder that frequently affects people who are completely blind, a multicenter study finds.

Testosterone improves verbal learning and memory in postmenopausal women

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 14:20:20 EDT

Postmenopausal women had better improvement in verbal learning and memory after receiving treatment with testosterone gel, compared with women who received sham treatment with a placebo, a new study found.

Drugs used to treat heart failure and high blood pressure may help decrease obesity

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 11:09:09 EDT

A type of drug normally used to treat heart failure and high blood pressure helped prevent weight gain and other complications related to a high-fat diet in an animal study.

Excessive salt consumption appears to be bad for your bones

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 11:09:09 EDT

A high-salt diet raises a woman’s risk of breaking a bone after menopause, no matter what her bone density is, according to a new study.

Short-term antidepressant use, stress, high-fat diet linked to long-term weight gain

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 11:08:08 EDT

Short-term use of antidepressants, combined with stress and a high-fat diet, is associated with long-term increases in body weight, a new animal study finds.

Coatings could help medical implants function better

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 11:06:06 EDT

Researchers have been working on the customized synthesis of biocompatible polymers that can coat sensors that are then implanted into the body to cloak them from the immune system.

Medical marijuana not the answer for teens with chronic pain, doctors say

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 09:09:09 EDT

Adolescents can have chronic pain, just like adults. As patients, their parents and physicians search for solutions, there is one increasingly available option they should avoid, researchers say: medical marijuana.

Osteoporosis drug stops growth of breast cancer cells, even in resistant tumors, study suggests

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 15:23:23 EDT

A drug approved in Europe to treat osteoporosis has now been shown to stop the growth of breast cancer cells, even in cancers that have become resistant to current targeted therapies, according to a new study.

Memory-boosting chemical identified in mice: Cell biologists find molecule targets a key biological pathway

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 16:48:48 EDT

Memory improved in mice injected with a small, drug-like molecule discovered by researchers studying how cells respond to biological stress.

Testing method promising for spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 08:28:28 EDT

A medical test previously developed to measure a toxin found in tobacco smokers has been adapted to measure the same toxin in people suffering from spinal cord injuries and multiple sclerosis, offering a potential tool to reduce symptoms.

High prevalence of NSAID prescription in those at risk of heart attack/death in primary care

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 08:26:26 EDT

A new study demonstrates a high prevalence of NSAID prescriptions in patients at risk of ischaemic heart disease.

Could novel drug target autism and fetal alcohol disorder?

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 16:18:18 EDT

A surprising new study reveals a common molecular vulnerability in autism and fetal alcohol disorder. Both have social impairment symptoms and originate during brain development. The study found male offspring of rat mothers given alcohol during pregnancy have social impairment and altered levels of autism-related genes found in humans. But the damage was reversed with a thyroid hormone given to the mothers during pregnancy.

Finasteride, medication for male pattern hair loss, may also decrease drinking

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 16:18:18 EDT

Finasteride is a synthetic drug for the treatment of male pattern hair loss and an enlarged prostate. Rodent research has shown that finasteride can reduce alcohol intake. A preliminary study of men with finasteride-related sexual side effects indicates that finasteride may decrease drinking.

Tobacco laws for youth may reduce adult smoking

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 16:17:17 EDT

States that want to reduce rates of adult smoking may consider implementing stringent tobacco restrictions on teens. Scientists discovered that states with more restrictive limits on teens purchasing tobacco also have lower adult smoking rates, especially among women.

Study points to role of nervous system in arthritis

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 11:19:19 EDT

Reducing levels of nerve-growth factor may be a key to developing better pain treatments.

After an ACL tear: Research opens door to new treatments to improve recovery for athletes

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 10:44:44 EDT

Researchers have identified a new drug target that may prevent one of the most dreaded consequences of an ACL tear -- the weakening or loss of muscle tissue (muscle atrophy) that can be a career-killer in sports and ultimately develop into osteoarthritis.

Light-carved 'nano-volcanoes' hold promise for drug delivery

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 10:44:44 EDT

Researchers have developed a method for creating "nano-volcanoes" by shining various colors of light through a nanoscale "crystal ball" made of a synthetic polymer. These nano-volcanoes can store precise amounts of other materials and hold promise for new drug-delivery technologies.

Gene offers an athlete's heart without the exercise

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 10:41:41 EDT

Researchers have found that a single gene poses a double threat to disease: Not only does it inhibit the growth and spread of breast tumors, but it also makes hearts healthier.

Gene variants may predict who will benefit from breast cancer prevention drugs

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 10:41:41 EDT

In women at high risk for breast cancer, a long-term drug treatment can cut the risk of developing the disease in half. Researchers have identified two gene variants that may predict which women are most likely to benefit from this therapy.

Austerity cuts to Spanish healthcare system are 'putting lives at risk', experts say

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 09:23:23 EDT

A series of austerity reforms made by the Spanish government could lead to the effective dismantling of large parts of the country's healthcare system, with potentially detrimental effects on the health of the Spanish people, according to new research.

Doubling of deaths among sick moms-to-be amid poor evidence on drug safety in pregnancy

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 22:42:42 EDT

The lack of hard data on the safety and effectiveness of a wide range of drugs in pregnancy has hindered the treatment of pregnant women, contributing to a doubling of deaths amongst mums-to-be with an underlying health problem over the past 20 years, argues a new editorial.

Sleep mechanism identified that plays role in emotional memory

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 22:41:41 EDT

Sleep researchers have identified the sleep mechanism that enables the brain to consolidate emotional memory and found that a popular prescription sleep aid heightens the recollection of and response to negative memories.

New imaging technique holds promise for speeding MS research

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 16:23:23 EDT

Researchers have developed a new magnetic resonance imaging technique that detects the telltale signs of multiple sclerosis in finer detail than ever before -- providing a more powerful tool for evaluating new treatments.

Brain's 'dark side' as key to cocaine addiction

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 14:47:47 EDT

Scientists have found evidence that an emotion-related brain region called the central amygdala —- whose activity promotes feelings of malaise and unhappiness —- plays a major role in sustaining cocaine addiction.

Breakthrough allows fast, reliable pathogen identification

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 13:33:33 EDT

Researchers may have developed a way to quickly and reliably diagnose life-threatening bacterial infections and pinpoint the right antibiotics to clear the infections.

Heroin availability increasing across Washington state

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 13:30:30 EDT

New data indicates increases in heroin availability, abuse and deaths across the state, particularly among young adults ages 18-29. These increases are concerning because of the high risks of overdose and contracting infectious diseases associated with heroin use.

New mechanism of TB drug resistance identified

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 13:25:25 EDT

A recent study has identified a new mechanism for PZA-resistance, which provides new insight into the how this mysterious drug works.

Tracking drug-resistant tuberculosis in real-time

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 13:25:25 EDT

It's the second leading cause of death by an infectious agent worldwide. Now, scientists are tackling drug-resistant tuberculosis with a new, lab-based surveillance system that can track the spread of the disease in real-time.

Commonly prescribed drugs may influence the onset and progression of Alzheimer's disease

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 13:25:25 EDT

Multiple drug classes commonly prescribed for common medical conditions are capable of influencing the onset and progression of Alzheimer's disease, according to researchers.

Teens have unsupervised access to prescription drugs

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 10:16:16 EDT

Most teens have unsupervised access to their prescription drugs at home, including drugs with potential for abuse, finds a new study.

New sickle cell anemia therapy advances to phase II clinical trials

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 09:29:29 EDT

Seeking to improve the lives of sickle cell anemia sufferers around the world, researchers are preparing to launch Phase II of a clinical trial to investigate a potential new therapy for reducing the disorder’s severest symptoms. More than 100,000 Americans and several million people worldwide suffer from this genetic disorder.

Traumatic brain injury patients treated with anti-spasm agent partially recover from disorders of consciousness

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 09:29:29 EDT

Two traumatic brain-injury patients steadily emerged from minimally conscious state after receiving intrathecal baclofen therapy.

New therapy target for kids' fever-induced seizures

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 20:47:47 EDT

Fever-induced childhood seizures can be terrifying for parents and carry a long-term risk to brain development. Scientists haven't known what mechanism triggers the seizures. Now they've identified a new key factor, leading to a new therapeutic target. They also found nimodipine, a commonly available L-type calcium-channel blocker, dramatically reduced the incidence and duration of febrile seizures in animals.

Body clocks linked to osteoarthritis

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 20:45:45 EDT

Scheduled exercise, regular meals and the periodic warming and cooling of joints could be used to relieve the symptoms of osteoarthritis according to scientists. Their research may also help explain why older people are more prone to developing this common joint disorder.

Experimental vaccine shows promise against TB meningitis

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 20:44:44 EDT

Researchers working with animals has developed a vaccine that prevents the virulent TB bacterium from invading the brain and causing the highly lethal condition TB meningitis, a disease that disproportionately occurs in TB-infected children and in adults with compromised immune system.

New details of natural anticancer mechanism uncovered

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 15:40:40 EDT

Scientists have identified key triggers of an important cancer-blocking mechanism in cells. Termed “oncogene-induced senescence,” this mechanism can block most cancer types and is commonly experienced when incipient skin cancers turn instead into slow-growing moles.

Diabetes drug points the way to overcoming drug resistance in melanoma

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 13:09:09 EDT

Despite the success of melanoma-targeting drugs, tumors inevitably become drug resistant and return, more aggressive than before. Researchers now describe how they increase the effectiveness of anti-melanoma drugs by combining anticancer therapies with diabetes drugs. Their studies, conducted in cell and animal models of melanoma, demonstrate that the combined therapy could destroy a subset of drug-resistant cells within a tumor.

Understanding the heart's rhythm

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 12:21:21 EDT

Scientists have discovered a previously unidentified potassium channel in cardiac cells that regulate the human heartbeat. This could be a significant step towards developing "biological pacemakers" to replace today's mechanical pacemakers, the researcher says.

Stem cells reach standard for use in drug development

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 11:17:17 EDT

Drug development for a range of conditions could be improved with stem cell technology that helps doctors predict the safety and the effectiveness of potential treatments. Researchers in the UK have been able to generate cells in the laboratory that reach the gold standard required by the pharmaceutical industry to test drug safety.

High sugar intake linked to low dopamine release in insulin resistant patients

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 22:37:37 EDT

A PET study indicates that overeating and weight gain contributing to onset of diabetes could be related to a deficit in reward circuits in the brain.

Early data from first human study suggests radiation-antibody combination is safe

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 22:37:37 EDT

An experimental treatment that combines a cell-killing radioactive particle with an antibody that homes in on cancer cells is safe in the treatment of cancers spreading through patients’ abdomens, new research suggests.

A path to lower-risk painkillers: Newly-discovered drug target paves way for alternatives to morphine

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 19:25:25 EDT

New findings provide vital step towards exploring pain medications that may lower risks of prescription drug abuse and side effects of painkillers.

Shape of nanoparticles points the way toward more targeted drugs

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 15:21:21 EDT

The shape of nanoparticles can enhance drug targeting, according to new research. The study found that rod-shaped nanoparticles -- or nanorods -- as opposed to spherical nanoparticles, appear to adhere more effectively to the surface of endothelial cells that line the inside of blood vessels.

Potential new target to thwart antibiotic resistance: Viruses in gut confer antibiotic resistance to bacteria

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 13:35:35 EDT

Bacteria in the gut that are under attack by antibiotics have allies no one had anticipated, scientists have found. Gut viruses that usually commandeer the bacteria, it turns out, enable them to survive the antibiotic onslaught, most likely by handing them genes that help them withstand the drug.

Lifespan-extending drug given late in life reverses age-related heart disease in mice: Rapamycin

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 13:28:28 EDT

Mice suffering from age-related heart disease saw a significant improvement in cardiac function after treatment with the FDA-approved drug rapamycin for just three months. New research shows how rapamycin impacts mammalian tissues, providing functional insights and possible benefits for a drug that can extend lifespan in mice as much as 14 percent. Researchers are now recruiting seniors with cardiac artery disease for a clinical trial involving the drug.

Frequent binge drinking is associated with insomnia symptoms in older adults

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 11:30:30 EDT

A new study suggests that frequent binge drinking is associated with insomnia symptoms in older adults.

Mice give new clues to origins of obsessive-compulsive disorder

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 09:51:51 EDT

Researchers have identified what they think may be a mechanism underlying the development of compulsive behaviors. The finding suggests possible approaches to treating or preventing certain characteristics of OCD.

Discovery may lead to new treatments for jaundice

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 08:43:43 EDT

Helping to protect newborns and older patients against more severe effects of jaundice is the hope of researchers who have shown how a liver enzyme protects cells from damage caused by the condition. Their discovery might ultimately lead to an alternative treatment for jaundice, such as a new drug or supplement.