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JCI early table of contents for April 15, 2013

Researchers have identified the molecular mechanisms behind two rare diseases: giant axonal neuropathy and ovarian cancer. In GAN, mutations in gigaxonin disrupt neural protein degradation, leading to neurofilament accumulation. Meanwhile, ATP11B facilitates cisplatin resistance in ovarian cancer cells by mediating platinum export.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateApr 15, 2013

NIH-supported researchers identify new class of malaria compounds

Researchers identified a new class of anti-malarial compounds, 4-(1 H )-quinolone-3-diarylethers, derived from endochin, which effectively treats malaria in birds. The compounds demonstrated strong activity against Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax, the parasites responsible for most human cases of malaria.

SourceNIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateMar 20, 2013

Political strife undermines HIV treatment

A new paper highlights how political conflict can lead to disrupted treatment, promoting resistance to antiretroviral drugs and treatment failure. The authors call for further research and planning to mitigate the effects of treatment interruption in strife-prone nations with high rates of HIV infection.

SourceBrown University·JournalAids Reviews·DateMar 12, 2013

Study shows that diet of resistant starch helps the body resist colorectal cancer

A University of Colorado Cancer Center review found that resistant starch kills pre-cancerous cells and reduces inflammation, promoting the growth of good bugs in the bowel. Consuming resistant starch, found in legumes, green bananas, and starchy products, may also have implications for breast cancer prevention.

SourceUniversity of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus·JournalCurrent Opinion in Gastroenterology·DateFeb 19, 2013

TB infection rates set to 'turn clock back to 1930s'

TB infection rates are forecasted to surge as antibiotics become less effective against the disease. The lack of progress in combating TB is attributed to increasing drug resistance, reminiscent of the 1930s when dedicated sanitaria and invasive surgery were common treatments.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalThorax·DateFeb 11, 2013

Univ. of MD School of Medicine to study drug-resistant malaria in Myanmar

The University of Maryland School of Medicine is launching a study on drug-resistant malaria in Myanmar, using new genetic markers to track the spread of artemisinin-resistant malaria. The researchers aim to develop tests to identify and monitor the disease, which has caused significant treatment failures in Southeast Asia.

SourceUniversity of Maryland Medical Center·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 17, 2012

Moffitt researcher investigates 2-drug synergy to treat drug-resistant chronic myeloid leukemia

Researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center investigated a novel combination of danusertib and bosutinib to overcome resistance in BCR-ABL gatekeeper mutation-specific disease. They found the synergy was not due to direct inhibition, but rather through the downstream MAPK signaling cascade and impaired activity of c-MYC gene regulator.

SourceH. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute·JournalNature Chemical Biology·DateOct 24, 2012

Chloroquine makes comeback to combat malaria

Scientists have observed that chloroquine is once again effective in combating malaria parasites, particularly in Senegal and other African countries. This development could lead to more affordable treatment options for millions of people in Africa, with the current treatment costing twice as much as chloroquine.

SourceUniversity of Copenhagen·JournalAmerican Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene·DateOct 3, 2012

The genetics of HIV-1 resistance

Researchers discovered polymorphisms in HIV-1 that improve resistance to drugs, even without the medication. This finding has significant implications for treating HIV-1 infection, as it suggests newly infected individuals can be drug-resistant before treatment.

SourceBMC (BioMed Central)·JournalRetrovirology·DateOct 2, 2012

Pain drug can kill resistant tuberculosis

Researchers have found that an off-patent anti-inflammatory drug, oxyphenbutazone, can kill both replicating and non-replicating drug-resistant tuberculosis in laboratory tests. The effective drug may offer a potential new therapy for the over 500,000 people worldwide whose TB has become resistant to standard drug treatments.

SourceNewYork-Presbyterian·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 10, 2012

Design help for drug cocktails

A new mathematical model developed by Harvard scientists helps predict the likelihood of drug resistance in HIV patients, enabling the design of more effective treatment cocktails. The model uses data from clinical trials to simulate patient responses to varying drug dosages, providing a valuable tool for researchers and clinicians.

SourceHarvard University·JournalNature Medicine·DateSep 2, 2012

Anthrax targets

Researchers have discovered a range of protein targets in Bacillus anthracis that could be used to create new drugs, potentially reducing the risk of resistance. The identification of novel targets is crucial in the fight against anthrax and biological weapon threats.

SourceInderscience Publishers·JournalInternational Journal of Computational Biology and Drug Design·DateAug 20, 2012

Embargoed news from Annals of Internal Medicine

The FDA Antiviral Advisory Committee discusses the pros and cons of Truvada approval for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Dr. Judith Feinberg votes in favor of approval, citing good outcomes and tolerability, while Dr. Lauren V. Wood expresses concerns about inconsistent evidence, adherence issues, and safety concerns. Primary care phy...

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateJul 22, 2012