Articles tagged with Drug Resistance
A research team led by Professor Patrick Gunning at the University of Toronto has developed molecules that inhibit Stat3, a protein involved in almost all cancers. These inhibitors show selectivity against cancer cells but not healthy cells, offering potential for improved chemotherapy efficacy and reduced side effects.
Studies have shown that standard doses of anti-tuberculosis drugs may not be effective in modern-day patients due to weight and gender variability. A new model developed at UT Southwestern Medical Center has shed light on the issue, suggesting that different doses are needed for various populations.
Researchers found malaria parasites in western Cambodia resistant to artemisinin-based therapies, making them less effective and a potential game-changer for malaria control. The study's findings highlight the need for swift action to contain the spread of resistant parasites.
Two genes, AEG-1 and LSF, contribute to chemotherapy resistance in liver cancer treatment. The study found that over-expression of AEG-1 increases resistance to 5-fluorouracil, a commonly used chemotherapeutic drug.
A new global subsidy, Affordable Medicines Facility–malaria (AMFm), will be rolled out in 2009 to address poor access to artemisinin combination therapies for malaria. The authors argue that the AMFm should focus on quality patient care by funding fixed dose combinations and rapid diagnostic tests.
Researchers discover potential drugs that block the first step in the infection process, preventing flu viruses from infecting cells. This breakthrough could lead to a new genre of antivirals and be used to develop treatments for other medical problems.
Eliminating polio requires global cooperation on lowering vaccine costs and strengthening surveillance. Experts argue that coordinated efforts are necessary to succeed in eradicating the disease.
Researchers discovered a protein profile that may accurately predict tamoxifen resistance in breast cancer patients. The study found that the extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer (EMMPRIN) was significantly associated with an earlier tumor progression and poor clinical outcome.
Researchers identified a protein capable of degrading a key leukemia treatment, L-asparaginase, in some patients. Expression of this protein is more common in high-risk forms of the disease and can lead to reduced treatment effectiveness.
ChemGenex's omacetaxine shows durable hematological and cytogenetic responses in patients with highly resistant CML. The Phase 2/3 study demonstrated a complete hematologic response rate of 85% in chronic phase patients, suggesting a promising treatment option for this difficult-to-treat population.
A study found that healthcare workers in South Africa are at risk of developing XDR-TB, a potentially untreatable strain of tuberculosis. The researchers emphasize the need for stringent TB screening policies and rapid diagnostic testing to minimize the spread of drug-resistant TB.
Research suggests that Rocket 'Eruca sativa' has potent gastric anti-ulcer properties, inhibiting acid secretion and reducing ulceration. The herb's extract also replenishes mucous and sulfhydryl levels, while reducing oxidative stress markers.
Researchers suggest using a small stockpile of a secondary antiviral drug to delay the development of resistance to primary drugs in flu pandemics. By treating only 1-1.5% of the population with a secondary drug, resistance to primary drugs can be substantially reduced.
A study in Zanzibar found that rapid malaria tests reduced prescriptions of antimalarial drugs and increased treatment for non-malarial causes, while also lowering reattendance rates due to perceived lack of cure. The results suggest improved health outcomes with routine use of these tests.
Researchers at the University of Leeds have developed chemicals that kill the deadliest malaria-causing parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, and those resistant to existing drugs. These compounds work by preventing an enzyme essential to the parasite's growth, resulting in its death.
A new combination of chemotherapy drugs, topotecan and docetaxel, has produced clinical benefit for patients with recurrent gynecologic cancers. The treatment showed an unusually high proportion of women experiencing clinical benefit, with a median survival time of 18.5 months.
Researchers have discovered different resistance mutations in east and west Africa, suggesting varying effectiveness of sulfadoxine as an antimalarial drug. Coordinating malaria control efforts across socioeconomically linked areas may be more effective in reducing the malaria burden across the continent.
A team of researchers has identified a class of drugs that may enhance the therapeutic effects of imatinib mesylate, a commonly used treatment for chronic myeloid leukemia. By inhibiting autophagy, these drugs can increase the effectiveness of imatinib mesylate and improve outcomes for patients with CML.
Resistance to the antimalarial drug sulfadoxine has emerged independently in multiple sites across Africa over the past decade. The study suggests that coordinated control campaigns may be more effective in reducing the African malaria burden by addressing regional differences in parasite strains and levels of resistance.
A new therapy for metastatic prostate cancer has shown considerable promise in early clinical trials involving patients whose disease has become resistant to current drugs. Researchers have developed a novel compound, MDV3100, which blocks the androgen receptor in CRPC cells, lowering PSA levels and reducing tumor growth.
Researchers have developed two new drugs, RD162 and MDV3100, that prevent male hormones from stimulating growth of prostate cancer cells. These compounds appear to work well even in prostate cells with heightened sensitivity to hormones, which makes them effective against drug-resistant prostate cancer.
A catheter-based technique deactivates nerves in the kidneys, reducing blood pressure and offering a new treatment option for patients with resistant hypertension. The study found significant blood-pressure reduction in treated patients, while non-treated patients experienced an increase in blood pressure.
Researchers found drug-resistant viruses can circulate between individuals who haven
Researchers Harmit Singh Malik and Toshiyasu Taniguchi receive HHMI funding for their innovative work in evolutionary biology and cancer genetics. Malik studies genetic conflicts in cells, while Taniguchi investigates DNA repair pathways to combat drug resistance.
Researchers found omacetaxine killed 90% of leukemic stem cells in vitro and prolonged survival in test animals with resistant CML. The findings may open the door to developing a curative treatment strategy for some patients with CML.
Researchers have created a new onsite method to quickly diagnose tuberculosis, reducing diagnosis time from weeks to days. The test uses bacteriophages with green fluorescence protein to detect the deadly drug-resistant strains that can mingle undetected with treatable TB strains.
Researchers at the University of Gothenburg have developed a new method to describe and quantify relationships between dose, concentration, and effectiveness of drugs against HIV/AIDS and malaria. The study found that genetic differences can influence efavirenz metabolism and that reducing daily doses can minimize undesired effects.
Researchers have developed a microbial-based method to produce artemisinin, the most powerful anti-malarial drug, at lower costs. This technology can restrict access to artemisinin and delay malaria parasite resistance.
Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine have compiled a list of 93 common HIV mutations associated with drug resistance to track the spread of the virus. The updated list is based on data from over 15,000 patients and will be used globally to gauge the effectiveness of HIV medication programs.
A study found that drug-resistant influenza A(H1N1) viruses carrying a neuraminidase gene mutation can retain significant transmissibility and pathogenicity in hospitalized patients. These viruses have been linked to severe illnesses and deaths in immunocompromised individuals.
A recent study reports a significant increase in oseltamivir-resistant influenza A viruses, posing a challenge to treatment and vaccination strategies. The study found that resistant cases had similar demographic characteristics as susceptible cases, but no association with oseltamivir use.
Researchers from Indiana University School of Medicine recommend using rifampin instead of isoniazid for treating non-active TB in children who are immigrants, internationally adopted or refugees. This change aims to prevent the development of active TB and reduce healthcare costs.
Researchers at Whitehead Institute found that combining an antifungal agent with Hsp90 inhibition is effective against multiple types of resistant fungal infections. The treatment could lead to development of novel therapies for patients with compromised immune systems, who suffer high mortality rates from these infections.
Workers aged 50-64 who received the flu vaccine lost fewer days of work and worked less time while ill compared to unvaccinated individuals. The study found a significant reduction in illness-related workdays and improved worker productivity after vaccination.
Researchers document increasing resistance to adamantane-based antiviral drugs in over 30% of H5N1 samples. The study provides a framework for monitoring global evolution of drug resistance using molecular evolution tests and geographic visualization techniques.
A meta-analysis found that rosiglitazone and pioglitazone increase the risk of fractures in women, particularly those taking these medications for extended periods. The study involved 13,715 diabetes patients and estimated that high-risk women on thiazolidinediones face a one-in-21 chance of fracture per year.
A recent meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials found that antipsychotic drugs do not form homogeneous classes, with individual differences in efficacy, side effects, and cost. This challenges the traditional classification of 'first-generation' and 'second-generation' antipsychotics.
A new study identifies specific characteristics of immune cells called CD8+ T cells that successfully destroy HIV-infected cells. These cells are able to load granules with proteins necessary for delivering a death-inducing molecule called granzyme B to infected cells.
Scientists investigate Tamiflu's environmental fate and its impact on the development of resistant influenza viruses in Japan, a major consumer of the drug. The research aims to understand potential threats to global defenses against future pandemics.
Two new papers by University of Notre Dame biologist Michael Ferdig suggest that genomics and bioinformatics may hold the key to combating malaria. The research reveals previously unrecognized transcriptional complexity in Plasmodium falciparum, a key driver of drug resistance.
A study found that older adults taking rosiglitazone had a 15% higher rate of death and 13% greater risk of heart failure compared to those taking pioglitazone. The authors highlight the need to consider all-cause mortality risk in elderly patients, as rosiglitazone's cardiovascular effects may be more pronounced.
A study found that continuous blood pressure monitoring can help predict heart disease and related deaths among individuals with treatment-resistant hypertension. In contrast, blood pressure readings taken in a medical office do not appear to predict future heart risks.
Researchers at Montana State University have identified a gene called srbA that allows molds to resist drugs and thrive in low-oxygen environments. The gene is found in both humans and molds, and its removal makes the mold more susceptible to antifungal drugs and oxygen deprivation.
The MOTIVATE trials show maraviroc significantly suppresses the virus at 48 weeks, increasing immune system T-cell counts and providing consistent clinical benefit for treatment-experienced patients with R5 HIV-virus infection. Maraviroc provides a valuable additional treatment option for a wide spectrum of treatment-experienced patients.
Scientists suggest using multiple first-line therapies to treat malaria, cutting death rates and delaying drug resistance. The approach involves distributing different drugs to patients, allowing them to choose from a variety of options.
A new treatment strategy involving sorafenib could 're-sensitize' tumors, enabling anti-hormonal drugs like aromatase inhibitors to be effective again. Preliminary analysis shows a clinical benefit response in 26 percent of patients taking both sorafenib and anastrozole.
Researchers found that a specific PMS2 protein variant can render cancer cells resistant to cisplatin, a common chemotherapy drug. The study suggests personalized therapies may be developed for patients carrying this variant.
Researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory discovered an enzyme called Brk that accelerates HER2-positive tumor growth and contributes to drug resistance. The team found that targeting Brk may provide a safe strategy for treating ErbB2-positive tumors.
Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine found that the HIV drug nevirapine persists in the breast milk and blood of infected mothers for at least two weeks, putting them and their babies at risk for developing drug-resistant strains. The study suggests that better combination antiretroviral treatment could prevent this risk.
A McGill University study reveals that previously ignored parts of the HIV genome play a key role in developing drug resistance. The research explains how these hidden mutations affect the virus, providing new insights into HIV treatment.
A study found that sensitive HIV testing can detect low-level drug-resistant strains in patients who have not received anti-HIV drugs. In some cases, these resistant strains were present before treatment began and contributed to treatment failure. Further research is needed to confirm these findings.
Researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory have identified Top2A and Top1 enzymes as significant contributors to chemotherapy drug resistance. The team developed a novel screening technique to investigate the genetic basis of cancer therapy response, which could be applied widely to explore genetic mechanisms underlying drug resistance.
Researchers discovered high levels of ciprofloxacin resistance in Escherichia coli among Amerindians from Guyanese rainforest, despite no reported use of fluoroquinolone antibiotics. Chloroquine treatment for malaria may contribute to bacterial resistance.
Researchers isolated over two dozen novel compounds that could serve as backup anti-viral drugs against avian flu. These compounds showed potentially stronger or equal inhibition than current remedies, including Tamiflu and Relenza.
Researchers found that LYN kinase activation is associated with imatinib resistance in CML patients, a mechanism not explained by BCR-ABL mutations. Blocking LYN kinase restores imatinib responsiveness and triggers cell death.
A study found that chemicals in cigarette smoke activate nerves in guinea pig airways, causing damage. Leptin levels also play a role in weight loss, with low levels helping protect against weight regain.
A study found that metformin treatment delayed menstruation and decreased insulin resistance in young girls at risk of early puberty. The treatment also reduced abdominal fat and improved cholesterol levels, lowering the risk of future heart disease.
A new class of natural compounds has been identified that can enhance the sensitivity of mouse cancer cells to standard anticancer chemotherapeutic agents. Fever, on the other hand, is associated with prolonged QT intervals in heart cells of patients with LQT-2, a potentially fatal genetic disease. These findings suggest potential ther...
A new class of compounds, cyclopenta[b]benzofuran flavaglines, has been found to inhibit translation initiation and reverse cancer cell resistance to anticancer agents. This approach targets the eIF4A protein, which plays a central role in translation initiation.
A novel small molecule inhibitor reduced both endogenous and drug-induced resistance to chemotherapy in a mouse model of melanoma. Low melatonin levels are associated with an increased risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women, according to a prospective case-control study.