Articles tagged with Drug Resistance
A team of researchers identified a molecular mechanism driving drug resistance in prostate cancer, revealing that hormone-refractory cells develop an altered androgen receptor. The findings suggest that even low levels of testosterone can activate these receptors, leading to the conversion of anti-androgen drugs into agonist drugs.
Researchers found that starting with a combination of zidovudine, lamivudine, and efavirenz resulted in delayed failure of subsequent regimens and lower risk of drug resistance. The study suggests using sequential three-drug regimens may be more effective than four-drug treatments for treating first-time HIV recipients.
Breast cancer tumors that become resistant to tamoxifen over-produce a protein called MTA-1, which can be used to predict treatment outcomes and guide therapy selection. Testing for MTA-1 prior to treatment may help devise more aggressive strategies to combat breast cancer.
The European Parliament calls on Eastern European countries to share knowledge and resources to combat HIV resistance. FUZEON, a new treatment, has been shown to reduce HIV levels and increase CD4 cell counts in patients with drug-resistant strains.
Researchers identified a key process in malaria infection involving G proteins in red blood cells, which can be blocked with beta-blockers to prevent parasite entry. By targeting this process, new approaches for treating malaria may be developed using existing drugs.
Research at UCSF found that patients taking 80% or more of their antiretroviral medications developed twice as many resistance mutations as those taking less than 40%. Despite this, excellent adherence remains the best way to prevent HIV/AIDS and prolong life with resistant virus.
A study of 2,466 HIV-positive adults reveals that 53% use alternative medicine, often without informing their doctors. This can lead to adverse interactions with conventional treatment and increased risk of treatment failure.
Researchers at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center found that targeted therapy erlotinib caused dramatic tumor regressions in some patients with BAC, particularly those who never smoked. The treatment was effective in 25% of patients with advanced BAC, offering a new approach to managing this disease.
Researchers at UC Berkeley created a microbial factory that can produce artemisinin, an effective antimalarial drug, using yeast, wormwood, and bacterial genes. The process reduces the production of artemisinin to just a few chemical alterations, making it cost-effective for global use.
Researchers challenge assumption that poverty is a risk factor for non-adherence to HIV medication regimens, citing high treatment adherence rates in South African studies. The editorial argues that delivery systems may compromise confidentiality and risk stigmatization if not based on clear evidence.
A new class of anti-HIV medication, developed by Trimeris, has shown significant improvement in virologic and immunologic responses in patients with drug-resistant HIV. Enfuvirtide (T-20) works by blocking HIV entry into CD4 + lymphocytes and can benefit patients who already have HIV resistant to current therapy.
Designing molecules to block HIV receptors could lead to more effective and safer treatments. The approach has the potential to be orders of magnitude more effective than existing treatments, with fewer side effects.
Researchers discovered a novel way to defeat Gleevec-resistant cancer using a second drug that targets the tyrosine kinase enzyme. This proof-of-principle shows promise for treating patients with a range of cancers.
A new predictive system identifies two DNA polymorphisms that distinguish between HBV-positive patients who respond well to lamivudine treatment and those who develop resistance. The study's findings have significant implications for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B, potentially saving millions from liver disease and cancer.
A study of 250 children found that botulinum toxin significantly improved symptoms of muscle spasticity, enabling them to perform daily tasks such as feeding and writing for the first time. Long-term use of the drug showed minimal adverse effects and maintained effectiveness over two years or more.
Researchers at Achillion Pharmaceuticals and the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMBC) have identified a new class of compounds that inhibit a novel target in HIV. These compounds disrupt the assembly of the HIV-1 capsid protein, which is essential for viral maturation.
Scientists at Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research developed a screening strategy to identify mutations that cause cancer drug resistance. The study identified 112 mutations, including 15 previously linked to Gleevec resistance, and created a 3D computer model to visualize their location on the BCR/ABL protein.
A recent study found a decrease in thymidine analog mutations and an increase in K65R and Y115F mutations associated with HIV treatment failure. The study analyzed data from 1999-2002 and identified trends in antiretroviral therapy usage and mutation incidence.
A recent study found that critically-ill patients taking linezolid were more likely to survive than those treated with vancomycin. Linezolid was shown to be an effective treatment for pneumonia infections caused by MRSA and S. pneumoniae, leading to improved patient survival rates.
Researchers found that age of onset, type of surgery, and history of febrile seizures are related to the amount of time before seizures become intractable. In patients whose seizures began before age 5, it took an average of 15 years for their seizures to become intractable.
A $1.4 million NIH-funded study will use genetically altered mice to find morphine-regulated genes that cause tolerance and dependence. The researchers aim to create better therapeutics and prevent dependence, with potential benefits for children born to drug-dependent mothers.
Researchers discovered that tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer cells alter their traits and become responsive to Herceptin and other HER-2 targeted drugs. A new GlaxoSmithKline drug, GSK572016, shows promise in shrinking tumors resistant to both tamoxifen and Herceptin.
Researchers have gained a new understanding of how quinoline-based drugs work against the Malaria parasite, slowing crystal growth to toxic levels and killing the parasite. The study provides insights into physical chemistry and crystalline surface structure to explain drug action, offering potential solutions to drug resistance.
The NIH has awarded a $4.6 million grant to Rutgers University to develop new and effective drugs for AIDS. The five-year program will use structure-based drug design to identify proteins involved in HIV transmission and develop inhibitors that can overcome drug resistance.
Researchers at Scripps Research have created a novel technology to detect single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in malaria parasites, enabling the identification of drug-resistant strains and mapping their spread. The new approach uses gene chips to analyze thousands of SNPs simultaneously.
Researchers have identified a specific gene mutation that confers chloroquine resistance in Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasites, allowing scientists to develop targeted treatments, and also increasing susceptibility to artemisinin and quinine.
The newly-sequenced Anopheles gambiae genome holds promise for developing new insecticides, transmission-blocking vaccines, and mosquito repellants. Researchers identified genes involved in the mosquito's ability to host the malaria parasite and located targets for new insecticides.
Researchers studied Candida albicans in the presence of fluconazole and found changes in hundreds of genes. The altered genes displayed three distinct patterns that can be targeted with companion drugs, delaying or preventing drug resistance.
Researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center found that a cancer drug caused a virus to mutate so much it could no longer reproduce, becoming extinct. The treatment increases mutations in viral genomes, making it a promising approach to combat viruses.
Researchers discovered a biochemical signaling pathway activated by radiation that makes blood vessels resistant to therapy. Inhibiting this pathway enhances radiation-induced cell death and cytotoxicity in endothelial cells. The approach aims to destroy existing blood vessels, helping to defeat the tumor.
Researchers identified 15 BCR-ABL mutations that cause resistance to Gleevec, a common treatment for chronic myeloid leukemia. These mutations alter the enzyme's flexibility and conformation, making it difficult for the drug to bind and inhibit its activity.
A mathematical model supports the use of drug cycling as a tool to control TB resistance, particularly in regions with increased mobility. The EU is identified as an example where this approach could be applied to address global health concerns.
Researchers found that chloroquine-resistant parasites arose in multiple geographic locations and rapidly spread across continents, contradicting long-held theories. The genetic diversity of the malaria parasite suggests it has evolved over a timeframe coincident with human population expansion out of Africa.
The new treatment guidelines emphasize the use of CD4 cell counts as a primary indicator for starting therapy, rather than plasma HIV RNA levels. The guidelines also highlight the importance of patient adherence and regular monitoring of viral load and CD4 cell counts to ensure successful treatment.
A multi-center trial shows that new drug combinations, including two protease inhibitors, can significantly lower virus counts in patients with moderately advanced immunodeficiency. The study found that 31% of patients could achieve detectable viral loads with regimens containing four or five new drugs.
A study published in JAMA found that nearly 28% of newly infected people have a strain of HIV resistant to at least one class of antiretroviral drugs, highlighting the need for new treatment options. The research also shows that drug-resistant viruses take longer to control with current treatments.
Northwestern researcher Robert L. Murphy calls for simplified, less toxic HIV therapies due to complex regimens and adverse effects. He discusses potential new treatments like atazanavir, a single-daily-dose protease inhibitor with minimal side effects.
Researchers found that drug combinations significantly reduced HIV levels in untreated patients, with at least 75% achieving a viral load of less than 400 copies/mL after 48 weeks. The study used three different drug combinations and found impressive changes in viral loads across all groups.
Researchers found that genetic variations in HIV-A and HIV-C proteases make it harder for antiviral drugs to work. The study's findings have negative implications for long-term efficacy of therapies in patients infected with African subtypes.
Research suggests African HIV subtypes exhibit higher fitness in protease inhibitors due to natural mutations, leading to faster therapy failure. The findings support broader focus on HIV drug development beyond the B subtype.
Researchers have discovered a new drug combination that outperforms existing treatments in patients with no prior treatment. The lopinavir-ritonavir combination demonstrates superior virus inhibition and reduces the risk of resistance, offering a more convenient regimen for patients.
Two new drugs, PKC412 and CT53518, have shown promising results in treating acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a deadly form of blood cancer. The drugs, which target the FLT3 receptor, have been effective in killing leukemia cells and prolonging survival in mouse models.
A new treatment combination of amodiaquine and artesunate has shown high cure rates for uncomplicated malaria in children under 11 years old. The study found that the treatment was more effective than amodiaquine alone, with higher cure rates in Gabon compared to Kenya and Senegal.
A new research study identifies a protein called PTP1B that helps overcome leptin resistance, a common issue in obese individuals. The knockout mice lacking PTP1B displayed increased energy expenditure and were resistant to high-fat diets.
Scientists have found a potential mechanism for obesity resistance in mice lacking the fat-making enzyme DGAT1. These mice are more sensitive to leptin and insulin, leading to lower tissue triglyceride levels and increased sensitivity to insulin, resulting in weight loss despite high-fat diets.
Researchers found that a combination of targeted therapies can effectively inhibit tumor growth in prostate cancer. Using different drugs after resistance occurred inhibited tumor growth, suggesting multiple treatments may be needed to manage the disease. This approach is similar to how advanced breast cancer is treated today.
Scientists have developed a new compound, TAS-108, which inhibits the growth of tamoxifen-resistant breast tumours. It works by recruiting a co-repressor to help inhibit oestrogen receptors, making it more effective than other anti-oestrogens.
The study found TMC125 effective against highly NNRTI-resistant HIV strains in patients failing treatment. The drug showed no signs of resistance development and was well-tolerated during the trial.
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center have traced cellular pathways that enhance the action of antifungal drugs used to treat fungal infections in people with compromised immune systems. Combining fluconazole with cyclosporin or FK506 was found to potently kill fungal cells, and the team elucidated the molecular targets involved.
UCSF scientists have demonstrated in animals how morphine's potent painkilling powers can be sustained without increasing dosages. By pairing morphine with an opioid that facilitates endocytosis, they showed that the natural cellular process can arrest the pattern of tolerance to morphine.
Researchers at NIAID and NCI discovered a quick and simple method to assess drug efficacy by measuring viral load after just one week of therapy. This approach has the potential to prevent HIV drug resistance and improve treatment outcomes for patients.
A recent study has identified over 100 yeast genes that provide protection against radiation, revealing new insights into human genetic resistance to environmental stressors. The findings also suggest potential targets for the development of more effective anti-cancer drugs.
Researchers have found a new antimalarial drug combination to be effective in treating falciparum malaria, the most severe form of the disease. In a study conducted in Tanzania, 93% of children were cleared of parasites after treatment with chlorproguanil-dapsone, compared to just 39% on standard pyrimethamine-sulfadoxine.
Researchers predict that 42% of all HIV cases will be drug-resistant by 2005, mainly due to the conversion of drug-sensitive cases during antiretroviral therapy. The study recommends four epidemic-control strategies to minimize prevalence and transmission of drug-resistant HIV.
A recent outbreak of sleeping sickness in eastern Uganda may be attributed to livestock movement from another part of the country where the disease is endemic. The study found that over 50% of cattle traded at the market originated from areas with the disease, and that distance to the market was a significant risk factor for sleeping s...
AIDS researchers urge collaboration to develop new treatments for drug-resistant HIV patients, who represent 30% of treated cases in the US. The lack of effective therapies sets the stage for a dangerous epidemic of drug-resistant HIV.
A study found that a specific mutation in the human MDR1 gene affects P-glycoprotein expression, leading to decreased effectiveness of HIV-1 protease inhibitors in West Africans and African Americans compared to Caucasians. This could have significant implications for drug treatment in these populations.
A retrospective study of 681 HIV-positive patients found that Virco's VirtualPhenotype? and Antivirogram? resistance tests accurately predicted treatment outcomes. Patients receiving three or four active drugs experienced significant reductions in viral load and increases in CD4 cell counts.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine found that HAART suppresses viral replication and mutation, delaying the onset of AIDS. The study used genetic signatures to track HIV-1 activity in 20 participants on HAART for at least 25 months.
Researchers found that HBV polymerase mutations can restore viral replication rate while maintaining drug resistance, affecting treatment efficacy. Entecavir proved effective against even the most vigorous drug-resistant mutants, offering a promising alternative to lamivudine.