Non-ST-elevation acute myocardial infarction (NSTE-AMI) correlates with significantly increased risk of recurrent ischemic events and death, indicating poor prognosis. The results of a recent trial voices the efficacy of full-dose atorvastatin therapy (80 mg/day) in reducing ischemic recurrences following NSTE-AMI in severe, diffuse non-revascularizable coronary artery disease (CAD) patients. The findings of this trial are published in the latest issue of the journal, Current Medical Research and Opinion. Continue Reading

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted approval for PROVENGE® (sipuleucel-T | Dendreon Corporation) for treating asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic, metastatic, hormone-resistant (castrate-resistant) prostate cancer (CRPC). It acts by eliciting an immune response against a prostate cancer-specific antigen, prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP). The drug formulated from patient-specific white blood cells, is not indicated for preventing the development or progression of prostate cancer. Continue Reading

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a cognate ligand for the tyrosine kinase receptor B (TrkB) receptor, is reported as a crucial mediator of neurogenesis, neuronal survival, differentiation and synaptic plasticity. Several studies have suggested the therapeutic benefits of administering the neurotrophic factor for treating various neurologic disorders. Now, a recent study published in the journal PNAS reports the identification of 7,8-dihydroxyflavone, a flavonoid derivative possessing similar neurotrophic properties to BDNF, which could revolutionize the currently adopted therapeutic interventions in neurodegeneration. Continue Reading

In recent years, mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) research has witnessed significant advancements with regard to isolation, characterization, and regulation of differentiation. Reported to occur in diverse adult tissues, including bone marrow, adipose tissue, and cord blood, MSCs hold great therapeutic interest in the field of cell-based tissue engineering and regeneration. Continue Reading

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), the worst pandemic to date, continues its deadly course in contributing to the substantial increase in the number of people contracting the infection every year. As per the reports of UNAIDS, The United Nations Joint Program on HIV/AIDS, the year 2008 had approximately 33.4 million people living with HIV. Among these, half of the cases have been reported in women, especially those of childbearing age; thereby proposing an increased risk for mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of the condition. Continue Reading

The outbreak of the H1N1 influenza, earlier referred to as “swine flu”, has drawn major global attention, owing to its rapid spread and high initial mortality rates. In response to the ongoing community level outbreak in various regions and the emergence of a global pandemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) raised the alert level for H1N1 to phase 6, in June, 2009. ¹ Continue Reading

The recent outbreak of a new strain of the influenza A virus (H1N1) has been causing major havoc across the world, with various public health organizations taking aggressive steps to contain the disease. The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised the alert level for H1N1, earlier referred to as ‘Swine Flu’, to phase 5 on the six-point scale, which confirms human to human spread of the disease, and also indicates the increased chances for a flu pandemic. The WHO has currently reported 4,694 laboratory confirmed cases of the H1N1 influenza virus across 30 countries. Continue Reading