Archive for the 'Drug Research' Category
June 25th, 2009 -- Posted in Drug Research |
Today, researchers at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory’s European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI) launch a new database, the Gene Expression Atlas, which allows scientists to search and compare gene expression data at unprecedented detail and scope. Observing how gene expression varies in different cell types, tissues and under disease conditions can help researchers understand gene function and to develop new drugs and therapies.
Although most cells in an organism share the same genetic information, different cell types, for example skin and liver cells, have different properties and functions, largely because different genes are active in these cells. The Gene Expression Atlas is a new database that allows users to query gene expression under a range of biological conditions, including different cell types, developmental stages, physiological states, phenotypes and disease states. The key questions this new database can answer can be summarised as:
1. under which conditions is my particular gene of interest expressed?
2. which genes are expressed in a particular condition? For example, what genes are specifically active in kidney cells, or how does the expression of genes in leukemic blood differ compared to normal blood?
Both questions can also be combined to focus on particular genes and their role in a specific disease, such as identifying members of the Wnt signalling pathway that are expressed in cancer.
The Atlas collates data from over 1000 different independent studies, mainly microarray experiments, with more than 30,000 samples in total. The new database is the latest product of the EBI’s Microarray Informatics group and has its origins in the EBI’s ArrayExpress resource. After a phase of development, the Atlas is ready to begin its own life as an independent major resource. Misha Kapushesky, Atlas project leader at the EBI commented, “While the ArrayExpress Archive makes data from high throughput functional genomics assays available to experts, Gene Expression Atlas presents this information in a format accessible to any biologist. The Atlas takes data directly from the ArrayExpress Archive, which is then enriched by curation, re-annotation and statistical computations before the results are presented to the user in an easily accessible form.”
The Gene Expression Atlas has already found use in the pharmaceuticals industry as a valuable research platform. The resource can be accessed from http://www.ebi.ac.uk/gxa and the Microarray Informatics group have produced an e-learning tutorial to guide users on how to get the most from the Atlas. This tutorial is freely available from the EBI’s e-learning portal at http://www.ebi.ac.uk/training/elearningcentral/.
March 18th, 2009 -- Posted in Drug Research, Drug Safety |
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This year, the International Olympic Committee to take more stringent than in the past means to crack down on doping, but doping practices and types constant renovation. In September next year, Viagra may be on the prohibited list.
Recently, Viagra has been closely tracking by World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). They are investigating whether Viagra is potential doping. And WADA has pointed out that some endurance athletes enhanced athletic ability through Viagra in Beijing Olympic Games.
Next month, the International Olympic Committee will re-test the Beijing Olympic Games athletes’ urine by the new method. The sports involved mainly are track and field, swimming and other endurance.
Samples of all the Beijing Olympic Games will be saved for 8 years, once new detection methods, the sample will be re-opened bottle at any time.
March 18th, 2009 -- Posted in Drug Research |
Be invited by the CEO of USPC (The United States Pharmacopoeia Commission), NICPBP (National Institute for the Control of Pharmaceutical and Biological Products) visited to the United States Pharmacopoeia Commission on March 3.
Sino-US made a deep discussion on specific matters related to cooperation and signed the second round memorandum of cooperation formally. The areas of cooperation include collaborative calibration standard materials, the research and development of the analytical methods and analytical techniques, counterfeit drug detection methods and techniques, quality control of biological products as well as technical personnel exchanges and so on.
The entourage includes drug experts from NICPBP and Drug laboratory personnels from Liaoning Province, Shaanxi Province, Wuhan City etc..
February 18th, 2009 -- Posted in Drug Research |
Antipyretic analgesic drugs
These drugs such as aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, indomethacin, phenylbutazone poisoning can cause liver damage, etc. If the daily use of aspirin or more than 5 grams or use of acetaminophen more than 2 grams, they are easy to cause acute liver injury.
Antibiotics
These drugs such as macrolide drugs, sulfonamides, chloramphenicol, oxacillin, nystatin, chlorine lincomycin, tetracycline, ketoconazole, erythromycin and other tasteless can cause obvious liver damage. The abuse of oxacillin can cause toxic hepatitis in five days.
Gastrointestinal drugs
These drugs such as cimetidine, ranitidine and L-asparaginase can cause poisoning liver damage.
Cardiovascular drugs
These drugs such as methyldopa, quinidine, amiodarone, fenofibrate, lovastatin, etc. can cause liver damage. Among them, methyl dopa medication can damage the liver cells and ductular. A small number of patients in the use of methyl dopa jaundice and transaminase may be increased in 1 ~ 3 weeks, and may even happen granuloma-like hyperplasia of the liver, cirrhosis and liver necrosis.
Hypoglycemic agents
These drugs such as Delta, Culture and Sport, glybenclamide, Glurenorm etc may cause liver damage.
Sex hormones and contraceptive drugs
These drugs such as testosterone, male hormone, megestrol acetate, ethinyl estradiol, norethindrone and oral contraceptives can cause jaundice and other symptoms of liver damage.
Antineoplastic agents
These drugs such as azathioprine, methotrexate, 5 – fluorouracil, 6 – mercaptopurine, mitomycin, cyclophosphamide, etc. may cause liver damage. Among them, the emergence of drug azathioprine use the probability of jaundice could reach 20% ~ 40%; methotrexate can happen cirrhosis drug users; and mitomycin drug users can occur in severe liver damage.
Antipsychotic drugs
These drugs such as chlorpromazine, trifluoperazine may cause liver damage. 1% ~ 4% of the patients in the use of chlorpromazine will happen intrahepatic cholestasis in the 1 ~ 4 weeks, and some even will happen liver failure and death.
Antiepileptic drugs
These drugs such as phenytoin and sodium valproate can cause liver damage and so on.
Anti-tuberculosis drugs
These drugs such as isoniazid and rifampicin equality can cause liver damage. Isoniazid allergy drug in the use of 1 ~ 2 months later there will be severe hepatitis, liver necrosis and may even happen. If the isoniazid and rifampin combined use, it will greatly increase the liver toxicity of such drugs.
