New medication lomitapide, shows promise as lipid-lowering therapy for rare cholesterol disorder

Penn researchers have found that,   lomitapide (see structure)  a first-in-class microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP) inhibitor, substantially and stably reduced LDL cholesterol (the "bad" cholesterol) in patients with the orphan disease homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH). Lomitapide works by inhibiting MTP, which is required for the production of VLDL,  the precursor to LDL.

The current study was an open-label trial that comprised a six-month phase designed to assess the efficacy of lomitapide when added to standard of care and an additional year-long phase to assess safety and tolerability. Twenty-nine adult HoFH patients from across the world were enrolled, with 23 patients completing both the efficacy and the safety phases. All of the patients received lomitapide along with conventional lipid-lowering therapies including statins and, in some cases, apheresis. The lomitapide dose was gradually increased from 5 mg to a maximum tolerated dose of up to 60 mg per day. Median dose was 40 mg per day. At the end of the efficacy phase, LDL-C levels were reduced by an average of 50 percent from baseline. Approximately one-third of the patients experienced levels of LDL-C that were less than 100 mg/dl -- close to the recommended therapeutic goals -- at some point during the study, and concomitant lipid-lowering therapy was modified in a subset of these patients during the safety phase. Despite these changes in treatment, patients' mean LDL-C levels were still reduced by 38 percent at the end of the study.

"The magnitude of this reduction in LDL-C and the fact that some patients reached or approached the LDL-C therapeutic goals is truly remarkable for this high risk population that historically doesn't respond to lipid-lowering drugs," said the study's lead author, Marina Cuchel, MD, PhD, research assistant professor of Medicine at Penn. "A reduction in LDL-C of this magnitude is certainly expected to favorably alter the clinical course of this devastating disease."

Ref : http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(12)61731-0/fulltext

New medication shows promise as lipid-lowering therapy for rare cholesterol disorder

DHA supplementation enhances high-frequency, stimulation-induced synaptic transmission in mouse hippocampus - Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism

In continuation of my update on DHA...

A team led by Yves Sauve, who is a member of the University of Alberta's Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, divided ten mice to receive a diet supplemented with DHA or an unsupplemented diet.  Animals that received DHA-enhanced diets were found to have a 29 percent higher level of DHA in the brain's hippocampus region—which is involved in memory--compared to the control group.  Higher DHA levels were associated with increased synaptic transmission in the hippocampus following brief stimulation.  “This increase in synaptic transmission might provide a physiological correlation for the improved spatial learning and memory observed following DHA supplementation,” the authors conclude.

"We wanted to find out how fish intake improves memory," explained Dr Sauve, who works in the University's department of physiology, the department of ophthalmology and the Centre for Neuroscience. "What we discovered is that memory cells in the hippocampus could communicate better with each other and better relay messages when DHA levels in that region of the brain were higher. This could explain why memory improves on a high-DHA diet."

He added that supplementing your diet with DHA, either by increasing fish intake or by consuming omega-3 supplements, may help protect against reduced brain DHA levels as we age. 

Ref : http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/abs/10.1139/h2012-062#.UJSh1sH3Th8

DHA supplementation enhances high-frequency, stimulation-induced synaptic transmission in mouse hippocampus - Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism

Omega-3 supplementation improves working memory in young adults

In continuation of my update on omega fatty acid

University of Pittsburgh researchers led by Rajesh Narendran of the Department of Radiology tested the effects of a supplement providing 930 milligrams eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and 750 milligrams docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in 11 men and women between the ages of 18 and 25. Evaluation of working memory (via an "n-back test"), positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of the brain and tests for red blood cell fatty acid levels were conducted before and after the six month treatment period.

Participants experienced an increase in plasma omega-3 fatty acid levels and improvement in working memory at the end of six months. "What was particularly interesting about the presupplementation n-back test was that it correlated positively with plasma omega-3,"observed Bita Moghaddam, whose lab conducted the research. "This means that the omega-3s they were getting from their diet already positively correlated with their working memory."

"Before seeing this data, I would have said it was impossible to move young healthy individuals above their cognitive best," he remarked. "We found that members of this population can enhance their working memory performance even further, despite their already being at the top of their cognitive game."

Although the researchers had suggested increases in dopamine storage and a protein involved in decision making in a particular area of the brain as mechanisms supporting omega-3's effect on cognitive function, PET scan results failed to support the hypothesis. "It is really interesting that diets enriched with omega-3 fatty acid can enhance cognition in highly functional young individuals," Dr Narendran commented. "Nevertheless, it was a bit disappointing that our imaging studies were unable to clarify the mechanisms by which it enhances working memory."

Green tea found to reduce rate of some GI cancers

In continuation of my update on green tea.

We know that, Tea contains polyphenols or natural chemicals that include catechins like EGCG and ECG. Catechins have antioxidant properties and may inhibit cancer by reducing DNA damage and blocking tumor cell growth and invasion.

Now researchers have found that regular tea consumption, defined as  tea  consumption  at  least three times a week for more than six months, was  associated  with  a  17 percent reduced risk of all digestive cancers combined. A  further  reduction  in  risk  was  found to be  associated  with  a increased level of tea drinking. Specifically, those who consumed about two to three cups per day (at least 150 grams of tea per month) had a 21 percent reduced risk of digestive system cancers.

For all digestive system cancers combined, the risk was reduced by 27 percent among women who had been drinking tea regularly for at least 20 years," said Nechuta. "For colorectal cancer, risk was reduced by 29 percent among the long-term tea drinkers. These results suggest long-term cumulative exposure may be particularly important."

Ref : http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/96/5/1056

Green tea found to reduce rate of some GI cancers

Caffeine's effect on the brain's adenosine receptors visualized for the first time

In continuation on my update on coffee

Molecular imaging with positron emission tomography (PET) has enabled scientists for the first time to visualize binding sites of caffeine in the living human brain to explore possible positive and negative effects of caffeine consumption. According to research published in the November issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine, PET imaging with F-18-8-cyclopentyl-3-(3-fluoropropyl)-1-propylxanthine (F-18-CPFPX) shows that repeated intake of caffeinated beverages throughout a day results in up to 50 percent occupancy of the brain's A₁adenosine receptors.

"There is substantial evidence that caffeine is protective against neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's or Alzheimer's disease," noted Elmenhorst. "Several investigations show that moderate coffee consumption of 3 to 5 cups per day at mid-life is linked to a reduced risk of dementia in late life. The present study provides evidence that typical caffeine doses result in a high A₁ adenosine receptor occupancy and supports the view that the A₁ adenosine receptor deserves broader attention in the context of neurodegenerative disorders." 

Caffeine's effect on the brain's adenosine receptors visualized for the first time

New target discovered for food allergy treatment

New target discovered for food allergy treatment: Researchers have discovered a novel target for the treatment of food allergies. Levels of the enzyme Pim 1 kinase rise in the small intestines of peanut-allergic mice. Inhibiting activity of Pim 1 markedly reduced the allergic response to peanuts.

Common food preservative, Nisin may slow, even stop tumor growth

We know that, Nisin is a polycyclic antibacterial peptide with 34 amino acid residues used as a food preservative. It contains the uncommon amino acids lanthionine (Lan), methyllanthionine (MeLan), didehydroalanine (Dha) and didehydroaminobutyric acid (Dhb). These unusual amino acids are introduced by posttranslational modification of the precursor peptide. In these reactions a ribosomally synthesized 57-mer is converted to the final peptide. The unsaturated amino acids originate from serine and threonine, and the enzyme-catalysed addition of cysteine residues to the didehydro amino acids result in the multiple (5) thioether bridges. Subtilin and Epidermin are related to Nisin. All are members of a class of molecules known as lantibiotics.

Nisin is produced by fermentation using the bacterium Lactococcus lactis. Commercially, it is obtained from the culturing ofLactoccus lactis on natural substrates, such as milk or dextrose, and is not chemically synthesized.

The study is the first to show CHAC1's new role in promoting cancer cell death under nisin treatment. The findings also suggest that nisin may work by creating pores in the cancer cell membranes that allow an influx of calcium. It's unclear what role calcium plays in nisin-triggered cell death, but it's well known that calcium is a key regulator in cell death and survival.

Ref : http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/cam4.35/abstract;jsessionid=288DD01F2898095E16F5EEAFEF5274FD.d02t03

Common food preservative may slow, even stop tumor growth

Nabilone Drug offers new pain management therapy for diabetics.....

We know that, Nabilone is a synthetic cannabinoid with therapeutic use as an antiemetic and as an adjunct analgesic for neuropathic pain. It is a synthetic cannabinoid, which mimics the main chemical compound of cannabis(THC). Chemically, nabilone is similar to the active ingredient found in naturally occurring Cannabis sativa L. 

In Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and Mexico, nabilone is marketed as Cesamet. It was approved in 1985 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting that has not responded to conventional antiemetics. Though it was approved by the FDA in 1985, the drug only began marketing in the United States in 2006. It is also approved for use in treatment of anorexia and weight loss in patients with AIDS.

Although it doesn't have the official indication (except in Mexico), nabilone is widely used as an adjunct therapy for chronic pain management. Numerous trials and case studies have demonstrated various benefits for conditions such as fibromyalgia  and multiple sclerosis. Nabilone is a racemic mixture consisting of the (S,S) and the (R,R) isomers ("trans") ......

Ref : http://www.ucalgary.ca/news/utoday/october31-2012/pain

. Drug offers new pain management therapy for diabetics

EU Approves Dacogen, Velcade Indications | News | Drug Discovery and Development Magazine

In continuation of my update on Dacogen

EU Approves Dacogen, Velcade Indications | News | Drug Discovery and Development Magazine

Dulaglutide Fares Well in New Trials

Eli Lilly and Co.'s potential once-weekly treatment for type 2 diabetes fared better than three other drugs in lowering blood sugar levels, according to initial results from some late-stage research.

The Indianapolis drugmaker said that two doses of its injectable drug dulaglutide (see structure) delivered statistically superior reductions in blood sugar levels when compared to twice-daily injections of exenatide and the oral treatments metformin and sitagliptin. Lilly will present more details from the studies at scientific meetings next year and in 2014.

Lilly said it will submit the drug to regulators for approval next year. It said timing in the United States will depend on the completion of Food and Drug Administration requirements for an assessment of the drug's cardiovascular risk.

Dulaglutide Fares Well in New Trials