Current Drug Discovery Technologies - Volume 6, Issue 1, 2009

The emergence of drug-resistant pathogens such as staphylococci and enterococci in the hospital setting has long being recognized as a serious clinical problem. Staphylococcus aureus is the causative agent of many nosocomial infections from minor skin abscesses to serious, potentially life threatening diseases such as bone and soft tissue intra-surgical infections, sepsis and invasive endocarditis, while enterococci are respo Read More

Despite important advances made in the last century, infectious diseases caused by pathogenic microrganisms are still a major threat to human health. This is worsened by the occurrence of new forms of bacterial resistance against antibiotics, that are the main remedy against infectious diseases, and their rapid spreading across bacterial species, pose additional threats to our health. Thus, the necessity to develop new w Read More

The first “growth hormone secretagogues” (GHSs) were discovered by Bowers et al. in 1977. In 1996 the GHSs receptor (GHS-R 1a) was cloned. The endogenous ligand for this receptor, ghrelin, was not identified until 1999. Synthetic molecules termed GHSs are substances that stimulate growth hormone (GH) release, via a separate pathway distinct from GH releasing hormone (GHRH)/somatostatin. Ghrelin displays strong Read More

Nanotechnology is a multidisciplinary scientific field undergoing explosive development. Nanometer-sized particles offer novel structural, optical and electronic properties that are not attainable with individual molecules or bulk solids. Advances in nanomedicine can be made by engineering biodegradable nanoparticles such as magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles, polymers, dendrimers and liposomes that are capable of target Read More

The surface coverage and leaflet anchoring of polymeric surfactants and other amphiphiles can be used to provide a particle with extensive modifiable ‘stealth’ properties. This is not a new conceptual tool but one which has significant strategic advantage and recent proven clinical application in a “drug-delivery-package”. This has been established and widely reported as a fundamental basis for optimal utility with lo Read More

The small GTP-binding protein, RhoA, and its downstream effector protein, rho-kinase, have been implicated in the pathogenesis of a number of cardiovascular diseases. The activation of rho-kinase is involved in the development of increased vascular tone, endothelial dysfunction, inflammation, and restenosis; and that the inhibition of rho-kinase has been shown to have a beneficial effect in a variety of cardiovascu Read More

The surfaces of the abdomen and pelvis are an important anatomic site for the dissemination of gastrointestinal and gynecologic malignancy. This transcoelomic spread of cancer cells gives rise to peritoneal carcinomatosis which, without special treatments, is a fatal manifestation of these diseases. In order to control peritoneal carcinomatosis cytoreductive surgery to remove gross disease is combined with perioperative int Read More