Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology - Volume 14, Issue 8, 2013

MRI plays a unique role in cancer treatment from three perspectives: Firstly, MRI has superior soft tissue resolution, which makes it indispensible in delineating, staging and monitoring treatment efficacy for certain tumors; Secondly, several techniques which use real-time MRI to map such physiological parameters as temperature, water content or pH have been developed to guide course of anticancer therapies; Thirdly, dif Read More

Optical molecular imaging holds great promise for image guiding cancer therapy. The non-invasive guidance of therapeutic strategies would enable the removal of cancerous tissue while avoiding side effects and systemic toxicity, preventing damage of healthy tissues and decreasing the risk of postoperative problems. This review article highlights the advantages and disadvantages of the optical imaging techniques that are curr Read More

Over the last several decades, development of various imaging techniques such as computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and positron emission tomography greatly facilitated the early detection of cancer. Another important aspect that is closely related to the survival of cancer patients is complete tumor removal during surgical resection. The major obstacle in achieving this goal is to distinguish between Read More

Ultrasound mediated drug delivery using microbubbles is a safe and noninvasive approach for spatially localized drug administration. This approach can create temporary and reversible openings on cellular membranes and vessel walls (a process called "sonoporation"), allowing for enhanced transport of therapeutic agents across these natural barriers. It is generally believed that the sonoporation process is highly associated Read More

Swine flu and avian flu outbreaks have occurred in recent years in addition to seasonal flu. As mortality rate records are not available at the early stage of an outbreak, two parameters may be useful to assess the viral virulence : 1. the time required for the first domestic case in a newly involved region, and 2. the doubling time of new infected cases. Viral virulence is one of the most important factors in guiding short ter Read More

With the convergence of modern technology in genomics, proteomics, carbohydrate, protein and lipid biochemistry as well as decades of experience in vaccine development and delivery of immunization programs, the Global Vaccine Action Plan has declared 2011 to 2020 as ‘The Decade of Vaccines’. This review focuses on bacterial vaccines and summarises the current state of vaccinology in bacteriology and loo Read More

Midkine is a heparin-binding growth factor that promotes cell growth, survival, and migration. Externally added midkine prevents ventricular remodeling and improves long-term survival after myocardial infarction in the mouse. Preclinical testing of this protein is in progress. Externally added pleiotrophin, a member of the midkine protein family, promotes functional recovery after neural transplantation in rats. Thus, ple Read More