Infectious Disorders - Drug Targets (Formerly Current Drug Targets - Infectious Disorders) - Volume 13, Issue 1, 2013

Oseltamivir is listed by the World Health Organization as an essential drug for the treatment and prophylaxis of both seasonal and pandemic influenza. Since influenza mortality is highest in neonates and infants, optimal dosing of oseltamivir in this high risk population is of utmost public health concern. To date, only two major clinical trials have been conducted investigating oselatmivir exposure and exposure/response in Read More

Pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PKPD) studies have the potential to yield useful information on whether and how a drug works, and what dose to use. This approach is often best suited to situations where dose-response relationships need to be elucidated and where randomisation is not feasible. Children make up around one third of cases during influenza outbreaks, and are more susceptible to certain complications such Read More

Influenza is a cause of significant morbidity and mortality in young children. It is associated with high annual attack rates as well as being responsible for frequent outpatient visits and hospitalisations. Children aged <2 years are at the highest risk for serious illness or death during the influenza season. The neuraminidase inhibitor oseltamivir has been proven to reduce the duration and severity of illness when treatmen Read More

Acute respiratory infections represent common diseases in childhood and a challenge to infection control, public heath, and the clinical management of patients and their families. Children are avid spreaders of respiratory viruses, and seasonal outbreaks of influenza create additional disease burden and healthcare cost. Infants under the age of two and children with chronic conditions are at high risk. The ab Read More

Neuraminidase inhibitors (NAIs), such as oseltamivir and zanamivir, are the medicines of choice against influenza A or B. Oseltamivir resistance can be conferred by a single point missense mutation from histidine to tyrosine at position 275 (H275Y) of the neuraminidase gene. Oseltamivir resistance in seasonal influenza A/H1N1 strains rose markedly during the 2007-2008 season. Furthermore, oseltamivir resistant (OsR) str Read More

Influenza remains an important cause of morbidity and mortality, and incurs substantial economic costs (mainly due to hospitalisation) especially for the elderly aged 65 years or more, and among those with high-risk medical conditions. Influenza vaccination is the most effective control measure for both healthy populations and the chronically ill in whom complications of influenza cluster. Unfortunately, vaccination is less Read More

Recent research suggests that inflammation and immunity may have a role in the etiology of psychotic disorders. There is evidence of proinflammatory activation of the innate immune system and an activation of the T-cells of the adaptive immune system in both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Studies of antipsychotic-naive patients with firstepisode psychosis have found that inflammation is present already at th Read More

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome is one of the world's serious health problems. Immune-based therapy is a new approach in the treatment of HIV infected patients. IMODTM with the ability to correct immune deficiencies has been introduced for the management of HIV infection. In the phase IV trial study the main objectives were to assess the possible side effects, evaluate its effect on CD4+ T Lymphocyte count and pa Read More

Periodontal diseases are comprised of a group of inflammatory conditions that result in the destruction of the supporting structures of the dentition. Emphasis has traditionally been placed on the deleterious actions of lipid mediators, such as prostanoids and leukotrienes, in propagating the inflammatory response and enhancing tissue destruction. Recently, the emerging understanding of the molecular basis of inflammation Read More