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Parents' Influence On Children's Eating Habits Is Small, New Study Finds
The popular belief that healthy eating starts at home and that parents" dietary choices help children establish their nutritional beliefs and behaviors may need rethinking, according to a study by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. An examination of dietary intakes and patterns among U.S. families found that the resemblance between children"s and their parents" eating habits is weak. The results are published in the May 25, 2009, issue of Social Science and Medicine.
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ACLU Illinois Offering No-Cost Legal Advice Regarding Parental Notification Law
The American Civil Liberties Union has launched an effort to offer no-cost legal advice about an Illinois law requiring providers to notify an unmarried minor"s parents prior to performing an abortion, the AP/KWQC reports. The law, which took effect on Tuesday, was enacted in 1995. However, enforcement of the law was delayed by a series of court challenges. It requires that either a parent, grandparent, stepparent living in the home or a legal guardian be notified prior to a minor obtaining an abortion, although judges are permitted to grant exceptions. Abortion-rights opponents claim the law will ensure that parents are consulted so their children "aren"t forced into abortions," according to the AP/KWQC.In response to the law, ACLU has created a toll-free phone line and a Web site to assist girls seeking information about the judicial bypass process. Lorie Chaiten of the Illinois ACLU said the group also has been training lawyers to assist minors (AP/KWQC, 8/4).
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NPA Brings Pharmacy Owners Issues To Welsh Assembly Government
Representatives of the NPA have met with the Minister for Health and Social Services, Edwina Hart, to discuss a number of matters on behalf of members in Wales.
Nutrition

Versartis Focusing On Extending Half Life Of Drugs For Metabolic And Endocrine Diseases

Versartis, Inc., a new company developing novel biologics with enhanced properties for patients with metabolic diseases, published abstracts for preclinical data on its two product candidates, VRS-859 (exenatide-rPEG) and VRS-808 (glucagon-rPEG), at the American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions annual meeting beginning today in New Orleans. Versartis, through a unique licensing agreement with Amunix, Inc., uses the proprietary Amunix recombinant PEGylation (rPEG) technology to extend the half life of established biologics.÷  The Versartis compounds in development have the potential for significantly less frequent dosing and fewer side effects than those products currently on the market or in development. "With VRS-859, we have a product candidate that may become a "best in class" GLP-1 analog for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.÷  This compound has similar preclinical efficacy to exenatide in animal models; and the pharmacokinetics in four species support monthly dosing in humans.÷  VRS-859 can also be administered in a small volume with a small gauge needle," said Jeffrey L. Cleland, Ph.D., Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Versartis. "VRS-808 has the potential to prevent nocturnal hypoglycemia in type 1 diabetes, an unmet medical need," Dr. Cleland continued.÷  "VRS-859 and VRS-808 did not have significant toxicology at very high doses in preclinical studies, including a lack of immunogenicity in all studies.÷  We look forward to moving these products rapidly into human clinical trials to benefit diabetes patients." ABSTRACTS Exenatide: 1994-PO -- "An Extended Half-life Exenatide Construct for Weekly Administration in the Treatment of Diabetes Mellitus" The current approved regimen of exenatide for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus requires administration twice a day and is effective in reducing hemoglobin A1c and body weight. Common side effects of this treatment regimen for exenatide include nausea and hypoglycemia, possibly caused by the high peak levels (Cmax) of exenatide after each injection. The ideal dosage form of exenatide would maintain the exenatide blood level in the therapeutic window for at least one week without a high Cmax, which commonly occurs with depot dosage forms. We designed an extended half-life exenatide construct that contains a long unstructured tail of hydrophilic amino acids referred to as rPEG (Exenatide-rPEG; VRS-859). The rPEG tail both increases the serum half-life and provides a slower rate of absorption, thus reducing the peak-trough ratio significantly from the levels seen with twice daily injection of unmodified exenatide. Attachment of rPEG to a model protein (26.9 kDa) increased serum half-life to 75 hrs with a 99% absolute bioavailability following subcutaneous administration in cynomolgus monkeys. A similar half-life extension is expected with exenatide, enabling weekly or every two week dosing in humans. The preclinical efficacy, pharmacokinetics, and immunogenicity of VRS-859 will be presented. The results of these studies will enable rapid progress of the construct into human clinical trials. Glucagon:÷  2001-PO -- "An Extended Half-life Glucagon Construct for the Prevention of Nocturnal Hypoglycemia" Nocturnal hypoglycemia is a common problem for type I diabetics, especially children, often leading to death. Glucagon is typically used to treat acute hypoglycemia, but the short half-life of glucagon ( Versartis


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