Targeting the matrix: potential benefits for versican therapeutics

Posted on March 28, 2012 by admin

Mervyn J. Merrilees¹ and Thomas N. Wight^2,3 – biography
¹The University of Auckland
²Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason
³University of Washington

Versican is a chondroitin sulfate (CS) proteoglycan present in the interstitial space of all tissues and is notably elevated during early development, where it plays a key role in organogenesis, and later in numerous pathologies, often those affecting major organs such as vessels, lung and skin [1]. Accumulating evidence indicates that versican is of critical importance in chronic vascular diseases including atherosclerosis, aneurysms and restenosis [2]. Continue reading →

Is losartan the drug for all seasons?

Posted on January 19, 2012 by admin

Francesco Ramirez^¹, and Daniel B Rifkin^² – biography
¹Mount Sinai School of Medicine
²NYU School of Medicine, New York

Recent studies have raised the intriguing possibility that losartan, the prototypical angiotensin II (AngII) receptor type 1 (AT1r) blocker (ARB), should be used as a prophylactic drug akin to aspirin and statins. Other reports however have questioned whether losartan is the real thing or is this a case of unbridled enthusiasm fueling yet another bubble. While only time will tell, it is worth reviewing the pros and cons regarding losartan’s broad therapeutic potential. Continue reading →

Glycosaminoglycans: From “cellular glue” to novel therapeutical agents

Posted on November 28, 2011 by admin

Nikos K. Karamanos^1,2 and George N. Tzanakakis³ - biography
¹University of Patras
²ICE-HT/FORTH
³University of Crete

Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), linear macromolecular heteropolysaccharides consisting of disaccharide repeating units, are classified in several types. Hexuronic acid based GAGs include heparin and heparan sulfate (HS), which are glucosamine containing sulfated GAGs, chondroitin and dermatan sulphates (CS and DS), based on galactosamine, and hyaluronan which is a glucosamine based non-sulfated GAG.. Continue reading →

Synthetic Heparin

Posted on November 28, 2011 by admin

Robert J. Linhardt¹ and Jian Liu² - biography
¹Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
²University of North Carolina

Heparin is a complex polysaccharide-based anticoagulant drug that is essential for the practice of modern medicine [1]. Used in extracorporeal therapies, such as kidney dialysis, in the treatment of coagulation disorders, such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and to passivate the surfaces of indwelling devices, such as catheters, a heparin-based product is the first choice whenever blood clotting needs to be prevented or controlled. Continue reading →

Small leucine-rich proteoglycans, at the crossroad of cancer growth and inflammation

Posted on November 24, 2011 by admin

Liliana Schaefer¹ and Renato V. Iozzo² - biography
¹Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany,
²Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA USA

Decorin and biglycan, the two best studied members of the small leucine-rich proteoglycan (SLRP) family, have been implicated in regulating cancer growth and inflammation, respectively. Decorin expression is almost always suppressed by cancer cells but abundantly produced by activated stromal fibroblasts in the tumor microenvironment [1]. Often an inverse relationship exists between cancer growth and decorin expression, suggesting that decorin is an “endogenous guardian” from the matrix. Continue reading →

Massive overuse or appropriate medical intervention?
The modern-day use of antidepressants

Posted on November 10, 2011 by admin

David Nutt – biography
Imperial College London

Antidepressants have a peculiar place in the public mind. Almost every family in the UK will have someone taking these drugs; yet, the media are often very hostile to them with disparaging terms such as “happy pills” used to cast aspersions on their efficacy and utility [1]. Moreover, claims that they may cause suicidal ideation particularly in young people have lead to warning labels in the USA. Yet, despite the repeated media criticism, the use of antidepressants continues to be widespread. So what are the reasons for this? Continue reading →