Semantic Dementia: A Mini-Review.

Mini Rev Med Chem. 2016 Dec 23;

Authors: Klimova B, Novotny M, Kuca K

Abstract
BACKGROUND: At present there are about 47.5 million people suffering from different types of dementia and by 2030 this number should reach 75.6 million. This obviously brings about serious social and economic burden for people suffering from any kind of dementia.
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this article is to explore only semantic dementia (SD) as one of the forms of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and provide the latest information on its diagnosis and treatment which play a significant role in the maintenance of quality of life of both patients and their caregivers. Especially unimpaired communication is one of the key factors in the relationship between the patients and their caregivers.
METHODS: The methods used for this mini review include a method of literature review of available sources found in the world's acknowledged databases such as Web of Science, PubMed, Springer and Scopus from the period of 2010 up to the present time; and a method of comparison and evaluation of the selected studies.
RESULTS: The findings of this mini review show that FTD, respectively SD, is a serious neurodegenerative disorder which has fatal consequences for the affected patients. In addition, the findings also indicate that there are not many possibilities of pharmacological treatment for semantic dementia and therefore more attention should be paid to alternative, non-pharmacological approaches.
CONCLUSION: Although semantic dementia is a relatively rare neurodegenerative disorder if compared with other types of dementia, it has an irreversible impact on patient's and his/her caregiver's life in terms of quality.

PMID: 28019640 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Pharmacogenomic Study Reveals New Variants of Drug Metabolizing Enzyme and Transporter Genes Associated with Steady-State Plasma Concentrations of Risperidone and 9-Hydroxyrisperidone in Thai Autism Spectrum Disorder Patients.

Front Pharmacol. 2016;7:475

Authors: Medhasi S, Pinthong D, Pasomsub E, Vanwong N, Ngamsamut N, Puangpetch A, Chamnanphon M, Hongkaew Y, Pratoomwun J, Limsila P, Sukasem C

Abstract
The present study sought to investigate the genetic variants in drug metabolizing enzyme and transporter (DMET) genes associated with steady-state plasma concentrations of risperidone among Thai autism spectrum disorder (ASD) patients. ASD patients taking risperidone for at least 1 month were enrolled for this pharmacogenomic study. Genotyping profile was obtained using Affymetrix DMET Plus array interrogating 1931 variants in 231 genes. Steady-state plasma risperidone and 9-hydroxyrisperidone were measured using liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry assay. The final analysis included 483 markers for 167 genes. Six variants, ABCB11 (c.3084A > G, c.(∗)420A > G, c.(∗)368G > A, and c.(∗)236G > A) and ADH7 (c.690G > A and c.-5360G > A), were found to be associated with plasma concentrations of risperidone. 9-Hydroxyrisperidone and the total active-moiety levels were associated with six gene variants, SCLO1B1 (c.-11187G > A and c.521T > C), SLCO1B3 (c.334G > T, c.699A > G, and c.1557G > A), and SLC7A5 c.(∗)438C > G. Polymorphisms in UGT2B4 c.(∗)448A > G and CYP2D6 (c.1661G > C, c.4180G > C, and c.-2178G > A) showed considerable but not significant associations with metabolic ratio. This pharmacogenomic study identifies new genetic variants of DMET genes in monitoring risperidone therapy.

PMID: 28018217 [PubMed]

A Meta-Analysis Based Method for Prioritizing Candidate Genes Involved in a Pre-specific Function.

Front Plant Sci. 2016;7:1914

Authors: Zhai J, Tang Y, Yuan H, Wang L, Shang H, Ma C

Abstract
The identification of genes associated with a given biological function in plants remains a challenge, although network-based gene prioritization algorithms have been developed for Arabidopsis thaliana and many non-model plant species. Nevertheless, these network-based gene prioritization algorithms have encountered several problems; one in particular is that of unsatisfactory prediction accuracy due to limited network coverage, varying link quality, and/or uncertain network connectivity. Thus, a model that integrates complementary biological data may be expected to increase the prediction accuracy of gene prioritization. Toward this goal, we developed a novel gene prioritization method named RafSee, to rank candidate genes using a random forest algorithm that integrates sequence, evolutionary, and epigenetic features of plants. Subsequently, we proposed an integrative approach named RAP (Rank Aggregation-based data fusion for gene Prioritization), in which an order statistics-based meta-analysis was used to aggregate the rank of the network-based gene prioritization method and RafSee, for accurately prioritizing candidate genes involved in a pre-specific biological function. Finally, we showcased the utility of RAP by prioritizing 380 flowering-time genes in Arabidopsis. The "leave-one-out" cross-validation experiment showed that RafSee could work as a complement to a current state-of-art network-based gene prioritization system (AraNet v2). Moreover, RAP ranked 53.68% (204/380) flowering-time genes higher than AraNet v2, resulting in an 39.46% improvement in term of the first quartile rank. Further evaluations also showed that RAP was effective in prioritizing genes-related to different abiotic stresses. To enhance the usability of RAP for Arabidopsis and non-model plant species, an R package implementing the method is freely available at http://bioinfo.nwafu.edu.cn/software.

PMID: 28018423 [PubMed]

Network Analysis-Based Approach for Exploring the Potential Diagnostic Biomarkers of Acute Myocardial Infarction.

Front Physiol. 2016;7:615

Authors: Chen J, Yu L, Zhang S, Chen X

Abstract
Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a severe cardiovascular disease that is a serious threat to human life. However, the specific diagnostic biomarkers have not been fully clarified and candidate regulatory targets for AMI have not been identified. In order to explore the potential diagnostic biomarkers and possible regulatory targets of AMI, we used a network analysis-based approach to analyze microarray expression profiling of peripheral blood in patients with AMI. The significant differentially-expressed genes (DEGs) were screened by Limma and constructed a gene function regulatory network (GO-Tree) to obtain the inherent affiliation of significant function terms. The pathway action network was constructed, and the signal transfer relationship between pathway terms was mined in order to investigate the impact of core pathway terms in AMI. Subsequently, constructed the transcription regulatory network of DEGs. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was employed to identify significantly altered gene modules and hub genes in two groups. Subsequently, the transcription regulation network of DEGs was constructed. We found that specific gene modules may provide a better insight into the potential diagnostic biomarkers of AMI. Our findings revealed and verified that NCF4, AQP9, NFIL3, DYSF, GZMA, TBX21, PRF1 and PTGDR genes by RT-qPCR. TBX21 and PRF1 may be potential candidates for diagnostic biomarker and possible regulatory targets in AMI.

PMID: 28018242 [PubMed]

Host-Microbiome Interaction and Cancer: Potential Application in Precision Medicine.

Front Physiol. 2016;7:606

Authors: Contreras AV, Cocom-Chan B, Hernandez-Montes G, Portillo-Bobadilla T, Resendis-Antonio O

Abstract
It has been experimentally shown that host-microbial interaction plays a major role in shaping the wellness or disease of the human body. Microorganisms coexisting in human tissues provide a variety of benefits that contribute to proper functional activity in the host through the modulation of fundamental processes such as signal transduction, immunity and metabolism. The unbalance of this microbial profile, or dysbiosis, has been correlated with the genesis and evolution of complex diseases such as cancer. Although this latter disease has been thoroughly studied using different high-throughput (HT) technologies, its heterogeneous nature makes its understanding and proper treatment in patients a remaining challenge in clinical settings. Notably, given the outstanding role of host-microbiome interactions, the ecological interactions with microorganisms have become a new significant aspect in the systems that can contribute to the diagnosis and potential treatment of solid cancers. As a part of expanding precision medicine in the area of cancer research, efforts aimed at effective treatments for various kinds of cancer based on the knowledge of genetics, biology of the disease and host-microbiome interactions might improve the prediction of disease risk and implement potential microbiota-directed therapeutics. In this review, we present the state of the art of sequencing and metabolome technologies, computational methods and schemes in systems biology that have addressed recent breakthroughs of uncovering relationships or associations between microorganisms and cancer. Together, microbiome studies extend the horizon of new personalized treatments against cancer from the perspective of precision medicine through a synergistic strategy integrating clinical knowledge, HT data, bioinformatics, and systems biology.

PMID: 28018236 [PubMed]

Metabonomics of ageing - towards understanding metabolism of a long and healthy life.

Mech Ageing Dev. 2016 Dec 22;:

Authors: Martin FJ, Roura IM, Kussmann M

Abstract
Systems biology approaches have been increasingly employed in clinical studies to enhance our understanding of the role of genetics, environmental factors and their interactions on nutritional, health and disease status. Amongst the new omics technologies, metabonomics has emerged as a robust platform to capture metabolic and nutritional requirements by enabling, in a minimally invasive fashion, the monitoring of a wide range of biochemical compounds. Their variations reflect comprehensively the various molecular regulatory processes, which are tightly controlled and under the influence of genetics, diet, gut microbiota and other environmental factors. They are providing key insights into complex metabolic phenomena as well as into differences and specificities at individual and population level. The aim of this review is to evaluate promising metabolic insights towards understanding metabolism of a long and healthy life from pre-clinical and clinical metabonomics studies. We will also discuss analytical approaches to enable data integration, with an emphasis on the longitudinal component. Herein, we will illustrate current examples, challenges and perspectives in the applications of metabonomics monitoring and modelling approaches in the context of healthy ageing research.

PMID: 28017698 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Preclinical approaches in CML: From cells to systems.

Exp Hematol. 2016 Dec 22;:

Authors: Clarke CJ, Holyoake TL

Abstract
Advances in the design of targeted therapies for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) have transformed the prognosis for patients diagnosed with this disease. However, leukemic stem cell persistence, drug intolerance, drug resistance and advanced phase disease, represent unmet clinical needs demanding the attention of CML investigators worldwide. The availability of appropriate preclinical models is essential to efficiently translate findings from the bench to the clinic. Here we review the current approaches taken to preclinical work in the CML field, including examples of commonly used in vivo models and recent successes from systems biology based methodologies.

PMID: 28017647 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Context Specificity in Causal Signaling Networks Revealed by Phosphoprotein Profiling.

Cell Syst. 2016 Dec 19;:

Authors: Hill SM, Nesser NK, Johnson-Camacho K, Jeffress M, Johnson A, Boniface C, Spencer SE, Lu Y, Heiser LM, Lawrence Y, Pande NT, Korkola JE, Gray JW, Mills GB, Mukherjee S, Spellman PT

Abstract
Signaling networks downstream of receptor tyrosine kinases are among the most extensively studied biological networks, but new approaches are needed to elucidate causal relationships between network components and understand how such relationships are influenced by biological context and disease. Here, we investigate the context specificity of signaling networks within a causal conceptual framework using reverse-phase protein array time-course assays and network analysis approaches. We focus on a well-defined set of signaling proteins profiled under inhibition with five kinase inhibitors in 32 contexts: four breast cancer cell lines (MCF7, UACC812, BT20, and BT549) under eight stimulus conditions. The data, spanning multiple pathways and comprising ∼70,000 phosphoprotein and ∼260,000 protein measurements, provide a wealth of testable, context-specific hypotheses, several of which we experimentally validate. Furthermore, the data provide a unique resource for computational methods development, permitting empirical assessment of causal network learning in a complex, mammalian setting.

PMID: 28017544 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

[Pharmacists' Behavior in Clinical Practice: Results from a Questionnaire Survey of Pharmacy Students].

Yakugaku Zasshi. 2016;136(2):351-8

Authors: Nakada A, Akagawa K, Yamamoto H, Kato Y, Yamamoto T

Abstract
A questionnaire survey was performed to obtain pharmacy students' impressions of pharmacists' behavior, to classify these based on professionalism, and to analyze the relationship between these experiences and students' satisfaction with their clinical practice in Japan. The questionnaire was answered by 327 5th-year pharmacy school students upon completing clinical practice at community pharmacies from 2011 to 2012. They rated their satisfaction with their clinical practice using a 6-point Likert scale, and provided descriptions of their experience such as, "This health provider is professional", or "What a great person he/she is as a health provider". We counted the words and then categorized the responses into 10 traits, as defined by the American Pharmaceutical Association Academy of Students of Pharmacy-American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, Council of Deans Task Force on Professionalism 1999, using text mining. We analyzed the relationship between their experiences with respectful persons, and satisfaction, using the Mann-Whitney U-test (significance level<0.05). Most students (337 of 364, 92.6%) reported experiences with respectful health providers. These students experienced significantly more satisfaction than did other students (p<0.001). We analyzed 343 sentences written by 261 students, using text mining analysis after excluding unsuitable responses. The word most used was "patient" (121 times). Many students noted their impression that the pharmacists had answered patients' questions. Of the 10 trait categories, "professional knowledge and skills" was mentioned most often (151 students).

PMID: 26831812 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Severe disease in Cystic Fibrosis and fecal calprotectin levels.

Immunobiology. 2016 Nov 13;:

Authors: Parisi GF, Papale M, Rotolo N, Aloisio D, Tardino L, Scuderi MG, Di Benedetto V, Nenna R, Midulla F, Leonardi S

Abstract
Fecal calprotectin (FC) is used to asses the presence of intestinal inflammation also in patients with Cystic Fibrosis (CF) and recent studies showed a correlation between bowel and lung disease in these patients. The aim of this study was to analyze the levels of FC in CF and correlate them with different phenotypes of disease. We enrolled a cohort of 54 CF patients and 50 healthy controls. In these patients, calprotectin has been assayed on a stools sample using an ELISA kit. In all patients we analyzed, FC levels were elevated above the cut-off value and significantly higher than in healthy controls. Among CF patients, FC was significantly higher in patients older than 18 years, with pancreatic insufficiency, underweight status, Pseudomonas Aeruginosa airways colonization, CF-related diabetes mellitus, reduced lung function, or high number of pulmonary exacerbations. These results suggest that in patients with CF, FC levels are not only influenced by the CF enteropathy but also by the severity of the genetic disease. Since we found higher FC levels in patients with a severe phenotype (P. Aeruginosa airways colonization, FEV1<50% of predicted, pancreatic insufficiency, underweight status,) we suggest that this marker could be useful to monitor longitudinally a clinical worsening.

PMID: 28012584 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Changes in the inner ear structures in cystic fibrosis patients.

Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2017 Jan;92:108-114

Authors: Pauna HF, Monsanto RC, Kurata N, Paparella MM, Cureoglu S

Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Although prolonged use of antibiotics is very common in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients, no studies have assessed the changes in both cochlear and peripheral vestibular systems in this population.
METHODS: We used human temporal bones to analyze the density of vestibular dark, transitional, and hair cells in specimens from CF patients who were exposed to several types of antibiotics, as compared with specimens from an age-matched control group with no history of ear disease or antibiotic use. Additionally, we analyzed the changes in the elements of the cochlea (hair cells, spiral ganglion neurons, and the area of the stria vascularis). Data was gathered using differential interference contrast microscopy and light microscopy.
RESULTS: In the CF group, 83% of patients were exposed to some ototoxic drugs, such as aminoglycosides. As compared with the control group, the density of both type I and type II vestibular hair cells was significantly lower in all structures analyzed; the number of dark cells was significantly lower in the lateral and posterior semicircular canals. We noted a trend toward a lower number of both inner and outer cochlear hair cells at all turns of the cochlea. The number of spiral ganglion neurons in Rosenthal's canal at the apical turn of the cochlea was significantly lower; furthermore, the area of the stria vascularis at the apical turn of the cochlea was significantly smaller.
CONCLUSIONS: Deterioration of cochlear and vestibular structures in CF patients might be related to their exposure to ototoxic antibiotics. Well-designed case-control studies are necessary to rule out the effect of CF itself.

PMID: 28012509 [PubMed - in process]

Computational modeling of brain pathologies: the case of multiple sclerosis.

Brief Bioinform. 2016 Dec 22;:

Authors: Pappalardo F, Rajput AM, Motta S

Abstract
The central nervous system is the most complex network of the human body. The existence and functionality of a large number of molecular species in human brain are still ambiguous and mostly unknown, thus posing a challenge to Science and Medicine. Neurological diseases inherit the same level of complexity, making effective treatments difficult to be found. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a major neurological disease that causes severe inabilities and also a significant social burden on health care system: between 2 and 2.5 million people are affected by it, and the cost associated with it is significantly higher as compared with other neurological diseases because of the chronic nature of the disease and to the partial efficacy of current therapies. Despite difficulties in understanding and treating MS, many computational models have been developed to help neurologists. In the present work, we briefly review the main characteristics of MS and present a selection criteria of modeling approaches.

PMID: 28011755 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Functional defect of variants in the adenosine triphosphate-binding sites of ABCB4 and their rescue by the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator potentiator, ivacaftor (VX-770).

Hepatology. 2016 Nov 05;:

Authors: Delaunay JL, Bruneau A, Hoffmann B, Durand-Schneider AM, Barbu V, Jacquemin E, Maurice M, Housset C, Callebaut I, Aït-Slimane T

Abstract
ABCB4 (MDR3) is an adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-binding cassette (ABC) transporter expressed at the canalicular membrane of hepatocytes, where it mediates phosphatidylcholine (PC) secretion. Variations in the ABCB4 gene are responsible for several biliary diseases, including progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis type 3 (PFIC3), a rare disease that can be lethal in the absence of liver transplantation. In this study, we investigated the effect and potential rescue of ABCB4 missense variations that reside in the highly conserved motifs of ABC transporters, involved in ATP binding. Five disease-causing variations in these motifs have been identified in ABCB4 (G535D, G536R, S1076C, S1176L, and G1178S), three of which are homologous to the gating mutations of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR or ABCC7; i.e., G551D, S1251N, and G1349D), that were previously shown to be function defective and corrected by ivacaftor (VX-770; Kalydeco), a clinically approved CFTR potentiator. Three-dimensional structural modeling predicted that all five ABCB4 variants would disrupt critical interactions in the binding of ATP and thereby impair ATP-induced nucleotide-binding domain dimerization and ABCB4 function. This prediction was confirmed by expression in cell models, which showed that the ABCB4 mutants were normally processed and targeted to the plasma membrane, whereas their PC secretion activity was dramatically decreased. As also hypothesized on the basis of molecular modeling, PC secretion activity of the mutants was rescued by the CFTR potentiator, ivacaftor (VX-770).
CONCLUSION: Disease-causing variations in the ATP-binding sites of ABCB4 cause defects in PC secretion, which can be rescued by ivacaftor. These results provide the first experimental evidence that ivacaftor is a potential therapy for selected patients who harbor mutations in the ATP-binding sites of ABCB4. (Hepatology 2016).

PMID: 28012258 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Transplant center volume and outcomes in lung transplantation for cystic fibrosis.

Transpl Int. 2016 Dec 24;:

Authors: Hayes D, Sweet SC, Benden C, Kopp BT, Goldfarb SB, Visner GA, Mallory GB, Tobias JD, Tumin D

Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Transplant volume represents lung transplant (LTx) expertise and predicts outcomes, so we sought to determine outcomes related to center volumes in CF.
METHODS: United Network for Organ Sharing data were queried for CF patients receiving bilateral LTx from 2005-2015. Multivariable Cox regression was used to model survival to 1 year and long-term (>1 year) survival, conditional on surviving at least 1 year.
RESULTS: 2,025 patients and 67 centers were included in the analysis. The median annual LTx volumes were 3 in CF (interquartile range [IQR]: 2, 6), and 17 in non-CF (IQR: 8, 33). Multivariable Cox regression in cases with complete data and surviving at least 1 year (n=1,510) demonstrated that greater annual CF LTx volume (HR per 10 LTx=0.66; 95% CI: 0.49, 0.89; p=0.006) but not greater non-CF LTx volume (HR=1.00; 95% CI: 0.96, 1.05; p=0.844) was associated with improved long-term survival in LTx recipients with CF. A Wald interaction test confirmed that CF LTx volume was more strongly associated with long-term outcomes than non-CF LTx volume (p=0.012). Center volume was not associated with 1-year survival.
CONCLUSIONS: CF-specific expertise predicted improved long-term outcomes of LTx for CF, whereas general LTx expertise was unassociated with CF patients' survival. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

PMID: 28012223 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Analysis of the expression of human bitter taste receptors in extraoral tissues.

Mol Cell Biochem. 2016 Dec 23;:

Authors: Jaggupilli A, Singh N, Upadhyaya J, Sikarwar AS, Arakawa M, Dakshinamurti S, Bhullar RP, Duan K, Chelikani P

Abstract
The 25 bitter taste receptors (T2Rs) in humans perform a chemosensory function. However, very little is known about the level of expression of these receptors in different tissues. In this study, using nCounter gene expression we analyzed the expression patterns of human TAS2R transcripts in cystic fibrosis bronchial epithelial (CuFi-1), normal bronchial epithelial (NuLi-1), airway smooth muscle (ASM), pulmonary artery smooth muscle (PASM), mammary epithelial, and breast cancer cells. Our results suggest a specific pattern of TAS2R expression with TAS2R3, 4, 5, 10, 13, 19, and 50 transcripts expressed at moderate levels and TAS2R14 and TAS2R20 (or TASR49) at high levels in the various tissues analyzed. This pattern of expression is mostly independent of tissue origin and the pathological state, except in cancer cells. To elucidate the expression at the protein level, we pursued flow cytometry analysis of select T2Rs from CuFi-1 and NuLi-1 cells. The expression levels observed at the gene level by nCounter analysis correlate with the protein levels for the T2Rs analyzed. Next, to assess the functionality of the expressed T2Rs in these cells, we pursued functional assays measuring intracellular calcium mobilization after stimulation with the bitter compound quinine. Using PLC inhibitor, U-73122, we show that the calcium mobilized in these cells predominantly takes place through the Quinine-T2R-Gαβγ-PLC pathway. This report will accelerate studies aimed at analyzing the pathophysiological function of T2Rs in different extraoral tissues.

PMID: 28012014 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Assessment of safety and efficacy of long-term treatment with combination lumacaftor and ivacaftor therapy in patients with cystic fibrosis homozygous for the F508del-CFTR mutation (PROGRESS): a phase 3, extension study.

Lancet Respir Med. 2016 Dec 20;:

Authors: Konstan MW, McKone EF, Moss RB, Marigowda G, Tian S, Waltz D, Huang X, Lubarsky B, Rubin J, Millar SJ, Pasta DJ, Mayer-Hamblett N, Goss CH, Morgan W, Sawicki GS

Abstract
BACKGROUND: The 24-week safety and efficacy of lumacaftor/ivacaftor combination therapy was shown in two randomised controlled trials (RCTs)-TRAFFIC and TRANSPORT-in patients with cystic fibrosis who were aged 12 years or older and homozygous for the F508del-CFTR mutation. We aimed to assess the long-term safety and efficacy of extended lumacaftor/ivacaftor therapy in this group of patients in PROGRESS, the long-term extension of TRAFFIC and TRANSPORT.
METHODS: PROGRESS was a phase 3, parallel-group, multicentre, 96-week study of patients who completed TRAFFIC or TRANSPORT in 191 sites in 15 countries. Patients were eligible if they were at least 12 years old with cystic fibrosis and homozygous for the F508del-CFTR mutation. Exclusion criteria included any comorbidity or laboratory abnormality that, in the opinion of the investigator, might confound the results of the study or pose an additional risk in administering the study drug to the participant, history of drug intolerance, and history of poor compliance with the study drug. Patients who previously received active treatment in TRANSPORT or TRAFFIC remained on the same dose in PROGRESS. Patients who had received placebo in TRANSPORT or TRAFFIC were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive lumacaftor (400 mg every 12 h)/ivacaftor (250 mg every 12 h) or lumacaftor (600 mg once daily)/ivacaftor (250 mg every 12 h). The primary outcome was to assess the long-term safety of combined therapy. The estimated annual rate of decline in percent predicted FEV1 (ppFEV1) in treated patients was compared with that of a matched registry cohort. Efficacy analyses were based on modified intention-to-treat, such that data were included for all patients who were randomly assigned and received at least one dose of study drug. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01931839.
FINDINGS: Between Oct 24, 2013, and April 7, 2016, 1030 patients from the TRANSPORT and TRAFFIC studies enrolled in PROGRESS, and 1029 received at least one dose of study drug. 340 patients continued treatment with lumacaftor 400 mg every 12 h/ivacaftor 250 mg every 12 h; 176 patients who had received placebo in the TRANSPORT or TRAFFIC studies initiated treatment with lumacaftor 400 mg every 12 h/ivacaftor 250 mg every 12 h, the commercially available dose, for which data are presented. The most common adverse events were infective pulmonary exacerbations, cough, increased sputum, and haemoptysis. Modest blood pressure increases seen in TRAFFIC and TRANSPORT were also observed in PROGRESS. For patients continuing treatment, the mean change from baseline in ppFEV1 was 0·5 (95% CI -0·4 to 1·5) at extension week 72 and 0·5 (-0·7 to 1·6) at extension week 96; change in BMI was 0·69 (0·56 to 0·81) at extension week 72 and 0·96 (0·81 to 1·11) at extension week 96. The annualised pulmonary exacerbation rate in patients continuing treatment through extension week 96 (0·65, 0·56 to 0·75) remained lower than the placebo rate in TRAFFIC and TRANSPORT. The annualised rate of ppFEV1 decline was reduced in lumacaftor/ivacaftor-treated patients compared with matched controls (-1·33, -1·80 to -0·85 vs -2·29, -2·56 to -2·03). The efficacy and safety profile of the lumacaftor 600 mg once daily/ivacaftor 250 mg every 12 h groups was generally similar to that of the lumacaftor 400 mg every 12 h/ivacaftor 250 mg every 12 h groups.
INTERPRETATION: The long-term safety profile of lumacaftor/ivacaftor combination therapy was consistent with previous RCTs. Benefits continued to be observed with longer-term treatment, and lumacaftor/ivacaftor was associated with a 42% slower rate of ppFEV1 decline than in matched registry controls.
FUNDING: Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated.

PMID: 28011037 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

A little CFTR can change a lot: slowing cystic fibrosis progression.

Lancet Respir Med. 2016 Dec 20;:

Authors: Rowe SM

PMID: 28011036 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Computational modeling of brain pathologies: the case of multiple sclerosis.

Brief Bioinform. 2016 Dec 22;:

Authors: Pappalardo F, Rajput AM, Motta S

Abstract
The central nervous system is the most complex network of the human body. The existence and functionality of a large number of molecular species in human brain are still ambiguous and mostly unknown, thus posing a challenge to Science and Medicine. Neurological diseases inherit the same level of complexity, making effective treatments difficult to be found. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a major neurological disease that causes severe inabilities and also a significant social burden on health care system: between 2 and 2.5 million people are affected by it, and the cost associated with it is significantly higher as compared with other neurological diseases because of the chronic nature of the disease and to the partial efficacy of current therapies. Despite difficulties in understanding and treating MS, many computational models have been developed to help neurologists. In the present work, we briefly review the main characteristics of MS and present a selection criteria of modeling approaches.

PMID: 28011755 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Systems Biology of Tumor Microenvironment. Quantitative Modeling and Simulations.

Anticancer Res. 2017 Jan;37(1):367

Authors:

PMID: 28011544 [PubMed - in process]

cBinderDB: a covalent binding agent database.

Bioinformatics. 2016 Dec 23;:

Authors: Du J, Yan X, Liu Z, Cui L, Ding P, Tan X, Li X, Zhou H, Gu Q, Xu J

Abstract
MOTIVATION: Small molecule drug candidates with attractive toxicity profiles that modulate target proteins through noncovalent interactions are usually favored by scientists and pharmaceutical industry. In the past decades, many noncovalent binding agents have been developed for different diseases. However, an increasing attention has been paid to covalent binding agents in pharmaceutical fields during recent years. Many covalent binding agents entered clinical trials and exerted significant advantages for diseases such as infection, cancers, gastrointestinal disorders, central nervous system or cardiovascular diseases. It has been recognized that covalent binding ligands can be attractive drug candidates. But, there is lack of resource to support covalent ligand discovery.
RESULTS: Hence, we initiated a covalent binder database (cBinderDB). To our best knowledge, it is the first online database that provides information on covalent binding compound structures, chemotypes, targets, covalent binding types, and other biological properties. The covalent binding targets are annotated with biological functions, protein family and domains, gene information, modulators, and receptor-ligand complex structure. The data in the database were collected from scientific publications by combining a text mining method and manual inspection processes. cBinderDB covers covalent binder's data up to September 2016.
AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION: cBinderDB is freely available at www.rcdd.org.cn/cbinderdb/ CONTACT: junxu@biochemomes.com SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.

PMID: 28011781 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]