testing, appearing to provide neurons with potent protec-
tion from oxidative stress and preventing amyloid beta
from turning toxic and causing further damage. "Moreover,"
the press materials state, "ANAVEX 1-41 reduced memory
deficits in animal test subjects - a particularly notable find-
ing, given the quest for a drug that can actively reverse
the effects of the disease."
The company hopes to move towards human testing
beginning in late 2008 or early 2009.
Source: Anavex Life Sciences
NIDCR Funds Research on Periodontitis and
Diabetes
Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine
Periodontology and Oral Biology Assistant Professor Hatice
Hasturk, DDS, PhD, has been granted a K23 award by the
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
(NIDCR). The award for "Treatment of Periodontitis and
Inflammatory Changes in Diabetes" will be distributed over
a five-year period.
Hasturk was the principle investigator of the grant appli-
cation, which focuses on determining the association
between diabetes and oral disease.
"This study is designed to determine the association
between two major community health care problems, dia-
betes and oral disease, and improve the quality of life of
the affected subjects," said Hasturk. "Diabetes and chronic
oral health conditions continue to present a serious obsta-
cle to public health. I strongly believe that while chronic
oral inflammation is being controlled by successful peri-
odontal treatment and maintenance therapy, simultaneous
care of diabetes by health care providers will support the
elimination of the unstable and reciprocal condition
between periodontal disease and diabetes."
This is the first time Hasturk has received direct funding
from NIDCR as a principal investigator. Prior to this she has
worked as a co-investigator on several NIDCR-supported
studies.
Source: Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine
Biomarkers Aliow Doctors to Match Therapy to
Patient
Genetic variations ensure that no two people are exactly
alike, nor are their cancers. Researchers now have the
tools and the knowledge to predict how individuals will
respond to cancer therapy, enabling more precise and
effective treatment. At the 2008 Annual Meeting of the
American Association for Cancer Research, April 12 - 15,
researchers presented data on new biomarkers that can
predict response to well-known treatments for breast can-
cer, pdiatrie neuroblastoma, and kidney and non-small cell
lung cancer.
Researchers have identified two potential biomarkers
that could help doctors monitor the effectiveness of treat-
access
ment with sunitinib or bevacizumab for kidney and non-
small cell lung cancer.
"Our work provides novel data on a potential biomarker
for the monitoring of anti-angiogenic drug activity in cancer
patients, as well as identifies a cell type that is a potential
target for these agents," said Laura Vroling, MSc, a
researcher in the Department of Medical Oncology, VU
University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Bevacizumab and sunitinib have proven effective
against several cancers, such as colorectal, kidney and
non-small cell lung cancers, but it is unclear which subset
of patients will benefit most from these agents, the
researchers said. "Therefore, it is of great importance to
identify and validate biomarkers for early response or
duration of response," Vroling said.
Source: Annerican Association for Cancer Research
Recent Resurgence of Mumps in the United States
The widespread use of a second dose of mumps vaccine
among U.S. schoolchildren beginning in 1990 was followed
by historically low reports of mumps cases. A 2010 elimi-
nation goal was established, but in 2006, the largest
mumps outbreak in two decades occurred in the United
States.
A total of 5,584 cases of mumps were reported in 2005,
with 75% occurring between March and May. There were
85 hospitalizations with no deaths reported; 85% of
patients lived in eight contiguous Midwestern states. The
national incidence of mumps was 2.2 per 100,000, with
the highest incidence among persons 18 to 24 years of age
(an incidence 3.7 times that of all other age groups com-
bined). In a subgroup analysis, 83% of these patients
reported current college attendance. Among patients in
eight highly affected states with known vaccination status,
53% overall and 84% between the ages of 18 and 24
years had received two doses of mumps vaccine. For the
12 years preceding the outbreak, national coverage of one-
dose mumps vaccination among preschoolers was 89% or
more nationwide and 85% or more in highly affected
states. In 2005, the national two-dose coverage among
adolescents was 87%, the highest in U.S. history.
Despite a high coverage rate with two doses of mumps-
containing vaccine, a large mumps outbreak occurred,
characterized by two-dose vaccine failure, particularly
among midwestern college-age adults who probably
received the second dose as schoolchildren. A more effec-
tive mumps vaccine or changes in vaccine policy may be
needed to avert future outbreaks and achieve the elimina-
tion of mumps.
Source: New England Journal of Medicine
This edition of Health was prepared by Frances Moffett, Jean
Majeski and Meghan Washington.
SEP-OCT 2008 6 1