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FARMACEDUCA®: educational project for drugs administration
The manuscript "Thyroidology in the medieval Medical School of
Salerno" edited by prof. Maurizio Bifulco and dr. Paolo Cavallo
has been included in the January issue of Thyroid. The work has carried out some
interesting aspects about some scientifically correct cares for goitre
in the medieval
Medical School of Salerno.
Thyroid. Jan 2007, Vol. 17, No. 1: 39-40
More about the study here -> Thyroid
The analysis of a gene can help us to predict our propensity to gain weight.
A new study performed by Prof. Maurizio Bifulco’s group, University of Salerno (Italy), has just published in the International Journal of Obesity (London) belonging to the Nature Publishing Group.
The study, performed in a group of healthy subjects in southern Italy, shows that the endocannabinoid type-1 receptor CB1, can help us to predict our propensity to gain weight and to acquire an high body mass index (BMI). The Authors enrolled healthy subjects and all through the past 14 years periodically observed and recorded their dietary habits, physical activity in the previous years, some clinical parameters and the modifications in body weight and blood pressure. Obtained results showed that subject with a normal weight, which haven’t increase their BMI in the past 14 years, expressed a variant form of the CB1 receptor, the so called “polymorphic” allelic form that was rarely expressed in overweight subjects and hardly ever in obese or in subjects that increased their BMI in the past years.
Moreover, healthy subjects expressing the “polymorphic” CB1 showed lower glycaemia and triglycerides serum levels compared to that without this allelic variant which seem to be prone to gain weight and to become obese.
To date several new anti-obesity drugs are employed in clinical trials, but
even if efficaciously reduce the body weight their side effects, such as
depression, anxiety, insomnia, frequently set a limit to the clinical use.
Results obtained by Prof. Bifulco’s
group suggest, in the next future, the possibility to identify our genetic
variant able to predict responsivity to anti-obesity drugs and to save us
the trouble of adverse effects.
Gazzerro P, Caruso MG, Notarnicola M, Misciagna G, Guerra V, Laezza C,
Bifulco M.
“Association between cannabinoid type-1 receptor polymorphism and body mass
index in a southern Italian population”
More about the study here ->
pubblication
Int J Obes (Lond). 2006 Dec 12
According to a paper just advertised in the Molecular Pharmacology by prof. Maurizio Bifulco research group there is a new therapeutic targer for Rimonabant (Sanofi-aventis).
Get the full information here -> pubmed
June 29, 2006
(ANSA) - Rome, June 27 - A little village perched on a mountainside
in the
Italian Alps could help researchers identify a gene which protects
people from diabetes and high blood pressure. Extensive tests have shown
that the 402 inhabitants of Stoccareddo, near Asiago in the northeastern
region, seem to have an immunity to these ailments. This fact, coupled
with records showing centuries of marriages exclusively within the
isolated community, has led a group of medical researchers to suspect
the presence of a protective gene. "It seems a likely explanation. These
people seem to have the basic conditions for certain diseases but none
of the consequences," said Anna Baschirotto, joint founder of the
Baschirotto Foundation which is carrying out the research.
Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) exhibits anti-tumor effects on various cancer cell types, but its use in chemotherapy is limited by its psychotropic activity. Results obtained in a panel of tumor cell lines clearly indicate that the non-psychoactive cannabidiol is the most potent inhibitor of cancer cell growth. Both cannabidiol and the cannabidiol-rich extract inhibited the growth, and reduced lung metastases in animal models. These data support the further testing of cannabidiol and cannabidiol-rich extracts for the potential treatment of cancer.
Get the full information here -> pubmed
According to a recent study carried out by Hancox and Poulton from University of Otago, New Zeland, watching television is associated with childhood obesity.
Get the full information here -> pubmed
The FASEB Journal has published an important Maurizio Bifulco's and Chiara Laezza's research on a new natural compound, named N6-isopentenyladenosine, a cytokinin that has shown an antiproliferative effect on cancer cells.
more informations here ->pubmed
Sanofi-Aventis programs to invest about 114.000.000 euro till 2008 for its Italian factories, 63.000.000 euro for its Italian Phase I clinical trials and 27.000.000 euro for its basic research laboratory in Milan.
The FDA (Food and Drug Administration), Division of Metabolism and Endocrinology Products has sent to Sanofy-Aventis (the producer of the compound) an approvable letter for Rimonabant for weight management. Meanwhile, on the other hand, the Division of Anesthesia, Analgesia and Rheumatology Products has sent a non approvable letter for smoking cessation.
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