SciBX: Science-Business eXchange Contents: June 28 2012, Volume 5 / Issue 26

TABLE OF CONTENTS June 28 2012, Volume 5 / Issue 26 Analysis Cover Story Translational Notes Targets and Mechanisms The Distillery: Therapeutics Cancer Infectious disease Inflammation Musculoskeletal disease Neurology The Distillery: Techniques Assays and screens Chemistry Disease models Drug delivery Drug platforms Advertisement Relay Technology Management Real time business intelligence and data visualization for the Life Science Industry Trend monitoring and comparative asset analysis Click here for more information or to arrange a trial. Knome provides researchers and clinics with human whole genome interpretation software and services. Visit www.knome.com to learn how we can help you identify the variants, genes, and gene sets that underlie disease and drug response.   SciBX: Science-Business eXchange Recommend SciBX to your library today SciBx is a weekly publication that identifies and analyzes the most important translational research articles from over 40 journals. Find out which papers have real scientific and commercial potential, and why. Subscribe to SciBX and you won't miss the next big thing. For more information visit: www.nature.com/scibx.   Trade Secrets A Nature Network blog by BIOENTREPRENEUR Brought to you by Nature Biotechnology Access the insights, advice and commentary from scientists and entrepreneurs building biotech sectors around the world. Join the global dialogue on life science entrepreneurship: http://blogs.nature.com/trade_secrets   Analysis Cover Story Top Liquid biopsy Tim Fulmer doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.668 A Cancer Research UK team has developed a platform that uses tumor-derived circulating DNA to noninvasively monitor treatment response in patients with cancer. The researchers are now moving the platform into a hospital setting, where they will test it in the early diagnosis of ovarian cancer. Full Text | PDF Translational Notes Top Pharma compounds at the crossroads Michael J. Haas doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.669 NIH's National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences has disclosed details about the first library of therapeutics in its New Therapeutic Uses for Existing Molecules program. Although it is not yet clear how researchers will use the library of compounds provided by eight pharmas, hints about potential therapeutic avenues can be gleaned from similar compounds in development. Full Text | PDF Targets and Mechanisms Top Fragmentary progress in endometriosis Michael J. Haas doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.670 Baylor College of Medicine researchers have shown that blocking an SRC1 fragment or its production could treat endometriosis in mice. Now, small molecule inhibitors of the fragment are needed to elucidate its precise role in disease onset and progression. Full Text | PDF Endostatin for fibrosis Lauren Martz doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.671 University of Pittsburgh researchers have identified fibrosis as a potential new indication for the cancer therapeutic endostatin. The team designed a modified version of the peptide that reversed fibrosis in ex vivo human skin models and in mice. Full Text | PDF Distillery: Therapeutics Cancer Top BCL2-like 11 apoptosis facilitator (BCL2L11; BIM) doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.672 A study in mice suggests a stapled BIM peptide could help treat AML. Full Text | PDF Not applicable doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.673 In vitro and cell culture studies suggest electron-donor compounds could be useful adjuncts to improve cisplatin therapy for cancer. Full Text | PDF Lipoteichoic acid (LTA) doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.674 Mouse studies suggest LTA-deficient Lactobacillus acidophilus could help prevent formation of gastrointestinal polyps, which are precursors to colorectal cancer. Full Text | PDF Tumor necrosis factor receptor–associated factor 2 (TRAF2) doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.675 Mouse and patient sample studies suggest inhibiting TRAF2 could help treat colon cancer. Full Text | PDF Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.676 In vitro, cell culture and mouse studies identified orally available STAT3 inhibitors that could help treat lung and breast cancer. Full Text | PDF Infectious disease Top Not applicable doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.677 In vitro and mouse studies suggest pyrroloiminoquinones could help treat malaria. Full Text | PDF Extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL); Pseudomonas aeruginosa OXA-28 doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.678 Bacterial cell culture studies suggest blocking the migration of a gene cassette in P. aeruginosa could help prevent antibiotic resistance. Full Text | PDF Inflammation Top Prostaglandin D2 receptor (CRTH2; GPR44; CD294) doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.679 Rodent and sheep studies identified a diazine indole acetic acid–based CRTH2 antagonist that could help treat allergic inflammatory diseases such as asthma. Full Text | PDF Musculoskeletal disease Top Tripartite motif-containing 72 (TRIM72; MG53) doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.680 In vitro and mouse studies suggest MG53 could help treat Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and other indications involving damage to cellular membranes. Full Text | PDF Neurology Top MicroRNA-134 (miR-134) doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.681 Mouse studies suggest inhibiting miR-134 could help treat and prevent seizures. Full Text | PDF Endothelial cell nitric oxide synthase 3 (NOS3; eNOS); VEGF-A doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.682 Mouse studies suggest antagonizing eNOS or VEGF-A could help prevent neuroinflammation. Full Text | PDF μ-Opioid receptor (OPRM1; MOR) doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.683 Rat studies identified an orally active glycosylated endomorphin-1 that could help treat pain. Full Text | PDF Sirtuin 2 (SIRT2) doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.684 A SAR study identified SIRT2 inhibitors that could be useful for treating PD and HD. Full Text | PDF MicroRNA-196a (miR-196a) doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.685 Studies in cell culture and in mice suggest viral delivery of miR-196a could help treat SBMA. Full Text | PDF Distillery: Techniques Assays and screens Top Computational strategy for predicting drug activity on side-effect targets doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.686 A computational strategy for predicting a compound's activity against targets associated with side effects could aid the design of drugs with reduced adverse effects. Full Text | PDF Noninvasive whole-genome sequencing of a fetus doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.687 Noninvasive whole-genome sequencing of two mother-father-child cohorts suggests the method could be useful as a prenatal genetics diagnostic. Full Text | PDF Chemistry Top Synthesis of small molecule phosphoserine mimetic prodrugs that could inhibit protein-protein interactions doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.688 A method to synthesize small molecule prodrugs could be useful for generating compounds that block disease-associated protein-protein interactions. Full Text | PDF Disease models Top Double infection for genetic dissection of motor neuron circuits in nonhuman primates doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.689 Simultaneous delivery of two gene vectors to the brain could help map motor neuron circuits and be useful for developing nonhuman primate models of neurological diseases. Full Text | PDF Drug delivery Top Polymer nanoparticles for delivering polymerized therapeutic small interfering RNA to tumors doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.690 Polymer nanoparticles loaded with polymerized siRNA molecules could help treat solid tumors. Full Text | PDF Polymeric glucocorticoid-containing micelles with tailored release kinetics for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.691 Polymeric micelles containing glucocorticoids could be useful for treating RA. Full Text | PDF Drug platforms Top Cell-free circulating tumor DNA as a cancer diagnostic doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.692 A method to isolate, amplify and sequence tumor-derived circulating DNA fragments could help track cancer progression without requiring a biopsy. Full Text | PDF Protocol for generating optic cups and storable neural retina from human embryonic stem cells (ESCs) doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.693 A protocol for generating optic cups and neural retina from human ESCs could increase the supply of tissue available for retinal transplant procedures. Full Text | PDF You have been sent this Table of Contents Alert because you have opted in to receive it. 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