University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey

About: University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey is a based out in . It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Pregnancy. The organization has 14634 authors who have published 19610 publications receiving 1041794 citations.

Initiation of transcription by RNA polymerase II: a multi-step process

Abstract: Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the initiation of transcription of protein-coding genes. The RNA polymerase II(RNAPII) of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been a useful prototype in the study of eukaryotic RNAPII, as features such as function and subunit structure have been highly conserved. The yeast RNAPII is composed of 11 polypeptides with apparent masses ranging from 220 to 10 kDa. This is in contrast to eukaryotic cells, which contain three distinct RNA polymerases, each containing from 8 to 14 polypeptides and responsible for transcribing its own set of genes: RNA polymerase I (RNAPI), which transcribes ribosomal RNA; RNAPII, the RNA polymerase of protein-coding, or class 11, genes; and RNAPIII, which transcribes 5-S rRNA and tRNA genes. In this chapter, only RNAPII is discussed, and only as it pertains to transcription initiation.

The use of rodent models to investigate host–bacteria interactions related to periodontal diseases

Abstract: Even though animal models have limitations, they are often superior to in vitro or clinical studies in addressing mechanistic questions and serve as an essential link between hypotheses and human patients. Periodontal disease can be viewed as a process that involves four major stages: bacterial colonization, invasion, induction of a destructive host response in connective tissue and a repair process that reduces the extent of tissue breakdown. Animal studies should be evaluated in terms of their capacity to test specific hypotheses rather than their fidelity to all aspects of periodontal disease initiation and progression. Thus, each of the models described below can be adapted to test discrete components of these four major steps, but not all of them. This review describes five different animal models that are appropriate for examining components of host-bacteria interactions that can lead to breakdown of hard and soft connective tissue or conditions that limit its repair as follows: the mouse calvarial model, murine oral gavage models with or without adoptive transfer of human lymphocytes, rat ligature model and rat Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans feeding model.

A double-blind, randomized trial of topiramate in Lennox–Gastaut syndrome

Abstract: Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of topiramate as adjunctive therapy for Lennox–Gastaut syndrome in a multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Background: Conventional antiepileptic drugs are frequently ineffective against multiple-seizure types of Lennox–Gastaut syndrome. Methods: Ninety-eight patients >1 year to Results: For drop attacks, the most severe seizures associated with this syndrome, the median percentage reduction from baseline in average monthly seizure rate was 14.8% for the topiramate group and −5.1% (an increase) for the placebo group ( p = 0.041). Topiramate-treated patients demonstrated greater improvement in seizure severity than did placebo-treated patients based on parental global evaluations ( p = 0.037). The percentage of patients with a ≥50% reduction from baseline in major seizures (drop attacks and tonic-clonic seizures) was greater in the topiramate group (15/46 or 33%) than in the control group (4/50 or 8%; p = 0.002). The most common adverse events in both groups were CNS related; there were no discontinuations from topiramate therapy due to adverse events. Conclusions: Topiramate adjunctive therapy was effective in reducing the number of drop attacks and major motor seizures and in improving seizure severity as determined by parental global evaluation.

Epothilones: Mechanism of action and biologic activity

Abstract: Drugs that target microtubules are among the most commonly prescribed anticancer therapies. Although the mechanisms by which perturbation of microtubule function leads to selective death of cancer cells remain unclear, several new microtubule-targeting compounds are undergoing clinical testing. In part, these efforts focus on overcoming some of the problems associated with taxane-based therapies, including formulation and administration difficulties and susceptibility to resistance conferred by P-glycoprotein. Epothilones have emerged from these efforts as a promising new class of anticancer drugs. Preclinical studies indicate that epothilones bind to and stabilize microtubules in a manner similar but not identical to that of paclitaxel and that epothilones are effective in paclitaxel-resistant tumor models. Clinical phase I and early phase II data are available for BMS-247550, BMS-310705, EPO906, and KOS-862. The results suggest that these compounds have a broad range of antitumor activity at doses and schedules associated with tolerable side effects.