Double blind, placebo controlled trial of the remission inducing and steroid sparing properties of an ICAM-1 antisense oligodeoxynucleotide, alicaforsen (ISIS 2302), in active steroid dependent Crohn's disease.

Background And Aims: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of the intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) antisense phosphorothioate oligonucleotide alicaforsen (ISIS 2302) in Crohn's disease.

Methods: Active (Crohn's disease activity index (CDAI) 200-350), steroid dependent (prednisone 10-40 mg) Crohn's patients were randomised into three treatment groups: placebo versus ISIS 2302 (2 mg/kg intravenously three times a week) for two or four weeks. Patients were treated in months 1 and 3, with steroid withdrawal attempted by week 10.

Etanercept for active Crohn's disease: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Background & Aims: We evaluated etanercept, a human soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor: Fc fusion protein, for the treatment of active Crohn's disease.

Methods: Forty-three patients with moderate to severe Crohn's disease were enrolled in an 8-week placebo-controlled trial. Patients were randomized to subcutaneous etanercept 25 mg or placebo twice weekly.

The new proton pump inhibitor esomeprazole is effective as a maintenance therapy in GERD patients with healed erosive oesophagitis: a 6-month, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of efficacy and safety.

Background: Esomeprazole, the S-isomer of omeprazole, is the first proton pump inhibitor to be developed as an optical isomer. In patients with erosive oesophagitis, esomeprazole has produced significantly greater healing rates and improved symptom resolution vs. omeprazole.

Insecticide and Insecticide Metabolite Interactions with Cytochrome P450 Mediated Activities in Maize.

In vitro assays were used to determine if organophosphate, carbamate, and synthetic pyrethroid insecticides affected the cytochrome P450 monooxygenase (P450) catalyzed hydroxylation of nicosulfuron, bentazon, cinnamic acid, or lauric acid in maize microsomes. All P450 activities were inhibited approximately 50% by carbaryl, and none were inhibited by permethrin. Hydroxylations of nicosulfuron, bentazon, lauric acid, and cinnamic acid were inhibited by malathion 83, 92, 38, and 0%, respectively.