The effectiveness of direct to healthcare professional communication - A systematic review of communication factor studies.

Background: Direct to healthcare professional communication (DHPC) is the prevalent regulatory measure to inform about and potentially mitigate newly identified drug risks in EU and USA. According to multiple studies and reviews, however, the effectiveness of DHPC to reduce risk is less than optimal. Prior systematic reviews have indicated that contextual, qualitative knowledge of communication factors related to the clinical setting is needed to further explain and supplement findings in quantitative effectiveness studies.

A quantitative real-time PCR method for tissue factor mRNA.

Background: Tissue factor (TF) is primarily known for its function to initiate blood coagulation. The range of in vivo expression of TF is wide and requires a dynamic assay for monitoring. A general method for TF mRNA quantitation that is dynamic, sensitive and applicable to a variety of experimental systems or clinical situations is therefore desirable.

A biomechanical comparison of fragment-specific fixation and augmented external fixation for intra-articular distal radius fractures.

The biomechanical stability of an internal fixation system that uses low-profile modular implants to stabilize individual fracture components was studied in a validated cadaver fracture model that incorporated physiologic muscle forces and wrist motion. Fragment-specific fixation with immediate range of motion was compared with static augmented external fixation in simulated, unstable 3- and 4-part intra-articular distal radius fractures (n = 20). Fixation was applied and specimens were loaded via their major wrist tendons.

Characterization of a new muscarinic receptor antagonist PNU-171990 in guinea pig, cat and human smooth muscle.

The present study was done to characterize a new compound, PNU-171990, 2-diisopropyl aminoethyl 1-phenylcyclopentane carboxylate hydrochloride, with functional smooth muscle selectivity at least as high as tolterodine. In vitro homogenates of guinea pig cerebral cortex, parotid gland, heart, urinary bladder, and Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells expressing human muscarinic m(1)-m(5) receptors PNU-171990 did not show selectivity for any subtype (pK(i), 7.72-8.

The role of RAR and RXR activation in retinoid-induced tissue factor suppression.

Excessive expression of tissue factor (TF) is a common finding in leukaemic cells and may contribute to thrombotic complications in patients. Retinoic acid has been shown to induce differentiation and reduce TF expression in acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL) cells in vitro, and to induce remission in APL patients. Treatment of the APL cell line NB4 with the specific retinoic acid receptor-alpha (RARalpha) agonists Ro4-6055 or TTNPB resulted in down-regulation of TF expression and in induction of differentiation.