STAT4 expression and activation is increased during mitosis in vitro and in vivo in skin- and mucosa-derived cell types: implications in neoplastic and inflammatory skin diseases.

Background: The signal transducer and activator of transcription-4 (STAT4/Stat4) is a transcription factor known to convey signals from interleukin-12, interleukin-23, and interferon-alpha/beta to the nucleus, resulting in activation of dendritic cells, T-helper cell differentiation and production of interferon-gamma.

Objective: To demonstrate a novel role for STAT4 in cell mitosis.

Results: Phosphoserine STAT4 (pSerSTAT4) is increased in cells undergoing mitosis and is distributed throughout the cytoplasm during this stage of the cell cycle, whilst phosphotyrosine STAT4 (pTyrSTAT4) is confined to the chromosomal compartment.

Reasons for and time to discontinuation of rimonabant therapy: a modified prescription-event monitoring study.

Background: Early treatment discontinuation will have a negative effect on a drug's benefit-risk profile if discontinuation occurs earlier in time than the positive effects of treatment. This non-persistence of therapy has been associated with an increased risk of adverse health outcomes.

Objective: The aim of this study was to explore relationships between patient characteristics and reasons for and time to discontinuation of rimonabant therapy, focusing on psychiatric events, because these were the main safety concerns for rimonabant.

Risk of depressive episodes with rimonabant: a before and after modified prescription event monitoring study conducted in England.

Background: Marketing authorization for rimonabant was withdrawn in October 2008, mainly because the psychiatric adverse effects could not be addressed by further risk minimization.

Objective: The aim of the study was to compare the risk of major and minor depressive episodes in the 6 months prior to and the 6 months after starting treatment with rimonabant.

Methods: We conducted a before and after study using the observational cohort technique of Modified Prescription Event Monitoring to compare the risk of major and minor depressive episodes in new users of rimonabant reported in the 6 months before to the 6 months after starting treatment with rimonabant.

Safety profile of oxcarbazepine: results from a prescription-event monitoring study.

Purpose: To monitor safety of oxcarbazepine, prescribed in primary care in England, using prescription-event monitoring (PEM).

Methods: Postmarketing surveillance using observational cohort technique of PEM. Exposure data were obtained from dispensed British National Health Service prescriptions issued by general practitioners (GPs) March 2000-July 2003.