Viewpoints:

Dispatches from the Frontlines of Research - edited by John W. Nelson

Bianca Rocca

Targeting PGE₂ Receptor Subtypes Rather Than Cyclooxygenases: A Bridge Over Troubled Water?
Mol. Interv. 2006 6: 68-73. [Summary] [Full Text] [PDF]  

Sanjiv Shah and Gang Yu

sorLA: Sorting Out APP
Mol. Interv. 2006 6: 74-76. [Summary] [Full Text] [PDF]  

R E V I E W S:

Timothy A. Esbenshade, Gerard B. Fox, and Marlon D. Cowart

Histamine H₃ Receptor Antagonists: Preclinical Promise for Treating Obesity and Cognitive Disorders
Mol. Interv. 2006 6: 77-88. [Summary] [Full Text] [PDF]  

Since the original description of the histamine H₃ receptor as a presynaptic autoreceptor that inhibits histamine release, there has been considerable effort to develop potent and selective H₃ receptor antagonists for the potential treatment of a variety of disorders affecting cognition (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Alzheimer Disease, and schizophrenia), sleep (hypersomnia and narcolepsy), and homeostasis (obesity). We review some of the preclinical considerations, from both an H₃ receptor biology as well as a more general drug discovery perspective, that need to be taken into account in developing effective H₃ receptor antagonists for the treatment of these diseases.

Donna W. Lee, Julie K Andersen, and Deepinder Kaur

Iron Dysregulation and Neurodegeneration: The Molecular Connection
Mol. Interv. 2006 6: 89-97. [Summary] [Full Text] [PDF]  

Iron is essential for brain function but its accumulated excess is harmful. Elevated iron concentrations in specific brain regions have been associated with many neurodegenerative disorders, but its contribution to neurodegeneration has been controversial. This review discusses some recently identified mutations in proteins responsible for maintaining cellular iron homeostasis, revealing the critical role of iron dysregulation in neurodegeneration.

Bi-Sen Ding, Thomas Dziubla, Vladimir V. Shuvaev, Silvia Muro, and Vladimir R. Muzykantov

Advanced Drug Delivery Systems That Target The Vascular Endothelium
Mol. Interv. 2006 6: 98-112. [Summary] [Full Text] [PDF]  

Vascular endothelial cells represent both a clinically important target and barrier for the delivery of therapeutics. This review discusses drug delivery systems (DDS) that can be used to target drugs to, into, and across endothelial cells. Specific attention is given to cellular (e.g., endothelial cell–surface molecules and the targeting of drugs to subcellular compartments), molecular (e.g., molecular design of recombinant fusion proteins and other targeting systems), and bioengineering (e.g., synthesis of biocompatible nanocarriers) aspects in the successful design of DDS that translocate therapeutic enzymes to endothelial cells.

D E P A R T M E N T S:

Reflections:

Science in the cultural context

Stata Norton

The Pharmacology of Mithridatum: A 2000-Year-Old Remedy
Mol. Interv. 2006 6: 60-66. [Full Text] [PDF]  

Nascent Transcripts:

Nascent Transcripts: Emerging concepts from the recent literature
Mol. Interv. 2006 6: 67. [Full Text] [PDF]  

Beyond the Bench:

Representations of pharmacology and science in the media

Amy Wecker and Lynn Wecker

The Ties That Bind
Mol. Interv. 2006 6: 113. [Full Text] [PDF]  

Net Results:

Sites of interest on the World Wide Web

Sites of interest on the World Wide Web—edited by David Roman and John W. Nelson
Mol. Interv. 2006 6: 114. [Full Text] [PDF]  

Outliers:

Cartoon

Outliers
Mol. Interv. 2006 6: 120. [Full Text] [PDF]  

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