At Week 76 in the BLISS-76 study, belimumab plus standard of care showed higher response rates compared with placebo plus standard of care as measured by the SLE Responder Index; however, this secondary endpoint did not reach statistical significance. Study results also showed that belimumab continued to be generally well tolerated, as demonstrated by a similar rate of discontinuations due to adverse events across treatment groups, with overall adverse event rates comparable between belimumab and placebo treatment groups.
“A positive overall picture has emerged from our pivotal phase-3 studies of Benlysta, including its achievement of statistical significance on the primary efficacy endpoint at Week 52 with a favourable safety profile in both BLISS-52 and BLISS-76,” said H Thomas Watkins, president and chief executive officer, HGS. “We view the results of these studies as strongly supportive of our view that Benlysta has the potential to become the first new approved drug in more than 50 years for people living with systemic lupus.”
Carlo Russo, senior vice president, Biopharm Development, GSK, said, “Based on the totality of data in BLISS-52 and BLISS-76, we believe that belimumab could deliver a significant therapeutic option for patients with lupus, a chronic condition which has a devastating effect on the lives of patients living with the disease.”
The data from the BLISS-76 study were previously analysed after 52 weeks in accord with the study protocol, in support of a potential Biologics License Application in the United States and Marketing Authorization Applications in Europe and other regions. The primary efficacy endpoints in both pivotal phase-3 studies of belimumab, BLISS-52 and BLISS-76, were the patient response rates at Week 52 as measured by the SLE Responder Index. BLISS-76 then continued for an additional 24 weeks. Belimumab is an investigational drug and the first in a new class of drugs called BLyS-specific inhibitors. Belimumab is being developed by HGS and GSK under a co-development and commercialisation agreement entered into in 2006.
“These new data from BLISS-76 provide additional evidence of the beneficial effect of belimumab despite not reaching statistical significance on the secondary endpoint. The results of our phase-3 trials support a potentially important role for belimumab added to standard of care for the treatment of seropositive patients with systemic lupus,” said David C. Stump, executive vice president, Research and Development, HGS. “We and GSK are working together to complete and submit regulatory applications for belimumab in the United States and Europe in the second quarter of this year. We look forward to the full presentation of BLISS-76 52-week and 76-week results at appropriate scientific meetings later this year.”
Based on an intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis, patient response rates for belimumab plus standard of care versus placebo plus standard of care, as measured by the SLE Responder Index (SRI) at Week 76, were: 38.5 per cent for 10 mg/kg belimumab, 39.1 per cent for 1 mg/kg belimumab, and 32.4 per cent for placebo (p=0.13 and p=0.11 for 10 mg/kg and 1 mg/kg belimumab, respectively vs. placebo).
Friday, April 23, 2010
The Genome types and C Value
The Genome:
A genome is the complete collection of hereditary information for an individual organism. In cellular life forms, the hereditary information exists as DNA. There are two fundamentally distinct types of cells in the living world, prokaryotic and eukaryotic, and the organization of genomes differs in these two types of cells.
Types:
Most biological entities that are more complex than a virus sometimes or always carry additional genetic material besides that which resides in their chromosomes. In some contexts, such as sequencing the genome of a pathogenic microbe, "genome" is meant to include information stored on this auxiliary material, which is carried in plasmids. In such circumstances then, "genome" describes all of the genes and information on non-coding DNA that have the potential to be present.
In eukaryotes such as plants, protozoa and animals, however, "genome" carries the typical connotation of only information on chromosomal DNA. So although these organisms contain chloroplasts and/or mitochondria that have their own DNA, the genetic information contained by DNA within these organelles is not considered part of the genome. In fact, mitochondria are sometimes said to have their own genome often referred to as the "mitochondrial genome". The DNA found within the chloroplast may be referred to as the "plastome".
Genome Size or C Value:
The C value is the amount of DNA in a haploid complement. Currently, the amount is reported as the total number of base pairs. Generally, more complex organisms have more DNA. For example, the haploid complement of Homo sapiens DNA contains between 3.12 and 3.2 gigabases (the prefix "giga" denotes billions), while the haploid complement of yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) DNA contains 12,057,500 base pairs.
Unexpected genomic sizes occur, however, in a condition called the C value paradox. Two closely related species can have widely divergent amounts of DNA. For example, Paramecium caudatum has a C value of 8,600,000 kilobases (where the prefix "kilo" denotes thousands) while its near relative P. aurelia has a C value of just 190,000 kilobases. Another paradoxical circumstance occurs when a simpler organism has a C value higher than a more complex organism. For example, Amphiuma means (a newt) and Amoeba dubia (an amoeba) have, respectively, C values that are 26 and 209 times the C value of humans.
A genome is the complete collection of hereditary information for an individual organism. In cellular life forms, the hereditary information exists as DNA. There are two fundamentally distinct types of cells in the living world, prokaryotic and eukaryotic, and the organization of genomes differs in these two types of cells.
Types:
Most biological entities that are more complex than a virus sometimes or always carry additional genetic material besides that which resides in their chromosomes. In some contexts, such as sequencing the genome of a pathogenic microbe, "genome" is meant to include information stored on this auxiliary material, which is carried in plasmids. In such circumstances then, "genome" describes all of the genes and information on non-coding DNA that have the potential to be present.
In eukaryotes such as plants, protozoa and animals, however, "genome" carries the typical connotation of only information on chromosomal DNA. So although these organisms contain chloroplasts and/or mitochondria that have their own DNA, the genetic information contained by DNA within these organelles is not considered part of the genome. In fact, mitochondria are sometimes said to have their own genome often referred to as the "mitochondrial genome". The DNA found within the chloroplast may be referred to as the "plastome".
Genome Size or C Value:
The C value is the amount of DNA in a haploid complement. Currently, the amount is reported as the total number of base pairs. Generally, more complex organisms have more DNA. For example, the haploid complement of Homo sapiens DNA contains between 3.12 and 3.2 gigabases (the prefix "giga" denotes billions), while the haploid complement of yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) DNA contains 12,057,500 base pairs.
Unexpected genomic sizes occur, however, in a condition called the C value paradox. Two closely related species can have widely divergent amounts of DNA. For example, Paramecium caudatum has a C value of 8,600,000 kilobases (where the prefix "kilo" denotes thousands) while its near relative P. aurelia has a C value of just 190,000 kilobases. Another paradoxical circumstance occurs when a simpler organism has a C value higher than a more complex organism. For example, Amphiuma means (a newt) and Amoeba dubia (an amoeba) have, respectively, C values that are 26 and 209 times the C value of humans.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
change-your-biochemistry-to-get-bigger penis
Are you unhappy with the size of your manhood and would desperately like to know what you can do about it? If so, you've come to the right place because I can help you to add inches to your penis in a matter of weeks. There's nothing to buy, so it wont cost you a penny and the whole process is exactly the same one that your body followed during puberty, meaning that it is 100% safe too. So, how do you make your manhood grow? The answer is simple - you just have to use natural enlargement...
Is natural enlargement a tried and tested approach? Does it really work?
The answer to both of these questions is yes - I have personally added 4 inches to my penis this way! Also, it has been proven to work by various scientists all around the world, and this makes it truely unique. I would never have believed that getting a larger member could be done so effortlessly, but with natural enlargement it couldn't have been simpler! The key is to get your body to do the work - once you do that, natural growth becomes much easier.
What is the process that it follows?
Like I've already mentioned, to grow, you need to follow the same process that caused a change in your size during puberty. And that means, you will need to put back any biochemicals that were originally around at that time. By changing your biochemistry, you can unlock your body's true potential to grow - and the results are amazing.
Is there anything you can do to grow even faster?
The best thing to accelerate growth is exercise. By using a natural enlargement scheme, you will learn how to change your biochemistry and how to exercise - and these are the two key parts to your success. This is your way to finally get the manhood you deserve - you'd be fool to miss out!
After only 4 weeks, I doubled in size and I have to say it feels great! I'm more confident and my life is on the up - you could feel this way too.
Is natural enlargement a tried and tested approach? Does it really work?
The answer to both of these questions is yes - I have personally added 4 inches to my penis this way! Also, it has been proven to work by various scientists all around the world, and this makes it truely unique. I would never have believed that getting a larger member could be done so effortlessly, but with natural enlargement it couldn't have been simpler! The key is to get your body to do the work - once you do that, natural growth becomes much easier.
What is the process that it follows?
Like I've already mentioned, to grow, you need to follow the same process that caused a change in your size during puberty. And that means, you will need to put back any biochemicals that were originally around at that time. By changing your biochemistry, you can unlock your body's true potential to grow - and the results are amazing.
Is there anything you can do to grow even faster?
The best thing to accelerate growth is exercise. By using a natural enlargement scheme, you will learn how to change your biochemistry and how to exercise - and these are the two key parts to your success. This is your way to finally get the manhood you deserve - you'd be fool to miss out!
After only 4 weeks, I doubled in size and I have to say it feels great! I'm more confident and my life is on the up - you could feel this way too.
How to Study Biochemistry
Biochemistry is a notorious course for demanding a high-volume of information in a short amount of time. However, there are studying methods to assist students in learning efficiently and effectively. I have studied and interviewed groups of medical and science students that have mastered their course work. It is true that there are specific and detailed guidelines that these students adhere to and credit for their academic success. The successful student must excel in visualizing relationships, memorizing facts, and reciting complex metabolic reactions of the human body. With some time and applying these strategies and tips from past honor students of Biochemistry, you will greatly improve your academic performance.Study Skill #1 - Do NOT procrastinate. The most obvious, and yet least followed advice by students. Biochemistry is a high-volume course that progresses and builds its concepts on the fundamentals. Moreover, many pathways and reactions require memorization and must be acquired over time. The last thing you want to do is cram for this course.Study Skill #2 - Know the terminology and nomenclature, it will make things much easier down the road. An enzyme or protein will often have its function built into its name. Take Protein Kinase A for example. As a member of the Kinases, it will almost always add a phosphate group to its substrate. Or, take Alcohol Dehydrogenase, structures that are Dehydrogenases always oxidize a substrate. In this case, it oxidizes alcohols into aldehydes and ketones. Once you get this down, you will begin to recognize names and automatically correlate them with a specific function.Study Skill #3 - Start with the big picture. There is no doubt that you will have to memorize multi-step metabolic pathways. The best way to do this is to start with the easy steps and understand the overall flow of the reaction. First, write only the substrates and products in order. Do this repeatedly, until it is memorized. Then add the enzymes. Then continue to add co-factors and by-products. If necessary, label each as an exer- or endergonic reaction. Use the nomenclature to help you remember what is going on in each step. For example, Phosphofructokinase-1 - adds a phosphate group (phospho-kinase) to the molecule fructose (-fructo-) at the first position (-1). By breaking down the pathways and focusing on the terminology it will greatly speed up your ability to memorize them.Study Skill #4 - Buy a dry erase board. Use this to memorize the pathways and any other reactions you have to know. There are no short-cuts, but writing things out reinforces them in your memory. It tends to be much more efficient than staring and reciting from your textbook.Study Skill #5 - Know the purpose of a reaction. Take the Bohr Effect for example. An increase in (decrease in pH), temperature, and 2,3-BPG all occur in active skeletal muscle. They also all encourage release from hemoglobin. This makes sense if you think that working muscle is metabolic tissue and needs oxygen to survive. Incorporating the larger concept will also allow you to predict the flow of reactions in other situations throughout the body.Study Skill #6 - Stare at the graphs and plots. These questions are virtually freebies on exams because all the information you need to solve them is included. Know what the x- and y-intercept, the slope, and the area under the graph represent. Know what makes the graphed line move to the right or left. You will absolutely be asked about the Michaelis-Menten graph and the Hemoglobin dissociation curve - these are staples of biochemistry.Study Skill #7 - Seek to understand first, and then memorize. Like many other courses, biochemistry can be overwhelming at first. There is no easy way to memorize every amino acid or metabolic reaction. But students always claim that if they take the time to first get the concept down, the memorizing is not as difficult as it once seemed. Stay focused, break it down into small steps, and practice.Jordan Castle is a medical student in Detroit, Michigan. His work spans many different aspects of the learning process and aims to help students excel in their individual courses.
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