In addition to disease type, the child’s age and gender had an impact on HRQoL.

The PLX4032 manufacturer five health conditions (each with a distinct clinical profile) affected the ITQOL scales differently. These results indicate that the ITQOL is sensitive to specific characteristics and symptom expression of the childhood health

conditions investigated. This insight into the sensitivity of the ITQOL to health conditions with different symptom expression may help in the interpretation of HRQoL results in future applications.”
“Two new compounds (triterpenoid saponin and heterocyclic compound), 2,3, 19,23,30-pentahydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid-28-O–d-glucopyranosyl ester (1) and N-hydroxyl-hexahydroazepin-2,4-diones (2), with 11 known compounds, picein (3), (7S,8R)-dihydrodehydrodiconiferyl alcohol-9-O–d-glucopyranoside (4), (+)-1-hydroxy-2-epipinoresinol-1–d-glucoside (5), (+)-1-hydroxypinoresinol-1–d-glucoside (6), (+)-1-hydroxypinoresinol-4–d-glucoside (7), schaftside (6-C–d-glucopyranosyl-8-C–l-arabinosyl selleck apigenin) (8), isoschaftside (6-C–l-arabinosyl-8-C–d-glucopyranosyl apigenin) (9), isorhamnetin-3-O–d-glucopyranoside (10), quercetin-3-O–glucuronide (11), 8-O-methylherbacetin-3-O-sophoroside (12) and kaempferol (13), were isolated from Potentilla multicaulis Bunge. The structure of the compounds

was elucidated by chemical and spectral evidence.”
“Single-phase epitaxial La0.47Ce0.20Ca0.33MnO3-delta films on (001) SrTiO3 were prepared by pulsed laser deposition and by reducing the oxygen pressure for deposition.

The decrease in the magnitude of oxygen drives the transformation of Ce4+ to Ce3+ ion, restraining the appearance of CeO2 that usually exists as impurity in bulk La0.47Ce0.20Ca0.33MnO3. The magnetic transition temperature of the films increases with increasing the deposition oxygen pressure. The temperature dependence of the electrical resistance (R) of the single-phase films obeys the thermally activated behavior. A postannealing procedure was carried out on a film deposited in 0.4 Pa. The magnetic transition temperature is markedly increased and R is dramatically decreased by annealing. Fosbretabulin purchase A metal-insulator transition occurs at 217 K with a magnetoresistance of -73% for the annealed film. This metal-insulator transition temperature is much higher than that of the bulk La0.47Ce0.20Ca0.33MnO3. (C) 2009 American Institute of Physics. [DOI: 10.1063/1.3054360]“
“The purpose of this Finnish total cohort survey was to assess and compare the self-reported health-related quality of life (HRQL) in childhood cancer survivors to that of matched controls, to analyse demographic and disease-related factors explaining survivors’ HRQL, and to compare the results of two different HRQL instruments, 16D/17D and PedsQL (TM).

Questionnaires were mailed to 384 childhood cancer survivors and their randomly selected gender-, age- and living place-matched controls.

g. viruses such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and new influenza strains, and antibiotic-resistant bacteria) and entrenched, pandemic diseases exemplified by HIV.

One clear approach to this problem is to target processes of the host organism rather than the microbe. Recent data have indicated that members of the tetraspanin superfamily, proteins with a widespread distribution in eukaryotic organisms and 33 members in humans, may provide such an approach.

Tetraspanins traverse the membrane four times, but are distinguished from other four-pass membrane proteins by the presence of conserved charged residues in the transmembrane domains and a defining ‘signature’ motif in the larger PD98059 of the two extracellular domains (the EC2). find more They characteristically form promiscuous associations with one another and with other membrane proteins and lipids to generate a specialized type of microdomain: the tetraspanin-enriched microdomain (TEM). TEMs are integral to the main role of tetraspanins as ‘molecular organizers’ involved in functions such as membrane trafficking, cell-cell fusion, motility, and signaling. Increasing evidence demonstrates that tetraspanins are used by intracellular pathogens as a means of entering and replicating within human

cells. Although previous investigations focused mainly on viruses such as hepatitis C and HIV, it is now becoming clear that other microbes associate with

tetraspanins, using TEMs as a ‘gateway’ to infection.

In this article we review the properties and functions of tetraspanins/TEMs that are relevant to infective processes and discuss the accumulating evidence that shows how different pathogens exploit these properties in infection and in the pathogenesis of disease. We then investigate the novel and exciting possibilities of targeting tetraspanins for the treatment of infectious disease, using specific antibodies, recombinant EC2 domains, small-molecule mimetics, and small interfering RNA. Such therapies, directed at host-cell molecules, may provide alternative options for combating fast-mutating PF-00299804 Protein Tyrosine Kinase inhibitor or newly emerging pathogens, where conventional approaches face difficulties.”
“Purpose: To analyze the composition of essential oils of two types of mint as well as compare the antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of the two oils.

Methods: Peppermint (M. piperita L.) and chocolate mint (M. piperita L.) oils were obtained by steam distillation in a Clevenger-type apparatus. The chemical composition of the essential oils was determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the essential oils were determined by broth dilution method.

Incorporation of 2-5% residues significantly reduced germination by 47-89%. Residues of 4 and 5% concentration significantly suppressed plant biomass by 90 and 97%, respectively. The present study concludes that root and shoots of D. metel contain herbicidal constituents for the management of parthenium weed.”
“Objectives: Momelotinib molecular weight To investigate the association of 1082G > A(RsaI) (rs1256049) and 1730A > G(AluI) (rs4986938) single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs), respectively – located on estrogen receptor beta (ESR2) gene with recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) in Chinese population. Methods: The study group consisted of 196 patients with RSA and 182 fertile women as control. Two functional

polymorphisms 1082G > A (a silent mutation in exon 5) and 1730A > G (3′ nontranslated region of the exon 8) of ESR2 were studied by association analysis. Results: There were no significant differences between ESR2 gene polymorphisms and RSA (chi(2) = 1.793, P = 0.408; chi(2) = 1.432, P = 0.489,

respectively). Conclusion: The present data indicate that the studied SNPs on ESR2 gene may not be associated with RSA in Chinese population.”
“Objectives: To establish a rapid method for the stat laboratory tO identify falsely elevated serum cardiac troponin I (cTnI) values caused by endogenous interferences.

Methods: Serum AZD8186 price specimens with elevated cTnI were recentrifuged and cTnI was measured again. If the difference between first and second cTnI value was less than +/- 30%, the specimen was diluted 1:2, 1:5, and 1:10,.and the cTnI was measured in the diluted Selleck BTSA1 specimens. If the cTnI concentrations did not change linearly with dilution, the specimen was referred to an outside lab for re-analysis of cTnI by a different immunochemical method.

Results: Troponin I was elevated in 132

serum specimens. In 18 specimens, we attributed the elevation to the presence of fibrin or microparticles in the serum. Serial dilutions of 3 of the 114 remaining specimens produced nonlinear results. Overall, falsely elevated cTnI results were identified in 1.01% of all measurements.

Conclusions: Our method, which uses combined measurement of cTnI, creatinine kinase MB isoenzyme (CK-MB), and myoglobin, together with incubation, re-centrifugation, and serial dilution, is a practical method to identify falsely elevated serum cTnI values.”
“Cellulases are a highly diverse group of enzymes whose function is crucial to the healthy functioning of the biosphere, since more than half of all biomass on the planet consists of their substrate, cellulose. Trials were conducted to study the effect of mutagenesis by ultraviolet (UV) irradiation (5-40 min) and ethyl methane sulphonate (EMS) treatment (50-300 mu g mL-1) to obtain hyperactive cellulase enzyme producers. Putative mutants of Trichoderma reesei FCBP-364 were selected on the basis of their bigger hydrolysing zone formation and compared to the parental strains quantitatively.

39-17.31); P = 0.014]. Transplanted patients with AKI are younger, more prone to be diabetic and to have previous chronic renal failure compared with the general ICU population, possibly in part because of their immunosuppressive therapy. Nevertheless, they have the same prognosis.”
“Lotus seeds polyphenols have not been studied at the anti-oxidation activity in oil and the extraction by now. Microwave-assisted extraction was employed

to extract polyphenols from lotus seeds, which is a process that uses microwave energy and solvents to extract target compounds from various matrices. Orthogonal analysis methodology learn more was used to determine the optimal extraction conditions for microwave power, ethanol concentration, extraction time, and solid-liquid ratio which were 300 W, 90%, 35 s, and 1:10, respectively. Ethanol concentration

is the most significant factor influencing on the yield of lotus seed polyphenols. Antioxidant trials using oil have shown lotus seed polyphenols can effectively inhibit the production of the peroxide and anisidine in oil to a certain extent, and these polyphenols have selleck kinase inhibitor strong anti-oxidation activity. From anti-oxidation synergistic effect on oils with the lotus seed polyphenols and other antioxidants, vitamin C shows the strongest synergy.”
“The influence of InF(3) doping and remelting on Eu-doped fluorozirconate-based glass ceramics was investigated using near-edge x-ray absorption and optical spectroscopy. It was found that the addition of InF(3) to the melt decreases the Eu(2+)/Eu(3+) mole ratio, while remelting leads to a significant change in the Eu(2+)/Eu(3+) ratio in favor of Eu(2+). Photoluminescence spectroscopy shows that additional annealing steps lead to the see more formation of BaCl(2) nanoparticles in the glass. In as-made glass ceramics containing InF(3), a phase transition of the nanoparticles from hexagonal to orthorhombic structure is observed. This phase transition is not observed in the remelted glasses studied here.”
“P>Conversion of potential organ donors to actual donors is

negatively influenced by family refusals. Refusal rates differ strongly among countries. Is it possible to compare refusal rates in order to be able to learn from countries with the best practices? We searched in the literature for reviews of donor potential and refusal rates for organ donation in intensive care units. We found 14 articles pertinent to this study. There is an enormous diversity among the performed studies. The definitions of potential organ donors and family refusal differed substantially. We tried to re-calculate the refusal rates. This method failed because of the influence caused by the registered will on donation in the Donor Register. We therefore calculated the total refusal rate. This strategy was also less satisfactory considering possible influence of the legal consent system on the approach of family.

Mean serum levels of sRAGE were 710.7 +/- 290.2 pg/mL. Univariate analysis revealed that waist circumference (inversely), hemoglobin (inversely), number of white blood cells (inversely), total-bilirubin (inversely), free

fatty acid (inversely), ferritin (inversely), and HbA1c (inversely) were significantly correlated SNX-5422 order with serum levels of sRAGE. In multiple stepwise regression analysis, waist circumference (p < 0.01, inversely) and hemoglobin (p < 0.01, inversely) were independently associated with serum levels of sRAGE (R-2=0.176). The present study reveals that low serum levels of sRAGE are independently associated with waist circumference and hemoglobin in patients with NAFLD.”
“Purpose: To employ restriction inhibition assay (RIA) to screen phytochemical-rich fractions (PRFs) with high affinity for EcoRI and HindIII restriction sequences and correlate their interaction to an anticancer activity.

Methods: pBR322 linear plasmid DNA was used as a template to screen the sequence-selective inhibition of aqueous extracts of Cinnamomum zeylanicum and Picrorhiza kurroa, respectively. The template was further incubated with different concentrations of PRFs prior to digestion with restriction

endonucleases HindIII and EcoRI. The Expressed Sequence Tags (ESTs) and Sequence Tag Sites (STS) of oncogenes were screened for the presence of EcoRI and HindIII restriction sequences to associate an anticancer property to PRF.

Results: The inhibitory concentrations of Cinnamomum zeylanicum aqueous extract against HindIII Smoothened Agonist molecular weight and EcoRI endonucleases were approximately OICR-9429 datasheet 2.5 and 5 mu g/mu l, respectively. No binding was observed for Picrorhiza kurroa at both HindIII and EcoRI restriction sites. The saponin-rich fractions of

Cinnamomum zeylanicum showed significant ( p < 0.001) inhibition as compared to control at concentrations of 0.28 +/- 1.45 mu g/mu l for EcoRI and 0.11 +/- 2.68 mu g/mu l for HindIII endonucleases. Both EcoRI and HindIII restriction sites were found repeatedly in the STS and ESTs of BRCA2, the early onset oncogene.

Conclusion: The inhibition of endonucleases by phytochemical-rich fractions provides direct evidence of the use of RIA for screening as well as demonstrating the binding specificity of these PRFs. The presence of 5′-AAGCTT-3′ & 5′-GAATTC-3′ in the ESTs of BRAC2 provides an insight into the use of screened components as leads in the search for novel anticancer compounds.”
“Multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) tuberculosis (TB) threaten global TB control. The MDR/XDR-TB Assessment and Monitoring Tool was developed to standardise evaluations of country capacity to prevent, diagnose and treat MDR/XDR-TB and identify program gaps.

(Curr Ther Res Clin Exp. 2011; 72:164-172) (C) 2011 Elsevier HS Journals, Inc. All rights reserved.”
“The effect of microwave irradiation on the calcium carbonate (CaCO3) deposition on bacterial cellulose (BC) membranes was investigated.

The experiments were conducted at atmospheric pressure using calcium chloride and sodium carbonate aqueous solutions as starting reactants. The following parameters varied: the exposure time at microwave irradiation and the concentrations of calcium buy BAY 73-4506 chloride starting solutions. The BC-CaCO3 composites were characterized by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). From the known polymorph of calcium carbonate, calcite and vaterite were deposed on bacterial cellulose membranes in the presence of microwave irradiation doses which were used in this work. Water vapor permeability

and pencil scratch hardness were investigated for BC-CaCO3 composites and compared with control samples obtained without microwave irradiation. Significant differences between morphology and even polymorphism of the calcium carbonate crystals were observed for the irradiated samples in comparison with those obtained in the absence of microwave irradiation. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.”
“Contents Unilateral enlargement of left testicle and scrotum was detected in an 8-year-old West Highland White selleck inhibitor Terrier. The histopathological diagnosis after surgery GNS-1480 chemical structure was a seminoma (SEM) tumour, and a diagnosis of metastatic foci was also detected in vaginal tunic and scrotum. Two months later, new metastatic SEM foci in the skin were diagnosed. Twenty-two months after the initial orchiectomy new multiple cutaneous

nodules and a swelling of periesophageal structures were observed. Finally, the necropsy revealed multiple malignant metastatic SEM focus. To the authors knowledge, this is the first description of a canine SEM with unusual widespread metastasis on the base of tongue, soft palate, trachea and pericardium.”
“OBJECTIVE: To evaluate serum C-peptide in 88 patients from a multiethnic population with Type-1 diabetes and variable disease durations.

METHOD: Eighty-eight patients with a mean disease duration of 8.1+/-7.6 years were included and underwent C-peptide measurement before and after glucagon stimulation. Chi-squared and Mann Whitney U-tests were used to compare the variables between groups (all two-tailed, alpha = 0.05). Spearmans correlation coefficient was used to test the association between the continuous variables. Logistic regression was used for the multivariate analysis. Twenty-eight (31.

3, 95% CI 1.1-17.1) predicted development of PCP. In the final multivariate analysis, only cytomegalovirus infection (adjusted OR 3.0, 95% CI 1.2-7.9) and rejection treatment (adjusted OR 5.8, 95% CI 1.9-18) were found to be independently associated with PCP. Using the variables identified

by the multivariate analyses, effects of different hypothetical chemoprophylaxis strategies were systematically evaluated. Exploring different scenarios showed that chemoprophylaxis in the first 6 months for all renal transplant patients – and during the first year posttransplantation for patients >455 years of age or those treated for rejection – would result GANT61 in vivo in very low PCP incidence and optimal avoidance of TMP-SMX toxicity. The results provide a rationale for further prospective study on targeted provision of chemoprophylaxis to prevent PCP in kidney transplant patients.”
“Background: Cardiac troponins have been investigated

as prognostic markers in the setting of ischemic stroke with diverging results. A new generation of highly sensitive troponin assays have recently been developed that allow for the detection of concentrations 5 to 10 times lower than those measureable with conventional assays. The aim of this study was to determine the association between high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) elevation on admission and mortality after acute ischemic stroke. Methods: Serum concentrations of hs-cTnT were measured at the time GW786034 price of admission in 347 patients with acute ischemic stroke. Clinical data and background information were obtained. Total follow-up time was 1.5 +/- 0.7 years, and all-cause mortality was used as the outcome measure. Results: Median hs-cTnT on admission in the whole group was 15.2 ng/L (interquartile range [IQR] 7.5-27.8), and was higher in nonsurvivors than survivors Dihydrotestosterone (28.2 ng/L [IQR 15.6-39.5] vs 11.4 ng/L [IQR 6.0-21.2]; P < .001). In multivariate analysis,

high hs-cTnT (the fourth quartile) was independently associated with all-cause mortality during the follow-up period, with a hazard ratio of 1.65 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04-2.63; P = .035). The addition of hs-cTnTas a continuous variable to the multivariate model resulted in both incremental discrimination and reclassification of patients (C-index increase from 0.819 to 0.834 [P = .007]; integrated discrimination index 0.011 [95% CI 0.001-0.021; P = .028]). Conclusions: Circulating hs-cTnT levels are closely associated with the risk of death in patients with acute ischemic stroke, and even levels below the upper reference limit appear to have prognostic value.”
“Alkyl aryl (hetaryl) ketones react with acetylene under atmospheric pressure in the superbasic system KOH-EtOH-H2O-DMSO at 10-15A degrees C (2 h) to give the corresponding tertiary propargyl alcohols in up to 91% yield.

[doi: 10.1063/1.3587169]“
“. Signalling activated by Toll-like receptors (TLRs) can result in the production of tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-a) which is implicated in hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. No study PF-562271 in vivo has examined or compared hepatic expression of TLRs in both HCV and HCV/HIV. Liver and peripheral blood mononuclear

cells (PBMCs) were obtained from HCV & HCV/HIV-infected patients and PBMCs from HIV-infected patients. Liver RNA was analysed by microarray and reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). PBMCs were analysed by flow cytometry. Associations with hepatic histology and infection type were sought. Forty-six HCV, 20 HIV and 27 HCV/HIV-infected patients were recruited. Increasing Metavir inflammatory activity

score was associated with increased hepatic TLR mRNA by RT-qPCR: TLR2 (P = 0.001), TLR4 (P = 0.008) and TNF-a (P = 0.001). A high degree of correlation was seen between hepatic mRNA expression of TNF-avs TLR2 (r2 = 0.66, P < 0.0001) and TLR4 (r2 = 0.60, P < 0.0001). No differences in TLR gene or protein expression was observed between HCV, HCV/HIV- or HIV-infected groups. Hepatic TLR2, TLR4 and TNF-a mRNA are associated with Acalabrutinib manufacturer hepatic inflammation in both HCV and HCV/HIV infection. High correlation between TNF-a and TLR2/TLR4 suggests a role for the innate immune response in TNF-a production. Activation of the innate immune response appears to be independent of infection type.”
“Invasive MK-4827 purchase cervical resorption is a relatively uncommon form of external root resorption that may lead to tooth

loss. This article presents the clinical and radiologic diagnoses and treatment modalities of invasive cervical resorption in 2 patients. In the first case, we did a slow orthodontic forced eruption to make the bone grow coronally. After 6 months, the tooth was extracted and an immediate implant was placed. Eight months later a zirconia crown was cemented. In the second case, we performed root canal treatment followed by a composite reconstruction of the defect. These 2 cases illustrate different approaches based on the extent of the defect. (Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2010;110:e64-e69)”
“We consider the applicability of the isentropic, adiabatic gas dynamical model of plume expansion for laser ablation in vacuum. We show that the model can be applied to ionized plumes and estimate the upper electron temperature limit on the applicability of the isentropic approximation. The model predictions are compared with Langmuir ion probe measurements and deposition profiles obtained for excimer laser ablation of silver. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3572260]“
“.

5).

Conclusions: Only half of critically ill patients’ surrogates participated in CPR discussions. For those who did participate, most reported good understanding of resuscitation techniques, but less than half recalled the core components of CPR. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.”
“We report on the structural and electronic properties of swift heavy ion (SHI)

irradiated pristine TiO2 thin films, deposited by radio frequency magnetron sputtering on sapphire substrates. The high resolution x-ray diffraction and Raman measurements show a structural phase transition from anatase to admixture of brookite and rutile phases of TiO2 with increasing SHI fluence followed by a significant distortion in the TiO6 octahedra. The modification in the electronic structure stimulated by SHI irradiation has been investigated using selleck compound x-ray absorption (XAS) experiments at the O K and Ti L-3,L-2 absorption edges. The O K edge spectra clearly indicate the splitting of the pre-edge spectral features having t(2g) and e(g) symmetry bands due to structural disorder/distortion induced by irradiation. The intensity of the SHI generated components www.selleckchem.com/products/Y-27632.html at the O K edge increases monotonically, which can be correlated to the modification in unoccupancies associated with O 2 p orbitals hybridized with Ti 3 d states. The XAS spectra at the Ti L-3,L-2 edge further authenticate that SHI creates a controlled structural

disorder/distortion in the TiO6 octahedra. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3657466]“
“Non-intermingling, adjacent populations of cells define compartment boundaries; such

boundaries are often essential for the positioning and the maintenance of tissue-organizers during growth. In the developing wing primordium of Drosophila melanogaster, signaling by the secreted protein Hedgehog (Hh) is required for compartment boundary maintenance. However, the precise mechanism of Hh input remains poorly understood. Here, we combine experimental observations Tariquidar price of perturbed Hh signaling with computer simulations of cellular behavior, and connect physical properties of cells to their Hh signaling status. We find that experimental disruption of Hh signaling has observable effects on cell sorting surprisingly far from the compartment boundary, which is in contrast to a previous model that confines Hh influence to the compartment boundary itself. We have recapitulated our experimental observations by simulations of Hh diffusion and transduction coupled to mechanical tension along cell-to-cell contact surfaces. Intriguingly, the best results were obtained under the assumption that Hh signaling cannot alter the overall tension force of the cell, but will merely re-distribute it locally inside the cell, relative to the signaling status of neighboring cells. Our results suggest a scenario in which homotypic interactions of a putative Hh target molecule at the cell surface are converted into a mechanical force.

To our knowledge, this is the youngest and only asymptomatic patient in whom neoplastic GDC changes have been reported. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“The accurate staging of liver fibrosis in chronic liver diseases, especially the early diagnosis of liver cirrhosis, is crucial for prognostic assessment of the course of the disease. The histological evaluation of a liver biopsy cylinder is still the gold standard in assessing

the stage of liver fibrosis. However, liver biopsy is an invasive procedure and carries the risk of complications. This has to be balanced against the information this website benefit of liver histology. To overcome this, non-invasive tests were developed assessing liver fibrosis based on combinations of laboratory markers or techniques measuring liver elasticity. In this selleck review the current impact of the non invasive methods is discussed and weighted against liver biopsy. (C) 2009 Elsevier

Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“A detailed atomic force microscopy (AFM) study of the conductance of hydrogenated single-crystal diamond (100) surfaces over submicron length scales is presented. The hydrogenation process was found to influence the surface morphology by reducing surface roughness, with the subsequent appearance of small triangular structures (with side lengths of 200 nm). Conducting AFM measurements revealed variations in the current and resistance that were related to the topography. Possible explanations include surface inhomogeneity of the EPZ015938 Epigenetics inhibitor electronic structure or variations in the contact resistance due to the surface roughness.”
“This report presents a detailed update to our 2008 publication on the tissue engineering (YE) and stem cell industry. Data are reported

through mid 2011 showing an almost three-fold growth in commercial sales over the past 4 years. In addition, the number of companies selling products or offering services has increased over twofold to 106, and they are generating a remarkable $3.5 billion in sales. Overall, the YE and stem cell sector is spending $3.6 billion and employing almost 14,000 employees. These data suggest the YE and stem cell industry has stabilized and is on a path pointing toward continued success.”
“The development of novel pharmacological agents capable of aiding weight loss is urgently required to help combat the global epidemic of obesity. Contrave (TM) is a fixed-dose combination of bupropion sustained release and naltrexone sustained release that is currently being examined in Phase III clinical trials as a potential new pharmacological treatment for obesity. Bupropion, a nonselective dopamine- and norepinephrine-reuptake inhibitor, is believed to reduce weight by stimulating hypothalamic proopiomelanocortin neurons, which in turn act to reduce appetite and increase energy expenditure, a mechanism that is inhibited by beta-endorphin.