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Photodynamic therapy is a binary treatment now accepted in clinic for various malignancies in several countries around the world. Phthalocyanine molecules are second-generation photosensitizers with enhanced photophysical and photochemical properties over those of porphyrins. They have been shown to be phototoxic against a number of cell types and tumor models. A great deal of research has been devoted to the elucidation of their mechanism of action and mode of cell death. The present paper reviews phthalocyanine pre-clinical anti-cancer research with emphasis on phthalocyanine induced apoptosis using a silicon phthalocyanine, Pc4. A brief summary of the latest clinical results using phthalocyanines is presented.

Breast cancer is currently the most common cancer in women, and it accounts for 11.6% of all cancer diagnoses in 2018. Breast cancer patients frequently resort to alternative medicine in addition to conventional Western therapy. This study is to evaluate clinical effectiveness of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) on breast cancer by conducting meta-analyses on 81 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with a total of 7215 subjects from eight databases. All RCTs compared patients using Western therapy alone and those using additional CHM therapy to evaluate the difference of primary (tumor response, mean time to progression (mTTP), overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS)) and secondary outcome measures (tumor markers). Results showed that under the RECIST1.1 criteria, 52% patients with additional CHM therapy (67%, under WHO criteria) achieved either a complete response (CR) or a partial response (PR), compared to 38% patients with Western therapy alone (53%, under the WHO criteria). The risk ratio was 1.31 ($p$ < 0.00001, 95% CI = 1.15–1.50) for patients with CHM plus Western therapy and 1.25 ($p$ < 0.00001, 95% CI = 1.18–1.98) for those with Western therapy. Moreover, patients with complementary CHM therapy were associated with an mTTP of 2.79 months longer ($p$ < 0.00001) and an OS of 1.90 months longer ($p$ < 0.00001); they also had an increase in 3-year PFS ($p$= 0.002), 2- ($p$= 0.0002) and 5-year ($p$= 0.006) OS rates. Therefore, complementary CHM therapy might demonstrate clinical benefits for breast cancer patients in terms of tumor response and survival. Clinical studies with further stratification of tumor stages and intervention types are highly warranted.

Pain is the most frequently encountered symptom by patients with fibromyalgia (FM). Dietary supplements (DSs) in particular have a proven impact as a possible adjunctive therapy for symptom management in FM. However, there is currently no conclusive review outlining the evidence for DSs in pain management in FM. This study aims to assess currently available studies evaluating the use of DSs for pain relief in FM. Randomized controlled trials regarding the use of DSs on adult FM patients were included for evidence synthesis. Study results indicated that DSs significantly relieved pain in FM (SMD 1.23; 95% CI 0.02–2.43, P = 0.046) but did not improve quality of life (QoL) (SMD 0.73; 95% CI −0.07–1.53, P = 0.075) in the data. Adverse events of DSs varied from mild to severe, with the most common being gastrointestinal symptoms and androgenic side effects in 5.7% and 3.9% of patients, respectively. More well-designed RCTs are required in the future. The protocol for this review has been published on PROSPERO (CRD42020149941).

Turmeric is widely used worldwide, and there are many examples of its use in treating hepatobiliary diseases. The gut–liver axis is a bidirectional relationship between gut microorganisms and the liver that is closely related to the pathogenesis of hepatobiliary diseases. This review systematically summarizes the components of turmeric. It links the studies on turmeric affecting gut microorganisms to its effects on liver and biliary diseases to explain the potential mechanism of turmeric’s regulation of the gut–liver axis. Besides, ethnopharmacology, phytochemicals, and clinical adverse events associated with turmeric have been researched. Furthermore, turmeric is a safe agent with good clinical efficacy and without apparent toxicity at a certain amount. By summarizing the influence of turmeric on the liver by regulating the gut–liver axis, especially the gut microbiota, it provides a preclinical basis for using turmeric as a safe and effective therapeutic agent for the prevention and treatment of hepatobiliary diseases based on the gut–liver axis. However, more efforts should be made to exploit its clinical application further.

Interspinous implants (ISP) represent a contemporary non-fusion surgical option in the treatment of lumbar segment disease. Several devices have been developed within the last two decades and have been variously supported by investigations into their clinical and biomechanical efficacy. Spinal stenosis and facet arthropathy are reported as the primary clinical indications for their use, with degenerative disc disease and segmental instability recently extending their application. The principle common to all interspinous systems is an induced distraction of the interspinous space, resulting in reduced approximation of pain-sensitive and space-occupying tissue. Collectively, these devices are considered to prevent adjacent segment overload by restoring physiologic load transmission. This review article summarizes existing published literature, describes four different interspinous implants — the DIAM, Wallis, X-Stop and Coflex systems, and outlines clinical trials in progress. The design and surgical technique characteristics, mechanism of action, and clinical indications for interspinous implants are reviewed. Recommendations for future research of interspinous implants in the treatment of lumbar segment disease are made.

India’s Nath Seeds Ties up with Chinese Biotech Firm for Bt Cotton.

Japan’s Takara Grants Molmed Right to Use RetroNectin for Gene Therapy.

Sumitomo to Access LifeSpan’s GPCR Expression and Localization Database.

Wyeth Lederle Japan Transfers Over-the-counter Drugs to Takeda.

Kyowa Hakko Develops New Antibody Technology.

Australia’s BTF Completes Prototype for Precise Culture Based Microorganisms.

Novogen to Start Phenoxodiol Clinical Trials in Australia.

China Investigates Fault in US-made Tempo Pacemakers.

Japan Drugmakers to Boost Sales in China.

YuHan at Forefront of Pharmaceuticals in Korea.

Eli Lilly Opens Asian Headquarters in Hong Kong.

DSM Produces Semi-synthetic Penicillin in China.

World Diagnostics to Sell Test Kits in India and Vietnam.

AMDL Reports Disappointing Sales from Asian Distributor.

Taiwan University and AbGenomics to Develop Proprietary Biomedical Platforms.

Omeros Medical Systems and Singapore Institute to Develop New Drug Delivery System.

The article is about the molecular biology of myopia. It discusses the characteristics of myopia and some of the drugs that slows down myopia.

Bionomics Partners Johnson and Johnson Research.

AustCancer and BioFocus Join Hands in Heregulin Project.

BresaGen to have New Facility.

Roche Inaugurates New Citric Acid Plant in China.

US Agribusiness Giant ADM's China Joint Venture Starts Operations.

Dragon Pharmaceuticals Acquires Remaining Stake in Nanjing Huaxin Bio-pharmaceutical.

Hong Kong's Cheung Kong to List Biotech Business.

Ranbaxy Files IND for Pneumonia Drug.

Dr. Reddy's Completes Phase I Clinical Trials of Cancer Drug.

Morepen Sets up Four Strategic Business Units.

Takara Bio Produces DNA Fragments for DNA Microarrays on Industrial Scale.

Kyowa Hakko to Begin Phase II Trials of Urinary Incontinence Compound.

Eisai Establishes Clinical Research Subsidiary in the US.

Matsushita Develops First High Throughput Drug Screening Technology Using Biosensors.

AgResearch Seeks Approval for GM Organisms Development.

ICPbio Opens New Manufacturing Facility in West Auckland.

German Tissue Engineering Firm to Offer New Treatment for Knee Injuries.

Bristol-Meyers Squibb Cuts AIDS Drug Price.

SurroMed Transfers R&D Facility to Institute of Bioengineering.

Fast-food Firms Seek Thai Chicken.

China’s First Liver-Kidney Transplant Successful.

China Approves Clinical Trials of IFN α-2b for SARS Prevention.

Indian Firms Investing in Speciality Diagnostic Services.

Japan to Transform Rice into Biodegradable Plastic.

New Zealand Denies Possible Case of Mad Cow Disease.

World Largest Health Survey.

Local Fish Company Employs Biotech Solutions to Monopolize Market.

AustCancer and Sloan-Kettering in Cancer Drug Clinical Trials Collaboration.

GTG Grants Licenses Non-Coding Technologies to Ovita.

Regenera Subsidiary Obtain Patent in Diabetic Eye Steroid.

Roche New R&D Center Established in Shanghai.

Pharmaceutical Product Transaction in the 94th Canton Fair.

New GMP Purification Facility in Hong Kong.

Japan Generic Drug Market Surge due to Government Incentives.

Fujirebio Launches New Liver Cancer Marker Test Kit.

New Joint Venture in Japan — Zepharma Inc.

Welch Allyn's New Asian Headquarters.

The article is about the author's IT experience in the Austrlian biotech market. It discusses specific BioIT applications and hardware.

The article is about how Singapore is building up capabilities in the Biomedical Sciences. BMRC, BMSG and Bio*One are to implement Singapore's biomedical sciences. The article discusses the approach taken by the three agencies to promote the industry by focussing on the developmental of industrial capital, intellectual capital and human capital.

Kissei Pharma Collaborates with JCR Pharmaceuticals.

Japan's Bioventure Today—SymBio Pharmaceuticals Limited.

Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited (RLL) Collaborates with Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV).

Roche Grants Tamiflu sublicense to Indian Company.

US-based Stem Cell Co Ties Up with LifeCell to Set up Indian Subsidiary.

Moleac: Flowing Therapeutics from the East to the West and Expertise from the West to the East.

This article deals about the Government Perspective on the Life Science in Taiwan.

Starpharma Signs Agrochemicals Deal.

Circadian Achieves Key Manufacturing Milestone for Cancer Drug Candidate.

Monsanto Opens First Biotechnology Research Center in China.

Novartis Expands Pharma R&D in China.

NeoStem Acquires China Biopharmaceuticals.

Tianyin Pharma Expands Antibiotics Business in a Joint Venture.

The Win-Win Partnership of GVK Biosciences-Wyeth Research.

Strategic Partnership to Treat Influenza in India.

India and U.S. Join Forces to Ramp Up Production of H1N1 Vaccine.

Amylin and Takeda Collaborate to Develop Obesity Drug.

ZyGEM and Phthisis Tie Up to Make Pathogen Detection Products.

Sirtex Medical Sets Up Facility in Singapore.

Singapore is Roche's First Biologics Manufacturing Site in Asia-Pacific.

Medtronic Makes Singapore its Asia and International Headquarters.

Academia Sinica and IDRI Combine Research Effort to Fight TB.

Conflicts of Interest in Biomedical Research.

Clinical Trials in Low and Middle Income Countries: A Reflection on the Issues.

The Closure of the National Bio-bank in Singapore.

Draining the Goodwill of Science: The Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing Industry in East Asia.

INDONESIA – Quintiles expands patient access for clinical trials to Indonesia.

JAPAN – Legacy Healthcare announces breakthrough clinical results in hair re-growth.

SINGAPORE – iNova Pharmaceuticals relocates Regional HQ to Singapore as part of Asia-centric reorganization.

AUSTRALIA – Silencing the bird flu gene: scientists prep live hen trials.

AUSTRALIA – Helsinn grants Specialised Therapeutics Australia (STA) rights to Anamorelin, treat cachexia-anorexia.

NORTH AMERICA – To survive, genes pick up new skills.

NORTH AMERICA – Phase III study evaluates two investigational hormone-releasing IUDs for prevention of pregnancy for up to three years.

NORTH AMERICA – Agilent Technologies introduces SureDesign.

NORTH AMERICA – Progress made towards production of biosimilar products in tobacco plants.

NORTH AMERICA – FDA approves Aerospan for asthma.

EUROPE – New technology offers improved chances for couples undergoing IVF.

EUROPE – Phase IIa Laquinimod trial results show positive data for potential use in active Crohn's Disease.

EUROPE – Pfizer donates vials of Factor IX to the World Federation of Hemophilia.

EUROPE – nViso gets research grant to study 3D facial imaging technology for healthcare applications.

EUROPE – New evidence-based 3D cell culture web portal launched by Reinnervate Ltd.

EUROPE – The social side of vaccine effectiveness.

Agilent Technologies recognized by Frost & Sullivan as 2013 Laboratory Analytical Instrumentation Company of the Year in China.

Verisante Technology, Inc. announces study on nasopharnygeal cancer in China.

ICON signs collaboration agreement with the Taiwan National Centre of Excellence for clinical trials and research.

MicuRx completes $25 million Series B financing.

Connecticut's CURE network welcomes HLK, its first Chinese member company.

2013 BIO Convention in China to connect biotech industry to the world's 2nd largest biopharmaceutical market.

Partner State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology opened at HKU.

Amgen and ShanghaiTech University announce plans for Amgen China R&D center to open on ShanghaiTech campus.

CANbridge Life Sciences enters into agreement with Azaya Therapeutics to develop ATI-1123 for lung cancer in China and North Asia.

Harnessing Asia's Potential with a 5-Prong Site Strategy.

Microfluidics for Cancer Diagnosis.