Drugs

Niu, Tianhua; Chen, Xiu; Xu, Xiping

doi: 10.2165/00003495-200262070-00001pmid: 11985486

Cardiovascular disease is the major cause of morbidity and mortality in Westernised societies. It is well known that the aetiology of this devastating disorder involves both genetic and environmental factors. Sequence variants of the components of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and the kallikrein-kinin system are suggested to have significant influences on cardiovascular homeostasis.

Moser, Michael

doi: 10.2165/00003495-200262070-00002pmid: 11985487

Immunosuppression administered in the early postoperative period following liver transplantation plays a crucial role in the survival of the graft and the patient. The introduction of cyclosporin was an important landmark in transplantation, and to this day, calcineurin inhibitors form the basis of most induction immunosuppression regimens. New drugs are being developed which are more specifically targeted to prevention of rejection, and multiple drug combinations have been proposed as a means of reducing the adverse effects of individual drugs.

Postma, Maarten; Jansema, Paul; Genugten, Marianne; Heijnen, Marie-Louise; Jager, Johannes; Jong-van den Berg, Lolkje

doi: 10.2165/00003495-200262070-00003pmid: 11985488

A favourable pharmacoeconomic profile has been well established for influenza vaccination in the elderly. For employers relevant benefits seem to exist for vaccinating healthy working adults to avert absenteeism and related production losses. From a pharmacoeconomic point of view it is relevant to consider whether societal benefits of vaccination for healthy working adults is worthwhile given the costs of vaccination for the community.

Balkis, Maher; Leidich, Steven; Mukherjee, Pranab; Ghannoum, Mahmoud

doi: 10.2165/00003495-200262070-00004pmid: 11985489

The increased use of antifungal agents in recent years has resulted in the development of resistance to these drugs. The significant clinical implication of resistance has led to heightened interest in the study of antifungal resistance from different angles. In this article we discuss antifungal susceptibility testing, the mode of action of antifungals and mechanisms of resistance.

Lamb, Harriet; Ormrod, Douglas; Scott, Lesley; Figgitt, David

doi: 10.2165/00003495-200262070-00005pmid: 11985490

Scott, Lesley; Dunn, Christopher; Mallarkey, Gordon; Sharpe, Miriam

doi: 10.2165/00003495-200262070-00006pmid: 11985491