In trying to unlock the potential of retinoids to treat patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), scientists have found the antidepressant called tranylcypromine (TCP) may be the key.

A retinoid called all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), which is a vitamin A-derivative, is already used successfully to treat a rare sub-type of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), however this drug has not been effective for the more common types of AMLs.

A drug that has been on the market for decades to treat leukemia and skin disorders such as acne and psoriasis may be a possible therapy for vascular diseases, including atherosclerosis and hypertension, which can lead to heart attack or stroke.

VANCOUVER, March 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - QLT Inc. (NASDAQ: QLTI; TSX: QLT) ("QLT" or the "Company") today announced the results from a Phase Ia trial of QLT091001 in healthy adult volunteers.

Two Japanese researchers say it is plausible and provocative to associate the obesity epidemic with chemical triggers present in the modern environment. Taisen Iguchi and Yoshinao Katsu of the Graduate University for Advanced Studies in Japan say the rise in obesity in humans over the past 40 years parallels the increased use of industrial chemicals during the same period. The researchers note the chemical Tributyltin is used as a wood and textile preservative in paints for boats, as a pesticide on high-value food crops and many other applications. Tributyltin affects sensitive receptors in the cells of animals, from water fleas to humans, at very low concentrations -- one-thousandth that of other pollutants known to interfere with sexual development of wildlife species.