Compliance with the Legislation on Alcohol Serving and Selling and Alcohol Intoxications in Adolescents

Purpose: study the relation between compliance to the legal age limits for alcohol sales and alcohol intoxication in adolescents. Methods: from 2007 till 2012 we collected data on adolescents, with a positive BAC, treated in a hospital. Within the Dutch Pediatric Surveillance System (NSCK), pediatricians report adolescents and fill in a questionnaire. In 2012 the questionnaire was extended, involving questions on how and where alcohol was obtained. Results: in total 3,286 adolescents were treated, mainly (88%) related to severe alcohol intoxication; main age 15.3 years, and 54% were boys. BAC level is 1.84 on average, and reduced consciousness last almost three hours. Almost 18% of the adolescents with alcohol intoxication drank themselves into the hospital in a bar or discotheque. Out of the people who indicated how and where they obtained alcohol in about 20% vendors in supermarkets, liquor stores and bars offended the legal age limits. Conclusions: alcohol intoxication treatment remains an issue of importance. For the first time worldwide, we demonstrated that non-compliance with the sales of products with a legal age limit, cause the severe consequences of alcohol intoxication. We call for the catering industry and retailers to improve their compliance, and governments to increase enforcemen

Phasing in on the cell cycle

Just like all matter, proteins can also switch between gas, liquid and solid phases. Protein phase transition has claimed the spotlight in recent years as a novel way of how cells compartmentalize and regulate biochemical reactions. Moreover, this discovery has provided a new framework for the study of membrane-less organelle biogenesis and protein aggregation in neurodegenerative disorders. We now argue that this framework could be useful in the study of cell cycle regulation and cancer. Based on our work on phase transitions of arginine-rich proteins in neurodegeneration, via combining mass spectroscopy with bioinformatics analyses, we found that also numerous proteins involved in the regulation of the cell cycle can undergo protein phase separation. Indeed, several proteins whose function affects the cell cycle or are associated with cancer, have been recently found to phase separate from the test tube to cells. Investigating the role of this process for cell cycle proteins and understanding its molecular underpinnings will provide pivotal insights into the biology of cell cycle progression and cancer. © 2018 The Author(s)

A Foreword from the Editor

We are glad to publish the second issue of the Journal of Medicines Development Sciences. It illustrates three current trends in medicines development:• The rising role of small biotech companies,• The initiatives launched in many countries to boost clinical research,• The importance of an adequate education and training of physicians and scien-tists involved in medicines development

A Foreword from the Editor

Welcome to the inaugural issue of the Journal of Medicines Development Sciences. This new open access journal will publish articles on the entire process of discovery and development of new medicinal products, with a particular emphasis on translational research. This inaugural issue is devoted to “Open Innovation”, a booming concept that is starting to deeply change the context of medicines development

A Foreword from the Editor

Welcome to the 3rd issue of the Journal of Medicines Development Sciences. Like previous issues it contains articles covering the entire process of drug development from target identification to drug registration