Popular Articles

An Entirely New Direction For RNAi Delivery - The Future Of Personalized Cancer Treatment
In technology that promises to one day allow drug delivery to be tailored to an individual patient and a particular cancer tumor, researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, have developed an efficient system for delivering siRNA into primary cells. The work was published on May 17 in the advance on-line edition of Nature Biotechnology.
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Factors Affecting Benefit/Harm Of Intensive Glucose Control In Type 2 Diabetes Reported
Factors affecting whether intensive glucose control is likely to reduce or increase the risk of cardiovascular events, including death, based on evidence in the VA Diabetes Trial, were reported in a symposium here today at the American Diabetes Association"s 69th Scientific Sessions.
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News of the day
First U.K. Stem Cell Awareness Rally To Take Place In Manchester, England On August 9th, 2009
In what will be the Stem Cell Awareness Association"s seventh awareness rally, past patients, interested physicians, and prospective patients will meet in Manchester to learn about stem cell technologies and discuss the various current treatments available throughout the world.

Sexual Health

Two-thirds Of Publicly-insured Adults Have One Or More Chronic Conditions

Nearly two of every three adult Americans under age 65 who were covered by public insurance from 2005 to 2006 had at least one chronic illness, such as diabetes, heart disease, and kidney disease, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

African-American Women With Advanced Breast Cancer Often Forego Vital Treatment

A new study finds that nearly one in four African American women with late stage breast cancer refused chemotherapy and radiation therapy, potentially life saving therapies. Published in the July 1, 2009 issue of CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the study indicates that more efforts are needed to ensure that all women with breast cancer receive appropriate care.

Dynavax Awarded Grant To Support Development Of TLR Inhibitors In Skin Diseases

Dynavax Technologies Corporation (Nasdaq:DVAX) announced the award of a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). This grant will support the preclinical development of Dynavax"s first-in-class oligonucleotide-based Toll-like Receptor (TLR) inhibitors for use in inflammatory skin diseases such as psoriasis, cutaneous lupus, and dermatomyositis. This new two-year $700,000 grant is in addition to a $1.8 million grant awarded in 2008.

POZEN Receives Decision From AstraZeneca To File PN 400 NDA

POZEN Inc. (NASDAQ: POZN) reported that AstraZeneca has made the decision to have POZEN file the New Drug Application (NDA) for PN 400 with the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). POZEN continues to target a mid-2009 NDA filing and expects to receive a milestone payment of $10 million when the NDA is formally accepted for submission by the FDA.

White House Emphasizes Need To Reduce Health Care Costs, Improve Access To Care Among Blacks

During a White House teleconference last week, Nancy-Ann DeParle, director of the White House Office on Health Reform said that reducing health care costs is "particularly important for the [black] community because on average, they spend a higher percentage of their income on health care costs, compared to their white counterparts," the Washington Informer reports. Nancy-Ann DeParle, director of the office, at a press conference last week said that reducing health care costs is "particularly important for the [black] community because on average, they spend a higher percentage of their income on health care costs, compared to their white counterparts." She added that blacks spend about 16.5% of their income on health care, while whites spend about 12%. In addition, blacks "continue to face disparities in terms of the (quality of care) they get," DeParle said. According to DeParle, blacks tend to visit hospitals that "provide lower-quality care." She added that higher health care costs are "especially troubling" to the black community because blacks "suffer from higher percentages of chronic diseases such as heart disease, kidney disease and diabetes, that are due in part to a lack of access to quality care."According to the Informer, $1 billion of the $787 billion stimulus package that President Obama signed in February will be allocated to prevention efforts and public health campaigns (Michaels, Washington Informer, 5/21).

New Stem Cell Research Unlocks Unknown Therapies

"Stem cell research and regenerative medicine are in an extremely exciting phase right now. We are gaining knowledge very fast and many companies are being formed and are starting clinical trials in different areas," says Dr Jonas Frisçİn.

Deakin Health Expert Recommends New Direction For Obesity Research

Most of the current obesity research is not proving helpful in finding solutions to the growing international epidemic, according to a Deakin University public health expert.

Autism Spectrum Therapies Offers New Summer Programs & Services For Children With Autism And Their Families In Southern California

Autism Spectrum Therapies (AST), an agency providing behavior therapy and other autism services, now offers new summer programs for children of all ages and their parents. These fun, kid-friendly programs are designed to help children with autism disorders maintain their academic and communication skills over summer vacation and to develop new skills for the upcoming school year.

BPA Chemical Leaches From Hard Plastic Drinking Bottles Into The Body, Study

New research from the US suggests that people who drink from bottles made of polycarbonate plastic, such as that used to make hard-plastic

Health Trust Uses Complementary Treatments As Part Of Their "Improving Working Lives" Initiative

Workers in one of the largest PCT"s in the UK have been benefiting from a scheme that is part of the "improving working lives in the workplace" initiative. Since January 2009, training company, Ethos (Education, Training, Health and Online Service Ltd) have been working with staff across all disciplines within the trust including clinical and non-clinical staff on a programme of taster complementary therapy sessions.

Heatwave Plan Updated With Advice For Those With Respiratory Problems, UK

New advice to help people with respiratory problems cope in a heatwave is published by the Department of Health.

What Is Yeast Infection Or Candidiasis? What Is Vaginal Thrush?

Vaginal thrush (thrush) is a yeast infection caused by a type of fungus of the candida species, usually Candida albicans. It can affect all women, but is more common among women who are pregnant, those who have weakened immune systems, and women aged 30 to 50. Thrush is generally recurring - it comes back. The fungus, candida albicans, exists naturally in the vagina. As long as it does not multiply too much a woman will not notice it is there. However, if can sometimes multiply to such an extent that it causes swelling of the vagina and vulva.

Can New Surgery Revolutionize Diabetes Treatment?

Metabolic surgery, a new surgical approach to metabolic disease, may provide the key to curing diabetes in some patients. This data was presented at the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) 18th Annual Meeting & Clinical Congress.

IBM Helps Ling Tung University Build System To Monitor And Analyze Patients\' Health At Home

IBM (NYSE: IBM) announced it has been selected to help Ling Tung University build a smarter healthcare system to monitor the health of senior citizens in Taiwan anywhere, at anytime. The project is part of the university"s "Health-4U" program, which has been launched as response to the Senior U-Care Flagship Program initiated by the Department of Industrial Technology under Taiwan"s Ministry of Economic Affairs.

Senate Judiciary Committee Postpones Votes On Two Federal Court Nominees

Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee delayed a confirmation vote on President Obama"s nominees for federal court positions until after the Memorial Day recess, Roll Call reports. David Hamilton, a district court judge in southern Indiana, is nominated for the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, and Andre Davis is nominated for the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals (Brady, Roll Call, 5/21). Committee ranking member Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) said, "Our members are concerned" about Hamilton, adding that Hamilton "has had a number of troubling rulings dealing with a series of prayers at the Indiana Legislature." Hamilton in 2005 ruled that prayers used to open the Legislature must be nonsectarian. Sessions said he also is concerned about Hamilton"s ruling to prohibit religious displays in public buildings. Committee Chair Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) defended Hamilton"s record. Leahy said, "He is, after all, the son of a minister, and he believes very strongly in the constitutional separation of church and state" (Stern, Bloomberg/Philadelphia Inquirer, 5/22). Leahy added that Hamilton "ought to be commended rather than obstructed or delayed." Meanwhile, the committee is awaiting Obama"s nominee to replace Justice David Souter on the Supreme Court. The nomination could further complicate consideration of Hamilton and Davis, as it is expected to occupy the panel through the summer (Roll Call, 5/21).

The Dangers Of \'Extreme\' College Drinking And A Sensation-Seeking Disposition

Drinking on college campuses in the United States is a pervasive problem, leading to numerous problems. One study estimated that more than 500,000 college students suffered alcohol-related injuries in 2001. This study examined the "dose-response" effect of quantities and frequencies, finding that heavy drinkers with a sensation-seeking disposition had the greatest risk of alcohol-related injuries.

A Person\'s High Or Low Response To Alcohol Says Much About Their Risk For Alcoholism

Someone who has a low level of response (LR) to alcohol, meaning relatively little reaction to alcohol, has a higher risk for developing alcohol-use disorders (AUDs). A study that examined the influence of LR in conjunction with other characteristics - like family history of AUDs and age of drinking onset - has found that LR is a unique risk factor for AUDs across adulthood and is not simply a reflection of a broader range of risk factors.

Vaginal Ring Could Protect Against HIV, Researcher Says

A researcher with Weill Cornell Medical College has developed a vaginal ring that releases microbicides and could prevent HIV and unplanned pregnancies, ANI/Times of India reports. Brij Saxena -- a professor of reproductive biology and endocrinology and lead author of a recent study on the ring in the journal AIDS -- said that laboratory testing showed the device would be effective at preventing HIV infection and pregnancy by releasing several types of nonhormonal agents and microbicides. He added that if proven successful in clinical trials, the device would allow women to effectively protect themselves from HIV and avoid pregnancy. According to Saxena, the ring releases antiretroviral drugs over a period of 28 days. He noted that the device potentially could serve as an alternative method to prevent other sexually transmitted infections. Jeffrey Laurence, co-author of the study and a physician at New York Presbyterian Hospital-Weill Cornell Medical Center, said, "No one has ever conquered a viral epidemic with treatment, so prevention is the most effective option." He added, "Ideally, an HIV vaccine is the most desirable method, but that is not foreseeable in the near future. The next best thing would be something that would prevent infection and put the power in the susceptible female partner"s control. That"s the potential a device such as this can offer" (ANI/Times of India, 5/20).

Medarex Announces Primary Endpoint Achieved In MDX-1100 Anti-IP-10 Antibody Phase 2 Trial For Rheumatoid Arthritis

Medarex, Inc. (Nasdaq: MEDX) announced that the MDX-1100 Phase 2 proof-of-concept trial in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) receiving methotrexate successfully met its primary endpoint. The top-line results from the recently completed 70-patient multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2 trial indicated that when compared to placebo, three times the number of patients treated with 10 mg/kg of MDX-1100 every two weeks achieved at least a 20% improvement in RA signs and symptoms at 12 weeks, the primary endpoint of the study, as measured by the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 20 measurement of response. These results were statistically significant when compared with placebo (p=0.0024). The antibody combination with methotrexate was generally safe and well-tolerated. Full results from this Phase 2 trial are planned to be presented at a future scientific meeting.

Issue Brief Examines Disparities In Unmet Dental Care Needs Among Children

"Trends in Child Health 1997-2006: Assessing Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Unmet Dental Care Needs," Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies: The issue brief examines disparities in the reporting of unmet dental care needs because of cost over the past 12 months among black, Hispanic and white children younger than age 18. The brief compares the unmet dental care needs among the racial/ethnic groups of children overall and among children of various racial/ethnic groups in families with similar sociodemographic characteristics, such as family type, poverty status and health insurance coverage. Hispanic children are the most likely to have dental care needs that are unmet because of cost, according to the brief. In addition, the brief analyzes several indicators of child health -- including low birthweight, health status, unmet dental care needs, ADHD/ADD diagnosis and asthma diagnosis -- to provide additional details of disparities in child health (Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, May 2009).

Discovery Of Molecular Cause Of Alzheimer\'s Disease Could Bring Early Diagnosis, Treatment Closer

A discovery made by researchers at McGill University and the affiliated Lady Davis Research Institute for Medical Research at Montreal"s Jewish General Hospital offers new hope for the early diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer"s disease.

Cadence Pharmaceuticals Submits Acetavance New Drug Application For The Treatment Of Acute Pain And Fever

Cadence Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: CADX) announced that it has submitted a New Drug Application (NDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its investigational product candidate, Acetavance(TM) (intravenous acetaminophen), for the treatment of acute pain and fever in adults and children. If approved, Acetavance would become the first new intravenous analgesic approved in the United States in more than 20 years and the only approved intravenous agent for the treatment of fever in the United States.

The Challenges Of Avian Influenza Virus: Mechanism, Epidemiology And Control

The latest special issue of Science in China Series C: Life Sciences focuses on the recent progress in the H5N1-related research field.

Combined Data From Four Large-Scale Studies Demonstrate The Efficacy And Tolerability Of Seroquel In Bipolar Depression

Results presented today at the 162nd American Psychiatric Association (APA) congress in San Francisco, CA, demonstrated the efficacy and tolerability of SEROQUEL® (quetiapine fumarate) for treating depressive episodes in bipolar disorder, including the difficult-to-treat bipolar II patient population.1,2 The data are from combined analyses of four large-scale clinical trials to examine SEROQUEL as a treatment for depressive episodes associated with bipolar I and II disorders. SEROQUEL and SEROQUEL XR™, a once-daily, extended-release formulation of SEROQUEL, is one of the most widely studied atypical antipsychotic in bipolar depression and the only agent approved as monotherapy to treat the spectrum of mood episodes associated with bipolar disorder.

Consumers Making Effort To Buy Healthy Foods But Buyer Beware: "Zero" Isn\'t Always Zero

Americans trying to eat healthier are looking to nutrition labels to help make better choices at the grocery store. But consumers who take those labels at face value may find they"re not eating as healthy as they think.

Cedars-Sinai Women\'s Heart Center Launches Advanced Preventive Women\'s Clinic For Women With Menopause Symptoms Who Are At Risk For Heart Disease

Women who are at risk for heart disease and who are also experiencing menopause symptoms now have an added re - a highly specialized clinic in the Division of Cardiology at the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute. The Advanced Preventive Women"s Clinic at the Women"s Heart Center recently opened and is offering comprehensive cardiac risk assessments designed specifically for women who are in menopause. The clinic also offers menopausal patients state-of-the-art screenings, as well as personalized medicine therapies and counseling, including high-risk hormone counseling.

Being Overweight With Heart Risk In Mid Life Followed By Weight Loss Linked To More Illness And Higher Risk Of Death Later

Researchers in Finland who tracked the health of over 1,000 men from middle age into old age found that being overweight and having high risk

New Research Claims Cholesterol Drug Could Reduce Risk Of Amputations In People With Diabetes

People with diabetes who were prescribed the cholesterol-lowering drug fenofibrate reduced their risk of minor amputations by 36 per cent, according to new research.

Inexpensive TENS Unit Can Ease Labor Pain

There are many ways to deal with the pain of giving birth, but women and their obstetricians can always benefit from having another choice. A Cochrane review has concluded that women in labor should have the option of using transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) a non-drug method of pain management.

QIAGEN Launches Novel Product Enabling Non-Invasive Prenatal Diagnostics And Cancer Detection

QIAGEN announced the launch of a novel product for extraction of free circulating fragments of tumor- and fetal-derived nucleic acids as well as viral nucleic acids in human blood. Scientists consider these DNA and RNA fragments to have great potential for the highly sensitive and non-invasive diagnosis of a wide range of diseases, including congenital disorders, malignancies such as colon and lung cancer, and infections. The new QIAamp Circulating Nucleic Acid Kit is expected to significantly facilitate the corresponding biomarker research and the introduction of novel molecular tests in prenatal diagnostics which can replace risky, invasive procedures such as amniocentesis.

Alarming Rise In Deadly Skin Cancer Cases, UK

There has been an alarming rise in new cases of the deadliest form of skin cancer in the UK, with binge tanning cited as a main reason, said a

Polymorphism In Endostatin, An Angiogenesis Inhibitor, And Prostate Cancer Risk And Survival: A Prospective Study

UroToday.com - Angiogenesis is the process of new blood vessel formation in tumors, facilitating their growth. Endostatin is a cleavage product of collagen and is a potent inhibitor of endothelial cell proliferation and migration. Endostatin causes apoptosis in endothelial and tumor cells. Prostate cancer expresses angiogenic factors.

Award For Pioneering Stem Cell Research To Mend Broken Bones

Funding from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) could lead to the development of new and better treatments for broken bones and other orthopaedic problems associated with ageing.

Skull Fusion Disorder Of Infants: UC Davis Bioengineer Receives Hartwell Grant

With support from a foundation that champions cutting-edge medical research, a biomedical engineer at UC Davis will start work this month on developing a new treatment for infants born with disorders that cause the sutures of their skulls to prematurely fuse together.

Intraoperative Radioguidance With A Portable Gamma Camera: New Technique For Laparoscopic Sentinel Node Localisation In Urological Malignancies

UroToday.com - Our first results of sentinel node mapping with intraoperative radioguidance in urological tumors are described in our abstract. We selected this movie to show the whole imaging procedure. In a patient with prostate cancer, the radiopharmaceutical is injected in 4 depots into the prostate. After tracer administration, planar lymphoscintigraphy is performed after 15 minutes and in 2 hours is followed by a SPECT/CT. After fusion of corresponding SPECT and CT slices, the two-dimensional fusion images show the location of the sentinel nodes.

New Strategies For Cell Therapy To Regenerate Damaged Heart

Research undertaken at the Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA) and the University Hospital of Navarra has shown that, in animal models, stem cells derived from bone marrow and adipose tissue enhance heart function after a cardiac attack. In concrete, bone marrow cells act on the damaged tissue, while fatty cells have the ability to transform themselves into both blood vessels and cardiac cells. The results obtained with rats are maintained over a long time period, explained biochemist Mr Manuel Mazo, principal researcher.

Gene Links Gum Disease And Heart Attack Risk

Scientists in Germany have discovered a gene that links the gum disease periodontitis and increased risk of coronorary heart disease (CHD) and

New Red Cross Survey Shows Nearly 50 Percent Of People Have Had A Drowning Scare In Their Lifetime

Approximately half of adults surveyed on water safety say they"ve had an experience where they nearly drowned in their lifetime, and one in four know someone who has drowned, according to an American Red Cross survey.

Komen Continues Grant Funding To Tissue Bank At Indiana University Simon Cancer Center

Researchers with the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Tissue Bank at the IU Simon Cancer Center will continue their unique work thanks to a second $1 million grant from the Komen organization.

NHS Confederation Responds To Public Accounts Committee Report On NHS Funding

Nigel Edwards, the director of policy at the NHS Confederation, said, "The surpluses generated by the NHS over the 2007-2008 financial year are a testament to sound financial planning and an awareness on the part of everyone in the service of the need to spend public money carefully.

David Van Day Flies In For Charity Tea Party - Alzheimer\'s Society

I"m a Celebrity: Get Me out of Here! star David Van Day today (20 May) swapped jungle bugs and snakes for mugs and cakes to raise vital funds and awareness for people with dementia and their carers.

Fear Of Family Reaction Is Barrier To Treatment For Depressed Teens

Although teen depression poses a widespread problem for which proven treatments exist, few depressed teens receive any care.

Families Of Sudden Unexplained Death Victims Should Receive Comprehensive Cardiogenetic Testing

Relatives of a young person who dies suddenly should always be referred for cardiological and genetic examination in order to identify if they too are at risk of sudden death, a scientist told the annual conference of the European Society of Human Genetics. Dr. Christian van der Werf, a research fellow at the Department of Cardiogenetics, Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands said that, although his team"s research showed that inherited heart disease was present in over 30% of the families of sudden unexplained death (SUD) victims, the majority of such relatives were currently not being referred for examination.

MIT Robotic Therapy Holds Promise For Cerebral Palsy--Devices Can Help Children Learn To Grasp And Manipulate Objects

Over the past few years, MIT engineers have successfully tested robotic devices to help stroke patients learn to control their arms and legs. Now, they"re building on that work to help children with cerebral palsy.

As The Market Potential Grows, Developers Press For Keys To Delivering Systemic Drugs Via Inhalation

At a time when the drug industry is striving for patient-friendly delivery methods for new and existing drugs, the growing availability of innovative inhaler device designs is driving interest in pulmonary drug delivery technology and devices as an alternative to oral and parenteral routes of administration. While well-established for treating upper respiratory diseases such as asthma and COPD, companies competing in the inhaled drug delivery sector - major players such as GlaxoSmithKline, AstraZeneca and Boehringer Ingelheim as well as pure-play start-ups - continue to view delivery of systemic drugs via inhalation as a major opportunity.

Moffitt Cancer Center To Utilize Definiens Technology In Prognostic Research For Lung Cancer

Definiens, the number one Enterprise Image Intelligence® company, announced that Moffitt Cancer Center will utilize Definiens technology in the analysis of lung cancer CT images for the purpose of developing more accurate prognosis and prediction models for response to specific lung cancer therapies. Image features extracted with Definiens technology will be compared to disease outcomes, as well as gene expression data available through Total Cancer CareTM, Moffitt"s comprehensive approach to cancer that enables researchers and caregivers to identify and meet all the needs of a patient and their family during the patient"s lifetime and for future generations.

36th European Symposium On Calcified Tissue, Vienna, 23 - 27 May 2009

Journalists are invited to register for the 36th European Symposium on Calcified Tissue in Vienna, 23 - 27 May. Presentations offer state-of-the-art research on bone and mineralized tissue, as well as the diagnostis and treatment of metabolic bone disease.

A Cancer Gene Switch For Repairing Damaged DNA

Scientists at the Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology uncover how an important cancer gene, BRCA1, works by increasing the accuracy with which broken DNA is repaired. Women who inherit a faulty version of the BRCA1 gene are at a higher risk of developing breast or ovarian cancer.

Viruses Are Sneakier Than We Thought

Viruses are molecular marauders, plundering cells for the res they

What Is The Function Of Lymph Nodes?

If we imagine our immune system to be a police force for our bodies, then previous work has suggested that the Lymph nodes would be the best candidate structures within the body to act as police stations - the regions in which the immune response is organised. However, a new paper - published in this week"s issue of PLoS Biology - suggests that lymph nodes are not essential in the mouse in marshalling T-cells (a main immune foot soldier) to respond to a breach of the skin barrier. This result is both surprising in itself, and suggests a novel function for the liver as an alternate site for T-cell activation.

TeleHealth Services Chosen By HCA To Install Interactive Patient Education System In Timpanogos Regional Hospital

TeleHealth Services, the nation"s leading provider of healthcare grade televisions and on-demand patient and staff interactive education solutions, has announced the implementation of its TIGR on-demand video education and entertainment system into Timpanogos Regional Hospital in Orem, Utah.

22nd Congress Of The European College Of Neuropsychopharmacology

The 22nd Congress of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ECNP) will be held from 12-16 September 2009 in Istanbul, Turkey.

Possible Link Between Vitamin D Deficiency, Alzheimer\'s Disease And Vascular Dementia

There are several risk factors for the development of Alzheimer"s disease and vascular dementia. Based on an increasing number of studies linking these risk factors with Vitamin D deficiency, an article in the current issue of the Journal of Alzheimer"s Disease (May 2009) by William B. Grant, PhD of the Sunlight, Nutrition, and Health Research Center (SUNARC) suggests that further investigation of possible direct or indirect linkages between Vitamin D and these dementias is needed.

Ascenta Therapeutics Announces Multiple Presentations On AT-101 At 2009 ASCO Annual Meeting

Ascenta Therapeutics announced that eleven presentations or publications on pre-clinical and clinical studies of AT-101, an oral, pan-Bcl-2 inhibitor, in several major tumor types will be made during the 2009 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, May 29-June 2, in Orlando, Florida.

Green Tea Extract Shows Promise In Leukemia Trials

Mayo Clinic researchers are reporting positive results in early leukemia clinical trials using the chemical epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), an active ingredient in green tea. The trial determined that patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) can tolerate the chemical fairly well when high doses are administered in capsule form and that lymphocyte count was reduced in one-third of participants. The findings appear today online in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Innovative Treatment Approach Offers New Hope For Eczema Sufferers With Moderate To Severe Disease PROTOPIC Ointment Can Help Prevent Eczema Flares

Today sees the European launch of the first topical calcineurin inhibitor to be approved for the maintenance treatment of eczema to prevent flares and prolong flare-free intervals. PROTOPIC ointment (tacrolimus monohydrate) is already licensed to treat moderate and severe eczema (atopic dermatitis), often involving the treatment of flares as and when they occur.* It is now also approved for twice-weekly application to previously affected skin to prevent these exacerbations and prolong flare-free periods in PROTOPIC-responsive patients.ò€  Clinical studies have shown that this new approach brings significant benefits with over 40% of patients with moderate to severe eczema remaining flare-free for at least a year.1 Flares are known to place an enormous burden on patients. The International Study of Life with Atopic Eczema (ISOLATE) found that about 55% of these patients worried about the onset of their next exacerbation and that they spent on average over a third of the year (136 days) with their eczema in flare.2

You Too Could Fall Foul Of Claims Rules, Warns MDDUS, Scotland

It"s not just MPs who can make inappropriate claims for recompense or misunderstand the rules, warns the Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland (MDDUS).

AARP Analysis Debunks Biologic Drug Industry Myth Association Presses Congress To Bring Less Costly Generics To Market Faster

A new analysis by AARP"s Public Policy

Study Offers New Insights Into Morphine-Induced Tolerance And Increased Pain Sensitivity

A study published in the June issue of Anesthesiology has shown that a drug metabolite of the opioid morphine may be a key factor in the paradoxical increased sensitivity to pain caused by chronic morphine use. For the first time, this metabolite (called morphine-6 glucuronide, or M6G) was shown to act independently of the pain receptors typically targeted during morphine administration.

Agendia To Present Multiple Predictive And Prognostic Studies On Breast And Colorectal Cancers At ASCO Annual Meeting

Agendia, a world leader in molecular cancer diagnostics, today announced

British Medical Association Responds To Government\'s Working Time Directive Training Review

Responding to Health Secretary Alan Johnson"s announcement of a review on the impact of the European Working Time Directive on doctors" training, Dr Andy Thornley, Chair of the BMA"s Junior Doctors Committee, said:

Circulite(R) Synergy(R) Pocket Circulatory Assist Device To Be Featured At ASAIO And PEDS Conference

CircuLite®, Inc. will be participating at the 2009 American Society for Artificial Internal Organs (ASAIO) conference in conjunction with the 5th International Conference on Pediatric Mechanical Circulatory Support Systems & Pediatric Cardiopulmonary Perfusion (PEDS) held May 28 - 30, 2009 in Dallas, with a booth display featuring it"s Synergy® Pocket Circulatory Assist Device. Synergy is the first micro-pump designed for long-term, partial circulatory support to improve the quality of life for a broad range of chronic heart failure patients.

U.N. System Lacks \'Serious Focus On Gender\' Issues, Opinion Piece Says

"The most lamentable and heart-breaking dimension of multilateralism" is the "absence of any serious focus on gender throughout" the United Nations system, Stephen Lewis, founder of AIDS-Free World, writes in a London Independent opinion piece. He adds, "I can cite chapter and verse, but let me start by telling you that whether it is poverty alleviation, or HIV and AIDS, or sexual violence and conflict, the whole panoply of discrimination visited on women around the world, particularly in developing countries, the U.N."s agencies and the Secretariat have been profoundly delinquent in their response."According to Lewis, the "struggle for gender equality has become the most important struggle on the planet; the continuing marginalization of 52% of the world"s population is simply unacceptable." He adds, "So we"re now engaged in an effort to create a new international agency for women, a fascinating undertaking that I hope will engage" governments. "Nothing approximates the possibility of finally having a vehicle that would give voice and res and support to the struggles of women around the world," Lewis writes, adding, "Everyone knows what"s happening in these areas about women"s vulnerability but there is never a consistent voice to bring it to the attention of the world community, to continue to hammer it home, to demand action from government." He concludes, "So the emergence and creation of a women"s agency I think would be a godsend internationally and would overcome the record of the United Nations on gender" (Lewis, Independent, 5/22).

UCB Launches Vimpat In The US For Add-On Treatment Of Epilepsy In Adults

UCB has announced that Vimpat® (lacosamide) C-V , a new antiepileptic drug (AED) is available in the U.S. as an add-on therapy for the treatment of partial-onset seizures in people with epilepsy who are 17 years and older. Vimpat® will be available in U.S. pharmacies by the first week of June 2009.

Study Finds Many Newborns Of South Asian And East Asian Descent Misclassified As Underweight At Birth

Babies of East Asian and South Asian descent are between two and three times more likely to be misclassified as underweight at birth when compared to their Canadian counterparts, according to a study led by St. Michael"s Hospital physician Dr. Joel Ray. Dr. Ray and a team of researchers, who developed the first-ever sex-specific birth weight curves for these ethnic groups, suggest the need to consider differences across ethnic groups to reduce parental stress and use of health-care res associated with labelling an infant as underweight, or "small for gestational age" at birth.

UCB Launches Vimpat(R) In The U.S. For Add-on Treatment Of Epilepsy In Adults

UCB today announced that Vimpat® (lacosamide) C-V, a new antiepileptic drug (AED) is available in the U.S. as an add-on therapy for the treatment of partial-onset seizures in people with epilepsy who are 17 years and older. Vimpat® will be available in U.S. pharmacies by the first week of June 2009.

Study Suggests Arthritis Drug Might Prove Effective In Fighting The Flu

Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine have found that an approved drug for treating rheumatoid arthritis reduces severe illness and death in mice exposed to the Influenza A virus. Their findings suggest that tempering the response of the body"s immune system to influenza infection may alleviate some of the more severe symptoms and even reduce mortality from this virus.

Study Finds Dramatic Increase In Metastatic Colon Cancer Survival

Novel chemotherapy and biological agents for metastatic colorectal cancer, combined with surgical advances in liver resection, have resulted in a dramatic increase in survival for patients with advanced disease, according to researchers at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center.

One Size Does Not Fit All: A New Look At Therapies

Statins, a commonly prescribed class of drugs used by millions worldwide to effectively lower blood cholesterol levels, may actually have a negative impact in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients treated with high daily dosages.

Study Questions Whether Ontario\'s Primary Health Care Reforms Serve The Sick And Poor

Ontario has invested millions of dollars into the healthcare system in response to a serious doctor shortage. But despite improvements in primary care, a study out of the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES) has found Ontario"s chronically sick and poor are the least likely to benefit from the investments.

University Lecturer Receives National Recognition, UK

A Senior Lecturer from Canterbury Christ Church University has been awarded Fellowship of the Institute of Healthcare Management (IHM) at a ceremony on Thursday 14th May.

Swine Flu Media Bulletin Issued At: 11am Thursday 21 May 2009, Wales

- 0 confirmed cases in Wales.

University Of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute Researcher Dr. Merrill Egorin Honored With ASCO Translational Research Professorship

Merrill Egorin, M.D., professor of medicine and pharmacology at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (UPCI), has received the 2009 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Translational Research Professorship for his work in improving cancer treatments and supporting the next generation of researchers.

Advanced Technologies Pump Growth Into European Cardiac Rhythm Management Market, Affirms Frost & Sullivan, UK

The incidence of cardiovascular disease is rising due to factors such as ageing, obesity, smoking and other cardiac ailments. Each year cardiovascular diseases cause over 4.3 million deaths, accounting for 48 per cent of all mortalities in Europe.

Evidence Of Harm Has Been Linked To Various Vaccines Challenging Prevailing Public Recommendations

Researchers at the Mayo Clinic set out to determine whether the flu vaccine

Sexually Transmitted HPV Linked To Certain Head & Neck Cancers; Roswell Park Cancer Institute Researchers Say Boys Need To Be Vaccinated Too

Researchers at Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) in Buffalo, New York, are strongly advocating a national discussion about the need to vaccinate both young men and women against HPV 16 to prevent head & neck cancers. The call comes amid growing evidence that certain cancers of the head and neck are strongly linked to HPV 16, a specific strain of the human papillomavirus (HPV) that is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases in the United States. It is estimated that approximately 70% of Americans, both men and women, will be infected with HPV at some point in their lives.

Surfers Take Their Knocks, Doctor Says

Surfing under the influence of drugs or alcohol are two of the prime dangers facing surfing enthusiasts, according to information presented today at the 56th Annual Meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine in Seattle. Other factors include wave height, board length and interactions among surfers.

Stress And Culture Affect Exercise Motivation

Stress levels and cultural considerations affect how much and for what reasons college students exercise, according to research presented at the American College of Sports Medicine"s 56th Annual Meeting in Seattle.

Boldly Going Where No Medical Response Has Gone Before

Triage technology comes with a Star Trek twist, at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security"s Science & Technology Directorate (DHS S&T).

Swiss Initiative In Systems Biology Launches New Projects

In the second call for proposals, projects focus on either the development of new technologies or on the interface between biomedical research and genomics. The Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) approved six RTD-projects today. They will engage a total of 47 research groups from both Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology (ETH Zurich und EPF Lausanne), as well as from the Universities of Basel, Lausanne, Geneva and Zurich. The Friedrich-Miescher Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation is also represented as the only privately financed institution. Eight groups belong simultaneously to one of the above-mentioned universities and to the Swiss Institute for Bioinformatics.

Z-Cube And Yissum Research Development Company Ltd. Sign A Licensing Agreement

Z-Cube Srl, the corporate venture arm of Zambon Company SpA, and Yissum Research Development Company Ltd., the technology transfer company of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, announced today that they have entered into a license agreement for Z-Cube to develop and commercialize an innovative nanotechnology drug delivery system for the treatment of pain. The technology was invented by Professor Elka Touitou from the Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Medicine, at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Minor League Hockey Players Unable To Identify Concussion Symptoms, Study Says

When Chicago Blackhawk"s leading scorer Martin Havlat returned to the ice for game four of the Western Conference Final after sustaining a concussion only two days earlier, questions were raised surrounding his swift return. According to a new study by St. Michael"s Hospital neurosurgeon Dr. Michael Cusimano, similar questions were raised by 25% of minor league hockey players who did not know if an athlete with symptoms of a concussion should continue to play hockey. Nearly a majority of these players were also unable to identify a concussion or its related symptoms.

Celleron Therapeutics And Astrazeneca Announce Personalised Medicine Collaboration In Cancer For The Development Of AZ\'s Leading HDAC Inhibitor

Celleron Therapeutics Ltd, the Oxford UK based specialist in the development of individually targeted cancer medicines, has secured exclusive rights to AstraZeneca plc"s lead histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor (AZD 9468), for global development in conjunction with its proprietary "CancerNav" predictive biomarker platform. "CancerNav" specifically identifies those tumours which are most likely to respond to an individual cancer drug, thereby enabling a highly focussed clinical development and commercialisation programme, based on a closely linked diagnostic and therapeutic "personalised medicine" approach.