Luwana Thaxton

National Audit Shows Dying Patients Receive High Quality Care

2009-09-19T13:03:00.001-07:00

The second National Care of the Dying Audit of Hospitals (NCDAH) published today, shows that patients on the Liverpool Care Pathway for the Dying Patient (LCP) are receiving high quality care in the last hours and days of life. The audit covers the use of the LCP in 155 hospitals, looking at the records of almost 4000 patients.

Discovery Of New Links Between Epilepsy And Brain Lipids

2009-09-19T11:49:00.001-07:00

In mice that are missing a protein found only in the brain, neural signals "go crazy," leaving the animals with epileptic seizures from a young age, researchers have found. The report in the September 18th Cell, a Cell Press publication, details what it is that happens when the protein encoded by plasticity related gene-1 (PRG-1) gets lost, revealing an important fine-tuning mechanism for brain function.

Dangerous Radioactive Sources Removed From Lebanon By IAEA

2009-09-19T10:15:00.001-07:00

An IAEA mission to get powerful radioactive sources out of Lebanon was completed 30 August 2009, after a plane carrying the high-activity cargo safely touched down in Russia, where the sources are now securely and safely stored. They comprised 36 Cobalt-60 sources, with a combined activity of 3.500 curies. A single source is powerful enough to kill a person within minutes, if directly exposed. Mr. Robin Heard, an IAEA radioactive source specialist, oversaw the mission.

New Data Show Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain Maintained Pain Reduction On Duloxetine

2009-09-19T08:50:00.001-07:00

New data show patients with chronic low back pain on duloxetine hydrochloride (Cymbalta®) maintained reductions in pain for 41 weeks.[i] In patients who initially responded to duloxetine, this maintenance of pain reduction was accompanied by further reduction in pain that was statistically significant as measured by the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) average pain rating.

New TAU Study Uses Breakthrough "Brain Profiling" To Detect Combat Soldiers At Risk Of Suicide

2009-09-19T07:28:00.001-07:00

According to a recent Washington Post study, approximately 20% of U.S. soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan are psychologically damaged. Among them are a substantial number with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and the high rate of suicide among PTSD sufferers has become unacceptable to Army commanders and the soldiers' families.

By Age 6 Parts Of Brain Involved In Social Cognition May Be In Place

2009-09-19T06:12:00.001-07:00

Social cognition - the ability to think about the minds and mental states of others - is essential for human beings. In the last decade, a group of regions has been discovered in the human brain that are specifically used for social cognition. A new study in the July/August 2009 issue of the journal Child Development investigates these brain regions for the first time in human children. The study has implications for children with autism.

Cancer Safety Fears Of Most Common Heartburn Treatment Rejected By Major Clinical Study

2009-09-19T04:40:00.001-07:00

Fears about the cancer causing effects of the second most prescribed group of drugs in the Western world have been put to rest, following the largest ever study into their use. 'Proton pump inhibitors' (PPI) are the most commonly used treatment for chronic acid reflux, or 'heartburn', a painful burning sensation in the chest, neck and throat which is experienced by almost a third of people in developed countries.

Implantable Defibrillators Not Associated With Reduced Risk Of Death In Women With Heart Failure

2009-09-19T03:25:00.001-07:00

Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators do not appear to be associated with a reduced risk of death in women with advanced heart failure, according to a meta-analysis of previously published research in the September 14 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. Heart failure affects about 5.3 million Americans, almost half of them women, according to background information in the article.

A New Mechanism Regulating Fetal Growth And Neonatal Survival Revealed By Canadian Scientists

2009-09-19T01:49:00.001-07:00

Dr. Sylvain Meloche, Principal Investigator at the Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC) of the UniversitÃ© de MontrÃ©al, and his colleagues have uncovered the critical role played by the protein kinase Erk3 in fetal growth potential and lung maturation.

American Veterinary Medical Association Survey Indicates Most Starting Salaries Are Up For New Veterinarians

2009-09-19T00:34:00.001-07:00

The results of an annual survey conducted by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) reveal an economic mixed bag when it comes to what new veterinary graduates encountered in 2009. The survey results appear in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association in a Sept. 1, 2009, article entitled, "Employment, starting salaries, and educational indebtedness of year-2009 graduates of US veterinary colleges.

Occupational Chemical Exposure Associated With Parkinson's Disease

2009-09-18T23:07:00.001-07:00

A report in the September issue of Archives of Neurology (one of the JAMA/Archives journals) shows that individuals whose occupation involves contact with pesticides appear to have an increased risk of having Parkinson's disease. According to background information in the article, the development of Parkinson's disease related to chemical exposure was identified in the late 20th century.

2009-09-18T21:44:00.001-07:00

Bioheart Inc. Announces Positive Results In The MARVEL Phase II/III Clinical Trial

2009-09-18T20:21:00.001-07:00

Bioheart, Inc. (OTCBB:BHRT), presented positive efficacy data from part 1 of its Phase II/III clinical trial at the Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA) Meeting in Boston, Massachusetts. Thomas Povsic, MD, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Medicine at Duke University, presented the final data for Part 1 of the MARVEL Phase II/III Clinical Trial as a part of the Late Breaking Clinical Trials Session. Along with Dr.

Reliability of efficacy in men with erectile dysfunction treated with tadalafil once daily ...

2009-09-18T18:39:00.001-07:00

Maimonides Medical Center and Columbia University, New York, NY, USA. (Source: UroToday)

2009-09-18T17:24:00.001-07:00

Multiple Sclerosis: National Search For Proteins That Cause MS

2009-09-18T15:55:00.001-07:00

Australian researchers will aim to discover the proteins that cause multiple sclerosis (MS), thanks to a new nationwide research effort. The national research project is the first of its kind in Australia and one of the first of its kind in the world. "This collaborative research project has the potential to find crucial answers about a debilitating disease that affects millions of people worldwide," says the Hon. Mark Butler MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Health.

Study finds association between hepatitis B and pancreatic cancer

2009-09-18T14:30:00.001-07:00

Past hepatitis B infection was twice as prevalent in patients with pancreatic cancer as in healthy people. [J Clin Oncol].

Bayer Announces New Data On Oncology Portfolio To Be Presented At The ECCO-ESMO Congress 2009

2009-09-18T13:06:00.001-07:00

Bayer HealthCare announced that data from more than 30 clinical trials evaluating three products in the company's oncology portfolio - Nexavar(R) (sorafenib) tablets, regorafenib (BAY 73-4506) and Alpharadin(TM) - will be presented at the joint 15th European CanCer Organisation (ECCO) and 34th European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Multidisciplinary Congress, September 20-24, 2009 in Berlin, Germany.

Mindblind Eyes: An Absence Of Spontaneous Theory Of Mind In Asperger Syndrome

2009-09-18T11:53:00.001-07:00

Highly intelligent adults with Asperger Syndrome still have difficulties in day-to-day social interaction. These difficulties may be explained by 'mindblindness', the idea that they are unable to predict what other people will do by thinking about their mental states, that is, their knowledge and beliefs.

Outcomes Appear To Be Improving For Conservative Management Of Localized Prostate Cancer

2009-09-18T10:11:00.001-07:00

A comparison of outcomes of different eras of conservative treatment for localized prostate cancer indicates that overall and prostate cancer-specific survival rates are higher for men diagnosed from 1992 through 2002 compared to men diagnosed in the 1970s and 1980s, according to a study in the September 16 issue of JAMA. "Among men, prostate cancer is the most common nonskin cancer and the second most common cause of cancer death in the United States.

What Is Physical Therapy (physiotherapy)? What Does A Physical Therapist (physiotherapist) Do?

2009-09-18T08:53:00.001-07:00

Physical therapy or physiotherapy (UK/Ireland/Australia) is a branch of rehabilitative medicine aimed at helping patients maintain, recover or improve their physical abilities. Physical therapists or physiotherapists (UK/Ireland/Australia) work with patients whose movements may be undermined by aging, disease, environmental factors, or sporting hazards.

Improvement In Survival For Children With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia With Dexamethasone-Based Therapy

2009-09-18T07:21:00.001-07:00

An article published Online First and in the October edition of The Lancet Oncology reports that a dexamethasone-based treatment reduces the risk of relapse and improves the rate of cure in children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). This can be achieved without the use of cranial radiation and some commonly used chemotherapy drugs, therefore minimising the risk of unnecessary side-effects.

Cutaneous Application Of Nanoparticles Offers Hope For Treatment Of Erectile Dysfunction

2009-09-18T05:57:00.001-07:00

Cutaneous application of nanoparticles may offer a new means of delivering drugs to treat erectile dysfunction (ED), according to findings presented at the 104th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Urological Association (AUA). Topical treatments for ED may offer localized therapeutic results with the benefit of lower dosage and the avoidance of adverse side effects due to systemic absorption.

Prostate Cancer Survival Improving Among Older Men Who Have Conservative Management

2009-09-18T04:29:00.001-07:00

Older men whose localized prostated cancer is not aggressively treated with surgery or radiation but follows a conservative management regime also known as "watchful waiting" are surviving longer, according to a new US study. These are the conclusions of Senior author Dr Grace L.

Veterans Affairs Tries To Keep Up With Surge Of Need

2009-09-18T03:02:00.001-07:00

The Department of Veterans Affairs is experiencing a surge of treatment requests and disability claims as soldiers return from Iraq and Afghanistan, overwhelming VA clinics. The Christian Science Monitor reports "the VA is experiencing an unprecedented demand for its services.

Boosting Pine Beetle Fight And Improving Cancer Research With The Help Of New UBC Sequencing Technique

2009-09-18T01:47:00.001-07:00

UBC researchers have helped develop a cheaper, faster way to compile draft genome sequences that could advance the fight against mountain pine beetle (MPB) infestation and improve cancer research. Current sequencing methods have a variety of advantages and disadvantages -- including the cost involved.

Pancreatic Tumor Rejection Can Be Induced By Autoimmune Response

2009-09-18T00:12:00.001-07:00

Immune responses are capable of killing tumors before they can be directed toward normal body tissue, according to new scientific findings published in Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research. "There are extremely precise mechanistic methods augmenting the ability of the immune system to distinguish between normal tissues and tumors," said lead researcher Richard G. Vile, Ph.D.

2009-09-17T22:35:00.001-07:00

2009-09-17T21:01:00.001-07:00

ACLU Files Lawsuit Against Miss. Over Religious-Themed Abstinence Summit

2009-09-17T19:40:00.001-07:00

The American Civil Liberties Union on Wednesday filed a lawsuit against the Mississippi Department of Human Services alleging that the agency included religious music and Bible teachings during a state-sponsored event promoting abstinence until marriage, the AP/Hattiesburg American reports. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S.

Researchers To Probe Whether Lyme Disease Will Follow Spread Of Ticks Across U.S.

2009-09-17T18:17:00.001-07:00

Potentially debilitating Lyme disease doesn't afflict people everywhere that the ticks harboring it are found. At least not yet. A five-university consortium led by a Michigan State University researcher wants to find out why. "These ticks are on the move. As ticks expand into new areas, more people will likely become infected," said MSU fisheries and wildlife assistant professor Jean Tsao, who will lead the four-year, $2.5 million study.

Davis Phinney Foundation Announces New U.S. Study To Evaluate The Long-Term Physical And Emotional Effects Of Parkinson's Disease.

2009-09-17T16:40:00.001-07:00

The Davis Phinney Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of people with Parkinson's disease (PD), has announced that it has awarded four Parkinson's disease research centers with support to conduct a landmark study on the long-term changes in quality of life and mobility that occur in people with PD.

Plastic Surgeons Should Be Part Of Disaster Relief Planning, Response

2009-09-17T15:27:00.001-07:00

When a terrorist bomb explodes, a tornado rips through a town, a hurricane devastates a region, or wildfires ravage homes and businesses, plastic surgeons are not typically atop the list of emergency responders. But they should be, UT Southwestern Medical Center plastic surgeons and disaster experts recommend in the September issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

Hand Hygiene Monitor Tested At VCU Medical Center

2009-09-17T13:49:00.001-07:00

A wireless, credit-card-sized sensor that can detect whether health care workers have properly washed their hands upon entering a patient's room is being studied at the Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center. The device could greatly reduce the number of hospital acquired infections nationwide since most are transmitted through contact due to poor hand-washing practice.

Acute Kidney Injury Patients More Likely To Need Dialysis Within 5 Years

2009-09-17T12:34:00.001-07:00

Patients who sustain injury to their kidneys and require in-hospital dialysis are three times more likely to need long-term dialysis later in life compared to those without a history of this condition, says a new study from St. Michael's Hospital. Patients with acute kidney disease are a high-risk group for whom early medical surveillance and intervention may prevent progression to irreversible end-stage kidney disease.

Anthrax Attack Requires Early Detection & Quick Response

2009-09-17T11:08:00.001-07:00

A large attack on a major metropolitan area with airborne anthrax could affect more than a million people, necessitating their treatment with powerful antibiotics. A new study finds that in order for a response to be effective, quick detection and treatment are essential, and any delay beyond three days would overwhelm hospitals with critically ill people.

After Menopause, Hormone Therapy Plus Physical Activity Reduce Belly Fat, Body Fat Percentage

2009-09-17T09:33:00.001-07:00

Older women who take hormone therapy to relieve menopausal symptoms may get the added benefit of reduced body fat if they are physically active, according to a new study. The results were presented at The Endocrine Society's 91st Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C.

Roflumilast Treatment Shows Promise For Some Patients With COPD

2009-09-17T08:17:00.001-07:00

Roflumilast, an oral, once a day anti-inflammatory agent, improves lung function and reduces exacerbations in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who have chronic respiratory symptoms and are at greater risk of exacerbations. The effect persists even when roflumilast is added to conventional treatment with inhaled long-acting bronchodilators. Thus, roflumilast therapy has the potential to become an important treatment for these patients.

Defining 'Nano'

2009-09-17T06:57:00.001-07:00

The same properties of nanoparticles that make them so appealing to manufacturers may also have negative effects on the environment and human health. However, little is known which particles may be harmful. Part of the problem is determining exactly what a nanoparticle is.

Reflexologists To Join Voluntary Register, UK

2009-09-17T05:23:00.001-07:00

The Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC) opens its register to reflexology practitioners which means that members of the public will be able to choose their registered reflexologist in the knowledge that they meet national standards of conduct and competence.

In Vitro Fertilization Less Successful With Alternative Fertility Treatments

2009-09-17T04:02:00.001-07:00

The common belief is that it won't hurt to try alternative fertility treatments before reverting to in vitro fertilization (IVF). But a new study from Denmark finds that the success of IVF treatment is 30% lower among women who have used alternative medicine. The researchers included over 700 IVF users over a 12-month period.

E-Health Vision Takes Shape; 'Easier Said Than Done,' Brits Say

2009-09-17T02:23:00.001-07:00

President Obama has pushed electronic medical records as a key reform tool, though it's unclear exactly how the system - incentivized by stimulus bill funding - would take shape in the U.S. In Britain, NPR's Planet Money blog reports, "the current battle over these records in the U.K. shows, figuring out a system may be harder and more expensive than it looks.

Psychologists Set To Discuss The Psychosocial Impact Of The Internet

2009-09-17T01:10:00.001-07:00

The internet now plays a major role in many people's lives. Over the last 20 years psychologists have built up a substantial body of knowledge about people's social interactions in cyberspace.

Adult ADHD, Risk Factors And Genetics

2009-09-16T23:48:00.001-07:00

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, ADHD, is one of the most common neuropsychiatric disorders of childhood. Worldwide, 3% of children are affected with the disorder. Key symptoms of ADHD include age-inappropriate hyperactive and impulsive behaviour and/or a reduced ability to focus attention.

Depression Increases Cancer Patients' Risk Of Dying

2009-09-16T22:24:00.001-07:00

Depression can affect a cancer patient's likelihood of survival. That is the finding of an analysis published in the November 15, 2009 issue of CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society. The results highlight the need for systematic screening of psychological distress and subsequent treatments. A number of studies have shown that individuals' mental attitudes can impact their physical health.

Conservatives Commit To Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain Campaign To Decriminalise Single Dispensing Errors

2009-09-16T20:56:00.001-07:00

Reflecting on comments made by Shadow Health Minister Andrew Lansley, at the annual conference of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB), President Steve Churton said: "I am delighted that Andrew Lansley has responded to the commitments which the RPSGB has today made

Theravance And Astellas Announce FDA Approval Of VIBATIVTM (telavancin) For The Treatment Of Complicated Skin And Skin Structure Infections

2009-09-16T19:15:00.001-07:00

Theravance, Inc. (NASDAQ: THRX) and Astellas Pharma US, Inc. announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved VIBATIV™ (telavancin) for the treatment of adult patients with complicated skin and skin structure infections (cSSSI) caused by susceptible Gram-positive bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus, both methicillin-resistant (MRSA) and methicillin-susceptible (MSSA) strains.

Parent-Child Interactions Negatively Impacted By Background TV

2009-09-16T17:59:00.001-07:00

More than a third of American infants and toddlers live in homes where the television is on most or all the time, even if no one's watching. A new study looks for the first time at the effect of background TV on interactions between parents and young children - and finds that the effect is negative. The study, in the September/October 2009 issue of the journal Child Development, was carried out by researchers at the University of Massachusetts.

University Of Southern California Study Explains Major Cause Of Drug-Resistance In Chronic Myeloid Leukemia

2009-09-16T16:25:00.001-07:00

Researchers at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California (USC) and the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) have discovered high concentrations of a specific mutator protein in cells that develop resistance to drug treatment in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). The finding helps explain why CML cells become drug-resistant and may lead to the development of therapies that improve survival in CML patients.

A Potential Therapeutic Agent For Hepatic Fibrosis

2009-09-16T14:50:00.001-07:00

Accumulating evidence suggests that connective tissue growth factor (CCN2) plays a central role in fibrotic conditions in many organ systems. Fibrosis is a scarring condition that is characterized by excessive collagen production that impedes normal cell function and can cause organ dysfunction and failure.

Major Scots Study Tackles Bowel Disease In Kids

2009-09-16T13:29:00.001-07:00

Scotland has one of the highest rates in the world of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and its incidence is rising among Scots children. Now researchers have begun a major Scotland wide study into IBD - which encompasses Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis - which afflicts around 1,000 people under 18 years old in Scotland. Their work - led by the University of Aberdeen - is being supported by a research grant of Â£182, 235 from the Chief Scientist Office.

Palliative Care Intervention For Patients With Advanced Cancer Provides Quality Of Life And Mood Benefits

2009-09-16T12:04:00.001-07:00

Patients with advanced cancer who received a palliative care intervention focused on addressing physical and psychosocial issues and care coordination that was provided at the same time as cancer treatment reported improved quality of life and mood but did not experience a significant change in the number of days in the hospital or the severity of their symptoms compared to patients who received usual care, according to a study in the August 19 issue of JAMA.

FDA Defers Final Action On Milnacipran New Drug Application

2009-09-16T10:22:00.001-07:00

Forest Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE: FRX) and Cypress Bioscience, Inc. (Nasdaq: CYPB) (the "Companies") announced that the U.S.

ASGE Recognizes 10 Endoscopy Units For Quality As Part Of Its Endoscopy Unit Recognition Program

2009-09-16T08:53:00.001-07:00

The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) has recognized 10 endoscopy units as part of its program specifically dedicated to promoting quality in endoscopy, in all settings where it is practiced in the United States. The ASGE Endoscopy Unit Recognition Program honors endoscopy units that follow the ASGE guidelines on privileging, quality assurance, endoscopy reprocessing and CDC infection control guidelines. To date, 134 endoscopy units have been recognized by ASGE.

MDA Re-Elects Three Researchers To National Leadership Roles

2009-09-16T07:30:00.001-07:00

Three prominent figures in the field of neuromuscular disease research have been re-elected to national leadership positions with the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). Stanley H. Appel of Houston, R. Rodney Howell of Miami, and Louis M. Kunkel of Boston were re-elected to one-year terms on MDA's Board of Directors at the Association's recent annual meeting in Los Angeles. Howell is chairman of the board.

Electronic Health Records: A Focus For Big Tech Companies

2009-09-16T06:04:00.001-07:00

"On one proposal for health care reform at least, there is a rare bipartisan consensus: the push to computerize patient records," The New York Times reports. The federal recovery package sets aside $19 billion "to encourage doctors and hospitals to install and use electronic health records.

Diagnostic HYBRIDS Releases Thyretain ™ For The Specific Detection Of Thyroid Stimulating Immunoglobulin (TSI)

2009-09-16T04:37:00.001-07:00

Diagnostic HYBRIDS announces the FDA clearance, for marketing under the 510(k) pre-notification process, of the Thyretain TSI Reporter BioAssay. Thyretain is an in vitro diagnostic use test that specifically detects auto-antibodies called thyroid stimulating immunoglobulins (TSI) in patient serum. Thyretain is the first FDA-cleared test that specifically detects TSI and is to be used as an aid in the differential diagnosis of Graves' disease, an autoimmune thyroid disorder.

Obesity, migraine, ED sufferers may experience more emotional pain

2009-09-16T03:14:00.001-07:00

According to a new survey, people who are obese, or who suffer from chronic migraines or erectile dysfunction, may experience more emotional trauma than people diagnosed with a life-threatening illness.

2009-09-16T01:43:00.001-07:00

The Dioxin Poisoning Of Victor Yushchenko: Need For Methods In Routine Analysis Of Metabolites Of The Poison TCDD

2009-09-16T00:18:00.001-07:00

An article published Online First exposes the facts of the poisoning of Ukrainian President Victor Yushchenko in 2004. It is the work of Professor Jean Saurat, from the Swiss Centre for Human Applied Toxicology, and the University Hospital, in Geneva, Switzerland, and his collaborators. It establishes that there is a need for routine analytical techniques to test for metabolites of TCDD (2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin) which is a type of dioxin and the poison that was used.

WFP Appeals For $5.2M To Feed At Least 500,000 Malawaians Through Dec. 2010

2009-09-15T22:59:00.001-07:00

The U.N.'s World Food Programme (WFP) made an international appeal Thursday for $5.2 million to help feed more than half a million people in Malawi through the end of next year, Agence France-Presse reports. Anne Callanan, the WFP's country director, said although the country's maize yield of 3.

New Insights Into Cardiac Aging

2009-09-15T21:24:00.001-07:00

Investigators at Burnham Institute for Medical Research (Burnham) have found that the conserved protein d4eBP modulates cardiac aging in Drosophila (fruit flies). The team also found that d4eBP, which binds to the protein dEif4e, protects heart function against aging. This research enhances our understanding of the TOR and FoxO signaling pathways and provides a more specific target for further research into cardiac aging.

Siemens Introduces Dedicated Ultrasound Solution For Obstetrics And Gynecology

2009-09-15T20:06:00.001-07:00

Siemens Healthcare introduces a dedicated ultrasound solution for Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Acuson X300 ultrasound system, PremiumEdition (PE) - Women's Imaging at the International Congress of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ISUOG). The system features exceptional clinical performance across all modes, including 3D/4D imaging. Unique workflow tools such as automated biometry measurements of the fetus streamline the exam process for greater patient throughput.

2008 - American Society of Clinical Oncology - 44th Annual Meeting

2009-09-15T18:42:00.001-07:00

The ASCO Annual Meeting was held in Chicago, May 30 - June 3, 2008.

Dangerous Radioactive Sources Removed From Lebanon By IAEA

2009-09-15T17:01:00.001-07:00

Jefferson Award Honors Doctor Determined To Cure Rare Disease HIBM

2009-09-15T15:31:00.001-07:00

A Los Angeles doctor who has made it his life's work to find a cure for the rare disease Heredity Inclusion Body Myopathy, or HIBM, has won this month's Channel ABC7 (Los Angeles) Jefferson Award. Through media partnerships throughout the US the Jefferson Award organization, which was co-founded by Jacqueline Kennedy-Onassis in 1972, acknowledges and honors people who have made a difference in their community.

Luminex Receives 510(K) Clearance For New Cystic Fibrosis Test

2009-09-15T14:15:00.001-07:00

Luminex Corporation (NASDAQ: LMNX), the worldwide leader in multiplexed solutions, today announced that it has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a new cystic fibrosis (CF) test: the xTAG® Cystic Fibrosis 39 Kit v2. Designed with years of feedback from clinicians and technicians, the newly cleared xTAG test detects for 39 CF-causing gene mutations.

2009 Charles River Laboratories' Excellence In Refinement Award

2009-09-15T12:45:00.001-07:00

Paul Flecknell, PhD, widely recognized for his expertise in the identification and management of pain in laboratory animals, is the 2009 recipient of the Charles River Laboratories' Excellence in Refinement Award. This award was presented on September 3 at the 7th World Congress on Alternatives and Animal Use in the Life Sciences in Rome.

Families Fighting Flu Urges Seasonal Flu Vaccination In Kids

2009-09-15T11:24:00.001-07:00

Families Fighting Flu (FFF) reminds parents to get their children vaccinated against the seasonal flu. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that children six months through 18 years of age get a seasonal flu vaccination each year. This is the first year that this full influenza vaccination recommendation for children will be implemented by all doctors.

Alzheimer's Society Calls For An End To Complex Care Charging System

2009-09-15T09:55:00.001-07:00

A fifth of carers face difficulties in applying for benefits under the current 'complex and confusing' system according to The Public Accounts Committee. The group of MPs has published a report examining the steps the Department for Work and Pensions has taken to improve the delivery of benefits to carers and the support it provides to help them find employment.

LED Light And Green Tea Cream To Smooth Facial Wrinkles

2009-09-15T08:22:00.001-07:00

Scientists in Germany are reporting a major improvement in their potential new treatment for facial wrinkles that could emerge as an alternative to Botox and cosmetic surgery. The non-invasive technique combines high-intensity light from light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and a lotion made of green tea extract. It works ten times faster than a similar anti-wrinkle treatment that uses LEDs alone, the researchers say. Their study is scheduled for the Oct.

Injury Research And Health Organizations Urge Congress To Save Lives And Money By Including Injury Prevention In Health Care Reform

2009-09-15T07:04:00.001-07:00

A group of 18 research centers, professional organizations and advocacy groups have joined together to urge Congress to include injury prevention in health care reform. Each day, 475 Americans die from injuries related to motor vehicle crashes, assaults, fires and other trauma. This results in 170,000 deaths every year, more than twice that from diabetes and more than four times that of breast cancer.

Diet & Exercise & Transdermal Testosterone Reverses Metabolic Syndrome And Improves Glycaemic Control In Men With Newly Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes

2009-09-15T05:22:00.001-07:00

UroToday.com - It was formerly firmly believed that testosterone had no essential role to play in male physiology, other than on sexual and reproductive functioning. Over the last three decades it has become apparent that testosterone plays a significant role in glucose homeostasis and lipid metabolism. The metabolic syndrome is a clustering of risk factors predisposing to diabetes mellitus type 2, atherosclerosis and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.

2009-09-15T04:01:00.001-07:00

Bristol-Myers Squibb Announces Acceptance Of Submission For Belatacept Biologic License Application

2009-09-15T02:46:00.001-07:00

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY) announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted, for filing and review, the company's submission of a biologic license application for belatacept, which is in ongoing phase III development for use in kidney transplantation. The Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) goal date for the FDA is May 1, 2010.

The Safety Of Planned Home Birth With Registered Midwife

2009-09-15T01:18:00.001-07:00

The risk of infant death following planned home birth attended by a registered midwife does not differ from that of a planned hospital birth, found a study http://www.cmaj.ca/press/cmaj081869.pdf published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).

Retail Clinics Offer More Treatments For Chronic Diseases

2009-09-14T23:53:00.001-07:00

Retail health clinics are reevaluating their offerings. The Wall Street Journal reports: "Retail health clinics are adding treatments for chronic diseases such as asthma to their repertoire, hoping to find steadier revenue, but putting the clinics into greater competition with doctors' groups and hospitals.

SAPHRIS(R) (asenapine) Meets Primary Endpoint In Long-Term Extension Study In Patients With Predominant, Persistent Negative Symptoms Of Schizophrenia

2009-09-14T22:11:00.001-07:00

Schering-Plough Corporation (NYSE: SGP) announced that its investigational agent SAPHRIS(R) (asenapine) met the primary endpoint over one year of treatment in an extension study in patients with predominant, persistent negative symptoms of schizophrenia. Negative symptoms of schizophrenia include apathy, lack of emotion and poor social functioning, among others. In the study, these symptoms were assessed using the validated 16-item Negative Symptom Assessment scale (NSA-16).

What Is Hypothyroidism? What Causes Hypothyroidism?

2009-09-14T21:02:00.001-07:00

Hypothyroidism, also known as underactive thyroid, is a condition in which the thyroid gland, which supplies hormones to keep the metabolism in working order, is not functioning properly. This results in lower-than-required levels of essential hormones that are distributed to the rest of the body - undermining the body's ability to function efficiently.

Those Blinded By Brain Injury May Still 'See' New Study Shows

2009-09-14T19:29:00.001-07:00

Except in clumsy moments, we rarely knock over the box of cereal or glass of orange juice as we reach for our morning cup of coffee. New research at The University of Western Ontario has helped unlock the mystery of how our brain allows us to avoid these undesired objects.

Can-Fite-Completed Patient Enrollment For The Phase II Trial In Psoriasis With CF101

2009-09-14T18:05:00.001-07:00

Can-Fite BioPharma (TASE:CFBI), a biotechnology company traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, has achieved yet another goal by completion of patients' enrollment in its phase II Psoriasis trial. Approximately 70 patients were enrolled to this study, randomized into 4 groups treated with 1, 2 and 4 mg of CF101 and placebo. Patients are taking the drug for 12 weeks plus 2 weeks of follow-up. The trial is being conducted in 10 sites in Israel and Europe.

Oticon Medical Receives FDA Clearance To Market Innovative Bone Anchored Hearing System

2009-09-14T16:26:00.001-07:00

Oticon Medical, a global medical device company within the William Demant Group, announced that it has obtained 501(k) clearance from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) to market the innovative Ponto bone anchored hearing system. The Ponto System features an easy-to-operate computer fitting platform to enable a more precise match between patient and sound processor.

Cardiac Arrest Mortalities Form A Valuable Source Of Donor Kidneys

2009-09-14T14:51:00.001-07:00

A pilot study of a system for harvesting kidneys from non-heart-beating donors where attempts of resuscitation after a witnessed out-of-hospital cardiac arrest have failed (uncontrolled NHBDs) resulted in 21 successful kidney transplants - a 10% increase in the transplantation rate - over 17 months.

Joint Commission To Help Hospitals Fix Patient Safety Problems

2009-09-14T13:36:00.001-07:00

"The Joint Commission announced today that its newly-formed Center for Transforming Healthcare will work on new collaborative programs with leading hospitals and health care systems to find a cause of the most deadly breakdowns in patient care, and put a stop to them," The Wall Street Journal's Health Blog reports.

Additional Alabama Deaths Linked To 2009 H1N1 Influenza

2009-09-14T12:07:00.001-07:00

The Alabama Department of Public Health has been informed that a resident of Bullock County and a resident of Macon County have died. The men, one in his 40s and one in his 50s, died at a Montgomery hospital. Specimens from both men tested positive for H1N1 influenza. These deaths serve as reminder of the need for everyone to take additional precautions because of the early onset of influenza in Alabama.

What Is Scurvy? What Causes Scurvy?

2009-09-14T10:23:00.001-07:00

Scurvy is a condition where an individual has a vitamin C (ascorbic acid) deficiency. The name scurvy comes from the Latin scorbutus, and humans have known about the disease since ancient Greek and Egyptian times. Scurvy commonly is associated with sailors in the 16th to 18th centuries who navigated long voyages without enough vitamin C and frequently perished from the condition. Modern cases of scurvy are very rare.

Insomnia: Studies Confirm Calcium And Magnesium Effective

2009-09-14T08:59:00.001-07:00

According to the National Sleep Foundation (NSF), almost six out of ten Americans report having insomnia and sleep problems at least a few nights a week. Insomnia is defined as "An inability to fall asleep or remain asleep long enough to feel rested, especially when the problem continues over time." In an effort to combat this, as many as 25 percent of the people in the United States use medications to help them sleep.

With Summer Jobs, Med Students Experience Health System Challenges First Hand

2009-09-14T07:25:00.001-07:00

A group of University of Washington medical students had an eye-opening experience with the health care system this summer, The New York Times reports. A record number of students from the university this year participated in a summer program that sends rising second-year medical students "across the Northwest to provide primary care in rural or underserved areas.

News From The Journals Of The American Society For Microbiology

2009-09-14T05:57:00.001-07:00

New Antibiotic Shows Promise in Fighting Malaria A new study suggests that tigecycline, the first member of a new class of antibiotics, shows significant antimalarial activity on its own and may also be effective against multi drug-resistant malaria when administered in combination with traditional antimalarial drugs.

Multiple Sclerosis: National Search For Proteins That Cause MS

2009-09-14T04:29:00.001-07:00

Is Somatic Hypersensitivity A Predictor Of Irritable Bowel Syndrome?

2009-09-14T03:03:00.001-07:00

Although visceral hypersensitivity is considered a hallmark feature of IBS, conflicting evidence exists regarding somatic hypersensitivity in this patient population. Several investigators have found no evidence for heightened somatic pain sensitivity in IBS patients. Also, others have reported similar cold presser pain tolerance in IBS patients and controls. These conflicting findings may result from differing somatic pain testing procedures.

Flu Advice For Asthma And Allergy Sufferers

2009-09-14T01:42:00.001-07:00

According to the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 67% of children who died with the new H1N1 flu virus had at least one high-risk medical condition. Any individual with an underlying respiratory condition such as asthma is more likely to experience serious health problems if he or she contracts the flu, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI).

Many High Health Costs Remain Mysterious

2009-09-14T00:04:00.001-07:00

Health care's high costs are a main reason lawmakers are taking on health reform, but it's also a challenge to identify and target the many reasons care is so expensive. NPR takes a look at medical devices, like plastic tubes and scalpels, that boast surprisingly big price tags.

Analysis: Marketing Research Sheds Light On Low Vaccination Rates In Some Developing Countries

2009-09-13T22:56:00.001-07:00

Despite progress in raising the vaccination rates in the world's poorest countries, some countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia and Nigeria continue to have vaccination rates "below 50% in certain regions, compared with the 80% or more needed to achieve a low risk of the disease spreading," Douglas Holt, Oxford University professor of marketing, and Jacob McKnight, also of Oxford University, write in a

New Treatment Shows Promising Results In Patients With Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

2009-09-13T21:21:00.001-07:00

A new treatment involving the intramuscular injection of an antisense molecule is safe and effective at increasing the production of the protein dystrophin-the absence of which causes Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). As such, this treatment could benefit a significant proportion of patients with DMD, concludes an Article published Online First and in the October edition of The Lancet Neurology.

Additional Phase II Data Demonstrate Improvement In Reported Symptoms In Patients Who Still Experience GERD Symptoms Despite PPI Therapy

2009-09-13T19:51:00.001-07:00

Adding AZD3355, a novel GABAB receptor agonist, to a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) in patients with Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), resulted in a 35% reduction in the mean total number of reflux episodes 0-24 hours after dose, compared with placebo.[i] These data were presented at the Digestive Diseases Week annual meeting (DDW®, 30 May - 4 June, Chicago).

What Is Vertigo? What Causes Vertigo?

2009-09-13T18:29:00.001-07:00

Vertigo is a sensation that everything around you is spinning or moving, which is usually caused by a problem in the inner ear, but can also be caused by vision problems. People with vertigo commonly feel things are moving when they are standing completely still and everything around them is still. Vertigo is medically different from dizziness, lightheadedness, and unsteadiness. Lay people commonly use the terms dizziness and vertigo indistinctly.

New Method Monitors Early Sign Of Oxidative Stress In Cancer

2009-09-13T16:56:00.001-07:00

The growth of cancerous tumors is fueled, at least in part, by the buildup of free radicals---highly reactive oxygen-containing molecules. It stands to reason, then, that cancer should respond to treatment with antioxidants, which inhibit the rogue radicals, or with pro-oxidants, which go the opposite direction, increasing "oxidative stress" on cancer cells to the point of vanquishing them.

Hovione's TwinCaps(R) Inhaler Delivers Successfully In Phase III Clinical Trials For Influenza

2009-09-13T15:18:00.001-07:00

Hovione is pleased to announce that its TwinCaps(R) inhaler licensees Daiichi Sankyo Co. Ltd. (Tokyo, Japan) and Biota Holdings Ltd (Victoria, Australia) have both announced successful Phase III trials for CS-8958, a new long-acting neuraminidase inhibitor for treatment of influenza (known as a prodrug of laninamivir).

Texas Newspapers Call For Comprehensive Sex Education To Address Teen Pregnancy

2009-09-13T14:06:00.001-07:00

Two Texas newspapers recently published editorials and an opinion piece responding to a recent Child Trends report that ranked Texas No. 1 in the U.S. for repeat teen pregnancies. According to a recent Dallas Morning News