Atherosclerosis News and Research

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Atherosclerosis is the progressive buildup of plaque - the fatty deposits and other cells - in the inner walls of the arteries. The condition is a consequence of elevated cholesterol and for many it's a silent disease, with no visible signs or symptoms. The disease can begin in early adulthood and continues to progress for the rest of a person's life. Despite the serious nature of atherosclerosis, many people do not understand how it develops and progresses.

Chokeberry extract reduces weight gain in insulin-resistant animals

Chokeberry bushes have for centuries been residents of eastern deciduous forests where their bright red and dark purple fruits continue to be favorite snacks of local bird species. Native Americans have also traditionally eaten dried chokeberries and prepared teas from parts of the plant, and several domesticated varieties now grace contemporary lawns and gardens from coast to coast.

26 Apr 2010

AFFiRiS' AD02 Alzheimer's vaccine candidate in phase II clinical testing

AFFiRiS AG's clinical Alzheimer's vaccine candidate AD02 has already progressed to phase II clinical testing. It may therefore be possible to confirm the efficacy of the vaccine as early as during 2012. Indeed the start of this efficacy study comes only five months after the completion of the corresponding phase I study. The company is active in several disease areas and is currently developing a total of twelve prospective products in all stages of the development pipeline up to clinical phase II.

24 Apr 2010

Study finds no decrease in access to medical care for sicker patients needing CABG surgery

New UC Davis research has found that patients scheduled to undergo coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery in California were just as ill in 2003 - when public reporting of performance data for this particular surgery began - as in 2006, evidence that "report cards" did not cause doctors or hospitals to turn away sicker patients.

23 Apr 2010

Framingham risk assessment tool fails to predict patients with suspected CAD: Study

If patients with suspected coronary artery disease are excluded from further screening because of a low Framingham score, many patients with substantial atherosclerosis (a build-up of plaque inside the arteries) will be missed, according to a study published in the May issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology.

22 Apr 2010

Cook Medical enrolls first patient in Formula PTX Balloon Expandable Renal Stent trial

Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced Cook Medical, a license holder of Angiotech's paclitaxel technology, has enrolled the first patient in its landmark Formula PTX clinical trial. The trial is the first of its kind to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of a paclitaxel-eluting stent to treat renal artery disease, the narrowing of the arteries that supply blood to the kidneys.

22 Apr 2010

Medtronic acquires Invatec

Moving to expand its product offering, Medtronic, Inc., announced today that it has completed the acquisition of Invatec, a developer of innovative medical technologies for the interventional treatment of cardiovascular disease.

22 Apr 2010

FDA approves Medtronic's Complete SE Vascular Stent System for PAD

Broadening the scope of innovation for cardiovascular interventions beyond the heart, Medtronic, Inc., announced today that it has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the Complete® SE Vascular Stent System to be used for the treatment of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in the iliac arteries, major blood vessels within the pelvis that supply blood to the lower extremities.

21 Apr 2010

Catabasis Pharmaceuticals to advance program targeting type 2 diabetes with $39.6 million Series A financing

Catabasis Pharmaceuticals, a biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapeutics for the treatment of inflammatory and metabolic diseases, today announced it has completed a $39.6 million Series A financing led by SV Life Sciences, Clarus Ventures, and MedImmune Ventures. Also participating in the round is Advanced Technology Ventures.

21 Apr 2010

Added sugars in diet related to high cholesterol and increased risk of heart disease, say researchers

According to researchers, an average American gets 16% of calories from the sugar in their diet. These may be sugars added to processed foods during manufacture.

21 Apr 2010

SPI-Bio to distribute and sell Aterovax's sPLA2 activity test in Europe

Aterovax SA, a company developing innovative products for atherosclerosis, today announced the signing of a 3 year, exclusive agreement with SPI-Bio, a specialist distributor of products and services in drug development, to distribute and sell Aterovax's sPLA2 activity test in Europe to academic and research laboratories for research use.

19 Apr 2010

VisEn Medical expands FMT imaging platform

VisEn Medical Inc., a leader in fluorescence imaging solutions from research through medicine, announced today that it has expanded its leading FMT imaging platform with an FMT™ Multi-Species Imaging Module, to extend FMT imaging and related applications into larger preclinical animal models. VisEn also announced that it will be presenting new study results from its recently-launched Cat B 750 FAST™ and Annexin-Vivo™ fluorescence imaging agents at the AACR 101st Annual Meeting.

16 Apr 2010

Calorie restriction may help people to lead longer and healthier lives

Organisms from yeast to rodents to humans all benefit from cutting calories. In less complex organisms, restricting calories can double or even triple lifespan. It's not yet clear just how much longer calorie restriction might help humans live, but those who practice the strict diet hope to survive past 100 years old.

16 Apr 2010

New findings may aid in developing medications for atherosclerosis and insulin resistance

Scientists from Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS) recently presented preliminary research findings that identify a specific gene as a potential new target for treating obesity-related diseases.

15 Apr 2010

Phase II GAMMAGARD clinical study for Alzheimer's disease: 18-month results announced

Baxter International Inc. and New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center today announced results of an 18-month Phase II clinical study of GAMMAGARD LIQUID and GAMMAGARD S/D [Immune Globulin Intravenous (Human)] (marketed as KIOVIG outside of the U.S.) for mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease. This marked the first announcement of clinical trial results measuring function and cognition in patients who received uninterrupted GAMMAGARD for a period of 18 months.

From Baxter International Inc. 15 Apr 2010

VBL Therapeutics announces upcoming presentations at premier dermatology and cancer research meetings

VBL Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company committed to the development of novel treatments for immuno-inflammatory diseases and cancer, today announced the upcoming presentations of clinical data from the company's two lead programs, VB-201 and VB-111, at premier dermatology and cancer research medical meetings this spring.

13 Apr 2010

Vitamins touted in skin care products reduce signs of sun-damaged skin: Study

While everyone knows that getting an adequate daily dose of vitamins and minerals is important in maintaining one's overall health, many question whether or not the vitamins touted in skin care products work in reducing the signs of sun-damaged skin.

13 Apr 2010

Survey reveals Gamunex as preferred IGIV therapy among neurologists

Talecris Biotherapeutics, Inc., today announced results of a new survey showing that Gamunex® (Immune Globulin Intravenous [Human], 10% Caprylate/Chromatography Purified) is the preferred immune globulin intravenous (IGIV) among neurologists who indicated a brand preference. In the survey, conducted online by Harris Interactive® on behalf of Talecris, neurologists selected Gamunex over four times more often than all other available liquid IGIV therapies, with a statistically significant margin (p<0.05).

13 Apr 2010

Genes influence chronic kidney disease risk: Research

A team of researchers from the United States and Europe has identified more than a dozen genes that may play a role in the etiology of common forms of kidney disease. The team, known as the CKDGen Consortium, examined common variations in DNA sequences in more than 65,000 individuals of European descent. Common variations in several genes were found to be more frequent among people with poor kidney function or chronic kidney disease than in those with normal kidney function.

13 Apr 2010

Obese children have stiffer arteries than leaner counterparts

Children with more body fat and less endurance than their fitter, leaner counterparts have stiffer arteries at a young age, Medical College of Georgia researchers said.

12 Apr 2010

Results of research study on the expression of KIF6 in mouse model

Celera Corporation and its collaborators at The University of Washington, WA, and Indiana University, IN, today announced the presentation of data from a research study that investigated the expression of KIF6 in a mouse Celera Corporation model. A key finding was that KIF6 was specifically expressed in macrophages and chondrocytes in mouse atherosclerotic lesions, but not in normal arteries.

12 Apr 2010

Atherosclerosis News and Research

Further Reading

Chokeberry extract reduces weight gain in insulin-resistant animals

AFFiRiS' AD02 Alzheimer's vaccine candidate in phase II clinical testing

Study finds no decrease in access to medical care for sicker patients needing CABG surgery

Framingham risk assessment tool fails to predict patients with suspected CAD: Study

Cook Medical enrolls first patient in Formula PTX Balloon Expandable Renal Stent trial

Medtronic acquires Invatec

FDA approves Medtronic's Complete SE Vascular Stent System for PAD

Catabasis Pharmaceuticals to advance program targeting type 2 diabetes with $39.6 million Series A financing

Added sugars in diet related to high cholesterol and increased risk of heart disease, say researchers

SPI-Bio to distribute and sell Aterovax's sPLA2 activity test in Europe

VisEn Medical expands FMT imaging platform

Calorie restriction may help people to lead longer and healthier lives

New findings may aid in developing medications for atherosclerosis and insulin resistance

Phase II GAMMAGARD clinical study for Alzheimer's disease: 18-month results announced

VBL Therapeutics announces upcoming presentations at premier dermatology and cancer research meetings

Vitamins touted in skin care products reduce signs of sun-damaged skin: Study

Survey reveals Gamunex as preferred IGIV therapy among neurologists

Genes influence chronic kidney disease risk: Research

Obese children have stiffer arteries than leaner counterparts

Results of research study on the expression of KIF6 in mouse model

Sensing a Healthier Future

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

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