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Hospital patients with pneumonia may face risk of sudden cardiac arrest

Hospital patients with pneumonia may be at risk of experiencing sudden cardiac arrest, often with few or no warning signs, according to research from the University of Chicago Medical Center under the auspices of the American Heart Association's Get with the Guidelines project.

16 May 2011

Zaire ebolavirus may replicate in pigs and transmit to other animals

Canadian investigators have shown that a species of ebolavirus from Zaire that is highly virulent in humans can replicate in pigs, cause disease, and be transmitted to animals previously unexposed to the virus.

13 May 2011

New genome-wide study identifies causes of serious childhood immune disorder

A new genomics study, led by the Center for Applied Genomics at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, sets the stage for the first predictive diagnostic test in a serious immunodeficiency disease in children. If the disorder, common variable immunodeficiency disease, can be diagnosed early, children may receive life-saving treatments before the disease can progress.

12 May 2011

GSK, AstraZeneca and University of Manchester create new collaborative centre for inflammation research

The University of Manchester, GlaxoSmithKline and AstraZeneca announce today the creation of the Manchester Collaborative Centre for Inflammation Research, a unique collaboration to establish a world-leading translational centre for inflammatory diseases. The project starts out with an initial investment of -5M from each partner over a three year period.

From The University of Manchester 12 May 2011

Being mildly overweight benefits ALS patients

Patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, may be an exception to the rule that being overweight is a health hazard. In a retrospective study of over 400 ALS patients, Massachusetts General Hospital researchers found that those who were mildly obese survived longer than patients who were normal weight, underweight or even overweight.

12 May 2011

Nicotine-free plastic inhalers may increase smoker's chance of quitting

Nicotine-free plastic inhalers may increase a smoker's chance of quitting, according to new research published online in the European Respiratory Journal.

12 May 2011

China Pharma first quarter revenue increases 20% to $18.1 million

China Pharma Holdings, Inc., a fully-integrated specialty pharmaceuticals company in China, today announced financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2011.

11 May 2011

Novel ultrasound-targeted microbubble-destruction technology advances cure for prostate cancer

Cancer researchers are a step closer to finding a cure for advanced prostate cancer after effectively combining an anti-cancer drug with a viral gene therapy in vivo using novel ultrasound-targeted microbubble-destruction (UTMD) technology.

11 May 2011

Elekta to integrate cancer workflow and patient management tools into IBA's Proteus TK2 center

Elekta, a human care company pioneering significant innovations and clinical solutions for treating cancer and brain disorders, will integrate cancer workflow and patient management tools into the Proteus TK2, a turnkey proton therapy center from Belgium-based Ion Beam Applications.

From Elekta 10 May 2011

'Healthy' smokers have gene expression profiles similar to COPD patients

'Healthy' smokers experience changes in the gene expression of their lungs similar to that suffered by smokers who have developed Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). This is the conclusion of a new study, led by Catalan researchers, which confirms the crucial role that smoking plays in causing these alterations.

10 May 2011

Novavax first quarter net loss decreases to $7.5 million

Novavax, Inc. today announced its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2011.

9 May 2011

Parasites in human waste fertilizers alarm health experts

It has been suggested that human faeces used as fertiliser on farms are leading to the spread of ‘Third World’ parasites causing a serious stomach illness across Sydney.

8 May 2011

Study analyzes breast-feeding frequency of infants in eight inner-city Philadelphia health centers

"Breastfeeding is a hot topic. We know it is beneficial for most babies and that many are not getting breastfed," said lead study author Jessica Robbins, Ph.D., a public health epidemiologist with the Philadelphia Department of Public Health.

7 May 2011

Cempra to present solithromycin Phase 1 study data at ECCMID/ICC meeting

Cempra Pharmaceuticals, a developer of differentiated antibiotics, today announced an oral presentation showing that intravenous (IV) solithromycin demonstrates excellent tolerability and a favorable pharmacokinetic profile at IV doses up to 800 mg.

7 May 2011

Millennium presents three studies in relapsed multiple myeloma at IMW meeting

Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Company today reported results from three studies in relapsed multiple myeloma. Two of the studies examined the use of VELCADE for Injection; the third study presents clinical data on MLN9708, the first investigational oral proteasome inhibitor.

6 May 2011

BD MAX Open System for molecular testing launched in Europe

BD Diagnostics, a segment of BD, today announced the European launch of the BD MAX™ Open System for molecular testing, which will enable laboratories to run both laboratory and BD- developed assays and offer enhanced testing services that elevate the standards of care at their institutions.

From BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) 6 May 2011

Arsenic exposure and cigarette smoking in combination elevate risk of cardiovascular disease mortality

Arsenic exposure and smoking each elevate the risk of disease. But when combined together, the danger of dying from cardiovascular disease is magnified, a new study finds.

6 May 2011

Short courses of antibiotics safer for children with respiratory infections on ventilators

Short courses of antibiotics appear just as effective as longer ones - and a great deal safer - in treating respiratory infections that might cause pneumonia in children on temporary breathing devices, according to a Johns Hopkins Children's Center study published online May 3 in Clinical Infectious Diseases.

6 May 2011

Quest Diagnostics' Simplexa C. difficile test is now available in Europe

Quest Diagnostics Incorporated, the world's leading provider of diagnostic testing, information and services, today announced the availability in Europe of the Simplexa C. difficile Universal Direct test on the 3M Integrated Cycler.

From Quest Diagnostics 6 May 2011

Hendra virus alert among horse owners

Hendra virus is a bat-borne virus that has killed four of the seven humans who have been infected and caused the deaths more than 40 horses since it was discovered in 1994. Humans contract the disease from horses but there has been neither human-to-human transmission of the disease nor direct transmission from bats to humans report experts. The majority of outbreaks have occurred during June and October, however last year a horse in Tewantin contracted the virus in May.

5 May 2011