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Kidney Health Week, experts criticise government inaction

Kidney Health Week is being observed at Broken Hill Hospital this week by the Broken Hill Health Service. As a part of this the residents will receive complete kidney check ups including blood pressure and blood sugar and advice regarding kidney health.

26 May 2010

New technique designed to analyze individual immune cells may help diagnose food allergies: Study

About 30 percent of Americans believe they have food allergies. However, the actual number is far smaller, closer to 5 percent, according to a recent study commissioned by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. That's due in large part to the unreliability of the skin test that doctors commonly use to test for food allergies.

24 May 2010

SiMoA technology measures individual PSA molecules in prostate cancer patients: Nature Biotechnology

Quanterix Corporation, the single molecule diagnostics company focused on developing and commercializing high sensitivity tests, announced the publication of a breakthrough study of the company's proprietary technology that demonstrates an unprecedented sensitivity for measuring a biomarker for prostate cancer recurrence.

24 May 2010

Abviva receives new patent grant notifications for MSA technology

Abviva, Inc., a biomedical company engaged in the development and commercialization of breast cancer related applications of Mammastatin, today provided further details about worldwide patent protection for its breast cancer risk assessment technology.

24 May 2010

New marker may be the significant breakthrough in allergy testing for newborn babies

A simple blood test can now predict whether newborn babies are at high risk of developing allergies as they grow older, thanks to research involving the University of Adelaide.

21 May 2010

Blood biomarker underscores role of inflammation in vascular disease

UC Davis researchers have discovered that a blood component linked with inflammation can predict coronary artery disease in African-Americans.

21 May 2010

Vitamin D plays much wider role in people's life

Vitamin D is the sunshine vitamin - we make it when our skin is exposed to UV rays. In a perfect world everyone would eat fresh, organic foods, get outside, and enjoy a little sunshine all year round. But with today's busy lifestyles and concerns about skin cancer many people are vitamin D deficient and don't know it.

21 May 2010

Elevated levels of Lp-PLA2 associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease

A meta-analysis of approximately 80,000 individuals from 32 prospective studies was published in The Lancet on May 1, 2010. The data shows that elevated levels of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2), a vascular-specific inflammatory enzyme, are associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease similar in magnitude to that with non-HDL cholesterol or systolic blood pressure.

20 May 2010

Phase I study of SNS-032 demonstrates safety, potential clinical activity in treating B-cell malignancies

A Phase I clinical trial of SNS-032, one of the first in a new class of drugs that inhibit cyclin-dependent kinases, demonstrated the drug's safety and potential clinical action against advanced chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Cyclin-dependent kinases are enzymatic proteins that are integrally involved in cellular metabolism, renewal and signaling, and are thought to play key roles in the growth of cancers.

20 May 2010

Vaccinations recommended for adults

Yearly vaccinations aren't just for kids any more. You probably heard a lot about a seasonal or H1N1 flu shot last fall, but you should know that a battery of other adult vaccinations might also become part of your health care routine. Pneumonia and shingles vaccines are preventive-care essentials for older adults, and meningitis and tetanus shots are now college rites of passage. Even the vaccines of childhood—measles, mumps and rubella, and whooping cough—are recommended for adults who missed out in their younger years.

19 May 2010

Abviva receives Japanese patent for Mammastatin Serum Assay

Abviva, Inc., a biomedical company engaged in the development and commercialization of breast cancer related applications of Mammastatin, announced today that the Japanese Patent Office issued two patents on the core technology that may be used for therapeutic applications and in the Company's breast cancer risk assessment test, the Mammastatin Serum Assay (MSA).

18 May 2010

Tests of kidney function, damage predict risk of death from cardiovascular diseases: Study

Common tests of kidney function and damage predict the risk of death from cardiovascular diseases and all causes, according to a paper from the Chronic Kidney Disease Prognosis Consortium, established last year by Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes.

18 May 2010

GE Healthymagination Fund invests $5M in CardioDx

GE Healthcare, the healthcare business of GE and CardioDx, a pioneer in cardiovascular genomic diagnostics, announced today that the companies have entered into a strategic alliance to advance and co-develop diagnostic technologies to improve the care and management of patients with cardiovascular disease.

14 May 2010

Mutation causing light chain amyloidosis identified

Light chain amyloidosis, a deadly protein misfolding disease, is caused by multiple mutations in cells that are intended to protect the body. Instead, the mutations send misfolded bundles of proteins through the bloodstream, potentially destroying the heart, kidneys, liver or other organs. Mayo Clinic researchers have identified one of these mutations and have shown that the molecule's shifting position is as important as its unique shape. The findings appear in the current issue of the journal Structure.

12 May 2010

Colorectal cancer screening rates much lower among African Americans: Study

Among African Americans, colorectal cancer is the third most common cause of cancer-related death. With the proper screening, it has a 90 percent cure rate, yet screening rates are much lower among this group than other ethnic groups.

12 May 2010

Many pregnant women in the U.S. have insufficient vitamin D levels: Study

Seven out of every ten pregnant women in the United States are not getting enough Vitamin D according to a study published in the May issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. While prenatal vitamins do raise Vitamin D levels during pregnancy, the study shows that higher doses may be needed for many women.

12 May 2010

Immunomedics third-quarter revenues increase to $10.7 million

Immunomedics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing monoclonal antibodies to treat cancer and other serious diseases, today reported financial results for the third quarter ended March 31, 2010. The Company also highlighted recent key developments and planned activities for its clinical pipeline.

10 May 2010

New blood test could increase success of lung cancer drug erlotinib: Study

A new blood test could increase the success of a popular lung cancer drug called erlotinib by allowing doctors select which patients will react positively to the drug.

6 May 2010

Data shows rates of colorectal cancer screening vary by race, ethnicity and method

Rates of colorectal cancer screening vary by race and ethnicity as well as method, according to data being presented at Digestive Disease Week- 2010. Scientists examine data on minority and older populations as well as utilization rates of virtual and optical colonoscopies to better understand adherence to recommended screening guidelines.

5 May 2010

New diagnostic tool could help detect heart attacks

A diagnostic tool developed by Rice University scientists to detect heart attacks using a person's saliva is being tested at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in collaboration with Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.

4 May 2010