Fibrosis News and Research

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Fibrosis is the growth of fibrous tissue.

AAP, ACMG release guidelines on best practices for genetic testing and screening of children

For the first time, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) spoke with one voice and released a set of recommendations and guidelines on best practices for genetic testing and screening of children.

5 Mar 2013

Urea cycle disorder patient successfully treated by Promethera(R) HepaStem in Phase I/II trial in France

Promethera Biosciences, a Belgian biotechnology company developing Promethera(R) HepaStem, a cell-based therapy for the treatment of liver-based metabolic diseases including Crigler-Najjar Syndrome and Urea Cycle Disorders, announced that it has successfully treated a patient with liver progenitor cells enrolled in its Phase I/II trial.

1 Mar 2013

Stem cell line could also advance research into liver cancers, cystic fibrosis

Chronic or acute, liver failure can be deadly. Toxins take over, the skin turns yellow and higher brain function slows. "There is no effective therapy at the moment to deal with the toxins that build up in your body," said Neil Talbot, a Research Animal Scientist for the USDA Agricultural Research Service. "Their only option now is to transplant a liver."

1 Mar 2013

GLP-1 pancreatitis concerns justified

Study results have raised further concerns over a link between pancreatitis and the use of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1)-based therapies for patients with Type 2 diabetes.

28 Feb 2013

Long-term treatment with spironolactone improves left ventricular diastolic function in HF patients

Among patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, long-term treatment with the medication spironolactone improved left ventricular diastolic function but did not affect maximal exercise capacity, patient symptoms, or quality of life, according to a study appearing in the February 27 issue of JAMA.

28 Feb 2013

Children's Oakland CF Center wins 2012 Quality Care Award from Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

Children's Hospital & Research Center Oakland's Cystic Fibrosis Center was recently awarded the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's 2012 Quality Care Award. This prestigious award recognizes cystic fibrosis (CF) centers committed to improving the quality of patient care and providing better health outcomes for people with the life-threatening genetic disease. Children's Hospital Oakland was among 4 out of 22 centers in the country to receive the CF Foundation's award.

27 Feb 2013

PneumRx initiates RePneu LVRC pivotal study in severe emphysema

PneumRx, Inc., a leader in interventional pulmonology, announced the first U.S. patients treated with PneumRx's Lung Volume Reduction Coils (LVRCs) for severe emphysema.

25 Feb 2013

Scientists identify mechanosensitive cellular signaling pathway in myofibroblasts

Pulmonary fibrosis is a scarring or thickening of the lungs that causes shortness of breath, a dry cough, fatigue, chest discomfort, weight loss, a decrease in the ability of the lungs to transmit oxygen to the blood stream, and, eventually, heart failure.

24 Feb 2013

New data from Boehringer Ingelheim's tiotropium Respimat Phase III UniTinA-asthma programme

Tiotropium delivered once daily via Respimat significantly improved lung function and reduced asthma exacerbations in patients who remain symptomatic despite treatment with at least ICS/LABA, irrespective of their allergic status.

24 Feb 2013

Janssen submits simeprevir regulatory application in Japan to treat HCV

Medivir AB today announced that its partner Janssen now has submitted a regulatory application to the Japanese Ministry of Health & Welfare authorities seeking approval for simeprevir, administered with pegylated interferon (Peg-IFN) and ribavirin (RBV) for the treatment of genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C patients who are treatment naïve, prior non responders or relapsed following treatment with Peg-IFN with or without RBV.

22 Feb 2013

Quest Diagnostics offers access to a new non-invasive prenatal test developed by Natera

Quest Diagnostics (NYSE:DGX), the world’s leading diagnostic information services company, and Natera, a leading innovator in prenatal genetic testing, today announced that Quest Diagnostics will offer physicians access to Panorama™, a new non-invasive prenatal test developed by Natera.

From Quest Diagnostics 21 Feb 2013

Researchers explore cellular signals produced by the body in response to traumatic injury

When it comes to healing the terrible wounds of war, success may hinge on the first blood clot - the one that begins forming on the battlefield right after an injury. Researchers exploring the complex stream of cellular signals produced by the body in response to a traumatic injury believe the initial response - formation of a blood clot - may control subsequent healing.

18 Feb 2013

New approach could make gene therapy dramatically more effective for HIV patients

A research team from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine has discovered an approach that could make gene therapy dramatically more effective for patients.

16 Feb 2013

FDA committee recommends approval of Guerbet’s Dotarem NDA for adults and children

Guerbet, the contrast agent specialist for medical imaging, today announced that the Medical Imaging Drugs Advisory Committee to US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has voted unanimously by votes of 17 to 0 to recommend that FDA approve the New Drug Application (NDA) for Dotarem (gadoterate meglumine) for adults, and for pediatric use for children two years of age and older.

15 Feb 2013

LLS, The Myeloproliferative Neoplasm Research Foundation issue MF Challenge Grant

In 2012, The Myeloproliferative Neoplasm (MPN) Research Foundation and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) jointly issued the MF Challenge Grant , seeking innovative approaches to reversing fibrosis in patients with myelofibrosis (MF).

15 Feb 2013

LASAG trial for severe influenza initiated

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12 Feb 2013

MRI promising for noninvasive hepatic steatosis assessment

Magnetic resonance imaging allows accurate measurement of the extent and severity of hepatic steatosis in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, demonstrate the results of two studies published in Radiology.

11 Feb 2013

DHA more effective than EPA in preventing liver inflammation and fibrosis

Research at Oregon State University has found that one particular omega-3 fatty acid has a powerful effect in preventing liver inflammation and fibrosis - common problems that are steadily rising along with the number of Americans who are overweight.

6 Feb 2013

Interferon retreatment warning in HCV

Hepatitis C virus patients who do not respond to interferon should not receive further treatment with the drug, say the authors of a new Cochrane review.

4 Feb 2013

New method for detecting cancer by measuring elasticity of tumours

As the first countries in the world, Norway and France will be testing a completely new method for detecting cancer. This is done by measuring the elasticity of tumours. The method is called elastography. You may as well learn this new word right away; in a few years, elastography may be as common as X-rays.