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Growth hormone boosts sprinting capacity in athletes but may have serious side effects

Human Growth Hormone (hGH) has long been used among athletes and body builders for stronger and a more muscular bodies over the past four decades. However it is only now that Sydney-based researchers have published a study that shows that hGH offers no such benefits.

3 May 2010

BioTime acquires ES Cell International

BioTime, Inc., a biotechnology company that develops and markets products in the field of human stem cells and regenerative medicine, today announced that it has completed its acquisition of the Singapore company ES Cell International Pte Ltd.

3 May 2010

Health outcomes explored at DDW 2010

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, which may soon be the leading indication for liver transplant, is found to be significantly associated with worse transplant outcomes. In addition, a new tool for diagnosing NAFLD represents an alternative to liver biopsy, which is more expensive and prone to complications, and ultrasound and alfafeprotein blood test screening are an effective alternative to CT scan and MRI for patients with cirrhosis at high risk for hepatocellular cancer.

3 May 2010

Seasonal flu vaccine ups the risk of getting H1N1 flu

Initial reports linking seasonal flu vaccine and getting swine flu or H1N1 flu emerged September 2009 in Canada. In spring 2009 many people who acquired pandemic H1N1 flu had been initially vaccinated with seasonal flu vaccine. This triggered four additional studies in Canada to explore the link further. The studies included 2,700 patients with or without H1N1. The first of the studies showed a surprising 68 percent rise of risk of development of H1N1 flu in those vaccinated with seasonal flu shot. The other 3 studies showed increase of risk of H1N1 flu by 1.4 to 1.5 times with the original flu shot.

2 May 2010

McGill scientist discovers how one particular gene regulates epithelial cells

New research led by McGill Biochemist Dr. William Muller helps explain why breast-milk cells lose their structure, causing them to clump up in strange ways (photos available) and sometimes become cancer tumors. With the support of Chen Ling and Dongmei Zuo at McGill's Goodman Cancer Centre, Muller has discovered how one particular gene regulates epithelial cells - cells that normally form in sheets and are polarized to enable the transport of molecules in a single direction.

30 Apr 2010

Pelvic Floor Institute launched to enhance physician knowledge on reconstruction procedures, techniques

Boston Scientific Corporation today announced the launch of the Pelvic Floor Institute -- a unique training forum and online resource designed to enhance physician knowledge and awareness of pelvic floor reconstruction procedures and techniques.

30 Apr 2010

Kaiser Permanente to invest $4.4M to open two new medical offices in Cherokee and Cobb Counties

Kaiser Permanente announced today it will invest $4.4 million to open two new medical offices in Cherokee and Cobb Counties.

30 Apr 2010

Stanford University's Herzenberg Lab wins 2010 Laureate in Computerworld Honors Program

Stanford University's Herzenberg Laboratory is a 2010 Laureate in the prestigious Computerworld Honors Program. SAS, the leader in business analytics software and services, announced the award today.

30 Apr 2010

Short-term calorie restriction improves function of T-cells

Scientists funded by the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) found that volunteers who followed a low-calorie diet or a very low-calorie diet not only lost weight, but also significantly enhanced their immune response. The study may be the first to demonstrate the interaction between calorie restriction and immune markers among humans.

30 Apr 2010

Data mining of hospital information can help identify MDROs: Asolva

Infection control within hospitals is a huge and growing problem. A recent study in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that conditions caused by healthcare associated infections killed 48,000 people and increased healthcare costs by $8.1 billion in 2006 alone.

30 Apr 2010

REGN reports net loss of $30.5M for first-quarter 2010

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced financial and operating results for the first quarter of 2010. The Company reported a net loss of $30.5 million, or $0.38 per share (basic and diluted), for the first quarter of 2010 compared with a net loss of $15.4 million, or $0.19 per share (basic and diluted), for the first quarter of 2009.

30 Apr 2010

NLV Partners closes second tranche of $26 million Series D financing in Oxford Immunotec

New Leaf Venture Partners (NLV Partners) announced today the closing of the second tranche of a $26 million investment in Oxford Immunotec Ltd., a leading manufacturer and marketer of T cell-based diagnostic tests. The Series D financing was led by NLV Partners, and additional participants included new investor Kaiser Permanente Ventures and existing investors Clarus Ventures, Wellington Partners, Kuwait-based National Technology Enterprises Company, SPARK Ventures, DFJ Esprit, Oxford University and The Dow Chemical Company.

30 Apr 2010

Practicing NPIs may help limit transmission of pandemic flu: Study

Practicing non-pharmaceutical interventions such as hand-washing and mouth covering may help limit the transmission of the pandemic flu, but more research on these measures is critical according to a new study appearing in the May issue of AJIC: American Journal of Infection Control, the official publication of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc.

30 Apr 2010

NWO awards 31 grants in Investment Subsidy NWO Medium programme

The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) has awarded 31 grants in the Investment Subsidy NWO Medium programme for the acquisition of equipment, the setting up of data collections and the production of software and bibliographies. The total investment amounts to 10 million euro.

30 Apr 2010

IRIC launches new RNA engineering laboratory in Canada

The Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer of the Universit- de Montr-al is proud to announce the launch of the very first ribonucleic acid engineering laboratory in Canada.

30 Apr 2010

Research initiative to study impact of microbes on human health, disease

The human species is dependent for its survival on the billions of microorganisms that inhabit multiple environmental niches within and on the human body. While microbes are commonly associated with diseases and infections, they are also vital in essential, beneficial roles such as digestion, where they help synthesize vitamins and ferment complex indigestible carbohydrates.

29 Apr 2010

Eliminating inherent drug resistance in tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB) continues to be a global health problem, in part due to the exceptional drug resistance displayed by the TB-causing agent, Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Beyond even acquired drug resistance, these bacteria are also inherently resistant to many other common antibiotics, which limits the available options in finding alternative treatments to resistant TB strains.

29 Apr 2010

CINJ trial targets new combination therapy for advanced solid tumors

Building off recent laboratory discoveries relating to how cancer cells become resistant to therapies that attempt to starve cancer, scientists at The Cancer Institute of New Jersey (CINJ) are now applying that knowledge to a process in which cancer cells eat themselves to downsize and resist therapy. The ultimate goal of this effort is to improve upon current anticancer treatments.

29 Apr 2010

Ago2 protein helps generate microRNAs: CSHL researchers

MicroRNAs are small bits of RNA within cells that wield enormous power. They influence virtually every biological process by controlling the "expression" of genes. Helping them in exerting this control is a unique class of proteins called Argonautes.

29 Apr 2010

Physicists and oncologists to develop novel ultra sensitive platform for early cancer detection

The SPEDOC project will create the precursor to future devices for individualized diagnosis and monitoring of cancer therapy, which will allow the illness to be treated in earlier stages and at lower doses, reducing or preventing current secondary effects.

29 Apr 2010