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Studies link atmospheric CO pollution to adverse cardiovascular outcomes, cardiac mortality

In the healthy rat, prolonged exposure to carbon monoxide (CO) under conditions that mimic urban pollution leads to changes to cardiac morphology and function. Compensatory mechanisms develop in these animals to sustain normal cardiac activity, but they become more vulnerable to heart disease.

18 Mar 2010

Blocking GM-CSF could reduce inflammation and deleterious effects of cigarette smoke exposure

Researchers in Australia have demonstrated that blocking a certain protein can reduce or prevent cigarette smoke-induced lung inflammation in mice. Inflammation underlies the disease process of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and many other smoking-related ailments.

18 Mar 2010

Booster shot appears to improve TB resistance in previously vaccinated adults

A booster shot appears to improve tuberculosis (TB) resistance in previously vaccinated adults, according to new research in South Africa.

17 Mar 2010

GE Healthcare introduces OSA diagnostic tool for inpatient cardiac patients

GE Healthcare today introduced MARS® Virtual Sleep Lab (VSL), the first device to provide a streamlined view of quantitative cardiac and sleep apnea analysis from any GE-monitored inpatient bed, helping enhance speed of diagnosis.

16 Mar 2010

New guidelines to emphasize safety of dental treatment during pregnancy

Spotlighting the importance of oral health care for expectant mothers, the California Dental Association Foundation has released new guidelines designed to emphasize the safety of dental treatment during pregnancy and ensure women the services they need.

16 Mar 2010

Cheetah Medical closes $20M financing round; plans to expand hemodynamic monitoring market

Cheetah Medical, a worldwide leader in noninvasive hemodynamic and cardiac output monitoring technology, announced today the closing of a $20 million financing round. The financing was led by Ascension Health Ventures (AHV) and also included Robert Bosch Venture Capital (RBVC), MVM Life Science Partners (MVM) and existing investors.

16 Mar 2010

ATS releases new clinical policy statement on CCHS

The American Thoracic Society has released a new official clinical policy statement on congenital central hypoventilation syndrome (CCHS), a disorder of respiratory and autonomic nervous system (ANS) regulation. The ANS regulates reflexive acts, including heart rate and blood pressure, digestion, body temperature and pain perception.

15 Mar 2010

Children with chronic illness more likely to develop H1N1 influenza: Study

As critical care professionals develop a better understanding of the progression of H1N1, they are becoming better prepared to treat children with severe cases, according to a new study that will be published in the March issue of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine (PCCM).

12 Mar 2010

New anti-tumour vaccine for mesothelioma shows promising results

A vaccine against mesothelioma, a cancer associated with exposure to asbestos, has shown early promise in its first clinical trial.

5 Mar 2010

LEO Pharma gains access to Intomics’ biological data analysis expertises

Today, Intomics A/S and LEO Pharma A/S announced a collaboration under which LEO Pharma gains access to Intomics’ unique biological data analysis expertises. The recently founded spin-off company from The Danish Technical University, Intomics, has methods and tools for use in LEO Pharma’s early drug discovery.

5 Mar 2010

UC researchers find CT scan screening of non-smoking women is cost-effective

Researchers at the University of Cincinnati have found that it is cost-effective to do CT scan screening of non-smoking women, ages 25-54, who come to the emergency room for the first time with a collapsed lung in order to diagnose and treat those with lymphangioleiomyomatosis, or LAM.

5 Mar 2010

Using high-resolution CT-scans to screen for LAM is cost-effective in non-smoking women

Researchers at the University of Cincinnati have found that using high-resolution CT-scans to screen for lymphangioleiomyomatosis, or LAM, is cost-effective in non-smoking women between 25 and 54 who come to the emergency room for the first time with a collapsed lung.

4 Mar 2010

University of Michigan's cardiac surgeon receives Nina Starr Braunwald award

The research foundation of the nation's largest group of thoracic surgeons has awarded University of Michigan's Jennifer C. Hirsch, M.D., M.S., with the Nina Starr Braunwald award, a top award for women in cardiac surgery.

4 Mar 2010

Researchers demonstrate the safety of potential vaccine against mesothelioma

Researchers have demonstrated the safety of a potential vaccine against mesothelioma, a rare cancer associated primarily with asbestos exposure. The vaccine, which infuses uses a patient's own dendritic cells (DC) with antigen from the patient's tumor, was able to induce a T-cell response against mesothelioma tumors.

4 Mar 2010

Prolonged use of HRT may increase risk of lung cancer

Women aged 50 to 76 who take estrogen plus progestin may have an increased risk of lung cancer, according to a new study published in the pre-print online edition of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

4 Mar 2010

Study on impact of bystander CPR on pediatric cardiac arrest

Bystanders who perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on a child with cardiac arrest increase the child's likelihood of survival, according to the largest pediatric study to date. The outcomes are similar for both chest compression alone (hands-only) CPR and CPR with chest compression and rescue breathing.

3 Mar 2010

Royal Philips Electronics, Microsoft collaborate to improve Philips Healthcare's efficiency and productivity

Royal Philips Electronics today announced collaboration with Microsoft Corp. to build on Philips Healthcare's foundation of healthcare informatics and advanced clinical decision support offerings that drive efficiency and effectiveness at the point of care.

From Philips Healthcare 3 Mar 2010

Study: Patients with community-acquired pneumonia who develop AKI more likely to die after discharge

Patients hospitalized with even mild to moderate community-acquired pneumonia who develop acute kidney injury (AKI) are more likely to die after discharge than pneumonia patients whose kidneys remain healthy, according to a University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine study in the February issue of Kidney International.

3 Mar 2010

Body repairs itself through microvesicles: New hope for tissue regeneration

Researchers at Rhode Island Hospital have discovered how cells communicate with each other during times of cellular injury. The findings shed new light on how the body repairs itself when organs become diseased, through small particles known as microvesicles, and offers hope for tissue regeneration.

27 Feb 2010

CPF to partner with ATS to fund Pulmonary Fibrosis research

The Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis and the American Thoracic Society, the world's leading professional organization for pulmonary, critical care and sleep physicians, today announced that the CPF will again partner with the ATS to fund Pulmonary Fibrosis (PF) research.

26 Feb 2010