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Ciprofloxacin use is major contributor to MRSA spread in hospitals

The use of a commonly prescribed antibiotic is a major contributor to the spread of infection in hospitals by the 'superbug' MRSA, according to new research. The study also found that increasing measures to prevent infection - such as improved hygiene and hand washing - appeared to have only a small effect on reducing MRSA infection rates during the period studied.

21 Sep 2012

MD Anderson introduces Moon Shots Program to reduce cancer deaths

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center announces the launch of the Moon Shots Program, an unprecedented effort to dramatically accelerate the pace of converting scientific discoveries into clinical advances that reduce cancer deaths.

21 Sep 2012

Caltech biologists gain new insight into migrating cells

At any given moment, millions of cells are on the move in the human body, typically on their way to aid in immune response, make repairs, or provide some other benefit to the structures around them. When the migration process goes wrong, however, the results can include tumor formation and metastatic cancer. Little has been known about how cell migration actually works, but now, with the help of some tiny worms, researchers at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) have gained new insight into this highly complex task.

21 Sep 2012

Study identifies factors that contribute to solid stress within tumors

It's a high-pressure environment within solid tumors. Abnormal blood and lymphatic vessels cause fluids to accumulate, and the uncontrolled proliferation of cancer cells within limited space leads to the buildup of what is called solid stress.

21 Sep 2012

Research focuses on HER2 cancers

As scientists continue to map breast cancer's complex genetic makeup, research at Michigan State University could lead to better diagnoses and new treatment targets.

21 Sep 2012

First extensive analysis of Allen Human Brain Atlas

Scientists at the Allen Institute for Brain Science reported in the latest issue of the journal Nature that human brains share a consistent genetic blueprint and possess enormous biochemical complexity. The findings stem from the first deep and large-scale analysis of the vast data set publicly available in the Allen Human Brain Atlas.

21 Sep 2012

First phase of Global Fund-managed AMFm shows success in bringing malaria drugs to clinics

The Affordable Medicines Facility-malaria (AMFm) -- an innovative financing mechanism that subsidizes the cost of artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) in order to expand access to the most effective treatment for malaria -- "brought more than 100 million doses of malaria drugs to clinics and pharmacies in 2011" and "also increased access to the top malaria medicines by 26 to 52 percent in six countries."

21 Sep 2012

St. Jude Medical’s Eon family of neurostimulators receives European CE Mark approval

St. Jude Medical, Inc., a global medical device company, today announced it has received European CE Mark approval of its Eon family of neurostimulators for patients with intractable chronic migraine. Unveiled at the European Headache and Migraine Trust International Congress in London, this approval includes the Eon Mini neurostimulator, which is the world's smallest rechargeable neurostimulator with the longest-lasting battery in its class, and the Eon and EonC neurostimulators.

21 Sep 2012

Positive results from Galleon GAL-021 second Phase I study on respiratory depression

Galleon Pharmaceuticals, a leader in the development of novel medicines to treat breathing control disorders, today announced that results from a second Phase I clinical study of its investigational drug GAL-021 confirmed previous findings that the drug has dose-dependent effects on respiration.

21 Sep 2012

Researchers use nanoparticles to deliver drugs to mitochondria within cells

Nanoparticles have shown great promise in the targeted delivery of drugs to cells, but researchers at the University of Georgia have refined the drug delivery process further by using nanoparticles to deliver drugs to a specific organelle within cells.

21 Sep 2012

Statin effect on thrombosis not so positive

Statins may not prevent venous thromboembolic events despite previous research suggesting otherwise, say researchers.

20 Sep 2012

'Greater commitment' needed to fight NTDs

In a guest post on USAID's "IMPACT Blog," Rachel Cohen, regional executive director of DNDi North America, writes, "The United States government and its country partners should be commended for the tremendous achievements in the fight against neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) as part of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) NTD Program" and the National Institutes of Health.

20 Sep 2012

Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics' 2012 symposium be held from Oct. 16-17

The Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics' 7th Annual International Symposium (ITMAT) will be held October 16 and 17 at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania.

20 Sep 2012

PNAS: Ras proteins bring tension to the phosphate chain

Proteins accelerate certain chemical reactions in cells by several orders of magnitude. The molecular mechanism by which the Ras protein accelerates the cleavage of the molecule GTP and thus slows cell growth is described by biophysicists at the Ruhr-Universit-t Bochum led by Prof. Dr. Klaus Gerwert in the Online Early Edition of the journal PNAS.

20 Sep 2012

Views on obesity: Difficulty changing eating habits; Huge changes in the food marketplace

The New York Times and the Journal of the American Medical Association offer opinions on the U.S. battle against obesity.

20 Sep 2012

Therapeutic video games can show health-related benefits

Can video games help patients with cancer, diabetes, asthma, depression, autism and Parkinson's disease? A new publication by researchers from the University of Utah, appearing in the Sept 19 issue of the journal Science Translational Medicine, indicates video games can be therapeutic and are already beginning to show health-related benefits.

20 Sep 2012

FDA Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee to review Celgene’s pomalidomide NDA on Nov. 8

Celgene Corporation today announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee will hold a review of the Company's new drug application (NDA) for pomalidomide at its meeting on November 8, 2012.

20 Sep 2012

Complete story behind connection between XMRV virus and prostate cancer

A once-promising discovery linking prostate cancer to an obscure retrovirus derived from mice was the result of an inadvertent laboratory contamination, a forensic analysis of tissue samples and lab experiments - some dating back nearly a decade - has confirmed.

20 Sep 2012

FDA warns consumers not to use Intestinomicina for treatment of infectious diarrhea

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers not to use Intestinomicina, a drug product manufactured in El Salvador and marketed as a treatment for infectious diarrhea and acute gastrointestinal infections.

19 Sep 2012

IOM report: Military needs to do more to treat, prevent drug and alcohol abuse

The Institute of Medicine found that the military's programs don't keep up with standard medical practices used in civilian life and that health care providers aren't adequately trained at all levels.

19 Sep 2012