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Researchers: Breast cancer prevention and treatment protocols not always clear

The New York Times writes about the frequent inaccuracy of a test to detect certain proteins in breast tumors, which determines whether the patient will get Herceptin, a potent breast cancer treatment. "Drugs aimed at disabling proteins that spur cancer are, many oncologists say, the future of cancer therapies.

21 Apr 2010

Acorda Therapeutics to initiate Phase 1 clinical trial of GGF2 for heart failure in mid-2010

Acorda Therapeutics, Inc. today announced plans to initiate a Phase 1 single-dose clinical trial of the Company's compound, Glial Growth Factor 2 (GGF2), in patients with heart failure in mid-2010, based on an IND filed with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on March 19, 2010. GGF2 has been shown to protect heart muscle and restore cardiac function in preclinical models of heart failure, myocardial infarction and cardiotoxicity.

20 Apr 2010

Genetic defect in protein glycogenin can lead to cardiac arrest

Researchers have discovered a new disorder linked to heart problems that stems from a genetic defect in the protein glycogenin. In a worst case scenario, disruption of this protein's function can lead to cardiac arrest, which is exactly what happened to the young man whose case triggered the investigation at Sahlgrenska University Hospital at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, that led to a brand new diagnosis.

20 Apr 2010

Blood test to determine inflammation levels in body may help assess colon cancer risk: Study

A blood test used to determine the level of inflammation in the body may offer some help in assessing colon cancer risk, according to results of a study to be presented by Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center's Gong Yang, M.D., MPH, at the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research.

20 Apr 2010

Gamma-prime fibrinogen test can help better predict people at risk for heart attack

A simple blood test can identify people who are at risk for a heart attack, including thousands who don't have high cholesterol, according to researchers at Oregon Health & Science University.

20 Apr 2010

EHSI incorporates outpatient treatment options into MedAnywhere HHC Module

Emerging Healthcare Solutions, Inc. revealed today that they are working to incorporate outpatient treatment options into the new MedAnywhere medical iPhone app and that the first module to be added to development will be for cost saving Hemochromatosis management.

20 Apr 2010

Magnetically guided nanoparticles for delivering DNA, cells and drugs

Scientists and engineers have used uniform magnetic fields to drive iron-bearing nanoparticles to metal stents in injured blood vessels, where the particles deliver a drug payload that successfully prevents blockages in those vessels. In this animal study, the novel technique achieved better results at a lower dose than conventional non-magnetic stent therapy.

20 Apr 2010

Patel trial testimony by anesthetist: bleeding and kidney damage may have led to early death

In the Jayant Patel manslaughter case new testimony has surfaced. Dr. Patel has been accused of causing the deaths of three Queensland patients and permanently injuring another when he performed operations as director of surgery at the Bundaberg Base Hospital between 2003 and 2005. He had pleaded not guilty.

20 Apr 2010

Statin use may increase risk of developing benign colorectal tumors: APC trial

Statins did not protect patients against colorectal adenomas, which are benign precursors of colorectal cancer, according to results of a secondary analysis of the Adenoma Prevention with Celecoxib trial. In a population at high-risk for developing these lesions, results of this analysis suggested statin use may increase the risk of developing benign colorectal tumors.

20 Apr 2010

Positive data from NewLink Genetics Phase1/2 study of HyperAcute-Lung cancer immunotherapy

NewLink Genetics Corporation announced today data from a Phase 1/2 study showing that patients with progressive advanced non-small cell lung cancer treated with its HyperAcute®-Lung cancer immunotherapy experienced favorable median survival. The data were presented at the 101st American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting.

20 Apr 2010

Homeopathy – Is it a safer and effective alternative?

Studies have shown that nearly 45% Britons rely on Homeopathy, a branch of medicine that has been doubted by many and loved by an equal number.

20 Apr 2010

Even modest weight loss brings many health benefits

There have been repeated warnings related to the growing obese and diabetes related population in Australia. Studies have shown that nearly 50% Australians are either obese or overweight and thus suffer from its ill effects like heart disease, high cholesterol and type II diabetes.

20 Apr 2010

Viral Genetics relocates research facilities to Georgetown

Biotech company Viral Genetics, Inc.,, is relocating its research facilities to the life science cluster in Georgetown, Texas. Lead scientist Dr. Karen Newell has joined the faculty of Texas A&M University's College of Medicine and has received a $750,000 grant to research bio-fuels from the Texas Emerging Technology Fund.

20 Apr 2010

Senate committee targets claim rejections by health insurers

The News Journal: A Senate committee has sent letters to two more Delaware insurance companies that have denied coverage for nuclear stress tests, imaging tests that are used to identify heart-attack causing arterial blockage.

20 Apr 2010

End-of-life care documentation helps in emergency treatment decisions

When Heather Rubesch was a teenager, her aunt died in need of a kidney transplant. In later family discussions, Heather's mother, Linda, expressed some of her views about end-of-life care—for instance, her belief in organ donation.

19 Apr 2010

New insights into yeast cells may help identify cancer cells and stem cells development: Study

Yeast cells decide whether to have sex with each other within two minutes of meeting, according to new research published today in Nature. One of the authors of the study, from Imperial College London, says the new insights into how yeast cells decide to mate could be helpful for researchers looking at how cancer cells and stem cells develop.

19 Apr 2010

Study shows ultrathin flexible implants can effectively record brain activity

Scientists have developed a brain implant that essentially melts into place, snugly fitting to the brain's surface. The technology could pave the way for better devices to monitor and control seizures, and to transmit signals from the brain past damaged parts of the spinal cord.

19 Apr 2010

Trans fats back on the agenda in UK

Dariush Mozzaffarian and Meir J Stamper, wrote an article in the British Medical Journal urging the government to ban industrial trans fatty acids or TFAs. This adds to the plea of doctors and medical charities across the country, who want to follow the example of Denmark and New York City where TFAs have been eradicated without affecting the price, taste or availability of products.

19 Apr 2010

Teen drinking increases the risk for breast cancer

What are the chances of you developing breast cancer if you have been drinking alcohol regularly as a teenager? Very high indeed as per the findings of a study called “Growing Up Today” conducted on 6,899 women from the time they were 9 to 15 year old till they turned 18 to 27 years old.

18 Apr 2010

Heart transplant patient skis to the North Pole

They made it! In what is believed to be a world-first, a heart transplant patient along with his transplant doctor skied over 100 miles, over ice, snow drifts, across open water, through gale-force winds and freezing temperatures to make it to the North Pole early Thursday morning.

17 Apr 2010