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Tel Aviv researchers develop innovative software to analyze and manipulate diseased cells

About ten years ago, the discovery of microRNAs ― tiny cellular molecules that regulate our genetic code ― unlocked a world of scientific possibilities, including a deeper understanding of human disease. One new analytical technology is "deep sequencing," which gives scientists the ability to discover invaluable information about human diseases at a genetic level.

28 Sep 2010

Study investigates link between cough and reflux events using sound recording device

Coughing episodes are closely related to gastroesophageal reflux symptoms in patients who experience chronic cough, irrespective of other diagnoses, according to a new study in Gastroenterology, the official journal of the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Institute.

28 Sep 2010

Higher education levels increases need for symptomatic control of Parkinson's disease

Individuals who have higher levels of education and who are more impaired by Parkinson's disease appear to require treatment for their symptoms earlier than do other patients, according to a report posted online today that will appear in the September print issue of Archives of Neurology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

28 Sep 2010

Michael J. Fox Foundation launches PPMI clinical study to identify Parkinson's disease biomarkers

The Michael J. Fox Foundation has launched the Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI), the first ever large scale clinical study exclusively focused on identifying and validating Parkinson's disease biomarkers.

28 Sep 2010

Chem Rx reaches asset purchase agreement with PharMerica

Chem Rx Corporation, the third largest long-term care pharmacy in the United States, today announced that it has reached a "stalking horse" asset purchase agreement to sell substantially all of the assets of the company to PharMerica Corporation, an industry-leading pharmaceutical services company serving residents in long-term facilities and settings.

27 Sep 2010

Researchers synthesize molecule to block abnormal protein in cancer cells

In the quest to arrest the growth and spread of tumors, there have been many attempts to get cancer genes to ignore their internal instruction manual. In a new study, a team led by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute scientists has created the first molecule able to prevent cancer genes from "hearing" those instructions, stifling the cancer process at its root.

27 Sep 2010

Endothelial progenitor cells predict metastatic disease in children with cancer: Study

Endothelial progenitor cells may play a role in the start and progression of metastatic disease in children with cancer, according to study results published in Clinical Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.

27 Sep 2010

Politics and health care: Poll finds 'many' want more government as money pours into some campaigns

A new AP poll finds that Americans who think the law should have done more outnumber those who think the government should stay out of health care by 2-to-1. The poll found that about four in 10 adults think the new law did not go far enough to change the health care system, regardless of whether they support the law, oppose it or remain neutral.

27 Sep 2010

FDA, European regulators restrict Avandia use

The Food and Drug Administration and European regulators said they were taking action on Avandia, made by GlaxoSmithKline PLC, because of data tying it to increased risk of heart attacks.

27 Sep 2010

Calcitonin combination therapy may help treat osteoarthritis: Study

Tarsa Therapeutics, Inc. and Unigene Laboratories, Inc. today reported preclinical data showing that calcitonin may have synergistic effects in combination with other drugs in reducing the collagen degradation associated with osteoarthritis.

27 Sep 2010

Stirling Products’ drug delivery technology interests big ‘pharma’

Healthcare group, Stirling Products Limited (ASX:STI) has advised that following the recent TeleMedCare e-health acquisition and the conditional addition of the recently announced pathology business (subject to due diligence completion and shareholder approval), the Company is now in process of its strategised business integration.

26 Sep 2010

The House approves six health-related measures, including legislation related to the disposal of unused prescription drugs

The Hill's Healthwatch Blog: "The House passed six health-related bills Wednesday evening, including efforts to combat Medicare fraud and dispose of unused prescription drugs." The measures were approved under suspension of the rules, "an expedited procedure that only allows for 40 minutes of debate followed by a voice vote."

24 Sep 2010

Premium rates may skyrocket for many Medicare drug plans

The Associated Press: "A new analysis of government data finds that premiums will go up an average of 10 percent among the top plans that have signed up some 70 percent of seniors. That's according to Avalere Health, a private research firm that crunched the numbers. Marketing for next year's drug plans gets under way Oct. 1, and seniors will see some of the biggest changes since the Medicare prescription benefit became available in 2006. More than 17 million are enrolled in private drug plans offered through Medicare."

24 Sep 2010

Research Roundup: Medical homes; Drug samples and prescribing; The health law and disparities; Women's health; CBO projections

Institute of Medicine: Women's Health Research: Progress, Pitfalls, and Promise -"Substantial progress has been made since the expansion of investment in women's health research. Research findings have changed the practice of medicine and public-health recommendations in several prominent contexts, including changes in standards of care for women. There have also been decreases in mortality in women from breast cancer, heart disease, and cervical cancer. In other contexts, however, there has been less progress..."

24 Sep 2010

Health Council of Canada applauds Nova Scotia for initiative towards ensuring low drug prices

The Health Council of Canada applauds the Nova Scotia Department of Health for their steps towards ensuring low drug prices in their province. The plan includes meeting with groups, such as community pharmacies, doctors, medical staff at health authorities, senior groups and drug manufacturers for input on how to lower prices for prescription drugs and contain drug costs.

24 Sep 2010

Concerted effort yields significant progress in reducing depression, HIV/AIDS, and osteoporosis in women

A concerted effort to boost research on women's health over the last two decades has lessened the burden of disease and reduced deaths among women due to cardiovascular disease, breast cancer, and cervical cancer, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine. The effort has yielded less but still significant progress in reducing the effects of depression, HIV/AIDS, and osteoporosis on women, added the committee that wrote the report.

24 Sep 2010

Global leaders announce new commitments to accelerate progress towards ending malaria deaths

Prominent leaders in global health and development joined several African heads of state at UN Headquarters today to announce new commitments to accelerate progress toward ending deaths from malaria, a disease that claims the lives of more than 850,000 Africans each year.

24 Sep 2010

L'Albufera Natural Park's irrigation channels contain cocaine, ecstasy

The water in the canals and irrigation channels in the L'Albufera Natural Park in Valencia contain cocaine, ecstasy and a further six drugs. This has been confirmed by a study carried out by researchers from the University of Valencia (UV), who have issued a warning about the continued presence of these substances on wildlife and human health.

24 Sep 2010

Legislation to help speed research for cystic fibrosis and other rare diseases

Today the U.S. House of Representatives passed the "Improving Access to Clinical Trials Act" (I-ACT), in a victory for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, its advocates and 120 other health advocacy organizations.

24 Sep 2010

Pharmaceutical manufacturers to provide 50% discount on brand-name prescription drugs

Vice President Joe Biden, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today announced that the nation's pharmaceutical manufacturers will provide 50 percent discounts on the cost of covered brand-name prescription drugs for beneficiaries in the Medicare Part D coverage gap, or donut hole, starting in 2011.

24 Sep 2010

Drugs News and Research

Tel Aviv researchers develop innovative software to analyze and manipulate diseased cells

Study investigates link between cough and reflux events using sound recording device

Higher education levels increases need for symptomatic control of Parkinson's disease

Michael J. Fox Foundation launches PPMI clinical study to identify Parkinson's disease biomarkers

Chem Rx reaches asset purchase agreement with PharMerica

Researchers synthesize molecule to block abnormal protein in cancer cells

Endothelial progenitor cells predict metastatic disease in children with cancer: Study

Politics and health care: Poll finds 'many' want more government as money pours into some campaigns

FDA, European regulators restrict Avandia use

Calcitonin combination therapy may help treat osteoarthritis: Study

Stirling Products’ drug delivery technology interests big ‘pharma’

The House approves six health-related measures, including legislation related to the disposal of unused prescription drugs

Premium rates may skyrocket for many Medicare drug plans

Research Roundup: Medical homes; Drug samples and prescribing; The health law and disparities; Women's health; CBO projections

Health Council of Canada applauds Nova Scotia for initiative towards ensuring low drug prices

Concerted effort yields significant progress in reducing depression, HIV/AIDS, and osteoporosis in women

Global leaders announce new commitments to accelerate progress towards ending malaria deaths

L'Albufera Natural Park's irrigation channels contain cocaine, ecstasy

Legislation to help speed research for cystic fibrosis and other rare diseases

Pharmaceutical manufacturers to provide 50% discount on brand-name prescription drugs

Industry Focus eBook - Cell & Gene Therapy (1st Edition) eBook

Bringing real-time analytics to downstream bioprocess monitoring

Designing fluidic architecture for scalable diagnostic platforms

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

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