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FDA approves treatment for adults with non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Cimzia (certolizumab pegol) injection for treatment of adults with a certain type of inflammatory arthritis called non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA), with objective signs of inflammation. This is the first time that the FDA has approved a treatment for nr-axSpA.

28 Mar 2019

Gene transfer technique can combat diabetes-linked heart dysfunction

Researchers with the VA San Diego Healthcare System and the University of California San Diego have shown that a gene transfer technique can combat heart dysfunction caused by diabetes.

28 Mar 2019

Episodes of psychosis linked to air pollution

A new study on teenagers living in England and Wales has found that psychotic experiences are becoming increasingly common due to exposure to pollution.

28 Mar 2019

Producing human protein in CHO-cells can eliminate the need for blood donors

Alpha-1-antitrypsin is a protein produced by the liver. The protein gets secreted to the blood stream, where it circulates the body to protect the lungs.

28 Mar 2019

Artificial placenta-based life support technology breaks its 4 minute mile

A major advancement in pioneering technology based around the use of an artificial womb to save extremely premature babies is being hailed as a medical and biotechnological breakthrough.

27 Mar 2019

Synthetic peptide appears to disrupt inflammation and protect kidneys from nephritis

A synthetic peptide appears to directly disrupt the destructive inflammation that occurs in nephritis, enabling the kidneys to better recover and maintain their important functions, investigators report.

25 Mar 2019

Anti-TB drugs can increase susceptibility to Mtb reinfection

Current treatments for tuberculosis are very effective in controlling TB infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. They don't, however, always prevent reinfection. Why this happens is one of the long-standing questions in TB research.

22 Mar 2019

Lian wins ENGINE grant for stem-cell-based therapy to treat Type 1 diabetes

Xiaojun "Lance" Lian, assistant professor of biomedical engineering, was one of three recipients of the College of Engineering's ENGineering for Innovation & Entrepreneurship grant for "Small Molecule-Based Definitive Endoderm Kit and Pancreatic Progenitor Kit for Stem Cell Research and Therapy."

22 Mar 2019

New device approved by FDA for treating patients with moderate-to-severe heart failure

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved the Optimizer Smart system for treating patients with chronic, moderate-to-severe heart failure who are not suited for treatment with other heart failure devices such as cardiac resynchronization therapy to restore a normal timing pattern of the heartbeat.

22 Mar 2019

Thermally abused cooking oil may promote progression of breast cancer

A new study in mice suggests that consuming the chemical compounds found in thermally abused cooking oil may trigger genetic changes that promote the progression of late-stage breast cancer.

22 Mar 2019

Combined glucocorticoid and antioxidant therapy could benefit premature babies

Scientists at the University of Cambridge have suggested that subtle changes to the drugs administered to mothers threatened with preterm birth or to premature babies could further improve clinical treatment and help increase their safety.

21 Mar 2019

King's scientists to monitor air quality exposure of 250 children

A new study by King's scientists will monitor air quality exposure of 250 children on their way to school and in the classroom. The announcement was made today at Haimo Primary School in Greenwich by the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, who is funding the study.

19 Mar 2019

Cholesterol lowering drug can also help treat cancer-associated cachexia

Brazilian researchers have discovered that a drug regularly prescribed to control cholesterol can also be used to treat cachexia, or wasting syndrome, a condition characterized by rapid weight loss and muscle atrophy associated with extreme physical weakness.

19 Mar 2019

Novel cardiac pump shows superior outcomes in patients with advanced heart failure

Severely ill patients with advanced heart failure who received a novel heart pump—the HeartMate 3 left ventricular assist device— suffered significantly fewer strokes, pump-related blood clots and bleeding episodes after two years, compared with similar patients who received an older, more established pump, according to research presented at the American College of Cardiology's 68th Annual Scientific Session.

18 Mar 2019

CardioMEMS heart failure sensor reliably safe, effectively reduces hospitalizations

In the year following placement of a CardioMEMS heart failure sensor—designed to wirelessly measure and monitor pulmonary artery pressures that can signal worsening heart failure—patients experienced a 58 percent reduction in hospitalization for heart failure, according to research presented at the American College of Cardiology's 68th Annual Scientific Session. Reductions in hospitalizations were seen in both men and women, across all ejection fraction ranges and regardless of race.

18 Mar 2019