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Hysterectomy procedures will continue to decline due to advantages of less-invasive alternatives: MRG

According to Millennium Research Group (MRG), the global authority on medical technology market intelligence, hysterectomy procedures as a treatment for menorrhagia and uterine fibroids will continue to decline at a rate of three percent a year through 2015. This decline is due to the growing advantages of less-invasive alternatives, primarily global endometrial ablation (GEA), and uterine artery embolization (UAE).

27 May 2011

'Spongy' silicon biosensor shows promise for medical, security applications

Vanderbilt University engineers have created a "spongy" silicon biosensor that shows promise not only for medical diagnostics, but also for the detection of dangerous toxins and other tiny molecules in the environment.

27 May 2011

Sanofi-Aventis, Medtronic under scrutiny in press reports

ProPublica details alleged activities by Sanofi-Aventis to influence regulators regarding its brand-name blood thinner, Lovenox, while other news outlets report on Medtronic's activities related to a biological agent used in back surgery.

27 May 2011

Disparities based on race and ethnic origin exist in every aspect of stroke care

Disparities between racial/ethnic minorities and whites cross all aspects of stroke care, according to an American Heart Association/American Stroke Association scientific statement.

27 May 2011

NHLBI stops AIM-HIGH combination clinical trial in high blood cholesterol

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health has stopped a clinical trial studying a blood lipid treatment 18 months earlier than planned. The trial found that adding high dose, extended-release niacin to statin treatment in people with heart and vascular disease, did not reduce the risk of cardiovascular events, including heart attacks and stroke.

27 May 2011

Research provides new understanding of how heroin affects the brain

New research from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health suggests that our understanding of how heroin affects the brain should be changed. A new report shows that heroin is metabolised to 6-MAM which then crosses the blood-brain barrier to cause the intoxicating effects that arise shortly after heroin administration.

27 May 2011

Leukemia, psoriasis drugs may treat vascular diseases

A drug that has been on the market for decades to treat leukemia and skin disorders such as acne and psoriasis may be a possible therapy for vascular diseases, including atherosclerosis and hypertension, which can lead to heart attack or stroke.

27 May 2011

Two national campaigns aim to reduce spread of HIV, other sexually transmitted diseases

Greater Than AIDS and GYT: Get Yourself Tested, two leading national campaigns committed to reducing the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases, are teaming up for a second year to encourage Americans to get tested and know their status.

27 May 2011

Biosign to demonstrate latest generation medical measurement system at International MeMeA symposium

Biosign Technologies Inc. announced today that it will introduce its latest generation medical measurement system, the UFIT TEN-20, at the International Symposium on Medical Measurements and Applications, being held in Italy by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers on May 30-31, 2011. Dr Radu Leca, Biosign's CEO, will speak and demonstrate the system during the Plenary Session - Invited Lecture "Issues in Medical Measurement".

27 May 2011

Anti-M-llerian hormone levels predict menopausal age in women

The age-specific blood levels of the Anti-M-llerian hormone (AMH) can predict when women will reach menopause. This makes family planning easier, say fertility researchers from the University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands. Their findings were published online May 26 in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

27 May 2011

New biomaterial for repairing damaged human tissue doesn't wrinkle up when stretched

A new biomaterial designed for repairing damaged human tissue doesn't wrinkle up when it is stretched. The invention from nanoengineers at the University of California, San Diego marks a significant breakthrough in tissue engineering because it more closely mimics the properties of native human tissue.

27 May 2011

Tacrolimus prevents breast cancer growth in pre-clinical studies

Tacrolimus, a drug that is commonly used to prevent organ transplantation rejection, inhibits breast cancer growth in pre-clinical studies. The finding from UNC scientists was reported in the May 26th PLoS ONE.

27 May 2011

Abiraterone acetate effective for men with advanced prostate cancer

A drug recently approved by the Food & Drug Administration for the treatment of prostate cancer is proving to give some patients the gift of time. A new study shows abiraterone acetate extends the lives of men with the most advanced form of the disease by about four months.

27 May 2011

Omega-3 fatty acids reduce risk of heart attack in stent patients

Omega-3 fatty acids, combined with two blood-thinning drugs, significantly changed the blood-clotting process and may reduce the risk of heart attacks in patients with stents in their heart arteries, according to research reported in Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology: Journal of the American Heart Association.

27 May 2011

Long-term exposure to estrogen increases high blood pressure in women

For many years doctors believed the estrogen women consumed in the form of oral contraceptives and hormone replacement therapy pills was good for their patients' hearts. Recent studies however have shown that long-term exposure to estrogen can be a danger to women as it has been associated with high blood pressure, a key link to heart- and brain-attacks.

27 May 2011