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Genetics of alcoholism

While both environmental and genetic factors contribute to the risk of developing alcohol dependence, it is believed to be a largely heritable – 52 to 64 percent – disease.

24 Oct 2007

Affymetrix files more patent infringements against Illumina in U.S. and Europe

Affymetrix Inc. has announced that it has filed additional patent infringement lawsuits against Illumina Inc. in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, in the U.K. High Court of Justice, Chancery Division, Patents Court and in the German, Düsseldorf Regional Court, Patent Division. Affymetrix is seeking all available remedies, including injunctive relief.

From Illumina, Inc. 24 Oct 2007

Simple blood test may accurately detect thoracic aneurysm disease

Yale scientists have discovered a way to use a simple blood test that may accurately detect thoracic aneurysm disease (TAA), which gives little warning and is almost always fatal if untreated.

24 Oct 2007

WHO aims to improve injection safety across the globe

In an effort to improve injection safety across the globe, the World Health Organization (WHO) has began a 3-day meeting with experts to explore strategies aimed at promoting the use of safer needles.

24 Oct 2007

Shock-proof blood pressure meter

Blood pressure meters are more sensitive than you might think. Dropping them damages their mechanics and often leads to false readings.

24 Oct 2007

Influenza vaccine production capacity on the rise

Recent scientific advances and increased vaccine manufacturing capacity have prompted experts to increase their projections of how many pandemic influenza vaccine courses can be made available in the coming years.

24 Oct 2007

Incisionless surgery for acid reflux disease

Surgeons at the Ohio State University Medical Center have performed the first incisionless operations in the United States using a device recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration to stop gastroesophageal reflux disease.

24 Oct 2007

In the event of a bird flu pandemic more vaccine will be ready

The World Health Organization (WHO) has revised it's estimate of how much bird flu vaccine could be available were a pandemic scenario to unfold.

24 Oct 2007

Advances in drug screening

With the discovery of suitable molecular targets - cellular molecules along pathways crucial for sustaining the life of cancer cells - comes the perplexing dilemma of where to find the next therapeutics that will bind to and disable those targets.

23 Oct 2007

New polymer for use in joint reconstruction

Researchers in the Campbell Clinic Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis, Tennessee, presented a paper that indicates a new polymer under study for applications in joint reconstruction can significantly reduce up to seven times the harmful chemicals formed as a result of the presence of wear particle debris in the body.

22 Oct 2007

Novel therapeutic device captures and treats cells as they flow through the blood stream

MIT and University of Rochester researchers report important advances toward a therapeutic device that has the potential to capture cells as they flow through the blood stream and treat them.

22 Oct 2007

Microbix Biosystems granted U.S. patent for its influenza vaccine

Microbix Biosystems Inc. has been granted a patent by the U.S. Patent Office for its technology - VIRUSMAX - which enables vaccine manufacturers to double the amount of influenza vaccine they produce each year.

22 Oct 2007

New autism genetic data released by Johns Hopkins

Researchers at Johns Hopkins' McKusick-Nathans Institute of Genetic Medicine today are releasing newly generated genetic data to help speed autism research.

22 Oct 2007

Errors by hospital residents often down to poor teamwork, communication

Physicians-in-training are highly vulnerable to making medical errors that stem from teamwork breakdowns, especially a lack of supervision by experienced staff, according to a new study funded by HHS' Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

22 Oct 2007

New genetic and phenotypic data involved in autism released to researchers worldwide

The Autism Consortium, a group of researchers, clinicians and families dedicated to radically accelerating research and enhancing clinical care for autism, announced today that it has completed the first genome scan for Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) through its Autism Gene Discovery Project and has released the reference data set to a database that autism researchers around the world can use.

22 Oct 2007

Six Sigma practices may provide significant benefits for hospitals

Although Six Sigma practices are widely used in the manufacturing industry, the performance improvement system also may provide significant benefits for hospitals, medical professionals, and patients.

22 Oct 2007

Syngenta licenses chromatin gene stacking technology

Syngenta Biotechnology Inc. has announced that it has entered into a research and commercial license agreement for Chromatin's proprietary gene stacking technology.

22 Oct 2007

Discovery of two genes linked to a disabling form of arthritis called ankylosing spondylitis

An international team of researchers led by a Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center geneticist has discovered two genes linked to a disabling form of arthritis called ankylosing spondylitis, a painful and progressive disease in which some or all of the spine's vertebrae fuse together.

22 Oct 2007

Fight against HIV needs local scientists

Scientists from developing countries are vitally important in the fight against HIV and they must be given the proper resources to conduct their work, according to a new commentary published today in the journal Nature Immunology.

22 Oct 2007

Experts warn women about experimental fertility options

The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) has warned women that two experimental fertility procedures currently being offered remain unproven.

22 Oct 2007