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No evidence on health benefits of oxygen inhalation during heart attack: Researchers

There is no evidence that the common practice of giving patients oxygen to inhale during a heart attack is beneficial, according to a new Cochrane Systematic Review. Until further research is carried out, the researchers say the possibility that giving oxygen may actually increase a patient's risk of dying cannot be ruled out.

17 Jun 2010

Implications for reducing clotting in kidney disease dialysis and sepsis

The interaction of the drug compstatin with two ancient, co-evolved human systems points to new ways for reducing clotting during dialysis for end-stage kidney disease and multiple organ failure due to sepsis, a dangerous whole-body inflammatory response to infection.

17 Jun 2010

dabl's computerised system prevents misdiagnosis of ABPM

An independent study has revealed that Irish Company, dabl's computerised system for diagnosing 24 hour blood pressure is more accurate and consistent than a leading group of international hypertension experts.

17 Jun 2010

Researchers assess effect of MDs on cardiac and endothelial cell proliferation, survival

A research team from McGill University (Canada) report a beneficial effect on cardiac function in mouse models when implanted monocytes - a type of white blood cell that is part of the immune system - helped preserve cardiac function following a heart attack (myocardial infarction).

17 Jun 2010

Alzheimer's disease may damage brain

Alzheimer's disease has long been studied primarily as a disease of neurons. But researchers have now shown how the disease may be damaging the brain by choking off blood flow. In experiments published June 10 in Neuron, scientists at Rockefeller University reveal that amyloid-β, which builds up around brain cells in Alzheimer's patients, interacts with a common blood clotting agent to increase clotting in the arteries that feed the brain.

17 Jun 2010

CINJ researchers combine series of vaccination injections to treat prostate cancer

Looking to harness the body's own immune system to target prostate cancer that has spread to the bones (metastatic) and is unresponsive to standard treatment, investigators at The Cancer Institute of New Jersey have just launched a clinical trial focusing on a combination of vaccine and radiation drug therapy.

17 Jun 2010

Studies suggest role for IL-10 in prevention and treatment of neurological disease in newborns

This bacterium, Escherichia coli K1, is the most common cause of meningitis in premature infants and the second most common cause of the disease in newborns. "The ineffectiveness of antibiotics in treating newborns with meningitis and the emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria require new strategies," explains Nemani V. Prasadarao, PhD, associate professor of infectious disease at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles.

17 Jun 2010

Experimental vaccine for Marburg hemorrhagic fever prevention shows promise for accidental exposures

An experimental vaccine developed to prevent outbreaks of Marburg hemorrhagic fever continues to show promise in monkeys as an emergency treatment for accidental exposures to the virus that causes the disease. There is no licensed treatment for Marburg infection, which has a high fatality rate.

17 Jun 2010

“Experiment” with homeopathy killed a cancer patient: Inquest

Doctor Peter Dingle at an inquest into the events that led to the death of his wife Penelope, 45 on 25th August 2005 revealed that he had argued with her decision to go for alternative therapies as her colorectal cancer treatment.

17 Jun 2010

Smokeless tobacco affects normal function of CYP-450 family of enzymes: Report

Far from having adverse effects limited to the mouth, smokeless tobacco affects the normal function of a key family of enzymes found in almost every organ in the body, according to the first report on the topic in ACS' monthly journal Chemical Research in Toxicology. The enzymes play important roles in production of hormones, including the sex hormones estrogen and testosterone; production of cholesterol and vitamin D; and help the body breakdown prescription drugs and potentially toxic substances.

17 Jun 2010

Research findings could lead to less invasive treatments for ALL

A team of researchers from the Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer of the Universit- de Montr-al have defined for the first time the mechanism behind three cancer-causing genes in acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Published in the journal Genes and Development, the findings offer insight on the complex interaction between the genes and their contributions to leukemia, thereby providing the foundation for the design of targeted therapies.

17 Jun 2010

New biomarker study explores early detection of ovarian cancer

Despite many research advances, ovarian cancer remains lethal in a majority of cases, due to late diagnosis of the disease. In a new study, Dr. Joshua LaBaer of the Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University, along with Arturo Ramirez and Paul Lampe, researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, used a novel method for identifying biomarkers-proteins in blood that can identify ovarian cancer before symptoms appear.

17 Jun 2010

AGA Medical commences enrollment in AMPLATZER Cardiac Plug clinical trial

AGA Medical Holdings, Inc. today announced first patient enrollment in the feasibility phase of the prospective, multicenter, randomized AMPLATZER® Cardiac Plug clinical trial. Dr. William Nicholson, an interventional cardiologist and structural heart specialist at York Hospital in Pennsylvania, enrolled the first patient.

16 Jun 2010

USPTO issues patent covering Probuphine for opiate addiction

Titan Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued patent number 7,736,665 covering Probuphine for the treatment of opiate addiction.

16 Jun 2010

Dietary guideline on sodium puts Americans at risk

The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture may increase health risks, including obesity, by ignoring sound science as they announce recommendations to reduce sodium consumption to 1,500 mg per day, says the Salt Institute.

16 Jun 2010

Management of cardiovascular risk associated with insulin resistance, diabetes, and the metabolic syndrome

Adi Mehta, MD stresses the growing severity of the metabolic syndrome in the May 2010 edition of Postgraduate Medicine. Metabolic syndrome often leads to cardiovascular disease (CVD) because of its key components: diabetes, dyslipidemia, and hypertension. With obesity maintaining its status as a huge problem worldwide, physicians must act as soon as possible when they recognize metabolic syndrome or any of its components.

16 Jun 2010

New perspectives in type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular risk, and treatment goals

An article published in the May 2010 issue of Postgraduate Medicine highlights the seriousness of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients with type 2 diabetes. Cardiovascular disease is the cause of death in > 65% of patients with diabetes, and when complicated by the presence of obesity, the lifetime risk of developing CVD increases to 90%. The inherent problem is that many of the antihyperglycemic medications used to combat high glycated hemoglobin are associated with weight gain and/or hypoglycemia, which negatively affect CVD.

16 Jun 2010

New independent study demonstrates clinical accuracy of Masimo noninvasive and continuous hemoglobin monitoring

Masimo, the inventor of Pulse CO-Oximetry™ and Measure-Through Motion and Low Perfusion pulse oximetry, announced today that a new independent study demonstrating the clinical accuracy of Masimo noninvasive and continuous hemoglobin (SpHb) monitoring was presented this week at the European Society of Anaesthesiology (ESA) Annual Congress in Helsinki, Finland.

16 Jun 2010

InfraReDx to demonstrate LipiScan coronary imaging system during CCC Symposium

InfraReDx, Inc., an innovative medical device company focused on developing novel diagnostic imaging technologies to accurately identify and characterize diseased tissues, today announced that its LipiScan Coronary Imaging System will be featured at the 13th Annual Live Symposium of Complex Coronary & Vascular Cases being held at The Mount Sinai Medical Center of New York, from June 16-19, 2010.

16 Jun 2010

AssureImmune merges with BCU

AssureImmune LLC, the premier family stem cell bank in the United States, today announced their merger with Banco de Cordón Umbilical, the largest cord blood bank in Latin America. This merger expands the Companies' global reach providing family stem cell banking services to North, Central and South America.

16 Jun 2010