Asthma News and Research

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Asthma is a common inflammatory disease affecting the airways that leads to shortness of breath, coughing and wheezing. Symptoms range from mild to severe but are generally manageable with appropriate treatment.

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

PGIC analysis indicates tapentadol ER tablets provide significant improvement in pain intensity

Phase 3 safety and efficacy data comparing tapentadol extended release (ER) tablets, an investigational pain medication, to placebo in patients with moderate to severe chronic low back pain have been published online by Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy. In addition, this study compared oxycodone controlled-release (CR) to placebo as an active control.

28 Sep 2010

Study: Genetic ancestry has no influence on how African-Americans with asthma respond to medication

Genetic ancestry has no discernible influence on how African American patients with asthma respond to medication, according to a Henry Ford Hospital study.

28 Sep 2010

Amira submits IND application for AM152 antagonist

Amira Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today that it has submitted an Investigational New Drug (IND) application to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for AM152, a novel LPA1 antagonist. If accepted, the IND will enable Amira to begin Phase 1 safety studies with the compound in healthy subjects.

28 Sep 2010

MediciNova receives FDA approval to proceed with initial trial of ibudilast

MediciNova Inc, a biopharmaceutical company publicly traded on the NASDAQ Global Market and the Hercules Market of the Osaka Securities Exchange (Code Number:4875), today reported FDA's approval to proceed with an initial trial of the company's neurological drug candidate, ibudilast (MN-166/AV411), as a potential new pharmacotherapy for methamphetamine addiction.

27 Sep 2010

The Children's Hospital, Denver Health sign Affiliation Agreement to care for children of all ages

The Children's Hospital and Denver Health have signed an official Affiliation Agreement to leverage the substantial strengths of both institutions to provide outstanding programs in pediatric patient care, education, research and advocacy. Under the agreement, two of the largest pediatric health care providers in the region are able to provide improved access for patients, share best practices and more efficiently use resources.

27 Sep 2010

Study shows regadenoson is safe and effective for chronic lung disease

Patients at risk of coronary disease who have reactive airways may breathe easier thanks to new data released today at the 15th Annual Scientific Session of the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology. A new study shows that regadenoson may be safely tolerated by patients with chronic lung disease, providing an alternative to adenosine, which is known to induce brochoconstriction in some patients.

27 Sep 2010

Clinical Data announces Stedivaze agonist data at ASNC2010 meeting

Clinical Data, Inc., today presented data from Phase I studies of Stedivaze (apadenoson), which demonstrated overall safety and tolerability in patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

27 Sep 2010

Astellas Pharma announces Phase IV study results of Lexiscan injection at ASNC session

Today Astellas Pharma US, Inc. announced results of a Phase IV study showing Lexiscan(regadenoson) Injection was comparable to placebo in causing a >15% decrease in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) in subjects with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who are likely candidates for myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) studies.

27 Sep 2010

Dual eligible patients more likely to be hospitalized than Medicare beneficiaries: AHRQ

Americans who were eligible for coverage under both Medicare and Medicaid in 2008 were hospitalized for bed sores, asthma and diabetes at more than twice the rate of other Medicare beneficiaries, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

27 Sep 2010

Victorian health report card

Results from the 2008 Victorian Population Health Survey of more than 34,000 people are out. Broadly the picture is not too pleasing with signs of poor health like weight gain and disease. People are eating less fruit and vegetables, but smoking is down and asthma is less prevalent than it was earlier in the decade.

26 Sep 2010

Progress in realizing potential of satellite measurements of air pollution

In many developing countries, the absence of surface-based air pollution sensors makes it difficult, and in some cases impossible, to get even a rough estimate of the abundance of a subcategory of airborne particles that epidemiologists suspect contributes to millions of premature deaths each year. The problematic particles, called fine particulate matter (PM2.5), are 2.5 micrometers or less in diameter, about a tenth the fraction of human hair. These small particles can get past the body's normal defenses and penetrate deep into the lungs.

24 Sep 2010

Comic books to educate young men about testicular cancer

Comic books may help to educate young men and their partners about testicular cancer and its early symptoms and encourage them to do more self-screening, according to Ryerson University School of Fashion professor and comic book artist David Brame.

24 Sep 2010

Technologic innovation — Telephones! — could save health system money

Health-coaching more patients over the phone could help save the system money according to a study published Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine and noticed by the Wall Street Journal's Health Blog. "Typically this kind of care management, as it's called, is offered to people who have trouble managing their chronic conditions or who are facing a big treatment decision — such as surgery or medical management for lower back pain.

24 Sep 2010

Asthma linked to seven genetic variants: Study

In a new study seven genes linked to asthma have been discovered. For the research genetic variations of 10,365 people with asthma and 16,110 people without the condition was studied. The variants identified showed an association with childhood asthma and some were also associated with later-onset asthma.

24 Sep 2010

Pet dog decreases risk of obesity in kids: Study

According to the latest research in England, children who have a dog for a pet are less likely to be obese. Children who are obese in childhood are at increased risk of developing a range of chronic health problems such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, bone and joint problems, asthma, disrupted sleep patterns, liver and gall bladder disease, early physical maturity and depression.

23 Sep 2010

Phase II study: Fostamatinib improves outcomes in RA patients

AstraZeneca's new oral syk inhibitor, fostamatinib (R788), recently in-licensed from Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc., significantly improved outcomes of patients with rheumatoid arthritis who responded inadequately to ongoing treatment with methotrexate, according to phase II study data published in The New England Journal of Medicine today.

23 Sep 2010

Merck expands patient assistance programs to provide medicines to needy people

Today, Merck announced that it has significantly expanded the number of Merck medicines available through its Merck Helps patient assistance programs, which include the Merck Patient Assistance Program, the Merck Vaccine Patient Assistance Program, the ACT Program for Oncology and Hepatitis C medicines, and the SUPPORT Program for HIV/AIDS medicines.

23 Sep 2010

Scientists identify genetic variants that increase asthma susceptibility

An international study looking at DNA from over 26,000 people has identified several genetic variants that substantially increase susceptibility to asthma in the population. The findings, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, will help scientists to focus their efforts to develop better therapies for the illness.

23 Sep 2010

Evotec AG collaborates with Almirall for ion channel validation in respiratory diseases

Evotec AG today announced that it has entered into a collaboration with Almirall S.A. to identify small molecule modulators of an ion channel target, selected by Almirall, involved in respiratory diseases.

23 Sep 2010