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Vitamin D supplements may aid in treating cancer

The findings support the growing association between vitamin D and cancer risk and outcomes, and suggest that vitamin D supplements might help even those patients already diagnosed with some forms of cancer, says Dr. Drake.

7 Dec 2009

Updated safety data from Phase 2b 003-A1 study of carfilzomib announced

Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced updated safety data from the pivotal Phase 2b 003-A1 study, known as the 003 trial, demonstrating that carfilzomib is well-tolerated in heavily pre-treated relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma patients.

7 Dec 2009

Study finds substantial variation in hydroxyurea utilization for sickle cell disease

A new study by researchers from the Medical College of Wisconsin, in Milwaukee, found a substantial variation in hydroxyurea utilization for pain and other sickle cell disease complications in children.

7 Dec 2009

New findings may yield more effective therapies for infants with blood cancer

Pediatric oncologists have identified specific genes, dubbed partner genes, that fuse with another gene to drive an often-fatal form of leukemia in infants. By more accurately defining specific partner genes, researchers expect to better predict which infants may benefit from particular treatments.

7 Dec 2009

ImmunoGen reports encouraging clinical data of IMGN901

ImmunoGen, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company that develops targeted anticancer therapeutics, today reported encouraging clinical data with its IMGN901 product candidate in the treatment of relapsed and relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (MM), including prolonged benefit in patients whose disease had progressed on multiple prior treatment regimens.

6 Dec 2009

Study explains how circadian rhythms can drive feeding and metabolism behaviors

One of the pioneers in research on sleep:wake circadian genes, Amita Sehgal, Ph.D., has discovered that fruit flies' appetite and consumption are controlled by two rival sets of clocks, one in neurons and the other in the fly fat body, which is analogous to the liver.

6 Dec 2009

Positive final data from Phase 2 study of ISTODAX presented

Gloucester Pharmaceuticals announced today the presentation of positive final data from a Phase 2 study of ISTODAX® (romidepsin) in peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) conducted by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) at the 51st American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting being held in New Orleans, LA.

6 Dec 2009

Stem cell treatment: A new hope for Multiple Sclerosis

RNL Bio Co., Ltd, (www.rnl.co.kr) a leading biopharmaceutical company specialized in adult stem cell therapeutics announced today that a 46-year-old female, Kang Sook Park's Multiple Sclerosis improved tremendously after receiving stem cell treatment. Park was suffering from MS (Multiple Sclerosis), an autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord).

6 Dec 2009

Bortezomib can improve control of GVHD and immune system recovery

A drug that has become a mainstay of multiple myeloma treatment may outperform alternative therapies in re-establishing the immune system of patients who have received stem cell transplants from unrelated, partially matched donors, according to early clinical trial results to be presented by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute investigators at the American Society of Hematology's (ASH) annual meeting on Sunday, Dec. 6 (Abstract 48, Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, Room 243-245, 5:45 pm CT).

6 Dec 2009

New treatment options for leukemia and myeloproliferative disorders introduced

Leukemia and myeloproliferative disorders are serious and often deadly blood cancers. Research presented today at the 51st Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology introduces potential new treatment options and improved diagnostic methods for patients suffering from acute promyelocytic leukemia, chronic myeloid leukemia, infant acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and myelofibrosis that are based on a better understanding of the underlying genetic causes of these conditions.

6 Dec 2009

Health experts available to discuss health care reform

Edward D. Miller was named chief executive officer of Johns Hopkins Medicine, the 13th dean of The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and vice president for medicine of The Johns Hopkins University in January 1997.

5 Dec 2009

Critical enzyme activity provides new insight into heart disease mechanisms

Using a new mathematical model of heart cells, University of Iowa investigators have shown how activation of a critical enzyme, calmodulin kinase II (CaM kinase), disrupts the electrical activity of heart cells.

5 Dec 2009

Study on fruit flies may help in understanding the root cause of stem cell diseases

The body is a battle zone. Cells constantly compete with one another for space and dominance. Though the manner in which some cells win this competition is well known to be the survival of the fittest, how stem cells duke it out for space and survival is not as clear.

5 Dec 2009

Health experts available to speak about health care reform

Garson helped originate and draft the "Health Partnership Act" (S. 325 and H.R. 5606), which funds grants to states for innovations to improve coverage for the uninsured, quality and efficiency.

5 Dec 2009

Emerging Healthcare Solutions enters into discussions with a Houston-based medical company

Emerging Healthcare Solutions, Inc. today announced the Company has entered into discussions with a Houston-based medical company relating to its patented, and patent pending, genetics technologies.

5 Dec 2009

Environmental sensors may help avoid air pollution hot spots in everyday life

You want to go for a run, but you don't want to run in polluted air that might aggravate your asthma. University of California, San Diego computer scientists are creating a network of environmental sensors that will help you avoid air pollution hot spots that exist exactly when you are planning your route.

5 Dec 2009

Statins may protect against GVHD complications

Cholesterol-lowering drugs known as statins are among the most prescribed medicines in the U.S. Now a new study by researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center indicates that statins may protect stem cell transplant patients from one of the most serious complications of the life-saving cancer therapy: graft-versus-host disease, or GVHD.

5 Dec 2009

'Twist' gene plays a key role in the development of breast cancer

Working with mice, scientists at Johns Hopkins publishing in the December issue of Neoplasia have shown that a protein made by a gene called "Twist" may be the proverbial red flag that can accurately distinguish stem cells that drive aggressive, metastatic breast cancer from other breast cancer cells.

5 Dec 2009

Statins may help protect stem cell transplant patients from GVHD

5 Dec 2009

DTI helps identify distorted nerve fiber bundles around brain tumors in thalamic JPA children

A new study published this week in the Journal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics finds that operative plans for removing Juvenile Pilocytic Astrocytoma, or JPA, tumors in the thalamus of the brain can be augmented with Diffusion Tensor Imaging, or DTI. The sensitivity of DTI imaging allows for the visualization of nerve fiber bundles in the brain.

5 Dec 2009