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New research suggests closantel drug may be useful in combating river blindness

Scientists at The Scripps Research Institute have discovered a potential new use for the drug closantel, currently the standard treatment for sheep and cattle infected with liver fluke. The new research suggests that the drug may be useful in combating river blindness, a tropical disease that is the world's second leading infectious cause of blindness for humans.

10 Feb 2010

Rating of risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease: Low IQ follows cigarette smoking

While lower intelligence scores - as reflected by low results on written or oral tests of IQ - have been associated with a raised risk of cardiovascular disease, no study has so far compared the relative strength of this association with other established risk factors such as obesity, smoking and high blood pressure. Now, a large study funded by Britain's Medical Research Council, which set out to gauge the relative importance of IQ alongside other risk factors, has found that lower intelligence scores were associated with higher rates of cardiovascular disease and total mortality at a greater level of magnitude than found with any other risk factor except smoking.

10 Feb 2010

Vision of mountain climbers not adversely affected despite presence of edema at altitudes up to 6,300 meters

Swelling commonly occurs in the corneas of mountain climbers, but does not appear to affect vision at altitudes of up to 6,300 meters (about 20,670 feet), according to a report in the February issue of Archives of Ophthalmology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

10 Feb 2010

Future studies may provide clarity on the best approach for pre-surgery beta blockers

In a commentary appearing in this week's Journal of the American Medical Association, heart specialists at the University of Michigan Health System make a plea for clarity on the best approach for prescribing beta blockers before surgery.

10 Feb 2010

Restricted fetal growth during first trimester linked to maternal high blood pressure and hematocrit levels

Factors such as maternal high blood pressure and high hematocrit levels (the proportion of blood that consists of red blood cells) are associated with a greater likelihood of restricted fetal growth during the first trimester, with restricted growth linked to an increased risk of preterm birth and low birth weight, according to a study in the February 10 issue of JAMA.

10 Feb 2010

Cerus enters into collaborative agreement with EFS for development of INTERCEPT Blood System

Cerus Corporation announced today that it has entered into a collaborative agreement with France's national transfusion service, the Etablissement Français du Sang (EFS), for the development of the company's INTERCEPT Blood System for red blood cells.

10 Feb 2010

PolyMedix provides overview of its 2010 clinical milestones

PolyMedix, Inc. (www.polymedix.com), an emerging biotechnology company focused on developing new therapeutic drugs to treat infectious diseases and acute cardiovascular disorders, provided an overview of its 2010 clinical milestones in a presentation by President & C.E.O., Nicholas Landekic at the 2010 BIO CEO & Investor Conference.

10 Feb 2010

Continua Certified USB-enabled platform now available for building agent healthcare devices

Texas Instruments Incorporated and S3 Group, a connected healthcare technology solutions company, today announced the availability of the first Continua Certified™ USB-enabled platform for building agent healthcare devices.

10 Feb 2010

Biology of lung cancer varies by age and gender

The biology of lung cancer differs from one patient to the next, depending on age and sex, according to scientists at Duke University Medical Center. The findings may help explain why certain groups of patients do better than others, even though they appear to have the same disease.

10 Feb 2010

Low potassium levels increase risk of death in patients with heart failure and CKD

New research from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) says low potassium levels produce an increased risk of death or hospitalization in patients with heart failure and chronic kidney disease (CKD).

10 Feb 2010

NYBC calls for blood donation to meet winter needs

New York Blood Center (NYBC) serving New York City, Long Island, Hudson Valley and New Jersey calls upon the community to please donate blood and platelets, as the tri-state area braces for a huge predicted winter snowstorm. Healthy people of all blood types and ethnicities are encouraged to donate this week.

10 Feb 2010

SMT Research and Development completes first two clinical cases using Shimon Embolic Filter

SMT Research and Development, Ltd., a privately held company, announced that it has completed its first two clinical cases using the Shimon Embolic Filter [SHEF] (TM). SMT R&D developed a novel technology for brain protection (Neuroprotection) from stroke complication hazards arising from invasive cardiology procedures and heart surgery.

10 Feb 2010

Bulgaria deploys Gemalto' smart cards to secure access to personal health records for military personnel

Gemalto, the world leader in digital security, today announced that Bulgaria has started deploying its smart cards to secure access to personal health records for the country’s military personnel and their family.

10 Feb 2010

Hospitals use new robotic catheter guidance system to treat abnormal heart rhythms

The robotic system "enhances a doctor's natural ability, and we believe it will contribute to improved procedural outcomes," said Dr. David Wilber of Loyola University Health System, a nationally known researcher in heart rhythm disorders.

10 Feb 2010

OlFactor Laboratories acquires exclusive license to patented technology from UC Riverside

OlFactor Laboratories, Inc., a majority owned subsidiary of Avisio, Inc. acquired an exclusive license to patented technology from UC Riverside.

10 Feb 2010

Palatin Technologies completes first cohort dosing in bremelanotide trial for sexual dysfunction

Palatin Technologies, Inc. today announced the completion of first cohort dosing in a placebo-controlled, multiple dose study of bremelanotide, its experimental treatment for sexual dysfunction. The primary endpoint in this double-blind safety study is evaluation of blood pressure effects of subcutaneous bremelanotide in men between 45 and 65 years old. The study will also evaluate consistency of plasma exposure of bremelanotide given as repeated subcutaneous injections.

10 Feb 2010

ASA Effect test: A tool to identify patients who do not respond to ASA therapy

A convenient test is now available in Canada that determines if the ASA a patient is taking to prevent heart attack and stroke is working. ASA Effect(TM) is offered through LifeLabs Medical Laboratory Services and its network of collection and testing centres.

10 Feb 2010

Early life stress could be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease in adulthood

"We think early life stress increases sensitivity to a hormone known to increase your blood pressure and increases your cardiovascular risk in adult life," said Dr. Jennifer Pollock, biochemist in the Vascular Biology Center at the Medical College of Georgia and corresponding author on the study published online in Hypertension.

10 Feb 2010

FDA expands indication for Crestor

On Feb. 8 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the cholesterol-lowering medication Crestor (rosuvastatin) for some patients who are at increased risk of heart disease but have not been diagnosed with it.

10 Feb 2010

FDA grants marketing clearance for Volcano's Eagle Eye Platinum digital IVUS catheter

Volcano Corporation, a leading developer and manufacturer of precision intravascular therapy guidance tools designed to enhance the diagnosis and treatment of coronary and peripheral vascular disease, announced today that it has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market the Eagle Eye® Platinum digital IVUS catheter in the United States.

9 Feb 2010

Blood News and Research

New research suggests closantel drug may be useful in combating river blindness

Rating of risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease: Low IQ follows cigarette smoking

Vision of mountain climbers not adversely affected despite presence of edema at altitudes up to 6,300 meters

Future studies may provide clarity on the best approach for pre-surgery beta blockers

Restricted fetal growth during first trimester linked to maternal high blood pressure and hematocrit levels

Cerus enters into collaborative agreement with EFS for development of INTERCEPT Blood System

PolyMedix provides overview of its 2010 clinical milestones

Continua Certified USB-enabled platform now available for building agent healthcare devices

Biology of lung cancer varies by age and gender

Low potassium levels increase risk of death in patients with heart failure and CKD

NYBC calls for blood donation to meet winter needs

SMT Research and Development completes first two clinical cases using Shimon Embolic Filter

Bulgaria deploys Gemalto' smart cards to secure access to personal health records for military personnel

Hospitals use new robotic catheter guidance system to treat abnormal heart rhythms

OlFactor Laboratories acquires exclusive license to patented technology from UC Riverside

Palatin Technologies completes first cohort dosing in bremelanotide trial for sexual dysfunction

ASA Effect test: A tool to identify patients who do not respond to ASA therapy

Early life stress could be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease in adulthood

FDA expands indication for Crestor

FDA grants marketing clearance for Volcano's Eagle Eye Platinum digital IVUS catheter

Bringing real-time analytics to downstream bioprocess monitoring

Designing fluidic architecture for scalable diagnostic platforms

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

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