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Immune system produces neutralizing antibodies capable of blocking HIV, says study

Scientists seeking to understand how to make an AIDS vaccine have found the cause of a major roadblock. It turns out that the immune system can indeed produce cells with the potential to manufacture powerful HIV-blocking antibodies - but at the same time, the immune system works equally hard to make sure these cells are eliminated before they have a chance to mature.

16 Dec 2009

New method to improve accuracy of estimated blood loss

Determining blood loss at the scene of trauma can be critical to successful patient treatment. Health care workers such as emergency medical technicians have used visual estimation, which can be highly inaccurate, as their only means of determining volumes of blood loss. A new, simple method developed by UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School may drastically improve their accuracy.

16 Dec 2009

Nitric oxide opens up new treatment option for septic shock

Scientists at VIB and Ghent University in Flanders, Belgium have found an unexpected ally for the treatment of septic shock, the major cause of death in intensive care units.

16 Dec 2009

Infectious virus particles can bind to the surface of red blood cells: MHRP researchers

Free infectious HIV-1 is widely thought to be the major form of the virus in the blood of infected persons. U.S. Military HIV Research Program (MHRP) researchers, however, have demonstrated that essentially all of the infectious virus particles can bind to the surface of red blood cells isolated from each of 30 normal (non-infected) human donors.

16 Dec 2009

Drug monitoring may provide alternative treatments for patients with severe H1N1

An international team of Canadian and Spanish scientists have found the first potential immunological clue of why some people develop severe pneumonia when infected by the pandemic H1N1 virus.

16 Dec 2009

University of Missouri researchers work on immune-strengthening vaccine for newborns

As soon as babies are born, they are susceptible to diseases and infections, such as jaundice and e-coli. For up to a month, their immune systems aren't adequately developed to fight diseases. Although these infections are often minor, they can lead to serious problems if left untreated.

16 Dec 2009

Discovery may yield new treatments for hormone-resistant prostate cancer

Patients with advanced prostate cancer are often treated with hormones, but when the tumours start growing again they have more and different blood vessels, reveals a thesis from the Sahlgrenska Academy, at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. This discovery paves the way for new treatments for hormone-resistant prostate cancer.

16 Dec 2009

Italian patent issued for NPM1 to test patients with AML

Xenomics, Inc., a developer of transrenal molecular diagnostics, announced today that a key Italian patent covering a unique diagnostic application with critical significance for patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has issued.

16 Dec 2009

UCLA researchers find link between brain cancer and fatty acid synthesis

Inhibiting fatty acid synthesis in brain cancer cells may offer a new option to treat about 50 percent of deadly glioblastomas that are driven by amplified signaling of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), according to a first-of-its-kind study by researchers at UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center.

16 Dec 2009

Researchers develop new electrophoretic method for detecting MIRCERA and EPO in blood

Austrian researchers have successfully developed a new electrophoretic method for detecting MIRCERA® and other erythropoietins (EPO) in the blood. The technique, using SARCOSYL-PAGE, has specifically enhanced sensitivity for MIRCERA, but does not alter the performance characteristics of SDS-PAGE for detecting other EPOs.

16 Dec 2009

Nutrition education may help diabetes patients to adopt better dietary habits

Nine weeks of education about the glycemic index in foods is enough to encourage adults with type 2 diabetes to adopt better dietary habits that result in improvements to their health, recent research suggests.

16 Dec 2009

Low plasma CETP activity associated with increased risk of heart disease, says study

Although seen as a potential heart disease therapy, raising high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels by inhibiting activity of a transfer protein may not be effective, a new study suggests.

16 Dec 2009

FDA grants approval to market InterSol platelet additive solution

Fenwal Inc., a global medical technology company focused on improving blood collection, separation, safety and availability, announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted Fenwal approval to market InterSol® platelet additive solution.

15 Dec 2009

Positive results from study comparing exenatide once weekly to BYETTA

Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Eli Lilly and Company and Alkermes, Inc. today announced positive results from a head-to-head study comparing exenatide once weekly, an investigational diabetes therapy, to BYETTA® (exenatide) injection taken twice daily, in patients with type 2 diabetes.

15 Dec 2009

Also in Global Health news: Drug trafficking in Kenya; violence in S. Sudan; Uganda bill; sleeping sickness

Drug trafficking and use are fueling the spread of HIV/AIDS in Kenya, according to a recent report by the U.N. Security Council, the Nation reports. "A statement from the council's Presidency currently … states that Afghan heroin was being imported, causing a dramatic increase in heroin addiction and spreading HIV/AIDS in the slums of Nairobi and Mombasa, Kenya's two main cities," the newspaper writes.

15 Dec 2009

CALSTAR 6 recognised with the "Thermal Angel Lifesaver of the Year Award"

Estill Medical Technologies, Inc., a family-owned Texas company that produces the Thermal Angel Blood and IV Fluid Infusion Warmer, a patented medical device being utilized by U.S. hospitals, military and emergency responders to lessen the effects of fluid-induced hypothermia, named the CALSTAR 6 Unit of South Lake Tahoe as the first-ever recipient of their "Thermal Angel Lifesaver of the Year Award."

15 Dec 2009

Corporate Health IQ launched by Stratum Benefit Solutions

Stratum Benefit Solutions has launched Corporate Health IQ™, a 360-degree corporate health risk assessment and comprehensive strategy for designing and implementing integrated results-based incentives for corporate health and wellness programs.

15 Dec 2009

ARKRAY reintroduces the CLIA waived DiaScreen 50 Urine Chemistry Analyzer

ARKRAY USA, Inc., a global leader of clinical chemistry, urine chemistry, and blood glucose products, today announced that it has re-introduced the CLIA waived DiaScreen® 50 Urine Chemistry Analyzer.

15 Dec 2009

Cellular and subcellular effects of PACE technology presented

SANUWAVE Health, Inc., (www.sanuwave.com), an emerging medical technology company focused on the development and commercialization of non-invasive, biological response activating devices in the regenerative medicine area, announced that the cellular and subcellular effects of PACE™ technology were described during a lecture presented this past weekend.

15 Dec 2009

CCB reports single busiest sales day in its 32 year history

California Cryobank (CCB), one of the world's oldest and most successful sperm banks, announced that Cyber Monday, the day following this year's Thanksgiving weekend, was the single busiest sales day in the 32 year history of the company.

15 Dec 2009