Transplant News and Research

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Number of living donor organs decreased since 2004: Study

The number of living donor organs available for transplant has progressively declined over the past five years, according to a new study. In addition, the study showed that for the first time, organs from deceased donors decreased in 2008.

23 Mar 2010

Progressive decline in organ donations

22 Mar 2010

Scientists identify new growth factor that stimulates expansion of hematopoietic stem cells

Scientists at Duke University Medical Center have identified a new growth factor that stimulates the expansion and regeneration of hematopoietic (blood-forming) stem cells in culture and in laboratory animals. The discovery, appearing in the journal Nature Medicine, may help researchers overcome one of the most frustrating barriers to cellular therapy: the fact that stem cells are so few in number and so stubbornly resistant to expansion.

22 Mar 2010

Study: Older adults with chronic illness often struggle to manage several prescribed drugs at a time

People with chronic illness often struggle to manage several prescribed drugs at a time. It's overwhelming when the vials, bottles and inhalers bulge from your medicine cabinet and you're confused about which drug is which, or when to take what.

20 Mar 2010

Kidney donors and recipients favor exchange of personal health information before transplantation, but not physicians

Most kidney donors and recipients are in favor of exchanging personal health information that may influence success before scheduling a living organ donor transplant, while healthcare professionals are more reluctant, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society Nephrology.

19 Mar 2010

Robertson Foundation commits $10.2M for Duke Medicine's cell therapy research

A $10.2 million commitment from the Robertson Foundation to create a state-of-the-art Translational Cell Therapy Center (TCTC) will advance Duke Medicine's pioneering cell therapy research and treatment programs for children and adults with cancer, cerebral palsy, stroke and brain injuries suffered at birth.

19 Mar 2010

Physician scientists present new findings on aspirin therapy, atrial fibrillation drug therapy and LVAD

Physician scientists from the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute presented new findings on the effectiveness of routine aspirin therapy for preventing heart disease, a drug therapy for atrial fibrillation and the role left ventricular assist devices may play in weight reduction for obese patients with chronic end-stage heart failure who are considered for heart transplantation.

19 Mar 2010

Bone Biologics receives Notice of Allowance of patent claims that protects formation of cartilage by UCB-1

Bone Biologics, Inc. announced today that it has received a US Patent Office Notice of Allowance of patent claims which strongly protects the formation of cartilage by the unique NELL 1 protein (UCB-1). Additional claims cover the surgical application of the NELL 1 (UCB-1) protein by several delivery agents.

18 Mar 2010

California jury rules insurer should pay for out-of-state operation; Mass. probe shows insurers' payments can vary widely

The Los Angeles Times: "A Los Angeles jury concluded Monday that Anthem Blue Cross should cover the cost of an out-of-state liver transplant that a California man paid for after the insurer balked. In addition, the jury ordered Blue Cross to pay plaintiff Ephram Nehme's legal expenses, which could dwarf the $206,000 cost of the transplant. Blue Cross approved Nehme's liver transplant in late 2006, and he was on the waiting list at UCLA Medical Center.

17 Mar 2010

Researchers evaluate novel organ sharing system that could help save more lives

Saint Louis University's Center for Outcome Research has received a $1 million grant from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases to review regional kidney and liver distribution in the United States and equalize the access to transplantation among patients with similar stages of organ failure across the country.

17 Mar 2010

Viron Therapeutics' VT-346 anti-TNF protein exhibits positive results in transgenic mouse model for arthritis

Viron Therapeutics Inc. announced that VT-346, an anti-TNF protein therapeutic, demonstrated positive results in a pivotal proof of concept study in the gold standard transgenic mouse model for arthritis. VT-346 achieved a statistically significant, dose dependent impact in this preclinical model of arthritis and prevented deterioration due to disease in terms of weight gain, arthritic score and pathology parameters. VT-346 had particularly strong protective effects on therapeutically-important bone and cartilage damage in this model.

16 Mar 2010

Cytheris study: rhIL-7 treatment restores T cell trafficking and improves survival in animal model of sepsis

Cytheris SA, a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on research and development of new therapies for immune modulation, today announced publication of data from a preclinical study in a clinically relevant animal model of sepsis showing that recombinant human Interleukin-7 (rhIL-7) treatment not only restores T cell trafficking and function, but also translates into improved survival.

16 Mar 2010

First Edition: March 16, 2010

In today's headlines, ongoing efforts by President Obama and Democratic leaders to press and persuade wavering votes in support of health reform take center stage.

16 Mar 2010

Lipitor 80 mg may help reduce risk of major cardiovascular events in high-risk patients

Lipitor® (atorvastatin calcium) 80 mg was associated with a significantly reduced risk of major cardiovascular events compared with Lipitor 10 mg among patients with both coronary heart disease (CHD) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) who were obese or had metabolic syndrome. These data, from two sub-analyses of the Treating to New Targets (TNT) trial that were designed and completed following the completion of TNT, were presented today at the 59th Annual Scientific Session of the American College of Cardiology (ACC) in Atlanta, Ga.

16 Mar 2010

NKF: Certain ethnic minorities are at higher risk for developing CKD

Certain ethnic minorities, including African Americans and Hispanics, are at a higher risk than the general population for developing potentially life-threatening chronic kidney disease (CKD), which has been linked to higher rates of diabetes and high blood pressure, according to the National Kidney Foundation.

16 Mar 2010

Genzyme, Isis Pharmaceuticals: Phase 3 study of mipomersen in hoFH patients meets primary endpoint

Genzyme Corp. and Isis Pharmaceuticals Inc. today announced that data from a phase 3 study of mipomersen in patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (hoFH) were published in The Lancet. This study met its primary endpoint, resulting in an average LDL-C reduction of greater than 100 mg/dL in this very high-risk patient population.

16 Mar 2010

Program to obtain transplant organs from ER patients creates controversy

The Washington Post: "In the hope of expanding a controversial form of organ donation into emergency rooms around the United States, a federally funded project has begun trying to obtain kidneys, livers and possibly other body parts from car-accident victims, heart-attack fatalities and other urgent-care patients.

15 Mar 2010

CPF, PFF applaud PF patients' efforts to plead with FDA Advisory Panel regarding lack of treatment options

The Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis and the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation are applauding the efforts of Pulmonary Fibrosis (PF) patients and family members for their work to convey to the FDA and an FDA Advisory Committee the sense of urgency and desperation regarding the disease and the lack of treatment options.

15 Mar 2010

First Edition: March 15, 2010

Today's headlines drive home one key point -- for the Democrats' health bill, it's all about gathering the votes.

15 Mar 2010

NDA for BYDUREON: FDA issues complete response letter

Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Eli Lilly and Company and Alkermes, Inc. today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a complete response letter regarding the New Drug Application for BYDUREON™ (exenatide for extended-release injectable suspension).

15 Mar 2010

Transplant News and Research

Number of living donor organs decreased since 2004: Study

Progressive decline in organ donations

Scientists identify new growth factor that stimulates expansion of hematopoietic stem cells

Study: Older adults with chronic illness often struggle to manage several prescribed drugs at a time

Kidney donors and recipients favor exchange of personal health information before transplantation, but not physicians

Robertson Foundation commits $10.2M for Duke Medicine's cell therapy research

Physician scientists present new findings on aspirin therapy, atrial fibrillation drug therapy and LVAD

Bone Biologics receives Notice of Allowance of patent claims that protects formation of cartilage by UCB-1

California jury rules insurer should pay for out-of-state operation; Mass. probe shows insurers' payments can vary widely

Researchers evaluate novel organ sharing system that could help save more lives

Viron Therapeutics' VT-346 anti-TNF protein exhibits positive results in transgenic mouse model for arthritis

Cytheris study: rhIL-7 treatment restores T cell trafficking and improves survival in animal model of sepsis

First Edition: March 16, 2010

Lipitor 80 mg may help reduce risk of major cardiovascular events in high-risk patients

NKF: Certain ethnic minorities are at higher risk for developing CKD

Genzyme, Isis Pharmaceuticals: Phase 3 study of mipomersen in hoFH patients meets primary endpoint

Program to obtain transplant organs from ER patients creates controversy

CPF, PFF applaud PF patients' efforts to plead with FDA Advisory Panel regarding lack of treatment options

First Edition: March 15, 2010

NDA for BYDUREON: FDA issues complete response letter

Improving healthcare sustainability through carbon data

Managing vibration in IVF laboratories

A New Approach to Preventing Bladder Cancer Recurrence

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