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Biomarkers can increase success rate of clinical trials for breast cancer drugs by almost 50%

Using biological markers--genetic characteristics that are associated with some patients with breast cancer--can increase the success rate of clinical trials for breast cancer drugs by almost 50 per cent, says new research from the University of Toronto Mississauga.

3 Oct 2012

Antifungal resistance of Candida genital isolates on the increase

Resistance to antifungal therapy of genital-infection causing Candida species may be an increasing problem, suggests research presented at the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology annual congress in Prague, Czech Republic.

2 Oct 2012

Simultaneous knee, foot support may improve knee OA management

Researchers report that concurrent use of a custom-made knee brace and foot orthotic produces greater reductions in pathologic knee adduction in patients with knee osteoarthritis than knee- or foot-support alone.

2 Oct 2012

Chinese medicine boosts hearing recovery after sudden deafness

Intravenous administration of a natural antioxidant used in Chinese medicine significantly improves the recovery of hearing after sudden deafness compared with standard therapy, the results of a Chinese study indicate.

2 Oct 2012

Adjunctive drugs hasten sedation in the emergency department

Adding intravenous droperidol or olanzapine to midazolam shortens the time to adequate sedation in acutely agitated patients in the emergency department, show findings from a randomized controlled trial.

2 Oct 2012

Mothers’ CD4 cells ‘remember’ their babies

A breakthrough in understanding a mother’s immune response during pregnancy suggests a new direction for treating autoimmune diseases.

2 Oct 2012

Galectin-1 drives growth of Kaposi sarcoma tumors

A sugar-loving protein drives the growth of Kaposi sarcoma (KS) tumors, according to a study published on October 1st in The Journal of Experimental Medicine. Interfering with these sugary interactions inhibited growth of Kaposi sarcomas in mice, hinting at the potential for new treatment strategies in humans.

2 Oct 2012

BHGI sponsors global summit on international breast health

For women with breast cancer in low- and middle-resource countries and other medically underserved areas around the world, the need for supportive care and the consideration of quality-of-life issues are often overlooked.

2 Oct 2012

CIB2 gene responsible for progression and severity of Usher syndrome

Usher syndrome is a hereditary disease in which affected individuals lose both hearing and vision. The impact of Usher syndrome can be devastating. In the United States, approximately six in every 100,000 babies born have Usher syndrome.

2 Oct 2012

Moderate alcohol intake increases risk of AF in older people with heart disease, diabetes

Moderate alcohol consumption increases the risk of atrial fibrillation in older people with heart disease or advanced diabetes, says a study by McMaster researchers.

2 Oct 2012

Proton pump inhibitors does not lead to higher rates of pneumonia

Previous studies that have associated the use of proton pump inhibitors (PPI) - which include popular anti-heartburn medications like Prilosec and Nexium - with an increased incidence of pneumonia may not have found a true cause-and-effect relationship.

2 Oct 2012

IPS examines debate over impact of climate change on health

"More intense rainfall, rising temperatures and climate-driven migration of human and animal populations due to repeated drought all affect the spread of tropical diseases," Inter Press Service writes in an article examining the impact of climate change on health, a topic that "generated debate among the experts attending the 18th International Congress on Tropical Medicine and Malaria, held Sept. 23-27 in Rio de Janeiro."

2 Oct 2012

Omega-3 fatty acid supplements could slow key biological process linked to aging

Taking enough omega-3 fatty acid supplements to change the balance of oils in the diet could slow a key biological process linked to aging, new research suggests.

2 Oct 2012

F-18-FLT-PET predicts early response to chemoradiotherapy in head and neck cancer

Determining the optimal treatment course and predicting outcomes may get easier in the future for patients with head and neck sqaumous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) with the use of an investigational imaging agent.

2 Oct 2012

Statins may protect against glaucoma

People who take statins to reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease are less likely to be diagnosed with the most common form of glaucoma, according to a nationwide study of more than 300,000 patients.

2 Oct 2012

Viewpoints: A need for sacrifice on health care; Health law's conservative heritage; HSAs foster competition

Private insurance companies should be leading the way in the struggle to control health care costs. They know about every contact a patient has with the health care system and can see how much is wasteful or redundant. By altering the way they pay doctors and hospitals, they can potentially push providers to reduce costs, improve quality and even transform the whole culture of American medicine.

2 Oct 2012

Anemia now confirmed as risk factor for illness and even death following cardiac surgery

Anemia is now confirmed as a risk factor for illness and even death following cardiac surgery, according to a study published in the October 2012 issue of The Annals of Thoracic Surgery.

2 Oct 2012

OS data from ImmunoGen's trastuzumab emtansine Phase III trial on breast cancer

ImmunoGen, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company that develops anticancer products using its Targeted Antibody Payload (TAP) technology and antibody expertise, today announced the presentation of overall survival (OS) data from the trastuzumab emtansine Phase III trial, EMILIA.

2 Oct 2012

Roundup: Calif. bans gay 'cure' for minors; Pittsburgh health system merger falls apart; Ariz. seeks federal approval to continue Medicaid program

California has become the first state to ban the use for minors of disputed therapies to "overcome" homosexuality, a step hailed by gay rights groups across the country that say the therapies have caused dangerous emotional harm to gay and lesbian teenagers.

2 Oct 2012