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Thalidomide's role in fighting blood disorders, such as multiple myeloma

From the late 1950s to the end of 1961, thalidomide was a popular sedative and treatment for morning sickness until it was discovered to cause fetal malformations, which proved fatal within the first year of life in 40 percent of affected infants.

13 Jul 2004

Investigation of glue as an embolic agent

Although embolization has been used for over 20 years to treat trauma victims with massive bleeding and to control hemorrhage after childbirth instead of emergency hysterectomy, the investigation of glue as an embolic agent is new.

13 Jul 2004

Updated guidelines for treatment of blood cholesterol

The National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) has updated its guidelines for treatment of blood cholesterol, suggesting that people at risk for heart attack and stroke would benefit from more intensive cholesterol-lowering therapies.

13 Jul 2004

Findings alleviate concerns of physicians reluctant to prescribe beta-blockers because of cardiovascular adverse effects

Beta-blocker therapy in patients with heart failure is well tolerated and associated with fewer overall withdrawals and less heart failure deterioration than placebo, according to a new article in the Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

13 Jul 2004

Fluoxetine, orlistat, and sibutramine can diabetics achieve significant weight loss

According to information in the article, the prevalence of obesity in the United States increased from 12 percent in 1991 to 18 percent in 1998. Recent survey data indicate that 65 percent of Americans are overweight.

13 Jul 2004

New guidelines for pulmonary arterial hypertension caution the use of calcium channel blockers

A new evidence-based guideline for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) cautions the use of calcium channel blockers, a commonly used treatment for high blood pressure, in unstable patients due to the potentially fatal side effects associated with the medication.

13 Jul 2004

Obese people who undergo Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery show declines in levels of ghrelin hormone that stimulates appetite

This finding possibly explains, the loss of hunger sensation and rapid weight loss observed following gastric bypass. The study has been published in the July issue of The Archives of Surgery.

13 Jul 2004

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is a leading cause of mortality in children worldwide

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is a leading cause of mortality in children worldwide. According to the American Heart Association, Congenital cardiovascular defects are present in about one percent of live births and are the most common malformations in newborns.

12 Jul 2004

HIV patients treated with antiretroviral therapy early after infection do test negative

UCSF researchers have found that some HIV patients treated with antiretroviral therapy early after infection do test negative, at some point, for the virus. Study findings showed this result in six of 87 patients.

12 Jul 2004

Genetic mutation is a major contributor to type 1 diabetes

A natural mutation of a gene that helps regulate the reactivity of the immune system is a major contributor to type 1 diabetes, Medical College of Georgia researchers have found.

12 Jul 2004

Increasing levels of growth hormone may be an effective treatment for HIV lipodystrophy

Increasing the body's production of growth hormone may be an effective treatment for HIV lipodystrophy, a syndrome involving the redistribution of fat and other metabolic changes in those receiving combination drug therapy for HIV infection.

11 Jul 2004

Widespread prenatal HIV screening and use of antiretroviral drugs in pregnant HIV-infected women is needed

Rapid testing during labor can enable pregnant women with undocumented HIV status to learn their HIV infection status so they can receive antiretroviral prophylaxis and be referred for comprehensive medical care and follow-up according to a report in the current issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

11 Jul 2004

The case of a high school student in King County who died this week of meningococcal disease has created public concern

The case of a high school student in King County who was hospitalized and died this week of meningococcal disease – commonly called bacterial meningitis – has created some public concern about risks of exposure to the disease.

10 Jul 2004

Natural hormone called melatonin may guide our sleep patterns

Our general sleep patterns – being sleepy at night and awake during the day – are guided to a great extent by our exposure to light and darkness.

10 Jul 2004

McGuinty government commits to hepatitis C federal funding

The McGuinty government is committed to spending all of the federal funding for Ontarians infected with hepatitis C through the blood system prior to 1986 and after 1990, Health and Long-Term Care Minister George Smitherman announced today.

10 Jul 2004

First successful gene therapy that mimics the action of calcium channel blockers

Their findings - published in the latest edition of Circulation Research, online July 8 - may lead to a gene therapy alternative to calcium channel blockers and their sometimes severe side effects, but also further interest in the development of gene therapies unique - as in this case - to one particular organ.

10 Jul 2004

Health Canada warning on Trazodone interaction with certain medications

Health Canada, in association with Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada, is advising Canadians to consult with their health care professionals if they are currently being treated with the antidepressant trazodone in combination with any of the following medications: ketoconazole (an antifungal agent), ritonavir and indinavir (protease inhibitors used in the treatment of HIV), or carbamazepine (an anti-epileptic therapy).

9 Jul 2004

Anal cancer is on the rise in both sexes

Anal cancer is on the rise in both sexes, particularly among American men, and changing trends in sexual behavior — combined with current tobacco use and infection by a specific strain of the human papillomavirus — may help explain the increase.

9 Jul 2004

Dexrazoxane reduces heart damage caused by childhood leukemia treatment with doxorubicin (Adriamycin)

A potent chemotherapy that is highly effective in treating the most common form of childhood leukemia can significantly harm the heart, but findings from a multi-center study

9 Jul 2004

Heavy drinking during teenage years begins taking a serious health toll by the time people are 24 years old

A University of Washington study has found that people who began binge drinking at age 13 and continued throughout adolescence were nearly four times as likely to be overweight or obese and almost 3½ times as likely to have high blood pressure when they were 24 years old

9 Jul 2004

Blood News and Research

Thalidomide's role in fighting blood disorders, such as multiple myeloma

Investigation of glue as an embolic agent

Updated guidelines for treatment of blood cholesterol

Findings alleviate concerns of physicians reluctant to prescribe beta-blockers because of cardiovascular adverse effects

Fluoxetine, orlistat, and sibutramine can diabetics achieve significant weight loss

New guidelines for pulmonary arterial hypertension caution the use of calcium channel blockers

Obese people who undergo Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery show declines in levels of ghrelin hormone that stimulates appetite

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is a leading cause of mortality in children worldwide

HIV patients treated with antiretroviral therapy early after infection do test negative

Genetic mutation is a major contributor to type 1 diabetes

Increasing levels of growth hormone may be an effective treatment for HIV lipodystrophy

Widespread prenatal HIV screening and use of antiretroviral drugs in pregnant HIV-infected women is needed

The case of a high school student in King County who died this week of meningococcal disease has created public concern

Natural hormone called melatonin may guide our sleep patterns

McGuinty government commits to hepatitis C federal funding

First successful gene therapy that mimics the action of calcium channel blockers

Health Canada warning on Trazodone interaction with certain medications

Anal cancer is on the rise in both sexes

Dexrazoxane reduces heart damage caused by childhood leukemia treatment with doxorubicin (Adriamycin)

Heavy drinking during teenage years begins taking a serious health toll by the time people are 24 years old

Designing fluidic architecture for scalable diagnostic platforms

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

Expanding access to NMR with the Fourier 80 Duo

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