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Bloodstream infections can be avoided with a daily scrub solution bath

Giving critically ill hospital patients a daily bath with a mild, soapy solution of the same antibacterial agent used by surgeons to "scrub in" before an operation can dramatically cut down, by as much as 73 percent, the number of patients who develop potentially deadly bloodstream infections, according to a new study by patient safety experts at The Johns Hopkins Hospital and five other institutions.

5 Sep 2009

Study reveals elevated cTnT levels in post-CABG patients

Levels of a biomarker used in the diagnosis of heart attacks are almost universally elevated in patients who have undergone coronary-artery bypass grafting (CABG) and, when markedly elevated, are powerfully prognostic, a team of researchers from the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Heart Center has found.

5 Sep 2009

Yoga reduces back pain and fights depression

People with chronic low-back problems who do yoga also do better at overcoming pain and depression than people treated conventionally for back pain, a West Virginia University study funded by the National Institutes of Health shows.

5 Sep 2009

New protein fragments identified for anthrax vaccine development

Researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University have identified two small protein fragments that could be developed into an anthrax vaccine that may cause fewer side effects than the current vaccine.

4 Sep 2009

Delcath Systems to present abstract at ILCA Annual Conference

Delcath Systems, Inc., a medical technology company testing its proprietary treatment method for primary and metastatic cancers to the liver, announced that Dr. James F. Pingpank, Associate Professor of Surgery for the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine will present an abstract at the International Liver Cancer Association's (ILCA) Third Annual Conference on Saturday, September 5, 2009 in Milan, Italy.

4 Sep 2009

Novel SLE Responder Index as the primary endpoint in two Phase 3 clinical trials

Human Genome Sciences, Inc. today announced publication by the journal Arthritis Care & Research of an article describing the development and use of a novel evidence-based systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) Responder Index selected as the primary endpoint of two pivotal Phase 3 clinical trials of BENLYSTA (belimumab) in serologically active patients with SLE.

4 Sep 2009

StrataTest to be launched in the European market

Stratatech Corp., a privately-held regenerative medicine company, today announced that it will launch its StrataTest full-thickness human skin model to the European market at EUROTOX 2009, the annual meeting of the Federation of European Toxicologists and the European Societies of Toxicology. This year’s meeting is being held in Dresden, Germany, Sept. 13-16.

4 Sep 2009

Drive to collect unused prescription drugs starts on October 3

In an effort to keep unused prescription drugs out of the hands of pre-teens and teenagers, DDN executive Joe Otto enlisted the support of Menomonee Falls Police Chief Anna Ruzinski, Community Memorial Hospital, and his company. As a result, Community Memorial Hospital will serve as collection site when Waukesha County kicks off its first drug collection program on October 3.

4 Sep 2009

rPA anthrax vaccine and its Valortim anthrax anti-toxin program data presented

PharmAthene, Inc., a biodefense company developing medical countermeasures against biological and chemical threats, announced today that data from the Company's third generation recombinant protective antigen (rPA) anthrax vaccine program and its Valortim((R)) anthrax anti-toxin program were presented at the Bacillus - ACT 2009 meeting, August 30 - September 3, 2009, organized by the American Society for Microbiology.

4 Sep 2009

Advanced Nutrients' controversial banner for protesting against hydroponic hijacking

On the day that the Man burns at the legendary Nevada Burning Man event this year in the Black Rock Desert, partiers will see a giant marijuana bud banner flying overhead.

4 Sep 2009

Phase III clinical trial results of XIAFLEX published in a journal

BioSpecifics Technologies Corp., a biopharmaceutical company developing first in class collagenase-based products today announced results of the pivotal CORD I Phase III clinical trial of XIAFLEX (collagenase clostridium histolyticum), a novel, first-in-class biologic for the nonsurgical treatment of Dupuytren's disease, was published in today's edition of the New England Journal of Medicine.

4 Sep 2009

NSF grants funds to develop next-generation nano-CT imaging system

In 1991, Ge Wang produced the first paper on spiral cone-beam computed tomography (CT), now an imaging technique used in the mainstream of the medical CT field. Today, Wang, known as a pioneer in this field, and his colleagues have been awarded more than $1.3 million from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to develop the next-generation nano-CT imaging system, which promises to greatly reduce the required dose of radiation.

4 Sep 2009

Unseen health costs — often from defensive medicine — drive health costs

The Wall Street Journal reports that defensive medicine is a significant yet small portion of overall health care spending in America.

4 Sep 2009

StemCells’ novel neuroprotective approach for treating neurodegenerative diseases

StemCells, Inc. today announced the publication of preclinical data demonstrating for the first time that transplantation of its proprietary, purified human neural stem cells delays the loss of motor function in a mouse model of infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (NCL).

4 Sep 2009

FDA approves new xTAG Cystic Fibrosis 39 Kit v2 from Luminex

Luminex Corporation (NASDAQ: LMNX), the worldwide leader in multiplexed solutions, today announced that it has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a new cystic fibrosis (CF) test: the xTAG® Cystic Fibrosis 39 Kit v2.

From Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. 4 Sep 2009

Oncotype DX multigene expression test for breast cancer patients

In an effort to provide breast cancer patients with prompt, critical information about treatment options for use at their first visit with the medical oncologist, a number of leading U.S. surgeons request Genomic Health's Oncotype DX molecular test at the time of surgery or biopsy.

4 Sep 2009

Genetic cause of progressive hearing loss discovered

A team led by scientists from The Scripps Research Institute has discovered a genetic cause of progressive hearing loss. The findings will help scientists better understand the nature of age-related decline in hearing and may lead to new therapies to prevent or treat the condition.

4 Sep 2009

Type 2 diabetic people not consuming healthy diets

People with type 2 diabetes are not consuming sufficiently healthy diets and could benefit from ongoing nutritional education and counseling, according to a new study by researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine and colleagues.

4 Sep 2009

Optimized turmeric extracts may prevent memory loss

scientists with HerbalScience Group LLC, working with researchers from other organizations and medical institutions, conducted an in-depth study of optimized turmeric extracts, demonstrating that key bioactives in the botanical extracts inhibit aggregation and release of amyloid, a protein fragment considered a prime causal suspect in Alzheimer's disease.

3 Sep 2009

Phase I clinical trial data of GDC-0449 published in the New England Journal Of Medicine

Curis, Inc. (NASDAQ: CRIS), a drug development company focused on developing proprietary targeted medicines for cancer treatment, today announced that two publications describing clinical data generated with GDC-0449 were published in the current edition of The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM).

3 Sep 2009