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CFTR protein regulates inflammation and cell death in emphysema, chronic lung diseases

A team of Johns Hopkins Children's Center researchers has discovered that a protein involved in cystic fibrosis also regulates inflammation and cell death in emphysema and may be responsible for other chronic lung diseases.

29 Dec 2010

Winter grips Scotland with unprecedented rise in health concerns

Over three days of festivities Scotland’s NHS 24 has received almost 30,000 calls. This made 27th of December NHS 24’s busiest day since January 2007. The surge in demand for the service was due to the closure of GP surgeries over the festive weekend.

29 Dec 2010

Experimental device for obstructive sleep apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea, a dangerous sleep disorder that affects millions of Americans may have found a cure. The disease commonly manifested as snoring but leading to tremendous sleep deprivation can be severely debilitating. Sleep deprivation may lead to car crashes, accidents, high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, and diabetes.

29 Dec 2010

Top weight-loss behaviors

Losing weight and saving money are the top New Year's resolutions expected to vex Americans this year, experts say.

29 Dec 2010

NEI awards Case Western Reserve $10M for study of retinal diseases

The Departments of Pharmacology and Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine have been awarded a $10.1 million grant from the National Eye Institute (NEI) to research and develop new treatments for diseases of the retina, a leading cause of blindness.

29 Dec 2010

Patients unresponsive to anti-anemia drug have higher risk of cardiovascular disease, death

Patients with diabetes, kidney disease and anemia who don't respond to treatment with an anti-anemia drug have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease or death, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have found.

28 Dec 2010

Study reports ROP18 protein protects parasite in host cell

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have learned why changes in a single gene, ROP18, contribute substantially to dangerous forms of the parasite Toxoplasma gondii. The answer has likely moved science a step closer to new ways to beat Toxoplasma and many other parasites.

28 Dec 2010

Alcohol worries

Festival season usually means excessive and binge drinking leading to accidents and other health concerns say experts. With the outrage of anti-alcohol groups laws may be tightened but many experts feel that it is not the alcohol that needs to be focused on but the people who over-indulge.

28 Dec 2010

Chindex announces joint venture deal with Fosun Pharma

Chindex International, a leading independent American provider of Western healthcare products and services in the People's Republic of China, and Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical, a leading manufacturer and distributor of western and Chinese medicine and devices in China, today announced the formation of the previously-proposed joint venture to independently operate certain combined medical device businesses, including Chindex's Medical Products division.

28 Dec 2010

International reference standards for use of bone turnover markers in clinical studies recommended

An expert working group of the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) and the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (IFCC) has released a new position paper which reviews the evidence of bone turnover markers (BTMs) in fracture risk prediction and monitoring of osteoporosis therapy. More importantly, it identifies research priorities and recommends that specific markers be used as reference analytes for BTMs in clinical and observational studies.

28 Dec 2010

ACT, Roslin Cells collaborate to establish hESC line bank using single-ceblastomere technique

Advanced Cell Technology, a leader in the field of regenerative medicine, announced today that it has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Roslin Cells LTD of Scotland, in which the two companies contemplate a definitive collaboration agreement in the near future.

28 Dec 2010

Researchers receive $6.78 million NIH grant for community-based study on heart disease

Researchers at the Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center in Houston were recently awarded a $6.78 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to extend a 23-year-old large-scale, community-based study of heart disease.

27 Dec 2010

Cancer survival rates improving

Survival rates for cancers of the bowel, breast, lung and ovary that were diagnosed between 1995 and 2007 were compared between Australia, Canada, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and the UK. Overall, survival rates improved in all six countries. However, survival was found to be “persistently lower” in Denmark, England, Northern Ireland and Wales. This was particularly the case after the first year of diagnosis and for patients aged 65 and over. In UK cancer survival rates have improved significantly. Breast cancer survival at five years, for example, increased from 74.8% in 1995-9, to 81.6% in 2005-7. Despite this, the UK still has the lowest breast cancer survival rate at five years.

27 Dec 2010

Placebos work

According to a new study people who knowingly take a dummy pill or placebo may benefit from it. These pills are usually made from sugar or other inert non-harmful materials. Usually when used in clinical trials patients are unaware whether they are taking the tested drug or a placebo to ensure the medical benefits of a potential new drug are assessed rigorously. However this new study published in the science journal PLoS ONE, found placebos may work even when patients are aware that they are taking them.

27 Dec 2010

Vitamin D levels of newborns appear to predict their risk of respiratory infections

The vitamin D levels of newborn babies appear to predict their risk of respiratory infections during infancy and the occurrence of wheezing during early childhood, but not the risk of developing asthma. Results of a study in the January 2011 issue of Pediatrics support the theory that widespread vitamin D deficiency contributes to risk of infections.

27 Dec 2010

New findings may solve mystery about how starvation hormone affects multiple biological systems

New findings by UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers may solve a 17-year-old mystery about how the so-called "starvation hormone" affects multiple biological systems, including preventing insulin sensitivity and promoting cell survival.

27 Dec 2010

Stem cell therapy helps patient with diabetes gangrene recover from foot ulcer: ICMS conference

During ICMS Annual International Congress on Regenerative and Cell Based Medicine Conference held on November 12, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada, it was announced that a patient with complications of diabetes gangrene recovered from foot ulcer through stem cell therapy.

27 Dec 2010

New derivation of stem cells from fat cells hold promise for therapeutic, cosmetic benefits

Two studies appearing in the current issue of Cell Transplantation 19(10) discuss stem cells derived from adipose (fat) cells and their potential use in plastic surgery and tissue reconstruction. The studies are now freely available on-line at http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/cog/ct/ .

24 Dec 2010

Growth hormone may be hazardous for middle aged and older people

A compound which acts in the opposite way as growth hormone can reverse some of the signs of aging, a research team that includes a Saint Louis University physician has shown. The finding may be counter-intuitive to some older adults who take growth hormone, thinking it will help revitalize them.

24 Dec 2010

China emerging as world leader in stem-cell R&D

Recent breakthroughs show that China is emerging as a world leader in stem-cell research and development, says Emerging Healthcare Solutions President and CEO Cindy Morrissey.

24 Dec 2010

Medicine News and Research

CFTR protein regulates inflammation and cell death in emphysema, chronic lung diseases

Winter grips Scotland with unprecedented rise in health concerns

Experimental device for obstructive sleep apnea

Top weight-loss behaviors

NEI awards Case Western Reserve $10M for study of retinal diseases

Patients unresponsive to anti-anemia drug have higher risk of cardiovascular disease, death

Study reports ROP18 protein protects parasite in host cell

Alcohol worries

Chindex announces joint venture deal with Fosun Pharma

International reference standards for use of bone turnover markers in clinical studies recommended

ACT, Roslin Cells collaborate to establish hESC line bank using single-ceblastomere technique

Researchers receive $6.78 million NIH grant for community-based study on heart disease

Cancer survival rates improving

Placebos work

Vitamin D levels of newborns appear to predict their risk of respiratory infections

New findings may solve mystery about how starvation hormone affects multiple biological systems

Stem cell therapy helps patient with diabetes gangrene recover from foot ulcer: ICMS conference

New derivation of stem cells from fat cells hold promise for therapeutic, cosmetic benefits

Growth hormone may be hazardous for middle aged and older people

China emerging as world leader in stem-cell R&D

Industry Focus eBook - Cell & Gene Therapy (1st Edition) eBook

Bringing real-time analytics to downstream bioprocess monitoring

Designing fluidic architecture for scalable diagnostic platforms

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

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