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Ophthalmology professor receives $60,000 RPB award to research Sjogren's syndrome

Hui Shao, MD, PhD, associate professor of ophthalmology and visual sciences at the University of Louisville School of Medicine, has received a $60,000 Lew R. Wasserman Merit Award from the Research to Prevent Blindness (RPB) organization. The grant will help fund Shao's research of Sjogren's syndrome, a chronic autoimmune disease that targets the salivary and lacrimal glands - the glands that produce saliva and tears, respectively - resulting in dry mouth and dry eye symptoms.

13 Jul 2010

SPET-085 is effective in blocking critical enzyme that leads to BPH: Study

A new study, published in the July issue of Advances in Therapy, revealed that a novel saw palmetto extract, SPET-085, is as effective as finasteride, the standard prescription drug therapy, in blocking the critical enzyme that leads to benign prostatic hyperplasia.

13 Jul 2010

History of sexual abuse associated with lifetime diagnosis of multiple psychiatric disorders

New research finds that a history of sexual abuse, regardless of the victim's gender or age when the abuse occurred, correlates strongly with a lifetime diagnosis of multiple psychiatric disorders.

13 Jul 2010

New study on impact of bortezomib on mantle cell lymphoma

A new study by researchers from the John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center sheds light on how bortezomib (VELCADE-), the first in a new class of cancer drugs known as proteasome inhibitors, works in mantle cell lymphoma. The study also provides preliminary evidence for which patients might benefit most from bortezomib.

13 Jul 2010

Men who enter adult life obese are at increased risk of premature death

Men who enter adult life obese face a life-long doubling of the risk of dying prematurely, new research has found.

13 Jul 2010

New study shows SAVI radiation therapy controls rate of breast cancer

A new study of breast cancer patients at the Moores UCSD Cancer Center and the Arizona Oncology Services shows that after almost two years, the radiation given with the Strut-Adjusted Volume Implant controls the rate of cancer and may reduce the complications seen with alternate types of brachytherapy.

13 Jul 2010

Stem cell transplantation from healthy donor helps cure aggressive form of CLL

The transplantation of stem cells from a healthy donor (allogeneic) offers the chance of cure for patients with an aggressive form of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), irrespective of genetic prognostic factors and the prior course of the disease. The German CLL Study Group proved this in a multicentric clinical phase II study led by Professor Dr. Peter Dreger, senior consultant and head of the division of stem cell transplantation at the Department of Internal Medicine V at Heidelberg University Hospital.

13 Jul 2010

Intensive weight loss intervention program reduces hot flushes in overweight, obese women

Among overweight and obese women with bothersome hot flushes during menopause, an intensive weight loss intervention program may lead to improvements in flushing, according to a report in the July 12 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

13 Jul 2010

BIOTRONIK publishes final results of landmark TRUST Trial in Circulation

BIOTRONIK, the pioneer of wireless remote monitoring technologies and leading manufacturer of implantable cardiac devices, announced today that the final results of the landmark TRUST Trial (Lumax-T/Lumos-T Safely RedUceS RouTine Office Device Follow-Up) have been published in the July 27, 2010 issue of Circulation. BIOTRONIK Home Monitoring is the industry's first and most advanced wireless remote monitoring system for patients with cardiac devices.

13 Jul 2010

Depression increases cardiovascular problems in men with erectile dysfunction

A new study in the Journal of Sexual Medicine found that the presence of depressive symptoms in men with erectile dysfunction constitutes a risk factor for a major cardiovascular event.

13 Jul 2010

Researchers examine impact of genetic ancestry on measures of lung function

Americans with lung disease may face a far greater level of lung damage than either they or their doctor suspect, depending on their individual genetic heritage, according to research published online July 7 in the New England Journal of Medicine. The research implications range from diagnosing the severity of asthma, to disability decisions or eligibility for lung transplants, researchers say.

13 Jul 2010

Sperian Respiratory Protection awarded VHA contract for 65,000 special configuration half-mask respirators

The U.S. Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has awarded Sperian Respiratory Protection USA a contract to purchase 65,000 special configuration modified Sperian Blue1 half-mask respirators with speaking diaphragm for use in VHA hospitals nationwide. VHA is the largest integrated healthcare system in the United States with over 150 hospitals and 130,000 healthcare workers. This award is a result of Sperian's emphasis on developing respiratory products that enhance speech intelligibility when worn by healthcare workers.

13 Jul 2010

Asuragen, Life Technologies announce European launch of BCR/ABL1 Quant Test

Asuragen, Inc. and Life Technologies Corporation announced today that they have achieved CE-marking and commercial launch in Europe of the BCR/ABL1 Quant™ Test, Asuragen's clinically validated and cGMP manufactured test intended to aid clinicians in the monitoring and treatment of individuals afflicted with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Asuragen manufacturers the monitoring test, which is exclusively distributed by Life Technologies and runs on the company's Applied Biosystems CE-marked 7500 Fast Dx Real-Time PCR Instrument™.

13 Jul 2010

Sleep apnea may increase risk of heart disease and death by 68%: Study

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) that leads to snoring and is actually caused by frequent collapse of the airway during sleep makes it difficult for sufferers to breathe for periods lasting as long as 10 seconds. Severe sufferers may have 30 such apnoeic or breathless episodes per hour that can severely disrupt sleep.

13 Jul 2010

Weight loss related to fewer hot flashes in menopausal women: study

Hot flashes are an uncomfortable and distressing part of menopause that many women go through. Hot flashes also known as hot flushes are usually sudden sweatiness and redness in the face that can remain for four or five years into menopause. Now researchers have shown that losing weight may help reduce these symptoms.

13 Jul 2010

Biomet fourth-quarter net sales increase 10% to $702.5M

Biomet, Inc. announced today financial results for its fourth quarter and fiscal year ended May 31, 2010.

13 Jul 2010

Larger heads may protect against Alzheimer’s disease: Study

A larger head may be offer natural protection against dementia and Alzheimer’s disease say researchers in a study conducted on 270 patients and published in the journal Neurology.

13 Jul 2010

Telemedicine plays important role in providing access to care for Medi-Cal members

According to US Department of Health and Human Services, compared with urban Americans, rural residents have higher poverty rates, have fewer doctors, hospitals, and other health resources, and face more difficulty getting to health services. Beginning 2014, when health care reform becomes effective, an estimated 2.4 million Californians will be newly-eligible for Medi-Cal.

13 Jul 2010

Preclinical results of TH-302 presented at AACR Translational Cancer Medicine Meeting

Threshold Pharmaceuticals, Inc., today announced two preclinical presentations on its clinical stage hypoxia-activated prodrug, TH-302, at the American Association for Cancer Research Translational Cancer Medicine Meeting, being held July 11 to 14, 2010, in San Francisco, CA. The preclinical presentations describe new findings regarding the efficacy of TH-302 when combined with multi-kinase inhibitors that inhibit VEGF signaling, as well as the efficacy of TH-302 in combination with gemcitabine in models of pancreatic cancer.

13 Jul 2010

APIC survey uncovers barriers in adoption of best practices for CRBSI prevention in hospitals

Hospitals still struggle to prevent avoidable healthcare-associated infections, according to a survey of infection preventionists released today by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology. Half of those surveyed agree that catheter-related bloodstream infections continue to be a problem in their facilities and cite lack of time, resources, and the commitment of hospital leadership as hindering their ability to combat these infections more aggressively.

13 Jul 2010