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Common variations in genes associated with microcephaly may explain differences in brain size

A group of Norwegian and American researchers have shown that common variations in genes associated with microcephaly - a neuro-developmental disorder in which brain size is dramatically reduced - may explain differences in brain size in healthy individuals as well as in patients with neurological and psychiatric disorders.

22 Dec 2009

Transport medicine service reaches agreement with paramedics' union

Ornge, Ontario's transport medicine service provider, and the Canadian Auto Workers union (CAW), have successfully ratified their collective agreement on behalf of the organization's 180 flight and land paramedics.

22 Dec 2009

Smoking, weight and skin cancer are associated with skin aging

Smoking, being heavier, not using sunscreen and having had skin cancer appear to be associated with sun damage and aging of skin on the face, according to report based on a study of twins in the December issue of Archives of Dermatology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

22 Dec 2009

New findings reveal POPG lipid can prevent RSV infection in lungs

Researchers at National Jewish Health have discovered that a naturally occurring lipid in the lung can prevent RSV infection and inhibit spread of the virus after an infection is established. RSV is the major cause of hospitalization for children in the first two years of life, and is increasingly recognized as a dangerous pathogen in adults with chronic lung diseases, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals. Currently, there is no effective vaccine for the virus.

22 Dec 2009

BUSM researchers discover new gene therapy for treating emphysema patients

Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) have discovered a new gene therapy that may prevent the progression of emphysema. The study, which appears on-line in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, describes a method to express therapeutic genes in lung tissue for a lifetime after only a single treatment.

22 Dec 2009

AAPM dispels common myths about CT scans

A panel of experts at the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) has issued a statement calling for an open discussion of the facts about radiation hazards from computed tomography (CT) scanning in light of recent public concerns and news reports about radiation dose.

22 Dec 2009

Scientists identify new therapeutic approach for overcoming emphysema

Individuals with single-gene mutations that mean they have abnormally low levels of the protein alpha-1 antitrypsin are highly susceptible to emphysema, a progressive lung disease that causes severe shortness of breath.

22 Dec 2009

U.S. HealthWorks Medical Group acquires four HealthForce Occupational Medicine centers in Seattle

U.S. HealthWorks Medical Group, a leading operator of occupational health and urgent care centers in the nation, today announced the acquisition of four of the five HealthForce Occupational Medicine centers in Seattle, WA.

22 Dec 2009

Findings may help develop new antiviral drugs for influenza

Investigators at Burnham Institute for Medical Research (Burnham), Mount Sinai School of Medicine (Mount Sinai), the Salk Institute for Biological Studies (Salk) and the Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation (GNF) have identified 295 human cell factors that influenza A strains must harness to infect a cell, including the currently circulating swine-origin H1N1.

22 Dec 2009

EMSC acquires U.S. anesthesiology service providers

Emergency Medical Services Corporation (the “Company”) today announced that it has completed its acquisition of Pinnacle Consultants Mid Atlantic and the management services company of Pinnacle Anesthesia Consultants, P.A. (the “MSO”).

21 Dec 2009

MSD to distribute and market Labopharm's Tradorec XL in the U.K.

Labopharm Inc. today announced its wholly owned subsidiary, Labopharm Europe Limited, has completed a distribution and supply agreement with Merck Sharp & Dohme Limited (MSD), a United Kingdom (U.K.) subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., under which MSD will distribute and market Tradorec XL(R) (once-daily tramadol based on Labopharm's proprietary Contramid(R) technology).

21 Dec 2009

Technologies for optimizing medication adherence in older adults needed

Avoiding medication-related errors and improving medication adherence among older adults could save the nation billions of dollars and save thousands of lives, according to information included in "Technologies for Optimizing Medication Use in Older Adults," a recent report produced by the non-profit Center for Technology and Aging, and available at www.techandaging.org.

21 Dec 2009

Effectiveness of VSEL stem cells in regenerative medicine demonstrated at the ASH meeting

NeoStem, Inc. (NYSE Amex: NBS), which is a leading provider of pre-disease adult stem cell collection, processing and long-term storage services, and holds the exclusive, worldwide license to VSEL(TM) technology that uses very small embryonic-like stem cells isolated from peripheral blood, announced today that five posters and two oral presentations at the prestigious American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting in New Orleans in early December demonstrated the basic cellular mechanisms of very small embryonic-like stem cells.

21 Dec 2009

Organogenesis files a PMA with the FDA for its CelTx living cell-based technology

Organogenesis, Inc. announced today that it has filed a Premarket Approval Application (PMA) with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its CelTx(TM), a living cellular construct for oral soft tissue regeneration. If approved, CelTx will be the first, living cell-based technology that is FDA-approved for use in the dental market.

21 Dec 2009

Sanofi-aventis to acquire Chattem for $1.9 billion

Sanofi-aventis and Chattem, Inc. announced today that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which sanofi-aventis is to acquire 100 percent of the outstanding shares of Chattem in a cash tender offer for $93.50 per share, or approximately $1.9 billion.

21 Dec 2009

MEDNAX acquires neonatal physician group in Louisiana

MEDNAX, Inc., today announced the acquisition of a neonatal physician group based in Alexandria, Louisiana.

21 Dec 2009

Leicester doctor becomes President of International Federation for Emergency Medicine

A Leicester doctor who was a pioneer in developing emergency medical care in Leicestershire and throughout the world has become the first elected President of the International Federation for Emergency Medicine.

21 Dec 2009

Embryo biopsy does not adversely affect health of newborn singleton PGD/PGS children

The largest and longest running study of children born after preimplantation genetic diagnosis and screening has shown that embryo biopsy does not adversely affect the health of babies born as the result of a subsequent singleton pregnancy.

21 Dec 2009

U.S. Census Bureau highlights pioneering transplant procedures

The first successful organ transplant in the U.S. was performed this week in 1954 in Boston by Harvard Dr. Joseph Murray. He transplanted a kidney from one identical twin to another, who lived just over eight years. For his pioneering work on organ transplants, Dr. Murray received the Nobel Prize in medicine in 1990.

21 Dec 2009

Senate bill, a bad medicine and bad policy, say Medical groups

Medical groups with more than half-a-million members say the Senate bill is bad medicine and bad policy, and a number of their representatives will explain why during a "virtual" news conference on Sunday, Dec. 20 at 2 pm EST.

21 Dec 2009