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South Pacific drink Kava safe and effective in reducing anxiety

Researchers at the University of Queensland in Australia have found a traditional extract of Kava, a medicinal plant from the South Pacific, to be safe and effective in reducing anxiety.

12 May 2009

FDA approves Samsca tablets (tolvaptan) to treat hyponatremia

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Samsca tablets (tolvaptan) to treat hyponatremia, an abnormally low concentration of sodium in the blood.

8 May 2009

Merck Serono starts second phase III trial of Safinamide in advanced Parkinson's

Merck Serono announced today the initiation of the SETTLE study. This study will evaluate the efficacy and safety of a dose range of safinamide (50-100 mg once daily) as add-on therapy to a stable dose of levodopa, in mid- to late-stage Parkinson's disease patients with motor fluctuations compared to placebo.

7 May 2009

FDA approve Fanapt tablets (iloperidone) to treat adults with schizophrenia

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Fanapt tablets (iloperidone) to treat adults with schizophrenia, a chronic, severe and disabling brain disorder.

7 May 2009

New antidepressants might be no more effective than the best existing drugs

The reviews suggest that sertraline - sold under the brand name Zoloft since 1991- could be the best initial choice of antidepressant in people with acute major depression. The generic formulation produced the best balance of effectiveness, tolerability and purchase price, the authors say.

5 May 2009

Children's characteristics may determine response to inhaled corticosteroid therapy for asthma

In a study published online in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and five other sites nationwide found that children who showed the most improvement in days without wheezing using an inhaled corticosteroid drug were caucasian boys who had allergies and had a hospitalization or emergency department visit for asthma symptoms in the year prior to the trial.

5 May 2009

Tea may be new treatment for type-2 diabetics

The researchers have harvested the ingredients for the tea in Africa, totalling approximately fifty kilos of leaves and three hundred kilos of fruit from the wild nature of Nigeria. Afterwards the tea has been produced exactly as local healers would do so. The recipe is quite simple: boil the leaves, young stalks and fruit and filter the liquid.

5 May 2009

Zinc supplementation can be ineffective in the treatment of diarrhea

Zinc supplementation can be ineffective in the treatment of diarrhea. A randomised controlled trial published in the open access journal BMC Medicine has shown that supplementation with either zinc or zinc and copper is no more effective than placebo.

5 May 2009

A negative mGluR5 allosteric modulator shows efficacy in treating acute migraine attacks

When migraine strikes, because of severe pain, often accompanied by nausea and sensitivity to light and sound, sufferers are effectively disabled for up to 72 hours.

30 Apr 2009

Cosmetic anti-ageing product shown to reduce wrinkles

Scientists testing a cosmetic anti-ageing product sold on the high street have shown it can clinically reduce wrinkles and improve the appearance of skin damaged by everyday exposure to sunlight.

From The University of Manchester 30 Apr 2009

Are we cherry picking participants for studies of antidepressants?

Findings from clinical studies used to gain Food and Drug Administration approval of common antidepressants are not applicable to most patients with depression, according to a report led by the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health.

30 Apr 2009

Experimental immunotherapy significantly prolongs survival in men with advanced prostate cancer

Sipuleucel-T (Provenge), an experimental immunotherapy improved survival in men with metastatic disease, according to new results to be presented April 28 at the American Urological Association (AUA) Annual Scientific Meeting in Chicago.

29 Apr 2009

Researchers investigate the effects of oxytocin on human couple interactions

Relationships are difficult and most of us probably think at some point that communicating positively with our partner when discussing stressful issues, like home finances, is an impossible task.

29 Apr 2009

Pregabalin shows potential for restless legs syndrome - improves sleep

A drug widely used to treat seizures and anxiety appears to be an effective treatment for restless legs syndrome (RLS) and helps people with the disorder get a better night's sleep, according to a study that will be presented as part of the Late-breaking Science Program at the American Academy of Neurology's 61st Annual Meeting in Seattle.

29 Apr 2009

Boots OTC anti-aging cosmetic shown to reduce wrinkles

A product sold over the counter (OTC) in chemists across Britain has been shown to reduce wrinkles and improve the appearance of skin damaged by everyday exposure to sunlight.

29 Apr 2009

Household bleach has a surprising new role: an effective treatment for kids' chronic eczema

Researchers from the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine have discovered powerful relief in the form of diluted beach baths. It's a cheap, simple and safe treatment that drastically improves the rash as well as reduces flare-ups of eczema, which affects 17 percent of school-age children.

27 Apr 2009

Placebo News and Research

South Pacific drink Kava safe and effective in reducing anxiety

FDA approves Samsca tablets (tolvaptan) to treat hyponatremia

Merck Serono starts second phase III trial of Safinamide in advanced Parkinson's

FDA approve Fanapt tablets (iloperidone) to treat adults with schizophrenia

New antidepressants might be no more effective than the best existing drugs

Children's characteristics may determine response to inhaled corticosteroid therapy for asthma

Tea may be new treatment for type-2 diabetics

Zinc supplementation can be ineffective in the treatment of diarrhea

A negative mGluR5 allosteric modulator shows efficacy in treating acute migraine attacks

Cosmetic anti-ageing product shown to reduce wrinkles

Are we cherry picking participants for studies of antidepressants?

Experimental immunotherapy significantly prolongs survival in men with advanced prostate cancer

Researchers investigate the effects of oxytocin on human couple interactions

Pregabalin shows potential for restless legs syndrome - improves sleep

Boots OTC anti-aging cosmetic shown to reduce wrinkles

Household bleach has a surprising new role: an effective treatment for kids' chronic eczema

Tadalafil may improve lower urinary tract symptoms in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia

Roche and Pharmasset start phase IIb clinical trial of R7128 nucleoside polymerase inhibitor for chronic hepatitis C

New lidocaine-prilocaine spray may treat premature ejaculation

Pomegranate juice may slow the progression of post-treatment prostate cancer recurrence

Sensing a Healthier Future

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

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