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First Edition: November 5, 2009

Today's headlines center on the House health overhaul vote scheduled for Saturday -- what some are calling a potentially 'historic moment' for Democrats.

5 Nov 2009

Study finds oral dimercaptosuccinic acid effective in treating children with autism

Two studies published by the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in the October issue of BMC Clinical Pharmacology investigated the use of oral dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA), a prescription medicine approved by the FDA for treating lead poisoning, and used off-label in these studies for treating heavy metal toxicity in children with autism.

5 Nov 2009

Scientists identify molecular disparity between iPS cells and embryonic stem cells

The same genes that are chemically altered during normal cell differentiation, as well as when normal cells become cancer cells, are also changed in stem cells that scientists derive from adult cells, according to new research from Johns Hopkins and Harvard.

5 Nov 2009

Can American ginseng relieve health problems?

With the current outbreak of influenza-like illnesses, many people are trying to boost their immune systems with supplements. Ginseng is often a key ingredient, but its therapeutic use may extend far beyond that. Researchers are now investigating whether ginseng can help relieve health problems ranging from diabetes to depression to erectile dysfunction.

5 Nov 2009

Cell Therapeutics reports financial results for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2009

Cell Therapeutics, Inc. today reported recent achievements and financial results for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2009, which included a 45% decrease in the net loss attributable to common shareholders for the nine month period in 2009 compared to the same period in 2008.

5 Nov 2009

Asthma in 9/11 responders is two times greater than general US population

Responders to the 2001 World Trade Center (WTC) terrorist attacks, who were exposed to caustic dust and toxic pollutants following the 9/11 disaster, suffer from asthma at a rate more than twice that of the general US population, according to new research presented at CHEST 2009, the 75th annual international scientific assembly of the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP).

5 Nov 2009

Scientists identify a novel cellular source of atrial fibrillation

While studying how the heart is formed, scientists at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine serendipitously found a novel cellular source of atrial fibrillation (AF), the most common type of abnormal heart beat.

5 Nov 2009

Scientists differentiate human embryonic stem cells into lung epithelial tissue using air-liquid interface

Scientists in Belgium have successfully differentiated human embryonic stem cells (hESC) into major cell types of lung epithelial tissue using a convenient air-liquid interface.

5 Nov 2009

Evidence continues to grow about green tea's cancer prevention properties

Although scientists are reluctant to officially endorse green tea as a cancer prevention method, evidence continues to grow about its protective effects, including results of a new study published in Cancer Prevention Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, which suggests some reduction in oral cancer.

5 Nov 2009

Educational video induces girls diagnosed with PID to ensure partner treatment

A study at Johns Hopkins Children's Center found that girls diagnosed with pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) who watched a short educational video were three times more likely to discuss their condition with their partners and to ensure partner treatment than girls diagnosed and treated without seeing the film.

5 Nov 2009

CHANTIX/CHAMPIX raises hope for quitting smoking

New study results showed that 42.3 percent of smokers with mild-to-moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who took CHANTIX/CHAMPIX® (varenicline) were able to quit smoking and remain abstinent during the last four weeks of treatment (weeks 9-12) compared with 8.8 percent of those given placebo (p<0.0001). These findings were presented by investigators at CHEST 2009, the 75th annual international scientific assembly of the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP).

5 Nov 2009

USC: Heavy traffic corridors responsible for preventable childhood asthma

Heavy traffic corridors in the cities of Long Beach and Riverside are responsible for a significant proportion of preventable childhood asthma, and the true impact of air pollution and ship emissions on the disease has likely been underestimated, according to researchers at the University of Southern California (USC).

5 Nov 2009

Study demonstrates potential of human Serum Amyloid P to block very aggressive fibrotic pathology

Promedior, Inc., a leader in the development of novel therapeutics for the treatment of fibrotic diseases and tissue remodeling, announced today the publication of results from preclinical studies demonstrating that human Serum Amyloid P (hSAP) potently inhibited fibrosis in two independent model systems of kidney fibrosis.

5 Nov 2009

Pediatric physicians more likely to accept salve of religion when medicine fails the patient

Do pediatric oncologists feel that religion is a bridge or a barrier to their work? Or do they feel it can be either, depending on whether their patients are recovering or deteriorating? A novel Brandeis University study examines these questions in the current issue of Social Problems.

5 Nov 2009

InterMune seeks FDA marketing approval for pirfenidone

InterMune, Inc. today announced that it has submitted an electronic New Drug Application (NDA) with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) seeking approval to market pirfenidone for the treatment of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Pirfenidone has been granted Orphan Drug and Fast Track designation by the FDA, and also has been granted Orphan Drug status in Europe.

5 Nov 2009

Yoga may be more effective for reducing chronic low back pain, say researchers

Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) and Boston Medical Center found that yoga may be more effective than standard treatment for reducing chronic low back pain in minority populations. This study appears in the November issue of Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine.

5 Nov 2009

Raptor Pharmaceutical to present oral AMPA-kainate antagonist data at the neuropathic pain conference

Raptor Pharmaceutical Corp., today announced that data from a clinical trial of NGX426, the Company's orally administered non-opioid, AMPA/kainate antagonist, will be presented at the 12th International Conference on the Mechanisms and Treatment of Neuropathic Pain, to be held November 20-21, 2009 in San Francisco.

5 Nov 2009

Tetracycline-like compound raises hope for treatment of spinal muscular atrophy

A chemical cousin of the common antibiotic tetracycline might be useful in treating spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a currently incurable disease that is the leading genetic cause of death in infants. This is the finding of a research collaboration involving Adrian Krainer, Ph.D., of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) and scientists from Paratek Pharmaceuticals and Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science.

5 Nov 2009

NIAID funds CCHI and IMVC programs to help identify new vaccines for emerging infectious diseases

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, has awarded approximately $208 million to two programs that support research to better understand the human immune response to emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, including those that may be introduced into a community through acts of bioterrorism.

5 Nov 2009

USPTO awards Peregrine Pharmaceuticals patent for anti-viral uses of phosphatidylserine targeting antibodies

Peregrine Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued U.S. Patent Number 7,611,704, which includes broad claims covering anti-viral uses of phosphatidylserine (PS)-targeting antibodies including Peregrine's lead clinical compound, bavituximab. PS is a unique marker exposed on the surface of virally infected cells that can be targeted to treat a broad spectrum of virus infections.

5 Nov 2009

Medicine News and Research

First Edition: November 5, 2009

Study finds oral dimercaptosuccinic acid effective in treating children with autism

Scientists identify molecular disparity between iPS cells and embryonic stem cells

Can American ginseng relieve health problems?

Cell Therapeutics reports financial results for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2009

Asthma in 9/11 responders is two times greater than general US population

Scientists identify a novel cellular source of atrial fibrillation

Scientists differentiate human embryonic stem cells into lung epithelial tissue using air-liquid interface

Evidence continues to grow about green tea's cancer prevention properties

Educational video induces girls diagnosed with PID to ensure partner treatment

CHANTIX/CHAMPIX raises hope for quitting smoking

USC: Heavy traffic corridors responsible for preventable childhood asthma

Study demonstrates potential of human Serum Amyloid P to block very aggressive fibrotic pathology

Pediatric physicians more likely to accept salve of religion when medicine fails the patient

InterMune seeks FDA marketing approval for pirfenidone

Yoga may be more effective for reducing chronic low back pain, say researchers

Raptor Pharmaceutical to present oral AMPA-kainate antagonist data at the neuropathic pain conference

Tetracycline-like compound raises hope for treatment of spinal muscular atrophy

NIAID funds CCHI and IMVC programs to help identify new vaccines for emerging infectious diseases

USPTO awards Peregrine Pharmaceuticals patent for anti-viral uses of phosphatidylserine targeting antibodies

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Bringing real-time analytics to downstream bioprocess monitoring

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Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

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