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Researchers identify bouncer protein that plays a vital role in RA prevention

Researchers at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine have discovered why the immune cells of people with rheumatoid arthritis become hyperactive and attack the joints and bones. The immune cells have lost their bouncer, the burly protein that keeps them in line the same way a bouncer in a nightclub controls rowdy patrons.

8 Sep 2011

Studies examine overuse of scans in determining status of prostate cancer

During Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, researchers will publish the findings of two studies examining the use, or overuse, of scans in determining the status or level of a patient's prostate cancer after diagnosis. "Typically, patients with an elevated PSA level undergo a prostate biopsy to confirm the presence of cancer.

8 Sep 2011

APS sponsors 7th International Symposium on Aldosterone and the ENaC/Degenerin Family of Ion Channels

The American Physiological Society is sponsoring the 7th International Symposium on Aldosterone and the ENaC/Degenerin Family of Ion Channels, being held September 18-22 at the Asilomar Conference Grounds in Pacific Grove, Calif. This scientific conference explores the connection between fluid balance in the body and hypertension, a growing global health concern.

8 Sep 2011

Developing technologies to improve treatment of craniosynostosis in babies

Engineers and surgeons are working together to improve the treatment of babies born with craniosynostosis, a condition that causes the bone plates in the skull to fuse too soon. Treating this condition typically requires surgery after birth to remove portions of the fused skull bones, and in some cases the bones grow together again too quickly -- requiring additional surgeries.

8 Sep 2011

FDA to review bone drugs; CDC reports parasite may be a risk to blood supply

Two advisory panels of the Food and Drug Administration will consider on Friday whether to recommend requiring women who use popular bone drugs like Fosamax to take "drug holidays" because of rising concerns about rare side effects with long-term use, according to people involved in the review.

7 Sep 2011

SFDA approves MedWaves' AveCure microwave coagulation-ablation system for cancer

MedWaves' AveCure microwave coagulation-ablation (MWA) system uses microwave energy to volumetrically coagulate-ablate (destroy) soft-tissue lesions safely, effectively, precisely and with repeatability.

7 Sep 2011

New bone marrow-derived stem cell therapy can benefit patients with degenerative disc disease

Neurosurgery researchers at UC Davis Health System have used a new, leading-edge stem cell therapy to promote the growth of bone tissue following the removal of cervical discs -- the cushions between the bones in the neck -- to relieve chronic, debilitating pain.

7 Sep 2011

Study on effects of adult stem cell treatments in patients with Hereditary Ataxia

The Journal of Translational Medicine reports on a new study in which 30 patients with Hereditary Ataxia showed statistically significant improvements in functionality and quality of life after being treated with a combination of cord blood-derived stem cell treatments and physical therapy.

7 Sep 2011

IOF presents eight young investigator awards to researchers across the world

Eight IOF Young Investigator Awards were presented by the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) to young researchers from Australia, China, India and Japan, in recognition of their outstanding work. The awards, valued at 1,000 USD each, were awarded to the highest scored abstracts by researchers under the age of 40.

7 Sep 2011

Researchers use ultrasound to improve quality of blood stem cell transplant

Transplantation of haematopoietic stem cells is an effective treatment for patients with malignant blood diseases. The composition and quality of the transplanted cells are crucial to the outcome. Researchers from Lund University, Sweden, have now developed a method to improve the quality of the transplanted cells using ultrasound for cell separation.

7 Sep 2011

FDA reviews safety issues of bisphosphonates for osteoporosis

An advisory committee for U.S. Food and Drug Administration meets Friday to review the safety of a popular class of osteoporosis drugs called bisphosphonates amid worry that their long-term use could cause rare fractures of the thighbones and affect the jawbone. The committee will evaluate whether women should temporarily stop using the drugs or use them for only a few years.

6 Sep 2011

Vertex VX-509 12-week Phase 2a study on RA meets two primary endpoints

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated today announced that treatment with the investigational selective oral JAK3 inhibitor VX-509 in a Phase 2a trial resulted in substantial and statistically significant improvements in multiple measurements of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) activity.

6 Sep 2011

First Edition: September 6, 2011

Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations include reports from a GOP presidential candidate forum in South Carolina and analysis of what to expect as Congress returns to Washington.

6 Sep 2011

The Arthritis Society warns Canadians to check for OA

Canadians who never have their joint pains and aches examined by a doctor could be making the problem much worse, The Arthritis Society warns.

6 Sep 2011

Amakem receives €18m in Series A round of funding

Amakem NV today announced it has raised €18m with a syndicate of leading life sciences investors to advance its ophthalmology drug development portfolio and progress its lead candidate, AMA0076 for glaucoma, to clinical proof of concept.

6 Sep 2011

Researchers reveal mechanism behind how cells communicate

Cell communication is essential for the development of any organism. Scientists know that cells have the power to "talk" to one another, sending signals through their membranes in order to "discuss" what kind of cell they will ultimately become - whether a neuron or a hair, bone, or muscle. And because cells continuously multiply, it's easy to imagine a cacophony of communication.

6 Sep 2011

Researchers discover new genetic defect that predisposes people to leukemia, myelodysplasia

A new genetic defect that predisposes people to acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplasia has been discovered. The mutations were found in the GATA2 gene. Among its several regulatory roles, the gene acts as a master control during the transition of primitive blood-forming cells into white blood cells.

5 Sep 2011

Study describes new class of anti-diabetic compound that targets unique molecular switch

In a joint study, scientists from The Scripps Research Institute and Harvard University's Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have established a new class of anti-diabetic compound that targets a unique molecular switch.

5 Sep 2011

Researchers discover protein signals responsible for preserving anti-viral antibodies

Our immune system is capable of a remarkable feat: the ability to remember infections for years, even decades, after they have first been encountered and defeated. While the antibodies we make last only about a month, we retain the means of making them for a lifetime.

3 Sep 2011

Researchers inject cultured red blood cells created from HSCs into human donor

For the first time, researchers have successfully injected cultured red blood cells (cRBCs) created from human hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) into a human donor, according to study results published today in Blood, the Journal of the American Society of Hematology.

3 Sep 2011