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UC3M researchers developing a prototype for extracting drug interactions

A pharmacological interaction occurs when the effects of a one drug are modified by the presence of another. The consequences can be harmful if the interaction causes an increase in the toxicity of the drug or if it diminishes its effect, possibly even causing the patient's death, in the worst case scenario. At present, there are databases for checking possible interactions between drugs administered to patients, but the main problem is that many of the databases are not updated for three years.

1 Dec 2009

Researchers devise new tools for typing cells from children with acute lymphatic leukemia

Researchers at Uppsala University and University Children's Hospital in Uppsala have devised powerful new tools for typing cells from children with acute lymphatic leukemia and for prediction of how children with leukemia will respond to chemotherapy.

28 Nov 2009

Researchers uncover atomic-level action of ring-shaped protein motors

The atomic-level action of a remarkable class of ring-shaped protein motors has been uncovered by researchers with the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) using a state-of-the-art protein crystallography beamline at the Advanced Light Source (ALS).

25 Nov 2009

SIRO Clinpharm and Mediscis team up to expand clinical development plans

SIRO Clinpharm, a global Contract Research Organization (CRO) with bases in India, US, Europe and Israel today announced their alliance with Mediscis, an early drug development company based in Poitiers and La Rochelle, France.

18 Nov 2009

Startling new mammogram guidelines incite debate about risk, cost

The Washington Post: "Women in their 40s should stop routinely having annual mammograms and older women should cut back to one scheduled exam every other year, an influential federal task force has concluded, challenging the use of one of the most common medical tests" (Stein, 11/17).

17 Nov 2009

Gene variants which influence insulin metabolism can also affect birth weight

Low birth weight increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life. Until recently scientists had attributed this to maternal malnutrition during pregnancy. However, now it seems that genetic background may also play a major role. A research team of Technische Universität München and Helmholtz Zentrum München has now demonstrated, that gene variants which influence insulin metabolism can also affect birth weight.

12 Nov 2009

Health information technology's 11% combined annual growth rate to continue through 2013: Scientia Advisors

Health information technology (HIT) is the fastest growing segment of the $1 trillion global health care marketplace—and its “impressive” 11 per cent combined annual growth rate is likely to continue through 2013, according to a Scientia Advisors global industry review released today.

10 Nov 2009

Experts gather to outline the latest creative applications of DNA barcoding

The scientific ability to quickly and accurately identify species through DNA "barcoding" is being embraced and applied by a growing legion of global authorities - from medical and agricultural researchers to police and customs authorities to palaeontologists and others.

7 Nov 2009

Scientists receive $3 million from NIH to uncover how plants make medicinal compounds

Scientists at Michigan State University are receiving nearly $3 million from the National Institutes of Health to uncover how several popular plants make medicinal compounds.

6 Nov 2009

CIGNA reports consolidated revenues of $4.5 billion for the third quarter of 2009

CIGNA Corporation today reported shareholders’ net income of $329 million, or $1.19 per share, for the third quarter of 2009 compared with shareholders’ net income of $171 million, or $0.62 per share, for the same period last year. Shareholders’ net income for the third quarter 2009 included income related to the variable annuity products within our Run-off Reinsurance segment of $16 million after-tax, or $0.06 per share, primarily related to favorable performance in the equity markets.

5 Nov 2009

Aureus Pharma to provide new AurSCOPE knowledge databases for sanofi-aventis’ R&D division

Aureus Pharma, a leading provider of knowledge management solutions to accelerate discovery in the life sciences industry, announces today the extension of its knowledge database agreement with sanofi-aventis research & development for an additional three-year term.

5 Nov 2009

Superior Global Solutions acquires assets and business of HTI Technologies

Superior Global Software, LLC a wholly owned subsidiary of Superior Global Solutions, Inc. a leader in healthcare outsourcing, today announced that it has completed its acquisition of the assets and business of HTI Technologies, Inc., a developer and provider of medical documentation and workflow management software based in Marietta, Georgia. HTI boasts a prestigious slate of many of the top healthcare clients across the US. Under the terms of the agreement, Superior Global purchased substantially all of the assets of HTI for an undisclosed sum.

5 Nov 2009

EFOF's initative to raise epilepsy awareness

Each year, some 50,000 Americans die from seizures and related causes, triggering more deaths annually than breast cancer. The Epilepsy Foundation of Florida (EFOF) is working to educate the public about this condition during November, Epilepsy Awareness Month.

4 Nov 2009

CareTech Solutions signs agreement to acquire IGCN

CareTech Solutions, Inc. (www.caretechsolutions.com) announced today the firm has reached agreement in principle to acquire IGCN (www.IGCN.com). CareTech Solutions is an information technology and web products and services provider for hospitals and health systems and IGCN provides solutions for hospitals to build and manage robust websites.

3 Nov 2009

HealthEdge launches Benefit Predictor enterprise-class software platform

HealthEdge, provider of the only modern, enterprise-class software platform for healthcare payors, today announced the availability of Benefit Predictor, a revolutionary new capability that is now a standard part of its HealthRules Payor application. This new functionality provides HealthEdge clients with a significant competitive advantage related to both transparency and customer service, as it enables them to quickly and easily answer the most complex benefit questions from their members and providers.

28 Oct 2009

Follow healthy lifestyle to overturn genetic predisposition to heart disease

When it comes to heart disease, lifestyle usually trumps genetics, says noted genetic researcher Dr. Robert Hegele, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada Lecturer at the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress 2009.

23 Oct 2009

Methyl-Seq and Ultra-Deep Resequencing applications from RainDance Technologies

RainDance Technologies, Inc., a leading provider of innovative microdroplet-based solutions for human health and disease research, announced today it will extend the capabilities of its Sequence Enrichment Solution by offering Methyl-Seq and Ultra-Deep Resequencing applications.

23 Oct 2009

LANL and international researchers propose new genome sequence strategies

A team of geneticists at Los Alamos National Laboratory, together with a consortium of international researchers, has recently proposed a set of standards designed to elucidate the quality of publicly available genetic sequencing information.

22 Oct 2009

Genomes of two E. coli bacteria strains sequenced and analyzed

An international team of researchers from the United States, Korea, and France has sequenced and analyzed the genomes of two important laboratory strains of E. coli bacteria, one used to study evolution and the other to produce proteins for basic research or practical applications. The findings will help guide future research and will also open a window to a deeper understanding of classical research that is the foundation of our understanding of basic molecular biology and genetics.

21 Oct 2009

New workflow automation system from Illumina

At the 59th annual meeting of the American Society of Human Genetics, Illumina, Inc. announced the launch and immediate availability of cBot, a new standard for ease-of-use and sequencing workflow automation.

From Illumina, Inc. 21 Oct 2009