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JANUMET results in greater blood sugar reductions in patients with type 2 diabetes compared to pioglitazone

New data were presented at the American Diabetes Association 70th Annual Scientific Sessions from a study comparing JANUMET (sitagliptin/metformin) to pioglitazone. In this study, JANUMET resulted in significantly greater blood sugar reductions in patients with type 2 diabetes compared with pioglitazone.

28 Jun 2010

Antioxidant therapy may prevent long-lasting cognitive impairment in cerebral malaria: Research

Using an experimental mouse model for malaria, an international group of scientists has discovered that adding antioxidant therapy to traditional antimalarial treatment may prevent long-lasting cognitive impairment in cerebral malaria. Their findings were published online June 24, 2010, in the journal PLoS Pathogens.

28 Jun 2010

Data on MetAP2 inhibitors for treatment of obesity presented at ADA 2010

Zafgen, Inc., a pharmaceutical company pioneering novel obesity therapeutics to help the body regain and sustain a lean, healthy state by targeting imbalances in fat metabolism, today announced data on ZGN-201, a prototype methionine aminopeptidase 2 inhibitor, for the treatment of obesity. Preclinical studies demonstrate MetAP2 inhibition eliminates excess body weight through the regulation of fat metabolism and food intake, and normalizes glucose tolerance in animal models.

28 Jun 2010

New findings could lead to simple dietary solutions, possible therapeutics for gestational diabetes

The cause of diabetes during pregnancy is directly controlled by serotonin, a chemical produced by the body and normally known as a neurotransmitter, and is influenced by the amount of protein in the mother's diet early in pregnancy, according to new findings of an international team led by researchers at UCSF.

28 Jun 2010

FDA approves OraQuick HCV Rapid Antibody Test for HCV

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today announced approval of the first rapid blood test for antibodies to the hepatitis C virus for individuals 15 years and older.

25 Jun 2010

Antiviral therapy prevents recurrence of HCC, extends patients' lives, researchers report

Previous studies have shown that antiviral treatment reduces the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with chronic hepatitis B. But now, researchers from the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Thomas Jefferson University are reporting that the antiviral therapy also prevents recurrence of HCC and extends patients' lives.

25 Jun 2010

New method to synthesize drug candidates for testing

Some drugs may be more effective the longer they last inside the body. To prevent such drugs from being broken down too rapidly, pharmaceutical manufacturers often attach a fluorine-containing structure called a trifluoromethyl group. However, the processes now used require harsh reaction conditions or only work in a small number of cases, limiting their usefulness for synthesizing new drug candidates for testing.

25 Jun 2010

Cyclosporine treatment develops higher de novo cancer risk in liver transplant patients: Researchers

Researchers at Erasmus MC University Medical Centre in The Netherlands found that cyclosporine treatment is a significant risk factor for the development of de novo cancer in liver transplant patients. Full details appear in the July issue of Liver Transplantation, a journal published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases.

25 Jun 2010

UH researchers analyze 'wireless connections' in brain to prevent neurological diseases

Many diseases of brain function, such as epilepsy and schizophrenia, are caused by problems in how neurons communicate with each other. A University of Houston researcher and his team are analyzing these commands and connections in an attempt to prevent those diseases.

25 Jun 2010

St. Luke's joins Dr. John Goss in celebration of his 1,000th liver transplantation procedure

St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital (St. Luke's) joins John Goss, M.D., in celebrating his milestone as he recently performed his 1,000th liver transplantation procedure. The largest liver transplant program in Houston's world-renowned Texas Medical Center, St. Luke's performs approximately 75 liver transplants annually. Additionally, St. Luke's liver transplant survival rate is the highest in the nation, with a one-year adult patient survival rate of 96.5 percent compared to the national expected survival rate of 89.38 percent.

24 Jun 2010

June issue of Clinic Women's HealthSource provides overview of anemia

Anemia is not a normal part of aging, yet it's fairly common in older adults and causes frailness, weakness and increased risk of falls. According to Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource, more than one in 10 older adults has anemia. Twenty percent of women are anemic by age 85.

24 Jun 2010

Health Diagnostic Laboratory announces new capability to run CYP2C19 genetic test

Health Diagnostic Laboratory, Inc., a leader in disease state management, today announced its new capability to run the CYP2C19 genetic test. HDL, Inc., headquartered in the Virginia Biotechnology Research Park, has added CYP2C19 to its comprehensive panel of tests to help physicians better personalize treatment based on an expanded, total patient profile.

24 Jun 2010

Diet with high fructose, trans fats lead to fatty liver disease with scar tissue

Scientists at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center have discovered that a diet with high levels of fructose - levels equivalent to that in high fructose corn syrup - and of trans fats not only increases obesity, but also leads to significant fatty liver disease with scar tissue.

23 Jun 2010

Researchers treat acute kidney injury using cells genetically reprogrammed to produce protein

A protein whose primary role is in the embryonic development of kidneys may play a future role in treating kidney failure. Indiana University School of Medicine researchers have successfully treated acute kidney injury in laboratory experiments using cells that were genetically reprogrammed to produce the protein. The research suggests there could be a potential future treatment using such cells delivered intravenously instead of surgically.

23 Jun 2010

Nuon study confirms potential utility of tranilast as uricosuric agent

Nuon Therapeutics, Inc., a privately held, clinical stage biopharmaceutical company, announced that results from clinical and preclinical studies demonstrating the ability of tranilast to reduce serum uric acid levels and monosodium urate crystal-induced inflammation - two important risk factors for gout - were presented at The European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) 2010 Annual European Congress of Rheumatology in Rome, Italy, June 16-19, 2010.

22 Jun 2010

Women with PCOS may be more vulnerable to BPA exposure: Study

Women with the polycystic ovary syndrome, the most common hormone imbalance in women of reproductive age, may be more vulnerable to exposure to the chemical bisphenol A, found in many plastic household items, according to a new study. The results will be presented Sunday at The Endocrine Society's 92nd Annual Meeting in San Diego.

22 Jun 2010

Pfizer announces voluntary withdrawal of Mylotarg from U.S. market following FDA request

Pfizer Inc. today announced the voluntary withdrawal from the U.S. market of the drug Mylotarg (gemtuzumab ozogamicin) for patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a bone marrow cancer. The company took the action at the request of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration after results from a recent clinical trial raised new concerns about the product's safety and the drug failed to demonstrate clinical benefit to patients enrolled in trials.

22 Jun 2010

Discoveries in study and manipulation of human ES cells win first prize in research competition

World-recognized discoveries in the study and manipulation of human embryonic stem cells have won first prize in a prestigious applied research competition for a Hebrew University of Jerusalem researcher.

22 Jun 2010

Experimental cure for Type 1 diabetes

Researchers have developed an experimental cure for Type 1 diabetes, a disease that affects about one in every 400 to 600 children and adolescents. They will present their results in a mouse model of Type 1 diabetes on Sunday at The Endocrine Society's 92nd Annual Meeting in San Diego.

21 Jun 2010

LIVALO for primary hyperlipidemia or mixed dyslipidemia now available in U.S.

Kowa Pharmaceuticals America, Inc., and Eli Lilly and Company today announced that LIVALO® (pitavastatin) tablets is now available in retail pharmacies throughout the United States. LIVALO, a statin medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in August 2009 is indicated for adults as an adjunctive therapy to diet for the treatment of primary hyperlipidemia or mixed dyslipidemia. LIVALO is available in doses of 1 mg, 2 mg and 4 mg.

21 Jun 2010

Liver News and Research

JANUMET results in greater blood sugar reductions in patients with type 2 diabetes compared to pioglitazone

Antioxidant therapy may prevent long-lasting cognitive impairment in cerebral malaria: Research

Data on MetAP2 inhibitors for treatment of obesity presented at ADA 2010

New findings could lead to simple dietary solutions, possible therapeutics for gestational diabetes

FDA approves OraQuick HCV Rapid Antibody Test for HCV

Antiviral therapy prevents recurrence of HCC, extends patients' lives, researchers report

New method to synthesize drug candidates for testing

Cyclosporine treatment develops higher de novo cancer risk in liver transplant patients: Researchers

UH researchers analyze 'wireless connections' in brain to prevent neurological diseases

St. Luke's joins Dr. John Goss in celebration of his 1,000th liver transplantation procedure

June issue of Clinic Women's HealthSource provides overview of anemia

Health Diagnostic Laboratory announces new capability to run CYP2C19 genetic test

Diet with high fructose, trans fats lead to fatty liver disease with scar tissue

Researchers treat acute kidney injury using cells genetically reprogrammed to produce protein

Nuon study confirms potential utility of tranilast as uricosuric agent

Women with PCOS may be more vulnerable to BPA exposure: Study

Pfizer announces voluntary withdrawal of Mylotarg from U.S. market following FDA request

Discoveries in study and manipulation of human ES cells win first prize in research competition

Experimental cure for Type 1 diabetes

LIVALO for primary hyperlipidemia or mixed dyslipidemia now available in U.S.

Designing fluidic architecture for scalable diagnostic platforms

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

Expanding access to NMR with the Fourier 80 Duo

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