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Preventable hospital deaths: around 12,000 in England each year

Around 12,000 deaths in acute hospitals in England each year could be prevented, suggests a data analysis published online in BMJ Quality and Safety.

13 Jul 2012

Overweight, obesity prevalent in psychiatric inpatients

Most inpatients with psychiatric disorders are overweight or obese, say Australian researchers who urge closer monitoring of the physical health of patients with mental illnesses.

12 Jul 2012

Researchers identify set of laboratory-based biomarkers that aid in diagnosis of schizophrenia

In the current online issue of PLoS ONE, researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine say they have identified a set of laboratory-based biomarkers that can be useful for understanding brain-based abnormalities in schizophrenia. The measurements, known as endophenotypes, could ultimately be a boon to clinicians who sometimes struggle to recognize and treat the complex and confounding mental disorder.

12 Jul 2012

Courtagen launches nucSEEKPDx assay

Courtagen Life Sciences, Inc., a privately held life sciences company that provides innovative proteomic and genomic products and services to the life sciences industry, today announced the expansion of their genetic test menu. The new genetic test, nucSEEKPDx, will sequence approximately 1,100 nuclear genes constituting the mitochondrial exome, which encodes the vast majority of proteins found in the mitochondrion. This test is by far the most comprehensive test on the market for the management of mitochondrial disorders.

11 Jul 2012

New diagnostic test for drug-resistant TB allows 'new approach' to fight disease

The widespread incidence of drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) "calls for a new approach to TB in the developing world," a Bloomberg editorial states.

11 Jul 2012

ACP, AAIM unveil high value care curriculum for internal medicine residents

The American College of Physicians (ACP) and the Alliance for Academic Internal Medicine (AAIM) today unveiled a high value, cost-conscious care curriculum to help train internal medicine residents about how to avoid overuse and misuse of tests and treatments that do not improve outcomes and may cause harms.

11 Jul 2012

Factors linked with MDD transition to BD identified

A wide range of demographic, clinical, and environmental factors are associated with an increased risk for transition from major depressive disorder to bipolar disorder, US study results show.

10 Jul 2012

Factors linked with MDD transition to BD identified

A wide range of demographic, clinical, and environmental factors are associated with an increased risk for transition from major depressive disorder to bipolar disorder, US study results show.

10 Jul 2012

Book outlines importance of Alzheimer's diagnosis and therapeutic interventions

Karger Medical Publishers Book On Cutting-Edge Alzheimer's Diagnosis and Therapy, with guidance from the Alzheimer's Association. This volume advances emerging concepts for therapeutic interventions and earlier detection and diagnosis of the global epidemic and features internationally leading experts' findings on biomarkers

10 Jul 2012

Oligomers may be responsible for onset of Alzheimer's

Alzheimer's disease is one of the most dreaded and debilitating illnesses one can develop. Currently, the disease afflicts 6.5 million Americans and the Alzheimer's Association projects it to increase to between 11 and 16 million, or 1 in 85 people, by 2050.

10 Jul 2012

Blocking a fundamental process deep within cancer cells can selectively kill them

Investigators reporting in the July issue of the Cell Press journal Cancer Cell have found that blocking a fundamental process deep within cancer cells can selectively kill them and spare normal cells.

10 Jul 2012

Diabetes far more widespread than previously thought

A third of the world's human population is infected with a dormant tuberculosis bacteria, primarily people living in developing countries. The bacteria presents a lifelong TB risk. Recent research out of the University of Copenhagen demonstrates that the risk of tuberculosis breaking out is four times as likely if a person also suffers from diabetes. Meanwhile, as a diabetic, a person is five times as likely to die during tuberculosis treatment.

10 Jul 2012

Viewpoints: Daschle says health law still has 4 hurdles; Commentators from states such as Calif., Texas and Florida wrestle with options

The GOP-controlled U.S. House plans to hold what can only be called symbolic votes on repealing the sweeping reforms they deride as "Obamacare." Meanwhile, at least 15 governors are said to be leaning toward refusing to expand state Medicaid programs -- a key part of the reform's strategy to provide some form of health insurance to the 32 million people now going without coverage.

10 Jul 2012

SurModics IVD to introduce BioFX TMB Extended Range HRP Microwell Substrate

SurModics IVD Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of SurModics, Inc. and a market leader for in vitro diagnostic assay components, is pleased to announce it will launch BioFX TMB Extended Range HRP Microwell Substrate (TMBX) at the American Association for Clinical Chemistry show in Los Angeles, CA from July 17-19, 2012.

9 Jul 2012

Luminex to acquire molecular diagnostics company, GenturaDx

Luminex Corporation today announced a definitive agreement to acquire privately-held, GenturaDx, a molecular diagnostics company focused on making nucleic acid testing both affordable and practical for any laboratory. GenturaDx is in late stage development of a fully integrated, highly automated, real-time PCR system that employs a single-use cassette for true sample-to-answer workflow.

From Luminex 9 Jul 2012

Merck, OMT announce new antibody discovery collaboration

Open Monoclonal Technology, Inc. (OMT) today announced an antibody discovery collaboration with Merck KGaA. OMT and Merck KGaA have entered into a collaboration whereby OMT will use its OmniRats to generate antibodies against several targets selected by Merck KGaA.

9 Jul 2012

SAGE sponsors symposium on cardiovascular disease prevention

European experts in cardiovascular medicine will today gather at a two day symposium to address the national agenda on cardiovascular disease prevention, held at Imperial College London and sponsored by leading independent academic and professional publisher SAGE.

7 Jul 2012

FDA approves KRAS gene mutation test for colorectal cancer

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved the first genetic test that can help some colorectal cancer (CRC) patients and their doctors determine if the drug Erbitux (cetuximab) would be an effective treatment based on the absence of a gene mutation. The therascreen KRAS RGQ PCR Kit can provide information about the KRAS gene mutation in patients whose CRC has spread to other parts of their body (metastasized).

7 Jul 2012

Roche receives FDA approval for CMV viral load test

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved the first DNA test to help health care professionals gauge the progress of anti-viral treatment in solid organ transplant patients undergoing cytomegalovirus (CMV) antiviral therapy.

6 Jul 2012

Interfascicular matrix essential for tendon function

Tendon disorders cost the UK economy more than -7bn a year and now scientists at Queen Mary, University of London have identified a vital component of tendons which could help treat them.

5 Jul 2012