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Animal studies reveal new route to treating heart disease

Scientists at Johns Hopkins have shown in laboratory experiments in mice that blocking the action of a signaling protein deep inside the heart’s muscle cells blunts the most serious ill effects of high blood pressure on the heart. These include heart muscle enlargement, scar tissue formation and loss of blood vessel growth.

2 May 2011

Scientists identify biochemical abnormality behind Machado-Joseph disease

Scientists in Portugal have identified a biochemical abnormality behind the potentially fatal neurodegenerative Machado-Joseph disease and using several models of the disease were able to reverse the problem in what can be a crucial step towards a cure for humans .

2 May 2011

Early nutrition may have long-term consequences on infants' health

Nutrition during the first days or weeks of life may have long-term consequences on health, potentially via a phenomenon known as the metabolic programming effect, according to a study to be presented Monday, May 2, at the Pediatric Academic Societies annual meeting in Denver.

2 May 2011

New method helps scientists to determine specific protein molecular structure

The structures of many protein molecules remain unsolved even after experts apply an extensive array of approaches. An international collaboration has led to a new, high-performance method that rapidly determined the structure of protein molecules in several cases where previous methods had failed.

2 May 2011

Temsirolimus with chemotherapy may serve as promising therapy for mesothelioma

A drug commonly used to treat kidney cancer may increase the effectiveness of chemotherapy for mesothelioma, according to a study published in the May issue of the Journal of Thoracic Oncology.

2 May 2011

Formula-fed premature babies more likely to develop necrotizing enterocolitis

Extremely premature babies fed human donor milk are less likely to develop the dangerous intestinal condition necrotizing enterocolitis than babies fed a standard premature infant formula derived from cow's milk, according to research by investigators at the Johns Hopkins Children's Center and elsewhere.

2 May 2011

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announces 88 new winners under Grand Challenges Exploration program

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation today announced 88 new winners of US$100,000 each to support innovative research that has the potential to dramatically improve lives in some of the world's poorest countries. The funding, made possible through the Grand Challenges Exploration (GCE) program, will enable researchers worldwide to test unorthodox ideas that address persistent health and development challenges.

30 Apr 2011

Study finds association between ERBB4 gene, LVOT malformations

A gene known to be important in cardiac development has been newly associated with congenital heart malformations that result in obstruction of the left ventricular outflow tract. These are the findings from a study conducted by Nationwide Children's Hospital and appearing in the journal Birth Defects Research Part A.

30 Apr 2011

IMPAKT 2011 conference to highlight new breast cancer studies

"The presentations at this year's IMPAKT reveal the innovative and diverse approaches that investigators are taking to identify the most encouraging new agents both before clinical evaluation and in early clinical studies. These range from ideas for novel clinical designs to the development of more sensitive and specific biomarkers and to data sharing that allows a more objective assessment of compounds prior to commitment of major clinical resources."

30 Apr 2011

Gene therapy approach using CD59 shows promise against AMD: Study

A gene therapy approach using a protein called CD59, or protectin, shows promise in slowing the signs of age-related macular degeneration, according to a new in vivo study by researchers at Tufts University School of Medicine.

30 Apr 2011

Health Canada grants SQI license to market IgX PLEX Celiac Panel

SQI Diagnostics Inc., a medical systems automation company focused on evolving laboratory-based autoimmune biomarker testing, today announced it has received a license from Health Canada permitting the Company to market its IgX PLEX™ Celiac Panel, a quantitative 4-plex panel, which will run on SQI's automated SQiDworks™ Diagnostics Platform.

29 Apr 2011

Researchers unravel mechanism behind sickle hemoglobin protection against malaria

The latest issue of the journal Cell carries an article that is likely to help solve one of the long-standing mysteries of biomedicine. In a study that challenges currently held views, researchers at the Instituto Gulbenkian de Ci-ncia, in Portugal, unravel the molecular mechanism whereby sickle cell hemoglobin confers a survival advantage against malaria, the disease caused by Plasmodium infection.

29 Apr 2011

Scientists develop novel genetic model of premature aging disorders

Working with a group of national and international researchers, scientists from the Florida campus of The Scripps Research Institute have developed a new genetic model of premature aging disorders that could shed light on these rare conditions in humans and provide a novel platform for large-scale screening of compounds to combat these and other age-related diseases.

29 Apr 2011

Journal Blood publishes MacroGenics' DART antibody technology preclinical data

MacroGenics, Inc., a privately held biotechnology company that develops immunotherapeutics to treat autoimmune disorders, cancer and infectious diseases, today announced the publication in the journal Blood of preclinical data demonstrating potent inhibition of B-cell lymphoma through redirected T lymphocyte-mediated killing, using its bispecific DART antibody technology.

29 Apr 2011

Researchers report Avastin is effective as Lucentis for AMD treatment

Researchers are reporting results from the first year of a two-year clinical trial that Avastin, a drug approved to treat some cancers and that is commonly used off-label to treat age-related macular degeneration, is as effective as the Food and Drug Administration-approved drug Lucentis for the treatment of AMD.

29 Apr 2011

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation honors University Of Colorado researcher for preeclampsia study

A University of Colorado School of Medicine researcher, hoping to find the cause of preeclampsia in pregnant women, won a $100,000 grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Thursday which funds innovative global health and development projects.

29 Apr 2011

Lithium shows hope for Alzheimer’s disease

According to scientists Alzheimer’s disease, a progressively damaging motor neuron condition, could be treated by lithium, a naturally occurring element that is extremely inexpensive and already in use for other psychiatric disorders.

29 Apr 2011

Ramipril can effectively reduce risk of ESRD in obese patients

The angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor drug, ramipril, is particularly effective in lowering the risk of end-stage renal disease in obese patients, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.

29 Apr 2011

Centocor Ortho Biotech receives FDA approval for Zytiga to treat prostate cancer

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Zytiga in combination with prednisone to treat patients with late-stage castration-resistant prostate cancer who have received prior docetaxel.

28 Apr 2011

FDA accepts OncoMed's IND filing for OMP-18R5 in Phase 1 clinical trial for advanced solid tumors

OncoMed Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a company developing novel therapeutics that target cancer stem cells or tumor-initiating cells, today announced that the FDA has accepted an IND filing for OMP-18R5, which allows OncoMed to commence Phase 1 clinical testing.

28 Apr 2011