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MultiStem multipotent adult progenitor cell therapy preserves 'blood brain barrier'

Athersys, Inc. announced today the publication of a key study in the October issue of Experimental Neurology conducted by researchers at Athersys, the University of Texas Medical School, the Michael E. DeBakey Institute for Comparative Cardiovascular Science and Biomedical Devices, and Texas A&M University.

20 Sep 2010

Hastings Center Report examines ethical controversies over use of personalized medicine

As government support for personalized medicine grows, a consumer advocate, a patient, and bioethicists explore ethical controversies. Direct-to-consumer genetic tests, privacy, targeted cancer therapies, and Henrietta Lacks are among topics in a special issue of the Hastings center Report

18 Sep 2010

FAU, Max Planck Florida Institute to host Neuroscience Symposium

To mark the launch of a new, joint Integrative Biology and Neuroscience graduate program, Max Planck Florida Institute and Florida Atlantic University (FAU) are hosting an inaugural Neuroscience Symposium, September 28-29 in the Senate Chambers of the Student Union at FAU's Boca Raton campus.

18 Sep 2010

CINJ, NJDHSS partner to create Center of Excellence for Cancer Surveillance

A new partnership between The Cancer Institute of New Jersey, the state's only National Cancer Institute -designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, and the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services will create a Center of Excellence for Cancer Surveillance to help track, examine, prevent and control cancer. CINJ is a Center of Excellence of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.

18 Sep 2010

Study examines effects of AEDs on nicotine metabolite levels in smokers

UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School researchers have determined that carbamazepine and oxycarbamazepine, medications commonly used to treat neurologic and psychiatric conditions, increase nicotine metabolism in smokers. As nicotine metabolism increases, cravings for nicotine return more quickly which could lead to more frequent cigarette consumption among individuals who also take these medications.

18 Sep 2010

Scientists develop computer model to examine genetic switch for TB dormancy

An examination of a portion of the tuberculosis genome that responds to stress has allowed Rice University bioengineers Oleg Igoshin and Abhinav Tiwari to zero in on a network of genes that may "switch" the disease into dormancy.

18 Sep 2010

Research Roundup: Assessing physician quality; Community health centers' future; Why doctors take gifts; Access to HIV treatment

Archives of Internal Medicine: Associations Between Physician Characteristics And Quality Of Care - Since "most patients do not have access to physician quality measures," they are often encouraged to use public information such as malpractice claims and board certification status to chose a doctor, according to this report that used 2004-2005 insurance claims from about 10,000 Massachusetts physicians for more than 1.13 million adults.

18 Sep 2010

Report finds increase in osteopathic physicians

As concerns mount over whether there will be enough physicians to meet the nation's growing demand for health care, the number of osteopathic physicians (DOs) is reaching new heights, according to a report released today from the American Osteopathic Association.

17 Sep 2010

Phosphorus additives leads to health disparities in chronic kidney disease

Processed and fast foods enriched with phosphorus additives may play a role in health disparities in chronic kidney disease, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN).

17 Sep 2010

Researchers suggest DASH-style diet reduces kidney stone formation

Certain key ingredients of a diet designed to prevent high blood pressure can ward off kidney stones, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society Nephrology (CJASN). The results suggest how low-fat dairy products and/or plants may have potent kidney stone-fighting properties.

17 Sep 2010

ResMed's new CPAP device increases patients' compliance with sleep therapy

ResMed, a leading developer, manufacturer, and distributor of sleep and respiratory medical equipment today announced the results of a clinical study confirming that patients' compliance with sleep therapy increases when using ResMed's new CPAP device.

From ResMed Corp 17 Sep 2010

Aetna extends contract with University of Pennsylvania Health System

Aetna announced today that it has signed a five-year contract extension with the University of Pennsylvania Health System (UPHS), assuring continued in-network access for its members in the Philadelphia area.

17 Sep 2010

FDA grants AGTC $1M for Phase II human clinical trial in alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency

Applied Genetic Technologies Corporation, a privately-held, clinical stage biotechnology company developing novel systems to deliver human therapeutics, announces that it has received a grant of $1 million from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA Orphan Drugs Program) to fund a Phase II Human Clinical Trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of a treatment for Alpha 1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (AAT), a genetic disease known to result in serious lung and/or liver disease.

17 Sep 2010

Researchers to conduct gene analysis for ankylosing spondylitis

A new study designed to test suspected links between genes and two immune disorders could open the door to better ways to diagnose and treat the conditions that affect a combined total of approximately 2.5 million people in the United States, report scientists at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth).

16 Sep 2010

Caregivers at higher risk for PTSD when cancer patients die in hospital

Cancer patients who die in the hospital or an intensive care unit have worse quality of life at the end-of-life, compared to patients who die at home with hospice services, and their caregivers are at higher risk for developing psychiatric illnesses during bereavement, according to a study by researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

16 Sep 2010

bluebird bio publishes LentiGlobin gene therapy clinical trial data results

bluebird bio an emerging leader in the development of innovative gene therapies for severe genetic disorders, today announced publication in the journal Nature of its promising Phase 1/2 data highlighting positive results of LentiGlobin gene therapy treatment in a young adult with severe beta-thalassemia, a blood disorder that is one of the most frequent inherited diseases.

16 Sep 2010

Relypsa announces positive results from Phase 2 clinical trial of RLY5016

Relypsa, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company developing non-absorbed polymeric drugs, today announced positive results from the company's PEARL-HF study, a Phase 2 clinical trial of the company's lead compound, RLY5016. These data were presented by Dr. Bertram Pitt, Professor of Medicine Emeritus, Division of Medicine at the University of Michigan School of Medicine, during the Late-Breaking Clinical Trials Session in an oral presentation titled "The PEARL-HF (Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Parallel Group, Multiple-Dose To Evaluate the Effects of RLY5016 in Heart Failure Patients) Trial" at the 14th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Heart Failure Society of America held in San Diego, CA September 13-15, 2010.

16 Sep 2010

Researchers win $4.1M NIH grant to develop low-cost, ultra-fast DNA sequencing method

A team led by Boston University biomedical engineering researchers has won a $4.1 million, four-year grant from the National Institutes of Health to refine its nanoscale, low-cost, ultra-fast DNA sequencing method that could lead to individual genome sequencing for less than $1,000.

16 Sep 2010

CINJ experts available for discussion during National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month

The Cancer Institute of New Jersey (CINJ) is making experts available to discuss the risks, treatments and prevention options surrounding prostate cancer during September, which is National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. CINJ is a Center of Excellence of UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.

15 Sep 2010

Medical students should learn about economic forces that affect health care: JAMA

Medical students and residents should receive much more thorough and realistic instruction about the economic forces affecting health care and their own clinical decisions so that they can better serve patients' well-being and the nation's economic welfare, says a commentary published today in a theme issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, which focuses on improving medical education.

15 Sep 2010