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Gene therapy represents safe alternative to current cures for blood disorder β-thalassemia

Italian scientists pioneering a new gene transfer treatment for the blood disorder β-thalassemia have successfully completed preclinical trials, claiming they can correct the lack of beta-globin (β-globin) in patients' blood cells which causes the disease. The research, published in EMBO Molecular Medicine, reveals how gene therapy may represent a safe alternative to current cures that are limited to a minority of patients.

14 Jul 2010

Metamark Genetics closes $22M Series B financing

Metamark Genetics, Inc., a molecular diagnostics company addressing a major challenge in cancer medicine, has completed a $22 million Series B financing. Metamark's Prognosis Determinants platform has illuminated the genetic drivers governing the lethal metastatic progression of major cancers and is now focused on pivotal translational and commercialization efforts to bring these breakthrough discoveries to cancer patients worldwide.

14 Jul 2010

SPET-085 is effective in blocking critical enzyme that leads to BPH: Study

A new study, published in the July issue of Advances in Therapy, revealed that a novel saw palmetto extract, SPET-085, is as effective as finasteride, the standard prescription drug therapy, in blocking the critical enzyme that leads to benign prostatic hyperplasia.

13 Jul 2010

Gene mutation that causes auditory neuropathy identified

Researchers have identified a gene mutation that causes a rare form of hearing loss known as auditory neuropathy, according to U-M Medical School scientists.

13 Jul 2010

Researchers discover gene mutation that causes auditory neuropathy

Researchers have identified a gene mutation that causes a rare form of hearing loss known as auditory neuropathy, according to U-M Medical School scientists. In the study published online today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA, U-M's Marci Lesperance, M.D., and Margit Burmeister, Ph.D. led a team of researchers who examined the DNA of individuals from the same large family afflicted with the disorder.

13 Jul 2010

New research evaluates effectiveness of popular slimming supplements

New research evaluating the effectiveness of a broad selection of popular slimming supplements sold in pharmacies and health food shops has found no evidence that any of them facilitate weight loss beyond the placebo effect.

12 Jul 2010

Reducing chronic pain, dry mouth could improve quality of life in head and neck cancer patients: Study

Head and neck cancer patients who reported poor sleep quality one year after diagnosis had more symptoms of chronic pain and complaints of dry mouth related to radiation treatments, according to a recent study from the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center.

12 Jul 2010

Studies support association of physical activity, diet with maintaining cognitive ability, reducing dementia risk

Evidence from three long-term, large-scale studies supports the association of physical activity and certain dietary elements (tea, vitamin D) with possibly maintaining cognitive ability and reducing dementia risk in older adults, according to new research presented today at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease 2010 in Honolulu, HI.

12 Jul 2010

AOL News reports on challenges of global spread of drug-resistant TB

AOL News examines health officials' concerns about the world-wide spread of drug-resistant strains of tuberculosis, focusing on the U.S. and Mexico.

12 Jul 2010

Subtle mutation affecting epigenome may lead to inherited form of mental retardation: Researchers

A subtle mutation affecting the epigenome –- a set of dynamic factors that influence gene activity -- may lead to an inherited form of mental retardation that affects boys, find researchers at Children's Hospital Boston. The disorder, which also involves cleft lip or cleft palate, appears to hinge on an enzyme working in a biological pathway that may offer several potential drug targets.

12 Jul 2010

Alzheimer's Association recognizes four scientists for achievements in Alzheimer research at AAICAD 2010

The Alzheimer's Association recognized four scientists for their extraordinary achievements in advancing Alzheimer research at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease 2010 in Honolulu, Hawaii.

12 Jul 2010

Minority children have fewer opportunities to be healthy and obtain quality education: Poll

Minority children and teenagers have fewer opportunities than white counterparts to be healthy, obtain a quality education and achieve economic success, according to a national survey of adults whose jobs involve children's education, health and economic well-being. The groundbreaking poll was released yesterday by the W. K. Kellogg Foundation, which sought to gauge the level of disparities affecting children of color.

9 Jul 2010

Fear of having something in uterus deters teen girls from using intrauterine devices for birth control

Very few teenage girls in the United States use intrauterine devices for birth control, even though studies show they are safe, effective and extremely low-maintenance, according to researchers at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital and the Stanford School of Medicine.

9 Jul 2010

Study looks at the effects of Schwartz Center Rounds program on caregivers

Caregivers who participated in a program where attendees discuss medical cases that were complex for psychosocial and emotional reasons were more likely to be attentive to the psychosocial and emotional aspects of patient care. The program also enhanced their beliefs about the importance of empathy.

8 Jul 2010

Silence strengthens RNAi IP portfolio with issuance of key patent in structural modification technology

Silence Therapeutics plc announces the issuance of United States patent 7,750,144, titled Methods and Compositions for Enhancing Efficacy and Specificity of RNA Silencing, by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The issued patent generally claims methods of producing double stranded (RNAi) agents having decreased off-target silencing activity through certain structural modifications. The ability to minimize the off-target effects of RNAi therapeutics is critical for controlling unwanted cellular activity and/or potential safety concerns.

8 Jul 2010

Research findings link some autoimmune disorders with cancer

Patients with a certain type of scleroderma may get cancer and scleroderma simultaneously, Johns Hopkins researchers have found, suggesting that in some diseases, autoimmunity and cancer may be linked.

8 Jul 2010

Decline in international medical graduates threatens patient access to quality surgical care

A decline in the number of international medical graduates (IMGs) is threatening patient access to quality surgical care, according to a new study in the June issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons.

8 Jul 2010

Obama uses recess appointment to install Berwick as head of Medicare, Medicaid

President Barack Obama Wednesday will use a recess appointment to install Harvard Professor Donald Berwick to run the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the White House announced Tuesday.

8 Jul 2010

Physical activity has little role to play in obesity epidemic among children: EarlyBird Diabetes Study

A new report from the EarlyBird Diabetes Study suggests that physical activity has little if any role to play in the obesity epidemic among children. Obesity is the key factor behind diabetes, heart disease and some cancers.

8 Jul 2010

Experts propose solution to burden of medical school debt

The Wall Street Journal Health Blog: "Educational debt is a serious burden for young [and middle-aged] doctors — the median amount owed for both premedical and medical school was $145,000 for those graduating from public med schools in 2008 and a whopping $180,000 for private school grads.

8 Jul 2010

Medical School News and Research

Gene therapy represents safe alternative to current cures for blood disorder β-thalassemia

Metamark Genetics closes $22M Series B financing

SPET-085 is effective in blocking critical enzyme that leads to BPH: Study

Gene mutation that causes auditory neuropathy identified

Researchers discover gene mutation that causes auditory neuropathy

New research evaluates effectiveness of popular slimming supplements

Reducing chronic pain, dry mouth could improve quality of life in head and neck cancer patients: Study

Studies support association of physical activity, diet with maintaining cognitive ability, reducing dementia risk

AOL News reports on challenges of global spread of drug-resistant TB

Subtle mutation affecting epigenome may lead to inherited form of mental retardation: Researchers

Alzheimer's Association recognizes four scientists for achievements in Alzheimer research at AAICAD 2010

Minority children have fewer opportunities to be healthy and obtain quality education: Poll

Fear of having something in uterus deters teen girls from using intrauterine devices for birth control

Study looks at the effects of Schwartz Center Rounds program on caregivers

Silence strengthens RNAi IP portfolio with issuance of key patent in structural modification technology

Research findings link some autoimmune disorders with cancer

Decline in international medical graduates threatens patient access to quality surgical care

Obama uses recess appointment to install Berwick as head of Medicare, Medicaid

Physical activity has little role to play in obesity epidemic among children: EarlyBird Diabetes Study

Experts propose solution to burden of medical school debt

Bringing real-time analytics to downstream bioprocess monitoring

Designing fluidic architecture for scalable diagnostic platforms

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

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