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Two experimental drugs have potential to restore pumping strength to failing hearts, study finds

We've all experienced the strong heartbeat that accompanies emotions such as fear and rage. But can the body's natural response to these emotions be used to combat heart failure? Results of a study published online today in the journal Circulation Research present a strong case.

25 Jun 2010

News roundup: Judge approves $712 million settlement for 9/11 emergency workers' health problems; Missouri ballot measure on health overhaul challenged

A judge approved a $712 million health settlement for thousands of emergency workers who responded after the Sept. 11 attack, in spite of objections from some who complained that the deal was unfair. Some workers who say they got sick working at the Ground Zero site argued Wednesday that the settlement shortchanged those suffering from certain types of diseases. One of the key factors in how much workers get paid under the settlement, approved by U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein, depends on the type of disease the person contracted.

25 Jun 2010

Digoxin drug may increase risk of premature death in patients with kidney disease

For patients with kidney disease on dialysis, the widely used heart medication digoxin may lead to an increased risk of premature death, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN).

25 Jun 2010

Phadia's four new EliA autoimmune antibody assays receive FDA clearance

Today Phadia announced that it has received FDA 510 (K) clearance for four new EliA autoimmune antibody assays. These new assays will provide physicians with additional tools needed to aid in the diagnosis of Antiphospholipid Syndrome. The newly available EliA assays, anti-cardiolipin (aCL) IgG/IgM and anti-B2-glycoprotein 1 (anti-B2-GP1) IgG/IgM, have proven to be essential, sensitive, and specific markers to aid in the diagnosis of APS.

25 Jun 2010

NKI awarded Phase II SBIR grant to develop new ophthalmic screening device for diabetic retinopathy

Neuro Kinetics, Inc., manufacturers of noninvasive medical diagnostic equipment used worldwide to test for vestibular and neurological conditions, said today that it has been awarded a Phase II Small Business Innovation Research grant to further the company's development of a new ophthalmic screening device and testing protocols for the detection and diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy.

25 Jun 2010

Sanofi-aventis' Phase I clinical trial with SAR650984 triggers $1M milestone payment to ImmunoGen

ImmunoGen, Inc., a biotechnology company that develops targeted antibody-based anticancer products, today announced that sanofi-aventis has initiated a Phase I clinical trial with SAR650984, an investigational antibody that targets cancer cells expressing the CD38 protein antigen. This event triggers a $1 million milestone payment to ImmunoGen.

25 Jun 2010

Phase 2 clinical trial of GMI-1070 for treatment of vaso-occlusive crisis of sickle cell disease initiated

GlycoMimetics, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing a new class of glycobiology-based therapies for a broad range of indications, today announced the commencement of a Phase 2 clinical trial of GMI-1070 for treatment of vaso-occlusive crisis of sickle cell disease. The company also announced that GMI-1070 has received Fast Track designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

25 Jun 2010

Automated calls can increase colon cancer screening rates by 30%: Study

Simple, automated telephone reminders can increase colon cancer screening rates by 30 percent, according to a Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research study funded by the National Cancer Institute that appears in the July print edition of Medical Care.

25 Jun 2010

Abbott's new FreeStyle test strips receive FDA clearance

Following the recent clearance of its FreeStyle Lite® blood glucose test strips, Abbott (NYSE: ABT) today announced that it has also received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its new FreeStyle blood glucose test strips.

25 Jun 2010

Latino population less likely to receive basic preventive tests, says study

"Prevention" is the new buzzword for health professionals and the new emphasis for containing future health care costs. Yet Latinos, who currently represent about 15 percent of the U.S. population, have the lowest level of preventive care of all racial and ethnic groups in the nation.

25 Jun 2010

Study: Low BP levels are unhealthy for CKD patients

Recent guidelines by The National Kidney Foundation Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (NKF KDOQI)1 call for lower target blood pressure levels in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

25 Jun 2010

CDP treatment can reduce pain and swelling in CVI patients

For patients with painful swelling of the legs caused by chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), a combination treatment approach called "complete decongestive physiotherapy" improves symptoms, walking ability, and quality of life, reports a study in Topics in Geriatric Rehabilitation.

25 Jun 2010

New research suggests resveratrol may inhibit pathogenic blood vessel formation

Current research suggests that resveratrol, a naturally occurring compound found in red wine, grapes, blueberries, peanuts, and other plants, inhibits pathogenic new blood vessel growth.

25 Jun 2010

Impact of oil spill on humans and wildlife

University of Rhode Island Pharmacy Professor Bongsup Cho knows there are cancer-causing chemicals in diesel fumes and cigarette smoke.

25 Jun 2010

Editors of Canadian Medical Association Journal warn polio outbreak in Tajikistan could spread

"A large polio outbreak in Tajikistan - Europe's first in years - has the potential to further spread the dangerous virus to other regions of the world, the [editors of] the Canadian Medical Association Journal [CMAJ] warned Wednesday" in an editorial appearing in the journal, the Canadian Press reports.

25 Jun 2010

CXCL12/CXCR4 chemokine axis plays a critical role in pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is characterized by frequent diarrheal attacks and anal bleeding. Histologic characteristics of UC are the invasion of the crypt epithelium and lamina propria by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), disruption of the epithelial lining, and consequently mucosal ulceration and crypt abscess formation in the bowel wall.

25 Jun 2010

New scam targets diabetic Medicare beneficiaries across Indiana

A new scam is targeting diabetic Medicare beneficiaries across Indiana, reports the Indiana Association of Area Agencies on Aging (IAAAA).

24 Jun 2010

University of Michigan professor recognised with PHA Award of Excellence

The Pulmonary Hypertension Association (PHA) and Actelion Pharmaceuticals US, Inc., today announced Dr. Vallerie McLaughlin of the University of Michigan Health System as the recipient of the annual PHA Award of Excellence in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) Care. As part of the award, the University of Michigan System will receive a grant in the amount of $50,000 to support continued excellence in care for patients with PAH.

24 Jun 2010

USPTO grants Tethys key patent for PreDx Diabetes Risk Score test

Tethys Bioscience, Inc., a privately held company, announced today that the United States Patent and Trademark Office has granted the Company US Patent 7,723,050. The patent is directed to the company's groundbreaking PreDx™ Diabetes Risk Score (DRS) test and relates to proprietary methods for assessing the risk of developing a diabetic condition.

24 Jun 2010

Merck proposes to initiate Phase II proof-of-concept clinical study of posaconazole for chronic Chagas disease

Merck today announced plans to initiate a Phase II investigational proof-of-concept clinical study to evaluate its oral antifungal agent posaconazole for the treatment of chronic Chagas disease. Chagas disease results from infection with the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi that is spread by biting insects. The disease is estimated to affect approximately eight million people in Latin America, of whom approximately 30-40 percent will develop serious cardiac disease, digestive disease, or both as a result of this infection.

24 Jun 2010

Blood News and Research

Two experimental drugs have potential to restore pumping strength to failing hearts, study finds

News roundup: Judge approves $712 million settlement for 9/11 emergency workers' health problems; Missouri ballot measure on health overhaul challenged

Digoxin drug may increase risk of premature death in patients with kidney disease

Phadia's four new EliA autoimmune antibody assays receive FDA clearance

NKI awarded Phase II SBIR grant to develop new ophthalmic screening device for diabetic retinopathy

Sanofi-aventis' Phase I clinical trial with SAR650984 triggers $1M milestone payment to ImmunoGen

Phase 2 clinical trial of GMI-1070 for treatment of vaso-occlusive crisis of sickle cell disease initiated

Automated calls can increase colon cancer screening rates by 30%: Study

Abbott's new FreeStyle test strips receive FDA clearance

Latino population less likely to receive basic preventive tests, says study

Study: Low BP levels are unhealthy for CKD patients

CDP treatment can reduce pain and swelling in CVI patients

New research suggests resveratrol may inhibit pathogenic blood vessel formation

Impact of oil spill on humans and wildlife

Editors of Canadian Medical Association Journal warn polio outbreak in Tajikistan could spread

CXCL12/CXCR4 chemokine axis plays a critical role in pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis

New scam targets diabetic Medicare beneficiaries across Indiana

University of Michigan professor recognised with PHA Award of Excellence

USPTO grants Tethys key patent for PreDx Diabetes Risk Score test

Merck proposes to initiate Phase II proof-of-concept clinical study of posaconazole for chronic Chagas disease

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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