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U.S. Bone and Joint Decade observes National Action Week

An annual global event, Bone and Joint National Action Week is held October 12-20 with activities focused on disorders including arthritis, back pain, osteoporosis, and the effects of childhood obesity on the musculoskeletal system. Events and projects organized worldwide are designed to raise awareness of prevention, disease management and treatments. In the United States, the U.S. Bone and Joint Decade represents the global initiative.

14 Oct 2010

$FDA warns of risk of atypical thigh bone fracture in patients taking bisphosphonates$

FDA warns of risk of atypical thigh bone fracture in patients taking bisphosphonates

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today warned patients and health care providers about the possible risk of atypical thigh bone (femoral) fracture in patients who take bisphosphonates, a class of drugs used to prevent and treat osteoporosis. A labeling change and Medication Guide will reflect this risk. Bisphosphonates inhibit the loss of bone mass in people with osteoporosis.

14 Oct 2010

Stony Brook professor receives 2010 NIH Director's New Innovator Award

Balaji Sitharaman, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Stony Brook University, is a 2010 recipient of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director's New Innovator Award.

14 Oct 2010

Acceleron announces ACE-031 Phase 1b study results

Acceleron Pharma, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapeutics that modulate the growth of cells and tissues including muscle, bone, fat, red blood cells and the vasculature, today announced preliminary results from a Phase 1b study to assess the safety, tolerability and pharmacodynamic (PD) activity of ACE-031 following multiple ascending doses in healthy postmenopausal volunteers.

14 Oct 2010

Mesoblast broadens cancer indications for bone marrow transplant product

Australian regenerative medicine company Mesoblast Limited (ASX: MSB, USOTC: MBLTY) today announced that it is broadening the oncology applications of its "off-the-shelf" cell product for expansion of haematopoietic stem cells in patients with blood cancers. Building on the recent clinical success of Mesoblast’s proprietary cell product for expansion of cord blood, the Company will now address new markets where expansion of haematopoietic stem cells can make a meaningful impact on clinical outcomes, including diseases such as multiple myeloma.

13 Oct 2010

Humanitas Clinic treats first cancer patient using TrueBeam technology

A 54-year-old head & neck cancer patient has become the first person in Italy to be treated using a revolutionary new linear accelerator that can deliver radiotherapy twice as fast as conventional therapy machines. The Humanitas Clinic in Rozzano-Milan carried out the treatment last week, becoming only the third hospital in Europe to begin clinical treatments using TrueBeam from Varian Medical Systems.

13 Oct 2010

New York Stem Cell Foundation names first six NYSCF Investigators

In an expansion of its ongoing effort to promote the next generation of stem cell scientists, The New York Stem Cell Foundation (NYSCF) today named the first six NYSCF Investigators. Each of the NYSCF-Robertson and NYSCF-Helmsley Investigators will receive up to $1.5 million over the next five years to expand their own laboratories, train other scientists and foster innovative high-risk/high reward research to explore the therapeutic potential of stem cells derived from humans and model organisms.

13 Oct 2010

Study compares minimally invasive and open surgeries for lower back pain

Rush University Medical Center is assessing whether minimally invasive surgery to relieve lower back pain differs from open surgery in terms of complication rate, recovery time, outcome and cost.

13 Oct 2010

Akonni receives NIJ grant to develop HCID system for SNP identification

Akonni Biosystems, a molecular diagnostics company that develops, manufactures, and plans to market sophisticated genetic testing devices for diagnosing complex infectious and human diseases, today announced receipt of a nearly $500,000 Phase III Grant from the National Institutes of Justice (NIJ).

13 Oct 2010

New 2010 clinical practice guidelines for diagnosis and management of osteoporosis in Canada released

Today, Osteoporosis Canada released its 2010 Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Osteoporosis in Canada, published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. The new guidelines represent a paradigm shift in the prevention and treatment of osteoporotic fractures, moving the focus from treating low bone mineral density (BMD) to better identifying fractures caused by weakened bones (fragility fractures).

12 Oct 2010

NCKU develops novel stem cell therapy for heart repair

Assistant Prof. Patrick C. H. Hsieh of Institute of Nanotechnology and Microsystems Engineering, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University (NCKU), Tainan, Taiwan, has led a research team of myocardial regeneration to conduct an experiment on pigs and has proved that by combining self-assembling peptide nanofiber hydrogel with autologous bone marrow stem cell, myocardial protection after acute myocardial infarction, vascular regeneration and heart functions can be improved.

12 Oct 2010

$Photographic exhibition reveals devastating impact of spinal osteoporotic fractures$

Photographic exhibition reveals devastating impact of spinal osteoporotic fractures

At a press conference held in Brussels today, the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF), the Belgian Bone Club and the European Parliament Osteoporosis Interest Group called on health care professionals and health policy officials in Europe to take action to prevent spinal fractures. The call to action was made at the launch of a unique photographic essay, 'snap! the breaking spine', leading up to World Osteoporosis Day on October 20, 2010.

12 Oct 2010

Researchers investigate 'friendly bacteria' to kill bone cancer cells

Children and young people who are diagnosed with bone cancer could benefit from better treatment in the future thanks to new research at The University of Nottingham. The Bone Cancer Research Trust launches Bone Cancer Awareness Week today and has funded a new project at the University which is testing a theory that 'friendly bacteria' can be used to kill bone cancer cells.

12 Oct 2010

Combination therapy for ovarian cancer leads to greater toxicity

Adding topotecan to carboplatin plus paclitaxel, the standard treatment for ovarian cancer, does not improve progression-free survival in patients and leads to greater toxicity, according to a study published online October 11 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

12 Oct 2010

$Balloon kyphoplasty relieves painful spine fractures in patients with metastatic cancer$

Balloon kyphoplasty relieves painful spine fractures in patients with metastatic cancer

A surgical technique appears to offer quick and effective relief for debilitating spinal fractures often suffered by patients with metastatic cancer, researchers reported at the 35th Congress of the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) in Milan.

11 Oct 2010

New technologies and surgical techniques promise 'personalized' orthopedic operations

A number of new technologies and surgical techniques promise to "personalize" orthopedic operations such as hip and knee replacement, according to research to be presented at an educational program at Hospital for Special Surgery on October 15 and 16. During "Computer Assisted Orthopaedic Surgery: Review of Emerging Technologies," prominent orthopedic researchers will discuss how innovative technologies can improve surgical outcomes.

11 Oct 2010

Tips to keep bones strong

October 20 is World Osteoporosis Day. Most people know that osteoporosis is a condition that affects many older women. Though osteoporosis isn't as common in men -- because most men have naturally larger and stronger bones -- they can get it, too.

11 Oct 2010

Best defense against osteoporosis begins in childhood

While osteoporosis most typically affects persons over age 50, the best defense against it begins in childhood.

11 Oct 2010

Genta announces EMA Orphan Drug designation for tesetaxel

Genta Incorporated today announced that tesetaxel, the leading oral taxane in clinical development, has been designated as an Orphan Drug by the European Medicines Agency for gastric cancer. The drug has previously received Orphan Drug designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for both gastric cancer and melanoma, as well as Fast Track designation by FDA for gastric cancer.

11 Oct 2010

Geron commences GRNOPC1 hESC-based cell therapy in patients with spinal cord injury

Geron Corporation today announced the enrollment of the first patient in the company's clinical trial of human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-derived oligodendrocyte progenitor cells, GRNOPC1. The primary objective of this Phase I study is to assess the safety and tolerability of GRNOPC1 in patients with "complete" American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale grade A thoracic spinal cord injuries. Participants in the study must be newly injured and receive GRNOPC1 within 14 days of the injury.

11 Oct 2010