Calcium News and Research

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Calcium, the most abundant mineral in the body, is found in some foods, added to others, available as a dietary supplement, and present in some medicines (such as antacids). Calcium is required for muscle contraction, blood vessel expansion and contraction, secretion of hormones and enzymes, and transmitting impulses throughout the nervous system. The body strives to maintain constant concentrations of calcium in blood, muscle, and intercellular fluids, though less than <1% of total body calcium is needed to support these functions.

The remaining 99% of the body's calcium supply is stored in the bones and teeth where it supports their structure. Bone itself undergoes continuous remodeling, with constant resorption and deposition of calcium into new bone. The balance between bone resorption and deposition changes with age. Bone formation exceeds resorption in growing children, whereas in early and middle adulthood both processes are relatively equal. In aging adults, particularly among postmenopausal women, bone breakdown exceeds formation, resulting in bone loss that increases the risk of osteoporosis over time.

New research reports evaluating nephrology market in Europe released

BioTrends Research Group, Inc. has released two new syndicated market research reports evaluating the nephrology market in Europe. The reports, TreatmentTrends: Renal Anemia and TreatmentTrends: Bone and Mineral Metabolism, are derived from the responses of over 200 European nephrologists polled in May and June, 2010 regarding their approach to managing renal anemia and bone and mineral disturbances in their dialysis and chronic kidney disease patients.

16 Jul 2010

Penn researchers reverse cognitive decline in fruit flies with Alzheimer's gene mutation

Investigators have found that fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) males -- in which the activity of an Alzheimer's disease protein is reduced by 50 percent -- show impairments in learning and memory as they age. What's more, the researchers were able to prevent the age-related deficits by treating the flies with drugs such as lithium, or by genetic manipulations that reduced nerve-cell signaling.

16 Jul 2010

High blood pressure, diabetes leads to CKD

People with diabetes and high blood pressure need to take care of their kidneys. According to the July issue of Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource, chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a growing problem in the United States. The most common causes are diabetes and high blood pressure

16 Jul 2010

Rapid weight loss the best: Study

Researchers have now shown that the best way to lose weight is to lose a lot of it at once contrary to popular belief even among doctors that weight should be lost slowly.

15 Jul 2010

Researchers issue a call to improve prevention, treatment of osteoporosis

A comprehensive Argentinean epidemiological study reveals the staggering costs of osteoporosis in the country.

15 Jul 2010

New REMESENSE TOOTH DESENSITIZER for treating tooth hypersensitivity

Nuline Pharmaceuticals, LLC announces the introduction of REMESENSE (dipotassium oxalate 3%) TOOTH DESENSITIZER, an Rx Class II medical device now available in the U.S. REMESENSE was introduced globally in 2008. It is presently sold in 16 countries, ranging from England and the European Union to Asia and Africa. Nuline expects to launch REMESENSE in Canada and other countries later this year or by early 2011.

15 Jul 2010

New research focuses on calcium channels in lysosome membrane

In cells, as in cities, disposing of garbage and recycling anything that can be reused is an essential service. In both city and cell, health problems can arise when the process breaks down.

15 Jul 2010

CMAJ publishes new, updated guidelines on vitamin D

New and updated guidelines on recommended vitamin D intake have been published this week in the online issue of the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

14 Jul 2010

Clinical trial initiated to evaluate LibiGel on cognitive function in menopausal women

BioSante Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced the initiation of a LibiGel (testosterone gel) clinical trial to evaluate its effect on cognitive function in menopausal women. The trial is a randomized, 6-month comparison of the effect of LibiGel compared to placebo treatment on a variety of learning and memory tasks. The study is being conducted by Dr. Susan Davis, Professor of Women's Health, Department of Medicine, Monash University Women's Health Program in Australia.

13 Jul 2010

Line of moisture absorber products available to eliminate dampness that enables mold to grow

The stifling humidity accompanying this summer's extreme temperatures increases the chance that homeowners will experience significant indoor humidity and moisture that may lead to musty odors, allergens, and mold and mildew that lead to or aggravate allergies, asthma and other health concerns and can even lead to structural damage.

13 Jul 2010

Men with prostate cancer lose less bone mineral content as they age: Study

Men with prostate cancer lose significantly less bone mineral content (BMC) as they age than men who are free of the disease, according to research in the July issue of BJUI. The findings are important because loss of BMC can play a key role in the development of fragile bones, fractures and osteoporosis.

13 Jul 2010

Jellyfish protein may help cognitive function in Alzheimer’s

Quincy Bioscience, a research-based biotechnology company, is attending the annual Alzheimer’s Association International Conference on Alzheimer’s Disease (ICAD) sharing promising interim data from the Madison Memory Study, a randomized controlled trial, which shows the jellyfish protein apoaequorin improves cognitive function in individuals with memory concerns.

13 Jul 2010

Older adults with low levels of vitamin D more likely to experience cognitive decline: Report

Older adults with low levels of vitamin D appear more likely to experience declines in thinking, learning and memory over a six-year period, according to a report in the July 12 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

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

FDA accepts to review sNDA for SPRYCEL for treating adult patients with CML

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has accepted for filing and review the supplemental New Drug Application for SPRYCEL (dasatinib) for the treatment of adult patients with newly diagnosed chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase.

12 Jul 2010

York University study shows misoprostol prevents cell communication

A York University study has shown for the first time how the drug misoprostol, which has been linked to neurodevelopmental defects associated with autism, interferes with neuronal cell function.

8 Jul 2010

Patent issued for jellyfish protein for therapeutic application

Quincy Bioscience, a research-based biotechnology company, announced the issuance of United States patent No.7,671,015. The patent covers the use of aequorin-containing compounds for the purpose of preventing and alleviating symptoms and disorders related to calcium imbalance.

7 Jul 2010

Insights into complex interrelationships between heart and kidneys

Research is yielding new understanding of the interactions between the heart and the kidneys—particularly the cardiorenal syndrome, in which failure of either organ can lead to failure of the other. Recent insights into the complex interrelationships between the heart and kidneys are presented in a special symposium section of the July issue of The American Journal of Medical Sciences (AJMS), official journal of the Southern Society for Clinical Investigation.

7 Jul 2010

Research could lead to remote stimulation of cells to treat cancer or diabetes

Clusters of heated, magnetic nanoparticles targeted to cell membranes can remotely control ion channels, neurons and even animal behavior, according to a paper published by University at Buffalo physicists in Nature Nanotechnology.

7 Jul 2010

Scientists discover nanoparticle to deliver DNA with minimum toxic effect

In lab experiments, the researchers have found that this device, a vector, is able to deliver DNA deeply enough into a cell to allow genetic material to be activated - a critical step in gene therapy. This vector is between 2 - and 10 times more effective than other experimental materials, according to the research.

7 Jul 2010