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Air quality along US Gulf Coast improves after stoppage of oil leak

The oil spill along the United States Gulf Coast poses health risks to volunteers, fishermen, clean-up workers and members of coastal communities, according to a new commentary by UCSF researchers who spent time in the region and are among the first to look into health problems caused by the oil spill. The good news, the authors say, is that one of the risk factors, coastal air quality, is improving now that the oil leak has been stopped.

17 Aug 2010

FDA clears RyMed's InVision-Plus CS needleless IV connector

RyMed Technologies announced today that it has received FDA 510(k) clearance for its newest IV connector, InVision-Plus® CS™ with Chlorhexidine-Silver Ion Engineering.

10 Aug 2010

Department of Agriculture advises consumers to discard Jersey Hollow Farm's raw milk

The Department of Agriculture today advised consumers who purchased raw milk from Norman Z. and Edith B. Sauder, of Jersey Hollow Farm in Kutztown, Berks County, to discard the product immediately because of potential bacterial contamination.

7 Aug 2010

UCSF researchers discover new technology purifying special types of stem cells

UCSF researchers are reporting the first success in very rapidly purifying one type of embryonic stem cell from a mix of many different types of embryonic stem cells in the culture dish. The technique, which avoids the need to genetically alter the cells to distinguish them, is a key advance, the researchers say, for obtaining the appropriate cells for repairing specific damaged tissues.

7 Aug 2010

Helmsley Charitable Trust awards $3.15M grant to support UofL James Graham Brown Cancer Center

The University of Louisville has received a $3.15 million grant from the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust to support the UofL James Graham Brown Cancer Center and cancer research taking place in Owensboro. The grant will be matched with state "Bucks for Brains" funding to bring more than $4.5 million to the Owensboro Cancer Research Program.

6 Aug 2010

SeraCare optimizes ACCURUN 341 Nucleic Acid Positive controls

SeraCare Life Sciences, Inc. today announced that the Company has developed a new series of controls in its ACCURUN portfolio to monitor and validate molecular diagnostic test performance for detection of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (CT/NG). Through collaboration with instrument and reagent manufacturers, SeraCare has optimized the ACCURUN 341 Nucleic Acid Positive controls specifically for use with the three most popular assays currently on the market; the Gen-Probe APTIMA Combo 2 Assay, the Roche COBAS AMPLICOR CT/NG Test, and the Becton, Dickinson BD ProbeTec ET System.

6 Aug 2010

Pew Prescription Project announces support for new safety legislation

The Pew Prescription Project, joined by major consumer, physician and chemical manufacturer groups, today announced support for a new bill that would give the U.S. Food and Drug Administration much-needed authorities to better protect pharmaceutical supply chains. The organizations made the announcement in a joint letter to Congress and during an audio news conference with Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO), who will introduce this drug safety legislation.

4 Aug 2010

Master model to track mercury movement from original emission source to humans

University of Louisville Public Health doctoral student Caroline Chan is working to create scientific tools to help environmental policy decision makers evaluate and modify mercury emission regulations.

3 Aug 2010

U.S. Department of Justice seeks permanent injunction against N.Y. food processor over listeria contamination

The U.S. Department of Justice, in an action initiated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, is seeking a permanent injunction against NY Gourmet Salads, Inc., a processor of ready-to-eat deli salads, seafood salads, and cream cheeses in Brooklyn, N.Y., and Leonard F. Spada, the company's president.

3 Aug 2010

Life Technologies launches new assay to detect deadly strain of E. coli

Life Technologies, a provider of innovative life science solutions, announced at the International Association of Food Protection annual meeting the launch of the MicroSEQ E. coli O157:H7 assay, designed to detect the deadly strain of Escherichia coli (E. coli), using the company's industry-leading real-time PCR technology.

2 Aug 2010

ACT responds to FDA queries on Phase I/II study using ES cell derived retinal cells to treat SMD

Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. announced today that it has submitted documentation and a complete response to substantively address the issues raised by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in connection with the Company's plans to initiate a Phase I/II multicenter study using embryonic stem (ES) cell derived retinal cells to treat patients with Stargardt's Macular Dystrophy (SMD).

29 Jul 2010

Ten precautionary health tips for beachgoers, bathers

A yearlong beach study led by a team of University of Miami researchers suggests that swimmers at sub-tropical beaches face an increased risk of illness. The multi-disciplinary team examined the risk of illness that beachgoers face when exposed to recreational marine water at sub-tropical beaches with no known source of pollution or contamination.

29 Jul 2010

New funding made available to tackle common cause of food poisoning in the UK

Up to £2 Million is being made available today to tackle the most common cause of food poisoning in the UK - Campylobacter. Three of the UK's main public funders of food safety research have come together to invite research proposals to find out more about the organism and how best to control it. To provide safe and nutritious food for a growing world population it is important to reduce the incidence of food poisoning. Campylobacter species are responsible for more than 300,000 cases of food poisoning a year in England and Wales.

28 Jul 2010

Neurodegenerative disease-causing infectious protein can erupt from healthy brain tissue: Study

In a startling new study that involved research on both sides of the Atlantic, scientists from The Scripps Research Institute in Florida and the University College London Institute of Neurology in England have shown for the first time that abnormal prions, bits of infectious protein devoid of DNA or RNA that can cause fatal neurodegenerative disease, can suddenly erupt from healthy brain tissue.

27 Jul 2010

Circle Biologics introduces single device Autologous Platelet Concentrator Platform

Circle Biologics, Inc. has announced a technological break-through in regenerative medicine – its Autologous Platelet Concentrator Platform. This innovative single device platform is the first of its kind to incorporate both autologous cell concentration and protein concentration in one point-of-care device.

27 Jul 2010

Nano-patch to replace needles for vaccination soon: Study

Those who fear needles have good news awaiting them. Australian researchers have developed a new method of vaccine delivery using needle-free nano-patches. These could also be mailed to people during pandemics. This breakthrough is published in the latest edition of the journal Small.

26 Jul 2010

Neu5Gc in drugs provokes strong immune response

Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have discovered that a kind of sugar molecule common to chimpanzees, gorillas and other mammals but not found in humans provokes a strong immune response in some people, likely worsening conditions in which chronic inflammation is a major issue.

26 Jul 2010

Reusing syringes in anesthesia leads to viral transmission: Study

Hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus can be transmitted during intravenous administration of anesthesia, according to a new study in Gastroenterology, the official journal of the American Gastroenterological Association Institute. In this study, doctors found that anesthesia contamination - not endoscopy contamination - was the cause of infection.

23 Jul 2010

Over 50% of neurosurgical procedures performed on Afghan children were for battlefield-related injuries

War inevitably takes a tragic toll on innocent bystanders including civilians and children. Military neurosurgeons have a long history of helping US and coalition troops and civilians overcome devastating and life-threatening neurological injuries incurred as a result of military strife. While stationed at US military facilities, neurosurgeons also contribute to invaluable humanitarian efforts, operating on patients with injuries and conditions unrelated to battle.

17 Jul 2010

PSA test reduces prostate cancer death rate by nearly 50%: NCI

The nation's leading authority on cancer has thrown out its own study on prostate cancer screening, now saying that PSA testing reduces the prostate cancer death rate by nearly 50 percent.

16 Jul 2010