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Scientists identify EoE-associated region in human chromosome

Scientists have identified a region of a human chromosome that is associated with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), a recently recognized allergic disease. People with EoE frequently have difficulty eating or may be allergic to one or more foods. This study further suggests that a suspected so-called master allergy gene may play a role in the development of this rare but debilitating disorder.

8 Mar 2010

Scientists show Ritalin boosts cognitive abilities by enhancing brain plasticity

Doctors treat millions of children with Ritalin every year to improve their ability to focus on tasks, but scientists now report that Ritalin also directly enhances the speed of learning.

8 Mar 2010

Engineers built sensor array that can detect single molecules of hydrogen peroxide

MIT chemical engineers have built a sensor array that, for the first time, can detect single molecules of hydrogen peroxide emanating from a single living cell.

7 Mar 2010

Healthy communication between patients and physicians reduces medical errors

National Patient Safety Awareness Week is taking place from March 7th to the 13th. This year’s theme is all about healthy communication between patients and their physicians. The simple theme Let’s Talk: Healthy Conversations for Safer Healthcare is aimed at helping people become more involved in their own health care.

6 Mar 2010

Antibacterial activity of clay minerals raises hope for natural approaches to antibacterial cures

Alternative approaches to medicine are stock-in-trade in the ASU laboratory of microbiologist Shelley Haydel.

6 Mar 2010

Research group performs randomized study to evaluate efficacy of ICCBco in treatment of lung lesions

To evaluate efficacy of Calculus Bovis compound preparation (ICCBco) in the treatment of lung lesions in portal hypertensive rabbits with schistosomiasis as the experimental animal model, a research group in China performed a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial to observe pathological changes and pathological effect mechanism of expression of fibronectin and laminin in the lung tissue of portal hypertensive rabbits with schistosomiasis.

6 Mar 2010

CDC confirms 11 malaria cases in people who traveled to Haiti

The CDC on Thursday said it confirmed that 11 cases of Plasmodium falciparum malaria "among emergency personnel and Haitian residents who traveled to the U.S.," the Miami Herald reports. "The cases include: seven emergency responders, including six military personnel; three Haitian residents who traveled to the U.S., including one Haitian adoptee; and one U.S. traveler," the newspaper writes (Tasker, 3/5).

6 Mar 2010

Researchers assess clinical and cost impacts of PPI utilization in hospitalized patients

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are the most effective agents for treating acid related gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. The utilization of intravenous (IV) formulations of PPIs has dramatically increased in health care institutions for inappropriate indications, route of administration and length of treatment. This is associated with an increased cost burden, increased risk of IV related infections, and utilization of hospital resources.

6 Mar 2010

Inpatient integrative medicine program can have significant impact on pain: Study

Non-traditional therapies relieve pain among a wide range of hospitalized patients as much as 50 percent, according to a first-of-a-kind study in the Journal of Patient Safety.

6 Mar 2010

Recent releases in Global Health

The WHO's March Bulletin is a special themed issue focusing on communicable diseases in Southeast Asia. The publication addresses tuberculosis, cholera, neglected tropical diseases and family planning in the region (March 2010).

6 Mar 2010

Ban, Clinton launch voluntary travel donation for global health

Former President Bill Clinton and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in New York on Thursday launched MASSIVEGOOD - an initiative that allows travelers to make a $2 donation "to fight deadly diseases whenever they buy a plane ticket, book a hotel room or rent a car," Bloomberg/BusinessWeek reports (Varner, 3/4).

6 Mar 2010

Hypertension: Regular nifedipine administration may lead to development of GERD

Nifedipine, a calcium-channel blocker, was shown to decrease lower esophageal sphincter pressure and increase esophageal acid exposure time, while atenolol, a b1 blocker, was shown to inhibit relaxation of the smooth muscle of the esophagus. However, the influence of these anti-hypertensive drugs on the segment of esophageal body contraction using high-resolution manometry was not fully investigated.

5 Mar 2010

Humanetics' BIO 300 medical radiation countermeasure drug candidate issued U.S. patent

In an announcement today, Humanetics Corporation reported that its BIO 300 medical radiation countermeasure drug candidate has been issued a U.S. patent. The patent is assigned to the United States of America with Humanetics as the designated licensee.

5 Mar 2010

Saladax Biomedical announces closing of $8.4M Series C Preferred offering

Saladax Biomedical, Inc. announced today the close of an $8.4 million Series C Preferred offering led by Excel Venture Management of Boston. Participants included Golden Seeds LLC, Ben Franklin Technology Partners, and the Life Sciences Greenhouse of Central Pennsylvania, as well as a number of angel investors. The funding will be used to accelerate product development and expand clinical support of Saladax’s MYCARE™ line of diagnostic tests, which measure blood levels of cancer and Central Nervous System (CNS) disorder drugs, providing physicians with guidance to personalize patient dosing for optimal efficacy.

5 Mar 2010

LEO Pharma gains access to Intomics’ biological data analysis expertises

Today, Intomics A/S and LEO Pharma A/S announced a collaboration under which LEO Pharma gains access to Intomics’ unique biological data analysis expertises. The recently founded spin-off company from The Danish Technical University, Intomics, has methods and tools for use in LEO Pharma’s early drug discovery.

5 Mar 2010

FDA's PADAC meeting to review pirfenidone NDA: InterMune posts briefing documents

InterMune, Inc. announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has posted briefing documents for the March 9 Pulmonary-Allergy Drugs Advisory Committee (PADAC) meeting to review the New Drug Application (NDA) for pirfenidone, InterMune's investigational drug candidate for the treatment of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) to reduce decline in lung function. The proposed trade name for pirfenidone is Esbriet®.

5 Mar 2010

Phase 1 clinical study of ISIS-SOD1Rx in patients with Lou Gehrig's disease commenced

Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today that it has initiated a Phase 1 study of ISIS-SOD1Rx in patients with an inherited, aggressive form of Lou Gehrig's disease also known as familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

5 Mar 2010

MASSIVEGOOD launched to enable travelers make contributions towards major global health causes

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and President Bill Clinton join today with international recording artists will.i.am and David Guetta, South African singer Yvonne Chaka Chaka, and director Spike Lee, to launch MASSIVEGOOD, an innovative fundraising movement that will enable travelers to make a "micro-contribution" towards major global health causes every time they buy a plane ticket, reserve a hotel room or rent a car.

5 Mar 2010

China Pharma Holdings reports 21% increase in 2009 revenue

China Pharma Holdings, Inc., which develops, manufactures, and markets specialty pharmaceutical products in China, today announced financial results for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009.

5 Mar 2010

Life Technologies, TGen, US Oncology collaborate to sequence genomes of triple negative breast cancer patients

Life Technologies Corporation today announced that it is collaborating with the Translational Genomics Research Institute and US Oncology to sequence the genomes of 14 patients afflicted with triple negative breast cancer whose tumors have progressed despite multiple other therapies.

5 Mar 2010

Drugs News and Research

Scientists identify EoE-associated region in human chromosome

Scientists show Ritalin boosts cognitive abilities by enhancing brain plasticity

Engineers built sensor array that can detect single molecules of hydrogen peroxide

Healthy communication between patients and physicians reduces medical errors

Antibacterial activity of clay minerals raises hope for natural approaches to antibacterial cures

Research group performs randomized study to evaluate efficacy of ICCBco in treatment of lung lesions

CDC confirms 11 malaria cases in people who traveled to Haiti

Researchers assess clinical and cost impacts of PPI utilization in hospitalized patients

Inpatient integrative medicine program can have significant impact on pain: Study

Recent releases in Global Health

Ban, Clinton launch voluntary travel donation for global health

Hypertension: Regular nifedipine administration may lead to development of GERD

Humanetics' BIO 300 medical radiation countermeasure drug candidate issued U.S. patent

Saladax Biomedical announces closing of $8.4M Series C Preferred offering

LEO Pharma gains access to Intomics’ biological data analysis expertises

FDA's PADAC meeting to review pirfenidone NDA: InterMune posts briefing documents

Phase 1 clinical study of ISIS-SOD1Rx in patients with Lou Gehrig's disease commenced

MASSIVEGOOD launched to enable travelers make contributions towards major global health causes

China Pharma Holdings reports 21% increase in 2009 revenue

Life Technologies, TGen, US Oncology collaborate to sequence genomes of triple negative breast cancer patients

Drug Discovery - Second Edition eBook

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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