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Excess maternal weight gain predicts high birth weight: Research

Expectant mothers who gain large amounts of weight tend to give birth to heavier infants who are at higher risk for obesity later in life. But it's never been proven that this tendency results from the weight gain itself, rather than genetic or other factors that mother and baby share. A large population-based study from Children's Hospital Boston, looking at two or more pregnancies in the same mother, now provides evidence that excess maternal weight gain is a strong, independent predictor of high birth weight.

5 Aug 2010

Long-term exposure to valproate leads to bone loss: Study

Scientists are reporting a possible explanation for the bone loss that may occur following long-term use of a medicine widely used to treat epilepsy, bipolar disorder, and other conditions. The drug, valproate, appears to reduce the formation of two key proteins important for bone strength, they said. Their study, which offers a solution to a long-standing mystery, appears in ACS' monthly Journal of Proteome Research.

5 Aug 2010

SORT1 pathway holds promise as new target for therapeutic intervention for LDL cholesterol reduction

The true power of genomic research lies in its ability to help scientists understand biological processes, particularly those that - when altered - can lead to disease. This power is demonstrated dramatically in a pair of papers published today in the journal Nature. In the first, a global team of researchers describes 95 different variations across the genome that contribute in different degrees to alterations in blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels in multiple human populations. In the second report, close examination of just one of these common variants not only reveals the involvement of an unexpected genetic pathway in lipid metabolism but also provides a blueprint for using genomic findings to unravel biological connections between lipid levels and coronary heart disease.

5 Aug 2010

Certain human leukemias can be treated by targeting stem-cell microRNAs: Research

Hematopoietic stem cells provide the body with a constant supply of blood cells, including the red blood cells that deliver oxygen and the white blood cells that make up the immune system. Hematopoietic-or blood-stem cells must also make more copies of themselves to ensure that they are present in adequate numbers to provide blood throughout a person's lifetime, which means they need to strike a delicate balance between self-renewal and development into mature blood-cell lineages. Perturb that balance, and the result can be diseases such as leukemia and anemia.

5 Aug 2010

Scientists discover Deep Brain Stimulation as potential treatment for early Alzheimer's

In a world first, Dr. Andres M. Lozano and his team at Toronto Western Hospital has shown using Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) on patients with early signs of Alzheimer's disease is safe and may help improve memory. The phase one safety trial of six Ontario patients took place from 2005 to 2008. All patients left hospital within 2 to 3 days of surgery, and continue to participate in regular follow-up cognitive assessments.

5 Aug 2010

Scientists invent Global Focus microscope for tuberculosis diagnosis

A compact microscope invented at Rice University is proving its potential to impact global health. In a paper published online today in the journal PLoS ONE, Rice alumnus Andrew Miller and co-authors show that his portable, battery-operated fluorescence microscope, which costs $240, stacks up nicely against devices that retail for as much as $40,000 in diagnosing signs of tuberculosis.

5 Aug 2010

Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center at UT Southwestern attains National Cancer Institute designation

The Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center at UT Southwestern Medical Center has attained National Cancer Institute (NCI) designation, an elite distinction held by only the top-tier cancer centers nationwide.

5 Aug 2010

Hospital advertising spending remains strong in Dallas region

"The weak economy has siphoned money from advertising budgets in most major industries, but local hospital advertising has remained steady, thanks to one company. Texas Health Resources, the largest hospital system in North Texas, accounted for about half of not-for-profit advertising spending last year" and "tripled its advertising spending from 2008 to 2009 with the launch of its rebranding campaign, said Steve Hanson, senior vice president for growth and development at Texas Health.

5 Aug 2010

Pregnancy weight gain liked to childhood obesity: Study

Women who gain excessive weight during pregnancy have a greater chance their babies will be born too big. Scientists are trying to find whether this relationship of gaining too much weight by mother and baby is genetic and can predispose the child to be obese later in life.

4 Aug 2010

Detection of Alzheimer's before symptoms occur

Research is on to detect the dreaded Alzheimer's disease even before any symptoms occur. In a newly proposed diagnostic criteria developed by experts from the National Institute on Aging and the Alzheimer's Association three stages of the disease viz. pre-clinical Alzheimer's, mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's dementia are described.

4 Aug 2010

Fractures are major concern for U.S. high school athletes: Study

The popularity of high school sports in the United States has continued to increase over the past decade, with more than 7.5 million athletes participating in school sports during the 2008-09 academic year. A new study conducted by the Center for Injury Research and Policy of The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital found that 95 percent of fractures required costly diagnostic imaging, including X-rays, MRIs and CT scans, and 16 percent required surgical repair.

4 Aug 2010

Conceptus’ Essure procedure effective for permanent birth control

According to the recently released 2006-08 National Survey of Family Growth by the Center for Disease Control, one in four women choose permanent birth control. Conceptus, Inc. wants women to know that its Essure permanent birth control procedure has been gaining in popularity, and is a safe and effective solution used by hundreds of thousands of women worldwide.

4 Aug 2010

Nuokang's product pipeline candidates advance through SFDA review process

China Nuokang Bio-Pharmaceutical Inc., a leading China-based biopharmaceutical company focused on the research, development, manufacture, marketing and sales of hospital-based medical products, today announced that two of its product pipeline candidates recently advanced through the next respective stages of the State Food and Drug Administration review process.

4 Aug 2010

Research examines effects of orthostatic hypotension in adults, children

A simple variation to the tried and true method of checking blood pressure can reveal startling information about both older and younger persons, new research suggests.

4 Aug 2010

Infinity reports $18.4 million total revenue for second-quarter 2010

Infinity Pharmaceuticals, Inc., an innovative drug discovery and development company, today detailed recent developments in its product development portfolio and announced second quarter 2010 financial results.

4 Aug 2010

TSO3 second-quarter net loss decreases to $1.9 million

TSO3 Inc. an innovator in sterilization technology for medical devices in healthcare settings using ozone, posted revenues of $494,353 for the sales of new generation sterilizers (STERIZONE(R) 125L+ / 3M(TM) Optreoz(TM) 125-Z), accessories and service contracts. This compares to $510,626 for the same period in 2009, representing the sale of two of the first generation ozone sterilizers (125L), accessories and service contracts, as well as a large installation contract.

4 Aug 2010

National Research Corporation second-quarter revenue increases to $14.1 million

National Research Corporation today announced results for the second quarter 2010.

4 Aug 2010

MAKO Surgical second-quarter total revenue increases 151% to $10.3 million

MAKO Surgical Corp., a medical device company that markets both its RIO® Robotic Arm Interactive Orthopedic surgical platform and proprietary RESTORIS® implants for minimally invasive orthopedic knee procedures known as MAKOplasty®, today announced its operating results for its second quarter ended June 30, 2010.

4 Aug 2010

New article published in Journal of Surgical Research highlights PACE technology

SANUWAVE Health, Inc., an emerging medical technology company focused on the development and commercialization of non-invasive, biological response activating devices in regenerative medicine, today announced that an article titled "Microvascular Response to Shock Wave Application in Striated Skin Muscle" was recently published in the on-line edition of the Journal of Surgical Research.

4 Aug 2010

Paoli Hospital granted Level II Trauma Center Accreditation status

Level II Trauma Center Accreditation status has been granted to one additional hospital in Pennsylvania for the period from October 1, 2010 through September 30, 2011: Paoli Hospital, Paoli, PA

4 Aug 2010