Ion News and Research

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Oral care with ionic toothbrush

Smile and the world smiles with you. Well, the folks at Global Ionics LLC, makers of the Ionic ProClean toothbrush, are smiling a lot these days; especially since receiving the impressive results of a clinical evaluation conducted by THE DENTAL ADVISOR. In a clinical assessment, the Ionic ProClean was evaluated by a team of dental professionals and 107 patients in over 11,100 uses. The results? Dental professionals reported that they observed less tartar buildup and gingivitis, and believed the toothbrush contributed to good oral hygiene: earning the Ionic ProClean a 4+ rating from THE DENTAL ADVISOR.

6 Feb 2010

Etch recipe allows engineers and product developers to design diamond devices

Advanced Diamond Technologies (ADT) is making broadly available an etch recipe which enables engineers and product developers to reliably and affordably design micro devices and sensors out of diamond.

4 Feb 2010

Fluxion Biosciences to defend against alleged automated patch clamp system patent infringement lawsuit

Fluxion Biosciences, Inc. announced today that a lawsuit alleging patent infringement had been filed against it in the US District Court of Northern California by Cellectricon AB, its competitor in the field of automated ion channel screening systems for drug discovery. Cellectricon has asserted U.S. Patents Nos. 7,390,650, 7,470,518, and 7,563,614 in the litigation, as well as U.S. Patent No. 5,376,252, which is owned by Gyros and licensed to Cellectricon.

From Fluxion Biosciences 3 Feb 2010

Cellectricon resumes litigation against Fluxion Biosciences over alleged patent infringement

Cellectricon AB today announced that it has resumed its litigation against Fluxion Biosciences, Inc. Cellectricon filed the lawsuit in July 2009 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California alleging infringement of several United States patents issued or licensed to Cellectricon for microfluidic technology used in Cellectricon's state-of-the-art ion channel drug screening solution, the Dynaflow(R)HT System. Cellectricon's U.S. Patents Nos. 7,390,650, 7,470,518 and 7,563,614 have been asserted in the litigation, as well as U.S. Patent No. 5,376,252, which is owned by Gyros, and licensed to Cellectricon.

From Fluxion Biosciences 2 Feb 2010

Florida State University research team to develop way of measuring zinc levels in the human body

A team of Florida State University researchers will use a five-year, $1.3 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to develop a way to measure levels of the trace metal zinc in the human body.

28 Jan 2010

Study sheds light on cellular communication systems involved in neurodegenerative, cancer and cardiovascular diseases

Cells rely on a range of signaling systems to communicate with each other and to control their own internal workings. Scientists from the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Hamburg, Germany, have now found a way to hack into a vital communications system, raising the possibility of developing new drugs to tackle disorders like neurodegeneration, cancer and cardiovascular disease.

27 Jan 2010

Fluxion Biosciences expands its IonFlux automated patch clamp system

Fluxion Biosciences announced today a product expansion for its IonFlux automated patch clamp system which includes full automation and walk-away capability.

From Fluxion Biosciences 27 Jan 2010

FDA approves fampridine-SR drug for treatment of multiple sclerosis

The Food and Drug Administration has approved the drug fampridine-SR for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. Researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) have been evaluating the effects of the drug in MS for more than 10 years- it is the first medication shown to enhance some neurological functions in people with the disease - and their efforts helped pave the way for today's action by the FDA.

23 Jan 2010

Fast Forward, JDRF announce collaborative partnership with Axxam SpA

Fast Forward, LLC, the commercial drug development arm of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), the leader in research leading to a cure for type 1 diabetes in the world today announced a collaborative partnership with Axxam SpA -- a leading company in conducting early-stage discovery research programs for the life science industry -- to develop new treatments for two autoimmune diseases, multiple sclerosis (MS) and type 1 diabetes (T1D).

20 Jan 2010

Research suggests ancient Egyptians may have used lead-based cosmetics to prevent eye infections

There's more to the eye makeup that gave Queen Nefertiti and other ancient Egyptian royals those stupendous gazes and legendary beauty than meets the eye. Scientists in France are reporting that the alluring eye makeup also may have been used to help prevent or treat eye disease by doubling as an infection-fighter.

12 Jan 2010

Pall introduces new prepacked chromatography columns for faster protein purification process

Pall Corporation, a global leader in filtration, separation and purification, announces the launch of 5 mL PRC prepacked chromatography columns to deliver faster and more consistent protein purification processing.

From Pall Corporation 8 Jan 2010

Scientists identify gene underlying a disease that causes temporary paralysis of skeletal muscle

Scientists have identified a gene underlying a disease that causes temporary paralysis of skeletal muscle. The finding, they say, illustrates how investigations of rare genetic diseases can drive insights into more common ones.

8 Jan 2010

Combination of advanced techniques in robotics and neuroscience shows promise for stroke patients

Bioengineers have taken a small step toward improving physical recovery in stroke patients by showing that a key feature of how limb motion is encoded in the nervous system plays a crucial role in how new motor skills are learned.

8 Jan 2010

New tools show potential for treating brain disorders

Neuroscientists at MIT have developed a powerful new class of tools to reversibly shut down brain activity using different colors of light.

7 Jan 2010

ATP-sensitive potassium channel can contribute to fat deposition and obesity, new study says

A new study involving the University of Iowa, Mayo Clinic and two other institutions provides insight on weight control, suggesting that a ATP-sensitive potassium channel critical to survival and stress adaptation can contribute to fat deposition and obesity.

6 Jan 2010

Carbon nanotube: A viable alternative for rapid DNA sequencing

Faster sequencing of DNA holds enormous potential for biology and medicine, particularly for personalized diagnosis and customized treatment based on each individual's genomic makeup.

4 Jan 2010

Tarantula venom protein promising for MD

University at Buffalo biophysicists have found a protein in tarantula venom that shows promise as a potential therapy for muscular dystrophy (MD). They have formed a start-up biotech company in Buffalo -- Rose Pharmaceuticals -- to advance the drug to clinical trials.

30 Dec 2009

Research suggests common mechanism is associated with different human diseases

Inherited mutations in voltage-gated sodium channels (Navs) are associated with many different human diseases, including genetic forms of epilepsy and chronic pain. Theodore Cummins and colleagues, at Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, have now determined the functional consequence of three such mutations.

29 Dec 2009

Study on cyanobacteria helps understand anesthetic actions

Experiments in one of the oldest forms of life on Earth are helping to answer basic questions about how general anesthesia works, according to a study in the January issue of Anesthesia & Analgesia, official journal of the International Anesthesia Research Society (IARS).

23 Dec 2009

ASU scientists develop innovative prosthetic device

Arizona State University researchers have developed a prosthetic device that literally puts the spring back into an amputee's step. The ASU scientists have developed and refined SPARKy (for spring ankle with regenerative kinetics) into a smart, active and energy storing below-the-knee (transbitial) prosthesis.