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Chemotherapy drug sunitinib promising for HIV-positive cancer patients

Preliminary findings from a unique study with sunitinib suggest that it might be possible to tweak the dosage of chemotherapy drugs used to treat HIV-positive cancer patients to achieve therapeutic benefit. Given the type of drug cocktail patients use to treat their HIV, much more or considerably less chemotherapy may be warranted, say the researchers, part of the NCI-supported AIDS Malignancy Consortium (AMC). The trial design is being presented at the 2010 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).

8 Jun 2010

U.S. Renal Care acquires Dialysis Corporation of America for $110.25M

U.S. Renal Care, Inc., a leading privately-held provider of outpatient dialysis services, today announced that it has completed its $110.25 million acquisition of Dialysis Corporation of America, Inc., a leading provider of outpatient kidney dialysis services. With this acquisition, USRC will provide dialysis services to approximately 5,500 patients and operate 84 dialysis centers, home and specialty hospital dialysis programs and facilities in nine states: Arkansas, Georgia, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia.

8 Jun 2010

Novartis' Afinitor decreases size of SEGAs associated with tuberous sclerosis

Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation announced today that results from a Phase II study show Afinitor® (everolimus) tablets is the first medication in a clinical trial to decrease the size of subependymal giant cell astrocytomas (SEGAs), benign brain tumors associated with tuberous sclerosis (TS). In this study of 28 patients presented today at the 46th American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting in Chicago, 75% of patients experienced a reduction of 30% or greater in the size of their brain tumors from baseline to six months (p<0.001).

7 Jun 2010

Addition of sorafenib to chemotherapy regimen not effective against advanced melanoma: Study

The combination of two different chemotherapies and a previously approved treatment for kidney and liver cancers is not effective against advanced melanoma, according to results disclosed in an oral presentation today at the 46th annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Chicago.

7 Jun 2010

Researcher calls stroke specialists to further knowledge and understanding of stroke

To cope with the projected growth in the incidence of strokes in Canada, the public may need to take on roles traditionally performed by healthcare specialists, according to a leading Canadian stroke researcher.

7 Jun 2010

NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital recognized as leader in all 10 clinical specialties

NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital is the only tri-state-area hospital listed on the 2010 U.S.News & World Report "America's Best Children's Hospitals" "Honor Roll" and one of only eight children's hospitals in the nation to be ranked in all 10 clinical specialties. NewYork-Presbyterian provides children's health services at two major centers: NewYork-Presbyterian/Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital and the Phyllis and David Komansky Center for Children's Health.

5 Jun 2010

Millennium announces data on VELCADE in treatment of patients with amyloidosis

Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Company today announced data examining the use of VELCADE in the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory light chain (AL) amyloidosis. Amyloidosis is a rare condition in which excessive proteins build up in organs or tissues, such as the heart, kidney or liver. These data were presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) held in Chicago, Illinois, June 4-8, 2010.

5 Jun 2010

Montefiore-Einstein announces Abdominal Organ Transplant Symposium on June 10, 2010

The Montefiore-Einstein Abdominal Organ Transplantation Service will hold an Abdominal Organ Transplant Symposium on Thursday, June 10, 2010 from 7:30 am - 4:30 pm at the Moses Division of Montefiore Medical Center on Gun Hill Road in the Bronx, NY.

4 Jun 2010

DaVita receives subpoena from Department of Health and Human Services OIG

DaVita Inc., a leading provider of kidney care services for those diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD), announced today that on May 28, 2010, it received a subpoena from the Dallas office of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (OIG). The subpoena relates to a civil investigation that was previously disclosed by the company during its earnings call on April 27, 2010, and in its quarterly report on form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2010.

4 Jun 2010

Kidney dialysis patients unprepared for disasters: Study

Immediately after Hurricane Katrina in August 2005, the survival of more than 5,800 Gulf Coast kidney dialysis patients was threatened as the storm forced closure of 94 dialysis units. Within a month 148 of these patients had died.

4 Jun 2010

Growth hormone treatment promotes growth in infants with CRF: Study

Infants with chronic renal failure grow slowly, a problem that usually improves with aggressive nutritional therapy. When it doesn't, growth hormone is a safe and effective treatment to promote growth, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.

4 Jun 2010

Hiru, MindUp BioResearch comment on recent research findings in cancer treatments

Hiru Corporation and its European subsidiary MindUp BioResearch comment on the recent research findings in the field of cancer treatments for multi-drug resistant non-small cell lung cancer.

4 Jun 2010

Detailed analysis of epigenetics of Wilms tumor reveals similarities to stem cells

A detailed analysis of the epigenetics - factors controlling when and in what tissues genes are expressed - of Wilms tumor reveals striking similarities to stem cells normally found in fetal kidneys. These findings by Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center researchers have revealed new cellular pathways that are critical for Wilms tumor development and may also apply to other pediatric cancers.

4 Jun 2010

Grassroots awareness and education programs increase minority organ and tissue donations: Study

Minority organ donations have more than doubled since the institution of grassroots awareness and education programs, according to a new retrospective study published in the May issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons. In 2010, the percentage of minority donors is expected to reach 35 percent, up from approximately 15 percent in 1990.

3 Jun 2010

Ablation technique as affective as conventional surgery for treating kidney cancer

A minimally invasive technique used to destroy kidney tumors with an electrically controlled heating probe showed similar effectiveness as surgical removal of tumors in curbing cancer recurrence rates for up to five years after treatment.

3 Jun 2010

Cook Medical's Resonance Metallic Ureteral Stent demonstrates long-term success in 29-month clinical study

A 29-month clinical study demonstrated the long-term success of Cook Medical's Resonance® Metallic Ureteral Stent in providing drainage for patients with both benign and malignant upper urinary tract obstructions, according to results presented today at the 2010 Annual Meeting of the American Urological Association (AUA). The findings suggest that metallic stents provide adequate drainage and can be maintained in situ for 12 months without significant encrustation.

2 Jun 2010

Study demonstrates diagnostic, economic benefits of AABT for lung cancer patients

Oncimmune LLC, maker of EarlyCDT-Lung, a simple blood test that aids physicians in risk assessment and the early detection of lung cancer, today announced validation study results demonstrating the diagnostic and economic benefits of a standardized and reproducible autoantibody laboratory test that may significantly improve the prognosis for lung cancer patients.

2 Jun 2010

Mayo Clinic study examines benefits of surgical treatment of kidney cancer

When kidney cancer spreads to other body parts, patients usually receive a poor prognosis. A new Mayo Clinic study examined the benefits of surgical treatment of kidney cancer, specifically renal cell carcinoma, and how patients saw improved prognosis of their cancer.

2 Jun 2010

Over-the-counter supplements can cause hypertension and kidney failure

Negative health effects linked to taking too much supplemental calcium are on the rise, according to a commentary appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society Nephrology (JASN).

2 Jun 2010

Commonalities between flies and humans make valuable new model for galactosemia

Galactosemia is a metabolic disease resulting from an inherited defect that prevents the proper metabolism of galactose, a sugar commonly found in dairy products, like milk. Exposure of affected people to galactose, can damage most of their organ systems and can be fatal. The ability to study the disease is limited by a lack of animal models.

1 Jun 2010

Kidney News and Research

Chemotherapy drug sunitinib promising for HIV-positive cancer patients

U.S. Renal Care acquires Dialysis Corporation of America for $110.25M

Novartis' Afinitor decreases size of SEGAs associated with tuberous sclerosis

Addition of sorafenib to chemotherapy regimen not effective against advanced melanoma: Study

Researcher calls stroke specialists to further knowledge and understanding of stroke

NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital recognized as leader in all 10 clinical specialties

Millennium announces data on VELCADE in treatment of patients with amyloidosis

Montefiore-Einstein announces Abdominal Organ Transplant Symposium on June 10, 2010

DaVita receives subpoena from Department of Health and Human Services OIG

Kidney dialysis patients unprepared for disasters: Study

Growth hormone treatment promotes growth in infants with CRF: Study

Hiru, MindUp BioResearch comment on recent research findings in cancer treatments

Detailed analysis of epigenetics of Wilms tumor reveals similarities to stem cells

Grassroots awareness and education programs increase minority organ and tissue donations: Study

Ablation technique as affective as conventional surgery for treating kidney cancer

Cook Medical's Resonance Metallic Ureteral Stent demonstrates long-term success in 29-month clinical study

Study demonstrates diagnostic, economic benefits of AABT for lung cancer patients

Mayo Clinic study examines benefits of surgical treatment of kidney cancer

Over-the-counter supplements can cause hypertension and kidney failure

Commonalities between flies and humans make valuable new model for galactosemia

Achieving and maintaining ISO 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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