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PCR testing for B. burgdorferi bacteria in joint fluid may confirm Lyme arthritis diagnosis

New research shows that polymerase chain reaction testing for Borrelia burgdorferi DNA—the spirochetal bacteria transmitted by deer ticks—in joint fluid may confirm the diagnosis of Lyme arthritis, but is not a reliable indicator for active joint infection in patients whose arthritis persists after antibiotic therapy. Findings of this study are published in Arthritis & Rheumatism, a journal of the American College of Rheumatology.

13 May 2011

Majority of Americans support ban on menthol cigarettes

According to a new study released online today, a majority of Americans, including most African Americans, stand together in support of banning menthol in cigarettes just as other cigarette flavorings have now been banned by the FDA.

13 May 2011

Conference to discuss process of synaptic plasticity in Alzheimer's disease

Optimal functioning of neural networks is critical to the complex cognitive processes of memory, language, emotion and reasoning that deteriorate in people suffering from Alzheimer's disease.

12 May 2011

BWH Karp Laboratory acquires BioFlux 1000 system for stem cell homing research

Fluxion Biosciences announced today that the Karp Laboratory at the Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) has purchased the BioFlux 1000 system, which will be applied in their stem cell homing research.

From Fluxion Biosciences 12 May 2011

Being mildly overweight benefits ALS patients

Patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, may be an exception to the rule that being overweight is a health hazard. In a retrospective study of over 400 ALS patients, Massachusetts General Hospital researchers found that those who were mildly obese survived longer than patients who were normal weight, underweight or even overweight.

12 May 2011

MTTI obtains exclusive license for novel fluorescence dyes from Massachusetts General Hospital

Molecular Targeting Technologies, Inc., announced that it has obtained an exclusive license from the Massachusetts General Hospital for novel fluorescence dyes developed by Scott Hilderbrand, Ph.D. Fangwei Shao, Ph.D., and Ralph Weissleder, Ph.D. M.D.

11 May 2011

MGH, Duke University and Angion Biomedica partner to develop novel therapeutics for ischemic stroke

Angion Biomedica Corp. announced today the establishment of an alliance with Duke University and Massachusetts General Hospital to pursue advanced development and clinical studies of its lead therapeutics for treatment of ischemic stroke.

10 May 2011

IOF launches Vertebral Fracture Initiative for health professionals

Vertebral fractures are a common cause of pain and disability - and they are also powerful predictors of future spine and hip fractures. Yet there is evidence that many health professionals simply fail to recognize vertebral fractures in their patients. Even if the fractures are reported, appropriate intervention is often not initiated.

10 May 2011

One in 30 Americans use mind-body therapies due to provider referral

More than a third of Americans use some form of complementary and alternative medicine and that number continues to rise attributed mostly to increases in the use of mind-body therapies like yoga, meditation and deep breathing exercises.

10 May 2011

Teen alcohol consumption associated with computer use

Teenagers who drink alcohol spend more time on their computers for recreational use, including social networking and downloading and listening to music, compared with their peers who don't drink.

9 May 2011

Psychotherapeutic treatment can cure cyclothymic disorder

In the current issue of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics a group of Italian investigators headed by Giovanni Fava published a randomized controlled trial on psychotherapeutic treatment of cyclothymic disorder, a disturbance that is characterized by rapid alternation of mood swings.

9 May 2011

Researchers analyze gene expression profiles to understand molecular mechanisms behind various diseases

Over the past decades, researchers seeking to understand molecular mechanisms underlying various diseases, notably cancer, have taken advantage of DNA microarrays to interrogate tissues specimen of patients for the expression status of thousands of genes at once.

9 May 2011

Viewpoints: Will GOP back away from Medicaid plan too?; exchanges geared to politics, not health

All but seven House Republicans voted for a budget plan last month that would eliminate Medicare's guarantee to the elderly. It was always bad policy. But now that the vote has proved to be wildly unpopular, the party is suddenly running in the opposite direction.

7 May 2011

Recent releases in Global Health

"In 25 countries across Asia, from Kazakhstan to Papua New Guinea, we work to support the success of emerging economies and help address the challenges of hunger and poverty. We do this not just by extending a helping hand, but sharing the hope of the American Dream to people around the world - the mother who eats less so her children can eat more, the girl who risks her life to get an education, the entrepreneur who beats the odds to create a small business that employs his neighbors," Rajiv Shah, USAID administrator, writes in a post on the agency's "Impact blog".

7 May 2011

American Gastroenterological Association, Horizon Pharma announce 2011 abstract prize recipients

The American Gastroenterological Association Research Foundation today announced Horizon Pharma's support of research awards aimed to stimulate interest in gastroenterology/hepatology research careers through competition and recognition.

6 May 2011

H. pylori DNA may help treat severe colitis

DNA from Helicobacter pylori, a common stomach bacteria, minimizes the effects of colitis in mice, according to a new study by University of Michigan Medical School scientists.

6 May 2011

CJASN: Only few US medical students adopt nephrology as a career

Kidney disease affects 1 in 9 US adults, and by 2020 more than 750,000 Americans will be on dialysis or awaiting kidney transplant. Despite this growing health problem, every year fewer US medical students adopt nephrology as a career, according to a review appearing in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society Nephrology.

6 May 2011

New drugs need to provide more data on how they compare with existing ones: Study

According to US researchers, data on drugs that could save money and help doctors make smarter treatment decisions are often unavailable at the time new medicines hit the market. They released a study this Tuesday in Journal of the American Medical Association which found nearly a third of new drug approvals from the Food and Drug Administration included no data on how well the medications compare with existing alternatives.

5 May 2011

Leukotriene antagonists can serve as effective alternative to conventional asthma treatment

A rarely prescribed asthma drug is easier to use and just as effective as conventional treatment with inhalers, according to a new study led by the University of East Anglia.

5 May 2011

Case Western Reserve launches new scientific and computational programs in Ohio

The Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine is pleased to announce it has established the first PhD and MS program in Systems Biology and Bioinformatics in the State of Ohio. Based in the School of Medicine, with the Center for Proteomics and Bioinformatics as its administrative home, the faculty cohort will include faculty from multiple departments and schools, and the fundamental core competencies for this program will include: genes and proteins; bioinformatics; and quantitative analysis and modeling.

3 May 2011

Medical School News and Research

PCR testing for B. burgdorferi bacteria in joint fluid may confirm Lyme arthritis diagnosis

Majority of Americans support ban on menthol cigarettes

Conference to discuss process of synaptic plasticity in Alzheimer's disease

BWH Karp Laboratory acquires BioFlux 1000 system for stem cell homing research

Being mildly overweight benefits ALS patients

MTTI obtains exclusive license for novel fluorescence dyes from Massachusetts General Hospital

MGH, Duke University and Angion Biomedica partner to develop novel therapeutics for ischemic stroke

IOF launches Vertebral Fracture Initiative for health professionals

One in 30 Americans use mind-body therapies due to provider referral

Teen alcohol consumption associated with computer use

Psychotherapeutic treatment can cure cyclothymic disorder

Researchers analyze gene expression profiles to understand molecular mechanisms behind various diseases

Viewpoints: Will GOP back away from Medicaid plan too?; exchanges geared to politics, not health

Recent releases in Global Health

American Gastroenterological Association, Horizon Pharma announce 2011 abstract prize recipients

H. pylori DNA may help treat severe colitis

CJASN: Only few US medical students adopt nephrology as a career

New drugs need to provide more data on how they compare with existing ones: Study

Leukotriene antagonists can serve as effective alternative to conventional asthma treatment

Case Western Reserve launches new scientific and computational programs in Ohio

Sensing a Healthier Future

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

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