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Drug treatment slows decline in lung function in COPD patients

Treatment with a commonly used drug slows the decline in lung function in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to results from the TORCH (TOwards a Revolution in COPD Health) study presented at the American Thoracic Society 2007 International Conference, on Tuesday, May 22.

22 May 2007

Drug eluting nanostructured coatings

Drug delivery systems have progressed from the teaspoon to time-release capsules to drug-eluting stents.

22 May 2007

Decoding gene expression in cancer tumors using noninvasive imaging

By correlating images of cancerous liver tissue with gene expression patterns, a research team led by a radiologist at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine has developed tools that may some day allow physicians to view a CT image of a cancer tumor and discern its genetic activity.

22 May 2007

Cure for hepatitis C

The use of peginterferon alone, or in combination with ribavirin, points to a cure for hepatitis C, the leading cause of cirrhosis, liver cancer and the need for liver transplant, a Virginia Commonwealth University researcher said today.

22 May 2007

New strategy to inoculate medical staff in a pandemic situation

Community preparedness for a bioterrorism attack or influenza outbreak has been the focus of much interest and effort in recent years.

22 May 2007

CoQ10 may not provide benefits to individuals with Parkinson's disease

These findings contradict results from earlier studies involving a high purity CoQ10 supplement, Vitaline(R) CoQ10. Richard M. Delany, M.D., FACC, and founder of Personalized Preventive Medicine, finds that a closer review of this latest study design reveals important weaknesses, including the use of a short study duration (3 months) and a low daily dosage (300 mg), and failure to use the clinically proven CoQ10 product, Vitaline CoQ10.

22 May 2007

Clinical trial data for Perforomist Inhalation solution

Data presented at the International Conference of the American Thoracic Society (ATS) demonstrate that Perforomist (formoterol fumarate) Inhalation Solution, delivered by nebulization, is an effective and well-tolerated new treatment option for patients suffering from emphysema or chronic bronchitis, otherwise known as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

22 May 2007

Link between periodontitis and tongue cancer

Researchers at the University at Buffalo and Roswell Park Cancer Institute have shown for the first time that an association exists between long-standing periodontitis, or gum disease, and risk of tongue cancer.

22 May 2007

Breast MRI may have a role in evaluation of newly diagnosed breast cancers

Among women who are newly diagnosed with breast cancer, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the breast appears helpful in determining surgical treatment, according to a report in the May issue of Archives of Surgery, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

22 May 2007

Asthmatx completes enrollment in study of bronchial thermoplasty

Asthmatx, Inc. has announced the successful completion of enrollment in its pivotal FDA approved IDE study, the Asthma Intervention Research 2 (AIR2) Trial of the Alair, Bronchial Thermoplasty System.

22 May 2007

Sling better than colposuspension for stress urinary incontinence

A large study by a team of urologists and urogynecologists has found that in a comparison of the two traditional surgical operations for stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in women, using an internal sling to support the uretha was more effective than colposuspension.

22 May 2007

Green tea may reduce risk of developing bladder inflammation

Bladder inflammation has been linked to incontinence and cystitis, a condition that results in recurring bladder infections and pain in the surrounding pelvic region; it is a common infection in women and causes both pain and embarrassment to many.

22 May 2007

FDA in trouble over widely used diabetic drug Avandia

A diabetes pill which has been widely used since 1999 is now suspected of increasing the risk of heart attacks for those taking it.

22 May 2007

First beating heart transplant procedure in the US

Protected by its own nutrients and blood supply, a beating heart supported by an investigational organ preservation device was successfully transplanted into a 47-year-old man with congestive heart failure and pulmonary hypertension on Sunday, April 8.

18 May 2007

Large trial to identify the long-term health effects of West Nile virus infection

UT Southwestern Medical Center has joined a national clinical trial to identify the long-term health effects of West Nile virus infection and to learn more about the disease's progression, symptoms and mortality.

18 May 2007

Ulcerative colitis disruptive in relationships

Nearly three out of four ulcerative colitis (UC) sufferers (73 percent) responding to a new nationwide survey say not feeling well has become a normal part of life.

18 May 2007

Patients with myelodysplastic syndromes treated with Revlimid are living longer and remaining transfusion independent

New updated results from a pivotal Phase II trial evaluating Revlimid in patients with an incurable blood cancer known as myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) were presented by Dr. Alan List, from the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, at the 9th International Symposium on MDS currently taking place in Florence, Italy.

18 May 2007

Newly discovered WU virus may explain some respiratory infections

An ongoing effort to identify the microorganisms that make us sick has discovered a new virus potentially linked to unexplained respiratory infections.

18 May 2007

Scientists develop method to track immune system enzyme in live animals

Scientists supported by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) at the National Institutes of Health have created two mouse strains that will permit researchers to trace, in a live animal, the activity of an enzyme believed to play a crucial role both in the normal immune response as well as autoimmunity and B cell tumor development.

18 May 2007

Quality improvement effort pays off in diabetes care

Spending money to improve diabetes care at federally qualified community health centers is a sound investment, according to one of the first studies to examine the clinical and economic impact of quality improvement on diabetes care.

18 May 2007