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AlloMap molecular expression test reduces need for invasive heart-muscle biopsies

Monitoring rejection in heart transplantation patients with a simple blood test co-developed by NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center physician-scientist Dr. Mario Deng in 2005 can safely reduce their need for invasive heart-muscle biopsies, a new study has found.

24 Apr 2010

Cardiola's m.pulse MCP based system improves cardiac function in stable CHF patients

Cardiola AG announced today that the Company's CE-Marked m.pulse® Muscular CounterPulsation ("MCP")-based system demonstrated "an immediate improvement of cardiac output with non-invasive means" in a patient population of advanced yet stable chronic heart failure. The effects could be shown in 22 patients over three consecutive days.

24 Apr 2010

Advances in understanding of cardiac-specific genes in heart development

Researchers at the Texas Heart Institute at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital (THI at St. Luke's) announced today the results of research which they believe marks a significant advance in understanding how cardiac-specific genes are turned on during the development of the heart in mice embryos.

23 Apr 2010

New ways for earlier diagnosis of osteoarthritis

Researchers at King's College London's Department of Twin Research and Genetic Epidemiology, based at St Thomas' Hospital have discovered new ways of measuring biological markers in the blood which could be used to diagnose osteoarthritis earlier.

23 Apr 2010

Hospitals striving to provide balloon angioplasties in under 60 minutes for patients undergoing heart attacks

National guidelines say patients undergoing heart attacks should receive balloon angioplasties as soon as possible or within 90 minutes of arriving at the hospital -- known as the "door-to-balloon time."

23 Apr 2010

Mayo Clinic study finds changes in tissue damage throughout the course of MS

A new Mayo Clinic study has found that the type of tissue damage changes throughout the course of multiple sclerosis. In early relapsing disease stages, the plaques, or areas where the nervous system is inflamed or demyelinated, are predominantly active with distinct heterogeneous patterns of myelin damage.

23 Apr 2010

University of Nevada professor awarded NIH RO1 grant for study of control of motility in internal anal sphincter

Kathleen Keef, Ph.D., professor of physiology and cell biology at the University of Nevada School of Medicine, has been awarded a four-year, $1.2 million grant from the National Institute of Health to study the control of motility in the internal anal sphincter.

22 Apr 2010

Merck to market and distribute MBL's Td vaccine in the U.S.

MassBiologics of the University of Massachusetts Medical School and Merck & Co., Inc. announced today that they have entered into an agreement that provides Merck with exclusive rights to market and distribute MBL's tetanus and diphtheria toxoids adsorbed (Td) vaccine in the United States, with the exception of Massachusetts, where MBL will continue distributing the vaccine.

21 Apr 2010

New research shows mercury levels are higher in some tuna species

New research showing that that mercury levels are higher in some species of tuna could help consumers minimize their consumption of the silvery metal in their sushi and provide a powerful new tool for regulatory organizations.

21 Apr 2010

Unwarranted increase in use of psychotropic medications for children

A new study from the Journal of Marital & Family Therapy warns of the dramatic rise in the use of psychotropic medications for children. One in every fifty Americans is now considered permanently disabled by mental illness, and up to eight million children take one or more psychotropic drugs.

21 Apr 2010

Lipocine announced receipt of $2M development milestone payment from Abbott

Lipocine Inc. announced today the receipt of a $2 million development milestone payment from Abbott under the terms of its Licensing Agreement to develop and commercialize an oral testosterone product for hypogonadism, also known as low testosterone.

21 Apr 2010

Diagnosis of gastric adenomyoma remains a challenging issue

Gastric adenomyoma (AM) is a rare, benign tumor, characteristically composed of glands and cysts, lined by columnar, flattened epithelia and a prominent smooth muscle stroma. Patients with gastric AM may be asymptomatic, or present as nonspecific gastrointestinal symptoms.

21 Apr 2010

CPAP medical device recommended for severe cases of sleep apnea

Sleep Apnea - While most people with mild sleep apnea are aware that they snore, they may not be aware of the health risks involved. There are plenty of jokes about the risk to marriage of snoring but the health risks to a person with chronic snoring vastly outweigh the relationship stress.

21 Apr 2010

Acorda Therapeutics to initiate Phase 1 clinical trial of GGF2 for heart failure in mid-2010

Acorda Therapeutics, Inc. today announced plans to initiate a Phase 1 single-dose clinical trial of the Company's compound, Glial Growth Factor 2 (GGF2), in patients with heart failure in mid-2010, based on an IND filed with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on March 19, 2010. GGF2 has been shown to protect heart muscle and restore cardiac function in preclinical models of heart failure, myocardial infarction and cardiotoxicity.

20 Apr 2010

Genetic defect in protein glycogenin can lead to cardiac arrest

Researchers have discovered a new disorder linked to heart problems that stems from a genetic defect in the protein glycogenin. In a worst case scenario, disruption of this protein's function can lead to cardiac arrest, which is exactly what happened to the young man whose case triggered the investigation at Sahlgrenska University Hospital at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, that led to a brand new diagnosis.

20 Apr 2010

Magnetically guided nanoparticles for delivering DNA, cells and drugs

Scientists and engineers have used uniform magnetic fields to drive iron-bearing nanoparticles to metal stents in injured blood vessels, where the particles deliver a drug payload that successfully prevents blockages in those vessels. In this animal study, the novel technique achieved better results at a lower dose than conventional non-magnetic stent therapy.

20 Apr 2010

Meat cooked at high temperatures increases risk of developing bladder cancer

People who eat meat frequently, especially meat that is well done or cooked at high temperatures, may have a higher chance of developing bladder cancer, according to a large study at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center presented at the American Association for Cancer Research 101st Annual Meeting 2010. This risk appears to increase in people with certain genetic variants.

20 Apr 2010

OECs may hold promise for pediatric cerebral palsy treatment

A unique cell type that supports and surrounds (ensheathes) neurons within the nose (olfactory system) known as olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs), possess the ability to regenerate, are relatively easy to obtain, and have become prime candidates for transplantation to repair a number of lesions in the central nervous system (CNS).

19 Apr 2010

"Brain Port" surgery helps remove colloid cyst in 15-week pregnant woman

A unique device developed to make brain surgery easier and less traumatic has been successfully used on a patient who was pregnant and suffering from a potentially life-threatening brain cyst. The device, called a "Brain Port," was pioneered by renowned neurosurgeon Amin Kassam, MD, Medical Director of the Neuroscience Institute at Saint John's Health Center.

19 Apr 2010

Stanford researchers discover tissue-specific target in pathogen

A tumor-causing maize fungus with the unsavory-sounding name "corn smut" wields different weapons from its genetic arsenal depending on which part of the plant it infects. The discovery by Stanford researchers marks the first time tissue-specific targeting has been found in a pathogen.

19 Apr 2010