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Menopausal women don't get enough guidance on treatment options

Few women are consulting their doctors before opting to use herbal therapies and soy products to treat their menopausal symptoms, researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine have found.

18 Jun 2006

Transcription factors act not only in isolation to regulate distinct sets of genes

Scientists eager to help develop a new generation of pharmaceuticals are studying cellular proteins called transcription factors, which bind to upstream sequences of genes to turn the expression of those genes on or off.

18 Jun 2006

Researchers identify new keys to regulation of bacterial gene expression

The cellular process of transcription, in which the enzyme RNA polymerase constructs chains of RNA from information contained in DNA, depends upon previously underappreciated sections of both the DNA promoter region and RNA polymerase

18 Jun 2006

Doctors put their foot down over drug advertising

The American Medical Association (AMA), the largest doctors group in the U.S., has announced a new policy on the direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription drugs and implantable medical devices.

18 Jun 2006

Protein represents new target in the treatment of diabetes

According to a new study elevated levels of a molecule called RBP4 (retinol binding protein 4) forecast the early stages of the development of insulin resistance, a major cause of type 2 diabetes as well as cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome.

18 Jun 2006

Government scientist accused of profiting from selling human tissue samples

It has been reported that a senior researcher at the U.S. National Institutes of Health has possibly profited by as much $285,000 from the sale of human tissue samples collected from the public for research.

14 Jun 2006

New diabetic drugs could change the future for sufferers

According to the American Diabetes Association, diabetes affects as many as 21 million Americans increasing their risk of heart attacks, kidney disease and blindness.

13 Jun 2006

PATH to pave the way for cervical cancer vaccines in the developing world

The global health nonprofit PATH has launched a five-year effort to make sure that new cervical cancer vaccines - the first vaccines developed and approved just for women's health - reach women in the developing world.

9 Jun 2006

How cow warts, clergy sex surveys moved along cervical cancer vaccine

The creation of a successful vaccine against cervical cancer, approved today by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, is the culmination of research that occurred thanks not only to scientists and physicians, but also to generous farmers and veterinarians, priests and nuns willing to tell all - and some very patient cows.

9 Jun 2006

Bortezomib extends lung cancer survival

Adding the new molecularly targeted agent bortezomib to a standard chemotherapy regimen of gemcitabine and carboplatin prolongs survival in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer, according to results from a phase II trial.

9 Jun 2006

Markey Cancer Center receives approval to test cancer drug DB-67

Tom Burke died of colon cancer only a few years ago, but not before he helped create a new drug to fight cancer.

8 Jun 2006

How many men have osteoporosis?

Though it's much more common in women, osteoporosis can strike men too, often with debilitating consequences.

7 Jun 2006

1 in 10 adults develop asthma at their workplace

According to Australian researchers as many as 1 in 10 Australians who develop asthma as an adult can blame it on their workplace.

7 Jun 2006

Gleevec strangles drug-resistant, metastatic prostate cancer

A medication used to treat other types of cancer strangles drug-resistant, metastatic prostate cancer by cutting off its blood supply, researchers from The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center report in the June 7 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

7 Jun 2006

New drug combo to cut cardiovascular disease

A major international study to test whether a new combination treatment that increases good "HDL" cholesterol prevents heart attacks and strokes will start to recruit patients later this year.

6 Jun 2006

Smoking cessation messages miss Asian Americans

Cigarettes are a particular problem among Asian-American immigrants, where smoking has been estimated to be more than 10 percent above the national average.

6 Jun 2006

Milstein gift seeks cure for antibiotic-resistant TB and malaria

A $7.25 million gift to Weill Medical College of Cornell University will establish the Abby and Howard P. Milstein Chemistry Core Facility and the Abby and Howard P. Milstein Program in Chemical Biology.

5 Jun 2006

Herceptin plus hormonal therapy holds breast cancer in check

Drug giant Roche believes it has proof that its cancer drug Herceptin when used in combination with hormonal therapy increases the time that some breast-cancer patients live without the cancer progressing.

29 May 2006

Patients more satisfied if they have more contact with pharmacist

Getting hospital-based pharmacists out from "behind the counter" to work directly with inpatients and health care teams reduces medication errors and problems, according to a University of Iowa and Department of Veterans Affairs review of previously published studies.

23 May 2006

Level of selenium-containing proteins in the body instrumental in preventing cancer

Selenium, an essential dietary mineral that can act as an antioxidant when incorporated into proteins, has been shown in many studies to reduce the incidence of cancers -- notably lung, colorectal and prostate.

23 May 2006