Potassium News and Research

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Committee calls for strategies to curb hypertension

Public health officials and health care providers need to step up their efforts to reduce Americans' increasing rates of high blood pressure and better treat those with the condition, which triggers more than one-third of heart attacks and almost half of heart failures in the United States each year, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine.

23 Feb 2010

New gene locus influencing risk for atrial fibrillation identified

Atrial fibrillation is a cardiac arrhythmia - a chronic irregularity of heartbeat - which affects an estimated 1 million people in Germany. Although the condition is not acutely life-threatening, it does increase the risk of developing more serious illnesses, such as cardiac insufficiency, stroke and dementia. In the third of a series of genomewide asssociation studies, an international team of researchers, led by LMU physician PD Dr. Stefan K--b, now reports the identification of a new gene locus that has a significant influence on risk for atrial fibrillation.

22 Feb 2010

Researchers identify common gene variant associated with atrial fibrillation

An international research team has identified a common gene variant associated with a form of the irregular heartbeat called atrial fibrillation. In their report in the journal Nature Genetics, being published online, the investigators describe finding that variations affecting a protein that may help control the heart's electrical activity appear to increase the risk of what is called lone atrial fibrillation (AF), a type seen in younger individuals with no other form of heart disease.

22 Feb 2010

Rituxan, intended for patients with CLL receives FDA approval

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Rituxan (rituximab) to treat certain patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), a slowly progressing blood and bone marrow cancer.

18 Feb 2010

Eat fruits and vegetables to prevent heart disease

As heart disease continues to be the leading cause of death in the United States for all adults, a new report released by the Nutrilite Health Institute, America's Phytonutrient Report: Heart Health by Color*, shows that Americans are falling short on heart-healthy phytonutrients.

17 Feb 2010

New foundational research may advance pharmacological therapies for neurological disorders

Investigators in the Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Faculty of Medicine, have made a major breakthrough in our understanding of nerve impulse generation within the brain.

17 Feb 2010

ECR Pharmaceuticals to promote Urocit-K 15mEq tablets to primary care physicians

Hi-Tech Pharmacal Co., Inc. announced today that its branded marketing subsidiary, ECR Pharmaceuticals will promote Urocit®-K 15mEq, potassium citrate extended release tablets to primary care physicians beginning in April, 2010. Hi-Tech has a license agreement with Mission Pharmacal Company, which will promote the product to Urologists.

17 Feb 2010

High-fat ketogenic diet safe and effective for controlling childhood seizures

Current and former patients treated with the high-fat ketogenic diet to control multiple, daily and severe seizures can be reassured by the news that not only is the diet effective, but it also appears to have no long-lasting side effects, say scientists at Johns Hopkins Children's Center.

17 Feb 2010

Merck announces global sales of $27.4 billion for full-year 2009

Merck & Co., Inc. today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and the full year of 2009 which include the results of legacy Schering-Plough operations from the close of the merger on Nov. 3, 2009 through Dec. 31, 2009.

16 Feb 2010

Meda publishes 2009 year-end report

“The Meda Group expects to achieve sales of about SEK 13,000 million and an EBITDA of about SEK 4,200 million for full-year 2009.”

16 Feb 2010

Researchers develop dietary supplement to offset key symptom of ageing

Researchers at McMaster University have developed a cocktail of ingredients that forestalls major aspects of the aging process.

12 Feb 2010

Cardiac arrest due to medication-induced heart rhythm disturbance: Rare but catastrophic

Hospital care providers need to be more aware that cardiac arrest from a medication-induced heart rhythm problem is a rare but potentially catastrophic event in patients, according to a joint scientific statement from the American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology.

10 Feb 2010

Low potassium levels increase risk of death in patients with heart failure and CKD

New research from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) says low potassium levels produce an increased risk of death or hospitalization in patients with heart failure and chronic kidney disease (CKD).

10 Feb 2010

Low potassium levels increase risk of death in patients with heart failure and CKD

9 Feb 2010

Unhealthy behaviors contribute to excessive number of premature deaths in U.S.

The standard American diet, combined with inactivity and other unhealthy lifestyle behaviors, contributes to an excessive number of premature deaths in this country, according to leading preventive cardiology experts speaking at the American College of Cardiology's Fourth Annual Heart of Women's Health Conference in Washington, D.C.

9 Feb 2010

AMPYRA for MS: Acorda Therapeutics announces wholesale pricing and patient assistance program

Acorda Therapeutics, Inc. today announced the wholesale acquisition cost (WAC) for AMPYRA™ (dalfampridine) Extended Release Tablets will be $1,056 per 30-day supply (60-count pill bottle), an annual cost of $12,850. AMPYRA was approved on January 22, 2010 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a treatment to improve walking in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). This was demonstrated by an increase in walking speed. AMPYRA is expected to be available in March 2010.

3 Feb 2010

Two new studies further the understanding of molecular steps in PLC cascade

Two new studies by researchers at the University of Washington further our understanding of the molecular steps in the PLC cascade, a G protein-coupled receptor signaling mechanism that underlies a wide variety of cellular processes, including egg fertilization, hormone secretion, and the regulation of certain potassium channels.

27 Jan 2010

caprotec bioanalytics launches three new caproKits based on its CCMS technology

caprotec bioanalytics announced today the commercial launch of three new caproKits(TM), enabling the discovery, identification and characterization of proteins belonging to the groups of metallo-proteases, histon-deacetylases and GDP/GTP binding proteins.

27 Jan 2010

NPD Group names yogurt as food trend of the decade

Americans are eating more yogurt than ever before, and Dairy Council of California advises that consumers can benefit from even more culture.

25 Jan 2010

Elan Drug Technologies issues statement on FDA approval of AMPYRA

Elan Drug Technologies, a business unit of Elan Corporation, plc (NYSE: ELN) today issued the following statement regarding the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of AMPYRA™ (dalfampridine) as a treatment to improve walking in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).

25 Jan 2010