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HIV and malaria combine to adversely affect pregnant women and their infants

University of Toronto researchers have uncovered the basis by which pregnant women protect themselves against malaria and have also discovered how the HIV virus works to counteract this defence.

30 May 2007

Time to fortify the world's processed cereals

Fortifying cereals with a different type of iron supplement reduces anaemia, iron-deficiency anaemia and general iron deficiency children in developing countries, and boosts three major iron status indicators, conclude authors of an Article published in this week’s edition of The Lancet.

28 May 2007

Researchers design cell culture test for assessing a compound's genetic toxicity - cheaper than animal tests

In the daunting marathon that leads to successful drugs, promising drug candidates must pass toxicity tests before entering clinical trials.

15 May 2007

FDA Panel warns anemia drug dangerous for cancer patients

A panel of experts advising the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States has warned that the popular anemia drug erythropoietin may not be as safe as first thought.

14 May 2007

Study on cerebral malaria in children living in an endemic region

Scientists at CNRS and the Pasteur Institute, collaborating with physicians in Gabon, have just undertaken a study on cerebral malaria in children living in an endemic region.

4 May 2007

Steroidal hormones for contraception in women with sickle cell disease

Hormonal contraceptives are unlikely to predispose women to type 2 diabetes and appear to be safe for those with sickle cell anemia.

4 May 2007

Serious illness among children with sickle cell disease reduced with pneumococcal conjugate vaccine

A vaccine introduced in 2000 has reduced by more than 90 percent the rate of a serious bacterial illness among young children with sickle cell disease (SCD), who are particularly susceptible to it, according to a new study that appears in the June 1 issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases and currently is available online.

2 May 2007

Caution against over-aggressive use of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents for cancer-related anemia

Echoing recent FDA warnings, a research group from Northern Ireland cautions against over-aggressive use of a group of drugs called "erythropoiesis-stimulating agents" (ESAs) to treat anemia in some cancer patients, according to a commentary in the April issue of The Oncologist, published by AlphaMed Press.

1 May 2007

Two-photon absorption imaging of hemoglobin

In an advance that can potentially assist cancer diagnosis, a new optical technique provides high-resolution, three-dimensional images of blood vessels by taking advantage of the natural multiple-photon-absorbing properties of hemoglobin, the red-blood-cell molecule that carries oxygen throughout the bloodstream.

1 May 2007

Determining transfusion requirements of pediatric patients

In its April 19th, 2007 edition, the New England Journal of Medicine published an article about the findings of a multi-center randomized clinical trial that compared transfusion strategies for patients in pediatric intensive care units.

20 Apr 2007

Triphala hinders the growth of pancreatic cancer cells

A new study from the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute suggests that a commonly used herbal supplement, triphala, has cancer-fighting properties that prevent or slow the growth of pancreatic cancer tumors implanted in mice.

18 Apr 2007

Malaria-infected mice cured by one dose of new drug from Johns Hopkins

Johns Hopkins University researchers have cured malaria-infected mice with single shots of a new series of potent, long lasting synthetic drugs modeled on an ancient Chinese herbal folk remedy.

18 Apr 2007

Anemia treatment for patients with kidney disease can differ by dialysis facility type

Large, for-profit dialysis facilities appear to administer higher than necessary amounts of a medication for treating anemia in patients with kidney disease, compared to nonprofit facilities, according to a study in the April 18 issue of JAMA.

18 Apr 2007

Anti-anemia drug darbepoetin alfa no better than placebo for cancer patients

Results from a phase III drug trial indicate that an anti-anemia drug did not significantly decrease the need for blood transfusions in patients not on chemotherapy, and decreased overall patient survival when compared to placebo, according to researchers from the UCLA Medical Center at the 2007 Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research.

17 Apr 2007

New diagnostic technologies to predict and monitor cancer risks

Molecular messages and signals circulating in blood or contained in cells lining the airway can identify early stage cancer, according to research reported at the 2007 Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research.

16 Apr 2007

Experimental flu vaccine produced using insect cells shows promise

An influenza vaccine produced with the use of insect cells appeared safe and produced an immunogenic response in healthy adults, suggesting promise as an alternative to using embryonated eggs for the development of influenza vaccine, according to a preliminary study in the April 11 issue of JAMA.

11 Apr 2007

Cell structures exhibit novel behaviors, mimic red blood cells and liquid crystals

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania and Yale University have manipulated the internal, structural components of cells, creating a set of simulated cellular structures with novel mechanical properties, including one that acts like a red blood cell and another that mimics the soft, elastic behavior commonly found in novel synthetic materials called liquid crystal elastomers.

11 Apr 2007

Raman spectroscopy for faster body-fluid tests

University of Rochester researchers announce in the current issue of Applied Optics a technique that in 60 seconds or less measures multiple chemicals in body fluids, using a laser, white light, and a reflective tube.

4 Apr 2007

New way of making artificial lungs more efficient

Artificial lungs are cumbersome beasts, but they can be a lifesaver for people with serious respiratory diseases or lung damage. Sitting outside the body, they take over the task of soaking up excess carbon dioxide from the blood and infusing it with oxygen.

4 Apr 2007

New target for removing unwanted ammonia from the body

Thousands of people with liver and kidney disease die every year from too much ammonia in their blood, and scientists from the United States and Japan have found a possible solution.

2 Apr 2007