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Dangers of colon cleansing: More harm than good

According to a new study released today in the Journal of Family Practice colon cleaning may be harmful. Researchers from Georgetown University Medical School looked at 20 studies published in the last decade and found little evidence of benefit to colon cleansing. But they did find dozens of cases of problems: cramping, bloating, vomiting, electrolyte imbalance, renal failure, and even death.

1 Aug 2011

SMRT DNA sequencing technology reveals genetic profile of German E. coli bacteria

An international team of scientists has successfully employed single molecule, real-time DNA sequencing technology from Pacific Biosciences of California, Inc. to provide valuable insights into the pathogenicity and evolutionary origins of the highly virulent bacterium responsible for the German E. coli outbreak.

28 Jul 2011

UM researchers unravel genomic code of German E. coli bacteria

A team led by University of Maryland School of Medicine Institute for Genome Sciences researchers has unraveled the genomic code of the E. coli bacteria that caused the ongoing deadly outbreak in Germany that began in May 2011.

28 Jul 2011

Preventing bioterrorism worldwide

Around the globe, many nations are realizing that the potential for bioterrorism isn't just about the U.S., officials say. And because an intentional introduction of bacteria, a virus or a toxin could happen anywhere, the World Organization for Animal Health is issuing a paper aimed at prevention.

26 Jul 2011

Strategies toxins use to invade human host cells

Toxins produced by plants and bacteria pose a significant threat to humans, as emphasized by the recent effects of cucumber-borne Shiga toxin in Germany. Now, new research published on July 21st by the Cell Press journal Developmental Cell provides a clearer view of the combination of similar and divergent strategies that different toxins use to invade a human host cell.

22 Jul 2011

FDA approves Merz Aesthetics' XEOMIN for temporary improvement of glabellar lines

Merz Aesthetics today announced that the United States (U.S.) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved XEOMIN for the temporary improvement in the appearance of moderate to severe glabellar lines, or frown lines between the eyebrows, in adult patients.

22 Jul 2011

Alexion second quarter net product sales of Soliris increase to $185.7 million

Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced financial results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2011. Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. reported net product sales of Soliris of $185.7 million in Q2, reflecting steady addition of new patients, compared to $125.8 million for the same period in 2010.

21 Jul 2011

Viral toxin causes release of serotonin leading to vomiting

It is well known that viruses like rotavirus and norovirus are behind the majority of stomach infections. But it was unclear how vomiting developed, and the treatments available were oral fluid replacement and intravenous drips to prevent dehydration of the body.

18 Jul 2011

PharmAthene demonstrates 36 month stability of rPA anthrax vaccine program candidate

PharmAthene, Inc. announced today that it has achieved an important program milestone in its recombinant protective antigen (rPA) anthrax vaccine program and demonstrated 36 month stability of its rPA drug product candidate previously produced at Avecia Biologics Laboratories in the United Kingdom. The stability data were prepared utilizing a variety of analytical methods and a well characterized mouse challenge potency assay.

14 Jul 2011

New strategy can prevent onset of E. coli related illness

The recent outbreak of E. coli infection in Germany has put a potentially fatal bacterium back on everyone's radar screen. While some researchers are looking for a better way to treat the disease, professor Debora Foster of the Department of Chemistry and Biology at Ryerson University is taking a different approach.

11 Jul 2011

Arizona E. coli related death triggers warning

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Arizona Department of Health announced last Friday that a man who recently traveled to Germany was infected by the German E. coli outbreak. The man died from kidney complications. This death was the first U.S. fatality of the relentless epidemic. According to the World Health Organization, 52 have been killed in the outbreak.

10 Jul 2011

Mass administration of common anti-parasitic is possible new tool in fight against malaria

Ivermectin - an inexpensive, common medication already being used in Africa to treat roundworms that cause river blindness and parasites that cause elephantitis - could also be used to kill mosquitoes carrying malaria parasites, potentially "provid[ing] another useful weapon in the armory against a disease that kills around 800,000 a year, most of them small children and pregnant women," the Guardian's "Global Health Blog" reports (Boseley, 7/6).

8 Jul 2011

Molecular technology detects up to 50% more cases of C. diff than other methods

A study from the microbiology lab at the Lifespan hospitals has found that some lab tests are much more accurate in identifying Clostridium difficile Toxin infection, which causes diarrhea.

6 Jul 2011

Alpha-tocotrienol protects brain cells after stroke in three ways

A natural form of vitamin E called alpha-tocotrienol can trigger production of a protein in the brain that clears toxins from nerve cells, preventing those cells from dying after a stroke, new research shows.

6 Jul 2011

Botox for asthma

Botox, or botulinum toxin type A, which is best-known for smoothing away facial wrinkles is to be tested as an asthma treatment at Melbourne's Monash University. A recent survey by the university found that about half of severe asthmatics suffer problems with their voice box as well as their lungs. The problems were similar to vocal cord dysphonia – or loss of voice through overuse – a condition which Botox is frequently used to fix.

29 Jun 2011

New York Times examines very rare E. coli strain responsible for German outbreak

The New York Times examines the E. coli strain responsible for the recent outbreak in Germany, saying the bacteria "have a highly unusual combination of two traits and that may be what made the outbreak among the deadliest in recent history, scientists there are reporting."

24 Jun 2011

Veredus Labs develops ‘Lab-on-Chip’ to detect and differentiate several food-borne pathogens, including Escherichia coli

Veredus Laboratories, a leading provider of molecular detection tests, and its technology partner, STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM), today announced the successful development and deployment of VereFoodborne™, a Lab-on-Chip application that is able to detect 10 to 12 food-borne pathogens in one test, including the Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (E. coli) responsible for the recent severe food poisoning outbreak in Europe.

23 Jun 2011

Veredus Lab-on-Chip application can diagnose and differentiate food-borne pathogens

Veredus Laboratories, a leading provider of molecular detection tests, and its technology partner, STMicroelectronics, today announced the successful development and deployment of VereFoodborne, a Lab-on-Chip application that is able to detect 10 to 12 food-borne pathogens in one test, including the Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli responsible for the recent severe food poisoning outbreak in Europe.

23 Jun 2011

Unraveling molecular dysfunction due to environmental toxin exposure

In a new article published in the journal Molecular Neurodegeneration, researchers at the University of Missouri School of Medicine take some of the first steps toward unraveling the molecular dysfunction that occurs when proteins are exposed to environmental toxins. Their discovery helps further explain recent NIH findings that demonstrate the link between Parkinson's disease and two particular pesticides - rotenone and paraquat.

23 Jun 2011

Alexion begins eculizumab clinical trial in Shiga-toxin producing E. coli hemolytic uremic syndrome

Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Alexion Pharma International Sàrl (APIS), announced today that the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Germany's healthcare regulatory body for biological products, has authorized initiation of an open-label clinical trial to investigate eculizumab as a treatment for patients with Shiga-toxin producing E. coli hemolytic uremic syndrome, which has resulted from infections by Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli in an unusually wide outbreak in Germany that began in May.

20 Jun 2011

Toxin News and Research

Dangers of colon cleansing: More harm than good

SMRT DNA sequencing technology reveals genetic profile of German E. coli bacteria

UM researchers unravel genomic code of German E. coli bacteria

Preventing bioterrorism worldwide

Strategies toxins use to invade human host cells

FDA approves Merz Aesthetics' XEOMIN for temporary improvement of glabellar lines

Alexion second quarter net product sales of Soliris increase to $185.7 million

Viral toxin causes release of serotonin leading to vomiting

PharmAthene demonstrates 36 month stability of rPA anthrax vaccine program candidate

New strategy can prevent onset of E. coli related illness

Arizona E. coli related death triggers warning

Mass administration of common anti-parasitic is possible new tool in fight against malaria

Molecular technology detects up to 50% more cases of C. diff than other methods

Alpha-tocotrienol protects brain cells after stroke in three ways

Botox for asthma

New York Times examines very rare E. coli strain responsible for German outbreak

Veredus Labs develops ‘Lab-on-Chip’ to detect and differentiate several food-borne pathogens, including Escherichia coli

Veredus Lab-on-Chip application can diagnose and differentiate food-borne pathogens

Unraveling molecular dysfunction due to environmental toxin exposure

Alexion begins eculizumab clinical trial in Shiga-toxin producing E. coli hemolytic uremic syndrome

Sensing a Healthier Future

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

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