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European research project to develop new rapid diagnostic devices

Led by the Basque R&D Alliance IK4, 13 organisations in 8 different countries have been conducting research for three years under the European LabOnFoil project to develop new rapid diagnostic devices.

19 Dec 2013

Primary cilia play key role in stem cell differentiation

Researchers at Queen Mary University of London have shown for the first time that the specialised role stem cells go on to perform is controlled by primary cilia -tiny hair-like structures protruding from a cell.

18 Dec 2013

Researchers develop potential treatment for atherosclerosis

Researchers at Emory and Georgia Tech have developed a potential treatment for atherosclerosis that targets a master controller of the process.

18 Dec 2013

New mechanism explains why anti-tumor activity of specific immune suppressed during tumor growth

The Leuven-based VIB researchers have revealed a mechanism that explains why the anti-tumor activity of specific immune cells called macrophages is suppressed during tumor growth. They have also demonstrated that blocking the protein Nrp1 can restore this anti-tumor immune response.

12 Dec 2013

Reverse Medical gets FDA clearance to market MVP-5 Micro Vascular Plug system in the US

Reverse Medical Corporation today announced FDA clearance for US commercialization of their MVP-5 Micro Vascular Plug system for peripheral vessel embolization, and the first US clinical case. The MVP-5 system is indicated for use to obstruct or reduce the rate of blood flow in the peripheral vasculature, in vessels measuring between 3.0 and 5.0 mm.

10 Dec 2013

Researchers explain why anti-tumor activity of specific immune cells suppress during tumor growth

The Leuven-based VIB researchers have revealed a mechanism that explains why the anti-tumor activity of specific immune cells called macrophages is suppressed during tumor growth.

10 Dec 2013

Findings support health impact assessments of fine particles in Europe

Prolonged exposure to tiny particles of soot or dust found in traffic fumes and industrial emissions may be more deadly below current European Union air quality limits than previously thought, according to new research examining two decades of data from over 360 000 residents of large cities in 13 European countries.

9 Dec 2013

USPTO awards patent to Sanovas' Abrading Balloon Catheter for Extravasated Drug Delivery

Sanovas, Inc., (www.sanovas.com) a life science technology company focused on developing and commercializing next generation micro-invasive diagnostics, devices and drug delivery technologies announced today that the United States Patent and Trademark Office issued patent # 8,597,239 for the company's Abrading Balloon Catheter for Extravasated Drug Delivery.

4 Dec 2013

Scientific poster on EKF's Quo-Test and Quo-Lab POCT HbA1c analyzers to be presented at IDF 2013

EKF, announces the successful assessment of its Quo-Test and Quo-Lab point-of-care HbA1c analyzers within the College of Medicine, Swansea University.

From EKF Diagnostics 4 Dec 2013

WHO releases new report on spinal cord injury

As many as 500 000 people suffer a spinal cord injury each year. People with spinal cord injuries are 2 to 5 times more likely to die prematurely, with worse survival rates in low- and middle-income countries. The new WHO report, "International perspectives on spinal cord injuries", summarizes the best available evidence on the causes, prevention, care and lived experience of people with spinal cord injury.

2 Dec 2013

HeartWare International acquires CircuLite

HeartWare International, Inc., a leading innovator of less invasive, miniaturized circulatory support technologies that are revolutionizing the treatment of advanced heart failure, today announced that it has acquired CircuLite, Inc. – developer of the SYNERGY Circulatory Support System, designed to treat less sick, ambulatory, chronic heart failure patients who are not yet inotrope-dependent.

1 Dec 2013

Novel micro-catheter fluorescent dye method to treat aneurysm in deep brain

In March 2013, Eric Wagner told his wife to call 9-1-1 because he was feeling the worst that he had ever felt. He was rushed by EMS to University Hospitals (UH) Ahuja Medical Center, and then airlifted to UH Case Medical Center, where brain scans showed that he had a ruptured aneurysm, a leaking blister on a blood vessel that was letting blood flow into his brain and causing a stroke.

27 Nov 2013

New collaborative effort to advance MEMS technologies for key applications

A*STAR Institute of Microelectronics (IME), GLOBALFOUNDRIES Singapore Pte. Ltd., and Masdar Institute of Science and Technology (MI) have entered into a collaboration to develop and advance micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) technologies for automotive, aerospace, consumer, healthcare, industrial, and mobility applications.

26 Nov 2013

Waseda University researchers observe molecular motors that play critical role in chromosome transport

Researchers at Waseda University in Japan have for the first time directly observed the “molecular motor”, called Xkid, that plays a critical role in facilitating the proper alignment of chromosomes during cell division. Their findings are expected to contribute greatly to elucidating the molecular mechanisms of chromosome segregation, a key aspect of the development of certain medical disorders including cancer and birth defects.

25 Nov 2013

Researchers engineering first-ever living, three-dimensional human arrhythmic tissue

A foundational study published in top biomedical journal PNAS (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences) this week by researchers at the University of Toronto's Institute of Biomaterials & Biomedical Engineering and the McEwen Centre for Regenerative Medicine have identified the optimal structure and cell ratio associated with heart function - and the discovery has already led the team to another research first: the engineering of the first-ever living, three-dimensional human arrhythmic tissue.

21 Nov 2013

New evidence shows probiotics offer enormous potential for treatment of depression

Probiotics are not new, but their status as a nutritional buzzword is. Most folks have now heard and seen the term countless times in commercials and advertisements, as yogurt, dietary supplement, natural food product, and even cosmetic companies promote their probiotic-containing products.

20 Nov 2013

Eating tree nuts reduces risk of pancreatic cancer, shows women’s health study

According to a long-term women's health study recently published, women in the study who ate a one-ounce serving of tree nuts two or more times a week had a reduced risk of pancreatic cancer compared to those studied who did not include nuts in their diet.

19 Nov 2013

New method could cut hours off the time it takes to diagnose blood infections

A new method could cut hours off the time it takes to diagnose blood infections while also eliminating the need for complicated manual processing and expensive equipment, according to a report to be published in mBio-, the online open-access journal of the American Society for Microbiology, on November 19.

19 Nov 2013

Researchers identify gene responsible for Warburg Micro syndrome

A collaborative team of researchers led by researchers at the Medical College of Wisconsin and the University of Edinburgh has identified a gene responsible for Warburg Micro syndrome, a rare genetic disease characterized by eye, brain and endocrine abnormalities. Patients with Warburg Micro syndrome are severely physically and mentally challenged, unable to learn how to walk or speak and become blind and paralyzed from an early age.

15 Nov 2013

Skeletal problems now added to list of diabetes complications

The list of complications from type 2 diabetes is long: vascular and heart disease, eye problems, nerve damage, kidney disease, hearing problems and Alzheimer's disease. Physicians have long thought of osteoporosis as another outcome. Based on a Mayo Clinic study published in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, that's confirmed: You can definitely add skeletal problems to that list.

14 Nov 2013