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Measuring GAPDH inhibiting antibodies can result in long-term treatment for MS

UCI immunologists have found that testing for increased levels of antibodies that inhibit energy production in neurons can detect axon and neuron degeneration in multiple sclerosis earlier than existing diagnostic tools.

31 Jul 2010

Scientists identify enzyme to prevent beta-amyloids formation in Alzheimer patients

The brains of Alzheimer patients have high accumulations of the material beta-amyloid, which appear in the form of plaques. The precursors of these plaques are believed to be the underlying cause of the nerve cell loss that leads to the disruptions in memory that characterize Alzheimer's disease. The main aim of many Alzheimer therapies is therefore to inhibit the formation of beta-amyloid. Since beta-amyloid is cleaved from the so-called amyloid precursor protein (APP), scientists have focused on stopping the two enzymes that attack the precursor protein. These act like molecular scissors and cut out the beta-amyloid fragment. Blocking these scissors precludes the formation of beta-amyloid.

31 Jul 2010

CD74 can serve as prognostic marker for colorectal cancer

CD74 is a protein that is expressed in and on cells of the immune system, such as B lymphocytes and antigen presenting cells. This protein is known for its function in facilitating antigen presentation enabling the immune response. Additionally, Professor Shachar's lab has previously shown that CD74 serves as a survival receptor on cells of the immune system, and that its stimulation by its natural ligand -migration inhibitory factor (MIF)- prevents apoptosis (self destruction) of these cells. It was shown that CD74 is markedly expressed on numerous tumors - hematologic as well as epithelial, and can serve as a prognostic marker. CD74's expression and function on colon intestinal epithelial cells is controversial.

31 Jul 2010

Adequate calcium intake maintains optimum bone mass

A broad range of scientific research has demonstrated that an adequate intake of calcium plays an important role in building and maintaining optimum bone mass, and a recent meta-analysis published online in the British Medical Journal should not cause consumers to doubt the value of calcium supplements for maintaining bone health.

31 Jul 2010

Research Roundup:COBRA subsidies; Children's insurance and dental coverage; Adopting health IT; Race and heart treatments

Archives of Internal Medicine: Racial Differences In Admissions To High-Quality Hospitals For Coronary Heart Disease - "Racial disparities in the management of coronary heart disease (CHD) are widely documented, yet the reasons behind persistent gaps in quality of care are not fully understood," write the authors, who examined "Medicare patients with acute myocardial infarction and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) admitted during 2002 through 2005 to hospitals located in markets with top-ranked cardiac hospitals, as ascertained from the US News and World Report 'America's Best Hospitals' annual rankings."

31 Jul 2010

Microsulis launches Acculis percutaneous microwave tissue ablation system at ECIO

Microsulis Medical Ltd (MML), the leading company in microwave technology for medical devices, has successfully launched the Acculis percutaneous microwave tissue ablation system, Accu2i pMTA, at the second European Conference on Interventional Oncology (ECIO) in Florence, Italy. A revolutionary new device for destroying tumours, the system is a 1.8mm diameter closed water-cooled needle, with performance matching the existing Acculis open surgery MTA system.

31 Jul 2010

Functional MRI can be used to assess tumor viability

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (the disease commonly referred to as pancreatic cancer) carries the worst prognosis of any cancer. As current treatments offer minimal benefit, entirely new approaches are needed. Given the success of local therapies, as opposed to intravenous systemic therapies, for liver diseases (such as hepatocellular carcinoma), it is thought that similar local therapies may benefit patients with pancreatic cancer. To develop such therapies, it would be useful to devise targets that are easy to obtain and can indicate the efficacy of these new therapies in models of pancreatic cancer.

31 Jul 2010

FDA clears ZOLL's new Propaq MD Monitor/Defibrillator

ZOLL Medical Corporation, a manufacturer of medical devices and related software solutions, announced today that it has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to market and begin distribution of the new Propaq® MD Monitor/Defibrillator that was developed specifically to meet the special needs of military customers and air medical operations worldwide. Development of this product was a joint undertaking between the Department of Defense and a cooperative arrangement between Welch Allyn and ZOLL.

30 Jul 2010

Paperwork for reimbursement prevents PCTs access to high-cost cancer drugs

The amount of paperwork that primary care trusts (PCTs) have to fill out in order to be reimbursed for cancer drugs is so great that they may be missing out on millions of pounds, a report suggests.

30 Jul 2010

FDA lifts hold, allows Geron to proceed with Phase I clinical trial of GRNOPC1 in spinal cord injury

Geron Corporation announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has notified the company that the clinical hold placed on Geron's Investigational New Drug (IND) application has been lifted and the company's Phase I clinical trial of GRNOPC1 in patients with acute spinal cord injury may proceed.

30 Jul 2010

Higher case volume associated with better outcomes of cardiac surgery: Study

A new analysis led by researchers at UCSF shows that avoiding lowest-volume hospitals and maximizing adherence to quality care processes are both effective approaches to reducing costs associated with coronary bypass surgery.

30 Jul 2010

$Pivotal PINNACLE trial results of VELCADE in patients with relapsed/refractory MCL released$

Pivotal PINNACLE trial results of VELCADE in patients with relapsed/refractory MCL released

Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Company today reported new correlative science data from the pivotal PINNACLE trial of VELCADE (bortezomib) in patients with relapsed/refractory mantle cell lymphoma. The data, derived from an analysis of archived tumor samples, tested pre-specified biomarkers for their association with time to progression and response to treatment with VELCADE in patients with relapsed MCL.

30 Jul 2010

Despite all advancements in melanoma diagnosis, rapid treatment remains critical: Report

Twenty-five years after publishing the mnemonic "ABCD" to facilitate the early diagnosis of melanoma, the group who came up with that moniker says early detection remains a key factor in lowering mortality from malignant melanoma. Darrell S. Rigel, M.D. and colleagues from the Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology at New York University School of Medicine say that, despite all of the advances in melanoma diagnosis, timely recognition, detection, and rapid treatment of melanoma remain critical.

30 Jul 2010

FDA clears Hotspur's new balloon dilatation and embolectomy catheters

Hotspur Technologies, Inc. announced today that it has received FDA clearance for the first three commercial products in its portfolio. These products are based on Hotspur's unique and groundbreaking technology that makes dialysis access interventional and peripheral vascular procedures that open blood vessels less expensive, more efficient, and less invasive for patients.

30 Jul 2010

Partners in ENIAC project announce details of multinational/multidisciplinary program

The partners in a new publicly-funded European research project today announced details of the multinational/multidisciplinary program: 'CSI: Central Nervous System Imaging.' This three-year ENIAC project aims to achieve substantial advances in state-of-the-art medical 3D-imaging platforms by focusing on the diagnosis and therapy of serious diseases of the central nervous system and brain.

30 Jul 2010

Intrinsic brain connectivity in fibromyalgia associated with chronic pain intensity

A recent study from researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital and University of Michigan provides the first direct evidence of linkage between elevated intrinsic (resting-state) brain connectivity and spontaneous pain intensity in patients with fibromyalgia (FM). This research shows an interaction of multiple brain networks, offering greater understanding of how pain arises. Details of the study appear online and in the August issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism, a journal published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the American College of Rheumatology.

30 Jul 2010

Cancer Research UK launches new £18 million Biotherapeutics Development Unit

Cancer Research UK's Drug Development Office marks the launch of its Biotherapeutics Development Unit (BDU) today (Friday) with the manufacture of its first product - an antibody for treating a range of cancers.

30 Jul 2010

Pancreas surgery specialist performs 1,000th Whipple procedure

Pancreas surgery specialist Charles J. Yeo, M.D., Samuel D. Gross Professor and Chair, Department of Surgery at Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, and Co-Director of the Pancreatic, Biliary Tract and Related Cancer Center at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, recently performed his 1,000th Whipple procedure (pancreaticoduodenectomy). Only one other surgeon in the United States has reached this milestone for this procedure. That surgeon is John Cameron, M.D., Professor, Department of Surgery at The Johns Hopkins Hospital.

30 Jul 2010

HSFC supports SWG's report on reducing sodium levels

The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada strongly supports the report released today by the Sodium Working Group.

30 Jul 2010

Chemical compound provides new angle for developing drugs to treat seizures: Study

A chemical compound that boosts the action of a molecule normally produced in the brain may provide the starting point for a new line of therapies for the treatment of epileptic seizures, according to a new study by scientists at The Scripps Research Institute.

30 Jul 2010

Medical Condition News

Measuring GAPDH inhibiting antibodies can result in long-term treatment for MS

Scientists identify enzyme to prevent beta-amyloids formation in Alzheimer patients

CD74 can serve as prognostic marker for colorectal cancer

Adequate calcium intake maintains optimum bone mass

Research Roundup:COBRA subsidies; Children's insurance and dental coverage; Adopting health IT; Race and heart treatments

Microsulis launches Acculis percutaneous microwave tissue ablation system at ECIO

Functional MRI can be used to assess tumor viability

FDA clears ZOLL's new Propaq MD Monitor/Defibrillator

Paperwork for reimbursement prevents PCTs access to high-cost cancer drugs

FDA lifts hold, allows Geron to proceed with Phase I clinical trial of GRNOPC1 in spinal cord injury

Higher case volume associated with better outcomes of cardiac surgery: Study

Pivotal PINNACLE trial results of VELCADE in patients with relapsed/refractory MCL released

Despite all advancements in melanoma diagnosis, rapid treatment remains critical: Report

FDA clears Hotspur's new balloon dilatation and embolectomy catheters

Partners in ENIAC project announce details of multinational/multidisciplinary program

Intrinsic brain connectivity in fibromyalgia associated with chronic pain intensity

Cancer Research UK launches new £18 million Biotherapeutics Development Unit

Pancreas surgery specialist performs 1,000th Whipple procedure

HSFC supports SWG's report on reducing sodium levels

Chemical compound provides new angle for developing drugs to treat seizures: Study

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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