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Persistent disparities exist in melanoma diagnosis

White and Hispanic individuals are being diagnosed with melanoma more frequently in recent years, whereas Hispanic and black patients continue to have advanced skin cancer at diagnosis, according to a report in the December issue of Archives of Dermatology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

22 Dec 2009

Scientists identify role of epigenetic changes in SLE

Identical twins look the same and are nearly genetically identical, but environmental factors and the resulting cellular changes could cause disease in one sibling and not the other.

22 Dec 2009

First robot-assisted lung-tumor surgery performed at UT Southwestern Medical Center

When Craig Harrison found out he would be the first patient in North Texas to have robot-assisted lung-tumor surgery, an operation performed at UT Southwestern Medical Center, he wasn't nervous at all.

22 Dec 2009

Cost outweighs benefits of self-monitoring blood glucose test strips

Routine self-monitoring of blood glucose levels by people with type 2 diabetes who are not taking insulin is an ineffective use of health resources as the modest benefits are outweighed by the significant cost of test strips, suggest 2 studies http://www.cmaj.ca/embargo/cmaj091017.pdf and http://www.cmaj.ca/embargo/cmaj090765.pdf in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) www.cmaj.ca .

22 Dec 2009

Omega-3 fatty acids lower AMD and chronic kidney disease, improve heart health

Start 2010 right: consume more seafood omega-3 fatty acids. Improvements or lower risks in age-related macular degeneration (AMD), chronic kidney disease and heart health have been reported in people with higher intakes of fatty fish or the omega-3s they contain.

22 Dec 2009

Reference platform for diabetic retinopathy and other vascular complications

The volume addresses a variety of current scientific discussions about mechanisms of damage such as growth factors and the VEGF/PEDF balance in the diabetic eye, the ocular renin-angiotensin system, and leukocyte interactions with the microvasculature among others.

22 Dec 2009

Bioheart makes breakthrough in stem cell treatment for critical limb ischemia

Bioheart, Inc. offers yet another medical breakthrough with the next-level stem cell treatment for critical limb ischemia patients. The stem cells aid in promoting angiogenesis or the formation of new blood vessels and providing support for the healing of damaged blood vessels.

22 Dec 2009

Aristolochic acid in Chinese herbal products associated with increased risk of urinary tract cancer

The carcinogen aristolochic acid, which was found in many prescribed Chinese herbal products including Guan Mu Tong, is associated with an increased risk of urinary tract cancer, according to a new study published online December 21 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

22 Dec 2009

Grant of $1 million awarded to develop new treatments for dyskinesia

The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research has awarded $1 million for a clinical study aiming to make a critical step toward the development of new treatments for dyskinesia, the excessive and uncontrollable movements that are a complication of long-term dopamine replacement therapy in patients with Parkinson's disease.

22 Dec 2009

IKK phosphorylate: A double-edged sword in Huntington's disease

The kinase IKK phosphorylates the protein mutated in Huntington's disease to promote its removal and neuron survival, but IKK may be a double-edged sword that increases neurotoxicity in later stages of the disease. The study, led by researchers from the University of California, Irvine, will be published online December 21 in the Journal of Cell Biology (www.jcb.org).

22 Dec 2009

Discovery suggests how toxin-filtering cells go awry

Researchers from Children's Hospital Boston and Brigham and Women's Hospital have identified an important genetic cause of a devastating kidney disease that is the second leading cause of kidney failure in children, according to The NephCure Foundation.

22 Dec 2009

FDA extends action date for its review of Cephalon's sNDA for NUVIGIL Tablets

Cephalon, Inc. today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has extended the action date to March 29, 2010, for its review of the supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for NUVIGIL® (armodafinil) Tablets [C-IV].

22 Dec 2009

Heart transplant patients face increased risk for skin cancers

Many heart transplant patients develop multiple skin cancers, with increased risk for some skin cancers among patients with other cancers and with increasing age, according to a report in the December issue of Archives of Dermatology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

22 Dec 2009

Depressed patients are unable to sustain positive emotions, says study

A new study at the University of Wisconsin-Madison suggests that depressed patients are unable to sustain activity in brain areas related to positive emotion.

22 Dec 2009

Smoking, weight and skin cancer are associated with skin aging

Smoking, being heavier, not using sunscreen and having had skin cancer appear to be associated with sun damage and aging of skin on the face, according to report based on a study of twins in the December issue of Archives of Dermatology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

22 Dec 2009

SafeMinds disappointed with CDC's report on autism spectrum disorders

A study released Friday by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported that autism prevalence has increased a staggering 57% from the 1994 rate of 1 in 150 to 1 in 110 for children born in 1996. SafeMinds is extremely dissatisfied with CDC's lack of commitment to researching environmental causes and the timing of their announcement.

22 Dec 2009

LEO Pharma announces positive results for two Phase III AK clinical trials

LEO Pharma today announced positive results for the company’s two Phase III actinic (solar) keratosis (AK) clinical trials using PEP005 (ingenol mebutate) Gel for the treatment of lesions on head treatment areas, which include the face and scalp.

22 Dec 2009

BUSM researchers discover new gene therapy for treating emphysema patients

Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) have discovered a new gene therapy that may prevent the progression of emphysema. The study, which appears on-line in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, describes a method to express therapeutic genes in lung tissue for a lifetime after only a single treatment.

22 Dec 2009

While mortality from diabetes declines in Canada, the income-related mortality gap increases

While mortality from diabetes has declined in Canada, the income-related mortality gap is increasing, with lower income groups faring worse than higher income groups, according to a new studyhttp://www.cmaj.ca/embargo/cmaj090495.pdf in CMAJ ( Canadian Medical Association Journal) www.cmaj.ca.

22 Dec 2009

AAPM dispels common myths about CT scans

A panel of experts at the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) has issued a statement calling for an open discussion of the facts about radiation hazards from computed tomography (CT) scanning in light of recent public concerns and news reports about radiation dose.

22 Dec 2009