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PCR assay ‘superior’ to culture for neonatal sepsis, meningitis

In neonates with probable sepsis or meningitis, a realtime polymerase chain reaction assay specific for a virulence gene in Streptococcus agalactiae is superior to standard bacterial culture identification, results of a pathology study show.

11 Jul 2012

Experts call for add-on to athletes’ cardiac screening

Modified echocardiography should be included as part of the screening process for athletes at risk for sudden cardiac death, say researchers presenting at the annual meeting of the American Society of Echocardiography in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.

11 Jul 2012

Oligodendroglia cells: An interview with Jeffrey Rothstein

There are three principle cells in the brain: neurons and two types of glial cells. One type is called an astrocyte. These were well known to inactivate neurotransmitters like glutamate, and provide metabolic support to neurons.

11 Jul 2012

Research into “insulating” brain cells could help to cure neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS

Johns Hopkins researchers say they have discovered that the central nervous system's oligodendroglia cells, long believed to simply insulate nerves as they "fire" signals, are unexpectedly also vital to the survival of neurons. Damage to these insulators appears to contribute to brain injury in neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease for the Yankee baseball great who died from the disease.

11 Jul 2012

Arrowhead initiates Adipotide Phase 1 trial in obesity

Arrowhead Research Corporation, a targeted therapeutics company, today announced that the first patient has been dosed in a Phase 1 clinical trial with Adipotide, a new class of treatment for obesity.

11 Jul 2012

Physicians need to know how chemical intolerance affects people: Study

Chemical intolerance contributes to the illnesses of 1 in 5 patients but the condition seldom figures in their diagnosis, according to clinical research directed by a UT Medicine San Antonio physician.

11 Jul 2012

BioInvent announces data from BI-204 phase IIa study on stable atherosclerotic vascular disease

BioInvent International AB today announced data from the GLACIER phase IIa study evaluating BI-204 in patients with stable atherosclerotic vascular disease. BioInvent is developing BI-204 in collaboration with Genentech, a member of the Roche Group.

11 Jul 2012

BWH performs New England's first implant of SynCardia temporary Total Artificial Heart

SynCardia Systems, Inc., manufacturer of the world's first and only FDA, Health Canada and CE (Europe) approved Total Artificial Heart, announced today that Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston has performed New England's first implant of the SynCardia temporary Total Artificial Heart.

11 Jul 2012

Neutronic Ear announces newly re-designed knowledge-sharing website

Neutronic Ear, the leader in Personal Sound Amplification Products (PSAP) today announced a newly re-designed knowledge-sharing website www.neutronicear.com. The site was designed with the latest interactive features in animation and video to guide and educate visitors looking for more information on hearing health.

11 Jul 2012

OncoSec establishes UCSF as second enrolling site for OMS-I110 Phase II Merkel cell carcinoma trial

OncoSec Medical Inc., a company developing the advanced-stage OncoSec Medical System (OMS) ElectroOncology therapies to treat solid tumors, announces it has established the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) as the second enrolling site for its Phase II Merkel cell carcinoma clinical trial (OMS-I110).

11 Jul 2012

First Edition: July 11, 2012

Today's headlines include reports about the scheduled House vote on repealing the health law as well as how stakeholders -- whether it be certain governors or wall street investors -- are responding to the Supreme Court's decision on the Medicaid expansion.

11 Jul 2012

New computer system for early diagnosis of AD

University of Granada researchers have developed a new computer system for the early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. This study has been recently presented at the World Conference of Computer Intelligence (WCCI2012) held in Brisbane (Australia) by Alberto Prieto, a researcher at the University of Granada Centro de Investigación en Tecnologías de la Información y las Comunicaciones (CITIC-UGR).

11 Jul 2012

Blog posts respond to GHI office closure

In a joint message released by USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah, U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator Ambassador Eric Goosby, CDC Director Thomas Frieden, and Global Health Initiative (GHI) Executive Director Lois Quam last Tuesday, the Obama administration announced the closure of the GHI office, writing that the office's work is being "elevated" to the State Department's new Office of Global Health Diplomacy.

11 Jul 2012

Courtagen launches nucSEEKPDx assay

Courtagen Life Sciences, Inc., a privately held life sciences company that provides innovative proteomic and genomic products and services to the life sciences industry, today announced the expansion of their genetic test menu. The new genetic test, nucSEEKPDx, will sequence approximately 1,100 nuclear genes constituting the mitochondrial exome, which encodes the vast majority of proteins found in the mitochondrion. This test is by far the most comprehensive test on the market for the management of mitochondrial disorders.

11 Jul 2012

AFP examines rise in TB cases in Madagascar

Agence France-Presse examines a rise in tuberculosis (TB) cases in Madagascar, writing, "Last year alone, 26,700 people contracted TB, according to the health ministry, a jump of more than 16 percent compared with 2009, when a military coup precipitated an economic crisis as donors suspended aid to one of the world's poorest countries."

11 Jul 2012

ImmunoGen announces start of IMGN853 Phase I trial for ovarian cancer, other solid tumors

ImmunoGen, Inc., a biotechnology company that develops anticancer therapeutics using its antibody expertise and Targeted Antibody Payload (TAP) technology, today announced the start of clinical testing with its IMGN853 product candidate.

11 Jul 2012

Guardian columnist examines family planning in Nepal

In a Guardian opinion piece, part of the series "The politics of family planning," columnist Zoe Williams examines family planning Nepal. Noting her trip to the country with Save the Children, Williams discusses a number of barriers to family planning for Nepalese women -- including the practice of child marriage, stigma surrounding menstruation, and cultural beliefs about contraception -- and writes, "In Nepal, opportunities for women are not all they should be, and child pregnancy is a big issue."

11 Jul 2012

National quality performance standards for disposable adult absorbent products from NAFC

A council headed by the National Association For Continence (NAFC) released its recommended national quality performance standards for disposable adult absorbent products for incontinence in the frail, elderly and/or disabled populations.

11 Jul 2012

Politics swirl around approaching House repeal vote

As the House proceeds toward its scheduled Wednesday vote to repeal the health law, Republicans hope to draw more Democratic votes this time around -- even though they have not offered any clear alternatives. Although the measure will die in the Senate, the White House issued a veto threat.

11 Jul 2012

SAMHSA announces 2012 System of Care Expansion Planning grants

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is awarding up to $3.5 million for the Expansion of the Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services for Children and their Families program.

11 Jul 2012