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Bacteria tweak their genes and proteins to gain strength

Scientists have discovered that bacteria like E. coli and Salmonella have a sneaky way of making minor alterations to their genes to boost their chances for infection.

24 Aug 2011

IGF1 plays key role in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia

There are numerous specialized growth factors that are responsible for cells of different tissues of our body to divide and differentiate when needed. These hormone-like factors bind to matching receptors on the surface of their target cells and thus give order for the cell to divide. However, a single genetic alteration can be sufficient for the whole system to get out of control.

24 Aug 2011

Rick Perry's views on Medicare, other health policy issues draw scrutiny

The GOP presidential hopeful's views on key issues have triggered examination by news outlets. Meanwhile, House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, R-Wis., who proposed sweeping changes to the Medicare program, has opted not to join the presidential primary contest.

24 Aug 2011

Avastin increases tumor response rates in breast cancer patients before surgery

Amid the controversy surrounding the Food and Drug Administration's ruling that Avastin should no longer be used to treat metastatic breast cancer, a new multinational Phase III clinical trial shows that Avastin significantly increased tumor response rates in breast cancer patients when given before surgery.

24 Aug 2011

Researchers exploring how microwaves may be used to treat malaria

The New York Times describes a research proposal to investigate the use of low-level microwaves to treat malaria that has received a $1 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

24 Aug 2011

Creighton University receives NIH grant to address diabetes in adult American Indians

Creighton University School of Nursing has received a $207,000, two-year grant from the National Institutes of Health to address the growing problem of type 2 diabetes mellitus in adult American Indians.

24 Aug 2011

Toddlers sensitive to house dust mites at higher risk of developing asthma

Wheezy toddlers who have a sensitivity to house dust mites are more at risk of developing asthma by the age of 12, a University of Melbourne led study has shown.

24 Aug 2011

HIV-positive pregnant women across Africa face discrimination

HIV-positive women across Africa are facing discrimination, with many "say[ing] they have been pressured – even forced – not to have children because people assume they will infect their babies," PRI's The World reports. "Across the continent, there have been organized efforts to prevent HIV-positive women from having children," The World writes, referencing family planning programs aimed at HIV-positive women in Kenya, Namibia and Uganda.

24 Aug 2011

New Pressurized Olfactory Device shows direct CNS effect of morphine

A simple new approach to nasal drug administration may allow morphine and other strong pain medications to be targeted directly to the central nervous system (CNS), reports an experimental study in the September issue of Anesthesia & Analgesia, official journal of the International Anesthesia Research Society.

24 Aug 2011

IARS launches $750,000 anesthesia research grant

The International Anesthesia Research Society (IARS) launched a $750,000 research grant today - the largest single grant offered by the Society in its 90 year history. The Frontiers in Anesthesia Research Award, created in 1995, has traditionally been a $500,000 grant.

24 Aug 2011

PEPFAR releases 2012 Country Operational Plan Guidance

PEPFAR recently released its 2012 Country Operational Plan Guidance, "which highlights seven program priorities: increasing prevention of mother-to-child transmission coverage and effectiveness; improving and refining the country's approach to treatment; programming for prevention impact; TB/HIV integration; testing and counseling; training new health care providers; and capacity building," according to the Center for Global Health Policy's "Science Speaks" blog.

24 Aug 2011

Occlutech to close 15 million Euro investment

Occlutech, a leading European developer of medical implants treating structural heart disease such as PFO, ASD and LAA today announced the closing of a 15 million Euro investment into Occlutech.

24 Aug 2011

First international conference on developmental, translational and clinical pharmacogenomics

The first international conference hosted by the University of South Florida College of Pharmacy will focus on ways to improve health care by customizing drug prescribing and treatment based on an individual's genetic makeup.

24 Aug 2011

Georgia company charges hospitals with balance billing

A Valdosta-based company told state lawmakers Monday that hospitals are unjustifiably harassing its employees over medical bills. The problem involves balance billing, a practice whereby a medical provider sends a patient a bill for charges beyond what is paid by a health plan.

24 Aug 2011

Clay modelling could help disturbed teenagers deal with mental health problems

Researchers at The University of Nottingham are to investigate whether the therapeutic effects of clay modelling could help disturbed teenagers deal with their feelings of anger, anxiety and depression.

24 Aug 2011

Afghan patients treated at U.S. military hospitals often carry MDR bacteria

Afghan patients treated at a U.S. military hospital in Afghanistan often carry multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria, according to a report in the September issue of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, the journal of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America.

24 Aug 2011

Map shows Horn of Africa food security situation

The World Food Programme and Development Seed have developed a map showing current food security situations in the Horn of Africa and featuring "operational data collected from organizations responding to the humanitarian emergency ... The featured data was provided by the Famine Early Warning System Network and the Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit-Somalia," according to the site.

24 Aug 2011

Children of women with HG more likely to suffer from anxiety, bipolar disorder

An extreme form of pregnancy-related nausea and vomiting known as hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) takes a heavy toll on thousands of women each year and can lead to hospitalization and pregnancy termination. But new research suggests pregnant women are not the only victims.

24 Aug 2011

Study finds children's hospitals underequipped to handle H1N1 pandemics

A new study of children's hospitals nationwide has found them underequipped to handle a major surge of patients in the event of a pandemic, and urges health care institutions and government agencies to immediately review emergency preparedness plans as flu season approaches.

24 Aug 2011

Polio eradication 'at risk' as Chad and Pakistan face continued outbreaks, GPEI report says

"According to the latest report from the Independent Monitoring Board of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, continued transmission of polio is a 'global health emergency,' and plans to interrupt transmission by the end of 2012 are 'at risk,'" the Lancet Infectious Diseases reports, adding, "With a US$590 million funding gap and weak political leadership in some countries, the engagement of communities to plan and implement local approaches is paramount."

24 Aug 2011