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Study: Cancer patients with VTE do not benefit from IVCF and fondaparinux

Cancer patients with blood clots -- which occur in one of every 200 cancer patients and are the second most common cause of death among cancer patients -- gain no benefit from the insertion of an inferior vena cava filter (IVCF) to the anticoagulant medication fondaparinux (Arixtra), according to research presented today at the 14th World Conference on Lung Cancer, hosted by the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer.

7 Jul 2011

Malaria-carrying mosquitoes becoming increasingly resistant to pyrethroid insecticides

Mosquitoes that carry malaria are increasingly becoming resistant to pyrethroid insecticides, which are the only insecticides approved by the WHO to treat bed nets and are the most effective and cost efficient for indoor spraying, Nature News reports.

7 Jul 2011

Endoscopic testing prior to lung cancer surgery improves quality of life

Patients who underwent endoscopic testing prior to surgery for lung cancer had significantly better quality of life at the end of the staging process, with no significant difference in costs between the two strategies, according to data presented at the 14th World Conference on Lung Cancer in Amsterdam, hosted by the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer.

7 Jul 2011

Gene therapy may help prevent progression of type 1 diabetes

Increasing a specific protein in areas of the pancreas that produce insulin blocks the immune attack that causes type 1 diabetes, researchers reported in the August issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation, published early online.

7 Jul 2011

EU to provide $14.5M for emergency food aid to North Korea

"Responding to the growing threat of a humanitarian crisis in North Korea, the European Union announced on Monday that it will provide about $14.5 million in emergency aid to feed more than some 650,000 North Koreans," the New York Times reports.

7 Jul 2011

Current prevention strategies may not be very effective at reducing in-hospital falls

While falls are a common cause of injury, particularly in older, hospitalized patients, some may not be as preventable as once thought. According to a new literature review published in the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, many of the risks that frequently cause falls are not adequately addressed with the fall prevention initiatives used in healthcare facilities.

7 Jul 2011

Rate review issue faces key vote in Calif.; veto in Conn.

A bill that would allow state officials to reject rate increases proposed by health insurers is under intense lobbying pressure as it faces a key committee vote this week. Groups representing insurers, doctors and hospitals are trying to have the California bill weakened or killed, although for different reasons.

7 Jul 2011

Study illuminates roles of two nearly identical proteins in cancer development

Scripps Research Institute scientists have discovered a basic mechanism that can enable developing cancer cells to sustain abnormal growth. The finding is expected to lead to the targeting of this mechanism with drugs and diagnostic techniques.

7 Jul 2011

Human body may not completely absorb fat in pistachios

A new study now appearing in the peer-reviewed British Journal of Nutrition, finds that fat in pistachios may not be completely absorbed by the body.

7 Jul 2011

Improved global safety monitoring of HIV drugs is needed

With at least five million people worldwide taking antiretroviral therapy for HIV infection, the International Forum for Collaborative HIV Research, in a PLoS Medicine Policy Forum published on Tuesday, "recommends that improved and sustained global drug safety monitoring, including monitoring for substandard products, drug diversion, inappropriate use, and toxicity, is critical," a press release from PLoS states.

7 Jul 2011

Amrubicin vs. topotecan Phase III trial against lung cancer presented at IASLC conference

Lung cancer patients given amrubicin (Calsed) as a second-line therapy had a significantly improved response rate and longer progression-free survival than patients treated with topotecan (Hycamtin), according to research presented at the 14th World Conference on Lung Cancer in Amsterdam, hosted by the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer.

7 Jul 2011

Gates Foundation releases interactive malaria infographic

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has released a new infographic "to raise awareness about its campaign to end malaria," Mashable reports.

7 Jul 2011

New data compares gender effect on survival after abdominal aortic aneurysm repair

New data in the July 2011 issue of the Journal of Vascular Surgery, the official publication of the Society for Vascular Surgery, compares the effects of gender on long-term survival in different types of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair.

7 Jul 2011

TGen presents two key studies at 14th World Conference on Lung Cancer

The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) is presenting two key studies, including one today, at the 14th World Conference on Lung Cancer, July 3-7 in Amsterdam.

7 Jul 2011

U.S. needs supply of medical professionals to meet goals of health-care reform

One consequence of the expanded access to health care facilitated by health care reform will be a shortfall in the necessary numbers of physicians and other advanced medical professionals.

7 Jul 2011

Antibiotic resistance is not a priority in the U.S.

Author and journalist Maryn McKenna in her "Superbug" blog on Wired.com examines U.S. spending on drug-resistant pathogens, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

7 Jul 2011

Patients' insurance status affects outcomes of cardiac valve operations in the U.S.

The type of primary insurance patients carry affects outcomes of cardiac valve operations in the United States according to a study in the May issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons.

7 Jul 2011

Special issue explores new research into collective memories of London bombings

Six years on from the devastating 7/7 London bombings and in the wake of the inquest into the attacks, a special issue of the journal Memory Studies, published by SAGE, explores new research into our collective memories of this tragic event.

7 Jul 2011

Eighteen scientists receive Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation awards

The Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation, a non-profit organization focused on supporting innovative early career researchers, named 18 new Damon Runyon Fellows at its spring Fellowship Award Committee review.

7 Jul 2011

With Minn. budget talks stalled, social services make funding plea

A state district court has ordered programs essential to life, health and public safety to continue during the shutdown. A judge is now holding hearings and will make recommendations about which programs fall into this category.

7 Jul 2011