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Protein missing in fragile X syndrome acts as a molecular toggle switch in brain cells

New research shows how the protein missing in fragile X syndrome - the most common inherited form of intellectual disability - acts as a molecular toggle switch in brain cells.

10 Jun 2011

Medicare politics trigger concerns in debt-deal talks

The Hill reports that some Republican lawmakers are growing "wary" that, in regard to Medicare, a recent Democratic upset in a New York special congressional election is a "canary in the coalmine." Meanwhile, Democrats are working to position themselves as the Medicare protectors -- even as a fact-checker questions some of their comments.

10 Jun 2011

GE and Mayo Clinic receive $5.7 million NIH grant to study dedicated MRI brain scanner technology

Driving new technologies that will help expand the availability of MRI scanners beyond the hospital to smaller clinic settings, GE Global Research, the technology development arm for the General Electric Company, and Mayo Clinic, have received a five-year, $5.7 million grant from the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB), and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), components of the National Institutes of Health.

10 Jun 2011

GOP senators ask HHS to let Indiana cut Planned Parenthood funding

Twenty-eight Republican senators said Thursday that the Obama administration should not stop the state of Indiana from implementing a new law designed to cut off federal funding for Planned Parenthood. Earlier this month, the federal Medicaid agency denied Indiana's proposal to prevent state residents from using Medicaid at any entity that provides abortions.

10 Jun 2011

Promising new strategy for treating human type 2 diabetes

In a mouse study, scientists at Mayo Clinic Florida have demonstrated the feasibility of a promising new strategy for treating human type 2 diabetes, which affects more than 200 million people worldwide.

10 Jun 2011

State news: Mass. immigrant care; Pension benefit changes in Calif. cities

Thousands of legal immigrants may have to wait weeks longer to find out whether the state's highest court will order Massachusetts to restore their full health insurance benefits. Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Associate Justice Robert J. Cordy today ordered lawyers for the state to file their motions by June 23.

10 Jun 2011

Larger trial study needed to decide fate of niacin

Niaspan is a cholesterol drug manufactured by Abbott Laboratories. Doctors have customarily prescribed Niacin to raise levels of HDL ("good" cholesterol) in patients taking a statin pill that is successfully lowering their LDL ("bad" cholesterol).

10 Jun 2011

Large medical groups urge OMB to be careful with ACO budget expectations

The American Group Management Association asked the Obama administration to scale back the anticipated savings that are expected from the creation of accountable care organizations. Setting the savings bar too high, the organizations said, could cause the ACO program to be unsuccessful.

10 Jun 2011

Scientists coax tumor cells to grow into 3-D spheres

A team of scientists has developed a way to coax tumor cells in the lab to grow into 3-D spheres. Their discovery takes advantage of an earlier technique of producing spherical cavities in a common polymer and promises more accurate tests of new cancer therapies.

10 Jun 2011

States make progress setting up exchanges

Even governors who are opposed to the federal health law appear to be taking steps to comply with the health overhaul's exchanges provision. Meanwhile, in Oregon, the governor is expected to sign the exchange legislation passed by the legislature earlier this week.

10 Jun 2011

Progressive strength training counteracts muscular atrophy in old age

People lose 30% of their muscle strength between the ages of 50 and 70 years. However, maintaining muscle strength in old age is enormously important in order to maintain mobility and to be able to lead an independent life and manage everyday tasks independently.

10 Jun 2011

For docs, quality bonuses are few and far between

Talk to anyone for very long about how to improve health care in the U.S. and you eventually hear something along the lines of: "We have to start paying physicians for getting and keeping people healthy instead of for doing as many procedures and tests as possible" (Hobson, 6/9).

10 Jun 2011

Amplifon, Rion, William Demant lead $1.4 billion Asia-Pacific retail hearing aid market

According to a new report by iData Research, the leading global authority in medical device market research, the Chinese and Indian markets for hearing devices, including retail and wholesale sales, is valued at over $1 billion and will almost double-in-value by 2017.

10 Jun 2011

Senate Dems pledge to fight big Medicaid cuts

Meanwhile, a left-leaning advocacy group released a report on how GOP budget plans to change the program would impact New Hampshire -- a clear step designed to bring Medicaid into the realm of presidential politics.

10 Jun 2011

NIOSH grants Noveko N95 certification for RD5-V respirator

Noveko International Inc. is pleased to announce that its subsidiary Noveko Inc. has obtained N95 certification from the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health ("NIOSH") for its Noveko RD5-V respirator.

10 Jun 2011

IPAB under attack from all sides

From the left, fears persist that this independent payment advisory board will make the Medicare program a cost-control scapegoat. On the right, opponents say the panel will lead to health care rationing and usurp congressional authority.

10 Jun 2011

Revance closes $45 million financing

Revance Therapeutics, Inc. today announced the closing of a $45 million financing led by Essex Woodlands Health Ventures and new investor, NovaQuest Capital.

10 Jun 2011

Life Technologies enters exclusive agreement for TAL Effector Technology license

Life Technologies Corporation has signed an exclusive license agreement for novel technology that enables synthetic biologists to effectively program and control the genetic circuitry in engineered pathways and organisms.

10 Jun 2011

NIAID awards Biota $2.9M grant for development of lead candidate for C. difficile

Biota Holdings Limited advises that its wholly owned subsidiary, Biota Scientific Management Pty Ltd, has been awarded a grant to fund the preclinical development of a lead candidate for the treatment of Clostridium difficile (C. difficile).

10 Jun 2011

Ambit Biosciences raises $30 million through Series D-2 equity financing

Ambit Biosciences (Ambit), an emerging biopharmaceutical company engaged in the development of kinase inhibitors for the treatment of cancer and other conditions, today announced that it has completed a Series D-2 round of equity financing, raising $30 million in new capital.

10 Jun 2011