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16-year-old uses supercomputing network to invent new drug cocktail for cystic fibrosis

While many 16-year-olds are content with PlayStation, Toronto-area student Marshall Zhang used the Canadian SCINET supercomputing network to invent a new drug cocktail which could one day help treat cystic fibrosis.

11 May 2011

Long non-coding RNA promotes melanoma cell survival and invasion

Traditionally, RNA was mostly known as the messenger molecule that carries protein-making instructions from a cell's nucleus to the cytoplasm. But scientists now estimate that approximately 97 percent of human RNA doesn't actually code for proteins at all. A flurry of research in the past decade has revealed that some types of non-coding RNAs switch genes on and off and influence protein function.

11 May 2011

NCL launches new public education campaign on medication adherence

Today the National Consumers League launches a new public education campaign, Script Your Future, to raise awareness among patients about the consequences of not taking medication as directed.

11 May 2011

Roundup: Calif.'s Central Valley facing health problems; Baltimore launches campaign to attack causes of preventable deaths

A health care crisis is sweeping the Central Valley, devastating middle-class and poor families and threatening to overwhelm the region's fragile safety net. The deep recession has pushed the ranks of the uninsured here to unprecedented levels. At the same time, a dire state budget deficit has forced lawmakers to drastically scale back or eliminate key health care programs for the state's poorest residents.

11 May 2011

Spinal manipulation as effective as microdiskectomy for patients with sciatica

In a recent study, "Manipulation or Microdisketomy for Sciatica? A Prospective Randomized Clinical Study," researchers concluded that spinal manipulation was just as effective as microdiskectomy for patients struggling with sciatica secondary to lumbar disk herniation.

11 May 2011

Repeated case-based medical training for physicians can save lives of heart patients

Repeated, case-based medical training for primary care physicians can save lives of heart patients, according to a novel randomized case-control study from Karolinska Institutet.

11 May 2011

Major European conference on Nanomedicine to take place in Basel, Switzerland

The major European event in the path-breaking field of Nanomedicine is the 4th European Conference for Clinical Nanomedicine taking place from May 23 to May 25, 2011 in Basel, Switzerland. The conference focuses on the clinical application of novel developments in nanosciences and is organised by the CLINAM Foundation, in collaboration with the ETP Nanomedicine.

11 May 2011

UCLA researchers amp up power of killer CD8 T-cells to fight melanoma

Researchers with UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center have discovered a way to amp up the power of killer T-cells, called CD8 cells, making them more functional for longer periods of time and boosting their ability to multiply and expand within the body to fight melanoma, a new study has found.

11 May 2011

Patients with pneumonia more likely to die if they have Vitamin D deficiency

A new study published in the journal Respirology reveals that adult patients admitted to the hospital with pneumonia are more likely to die if they have Vitamin D deficiency.

11 May 2011

New drug targets bile acid to provide relief from constipation

Constipation is definitely not a glamorous topic. In reality, it affects nearly 30 million Americans and costs more than $1 billion annually to evaluate and treat. While not often life threatening, the pain, bloating, discomfort, and straining associated with constipation lead sufferers to focus on one thing - relief.

11 May 2011

MTTI obtains exclusive license for novel fluorescence dyes from Massachusetts General Hospital

Molecular Targeting Technologies, Inc., announced that it has obtained an exclusive license from the Massachusetts General Hospital for novel fluorescence dyes developed by Scott Hilderbrand, Ph.D. Fangwei Shao, Ph.D., and Ralph Weissleder, Ph.D. M.D.

11 May 2011

Allos, Mundipharma enter strategic collaboration to co-develop FOLOTYN

Allos Therapeutics, Inc. and Mundipharma International Corporation Limited today jointly announced that the companies have entered into a strategic collaboration agreement to co-develop FOLOTYN (pralatrexate injection).

11 May 2011

New Crohn’s disease therapy on its way

In a new study on a drug called Stelara (ustekinumab) it was seen that 40% patients with moderate to severe Crohn's disease responded. Stelara, which is already approved to treat psoriasis, is a human interleukin (IL)-12 and IL-23 antagonist marketed by Centocor Ortho Biotech Inc. The study findings were presented at Digestive Disease Week 2011.

11 May 2011

NTC, Aldevron partner to manufacture first plasmid DNA-based genetic cosmetic

Nature Technology Corporation "NTC" and Aldevron today announced a joint effort to manufacture the world's first plasmid DNA-based genetic cosmetic for Gene Facelift.

11 May 2011

Breast cancer and unhealthy lifestyle choices

Figures have shown that more than one in five British women is classified as obese, and research has found those affected are almost 50 per cent more likely to die from breast cancer than women carrying less weight. Studies have shown that obesity in women leads to changes in sex-hormone levels that may trigger estrogen-dependent tumors, which form the majority of cases. Drinking just one large glass of wine a day also increases the chance of developing breast cancer by a fifth, say experts. It is thought alcohol raises levels of estrogen in the body.

11 May 2011

3M introduces Clean-Trace Hygiene Management System for healthcare facilities

As part of its effort to offer a wide range of environmental hygiene solutions for healthcare facilities, 3M Infection Prevention today announced its 3M™ Clean-Trace™ Hygiene Management System. This solution is designed to help hospitals assess the cleanliness of a surface and validate the efficacy of cleaning protocols and worker performance in less than one minute

11 May 2011

Long ring finger linked to Lou Gehrig’s disease

In some of the latest studies it has been found that finger length could be linked to various traits in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, better known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease. These people tend to have longer ring fingers, compared with their index fingers, than do people without the disease.

11 May 2011

New risk factors that may trigger stroke: Sex, coffee and anger

According to a new study people who have a Brain Aneurysm may be at a higher risk of stroke while drinking coffee, having sex or even getting angry. Although the risk is extremely small, people who have aneurysms should be careful, said Dr Sahil Parikh, assistant professor of medicine at University Hospitals Case Medical Centre in Cleveland. “For those patients who do have aneurysms, it would be advisable to avoid those behaviours,” said Parikh, who’s familiar with the study findings.

11 May 2011

ICARIA study shows 6% of Spanish workers have high risk of cardiovascular disease

The first study into the prevalence of overall cardiovascular risk in the Spanish working population shows that 6% of workers have a high risk. This prevalence increases with age in both sexes, and is highest in the farming sector, followed by construction, industry and services.

11 May 2011

Unscrupulous GP loses case to renew license

An accused Doctor who had sex with five vulnerable patients and thought his actions were allowed has lost a bid to return to medical practice by finally losing his appeal to regain his license.

11 May 2011