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Variant of obesity gene may increase breast cancer risk

New research aimed to better identify the genetic factors that lead to breast cancer has uncovered a link between the fat mass and obesity associated gene and a higher incidence of breast cancer.

24 May 2011

Pakistani province cancels six U.S. aid agreements

The Pakistani province of Punjab will stop accepting U.S. aid and has canceled six agreements with the U.S. pertaining to health, education and solid waste management, according to Shahbaz Sharif, chief minister of the province, Inter Press Service reports. "Sharif has vowed to 'break the begging bowl' which he said undermines Pakistan's sovereignty," the news service writes.

24 May 2011

Inotuzumab ozogamicin achieves over 50% response rate against acute lymphoblastic leukemia

An antibody packaged with a potent chemotherapy drug to selectively destroy acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cells eradicated or greatly reduced the disease for 61 percent of 46 patients in a phase II study. It will be presented at the 47th annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Chicago June 3-7.

24 May 2011

Mount Sinai researchers identify protein signaling hyperactivity in human sarcoma cells

Researchers from Mount Sinai School of Medicine have discovered a protein signaling pathway that becomes hyperactivated in human sarcoma cells, suggesting that medications to inhibit this pathway may be effective in the treatment of human sarcomas. The research is published in the current issue of the journal Cancer Cell.

24 May 2011

HIV prevention study results raise public health questions about forcing patients into treatment

A New York Times "Week In Review" article examines how the results of a recent study showing combination antiretroviral therapy can reduce the risk of HIV transmission by 96 percent "reopens old questions" about the rightsof patients to refuse therapy and whether doctors, in the interest of public health, should force patients to start treatment.

24 May 2011

Scientists discover genetic regions that affect severity of cystic fibrosis

A team of international researchers, including Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, have discovered regions of the genome that affect the severity of the genetic disease cystic fibrosis, the most common lethal genetic disease affecting children in North America.

24 May 2011

'Survival protein' protects brain against effects of stroke

Johns Hopkins scientists say that a newly discovered "survival protein" protects the brain against the effects of stroke in rodent brain tissue by interfering with a particular kind of cell death that's also implicated in complications from diabetes and heart attack.

24 May 2011

NIH awards $3.03 million grant to UTMB researcher to continue groundbreaking aging study

Rebeca Wong, one of the nation's foremost experts on aging, has been awarded $3.03 million by the National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health to continue a groundbreaking study in Mexico. Wong will use the grant for a longitudinal aging study she and collaborators started in 2001.

24 May 2011

Long-term, regular acetaminophen use may be associated with lower prostate cancer risk

A new study from American Cancer Society researchers finds use of 30 tablets a month or more of acetaminophen for five or more years was associated with an estimated 38% lower risk of prostate cancer. The study appears in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention and is one of only two studies of prostate cancer to date that have examined the association with acetaminophen use that was both long-term and regular.

24 May 2011

African-Americans with multiple sclerosis have lower vitamin D levels

African-Americans who have multiple sclerosis have lower vitamin D levels than African-Americans who don't have the disease, according to a study published in the May 24, 2011, print issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

24 May 2011

Vertex Incivek receives FDA approval for treatment of chronic hepatitis C

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Incivek treat certain adults with chronic hepatitis C infection. Incivek is used for patients who have either not received interferon-based drug therapy for their infection or who have not responded adequately to prior therapies. Incivek is approved for use with interferon therapy made up of peginterferon alfa and ribavirin.

24 May 2011

Aptus EndoStapling System receives CE Mark approval

Aptus Endosystems, Inc., a medical device company developing advanced technology for endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR), announced CE Mark approval for the Aptus EndoStapling System. The innovative helical staple technology enables independent endograft fixation, and is designed to mimic the hand suturing performed during open surgical repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms.

From Medtronic 24 May 2011

Journal of Clinical Oncology publishes Exelixis' cabozantinib phase 1 trial results in lymphoma

Exelixis, Inc. today announced the results of the phase 1 clinical trial of cabozantinib in patients with advanced solid tumors or lymphoma have been published in the current issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

24 May 2011

Patient Safety Technologies first quarter total revenue decreases to $2.0 million

Patient Safety Technologies, Inc. today announced financial results for its first quarter of 2011 ended March 31, 2011.

24 May 2011

FDA approves Taro's ANDA for Cetirizine Hydrochloride Oral Solution

Taro Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. reported today that it has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its Abbreviated New Drug Application for Cetirizine Hydrochloride Oral Solution, 1 mg/mL.

24 May 2011

Opinion: Recognizing the success of foreign aid

In the Wall Street Journal, Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, applauds economist Charles Kenny's book, "Getting Better: Why Global Development Is Succeeding - and How We Can Improve the World Even More."

24 May 2011

Key U.S. patents increase commercial rights and clinical indications

Australian regenerative medicine company, Mesoblast Limited (ASX:MSB; OTC ADR: MBLTY), today announced that the company’s product development strategy has been significantly strengthened by novel composition of matter claims granted by the United States Patent and Trade Mark Office (USPTO) in two distinct patent families to which Mesoblast has exclusive worldwide commercial rights.

23 May 2011