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NIH grants $14.85 million to complete two floors of NRI at Texas Children's Hospital

Neurological research at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital is getting a big boost in the form of a $14.85 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to complete two floors of the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children's Hospital.

29 Jul 2010

Hospitals focus on forming ACOs, resolving insurer disputes

News outlets report on hospital issues, including forming accountable care organizations and disputes with insurers.

29 Jul 2010

Increased SIRT1 protein can delay delay aging, extend lifespan

Researchers watched two groups of mice, both nearing the end of a two-day fast. One group was quietly huddled together, but the other group was active and alert. The difference? The second set of mice had been engineered so their brains produced more SIRT1, a protein known to play a role in aging and longevity.

29 Jul 2010

Athersys reports positive results from MultiStem phase I clinical trial in heart attack patients

Athersys, Inc. announced today positive results from its phase I clinical trial of MultiStem®, its allogeneic cell therapy product, administered to individuals following acute myocardial infarction (AMI), more commonly referred to as a heart attack. The study results, based on four months of post-treatment patient data, demonstrate that MultiStem was well tolerated at all dose levels and also suggest improvement in heart function in treated patients.

29 Jul 2010

Assurant second-quarter net operating income increases 53% to $152.2 million

Assurant, Inc., a premier provider of specialty insurance and insurance-related products and services, today reported results for the second quarter and first six months of 2010.

29 Jul 2010

Inhibition of MMPs can offer therapeutic benefit in Huntington's disease: Study

A new study reveals that an enzyme linked with multiple disorders is also involved in the generation of toxic, neuron-killing protein fragments in Huntington's disease (HD). The research, published by Cell Press in the July 29 issue of Neuron, provides insight into Huntington's pathology and proposes new therapeutic strategies for this devastating incurable disease.

29 Jul 2010

Anti-fraud efforts backed by AARP; Seniors cautioned about rebate cons

AARP on Tuesday "threw its influence" behind a number of plans to reduce Medicare fraud, including the bipartisan Medicare Fraud Enforcement and Prevention Act, which would increase penalties on nabbed fraudsters and supply more claims data to enforcers, The Hill reports. Separate legislation, "the Fighting Fraud with Innovative Technology Act, would bolster Medicare's claims screening process before payments are sent out" (Lillis, 7/27).

29 Jul 2010

Aggressive prostate cancer patients tend to retain denser bones

Men who develop prostate cancer, especially the more aggressive and dangerous forms that spread throughout the body, tend to retain denser bones as they age than men who stay free of the disease, suggests new research from Johns Hopkins and the National Institute on Aging (NIA), part of the National Institutes of Health.

29 Jul 2010

VaxGen completes merger transaction with diaDexus

VaxGen, Inc. announced today the completion of its merger transaction with diaDexus, Inc., a diagnostics company focused on the development and commercialization of patent-protected in vitro diagnostic products addressing unmet needs in cardiovascular disease.

29 Jul 2010

AMAG attributes increased second-quarter revenues of $18.8 million to Feraheme

AMAG Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of a therapeutic iron compound to treat iron deficiency anemia and novel imaging agents to aid in the diagnosis of cancer and cardiovascular disease, today reported unaudited consolidated financial results for the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2010. For the second quarter, AMAG reported total revenue of $18.8 million, including $16.0 million of Feraheme® (ferumoxytol) Injection for intravenous (IV) use net product revenues.

29 Jul 2010

Ten precautionary health tips for beachgoers, bathers

A yearlong beach study led by a team of University of Miami researchers suggests that swimmers at sub-tropical beaches face an increased risk of illness. The multi-disciplinary team examined the risk of illness that beachgoers face when exposed to recreational marine water at sub-tropical beaches with no known source of pollution or contamination.

29 Jul 2010

States continue push for extension of extra Medicaid funds

News outlets report on state budget gaps and lobbying for extra Medicaid funds from the federal government.

29 Jul 2010

Healthy healthcare competition saves lives

Competition among hospitals saves patients’ lives and decreases their overall length of stay in hospital, according to a new study involving researchers from the University of Bristol, who found there was no corresponding increase in overall expenditure.

29 Jul 2010

Scientists identify new catalytic process to create pharmaceuticals with less chemical waste

Much like two children in the back seat of a car, it can be challenging to get two catalysts to cooperate for the greater good. Now Northwestern University chemists have gotten two catalysts to work together on the same task -- something easily done by nature but a difficult thing to do in the laboratory.The findings, published by the journal Nature Chemistry, will allow medicinal chemists to invent new reactions and produce valuable bioactive compounds faster with less impact on the environment.

29 Jul 2010

Limerick to announce new results from LIM-0705 human trials at 23rd Transplantation Society congress

Limerick BioPharma, Inc., a developer of innovative therapies that help cells pump out unwanted or toxic substances, will announce new results from human trials of its lead compound, LIM-0705, at the 23rd International Congress of the Transplantation Society in Vancouver, Canada, in an oral presentation on August 19, 2010.

29 Jul 2010

Pretreating polycarbonate plastic is an eco-friendly way of waste disposal: Research

Just as cooking helps people digest food, pretreating polycarbonate plastic - source of a huge environmental headache because of its bisphenol A (BPA) content - may be the key to disposing of the waste in an eco-friendly way, scientists have found. Their new study is in ACS' Biomacromolecules, a monthly journal.

29 Jul 2010

HemoBioTech receives patent for HemoTech treatment of acute blood loss

HemoBioTech announced today the issuance of a new patent US 7,759,306 B2, Methods of Treating Acute Blood Loss. HemoBioTech has an exclusive worldwide license from Texas Tech University to commercialize the technology. The new patent continues to May 16, 2026. The major advance in HemoTech is the presence of Adenosine which has anti-inflammatory activity.

29 Jul 2010

HIV drug can raise the risk of heart disease: Study

There are a handful of drugs effective in treating HIV/AIDS. However new research shows that some of these drugs can increase the risk of heart attacks. The results come from a Garvan Institute of Medical Research study involving 20 people, 10 taking the drug Ritonavir and 10 others the drug Raltegravir for one month.

28 Jul 2010

Aging thalidomide victims to receive $50 million in compensation

Thalidomide was sold in a number of countries across the world from 1957 until 1961 when it was withdrawn from the market after being found to be a cause of birth defects in what has been called "one of the biggest medical tragedies of modern times".

28 Jul 2010

Mobile phones dirtier than we thought: Study

According to research for a UK consumer group mobile phones can harbor 18 times more living bacteria than a lavatory seat. For the study a hygiene expert swabbed and analysed 30 handsets and found seven had high levels of environmental bacteria.

28 Jul 2010