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Obesity related FTO gene linked to Alzheimer’s disease.

If you are an American of European origin and carry the FTO gene which causes obesity, you have a much higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. A recent study conducted at the University of California, Los Angeles claimed that 'A commonly carried allele of the obesity-related FTO gene is associated with reduced brain volume in healthy elderly'.

21 Apr 2010

USPTO to issue patent for TruFUSE procedure

minSURG International, Inc. is pleased to announce that the United States Patent and Trademark Office will issue on May 4th, 2010 U.S. Patent No. 7,708,761, entitled "Spinal Plug for a Minimally Invasive Facet Joint Fusion System," which provides the Company patent protection for the TruFUSE procedure.

21 Apr 2010

FDA eyes home-based medical equipment for regulation

"With hospitals discharging patients after ever-shorter stays, more people are recovering and continuing post-operative care, or treating chronic conditions, with sophisticated medical equipment at home," The Wall Street Journal reports.

21 Apr 2010

NEDD9 protein plays significant role in development of HER2-driven breast cancer: Researchers

Researchers at Fox Chase Cancer Center have identified a potentially significant molecular player in the development of aggressive breast cancer. The team's findings show that a protein called NEDD9 is critical in the formation of breast tumors induced by high levels of the cell-surface receptor HER2/neu in mice.

21 Apr 2010

USPTO issues patent covering method of metastatic breast cancer treatment using Bionovo's Bezielle

Bionovo, Inc. announced today that the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued a patent covering a method of using Bionovo's proprietary drug candidate Bezielle® (BZL101) for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer. The patent issued today is Bionovo's second issued patent, with over 70 other patent applications currently pending.

21 Apr 2010

BDSI Sciences to purchase $10M of securities in registered direct offering

BioDelivery Sciences International, Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company, announced that it has entered into a definitive securities purchase agreement with a group of select institutional investors to purchase US$10 million of its securities in a registered direct offering. No placement agent was utilized in connection with the offering.

21 Apr 2010

Researchers: Breast cancer prevention and treatment protocols not always clear

The New York Times writes about the frequent inaccuracy of a test to detect certain proteins in breast tumors, which determines whether the patient will get Herceptin, a potent breast cancer treatment. "Drugs aimed at disabling proteins that spur cancer are, many oncologists say, the future of cancer therapies.

21 Apr 2010

Stereotypes can influence the way people behave

Research at the University of Alberta shows that when a thin person is seen laying down watching television, people assume they're resting. But when people see an overweight person relaxing, it's automatically assumed they're lazy and unmotivated

21 Apr 2010

AdvaMed Dx welcomes Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics as association's newest member

AdvaMed Dx, a division of the Advanced Medical Technology Association focused on topics affecting the in vitro diagnostics industry, is pleased to welcome Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics as the association's newest member. Donal Quinn, chief executive officer of Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics, has been appointed to the AdvaMed Dx Board of Directors.

21 Apr 2010

Health experts gather in Ethiopia to discuss child, maternal health in Africa

A group of health experts gathered in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Monday, to kick off a continental conference on maternal and child health, VOA News reports (Heinlein, 4/19).

21 Apr 2010

Alexion Pharmaceuticals completes enrollment in Soliris clinical studies for aHUS

Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that it has completed enrolling patients in all four previously announced prospective, open-label clinical studies investigating Soliris® (eculizumab) as a potential treatment for patients with atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (aHUS) being conducted in North America and multiple European countries.

21 Apr 2010

Cannabis users are at risk for developing anxiety and mood disorders: CAMH study

Research has shown possible links between cannabis use and the onset of Schizophrenia, but a new study from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health shows that people who use cannabis may also be at risk for developing anxiety and mood disorders.

21 Apr 2010

Abbott to purchase all outstanding shares of Facet Biotech

Abbott today announced the successful completion of the tender offer by its wholly owned subsidiary Amber Acquisition Inc. to purchase all of the outstanding shares of common stock of Facet Biotech.

21 Apr 2010

Australia heading for its own health overhaul

Reuters: "Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said on Tuesday he had reached agreement with all but one of Australia's states on major health reforms which he hopes will spearhead his 2010 re-election campaign. Failure to clinch the $51 billion deal, which will see the government become the nation's main health funder, would have fueled perceptions Rudd has been unable to deliver on reform promises that propelled him to power in 2007" (Taylor, 4/20).

21 Apr 2010

Researchers identify potential drug target for treatment of Alzheimer's disease

Researchers at the University of Illinois have identified a potential drug target for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease: a receptor that is embedded in the membrane of neurons and other cells.

21 Apr 2010

Semafore Pharmaceuticals' SF1126 PI3K-mTOR inhibitor demonstrates broad anti-tumor activity in lymphoma

Semafore Pharmaceuticals today announced the presentation of data demonstrating that SF1126, a novel small molecule inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), has broad preclinical anti-tumor activity in multiple myeloma and lymphoma. Data were presented in a poster presentation at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C.

21 Apr 2010

CorMedix receives patent for Neutrolin

CorMedix Inc., a pharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing therapeutic products for the treatment of cardiorenal disease, today announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued a patent for the use of Neutrolin for preventing infection and clotting in hemodialysis catheters.

21 Apr 2010

A Selection of Today's Opinions: AIDS endures; Conservatives' changing views of the individual mandate; Concerns for doctors

AIDS endures right here in the U.S.A.: our outpatient clinics are bursting at the seams, and new cases show up daily. A million domestic stories are languishing untold, but they are not the operatic tragedies we have grown used to (Dr. Abigail Zuger, 4/19).

21 Apr 2010

White House touts health tax credits, some consumers question costs

"More than 4 million postcards were mailed Monday to small-business owners, touting a tax credit in the new healthcare law that many of them are eligible to receive. The mass mailing is the first step in an aggressive sales and information campaign planned by the White House in an effort to blunt criticism of the law."

21 Apr 2010

FDA approves Lupin Pharmaceuticals' Imipramine Pamoate capsules

Lupin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (LPI) announced today that it has received final approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its Imipramine Pamoate capsules, 75 mg, 100 mg, 125 mg and 150 mg strengths. Commercial shipments of the product have already commenced.

21 Apr 2010