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Nymox second-quarter net loss increases to $1.75 million

Nymox Pharmaceutical Corporation announced today its financial results for the second quarter of 2010. Nymox reported a net loss of $1,745,798, or $0.05 per share for the quarter and $3,015,348, or $0.10 per share for the six months ending June 30, 2010, compared to $1,220,152, or $0.04 per share for the quarter and $2,224,411, or $0.07 per share for the six months ending June 30, 2009. Net losses include stock compensation charges for the quarter of $245,245 in 2010 and $248,886 in 2009 and for the six months ending June 30 of $440,465 in 2010 and $558,536 in 2009.

16 Aug 2010

Insurers defend limited-benefit health policies in fight over proposed restrictions

Kaiser Health News staff writer Julie Appleby, in collaboration with USA Today, writes: "A few months into a new job as a contract engineer, Jim Arey was stunned by an $8,000 bill he received for two doctor-administered infusions of an expensive drug he needs regularly. That's when the Columbia, Md., man learned that the insurance provided through his placement firm capped doctor office care at $2,000 a year.

16 Aug 2010

Treatment for diabetics cost U.S. hospitals 25% more than stays for non-diabetics

U.S. hospitals spent $83 billion in 2008 caring for people with diabetes, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. In that year, nearly one of every five hospitalizations involved a person with diabetes.

16 Aug 2010

Psychological stress in middle age can lead to dementia: Research

Psychological stress in middle age could lead to the development of dementia later in life, especially Alzheimer's disease, reveals research from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. Based on data from a study which followed women for 35 years, this is the first research in Sweden to indicate a link between stress and dementia.

16 Aug 2010

New T cell engineering approach can improve success rate of immune-cell therapies

Clinical trials using patients' own immune cells to target tumors have yielded promising results. However, this approach usually works only if the patients also receive large doses of drugs designed to help immune cells multiply rapidly, and those drugs have life-threatening side effects. Now a team of MIT engineers has devised a way to deliver the necessary drugs by smuggling them on the backs of the cells sent in to fight the tumor. That way, the drugs reach only their intended targets, greatly reducing the risk to the patient.

16 Aug 2010

Avenue to Access provides free prescription-size tube of ZITHRANOL-RR to stable plaque psoriasis patients

During the month of August, people with a certain type of psoriasis have the chance to access free medicine through Avenue to Access. The program is designed to help individuals with mild-to-moderate stable plaque psoriasis access to a free prescription-size tube of ZITHRANOL-RR (anthralin, 1.2%) rapid release microcrystalline encapsulated cream.

16 Aug 2010

Use of estrogen alone does not increase lung cancer mortality in postmenopausal women: Study

Use of estrogen alone did not increase lung cancer mortality in postmenopausal women, according to a study published online August 13 in The Journal of the National Cancer Institute. In the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) trial, which consisted of several clinical trials on postmenopausal women, one study showed women with previous hysterectomy taking combined estrogen plus progestin therapy had a statistically significant increase in lung cancer mortality, but not incidence. Other studies with combined hormone therapy have had conflicting results. But the influence of estrogen alone was unclear.

16 Aug 2010

Mathematical model projects potential impact of current tools fighting malaria in Africa

Current tools for combating malaria, such as artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) and increasing coverage of long-lasting insecticide treated nets (LLINs) insecticide-treated bednets (ITN) "could dramatically reduce the burden of malignant malaria on parts of Africa if a comprehensive, sustained intervention programme were in place," according to a study published this week in PLoS Medicine, CORDIS News reports.

16 Aug 2010

Research Roundup: Disabled Medicare Enrollees' challenges; Increasing ER visits; costs/benefits of Part D

Health Affairs: Medicare Doesn't Work As Well For Younger, Disabled Beneficiaries As It Does For Older Enrollees - This paper examines "how well Medicare works for [the 8 million] nonelderly disabled beneficiaries compared to the elderly, based on findings from a nationally representative survey of noninstitutionalized Medicare beneficiaries conducted in 2008 by the Kaiser Family Foundation."

16 Aug 2010

U.S. officials probing payments by drug and device makers to doctors overseas

The New York Times reports that federal officials are investigating whether a dozen drug and device makers "made illegal payments to doctors and health officials in foreign countries." Although pharmaceutical companies routinely contract with doctors in the United States to be consultants, experts say the situation is more complex overseas because "in much of the rest of the world, doctors are government employees. And even consulting arrangements that would be considered routine in the United States might violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, particularly if the payments are outsize or the arrangements are not disclosed to the governments.

16 Aug 2010

U.S. increases Pakistan flood aid contribution; Sen. Kerry to visit flood-hit Pakistan

"On assistance to Pakistan, to date, approximately $76 million in assistance has been provided by the U.S. to the flood-affected populations in Pakistan," Mark Toner, acting deputy spokesman for the State Department, said at a press briefing on Thursday, according to a transcript. "As of this morning, the additional money that the U.S. is providing is to Save the Children, and that's 4.1 million that will be used for food vouchers, enabling flood victims to purchase food in their local markets," he said.

16 Aug 2010

Childhood brain tumor survivors may be vulnerable to physical declines associated with aging: Study

A large study focused on documenting the strength and fitness of childhood brain tumor survivors has found that many face health challenges as they age. The study led by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital investigators showed that although most participants were young adults in their 20s, many functioned like people in their 60s, making them less likely to live independently or attend college.

16 Aug 2010

AIBioTech receives new government contract worth $21 million

American International Biotechnology Services (AIBioTech), a division of Bostwick Laboratories, Richmond, VA, today announced that it is one of four contractors awarded a new government contract valued at approximately $21 million. AIBioTech provides integrated research and development sciences and clinical testing services to physicians and life sciences investigators in biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, academic institutions, and government agencies. The new contract will be funded in phases, with the first AIBioTech phase valued at nearly $3 million. AIBioTech has assembled a consortium of seven leading technology and biotechnology companies who are poised to meet all of the anticipated scientific objectives.

16 Aug 2010

Fertility preservation may be unsafe for leukemia patients: Study

Although the use of ovarian tissue cryopreservation and transplantation has lead to 13 live births in women with lymphoma or solid tumors, this method of fertility preservation may be unsafe for patients with leukemia, according to a recent study published online in Blood, the journal of the American Society of Hematology.

16 Aug 2010

FDA approves ellaOne for emergency contraception

HRA Pharma announced today that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted approval for ella(R) (ulipristal acetate) as a prescription-only emergency contraceptive indicated for use within 120 hours (five days) of unprotected intercourse or a known or suspected contraceptive failure. ella is not intended for routine use as a contraceptive.

16 Aug 2010

Adverse effects in childhood lead to immune impairment later in life

The emotional pains we suffer in childhood can lead to weakened immune systems later in life, according to a new study.Based on this new research, the amount of this immune impairment even enhances that caused by the stress of caregiving later in life."What happens in childhood really matters when it comes to your immune response in the latter part of your life," explained Janice Kiecolt-Glaser, professor of psychology and psychiatry at Ohio State University. She explained her work at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association in San Diego.

16 Aug 2010

Significant differences develop in obesity trends over time by race and ethnicity: Study

Obesity rates have started to decline and level off for many adolescents, but continue to increase for certain racial and ethnic minorities, according to a new UCSF-led study. The evidence of increasing racial disparities for obesity underscores the need for more tailored intervention programs and policies that target high-risk groups, the authors conclude.

16 Aug 2010

Researchers develop screening tool to observe nanoparticle reaction inside the body

Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed a method for predicting the ways nanoparticles will interact with biological systems - including the human body. Their work could have implications for improved human and environmental safety in the handling of nanomaterials, as well as applications for drug delivery.

16 Aug 2010

Scientists discover new signaling pathway to reduce tumour growth in glioblastoma multiforme

Malignant gliomas are the most common subtype of primary brain tumor - and one of the deadliest. Even as doctors make steady progress treating other types of solid tumor cancers, from breast to prostate, the most aggressive form of malignant glioma, called a glioblastoma multiforme or GBM, has steadfastly defied advances in neurosurgery, radiation therapy and various conventional or novel drugs. But an international team of scientists, headed by researchers at the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research (LICR) at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, reports in the August 15 issue of Genes & Development that they have discovered a new signaling pathway between GBM cells - one that, if ultimately blocked or disrupted, could significantly slow or reduce tumor growth and malignancy.

16 Aug 2010

Low socioeconomic status, stressful childhood events develop risk of cardiovascular disease

Early life adversity through poverty, social isolation or abuse in childhood is linked to heightened reactivity, which can lead to heart disease later on, a leading expert on stress and disease said Saturday."Many diseases first diagnosed in mid-life can be traced back to childhood," Karen A. Matthews, PhD, said at the 118th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association. "Having some bad health habits in your 20s and 30s is part of the reason why people get diseases later on. However, it isn't the whole reason. The evidence shows that certain reactions to adverse childhood experiences associated with lower socioeconomic status, isolation and negative events can affect the disease process."

16 Aug 2010

Medical News

Nymox second-quarter net loss increases to $1.75 million

Insurers defend limited-benefit health policies in fight over proposed restrictions

Treatment for diabetics cost U.S. hospitals 25% more than stays for non-diabetics

Psychological stress in middle age can lead to dementia: Research

New T cell engineering approach can improve success rate of immune-cell therapies

Avenue to Access provides free prescription-size tube of ZITHRANOL-RR to stable plaque psoriasis patients

Use of estrogen alone does not increase lung cancer mortality in postmenopausal women: Study

Mathematical model projects potential impact of current tools fighting malaria in Africa

Research Roundup: Disabled Medicare Enrollees' challenges; Increasing ER visits; costs/benefits of Part D

U.S. officials probing payments by drug and device makers to doctors overseas

U.S. increases Pakistan flood aid contribution; Sen. Kerry to visit flood-hit Pakistan

Childhood brain tumor survivors may be vulnerable to physical declines associated with aging: Study

AIBioTech receives new government contract worth $21 million

Fertility preservation may be unsafe for leukemia patients: Study

FDA approves ellaOne for emergency contraception

Adverse effects in childhood lead to immune impairment later in life

Significant differences develop in obesity trends over time by race and ethnicity: Study

Researchers develop screening tool to observe nanoparticle reaction inside the body

Scientists discover new signaling pathway to reduce tumour growth in glioblastoma multiforme

Low socioeconomic status, stressful childhood events develop risk of cardiovascular disease

How the Vutara VXL simplifies single-molecule imaging

How cohesin mechanics and nanotracker tech are redefining DNA research

Todd Bauman and Chris Povich

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