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New website offers real-life case studies and immunology breakthroughs on HIV

Amid a devastating HIV epidemic, some South African pediatricians treat as many as 100 children per day. With such overwhelming case loads, the physicians have little time to review the information they were offered in medical school on the topic of immunology. Recognizing the potential value of an understanding of up-to-date immunology in the treatment of HIV, immunologist Clive Gray developed Immunopaedia, a Web site that quickly and efficiently gives doctors a working knowledge of immunology through real-life case studies and news of immunology breakthroughs.

24 Sep 2010

Researchers identify mechanism that makes bacteria to resist antibiotics

A research team led by Edward Yu of Iowa State University and the Ames Laboratory has discovered the crystal structures of pumps that remove heavy metal toxins from bacteria, making them resistant to antibiotics.

24 Sep 2010

TAVI procedure reduces mortality rate in patients with aortic stenosis

Just released data from a clinical trial shows promise for a new minimally invasive treatment option for patients with severe aortic stenosis who are too sick for traditional forms of open-heart surgery. As compared to standard medical therapy, the new procedure, transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), significantly reduced mortality rates in patients who received the new valve.

24 Sep 2010

Insurers face barrage of challenges in overhaul's rollout

The first big wave of new rules under the federal health care law goes into effect on Thursday, leaving many insurers scrambling to get ahead of the changes. Insurers are cutting administrative staff to lower overhead costs, investing in big technology upgrades and training employees to field the expected influx of customer inquiries.

24 Sep 2010

Cianna Medical launches SAVI Sisters program to educate about breast cancer treatment options

Cianna Medical, Inc., the maker of the SAVI breast brachytherapy applicator, today announced the launch of SAVI Sisters, a program designed to provide education about breast cancer treatment options, primarily through social networking.

24 Sep 2010

CIC proposes criteria to improve endpoints for cancer immunotherapy trials

The Cancer Research Institute (CRI) Cancer Immunotherapy Consortium (CIC), the leading global initiative in advancing the emerging field of immuno-oncology, has proposed criteria for improved endpoints for cancer immunotherapy trials, which were published online on September 8 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

24 Sep 2010

CAP meeting to highlight medical diagnostic procedures

New science in cancer, genetic testing, molecular diagnostics, medical ethics, and gender-based disorders will be featured topics when nearly 1,200 pathologists gather at the Hyatt Regency Chicago on September 26 - 29 for the annual scientific meeting of the College of American Pathologists (CAP).

24 Sep 2010

AJMS journal provides research update on new infectious pathogens

Newly recognized disease-causing viruses, bacteria, and other infections are continually emerging around the world, posing difficult challenges for patient diagnosis and treatment and for public health responses. A special symposium section of the September issue of The American Journal of the Medical Sciences (AJMS), official journal of the Southern Society for Clinical Investigation, provides a research update on important new infectious pathogens.

24 Sep 2010

Opinions: Financial transaction tax; reframing antipoverty efforts; MDGs

The world's largest financial institutions regularly buy and sell massive amounts of world currencies seeking to make quick profits. A tiny tax on these transactions, many of which are purely speculative, would raise billions of dollars to invest in key domestic and global priorities, such as fighting disease, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and protecting our children from poverty.

24 Sep 2010

NeoStem signs merger agreement to acquire Progenitor Cell Therapy

NeoStem, Inc. an international biopharmaceutical company with operations in the U.S. and China and Progenitor Cell Therapy, LLC a privately held cell therapy company that serves the cell therapy industry from licensed, state-of-the art cell therapy manufacturing facilities in New Jersey and California today jointly announced the signing of a definitive merger agreement whereby NeoStem will acquire Progenitor Cell Therapy.

24 Sep 2010

Kids with preexisting illness get new protection for coverage but hurdles remain

When an insurance company refused to cover Deborah Gustlin's son because he has Asperger's syndrome, she took a drastic step 'I decided to lie,' says the 51-year-old resident of Morgan Hill, Calif.

24 Sep 2010

Immune-mediated disturbances of neurons contribute to MS: Research

Researchers in Germany have gained new insight into how the immune system causes damage associated with multiple sclerosis (MS), an incurable neuroinflammatory disorder.

24 Sep 2010

Asthma linked to seven genetic variants: Study

In a new study seven genes linked to asthma have been discovered. For the research genetic variations of 10,365 people with asthma and 16,110 people without the condition was studied. The variants identified showed an association with childhood asthma and some were also associated with later-onset asthma.

24 Sep 2010

FDA grants clearance for HPβCD treatment for Niemann Pick Type C disease

Children's Hospital & Research Center Oakland announced today that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted clearance of an Investigational New Drug (IND) application to introduce Trappsol Cyclo (Hydroxypropyl Beta Cyclodextrin or HPβCD) into the brains of six year old identical twin girls dying of a rare brain-destroying cholesterol disease called Niemann Pick Type C (NPC).

24 Sep 2010

Swine flu making a come back

A second elderly man succumbed to the swine flu virus as the Northern Territory experiences an upsurge in infection rates from the virus. Both men had serious health problems that raised their risk of dying with the disease.

24 Sep 2010

Advitech completes UVA testing study on oleosome sunscreen formulation

Advitech Inc. is pleased to announce today that a key UVA testing study has been completed on its oleosome-based sunscreen prototype formulation.

24 Sep 2010

Breast cancer incidence drops, linked to decline in HRT use

A new Canadian study shows that a significant drop in breast cancer incidence among post-menopausal women from 2002 to 2004 coincided with a sharp drop in hormone replacement therapy (HRT) use during the same period. This is the first study to show the link between HRT use and breast cancer among Canadian women.

24 Sep 2010

Health Reform's Big Day: New consumer protections start now

Today marks the six month anniversary of enactment of the health reform law, and with it, a slew of consumer friendly provisions go into effect.

24 Sep 2010

Advanced Targeting Systems receives NCI award to advance SP-SAP drug

Advanced Targeting Systems, the company that pioneered the targeting of specific cell types to manipulate them for the treatment of diseases and for research into the function of biological systems, has been awarded $3 million from the National Cancer Institute (NCI).

24 Sep 2010

General Electric Co. announces plans to donate $50 million to community health clinics

General Electric Co plans to donate about $50 million to community health clinics across the United States over the next couple of years, saying that urban clinics can play a role in the effort to slow the rapid rise of the nation's healthcare bill.

24 Sep 2010