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H1N1: Bridging the knowledge gap

A commentary in the December issue of The Lancet Infectious Diseases brings to light the gaps in knowledge on the transmission of a common pathogen - the influenza virus - and its impact on decisions about how best to protect health care workers. Infectious diseases specialist Leonard Mermel, DO, medical director of infection control for Rhode Island Hospital, looks at the ongoing debate in light of the H1N1 pandemic, what past research tells us about the spread of influenza, and what is missing in the debate. His commentary is currently available in an online first edition.

20 Nov 2009

NORD letter conveys support for passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

On behalf of the 150 member organizations of the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) representing nearly 30 million patients and families afflicted with one of the 7,000 known rare diseases, we are writing to convey our strong support for passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

20 Nov 2009

Maja Mataric' to evaluate robots as exercise coaches for adults of all ages

Maja Mataric', who directs the University of Southern California Center for Robotics and Embedded Systems, will lead an effort to evaluate robots as exercise coaches for adults of all ages, with a particular focus on the elderly.

20 Nov 2009

Workshop on "Neuroeconomics and Endocrinological Economics" organized

A workshop on "Neuroeconomics and Endocrinological Economics," to be held Nov. 20 and 21 at UC Davis, will be the first to bring together experts in neuroscience, economics and hormone physiology in one event, according to organizers.

20 Nov 2009

New program to address mental health issues of youth and children

Every year, thousands of youngsters in Ontario experience a mental health crisis, yet the vast majority end up waiting months for psychiatric assessment and treatment because of the severe shortage of these specialists. Now a groundbreaking new program is bridging the gap between kids and care.

20 Nov 2009

Scientists identify and characterize different antioxidant compounds from foods

Scientists at the University of Granada have identified and characterized for the first time different antioxidant compounds from foods such as olive oil, honey, walnuts and a medicinal herb called Teucrium polium.

20 Nov 2009

ONI reports successful execution of MRI platform to GE Healthcare

ONI Medical Systems Inc. announced today that it successfully closed the sale of its MRI technology platform to the GE Healthcare division of General Electric Company on November 6, 2009. With the purchase of ONI’s high performance, low-cost dedicated purpose MRI technology, GE Healthcare is expanding its product line of comprehensive healthcare solutions to enhance its customers’ ability to deliver patient-centered healthcare.

20 Nov 2009

WPI researchers develop new model system to study fungal infections

A team of researchers at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) Life Sciences and Bioengineering Center at Gateway Park has developed a new model system to study fungal infections. The system can be a powerful tool for screening potential drug targets for conditions like thrush, athlete's foot and vaginal yeast infections, which affect millions of people each year but are difficult to treat with existing medications. Using the new model, the researchers also identified a gene that may be a promising target for a new anti-fungal drug.

20 Nov 2009

EMSC announces pricing of public secondary offering by affiliates of Onex Corporation

Emergency Medical Services Corporation today announced that certain of its equity holders, primarily affiliates of Onex Corporation, have priced a public secondary offering of 8,000,000 shares (increased from 6,000,000) of class A common stock at $48.31 per share.

20 Nov 2009

Researchers to discover new vaccine against infection from Lyme disease

A protein found in the saliva of ticks helps protect mice from developing Lyme disease, Yale researchers have discovered. The findings, published in the November 19 issue of Cell Host & Microbe, may spur development of a new vaccine against infection from Lyme disease, which is spread through tick bites.

20 Nov 2009

Cognitive declines not linked to surgery in older adults, say researchers

For years, it has been widely assumed that older adults may experience memory loss and other cognitive problems following surgery. But a new study from researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis questions those assumptions. In fact, the researchers were not able to detect any long-term cognitive declines attributable to surgery in a group of 575 patients they studied.

20 Nov 2009

Finding disproves clinical guidelines about dieting while quitting smoking

Many women don't quit smoking because they are afraid of gaining weight. That's because nicotine suppresses the appetite and boosts a smoker's metabolism.

20 Nov 2009

Direct link between insulin and core body temperature discovered

A team led by scientists at The Scripps Research Institute have discovered a direct link between insulin-a hormone long associated with metabolism and metabolic disorders such as diabetes-and core body temperature. While much research has been conducted on insulin since its discovery in the 1920s, this is the first time the hormone has been connected to the fundamental process of temperature regulation.

20 Nov 2009

Sleep apnea is associated with cardiovascular risk factors among kidney transplant patients

Sleep apnea is common in individuals who receive a kidney transplant and is associated with increased risk of high blood pressure, heart disease or stroke, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society Nephrology (CJASN).

20 Nov 2009

ACS' mammography screening guidelines receives support from ACoS

The American College of Surgeons (ACoS) today released comments strongly supporting current American Cancer Society (ACS) screening mammography guidelines that recommend women get a mammogram every year, starting at age 40.

20 Nov 2009

2009 Report Card, an overall assessment of efforts to reduce lung cancer's mortality released

Today, Lung Cancer Alliance (LCA) released its annual National Report Card on Lung Cancer, an overall assessment of efforts to reduce lung cancer's mortality.

20 Nov 2009

Gastrointestinal symptoms may interfere with nutritional management of ED patients

Eating disorders (ED) patients display a high prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms and functional gastrointestinal disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome. These symptoms may interfere with their nutritional management. Ingestion of fructose-sorbitol (F-S) is an established means of gastrointestinal symptom provocation in irritable bowel syndrome patients.

20 Nov 2009

Experimental drug to restore function of nerves damaged in spinal cord injuries shows promise

Researchers have shown how an experimental drug might restore the function of nerves damaged in spinal cord injuries by preventing short circuits caused when tiny "potassium channels" in the fibers are exposed.

20 Nov 2009

Individualized decision between woman and her provider is the best choice for mammograms

The controversy around mammography emphasizes that the best decision on screening is made by a woman and her health care provider. Balancing a woman's individual medical history, risks, and concern level about breast cancer is a decision at the individual level using guidelines as a guide and not as something fixed in concrete," said Dr. Jane L. Delgado, President and CEO of the National Alliance for Hispanic Health, the nation's leading Hispanic health advocacy group.

20 Nov 2009

Curemark begins enrolling patients in Phase III clinical trials for CM-AT

Curemark LLC, (www.curemark.com), a drug research and development company focused on the treatment of neurological diseases, announced that the company has begun enrolling patients in Phase III clinical trials for CM-AT, its autism treatment, at three additional clinical trial sites.

20 Nov 2009