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Caliper Life Sciences forms SAB to develop additional solutions for next generation sequencing workflows

Caliper Life Sciences, Inc., a leading provider of tools and services for drug discovery and life sciences research, today announced the formation of a scientific advisory board to guide its efforts in automated sample preparation for next generation and third generation sequencing platforms. Caliper worked closely with leading genome centers to develop the LabChip® XT, which was announced today, and is now expanding its efforts to develop additional solutions for next generation sequencing workflows.

22 Feb 2010

Most of household dust comes from outdoors, say Arizona scientists

Where does it come from? Scientists in Arizona are reporting a surprising answer to that question, which has puzzled and perplexed generations of men and women confronted with layers of dust on furniture and floors. Most of indoor dust comes from outdoors. Their report appears in the ACS' Environmental Science & Technology, a semi-monthly journal.

22 Feb 2010

Panel discussion addresses complex health problems

NIH's Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research convenes a panel discussion, "Science in Motion: Addressing Complex Health Problems Through Upstream Solutions."

22 Feb 2010

Rewarding health care organizations for large-scale improvement will help accelerate improvement in care and quality

Rewarding health care organizations for achieving large-scale, population-based improvement has significant potential to accelerate the spread of evidence-based interventions, improve quality, and control costs at a national level, according to a commentary in the February 17 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

22 Feb 2010

Neuroscience evidence in courts: A double-edged sword

A lawyer is trying to convince a jury that his client really is crazy. It's usually a tough argument to sell in a court of law. But what if the lawyer has a picture of his client's brain that shows there's something biologically wrong with it? Can that evidence help persuade a jury? Should it even be allowed as evidence?

22 Feb 2010

Choking among children: AAP releases new policy statement

Choking is a leading cause of injury and death among children, especially those younger than 4 years of age. The majority of choking-related incidents among children are associated with food, coins and toys. A new policy statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), led by a doctor at Nationwide Children's Hospital and published in the February 22 online issue of Pediatrics, takes a closer look at preventing choking among children.

22 Feb 2010

ACR REF Clinician Scholar Education Award for rheumatology health professionals

At the core of the American College of Rheumatology Research and Education Foundation's mission is to attract the best and brightest trainees into a career in rheumatology. To do this, the REF has an extensive portfolio of awards and grants that provide support during critical career stages.

22 Feb 2010

New gene locus influencing risk for atrial fibrillation identified

Atrial fibrillation is a cardiac arrhythmia - a chronic irregularity of heartbeat - which affects an estimated 1 million people in Germany. Although the condition is not acutely life-threatening, it does increase the risk of developing more serious illnesses, such as cardiac insufficiency, stroke and dementia. In the third of a series of genomewide asssociation studies, an international team of researchers, led by LMU physician PD Dr. Stefan K--b, now reports the identification of a new gene locus that has a significant influence on risk for atrial fibrillation.

22 Feb 2010

HHMI investigator to discuss how brain creates and controls emotions

Scientists know little about how the brain creates and controls emotions - an uncertainty that presents a major obstacle in the effort to develop treatments for emotional disorders. "The study of the brain science of emotion is in its infancy," says Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) investigator David Anderson, "yet emotional and psychiatric disorders continue to take an enormous toll on human society."

22 Feb 2010

Researchers identify common gene variant associated with atrial fibrillation

An international research team has identified a common gene variant associated with a form of the irregular heartbeat called atrial fibrillation. In their report in the journal Nature Genetics, being published online, the investigators describe finding that variations affecting a protein that may help control the heart's electrical activity appear to increase the risk of what is called lone atrial fibrillation (AF), a type seen in younger individuals with no other form of heart disease.

22 Feb 2010

Four key elements essential for transforming health care delivery to be discussed at stakeholder's meeting

As the patient centered medical home moves onto the front burner as a model for transforming health care delivery, thought leaders are focusing on four key elements essential to making the model successful. These elements—care coordination, expanded access, meaningful health IT and new financial models—will be the foundation for the Patient-Centered Primary Care Collaborative's March 30 Stakeholder's Meeting in Washington, DC at the Ronald Reagan International Trade Center.

22 Feb 2010

U.S. government's decision helped stem-cell researchers concentrate on science, but limitations remain

The United States government's decision last year to lift restrictions on federally-funded stem cell research has helped the nation's stem-cell researchers concentrate on science, but limitations remain - even under the new policy, according to George Daley, a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator at Children's Hospital Boston.

22 Feb 2010

During open enrollment Medicare recipients may make changes to their Medicare Advantage coverage

Medicare recipients may still make changes to their Medicare Advantage coverage during open enrollment period, which runs Jan. 1 to March 31.

22 Feb 2010

PharMEDium Services participates in APSF Summit held in Phoenix, AZ

PharMEDium Services, LLC, announced their participation in the Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation (APSF) Summit held January 26th in Phoenix, AZ.

22 Feb 2010

CAOT releases new resources to promote safety for older drivers

As part of the National Blueprint for Injury Prevention in Older Drivers, the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT) has released some important new resources for drivers, their families and health care professionals. A series of information brochures and website (www.olderdriversafety.ca) promoting older driver safety were unveiled today at a public forum held at Ottawa's Good Companions Senior Centre.

22 Feb 2010

Racial differences in beliefs and perceptions of lung cancer

A new survey finds that while both whites and African Americans know and think little about lung cancer, African Americans are more likely to hold beliefs and perceptions about the disease that could interfere with prevention and treatment. Published early online in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the report indicates that public health messages regarding lung cancer should be targeted to all communities.

22 Feb 2010

Tony Blair participates in the work of Muslim-Christian alliance in Africa led by NIFAA

This afternoon Tony Blair participated in the work of the largest Muslim-Christian alliance in Africa led by the Nigerian Inter-Faith Action Association (NIFAA), with funding support from the Nigerian government, the World Bank, the Center for Interfaith Action on Global Poverty (CIFA), and other international funders.

22 Feb 2010

Racial disparities in beliefs about lung cancer

A new survey has found that African-Americans are more likely than whites to hold mistaken and fatalistic beliefs about lung cancer, as well as being more reluctant to consult a doctor about possible symptoms of the disease, according to researchers from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and their collaborators.

22 Feb 2010

Researchers to study how dust particles pose health threat to people

Residents of the southern United States and the Caribbean have seen it many times during the summer months-a whitish haze in the sky that seems to hang around for days. The resulting thin film of dust on their homes and cars actually is soil from the deserts of Africa, blown across the Atlantic Ocean.

22 Feb 2010

Genetics associated with DILI and SSR: FDA and SAEC complete third release of data

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the International Serious Adverse Event Consortium (SAEC) today announced the third release of data on the genetic basis of drug-induced liver injury (DILI) and serious skin reactions (SSRs).

22 Feb 2010