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Smoking cessation offers measurable benefits for asthmatic patients

Asthmatic smokers may be able to reverse some of the damage to their lungs that exacerbates asthmatic symptoms just by putting down their cigarettes, according to research out of the University of Groningen in the Netherlands.

7 Dec 2009

VAI expands to support annual research operation

On December 8, Van Andel Institute (VAI) cuts the ribbon on its eight-story, $178 million, 240,000 square foot Phase II expansion. The expanded facility creates economic and scientific opportunity both for VAI and West Michigan's burgeoning life sciences sector and adds to the more than $1 billion investment in infrastructure already in place along Grand Rapids' Medical Mile.

7 Dec 2009

New technique to determine pediatric OSA

Researchers at the University of Chicago have discovered a technique that is able to determine whether a child has obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) or habitual snoring by screening their urine.

7 Dec 2009

New tool to determine the economic impact of diabetes on Canadian society

In a report released today, An Economic Tsunami: The Cost of Diabetes in Canada, the Canadian Diabetes Association has introduced an important new tool in the fight against diabetes in Canada: the Canadian Diabetes Cost Model.

7 Dec 2009

WuXi PharmaTech purchases Labcyte POD 810 plate assembler

WuXi PharmaTech, a leading pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device research and development outsourcing company with operations in China and the United States, announced today it has purchased a Labcyte POD(TM) 810 plate assembler equipped with an Echo(R) 555 acoustic liquid handler for its work in high- throughput screening and secondary screening.

7 Dec 2009

Children in military families suffer from more emotional difficulties compared to other American youths

Children in military families may suffer from more emotional and behavioral difficulties when compared to other American youths, with older children and girls struggling the most when a parent is deployed overseas, according to a new RAND Corporation study.

7 Dec 2009

Albert Einstein College of Medicine receives SU2C grant for cancer research

Matthew Levy, Ph.D., assistant professor of biochemistry at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University, has been awarded more than $700,000 by Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) for his high-risk/high-reward cancer research.

7 Dec 2009

Poster summarizing clinical trial data regarding SB-743921 presented by Cytokinetics

Cytokinetics, Incorporated announced today that a poster summarizing clinical trial data regarding SB-743921 was presented at the 2009 American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition held December 5-8, 2009 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana.

7 Dec 2009

Researchers explore optimal induction therapies for managing blood cancer

There have been significant scientific advances in the field of blood cancers, and leading experts continue to gain a better understanding of how certain diseases progress in order to discover new treatment options and provide patients with the best care.

7 Dec 2009

VELCADE based regimens are cost-effective for payers and patients, finds study

Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Company today announced that two studies presented at the 51st American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting found that VELCADE based regimens are more cost-effective for payers and reduced out-of-pocket costs for patients than other commonly used multiple myeloma treatments.

7 Dec 2009

Neuroscientists show how brain waves can be used to perform certain tasks

Neuroscientists at the Mayo Clinic campus in Jacksonville, Fla., have demonstrated how brain waves can be used to type alphanumerical characters on a computer screen. By merely focusing on the "q" in a matrix of letters, for example, that "q" appears on the monitor.

7 Dec 2009

TGFb growth factor controls spread of cancer cells

The spread, or metastasis, of individual breast cancer cells from the main tumor into the blood circulation to the lungs and other body tissues and organs is under the control of a growth factor abbreviated TGFb, according to a study with laboratory mice that will be presented at the American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) 49th Annual Meeting, Dec. 5-9, 2009 in San Diego.

7 Dec 2009

DBS therapy offers hope for epilepsy patients

Long-term data from an investigational study of Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) Therapy for Epilepsy was released this week by Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE:MDT) at the American Epilepsy Society Meeting (AES) in Boston.

7 Dec 2009

McKesson to introduce PROmanager-Rx system at the 44th Midyear Clinical Meeting and Exhibition

McKesson today will introduce the PROmanager-Rx™ system, an innovative solution that enables hospitals for the first time to fully automate the dispensing of tablets, capsules, and other oral solid medications that come pre-packaged from drug manufacturers in unit-dose, bar-coded form.

7 Dec 2009

New analyses of data from Allos Therapeutics’ pivotal PROPEL trial of FOLOTYN reported

Allos Therapeutics, Inc. today reported new analyses of data from the Company’s pivotal PROPEL trial of FOLOTYN™ (pralatrexate injection) in patients with relapsed or refractory peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL).

7 Dec 2009

Alexion Pharmaceuticals announces positive data from AEGIS study of Soliris

Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced positive data from the 26-week extension of the AEGIS study, an open-label registration study examining Soliris® (eculizumab) for the treatment of Japanese patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH).

7 Dec 2009

New data shows patients with Type II PNH cells experience platelet consumption and increased thrombosis risk

Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced presentation of data showing that the presence of Type II paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) cells is correlated with thrombocytopenia, potentially indicating that patients with Type II cells experience ongoing platelet consumption and increased thrombosis risk.

7 Dec 2009

China life science companies receive 'Most Promising Company' awards

The 7th ChinaBio® Investor Forum, held December 2-3, 2009 in Tianjin, concluded a successful meeting by giving “Most Promising Company” awards to two young China life science companies.

7 Dec 2009

New approach to protein misfolding may lead to novel therapies for a number of diseases

In an encouraging new development, a team led by Scripps Research Institute scientists has restored partial function to lung cells collected from patients with cystic fibrosis. While there is still much work to be done before the therapy can be tested in humans, the discovery opens the door to a new class of therapies for this and a host of other chronic diseases.

7 Dec 2009

Amgen announces results from three studies on the safety and efficacy of Nplate

Amgen Inc. today announced results from three studies on the safety and efficacy of Nplate® (romiplostim) in adult patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS).

7 Dec 2009