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Rituxan drug effective for treating ANCA-associated vasculitis

Researchers have identified that Rituxan, a drug previously approved for the treatment of non-Hodgkin's B cell lymphoma and rheumatoid arthritis, can treat severe ANCA-associated vasculitis as effectively as cyclophosphamide, the current standard therapy.

19 Oct 2009

Regulation of neurotransmitters may help treat depression

New research clarifies how neurotransmitters like norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine, are regulated - a finding that may help fine-tune therapies for depression.

19 Oct 2009

Recently approved Gleevec drug for cancer treatment

Investigators have identified a drug that is currently approved to treat certain types of cancer, Gleevec, that could provide the first treatment for scleroderma, a chronic connective tissue disease for which a treatment has remained elusive. The news will be presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Rheumatology on October 18 in Philadelphia.

19 Oct 2009

Cancer Therapeutics and Nanotherapies sign letter of intent

Cancer Therapeutics, Inc. (OTCBB: CTHP), an emerging biotechnology business incubator with a specific emphasis on disruptive cancer treatments and nanotechnology, announced today it has signed a letter of intent to acquire another 26 percent interest in NanoTherapies, LLC which would give Cancer Therapeutics a total of 51 percent and controlling interest of NanoTherapies.

19 Oct 2009

Over 80 countries mark world handwashing day

VOA News reports that more than 80 countries marked Global Handwashing Day Thursday. The news service writes that "[d]iarrhea is the third cause of death in West and Central Africa, which is responsible for 30 percent of the world's deaths of children under the age of five."

19 Oct 2009

Findings provide new insight on skin pigmentation

The skin's pigment cells can be formed from completely different cells than has hitherto been thought, a new study from the Swedish medical university Karolinska Institutet shows. The results, which are published in the journal Cell, also mean the discovery of a new kind of stem cell.

19 Oct 2009

Psychology researchers reveal the importance of peripheral vision

Two Kansas State University psychology researchers have found that although central vision allows our eyes to discern the details of a scene, our peripheral vision is most important for telling us what type of scene we're looking at in the first place, such as whether it is a street, a mountain or a kitchen.

19 Oct 2009

New EVestG diagnostic technique aids in quick detection of mental and neurological illnesses

An innovative diagnostic technique invented by a Monash University researcher could dramatically fast-track the detection of mental and neurological illnesses.

19 Oct 2009

Hygeia questions the recently issued state bid notification for breastpumps

In the USA, each state is responsible for its Women Infant Children program and encourages breastfeeding through lactation counseling and the purchase of supplies. A state bid notification for breastpumps and supplies was recently issued. "This bid had such an unusual feature that needs further attention. The bid's breastpump requirement was that the pumps only had to work for 90% of the women. The state felt that it was acceptable for the pumps to fail for 10% of the women," stated John Estill, CEO of breastpump manufacturer Hygeia.

19 Oct 2009

Findings may yield new treatments for COPD

A genetic mutation found in four children born with multiple abnormalities may provide insight into potential treatments for newborn lung distress and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

19 Oct 2009

Asthma is the most common underlying condition associated with H1N1 Swine Flu: CDC Report

Cannabis Science Inc., an emerging pharmaceutical cannabis company, notes a report by epidemiologists at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) saying that, among people hospitalized with severe cases of the pandemic strain of H1N1 Swine Flu, asthma is by far the most common underlying condition associated with he disease.

19 Oct 2009

CVS Caremark's seasonal flu shot clinics to run through October 22

CVS/pharmacy announced today that its seasonal flu shot clinics will run through October 22, in light of manufacturer delays in delivery of seasonal flu vaccine affecting all health care providers. However, MinuteClinic will continue to administer seasonal flu vaccines at its 500 locations in 25 states throughout the flu season with the supply of vaccine replenished as frequently as possible.

19 Oct 2009

Opinions: Fighting hunger; property ownership, trade key to Africa's development

"For one billion people around the world, the daily effort to grow, buy or sell food is the defining struggle of their lives. This matters to them, and to all of us," Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton writes in a Times of India opinion piece.

19 Oct 2009

Obama: Health insurers' anti-reform efforts are 'deceptive and dishonest'

Just days before the full Senate is expected to vote on health care reform legislation, President Barack Obama ramped up his attacks on insurers.

19 Oct 2009

Exercise prevents memory decline post brain radiation treatments

Exercise is a key factor in improving both memory and mood after whole-brain radiation treatments in rodents, according to data presented by Duke University scientists at the Society for Neuroscience meeting.

19 Oct 2009

CK Life Sciences acquires additional voting shares of WEX Pharmaceuticals

CK Life Sciences Int'l., (Holdings) Inc. ("CKLS") of Hong Kong (Hong Kong Stock Exchange Limited Stock Code 0775) and WEX Pharmaceuticals Inc. ("WEX" or the "Company") (TSX:WXI) announced today that CKLS has acquired an additional 116,852,062 restricted voting shares of WEX to bring its holding to 133,179,334 restricted voting shares, or 75.25% of the total outstanding restricted voting shares.

19 Oct 2009

California study suggests more spending can save lives

An insurer in Utah is encouraging consumers to use less medical care, but a study of California hospitals suggests that sometimes spending more really does improve patient outcomes.

19 Oct 2009

Study reveals the cost effectiveness of Rheos blood pressure lowering device

A study conducted by the University of Rochester Medical Center demonstrates that, for certain patient populations, an experimental device that lowers blood pressure may be a cost effective treatment. The implantable device, called Rheos, is in advanced stages of testing for individuals with drug resistant hypertension.

19 Oct 2009

GlaxoSmithKline receives FDA approval for cervical cancer vaccine

GlaxoSmithKline announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved CERVARIX® [Human papillomavirus bivalent (types 16 and 18) vaccine, recombinant] for the prevention of cervical pre-cancers and cervical cancer associated with oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) types 16 and 18 for use in girls and young women (aged 10-25).

19 Oct 2009

Twelve organizations receive RealSolutions awards at Hyland Software's annual OTTC

With organizations tackling mounting workloads with fewer resources, many are being forced to find ways to become more efficient and cut costs. Enterprise content management (ECM) software, like OnBase, can help by eliminating paper, manual tasks and sometimes entire steps from processes (http://onbase.com/English/Products/OnBaseProductModules). But for some organizations - government agencies, healthcare providers, insurers, and even mountain resorts - OnBase is more than just a cost cutter and way to improve efficiency.

19 Oct 2009