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Infectious diseases experts applaud STAAR Act

With methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections, extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis, and other "bad bugs" routinely making headlines, infectious diseases physicians are applauding Sens.

1 Nov 2007

How one virus mimicks a normal cellular protein to replicate successfully

Both viruses and cancers subvert the growth-control machinery in a cell to serve their own needs.

1 Nov 2007

Heart attacks/pneumonia falls short of national goals

Emergency departments across the nation are failing to meet national goals in treating many heart attack and pneumonia patients, according to a study by Johns Hopkins researchers published in the October issue of Academic Emergency Medicine.

1 Nov 2007

Gene, stem cell therapy only needs to be 50 percent effective to create a healthy heart

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States and greatly affects the quality and length of life for individuals with specific forms of muscular dystrophy.

1 Nov 2007

For hypertension patients, preventing or reducing enlarged heart may decrease risk for diabetes

High-blood-pressure patients treated for enlarged heart (left ventricular hypertrophy, LVH) who have regression or prevention of LVH may also have a better chance of preventing diabetes.

1 Nov 2007

Gamma interferon could aid fight against fungal infections

Interferon, the "superhero" cure for viral infections, may be a strong weapon in the battle against fungal infections in immunocompromised patients, according to an article in the November issue of Microbiology Today.

1 Nov 2007

The genetics of Candida albicans to be explored

A University of Arkansas postdoctoral researcher has received funding from the American Heart Association to study the genetics of a fungus that has the potential to kill people when they are most vulnerable - after organ transplants.

1 Nov 2007

Experts agree on measures to challenge obesity

Product innovation and reformulation, along with appropriate nutrition labeling, are key measures that the food industry can take to challenge obesity concluded academic and food industry experts meeting recently in Munich.

1 Nov 2007

Exclusion of common bile duct stones prior to gallstone operations

CBDS occur in 7-20% of all patients undergoing a gallstone operation and may complicate the course of surgery.

1 Nov 2007

Fertility diet

Women who followed a combination of five or more lifestyle factors, including changing specific aspects of their diets, experienced more than 80 percent less relative risk of infertility due to ovulatory disorders compared to women who engaged in none of the factors, according to a paper published in the November 1, 2007, issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.

1 Nov 2007

Consultation on the protection of patients and volunteers undergoing MRI examinations

The Health Protection Agency has published a consultation document on its website about the protection of patients and volunteers undergoing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations.

1 Nov 2007

Boston Scientific announces verdict in Cordis patent case

Boston Scientific Corporation has announced that a jury in U.S. District Court in San Francisco has found that Boston Scientific infringes a patent of Cordis Corporation, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, under the doctrine of equivalents.

1 Nov 2007

ADH2 and ALDH2 are associated with esophageal cancer

As the seventh leading cause of cancer death worldwide, the occurrence of esophageal cancer varies by geographic area, ethnic group and gender.

1 Nov 2007

New model of esophageal cancer

In the November 1st issue of G&D, a team of scientists led by Dr. Anil Rustgi (UPENN) presents an innovative new model of esophageal cancer, which holds great promise as an experimental platform to investigate the etiology and possible treatment of this devastating disease.

1 Nov 2007

Roche's organ-rejection drug CellCept increases risk of birth defects, miscarriage, FDA says

FDA on Monday said Roche's organ-rejection drug CellCept increases the risk of birth defects and miscarriage during the first trimester of pregnancy, Reuters reports. CellCept prevents organ rejection among kidney, liver and heart transplant recipients.

31 Oct 2007

Pope says pharmacists have right to conscientiously object to fill emergency contraception

Pope Benedict XVI on Monday at the 25th International Congress of Catholic Pharmacists in Rome told attendees that they have a right to conscientiously object to dispensing drugs such as emergency contraception, which can prevent pregnancy if take up to 72 hours after sexual intercourse, the AP/Google.com reports (Winfield, AP/Google.com, 10/29).

31 Oct 2007

Coalition's guidelines on fish consumption for pregnant women 'misleading,' opinion piece says

The National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition's recent recommendations for fish and seafood consumption for pregnant and breast-feeding women are "misleading" and a "classic example of industry-driven marketing under the cloak of scientific research," Andrea Kavanagh, director of the National Environmental Trust's Pure Salmon Campaign, writes in a Los Angeles Times opinion piece (Kavanagh, Los Angeles Times, 10/31).

31 Oct 2007

World Food Programme aims to raise $103M for program in Malawi to help people affected by HIV/AIDS, natural disasters

The World Food Programme over the next three years hopes to raise $103 million for a relief program in Malawi aimed at people affected by HIV/AIDS and natural disasters, WFP officials said on Monday, Reuters Africa reports.

31 Oct 2007

HIV arrived in U.S. from Haiti 10 years earlier than previously believed

The most widespread HIV subtype outside Africa likely emerged in Haiti in the 1960s and arrived in the U.S. a few years later -- about 10 years earlier than previously believed -- according to a study published Tuesday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the Los Angeles Times reports.

31 Oct 2007

POZ examines HIV/AIDS in U.S. south

POZ in its November issue examined HIV/AIDS in the U.S. South. The South -- which includes 14 states and Washington, D.C. -- accounts for 45% of new U.S. HIV cases and 50% of all AIDS-related deaths, according to CDC. Seven of the 10 states with the highest AIDS rates also are located in the South, and an increasing number of people living with the disease reside in the region.

31 Oct 2007