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Tabelands towns to have fluoridated water by 2011

As part of a Queensland Government initiative, plans are afoot to introduce fluoride into the water supplies of a number of towns on the Tablelands, in the state's far north by 2011.

3 Dec 2008

Discovery of a presbycusis related gene

Presbycusis, or age-related hearing loss, accounts for 30 percent of all hearing loss. So, why do some people lose their hearing as they get older but other people can still hear a pin drop?

3 Dec 2008

Large study looks at genetic risks for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder

A multi-institution team of investigators led by researchers at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California (USC) has received $19 million in funding from the National Institutes of Mental Health (NIMH) for a groundbreaking effort to collect genetic information on tens of thousands of patients in order to study the genetic risks for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

3 Dec 2008

New technique provides closer look at DNA and mRNA

In a study in the advance online edition of Nature Structural and Molecular Biology, researchers from Albert Einstein College of Medicine describe a technique for looking more precisely at a fundamental step of a cell's life - a gene, DNA, being read into a message, mRNA.

3 Dec 2008

Cancer risk from cardiac computed tomography overstated

Radiology and cardiovascular researchers from the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, S.C., today present new data that shows the risk of cancer from exposure to radiation during computed tomography for cardiovascular disease has been overstated and that new estimates are several times lower than previously published conclusions.

3 Dec 2008

MG53 protein found to be a key initiator of membrane repair in damaged tissue

The study, released in Nature Cell Biology, is the first to specifically pinpoint a protein responsible for promoting cell repair.

3 Dec 2008

Preoperative radiation may improve survival rates in advanced rectal cancer patients

Patients treated with radiation prior to surgery for advanced rectal cancer have fewer instances of cancer recurrence and better overall survival rates, according to a recent Geisinger report.

3 Dec 2008

Good advice to cut prescription drug costs

Just like saving money on groceries or finding the best deal on gas, smart consumers can cut their prescription drug costs with just a little bit of work, say pharmacists at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

3 Dec 2008

Portable eight-slice CT in ER increases chance of stroke survival and recovery

New research has found that the availability of a portable eight-slice computed tomography (CT) scanner in an emergency room can significantly increase the number of stroke victims who receive a potentially life-saving treatment.

3 Dec 2008

Patient photos help counteract anonymity common in radiologic exams

Including a patient's photo with imaging exam results may enable a more meticulous reading from the radiologist interpreting the images, as well as a more personal and empathetic approach, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

3 Dec 2008

Do laser printers release pathogenic toner dust into air?

We regularly hear reports that laser printers release pathogenic toner dust into the ambient air. How much of it can we believe? What kind of particles do the printers really emit, and in what quantities?

3 Dec 2008

Many seniors feel younger than they actually are

Older people tend to feel about 13 years younger than their chronological age.

3 Dec 2008

Applied engineering makes for more efficient operating rooms

Work by specialists from the USC Viterbi School of Engineering has led to significant improvements in turnover times for operating rooms at three California safety net hospitals, allowing "many more hours of daytime surgery per year."

3 Dec 2008

NicOx signs agreement with DSM for the commercial manufacture of naproxcinod drug substance

NicOx S.A. has announced it has signed an agreement with DSM for the commercial manufacture and supply of naproxcinod drug substance (or API, active pharmaceutical ingredient).

3 Dec 2008

Link found between Alzheimer's disease biomarkers in healthy adults

A study published in the November issue of the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease provides an insight into normal, physiological levels and association between proteins involved in development of Alzheimer's disease.

3 Dec 2008

New drug tasimelteon may cure jet lag

A team of researchers from Monash University, The Brigham and Women's Hospital (Boston), Harvard Medical School and Vanda Pharmaceuticals has found a new drug with the potential to alleviate jet lag and sleep disorders caused by shift work.

3 Dec 2008

Positron emission mammography effective in detecting breast cancer

A study has found that positron emission mammography (PEM), a new technique for imaging the breast, is not affected by either breast density or a woman's hormonal status, two factors that limit the effectiveness of standard mammography and MRI at detecting cancer.

3 Dec 2008

Risk factors for chronic disability after back injury

A wide range of factors-including variables related to health care and job characteristics-affect the risk of long-term disability for workers with back injuries, reports a study in the December 1 issue of Spine.

3 Dec 2008

Mylan settles with Novartis on Femara

Mylan Inc. has announced that it and its subsidiary, Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc., have entered into a settlement agreement with Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp., Novartis Corp. and Novartis International AG related to Letrozole Tablets, the generic version of Novartis' Femara.

3 Dec 2008

Molecular breast imaging technique shows greater sensitivity over mammography, ultrasound and MRI for difficult to diagnose breast cancer

Breast-Specific Gamma Imaging (BSGI) has been proven to be a highly sensitive imaging technique for the diagnosis of invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC), a difficult to diagnose breast cancer.

3 Dec 2008