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Childhood leukemia survivors struggle with long-term comorbidities

Survival rates of childhood cancers, especially leukemia, have improved greatly in the past three decades, but survivors of this disease still seem to face many health and lifestyle challenges as young adults.

1 Apr 2008

Cerebral microbleeds more common than previously thought

New research shows cerebral microbleeds, which are lesions in the brain, are more common in people over 60 than previously thought.

1 Apr 2008

Significant reductions in mortality shown using blood pressure-lowering treatment in very elderly

Lowering the blood pressure of elderly patients could cut their total mortality by a fifth and their rate of cardiovascular events by a third, according to a new study presented at the American College of Cardiology in Chicago and published simultaneously in the New England Journal of Medicine.

1 Apr 2008

Human vaccine for Ebola in the pipeline

The deadly Ebola virus is in the news again but this time there is the promise of a vaccine for the deadly disease.

1 Apr 2008

New tool to identify the molecular signatures of serious diseases

University of Florida chemists are the first to use a new tool to identify the molecular signatures of serious diseases - without any previous knowledge of what these microscopic signatures or "biomarkers" should look like.

1 Apr 2008

New blood pressure drug Micardis (Telmisartan) good at reducing deaths from heart attacks

An international team of researchers have found that a new blood pressure medication is as effective in reducing cardiovascular death, with fewer side effects than the current treatments offered.

1 Apr 2008

Superbugs resistant to everything - Doctors running out of treatments

Doctors are running out of treatments for today's trauma victims and critically ill patients because of infections due to drug resistant microbes even after resorting to using medicines thrown out 20 years ago because of severe side effects, scientists heard at the Society for General Microbiology's 162nd meeting being held this week at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre.

1 Apr 2008

Discovery of novel gene responsible for Lou Gehrig's disease

A team of Canadian and French researchers has identified a novel gene responsible for a significant fraction of ALS (sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) cases.

1 Apr 2008

Health survey reveals interesting facts about NSW residents

A population survey by the NSW Department of Health has revealed a number of interesting facts.

1 Apr 2008

Researcher discovers pathway plants use to fight back against pathogens

Plants are not only smart, but they also wage a good fight, according to a University of Missouri biochemist. Previous studies have shown that plants can sense attacks by pathogens and activate their defenses.

1 Apr 2008

Tasmanian devil Cedric could save his species

Tasmanian devils, the world's largest marsupial carnivores, are a species facing extinction because of an ugly disfiguring cancer, known as devil facial tumour disease or DFTD.

1 Apr 2008

Replacing absent microRNAs could make tumors less invasive, more treatable

One group of small, non-coding RNA molecules could serve as a marker to improve cancer staging and may also be able to convert some advanced tumors to more treatable stages, report a University of Chicago-based research team in the April 1, 2008, issue of the journal Genes & Development.

1 Apr 2008

Hypertension treatment for the elderly cuts the risk of heart disease and stroke

New research from Britain suggests that when the elderly are treated for hypertension (high blood pressure) the medication reduces their risk of heart disease, stroke and even death.

1 Apr 2008

Fasting could offer protection from chemotherapy effects

A new study is suggesting that short-term fasting could help protect cancer patients against the effects of chemotherapy.

1 Apr 2008

Gold coast murder case questions how the mentally ill are cared for in the community

The case of a 36-year-old mentally ill man who allegedly murdered an elderly woman in a retirement village has prompted questions regarding appropriate accommodation for the mentally ill in the community.

1 Apr 2008

Study shows Actos prevented progression of atherosclerotic plaque volume in patients

New data from a clinical trial using intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) technology found that in patients living with type 2 diabetes, ACTOS (pioglitazone HCl) reduced the atherosclerotic burden in the coronary arteries compared to glimepiride, and prevented progression compared to baseline.

1 Apr 2008

New blood pressure drug telmisartan has fewer side effects

A major Canadian-led global study has found that a new blood pressure medication is effective in reducing cardiovascular death, with fewer side effects than the current standard of care.

1 Apr 2008

Naglazyme approved in Japan

BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. has announced that AnGes MG, Inc. (AnGes), BioMarin's marketing and distribution partner in Japan, has received approval for its Marketing Application for Naglazyme(R) (galsulfase) from the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) for the treatment of patients with Mucopolysaccharidosis VI ( MPS VI).

1 Apr 2008

MicroRNAs, EMT and cancer progression

In the April 1 issue of G&D, a research team led by Dr. Marcus Peter (University of Chicago) identifies the microRNA miR-200 as both a powerful indicator and regulator of the epithelial phenotype of cancer cells.

1 Apr 2008

Lebanese study looks at mental disorders and their relation to exposure to war

In the first study in the Arab world to document mental illness and treatment on a national level, researchers from Lebanon have described the prevalence of mental disorders and their relation to exposure to war.

1 Apr 2008