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Lung tumor therapies improved by combining scanning technologies

Physicians targeting lung tumors for radiation therapy can substantially improve their aim by combining data from two scanning techniques, according to Washington University researchers at Siteman Cancer Center and Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis.

14 Apr 2004

Drug duo prevents life-threatening condition in children undergoing stem cell transplant

A drug duo appears to be a safe and effective way to prevent a serious condition called graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD) in youngsters undergoing a stem cell transplant

14 Apr 2004

Alzheimer fact sheet released

Dementia is a syndrome consisting of a number of symptoms that include loss of memory, judgment and reasoning, and changes in mood, behaviour and communication abilities. Alzheimer Disease, the most common form of dementia, accounts for 64 per cent of all dementias in Canada.

14 Apr 2004

Stong evidence for lower penicillin allergic reactions

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have concluded the world's largest analysis of penicillin allergy due to re-prescription of the popular antibiotic.

14 Apr 2004

FDA approves advanced malignant melanoma drug

Maxim Pharmaceuticals today announced that its treatment protocol to provide its investigational drug Ceplene(TM), in combination with interleukin-2 (IL-2), for the treatment of patients with advanced malignant melanoma, has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

14 Apr 2004

Autism gene discovered

Researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine are first to strongly link a specific gene with autism. While earlier studies have found rare genetic mutations in single families, a study published in the April issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry is the first to identify a gene that increases susceptibility to autism in a broad population.

14 Apr 2004

$Pittsburgh eye center to offer refractive procedure for presbyopia$

Pittsburgh eye center to offer refractive procedure for presbyopia

UPMC Eye Center has become one of the first in Allegheny County to offer conductive keratoplasty (CK) for presbyopia. Recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), it is the first and only FDA-approved vision technology that improves near vision in the millions of baby boomers with presbyopia, the age-related eye condition that sets in after age 40.

14 Apr 2004

Health Canada funds HIV/AIDS project

In Canada, it is estimated that every day one Aboriginal person becomes infected with HIV/AIDS. Partners in this project include le Centre de Santé Vallée-de-l'Or, la Régie Régionale de la santé et des services sociaux de l'Abitibi-Témiscamingue, le Service de Santé Kitcisasik, le Service de Santé Lac Simon, La clinique régionale VIH/sida and staff from MRC de la Vallée-de-l'Or.

14 Apr 2004

21st century is shaping up to be the "century of vaccines"

The 21st century is shaping up to be the "century of vaccines," as vaccine developers make striking progress against both emerging and longstanding diseases, according to Vaccines: Preventing Diseases and Protecting Health, from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).

14 Apr 2004

Cancer rates have decreased in men and remained stable in women

Data newly compiled by the American Cancer Society finds death rates for most major cancers continue to decline, but a growing and aging population continues to produce a rise in the total number of cancer deaths.

14 Apr 2004

A new system of health and wellbeing

Hands up who goes to the doctor when they are feeling well? Hands up who goes to the doctor just to chat about how they can stay well? The fact is most of us drag ourselves off to the doctor only when there are signs of trouble, when we are feeling sick.

14 Apr 2004

The amount of female smokers rose by 600% in the 20th century

American women who smoke rose dramatically during the 20th century, resulting in a 600 percent increase by the year 2003 in the number of women who died of lung cancer. In the same period, the number of lung cancer deaths in men declined.

14 Apr 2004

FUZEON (enfuvirtide) to be widely available through pharmacies in the U.S.

Roche and Trimeris today announced that FUZEON(R) (enfuvirtide), the first and only fusion inhibitor available for the treatment of HIV, will now be available through retail and specialty pharmacies across the U.S. beginning on April 26.

13 Apr 2004

The Howard Hughes Medical Institute commits $30 million to beat infectious diseases

The Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) is stepping up its commitment to fostering international biomedical research with two new competitions for more than $30 million in research grants to biomedical scientists outside the United States. Both competitions are aimed at promising researchers whose careers are still developing and who are the most likely targets of enticing job offers in more economically privileged countries.

13 Apr 2004

Gamma Phi Beta sorority issue apology

“I am concerned about the incident of one member of one sorority who took it upon herself to put pressure on other sorority members to give blood. It is clear to me that the student became overly zealous in the face of stiff competition during Greek Week.

13 Apr 2004

NASA develops "Black Box" to monitor vital signs

When planes have a problem, analysts can usually figure out what went wrong. They simply check the plane's "black box," which records exactly what was happening to the plane at the time. Now, there's something similar for people. Under the leadership of NASA/Ames design engineer Carsten Mundt, researchers have developed a device that, Stanford electrical engineer and team member Greg Kovacs says, is a black box for human beings.

13 Apr 2004

Fixing your eyesight...while you sleep!

UNSW researchers have found the first scientific evidence that special orthokeratology (OK) contact lenses worn only while you sleep may be able to correct long-sightedness

13 Apr 2004

Researchers examine community-based drinkers rather than abstinent alcoholics

Almost all knowledge about brain damage due to chronic alcohol consumption has been gathered from alcoholics, who have generally been studied toward the end of their institutionalized treatment program (several weeks after their last drink) or many months into abstinence.

13 Apr 2004

Growth hormones combat Crohn’s disease, cardiac disorders and improve fertility in invitro fertilisation

New treatments for breast cancer, skin and wound healing and obesity will be revealed at an international conference in Cairns, Australia next week.

13 Apr 2004

Lung cancer affects male and females differently

An article in the April 14 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) reviews current information on the "epidemic" of lung cancer in U.S. women, and explores contributing factors and possible reasons for increased lung cancer deaths in women.

13 Apr 2004