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Pericyte cells become key players in shaping blood flow in the brain

Cells in the brain called pericytes that have not been high on the list of targets for treating diseases like Alzheimer's may play a more crucial role in the development of neurodegenerative diseases than has been realized.

18 Nov 2010

Back pain sufferers get quicker diagnosis and treatment when examined by Nurse Practitioner

Results of a Toronto Western Hospital study show that patients suffering back pain get quicker diagnosis and treatment when a Nurse Practitioner conducts the first examination. Traditionally, patients face long and anxiety-ridden wait times - up to 52 weeks - before an initial examination by a spine surgeon. Results from the year long TWH study showed wait times for patients examined by a Nurse Practitioner were significantly shorter, ranging from 10 to 21 weeks.

18 Nov 2010

Scientists solve structure of key protein from Lassa virus

Scientists at Emory University and the University of St. Andrews have solved the structure of a key protein from Lassa virus, which is endemic to West Africa and can cause a deadly hemorrhagic fever.

18 Nov 2010

Titan Spine granted FDA clearance for Endoskeleton TO system

Titan Spine, a developer of novel interbody fusion implants, announced today that it has received FDA clearance to commercially release its Endoskeleton® TO system, which consists of a line of interbody devices placed through a Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (PLIF) approach. The company plans to commercially release the product beginning in December, 2010.

18 Nov 2010

Mayo Clinic to establish pencil beam proton scanning facilities in Minnesota, Arizona and Florida

Mayo Clinic today announced plans to establish the Mayo Clinic Proton Beam Therapy Program as part of Mayo's national three-site cancer center in Minnesota, Arizona and Florida. The new program will employ intensity modulated proton therapy — based on pencil beam scanning — which is a more precise form of proton therapy treatment that allows greater control over radiation doses, shorter treatment times and fewer side effects. It is also believed to be more cost effective in selected patients.

17 Nov 2010

Noninvasive method to determine estrogen levels in infants through diapers

With the help of babies and more than 5,000 of their diapers, Emory University researchers have developed an accurate, noninvasive method to determine estrogen levels in infants.

17 Nov 2010

Medtronic acquires Osteotech

Moving to expand its Biologics product offerings, Medtronic, Inc., announced today it has completed the acquisition of Osteotech, following payment of $6.50 per share in cash for each share of Osteotech stock, with a total transaction value of approximately $123 million.

16 Nov 2010

Bacterin third quarter revenue increases from $1.4 million to $4.2 million

Bacterin International Holdings, Inc., a developer of anti-infective coatings for medical applications and revolutionary bone graft material, today reported financial results for its third quarter ended September 30, 2010.

15 Nov 2010

Acute sleep deprivation increases inflammation: Research

People who sleep poorly or do not get enough sleep have higher levels of inflammation, a risk factor for heart disease and stroke, researchers have found.

15 Nov 2010

SANUWAVE third quarter revenues increase to $278,000

SANUWAVE Health, Inc., an emerging medical technology company focused on regenerative medicine, today reported financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and provided a business update.

12 Nov 2010

Medical Facilities third quarter revenue increases 4.2% to $51.0 million

Medical Facilities Corporation, today reported its financial results for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2010. All amounts are expressed in U.S. dollars unless indicated otherwise.

12 Nov 2010

Scientists create functional neurons to study ASD development

Using induced pluripotent stem cells from patients with Rett syndrome, scientists at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have created functional neurons that provide the first human cellular model for studying the development of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and could be used as a tool for drug screening, diagnosis and personalized treatment.

12 Nov 2010

NIH/NIDCR awards $1.1 million grant to Agenta for soft tissue healing development

Agenta Biotechnologies, Inc., a private biotechnology company, announced that it has received a $1.1 million grant from the National Institutes of Health and National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIH/NIDCR) for the further development of a biologically activated membrane to improve soft tissue healing associated with oral surgery.

12 Nov 2010

Spinal Column: New blog on spinal disorders

Clinicians seeking insight into the latest research on spinal disorders and its impact on their everyday clinical practice will find it in "The Spinal Column," a new weekly blog found on the Spine website. The journal is published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, a part of Wolters Kluwer Health, a leading provider of information and business intelligence for students, professionals, and institutions in medicine, nursing, allied health, and pharmacy.

11 Nov 2010

Younger patients unable to cope with pain and emotional issues of cancer

Younger adult cancer patients have the most difficulty coping with the pain and emotional issues of cancer, in spite of their potentially better survival odds, according to a University of Michigan Health System study.

10 Nov 2010

Patients undergoing THR likely to have serious falls than orthopedic procedure

Patients who undergo total hip replacements are more at risk for having a serious fall while recovering in the hospital than patients undergoing other orthopedic procedures, according to a recent study. The study, which will be presented at the American College of Rheumatology's annual meeting, Nov. 7-11, in Atlanta, also identified other factors involved in patient falls that could help hospitals devise strategies to reduce these accidents.

9 Nov 2010

Spaceflights negatively impact bone health

Long-duration spaceflight may have a long-term negative impact on bone health, according to research presented this week at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting in Atlanta.

8 Nov 2010

China Kanghui third quarter net revenue increases 33.9% to RMB63.6 million

China Kanghui Holdings a leading domestic developer, manufacturer and marketer of orthopedic implants in China, today announced financial results for the third quarter of 2010.

8 Nov 2010

Amgen wins Scrip Best New Drug award for Prolia

Amgen is pleased to announce that it has won the Best New Drug award for Prolia™ (denosumab), a novel treatment approved in the United States (U.S.) for women with postmenopausal osteoporosis at high risk for fracture, at the 2010 Scrip Awards ceremony Nov. 4 in London. Named one of TIME's Top 10 Medical Breakthroughs of 2009, Prolia is the first treatment specifically designed to target osteoclasts, the cells that break down bone.

8 Nov 2010

Chronic lower back pain may be linked to axial spondyloarthritis: Research

Chronic lower back pain may be linked to a recently defined form of inflammatory arthritis known as axial spondyloarthritis, according to research presented this week at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting in Atlanta.

8 Nov 2010