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Rice University study examines variation between blood drops drawn from single fingerprick

When it comes to needles and drawing blood, most patients agree that bigger is not better. But in the first study of its kind, Rice University bioengineers have found results from a single drop of blood are highly variable, and as many as six to nine drops must be combined to achieve consistent results.

18 Nov 2015

Negative impact of high-fat diet on red blood cells may promote development of cardiovascular disease

University of Cincinnati researchers have discovered the negative impact a high fat diet has on red blood cells and how these cells, in turn, promote the development of cardiovascular disease.

17 Nov 2015

FDA grants accelerated approval for Darzalex to treat patients with multiple myeloma

Today the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted accelerated approval for Darzalex (daratumumab) to treat patients with multiple myeloma who have received at least three prior treatments. Darzalex is the first monoclonal antibody approved for treating multiple myeloma.

17 Nov 2015

Cornell biomedical engineers develop 'super natural killer cells' to destroy cancer cells in lymph nodes

Cornell biomedical engineers have developed specialized white blood cells - dubbed "super natural killer cells" - that seek out cancer cells in lymph nodes with only one purpose: destroy them.

13 Nov 2015

Loyola and Notre Dame researchers report promising new approaches to treating cancer

Promising new approaches to treating cancer were reported during a recent meeting of researchers from Loyola University Chicago and the University of Notre Dame.

12 Nov 2015

New study compares effectiveness of clozapine with standard antipsychotics in adults with schizophrenia

In real-world settings, patients with schizophrenia whose symptoms do not respond to standard antipsychotic medications have better outcomes if they are switched to clozapine instead of another standard antipsychotic. They have fewer hospitalizations, stay on the new medication longer, and are less likely to need to use additional antipsychotics.

6 Nov 2015

Nucala (mepolizumab) approved for treatment of asthma patients

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Nucala (mepolizumab) for use with other asthma medicines for the maintenance treatment of asthma in patients age 12 years and older. Nucala is approved for patients who have a history of severe asthma attacks (exacerbations) despite receiving their current asthma medicines.

5 Nov 2015

Patrolling monocytes may play anti-cancer role in the lung

One goal of immunotherapy is to rally a patient's often over-burdened immune cells to effectively attack a tumor. Among foot soldiers on the immune front line is a subpopulation of white blood cells called "patrolling monocytes," whose job is to cruise the bloodstream, cart off cellular debris, and block invasion of a less benign population of inflammatory cells.

23 Oct 2015

Study shows promise for developing targeted treatments for multiple sclerosis

Modern scientific understanding has considered multiple sclerosis (MS) to be a disease controlled by the T cell, a type of white blood cell. Research has shown that in MS, T cells inappropriately attack myelin, the protective layer of fat covering nerves in the central nervous system, exposing them to damage.

23 Oct 2015

NAM announces election of three new members from UC San Diego School of Medicine

The National Academy of Medicine announced today the election of three new members from University of California, San Diego School of Medicine: Napoleone Ferrara, MD; Christopher K. Glass, MD, PhD; and Roberto Malinow, MD, PhD. Election to NAM is considered among the highest honors in the fields of health and medicine.

20 Oct 2015

Study explains why anemia is a common side effect of anti-cancer drugs

Many types of leukemia are caused by loss of enzymes such as Pten, which normally keeps cell growth in check, or conversely, the over-activation of enzymes that normally enhance cell proliferation, such as Shp2.

13 Oct 2015

People often end up in emergency room because of infection-related falls

People who end up in the emergency room because of a fall often are tripped up by an infection, rather than a loose throw rug or poor eyesight, suggests a study being presented at IDWeek 2015.

12 Oct 2015

Xuriden (uridine triacetate) now approved for patients with hereditary orotic aciduria

Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Xuriden (uridine triacetate), the first FDA-approved treatment for patients with hereditary orotic aciduria. Hereditary orotic aciduria is a rare metabolic disorder, which has been reported in approximately 20 patients worldwide.

9 Oct 2015

Varubi (rolapitant) approved to prevent delayed phase chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Varubi (rolapitant) to prevent delayed phase chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (emesis). Varubi is approved in adults in combination with other drugs (antiemetic agents) that prevent nausea and vomiting associated with initial and repeat courses of vomit-inducing (emetogenic and highly emetogenic) cancer chemotherapy.

9 Oct 2015

Self-reported fatigue predicts myelodysplastic syndromes survival

Patient-reported fatigue severity is an independent prognostic marker for survival in patients with newly diagnosed intermediate-2- or high-risk myelodysplastic syndromes, according to research published in The Lancet Oncology.

1 Oct 2015

Brodalumab therapy achieves 100% reduction in psoriasis symptoms

An experimental, biologic treatment, brodalumab, achieved 100 percent reduction in psoriasis symptoms in twice as many patients as a second, commonly used treatment, according to the results of a multicenter clinical trial led by Mount Sinai researchers and published online today in the New England Journal of Medicine.

1 Oct 2015

Novel portable device counts white blood cells in real time

A novel way to count white blood cells without a blood test, simply by applying a small device on the fingertip, is being developed by a team of young bioengineers. The technology, that combines an optical sensor with algorithms, has already three prototypes on the go and is specially designed to be used on chemotherapy patients, who could know their immune system levels in real time. It could also serve to detect serious infections.

30 Sep 2015

Teva presents new Reslizumab data at European Respiratory Society (ERS) International Congress 2015

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., has presented results from a post hoc analysis of two pivotal Phase III clinical trials showing that treatment with reslizumab reduced clinical asthma exacerbations (CAEs) by 75 percent versus placebo in a subgroup of patients with late onset asthma (diagnosed at 40 years of age and older) with elevated blood eosinophils, who were inadequately controlled on inhaled corticosteroids (ICS).

28 Sep 2015

Arsenic trioxide feasible in low-, high-risk acute promyelocytic leukaemia

The use of arsenic trioxide instead of idarubicin in combination with all-trans retinoic acid is a feasible option in patients with acute promyelocytic leukaemia, regardless of risk level, suggests a phase III trial.

21 Sep 2015

Scientists elucidate chemical process behind eosinophilic esophagitis

Scientists from the D'Or Institute of Research and Education, the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro and the Yale University School of Medicine have elucidated the chemical process behind a mysterious gastrointestinal disease that is becoming more frequent every day: the eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), also known as the "asthma of the esophagus".

1 Sep 2015