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Study shows improvement in diagnosis time for bowel, oesophageal and pancreatic cancers

NEW research shows that bowel, oesophageal and pancreatic cancers have seen the greatest improvement in the time it takes from when a patient first visits their GP with symptoms to when they are diagnosed with the disease.

8 Nov 2011

Pharmacyclics first quarter GAAP net loss increases to $14.5M

Pharmacyclics, Inc. today reported financial results and recent developments for its fiscal first quarter ended September 30, 2011.

7 Nov 2011

Electronic Nose can diagnose TB in symptomatic patients

A new hand-held device called the Electronic Nose, which has the potential to diagnose tuberculosis (TB) in symptomatic patients, was awarded a $950,000 grant from Grand Challenges Canada and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation today to support further development and testing of this ground-breaking technology.

7 Nov 2011

Scientists achieve major step toward goal of producing synthetic Taxol

Taxanes are a family of compounds that includes one of the most important cancer drugs ever discovered, Taxol, among other cancer treatments. But the difficulty producing these complex molecules in the lab has hampered or blocked exploration of the family for further drug leads. Now, a group of Scripps Research Institute scientists has successfully achieved a major step toward the goal of synthetically producing Taxol and other complex taxanes on a quest to harness chemical reactions that could enable research on previously unavailable potential drugs.

7 Nov 2011

MRSA co-infection increases risk of flu-related mortality among children

During the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic, many previously healthy children became critically ill, developing severe pneumonia and respiratory failure, sometimes fatal. The largest nationwide investigation to date of influenza in critically ill children, led by Children's Hospital Boston, found one key risk factor: Simultaneous infection with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) increased the risk for flu-related mortality 8-fold among previously healthy children.

7 Nov 2011

Experts share latest buzz on allergies to alcohol and tobacco

While the health benefits of drinking wine in moderation continue to make news, for some with allergies even a glass a day may be difficult to swallow. At the annual scientific meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) in Boston, Nov. 3-8, allergists share the latest buzz on allergies to alcohol and tobacco.

7 Nov 2011

Sleeping Beauty transposon system plays a vital role in investigating colorectal cancer pathway

A jumping gene with the fairy tale name "Sleeping Beauty" has helped to unlock vital clues for researchers investigating the genetics of colorectal cancer.

7 Nov 2011

Vitamin D supplementation benefits people with lupus

The first study to report the effects vitamin D has on the immune system of people with lupus was reported this week a the American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting in Chicago.

7 Nov 2011

HHS scientists to share recent rheumatology findings at 75th ACR annual meeting

Hospital for Special Surgery physician-scientists who focus on arthritis, lupus, vasculitis and related conditions are traveling from New York City to Chicago this week to share their recent findings at the 75th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology.

7 Nov 2011

Potential predictors of spinal damage progression in people with spondyloarthritis

The presence of syndesmophytes (bony growths in the spine), acute phase reactants (proteins that are released into the blood in response to inflammation), and smoking status can all serve as predictors for the progression of structural damage in the spine in people with spondyloarthritis, according to research presented this week at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting in Chicago.

7 Nov 2011

IFNa-kinoid shows promise against lupus

The first study to show results using active immunotherapy against the signaling protein interferon alpha in the treatment of lupus will be presented this week at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting in Chicago.

7 Nov 2011

Psychological stress can trigger flares of vasculitis

In patients with a devastating form of vasculitis who are in remission, stress can be associated with a greater likelihood of the disease flaring, according to a new study by investigators at Hospital for Special Surgery.

6 Nov 2011

Sitting around could be waiting for cancer to strike say researchers

A new analysis reveals that more than 90,000 new cancer cases a year in the United States may be due to physical inactivity and prolonged periods of sitting. The researchers presented their findings at the annual conference of the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) in Washington, D.C., citing about 49,000 cases of breast cancer and 43,000 of colon cancer from over 200 studies worldwide.

6 Nov 2011

Cystic fibrosis drug shows promise in trial

The latest clinical trial in its later advanced stags found that oral drug ivacaftor (VX-77) provides major, sustained improvement in lung function, growth and other signs and symptoms for a subset of cystic fibrosis patients.

6 Nov 2011

The 11th Annual Race Against PH at Stanford University Stadium

The Vera Moulton Wall Center for Pulmonary Vascular Disease at Stanford today announced that it will host the 11th Annual Race Against PH in conjunction with the Pulmonary Hypertension Association's 6-Minute Marathon. These events provide patients with an opportunity to walk or jog alongside their families and friends, to help increase awareness of the disease, and to help raise money to find a cure.

5 Nov 2011

Supplemental dose of pneumonia vaccine recommended for age-eligible patients

In a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, healthcare providers are being urged to administer a supplemental dose of the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine to age-eligible patients as they come in for visits.

5 Nov 2011

Researchers identify surprising mechanism that facilitates protein interactions

Research led by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital scientists has identified an unexpected mechanism facilitating some protein interactions that are the workhorses of cells and, in the process, identified a potential new cancer drug development target.

5 Nov 2011

International research explains why measles virus spreads so quickly

An international collaboration involving Inserm has revealed how the measles virus leaves the body of an infected person to contaminate another individual. The researchers have identified a key receptor, located in the trachea, which allows the virus to spread through the air rapidly from one organism to another. The receptor, nectine-4, is also known to be a biomarker for some cancers.

5 Nov 2011

Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, LUNGevity Foundation host first Nashville Breathe Hope event

LUNGevity Foundation, the nation's largest lung cancer organization and the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center are hosting 75 lung cancer survivors and caregivers tomorrow evening during the first Nashville "Breathe Hope" event, November 5 at the University Club of Nashville from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

5 Nov 2011

GTx third quarter net loss increases to $9.3 million

GTx, Inc. today reported financial results for the third quarter of 2011. The net loss for the quarter ended September 30, 2011 was $9.3 million compared with a net loss of $8.6 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2010, reflecting increased research and development costs in connection with the Company's Ostarine™ and Capesaris™ clinical development programs.

4 Nov 2011