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Chest: January news briefs

New research suggests that subcutaneous omalizumab is safe and effective an add-on treatment to corticosteroids for moderate to severe asthma in children and adults. Researchers from Uruguay, Argentina, and Chile performed a meta-analysis on eight trials where 1,883 patients received omalizumab and 1,546 received a placebo.

4 Jan 2011

Lancet editorial highlights similarities between current health challenges, those from 1911

"After a century of progress, the issues that medicine must tackle in the coming year aren't that different from the ones that faced doctors at the start of 1911, according to the observations" published Jan. 1 in a Lancet editorial, LiveScience reports (Parry, 12/30).

4 Jan 2011

Vitamin D deficiency could be linked to development of certain autoimmune lung diseases

A new study shows that vitamin D deficiency could be linked to the development and severity of certain autoimmune lung diseases.

4 Jan 2011

Peptide in blood and tissue inhibits growth of breast tumors

Researchers at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center (WFUBMC) have discovered what may become a new weapon in the fight against breast cancer. For the first time, a peptide found in blood and tissue has been shown to inhibit the growth of human breast tumors in mice, according to a study recently published in the journal Cancer Research.

4 Jan 2011

Researchers report estrogen may increase movement of precancerous cells in oral cavity

Head and neck cancer is the sixth most common type of cancer and is on the rise in some demographic groups, including young women without any known risk factors. Now, researchers at Fox Chase Cancer Center report that estrogen may increase the movement of precancerous cells in the mouth and thus promote the spread of the disease within the oral cavity.

4 Jan 2011

Flu worries continue

The flu season continues to affect more people. Experts have warned the Britons are still at risk as the surge in flu cases has still not yet peaked. The cases would increase they warn, over the next two to four weeks. World Health Organization released figures that show the rate of influenza-like illnesses is still low across continental Europe but has risen dramatically in Britain since the flu season began in October.

3 Jan 2011

Accuray named to NASDAQ Global Select Market

Accuray Incorporated, a global leader in the field of radiosurgery, announced today that it has been named to the NASDAQ Global Select Market, the premier listing tier for NASDAQ companies. The NASDAQ Global Select Market is designated for public companies that meet the highest listing standards in the world, with measures including market value, liquidity and earnings.

3 Jan 2011

Top-line results of TIGER-2 Phase 3 clinical trial for CF treatment

Inspire Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today the top-line results from its second Phase 3 clinical trial, TIGER-2, with denufosol tetrasodium for the treatment of cystic fibrosis.

3 Jan 2011

Canada’s anti-smoking warnings get larger

Canada will have larger and enhanced warning labels on cigarette packs, it was revealed in a government announcement last Thursday. Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq said that these new warnings will cover three-quarters of the front and back of cigarette packs, up from one-half.

2 Jan 2011

Low levels of microbe-killing molecules improve survival rate of people with CGD

Investigators at the National Institutes of Health have observed that the survival rate of people with a rare immunodeficiency disease called chronic granulomatous disease is greatly improved when even very low levels of microbe-killing molecules are present.

30 Dec 2010

Indoor plants can contribute to patient well-being

Could a plant "intervention" improve the well-being of patients in a difficult rehab process? Scientists from the Norwegian University of Life Sciences and Sweden's Uppsala University investigated this question in a recent study of 436 coronary and pulmonary patients at a Norwegian rehabilitation center.

30 Dec 2010

Enrollment commences in belinostat-Tarceva combination trial for NSCLC

Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, a biotechnology company with fully integrated commercial and drug development operations with a primary focus in oncology, and Topotarget A/S announced today that the first patient has been dosed in an Investigator Initiated Trial of belinostat in combination with Tarceva® for patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC).

30 Dec 2010

Dosing initiated in combination Phase I study of palifosfamide with etoposide and cisplatin/carboplatin in SCLC

ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc., announced today that the first patient has been dosed in a Phase I, single arm, dose escalation study at the Indiana University Cancer Center of intravenous (IV) palifosfamide (ZIO-201) in combination with etoposide (VP-16) and cisplatin/carboplatin (platinum) in the treatment of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and other cancers.

29 Dec 2010

CFTR protein regulates inflammation and cell death in emphysema, chronic lung diseases

A team of Johns Hopkins Children's Center researchers has discovered that a protein involved in cystic fibrosis also regulates inflammation and cell death in emphysema and may be responsible for other chronic lung diseases.

29 Dec 2010

Flu infection rates double in a week

Figures reveal that the rates of flu infection in the UK have more than doubled in the last week. Number of cases has risen to 87.1 per 100,000 people, from 32.8 in the previous week, according to the Royal College of GPs. Reports also reveal that school-age children from England and Wales are particularly affected. Ages five to 14 are highest affected followed by those under four, then people aged 15 to 44. Considering all age groups rates almost tripled in the South in one week, from 36 per 100,000 to 93.4. In the North, the rate was 55.5, up from 15.7, and was 94.9 in the central England region, up from 37.9.

27 Dec 2010

Cancer survival rates improving

Survival rates for cancers of the bowel, breast, lung and ovary that were diagnosed between 1995 and 2007 were compared between Australia, Canada, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and the UK. Overall, survival rates improved in all six countries. However, survival was found to be “persistently lower” in Denmark, England, Northern Ireland and Wales. This was particularly the case after the first year of diagnosis and for patients aged 65 and over. In UK cancer survival rates have improved significantly. Breast cancer survival at five years, for example, increased from 74.8% in 1995-9, to 81.6% in 2005-7. Despite this, the UK still has the lowest breast cancer survival rate at five years.

27 Dec 2010

Vitamin D levels of newborns appear to predict their risk of respiratory infections

The vitamin D levels of newborn babies appear to predict their risk of respiratory infections during infancy and the occurrence of wheezing during early childhood, but not the risk of developing asthma. Results of a study in the January 2011 issue of Pediatrics support the theory that widespread vitamin D deficiency contributes to risk of infections.

27 Dec 2010

Growth hormone may be hazardous for middle aged and older people

A compound which acts in the opposite way as growth hormone can reverse some of the signs of aging, a research team that includes a Saint Louis University physician has shown. The finding may be counter-intuitive to some older adults who take growth hormone, thinking it will help revitalize them.

24 Dec 2010

American Regent initiates voluntary recall of Sodium Bicarbonate Injection, USP 7.5% and 8.4%

American Regent is conducting a nationwide voluntary recall to the consumer and user level of ALL unexpired lots of the following products: Sodium Bicarbonate Injection, USP, 7.5%, 44.6 mEq/50 mL, Single Dose Vial

24 Dec 2010

Today's opinions: Ariz. hospital and abortion; Wall Street Journal's issues with PolitiFact; Calif.'s anti-smoking success

St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix announced on Tuesday that it will continue to provide life-saving abortion care to patients even though it means losing its affiliation with the local Roman Catholic Diocese (12/23).

24 Dec 2010

Lungs News and Research

Chest: January news briefs

Lancet editorial highlights similarities between current health challenges, those from 1911

Vitamin D deficiency could be linked to development of certain autoimmune lung diseases

Peptide in blood and tissue inhibits growth of breast tumors

Researchers report estrogen may increase movement of precancerous cells in oral cavity

Flu worries continue

Accuray named to NASDAQ Global Select Market

Top-line results of TIGER-2 Phase 3 clinical trial for CF treatment

Canada’s anti-smoking warnings get larger

Low levels of microbe-killing molecules improve survival rate of people with CGD

Indoor plants can contribute to patient well-being

Enrollment commences in belinostat-Tarceva combination trial for NSCLC

Dosing initiated in combination Phase I study of palifosfamide with etoposide and cisplatin/carboplatin in SCLC

CFTR protein regulates inflammation and cell death in emphysema, chronic lung diseases

Flu infection rates double in a week

Cancer survival rates improving

Vitamin D levels of newborns appear to predict their risk of respiratory infections

Growth hormone may be hazardous for middle aged and older people

American Regent initiates voluntary recall of Sodium Bicarbonate Injection, USP 7.5% and 8.4%

Today's opinions: Ariz. hospital and abortion; Wall Street Journal's issues with PolitiFact; Calif.'s anti-smoking success

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