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FDA approves Novartis Signifor injection for treatment of Cushing's disease

Novartis announced today that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Signifor (pasireotide) injection for the treatment of adult patients with Cushing's disease for whom pituitary surgery is not an option or has not been curative.

14 Dec 2012

Challenge to brain injury guideline care

A randomized controlled trial has cast doubt on whether it is necessary to routinely place an intraparenchymal pressure monitor in patients with severe traumatic brain injury.

14 Dec 2012

God will control my asthma

Research shows that patients’ belief in God influences how likely they are to be adherent to asthma medication.

14 Dec 2012

Concern over enoxaparin bleeding risk in patients with moderate renal impairment

The low molecular weight heparin enoxaparin is associated with an increased risk for major bleeding in patients who have moderate renal impairment, say US scientists in findings that have prompted calls for updates to dosing recommendations.

14 Dec 2012

Definitions, responsibilities are crucial to medication reconciliation

To implement effective medication reconciliation, a definition of what the term means, as well as identification of who is responsible for the process, is necessary, show the results of a focus group-based study.

14 Dec 2012

Meridian completes beta trials for two new illumigene molecular amplification tests

Meridian Bioscience, Inc. today announced that it has successfully completed beta trials for two new illumigene molecular amplification tests.

14 Dec 2012

Top-line results from AstraZeneca’s fostamatinib Phase IIb monotherapy study on RA

AstraZeneca today announced top-line results of OSKIRA-4, a Phase IIb monotherapy study of fostamatinib, the first kinase inhibitor with selectivity for SYK (spleen tyrosine kinase) in development as an oral treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

13 Dec 2012

Breast cancer patients' recurrence fear distorted

The majority of women who undergo contralateral prophylactic mastectomy do so out of fear that their breast cancer will recur, rather than because they have a clinically high risk for recurrence, indicate US study results.

13 Dec 2012

Massage could ease distress of brain cancer

Massage therapy can significantly reduce distress levels in individuals with brain tumors, indicating its potential use to improve quality of life in this population, report US researchers.

13 Dec 2012

Colectomy fails to ease ulcerative colitis sick leave burden

Patients with ulcerative colitis take more time off work than the general population, even after undergoing colectomy, shows a large Swedish study.

13 Dec 2012

Modified eyelid surgery techniques reap rewards

Research suggests that modifying buried suture double-eyelid blepharoplasty may decrease the risk for complications and double-eyelid fold loss rate.

13 Dec 2012

Health systems must be more ‘adherence-friendly’

Heath system strategies must be appropriately designed to help narrow persistent racial/ethnic gaps in the use of antihypertensive therapy, say researchers.

13 Dec 2012

Heartbeat Experts announces increased revenue and expanded clients in emerging markets

Heartbeat Experts, the global leader in stakeholder management solutions for the life sciences industry, announced today increased revenue and expanded clients across Brazil, Russia, China, India and Korea. Heartbeat Experts' reported combined revenue from these markets grew 50% in the third quarter of 2012.

13 Dec 2012

Ceramic cookstoves may not reduce risk of pneumonia in young rural Kenyan children

Inexpensive, locally-produced ceramic cookstoves may produce less smoke than traditional indoor 3-stone firepits, but they don't significantly reduce indoor air pollution or the risk of pneumonia in young children, according to results from a small, year-long observational study by researchers working in rural Kenya.

13 Dec 2012

Dantrolene may help combat Duchenne muscular dystrophy in boys

Drugs are currently being tested that show promise in treating patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), an inherited disease that affects about one in 3,600 boys and results in muscle degeneration and, eventually, death.

13 Dec 2012

FDA grants Orphan Drug designation to Milo Biotechnology's AAV1-FS344 inhibitor

Milo Biotechnology today announced its AAV1-FS344 has been granted Orphan Drug designation from the FDA's Office of Orphan Products Development for treatment of Becker and Duchenne muscular dystrophy. AAV1-FS344 is a gene therapy-delivered myostatin inhibitor that increases muscle strength.

12 Dec 2012

Spotlight on acute respiratory distress syndrome in low-risk surgery

Postoperative acute respiratory distress syndrome is rare in patients undergoing low-risk surgery, but still carries a very high mortality rate, a large study shows.

12 Dec 2012

Complex process of bone disease evident in mastocytosis

Patients with mastocytosis show elevated bone turnover that is associated with a higher mast cell load and advanced disease relative to individuals without the condition, suggest study findings.

12 Dec 2012

African–American rectal cancer patients wait the longest for treatment

African–American rectal cancer patients wait longer for treatment and are less likely to receive adjuvant chemotherapy than their non-African–American counterparts, results show.

12 Dec 2012

AstraZeneca, Case Western Reserve initiate AZD5847 Phase 2a trial in TB

Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and AstraZeneca, a global biopharmaceutical company, today announced the first patient enrolled in a Phase 2a trial to assess the effectiveness of AZD5847, a new test drug for patients with tuberculosis (TB), including patients with HIV co-infection.

12 Dec 2012