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Karo Bio collaborates with Wyeth for treating inflammatory diseases

The Swedish biotech company Karo Bio today announced that beginning September 1, 2009, Wyeth will take on all future research and development activities under the drug discovery collaboration between the parties.

25 Aug 2009

Medline Industries' Foley catheter management system helps minimize CAUTI risk

In an effort to help clinicians reduce the risk of catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI), Medline Industries, Inc. today launched a ground-breaking Foley catheter management system featuring a reengineered catheter tray coupled with an evidence-based clinical education program.

25 Aug 2009

NIAID to establish a human immune profiling research consortium in 2010; invites grant applications

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), a component of the National Institutes of Health, is accepting grant applications for a new initiative to establish a consortium of human immune profiling research centers.

25 Aug 2009

PLoS journal throws light on neglected tropical diseases toll in sub-Saharan Africa

An analysis published August 25 in the open-access journal PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases sheds new light on the toll that neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) take on sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), with an estimated 500 million people suffering from these debilitating and sometimes deadly diseases.

25 Aug 2009

New research results reveal that two Parkinson genes can maintain the mitochondrial functions

Parkinson's disease is caused by the degeneration of neurons in the midbrain. The mechanisms leading to the loss of these neurons, however, are largely unknown. Recent research revealed that about ten per cent of cases are caused by defects in so-called Parkinson-associated genes. Furthermore, mitochondria, the cellular powerhouses, seem to play a major role. New results from researchers at the LMU Munich under the lead of associate professor Dr. Konstanze Winklhofer and Professor Christian Haass connect both phenomena, showing that two Parkinson genes maintain the function of mitochondria.

24 Aug 2009

Washington post examines spread of drug-resistant TB in Russia

The Washington Post examines the spread of drug-resistant tuberculosis in Russia where "[p]reliminary surveys have recorded an uptick in infections," which could be the "start of a surge fueled by declining living standards and deteriorating medical care resulting from the country's worst economic slowdown in a decade," experts say.

24 Aug 2009

Voices of Meningitis urges parents to vaccinate preteens and teens for protection against meningococcal diseases

School nurses and families affected by a potentially deadly form of meningitis today launched a national consumer education initiative, called Voices of Meningitis. The initiative strongly urges parents to vaccinate preteens and teens, who are at greater risk of getting meningococcal disease, including meningococcal meningitis -- a rare, but serious bacterial infection.

24 Aug 2009

Advisory labels to help combat swine flu

Out With Allergies LLC has announced the introduction of FluNotes(TM), "Wash Hands Fight Flu"(TM) advisory labels as a potent new weapon for combating swine flu. Available through their website, www.FluNotes.com, these stick-on notes are intended to make people more aware that they must wash their hands frequently to avoid catching and spreading the flu.

24 Aug 2009

National campaign to educate people with developmental disabilities about protection from germs

The Tech-Aid Institute, http://www.techaidinstitute.com, is launching a national campaign to educate people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities about how to protect themselves from germs that include the 2009 flu pandemic that is commonly known as the Swine (H1N1) Flu.

24 Aug 2009

New study identifies smoking as a risk factor for active TB

Smoking is a risk factor for active tuberculosis (TB) disease, according to a new study on TB incidence in Taiwan.

24 Aug 2009

High serum insulin levels linked with increased risk of prostate cancer

Demetrius Albanes, M.D., of the Nutritional Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Md., and colleagues investigated the relationship of the level of serum insulin and glucose, as well as surrogate indices of insulin resistance, to the development of prostate cancer.

24 Aug 2009

Scientists to discuss effective treatments for serious diseases at Functional Genomics/Chemical Biology conference

A cure for cystic fibrosis, HIV-fighting 'Trojan horses', new pharmaceuticals from the ocean. Chemical biologists use new and innovative approaches to discover medications of the future. On 24 August, some of the field's most prominent researchers will attend an international conference in Gothenburg, Sweden.

24 Aug 2009

Discovery of genetic biomarkers enable targeted personalised medication for Colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the Western world. Fortunately physicians today have an abundance of drug therapies available to improve survival length for more advanced cancer patients. Now the discovery of genetic biomarkers relevant to CRC means that targeted personalised medication is increasingly common.

24 Aug 2009

Nervous system integrity could play a central role in preventing prion diseases

A new study shows that nervous system integrity and axonal properties may play a key role in prion diseases. The findings, from researchers at the Rudolf Virchow Center and the Institute of Virology of the University of W-rzburg, expand our understanding of the development of prion disease and suggest novel targets for therapeutic and diagnostic approaches in its early stages.

24 Aug 2009

Lancet examines dengue fever in Mexico

Lancet World Report examines the factors contributing to a steady uptick in the number of dengue fever cases in Mexico over the past decade. Compared to the year 2000, when "there were 1,781 reported cases … Last year, the number totalled 33,000, according to Mexico's Public Health Department. And confirmed cases this year have already surpassed 2008 figures by 15%," according to the journal.

24 Aug 2009

WHO recommends against using homeopathic treatments for HIV, TB, malaria, influenza, infant diarrhea

The WHO has warned that people with conditions such as HIV, tuberculosis and malaria should not rely on homeopathic treatments, the BBC reports. The agency was responding to a June letter (full text available here), in which researchers from the Voice of Young Science Network called on the agency "to condemn the promotion of homeopathy for treating TB, infant diarrhoea, influenza, malaria and HIV."

23 Aug 2009

'Explosion' of H1N1 cases likely, WHO Says

In the coming months, countries should prepare for an "explosion" in new cases of H1N1 (swine) flu until peak transmission of the virus is reached, WHO Western Pacific Director Shin Young-soo told a symposium of health officials gathered in Beijing Friday, the Associated Press reports.

23 Aug 2009

Southern Research's Birmingham campus to have a Comprehensive Chemical Biology Center

Southern Research Institute today announced that it has been selected as one of 11 organizations to help establish the National Cancer Institute's (NCI) Chemical Biology Consortium (CBC)--a program meant to coordinate and accelerate the discovery and development of new therapeutic agents to treat cancer patients. Southern Research will establish one of NCI's five Comprehensive Chemical Biology Centers at its Birmingham campus.

21 Aug 2009

UnitedHealth Group to follow the CDC’s guidance on administration of the swine flu vaccine

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) announced today that the company will cover the administration of the H1N1 (swine flu) vaccine for its members whose health benefit plans cover immunizations, and also cover the administration of the vaccine for members whose plans currently do not include immunizations and do not plan to in the future.

21 Aug 2009

Chinese scientists present study on oxycholesterol's cholesterol-boosting effects at 238th ACS meeting

Health-conscious people know that high levels of total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol (the so-called "bad" cholesterol) can increase the risk of heart attacks. Now scientists are reporting that another form of cholesterol called oxycholesterol - virtually unknown to the public - may be the most serious cardiovascular health threat of all. Scientists from China presented one of the first studies on the cholesterol-boosting effects of oxycholesterol here today at the 238th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society. The researchers hope their findings raise public awareness about oxycholesterol, including foods with the highest levels of the substance and other foods that can combat oxycholesterol's effects.

21 Aug 2009

Disease/Infection News

Karo Bio collaborates with Wyeth for treating inflammatory diseases

Medline Industries' Foley catheter management system helps minimize CAUTI risk

NIAID to establish a human immune profiling research consortium in 2010; invites grant applications

PLoS journal throws light on neglected tropical diseases toll in sub-Saharan Africa

New research results reveal that two Parkinson genes can maintain the mitochondrial functions

Washington post examines spread of drug-resistant TB in Russia

Voices of Meningitis urges parents to vaccinate preteens and teens for protection against meningococcal diseases

Advisory labels to help combat swine flu

National campaign to educate people with developmental disabilities about protection from germs

New study identifies smoking as a risk factor for active TB

High serum insulin levels linked with increased risk of prostate cancer

Scientists to discuss effective treatments for serious diseases at Functional Genomics/Chemical Biology conference

Discovery of genetic biomarkers enable targeted personalised medication for Colorectal cancer

Nervous system integrity could play a central role in preventing prion diseases

Lancet examines dengue fever in Mexico

WHO recommends against using homeopathic treatments for HIV, TB, malaria, influenza, infant diarrhea

'Explosion' of H1N1 cases likely, WHO Says

Southern Research's Birmingham campus to have a Comprehensive Chemical Biology Center

UnitedHealth Group to follow the CDC’s guidance on administration of the swine flu vaccine

Chinese scientists present study on oxycholesterol's cholesterol-boosting effects at 238th ACS meeting

How can microdialysis benefit drug development

Global and Local Efforts to Take Action Against Hepatitis

Addressing Important Cardiac Biology Questions with Shotgun Top-Down Proteomics

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