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Loneliness can raise blood pressure

Chronic feelings of loneliness take a toll on blood pressure over time, causing a marked increase after four years, according to a new study at the University of Chicago.

18 Mar 2010

Standardized skin-care guidelines

Given the complexity of cancer treatment, skin care may seem like a small matter. However, a nurse at the James P. Wilmot Cancer Center knew that skin issues were a constant source of anxiety for many patients receiving radiation therapy, and through research she discovered that routine advice was rooted in myth instead of scientific evidence.

18 Mar 2010

Positive preliminary results from MediciNova's Phase Ib clinical trial of MN-221 for COPD

MediciNova, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company that is publicly traded on the Nasdaq Global Market and the Hercules Market of the Osaka Securities Exchange, today reported positive preliminary results from a Phase Ib clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of MN-221 in patients with stable, moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). There were no clinically significant safety concerns noted. Preliminary results demonstrated clinically significant improvements in percent change in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV(1)).

18 Mar 2010

SBRT can improve survival rates for patients with inoperable non-small cell lung cancer

Highly-focused stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) can eliminate the targeted tumor while avoiding treatment-related illness and may ultimately improve survival for patients with inoperable non-small cell lung cancer, according to early findings of a Radiation Therapy Oncology Group study published in the March 17 cancer-themed issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

18 Mar 2010

Adjuvant chemotherapy may benefit older patients with stage III colon cancer

Even though older patients with colon cancer are less likely to receive chemotherapy following surgery because of concerns of adverse events, new research indicates that when they do receive this treatment, it is less toxic and of shorter duration than therapy younger patients receive, and older patients experience fewer adverse events, according to a study in the March 17 issue of JAMA, a theme issue on cancer.

18 Mar 2010

Berkeley HeartLab adopts GenTegra DNA to support diagnostic genetic testing for cardiovascular disease

GenVault Corporation today announced that Berkeley HeartLab, a subsidiary of Celera Corporation, has adopted GenTegra DNA to preserve and store diagnostic samples for genetic testing related to the management of cardiovascular disease.

18 Mar 2010

Tips to avoid exercise-related injuries in baby boomers

The March issue of Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource covers what's behind boomeritis. Baby boomers, now in their 50s and 60s, are fitter and more athletic longer into their lives, compared with their parents' generation.

18 Mar 2010

Academics focus on challenges of improving diets in both developed and developing countries

For the first time in history the number of people worldwide suffering from obesity now exceeds the number suffering from hunger.

18 Mar 2010

Virtuoso Digital Pathology Software: BioImagene adds Companion Algorithms for colon cancer

BioImagene, Inc., the leading provider of end-to-end digital pathology solutions, today announced the availability of Companion Algorithms™ for colon cancer in their Virtuoso™ Digital Pathology Software. BioImagene’s Companion Algorithms are unique in the digital pathology industry as they are specific to a biomarker and a tissue type. Therefore, pathologists are not faced with the challenges of customizing generic algorithms in order to make them work.

18 Mar 2010

SANTE study: Deep brain stimulation can reduce seizures

A recent study organized by Stanford University researchers found patients with refractory partial and secondarily generalized seizures had a reduction in seizures after deep brain stimulation. This multi-center clinical trial determined that the benefits of stimulation of the anterior nuclei of thalamus for epilepsy (SANTE) persisted and by 2 years there was a 56% reduction in seizure frequency.

18 Mar 2010

Stress during pregnancy may raise infant’s risk to asthma and allergy

Stress during pregnancy may raise the risk of asthma in offspring, according to researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston.

18 Mar 2010

Findings from Study 305 evaluating the effect of Northera reported

Chelsea Therapeutics International, Ltd. reported findings from Study 305, a study evaluating the effect of Northera™ (Droxidopa), an investigational agent being studied for the treatment of neurogenic orthostatic hypotension (NOH), on patients' 24-hour blood pressure (BP) profile.

18 Mar 2010

Acurox NDA: FDA schedules Advisory Committee meeting

Acura Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and King Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") has publically announced the scheduling of an April 22, 2010 Advisory Committee meeting to discuss the New Drug Application ("NDA") for Acurox® (oxycodone HCl and niacin) Tablets and the results of studies evaluating the addition of niacin for the purpose of reducing the misuse of oxycodone.

18 Mar 2010

Cryotherapy may become the future treatment for cancer

Cryotherapy, an interventional radiology treatment to freeze cancer tumors, may become the treatment of the future for cancer that has metastasized in soft tissues (such as ovarian cancer) and in bone tumors.

18 Mar 2010

SBRT doubles rate of primary tumor control compared to conventional radiotherapy

Early findings suggest a radiation therapy that involves numerous highly-focused and potent radiation beams provides targeted tumor control in nearly all patients, reduces treatment-related illness, and may ultimately improve survival for patients with inoperable non-small cell lung cancer, according to a study in the March 17 issue of JAMA, a theme issue on cancer.

18 Mar 2010

Studies link atmospheric CO pollution to adverse cardiovascular outcomes, cardiac mortality

In the healthy rat, prolonged exposure to carbon monoxide (CO) under conditions that mimic urban pollution leads to changes to cardiac morphology and function. Compensatory mechanisms develop in these animals to sustain normal cardiac activity, but they become more vulnerable to heart disease.

18 Mar 2010

Genes linked to ulcerative colitis identified

A study of the human genome led by Cedars-Sinai researchers has now identified genes linked to ulcerative colitis, offering clues as to what causes the condition and potential avenues for new therapies to treat the disease.

18 Mar 2010

Actavis receives FDA marketing approval for Alprazolam ODT

Actavis Group, the international generic pharmaceuticals company, today announced that it has received approval from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration to market Alprazolam orally disintegrating tablets. Distribution of the product will commence immediately.

18 Mar 2010

NICE leaves many patients with rarer forms of cancer without drugs

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is failing to follow its own guidance aimed at making live-extending treatments available on the NHS, leaving many patients with rarer forms of cancer without drugs that could prolong their lives, a campaign group has said.

18 Mar 2010

Scientists discover switch mechanism that controls cells' trafficking system

Scientists have identified a mechanism that switches on an extremely important process for the proper functioning and survival of our body's cells. Specifically, the fast-track transportation pathway of 'cargo' to and from the surface of the cell.

18 Mar 2010