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Ontario's doctors urge patients to make simple lifestyle changes for better health

The number of patients living with chronic disease in Ontario is on the rise, finds a new report by the Ontario Medical Association (OMA). The study reveals that between 1995-2005, the number of patients with diabetes has increased over 50% and more concerning is that the number of patients with diabetes aged 19 and younger has gone up by 20%.

4 Feb 2010

New technique may reduce recovery time in arrhythmia patients

A surgeon and an electrophysiologist in the Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center last week worked together to perform a novel, minimally-invasive procedure to treat a common but dangerous arrhythmia in a 61-year-old lawyer from east Texas who has suffered from the condition for months.

4 Feb 2010

FDA approves Xiaflex drug for treatment of Dupuytren's contracture

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Xiaflex, a new drug to treat Dupuytren's contracture (or disease) that was discovered and developed by Marie A. Badalamente, Ph.D., and Lawrence C. Hurst, M.D., in the Department of Orthopaedics at Stony Brook University Medical Center.

4 Feb 2010

HUCB-derived purified and expanded CD133+ cells may show promise in cellular cardiomyoplasty

Researchers at the Pontif-cia Universidade Cat-lica do Paran- and Instituto Carlos Chagas have evaluated the therapeutic potential of purified and expanded CD133+ cells human umbilical cord blood (HUCB)-derived in treating myocardial infarction by intramyocardially injecting them into a rat model. Patients who have high cardiovascular risks have fewer endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and their EPCs exhibit greater in vitro senescence.

4 Feb 2010

Study could lead to non-surgical alternatives for tonsillectomies

Children with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may one day be able to have an injection or use a throat spray instead of getting their tonsils removed to cure their snoring, according to a new study from the University of Chicago, which found that a specific gene product may be responsible for the proliferation of adenotonsillar tissue that can cause pediatric OSA.

4 Feb 2010

Brentuximab vedotin-chemotherapy combination clinical trial for Hodgkin lymphoma announced

Seattle Genetics, Inc. and Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: The Takeda Oncology Company today announced that they have initiated a phase I clinical trial of brentuximab vedotin (SGN-35) in combination with chemotherapy for the treatment of newly diagnosed Hodgkin lymphoma patients. Brentuximab vedotin is an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) that is also in single-agent clinical trials, including a pivotal trial for relapsed and refractory Hodgkin lymphoma and a phase II trial for systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma.

4 Feb 2010

Organizations across Canada unite as partners to prevent chronic diseases among Canadians

More than 30 organizations from across Canada are uniting as partners in a series of initiatives designed to improve the health of Canadians by preventing chronic disease. A total of $15.5 million is being invested in seven collaborative coalitions addressing such issues as childhood obesity, screening for chronic disease by family doctors, and the unique needs of First Nations communities.

4 Feb 2010

Geisinger Health System and TGen sign research agreement

Geisinger Health System and the Translational Genomics Research Institute today announced the signing of a strategic research agreement that provides a focused look at the gaps in clinical medicine where biomedical research can make a difference.

4 Feb 2010

Recent clinical trials in patients with ALBP show that SOMA 250 mg reduces disability

A recent analysis of two pivotal clinical trials in patients with acute low back pain (ALBP) who were treated with SOMA® (carisoprodol) 250 mg showed significantly improved functionality and reduced disability after three days of treatment, as measured by the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ).

4 Feb 2010

ACCP and FIRS honor World Cancer Day

During the 2010: The Year of the Lung campaign, the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) and other members of the Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS) are honoring World Cancer Day, February 4, by elevating the awareness of lung cancer in terms of prevalence and prevention, as well as the amount of funding the disease receives for research in diagnosis and management.

4 Feb 2010

Sudden infant death syndrome linked to low serotonin levels

Taking the next step in more than 20 years of research, researchers at Children's Hospital Boston have linked sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) with low production of serotonin in the brainstem, based on a comparison of brainstem samples from infants dying of SIDS compared to brainstems of infants dying from other, known causes.

4 Feb 2010

St. Jude Medical to commence enrollment in IRASE AF trial

St. Jude Medical, Inc. today announced it has received an Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to begin enrollment in the IRASE AF (IRrigated Ablation System Evaluation for AF) trial, a multicenter, randomized, single-blind study evaluating the safety and efficacy of the company’s Duo 12 port open irrigated catheter ablation system for treatment of Atrial Fibrillation (AF). AF is the most common cardiac arrhythmia (abnormal heartbeat), affecting an estimated 3.3 million Americans and millions more worldwide.

4 Feb 2010

Court weighs patents for human genes

The American Civil Liberties Union has sued a genetics company that holds patents on breast- and ovarian-cancer-causing genes, saying their claims on the two genes hinders further research by other companies and scientists, the Associated Press/CBS News reports.

4 Feb 2010

Phase 2a clinical trial results of VX-809 in patients with CF announced

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated today announced results from a preliminary analysis of data from a 28-day Phase 2a clinical trial of VX-809 in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) who are homozygous for the F508del mutation.

4 Feb 2010

Researchers discover anomalies that cause lack of motivation in ADHD children

Until now, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) was related to alterations in the brain affecting attention and cognitive processes. Researchers at Universitat Aut-noma de Barcelona and the Vall d'Hebron University Hospital for the first time have discovered anomalies in the brain's reward system related to the neural circuits of motivation and gratification.

3 Feb 2010

Major study of perfusion imaging under way to assess value of alternative diagnostic methods

Cardiologists and heart imaging specialists at 15 medical centers in eight countries, and led by researchers at Johns Hopkins, have enrolled the first dozen patients in a year-long investigation to learn whether the subtle squeezing of blood flow through the inner layers of the heart is better than traditional SPECT nuclear imaging tests and other diagnostic radiology procedures for accurately tracking the earliest signs of coronary artery clogs.

3 Feb 2010

Keryx Biopharmaceuticals reaches agreement with FDA on SPA for Phase 3 trial of KRX-0401

Keryx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today that it has reached agreement with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding a Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) on the design of a Phase 3 trial for its PI3K/Akt pathway inhibitor, KRX-0401 (perifosine), in patients with refractory metastatic colorectal cancer.

3 Feb 2010

Study shows Cymbalta reduces chronic low back pain

In a new study, 60 mg of Cymbalta® (duloxetine HCl) taken once daily significantly reduced chronic low back pain, as measured by the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) average pain rating, compared with placebo.

3 Feb 2010

FDA approves Labopharm's OLEPTRO antidepressant for MDD

Labopharm Inc. today announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved OLEPTRO(TM) (trazodone hydrochloride) Extended Release Tablets, a novel once-daily formulation of the antidepressant trazodone, for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults. OLEPTRO(TM) utilizes CONTRAMID(R), Labopharm's clinically validated technology that controls the release of active substances within oral medications.

3 Feb 2010

Daiichi Sankyo initiates Phase III trial of edoxaban in reducing recurrent VTE complications

Daiichi Sankyo Company, Limited, announced today that it has initiated a new large-scale pivotal Phase III trial for edoxaban, its investigational oral Factor Xa inhibitor. This new study, called HOKUSAI (pronounced hoe·koo·sigh) VTE, is evaluating the safety and efficacy of edoxaban in reducing recurrent venous thromboembolic (VTE) complications in patients with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and/or pulmonary embolism (PE).

3 Feb 2010

Medical Condition News

Ontario's doctors urge patients to make simple lifestyle changes for better health

New technique may reduce recovery time in arrhythmia patients

FDA approves Xiaflex drug for treatment of Dupuytren's contracture

HUCB-derived purified and expanded CD133+ cells may show promise in cellular cardiomyoplasty

Study could lead to non-surgical alternatives for tonsillectomies

Brentuximab vedotin-chemotherapy combination clinical trial for Hodgkin lymphoma announced

Organizations across Canada unite as partners to prevent chronic diseases among Canadians

Geisinger Health System and TGen sign research agreement

Recent clinical trials in patients with ALBP show that SOMA 250 mg reduces disability

ACCP and FIRS honor World Cancer Day

Sudden infant death syndrome linked to low serotonin levels

St. Jude Medical to commence enrollment in IRASE AF trial

Court weighs patents for human genes

Phase 2a clinical trial results of VX-809 in patients with CF announced

Researchers discover anomalies that cause lack of motivation in ADHD children

Major study of perfusion imaging under way to assess value of alternative diagnostic methods

Keryx Biopharmaceuticals reaches agreement with FDA on SPA for Phase 3 trial of KRX-0401

Study shows Cymbalta reduces chronic low back pain

FDA approves Labopharm's OLEPTRO antidepressant for MDD

Daiichi Sankyo initiates Phase III trial of edoxaban in reducing recurrent VTE complications

Exploring electron microscopy for plant and microbial imaging at the John Innes Centre

Extending the reach of Amperia™

Modular cleanrooms: Enhancing flexibility and compliance

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