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Are vitamin D and calcium supplements needed?

The IOM raised the recommended dietary allowance of vitamin D from the amount cited in their last report, released 13 years ago. It said that although 600 international units (IUs) of vitamin D or more each day is sufficient to maintain bone health in majority. But those aged 71 and older may need as much as 800 IUs daily, the IOM experts say. However 1997 recommendations advised 400 IUs per day for people aged 51 to 70 and 600 IUs per day for those over 70.

30 Nov 2010

Research: Mechanical stress plays a vital role in brain function

In the human brain, mechanical stress the amount of pressure applied to a particular area requires a delicate balance. Just the right force keeps neurons together and functioning as a system within the body, and proper nerve function is dependent on this tension.

30 Nov 2010

Prescription rates for controlled medications double for teens, young adults

Adolescents and young adults are most likely to abuse prescription medications. Yet prescription rates for controlled medications, or drugs the Drug Enforcement Administration deems as having the potential for abuse, have nearly doubled for those age groups in the past 14 years, according to a recent study published in Pediatrics. Overall, a controlled medication was prescribed for young adults at approximately one out of every six visits and for young adult by adolescents one out of every nine encounters.

30 Nov 2010

New findings could drive medical advances in genetic disorders that cause infertility

A hormone responsible for the onset of puberty can end up stuck in the wrong part of the body if the nerve pathways responsible for its transport to the brain fail to develop properly, according to research funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC).

30 Nov 2010

RCSI researchers discover potential new target for diarrhoea associated intestinal diseases

A study by researchers in the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) has uncovered a potential new target for the treatment of a range of intestinal diseases that are associated with diarrhoea. Current medications are often ineffective and can have serious side effects so this discovery gives hope for the development of new treatments for sufferers of intestinal disease.

30 Nov 2010

Quintiles, London Genetics enter strategic alliance to offer pharmacogenetics solutions for personalized medicine

Quintiles, the world's leading biopharmaceutical services company, and London Genetics, an expert in the use of pharmacogenetics in drug discovery and development, today announced a strategic alliance to offer the biopharmaceutical industry innovative pharmacogenetics solutions to advance personalized medicine. Financial terms were not disclosed.

30 Nov 2010

Scientists uncover new regulatory mechanism in body's response to eliminate pathogens

A team of scientists from The Scripps Research Institute have uncovered a previously unknown regulatory mechanism in the body's response to eliminate pathogens, such as bacteria and viruses. The findings challenge a long-held dogma in the field of immunology and have potential implications for far-ranging topics from how vaccines should be administered to the origin of autoimmunity.

30 Nov 2010

Research finds alteration in KBTBD13 protein causes nemaline myopathy

Researchers from the Department of Anesthesiology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU), along with research teams from the National Institutes of Health and from Australia, the Netherlands and Spain, have identified a novel gene on chromosome 15q that, when altered, causes nemaline myopathy with cores, a rare inherited muscle disorder. The gene encodes a member of the BTB/Kelch family of proteins.

30 Nov 2010

SDI and CSD announce launch of oncology therapeutic market research service

SDI and Cegedim Strategic Data (CSD) announced today that they will jointly launch a new market research service that tracks selling activities in the oncology therapeutic market. The Oncology Selling Audit will be released in January 2011; 2 years of history will be available for reporting and analysis.

30 Nov 2010

Study finds abdominal fat as a risk factor for osteoporosis, bone loss in women

For years, it was believed that obese women were at lower risk for developing osteoporosis, and that excess body fat actually protected against bone loss. However, a study presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) found that having too much internal abdominal fat may, in fact, have a damaging effect on bone health.

30 Nov 2010

Study: Mature blood cells communicate with parent stem cells

A new study by researchers at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute in Melbourne, Australia, has shown that mature blood cells can communicate with, and influence the behaviour of, their stem cell 'parents'.

30 Nov 2010

Ageing reversed in mice: Study

A scientific team at Harvard-affiliated medical centers genetically manipulated mice to age faster. Then they used gene therapy to lengthen telomeres. Telomeres are compounds found at the ends of strands of DNA that are related to age. This lengthening of telomeres reversed age-related problems such as decreased brain function and infertility.

29 Nov 2010

Australia’s largest skin cancer study

More than 400,000 people will be diagnosed with some form of skin cancer this year and the most deadly form of the disease, melanoma, will claim more than a thousand lives in Australia say researchers. Queensland has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world with fair-skinned people being most affected with the strong subtropical sun.

29 Nov 2010

Life Technologies launches Qubit 2.0 Fluorometer for molecular biology research

Life Technologies Corporation, a provider of innovative life science solutions, today announced the launch of its next-generation Qubit® 2.0 Fluorometer specifically for molecular biology researchers who work with precious samples and perform applications that require a large financial or time investment. The new system quantitates DNA, RNA and protein with accuracy, sensitivity, speed and ease-of-use.

29 Nov 2010

Ziehm Imaging launches SmartVascular software solution for vascular surgery

Ziehm Imaging's intuitive SmartVascular software considerably simplifies imaging in vascular surgery. It introduces an entirely new workflow for fast results. This solution raises efficiency levels, eliminates interim C-arm operating steps and automates the imaging processes. SmartVascular is compatible with all Ziehm Vision C-arms and tailored to vascular procedures.

29 Nov 2010

New 'canSAR' cancer drug discovery database launched

A powerful new cancer drug discovery database has been launched to speed up the process of bringing drugs from 'bench to bedside'.

29 Nov 2010

BioTime, CIRM enter agreement for GMP-grade hES cell lines

BioTime, Inc. today announced an agreement with the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) to make five clinical-grade human embryonic stem (hES) cell lines available to California-based researchers. CIRM is the stem cell agency created when California voters supported a $3 billion funding measure for stem cell-related research and clinical translation.

29 Nov 2010

Alpha carotene increase life span: Study

A new study shows that and antioxidant alpha carotene found in vegetables can reduce the risk of premature death and allow for a longer, healthier lifespan. The study led by Dr. Chaoyang Li from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) involved nearly 15,000 adults who were all age 20 and older. It spanned over 1988 to 1994, with patients being followed-up with in the year 2006. The plan was to look at the effect of an antioxidants found in vegetables on the health of people.

28 Nov 2010

JAK3 pathway highlighted as leukemia target

An intriguing study published in Expert Review of Anticancer Therapy has revealed that the signaling protein JAK3 represents a viable target in the treatment of a broad range of B-lineage cancers, including acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

28 Nov 2010

Serono Symposium to review options available for optimizing Assisted Reproductive Technologies

Serono Symposia International Foundation will gather a team of leading international experts meeting on November 26th in Montreal in order to review the different options currently available to optimize ART (Assisted Reproductive Technologies) outcomes during the event "Treating the Ovary to Obtain Better Eggs".

26 Nov 2010