Sickle Cell Disease News and Research

Latest Sickle Cell Disease News and Research

PAS conference focuses on vaccine-preventable diseases among children

Each year, millions of children in developing countries die from diseases for which known treatments exist. How to use this knowledge to save children's lives on a global scale will be discussed in a day-long session Monday, May 3, 2010, at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

3 May 2010

New study reinforces urgent need for life-saving vaccines in Africa

A new study released this week in The Lancet Infectious Diseases finds that African children who contract pneumococcus - a bacterial infection that causes pneumonia, meningitis and sepsis - are 36 times as likely to have sickle-cell disease, a blood disorder prevalent in African children that increases the risk for infectious diseases and early death.

29 Apr 2010

Study: Lower blood oxygen levels can lead to heart abnormalities in children with sickle cell disease

Children with sickle cell disease who also have lower blood oxygen levels while both asleep and awake are likely to have heart abnormalities, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and other institutions have found.

28 Apr 2010

Cytovance Biologics, Selexys Pharmaceutical announce collaboration for Anti-PSGL-1 therapeutic agent

Cytovance Biologics, LLC and Selexys Pharmaceutical Corporation jointly announce an agreement and execution of a Biopharmaceutical Development and Manufacturing collaboration for their Anti-PSGL-1 therapeutic agent. This monoclonal antibody (mAb) is being developed for treatment of inflammation associated with Crohn's disease as a lead indication.

26 Apr 2010

1976 "swine flu" vaccine protects against 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza virus

New evidence shows immunization against "swine flu" in 1976 might provide individuals with some protection against the 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza virus, according to new research from St. Jude investigators.

24 Apr 2010

Programs to address care for children born with SCD during adulthood

Forty years ago, children born with sickle cell disease (SCD) were not expected to live past their teenage years. Today, medical advances are allowing children to live well into adulthood, raising concerns over who is going to care for these patients as adults. However, programs are underway to address these concerns, as reported in the March/April edition of Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing, published by the Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses (APHON).

24 Apr 2010

New hopes to improve cancer diagnosis and treatment for children

Motivated clinicians and an Internet connection combined with computers and e-mail access have the power to transform pediatric cancer treatment in the most remote corners of earth, according to a St. Jude investigator writing in a recent issue of The Lancet Oncology.

24 Apr 2010

HemaQuest Pharmaceuticals closes $12M Series B financing

HemaQuest Pharmaceuticals, a clinical stage biotechnology company developing compounds to treat sickle cell disease, beta thalassemia and EBV-related cancers, announced today the closing of a $12M Series B financing led by new investor, Aberdare Ventures. HemaQuest's investor syndicate includes Aberdare Ventures, De Novo Ventures, Forward Ventures and Lilly Ventures.

21 Apr 2010

Long-term monitoring and education needed to protect lungs of young patients

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital investigators have identified childhood cancer survivors who are at increased risk for deteriorating lung health, in part due to the lifesaving bone marrow transplants they underwent years earlier.

16 Apr 2010

Gene playing crucial role in immune system balance identified

A team led by St. Jude researchers identified a gene pivotal for immune system balance. Ultimately, the discovery may aid efforts to tame allergies and asthma.

12 Apr 2010

Study provides benchmark data to evaluate quality of management of sickle cell disease

The largest study to date of the use of acute care medical services by people with sickle cell disease found four of every 10 had to return to the hospital within 30 days of a previous hospitalization or go to the emergency department for treatment of pain, according to a new study funded in part by HHS' Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

7 Apr 2010

Sickle cell disease: Rehospitalization rates high

7 Apr 2010

Patients with sickle cell disease require acute care: Study

Patients with sickle cell disease average about 2.5 hospital visits per year, with 18- to 30-year old patients more likely to require acute care or rehospitalization, according to a study in the April 7 issue of JAMA.

7 Apr 2010

Harnessing body's own natural killer cells to battle cancer in children

Work underway at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital seeks to harnesses the body's own immune cells known as natural killer, or NK, cells to help children battle cancer. NK cells are the immune system's warriors. The cells circulate widely in the body, armed with proteins, called enzymes, capable of delivering a deadly one-two punch to viruses and cancer cells.

3 Apr 2010

National Doctors' Day: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital honors physicians and staff

As physicians nationwide are acknowledged for their talent, sacrifice and courage on National Doctors' Day, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital honors its more than 230 staff and consulting physicians who strive to fulfill the hospital's mission each day.

31 Mar 2010

Cortex signs agreement to sell certain AMPAKINE compounds to Biovail

Cortex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that it has entered into an agreement with Biovail Laboratories International SRL in which Biovail acquired certain AMPAKINE compounds and the rights to the patent filing for respiratory depression and vaso-occlusive crises associated with sickle cell disease.

29 Mar 2010

Genes role in protecting intestinal tract from colitis may lead to potential targets for treatment

Scientists report a protein made by a gene already associated with a handful of human inflammatory immune diseases plays a pivotal role in protecting the intestinal tract from colitis.

19 Mar 2010

Fewer injections to treat neutropenia in childhood cancer patients

For patients like 10-year-old Sabrina Jo Spence, new research led by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital investigators meant fewer injections to combat the drop in white blood cells following her recent chemotherapy.

11 Mar 2010

Injured nerves may cause severe pain in patients with sickle cell disease

Researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago have discovered the pain caused by sickle cell disease may not occur solely from damaged tissues, but also from injured nerves.

11 Mar 2010

Investigators disprove reports that well-fed children are more vulnerable to dengue virus

A new study led by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital investigators disproves reports that well-fed children are more vulnerable to the dengue virus. Mosquitoes spread the virus, which can cause severe flu-like symptoms and sometimes lethal complications.

5 Mar 2010