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Travel, hunting, and venison consumption linked to prion diseases

Researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have examined the potential for human exposure to prion diseases, looking at hunting, venison consumption, and travel to areas in which prion diseases have been reported in animals.

23 May 2011

Automated microfluidic device can monitor hematopoietic stem cells

A Canadian research team has developed an automated microfluidic cell culture platform to monitor the growth, survival and responses of hundreds of hematopoietic stem cells at the single cell level.

23 May 2011

Researchers discover new genes that influence severity of cystic fibrosis

Johns Hopkins Institute for Genetic Medicine researchers working as part of the North American Cystic Fibrosis Consortium have discovered two regions of the genome that affect the severity of cystic fibrosis, a genetic condition that causes scarring throughout the body, affecting most notably the pancreas and lungs.

23 May 2011

H. pylori infection could play a role in Parkinson's disease development

The stomach bacteria responsible for ulcers could also play a role in the development of Parkinson's disease according to research presented today at the 111th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology.

23 May 2011

CT scan may help determine early death in individuals with diabetes

New findings out of Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center reveal that a common test may be useful in predicting early death in individuals with diabetes.

23 May 2011

Tumor necrosis factor can suppress inflammation, treat rheumatoid arthritis

A new study by rheumatologists at Hospital for Special Surgery in New York has shown that a powerful pro-inflammatory protein, tumor necrosis factor, can also suppress aspects of inflammation.

23 May 2011

Protesters favoring health reform disrupt Aetna meeting

Protesters briefly interrupted Aetna CEO Mark Bertolini Friday morning during his remarks at the health insurer's annual meeting. The Hartford, Conn., company was holding the meeting at Le Meridien, a Philadelphia hotel, when several people entered the room and started chanting about the health care overhaul, spokesman Fred Laberge said. The meeting resumed a few minutes later. Aetna Inc. said in an email that the disruption was "inappropriate, uncivil and unsafe," but that people are entitled to their opinions.

23 May 2011

Scientists invent Monolayer Stress Microscopy to measure physical forces during collective cellular migration

The physical forces that guide how cells migrate-how they manage to get from place to place in a coordinated fashion inside the living body- are poorly understood. Scientists at the Harvard School of Public Health and the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia have, for the first time, devised a way to measure these forces during collective cellular migration.

23 May 2011

Patients with chronic heart failure can benefit from telemonitoring

Two trials presented at the Heart Failure Congress 2011, organized by the Heart Failure Association of the European Society of Cardiology, will help to define the precise populations of patients with chronic heart failure in whom telemedical management delivers benefits.

23 May 2011

Huntsman's stance on Utah health mandate questioned

During a campaign stop Friday, former Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. presented Utah's health reform as a model for what other states could do. And, Huntsman pointed out, Utah did not mandate that people buy health insurance, unlike the Massachusetts model now a thorn for Mitt Romney. His assertion, however, was called into question by a story in the Huffington Post, under the headline "Huntsman vs. Huntsman," which quoted Utah health policy players who said Huntsman had wanted a mandate but didn't get it.

23 May 2011

Patients with mild heart failure more likely to benefit from cardiac resynchronization therapy with defibrillation

Patients with dyssynchronous yet viable ventricles are most likely to benefit from cardiac resynchronization therapy combined with defibrillation, concludes the latest analysis of the MADIT CRT trial.

23 May 2011

New insights into bone diseases

A study by researchers at Children's Hospital Boston and collaborators at other institutions has provided new insights into the means by which bone cells produce new bone in response to mechanical stresses, such as exercise.

23 May 2011

Medicare worries may tip balance to Democrat in NY congressional race

Republicans are growing increasingly pessimistic over their prospects in a race for a western New York congressional seat the party was once thought a lock to hold. With the contest entering its final weekend, party officials acknowledge what a Siena College poll released Saturday confirmed: Republican Jane Corwin narrowly trails Democrat Kathy Hochul. The Republican has so far failed to capture a portion of GOP votes that instead might be cast toward Jack Davis.

23 May 2011

Eplerenone reduces new onset atrial fibrillation and flutter in patients with class 2 heart failure

The aldosterone antagonist eplerenone significantly reduced the development of new onset atrial fibrillation and flutter in patients with class 2 heart failure, concludes a sub-analysis of the EMPHASIS-HF trial, presented at the Heart Failure Congress 2011, organized by the Heart Failure Association of the European Society of Cardiology.

23 May 2011

Researchers identify new drug resistant protein in breast cancer

Researchers have identified a new protein involved in the development of drug resistance in breast cancer which could be a target for new treatments, they report today in the journal Nature Medicine.

23 May 2011

Ryan defends Medicare, Medicaid plan; Gingrich explains attack on GOP budget

House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan on Sunday called Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich's characterization of his Medicare plan "right-wing social engineering" as "deeply inaccurate, a gross mischaracterization of the House Republican budget plan." Asked on NBC's "Meet the Press" if the former House Speaker undercut Republican efforts to pass the reforms, Ryan said, "Leaders are elected to lead. ... And we are leading in the House".

23 May 2011

Synthon opens state-of-the-art laboratory for biotechnology

Synthon opened its state-of-the-art laboratory for biotechnology today, an important step in the company’s development into a ‘specialty pharmaceutical’ firm. Ms. Renée Bergkamp, Director-General of Enterprise and Innovation of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation, and Mr. Thom de Graaf, Mayor of Nijmegen, attended the official opening.

22 May 2011

Verizon Wireless and Medco unveil mobile medication app with real-time patient-specific drug safety

Verizon Wireless and Medco Health Solutions, Inc. have announced a mobile application that can instantly guide patients and their doctors to the lowest-cost prescription drug to meet their health needs and help them identify potentially harmful drug interactions. Available now on Verizon Wireless Android handsets and BlackBerry devices, the new Medco Pharmacy mobile app delivers critical information to help Medco members manage their prescription medications.

22 May 2011

Swimmer’s ear costs millions in healthcare each year: CDC report

Swimmer’s ear (otitis externa) is a common infection that accounts for almost $500 million in U.S. health-care costs each year, according to a new government report. The report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, published in the agency's May 20 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, says this condition results in 2.4 million doctor visits annually in the United States, each visit costing an average of $200.

22 May 2011

McDonald's reacts to protests and calls to fire Ronald

McDonald's Corp has refused to pay heed to the protesters who ask it to assess the impact of its food on childhood obesity, and said its trademark clown Ronald McDonald would be hawking Happy Meals to kids for years to come.

22 May 2011