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Embryonic pathway delivers stem cell traits

Studies of how cancer cells spread have led to a surprising discovery about the creation of cells with adult stem cell characteristics, offering potentially major implications for regenerative medicine and for cancer treatment.

25 May 2008

How cells size up their growth opportunities

The intricate mechanisms that switch cell growth on and off are regulated by mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) protein complexes, which sense nutrients within the cell. When amino-acids are abundant, the protein complexes promote cellular growth, and when nutrients are scarce they signal that hard times are ahead to the cell. But just how nutrients regulate mTOR signaling to control size has remained a mystery. Now, scientists in the lab of Whitehead Member David Sabatini have found the first step in the process.

25 May 2008

RTOG study likely treatment option for brain tumor patients like Sen. Kennedy

A Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) study which seeks to establish whether high-doses of the chemotherapy drug temozolomide after radiotherapy can improve outcome for patients with newly diagnosed malignant glioma is a possible consideration for Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) and other patients with this type of brain tumor.

22 May 2008

Anti-rejection drug sirolimus may increase risk of diabetes after kidney transplant

For patients undergoing kidney transplantation, treatment with the anti-rejection drug sirolimus may lead to an increased risk of diabetes, reports a study in the July Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN).

22 May 2008

Discovery provides hope for patients with pancreatic cancer

This week researchers in the Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) Oregon Stem Cell Center and the OHSU Digestive Health Center are shining a new ray of hope on patients with pancreatic cancer. They've developed new reagents, or antibodies, that can recognize this often lethal disease. This important discovery may one day lead to earlier detection and treatment.

22 May 2008

Experimental drug blocks prostate cancer in animal study

An experimental drug has blocked the progression of prostate cancer in an animal model with an aggressive form of the disease, new research shows.

22 May 2008

Two Penn studies show drug-eluting stents outperform bare metal stents

The more than ten million Americans who've received drug-eluting stents to open their blocked coronary arteries have a bright future, according to new research from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.

22 May 2008

AstraZeneca supports transparency legislation on payments to health care providers

AstraZeneca announced today that it supports the revised Physician Payment Sunshine Act as part of the company's latest step to provide the public with more information about the way it does business.

22 May 2008

Smoke-free laws are protecting all workers according to new study

A new study published today by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention underscores the powerful momentum across the country to pass strong smoke-free workplace laws that protect all workers and the public from the serious health hazards of secondhand smoke.

22 May 2008

Pennsylvania State agency seeks to gain control of Medicaid managed care plans' prescription drug benefits

The administration of Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell (D) has proposed shifting control of the prescription drug component of Medicaid managed care plans to the state Department of Public Welfare, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

22 May 2008

Pharmaceutical, medical device industries have shifted campaign contributions to Democratic candidates

Pharmaceutical and medical device companies have contributed more to the campaigns of Democratic candidates than Republican candidates in the current election cycle, a "sharp reversal" from previous cycles and "one more sign of the campaign difficulties the GOP could face this November," the AP/Miami Herald reports.

22 May 2008

Summit to tackle African-American HIV/STD crisis

Black state board of education leaders from across the nation will meet to strategize about ways in which public schools can help address the HIV and STD crises among African-Americans and to highlight the clear link between risky sexual behaviors and academic performance on May 28-30, 2008 in Atlanta, Georgia.

22 May 2008

Kaiser Family Foundation creates new online tool that provides latest health policy facts and data

The Kaiser Family Foundation today launched Kaiser Fast Facts, a new component of its kff.org Web site, featuring QuickTakes and Kaiser Slides – two new tools providing direct access to facts, data and slides about the nation's health care system and programs, in an easy-to-use format.

22 May 2008

CBO finds health IT unlikely to generate significant savings

Health information technology by itself is unlikely to produce the significant cost savings projected by economic analysts and policymakers, according to a Congressional Budget Office analysis released Tuesday, the Wall Street Journal reports.

22 May 2008

Senate Finance Committee Democrats to move forward with Medicare package that includes Medicare Advantage plan cuts

Senate Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus (D-Mont.) on Wednesday said he will move forward with a Medicare package developed by Democrats that likely will be opposed by Republicans and the Bush administration, CQ Today reports.

22 May 2008

Senate leaders reach agreement on process for considering war supplemental spending bill, Medicaid provision

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Wednesday reached an agreement on a process for Senate consideration of the war supplemental appropriations bill (HR 2642), including a provision to delay for one year seven new Medicaid regulations proposed by the Bush administration, the AP/Detroit News reports (Taylor, AP/Detroit News, 5/22).

22 May 2008

Louisiana Gov. Jindal's administration asks State Senate to restore millions in health care budget cuts

The administration of Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) on Monday called on state senators to restore millions of dollars in health care program cuts that were approved last week by the House, the New Orleans Times-Picayune reports. The House approved a $30 billion state budget for fiscal year 2009 that includes $240 million less than Jindal's proposed budget.

22 May 2008

HHS receives more than thirty applications for electronic health records pilot program

HHS has received more than 30 applications from communities that seek to participate in a Medicare pilot program that uses electronic health records, CQ HealthBeat reports (CQ HealthBeat, 5/20).

22 May 2008

STARS AGAINST AIDS exhibit in Moscow aims to raise awareness, reduce HIV/AIDS-related stigma

A photography exhibit featuring 25 well-known women from Russia and Ukraine that aims to raise awareness and reduce stigma associated with HIV/AIDS opened Thursday in Moscow, the Moscow Times reports.

22 May 2008

Most HIV cases traced to transmission of single virus

Most HIV cases can be traced to the transmission of a single virus, according to a study published online Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academies of Science, the Birmingham News reports. According to researcher George Shaw, a professor at the University of Alabama-Birmingham, the findings are surprising and could have an impact on HIV/AIDS vaccine development.

22 May 2008

Medical News

Embryonic pathway delivers stem cell traits

How cells size up their growth opportunities

RTOG study likely treatment option for brain tumor patients like Sen. Kennedy

Anti-rejection drug sirolimus may increase risk of diabetes after kidney transplant

Discovery provides hope for patients with pancreatic cancer

Experimental drug blocks prostate cancer in animal study

Two Penn studies show drug-eluting stents outperform bare metal stents

AstraZeneca supports transparency legislation on payments to health care providers

Smoke-free laws are protecting all workers according to new study

Pennsylvania State agency seeks to gain control of Medicaid managed care plans' prescription drug benefits

Pharmaceutical, medical device industries have shifted campaign contributions to Democratic candidates

Summit to tackle African-American HIV/STD crisis

Kaiser Family Foundation creates new online tool that provides latest health policy facts and data

CBO finds health IT unlikely to generate significant savings

Senate Finance Committee Democrats to move forward with Medicare package that includes Medicare Advantage plan cuts

Senate leaders reach agreement on process for considering war supplemental spending bill, Medicaid provision

Louisiana Gov. Jindal's administration asks State Senate to restore millions in health care budget cuts

HHS receives more than thirty applications for electronic health records pilot program

STARS AGAINST AIDS exhibit in Moscow aims to raise awareness, reduce HIV/AIDS-related stigma

Most HIV cases traced to transmission of single virus

Transforming Cardiovascular Care: Insights from Mina Makar at AstraZeneca

Clue's CEO Rhiannon White on the Future of Femtech and PCOS

Freezing Point Osmometry in Life Science Applications

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