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New discovery on how rheumatoid arthritis destroys bone

Researchers have discovered key details of how rheumatoid arthritis (RA) destroys bone, according to a study published in the Aug. 22 edition of the Journal of Biological Chemistry. The findings are already guiding attempts to design new drugs to reverse RA-related bone loss and may also address more common forms of osteoporosis with a few adjustments.

20 Aug 2008

Scientists trace evolution of the nerve cell

University of Queensland researchers have traced the origins of one of the most important steps in animal evolution - the development of nerves.

20 Aug 2008

Middle ear infections in childhood linked to obesity later in life

Researchers are reporting new evidence of a possible link between a history of moderate to severe middle ear infections in childhood and a tendency to be overweight later in life. Their study suggests that prompt diagnosis and treatment of middle ear infections - one of the most common childhood conditions requiring medical attention - may help fight obesity in some people.

20 Aug 2008

Scientists engineer first drug-delivery particles capable of passing through human mucus

Chemical engineers from Johns Hopkins University have broken the "mucus barrier," engineering the first drug-delivery particles capable of passing through human mucus - regarded by many as nearly impenetrable - and carrying medication that could treat a range of diseases. Those conditions include lung cancer, cervical cancer and cystic fibrosis, the research noted in a presentation scheduled for the 236th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society.

20 Aug 2008

Lycopene molecules in tomatoes could help fight cancer

Turning up the heat on the red tomato during processing has the potential to give the popular garden staple added disease-fighting power, Ohio State University research suggests.

20 Aug 2008

Scientists synthesize promising anti-cancer product from marine algae

Duke University chemists have patented an efficient technique for synthesizing a marine algae extract in sufficient quantities to now test its ability to inhibit the growth of cancerous cells while leaving normal cells unaffected.

20 Aug 2008

Warning issued on dangers of diabetes drug Avandia

Thousands of Australians who are taking the diabetes drug Avandia (rosiglitazone) have been urged by the drug's manufacturer to see their doctors following safety issues concerning the medication.

20 Aug 2008

Eli Lilly acquires SGX Pharmaceuticals

Eli Lilly and Company has announced that it has completed the acquisition of SGX Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Public, NASDAQ:SGXP), a San Diego-based biotechnology company focused on drug discovery and development in the area of oncology.

20 Aug 2008

Teen cancer survival on the rise, but more work needed

The first national report detailing survival for teenagers and young adults with cancer shows that survival rates climbed by around 11 per cent over two decades.

From The University of Manchester 20 Aug 2008

Addiction drug Vigabatrin proves successful in animal weight loss study

Vigabatrin, a medication proposed as a potential treatment for drug addiction by scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory, also leads to rapid weight loss and reduced food intake according to a new animal study from the same research group.

20 Aug 2008

Type 2 diabetes linked to arsenic in drinking water

While exposure to high concentrations of the element in drinking water and in the workplace has been shown to be associated with diabetes, little is known about the effect of lower levels on diabetes risk.

20 Aug 2008

Drugs and fruit juices - a combination to avoid

It has been common knowledge for a number of years that grapefruit juice can influence the absorption of certain drugs, potentially turning normal doses into toxic overdoses.

20 Aug 2008

Camera in teddy bear catches carer thieving from sick elderly woman

A carer caught on camera stealing from her sick and elderly client has been sentenced to six months in prison after pleading guilty to two charges of theft.

20 Aug 2008

eHealth closer to reality thanks to real-time relevant medical data extraction

In the framework of Holst Centre, IMEC - Europe's leading independent nanoelectronics research institute - has broadened the functionality and scope of its wireless health monitoring technology by linking it to real-time extraction of relevant medical data.

20 Aug 2008

Research indicates no justification for denying obese patients knee replacements

Research by scientists at the MRC Epidemiology Resource Centre at the University of Southampton, in collaboration with colleagues at the universities of Bristol, Oxford and Keele, has shown that there is no justification for denying obese patients knee replacement surgery.

20 Aug 2008

Significant long-term benefit for low back pain revealed by major study

A major study led by a Southampton researcher has found significant evidence that the Alexander Technique can provide long-term benefit for people with chronic or recurrent low back pain.

20 Aug 2008

New Zealand man fined for claiming to be a chiropractor

A Nelson man has been fined over $4000 after repeatedly claiming to be a qualified and registered chiropractor in New in New Zealand.

20 Aug 2008

Newly uncovered cells may be critical in psoriasis

Psoriasis, one of humanity's oldest known diseases, has also been one of its most misunderstood. But in a new study that could change researchers' perspective of the skin disorder and potentially lead to powerful new drug targets, Rockefeller University scientists have found that the source of psoriasis may be a single population of inflammatory cells that act as instigators by priming the body's immune system for self-attack.

20 Aug 2008

Low-level exposure cadmium linked to emphysema

New research suggests that cadmium is one of the critical ingredients causing emphysema, and even low-level exposure attained through second-hand smoke and other means may also increase the chance of developing lung disease.

20 Aug 2008

Alcohol's effects on childbearing onset across reproductive development

Alcohol use during the teen years can not only lead to subsequent alcohol problems, it can also lead to risky sexual behavior and a greater risk of early childbearing. An examination of the relationship between a lifetime history of alcohol dependence (AD) and timing of first childbirth across reproductive development has found that AD in women is associated with delayed reproduction.

20 Aug 2008