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Air Genome Project to sample air using whole genome shotgun sequencing

The J. Craig Venter Institute is launching a pilot project to better understand the diversity of microbes in urban air. In addition to more deeply characterizing the microbes we breathe every day, researchers anticipate that the results will provide information vital to designing systems that detect potentially dangerous biological substances in the air.

7 Mar 2005

Neuren and Metabolic collaborate to develop range of nerve repair compounds

Neuren Pharmaceuticals Ltd (Neuren) and Metabolic Pharmaceuticals Ltd (Metabolic) have announced that the two companies have agreed to collaborate to co-develop Neuren's class of Neuro-regenerative Peptides (NRPs) for the treatment of degenerative conditions such as peripheral neuropathy, motor neuron disease and repairing the brain or nerves after injuries such as spinal cord injury.

7 Mar 2005

Breakthrough noninvasive tool for early cardiovascular disease detection

Physicians and researchers now have access to a noninvasive fingertip test that can identify patients with the earliest stages of cardiovascular disease and replace testing that is done during angiography.

7 Mar 2005

How to maximise your chance of having a baby

New research by The Times has revealed a huge variation across the UK in the cost of a common fertility drug with some high street chemists charging infertile couples up to 80 per cent more than others for private prescriptions.

7 Mar 2005

America's youth are in a calcium crisis - they need more milk and milk products more often

March is National Nutrition Month, the time when dietitians and other health professionals encourage all of us to pay attention to what we eat. This annual call to action to make informed food choices is even more important for growing kids and teens.

7 Mar 2005

Studies find Aspirin resistance in up to 27% of Aspirin users

While aspirin remains a crucial and cost-effective therapy for the prevention and management of cardiovascular diseases, research suggests that a significant percentage of the 25 million Americans on a chronic aspirin regimen are "aspirin resistant," or do not achieve sufficient antiplatelet effects from aspirin.

7 Mar 2005

International expert group discusses alternatives to COX-2 inhibitors

International group of pain specialists meets to develop recommendations for the treatment of chronic moderate-to-severe pain in the wake of the global withdrawal of rofecoxib (Vioxx) and concerns regarding use of other COX-2 inhibitors.

7 Mar 2005

Britain's MRSA cases lowest ever recorded

Britain's Health Secretary, John Reid welcomed the latest mandatory surveillance figures released today showing MRSA infection rates at their lowest since recording began.

7 Mar 2005

Who would have thought we needed to study men for a cancer that targets women?

Who would have thought we needed to study men for a cancer that targets women? Anna Giuliano, Ph.D., at the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, is doing just that in an investigation concerning the human papillomavirus (HPV).

7 Mar 2005

Opportunities for European pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies in Indian and Chinese markets

Despite having over a third of the world's population, Asia accounts for only one fifth of global pharmaceutical drug consumption. As income levels rise, demand from this large population base is set to burgeon, opening up new growth opportunities for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.

7 Mar 2005

Novel role for cholesterol inside the cell

Cholesterol, often condemned for its role in heart disease, has always been known to be essential for the health of the fatty membranes that surround individual cells.

7 Mar 2005

Vietnam finds bird flu vaccine

Vietnam, hard hit by an epidemic that has killed 47 people in Asia and wiped out many millions of poultry has successfully tested a birdflu vaccine on monkeys and tests in humans could be only months away.

7 Mar 2005

WHO says countries should stockpile H5N1 vaccine

The World Health Organization is about to advise countries to stockpile the influenza vaccine strain known as H5N1, responsible for the deadly birdflu outbreak in Southeast Asia.

7 Mar 2005

Baby with two heads survives surgery

Because of a very rare birth defect known as craniopagus parasiticus, little Manar Maged was born attached skull-to-skull to the head of an undeveloped twin.

7 Mar 2005

Measles deaths halved

Dr LEE Jong-wook, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General, has congratulated countries for their successful efforts in protecting children from measles.

7 Mar 2005

National Patient Safety Awareness Week

National Patient Safety Awareness Week to be observed March 6-12, 2005, is a national education and awareness-building campaign for improving patient safety at the local level.

7 Mar 2005

Cure for heart disease very close despite poor funding

Doctors at Barts and The London NHS Trust are hoping a four-year research programme in stem cell research will bring them closer to finding a miracle cure for heart disease, but are struggling to raise the money. The programme will involve 600 patients.

7 Mar 2005