Medical News

RSS

Clinical study - Diagnostic testing for epilepsy released

Bionomics Limited announced today the publication of its international clinical study involving patients with a form of epilepsy confined to early childhood in the scientific journal, Annals of Neurology. The publication details genes associated with a condition known as Benign Familial Neonatal Infantile Spasms (BFNIS), a condition in which infants experience seizures in the first few months of their life.

22 Mar 2004

Raptiva, 20 percent improvement in an individual's signs and symptoms of arthritis.

Genentech, Inc. and XOMA Ltd. today announced preliminary results of a randomized, placebo-controlled Phase II study with RAPTIVA™ (efalizumab) in 107 patients with psoriatic arthritis. The study did not reach statistical significance at 12 weeks (84 days) for the primary endpoint, ACR 20 response. An ACR 20 response indicates at least a 20 percent improvement in an individual's signs and symptoms of arthritis.

22 Mar 2004

Scientists identify genetic changes during infection by tuberculosis

Researchers at the Center for Biomedical Inventions at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas have identified the genetic changes that Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium that causes tuberculosis, undergoes during infection of a living host.

22 Mar 2004

Plasticiser Phthalates connected with rising infertility rates

Phthalates, largely used as plasticisers, have long been suspected in connection with rising infertility rates, particularly among men. These substances are quite common and are considered highly hazardous to human health because they disrupt the hormonal balance and impair reproduction and development. What has not been clear up to now is the amount of phthalates that enter the human body.

22 Mar 2004

Study suggests cigarette smoking increases likelihood of death by prostate cancer

Although cure rates for prostate cancer patients who smoke cigarettes are about the same as patients who do not smoke, researchers have found that smokers were more likely to die of other causes than non-smokers, according to a new study in the March 15, 2004, issue of the International Journal of Radiation Oncology•Biology•Physics, the official journal of ASTRO, the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology.

22 Mar 2004

The placebo effect, study suggest pain management is possible

A Columbia professor has uncovered fresh evidence of the existence of the often-debated placebo effect. Even the professor himself, Tor D. Wager, of the Department of Psychology, was surprised by his team's findings. The study showed that the human brain processes pain differently when people believe that they have been given a pain-relieving skin cream. Wager, lead author of the study, defines "placebo" as a treatment that has no direct pharmacological effect and that may influence one's experience and physiology through one's beliefs.

22 Mar 2004

New Treatment for Chronic Head Pain

Dr. Levy pioneered a procedure known as supraorbital nerve stimulation or SOS, in which neurotransmitters are implanted into the forehead to block head pain. Tiny wires are burrowed under the skin until the precise location of pain is marked by a tingling response to electrical charge. The wires are kept in place for a week, and if pain is lessened and the patient is comfortable with the technology, neurotransmitters are surgically implanted under local anesthesia. The patient is able to control pain relief by manually adjusting the level of electrical stimulation through a hand held device.

22 Mar 2004

Spina bifida on the decline

The incidence of spina bifida has decreased by 32 percent in the United States over the past decade. The decrease indicates the success of the Public Health Service’s recommendations released in 1992 urging women to increase their levels of folic acid intake prior to becoming pregnant.

22 Mar 2004

Metal-on-metal disc, effective alternative to spinal fusion

The neck and arm pain caused by degenerative cervical (neck) disc disease may be eliminated by replacing the problem disc with a metal-on-metal artificial disc, according to the results of a study presented at the annual meeting of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons/CNS Section on Disorders of the Spine & Peripheral Nerves.

22 Mar 2004

New drug to treat urinary tract infections, a step closer

Depomed, Inc. today announced top line results from the Phase III clinical trial of its Ciprofloxacin GR, an extended release formulation of ciprofloxacin HCl, which is used to treat urinary tract infections. The data confirmed Phase II results, demonstrating that Depomed's once-daily Ciprofloxacin GR eliminated the organisms responsible for urinary tract infections as effectively as twice-daily CIPRO(R), but with fewer gastrointestinal side effects, specifically fewer incidences of nausea and diarrhea.

22 Mar 2004

FDA approves new chewable formulation of Zyrtec® aimed at young allergy sufferers

Pfizer Inc and UCB Pharma today announced the approval of a new chewable formulation of Zyrtec® (cetirizine HCl) for the treatment of seasonal and perennial allergic rhinitis (inflammation of the nasal passages) and chronic idiopathic urticaria (itching and hives of unknown causes) in children aged two years and older. The approval by the US Food and Drug Administration makes Zyrtec the first and only prescription antihistamine available in both syrup and chewable form.

22 Mar 2004

New research may help treatment of Norrie disease and familial exudative vitreoretinopathy (FEVR)

Researchers have discovered that genetic mutations underlying two inherited eye disorders arise in different components of a single intracellular signaling pathway that is responsible for development of blood vessels in the eye.

22 Mar 2004

Information about Lasik eye surgery, a new technique to treat cataracts

Using an advanced microsurgical technology, called Aqualase(R), a New York eye surgeon is now able to use a procedure to essentially "wash" cataracts away. "By using Aqualase(R) to treat my cataract patients, I am able to dissolve the clouded lens with pulses of warm, naturally balanced salt water solution in order to 'wash away' the lens layer by layer," said Satish Modi, M.D., F.R.C.S. ( C ), a leading ophthalmic surgeon in Poughkeepsie.

22 Mar 2004

New surgical glove alleviates need for "double gloving"

A unique, high-sensitivity, double surgical glove that saves time and money will be debuted at the Association of Operating Room Nurses (AORN) Congress in San Diego, March 20-25. The glove was developed by Bio-Barrier Inc., an infection control technology company based in Los Angeles. The new glove features two separate layers originating from a single cuff at the wrist.

22 Mar 2004

New pill for post-traumatic stress disorder

Every day, people suffer traumatic experiences that scar their minds. Combat, rape, bombings, burns, beatings, and horrific car accidents haunt them with memories impossible to suppress. Such day- and nightmares are part of a problem known as post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD.

22 Mar 2004

Liverpool scientist presents chronic illness study to House of Commons

A social scientist from the University of Liverpool has visited the House of Commons to present preliminary findings of an innovative research project to MPs.

22 Mar 2004

Chemotherapy offers new hope for pancreatic cancer patients

Chemotherapy after surgery more than doubles survival rates for pancreatic cancer according to new research published today (18 March 2004) in the New England Journal of Medicine. Scientists from the University of Birmingham and the University of Liverpool have carried out a Europe wide study of more than 280 patients over 10 years.

22 Mar 2004

Forward step in treatment of Allergic Rhinitis

Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has announced the presentation of clinical data for R112, the company’s lead candidate for the treatment of allergic rhinitis, during a poster session at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) in San Francisco, CA. The phase I/II single dose trial demonstrated that R112 was well tolerated and showed favorable biological effects.

22 Mar 2004

Breast feeding increases choline which means more brain cells

Five years ago, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill researchers first reported finding that the nutrient choline played a critical role in memory and brain function by positively affecting the brain’s physical development. Differences in development influenced action, the scientists and their colleagues found. In animal experiments conducted at Duke University, both young and old rats performed significantly better on memory tasks if they received enough choline before birth compared with same-age rats whose mothers were fed choline-deficient diets. The latter showed deficits in the hippocampus and septums of their brains.

22 Mar 2004

Herbal penis enhancement manufacturer off to court for false and deceptive advertisements

A customer today filed a lawsuit against the maker of the popular herbal male enhancement product Enzyte on behalf of purchasers, accusing the company of using false and deceptive advertisements with phony statistics to lure tens of thousands of men into purchasing its supplement.

22 Mar 2004

Medical News

Clinical study - Diagnostic testing for epilepsy released

Raptiva, 20 percent improvement in an individual's signs and symptoms of arthritis.

Scientists identify genetic changes during infection by tuberculosis

Plasticiser Phthalates connected with rising infertility rates

Study suggests cigarette smoking increases likelihood of death by prostate cancer

The placebo effect, study suggest pain management is possible

New Treatment for Chronic Head Pain

Spina bifida on the decline

Metal-on-metal disc, effective alternative to spinal fusion

New drug to treat urinary tract infections, a step closer

FDA approves new chewable formulation of Zyrtec® aimed at young allergy sufferers

New research may help treatment of Norrie disease and familial exudative vitreoretinopathy (FEVR)

Information about Lasik eye surgery, a new technique to treat cataracts

New surgical glove alleviates need for "double gloving"

New pill for post-traumatic stress disorder

Liverpool scientist presents chronic illness study to House of Commons

Chemotherapy offers new hope for pancreatic cancer patients

Forward step in treatment of Allergic Rhinitis

Breast feeding increases choline which means more brain cells

Herbal penis enhancement manufacturer off to court for false and deceptive advertisements

Shaping the Future of Neuroscience: A Conversation with Atlas Antibodies on the MolBoolean™ and the Impact of SfN 2024

How the Arts Reshape Brain Function: Susan Magsamen on the Future of Neuroaesthetics

Inside the Alzheimer's Association: Dr. Heather Snyder on Driving Research and Collaboration

Latest News