Health & Medicine Week back issues from August 2003:
Revised guidelines will ease selection of HIV/AIDS treatments.
Aug 04, 2003 ... 2003 AUG 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A new update of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Guidelines for the Use of Antiretroviral Agents in HIV-Infected Adults and Adolescents will make it easier for clinicians and HIV-infected individuals to select an appropriate ...
Coronavirus confirmed as causative agent.
Aug 04, 2003 ... 2003 AUG 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Leading scientists worldwide investigating the cause of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) confirm that a novel coronavirus is the primary cause of the disease. SARS was first reported in China in November 2002, with more than ...
FDA announces initiative to heighten battle against counterfeit drugs.
Aug 04, 2003 ... 2003 AUG 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- U.S. Commissioner of Food and Drugs Mark B. McClellan, MD, PhD, has announced a major new initiative to more aggressively protect American consumers from drugs that have been counterfeited. The new initiative includes creating an ...
Skills in palliative care are important for appropriate end-of-life care.
Aug 04, 2003 ... 2003 AUG 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Skills in palliative care are important for appropriate end-of-life care. "To increase the knowledge of the final phase of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a retrospective review of the medical and nursing records of 106 adult patients with ...
Spirituality among drug users influences HIV risk behavior.
Aug 04, 2003 ... 2003 AUG 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Spirituality among drug users with a high risk of HIV infection strongly influences their use of protective measures. "The relationship between spirituality and HIV risk behavior in a sample of 34 inner-city cocaine-using ...
Young athletes warned about rare but serious football injury.
Aug 04, 2003 ... 2003 AUG 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- While some injuries are inevitable in any sport, physicians caution young athletes about a subtle but serious football injury to the hip that often goes unrecognized. Claude T. Moorman III, MD, director of sports medicine, Duke ...
60 Million Africans affected, says UNAIDS executive director.
Aug 04, 2003 ... 2003 AUG 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- By continuing to devastate Africa's economies, communities, and development, HIV/AIDS has undoubtedly become Africa's biggest challenge. "Sixty million Africans have been touched by AIDS in the most immediate way. They are either living ...
Company begins U.S. licensing process for VScan HIV Rapid Test Kit.
Aug 04, 2003 ... 2003 AUG 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Medical Services International, Inc., (MSITF) announced it has begun the process with the appropriate regulatory agencies in the United States regarding the introduction and licensing of the company's lead product, the VScan HIV Rapid Test Kit. ...
Ritonavir-boosted Reyataz demonstrates comparable viral load reduction to Kaletra.
Aug 04, 2003 ... 2003 AUG 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Data presented at the 2nd International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Pathogenesis and Treatment demonstrate that a treatment regimen combining the drug Reyataz (Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.), the first once-daily protease inhibitor (PI) recently ...
Study: HIV treatment regimens containing Viramune or efavirenz comparable.
Aug 04, 2003 ... 2003 AUG 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Treatment regimens with either Viramune (nevirapine) or efavirenz provide comparable antiviral efficacy in the early treatment of HIV infection, according to an analysis that compared the two in separate studies conducted between 1996-2003. ...
Novel adenovirus-based SIV vaccine effective in macaques.
Aug 04, 2003 ... 2003 AUG 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Michael Greer, senior medical writer - A novel adenovirus-based vaccine against the simian version of HIV (SIV) has delivered promising results in a macaque model of infection, researchers in the United States report. Jun Zhao and ...
Arixtra prevents pulmonary embolism, deep-vein thrombosis.
Aug 04, 2003 ... 2003 AUG 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The results of the PEntasaccharide in GenerAl SUrgery Study (PEGASUS) presented at the XIXth Congress of the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis demonstrate that the novel synthetic antithrombotic agent, fondaparinux (Arixtra), a ...
Performance areas for random, unannounced surveys in 2004 to be revised.
Aug 04, 2003 ... 2003 AUG 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Beginning in 2004, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) will revise the fixed and variable performance areas evaluated during random unannounced surveys. Under the current accreditation process, the ...
Treatment of differentiation arrest in pre-B-cell stage with SLP-65 is curative.
Aug 04, 2003 ... 2003 AUG 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- SLP-65 given at the pre-B-cell stage doesn't allow arrest of differentiation or acute lymphoblastic leukemia type disease in a mouse model. According to a study from Germany, "Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the commonest form of ...
Immunotherapy effective for relapsed stem cell transplant recipients.
Aug 04, 2003 ... 2003 AUG 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Immunotherapy can be effective for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients who relapse after stem cell allografting. Scientists in Austria described the case of a 35-year-old female AML patient "who underwent allogeneic stem cell ...
Buprenorphine use in opioid-dependent mothers is safe for neonates.
Aug 04, 2003 ... 2003 AUG 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Buprenorphine use in opioid-dependent mothers is safe for neonates. According to a study from the United States, "tt is estimated that 55-94% of infants born to opioid-dependent mothers in US will show signs of opioid withdrawal ....
Metal and transition metal ions can enhance mast cell activation.
Aug 04, 2003 ... 2003 AUG 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Asthma may be exacerbated by mast cell activation initiated by metal ions in air pollution. "Upon contact with allergen, sensitized mast cells release highly active proinflammatory mediators. Allergen-mediated mast cell activation is an ...
Army survey measures soldiers' risky drinking behaviors.
Aug 04, 2003 ... 2003 AUG 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Soldiers who reported having more than 21 drinks a week on an Army survey were more likely to be hospitalized or discharged for alcohol-related problems later on in their military careers, according to recent research. The soldiers were ...
Trace amounts of cashew nut in food can now be detected by sandwich ELISA.
Aug 04, 2003 ... 2003 AUG 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Trace amounts of cashew nut (Anacardium occidentale L.) in food can now be detected by sandwich ELISA. According to published research from the United States, "Trace amounts of cashew nut protein can provoke severe allergic reactions in ...
Early exposure to cat, dog allergen to reduce allergy later may be hard to prove.
Aug 04, 2003 ... 2003 AUG 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- It may be difficult to design early cat and dog exposure experiments to prove reduced allergies later in life. According to recent research published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, "Several recent studies have ...
Pediatric Ascaris infection is protective effect against wheezing.
Aug 04, 2003 ... 2003 AUG 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Ascaris parasite infection had a protective effect against wheezing and asthma in Ethiopian children. "Epidemiological studies in developing countries suggest that intestinal parasite infection may reduce the risk of asthma. Because ...
Plasterboard composition may effect mold growth.
Aug 04, 2003 ... 2003 AUG 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Researchers from Finland found that the composition of the core material of plasterboard, a commonly used building material, can alter the growth sporulation of harmful molds in the plasterboard. In the study, the mold Stachybotrys ...
Atopic dermatitis, subsequent pulmonary allergies may have other treatments.
Aug 04, 2003 ... 2003 AUG 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Atopic dermatitis is frequently associated with later development of allergic rhinitis or asthma, and is linked to genetically determined immune regulation imbalances that might be targeted for adjustment. According to a study from ...
Anti-inflammatory drugs lower risk.
Aug 04, 2003 ... 2003 AUG 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) lower the risk of developing Alzheimer disease, claim researchers in a new report. The authors identified 15 studies published between 1996 and October 2002 that examined the role of NSAID use ...
Astrocytes in brain accumulate A beta 42; lysis creates amyloid plaque in brain.
Aug 04, 2003 ... 2003 AUG 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Alzheimer disease is formed by slow accumulation of Abeta42 in astrocytes, followed by lysis and plaque formation. "Beta-Amyloid(1-42) (Abeta42), a major component of amyloid plaques, accumulates within pyramidal neurons in the brains of ...
Brain calcium sensor reflects cognitive deficits.
Aug 04, 2003 ... 2003 AUG 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A protein that senses changes in calcium levels can be used to estimate the extent of cognitive deficits caused by toxic amyloid peptides found in Alzheimer brains, researchers at the Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease (GIND) and the ...
Eating fish weekly may reduce risk.
Aug 04, 2003 ... 2003 AUG 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Eating foods that contain n-3 fatty acids (found in foods including fish, nuts and oil-based salad dressings) and weekly consumption of fish may reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer disease (AD) later in life, according to a new study. ...
Histology, disease severity combine to form a sequence of events, grading system.
Aug 04, 2003 ... 2003 AUG 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Disease severity and histological observation of primary visual cortex provide a grading system as well as a sequence of events in Alzheimer disease. "Progression of neuritic and Abeta pathology in the cerebral cortex during aging and ...
Overweight at age 70 increases women's risk of AD.
Aug 04, 2003 ... 2003 AUG 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A study from Sweden has found a striking association between women being overweight at 70 and developing Alzheimer's disease (AD) 10 to 18 years later. The study was reported in the July 15, 2003, issue of the Archives of Internal ...
Possible new treatment pathway identified.
Aug 04, 2003 ... 2003 AUG 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Accumulation of a protein fragment believed to have a critical role in the devastating dementia of Alzheimer disease can be halted - and existing damage may be reversed - by blocking one of the fragment's key receptors, researchers say. ...
Weight may affect female risk.
Aug 04, 2003 ... 2003 AUG 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A new study has found that overweight women may have a higher risk of developing Alzheimer - the latest report to link the disease to vascular factors such as hypertension and diabetes. Researchers found "a striking relationship" between ...
Pigment epithelium-derived factor polices prostate and pancreatic tissues.
Aug 04, 2003 ... 2003 AUG 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Pigment epithelium-derived factor polices prostate and pancreatic tissues. According to a study from the United States, "angiogenesis sustains tumor growth and metastasis, and recent studies indicate that the vascular endothelium ...
Family link to brain aneurysms is studied.
Aug 04, 2003 ... 2003 AUG 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Devastating brain aneurysms strike at least 16,000 Americans each year, killing nearly half of them. Sometimes, the only warning is that a relative collapsed under similar circumstances. That possible family connection is the focus of a ...
FDA panel to review Ranexa in September.
Aug 04, 2003 ... 2003 AUG 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- CV Therapeutics, Inc., (CVTX) announced that it has been informed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that the company's new drug application (NDA) for Ranexa (ranolazine) for the potential treatment of chronic angina is scheduled for ...
5-HT2c gene associated with susceptibility to anorexia nervosa.
Aug 04, 2003 ... 2003 AUG 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The 5-HT2c gene is associated with susceptibility to anorexia nervosa and minimum body mass index of patients with the eating disorder. "The association between a non-conservative Cys23Ser in the 5-HT2c gene and anorexia nervosa in ...
Researchers discover novel mechanism of how anthrax impairs immunity.
Aug 04, 2003 ... 2003 AUG 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- In the first study of its kind, researchers led by Bali Pulendran, PhD, at the Emory Vaccine Center and the Yerkes National Primate Research Center have shown that anthrax lethal factor (LF) impairs the function of dendritic cells and thereby ...
Hot spots in Tcf4 for the interaction with beta-catenin studied.
Aug 04, 2003 ... 2003 AUG 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Hot spots in Tcf4 for the interaction with beta-catenin studied. According to recent research published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, "The interaction of beta-catenin with T-cell factor (Tcf) 4 plays a central role in the Wnt ...
Mitochondrial heat shock protein may be one determinant of drug sensitivity.
Aug 04, 2003 ... 2003 AUG 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Mitochondrial heat shock protein may be one determinant of drug sensitivity. According to recent research published in the journal Leukemia Research, "Since DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) has been known to play a protective role ...
Epidermal Langerhans cells bind and are activated by enterobacterial OmpA.
Aug 04, 2003 ... 2003 AUG 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Epidermal Langerhans cells bind and are activated by enterobacterial OmpA from Klebsiella pneumoniae. "Outer membrane protein (OmpA) is highly represented and conserved in the Enterobacteriaceae family. Using a recombinant OmpA from ...
Mechanisms of oxazolidinone activity elucidated.
Aug 04, 2003 ... 2003 AUG 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The mechanisms of oxazolidinone activity have been elucidated. "Oxazolidinone antibiotics, an important new class of synthetic antibacterials, inhibit protein synthesis by interfering with ribosomal function," researchers in the United ...
Novel model describes release of antimicrobial agents from food packaging films.
Aug 04, 2003 ... 2003 AUG 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A novel system can be used to characterize antibiotic release from food packaging films. "A mathematical model able to describe the release kinetics of antimicrobial agents from crosslinked polyvinylalcohol (PVOH) into water" was created ...
Study: Foods rich in lycopene may reduce risk of CVD in women.
Aug 04, 2003 ... 2003 AUG 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A recent study found that women with the highest intake of tomato-based foods, rich sources of the antioxidant lycopene, had a reduced risk for CVD compared to women with low intake of those foods. The study also showed a positive trend ...
Oral DJ-927 has superior efficacy over i.v. paclitaxel or docetaxel.
Aug 04, 2003 ... 2003 AUG 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Oral DJ-927 has superior efficacy over i.v. paclitaxel or docetaxel. "DJ-927 is a novel taxane, which was selected for high solubility, non-neurotoxicity, oral bioavailability, and potent antitumor activity," scientists writing in the ...
Oral glutamine did not protect against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats.
Aug 04, 2003 ... 2003 AUG 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Oral glutamine did not protect against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats. "The antioxidant activity of the amino acid glutamine was investigated to obtain protection against peroxidative damage in rat kidney and nephrotoxicity ...
Rat genomic assays available for real-time gene expression analysis.
Aug 04, 2003 ... 2003 AUG 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Applied Biosystems Group (ABI), an Applera Corporation business, announced the initial release of pre-formulated gene expression assays for researchers studying the rat, an important animal model used for disease research and safety assessment of ...
Distribution agreement signed for Xolair.
Aug 04, 2003 ... 2003 AUG 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- AdvancePCS (ADVP) announced that its specialty pharmacy, AdvancePCS SpecialtyRx, has signed an agreement with Genentech, Inc., (DNA) to provide Xolair (omalizumab) for subcutaneous use to patients whose pharmacy benefits are managed by AdvancePCS. ...
Age-related stem cell loss prevents artery repair.
Aug 04, 2003 ... 2003 AUG 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Aging has long been recognized as the worst risk factor for chronic ailments like atherosclerosis, which clogs arteries and leads to heart attacks and stroke. Yet, the mechanism by which aging promotes the clogging of arteries has remained an ...
Flares are reduced by use of pimecrolimus cream at symptom onset.
Aug 04, 2003 ... 2003 AUG 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Flares are reduced by use of pimecrolimus cream at onset of symptoms of atopic dermatitis. "Elidel is a steroid-free cream containing a 1% strength of the topical immunomodulator pimecrolimus. Elidel was specifically developed as a ...
An anatomical approach may prevent complications during left atrial ablation.
Aug 04, 2003 ... 2003 AUG 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- An anatomical approach may prevent complications during left atrial ablation. According to recent research published in the journal Annals of Thoracic Surgery, "Atrial fibrillation ablation surgery has grown very popular in recent years ....
Approval granted to sell new configuration microcatheter in Europe.
Aug 04, 2003 ... 2003 AUG 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Cardima, Inc., (CRDM) announced receipt of the CE Mark for its Revelation Helix STX therapeutic microcatheter to treat atrial fibrillation (AF) originating in the pulmonary veins. The Revelation Helix STX, or "large loop" version of the ...
CDC and partners launch autism awareness initiative.
Aug 04, 2003 ... 2003 AUG 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in partnership with the Autism Society of America (ASA) have announced a joint initiative aimed at boosting awareness of the importance of early screening and intervention for autism. ...
Pemphigus herpetiformis and systemic lupus erythematosus can occur together.
Aug 04, 2003 ... 2003 AUG 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Pemphigus herpetiformis and systemic lupus erythematosus were treated by corticosteroids and immunosuppressants. "A female patient with coexistence of pemphigus herpetiformis and systemic lupus erythematosus is described. She presented ...
Allelic variation of ICOS gene doesn't appear linked with amino acid changes.
Aug 04, 2003 ... 2003 AUG 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Lack of amino acid level allelic variation in genes related to autoimmune disease, such as ICOS, may indicate that transcriptional regulation may be involved in disease. "The human chromosome region 2q33 including the 3 costimulatory ...
Helicobacter pylori disease may be exacerbated by in vivo cell invasion.
Aug 04, 2003 ... 2003 AUG 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Helicobacter pylori is found to be readily invasive in cell culture, but there is scant evidence for invasion coming from clinical samples so far. "In this review we evaluate the pros and cons of Helicobacter pylori invasion of ...
Beta-lactamase export does not depend on signal recognition particle.
Aug 04, 2003 ... 2003 AUG 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Bacterial beta-lactamase export does not depend on signal recognition particles. According to recent research from Germany, "in Escherichia coli, three different types of proteins engage the SecY translocon of the inner bacterial ...
The magnitude of hedgehog signaling activity defines skin tumor phenotype.
Aug 04, 2003 ... 2003 AUG 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The magnitude of hedgehog signaling activity defines skin tumor phenotype. According to a study from the United States, "Gain-of-function mutations in SMO have been implicated in constitutive activation of the hedgehog signaling pathway ...
Antidepressant helps alleviate compulsive shopping disorder.
Aug 04, 2003 ... 2003 AUG 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- While a trip to the mall may mean a cute sweater or new CD for most of us, it has ominous implications for the thousands of Americans who suffer from compulsive shopping disorder, a condition marked by binge shopping and subsequent financial ...
Fluorescent protein used for genetic reporting shouldn't harm humans.
Aug 04, 2003 ... 2003 AUG 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Fluorescent protein used for genetic reporting shouldn't harm humans. "Several proposed biotechnological applications of green fluorescent protein (GFP) are likely to result in its introduction into the food supply of domestic animals ...
Implanted biomaterials allow scientists to inspect angiogenesis up close.
Aug 04, 2003 ... 2003 AUG 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Implanted biomaterials allow scientists to inspect angiogenesis up close. "The aim of this study is the histological characterization of angiogenesis in a macroporous biomaterial with quantification techniques used in oncology. Porous ...
Electron microscopy can differentiate poxviruses from herpesviruses.
Aug 04, 2003 ... 2003 AUG 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Electron microscopy can differentiate poxviruses from herpesviruses. According to a study from the United States, "With increased threat of terrorism, much attention is being directed toward readiness for biodefense. Smallpox virus, a ...
Plasma P-selectin levels rise in people with chronic liver diseases.
Aug 04, 2003 ... 2003 AUG 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Plasma P-selectin levels rise in people with chronic liver diseases "P-selectin is a leukocyte receptor and platelet activation marker that has been shown to be involved in thrombogenesis as well as bleeding disorders and may represent a ...
Finnish company announces alliance for AIDS vaccine research.
Aug 04, 2003 ... 2003 AUG 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- FIT Biotech Plc and the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) have entered into a public-private research partnership to evaluate FIT Biotech's investigational vaccine to prevent AIDS. Scientists agree that a vaccine that prevents ...
A small fraction of giant cells potentially clonogenic.
Aug 04, 2003 ... 2003 AUG 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A small fraction of giant cells might be potentially clonogenic. "This study was designed to examine the viability and proliferation of uninucleated and multinucleated giant cells formed after 6 Gy X irradiation. The pedigrees of 102 ...
CE Mark approval granted for prostatic stent.
Aug 04, 2003 ... 2003 AUG 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- AbbeyMoor Medical, Inc., announced that it has received the CE Mark approval for The Spanner Temporary Prostatic Stent for temporary use, 30 days or less, in men with bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) to reduce elevated post void residual (PVR) and ...
Clot-imaging agent helps detect deep vein thrombosis.
Aug 04, 2003 ... 2003 AUG 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Agenix Limited announced that it has made a significant breakthrough in the detection of blood clots at Royal Brisbane Hospital. Agenix's blood clot imaging agent ThromboView successfully detected a deep vein thrombosis of a patient as ...