Health & Medicine Week back issues from October 2003:
Sensory cells for hearing and balance are fast developing.
Oct 06, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The functional development of hair cells in the inner ear that mediate hearing and balance takes place over a period of just 1 day in mouse embryos, according to a study by a research team at the University of Virginia (U.Va.) Health System. ...
JCAHO creates two options to address legal disclosure concerns.
Oct 06, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) announced in September 2003 two options designed to address legal disclosure concerns related to the Periodic Performance Review (PPR). The PPR is an integral ...
HHS, public health partners unveil campaign to promote proper antibiotic use.
Oct 06, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and a consortium of national health organizations have urged consumers to be cautious about their use of antibiotics as the cold and flu season approaches. Officials stressed that ...
North American mammographers prone to more false positives, study finds.
Oct 06, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Community-based mammography screening programs in North America are yielding a higher percentage of abnormal mammograms than corresponding programs in other countries, but without any apparent benefit in terms of a higher cancer detection rate, ...
Teams will integrate genomic, clinical, and epidemiological data.
Oct 06, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Like a puzzle with key pieces missing, gene-expression data provide medical researchers with a critical, but incomplete, story of how complex diseases develop. The other parts of the story only can be revealed when genomic data are analyzed ...
Client-nurse practitioner interactions drive resource exchanges.
Oct 06, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Client-nurse practitioner interactions drive resource exchanges. "Empirical research has thoroughly documented the success of nurse practitioners (NPs) in terms of patient satisfaction and cost-effectiveness. What is missing is the ...
Smallpox vaccines may protect against HIV.
Oct 06, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Smallpox vaccinations may also provide protection against the virus that causes AIDS, according to researchers at George Mason University. The findings are only preliminary and based on a very small study, but Ken Alibek, director of the ...
Study will test antiviral drug tenofovir to prevent HIV infection.
Oct 06, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- University of California San Francisco (UCSF) researchers have been funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health to study the antiretroviral drug tenofovir as a potential pre-exposure prophylaxis in Cambodia among high-risk, HIV-uninfected ...
Incyte enters licensing agreement for a phase II HIV drug.
Oct 06, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Incyte Corp. (INCY) and Pharmasset, Ltd., announced that they have entered into a collaborative licensing agreement to develop and commercialize the antiretroviral drug Reverset, also known as RVT, D-D4FC, or DPC-817, which is currently in phase ...
Study: Patients can benefit from simplified antiretroviral treatments.
Oct 06, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A large study shows that simplified antiretroviral treatment regimens containing Viramune (nevirapine) or efavirenz offer comparable efficacy and safety in patients who switched from a protease inhibitor (PI)-based regimen. Viramune and ...
Some Acanthamoeba strains are different enough to need reclassification.
Oct 06, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Two Acanthoamoeba polyphaga strains are different enough to need reclassification, and they may even have different pathogenicity. "The genus Acanthamoeba includes more than 20 morphological species, but classification is problematical ....
FDA clears BLU-U Blue Light Photodynamic Therapy Illuminator.
Oct 06, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- DUSA Pharmaceuticals, Inc., (DUSA) reported that on September 9, 2003, it received 510(k) marketing clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the BLU-U Blue Light Photodynamic Therapy Illuminator Model 4170, which allows DUSA ...
Peptide studied in acne patients.
Oct 06, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Helix BioMedix announced the completion of a preliminary study designed to evaluate the efficacy of one of the company's proprietary peptides, HB64, in reducing the severity of mild to moderate acne symptoms. Pennsylvania-based DermDx ...
Abington Memorial Hospital earns magnet designation.
Oct 06, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The nursing service at Abington Memorial Hospital has received one of the nation's highest forms of recognition for excellence. Magnet designation is being awarded to Abington Memorial Hospital, making it the first acute care hospital in ...
Functional FAS promoter polymorphisms are associated with increased risk of AML.
Oct 06, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Functional FAS promoter polymorphisms are associated with increased risk of AML. "The FAS (TNFRSF6/CD95/APO-1) gene is silenced in many tumor types, resulting in an inability to respond to proapoptotic signals," scientists in England ...
Antibiotics don't help heart in study.
Oct 06, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Antibiotics failed to ward off heart trouble in the biggest study yet to test the theory that low-level infections play a major role in triggering heart attacks. But researchers said they are not yet ready to give up on the idea. The ...
Chest pain units improve the treatment of heart attacks.
Oct 06, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Chest pain accounts for a considerable number of consultations in emergency departments. Among several other causes of chest pain, heart attacks need to be ruled out promptly since a fast diagnosis shortens the time to treatment and this allows ...
Heart may heal with help from oxygen-sensitive genes, new study suggests.
Oct 06, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Researchers have uncovered a mechanism that the heart may use to repair tissue damaged during a heart attack. A new study reveals that oxygen is the trigger that helps specific genes in hearT-cells, called cardiac fibroblasts, transform ...
TT virus load corresponds with disease and immune cell imbalance in children.
Oct 06, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Children with acute respiratory disease often test positive for TT virus viremia; greater disease is associated with lower T-cell, higher B-cell counts. "TT virus (TTV) produces chronic plasma viremia in around 90% of healthy individuals ...
Role of signal regulation by G-proteins in opioid dependence reviewed.
Oct 06, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Researchers have published a review of the role of signal regulation by G-proteins in opioid dependence in a recent issue of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology. According to a study from People's Republic of China, ...
Young women who take ecstasy face the risk of extremely low sodium levels.
Oct 06, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Young women who take ecstasy face the risk of extremely low sodium levels. "We present a case of acute, symptomatic hyponatremia in a young woman that developed after use of 3,4-methylenedioxymethylamphetamine (MDMA), more commonly known ...
Adenovirus type 11 uses CD46 as a cellular receptor.
Oct 06, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Adenovirus type 11 uses CD46 as a cellular receptor. According to a study from Sweden, "The 51 human adenovirus serotypes are divided into six species (A to F). Many adenoviruses use the coxsackie-adenovirus receptor (CAR) for attachment ...
Study to examine effectiveness for mentally ill patients.
Oct 06, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The U.S. National Institute of Mental Health has awarded a Duke University Medical Center team $1.98 million in research funding to study the use and effectiveness of "psychiatric advance directives (PADs)" - legal documents created by patients who ...
Vaginal natamycin treatment during pregnancy does not harm the fetus.
Oct 06, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Vaginal natamycin treatment during pregnancy does not harm the fetus. "The aim of this study was to investigate the teratogenicity of vaginal natamycin treatment during pregnancy, because the data of human epidemiological studies have ...
Rheopheresis reduces vessel-linked eye disease.
Oct 06, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Rheopheresis reduces vessel-linked eye disease. According to recent research published in the journal Transfusion and Apheresis Science, "in the majority of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) patients the therapeutic situation is ...
Longevity's healthcare costs reassessed.
Oct 06, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- More "golden years" do not cost the health care system more: Whether people are healthy at age 70 and live independently for many more years or are sickly and die sooner, their medical costs are about the same, federal researchers say. ...
Alcohol drinking patterns differentially affect central adiposity.
Oct 06, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Alcohol drinking patterns differentially affect central adiposity as measured by abdominal height. "Alcohol drinking in light-to-moderate amounts has been associated with reduced coronary heart disease (CND) risk. However, there is ...
Chronic drinking increases cortisol during intoxication and withdrawal.
Oct 06, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Cortisol, known as a "stress hormone," plays an important role in the regulation of emotion, cognition, reward, immune functioning, and energy utilization. A study published in Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research has found that ...
Researchers study effects of alcohol abuse on lungs through $7 million NIH grant.
Oct 06, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- As part of a recently launched study funded by a $7 million grant from the Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism branch of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, researchers at Emory University School of Medicine are working to combat acute respiratory ...
Experimental drug for allergic rhinitis studied in multidose safety trial.
Oct 06, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc., (RIGL) has initiated a multidose safety trial of R112, an experimental drug to treat allergic rhinitis, to establish the longer-term, multi-dose safety of R112 in various dosing regimens. Results of this ...
New research in allergic inflammation and anti-IgE therapy unveiled.
Oct 06, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- New research on allergic diseases and patient care was released at the World Allergy Organization's (WAO) Congress in Vancouver, Canada, which took place September 6-12, 2003. Respiratory allergies are not affected by varying rates in ...
SOCS-3 expression is tied to asthma, allergy, IgE production, TH2 response.
Oct 06, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- SOCS-3 expression relates to TH2 response maintenance, serum IgE in allergy, and asthma and atopic dermatitis disease; may be a candidate for immunotherapeutic targeting. "Members of the suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) family ...
NOS1 polymorphism linked to atopy, but not exhaled NO levels in healthy children.
Oct 06, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Mutations in the NOS1 gene are linked to atopy - but not exhaled nitric oxide levels (FENO) - in healthy children. FENO "is raised in atopy. The mechanism for this is unclear," according to scientists at the University of Western ...
Experts concerned about insurance coverage of second-generation antihistamines.
Oct 06, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Julie B. Henderson, senior medical editor - A trio of allergists believes the reduction or elimination of prescription coverage for second-generation antihistamines by managed care companies is "medically inappropriate", economically ...
Murine CRTH2 is functional orthologue of human receptor.
Oct 06, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Murine CRTH2 is the functional orthologue of its human counterpart. According to published research from Japan, "CRTH2, the second receptor for prostaglandin D-2 (PGD(2)), is thought to play a role in allergic inflammations through the ...
Alzheimer disease hypothesis based on transcriptional dysregulation.
Oct 06, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A researcher has proposed an Alzheimer disease hypothesis based on transcriptional dysregulation. According to recent research from the United States, "Alzheimer disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder of the central nervous system ...
Biochemicals in spinal fluid may aid in diagnosis.
Oct 06, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Measuring the ratio of two biochemicals in spinal fluid may help in evaluating patients with dementia and aid in diagnosing Alzheimer disease (AD), according to new research. Diagnosing AD and distinguishing it from other dementias ...
Brief telephonic questionnaire detects early signs of dementia.
Oct 06, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Researchers have developed a brief telephonic questionnaire that reliably distinguishes between people with signs of dementia and people with normal cognitive function. The questionnaire provides a way to reach out to people with ...
Structure of fibrous crystals formed by Alzheimer's peptide reported.
Oct 06, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The structure and texture of fibrous crystals formed by Alzheimer's A beta(11-25) peptide fragment have been reported in a recent issue of the journal Structure. According to recent research from England, "Amyloid fibril deposition is ...
Novel drug candidate shows promise in treating neurodegenerative diseases.
Oct 06, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Pharmacyclics, Inc. (PCYC) announced the presentation of promising findings from preclinical studies of a novel drug candidate to treat neurodegenerative diseases based on its proprietary texaphyrin technology platform. The presentation ...
Bypass surgery may relieve chest pain better than angioplasty plus stent.
Oct 06, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Bypass surgery is better than stent-assisted angioplasty at relieving chest pain and improving quality of life in the year after the procedure, researchers report. The study is the first randomized trial to compare improvement in ...
Heart patients may benefit from VEGF gene transfer.
Oct 06, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Heart patients may benefit from VEGF gene transfer. According to a study from the United States, "this phase I open label, dose-escalating study shows that gene transfer of vascular endothelial growth factor-2 naked deoxyribonucleic acid ...
Fibrinolytic factors are not useful in predicting risk of thromboembolism.
Oct 06, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Fibrinolytic factors are not useful in predicting risk of venous thromboembolism. According to recent research from the United States, "Prior research has conflicted on whether increased levels of plasma fibrinolytic factors may identify ...
Fucoidan and heparin enhance growth factor-induced tube formation.
Oct 06, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- According to a study from France, "basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2) activates its high-affinity receptors (FGFRs) but also acts through interaction with heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPG). Exogenous polysaccharides also modulate the ...
Myocardin "necessary and sufficient" for vascular smooth muscle cell development.
Oct 06, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Myocardin plays an indispensable role in the development of vascular smooth muscle. "Formation of the vascular system requires differentiation and patterning of endothelial and smooth muscle cells (SMCs)," scientists in the United States ...
Basis of lisinopril-binding specificity in human ACE reported.
Oct 06, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Scientists present the structural basis of the lisinopril-binding specificity in N- and C-domains of human somatic angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE)in a recent issue of Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. According ...
Adult human blood stem cells can build human blood vessels in mice.
Oct 06, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- University of Florida (UF) scientists have scored another first in a string of advances using stem cells, this time showing they can inject mice with adult stem cells from human blood and spur human blood vessels to grow in their eyes. ...
Fasting plasma ghrelin levels examined in subtypes of anorexia nervosa.
Oct 06, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The fasting plasma ghrelin levels in subtypes of anorexia nervosa were reported in a recent issue of the journal Psychoneuroendocrinology. "Ghrelin has a role in regulating eating behavior and energy metabolism in the central nervous ...
Innovative Medical enters partnership to develop, market Axenohl-based products.
Oct 06, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Innovative Medical Services (PURE) has signed an agreement with Therapeutics, Inc., a drug development company based in La Jolla, California, for the development and commercialization of U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulated ...
Clarithromycin has no effect on inflammatory markers in atherosclerosis.
Oct 06, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Clarithromycin has no effect on inflammatory markers in atherosclerotic, coronary artery disease patients. "Atherosclerosis can, to a certain extent, be regarded as an inflammatory disease. Also, inflammatory markers may provide ...
Initiative achieves significant antibiotic prescription cost savings.
Oct 06, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The Health Action Council of Northeast Ohio and Caremark, Inc., have demonstrated that prescription drug expenses, one of the fastest growing components of healthcare costs, can be reduced while improving the quality of patient care. ...
Heat elution chromatography is a new antibody purification method.
Oct 06, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A new method of antibody purification is based on capture and release by M protein at different temperatures. According to recent research from Sweden, "A tremendous increase has taken place over the last decades in the biochemical and ...
Marine-derived anticancer agents are evaluated in clinical trials.
Oct 06, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Marine-derived anticancer agents are evaluated in clinical trials. According to a study from Brazil, "Anticancer agents may be derived either from the isolation of an active lead compound occurring spontaneously in nature or by novel ...
Immunotherapeutic approaches to prostate cancer therapy are improving.
Oct 06, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Immunotherapeutic approaches for prostate cancer increase with knowledge of how to stimulate anticancer immune responses. According to a study from the United States, "The components of an effective immune response have been elucidated ...
T-cell receptor signaling for hours is necessary for maximal immune response.
Oct 06, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Antigen presentation involves continuous T-cell receptor signaling for hours to have highest IL-2 production and cell proliferation. "Although signals through the T-cell receptor (TCR) are essential for the initiation of T helper cell ...
Actinonin might be useful in increasing neutrophil response against bacteria.
Oct 06, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Actinonin might be useful in increasing production of unique bacterial proteins that neutrophils respond to. According to recent research from Sweden, "Bacterial protein synthesis starts with a formylated methionine residue, and this ...
Costs of antibacterial resistance outlined.
Oct 06, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The costs of antibacterial resistance have been outlined. "Despite increasing bacterial resistance to existing drugs, investment in antibacterial discovery and development efforts appears to be flagging. Several factors may play a role ...
Consuming dietary antioxidant supplements has pros and cons for any population.
Oct 06, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Consuming dietary antioxidant supplements has pros and cons for any population. "The health-related effects of interactions between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and dietary antioxidants and the consequences of dietary antioxidant ...
Antipsychotic drugs linked to type 2 diabetes.
Oct 06, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Evidence from a large health plan database indicates an association between antipsychotic medications and type 2 diabetes. According to a study from the United States, "Case evidence suggests that some of the atypical antipsychotics may ...
Up to 10,000 Ugandans with AIDS to receive antiretroviral medications.
Oct 06, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The Republic of Uganda's Minister of State for Health announced in Washington, DC, a groundbreaking initiative to offer life-extending antiretroviral (ARV) medications to as many as 10,000 Ugandans living with HIV/AIDS by next summer in partnership ...
Company announces discovery of positively charged cardiolipin.
Oct 06, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- NeoPharm, Inc., (NEOL) announced that it has discovered new analogs of cationic (positively charged) cardiolipin for use in the company's NeoLipid liposomal system. Results were presented via poster at the American Chemical Society ...
Limitin is similar to but distinct from interferon-alpha as hepatitis C therapy.
Oct 06, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Limitin is similar to but distinct from interferon-alpha as hepatitis C therapy. According to recent research from Japan, "limitin has sequence homology with alpha interferon (IFN-alpha) and IFN-beta and utilizes the IFN-alpha/beta ...
High blood pressure, fatty deposits are "bit players" in bulging arteries.
Oct 06, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Contrary to long-accepted conventional wisdom and to current theories, high blood pressure and other risk factors for plaque buildup are not major factors in the dangerous ballooning of blood vessels near the heart, according to a Mayo Clinic ...
Novel mechanisms of apoptosis induced by histone deacetylase inhibitors.
Oct 06, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Novel mechanisms of apoptosis can be induced by histone deacetylase inhibitors. "Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACIs) are a new class of chemotherapeutic drugs able to induce tumor cell apoptosis and/or cell cycle arrest; however, the ...
PS-341 enhances TRAIL-induced apoptosis by increasing the cleavage of caspase 8.
Oct 06, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- PS-341 enhances TRAIL-induced apoptosis by increasing the cleavage of caspase 8. "We demonstrate that PS-341, a small molecule inhibitor of the proteasome, markedly sensitizes resistant prostate, colon, and bladder cancer cells to ...