Health & Medicine Week back issues from August 2004:
Access to substance abuse, mental health services key to welfare reform.
Aug 02, 2004 ... 2004 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Improving access by low-income women to substance abuse and mental health services is key to successful welfare reform in the United States, argue social workers at the University of Pittsburgh. D. Rosen and colleagues studied low-income ...
Researchers discover gene responsible for onset of infertility, cataracts.
Aug 02, 2004 ... 2004 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Mayo Clinic researchers have discovered a gene responsible for the onset of aging, including age-related disorders such as infertility, reproductive problems, and cataracts. This research, conducted in genetically modified mice, is ...
Preabortion counseling does not improve postabortion contraceptive use.
Aug 02, 2004 ... 2004 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Preabortion counseling did not improve postabortion contraceptive use in a study group of 420 women in Iceland. "In a randomized trial, the effect of preabortion counseling was evaluated and contraceptive use postabortion described. The ...
Study: Unnecessary to leave indwelling catheter in place for days after surgery.
Aug 02, 2004 ... 2004 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- It's not necessary to leave a transurethral indwelling catheter for several days to prevent voiding difficulties after surgery for urinary incontinence, physicians report. "Catheterization is considered to be a mandatory procedure for ...
Human adenovirus genomes display resistance to chemical disinfectants.
Aug 02, 2004 ... 2004 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Human adenovirus genomes display resistance to chemical disinfectants. According to recent research published in the Journal of Hospital Infection, "human adenoviruses are model viruses for testing the virucidal efficacy of ...
Up-front cost for treating HIV-infected patient in Africa is US$30 per visit.
Aug 02, 2004 ... 2004 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Researchers at Johns Hopkins and the Perinatal HIV Research Unit, University of Witwatersrand, South Africa, have determined that the actual average cost for providing primary care to an HIV-infected patient is US$30 per visit. "Health ...
Xcelerant for use with Talent AAA Stent Graft System receives CE Mark approval.
Aug 02, 2004 ... 2004 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Medtronic, Inc., (MDT) announced CE Mark approval and market availability for the Xcelerant Delivery System for use with the Talent Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) Stent Graft System. The Talent AAA Stent Graft System is approved for use ...
Study finds women generally ambivalent about induced abortion.
Aug 02, 2004 ... 2004 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A study from Sweden that analyzed "women's experiences of induced abortion from a feminist perspective" found that women in that country generally are ambivalent about the subject. "Although abortions are common, few researchers have ...
Alere Medical receives full NCQA disease management accreditation.
Aug 02, 2004 ... 2004 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Alere Medical, Inc., announced that it has received the Patient Oriented Full Accreditation for its Heart Failure Disease Management program from National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). NCQA accredits and certifies a wide range ...
Novel FLT3 inhibitors may be considered to treat hyperdiploid or relapsed ALL.
Aug 02, 2004 ... 2004 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Novel FLT3 inhibitors may be considered for the treatment of hyperdiploid or relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia. "Activating mutations of the FLT3 receptor tyrosine kinase are common in acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) but are rare in ...
FLT3 mutations in AML adversely associate with CR with intensive chemotherapy.
Aug 02, 2004 ... 2004 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- FLT3 mutations are adversely associated with complete remission in AML patients given intensive chemotherapy. "The prognostic impact of FLT3 mutations on the outcome of patients with diploid AML, treated with intensive chemotherapy, was ...
Factors affecting good and poor CD34+ cell mobilization in AML determined.
Aug 02, 2004 ... 2004 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The factors affecting good and poor CD34+ cell mobilization in AML have been determined. According to a study from Italy, "The factors possibly affecting the collection of peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) were evaluated in 104 de novo ...
Timed sequential therapy for AML patients over 60 tolerated but unsatisfactory.
Aug 02, 2004 ... 2004 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Timed sequential therapy for acute myeloid leukemia patients over 60 was well tolerated but unsatisfactory. "Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in the elderly is a serious problem characterized by poor response to therapy and short survival. ...
G protein regulators play key role in cocaine seeking.
Aug 02, 2004 ... 2004 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- G protein regulators play key roles in cocaine seeking and neuroplasticity. "Chronic cocaine administration reduces G protein signaling efficacy. Here, we report that the expression of AGS3, which binds to GialphaGDP and inhibits GDP ...
Researchers report link between overeating, obesity and addiction.
Aug 02, 2004 ... 2004 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- "Junk Food Junkie," that novelty song from the 1970s, may contain more medical truth than anyone imagined. University of Florida (UF) addiction researchers say mounting evidence suggests chronic overeating can be a form of substance abuse, and that ...
Flow cytometric method used to assess lipid accumulation in fat cells.
Aug 02, 2004 ... 2004 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Researchers have used a simple flow cytometric method to assess lipid accumulation in fat cells. "Adipogenesis of preadipocytes in culture has been frequently used to study the molecular basis and effect of drugs on fat cell conversion ....
Malignant adipose tissue tumors reviewed.
Aug 02, 2004 ... 2004 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Researchers review malignant adipose tissue tumors in a recent issue of the Bulletin du Cancer. "Malignant adipose tissue tumors, also called liposarcomas, are the most common Sarcoma of adult life. They may be hard to distinguish from ...
Living at home helps teen mothers stay in school.
Aug 02, 2004 ... 2004 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Federal law requires that unmarried, minor-aged mothers who receive public assistance live at home (or in an approved adult-supervised setting). One rationale for this policy is that a young mother's parents might help her finish school if the ...
University of Florida teams with Tufts on food and drug interactions.
Aug 02, 2004 ... 2004 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A new University of Florida (UF) research center is investigating how foods and drugs interact to prevent potentially harmful side effects and improve patient outcomes. The Center for Food-Drug Interaction Research and Education, ...
Company approves prototype design of liposuction handle.
Aug 02, 2004 ... 2004 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Cell Bio-Systems, Inc., (CBSI), a biotechnology company positioned to manufacture and distribute patented, disposable technologies for cosmetic surgery and other living tissue procedures, has approved the production design for a disposable ...
Melatonin supplements might help age-related decline in mental sharpness.
Aug 02, 2004 ... 2004 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Nightly use of melatonin, a nonprescription supplement that has attracted interest as a sleep aid, may also have another effect: staving off some of the decline in memory and other mental functions that commonly afflicts the aged, according to a ...
Europe court says French ban on TV advertising for alcohol justified.
Aug 02, 2004 ... 2004 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The European Union's high court ruled July 13, 2004, that a French law prohibiting advertising of alcoholic beverages on television was legal, even if it affects organizers of sporting events. The judgment by the Luxembourg-based ...
Microarray analysis identifies changes in liver gene expression.
Aug 02, 2004 ... 2004 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Microarray analysis has been used to identify alcohol-induced changes in hepatic gene expression. "The mechanisms underlying alcoholic liver disease are not fully understood. It has been established that alcohol interferes with ...
Academy reacts to FDA alert on allergic reactions to pigment in permanent makeup.
Aug 02, 2004 ... 2004 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- In response to the FDA's consumer alert regarding permanent makeup pigments that have been reported to cause severe allergic reactions, the American Academy of Micropigmentation wants consumers to report allergic reactions to any pigment. ...
Report: Dog and cat allergen present in 100% of U.S. homes.
Aug 02, 2004 ... 2004 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Dog and cat allergen is found in all homes in the United States, according to a study featured in the July 2004 Journal of Allergy & Clinical Immunology (JACI). JACI is the peer-reviewed scientific journal of the American Academy of ...
Skin prick test for cat allergies now more accurate.
Aug 02, 2004 ... 2004 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A Kaiser Permanente study published in the Annals of Allergy and Immunology shows that skin prick testing using a 6-millimeter wheal (a small swelling on the skin that may burn and/or itch indicating an allergic reaction) may be a more effective ...
Seafood allergies are the most commonly reported severe allergy in adults.
Aug 02, 2004 ... 2004 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A study led by Mount Sinai School of Medicine researchers shows that seafood allergies are much more prevalent than once thought, with more than 6.5 million Americans believed to be affected. The study "Prevalence of seafood allergy in ...
FDA approves phase III study design for PreHistin.
Aug 02, 2004 ... 2004 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- BioGentech Corp. (BGTH) has received a letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in which the FDA confirmed that two phase III study designs submitted by BioGentech for review effectively "address the evaluation of different ...
Heat-sensitive method tests effectiveness of allergy meds.
Aug 02, 2004 ... 2004 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Summer can bring with it severe sneezing attacks and itching eyes. People who suffer from hay fever can tell you all about how sometimes a pack of tissues does not even last long enough for a short Sunday stroll. The alternatives are to ...
Novel approach to specific allergy treatment developed.
Aug 02, 2004 ... 2004 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The recombinant fusion protein of a bacterial cell surface (S-layer) protein and the major birch pollen allergen Bet v 1 (RSbsC-Bet v 1) combines reduced allergenicity with immunomodulating capacity. According to a study from Austria, ...
Tentative approval granted for Allegra-D extended-release tablets.
Aug 02, 2004 ... 2004 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Barr Pharmaceuticals, Inc., (BRL) announced that Barr Laboratories, Inc., has received tentative approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its generic version of Aventis Pharmaceuticals' Allegra-D (Fexofenadine HCl 60mg and ...
Thousands pay Montana mine owners for chance to breathe radon.
Aug 02, 2004 ... 2004 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Is health, like beauty, in the eye of the beholder? If that's the case, thousands of people every year find healing relief from a variety of ailments, from cataracts and emphysema to arthritis and migraine headaches, at Montana's most ...
Effect of citalopram on lymphocyte gene expression characterized.
Aug 02, 2004 ... 2004 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The effects of citalopram on lymphocyte gene expression have been characterized in cells from Alzheimer disease patients. "Antidepressants are widely used in the treatment of mood disorders associated with dementia," although "little ...
Enoxaparin shows promise as therapy.
Aug 02, 2004 ... 2004 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Enoxaparin shows promise as a treatment for Alzheimer disease. In a recent study, neurologists in Italy "investigated the effect of long-term, peripheral treatment with enoxaparin, a low molecular weight heparin, in transgenic mice ...
Enrollment closes in phase III trial with Phenserine.
Aug 02, 2004 ... 2004 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Axonyx, Inc., (AXYX) announced that it has completed enrollment in the first of its two on-going phase III clinical studies evaluating Phenserine in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer disease. Following 6 months of treatment in the ...
Group supports Medicare reimbursement for brain scans.
Aug 02, 2004 ... 2004 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- In the hope that it will drive early intervention for the increasing number of Americans with Alzheimer disease, the Alzheimer's Foundation of America (AFA) announced its support of the federal government's proposal to provide Medicare ...
MRI analysis shows brain connections that develop last decline first.
Aug 02, 2004 ... 2004 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) neuroscientists using a new MRI analysis technique to examine myelin sheaths that insulate the brain's wiring report that as people age, neural connections that develop last degenerate first. The ...
Alsin is a Rab5 and Rac1 guanine nucleotide exchange factor.
Aug 02, 2004 ... 2004 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Researchers have found that a large protein, alsin, is a Rab5 and Rac1 guanine nucleotide exchange factor, and may play a role in a juvenile form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. "ALS2 is the gene mutated in a recessive juvenile form of ...
Nerve cells' powerhouse "clogged" in Lou Gehrig disease.
Aug 02, 2004 ... 2004 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- By studying rodent models of the relatively rare inherited form of Lou Gehrig disease and tissue samples from a patient with the condition, scientists have discovered the first evidence that damage to nerve cell powerhouses is directly responsible ...
Sexual behavior changes may explain rising incidence of anal cancer.
Aug 02, 2004 ... 2004 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Anal cancer is on the rise in both sexes, particularly among American men, and changing trends in sexual behavior - combined with current tobacco use and infection by a specific strain of the human papillomavirus (HPV) - may help explain the ...
U.K. gives Cellegesic nod to treat chronic anal fissure pain.
Aug 02, 2004 ... 2004 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Cellegy Pharmaceuticals, Inc., (CLGY) announced that the United Kingdom's Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM) will recommend marketing authorization be granted by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) for Cellegesic ( ...
Agreement with FDA reached on clinical development program for diltiazem.
Aug 02, 2004 ... 2004 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- DOV Pharmaceutical, Inc., (DOVP) has reached agreement with the FDA's (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) Cardio-Renal Division on the scope and design of the clinical trials required for submission of a new drug application (NDA) for DOV ...
Pathway of platelet procoagulant activity is regulated by IQGAP1.
Aug 02, 2004 ... 2004 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A shear-restricted pathway of platelet procoagulant activity is regulated by IQGAP1. According to a study from the United States, "Circulating blood platelets regulate the initial phase of the hemostatic response through adhesive and ...
STI571 and taxol target skeletal compartment tumor-associated cells.
Aug 02, 2004 ... 2004 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- STI571 and taxol target skeletal compartment tumor-associated cells. According to recent research from the United States, "the activation of the microvascular endothelial cell platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) receptor (PDGF-R) by ...
U.S. mayors support anthrax vaccine for police, firefighters.
Aug 02, 2004 ... 2004 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- As the United States military announced plans to expand its soldiers' anthrax and smallpox immunization program, the growing debate about how best to protect America's police and firefighters has also gained momentum after receiving a strong ...
Meropenem lung penetration measured by microdialysis.
Aug 02, 2004 ... 2004 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Microdialysis enables accurate and detailed measurements of antibiotic lung penetration. "Until recently, information on antibiotic pharmacokinetic properties in infected human lung tissue was limited," scientists in Austria explained. ...
Pharmacists highlight antibiotic misunderstanding and overuse in public survey.
Aug 02, 2004 ... 2004 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB) highlighted the need for better understanding of how antibiotics work as part of the campaign to prevent antibiotic resistance. But a survey of more than 1,000 U.K. adults has ...
Role of mhc polymorphism in anti-microbial resistance reviewed.
Aug 02, 2004 ... 2004 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Researchers review the role of mhc polymorphism in anti-microbial resistance in a recent issue of Microbes and Infection. According to published research from the United States, "The major histocompatibility complex (mhc)-encoded MHC ...
Antioxidants prevent exercise-induced lipid peroxidation.
Aug 02, 2004 ... 2004 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Antioxidant supplementation prevents exercise-induced lipid peroxidation, but not inflammation, in ultramarathon runners. According to recent research from the United States, "To determine if 6 weeks of supplementation with vitamins E ...
Antipsychotics upregulate bcl-2 mRNA/protein in frontal cortex and hippocampus.
Aug 02, 2004 ... 2004 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Antipsychotics upregulate bcl-2 mRNA and protein in the frontal cortex and hippocampus. "To investigate whether atypical antipsychotic drugs exert an effect on the neuroprotective protein Bcl-2, rats were chronically treated with ...
Styrylquinolines do not interfere with HIV entry but act before integration.
Aug 02, 2004 ... 2004 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- SQLs do not interfere with HIV entry but act before integration. According to a study from France, "We have previously shown that styrylquinolines (SQLs) are integrase inhibitors in vitro. They compete with the long terminal repeat ...
New methods ease the separation of antisense oligonucleotide in plasma.
Aug 02, 2004 ... 2004 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- New methods ease the separation of antisense oligonucleotide in plasma. "A novel approach is presented for the direct injection, and subsequent separation, of antisense phosphorothioate oligonucleotides in human plasma by capillary gel ...
Kleenex to sell tissue that kills viruses.
Aug 02, 2004 ... 2004 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- First it was everything from dish soap to toothbrushes that promised protection against bacteria. Now the maker of Kleenex plans a tissue that kills viruses. Kimberly-Clark Corp. said its newest product will be on store shelves in time ...
Serotonin transporter gene variation correlates with social phobia severity.
Aug 02, 2004 ... 2004 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Serotonin transporter gene variation correlates with social phobia severity. "A functional polymorphism in the promoter region of the human serotonin transporter (5-HTT) gene has been related to negative affect and amygdala activity. We ...
Iatrogenic VSD closure with Amplatzer occluder reported.
Aug 02, 2004 ... 2004 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The Amplatzer occluder can be used to close iatrogenic VSDs in patients who have undergone aortic valve replacement. "Iatrogenic hemodynamically significant ventricular septal defects (VSDs) after aortic valve replacement are rare," but ...
Akt kinase activation blocks apoptosis in intestinal epithelial cells.
Aug 02, 2004 ... 2004 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Akt kinase activation blocks apoptosis in intestinal epithelial cells by inhibiting caspase-3 after polyamine depletion. "Apoptosis plays a critical role in the maintenance of gut mucosal homeostasis and is regulated by numerous factors ...
P300 regulates p53-dependent apoptosis in colorectal cancer cells.
Aug 02, 2004 ... 2004 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- P300 nucleoprotein regulates p53-dependent apoptosis in colorectal cancer cells. "Activation of the tumor suppressor p53 by DNA damage induces either cell cycle arrest or apoptosis, but what determines the choice between cytostasis and ...
Effectiveness of ablation for atrial fibrillation has not been established.
Aug 02, 2004 ... 2004 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Randomized controlled trials are necessary to determine the long-term effectiveness of ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF). "During the past 10 years numerous studies on the treatment of paroxysmal AF by right and left atrial ablation ...
Patients given intensive outpatient treatment have better outcomes.
Aug 02, 2004 ... 2004 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Results of a U.K. study suggest that intensive monthly outpatient treatment with antirheumatic drugs and steroid injections can substantially improve patients' symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis compared with standard 3-month outpatient treatment. ...
Roles of IL-18 in collagen-induced arthritis investigated.
Aug 02, 2004 ... 2004 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Researchers review the roles of interleukin-18 in collagen-induced arthritis in the BB rat in a recent issue of Clinical and Experimental Immunology. "Interleukin (IL)-18 is a member of the IL-1 cytokine family. Its expression is ...
Vioxx in high doses causes hypertension.
Aug 02, 2004 ... 2004 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The evidence is growing: Chronic, high-dose consumption of the arthritis pain reliever Vioxx can raise blood pressure and the risk of serious heart problems. Yet a "substantial number" of patients continue to be prescribed high doses of ...
Bovine collagen peptide vaccine modulates severity of arthritis.
Aug 02, 2004 ... 2004 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Vaccination with an immunodominant peptide of bovine type II collagen induces an anti-TCR response, and modulates the onset and severity of collagen-induced arthritis. According to a study from Japan, "T cell responses directed toward ...
Thymosin alpha 1 activates dendritic cells for antifungal resistance.
Aug 02, 2004 ... 2004 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Thymosin alpha 1 activates dendritic cells for antifungal Th1 resistance through Toll-like receptor signaling. "Dendritic cells (DCs) show a remarkable functional plasticity in the recognition of Aspergillus fumigatus and orchestrate the ...
European approval sought for Xolair as treatment for severe allergic asthma.
Aug 02, 2004 ... 2004 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Novartis Pharma AG has submitted its application for the European approval of Xolair. Xolair (omalizumab) is a novel therapy, which targets a root cause of allergic disease and offers an entirely new approach to the treatment of allergic ...
Hundreds of athletes with asthma compete in Athens.
Aug 02, 2004 ... 2004 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A diagnosis of asthma used to mean a seat on the bench for amateur and professional athletes. But with advances in asthma treatment and management, asthma - not the athlete - is sent to the sidelines. The Asthma and Allergy ...