News and applications for life science research professionals
FDA has safety concerns with Merck insomnia drug
May 20, 2013 11:42 am | by MATTHEW PERRONE - AP Health Writer - Associated Press | News | CommentsFederal health regulators say an experimental insomnia drug from Merck can help patients fall asleep, but it also carries worrisome side effects, including daytime drowsiness and suicidal thinking. The Food and Drug Administration on Monday released its review of the company's sleep aid,...
Multitasking Neurons Enhance Brain Flexibility
May 20, 2013 11:40 am | News | CommentsOver the past few decades, neuroscientists have made much progress in mapping the brain by deciphering the functions of individual neurons that perform very specific tasks, such as recognizing the location or color of an object. However, there are many neurons, especially in brain regions that perform sophisticated functions such as thinking and planning, that don’t fit into this pattern.
600 Volt Power Supply for Electrophoresis
May 20, 2013 11:25 am | Product Releases | CommentsHoefer introduced a 600 Volt Power Supply to its range of electrophoresis power supplies. This new midrange power supply unit is designed for electrophoresis and blotting techniques including large format and high throughput applications.
New MATH Method for Head, Neck Cancer
May 20, 2013 11:05 am | News | CommentsA new method of measuring the variety of genetic mutations found in cells within a tumor appears to predict treatment outcomes of patients with the most common type of head and neck cancer. The research describes how a new way of measuring tumor heterogeneity was a better predictor of survival than are most traditional risk factors in a small group of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.
Collaborative Application for Laboratory Services Management
May 20, 2013 10:52 am | Product Releases | CommentsAgileBio released a new version of its Lab Services Manager (LSM), a complementary application for its LIMS, LabCollector. LSM is a dedicated interface for the management of laboratory jobs, and analysis in a variety of life sciences industries as well as in academic research institutes having platforms or external services.
Biochemical Transformations Were Possible on Early Earth
May 20, 2013 10:50 am | News | CommentsThe study shows that RNA is capable of catalyzing electron transfer under conditions similar to those of the early Earth. Because electron transfer, the moving of an electron from one chemical species to another, is involved in many biological processes, the study’s findings suggest that complex biochemical transformations may have been possible when life began.
Osteoarthritis Progression Halted
May 20, 2013 10:30 am | News | CommentsScientists have turned their view of osteoarthritis (OA) inside out. Literally. Instead of seeing the painful degenerative disease as a problem primarily of the cartilage that cushions joints, they now have evidence that the bone underneath the cartilage is also a key player and exacerbates the damage.
Court: woman can seek lawyer fees in vaccine case
May 20, 2013 10:21 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsThe Supreme Court says a woman can seek lawyers' fees from the government even though her lawsuit over damage she said was caused by a vaccine was ruled untimely. The high court on Monday ruled for Melissa Cloer, who wanted lawyers' fees for her lawsuit over damage she says was caused by...
Drugmaker Elan plans string of acquisitions
May 20, 2013 8:35 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsElan Corp. PLC plans to pay about $338 million for a privately held, Austrian drug developer and at least $110 million for stakes in two other companies as the Irish drugmaker continues to refocus after unloading its main revenue source, an ownership stake in the multiple sclerosis drug Tysabri. ...
Actavis buying Warner Chilcott in $8.5B deal
May 20, 2013 8:00 am | by MICHELLE CHAPMAN - AP Business Writer - Associated Press | News | CommentsActavis is buying Warner Chilcott in an all-stock transaction valued at about $8.5 billion which would create the third-biggest specialty pharmaceutical company in the U.S. The announcement on Monday comes after the two companies said earlier this month that they were in talks about a possible...
Affymetrix CFO Barabe to retire in June
May 20, 2013 6:29 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsAffymetrix Chief Financial Officer Tim Barabe is planning to retire from his post next month. The genetic testing instrument business said Monday that it is promoting Gavin Wood to the position. Barabe's retirement is effective June 28. Wood will be responsible for Affymetrix's finance,...
UK Measles Surge Years After Vaccine Scare
May 20, 2013 6:00 am | by MARIA CHENG - AP Medical Writer - Associated Press | News | CommentsMore than a decade ago, British parents refused to give measles shots to at least a million children because of a vaccine scare that raised the specter of autism. Now, health officials are scrambling to catch up and stop a growing epidemic of the contagious disease. This year, the U.K. has had more than 1,200 cases of measles, after a record number of nearly 2,000 cases last year.
Leading US drugs tester celebrates 1700s doctor
May 20, 2013 4:01 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsA North Carolina company that bills itself as the world's largest testing drug firm is celebrating the Scottish surgeon credited with running the first scientifically valid tests for a health problem. Quintiles Transnational on Monday joins companies and other organizations around the world in...
US adviser on board of firm that sold anthrax drug
May 19, 2013 10:56 pm | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsFormer Navy Secretary Richard J. Danzig, who has served as a bio-warfare adviser to the president, the Pentagon, and the Department of Homeland Security, urged the government to stockpile an anti-anthrax drug while serving as a director for the company that supplied it, according to a report...
Researchers Aim to Map the 'Food Genome'
May 19, 2013 1:42 pm | by MARY CLARE JALONICK - Associated Press - Associated Press | News | CommentsDo your kids love chocolate milk? It may have more calories on average than you thought. Same goes for soda. Until now, the only way to find out what people in the United States eat and how many calories they consume has been government data, which can lag behind the rapidly expanding and changing food marketplace.
