Pharma
Pathway Blocking Linked to Brain Tumor Regression
February 27, 2013 7:00 pm | by Mass General | News | CommentsA multi-institutional team has identified a molecular pathway that appears to be essential for the growth and spread of medulloblastoma, the most common malignant brain tumor in children.
Morning Sickness Meds Won’t Harm Fetus
February 27, 2013 5:00 pm | by MARILYNN MARCHIONE - AP Chief Medical Writer - Associated Press | News | CommentsThere’s reassuring news for pregnant women miserable with morning sickness: A very large study in Denmark finds no evidence that using a popular anti-nausea drug will harm their babies.
Combo Therapy Traps, Kills Glioblastoma Cells
February 27, 2013 9:32 am | News | CommentsAs cancer researchers are learning more about the causes of glioblastoma tumor cell growth and drug resistance, they are discovering molecular pathways that might lead to new, targeted therapies to potentially treat this deadly cancer.
Superbug Has Protein Soft Spot
February 27, 2013 9:24 am | News | CommentsThe overuse of antibiotics has created strains of bacteria resistant to medication, making the diseases they cause difficult to treat, or even deadly. Now, a research team has identified a weakness in at least one superbug that scientists may be able to medically exploit.
Yeast Holds Potential for New Drugs
February 26, 2013 9:37 am | News | CommentsWhile studying a mutant strain of yeast, researchers may have found a new target for drugs to combat cholesterol and fungal diseases.
Tweaking Gene Expression to Repair Lungs
February 26, 2013 9:31 am | News | CommentsPrevious studies found that smokers with COPD had the most significant decrease in one of the enzymes controlling chemical modifications to DNA, called HDAC2. Now, researchers showed that development of progenitor cells in the lung is specifically regulated by the combined function of two highly related HDACs, HDAC/1 and /2.
Calcium, Vitamin D Pills Don’t Prevent Broken Bones
February 25, 2013 7:00 pm | by LAURAN NEERGAARD - AP Medical Writer - Associated Press | News | CommentsPopping calcium and vitamin D pills in hopes of strong bones? Healthy older women shouldn’t bother with relatively low-dose dietary supplements, say new recommendations from a government advisory group. Both nutrients are crucial for healthy bones.
J&J Loses First of 4,000 Implant Suits
February 25, 2013 4:48 pm | by LINDA A. JOHNSON - AP Business Writer - Associated Press | News | CommentsA New Jersey jury has awarded $3.35 million to a former nurse who says Johnson & Johnson's vaginal mesh implant caused severe chronic pain despite 18 unsuccessful repair surgeries. It's the first verdict in about 4,000 lawsuits filed against the health products maker.
Bone Marrow Niches Nurture Blood Stem Cells
February 25, 2013 4:34 pm | News | CommentsIn research that could one day improve the success of stem cell transplants and chemotherapy, scientists have found that distinct niches exist in bone marrow to nurture different types of blood stem cells.
US expands approval of Bayer cancer drug
February 25, 2013 4:21 pm | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsThe U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Monday expanded approval of a Bayer cancer pill to treat tumors of the intestinal tract that do not respond to other treatments. The drug is called Stivarga and regulators approved it to treat gastrointestinal stromal tumors.
New Magnetic Device Effectively Treats GERD
February 25, 2013 11:27 am | News | CommentsA new study provides clinical evidence of the safety and effectiveness of a new magnetic medical device to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
2 drug companies announce anemia drug recall
February 24, 2013 4:53 pm | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsDrug companies Affymax Inc. and Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. have issued a recall of their anemia drug Omontys after reports of severe allergic reactions in some kidney dialysis patients, including some deaths. The companies said that more than 25,000 patients have received Omontys, which is used...
Cancer Treatment Delays Progression, Ups Survival
February 22, 2013 11:00 am | by MATHEW PERRONE - AP Health Writer - Associated Press | News | CommentsThe U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a first-of-a-kind breast cancer medication that targets tumor cells while sparing healthy ones. The drug Kadcyla from Roche combines the established drug Herceptin with a powerful chemotherapy drug and a third chemical linking the medicines...
MS Progression Slowed by Cancer Drug
February 22, 2013 10:30 am | News | CommentsA drug that is currently used for cancer can relieve and slow down the progression of the autoimmune disease multiple sclerosis (MS) in rats, according to a new study. The discovery might one day lead to better forms of treatment for patients with MS.
New Flu Drug Stops Virus in Its Tracks
February 22, 2013 9:20 am | News | CommentsA new class of influenza drug has been shown effective against drug-resistant strains of the flu virus, according to a study.
EU committee rejects Vivus weight-loss drug
February 22, 2013 7:33 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsA panel of advisers to the European Union's health agency has again rejected Vivus Inc.'s weight-loss drug for sale in Europe. Vivus, based in Mountain View, Calif., said that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use confirmed its October decision to decline an application to sell the drug under the name Qsiva.
Flu shot did poor job against worst bug in seniors
February 21, 2013 12:17 pm | by MIKE STOBBE - AP Medical Writer - Associated Press | News | CommentsFor those 65 and older, this season's flu shot is only 9 percent effective against the most common and dangerous flu bug, according to a startling new government report. Flu vaccine tends to protect younger people better than older ones and never works as well as other kinds of vaccines.
Tissue Mutation Discovery to Benefit Eye, Kidney Diseases
February 21, 2013 11:25 am | News | CommentsScientists have made important advances in understanding why our immune system can attack our own tissues resulting in eye and kidney diseases.
Scientists Use 3-D Printing to Help Grow an Ear
February 20, 2013 5:05 pm | by LAURAN NEERGAARD - AP Medical Writer - Associated Press | News | CommentsCornell University researchers showed it is possible to create a replacement ear using a 3-D printer and injections of living cells. The work is a first step toward one day growing customized new ears for children born with malformed ones or people who lose one to accident or disease.
Old Antidepressant Reverses Sickle Cell Effects
February 20, 2013 11:20 am | News | CommentsAn antidepressant drug used since the 1960s may also hold promise for treating sickle cell disease, according to a surprising new finding made in mice and human red blood cells by a team of researchers.
Cepheid plans breast and prostate cancer test
February 19, 2013 4:57 pm | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsDiagnostics maker Cepheid said Tuesday it will work with Oregon Health & Science University to develop tests that predict the risk of recurrence of breast and prostate cancer. Cepheid said it will work with OHSU's Knight Cancer Institute. The tests will run on the Cepheid GeneXpert system....
Drug overdose deaths up for 11th consecutive year
February 19, 2013 4:07 pm | by LINDSEY TANNER - AP Medical Writer - Associated Press | News | CommentsDrug overdose deaths rose for the 11th straight year, federal data show, and most of them were accidents involving addictive painkillers despite growing attention to risks from these medicines. In 2010, there were 38,329 drug overdose deaths nationwide.
International space station plays host to innovative infectious disease research
February 19, 2013 12:25 pm | by Arizona State University | News | CommentsASU's Cheryl Nickerson presented her research findings and charted the course for future investigations aboard the ISS at the 2013 annual meeting for the American Association for the Advancement of Science. read more
Nasal Spray Developed from Seaweed Bacteria
February 19, 2013 11:22 am | News | CommentsA team of scientists and surgeons are developing a new nasal spray from a marine microbe to help clear chronic sinusitis.
Artificial Platelets to Aid War Wounds
February 19, 2013 11:15 am | News | CommentsResearchers exploring the complex stream of cellular signals produced by the body in response to a traumatic injury believe the initial response– formation of a blood clot– may control subsequent healing. Using that information, they’re developing new biomaterials, including artificial blood platelets laced with regulatory chemicals, that could be included in an injector device the size of an iPhone.
