One in three UK adults will be obese by 2012

One in three UK adults—or 13 million people—will be obese by 2012, finds research published ahead of print in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.

And almost half of them will be from low income and disadvantaged communities, widening the health gap between the haves and have-nots even further, say the authors.

The researchers draw their conclusions on an analysis of annual data between 1993 and 2004 from the Health Survey for England.

High phosphorus linked to coronary calcification in chronic kidney disease

For patients with moderate chronic kidney disease (CKD), higher levels of phosphorus in the blood are associated with increased calcification of the major arteries and heart valves—which may contribute to the increased risk of cardiovascular disease in patients with CKD, reports a study in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN).

Diabetes drug shows potential for treating one cause of chronic kidney disease

The antidiabetes drug rosiglitazone may have the potential to protect kidney function in patients with a condition called focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), according to a study appearing in the January 2009 issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society Nephrology (CJASN). The phase I clinical findings indicate that the drug warrants further study in phase II and phase III trials.

Type 1 diabetes and celiac disease linked

Type 1 (juvenile) diabetes and celiac disease appear to share a common genetic origin, scientists at the University of Cambridge and Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, have confirmed.

Group in lymphoma research chooses revlimid for study in disease's largest patient population

Study of revlimid and vidaza in higher-risk MDS is well-tolerated and has high activity

BOUDRY, Switzerland--(December 10, 2008)--Celgene International Sarl (NASDAQ: CELG) reported that results of a Phase I study presented today combining REVLIMID and VIDAZA in patients with higher-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) found that the combination of these two therapies is well tolerated and has high activity. The data were reported during the 50th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology.

Revlimid data in multiple myeloma reports 3-year survival rates in phase III ECOG E4AO3 study

Promising results from 2 trials highlighting pomalidomide presented at ASH

BOUDRY, Switzerland--(December 10, 2008)--Celgene International Sarl (Nasdaq: CELG) today announced that its next IMiDs compound, pomalidomide, has shown promising activity with manageable safety and tolerability for the treatment of relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (MM) and myelofibrosis. The data were presented at the 50th Annual American Society of Hematology meeting in San Francisco, CA.

Analysis shows that vidaza prolongs survival in patients with higher-risk myelodysplastic syndromes

Crosswicks, NJ – (December 10, 2008) – The Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) Foundation announced today that a subanalysis of the AZA-001 phase III international clinical trial shows that treatment with VIDAZA (azacitidine) can extend overall survival and reduce the risk of death in elderly higher-risk MDS patients.

Analysis shows revlimid plus dexamethasone increases overall survival in multiple myeloma patients