Body

Drug therapy reduces neuroblastoma tumor growth in pre-clinical investigation

SAN DIEGO - Researchers from the Children's Cancer Hospital at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center have discovered a new drug combination that significantly hinders tumor growth in neuroblastoma, a childhood cancer. The study was presented today at the 22nd annual meeting of the American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology (ASPHO).

Study Shows Long-Term Benefits of Ambrisentan for Patients with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Results of a recent two-year study show promising long-term survival benefits for patients living with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH), a progressive, life-threatening disease in which the small blood vessels in the lungs become scarred and narrowed causing the pressure in the pulmonary arteries to rise to dangerously high levels, putting a major strain on the heart.

Landmark study demonstrates Gamunex improves health-related quality of life in patients with CIDP

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. (April 23, 2009) — Talecris Biotherapeutics, Inc. today announced the publication of the health-related quality of life results from the largest clinical trial ever conducted in patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) in the April 14, 2009 issue of Neurology. The data demonstrate that long-term treatment with Gamunex (Immune Globulin Intravenous (Human), 10% Caprylate/Chromatography Purified) improves and maintains health-related quality of life in patients with CIDP.

New target for maintaining healthy blood pressure discovered

PHILADELPHIA - In trying to understand the role of prostaglandins – a family of fatty compounds key to the cardiovascular system – in blood pressure maintenance, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and colleagues discovered that mice that lack the receptor for one type of prostaglandin have lower blood pressure and less atherosclerosis than their non-mutant brethren.

Drug inhibits neuroblastoma blood supply in pre-clinical tests

SAN DIEGO - Researchers from the Children's Cancer Hospital at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center have found a way to prevent blood vessels from aiding the growth of neuroblastoma, a childhood cancer. The pre-clinical study was presented today in a platform session at the 22nd annual meeting of the American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology.

Two-pronged model could help foil tough cystic fibrosis infections

Hanover, NH--Dartmouth Medical School researchers have devised a novel approach for thwarting the relentless bacterial infections that thrive in the lungs of people with cystic fibrosis (CF), unlocking new possibilities against a tenacious and toxic hallmark of the common genetic disease.

Combining a mainstay antibiotic with drugs to deprive the bacteria of iron, which facilitates their persistent growth, appears to boost infection killing, they found.

Researchers find drug that inhibits acute leukemia cell growth

SAN DIEGO - Researchers from the Children's Cancer Hospital at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center have discovered how to turn off a certain receptor that promotes the growth of leukemia cells. The pre-clinical study was presented today in a platform session at the 22nd annual meeting of the American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology (ASPHO).

Biolex presents Locteron US Phase 2a hepatitis C data at EASL

Biolex Therapeutics, Inc. announced that the results from its United States Phase 2a clinical trial (the "PLUS" trial) of Locteron® will be presented today at the 44th Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) in Copenhagen, Denmark. Locteron, controlled-release interferon alpha 2b, is designed to improve patient care by providing a more convenient once-every-two week dosing schedule and by reducing the side effects, including flu-like symptoms, associated with pegylated interferons, the current standard of care.

Survival rates for cancer rise across Ireland

Survival rates for cancer are continuing to rise even though the number of cases being diagnosed is increasing, an all-Ireland report launched today reveals.

The report entitled Cancer incidence, mortality, treatment and survival in the North and South of Ireland: 1994-2004, was compiled by the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry (NICR), at Queen's University Belfast, and the National Cancer Registry (NCRI) of Ireland, in Cork.

Researchers identify a molecule that increases the risk of cardiac insufficiency

A team of scientists from the Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA) of the University of Navarra has identified a key enzyme in the development of cardiac insufficiency. This enzyme is involved in the accumulation of fibrous tissues in the hearts of patients with chronic cardiac diseases and deterioration of heart functions.

3-D research model tackles prostate cancer spread

Shirly Sieh, a PhD student at IHBI, is studying the way cancer cells escape from the prostate through the bloodstream to form tumour colonies, most often in the spine and long bones.

"It is an innovative study which uses a tissue engineering platform technology developed by IHBI's Professor Dietmar W. Hutmacher in order to investigate the interaction between bones and cancer cells," Ms Sieh said.

Lice can be nice to us

Parasite infestations might have a good side. Wild mice from a Nottinghamshire forest have given experts at The University of Nottingham clues as to the importance of some parasites, such as lice, for the conditioning of a "natural" immune system.

Jan Bradley, Professor of Parasitology, said: "Our understanding of mammalian immunology is largely based on rodents reared under highly unnatural pathogen and stress-free conditions. Analysing the immune response in wild populations can give crucial insights into how the immune system functions in its natural context."

DNA blueprint for healthier and more efficient cows

Ground breaking findings by an international consortium of scientists who sequenced and analysed the bovine genome, could result in more sustainable food production.

The findings, published in two reports in the journal Science today, will have a profound impact on Australia's livestock industry.

CSIRO scientists were among the 300 researchers from 25 countries involved in the six-year Bovine Genome Sequencing Project designed to sequence, annotate and analyse the genome of a female Hereford cow called L1 Dominette.

HIV positive and HIV negative patients have similar survival rates following liver transplant

Copenhagen, Denmark, Friday 24 April: HIV positive and HIV negative patients have comparable survival rates following liver transplant, according to new research presented today at EASL 2009, the Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Liver in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Global health experts release new guidance on malaria elimination

Countries and policy leaders gain new guidance today on how and when to eliminate malaria, paving the way for the potential global eradication of the deadly disease. The announcement is being made on behalf of the Malaria Elimination Group, a global body of researchers, policy experts and country program managers, by the Global Health Group of UCSF Global Health Sciences.