Body

RTOG to announce results of international Phase III clinical trial for newly diagnosed brain tumors

RTOG reports on the largest trial to-date for patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma demonstrating the importance and feasibility of prospective molecular analysis of tumor tissue although finding that patients received no additional benefit from dose-intensive temozolomide as compared to standard adjuvant temozolomide after combined temozolomide and radiotherapy.

ASCO releases studies from upcoming annual meeting

Alexandria, Va. – The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) today highlighted several studies in a press briefing from among more than 4,000 abstracts publicly posted online at www.asco.org in advance of ASCO's 47th Annual Meeting. An additional 17 plenary, late-breaking and other major studies will be released in on-site press conferences at the Annual Meeting.

Ex-Dallas Maverick survives rare form of leukemia thanks to experimental drug treatment

DALLAS – May 19, 2011 – Ray Johnston's goal in three years is for his band to sell out at the 1,600-seat House of Blues in Dallas. In eight years, he wants to pack the 6,400-seat Verizon Theatre in Grand Prairie, and by 2030, to play to tens of thousands of fans at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington.

Mr. Johnston's unmentioned goal, though, is to live another year after battling leukemia for the past seven. Despite four relapses, the former Dallas Mavericks basketball player is enjoying life as a rising musician in The Ray Johnston Band.

440-year-old document sheds new light on native population decline under Spanish colonial rule

Analysis of a 440-year-old document reveals new details about native population decline in the heartland of the Inca Empire following Spanish conquest in the 16th century.

Archaeologists uncover oldest mine in the Americas

Archaeologists have discovered a 12,000-year-old iron oxide mine in Chile that marks the oldest evidence of organized mining ever found in the Americas, according to a report in the June issue of Current Anthropology.

A team of researchers led by Diego Salazar of the Universidad de Chile found the 40-meter trench near the coastal town of Taltal in northern Chile. It was dug by the Huentelauquen people—the first settlers in the region—who used iron oxide as pigment for painted stone and bone instruments, and probably also for clothing and body paint, the researchers say.

Identification of 'fingerprint' of rare tumor leads to development of cheap and reliable new test

Researchers at the University of Oxford have developed a cheap and reliable diagnostic test for a rare form of cancer. The test involves screening tumour samples for a particular molecular fingerprint unique to this type of cancer.

New report on health reform implementation: How to ensure access to coverage is maintained

NEW REPORT ON HEALTH REFORM IMPLEMENTATION RECOMMENDS WAYS TO ENSURE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE INSURANCE IS MAINTAINED THROUGH JOB AND INCOME CHANGES

Full-Year Coverage, Combined Small Business and Individual Health Insurance Exchanges Could Reduce Administrative Burdens and Prevent Coverage Gaps

Women entering the workforce expect less than men, study finds

Women have lower career expectations than men, anticipating smaller paycheques and longer waits for promotions, according to a new study involving a University of Guelph researcher.

When comparing career expectations of Canadian female and male university students, Prof. Sean Lyons discovered that women predict their starting salaries to be 14 per cent less than what the men forecast. This gap in wage expectations widens over their careers with women anticipating their earnings to be 18 per cent less than men after five years on the job.

Why we stood - better fighting in prehistoric times

SALT LAKE CITY, May 18, 2011 – A University of Utah study shows that men hit harder when they stand on two legs than when they are on all fours, and when hitting downward rather than upward, giving tall, upright males a fighting advantage.

This may help explain why our ape-like human ancestors began walking upright and why women tend to prefer tall men.

Scottish data highlight dangerous practice in pediatric paracetamol prescribing

Many of the prescriptions issued by GPs for paracetamol either give less than recommended doses to older children or exceed recommended doses in young children. Under-dosing may result in insufficient pain relief and over-dosing can damage a person's liver. "Getting the dose right can become even more complicated when parents also give their children additional paracetamol that they have bought over the counter," says James McLay, a senior member of the research team who studied this issue. The findings are published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.

China fossil shows bird, crocodile family trees split earlier than thought

A fossil unearthed in China in the 1970s of a creature that died about 247 million years ago, originally thought to be a distant relative of both birds and crocodiles, turns out to have come from the crocodile family tree after it had already split from the bird family tree, according to research led by a University of Washington paleontologist.

Blood test confirmed to be 'powerful predictor' following largest analysis to date

Washington, DC – Researchers at Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center say the number of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in the blood is a "powerful predictor" to help physicians more reliably assess treatment benefit for patients with metastatic breast cancer. The findings from a large analysis using pooled data from international cancer centers will be presented during a poster session on Monday, June 6th, at the 2011 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Chicago.

New treatment regimen shows clinical benefit in advanced colon cancer

Washington, D.C. -- A new treatment regimen for patients with metastatic colon cancer appears to offer clinical benefit even when used after multiple other treatments have failed, say research physicians at Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, a part of Georgetown University Medical Center.

Yoga improves quality of life in women with breast cancer undergoing radiation therapy

HOUSTON — For women with breast cancer undergoing radiation therapy, yoga offers unique benefits beyond fighting fatigue, according to new research from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

While simple stretching exercises improved fatigue, patients who participated in yoga that incorporated yogic breathing, postures, meditation and relaxation techniques into their treatment plan experienced improved physical functioning, better general health and lower cortisol (stress hormone) levels. They also were better able to find meaning in their cancer experience.

Researchers discover that lymphocyte count indicates prognosis of patients with renal cell carcinoma

CHICAGO, IL (May 18, 2011)––Each year, kidney cancer is diagnosed in nearly 60,000 people in the U.S. Many of these patients undergo surgery to remove the affected kidney, but this procedure can be risky for the elderly and those who have other health problems. Unfortunately, the prognosis of kidney cancer patients often cannot be determined until tumor samples are surgically removed and evaluated.