Biotech Week articles from August 2008

Biotech Week archives from August 2008

Loud music can make you drink more, in less time, in a bar.
August 6, 2008... Commercial venues are very aware of the effects that the environment u in this case, music u can have on in-store traffic flow, sales volumes, product choices, and consumer time spent in the immediate vicinity. A study of the effects of music...

Video released of rapid Alzheimer's improvement after new immune-based treatment.(Report)
August 6, 2008... New research into the treatment of Alzheimer's disease reports improvement in language abilities using a novel immune-based approach. A video accompanying the research, published in the open access journal BMC Neurology, documents rapid...

Averting postsurgical infections in kids: Give antibiotics within hour before first incision.
August 6, 2008... Giving children preventive antibiotics within one hour before they undergo spinal surgery greatly reduces the risk for serious infections after the surgery, suggests a Johns Hopkins study to be published in the August issue of Pediatric...

MIT identifies cells for spinal-cord repair.
August 6, 2008... A researcher at MIT's Picower Institute for Learning and Memory has pinpointed stem cells within the spinal cord that, if persuaded to differentiate into more healing cells and fewer scarring cells following an injury, may lead to a new,...

Minimally invasive treatment improves male fertility.
August 6, 2008... A minimally invasive treatment for a common cause of male infertility can significantly improve a couple's chances for pregnancy, according to a new study published in the August issue of Radiology. The study, conducted at the University of...

Wasps and bumble bees heat up, fly faster with protein-rich food.
August 6, 2008... Good pollen makes bees hot, biologists at UC San Diego have found. Wasps warm up too when they find protein-rich meat, a separate experiment has shown (see also University of California - San Diego). In both cases warmer flight muscles...

Researchers discover a gene that regulates and blocks ovulation.
August 6, 2008... This release is available in French (see also University of Montreal). Montreal, July 17, 2008 u A group of Canadian and European researchers have unlocked the mystery of a gene with the potential to both regulate and block ovulation. The...

Landscape study may offer solutions for fire managers.
August 6, 2008... PORTLAND, Ore. July 23, 2008. A fire is currently burning through a study area where projections were made about fire behavior about 2 years ago. Managers used data and analysis from the Gotchen Late-Successional Reserve (LSR) study in the...

Survey Shows Link Between Manual Data Processing and Problems with Managing Channel Operations.
August 6, 2008... Survey results published from Pembroke Consulting show a surprising number of companies, many of which are technology providers, are still using manual processes to collect, analyze and report on sales data. The survey explored the data...

Mate or hibernate? Thats the question worm pheromones answer.
August 6, 2008... If worms could talk, they might tell potential suitors, "I like the way you wriggle," complete with that telltale come slither look. But worms send their valentines via signals known as pheromones, a complex chemical code researchers are now...

Global Thought Leaders Outline Unmet Needs, Opportunities in Anxiety and Depression Market in New MedPredict Report.(Report)
August 6, 2008... MedPredict Market Research, a global provider of pharmaceutical competitive intelligence and market research, has published a new report providing critical strategic insight for pharma and biotech companies with a stake in the market for...

Merck Reports Second-Quarter 2008 Financial Results.(Financial report)
August 6, 2008... Merck & Co., Inc. announced financial results for the second quarter of 2008 (see also Merck & Co., Inc.). Merck reported non-GAAP (generally accepted accounting principles) earnings per share (EPS) of $0.86 for the second quarter of 2008,...

Almost 50% of Americans Exposed to Second-Hand Smoke According to New Report From Centers for Disease Control.
August 6, 2008... Nymox Pharmaceutical Corporation (NASDAQ: NYMX) offers TobacAlert(TM), an easy-to-use test for second-hand smoke exposure that requires no special equipment or training and can be used for at home or at the workplace. According to a newly...

PPC Ranked #3 for Industry Impact on Nationwide Patent Board Scorecard.
August 6, 2008... PPC, a global manufacturer of connector technology for cable TV, satellite, wireless and telecommunications industries, ranked third for Industry Impact(TM) among the top 35 most innovative companies in the United States, according to the...

Challenging Work and Corporate Responsibility Will Lure MBA Grads, According to Stanford Business School Research.
August 6, 2008... A survey of 759 graduating MBAs at 11 top business schools reveals that the future business leaders rank corporate social responsibility high on their list of values, and they are willing to sacrifice a significant part of their salaries to...

Thomson Reuters Publishes CMR International's 2008 Pharmaceutical R&D Factbook, Now Available for the First Time Online.
August 6, 2008... The Scientific business of Thomson Reuters announced the availability of the newly published CMR International 2008 Pharmaceutical R&D Factbook, an indispensable reference and business planning tool for decision makers in pharmaceutical R&D,...

Reports summarize acid reflux disease study results from M. Kazachkov and co-researchers.(Report)
August 6, 2008... According to a study from the United States, "The causal relationship between gastroesophageal reflux (GER) and respiratory disorders is not well understood. Previous experimental studies that investigated this relationship were performed in...

Findings from E. Tanghetti and co-authors broaden understanding of acne vulgaris.
August 6, 2008... According to a study from the United States, "Benzoyl peroxide (BPO) is poorly soluble. A solubitized formulation of BPO has been developed to maximize its bioavailability and enhance follicular penetration." "Patients with acne vulgaris...

Pennsylvania State University, Medical Department details research in acne vulgaris.(Report)
August 6, 2008... "Treatment of acne vulgaris can be challenging for both patients and physicians. Topical retinoids are often considered first-line therapy for the treatment of all but the most severe forms of acne," investigators in the United States report...

Research from J.K.L. Tan and co-researchers in the area of acne vulgaris described.(Clinical report)
August 6, 2008... According to a study from Windsor, Canada, "There is a paucity of information on the prevalence and severity of acne of the face, chest, and back. This study was designed to examine the prevalence and severity of acne on the face, chest, and...

Study data from D. Pariser et al provide new insights into acne vulgaris.(Report)
August 6, 2008... According to recent research from the United States, "A variety of topical retinoids is available for the treatment of acne vulgaris. Selection of the appropriate treatment depends not only on efficacy but also on how well the patient can...

Study findings from L.S. Gold et al broaden understanding of acne vulgaris.(Report)
August 6, 2008... "Topical retinoids, such as adapalene gel and tazarotene cream, are considered first-line therapy for the treatment of acne vulgaris. Dermatologists often initiate adapalene get treatment first, due to its good tolerability, followed by a...

Research conducted at Leiden University has provided new information about acromegaly.(Clinical report)
August 6, 2008... " Cross-sectional studies have shown impaired quality of life (QoL) in patients in biochemical control of acromegaly. The aim of this study was to assess longitudinal changes in QoL in a homogenous cohort of patients with sustained biochemical...

Studies from University of Milan yield new data on addiction medicine.(Report)
August 6, 2008... According to recent research from Milan, Italy, "Opiate addiction influences many physiological functions including immune responses. The objective of this study was to investigate the immune system function in heroin addicted patients...

University of Bergen publishes research in Addison disease.
August 6, 2008... "Autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type 1 (APS I) is a monogenic disease affecting endocrine glands and other organs due to mutations of the autoimmune regulator (AIRE) gene. There is a wide variability in clinical phenotypes in patients with...

Research from J.R. Parfitt et al has provided new information about adenoma.
August 6, 2008... According to recent research published in the journal Histopathology, "Polypoid mucosal prolapse near the anorectal junction mimics adenomas endoscopically and histopathologically. The aim was to describe the phenomenon of polypoid mucosal...

Investigators at University of Toulouse have published new data on adverse drug reactions.(Report)
August 6, 2008... "Objectives Rofecoxib was withdrawn from the market on 30 September 2004 following the results of a randomized controlled trial. Following this sudden decision, several controversies occurred in the literature to determine whether this adverse...

Studies conducted at University of Sydney on adverse drug reactions recently published.
August 6, 2008... In this recently published study, investigators in Sydney, Australia conducted a study "To investigate the incidence of latanoprost-related adverse events of the cornea, iris, and retina and the occurrence of hyperpigmentation. An open-label...

New aggression study results from N. Aliaklein et al described.
August 6, 2008... According to a study from the United States, "The genetic deletion of monoamine oxidaseA(MAOA), an enzyme that breaks down the monoamine neurotransmitters norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine, produces aggressive phenotypes across species....

Findings from University of Kansas broaden understanding of teacher education.(Report)
August 6, 2008... "Policymakers recently have targeted teacher quality, and school systems have increased their attention to instructional reform through professional development. The purpose of this study was to examine teachers' views about the change process...

Reports summarize aging research from University of Texas.
August 6, 2008... According to a study from the United States, "Environmental ultraviolet (UV) exposure exacts a significant toll annually in terms of overall morbidity and undesirable esthetic effects of skin aging. In order to establish the molecular and...

Research from J. Sok and colleagues provide new insights into aging.(Report)
August 6, 2008... According to recent research from Clichy, France, "Skin aging entails drastic changes in the extracellular dermal matrix (ECM) and dermal-epidermal junction (DEJ). These biological alterations are reflected in the clinical signs of aged skin."...

Researchers from Mayo Clinic provide details of new studies and findings in the area of Alzheimer disease.(Report)
August 6, 2008... In this recently published article, scientists in the United States conducted a study "To determine the neuropathologic correlates of antemortem hydrogen 1 (H-1) magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy metabolite measurements in subjects with...

Studies from P. Bossu et al in the area of Alzheimer disease described.
August 6, 2008... "A body of evidence indicates that inflammation plays a pivotal role in AD pathogenesis. IL-18 is a pro-inflammatory cytokine produced in the brain, emerging to be implicated in AD," investigators in Rome, Italy report (see also Alzheimer...

Study findings from P. Pezzotti et al broaden understanding of Alzheimer disease.
August 6, 2008... According to recent research from Rome, Italy, "The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) has contributed to detecting cognitive impairment, yet few studies have evaluated its accuracy when used by general practitioners (GP) in an actual...

Study findings from W.J. Meilandt et al broaden understanding of Alzheimer disease.
August 6, 2008... According to recent research from the United States, "The enkephalin signaling pathway regulates various neural functions and can be altered by neurodegenerative disorders. In Alzheimer's disease (AD), elevated enkephalin levels may reflect...

Findings from L.P. Arranz and co-researchers advance knowledge in amyloidosis.
August 6, 2008... "Among the less common variants of primary cutaneous amyloidosis are both the poikylodermic and the familial types. The case of two sisters of thirteen and seventeen years old with extensive asymptomatic lesions with a poikylodermic aspect is...

Reports outline analgesics research from Kirikkale University, Medical Department.
August 6, 2008... "The effectiveness of 10 mL and 20 mL local prilocaine infiltration for analgesic purposes during shockwave lithotripsy (SWL) was compared, and the differences in pain intensity and need for additional analgesics were defined. One hundred and...

Research from J. Lu and colleagues provide new insights into anesthesia.(Report)
August 6, 2008... "Classical anesthetics of the gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptor (GABA(A))-enhancing class (e.g., pentobarbital, chloral hydrate, muscimol, and ethanol) produce analgesia and unconsciousness (sedation). Dissociative anesthetics that...

Studies conducted at C.F. Minto et al on anesthesia recently published.
August 6, 2008... According to recent research from Switzerland, "pharmacokinetic (PK)/pharmacodynamic (PD) modeling has made an enormous contribution to intravenous anesthesia. PK/PD models have provided us with insight into the factors affecting the onset and...

Studies from P.A. Rodrigues and co-authors have provided new information about anesthesia.(Clinical report)
August 6, 2008... In this recently published article, scientists in Matosinhos, Portugal conducted a study "To compare the surgical conditions and complications and patient and surgeon satisfaction in cataract surgery by phacoemulsification under topical...

New aneurysm data have been reported by scientists at State University of New York.(Report)
August 6, 2008... "Hemodynamic insults at arterial bifurcations are hypothesized to play a key role in intracranial aneurysm formation. This study investigates aneurysm-initiating vascular responses at the rabbit basilar terminus subsequent to common carotid...

New aneurysm research from W. Qi et al outlined.(Report)
August 6, 2008... According to a study from Beijing, People's Republic of China, " Compared with smaller aneurysms, giant intracranial aneurysms (GICAs) have a poorer prognosis and require more meticulous surgical planning and techniques to exclude them from the...

Research from T. Tsumoto and colleagues has provided new data on aneurysm.
August 6, 2008... According to recent research from the United States, "The natural history study of experimental aneurysms is important for the evaluation of new endovascular occlusion devices. Our purpose was to evaluate the natural history of experimental...

Study data from M.Q. Yang et al provide new insights into aneurysm.(Report)
August 6, 2008... " Oculomotor palsy is a common complication in patients with posterior communicating aneurysm. This study was conducted to investigate the postoperative recovery of patients with posterior communicating aneurysm complicated with oculomotor...

Study data from Y. Watanabe and co-authors update knowledge of aneurysm.
August 6, 2008... "CT angiography (CTA) has been used for the evaluation of intracranial aneurysms and recently has been applied to assess postoperative aneurysms treated with titanium-alloy clips. We investigated the clinical usefulness of subtraction CTA by...

New data from G.R. Iball et al illuminate research in angiography.
August 6, 2008... "The aim of this work is to construct and validate a model to describe the variation in fetal dose as a function of the thickness of abdominal lead shielding used during CT pulmonary angiography and to determine the optimal shielding material....

Research from Cornell University yields new data on angiography.(Report)
August 6, 2008... According to a study from the United States, "The purpose of this study was to compare whole-heart acquisition with targeted-volume acquisition in 3-T navigator coronary MR angiography with parallel imaging. The right and left coronary arteries...

Research from Harvard University in angiography provides new insights.
August 6, 2008... "A simple classification instrument based on imaging that predicts outcomes in patients with actute ischemic stroke is lacking. We tested the hypotheses that the Boston Acute Stroke Imaging Scale (BASIS) classification instrument effectively...

Data from University of Nottingham provide new insights into angiology.
August 6, 2008... In this recent report, researchers in Nottingham, the United Kingdom conducted a study "To retrospectively assess the relationship between carotid intraplaque hemorrhage (IPH), which indicates plaque instability, and brain white matter...

New angiology data have been reported by scientists at University of California.
August 6, 2008... " One of the limiting factors of C1-C2 fixation is the location of the vertebral artery (VA). The authors sought to assess the potential variations in atlanto-axial VA anatomy using computed tomography angiography (CTA)," scientists in the...

New angiology study findings have been reported from Massachusetts General Hospital.
August 6, 2008... According to a study from the United States, " Bedside placement of removable inferior vena cava filters (RVCF) is increasingly used in critically injured patients. The need for fluoroscopic equipment and specialized intensive care unit beds...

New findings in angiology described by J.L. Cheatwood and co-researchers.(Report)
August 6, 2008... According to a study from the United States, "The Nogo-A protein is an important inhibitor of axonal remodeling after central nervous system injuries, including ischemic stroke. Interfering with the function of Nogo-A via infusion of a...

Recent findings in angiology described by S. Sanioglu and colleagues.(Report)
August 6, 2008... "Open repair is considered the first choice for the treatment of chronic aortic transection. These patients are usually very young and they have a low risk of mortality and morbidity for surgery," scientists writing in the journal Thoracic and...

Scientists at University of Ulsan target angiology.(Clinical report)
August 6, 2008... "Stroke mechanisms and clinical features of anterior cerebral artery (ACA) territory infarction have rarely been investigated using MRI. To verify stroke mechanisms and to make clinical imaging correlation," researchers in Seoul, South Korea...

Studies from Aachen University in the area of angiology published.(Report)
August 6, 2008... According to a study from Aachen, Germany, "The purpose of this study was an intraindividual comparison of the degrees of MDCT contrast enhancement achieved with agents containing 300 and 370 mg I/mL. Seventy-five patients underwent baseline...

Studies from C.D. Ha and co-authors have provided new information about angiology.
August 6, 2008... According to recent research from the United States, "We evaluated the use of duodenal derotation as a surgical option for superior mesenteric artery syndrome (SMAS) in two groups of young patients. Sixteen patients with SMAS diagnosed by...

Study results from S.C. Kallivalappil and colleagues broaden understanding of angiology.
August 6, 2008... "THE TRANSRADIAL ARTERY APPROACH for cardiac catheterization has gained popularity among interventional cardiologists in some institutions. When compared with transfemoral access, transradial access is believed to be safer and reduces patient...

Study results from Tohoku University update understanding of angiology.
August 6, 2008... According to a study from Sendai, Japan, "To define mechanisms underlying neurovascular injury following brain embolism-induced neurodegeneration, we investigated temporal and spatial pathological changes in brain microvessels up to 12 weeks...

Findings from Z. Cao et al in angioplasty reported.(Report)
August 6, 2008... According to recent research from Beijing, People's Republic of China, " The radial artery is currently regarded as a useful vascular access site for coronary procedures. This study was conducted to investigate the feasibility and safety of the...

New angioplasty study results reported from Baylor University.
August 6, 2008... According to a study from the United States, "We present a case in which angioplasty alone and stent-assisted angioplasty were performed in the same patient to treat medically refractory intracranial stenoses." "This elderly patient with...

New angiotensins study findings have been reported by scientists at University of Massachusetts.
August 6, 2008... According to recent research from the United States, "Fruits of seven fully ripened strawberry cultivars grown in Brazil (Dover, Camp Dover, Camarosa, Sweet Charlie, Toyonoka, Oso Grande, and Piedade) were evaluated for total phenolics,...

New research on angiotensins from State University of New York summarized.(Clinical report)
August 6, 2008... According to recent research from the United States, "A semimechanistic pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) model was developed to evaluate the effects of aliskiren on the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in humans. Mean data were extracted...

Research from Ehime University, Medical Department reveals new findings on angiotensins.
August 6, 2008... According to a study from Japan, "We investigated the effect of temporary treatment with a nonhypotensive dose of valsartan on ischemic brain damage in C57BL/6 mice. We separated the mice into 3 groups of valsartan treatment before middle...

Research on angiotensins reported by S. Duranbarragan et al.
August 6, 2008... In this recent report published in the journal Rheumatology, researchers in the United States conducted a study "To examine if angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor use delays the occurrence of renal involvement and decreases the risk...

Study results from B.R. Hemmelgarn and colleagues in the area of angiotensins published.
August 6, 2008... "In 1999, the Canadian Hypertension Education Program (CHEP) was launched to develop and implement evidence-based hypertension guidelines. To determine temporal trends in antihypertensive drug prescribing and physician visits for hypertension...

Reports from Seoul National University, Medical Department advance knowledge in ankylosing spondylitis.(Report)
August 6, 2008... "The purpose of this study was to evaluate the MRI features of the ''MR corner sign'' and to determine its diagnostic usefulness in ankylosing spondylitis. We reviewed the spinal MR images of 52 patients with ankylosing spondylitis and compared...

Findings from University of Houston broaden understanding of anti-infectives.
August 6, 2008... "Continuous vancomycin infusion is increasingly used for outpatient management of infections, but the relationship between vancomycin and nephrotoxicity is controversial. We investigated the risk factors associated with nephrotoxicity in this...

New anti-infectives research has been reported by scientists at University of Athens, Medical Department.
August 6, 2008... "Moxifloxacin is recommended in the empirical treatment of infections involving Gram-negative anaerobes. However, current European data regarding its activity against anaerobic pathogens are limited," scientists in Athens, Greece report (see...

Scientists at Pennsylvania State University publish research in antiarrhythmics.
August 6, 2008... "The development of new antiarrhythmic agents for the treatment of atrial fibrillation is advancing simultaneously on several fronts. The molecular structure of existing agents such as amiodarone is being modified in an attempt to improve...

Findings from University of Milan provide new insights into antibiotics.
August 6, 2008... "Although the vast majority of skin infection must be treated with systemic antibiotics, topical antibiotics are used overwhelmingly in the world, often as self-prescribed medications without taking into account the sensitivity of the presumed...

New antibiotics study results reported from University of Murcia.
August 6, 2008... Researchers in Murcia, Spain conducted a study "To evaluate whether the application of an enamel etchant (Etch-37 BAC) and a desensitizer (PrepEze desensitizer) which contain the antibacterial agent benzalkonium chloride (BAC) affects the bond...

Research data from University of Memphis update understanding of antibiotics.(Report)
August 6, 2008... According to recent research from the United States, "Stainless steel screws and other internal fixation devices are used routinely to stabilize bacteria-contaminated bone fractures from multiple injury mechanisms. In this preliminary study, we...

Research from University of London, Imperial College yields new data on antibiotics.(Report)
August 6, 2008... "Administering parenteral antibiotics outside the confines of a ward setting is becoming an attractive way of treating infections in the UK. However, as well as having many advantages, an outpatient parenteral antibiotic therapy (OPAT) service...

Research results from I. Varga and co-authors update knowledge of antibiotics.
August 6, 2008... "We evaluated the in vitro activity of caspofungin against Candida dubliniensis strains using MIC and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) measurements and time-kill methodology. We used six C. dubliniensis clinical isolates and the CD 36...

Researchers from Rice University detail findings in antibiotics.
August 6, 2008... According to a study from the United States, "The antibiotic valanimycin is a naturally occurring azoxy compound produced by Streptomyces viridifaciens MG456-hF10. Precursor incorporation experiments showed that valanimycin is derived from...

Scientists at University of Leuven target antibiotics.(Report)
August 6, 2008... According to a study from Louvain, Belgium, "The aim of this study was to determine the opinions and problems concerning the use of a local antibiotic hospital guideline in a 1900-bed tertiary-care, university teaching hospital. A qualitative...

Studies from C. Lucasti et al have provided new data on antibiotics.(Clinical report)
August 6, 2008... According to a study from the United States, "Complicated intra-abdominal infections (cIAIs) require surgical intervention and empiric antibacterial therapy. Doripenem, a broad-spectrum carbapenem, provides coverage of key gram-negative and...

Study data from Montana State University update understanding of antibiotics.
August 6, 2008... "Oidium sp. has been recovered as an endophyte in Terminalia catappa (tropical chestnut) in Costa Rica. The volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of this organism uniquely and primarily consist of esters of propanoic acid, 2-methyl-, butanoic acid,...

Data on antifungals detailed by A. Menegassi and co-authors.
August 6, 2008... According to recent research from Porto Alegre, Brazil, "Ureases (EC 3.5.1.5) are metalloenzymes that hydrolyze urea to produce ammonia and carbon dioxide These enzymes, which are found in fungi, bacteria, and plants, show very similar...

Findings from University of Texas broaden understanding of antifungals.
August 6, 2008... According to a study from the United States, "In addition to their in vitro inhibitory and fungicidal effects, modern antifungal agents interact in vivo with host immune functions involved in defense against fungal pathogens." "The nature...

New antifungals study results reported from Carnegie Mellon University.
August 6, 2008... "The chemical study of Heterothalamus alienus gave rutin, spathulenol (1), (IR,7S)-germacra-4(15),5,10(14)trien-1 ss-ol (2), sakuranetin (3), padmatin 3-acetate (4), (2R,.3R)-dihydroquercetin-7,3',4'-trimethyI ether (5),...

Reports outline antifungals study findings from University of Poitiers.(Report)
August 6, 2008... "Caspofungin and micafungin belong to the echinocandins; the mechanism of action of echinocandins is based on the inhibition of (1,3)-beta-D-glucan synthase. The aim of this study was to investigate in vitro the optimal antifungal lock...

Investigators at University of Bonn release new data on antimicrobials.
August 6, 2008... According to recent research from Bonn, Germany, "Chitosan is a polysaccharide biopolymer that combines a unique set of versatile physicochemical and biological characteristics which allow for a wide range of applications. Although its...