Biotech Week articles from July 2008

Biotech Week archives from July 2008

Exercise may prevent brain shrinkage in early Alzheimer's disease.
July 30, 2008... Mild Alzheimer's disease patients with higher physical fitness had larger brains compared to mild Alzheimer's patients with lower physical fitness, according to a study published in the July 15, 2008, issue of Neurology[R], the medical journal...

Kidney damage caused by iodinated contrast material thought to be overestimated, study shows.
July 30, 2008... The use of iodinated contrast material may be less damaging to the kidneys than previously recorded, according to a recent study conducted by researchers at Columbia University Medical Center in New York, NY (see also American Roentgen Ray...

Drug lowers body's 'set point' to control hyperparathyroidism in dialysis patients.
July 30, 2008... A medication called cinacalcetuan important part of treatment to control high levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH) in patients receiving dialysis for end-stage renal disease (ESRD)uworks by resetting the balance between calcium and PTH levels,...

Guidelines to prevent genetic discrimination.
July 30, 2008... A multi-disciplinary group from Stanford University (California, US) has proposed ten principles to guide the use of racial and ethnic categories in genetic research, as reported in BioMed Central's open access journal Genome Biology (see also...

Smoking cessation therapies more effective than placebos.
July 30, 2008... Six treatments for smoking cessation perform better than placebos u including varenicline (Chantix[R]), recently approved for use in Canada u states a team of researchers from McGill University and the University of Montreal in an article...

After ER visit, many patients in a fog, U-M study finds.
July 30, 2008... Every year, more than 115 million patients enter emergency rooms at hospitals around the nation. And more than three-quarters of them leave with an impression of what happened u or what should happen next u that doesn't match what their...

Wall Street Journal Lists Digimarc Patent Portfolio Among Technology Industry Leaders.
July 30, 2008... Digimarc Corporation (NASDAQ:DMRC) announced that the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reports the Company as twenty-ninth in its ranking of Top 50 Innovative Companies in Information Technology as published by The Patent Board's Patent Scorecard. The...

Competitor Analysis: Interferon - Now Available.
July 30, 2008... Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/a6db9f/competitor_analysi) has announced the addition of the "Competitor Analysis: Interferon" report to their offering (see also Research and Markets Ltd.). Product...

Data from L. Grossi et al provide new insights into acid reflux disease.
July 30, 2008... According to recent research from Pescara, Italy, "Little is known about prolonged effect of baclofen on oesophageal and lower oesophageal sphincter (LOS) motility. We aimed at investigating the oesophageal motility in gastro-oesophageal reflux...

Data from S. Elwany and colleagues advance knowledge in acid reflux disease.(Clinical report)
July 30, 2008... "Laryngopharyngeal reflux is increasingly being implicated in several otolaryngological disorders. To study a potential correlation between pre-operative laryngopharyngeal reflux and wound healing and recovery after tonsillectomy, based on...

Studies by D. Mcintosh and co-authors describe new findings in acute sinusitis.
July 30, 2008... According to a study from New Zealand, "Acute sinusitis is a relatively common condition, which usually responds to medical therapy. In most cases, there are no sequelae or complications subsequent to this infection." "However, like many...

Investigators at University of Bristol have published new data on addiction medicine.(Report)
July 30, 2008... " We argue for a translational approach to addiction science, using an important current research question as a case study. Case study What is the evidence in support of the hypothesis that alcohol increases the risk of a heroin/opiate overdose...

Researchers from Rockefeller University publish findings in addiction medicine.
July 30, 2008... "The melanocortin receptor type 2 (MC2R or adrenocorticotropic hormone, ACTH receptor) gene (MC2R) encodes a protein involved in regulation of adrenal cortisol secretion, important in the physiological response to stressors. A variant of MC2R,...

New adrenalectomy study findings reported from O.A. Castillo and co-authors.
July 30, 2008... According to recent research published in the journal Urology, "To examine the impact of adrenal tumor size on perioperative morbidity and postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing laparoscopic adrenalectomy. A total of 227 laparoscopic...

New adverse drug reactions data have been reported by K.M. Sullivan and co-authors.
July 30, 2008... "Adverse-drug-reaction (ADR) reporting by pharmacy students in a teaching hospital is described. Faculty and pharmacy staff collaborated to modify the existing data collection form for suspected ADRs," scientists in the United States report...

New adverse drug reactions research has been reported by scientists at University of Dusseldorf.
July 30, 2008... According to recent research from Dusseldorf, Germany, "Until recently, gadolinium (Gd)-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has increasingly replaced iodinated contrast agent examinations in dialysis patients, although only limited data...

Researchers' work from University of California focuses on african trypanosomiasis.
July 30, 2008... According to recent research published in the journal Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters, "Human African trypanosomiasis ( HAT) is caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma brucei." "The cysteine proteases of T. brucei have been...

Research on aggression described by scientists at University of California.(Report)
July 30, 2008... According to a study from the United States, "This study with 107 male forensic patients with developmental disabilities investigated whether exposure to parental anger and aggression was related to anger and assaultiveness in a hospital,...

Findings from University of Paris provide new insights into aging.
July 30, 2008... According to recent research from Nanterre, France, "This investigation studies the effect of aging on the coordination between equilibrium and trunk movement. Eight young adults and seven adults at the end of middle age bent their trunk...

Investigators at Brown University, Medical Department publish new data on aging.
July 30, 2008... "Ablation of germ-line precursor cells in Caenorhabditis elegans extends lifespan by activating DAF-16, a forkhead transcription factor (FOXO) repressed by insulin/insulin-like growth factor (IGF) signaling (IIS). Signals from the gonad might...

Recent findings from University of Illinois highlight research in aging.(Report)
July 30, 2008... "With aging, the heart develops myocyte hypertrophy associated with impaired relaxation indices. To define the cellular basis of this adaptation, we examined the physiological changes that arise in calcium handling in the aging heart and...

Reports outline aging study results from S.S. Boekhoorn et al.(Clinical report)
July 30, 2008... In this recent article published in the journal Archives of Ophthalmology, scientists in Netherlands conducted a study "To investigate the possible relationship between overall or specific alcohol consumption and risk of aging macula disorder...

Research from University of Leuven broadens understanding of aging.
July 30, 2008... "In older adults, cognitive resources play a key role in maintaining postural stability. In the present study, we evaluated whether increasing postural instability using sway referencing induces changes in resource allocation in dual-task...

Research on aging described by U.B. Aslan and colleagues.
July 30, 2008... According to a study from Denizli, Turkey, "The effects of aging and gender on balance performance (BP) among ambulatory adults were investigated in the current work. If there was a relation between the BP and a history of falling, this was...

Studies from M. Lucchetti and co-researchers update current data on aging.
July 30, 2008... "The increasing life expectancy is accompanied by a growing request of social and health care services, and social inequalities may contribute to a poor quality of life (QoL) and an increased risk of cognitive impairment and disability. The...

Studies from M.M. Petrovic and colleagues yield new information about alcoholism.(Report)
July 30, 2008... "The aim of this study was to determine the mechanism of transport of C-14-thiamin in the hearts of healthy (nonalcoholic) and chronically alcoholic guinea pigs. We used the single-pass, paired-tracer dilution method on isolated and...

Studies in the area of allergic contact dermatitis reported from L.E.A.M. Martins and co-researchers.
July 30, 2008... "Lymphocyte proliferation testing (LPT) has some advantages over patch testing to diagnose allergic contact dermatitis. It is harmless, objective and can be used in clinical situations where patch testing is not recommended," scientists in...

Data from University of London, Imperial College advance knowledge in allergies.
July 30, 2008... According to recent research from London, the United Kingdom, "Regulatory T (Treg) cells play an important role in controlling allergic inflammation. The transcription factor Foxp3 regulates the development and function of natural and adaptive...

Findings from D.E. Stull and co-researchers advance knowledge in allergies.(Report)
July 30, 2008... According to recent research published in the journal Allergy and Asthma Proceedings, "Generally, nasal congestion is reported to be the most troublesome symptom of allergic rhinitis and has been shown to have negative effects on sleep,...

Investigators at University of London, Imperial College publish new data on allergies.
July 30, 2008... "There is evidence that selenium levels are relatively low in Europe and may be falling. Low levels of selenium or low activity of some of the enzymes dependent on selenium have been associated with asthma," scientists in London, the United...

New allergies research from University of Western Ontario described.(Report)
July 30, 2008... "Peanut allergy affects similar to 1% of the population. Double-blind placebo-con trolled food challenges are gold standard for diagnosis," investigators in London, Canada report (see also Allergies). "Serum peanut-specific IgE (PN-IgE) is...

New allergies research has been reported by J.H. Day et al.
July 30, 2008... "Levocetirizine dihydrochloride, a potent H-1-receptor antagonist, and montelukast sodium, a selective leukotriene receptor antagonist, have been approved for the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR), but target two different pathways...

New allergies research has been reported by scientists at University of Utrecht.
July 30, 2008... "The objective of the present study was to investigate exposure-response relationships between current endotoxin exposure and allergic and respiratory symptoms in adults, taking into account farming exposures during childhood. A cross-sectional...

New allergies study findings recently were reported by researchers at Mahidol University.
July 30, 2008... According to a study from Bangkok, Thailand, "Many patients with chronic urticaria (CU) worry that foods or other allergens are responsible for their urticaria. Skin prick testing (SPT) may be one of the investigations used to provide a clear...

Recent findings from F. Schaumann and co-authors highlight research in allergies.
July 30, 2008... According to a study from Hannover, Germany, "Epidemiologic studies have shown that exacerbation of asthma is modulated by environmental endotoxin. High levels of endotoxin are associated with asthma symptoms and the current use of asthma...

Research conducted at Yamaguchi University, Medical Department has updated our knowledge about allergies.
July 30, 2008... "Regulation of basophil survival is an important aspect in the pathogenesis of allergic inflammation associated with local accumulation of basophils. However, pharmacologic modulation of basophil survival is largely unknown except for the...

Research from F. Rothwalter and co-researchers in the area of allergies published.
July 30, 2008... According to a study from the United States, "The underlying mechanisms responsible for allergic sensitization to food proteins remain elusive. To investigate the intrinsic properties (as well as the effect of pasteurization) of the milk...

Research from University of Santiago, Medical Department in the area of allergies published.
July 30, 2008... According to a study from Spain, "Exposure to pets has been implicated as a risk factor for asthma. However, this relation has been difficult to assess in individual studies because of the large potential of selection bias." "We sought to...

Research on allergies described by S. Fantin and colleagues.(Clinical report)
July 30, 2008... According to recent research from Barcelona, Spain, "With the current increasing incidence of allergies worldwide, new treatments showing efficacy and long term safety are needed for chronic conditions such as persistent allergic rhinitis...

Research results from T.M. Le and co-authors update knowledge of allergies.
July 30, 2008... "Peanut (PN), tree nuts (TN) and fruits are frequent causes of food allergy (FA). Peanut and TN are believed to cause more severe reactions than fruits," investigators in Netherlands report (see also Allergies). "However, there are no...

Researchers at Lund University target allergies.(Report)
July 30, 2008... "The variable regions of allergen-specific IgE, the isotype mediating allergic responses, are poorly defined to date. In this study we define the character of human antibody binding sites recognizing Phl p 2, a major allergen from timothy grass...

Researchers from Yamaguchi University publish new studies and findings in the area of allergies.(Report)
July 30, 2008... According to recent research from Yoshida, Japan, "The mechanisms of distant manifestation after a local allergic reaction are largely unknown. This study examined the development of cutaneous lesions in a mouse model of late allergic rhinitis...

Studies from A. Vonberg and colleagues reveal new findings on allergies.
July 30, 2008... According to recent research from Wesel, Germany, "The long-term effect of nutritional intervention with hydrolyzed infant formulas on allergy development has not been sufficiently evaluated. We performed a follow-up of the German Infant...

Studies from St. Thomas' Hospital describe new findings in allergies.(Report)
July 30, 2008... According to recent research from London, the United Kingdom, "This article reviews possible risk factors and theories for the development of food allergy. It is noted that previous strategies to prevent food allergy through allergen avoidance...

University of Catania publishes research in allergies.
July 30, 2008... "Asthma and rhinitis are often comorbid conditions, and several studies have suggested that rhinitis often precedes asthma. Sensitization to allergen has been shown to be one of the strongest determinants of incident asthma, but little is known...

Studies from C.A. Wasko and colleagues reveal new findings on alopecia.
July 30, 2008... Researchers in the United States conducted a study "To define the range of normal for a standardized 60-second hair count in men without alopecia. Convenience sample. Hospital-based practice. The study included 60 healthy men ( age range,...

Researchers' work from Cumhuriyet University focuses on alveolar bone loss.(Report)
July 30, 2008... According to recent research published in the Journal of Periodontology, "Propolis collected by honeybees from various plant sources is a resinous hive product possessing a broad spectrum of biologic activities. Propolis has been used...

Data on Alzheimer disease detailed by V.V. Jogani and co-authors.
July 30, 2008... According to recent research from Vadodara, India, "The aim of the investigation was to prepare and characterize microemulsion/mucoadhesive microemulsion of tacrine (TME/TMME), assess its pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic performances for...

Findings from S. Kinkingnehum and co-authors provide new insights into Alzheimer disease.
July 30, 2008... In this recently published study, investigators in Paris, France conducted a study "To determine whether regional atrophy or neuropsychological factors can predict the rate of decline in patients with mild Alzheimer disease ( AD). Despite...

Findings in Alzheimer disease reported from Georgetown University.
July 30, 2008... According to recent research from the United States, "Beta-site amyloid precursor protein-cleaving enzyme-1 (BACE1) initiates generation of amyloid beta (Abeta), a pathological hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. We investigated the impact of...

New Alzheimer disease research from McGill University described.
July 30, 2008... According to recent research from Montreal, Canada, "Recent research on Alzheimer's disease (AD) has shown that cognitive and memory decline in this disease is accompanied by disrupted changes in the coordination of large-scale brain functional...

New Alzheimer disease study findings have been reported by scientists at Columbia University.
July 30, 2008... In this recent study, researchers in the United States conducted a study "To determine whether APOE epsilon 4 predicts rate of cognitive change in incident and prevalent Alzheimer disease (AD). Individuals were recruited from two longitudinal...

New Alzheimer disease study results reported from S. Batelli et al.
July 30, 2008... "The genetic form of Alzheimer disease (FAD) accounts for about 5% of total Alzheimer disease (AD) cases, and the discovery of FAD-linked genes has shed new light on AD pathogenic mechanism. The presenilins genes (PSEN-1 and PSEN-2) carry the...

Research conducted at V. Alvarez and co-authors has provided new information about Alzheimer disease.
July 30, 2008... According to recent research from Oviedo, Spain, "Arachidonate 5-lipoxygenase plays an important role in the synthesis of leukotrienes. Leukotrienes are inflammatory mediators, and inflammation has been implicated in the pathogenesis of...

Researchers from University of Washington detail new studies and findings in the area of Alzheimer disease.
July 30, 2008... "Education may modulate the degree to which the neuropathology of Alzheimer disease (AD) is expressed as impaired cognitive performance. We studied 2,051 participants age 65 + years at 27 AD Centers who died and underwent autopsy," scientists...

Scientists at Johns Hopkins University discuss research in Alzheimer disease.(Report)
July 30, 2008... According to recent research from the United States, "This study was undertaken to examine differential functional MRI patterns in those at genetic risk for Alzheimer disease (AD), specifically investigating parietal lobe activation, a brain...

Scientists at Rush University release new data on Alzheimer disease.(Report)
July 30, 2008... "The cognitive abilities of older persons vary greatly, even among those with similar amounts of Alzheimer disease (AD) pathology, suggesting differences in neural reserve. Although its neurobiologic basis is not well understood, reserve may...

Studies from Boston University describe new findings in Alzheimer disease.(Report)
July 30, 2008... "Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may protect against Alzheimer disease (AD), but observational studies and trials have offered contradictory results. Prior studies have also been relatively short and small," investigators in the...

Studies from Oregon Health & Science University add new findings in the area of Alzheimer disease.
July 30, 2008... According to a study from the United States, "Alterations in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis have been noted in people with Alzheimer disease (AD) and in the people caring for them. In a case-control study, we assessed whether the...

Study data from M.Q. Zheng et al provide new insights into Alzheimer disease.
July 30, 2008... In this recent report, researchers in Shanghai, People's Republic of China conducted a study "To evaluate whether the newly-synthesized positron emission tomography (PET) tracer, [F-18]2-(4'-(methylamino)phenyl)-6-fluoroethoxy- benzothiazole...

Research reports on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis from Tohoku University, Medical Department provide new insights.
July 30, 2008... According to a study from Sendai, Japan, "Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease caused by selective motor neuron death. We developed a rat model of ALS expressing a human cytosolic copper-zinc superoxide...

Study results from B.S. Johnson and colleagues broaden understanding of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
July 30, 2008... "Protein misfolding is intimately associated with devastating human neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's, Huntington's, and Parkinson's. Although disparate in their pathophysiology, many of these disorders share a common theme,...

New analgesics study findings have been reported from University of Oxford.(Report)
July 30, 2008... "Perioperative analgesic strategies are frequently tested using analgesic consumption as an outcome measure. This outcome measure is intuitive and superficially attractive, but has not been evaluated rigorously," scientists in Oxford, the...

Reports outline analgesics study findings from Hong Kong Baptist University.
July 30, 2008... "The root of Ilex pubescens (Mao-Dong-Qing in Chinese, MDQ) has been commonly used for treatment of cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases in the Chinese medical system. The current studies aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory and...

Research from University of Trondheim yields new findings on anaphylactic shock.
July 30, 2008... According to recent research published in the journal Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica, "A more than threefold increase in tryptase, when comparing with the control sample, strengthens the diagnosis of anaphylaxis. Trauma, coronary ischaemia...

Findings from Suzhou University advance knowledge in anatomy.(Report)
July 30, 2008... According to a study from People's Republic of China, "The lower cervical pedicle size differs between the Chinese and the non-Chinese population. Knowledge of pedicle dimensions and surface landmarks is crucial for the safe placement of...

Investigators at Rouen University release new data on anatomy.
July 30, 2008... According to a study from Rouen, France, "Several flaps have been described to treat severe soft tissue defects of the finger dorsal side. Many authors studied vascular organization of the hand on its dorsal side; most of them insisted on deep...

New findings from Southern Medical University in the area of anatomy described.(Report)
July 30, 2008... According to recent research from Guangzhou, People's Republic of China, "The aim of this study was to establish a 3D digitized model of pelvic vasculature for anatomic study, preoperative planning, and virtual reality. Three adult fresh...

Reports on anatomy findings from Yonsei University provide new insights.(Report)
July 30, 2008... According to recent research from Seoul, South Korea, "The labiomandibular fold (LMF) is the area of the face that extends from the mouth corner to the mandibular border, and its prominence tends to increase with age. The LMF can be formed by...

Reports outline anatomy study results from University of Zurich.
July 30, 2008... "Female yellow dung flies, Scathophaga stercoraria, can influence the traffic of sperm stored in their spermathecae to the site of fertilization in the bursa copulatrix. However, the anatomical mechanisms employed are largely unknown,"...

Studies from E.M. Reece et al further understanding of anatomy.
July 30, 2008... According to recent research published in the journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, "Nasal reconstruction with use of the forehead flap has been performed for hundreds of years. Forehead vasculature has been studied; however, anatomical...

Studies from University of Texas in the area of anatomy described.
July 30, 2008... "This article introduces the concept of pseudoptosis as a mechanism of midfacial aging: diminished volume of a specific deep fat compartment leads to an excess skin envelope and the illusion of a more prominent nasolabial fold. Tha anatomy of...

Data from University of Copenhagen advance knowledge in anesthesia.
July 30, 2008... "Use of ultrasound by anaesthesiologists performing regional blocks is rapidly gaining popularity. The aims of this review were to summarize and update accumulating evidence on ultrasound-guided nerve blocks, with an emphasis on the clinical...

New anesthesia study findings reported from Ondokuz Mayis University.
July 30, 2008... According to a study from Samsun, Turkey, "Although the association of tissue coring and development of epidermoid turnout has been proposed, the extent and frequency of such coring is still controversial and the viability of carried cells has...

Research from J.P. Prager and colleagues provide new insights into anesthesia.
July 30, 2008... "The use of sedation with invasive pain management procedures is increasingly prevalent," investigators in the United States report (see also Anesthesia). "This paper discusses the inherent risks associated with sedation that is too deep...

Research from Y. Imai and co-researchers in the area of anesthesia published.
July 30, 2008... According to a study from Sapporo, Japan, "The inhibition of thermoregulatory control by anaesthesia is manifested by reduced vasoconstriction and shivering thresholds. As intraoperative bleeding can result in haemodynamic changes, including...

Research on anesthesia detailed by P. Samuelsson and co-authors.(Report)
July 30, 2008... According to recent research from Kalmar, Sweden, "Dreams are more frequently reported than awareness after surgery. We define awareness as explicit recall of real intraoperative events during anaesthesia." "The importance of...

Research on anesthesia discussed by scientists at Johann Wolfgang Goethe University.
July 30, 2008... According to a study from Mainz, Germany, "Postoperative shivering and pain are frequent problems in patients recovering from anaesthesia with particularly high incidences being observed after remifentanil-isoflurane-based general anaesthesia....

New findings from P. Laforet and co-researchers in the area of aneurysm described.
July 30, 2008... According to recent research from Paris, France, "Strokes related to intracranial aneurysm or arteriopathy have been reported in a few patients with late-onset Pompe disease. These reports suggested that cerebral vessel involvement could be an...

Research findings from University of Toronto update understanding of aneurysm.(Report)
July 30, 2008... According to recent research published in the journal Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, "Fenestrations (segmental duplications) of the intracranial arteries are rare anomalies, felt to result from incomplete fusion of primitive embryologic...

Research on aneurysm discussed by scientists at Royal Victoria Hospital.
July 30, 2008... "The authors report a rare case of an aneurysm arising at fenestrated anterior cerebral artery," investigators in North Ireland report (see also Aneurysm). "The embryogenesis of this anatomical variation is discussed along with the review...

Research on aneurysm reported by scientists at University of California.(Report)
July 30, 2008... "Emergency physicians use noncontrast cranial computed tomographic (CT) imaging of headache patients to identify subarachnoid hemorrhage caused by aneurysms or arteriovenous malformations. Given sufficiently high sensitivity, CT imaging could...

Studies in the area of aneurysm reported from M.J.H. Wermer and co-researchers.
July 30, 2008... According to recent research from Netherlands, "Patients who survive after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) are at risk for a recurrence despite successful treatment of the ruptured aneurysm and may therefore benefit from screening for new...

Research conducted at K. Yamashita and co-authors has provided new information about angina.
July 30, 2008... "Nitroglycerin is one of the most widely used drugs in the treatment of angina. However, nitroglycerin fails to relieve angina in patients with syndrome X who have microvessel dysfunction," scientists writing in the journal Angiology report...