Biotech Business Week articles from April 2009

Biotech Business Week archives from April 2009

Survey explores medical care for children with autism using complementary alternative medicine.
April 6, 2009... In a national survey conducted by the University of Minnesota, primary care physicians report that they are more likely to ask patients with autism about complementary alternative medicine (CAM) use and desire more CAM education for this...

Imaging technique may trace development of Parkinson's disease.
April 6, 2009... While finding a biomarker for Parkinson's disease that would let physicians screen for or track its progression remains an elusive goal, a team led by a University of Illinois at Chicago neuroscientist has shown that a non-invasive brain...

Biofilms: Even stickier than suspected.
April 6, 2009... Biofilms are everywhere - in dental plaque and ear canals, on contact lenses and in water pipelines - and the bacteria that make them get more resilient with age, finds a new study in FEMS Microbiology Letters (see also University of Southern...

Therapeutic cloning gets a boost with new research findings.
April 6, 2009... San Antonio … Germ cells, the cells which give rise to a mammal's sperm or eggs, exhibit a five to ten-fold lower rate of spontaneous point mutations than adult somatic cells, which give rise to the body's remaining cell types, tissues and...

Licorice compound offers new cancer prevention strategy.
April 6, 2009... A chemical component of licorice may offer a new approach to preventing colorectal cancer without the adverse side effects of other preventive therapies, Vanderbilt University Medical Center researchers report (see also Vanderbilt University...

Reports on biomedical engineering findings from M. Marxen and co-researchers provide new insights.
April 6, 2009... "Morphological characteristics of vascular systems are commonly presented in terms of Strahler order because the logarithms of quantities such as vessel diameter and length are often linearly related to Strahler order. However, the ability to...

Research data from Humboldt University update understanding of biomedical engineering.(Report)
April 6, 2009... According to recent research from Haus, Germany, "This study examined the external joint moments at the lower extremity in all three directions in a group of older and younger adults when ascending stairs and ramps. Twenty-eight older and 16...

Researchers from Duke University publish new studies and findings in the area of biomedical engineering.(Report)
April 6, 2009... "In the absence of active volume regulation processes, cell volume is inversely proportional to osmolarity, as predicted by the Boyle Van't Hoff relation. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that nuclear volume has a similar relationship...

Scientists at University of Toronto detail research in biomedical engineering.
April 6, 2009... "Neural rhythms are associated with different brain functions and pathological conditions. These rhythms are often clinically relevant for purposes of diagnosis or treatment, though their complex, time-varying features make them difficult to...

Study results from George Washington University in the area of biomedical engineering published.(Report)
April 6, 2009... "The false vocal folds are believed to be components of the acoustic filter that is responsible for shaping the voice. However, the effects of false vocal folds on the vocal fold vibration and the glottal aerodynamic during phonation remain...

Surprise and Catapult Bio Partner to Grow Local Bioindustry/Jobs.
April 6, 2009... The City of Surprise and Catapult Bio, Inc. are partnering to advance the life science industry in Surprise and the west valley through a strategic partnership agreement announced (see also City of Surprise). "The partnership with the City...

Colorado BioScience Association Teams with Twenty-Six National and State Partners to Launch the 'We Work for Health' Initiative in Colorado.
April 6, 2009... The Colorado BioScience Association (CBSA) is partnering with twenty-six national and state entities to announce the ‘We Work For Health' (WWFH) initiative in Colorado. The announcement is made by John Collar, CBSA President and CEO, who...

GLC Awarded New Custom Publishing Magazine Business from OrthoCarolina.
April 6, 2009... GLC Custom Publishing is pleased to announce a new custom publishing partnership with OrthoCarolina, one of the largest, most comprehensive and prestigious orthopedic practices in the nation. Fall 2008 was GLC's first issue of a consumer...

GTx Announces Upcoming Investor Conference Presentations.(Conference news)
April 6, 2009... GTx, Inc. (NASDAQ: GTXI) announced upcoming presentations at two investor conferences (see also GTx, Inc.). On April 1, GTx management will present a company overview at the 4th Annual Citi Biotech Day in New York. The GTx presentation will...

PatientKeeper Announces Continued Growth in 2008.
April 6, 2009... PatientKeeper®, Inc., the leading developer of integrated physician information systems, experienced dramatic growth in 2008 across all areas of its business. The combination of installations at new customers and product expansion with...

The Automated Microbiology Market US - Available Now.
April 6, 2009... Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/728d3a/the_automated_micr) has announced the addition of the "The Automated Microbiology Market: A Worldwide Strategic Analysis: United States" report to their offering (see also...

Brainstorm Brewing in Boston with the Creative Problem Solving Institute.
April 6, 2009... Imagine going to a conference that was created by the inventor of Brainstorming -- Alex Osborn. Or to a meeting where Thomas Edison's great grandniece Sarah Miller Caldicott, will present what she uncovered when writing her book, "Innovate like...

Wristbands ease nausea with cancer treatment.
April 20, 2009... Cancer patients who wore acupressure wristbands had much less nausea while receiving radiation treatment, making the bands a safe, low-cost addition to anti-nausea medication, according to a study published in the Journal of Pain and Symptom...

Phasic firing of dopamine neurons is key to brain's prediction of rewards.(Report)
April 20, 2009... San Antonio … Researchers are one step closer to understanding the neurobiology that allows people to successfully learn motivated behaviors by associating environmental cues with rewarding outcomes, according to a study published in the...

Individualized stroke treatment available for patients, though underutilized.
April 20, 2009... Nearly 90 percent of the 700,000 strokes that affect U.S. patients each year are caused by a blockage of blood vessels supplying the brain, known as ischemic stroke. A new study published in Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions, the...

Patient preferences play role in racial disparities in rheumatoid arthritis treatment.
April 20, 2009... Racial disparities in the delivery of healthcare occur even among insured populations with access to care. This suggests that some of the differences in health care utilization among different racial groups may be due to patient preferences....

Investigators at University of California release new data on aging.(Report)
April 20, 2009... According to a study from the United States, "Early detection of mobility limitations remains an important goal for preventing mobility disability. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between the Short Physical Performance...

New biotechnology findings from S. Umekage and co-researchers published.
April 20, 2009... "RNA aptamers are potential candidates for RNA therapeutics. They must be clinically modified for medical applications because they are vulnerable to indigenous ribonucleases," researchers in Toyohashi, Japan report (see also Biotechnology)....

New biotechnology research from L.G.S. Alderete and colleagues discussed.
April 20, 2009... "Transgenic hairy root (HR) systems constitute an interesting alternative to improve the efficiency of phytoremediation process. Since peroxidases (Px) have been associated with phenolic compounds removal, in the present work, transgenic...

New findings in biotechnology described from Codexis, Inc.
April 20, 2009... According to recent research published in the journal Trends in Biotechnology, "Recent attention has been paid to the inadequacy of using the ratio V-max/K-M as a measure of enzyme performance, particularly in the context of industrial...

Research on biotechnology detailed by W. Weber and co-authors.
April 20, 2009... According to recent research from Basel, Switzerland, "The release of volatile ethylene and acetaldehyde characterizes the metabolic state and quality of fruit. We have designed and implemented a hybrid dual-channel catalytic-biological sensor...

Study data from P.A.J. Rosa and co-authors update knowledge of biotechnology.
April 20, 2009... "The single-stage equilibrium aqueous two-phase extraction (ATPE) of human antibodies from a Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells supernatant was investigated. The performance of polyethylene glycol 3350 (PEG 3350)/phosphate aqueous two-phase...

Study results from J. Xu and colleagues in the area of biotechnology published.
April 20, 2009... According to recent research from Roskilde, Denmark, "Four different pretreatments with and without addition of low concentration organic acids were carried out on corn stover at 195 degrees C for 15 min. The highest xylan recovery of 81.08%...

TRADE NEWS: Agilent Technologies Introduces Human Copy Number Variation Microarrays Based on WTCCC Design Used In World's Largest Study.
April 20, 2009... Agilent Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:A) today introduced the Human CNV Association 2x105K microarray for studying associations between genomic copy number variations (CNV) and disease. The array is based on a design by the Wellcome Trust Case...

Arizona Technology Council Supports FIRST with Bites, 'Bots & Beers Event.
April 20, 2009... The Arizona Technology Council announced it will host "Bites, ‘Bots & Beers" on Thursday, April 16, 2009 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Hilton Scottsdale Resort & Villas, 6333 North Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, Ariz. Top players in the...

C21 BioVentures 2009 Presenter Profiles.
April 20, 2009... C21 BioVentures 2009 takes place April 7-9 2009 at the Meritage Resort in Napa, California. Business Wire is the official news wire for C21 BioVentures 2009. Breaking news releases, advisories, photos, and multimedia are available at...

Covidien Ltd. to Hold Special General Meeting of Shareholders.
April 20, 2009... Covidien Ltd. (NYSE: COV, BSX: COV) announced that it will hold a special general meeting of shareholders on May 28, 2009 in connection with the proposed reorganization to effectively change the place of incorporation of the company from...

OPX Biotechnologies Completes $17.5 Million Financing Round.
April 20, 2009... OPX Biotechnologies Inc., a bioproducts company, announced the final closing of its B-round financing, raising $17.5 million to fund biofuels and green chemistry process development and demonstration. Braemar Energy Ventures led the financing....

Orthofix International Announces Final Results of Special Shareholders Meeting In Favor of Company on all Proposals.
April 20, 2009... Orthofix International N.V. (NASDAQ: OFIX) (the Company) announced the final results of a Special General Meeting of Shareholders held on April 2nd in which the Company's shareholders voted against each proposal by a dissident shareholder to...

Orthofix International Announces Preliminary Results of Special Meeting of Shareholders in Favor of Company on all Proposals.
April 20, 2009... Orthofix International N.V. (NASDAQ: OFIX) (the Company) announced the preliminary results of a Special General Meeting of Shareholders held today in which the Company's shareholders have voted against each proposal by a dissident shareholder...

Orthofix International Receives ACHC Accreditation.
April 20, 2009... Orthofix International N.V. (NASDAQ: OFIX) (the Company) announced that its subsidiary, Orthofix Inc., has been awarded accreditation status by the Accreditation Commission for Health Care, Inc., (ACHC) for the provision of Durable Medical,...

Studies from University of Athens yield new information about allergies.
April 27, 2009... " Tacrolimus inhibits T-lymphocyte activation and dermal Langerhans' cells, without the side-effects of corticosteroids. The safety profile of tacrolimus makes it a promising therapeutic option for dermatitis affecting the delicate periorbital...

Study results from G. Schadow and colleagues broaden understanding of allergies.(Report)
April 27, 2009... According to recent research published in the Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, "This study sought to assess the value of the Health Level 7/U.S. Food and Drug Administration Structured Product Labeling (SPL) drug...

New altitude sickness study findings have been reported by researchers at University of Zurich.(Report)
April 27, 2009... According to recent research from Zurich, Switzerland, "Bloch, Konrad E., Alexander J. Turk, Marco Maggiorini, Thomas Hess, Tobias Merz, Martina M. Bosch, Daniel Barthelmes, Urs Hefti, Jacqueline Pichler, Oliver Senn, and Otto D. Schoch. Effect...

Research results from M. Dauri and colleagues update understanding of anesthesia.
April 27, 2009... "This prospective, randomized, clinical trial compared pain intensity and analgesic drug consumption after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction with patellar tendon under femoral-sciatic nerve block anesthesia in patients who...

Investigators at Cleveland Clinic have published new data on angiotensins.
April 27, 2009... According to a study from the United States, "Addition of aldosterone antagonists (AA) might provide renal benefits to proteinuric chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients over and above the inhibition of renin-angiotensin system blockers (RAS)....

Data on biotechnology described by X. Moppert et al.
April 27, 2009... "A bacterium isolated from microbial mats located on a polynesian atoll produced a high molecular weight (3,000 kDa) and highly sulphated exopolysaccharide. Previous studies showed that the chemical structure of this EPS consisted of neutral...

New biotechnology data have been reported by W. Duarte and co-authors.(Report)
April 27, 2009... According to a study from Lavras, Brazil, "The objectives of this study were to evaluate the potential of gabiroba Campomanesia pubescens (DC) O. Berg in the production of a beverage fermented using selected and wild yeasts from indigenous...

New biotechnology study findings have been reported by M. Mehndiratta and co-researchers.
April 27, 2009... "Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) is a standard method used for quantification of specific gene expression. This utilizes either dsDNA binding dyes or probe based chemistry," researchers in New Delhi, India report (see also Biotechnology). ...

New biotechnology study results reported from P.J. Vanzyl et al.
April 27, 2009... According to a study from Modderfontein, South Africa, "The beta-mannanase gene (man1) from Aspergillus aculeatus MRC11624 (Izuka) was patented for application in the coffee industry. For production of the enzyme, the gene was originally cloned...

New findings in biotechnology described from University of Tsukuba.
April 27, 2009... "Trace metals always act as cofactors or coenzymes in many cellular processes. Deficiency or excess of some metals will affect the fermentation of lignocellulosic hydrolysate," scientists in Tsukuba, Japan report (see also Biotechnology). ...

Reports from Ankara University describe recent advances in biotechnology.
April 27, 2009... "Nisin production of three bioengineered strains, (LAC338, LAC339 and LAC340) with immunity (nisFEG) and/or regulation (nisRK) genes of nisin biosynthesis on plasmids in the Lactococcus lactis LL27 nisin producer, was evaluated under...

Reports outline biotechnology research from Ocean University of China.
April 27, 2009... According to recent research from Qingdao, People's Republic of China, "In order to isolate inulinase overproducers of the marine yeast Pichia guilliermondii, strain 1, cells were mutated by using UV light and LiCl2. One mutant (M-30) with...

Reports summarize biotechnology study results from H. Labit and co-researchers.
April 27, 2009... According to a study from Paris, France, "Molecular combing of DNA is an extremely powerful DNA fiber-stretching technique that is often used in DNA replication and genome stability studies. Optimal DNA combing results mainly depend on the...

Research from A. Mendesferreira and co-researchers in the area of biotechnology described.(Report)
April 27, 2009... "The aim of this study was to evaluate the combined effect of initial nitrogen content on the production of hydrogen sulphide and other volatile compounds during alcoholic fermentation. For that propose, three commercial wine strains of...

Research from S. Vigneswari and colleagues has provided new data on biotechnology.
April 27, 2009... "Cupriavidus sp. USMAA1020, a local isolate was able to biosynthesis poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate) [P(3HB-co-4HB)] copolymer with various 4HB precursors as the sole carbon source," scientists in Malaysia report (see also...

Research results from M. Chandra and co-authors update knowledge of biotechnology.
April 27, 2009... According to recent research from Lucknow, India, "Capabilities of cellulase production, using delignified bioprocessings of medicinal and aromatic plants, viz. citronella (Cymbopogon winterianus) and Artemisia annua (known as marc of...

Researchers from National Heart, Lung, & Blood Institute describe findings in biotechnology.(Report)
April 27, 2009... "Deinococcus radiodurans is a bacterium being investigated for mechanisms of extreme radiation resistance and for bioremediation of environmental radioactive waste sites. In both fundamental and applied research settings, methods for...

Study findings on biotechnology are outlined in reports from G. Rastogi and colleagues.
April 27, 2009... According to recent research published in the Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology, "The present study investigated the cultivable mesophilic (37A degrees C) and thermophilic (60A degrees C) cellulose-degrading bacterial diversity...