Biotech Business Week articles from February 2009

Biotech Business Week archives from February 2009

Clinical trials: Unfavorable results often go unpublished.
February 2, 2009... Trials showing a positive treatment effect, or those with important or striking findings, were much more likely to be published in scientific journals than those with negative findings, a new review from The Cochrane Library has found (see also...

Scientists at Orebro University detail research in abdominal aortic aneurysm.
February 2, 2009... In this recent study, researchers in Sweden conducted a study "To evaluate the splanchnic and limb metabolic effects of open repair (OR) of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) versus endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) in a pilot study utilizing...

New acid reflux disease study findings have been reported by I. Kantas and co-researchers.(Clinical report)
February 2, 2009... "The aim of this clinical study was to evaluate the effect of laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) on the healing process of surgical laryngeal trauma. A total of 112 consecutive patients, who suffered from LPR and were scheduled for operation of...

Scientists at Technostics Ltd. report research in acid reflux disease.(Clinical report)
February 2, 2009... According to recent research from the United Kingdom, "Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) refers to the backflow of stomach contents into the laryngopharynx. Increasing evidence has demonstrated that LPR is a contributing factor in some cases of...

Studies from University of London, Imperial College have provided new information about acne vulgaris.
February 2, 2009... According to a study from London, the United Kingdom, "Clinical trials require valid and reliable outcome measures to facilitate the interpretation and communication of results, and the secondary use of data for systematic reviews. There are...

Reports outline biomedical engineering study findings from T.H. Chen and colleagues.
February 2, 2009... "Measuring a patients' oxygen consumption ((V)over dotO(2)) is valuable in critical care and during anesthesia. Up to now, there has been no satisfactory equation describing the relation between the (V)over dotO(2), the fresh gas, and FIO2 in a...

Reports outline biomedical engineering study findings from University of Calgary.
February 2, 2009... "Knee-joint sounds or vibroarthrographic (VAG) signals contain diagnostic information related to the roughness, softening, breakdown, or the state of lubrication of the articular cartilage surfaces. Objective analysis of VAG signals provides...

Research from S. Romero and co-authors in the area of biomedical engineering published.
February 2, 2009... "Quantitative electroencephalographic (EEG) analysis is very useful for diagnosing dysfunctional neural states and for evaluating drug effects on the brain, among others. However, the bidirectional contamination between electrooculographic...

Research from Shanghai Jiao Tong University provides new data on biomedical engineering.(Report)
February 2, 2009... According to recent research from Shanghai, People's Republic of China, "The existing endoscope brings too much discomfort to patients because its slim and rigid rod is difficult to pass through a, c loop of the human intestine. A robotic...

Researchers from Stanford University detail new studies and findings in the area of biomedical engineering.
February 2, 2009... "The knowledge of dynamic changes in the vascular system has become increasingly important in ensuring the safety and efficacy of endovascular devices. We developed new methods for quantifying in vivo three-dimensional (3D) arterial deformation...

Study results from Vanderbilt University broaden understanding of biomedical engineering.
February 2, 2009... According to recent research from the United States, "Cell migration paths of mammary epithelial cells (expressing different versions of the promigratory tyrosine kinase receptor Her2/Neu) were analyzed within a bimodal framework that is a...

Data on microbiology and biotechnology detailed by researchers at Nanyang Technological University.(Report)
February 2, 2009... "While cultivation is a convenient way of proliferating and understanding bacteria, studies have shown the formation of nonculturable cells in nonspore-forming bacteria in response to environmental stress and thus in turn have generated immense...

Investigators at University of Valencia zero in on microbiology and biotechnology.
February 2, 2009... "Induction of the oxidative stress response has been described under many physiological conditions in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, including industrial fermentation for wine yeast biomass production where cells are grown through several batch and...

New microbiology and biotechnology study findings recently were reported by researchers at University of Modena.
February 2, 2009... According to a study from Modena, Italy, "Twenty-two strains of Bifidobacterium, representative of eight major species of human origin, were screened for their ability to transform the isoflavones daidzin and daidzein. Most of the strains...

Study data from M. Kampara and colleagues update understanding of microbiology and biotechnology.
February 2, 2009... "Quantification of microbial contaminant biodegradation based on stable isotope fractionation analysis (SIFA) relies on known, invariable isotope fractionation factors. The microbially induced isotope fractionation is caused by the preferential...

Study findings on microbiology and biotechnology are outlined in reports from Department of Agriculture.
February 2, 2009... According to recent research published in the journal Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, "The gene encoding a glycoside hydrolase family 43 enzyme termed deAX was isolated and subcloned from a culture seeded with a compost starter mixed...

Biotech 2009-Life Sciences: Navigating the Sea Change.
February 2, 2009... Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/5aa984/biotech_2009life) has announced the addition of the "Biotech 2009-Life Sciences: Navigating the Sea Change" report to their offering (see also Research and Markets). ...

Patients starting Parkinson's drug rasagiline earlier do better.
February 9, 2009... There is hope that the drug rasagiline can do what no other medication for Parkinson's disease now does -- slow the progression of a devastating degenerative brain disease that eventually robs people of their ability to move and function (see...

Researchers identify 4 genetic hotspots associated with psoriasis.
February 9, 2009... A genomewide scan of millions of genetic mutations has revealed four new DNA "hotspots" that affect the risk for psoriasis, a national group of researchers led by the University of Michigan and including several from the University of Utah...

Statins may treat blood vessel disorder that can lead to fatal strokes.
February 9, 2009... In a finding that could save thousands of lives a year, University of Utah School of Medicine researchers have shown that a blood vessel disorder leading to unpredictable, sometimes fatal, hemorrhagic strokes, seizures, paralysis or other...

Scientists uncover new genetic variations linked to psoriasis.
February 9, 2009... Two international teams of researchers have made significant gains in understanding the genetic basis of psoriasis, a chronic skin condition that can be debilitating in some patients. Their research, involving thousands of patients, is reported...

Frequent sex and masturbation in 20s and 30s linked to higher prostate cancer risk.
February 9, 2009... Men who are very sexually active in their twenties and thirties are more likely to develop prostate cancer, especially if they masturbate frequently, according to a study of more than 800 men published in the January issue of BJU International...

Urologix Reports Revenue Growth for the Second Quarter of Fiscal 2009.(Financial report)
February 9, 2009... Urologix[R], Inc. (NASDAQ:ULGX), reported financial results for the fiscal 2009 second quarter ended December 31, 2008. Revenue for the second quarter was $3.4 million or 28 percent more than the $2.7 million reported in the first quarter of...

Data on biotechnology detailed by researchers at Department of Agriculture.(Report)
February 9, 2009... "Treatment of whole corn kernels with anhydrous ammonia gas has been proposed as a way to facilitate the separation of nonfermentable coproducts before fermentation of the starch to ethanol, but the fermentability of ammoniated corn has not...

Data on biotechnology reported by researchers at Kyungpook National University.
February 9, 2009... "Plant growth-promoting endophytic fungi with gibberellin-producing ability were isolated from the roots of Carex kobomugi Ohwi, a common sand-dune plant, and bioassayed for plant growth-promotion," investigators in South Korea report (see also...

Findings from Department of Agriculture provide new insights into biotechnology.
February 9, 2009... "Alternan is a unique glucan with a backbone structure of alternating alpha-(1 → 6) and alpha-(1 → 3) linkages. Previously, we isolated strains of Penicillium sp. that modify native, high molecular weight alternan in a novel...

Findings from Wageningen University broaden understanding of biotechnology.
February 9, 2009... According to a study from Wageningen, Netherlands, "Continuous sulfate reduction at pH 4.0 was demonstrated in a pH controlled thermophilic (55 degrees C) upflow anaerobic sludge bed reactor fed with sucrose at a COD/SO42- ratio of 0.9 and an...

Investigators at University of Maryland zero in on biotechnology.
February 9, 2009... "The development of a fluorescent excitation ratiometric pH sensor (AHQ-PEG) using a novel allylhydroxyquinolinium (AHQ) derivative copolymerized with polyethylene glycol dimethacrylate (PEG) is described. The AHQ-PEG sensor film is shown to be...

New biotechnology findings from L.M. Zavalaflores and co-authors described.
February 9, 2009... "Lymphotactin-XCL1 is a chemokine produced mainly by activated CD8+ T-cells and directs migration of CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes and natural killer (NK) cells," scientists writing in the journal Biotechnology Letters report (see also...

New biotechnology research reported from National Chung-Hsing University.
February 9, 2009... According to recent research from Taichung, Taiwan, "Recombinant porcine pancreatic colipase (pCoL) was produced in the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris. A synthetic yeast secretion cassette was constructed with the constitutive promoter of...

New findings reported from L.J. Wang and co-authors describe advances in biotechnology.
February 9, 2009... According to recent research from Beijing, People's Republic of China, "Leymus chinensis is an important grassland perennial grass. However, its drought tolerance requires to be improved." "LEA (late embryogenesis abundant) genes are...

Recent findings from C. Boi and co-authors highlight research in biotechnology.
February 9, 2009... According to recent research from Bologna, Italy, "Affinity membranes have been prepared by immobilizing D-PAM, a synthetic ligand that exhibits affinity for the Fc portion of antibodies, onto poliethersulfone microporous membranes. The ligand...

Recent findings from Kyungpook National University highlight research in biotechnology.
February 9, 2009... According to a study from South Korea, "Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria with gibberellins (GA)-producing potential were isolated from soil and screened for plant growth promotion. A new strain, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus SE370, produced...

Report summarizes biotechnology study findings from Hubei University of Technology.
February 9, 2009... "A novel three-stage light irradiation strategy in the submerged fermentation of medicinal mushroom Ganoderma lucidum for the efficient production of bioactive metabolites ganoderic acid (GA) and Ganoderma polysaccharides was developed....

Research data from J. Chen and colleagues update understanding of biotechnology.
February 9, 2009... According to a study from Beijing, People's Republic of China, "Arginine is one of the most favorable additives in protein refolding. However, arginine does not work for certain disulfide-bond-containing proteins., which is not yet well...

Research on biotechnology detailed by scientists at Dalian University of Technology.
February 9, 2009... "A tissue culture-independent plant transformation method, called ovary-drip transformation, was established in which a minimal linear gene cassette [35S CaMV promoter, open reading frame of soluble modified green fluorescent protein (smGFP),...

Researchers from Tianjin University discuss findings in biotechnology.
February 9, 2009... "Carotenoids are red, yellow and orange pigments, which are widely distributed in nature and are especially abundant in yellow-orange fruits and vegetables and dark green leafy vegetables. Carotenoids are essential for photosynthesis and...

Researchers from University of Florida provide details of new studies and findings in the area of biotechnology.
February 9, 2009... According to recent research from the United States, "Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was adapted to estimate transgene copy number of the rice Xa21 gene in transgenic citrus plants. This system used TaqMan qRT-PCR and the endogenous...

Studies from Hacettepe University yield new information about biotechnology.(Report)
February 9, 2009... "In this study, novel hydrophobic nanospheres with an average size of 158 nm utilizing N-methacryloyl-(L)-phenylalanine methyl ester (MAPA) as a hydrophobic monomer were produced by surfactant free emulsion polymerization of 2-hydroxyethyl...

Studies from Madurai Kamaraj University describe new findings in biotechnology.
February 9, 2009... According to a study from Madurai, India, "The 42-kDa endochitinase (cht42) gene from the mycoparasitic fungus, Trichoderma virens, driven by CaMV 35S promoter, was introduced into rice by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Eight transgenic...

Studies from Sangji University have provided new information about biotechnology.(Report)
February 9, 2009... According to recent research from South Korea, "Genome sequence analysis of Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae has revealed a cluster of 12 ORFs that are closely related to the gum gene cluster of Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris." "The...

New microbiology and biotechnology research from Yonsei University described.
February 9, 2009... According to recent research published in the journal Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, "Three hydrogen-based membrane biofilm reactors (MBfR) biologically reduced nitrate and perchlorate in a synthetic ion-exchange (IX) brine. Inocula...

Reports outline microbiology and biotechnology research from H. Habe and colleagues.
February 9, 2009... "Bacterial strains capable of converting glycerol to glyceric acid (GA) were screened among the genera Acetobacter and Gluconacetobacter. Most of the tested Acetobacter and Gluconacetobacter strains could produce 1.8 to 9.3 g/l GA from 10%...

Research from Technical University of Dresden in the area of microbiology and biotechnology described.
February 9, 2009... According to recent research published in the journal Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, "The yeast Yarrowia lipolytica secretes high amounts of various organic acids, like citric acid (CA) and isocitric acid (ICA) under an excess of...

Research reports on microbiology and biotechnology from Washington State University provide new insights.(Report)
February 9, 2009... According to recent research from the United States, "The culture protocol of Schizochytrium limacinum SR 21, a known docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) producing marine algae was modified in this study to better fit fermentation parameters,...

Researchers from Central South University detail new studies and findings in the area of microbiology and biotechnology.
February 9, 2009... "To compare oxidative dissolution rates of chalcopyrite by different consortia of moderately thermophilic acidophiles, various defined mixed cultures of three bacteria Acidithiobacillus caldus s2, Leptospirillum ferriphilum YSK, and...

Researchers from Ernst-Moritz-Arndt University report on findings in microbiology and biotechnology.
February 9, 2009... According to recent research published in the journal Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, "9H-Carbazole and its derivatives are useful for versatile pharmacological applications. To obtain different derivatives of 9H-carbazole, 24 isolates...

Orthofix International Questions Qualifications of Ramius Nominee for Orthofix Board.
February 9, 2009... Orthofix International N.V. (NASDAQ: OFIX) (the Company) announced that the Chairman of the CompanyEs Board of Directors, James F. Gero, sent a letter, included below, to Ramius LLC questioning the qualifications of one of RamiusEs nominees for...

Research from J. Mocco and colleagues provide new insights into aneurysm.
February 16, 2009... "The development of self-expanding stents dedicated to intracranial use has significantly widened the applicability of endovascular therapy to many intracranial aneurysms that Would otherwise have been Untreatable by endovascular techniques....

Researchers from University of Cincinnati, Medical Department detail new studies and findings in the area of aneurysm.
February 16, 2009... According to recent research from the United States, "Smoking and family history of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) are independent risk factors for aSAH. Using a population-based case-control study of hemorrhagic stroke, we...

New research on angiology from University of Utah, Medical Department summarized.(Report)
February 16, 2009... "The purpose of this study was to determine the reliability of fetal middle cerebral artery (MCA) peak systolic velocity (PSV) measurements at a tertiary care center and to evaluate the effect of targeted training for sonographers. Six...

Researchers from Cleveland Clinic provide details of new studies and findings in the area of angiology.
February 16, 2009... According to a study from the United States, "Aortobifemoral bypass (ABF) grafting has been the traditional treatment for extensive aortoiliac occlusive disease (AIOD). This retrospective study compared the outcomes and durability of...

University of Siena reports research in angiology.(Clinical report)
February 16, 2009... "Data regarding the long-term efficacy, of carotid artery stenting (CAS) are still scarce. A's demonstrated by several major randomized controlled trials (RCT) comparing the efficacy of carotid endarterectomy (CEA) vs medic therapy, even after...

Structure and Dynamics of Membranous Interfaces Presents a Unique Snapshot of What Is Known In the Field.(Report)
February 16, 2009... Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/68a024/structure_and_dyna) has announced the addition of John Wiley and Sons Ltd's new report "Structure and Dynamics of Membranous Interfaces" to their offering (see also...

New findings in nature biotechnology described from Yale University.
February 16, 2009... "Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) followed by tag sequencing (ChIP-seq) using high-throughput next-generation instrumentation is fast, replacing chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by genome tiling array analysis (ChIP-chip) as the...

Researchers at Columbia University target nature biotechnology.
February 16, 2009... According to recent research from the United States, "Crystallization is the most serious bottleneck in high-throughput protein-structure determination by diffraction methods. We have used data mining of the large-scale experimental results of...

Aspect Medical Systems, Inc. Reports Operating Results for the Fourth Quarter and Year Ended December 31, 2008.(Financial report)
February 16, 2009... Aspect Medical Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASPM): Highlights of Q4 2008 Compared with Q4 2007 Sensor revenue increased 6% to $21.3 million Worldwide installed base of BIS monitors and modules increased 19% to more than 56,000 units GAAP...

Growth factor protects key brain cells in Alzheimer's models.
February 23, 2009... Memory loss, cognitive impairment, brain cell degeneration and cell death were prevented or reversed in several animal models after treatment with a naturally occurring protein called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). The study by a...

New technique boosts protein NMR imaging speeds.
February 23, 2009... Solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance, or SSNMR, is a valuable tool to image and analyze the chemical makeup of proteins and other biomolecules. But the imaging process is time-consuming and requires large amounts of costly isotope-labeled...

2 genes influence social behavior, visual-spatial performance in people with Williams syndrome.
February 23, 2009... Unraveling the genetics of social behavior and cognitive abilities, researchers at the University of Utah and the Salk Institute for Biological Studies have traced the role of two genes,GTF2I and GTF2IRD, in a rare genetic disorder known as...

New test for breast cancer will help guide treatment choices.
February 23, 2009... One in eight women in the United States will receive a diagnosis of breast cancer in their lifetime, and it is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in women. Now a new test will help physicians determine the best possible treatment...

Long-term use of popular inhalers increases risk of pneumonia for COPD patients.
February 23, 2009... Newly published research out of Wake Forest University School of Medicine finds that a popular class of anti-inflammatory inhalers significantly increases the risk of pneumonia in patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) (see...

Research conducted at I. Douskova and co-authors has provided new information about microbiology and biotechnology.
February 23, 2009... "A flue gas originating from a municipal waste incinerator was used as a source of CO2 for the cultivation of the microalga Chlorella vulgaris, in order to decrease the biomass production costs and to bioremediate CO2 simultaneously. The...

Research from Kyoto University yields new findings on microbiology and biotechnology.(Report)
February 23, 2009... According to a study from Kyoto, Japan, "The cell wall of Saccharomyces cerevisiae plays an essential role in the biophysical characteristics of the cell surface. The modification of the cell wall property is an important factor for cellular...

Researchers at Department of Agriculture have published new data on microbiology and biotechnology.
February 23, 2009... According to recent research from the United States, "Leuconostoc mesenteroides strain NRRL B-1355 produces the soluble exopolysaccharides alternan and dextran in planktonic cultures. Mutants of this strain are available that are deficient in...

Studies from Lund University provide new data on microbiology and biotechnology.
February 23, 2009... According to recent research from Lund, Sweden, "The glucose/xylose facilitator Gxf1 from Candida intermedia was expressed in the recombinant xylose-fermenting Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain TMB 3057. The new strain, TMB 3411, displayed...

North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue, U.S. Senators To Speak At CED's Biotech 2009.
February 23, 2009... Joan Siefert Rose, president of the Council for Entrepreneurial Development (CED) (www.cednc.org), a private, nonprofit organization that promotes entrepreneurial efforts in the Triangle region of North Carolina, has announced the speakers for...

eClinicalWorks on Short List of Ambulatory Electronic Medical Records Market Leaders.
February 23, 2009... In a report released by Health Industry Insights, eClinicalWorks earned high scores for its unified electronic medical records (EMR) and practice management (PM) solution that is used by ambulatory practices of all sizes (see also...

Geospiza Previews GeneSifter[R] Analysis Kit[TM] Offering and Microarray Lab Management at ABRF.
February 23, 2009... Geospiza, Inc., the market leading developer of genetic analysis software, previews new capabilities for GeneSifter Lab Edition and GeneSifter Analysis Edition at the Association for Biomolecular Resource Facilities (ABRF) in Memphis this week...

HealthPort Appoints April Robertson to Serve as Compliance Officer.
February 23, 2009... HealthPort, a top-30 company in the healthcare information industry, announced that April D. Robertson has joined the company to serve as Compliance Officer. In her new role, Robertson will identify and mitigate organizational compliance risks...

Origin Agritech Limited Announces Second Notes Repurchase Agreement.
February 23, 2009... Origin Agritech Limited (NASDAQ: SEED) (oOrigino or the oCompanyo) announced that it entered into a Second Notes Repurchase Agreement (the oSecond Notes Repurchase Agreemento) with Citadel Equity Fund Ltd. (oCitadelo) providing for the...

Orthofix International Makes Second Partial Debt Prepayment and Announces Additional Office Consolidation.
February 23, 2009... Orthofix International N.V. (NASDAQ: OFIX) (the Company) announced that in addition to its regularly scheduled debt payments, today it made a $7 million prepayment in advance of the scheduled maturity, permanently reducing its current credit...

Cell/Tissue Culture Supplies - Global Strategic Business Report Ups the Ante With Forecasts Right Up to 2015.(Report)
February 23, 2009... Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/3421e4/celltissue_cultur) has announced the addition of the "Cell/Tissue Culture Supplies - Global Strategic Business Report" report to their offering (see also Research and...

454 Life Sciences and Max Planck Institute Complete Draft 1X Sequence of Neanderthal Genome.
February 23, 2009... In a press conference held on February 12 in Leipzig, Germany, and simultaneously at the AAAS Annual Meeting in Chicago, researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology and 454 Life Sciences announced the completion of...

Signature Genomic Laboratories Receives Accreditation from College of American Pathologists.
February 23, 2009... Signature Genomic Laboratories, Spokane, Wash., has been awarded an accreditation by the Commission on Laboratory Accreditation of the College of American Pathologists (CAP), based on the results of a recent on-site inspection (see also...