Health News

Multiple myeloma: link to gene involved in aging

Date: Aug-19-2013
Researchers say that a gene responsible for helping to control the aging process by regulating a "cell's internal clock" may be linked to a type of blood cancer. Scientists from The Institute of Cancer Research in the UK found a genetic variant called TERC among four new variants that they linked to multiple myeloma - a form of cancer that affects immune cells produced in the bone marrow for circulation in the blood. Their findings are published in the journal Nature Genetics...

Caffeinated drinks may be good for the liver

Date: Aug-19-2013
Researchers have discovered that an increased caffeine intake may reduce the risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, according to a study published in the journal Hepatology. A team from the Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School (Duke-NUS) and the Duke University School of Medicine used cell culture and mice as models for the effects of caffeine on the liver disease. The study found that consuming the caffeine equivalent of four cups of coffee or tea a day may prevent and protect against the progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in humans...

Most alcohol-related ER visits 'due to beer'

Date: Aug-19-2013
The first research to analyze alcohol intake by brand and type has uncovered the biggest contenders for alcohol-related emergency room visits. Read closely: your favorite beer may be on the list. The pilot study was conducted on Friday and Saturday nights in an East Baltimore ER department between April 2010 and June 2011. The researchers are from The Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth (CAMY) at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. In total, 105 patients admitted drinking alcohol within the 6 hours before reporting to the hospital...

Big Pharma Companies will meet at the Geriatric Safe Medicines Summit to discuss performing clinical trials in older people, 16-17 September, London

Date: Aug-19-2013
Patients over the age of 65 are prescribed the majority of prescription drugs used in the UK but are significantly under-represented in clinical trials. Statistics show that although over 65's carry 60% of the disease burden they are only represented at a rate of 32% in phase I-III Clinical Trials...

Have your say: industry wide survey for 'Pre-filled syringes and medical devices' launched

Date: Aug-19-2013
SMi Group announces the launch of Industry Wide Survey for Pre-Filled Syringes and Medical Devices and invites industry professionals to take part in it. The survey launched with the purpose of preparing for the 6th Annual Pre-Filled Syringes Conference taking place in London on the 27th-28th of January 2014. The survey consists of 10 questions and will take less than 5 minutes to complete. All respondents will get a copy of the results and 10% discount to participate in the conference. Closing date for the survey is October, 4, 2013. To take part please go to http://www.surveymonkey...

Lactobacillus reuteri Prodentis improves periodontal treatment

Date: Aug-19-2013
A double-blind, placebo-controlled study of chronic periodontitis patients showed that treatment with Lactobacillus reuteri Prodentis as an adjunct to standard treatment significantly improved efficacy by 53 per cent. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of Lactobacillus reuteri Prodentis as an adjunct to scaling and root planing, which is the standard treatment, in chronic periodontitis patients...

Malaria could be tested early by cheap, portable device

Date: Aug-19-2013
A device that measures electrical properties of red blood cells is able to detect if they are infected with malaria in the early stages. The researchers hope their findings will lead to a portable and low-cost, yet highly sensitive device that can diagnose malaria on the spot using just a drop of blood. Anantha Chandrakasan and colleagues from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) write about how they developed and tested their experimental microfluidic device in the journal Lab Chip...

Finding could help immune system attack tumors

Date: Aug-19-2013
Researchers have found a new way to boost the immune system's anti-tumor activity and shown it is safe in mice. They believe their findings will lead to new drugs that target the protein involved so the immune system shrinks tumors without affecting healthy tissue. Dr. Wayne Hancock of the division of transplant immunology at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and colleagues report their findings in this week's online issue of Nature Medicine...

National audit of neonatal care reveals more positive experiences, but variations remain in key health outcomes for newborns, UK

Date: Aug-19-2013
More than three quarters (79%) of the parents of babies in neonatal units are seen by senior healthcare professionals within 24 hours of admission and the majority of parents report positive experiences, but there is room for improvement in areas such as breastfeeding rates and levels of hypothermia in newborns, according to the 6th Annual National Neonatal Audit Programme 2012 (NNAP). The report is published today by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH)...

Experts describe ways to eliminate wasteful medical tests and procedures performed on children and adults

Date: Aug-19-2013
Medical organizations are participating in a campaign to help clinicians and patients avoid wasteful and sometimes harmful medical interventions. Recently, experts in pediatric and adult health from diverse geographic locations of the United States and from a mix of academic and non- academic settings shared their experiences, consulted their colleagues, and analyzed numerous studies in the medical literature to determine the top recommendations for improving healthcare value...