Health News

Economic Hard Times in Cuba Reduces Rates Of Heart Disease And Diabetes

Date: Apr-10-2013
During the 1990s in Cuba, food was sparse and gasoline was nearly unavailable because of the US embargo and loss of Russian support; one of the positive consequences of that situation was a reduction in rates of diabetes and heart disease. The "special period" (as it became known) was between 1991 and 1995 and consisted of people using donkeys to move loads, as well as the government importing 1.5 million bicycles from China for modes of transportation...

Alzheimer's Gene Doubles Risk In African-Americans

Date: Apr-10-2013
A variation in the gene ABCA7 causes the risk of late-onset Alzheimer's disease to double in African-Americans, according to a new study in JAMA. The research, the largest analysis yet to establish genetic risk linked to late-onset Azheimer's disease in African-Americans, was undertaken by the Alzheimer's Disease Genetics Consortium and led by scientists from Columbia University Medical Center...

Fetal Exposure To Air Pollution Increases Risk Of Pediatric Cancers

Date: Apr-10-2013
Pregnant women exposed to air pollution put their children at an increased risk of three different types of cancer, according to new research presented at the AACR Annual Meeting 2013. In their study, researchers identified that prolonged exposure to traffic-related air pollution can increase a child's risk of acute lymphoblastic leukemia and two other rare childhood cancers. Julia Heck, Ph.D., M.P.H...

Free Webinar: Guidance For Pharma On NHS Decision Making, April 19, 15:00-16:00 GMT

Date: Apr-10-2013
April 1st saw a major change for Big Pharma decision-making transferred to the clinical commissioning groups (CCGs).�� To help big pharma fully understand this new model Create HealthCare are hosting a free webinar. Simon Grace, Head of Programme Delivery, Quality and Innovation Directorate, NHS North West Surrey CCG, Weybridge Hospital believes this is a good step-in to pharma - NHS collaboration. He states: "This is important, as a how-to guide to effectively approach and build a working relationship with commissioning units...

Amazing Results From Pacemaker Electrodes Implanted In Patients With Major Depression

Date: Apr-10-2013
Researchers from the Bonn University Hospital implanted pacemaker electrodes into the medial forebrain bundle in the brains of patients suffering from major depression with amazing results: In six out of seven patients, symptoms improved both considerably and rapidly. The method of Deep Brain Stimulation had already been tested on various structures within the brain, but with clearly lesser effect. The results of this new study have now been published in the renowned international journal Biological Psychiatry. After months of deep sadness, a first smile appears on a patient's face...

BIND Therapeutics' Nanoparticle Drug Effective Against Multiple Solid Tumors In Phase 1 Study

Date: Apr-10-2013
The nanoparticle drug BIND-014 is effective against multiple solid tumors, according to results generated by the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) and Scottsdale Healthcare, and presented at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2013. Data for the study was generated at the Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center Clinical Trials, a partnership of TGen and Scottsdale Healthcare. Dr...

Prostate Cancer With Faulty BRCA2 Gene Spreads More Quickly

Date: Apr-10-2013
A new study finds that prostate cancer spreads more quickly and is more likely to be fatal in men who have inherited a faulty BRCA2 gene. The researchers say such patients should be treated straight away with surgery or radiotherapy rather than just be monitored. Research has already established that men who inherit a faulty BRCA2 gene have a higher risk of developing prostate cancer, but this, the largest study of its kind, is the first to show that the faulty gene also means carriers are more likely to experience more rapid spread of the disease and poorer survival...

Clinical Trial Finds New Class Of Cancer Drugs Safe And Effective

Date: Apr-10-2013
The safety and preliminary efficacy of a new class of tumor fighting drugs were reported by Scottsdale Healthcare's Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center Clinical Trials and the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen). Early results from the phase I, first in-human study of an RNA interface (RNAi) drug were announced during the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2013, April 6-10, in Washington, D.C. The drug, TKM-080301 (also known as TKM-PLK1) is being developed by Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corporation. The study was conducted at Virginia G...

Eight In Ten Doctors Are Concerned Online Medical Records Will Increase Workload, MPS Survey Reveals

Date: Apr-10-2013
A survey by the Medical Protection Society (MPS) reveals that 84% of doctors think that online records will mean spending more time explaining the contents of records to patients. Although doctors and the public agree the most important use of medical records is to give the doctor an overview of all the medical treatments a patient has received, there is a mismatch in expectations about how records should be written...

High Blood Pressure May Be Lowered By Egg White Protein

Date: Apr-10-2013
Scientists reported new evidence today that a component of egg whites - already popular as a substitute for whole eggs among health-conscious consumers concerned about cholesterol in the yolk - may have another beneficial effect in reducing blood pressure. Their study was part of the 245th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS), the world's largest scientific society, which continues here through Thursday. "Our research suggests that there may be another reason to call it 'the incredible, edible egg,'" said study leader Zhipeng Yu, Ph.D., of Jilin University...