UAE
Bahrain
Jordan
Kuwait
Oman
Qatar
Saudi ArabiaHealth News
Hip Replacement Patients Benefit From Apixaban
Date: Sep-19-2012The clot-inhibiting drug apixaban (trade name: Eliquis®) was approved in May 2011 for the prevention of thrombosis (blood clots) after operations to replace a hip or knee joint. In an early benefit assessment pursuant to the "Act on the Reform of the Market for Medicinal Products" (AMNOG), the German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) examined the added benefit of apixaban...
Mechanism Identified That Leads To Diabetes, Blindness
Date: Sep-19-2012The rare disorder Wolfram syndrome is caused by mutations in a single gene, but its effects on the body are far reaching. The disease leads to diabetes, hearing and vision loss, nerve cell damage that causes motor difficulties, and early death. Now, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston and the Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research report that they have identified a mechanism related to mutations in the WFS1 gene that affects insulin-secreting beta cells...
Novel Approach Uses Genetic Engineering, Mathematical Modeling To Identify Promising Therapy For NRAS-Mutant Melanoma
Date: Sep-19-2012A new study published online in Nature Medicine, led by scientists at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, describes the discovery of a novel drug combination aimed at a subset of melanoma patients who currently have no effective therapeutic options. Melanoma patients have different responses to therapy, depending on what genes are mutated in their tumors. About half of melanomas have a mutation in the BRAF gene; while a quarter have a mutation in the NRAS gene...
On The Trail Of Herbal Snakebite Antidote
Date: Sep-19-2012A PhD student at the University of Copenhagen has drawn on nature's own pharmacy to help improve the treatment of snakebites in Africa. Marianne Molander from the University of Copenhagen's Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences has been working within a Danish team that has examined various plants native to the African continent in a bid to find locally available herbal antidotes. "Snake venom antidotes are expensive, it's often a long way to the nearest doctor and it can be difficult to store the medicine properly in the warm climate...
Shingles And Cancer Risk
Date: Sep-19-2012Herpes zoster, or shingles, does not increase the risk of cancer in the general population, according to a study in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal). Although herpes zoster is more common in patients with cancer than in those without, it is unknown whether the risk of cancer is increased for people with herpes zoster. Several studies have indicated an association although most were conducted in western countries. A large study of 35 871 patients in Taiwan with newly diagnosed herpes zoster found no increased risk of cancer in patients with herpes zoster...
Adequate Sleep Helps Weight Loss
Date: Sep-19-2012Adequate sleep is an important part of a weight loss plan and should be added to the recommended mix of diet and exercise, states a commentary in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal). Although calorie restriction and increased physical activity are recommended for weight loss, there is significant evidence that inadequate sleep is contributing to obesity. Lack of sleep increases the stimulus to consume more food and increases appetite-regulating hormones. "The solution [to weight loss] is not as simple as 'eat less, move more, sleep more,'" write Drs...
Approach To Combat Elder Abuse In Canada
Date: Sep-19-2012Canada needs a comprehensive approach to reduce elder abuse that includes financial supports and programs for seniors and their caregivers, argues an editorial in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal). In Canada, an estimated 4% of seniors - 200 000 to 500 000 people - experience some form of abuse or neglect...
Early Menopause Increases Risk For Heart Disease And Stroke
Date: Sep-18-2012Women who go into early menopause are twice as probable to endure coronary heart disease and stroke. In a recent study, published in the journal Menopause, researchers saw this connection holds true in a variety of different ethnic backgrounds and is separate from conventional cardiovascular disease risk factors. Dhananjay Vaidya, Ph.D...
Embryo-Critical Protein Modeled In 3D For First Time
Date: Sep-18-2012PRC2 (Polycomb Repressive Complex 2) is a protein that is important in embryo development, and also plays a key role in the progression of many cancers. Now an international research team has for the first time created a 3D model of the protein's molecular architecture, which they hope will greatly increase understanding of birth defects and cancer linked to PRC2, and help the development of new and improved treatments. Their findings are due to be published in a new journal called eLife, expected be launched this winter...
New Enzyme To Fight Alzheimer's Disease Identified
Date: Sep-18-2012An enzyme has been identified that may be a powerful new tool for fighting Alzheimer's disease. BACE2 is the enzyme that has been found to destroy beta-amyloid, a toxic protein fragment that litters Alzherimer's patients' brains. The most common memory disorder is Alzheimer's disease, affecting over 5.5 million Americans. Scientists have yet to discover any effective treatments, causing a great deal of financial trouble and personal strain. However, previous research has shown that a drug that treats Alzheimer's symptoms may also slow down the progression of the disorder...
Stay Connected
