Health News

Molecule Shows Effectiveness Against Drug-Resistant Myeloma

Date: Sep-13-2012
A molecule that targets the cell's machinery for breaking down unneeded proteins can kill multiple myeloma cancer cells resistant to the frontline drug Velcade, researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have found. In a study published online by the journal Cancer Cell, the investigators report that the small molecule P5091 triggered apoptosis -- programmed cell death -- in drug-resistant myeloma cells grown in the laboratory and in animals. The anti-myeloma effect was even more powerful when researchers combined P5091 with other therapies...

Researchers Discover Mechanism Related To Negative Emotions Of Cocaine Withdrawal

Date: Sep-13-2012
Washington State University researchers have found a cellular mechanism that contributes to the lack of motivation and negative emotions of a cocaine addict going through withdrawal. Their discovery, published in the latest Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, offers a deeper look into the cellular and behavioral implications of addiction...

Study Demonstrates That Placebo Response Occurs At Nonconscious Level

Date: Sep-13-2012
With the discovery that the unconscious mind plays a key role in the placebo effect, researchers have identified a novel mechanism that helps explain the power of placebos and nocebos. Described in the September 10 on-line issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), the new findings demonstrate that the placebo effect can be activated outside of conscious awareness, and provide an explanation for how patients can show clinical improvement even when they receive treatments devoid of active ingredients or of known therapeutic efficacy...

Annals Of Internal Medicine Commentary Urges Public To Take Precautions Against West Nile Virus

Date: Sep-13-2012
West Nile virus (WNV) has become endemic in North America, with cases in 2012 exceeding that of any other year. As of August 28, the United States has seen 1,590 cases, 65 deaths, and 303 viremic blood donors. According to the authors of a commentary being published early online in Annals of Internal Medicine, the dramatic increase in WNV cases could be due to "the interplay of heat, drought, human habitats, increased mosquito populations and enhanced viral development that all act in concert to increase the force of transmission...

More Pregnant Women Taking High Blood Pressure Drugs, Yet Safety Unclear

Date: Sep-13-2012
Nearly 5 percent of pregnant women are prescribed drugs to treat high blood pressure, including some drugs that aren't considered safe for mothers or their babies, according to new research in the American Heart Association's journal Hypertension. Use of high blood pressure drugs during pregnancy is becoming increasingly common, said Brian T. Bateman, M.D., lead author and Assistant Professor of anesthesia at Harvard Medical School in Boston, Mass...

Marijuana Use May Increase Risk Of Testicular Cancer

Date: Sep-13-2012
A new study from the University of Southern California (USC) has found a link between recreational marijuana use and an increased risk of developing subtypes of testicular cancer that tend to carry a somewhat worse prognosis. Published early online in CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the findings suggest that the potential cancer-causing effects of marijuana on testicular cells should be considered not only in personal decisions regarding recreational drug use, but also when marijuana and its derivatives are used for therapeutic purposes in young male patients...

Preventice Receives FDA Clearance To Market BodyGuardian Remote Monitoring System

Date: Sep-13-2012
PreventiceTM, Inc., a leading developer of mobile health applications and remote monitoring systems, announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given the company 510(k) clearance for its BodyGuardian Remote Monitoring System (RMS). Developed in collaboration with Mayo Clinic, the BodyGuardian System uses sophisticated algorithms to support remote monitoring for individuals with cardiac arrhythmias. The BodyGuardian System will allow physicians to monitor key biometrics outside of the clinical setting, while patients go about their daily lives...

Predicting Scoliosis Progression From 3D Imaging, Study Shows Promising Results

Date: Sep-13-2012
Data Presented at SRS Conference Suggest 3D Evaluation May Help Forecast Disease Progression at Initial Medical Visit EOS imaging (NYSE Euronext, FR0011191766 - EOSI), the pioneer in 2D/3D orthopedic medical imaging, announces today results of a new clinical study highlighting the value of 3D spine measurements provided by the EOS® imaging system for monitoring and predicting scoliosis progression as of the patient's first medical visit. The data was presented at the 47th annual conference of the Scoliosis Research Society (SRS). Dr...

Gene's Function May Give New Target For Cancer Drugs

Date: Sep-13-2012
Purdue University scientists have determined that a gene long known to be involved in cancer cell formation and chemotherapy resistance is key to proper RNA creation, an understanding that could one day lead to new therapies and drug targets. The human gene p68 has long been recognized as an oncogene, one associated with cancer formation, but its function was unknown. Elizabeth Tran, a Purdue biochemist, found that misregulation of p68 causes problems with RNA formation and arrangement, possibly leading to chromosomal abnormalities...

Pain Drugs Can Cause Hearing Loss In Women

Date: Sep-13-2012
Pain relief medications (analgesics) may temporarily stop pain, however, they may also be dangerous, due to the fact that they sometimes cause hearing loss in women. Analgesics are used to treat a diverse range of medical issues, making them the most commonly used medication in the United States. They work by targeting the peripheral and central nervous systems. They may include: acetaminophen (paracetamol); non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as the salicylates; and opioid drugs, including morphine and opium...