Archive | May, 2009

Obesity predicts inadequate bowel prep at colonoscopy

Bethesda, MD (June 1, 2009) ? Obesity is an independent predictor of inadequate bowel preparation at colonoscopy, and the presence of additional risk factors further increases the likelihood of a poorly cleansed colon, according to a new study in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, the official journal of the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Institute.

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Time series identify population responses to climate change

Biologists have for several years modeled how different species are likely to respond to climate change. Most such studies ignore differences between populations within a species and the interactions between species, in the interest of simplicity.

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UCLA cancer researchers first to link intestinal inflammation with systemic chromosome damage

UCLA scientists have linked for the first time intestinal inflammation with systemic chromosome damage in mice, a finding that may lead to the early identification and treatment of human inflammatory disorders, some of which increase risk for several types of cancer.

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Who will pick up the bill?

Ocean acidification, a direct result of increased CO2 emission, is set to change the Earth’s marine ecosystems forever and may have a direct impact on our economy, resulting in substantial revenue declines and job losses.

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First live ‘cloning’ of faces challenges assumptions about human behavior

Computer scientists at the University of East Anglia (UEA) have developed a new way of cloning facial expressions during live conversations to help us better understand what influences our behaviour when we communicate with others.

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Liver disease ‘shrunk’ by blood-pressure drug

A blood-pressure medicine has been shown to reverse the effects of early-stage liver failure in some patients.

Newcastle University researchers analysed a small clinical trial of losartan, a drug normally prescribed for hypertension, on 14 patients in Spain, who had Hepatitis C.

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MicroRNAs grease the cell’s circadian clockwork

Most of our cells possess an internal clock, a group of genes displaying a cyclic expression pattern that reaches a peak once a day. A large number of circadian genes are expressed by organs such as the liver, whose activity needs to be precisely regulated over the course of the day.

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To what extent can environmental pollutants and alcohol affect GI health?

CHICAGO, IL (May 31, 2009) – New research quantifies the precise effects of environmental pollutants and alcohol intake on gastrointestinal (GI) health.

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Penn researchers discover genetic risk factor for testicular cancer

(PHILADELPHIA) ? Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have uncovered variation around two genes that are associated with an increased risk of testicular cancer.

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2-drug combination appears safe and active in metastatic kidney cancer

ORLANDO (May 31, 2009)?Fox Chase Cancer Center investigators report that a two-drug blockade of mTOR signaling appears safe in metastatic kidney cancer in a phase I trial. Early data suggests that a combination of temsirolimus and bryostatin may be active in patients with rare forms of renal cell cancer, which are less likely to respond to other targeted therapies.

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International Serious Adverse Events Consortium announces initial study results in its global research collaboration to identify genetic markers related to drug induced liver injury

Chicago (June 1, 2009) ? The International Serious Adverse Events Consortium (SAEC) announced today initial results from its research designed to discover genetic markers that may predict individuals at risk for serious drug induced liver injury (DILI).

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New treatment combination proves safe for head and neck cancer patients

PITTSBURGH, May 30 ? Patients undergoing treatment for advanced head and neck cancers may respond well to the addition of gefinitib to chemotherapy, according to a study sponsored by the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group and chaired by Ethan Argiris, M.D., associate professor of medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, and co-leader of the Head and Neck Cancer Program of the Univ

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Pitt melanoma researchers present novel findings at ASCO

PITTSBURGH, May 30 ? Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (UPCI) have identified eight genes that help predict a melanoma patient’s response to treatment. The new findings are being presented at the 45th annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), May 29 to June 2, in Orlando, Fla.

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Study shows drug combination improves outcome for advanced non-small cell lung cancer

A new, international study found that the combination of two drugs delays disease progression for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Results from the Phase III “ATLAS” trial were presented today by Dr. Vincent Miller of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) at the American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting.

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Hearing, voice problems worsen seniors’ communication skills

DURHAM, N.C. — Hearing and vocal problems go hand-in-hand among the elderly more frequently than previously thought, according to researchers at Duke University Medical Center. Together, they pack a devastating double punch on communication skills and overall well-being.

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Surgery not necessary for most late-stage colorectal cancers

A new study shows that a large majority of patients who present with advanced colorectal cancer that has spread to other organs (stage IV) don’t require immediate surgery to remove the primary tumor in the colon. Researchers from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) presented their data today at the American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting.

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Ballerinas and female athletes share quadruple health threats

A study led by sports medicine researcher Anne Hoch, D.O., at The Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee has revealed that young female professional dancers face the same health risks as young female athletes when they don’t eat enough to offset the energy they spend, and stop menstruating as a consequence.

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NYP/Weill Cornell physician-scientists present at 2009 American Transplant Congress in Boston

NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center physician-scientists are presenting exciting new research at the 2009 American Transplant Congress in Boston from May 30 to June 3.

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Policy gurus advocate community-based approaches to senior housing

The latest installment of Public Policy & Aging Report (PPAR, Vol. 19, No. 1) evaluates current models of creating sustainable lifelong communities for people of all ages.

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Slicing chromosomes leads to new insights into cell division

ANN ARBOR, Mich.?By using ultrafast laser pulses to slice off pieces of chromosomes and observe how the chromosomes behave, biomedical engineers at the University of Michigan have gained pivotal insights into mitosis, the process of cell division.

Their findings could help scientists better understand genetic diseases, aging and cancer.

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