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PARIS (Reuters) – Pharmaceutical groups Sanofi and Regeneron announced on Friday that two clinical trials showed that a monthly dose of experimental drug alirocumab was effective in patients with high cholesterol. In both trials, the drug administered every four weeks “met their primary efficacy endpoints”, the companies said. “In the new monthly dosing trials…the mean percent reduction in LDL-C from baseline was consistent with that seen in previous phase 3 trials evaluating alirocumab every other

IMAGE: The new study provides insight into how a critical mitochondrial enzyme, transhydrogenase (TH), works in a process that is key to maintaining healthy cells view more Credit: Image by Josephine Leung, courtesy of the Stout lab, The Scripps Research Institute. LA JOLLA, CA–January 8, 2014–A team led by structural biologists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) has taken a big step toward understanding the intricate molecular mechanism of a metabolic enzyme produced in most forms

Women using depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA), commonly known as Depo-Provera or the birth control shot, have a moderately increased risk of becoming infected with HIV, a large meta-analysis of 12 studies involving more than 39 500 women published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases has found. Other forms of hormonal contraception, including oral contraceptive pills, do not appear to increase this risk. Worldwide about 144 million women use hormonal contraception–around 41 million use the injectable forms

IMAGE: This image shows one orbit of pulsar J1906 (on the right, with radio beams) around its companion (centered), with space-time curvature (blue grid). view more Credit: Joeri van Leeuwen. In an interstellar race against time, astronomers have measured the space-time warp in the gravity of a binary star and determined the mass of a neutron star–just before it vanished from view. The international team, including University of British Columbia astronomer Ingrid Stairs, measured the masses

Researchers from the University of Cambridge and the University of Plymouth have shown that follow-through – such as when swinging a golf club or tennis racket – can help us to learn two different skills at once, or to learn a single skill faster. The research provides new insight into the way tasks are learned, and could have implications for rehabilitation, such as re-learning motor skills following a stroke. The researchers found that the particular

IMAGE: Malassezia yeasts might promote skin cancer similar to UV light. view more Credit: Image Credit: Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece. CC-BY Malassezia yeasts have been found in human dandruff, deep-sea vents, and pretty much everywhere in between. The skin of most if not all warm-blooded animals is covered with these microbes, and while they mostly live in peaceful co-existence with their hosts, they can cause serious diseases in humans and our furry friends. A Pearl

Researchers at Northwestern University and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have developed a simple new fabrication technique to create beautiful and complex 3-D micro- and nanostructures with many advantages over 3-D printing. The technique mimics the action of a children’s pop-up book — starting as a flat two-dimensional structure and popping up into a more complex 3-D structure. Using a variety of advanced materials, including silicon, the researchers produced more than 40 different geometric

1 State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burns and Combined Injury, Institute of Surgery Research, Daping Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Changjiang Road 10, Yuzhong District, Daping, Chongqing 400042, China 2 Biochemistry and molecular Biology Laboratory of Experiment Teaching Center, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China 3 Department of Emergency Medical Center, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University, Jiefang Road 88, Zhejiang, China 4 Kunming General Hospital, Chengdu Military of PLA, Kunming, Yunnan, China For all author

International Journal of Health Geographics 2015, 14:2 doi:10.1186/1476-072X-14-2 Published: 9 January 2015

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Epigenetics Chromatin 2015, 8:1 doi:10.1186/1756-8935-8-1 Published: 9 January 2015

You’re probably already aware that, with an effectiveness rate of over 99 percent, intrauterine devices are rock stars of the birth control world. But you might still be a little wary of having a device implanted in your uterus. That’s exactly why Alison Turkos, an abortion counselor in New York City, decided to go public with her IUD insertion appointment. “It was important to me to share my story no matter what it was like,”

I accidentally gauged her in the eye with my soapy thumb. My then-girlfriend had just gotten stitches in her arm. She wrapped it in a plastic bag, held it out of the shower, and I, like a nursing home attendant, clumsily washed her entire body. Of all our shared showers, it was the least sexy. Yet it was one of the most intimate—and informative, too. For example, I learned to wash a woman’s hair and that

Miscarriages are way more common than you’d glean from your Facebook newsfeed, filled with ultrasounds, baby photos, and updates on poopy diapers. Out of every 10 women who get pregnant, one to two of them lose their babies to miscarriage, according to Planned Parenthood. Yet, unfortunately, the silence surrounding miscarriage can make the loss even more difficult for women to bear. “For something that is so common, I really felt a sense of shame, like

In the upcoming Race Across USA, ultra-endurance athletes will run a marathon a day as they cover 3,080 miles from California to Maryland. The event will offer researchers a unique opportunity to study the physical and psychological effects of ultra-endurance running. Among those researchers is exercise physiologist and public health scientist Lara Dugas, PhD, MPH, of Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine. Dr. Dugas is part of a three-member research team that will study

Daiichi Sankyo Company, Limited (hereafter, Daiichi Sankyo) today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved SAVAYSAâ„¢ (edoxaban) Tablets, an oral, once-daily selective factor Xa-inhibitor, to reduce the risk of stroke and systemic embolism (SE) in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). In ENGAGE AF-TIMI 48, SAVAYSA was non-inferior to warfarin in the overall study population for the primary efficacy endpoint of stroke or SE. As stated in the U.S. label, SAVAYSA

Nanoparticles, extremely tiny particles measured in billionths of a meter, are increasingly everywhere, and especially in biomedical products. Their toxicity has been researched in general terms, but now a team of Israeli scientists has for the first time found that exposure nanoparticles (NPs) of silicon dioxide (SiO2) can play a major role in the development of cardiovascular diseases when the NP cross tissue and cellular barriers and also find their way into the circulatory system.

At this time last year, I was carrying my 5-month-old in the snow from some errands. The intense cold was blowing on her face and through her little mittens. I almost fell with her on a big sheet of ice that was disguised underneath the snow. My little one was crying from the pain and was so exhausted from it all that she couldn’t find a way to calm down. Exhausted myself, I’d plopped down

BMC Ophthalmology 2015, 15:3 doi:10.1186/1471-2415-15-3 Published: 9 January 2015

1 Department of Clinical Chemistry, Institute of Diagnostics, University of Oulu, Oulu FI-90014, Finland 2 Northern Laboratory Centre NordLab; and Medical Research Centre, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland 3 Department of Medicine, Central Hospital, Jyväskylä, Finland For all author emails, please log on.

BioMedical Engineering OnLine 2015, 14:2 doi:10.1186/1475-925X-14-2 Published: 9 January 2015

Journal of Biomedical Semantics 2015, 6:4 doi:10.1186/2041-1480-6-4 Published: 9 January 2015

Research Tine Verreet, Roel Quintens, Debby Van Dam, Mieke Verslegers, Mirella Tanori, Arianna Casciati, Mieke Neefs, Liselotte Leysen, Arlette Michaux, Ann Janssen, Emiliano D¿Agostino, Greetje Vande Velde, Sarah Baatout, Lieve Moons, Simonetta Pazzaglia, Anna Saran, Uwe Himmelreich, Peter Paul De Deyn and Mohammed Abderrafi Benotmane Journal of Neurodevelopmental Disorders 2015, 7:3 doi:10.1186/1866-1955-7-3 Published: 9 January 2015 Abstract (provisional) Background In humans, in utero exposure to ionising radiation results in an increased prevalence of neurological aberrations, such

i i Dealer Omar Abu-Eid adjusts a stack of chips before the first day of the World Series of Poker’s main event in Las Vegas last July. Humans still reign in most versions of poker. Whew. John Locher/AP hide caption itoggle caption John Locher/AP Dealer Omar Abu-Eid adjusts a stack of chips before the first day of the World Series of Poker’s main event in Las Vegas last July. Humans still reign in most versions

(HealthDay)—An interprofessional simulation of high-risk clinical scenarios is useful for surgical residents, according to a study published online Jan. 7 in JAMA Surgery. Grace A. Nicksa, M.D., from the San Francisco VA Medical Center, and colleagues used the SimMan 3GS to simulate high-risk clinical scenarios followed by debriefings with real-time feedback to educate surgical residents in leadership, teamwork, and effective communication during emergency surgical procedures. Surgical resident performance was assessed during the first and second

(HealthDay)—Women who have low blood levels of vitamin D during pregnancy are more likely to give birth prematurely, a new study suggests. Women with the lowest levels of vitamin D were about 1.5 times as likely to deliver early compared to those with the highest levels, the investigators found. That finding held true even after the researchers accounted for other factors linked to preterm birth, such as overweight and obesity, and smoking. “Mothers who were

(HealthDay)—Women who sleep on their backs in the later months of pregnancy may have a relatively higher risk of stillbirth if they already have other risk factors, a new study suggests. Experts stressed that the findings do not prove that sleep position itself affects stillbirth risk. “We should be cautious in interpreting the results,” said Dr. George Saade, director of maternal-fetal medicine at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. “We can’t conclude that

i i Dealer Omar Abu-Eid adjusted a stack of chips before the first day of the World Series of Poker’s main event in Las Vegas last July. Humans still reign in most versions of poker. Whew. John Locher/AP hide caption itoggle caption John Locher/AP Dealer Omar Abu-Eid adjusted a stack of chips before the first day of the World Series of Poker’s main event in Las Vegas last July. Humans still reign in most versions

Women with the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health demonstrate Wednesday outside the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans. A federal appeals court in New Orleans is considering whether a Texas law puts up an unconstitutional obstacle to women seeking abortions. Jonathan Bachman/AP hide caption itoggle caption Jonathan Bachman/AP A part of a Texas abortion law — one that requires that any clinic performing abortions meet stringent, hospital-like medical standards — is

There’s taking your sweet time, and then there are instances in which you could have all the time in the world…and it still wouldn’t help him cross the finish line. If you find yourself in bed with a guy who just won’t—or can’t—get the job done, don’t worry. There are a lot of reasons why this might be happening and one simple thing you can do to help. 1. He’s Stressing Just as can happen

This article was written by Megan Reynolds and repurposed with permission from Daily Makeover. It may seem counter-intuitive to spray water on your face when the air outside is super bitter, but hear us out. Facial sprays are great for putting moisture back into dry, itchy winter skin while imparting the elusive glow that one normally doesn’t get this season. We rounded up some of the best around, so throw ‘em in your bag when you’re

It started out hot. You made eye contact, engaged in a little flirty banter, made out on the dance floor, and then took things back to your place. That’s when disaster struck. As a public service announcement, we bring you all of the random ways your hookup can go from pleasure town to mortification station. Read these now, and prepare yourself for future rando hookup mishaps.  1. You thought he had a condom. He thought

(HealthDay)—The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a new treatment for acne scarring. Bellafill is an injected gel that adds volume to the skin to lift and smooth out pitted acne scars to the level of the surrounding skin, the agency said. In the study that led to FDA approval, 64 percent of 87 patients treated Bellafill said their skin had improved six months after treatment, compared with 33 percent of 46 patients treated

(HealthDay)—Novel anticoagulants have been rapidly adopted into clinical practice, and their use is associated with increased health care costs, according to a study published in the November issue of The American Journal of Medicine. Using medical and prescription claims data from a large insurer, Nihar R. Desai, M.D., M.P.H., from Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston, and colleagues identified patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation who were prescribed an oral anticoagulant from

(HealthDay)—Earlier life trajectories of adiposity are associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in adolescents, according to a study published in the January issue of the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. Oyekoya T. Ayonrinde, M.B.B.S., from the University of Western Australia in Perth, and colleagues examined the correlations between NAFLD diagnosed during adolescence and earlier life trajectories of anthropometry in a population-based cohort. Questionnaires and liver ultrasound were used to assess NAFLD in 1,170 adolescents

(HealthDay)—Serum biomarkers may be a measure for assessment of active degenerative spinal disease in older adults, according to a study published in the November issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. In a cohort of patients, Gwendolyn A. Sowa, M.D., Ph.D., from the Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare System, and colleagues measured pain-related impairment (on a pain thermometer and the McGill Pain Questionnaire Short Form) and pain-related function or activity limitation (Roland Morris Disability

(HealthDay)—The potential health hazards of e-cigarettes remain unclear, and more regulation on their use is needed, say two groups representing cancer researchers and specialists. The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) together issued a list of recommendations on Thursday aimed at bringing e-cigarette regulations more in line with those of traditional cigarettes. In a news release, the two groups pointed out that e-cigarettes, which are not smoked

As we enter 2015, nonprofit organizations that specialize in health advocacy start to compile lists of ambitious resolutions for the New Year. They pledge to spread the word more widely than ever about a particular cause, to exert influence over lawmakers, and to enlist more scientists, advocates and donors in the latest public health crusade. You get the idea. And I, as executive director of just such a nonprofit, could do the same. I could

As a result on an ongoing right shoulder “project,” I’ve switched my computer mouse to my left hand. (Before reading on, try switching your mouse to your non-dominant hand. What do you notice?) Mindless Habits At first, I was frustrated by my awkward attempts to right click when a left click was needed and vice versa. I actually had to ask what the right and left mouse buttons do when I am using my right

College football season is almost over… hard to believe huh?! How’d your team do? The Wolverines had a pretty terrible year… but now we’ve got coach Harbaugh so GO BLUE! All you Buckeye fans, I’m sorry, I had to say it… For the past 8 years whenever I’m in Ohio I always hear, “You went to Michigan?! Ugh that’s awful!” Or I’d be in Michigan and hear, “You’re from Columbus Ohio?! I hate that place!”

For most of my life, I numbed, ran away, and avoided, always hiding on the margins, too afraid to confront my demons and too ashamed to reach out for the help I so desperately needed. But through all that time, I was a seeker — longing to find a way back into a place where I didn’t loathe the feel of my own skin, a place where I could simply disappear because I was “normal.”

“The people who are making this world worse are not taking a day off. How can I? Light up the darkness.” –Bob Marley “2015” sounds very futuristic to me. Something about the 15 I think, it just has a sci-fi ring to it. In a kind of Ground Hog Day way the whole notion of a new year comes around, well, every new year. And every year in January I think and write about how

The Association for Molecular Pathology (AMP), the premier global, non-profit organization serving molecular testing professionals, announced the release of an important white paper addressing the consequences of regulatory and reimbursement forces directed against molecular diagnostic testing that threaten patient care. The paper, titled, A Molecular Diagnostic Perfect Storm: The Convergence of Regulatory Reimbursement Forces that Threaten Patient Access to Innovations in Genomic Medicine is now available online. “The breakthroughs made possible by mapping the human

New research provides insights into the ties between certain genetic variants and kidney disease in African Americans. The genetic association is one of the strongest ever reported for a common disease, and these latest findings may help improve diagnosis and treatment. The study appears in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN). African Americans have a 4-fold increased risk for chronic kidney disease compared with European Americans. Recent work

Oman reported Thursday its first death of a person from Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in nearly a year. No further details were given in the health ministry statement carried by the official ONA news agency. It is the third MERS fatality in the Gulf sultanate. Oman borders Saudi Arabia, the country hardest hit by MERS. MERS is considered a deadlier but less transmissible cousin of the SARS virus that appeared in Asia in

A British nurse who contracted Ebola in west Africa remains in a critical condition inside a hospital isolation unit and her health may not improve for “some time”, her family said Thursday. Pauline Cafferkey, who is being treated at London’s Royal Free Hospital, contracted the disease while working as a volunteer at a British-built Ebola treatment centre in Sierra Leone. She felt unwell as she returned to Britain and was diagnosed in Glasgow on December

The first in a new class of cancer medicines, Pfizer’s Ibrance, appears poised for approval to treat advanced breast cancer within a few months and could quickly become a blockbuster, some analysts believe. Pfizer shares rose 74 cents, or 2.3 percent, to $32.59 Thursday following analysts’ forecasts that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration could approve Ibrance before its April 13 target decision date. Their reports came just after the New York-based drugmaker said the

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BMI SYSTEM becomes preferred Veeva Network partner for spend transparency; BMI SYSTEM selects Veeva Network as preferred customer master solution Veeva Systems and BMI SYSTEM today announced BMI SYSTEM joins the Veeva Network Partner Program. The companies also announced Veeva Network is now BMI SYSTEM’s preferred customer master solution. The integrated BMI SYSTEM’s NAYA Transparency solution and Veeva Network Customer Master software enables unprecedented accuracy of spend reporting and compliance with new European Federation of

BMI SYSTEM becomes preferred Veeva Network partner for spend transparency; BMI SYSTEM selects Veeva Network as preferred customer master solution Veeva Systems and BMI SYSTEM today announced BMI SYSTEM joins the Veeva Network Partner Program. The companies also announced Veeva Network is now BMI SYSTEM’s preferred customer master solution. The integrated BMI SYSTEM’s NAYA Transparency solution and Veeva Network Customer Master software enables unprecedented accuracy of spend reporting and compliance with new European Federation of

/ no comments National Association for Healthcare Quality (NAHQ)

/ no comments National Association for Healthcare Quality (NAHQ)

Enzymes linked to diabetes and obesity appear to play key roles in arthritis and leukemia, potentially opening up new avenues for treating these diverse diseases, according to new research at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Working with genetically engineered mice, the researchers discovered that the same enzymes involved in turning carbohydrates into the building blocks of fats also influence the health of specialized white blood cells called neutrophils. Neutrophils are the most

Enzymes linked to diabetes and obesity appear to play key roles in arthritis and leukemia, potentially opening up new avenues for treating these diverse diseases, according to new research at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Working with genetically engineered mice, the researchers discovered that the same enzymes involved in turning carbohydrates into the building blocks of fats also influence the health of specialized white blood cells called neutrophils. Neutrophils are the most

Researchers at Johns Hopkins have found out how a protein crucial to learning works: by removing a biochemical “clamp” that prevents connections between nerve cells in the brain from growing stronger. The finding moves neuroscientists a step closer to figuring out how learning and memory work, and how problems with them can arise. A report on the discovery appears Jan. 7 in the journal Neuron. Animals learn and form memories when connections called synapses among

Researchers at Johns Hopkins have found out how a protein crucial to learning works: by removing a biochemical “clamp” that prevents connections between nerve cells in the brain from growing stronger. The finding moves neuroscientists a step closer to figuring out how learning and memory work, and how problems with them can arise. A report on the discovery appears Jan. 7 in the journal Neuron. Animals learn and form memories when connections called synapses among

Just two hours of exposure to diesel exhaust fumes can lead to fundamental health-related changes in biology by switching some genes on, while switching others off, according to researchers at the University of British Columbia and Vancouver Coastal Health. The study involved putting volunteers in a polycarbonate-enclosed booth—about the size of a standard bathroom—while breathing in diluted and aged exhaust fumes that are about equal to the air quality along a Beijing highway, or a

Just two hours of exposure to diesel exhaust fumes can lead to fundamental health-related changes in biology by switching some genes on, while switching others off, according to researchers at the University of British Columbia and Vancouver Coastal Health. The study involved putting volunteers in a polycarbonate-enclosed booth—about the size of a standard bathroom—while breathing in diluted and aged exhaust fumes that are about equal to the air quality along a Beijing highway, or a

More than half of the British public are unaware of the link between alcohol consumption and cancer, according to a survey from the Alcohol Health Alliance UK (AHA). The UK- wide poll found that just 47 per cent of people were aware of any connection between alcohol and the disease. But an overwhelming majority (83 per cent) would back further nutritional and health information on alcohol labelling. Sarah Williams, Cancer Research UK’s senior health information

More than half of the British public are unaware of the link between alcohol consumption and cancer, according to a survey from the Alcohol Health Alliance UK (AHA). The UK- wide poll found that just 47 per cent of people were aware of any connection between alcohol and the disease. But an overwhelming majority (83 per cent) would back further nutritional and health information on alcohol labelling. Sarah Williams, Cancer Research UK’s senior health information

Bone loss is not the only nemesis of the elderly. As the percentage of people aged 85 and older grows, the stakes are high for healthy individuals living independently who do not maintain their muscle mass and strength. Age-related muscle loss—which excludes disease-related muscle loss—is called “sarcopenia.” This condition can lead to costly surgeries and hospital stays due to fractures after falls that occurred from weak muscles, says physiologist Roger Fielding. In 2012 alone, 2.4

Bone loss is not the only nemesis of the elderly. As the percentage of people aged 85 and older grows, the stakes are high for healthy individuals living independently who do not maintain their muscle mass and strength. Age-related muscle loss—which excludes disease-related muscle loss—is called “sarcopenia.” This condition can lead to costly surgeries and hospital stays due to fractures after falls that occurred from weak muscles, says physiologist Roger Fielding. In 2012 alone, 2.4

People born without one hand, who are still able to use both limbs well in otherwise two-handed tasks, are likely to show brain activity which resembles that of people with two hands, an Oxford University study has found. ‘The brain doesn’t care if you are born with only one hand. The brain is not fussy about whether there is a hand at the end of the arm, a prosthetic or a “stump” – so long

People born without one hand, who are still able to use both limbs well in otherwise two-handed tasks, are likely to show brain activity which resembles that of people with two hands, an Oxford University study has found. ‘The brain doesn’t care if you are born with only one hand. The brain is not fussy about whether there is a hand at the end of the arm, a prosthetic or a “stump” – so long

Aggression and oppositional behaviour in childhood doesn’t just make short-term problems for children, their friends and families. It also places kids at risk of long-term issues with mental and physical health. And while there are some effective treatments around, not all children respond to them. Now, neuroscience is helping guide better treatment. Temper tantrums, breaking rules, playground fights, or just seeming to delight in annoying other people – most children will show one or more

Aggression and oppositional behaviour in childhood doesn’t just make short-term problems for children, their friends and families. It also places kids at risk of long-term issues with mental and physical health. And while there are some effective treatments around, not all children respond to them. Now, neuroscience is helping guide better treatment. Temper tantrums, breaking rules, playground fights, or just seeming to delight in annoying other people – most children will show one or more

/ no comments Debiopharm Group

Peer review is a common practice in medicine to support the complementary, multidisciplinary team approach in healthcare. A 2013 survey of radiation oncologists indicates that they would like more formal recommendations and guidance in order to improve the peer review process, according to a study published in the January-February 2015 issue of Practical Radiation Oncology (PRO), the clinical practice journal of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO). The study, “Practice patterns for peer review

Each year more than 12 million Americans visit their doctors complaining of headaches, which result in lost productivity and costs of upward of $31 billion annually. A new study by researchers from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) suggests some of that cost could be offset by physicians ordering fewer tests and an increased focus on counseling about lifestyle changes. A new study of more than 9,000 physician visits for headaches between 1999 and 2010