Scientists from King’s submitted a licence application yesterday (6 November) to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) to allow them to fuse human cells with animal eggs. If granted, the licence will boost research into some of the most debilitating and untreatable neurological diseases.
DSM is continuing to build its personalised nutrition capabilities with its venturing arm making a ?2m investment in IntegraGen, and a collaboration with the French biotech to apply its genetic tests to weight management products.
The Mainland, Hong Kong and Macau should make more use of information technology to speed up the exchange of data regarding pandemics, says Secretary for Health, Welfare & Food Dr York Chow.
“Medicine alone is not enough to get you through cancer,” comments Linda Dibblee, breast cancer survivor and winner of the 2006 Lilly Oncology on Canvas International Art Competition and Exhibition. “You have to stay strong and positive through even the darkest times. Having a channel through which you can release your feelings can help you find strength that you never knew you had. For me, painting became my way of expressing all my thoughts, hopes and frustrations, and I truly believe it played a part in helping me beat cancer.”
Significant errors in insulin dose can result when blood glucose meters are miscoded according to new clinical study. When persons with diabetes use miscoded blood glucose meters to determine how much insulin to take, significant errors in insulin dose can result that may potentially lead to short- and long-term health complications, according to findings of a new study presented at the Sixth Annual Diabetes Technology Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia.
Novartis announced plans to build an integrated biomedical Research & Development center in Shanghai’s Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park that will become an integral part of the Group’s global research and development network.
GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE: GSK) and Adolor Corporation (Nasdaq: ADLR) announced that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a letter stating that the new drug application (NDA) for Entereg (alvimopan 12mg) for the management of post operative ileus (POI) is approvable. The FDA has requested 12-month safety data, including analysis of serious cardiovascular events, from study 014 (767905/014), an ongoing safety study in opioid-induced bowel dysfunction (OBD). The FDA also requested a risk management plan as part of the submission.
A postmenopausal hormone therapy trial conducted in Estonia indicates that hormone therapy does not improve women’s quality of life. The group receiving hormones and the comparison group showed no differences in general quality of life. Only those women that experienced hot flashes and night-time sweating reported beneficial effects.
The growing number of children relying on portable home ventilators to breathe create their own ventilator-dependent lifestyles. But low esteem and social exclusion remain major problems. Professor Jane Noyes’ six-year study included interviews with over 100 children and parents. A third of the home ventilated children had received spinal or head injuries. The other two-thirds had congenital conditions.
The Centre for Health Protection has cautioned the public to be vigilant against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, as many places, including Hong Kong, have seen its occurrence in the community.