Laboratory | Page 114 of 116

Oral cancer :: Success using saliva to detect oral cancer

Scientists funded by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, part of the National Institutes of Health, reported today taking a major step forward in using saliva to detect oral cancer. As published in the current issue of Clinical Cancer Research, the scientists found they could measure for elevated levels of four distinct cancer-associated molecules in saliva and distinguish with 91 percent accuracy between healthy people and those diagnosed with oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Heart Disease :: Inflammation’s role in Heart Disease

There is an importance of inflammation as a contributor to heart attack, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases. In the United States, researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health report that blood levels of C-reactive protein, a molecular marker of inflammation, rank with cholesterol levels as indicators of future coronary heart disease.

Ayurveda :: Heavy metals found in ayurvedic medicines

About one in five Ayurvedic herbal medicine products sold in the Boston area contains toxic levels of lead, mercury or arsenic, researchers report in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Multiple Sclerosis :: Natalizumab – antibody treatment for Multiple Sclerosis

FDA today licensed a new biologic approach to treat patients with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) to reduce the frequency of symptom flare-ups or exacerbations of the disease. MS is a chronic, often disabling disease of the brain and spinal cord.

HIV :: Ranbaxy withdraws all its antiretroviral medicines from WHO prequalificat

Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited India has informed the World Health Organization (WHO) that it is voluntarily withdrawing all its antiretrovirals (all the product dossiers under assessment and all prequalified products) from WHO prequalification. This action was taken after the company found discrepancies in the documentation relating to proof of the products’ bioequivalence with originator medicines. The company has already presented WHO with a plan indicating proposed dates for the submission of new study reports for these products. The first study is expected to be completed by December 2004.

Infertility :: Sperm cells are grown in lab

A team of researchers working with cells from mice has overcome a technical barrier and succeeded in growing sperm progenitor cells in laboratory culture. The researchers transplanted the cells into infertile mice, which were then able to produce sperm and father offspring that were genetically related to the donor mice.

Psychiatry :: Smokers with psychiatric disorders consume most cigarettes

Adults with nicotine dependence and/or psychiatric disorders consume 70 percent of all cigarettes smoked in the United States, according to results of a National Institutes of Health (NIH) study reported in the November issue of the “Archives of General Psychiatry (Volume 61).” Based on the 2001-2002 National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC), the article provides the first national estimates among U.S. adults of the prevalence and co-occurrence of nicotine dependence and a broad array of other psychiatric disorders including alcohol and drug abuse and dependence, mood and anxiety disorders, and personality disorders as defined by the American Psychiatric Association’s “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Fourth Edition (DSM-IV).”

Alzheimer’s disease :: Transthyretin protein halts the progression of Alzheimer

Researchers have identified a protein in the brain that halts the progression of Alzheimer’s disease in human brain tissue. The protein, known as “transthyretin,” protects brain cells from gradual deterioration by blocking another toxic protein that contributes to the disease process.

Parkinson’s Disease :: Promising proteins found for Parkinson’s disease

Researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center have found two proteins that prevented the progressive degeneration of nerve cells that cause Parkinson’s disease.

New way to control drug-resistant bacteria

Based on an improved understanding of bacteriophages – viruses that infect bacteria – scientists reporting in the Sept. 23 issue of the journal “Nature” believe they have discovered a potential new way to control drug-resistant bacteria, an increasingly worrisome public health problem.