September 29, 2009, 8:05 AM CT

Gene that Could Lead to New Therapies

Van Andel Research Institute (VARI) scientists are one step closer to finding new ways to treat Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS), a bone marrow disease that strikes up to 15,000 people each year in the United States, and that sometimes results in acute myeloid leukemia. Scientists observed that the gene RhoB is important to the disease's progression and could prove to be a therapeutic target for late-stage MDS.

"Using our genetic models, we've been able to provide a better understanding of underlying molecular defects that drive the cancerous progression of MDS," said VARI Distinguished Scientific Investigator Art Alberts, Ph.D., whose laboratory recently published its findings in the journal PLoS ONE. "The genes that we've focused on in this study might have a role not only in leukemia, but in solid tumors as well".

Alberts' lab previously reported that the Drf1 gene is crucial to the development of MDS. In its recent study, the lab observed that the RhoB gene is important as well; lack of the proteins that are the product of the gene accelerates the disease's progression. The scientists believe examining RhoB levels in samples from patients with advanced MDS could help direct them to better therapy options.

"Our goal is to identify novel therapeutic targets and develop new drugs that affect their activity, but also to find ways to improve upon existing therapeutic strategies that are often linked to deleterious side effects," said Alberts......... Posted by: Emily      Read more         Source

September 29, 2009, 7:48 AM CT

Living conditions have significant impact on reproductive health

When costs outweigh benefits, successful pregnancies are less likely to occur.

Life is all about tradeoffs and recently published research by Virginia J. Vitzthum, a senior scientist at Indiana University's Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction, and professor in the IU College of Arts and Sciences' Department of Anthropology, has shown that during periods of intense labor and low food intake, rates of early pregnancy loss can more than double.

The findings, reported recently in the American Journal of Human Biology, are the first to show seasonality of early pregnancy loss in a non-industrialized population -- in this case rural Bolivian women -- and the first to demonstrate a relationship between economic activities and early pregnancy loss.

Vitzthum's research challenges the past belief that nearly all early pregnancy losses are caused by genetic defects in the embryo. Genetic defects wouldn't change with the seasons, so Vitzthum's findings show that environmental factors must also play a major role in early pregnancy losses.

"This finding applies to U.S. moms just as much as Bolivians, and it applies to psychosocial resources just as much as food supply," Vitzthum said. "As well as healthy food, pregnant women also need good working conditions and adequate social support from family, friends and workplace to keep their risks of early pregnancy losses low."........ Posted by: Emily      Read more         Source

September 29, 2009, 7:44 AM CT

Women who make poor shoe choices

A recently published study determined that women who make poor shoe choices early in life suffer with foot pain in later years. Research shows that men do not experience the same foot pain as women, due to type of shoes they wear. Details of this study appear in the recent issue of Arthritis Care & Research, a journal published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the American College of Rheumatology.

National data reveal that foot and toe symptoms are among the top 20 reasons patients ages 65-74 visit their physician. In the U.S., foot pain is considered a very common musculoskeletal symptom and occurs in such conditions as rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, and gout, or with sprains, muscle strains, bruises, and fractures. Prior studies have determined a connection between improper footwear and foot pain, but this research focused on small patient samples or disease specific studies.

Scientists from Boston University School of Public Health and the Institute for Aging Research at Hebrew SeniorLife enrolled 3,372 participants in the Framingham Foot Study. Participants were derived from 2 large population-based samples of residents from Framingham, Massachusetts. The first group was part of the Framingham Study Original Cohort (formed in 1948) and the Framingham Offspring Cohort (formed in 1972) that were originally studied for heart disease risk factors. The second group was a new population sample derived from census data and included subjects who were at least 50 years old and ambulatory who were added to increase participation by minority persons......... Posted by: Emily      Read more         Source

September 29, 2009, 7:42 AM CT

Director of Alzheimer's Disease Center honored

Dr. Roger Rosenberg, director of the Alzheimer's Disease Center at UT Southwestern Medical Center, has been awarded the first Medal for Scientific Achievement by the World Federation of Neurology.

The federation is made up of more than 100 neurology associations internationally. It established the award, and another for service to international neurology, in 2008. The prizes are the first ever given by the federation.

"I am honored that my colleagues in the World Federation of Neurology have recognized my efforts to develop the study of molecular genetics in neurological diseases, from Machado-Joseph disease to Alzheimer's disease," Dr. Rosenberg said. "I also want to acknowledge my colleagues at the Alzheimer's Disease Center for their clinical and research efforts, which have facilitated my own research".

The award will be presented at the federation's World Congress of Neurology in Bangkok on Oct. 26. Dr. Rosenberg, who has studied the genetic basis of neurological diseases for three decades, is also co-chair of the meeting's scientific program and provided input on molecular genetics for prior programs of the federation.

In 1975 he and colleagues published the first in a series of papers on the clinical and genetic basis for an inherited disease that causes degeneration in a brain region essential for balance and coordination. He named the ailment Machado-Joseph disease after two affected families......... Posted by: Emily      Read more         Source

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 04:06:39 GMT

MRI As a Too in Diabetes

© Muffet

A study performed at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston suggests that a noninvasive imaging (MRI) may aid physicians in the early diagnosis, staging and treatment of diabetes.

According to Anna Moore, MD - lead author of the study:

"With noninvasive MRI we have the ability to evaluate beta cell mass, a major factor of insulin secretion that is significantly reduced in type two diabetes and almost gone in type one. We are also able to detect inflammation of the pancreas and vascular changes associated with type one and type two diabetes. This opens a huge area that is closed right now.

Knowing the number of functional beta cells left would allow physicians to develop the most appropriate treatment plans for their patients. It would also allow them to respond, change or manipulate those treatment plans at any time.

Noninvasive MRI could no doubt tremendously assist in achieving insulin independence in patients with diabetes."

Appearing in the August issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology, the said study is a first of its kind that applied a noninvasive imaging technique in diabetes research.
Posted by: Gloria      Read more     Source

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 03:56:10 GMT

Healthcare: the Impact on Small Business

© SarahMcD ॐ

The debate over healthcare (and health insurance reform) is far from over. A piece of proposed legislation, H.R. 3200, has gotten a lot of scrutiny. But there is no single, unified bill before tghe whole of Congress yet. So the impact on small business (or anyone else, for that matter) is hard to foresee....

BusinessWeek ran an article recently that spelled out some possible changes to the current system that would greatly benefit small business and the self-employed. The changes involve almost nothing beyond tweeking the tax code. Terry Neese also had some ideas on how the different things being considered might impact small business.

The contrast between the articles is interesting to me. BusinessWeek (not the most liberal rag) seems to be suggesting that this would be a good time for particular reforms. Neese's article is more skeptical.... Posted by: Steve      Read more     Source

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 00:16:25 GMT

Patient Education Video Series

Dr. Val Jones has recently uploaded 3 videos as a part of a long series of patient education and inspirational story videos. These feature hospital safety described by Paul Levy, author of Running a Hospital blog.

“Paul Levy, President & CEO of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, discusses his innovative approach to keeping patients aware of the safety record of his hospital. Produced by Dr. Val Jones.”



Paul Levy, President & CEO of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, discusses how patients can have a better hospital experience, by keeping themselves informed and having an advocate. Produced by Dr. Val Jones.



Paul Levy, President & CEO of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, discusses how to keep in touch with friends and family while in the hospital, and how to get the best aftercare. Produced by Dr. Val
Jones.



More videos about breast cancer management:

• Part 1
• Part 2
• Part 2

Posted by: Bertalan      Read more     Source

Sun, 27 Sep 2009 18:11:02 GMT

Medicine and Web 2.0 in Education: Slideshow

Kevin A. Clauson, Associate Professor at Nova Southeastern University, just published a slideshow:

Podium presentation at Medicine 2.0 in Toronto (2009) of survey research to characterize the knowledge, familiarity, and preferences regarding Web 2.0 tools among students in pharmacy school

I asked students of my “Medicine and Web 2.0” university credit course to fill a survey before and after the course. After 3 semesters, I have plenty of data which I plan to publish as soon as possible. Posted by: Bertalan      Read more     Source

Sun, 27 Sep 2009 14:23:52 GMT

Will Twitter Change Healthcare? Ask it!

Obviously not, but it can provide us with some new solutions. That’s why I wanted to share askCH, an interesting project.

AskCH is a one-of-a-kind healthcare tool. Send a healthcare cost or definition question in the proper format, and receive the answer with a link to find detailed information!

So you can send messages via Twitter such as:

• Cost of [drug name] near [zipcode] example tweet: “d askch cost of lexapro near 37211“
• Generic for [drug name] example tweet: “d askch generic for plavix“
• What is [drug name] example tweet: “d askch what is lipitor“
• What is [health issue] example tweet: “d askch what is diabetes“

Actually, I gave it a try and asked them “what is COPD”. The reply was “Sorry, we don’t have a description for copd.”

We will see whether people start using it as its success depends on that. Posted by: Bertalan      Read more     Source

Sun, 27 Sep 2009 07:47:11 GMT

Why should pharma use Twitter

John Pugh, who is a journalist, online marketer and healthcare PR, just published a deep and more than useful presentation about how and why the pharma industry should use Twitter. Posted by: Bertalan      Read more     Source