EST

Dade Behrings (hsCRP) Tests and BNTM Series Analyzers

C-Reactive Protein (CRP) is an inflammatory marker that has been associated with an increased risk of having a cardiovascular eventeven in the face of normal LDL levelsin several studies. CRP is created by the liver during systemic infection, and is an acute inflammatory marker. While CRP testing has been around for many years, it has only been recently that tests sensitive enough to measure...

Point of Care Strep Tests Speed Treatment, Lower Costs

Beta-hemolytic group A streptococcus (S. pyogenes) is the most common bacterial agent associated with upper respiratory tract infections. Although it usually involves mild symptoms (such as headache, fever or abdominal pain) if left untreated streptococcal infection can worsen and become life-threatening. Early diagnosis and treatment of group A streptococcal pharyngitis has been shown to red...

Rapid Whole Blood Testing for Infectious Mononucleosis Antibodies

The Epstein Barr virus (EBV), which causes infectious mononucleosis (IM), is one of the most common human viruses. EBV occurs worldwide, and most people become infected with EBV sometime during their lives. In the United States, as many as 95 percent of adults between 35 and 40 years of age have been infected. In most developed countries, including the U.S., infection with EBV most often occu...

PSA TestingHow Much is Too Much?

For more than 20 years, the PSA test has been widely used as the gold standard for prostate cancer screening. In one of the most dramatic reversals in recent diagnostic science, a recent study at Stanford University School of Medicine and findings by other researchers have now put the utility of the procedure in grave doubt. Indeed, The PSA era is over in the United States, said Thom...

Rapid Flu Tests May Prove Especially Helpful This Season

On October 5, Chiron Corporation notified the CDC that none of its influenza vaccine (Fluvirin) would be available for distribution in the United States for the current influenza season. In the wake of this sudden removal of nearly half of the anticipated American vaccine supply, medical officials and the general public have grown increasingly alarmed about the scarcity of vaccine and the ris...

Hemoglobin Testing at the Point of Care

Since the level of blood oxygenation can be an essential element of patient assessment, measurement of hemoglobin levels in the clinical setting is often desirable. In keeping with the recent trend to incorporate sophisticated technology into easily used point-of-care devices, recent products from several manufacturers offer prompt assessment of hemoglobin values. HemoCue, Inc., Lake...

West Nile Virus Screening and Diagnostics Technology Emerges In Step with North American Outbreak

WNVis a positive single-stranded RNA flavivirus of about 11 kb. It primarily infe...

Testing for Human Papillomavirus

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are small, closed circle, double-stranded DNA viruses, which are classified by nucleic acid sequence homology rather than serologic reactivity. Genital HPVs are the most prevalent sexually transmitted pathogens. Of the approximately 50 anogenital HPVs, there are a limited number of high and intermediate risk types dete...

Avian (Bird) Flu: Is There a Role for Rapid Tests?

With human infections of bird flu (avian influenza) reported in Asia and Eastern Europe, public health officials have moved swiftly to develop policies on surveillance, diagnosis, and treatment. The virus in question is the H5N1 subtype of influenza A, which has become epidemic...

Low-Density Cholesterol Subfractions: Not all LDL-C Particles are Created Equal

Medical conventions are challenged every day. Already in the new year, the effectiveness of cold medicine and the gold standard in breast cancer treatment have been challenged. Standards in cholesterol testing are the latest casualty of medical innovation. For years, cholesterol has been measured by a simple panel o...

Blood Gas Analysis: The Pros and Cons of Point-Of-Care Testing

Since the first system was invented in 1957, blood gas analysis has revolutionized clinical medicine and patient care. During the 1960s, blood gas analysis became almost universally available, and blood gases were considered "the most important laboratory test for critically ill patients," according to a www.bloodgas.or...

Rapid HIV Testing Increases Possibility of Treatment

According to a November, 2005 joint press release from UNAIDS (Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS) and the World Health Organization, the number of people living with HIV globally reached an estimated high of 40.3 million people in 2005, with over 3 million deaths caused by AIDS. The latest data from...

Near-Patient Testing: The Advantages of C-Reactive Protein in Hematological Testing

C-reactive protein (CRP) is an acute-phase protein that has long been recognized as a marker of systemic inflammation. CRP measurement can complement a range of diagnostic markers to monitor infection and direct treatment. However, as economic rationalization...

Non-Invasive Diagnostic Tests for Celiac Disease

Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune inflammatory disease of the small intestine that is triggered in genetically susceptible persons by the ingestion of the gluten-containing grains wheat, rye, barley, and possibly oats. The condition is thought to result from the activation of both a T-cell and B-cell immune respons...

Phase 3 Results for Dabigatran Etexilate, an Investigational Oral Anticoagulant, Presented Today at the XXIst Congress of the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis

RIDGEFIELD, Conn., July 11, 2007 /PRNewswire/ -- Phase 3 resultsfrom the RE-NOVATE(TM) trial demonstrated that oral dabigatranetexilate once daily, administered for an average of 33 days, wasnon-inferior to enoxaparin, also administered for an average of 33days, in preventing venous thromboembolism (VTE) and all-causemortality after total hip replacement surgery. In this trial, therate o...

Clinical Data Suggest Decreased Bleeding Risk in People With Severe Hemophilia A While Maintaining Factor VIII Levels Above One Percent

Results Highlighted in Oral Presentation at International Symposiumof Thrombosis and Haemostasis GENEVA, July 10, 2007 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- BaxterHealthcare Corporation today announced the presentation of findingsfrom the ADAPT (Analysis of Data from ADVATE(R) Prospective Trials)study program database showing a statistically significantrelationship between the duration of time spent...

Manhattan Pharmaceuticals Announces Results of Phase 2a Studies for Oral Oleoyl-estrone

- Results Fail to Demonstrate Meaningful Placebo Adjusted WeightLoss; Obesity Program to be Discontinued NEW YORK, July 09, 2007 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- ManhattanPharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced results of the company's twoPhase 2a clinical trials of oral Oleoyl-estrone (OE). The resultsof both randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies, onein common obesity and the other...

Samaritan's Alzheimer's Drug Caprospinol Suggests Brain May be Able to Heal From Alzheimer's Disease

Animal Study Confirms Caprospinol's (SP-233) Ability to Clear BrainPlaque and Empower Rat Brain Cells to Recover Memory Function In Vivo 'Proof of Concept' Study Proposes Direct CorrelationBetween Removing Beta Amyloid Plaque and Memory Recovery LAS VEGAS, July 10, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- SamaritanPharmaceuticals Inc. (AMEX:LIV), a developer of innovative drugs,is ple...

Accelrys to Present to Investors at C.E. Unterberg Emerging Growth Opportunities Conference

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jul 2, 2007 - Accelrys, Inc.(NASDAQ:ACCL), the leading provider of scientific businessintelligence software and services, announced today that its CFO,Rick Russo, will present at the C.E. Unterberg, Towbin EmergingGrowth Opportunities Conference in New York on July 11, 2007 at10:30 a.m. ET. The conference will take place at the MandarinOriental Hotel July 10th-12...

Tercica to Present at Investment Conferences

BRISBANE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jul 2, 2007 - Tercica, Inc.(NASDAQ:TRCA) today announced that Company management will make aninvestment community presentation at the C.E. Unterberg, TowbinEmerging Growth Opportunities Conference at the Mandarin OrientalHotel in New York on Wednesday, July 11, 2007 at 4:00 p.m. Easterntime (1:00 p.m. Pacific time). A live audio webcast and slide present...

Lexicon Develops Antibodies That Lower Triglycerides and Cholesterol as Potential New Therapy for Heart Disease

- Publication of New Cardiovascular Target from Lexicon's GeneticResearch - THE WOODLANDS, Texas, July 02, 2007 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today reported results frompreclinical research demonstrating that antibodies directed to apotential new target, angiopoietin-like protein 4 (ANGPTL4),rapidly lower triglycerides and cholesterol. Research suggests thata mon...

Beike Biotechnology Study Suggests Adult Stem Cells Show Promise for Peripheral Vascular Disease

Adult stem cells cultivated from patients' own blood canpotentially improve the quality of life for patients whose lowerextremities are affected by peripheral vascular disease, accordingto a study in China. SHENZHEN, China, July 02, 2007 /PRNewswire/ -- BeikeBiotechnology Co., Ltd. (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.beikebiotech.com/">http://www.beikebiotech.com )today announced tha...

New Study in Journal of Pediatrics Suggests Synagis (Palivizumab) May Reduce Subsequent Recurrent Wheezing in Preterm Infants

Prophylaxis with Synagis Decreases Incidence of Recurrent Wheeze byAlmost Half ABBOTT PARK, Ill. and GAITHERSBURG, Md., June 29, 2007/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Abbott and MedImmune today announcedresults of a new study, published in the July issue of Journal ofPediatrics, showing that treatment with Synagis(R) (palivizumab)may reduce recurrent wheezing in premature infants by almosthalf.<...

Largest Cervical Cancer Vaccine Efficacy Trial Shows Cervarix Provides Excellent Protection Against Lesions Caused by Most Common Cancer-Causing Virus Types

Results also show significant additional protection againstinfection with virus types beyond 16 and 18 with the GSK cervicalcancer candidate vaccine PHILADELPHIA, June 27, 2007 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Resultsfrom an interim analysis of a Phase III study show thatCERVARIX(R), the GlaxoSmithKline cervical cancer candidate vaccine,provides up to 100 percent protection against advanced prec...

Based on Up to 6 Years of Follow-Up, Biovest Announces Favorable Interim Blinded Data for Fast-Tracked Pivotal Phase 3 Clinical Trial of BiovaxID Anti-Cancer Vaccine for Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

WORCESTER, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun 28, 2007 - BiovestInternational, Inc. (OTCBB: BVTI), a majority owned subsidiary ofAccentia Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:ABPI), announced on June27, 2007 blinded interim data from the start of its fast-trackedpivotal Phase 3 clinical trial of BiovaxID(TM) for Non-Hodgkin'slymphoma (NHL) from September 2000 through June 2006. This interimblinded dat...

Clinical Trial Suggests Bone Marrow Stem Cells Are Useful for Spinal Cord Injury; PrimeCell Therapeutics Provided Pre-Clinical Study

SYDNEY, Australia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun 27, 2007 - PrimeCell(TM)Therapeutics LLC (http://www.primecelltherapeutics.com) todayannounced that it provided research support and pre-clinicalstudies for a clinical trial to assess the safety, feasibility andefficacy of implanting autologous bone marrow stem cells intospinal cord injury (SCI) patients. Dr. Luis Geffner presented a preliminary rep...

Genetics Journal Thimerosal/Autism Study the 'Best Science Drug Company Money Can Buy'

Critique of Industry-Funded Immune Globulin Study Uncovers SampleManipulation, Design Flaws NIXA, Mo., June 26, 2007 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- An analysisreleased today critically examined a recent industry-sponsoredstudy ruling out a link between autism and Rh immune globulin(RhIg) injections, some of which contained the mercury-basedpreservative thimerosal. Besides extensive design fla...

Resveratrol Studies Suggest Broad Implications for SIRT1 Activation in Neurodegenerative Diseases of Aging Such as Alzheimer's Disease

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun 26, 2007 - SirtrisPharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: SIRT), a biopharmaceutical companyfocused on discovering and developing small molecule drugs to treatdiseases of aging, announced today that activation of SIRT1, amember of the sirtuin family of enzymes, was shown to protectagainst neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's Disease andAmyotrophic Lat...

An Investigational Study Released at ADA Showed that Initial Combination Therapy with Januvia (sitagliptin) and Metformin Led to Improvement in Markers of Beta Cell Function in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun 25, 2007 - New data from aninvestigational study released at the American Diabetes Association(ADA) 67th Annual Scientific Sessions showed that initialcombination therapy with Januvia(TM) (sitagliptin) and metformindemonstrated significant improvement in markers of beta cellfunction in patients with type 2 diabetes. Pancreatic islet betacell function determines...

MediQuest Concludes Confirmatory Phase III Study of Raynaud’s Therapy

BOTHELL, WA – June 25 – MediQuest Therapeutics,Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on developingtherapies for inflammatory and infectious diseases, today announcedthe completion of its confirmatory phase III study of Vascana– a topical formulation designed to treat Raynaud’sDisease. The study met its primary end point and demonstrated statistica...

Largest National U.S. Healthcare Facility MRSA Study Reveals Infection Rates Eight Times Greater Than Previous Estimates

'Superbug' Prevalence Data from 1,237 Facilities DemonstratesPublic Health Threat; Colonization and Infections Span All States,Across Healthcare Facility Units SAN JOSE, Calif., June 25, 2007 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- TheAssociation for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology(APIC) today released initial results from a nationwide study of1,237 U.S. healthcare facilities, exam...

New Poll Shows Men, Women Incorrectly Blame Symptoms of Low Testosterone on Normal Aging

Women Report Partner's Symptoms Negatively Affect Relationship BOCA RATON, Fla., June 25, 2007 /PRNewswire/ -- Results of a newnationwide survey show that more than half of women whose malepartners have symptoms of a medical condition known as lowtestosterone incorrectly attribute them to the normal course ofaging. The survey also found that, while women believe their malepartner's sympto...

Late Breaking Data Released at ADA Showed that the Investigational Use of Januvia and Metformin as Initial Combination Therapy Provided Significant Glucose Lowering Efficacy over 54 Weeks in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun 23, 2007 - Late breaking datapresented at the American Diabetes Association (ADA) 67th AnnualScientific Sessions showed that, when used investigationally asinitial therapy, JANUVIA(TM) (sitagliptin) in combination withmetformin provided significant glycemic improvement and wasgenerally well tolerated over 54 weeks in patients with type 2diabetes. Additional new...

DiObex Presents Phase 2a Data of DIO-902 Demonstrating Trends of Improved Glycemic Control and Significant Reductions of LDL-Cholesterol and C-Reactive Protein

Top Line Data for the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Presented at the67th Annual Scientific Sessions of American Diabetes Association SAN FRANCISCO, June 25, 2007 /PRNewswire/ -- DiObex, Inc., aprivately-held biopharmaceutical company focused on the developmentof therapeutics to treat metabolic diseases, today announced thepresentation of top line data of its phase 2a study of DIO-902, afir...

Advanced Cell Technology Develops First Human Embryonic Stem Cell Line without Destroying an Embryo

ALAMEDA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun 21, 2007 - Advanced CellTechnology, Inc. (OTCBB: ACTC) has successfully produced a humanembryonic stem cell (hESC) line without destroying an embryo at itslab in Worcester, Massachusetts. This development was announced byRobert Lanza, M.D., V.P. of Research and Scientific Development ofAdvanced Cell Technology (ACT) on Tuesday at the fifth annualmeeting...

MEDIA ADVISORY: Subsets of Landmark Diabetes Trials Investigating MacroVascular Outcomes Presented at the American Diabetes Association 67th Scientific Sessions

Data from the PROactive and CHICAGO studies of ACTOS(R)(pioglitazone HCl) will be presented in poster format at the 67thScientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association inChicago: -- Hospitalizations for serious adverse events in high-risk type 2 diabetes patients treated with pioglitazone for 3...

New Analysis of WHI Data Shows Reduced Levels of Coronary Artery Calcification, a Predictor of Cardiovascular Events, in Women aged 50-59 taking Estrogen Therapy

LINCOLNSHIRE, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun 21, 2007 - BioSantePharmaceuticals, Inc. (AMEX:BPA) today provided comment on theWomen's Health Initiative (WHI) Coronary Artery Calcium Studypublished yesterday in The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM).The study found that younger menopausal women (aged 50-59) whoreceived a standard dose of estrogen therapy had significantly lesscoronary artery...

Second Successful Quigley QR-443 Study Suggests Method of Action Relevant to Broad Range of Chronic Inflammatory Diseases - Human Study to Follow -

DOYLESTOWN, Pa., June 20, 2007 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- QuigleyPharma, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.quigleypharma.com/">www.QuigleyPharma.com , a whollyowned subsidiary of The Quigley Corporation announced today that ithas completed a follow-up study to evaluate the impact of QR-443 onlevels of a pro-inflammatory cytokine Interleukin-6 (IL-6) in acachexia model. This new data...

Genzyme Announces Results of Clinical Trials Investigating Powder Form of Sevelamer Carbonate

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., June 18, 2007 - Genzyme Corp. (Nasdaq: GENZ)today announced the results of two new studies comparing a powderform of Renvela™ (sevelamer carbonate) to Renagel®tablets (sevelamer hydrochloride), including one trial in whichpatients received the powder form three times per day, and one inwhich it was administered once per day. Genzyme is developing Renvela...

Genzyme Announces Results of Clinical Trials Investigating Powder Form of Sevelamer Carbonate

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., June 18, 2007 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --Genzyme Corp. today announced the results of two new studiescomparing a powder form of Renvela (sevelamer carbonate) to Renageltablets (sevelamer hydrochloride), including one trial in whichpatients received the powder form three times per day, and one inwhich it was administered once per day. Genzyme is developing Renvela in...