Monthly Archives: July 2012

Stem cell therapy 'turns back clock'

Posted: Published on July 7th, 2012

MANILA, Philippines Stem cell therapy, aside from being a potential cure for a wide range of illnesses, can also make a patient look and feel younger, a stem cell therapist said. Dr. Ricardo Quiones, a cosmetic surgeon and dermatologist, has trained to conduct stem cell therapy, which he describes as the future of medicine. Quiones said stem cell therapy has become popular for its ability to regenerate and heal properties of adult stem cells. As we grow old, our stem cells dramatically decline. When we were children, we had 80 million stem cells. As we reach the age of 40, our stem cells decline to 35 million, he told Mornings@ANC on Friday. Quiones explained that the procedure is similar to turning back the clock because it can increase a persons stem cells to 100 million. Ive done two patients from Zamboanga City. I called them up after the procedure and they told me they look younger. They have the stamina, the vigor and they have felt an increase in short-term memory, powers of attention and concentration, he said. Quiones also said the procedure has the potential to cure diabetes, heart damage, brain damage such as Parkinsons and Alzheimers, osteoarthritis, stroke, … Continue reading →

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Actos Bladder Cancer Side Effects Detailed in Canadian Study

Posted: Published on July 7th, 2012

Posted by Shezad Malik MD JDJuly 06, 2012 11:34 PM As an Actos Bladder Cancer attorney I have written extensively of the alleged injuries of bladder cancer with the use of the newer diabetic drug, Actos. A recent Canadian mega study has linked the dangerous life threatening side effects of Actos to an increased risk of bladder cancer. According to medical researchers there is an association between the Actos and bladder cancer. This research was published in this month issue of the Canadian Medical Journal. Thiazolidinediones, especially Actos (pioglitazone), may increase the risk of bladder cancer. The researchers conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the risk of bladder cancer among adults with type 2 diabetes taking thiazolidinediones.The study found that there is a 22% increased risk of bladder cancer among patients with type 2 diabetes using Actos or another drug belonging to the same class of medications, known as thiazolidinediones. Other Studies Confirming Link between Actos and Bladder Cancer In April, Health Canada modified the warning label on Actos to include the possible increased risk of bladder cancer with continual exposure. Late last month, a Canadian study published in the British Medical Journal found a two-fold increased risk … Continue reading →

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Best Pharmacy Summer Institute

Posted: Published on July 7th, 2012

Posted on: 7:11 pm, July 5, 2012, by Patrick Clark, updated on: 05:13pm, July 5, 2012 MIDTOWN, ST. LOUIS, MO. (KPLR) Alice Opoku is trying to put her best foot forward. Well I just wanted an intro to the medical field, says Rockwood Summit Sophomore Alice Opoku. Itll look good on my college applications. And then I will have the introduction and Ill do better at school with the courses Im taking here. She`s enrolled in the best pharmacy summer institute. The B is for Barnes Jewish Hospital, E for Express Scripts, and the ST for the St. Louis College of Pharmacy. All three combined are making a great prescription for success with these high school students. Over 90% are pursuing health professions as a career option whether it be pharmacy, nursing, pre-med, or dentistry, says Steven Player, PharmD with Barnes Jewish Hospital. So the program is showing tremendous success and impact on our students. The six week summer institute is a training ground for multicultural teenagers from the region. These 50 students are immersed in classes, training and preparing academically and professionally for future careers in healthcare. We deal with text books from Monday through Wednesday, says Mauricio Pimenteo … Continue reading →

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Local pharmacy director honored

Posted: Published on July 7th, 2012

Gayle Mayer, director of Pharmacy Services at Spencer Hospital (second from left), was recently named Iowa's Health System Pharmacist of the Year. Also pictured: Carl Chalstrom, IPA president; Nancy Bell, Pfizer U.S.; and Kate Gainer, IPA CEO. (Photo submitted) The Iowa Pharmacy Association (IPA) announced the 2012 recipient of the Health-System Pharmacist of the Year Award is Gayle Mayer, RPh, director of Pharmacy Services at Spencer Hospital. The award was presented at the Association's 2012 Annual Meeting Banquet on June 23 in West Des Moines. "Gayle has been an innovative leader in the pharmacy profession for many years," Bill Bumgarner, Spencer Hospital president, said. "We value the expertise she has brought to Spencer Hospital as well as the many contributions Gayle and the pharmacy department team have made to ensure optimal care and service for our patients." Mayer, of Spirit Lake, has been a leader in the profession as demonstrated through her professional association roles -- currently serving on the IPA Board of Trustees and Health-system Liaison Board. Her leadership extends beyond these roles as she has implemented a number of innovative projects at Spencer Hospital. The most recent innovation is the first Tech-Check-Tech project in Iowa that has been … Continue reading →

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Stem cell therapy 'turns back clock'

Posted: Published on July 7th, 2012

MANILA, Philippines Stem cell therapy, aside from being a potential cure for a wide range of illnesses, can also make a patient look and feel younger, a stem cell therapist said. Dr. Ricardo Quiones, a cosmetic surgeon and dermatologist, has trained to conduct stem cell therapy, which he describes as the future of medicine. Quiones said stem cell therapy has become popular for its ability to regenerate and heal properties of adult stem cells. As we grow old, our stem cells dramatically decline. When we were children, we had 80 million stem cells. As we reach the age of 40, our stem cells decline to 35 million, he told Mornings@ANC on Friday. Quiones explained that the procedure is similar to turning back the clock because it can increase a persons stem cells to 100 million. Ive done two patients from Zamboanga City. I called them up after the procedure and they told me they look younger. They have the stamina, the vigor and they have felt an increase in short-term memory, powers of attention and concentration, he said. Quiones also said the procedure has the potential to cure diabetes, heart damage, brain damage such as Parkinsons and Alzheimers, osteoarthritis, stroke, … Continue reading →

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Zebrafish reveal promising process for healing spinal cord injury

Posted: Published on July 7th, 2012

ScienceDaily (July 6, 2012) Yona Goldshmit, Ph.D., is a former physical therapist who worked in rehabilitation centers with spinal cord injury patients for many years before deciding to switch her focus to the underlying science. "After a few years in the clinic, I realized that we don't really know what's going on," she said. Now a scientist working with Peter Currie, Ph.D., at Monash University in Australia, Dr. Goldshmit is studying the mechanisms of spinal cord repair in zebrafish, which, unlike humans and other mammals, can regenerate their spinal cord following injury. On June 23 at the 2012 International Zebrafish Development and Genetics Conference in Madison, Wisconsin, she described a protein that may be a key difference between regeneration in fish and mammals. One of the major barriers to spinal regeneration in mammals is a natural protective mechanism, which incongruously results in an unfortunate side effect. After a spinal injury, nervous system cells called glia are activated and flood the area to seal the wound to protect the brain and spinal cord. In doing so, however, the glia create scar tissue that acts as a physical and chemical barrier, which prevents new nerves from growing through the injury site. One … Continue reading →

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Sequenom Addresses Preliminary Injunction Decision, Reaffirms Defense of Patent

Posted: Published on July 7th, 2012

SAN DIEGO, July 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Sequenom, Inc. (SQNM), a life sciences company providing innovative genetic analysis solutions, today confirmed that the United States District Court for the Northern District of California has denied a motion by Sequenom for a preliminary injunction against Ariosa Diagnostics. "While obviously a disappointing preliminary outcome in our efforts to enforce an issued US patent against infringement, yesterday's decision is by no means a final ruling on the infringement or the validity of the '540 patent, but is one step in a long process to enforce our patent and protect our proprietary rights in the non-invasive prenatal testing marketplace," said Harry F. Hixson, Jr., Ph.D., Chairman and CEO, Sequenom, Inc. Earlier this year, Sequenom filed the motion against Ariosa (formerly Aria) Diagnostics to stop the company from making, using, selling or offering for sale, importing or exporting, infringing tests for detecting fetal chromosomal aneuploidy, such as Ariosa's Harmony Prenatal Test, pending the ultimate resolution of the litigation. Sequenom's request for preliminary injunctive relief followed its counterclaims filed in the lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, which allege that Ariosa is infringing U.S. Patent No. 6,258,540 ("'540 patent"). … Continue reading →

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Pros and cons of genetic testing

Posted: Published on July 7th, 2012

Women's Health Health Home>>Women's Health>>Health news Written by: Dr. W. Gifford-Jones, QMI Agency Jul. 7, 2012 Its been said that all would be well if there were no buts. Unfortunately, in genetics there are many "buts" and unwary traps for unsuspecting medical consumers. So if you have the choice to receive genetic testing, be sure you know these pros and cons. Theres no doubt that genetic testing is a huge benefit under certain conditions. For instance, when this subject is discussed, most people think positively about genetic screening to diagnose a child destined to be born with Downs syndrome. It would also be madness to bury your head in the sand when there is a genetic family history of colon cancer. By being aware that a faulty gene is present, regular colonoscopies can save lives by detecting polyps long before they become malignant. So, on the surface, it appears that finding these problems is a good thing. Its like the Holiday Inn TV ad that promises no surprises. But what about the "buts"? A report in the Canadian Medical Association Journal points out the other side of the coin. Dr. James Evans, professor of genetics at the University of North … Continue reading →

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Breakthrough Malaria Drug Approved in India Invented by Unversity of Nebraska Medical Center Researcher

Posted: Published on July 6th, 2012

Represents major milestone in malaria drug development University of Nebraska Medical Center researcher led development of new malaria drug; will save lives worldwide Newswise A powerful new drug to treat malaria the invention of a University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy researcher -- will help take the bite out of malaria. In the United States, a mosquito bite seems harmless, but in developing countries it means more than 655,000 deaths a year mostly in children. The new drug, SynriamTM, is considered a breakthrough, as traditional drugs are proving increasingly ineffective against the deadly malarial parasite because of acquired resistance to available drugs. Taken as a tablet once a day for three days, its more effective, cheaper, has fewer side effects and does not have to be taken with food. From 2000 to 2010, Jonathan Vennerstrom, Ph.D., a professor at the UNMC College of Pharmacy, led an international team that created the drug compound that led to the development of SynriamTM. Developed by Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals Limited, the medication now is approved for treatment in adults in India. The company also is working to create a childrens formula and make the drug available in Africa, Asia and South America. Dr. … Continue reading →

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Breakthrough malaria drug approved in India will take bite out of malaria, experts say

Posted: Published on July 6th, 2012

ScienceDaily (July 6, 2012) A powerful new drug to treat malaria -- the invention of a University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy researcher -- will help take the bite out of malaria. In the United States, a mosquito bite seems harmless, but in developing countries it means more than 655,000 deaths a year -- mostly in children. The new drug, SynriamTM, is considered a breakthrough, as traditional drugs are proving increasingly ineffective against the deadly malarial parasite because of acquired resistance to available drugs. Taken as a tablet once a day for three days, it's more effective, cheaper, has fewer side effects and does not have to be taken with food. From 2000 to 2010, Jonathan Vennerstrom, Ph.D., a professor at the UNMC College of Pharmacy, led an international team that created the drug compound that led to the development of SynriamTM. Developed by Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals Limited, the medication now is approved for treatment in adults in India. The company also is working to create a children's formula and make the drug available in Africa, Asia and South America. Dr. Vennerstrom and his team received more than $12 million in grants from Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV), a … Continue reading →

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