Law and Health Weekly

Medical Malpractice - Medical society launches medical malpractice campaign

Medical Malpractice - Oklahoma volunteer doctors protected from lawsuits

Medical Services International Inc. - VScan HIV test kit manufacturer opens office in Shanghai

Medical University of Lodz - Antigen-specific DNA vaccination prevents autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Mental Health - Kentucky lags in number of small homes for mentally retarded

Mental Health - Lawmaker endorses using reserve for Vegas mental health clinic

Mental Health - New Hampshire state cuts worry mental health providers

Merck Research Laboratories - Novel CCR5 antagonists have anti-HIV activity

Merck Research Laboratories, Rahway - SAR and pyrrolidineacetic acid derivatives are potent HIV CCR5 antagonists

Merge Technologies Incorporated - Healthcare software, services company announces financial results

Mergers and Acquisitions - Lasik America completes merger with Salus Holding

Meridian Co. Ltd. - Diagnostics equipment manufacturer announces digital pulse analyzer distributor

Metabasis Therapeutics, Inc. - New patent covers HepDirect liver targeting prodrug technology

Miami Research Associates - Simvastatin + ezetimibe lowered LDL better than simvastatin alone

Military University of Medical Sciences, Tehran - Colchicine not effective as treatment for Peyronie disease

Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. - Gene Logic launches business to identify new indications for drugs

Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation - Prevalence of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy studied in older Native Americans

Misconduct - Health Department seeks to revoke license of residential care home

MultiCell Technologies Inc. - Cell technology company appoints chief financial officer

Mylan Laboratories Inc. - Pharma company announces financial results, merger and approval of new product

Myocardial Infarction - Fatty plaque in healthy hearts poses risks

NMT Medical, Inc. - Medical device company announces financial results

Nagoya City University - Complement receptor-related gene tumor vaccine induces antitumor activity

National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Rome - Viral protein drives lymphocyte recruitment in hepatitis C transgenic mice

National Yang Ming University - Anti-tumor mechanisms of Mana-Hox characterized

Neurocrine, Biosciences - Biosciences company reports financial results

Neurologix, Inc. - Gene therapy company board and stockholders authorize reverse stock split

New York Eye and Ear Infirmary - Patients use new radiation-blocking glasses

Nord Bioscience AS - Chloride channel inhibitor prevents bone resorption in ovariectomized rats

Northwestern University - eNOS prevents TRAIL-induced apoptosis in prostate cancer cells, study shows

Novasys Medical, Inc. - Ascension Health Ventures funds developer of urinary incontinence treatment

NutriSystem, Inc. - Weight management product and services provider announces second quarter results

Nymox Pharmaceutical Corporation - New data on investigational new drug for benign prostatic hyperplasia released

Nymox Pharmaceutical Corporation - Use of statin drugs for Alzheimer treatment gaining wide attention

Obstetrics - Maternal T3 and T4 levels in early pregnancy affect fetal brain development

Obstetrics - Small delay in delivery improves risk of disability for very premature babies

Ohio State University - Discontinuation of risperidone reverses weight gain

Ohio State University - Scientists find protein essential for bacterial survival

Omnicell, Inc. - Patient safety solution provider files shelf registration, applauds government initiative

Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland - Prolonged rituximab regimen superior to standard treatment

Onconova Therapeutics, Inc. - Investigational antitumor agent clinical trial started

Oregon Health Sciences University -  Listeria monocytogenes is effective vaccine vector

Osaka University - NK4 suppresses liver metastasis in murine colon cancer models

Osteotech, Inc. - Implant company reports second quarter results, revises guidance for the year

POZEN Inc. - Pharma company releases second quarter 2004 results

Paladin Labs Inc. - Canadian specialty pharmaceutical company reports financial results

Pennsylvania State University - Viral vectors for inducing CD8+ T cell responses reviewed

Peplin Biotech Ltd. - PEP005 shows highly selective activity against acute myelogenous leukemia

Personnel - Apria Healthcare announces promotion of current COO to president

Personnel - Independence Blue Cross announces promotions and new hire

Personnel - Transition team announced for four AHMC Inc. hospitals

Pfizer - Status of pharma company's Florida healthcare management initiative updated

Pharma Futures, Inc. - El Paso County Medical Society drug discount cards distribution announced

Pharmos Corporation - Drug development company reports 2004 second quarter results

PhotoMedex, Inc. - Contract medical procedures provider appoints David W. Anderson to board

Pilot Therapeutics Holdings, Inc. - Specialty pharmaceutical company announces additions to board of directors

Plantacor, Inc. - M. D. Anderson Cancer Center licensed rights to preclinical cancer therapeutics

Preeclampsia - Cytotoxic edema may evolve differently from pattern seen in cerebral infarction

Premier Purchasing Partners, LLP - Elekta wins major oncology contract with GPO

Premier, Inc. - Healthcare purchasing organization signs agreements for imaging technology

Presbyterian Hospital, New York City - MRI better than X-Ray for some traumatic hip fractures

Proctor & Gamble - P&G fourth-quarter earnings up 44%

ReGen Biologics, Inc. - Orthopedic products company announces collagen meniscus implant application

Robert Wood Johnson Medical School - Functional interaction models explain hepatitis C virus helicase kinetics

Roche - Agreement inked to sell Soriatane to select international markets

Rockefeller University - Pseudotyped hepatitis C virus glycoproteins are difficult to characterize

Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville - Bioinformatic tool facilitates microarray data analysis

SENSEI Health - Women still not getting adequate calcium but education on bone loss has impact

STERIS Corporation - New share repurchase authorized by health science technologies board

SUNY-Stony Brook - Novel taxoid mimics activity against breast cancer cells

Sanofi-Synthelabo - FTC clears company's offer for Aventis shares

Santa Clara County Medical Association - California county medical association selects HIPAA-compliant backup system

Schering-Plough Corporation - Lisa W. DeBerardine named vice president of strategic planning at drug company

Schering-Plough Corporation - Rodney W. Unsworth appointed group VP for Far East region by drug company

Schering-Plough Pharmaceuticals - FDA approves VYTORIN for LDL cholesterol reduction

Schizophrenia - More evidence links mom's flu during pregnancy with schizophrenia in child

Scott & White Memorial Hospital - TGF-beta expression may not have prognostic significance in pancreatic cancer

Select Medical Corporation - Record second quarter net income reported by cancer-focused genetics company

Seoul National University - Embryonic stem cells express a unique set of microRNAs

Shire Pharmaceuticals Group plc - Strong second quarter for pharmaceutical company, 2004 to be very good year

Showa University - Short-term hepatitis C virus infections reveal novel epitopes

Sichuan University - IL-6 gene and CpG motifs regulate immune responses to trivalent vaccines

Siemens Medical Solutions - First 1.5 Tesla open bore MRI introduced by medical technologies company

Siemens Medical Solutions - Oncology support system introduced at medical physicists meeting

Sigma-Aldrich - Science technology companies announce Pd EnCat distribution agreement

Sirna Therapeutics, Inc. - Companies enter expanded agreement to develop, manufacture aptamers

Social Issues - Zimbabwe: Action against gender inequality needed to defeat AIDS

SonoSite, Inc. - Ultrasound producer and Nippon Sherwod sign Japan distribution agreement

Sontra Medical Corporation - Drug delivery company demands halt of trading from Berlin-Bremen Stock Exchange

SourceOne Healthcare Technologies, Inc. - Medical imaging company signs distribution agreement with software developer

Southampton General Hospital - Mcl-1 gene knockdown stimulates lymphoma cell apoptosis

Spring Industries - Home furnishings company gives supplies to camp for chronically ill children

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital - 3-D irradiation of brain cancer in children can spare cognitive functions

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital - Outcome for acute lymphoblastic leukemia linked to gene expression patterns

St. Jude Medical, Inc. - Medical device maker announces IDE approval, first implant of heart-pacing lead

St. Justine Hospital, Montreal - Membrane type 1-matrix metalloproteinase links hemostasis to angiogenesis

Stanford University - Clinical targets show promise for minimizing effects of stress hormones

Stanford University - Metabolic syndrome differentiated from insulin resistance syndrome

Stanford University - Monoclonal antibody to hepatitis C glycoprotein blocks viral infectivity

State University of Ghent - Tube model facilitates assessment of central venous catheter performance

State University of Ghent Hospital - Conversion model facilitates prediction of arterial cannula outcome

Stone Bond Technologies - Process automation system supports Bio-IT World award for Baylor Medicine

Sunesis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. - Collaboration sets to discover oral drugs for treatment of viral infections

Surgical Information Systems - Systems company ranked 82 of 100 on IT list based on revenue

Syneron Medical, Ltd. - CEO of sued company responds to Thermage patent infringement lawsuit

Synta Pharmaceuticals Corp. - Pharmaceuticals company named among top 15 biotech companies of 2004

Sysmex Corporation - Automated urinalysis workstation track released in the United States

Tara Hospital, Johannesburg - C-reactive protein is a marker in ischemia/reperfusion injury

Targeted Genetics - Genetics company reports second quarter 2004 financial results

Taro Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. - Pharmaceutical company reports second quarter and 6-month 2004 results

Technical University of Denmark - DNA microarrays useful for pediatric ALL classification

Texas Tech - St. John's wort constituent stimulates hippocampal acetylcholine release

The Advisory Board, Company - Research and analysis company reports first quarter results for fiscal 2004

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society - Society awards $9 million in grants for leukemia, lymphona, myeloma research

Third Wave Technologies Inc. - Molecular diagnostics company reports second quarter 2004 financial results

Titan Pharmaceuticals, Inc. - U.S. VA studies program initiates clinical study of congestive heart failure

Toronto General Hospital - Cyclosporine microemulsion and tacrolimus are comparable in graft recipients

Torrent Pharmaceuticals Ltd. - Torrent Licenses AGE Compound to Novartis

TransForm Pharmaceuticals - Drug companies collaborate to improve preclinical formulation screening

U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention - Endocarditis due to Oerskovia turbata evaluated

U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention - Kits to detect antigenically diverse noroviruses in stool evaluated

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - CDC makes advances in identifying and measuring chemical agents in humans

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - High rates of mental health symptoms reported in Afghanistan

U.S. Edward Hines Jr Vet. Administration Hospital - Sensitive RT-PCR detects influenza A virus and amantadine-resistant isolates

U.S. Food and Drug Administration - Daniel G. Schultz named director of Center for Devices and Radiological Health

U.S. National Cancer Institute - Suppressed Bcl-X-L blocks the tumorigenic potential of oncogenic enzyme

U.S. National Institutes of Health - Cdk1 (Cdc2)/cyclin A prevents Orc1 binding to chromatin during mitosis

U.S. National Institutes of Health - Depression traced to overactive brain circuit

U.S. National Institutes of Health - Irradiation of tumors promotes vaccine-mediated T-cell killing

U.S. National Institutes of Health - Novel cyanobacterial protein MVL inhibits HIV-1 envelope-mediated cell fusion

U.S. National Institutes of Health - Substance use and mood and anxiety disorders common in the U.S.

U.S. National Institutes of Health - Survey reports on the prevalence of personality disorders in the United States

U.S. National Institutes of Health - Two major human metapneumovirus lineages are highly related antigenically

U.S. National Institutes of Health - Vaccinia and variola viruses epitope protects against lethal vaccinia virus

U.S. Physical Therapy, Inc. - Physical therapy company reports strong second quarter, record quarter earnings

U.S. World Health Organization - p53 mutations common in HPV type 38-positive non-melanoma skin cancers

UNAM, Mexico City - Initiation of E6/E7 oncogene expression differs among HPV-16 variants

UNICEF, New York - Global burden of HIV/AIDS best estimated using plausible ranges

Univ. of California, Irvine - Early clinical treatment can halt progression of AD

Univ. of California, Irvine - Immune therapy "untangles" Alzheimer plaques

Univ. of California, Irvine - Treatment also reduces related cardiovascular ailments

Univ. of California, Los Angeles - Teens hospitalized for psych problems have more emotional distress as adults

Univ. of California, Riverside - The effects of dwarfism and caloric restriction on life span are additive

Univ. of California, San Francisco - Lipid-altering treatment benefits patients with metabolic syndrome

Univ. of Naples Federico II - Changing estrogen levels linked to obesity gene expression

Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison - Two-pronged attack targeting EGF receptor hinders cancer cell growth

Universal Health Services - Hospital group announces dividend, Robert A. Meister appointment to board

Universita degli Studi di Cagliari - C16 PUFAs are possible beta-oxidation products of linoleic acid

University Amedeo Avogadro of Piemonte Orientale - VEGF requires diacylglycerol kinase-alpha for angiogenic induction in vitro

University College London - New test gives hope for early diagnosis of esophageal cancer

University Hospital Basel - Hypoglycemia increases high-frequency heart rate variability

University Hospital Schleswig Holstein, Kiel - Real-time PCR quantifies intestinal bacterial populations

University Hospital, Munster - Genomic effects of environmental enrichment characterized

University of Alabama - Chimeric transformation expands the tropism of adenovirus type 5

University of Alberta - Gangliosides show promise as dietary treatment

University of Amsterdam - Aspirin-induced gene expression changes identified

University of Amsterdam - Mice given Fas ligand-expressing dendritic cells model pulmonary vasculitis

University of Bern - Transdermal nitroglycerin safe, effective for subarachnoid hemorrhage treatment

University of Bern - Vastus lateralis muscle advancement can bridge hip abductor discontinuity

University of Bologna - Study proposes guidelines for treating pulmonary arterial hypertension

University of California, Irvine - Portable microkeratome devised for corneal harvesting

University of California, San Diego - Pulmonary arterial hypertension symposium looks to the future

University of Cambridge - Higher viral load may explain HIV CRF02_AG dominance in Ghana

University of Chicago - Coronary artery aneurysms are independent predictors of mortality

University of Colorado - ACE inhibitor drugs underused in heart failure patients

University of Florida - Researchers discover racial disparities in cancer treatment and survival

University of Geneva - The novel cell line hTERT-HDLEC sheds new light on lymphatic endothelial cells

University of Glasgow - Benefits of Atkins diet questioned

University of Hamburg - Atypical neuroleptic agents can cause diabetes

University of Hawaii-Manoa - Xanthohumol inhibits cellular apolipoprotein B secretion

University of Hong Kong - Lamivudine-resistant hepatitis B virus thrives in kidney graft recipients

University of Kentucky - Duplex "gemini" prodrug improves transdermal naltrexone delivery

University of Konstanz, Constance - ELISA for IgG against C. pneumoniae similar to microimmunofluorescence

University of Lausanne - Complexin I regulates glucose-induced secretion in pancreatic cells

University of Lausanne - Painted lymphocytes are driven to vascularized solid tumors

University of London Imperial College - Ghrelin increases energy intake in cancer patients with impaired appetite

University of Manchester - Mucosal mast cell precursors exit bone marrow after infection

University of Massachusetts - Groups search for a lean gene

University of Melbourne - HRT reduces non-vertebral fracture risk by 50%, boosts BMD in Australian study

University of Miami - Perceived stress mediates coping effects of HIV-infected women on HAART

University of Michigan - 9/11 boosted U.S. need for spiritual support, faith

University of Minho, Portugal - Eye surgery sharpens up

University of Naples Federico II - Basophils infiltrate human gastric mucosa at sites of H. pylori infection

University of Nebraska - Myocardial velocity gradient useful in assessing papillary muscle function

University of Nijmegen - Cellular growth characteristics not affected by Adenylate kinase I

University of North Carolina - HIV/AIDS knowledge does not translate into perceived risk

University of North Carolina - Modular re-revision for recurrent dislocation ineffective

University of North Carolina - Vascular endothelial growth factor is key to vascular patterning

University of North Carolina at Wilmington - Mental illness and sociological factors impact antiretroviral adherence

University of Nottingham - Common drugs are ineffective after 2 weeks

University of Otago - Epicatechin gallate improves the quality of healing wounds in rats

University of Pennsylvania - Leptin signaling reviewed

University of Pennsylvania - Researchers pinpoint identity of early-stage T cells circulating in blood

University of Pittsburgh - HIV survivors vulnerable to dementia?

University of Pittsburgh - Selective expression of K+ channel subunit genes involved in cancer cell growth

University of Sacred Heart, Rome - Hospital-acquired candidemia still a severe complication in advanced AIDS

University of Salamanca - Amlodipine decreases fibrosis and cardiac hypertrophy in rats

University of Saskatchewan - Vaccine containing CpG ODN induces strong immune response to hepatitis C

University of South Florida - Diffuse T-wave inversions can occur with electroconvulsive therapy

University of Southern California - HNF1, HNF4, and the viral X protein regulate hepatitis B virus promoters

University of Sydney - Seven-year follow-up: Alendronate helps prevent bone loss in early postmenopause

University of Texas - IMRT effective in patients with metallic dental work

University of Tokyo - White blood cell count may be related to carotid arteriosclerosis in Japanese smokers

University of Torino - Insulin modulates MCF-7 cell response to paclitaxel

University of Ulster - Exposure to tolbutamide and glibenclamide impairs insulin secretion

University of Umea Hospital - There may still be a place for LDL apheresis

University of Utrecht - Decreased neutrophil skin infiltration reported after UVB exposure

University of Wales College of Medicine - Interleukin-1beta is a potent regulator of tumor angiogenesis

University of Warwick - New research calls for schools to be more aware of head injuries

University of Warwick - Wartime Spitfire strain test monitors stress on key heart artery aneurysm

University of Washington - Tomatine adjuvant exerts apoptotic and necrotic effects

University of Western Australia - Genetic link found between sleep apnea and obesity in African-Americans

University of Western Ontario - Utility of prophylactic antibiotic bone cement reviewed

University of Wurzburg - Gene polymorphism associated with panic disorder with agoraphobia

VA Medical Center, Nashville - Interferon-inducible protein-10 needs CXCR3 for angiostatic activity

VEERU, Reading - Foot-and-mouth disease risk associated with proximity to infected premises

VIASYS Healthcare Inc. - Medical technology company announces restructuring plans, reports results

Van Andel Research Institute - Classification model derived from gene expression data

Vanderbilt University - Multiple techniques allow early detection of disease in patients at risk of PAH

Vanderbilt University - Primary T cell HIV infection determined by tunable T cell activation thresholds

Varian Medical Systems, Inc. - Medical physicists present on image-guided radiation therapy

Ventracor Limited - Body appointed for CE marking of artificial heart in Europe

Verispan - Pharmaceuticals report fluctuations in managed, long-term care sales forces

Verity, Inc. - Software, IT companies join to bring systems to healthcare, life science markets

Vertis - Study: Consumers frequently rely on private doctors for their eyewear needs

Veterans Health - Veterans Administration plans clinic in Peru, Indiana

Vical Incorporated - DNA-focused company gets payment for cardiovascular gene delivery applications

Violence - South Africa: Campaign launched to boost awareness on sexual offenses law

Virginia Commonwealth University - Chronic ethanol consumption transiently reduces neural stem cell proliferation

Wake Forest Institute Regeneration Medicine - Therapeutic cloning potentially limitless source of cells for tissue engineering

Wake Forest University - Rosuvastatin reverses impaired coronary artery vasodilation

Washington University - New technique helps scientists reveal interactions between genes and drugs

Washington University - Peptide vaccination augments antitumor response, but efficacy is limited

West Nile Virus - Another human West Nile case is confirmed

West Nile Virus - Health department reports first probable human case of West Nile Virus

West Nile Virus - Three new cases of West Nile pop up in New Mexico

Whitehead Institute - Malignant cancer cells generate mice through cloning

Winship Cancer Center - Synthetic polypeptide against CXCR4 inhibits breast cancer metastasis

Women's Health - JHPIEGO receives $75M for program for mothers, newborns in developing nations

Yonsei University - Genes affected by endocrine disruption vary with age

pSivida Limited - New Australian patent granted for BioSiliconTM tablets