| Breakthrough on psoriasis cause |
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Scientists say they have made a significant step forward in understanding the causes of the skin condition psoriasis.
A team from Leicester University have uncovered detailed genetic differences in people who have the condition.
They believe their work could lead to new, more effectively targeted drugs.
Psoriasis, which occurs when the skin replaces itself too quickly, affects more than one million people in the UK. There are many different forms.
It usually appears as red, scaly patches that when scraped or scratched reveal fine silvery scales.
The patches may itch and feel uncomfortable. Some people develop a specific form of arthritis related to psoriasis.
Lead researcher Professor Richard Trembath said: In individuals that are genetically predisposed to become affected, the disease can be triggered by a number of environmental agents, such as bacterial infections or stress.
We have long been engaged in the search for genes that make people vulnerable to the action of psoriasis-triggering factors.
Our past studies have demonstrated that a small region of what is known as Chromosome 6 contained at least one of such psoriasis susceptibility genes.
A closer examination of this genetic interval identified a gene called CDSN, responsible for the adhesion and shedding of skin cells.
We have now identified a CDSN DNA variant, which is significantly more frequent among psoriatic patients, compared to unaffected individuals.
This variant may confer susceptibility to psoriasis by causing an accumulation of CDSN protein, which in turn could contribute to the inflammatory response observed in the skin of patients.
This discovery represents a significant step towards the understanding of the molecular causes of psoriasis and the design of targeted therapeutic approaches.
Potentially significant
David Chandler, of the Psoriatic Arthropathy Alliance, said the research could be significant.
He said: It is important to identify the cause of psoriasis, as many people with psoriasis still feel that it is something they have done wrong as opposed to just unlucky genes.
Mr Chandler said more targeted therapies would be a big step forward, as doctors often still had no idea of which patients would respond to treatment, and which would not.
Not only was this frustrating for patients, it also meant the NHS wasted money.
As someone with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis I would be very keen to know what triggers my disease and if these triggers could be identified.
Many treatments are toxic or have side effects and if I knew they would work then maybe I would willing to put-up with side-effects.
Gladys Edwards, chief executive of the Psoriasis Association, said: Psoriasis is a complex condition and for some people it may have a profound effect on daily life.
The Psoriasis Association welcomes all advances which increase the knowledge and understanding of the fundamental causes of psoriasis.
This in turn will hopefully lead to the development of improved treatments which are effective, safe and acceptable in the long term.
A recent survey of more than 5,000 European people found people with psoriasis are often treated as social outcasts.
Half of those questioned said they would not kiss, swim with or eat food prepared by someone with psoriasis.
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| Ozone ’link’ to premature deaths - Nov 17, 2004 15:36 IST |
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Peaks in air ozone levels were linked with peaks in premature death rates in urban areas across the US, researchers at Yale University found.
Ozone pollution, from vehicles and power stations, has been linked before to increased hospital admissions and lung diseases such as asthma.
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| Health Care Provider Finds Solution For Their Business Phone - Nov 17, 2004 15:36 IST |
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Curative Health Services, Inc. (NasdaqNM:CURE) a company that delivers high-quality care and clinical results for patients with serious or chronic medical conditions through specialty infusion and wound care management, jumped from 17 to 38 office locations and from 340 to over 1000 employees when they acquired Critical Care Systems in 2004. This acquisition included a network of local pharmacy branches that provide products, related clinical services and disease management support to patients with chronic or severe conditions. One of the challenges of this rapid growth was the number of disparate business phone systems that resulted from these acquisitions.
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| Complex drug names ’pose risk’ - Nov 17, 2004 15:35 IST |
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Eye movement experts say complex words and designs on prescription drugs can lead both pharmacists and customers to make mistakes.
The Applied Vision Research Institute, based at the University of Derby, said a quarter of all medication errors were caused by confusing labels.
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| Minister backs contraceptive jabs - Nov 17, 2004 15:33 IST |
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Mrs Hodge said many schoolgirls have children at an early age because they lack self-esteem.
She is urging young mothers to lecture their peers in schools in a bid to cut the number of unwanted pregancies.
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| Basic Diet and Weight Management Practices - Nov 17, 2004 14:32 IST |
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The perfect diet should be combined with a healthy weight management or activity program.
Weight management may conjure up that dreaded “exercise” word. And exercise to some means pushing the body beyond limits, experiencing painful in joints, muscles, bones – everywhere. No pain no gain, right? Wrong.
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| First Gourmet Coffee for the Health Conscious on the Market - Nov 17, 2004 14:4 IST |
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The Ultimate Coffee has begun to market the first health conscious coffee in the world: a low acid, natural, and healthy gourmet coffee developed by the internationally-renowned and European-trained coffee expert, Johann Wulff.
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| Local Woman-Owned Business Brings Breast Cancer Awareness to Women Across the Country & the Globe - Nov 17, 2004 13:48 IST |
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Mariangie González, from Mind, Body and Paw, is temporarily putting business on hold to participate in an online event designed to bring awareness of breast cancer to work at home moms all across the country and the globe.
This month-long event is taking place on InternetBasedMoms.com, a community of work at home moms who network and share resources to build their online businesses. In October 2004, this community is banding together to bring awareness of breast cancer and raise funds for breast cancer charities.
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| DOR to Present Live Webcast at New York Society of Security Analysts’ 8th Annual Heathcare Conference - Nov 17, 2004 13:40 IST |
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DOR BioPharma, Inc. (AMEX:DOR) (DOR or the Company), announced today that Gregory J. Davenport, Ph.D., President of DOR’s BioDefense Division, will be presenting at the New York Society of Security Analysts, 8th Annual Healthcare Industry Conference in New York City. Dr. Davenport will be presenting during a special afternoon session focused on the biodefense sector.
Dr. Davenport will be providing an overview of the DOR’s biodefense programs, including an update on the status and anticipated upcoming events relating to DOR’s ricin and botulinum toxin vaccines. Dr. Davenport’s presentation will occur on Wednesday, November 17, 2004, at 3:10pm ET at the Harvard Club, 27 West 44th St, New York, NY 10036.
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| HSA Resources Bank Launches Health Savings Accounts - Nov 17, 2004 13:37 IST |
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HSA Resources in association with Stearns Bank N.A. announces the launch of H S A Resources Bank with a user friendly and simplified Health Savings Account (HSA) solution today.
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| New Natural Health Discovery Protects From Seven Deadly Diseases - Nov 17, 2004 13:25 IST |
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MonaVie and Acai Berry found to have unprecedented health benefits. If you pay any attention to the latest in health news, you’ve probably heard of free radicals and what they can do to your body. Basically, free radicals cause oxidation of your body’s cells, similar to what happens when metal gets rusty or fruit turns brown as it sits in the open air.
This free radical damage contributes to what many call the seven deadly diseases: heart disease, diabetes, cancer, stroke, arthritis, alzheimer’s, and osteoporosis.
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| President Bush’s Premier Health Plan Explained - Nov 17, 2004 13:19 IST |
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President Bush Endorsed, Promoted, and Encouraged people to have Health Savings Accounts. Health Savings Accounts with qualified medical coverage. Its really very simple to understand and quite affordable. http://www.HSAFL.com
Health Coverage: Approved insurance company offers a qualified medical high deductible health plan. For individuals the deductibles are $1000, $1700, or 2600.
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| Dade Behring and Premier Sign Agreement for Microbiology Instruments, Reagents - Nov 17, 2004 13:10 IST |
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Dade Behring (NASDAQ:DADE) and Premier announced that they have signed a multi-year agreement in which Premier, one of the largest group purchasing organizations in the United States, has agreed to a three-year contract for Dade Behring’s MicroScan(R) microbiology instruments and reagents. This agreement is in addition to the announcement earlier this year of an agreement between Premier and Dade Behring for Dimension chemistry systems, StreamLab automation systems, Stratus(R) CS, Syva(R) Emit tests and hemostasis tests. Dade Behring is a worldwide leader in the field of diagnostics.
The extension of our microbiology business with Premier reflects the very positive partnership we have developed together through the years, said Jim Reid Anderson, Chairman, President and CEO, Dade Behring. It also ensures that Premier’s members--and their patients--have our commitment to provide them with the best clinical diagnostics to improve the quality of health care.
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| Light Up My life - Nov 17, 2004 13:9 IST |
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With the clocks going back, millions of British workers will be heading home this evening in the dark. Depressing? Yes, but there could be a good reason for why we get the winter blues. When Jenny Simmonds had her first bout of SAD 20 years ago, the doctors said it was postnatal depression.
But then her spirits slumped again the following winter. She was depressed two years after the birth, says husband Jon. I’m no doctor, but I thought, ’this isn’t postnatal’. It happened again the next year, and the next. For 10 years we were told it was a chemical imbalance.
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| EPCglobal US Supports FDA Initiative to Protect U.S. Drug Supply Chain from Counterfeit Drugs - Nov 17, 2004 12:28 IST |
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Addressing significant challenges facing the health and life sciences industries, such as counterfeiting, the EPCglobal Inc(TM) Healthcare and Life Sciences Business Action Group has made the tracking and tracing of pharmaceutical pedigree a top priority in the development of Electronic Product Code(TM) (EPC) technology.
Today’s announcement by EPCglobal US, an affiliate of EPCglobal serving subscribers in the United States to help foster the adoption of the EPCglobal Network(TM) and leverage radio frequency technology (RFID) in the supply chain, comes on the heels of the U.S. Federal Drug Administration’s (FDA) announcement of a new initiative designed to protect the U.S. drug supply chain from counterfeit products.
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| Enzon to Present at Credit Suisse First Boston Healthcare Conference - Nov 17, 2004 12:10 IST |
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Enzon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ENZN) announced today that the company will participate in the Credit Suisse First Boston Healthcare Conference, which is being held November 17-19, 2004 in Phoenix, Arizona. Ken Zuerblis, Enzon’s chief financial officer, will give a 25-minute presentation on Wednesday, November 17, 2004 at 3:30 p.m. MST or 5:30 p.m. EST.
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| Commercial Viability of Phosphatase Enzyme Class as Therapeutic Targets Analysed - Nov 17, 2004 11:53 IST |
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Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c9232) has announced the addition of Phosphatases: Emerging Role in Signal Transduction, Human Therapeutics, & As Drug Targets to their offering.
Recently, several members of the phosphatase drug target class have been identified and classes of compounds have been screened with hits identified.
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| ``Pass the Potatoes’’ This Holiday Season and Lose Weight - Nov 17, 2004 11:51 IST |
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This holiday season, passing the potatoes doesn’t have to mean calorie counting and extra hours at the gym. Lately, potatoes have been a casualty in the carb-free, protein-centric diet craze, but recent clinical data shows that harnessing the power inside the potato can actually be a key component in the struggle to lose and manage weight. Video Available
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| Current uses of Green-Fluorescent Protein in Biopharmaceutical Industry Examined - Nov 17, 2004 11:47 IST |
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Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c9202) has announced the addition of A Guide to Green-Fluorescent Protein to their offering.
This resource-oriented practical Guide provides an all encompassing overview of the most important features and technological applications of Green-Fluorescent Protein and its variant forms. It seeks to describe Green-Fluorescent Protein’s usefulness in biomedical programs and applications.
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| New findings may redirect strategies for treatment of prostate cancer - Nov 17, 2004 11:41 IST |
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A new research study published in the November issue of Cancer Cell may have important implications for treatment of prostate cancer, the most common malignancy afflicting males in the United States. The research provides significant and somewhat surprising new information about modulation of the androgen receptor (AR), a key determinant of prostate cancer progression and an attractive target for prostate cancer therapies.
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| Autism may be caused by brain swelling due to immune system reaction - Nov 17, 2004 11:40 IST |
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Autism could be caused by an immune system reaction which causes the brain to swell, say researchers at John Hopkins University School of Medicine, USA. If this is so, we may one day be able to create a test for autism, and perhaps even develop treatment to prevent it.
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