Health 

Gene Variant For Biological Ageing In Humans Discovered - Scientists from the UK and The Netherlands have identified for the first time a variant of a gene that is linked to biological ageing in humans and suggest the discovery will help us better understand cancer and diseases of ageing. The findings of the study by researchers based at the University of Leicester and King's College London, UK, and also at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, were reported online in Nature Genetics on 7 February. The Wellcome Trust and the British Heart Foundation sponsored the work...

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 11:00:00 PST

SciClone And Sigma-Tau Announce Additional Positive Results In Clinical Study Examining ZADAXIN's Ability To Enhance Response To H1N1 Vaccine - SciClone Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: SCLN) and its partner Sigma-Tau S.p.A., announced additional topline results in a clinical study evaluating the potential of ZADAXIN® (thymalfasin) to enhance immune response to the MF59 adjuvanted H1N1 influenza monovalent vaccine, Focetria™ from Novartis. According to investigators, ZADAXIN treatment given with the H1N1 vaccine led to a statistically significant (p value=0.04) increase in the percentage of subjects who seroconverted, also when evaluated 42 days after vaccination, compared to those who received the H1N1 vaccine alone...

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 05:00:00 PST

Don't Let Cupid's Arrows Make Your Eyes Water, With New Guide To Passionate Safer Sex From THT, UK - Just in time for Valentine's Day, HIV and sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) is publishing an online guide with top tips on how to use condoms and protect your sexual health without killing the romantic mood. A recent study found 43% of men and 38% of women didn't always use a condom when having sex with a new partner¹. Some argue that safer sex and romance just don't mix, with worries that condoms are uncomfortable, ruin the sensation, or even interrupt those tried and tested seduction techniques...

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 05:00:00 PST

Siemens Showcases New Dedicated Women's Imaging Ultrasound Platforms At SMFM - Featuring the new release of its premium ACUSON S2000™ ultrasound system - Women's Imaging and ACUSON X300™ ultrasound system, premium edition (PE) - Women's Imaging, Siemens Healthcare (booth #813) will highlight the latest innovations in OB/GYN imaging at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's (SMFM) 30th Annual Meeting in Chicago. Siemens will be showcasing advanced clinical applications that bring a new dimension of diagnosis and workflow enhancements to fetal ultrasound...

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 04:00:00 PST

Siemens Healthcare Wins Biggest Single Order Contract, In The Middle East - Siemens Healthcare will supply state-of-the-art diagnostics imaging equipment to all Ministry of Health hospitals (around 100) across Iraq. The recently signed contract has a value of around $70 million and is the biggest single order contract to be awarded to Siemens Healthcare in the Middle East. The products, which include magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography equipment, mobile x-rays and mammography systems, help to increase diagnostic confidence, allowing for earlier detection of diseases. The equipment will be fully serviced over a period of five years...

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 04:00:00 PST

Gaining Market Access By Providing Value For Money - Cost-effectiveness research will become more important as EU responsibility for the pharmaceutical sector moves to the Health and Consumer policy directorate, Lynne Taylor and Peter Mansell report. Consumer advocates and industry critics have welcomed the new European Commission's decision to switch responsibility for the pharmaceutical sector from DG Enterprise and Industry to the Health and Consumer policy directorate, DG Sanco. Critics have long claimed that pharmaceutical policy, as an integral part of public health policymaking, should be driven by medicines access and safety issues...

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 04:00:00 PST