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The validity of dozens of cancer studies have come under question following tests that indicate scientists have been unwittingly using the incorrect types of cancer cells for their research All research studies in question involve the use of esophageal adenocarcinoma cancer cell lines. Cell lines are a specific type of sample that is grown in […]

Antibodies that latch on to abnormal glycoproteins may serve as a new biomarker for early cancer detection, according a recent study conducted at Copenhagen University in Denmark and supported in part by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Glycoproteins are a specific class of proteins that are connected to sugar molecules. Within this class of proteins,

Issues related to environmental and occupational health have an important role to play in emergency medicine, pediatrics, primary care practice, and the various medical specialties. Work-related or environmental exposures may be associated with symptoms experienced by a patient. The environmental exposure history of a patient may prompt necessary interventions in order to prevent potential injuries

A 3-year genomics projects intent on studying the genetic nature of cancer, type II diabetes and kidney disease has been initiated by Carlos Slim – one of the wealthiest men in the world. Recently, Slim pledged $65 million to be received by the Slim Initiative for Genomic Medicine. The initiative is a joint partnership between

Work and environmental exposures can lead to or worsen several different types of common diseases, for instance asthma, dermatitis, hepatitis B, carpal tunnel syndrome, and cancer. In a number of cases, the environment or work-related illnesses do not show distinctive clinical presentations: asthma resulting from a cat allergy does not differ from asthma caused by

It is difficult to measure the magnitude of occupational illnesses and injuries. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) that provides statistics based on surveys of private companies having more than 11 employees (an underestimate of the real totals), reported 5,488 fatal accidents related to work (3.7 for every 100,000) and around 4.0 million

Orphan drugs Drugs that are used to treat rare diseases affecting less than 200,000 Americans are referred to as orphan drugs. Since only a small number of patients need these drugs, it may not be possible for the drug’s sponsor to recover the drug development costs. Under the Orphan Drug Act, sponsors are given incentives

1) Accelerated approval The accelerated approval program run by FDA allows sponsors to request approval on the basis of alternate findings. Also called surrogate endpoints, these are indirect assessments of disease status, for example, a change in lab results or improvements in symptoms related to the disease. These endpoints can also be used to assess

In Roanoke, Virginia, a time capsule buried beneath the floor at the Roanoke City Health Department office has officials stymied. The time capsule was originally scheduled to be exposed Thursday, January 7. That was until Virginia Department of Health officials discovered that the capsule was concealed beneath post-1950s flooring that likely contains asbestos. The asbestos

Quebec health officials recently sent a letter to Canada’s federal Health Minister, Leona Aglukkaq, calling for an end to the government’s support of asbestos mining in the country. Within the letter, which was penned and backed by members of Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment and Rideau Institute, health officials make known their concern