Copyright 2008 Medical News Today Latest Blood / Hematology News From Medical News Today. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/sections/blood/ admin@medicalnewstoday.com (MNT Admin) editors@medicalnewstoday.com (MNT Editors) en-us Mon, 12 May 2008 16:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/107101.php The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a new formulation of the genetically engineered version of Factor VIIa, a plasma protein essential for the clotting of blood. The new formulation allows the product to be stored at room temperature (up to 77 degrees Fahrenheit) for up to two years. "Approval of this product for room temperature storage creates greater flexibility in disease management for both patients and physicians," said Jesse L. Goodman, M.D., M.P.H. Mon, 12 May 2008 13:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/107079.php Long-term exposure to air pollution appears to be associated with an increased risk of deep vein thrombosis, blood clots in the thigh or legs, according to a report in the May 12 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. Mon, 12 May 2008 02:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/107042.php The American Society of Hematology (ASH) is proud to announce the 2008 recipients of its Trainee Research Awards. This year 40 medical students, undergraduates, and residents will each receive $4,000 to conduct research on blood and blood-related diseases through this program, which is designed to encourage the pursuit of research and spark an interest in hematology. Sat, 10 May 2008 03:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/107000.php The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has found some hospitals and medical centers are still stocking potentially contaminated heparin among their supplies, showing that they failed to respond to recall notices and alerts about the blood thinner made by Baxter International. Fri, 09 May 2008 05:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/106952.php The American Society of Hematology (ASH) is proud to announce the selection of 15 participants for its 2008 Minority Medical Student Award Program (MMSAP), which encourages minority medical students to purse an interest in hematology research. Under the program, each award recipient will receive the support of a research mentor and a career development mentor, travel stipends to attend medical meetings, and a subscription to the scientific journal Blood, the official journal of ASH. Fri, 09 May 2008 03:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/106911.php A new study shows how genes control levels of many blood proteins implicated in disease. The findings are the result of an international collaboration between scientists at the University of Exeter, the National Institute on Aging, and the Tuscany and Florence Health Agencies. Details, published May 9th in the open-access journal Thu, 08 May 2008 02:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/106662.php Lev Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (OTCBB: LEVP.OB) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted for review Lev's complete response submission for Cinryze™ (C1 inhibitor), the Company's lead product candidate. Lev is seeking marketing approval for Cinryze™ for both the acute and prophylactic treatment of hereditary angioedema (HAE), also known as C1 inhibitor deficiency. Wed, 07 May 2008 03:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/106565.php Medical College of Wisconsin researchers in Milwaukee have shown for the first time that thrombopoietin (TPO), a naturally occurring protein being developed as a pharmaceutical to increase platelet count in cancer patients during chemotherapy, can also protect the heart against injury during a heart attack.The study, led by John E. Wed, 07 May 2008 02:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/106526.php ParagonDx, a leader in genetic testing diagnostics, has received 510(k) marketing clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its in vitro diagnostic test. The Rapid Genotyping Assay is to be used to detect the presence of variations in the genes CYP2C9 and VKORC1. Information about the CYP2C9 and VKORC1 genotypes may be used as an aid in the identification of patients at greater risk for warfarin sensitivity. Wed, 07 May 2008 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/106476.php A new treatment option - Ferriprox Oral Solution - is now available to patients suffering from thalassaemia major, a rare genetic disease with only 50 percent of the patients surviving the age of 35 years1. Thalassaemia patients require blood transfusions to survive, which leads to damaging iron accumulation in the tissues, especially the heart. Ferriprox (deferiprone) is an iron chelator that effectively removes the excess iron from the body caused by blood transfusions. Wed, 07 May 2008 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/106541.php Catalyst Biosciences, Inc., a pioneer in the discovery and development of engineered proteases known as Alterase(TM) therapeutics, announced that it has selected CB 813, an improved, second-generation variant of human coagulation factor VIIa, as a development candidate for the treatment of acute bleeding in hemophilia patients. CB 813 was created using Catalyst's proprietary therapeutic protease platform technologies and know-how. Mon, 05 May 2008 04:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/106291.php A process of self-digestion called autophagy prompts the maturation of red blood cells. Without a protein called Nix, the cells would not effectively rid themselves of organelles called mitochondria and consequently become short-lived, leading to anemia, said researchers at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston in a report that appears online in the journal Nature."It's changed our thinking on autophagy," said Dr. Sat, 03 May 2008 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/106152.php Can a blood test improve treatment outcomes for colorectal cancer patients? Recently published studies indicate that personalized chemotherapy dose management -- measuring drug levels in patients' blood and adjusting them for optimal dosing -- can substantially reduce severe toxicity and improve efficacy in colorectal cancer. A Phase III randomized study of 208 colorectal cancer patients, by Erick Gamelin, M.D., Ph.D. et. al. Fri, 02 May 2008 03:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/106089.php St. Jude Medical, Inc. (NYSE:STJ) announced U.S. launch of the TigerWire(TM) Steerable Guidewire. The newest member of the St. Jude Medical GuideRight(TM) family of steerable guidewires, the TigerWire Steerable Guidewire is designed to enhance physicians' ability to steer through challenging peripheral arteries, the vessels that supply blood to the legs and arms. Thu, 01 May 2008 10:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/105929.php "Dialysis 'No-Shows' on Saturdays: Implications of the Weekly Hemodialysis Schedules on Nonadherence and Outcomes," (. Wed, 30 Apr 2008 03:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/105836.php Hydrogen sulphide (H2S) is a gas most commonly associated with the smell of stink bombs, sewage and rotten eggs, but a team of researchers from the Peninsula Medical School in the South West of England and King's College London have now identified a role for this gas in regulating blood pressure, according to research published in the leading science journal Circulation. Wed, 30 Apr 2008 03:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/105770.php Emotions ran high in Washington yesterday, Tuesday 29th April, as a congressional panel listened to tearful and angry testimonies from family members of how their loved ones died after being given contaminated heparin. Manufacturers and industry regulators also told their story, but panel members were very unhappy with their failure to stop the unsafe blood thinner from entering the US from China. Tue, 29 Apr 2008 16:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/105761.php SUMMARY OF MAJOR POINTS-- More than any other company in the world, Baxter's products are involved in critical caresettings. Because of this, we are greatly concerned that our heparin product appears to be thetarget of a deliberate adulteration scheme. Patient safety is our number one priority, and wedeeply regret the impact this contamination in Baxter's heparin has had on patients and theclinicians who treat them. Tue, 29 Apr 2008 02:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/105641.php Intravenous administration of isotonic fluids is the standard emergency treatment in the U.S. for patients with severe blood loss, but UC San Diego bioengineering researchers have reported improved resuscitation with a radically different approach. Building on earlier studies in humans that have shown benefits of intravenous fluids that are eight times saltier than normal saline, the researchers combined hypertonic saline with viscosity enhancers that thicken blood. Tue, 29 Apr 2008 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/105597.php It's long been known that patients with sickle cell disease have malformed, "sickle-shaped" red blood cells which are normally disc-shaped that can cause sudden painful episodes when they block small blood vessels.Now, researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine have shown that blood from sickle cell patients also contains clumps, or aggregates, of red and white blood cells that may contribute to the blockages. Mon, 28 Apr 2008 11:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/105579.php A meta-analysis published in JAMA reports that theuse of hemoglobin-basedblood substitutes is associated with an increasedrisk of heart attack and death.Blood substitutes are liquids that have long shelf lives, do not needto be refrigerated, and do not cause infection. Mon, 28 Apr 2008 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/105443.php Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ: LGND) announced that it has initiated a Phase II study of its small-molecule thrombopoietin (TPO) mimetic, LGD-4665. The 24 patient, double-blind placebo-controlled trial is designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of LGD-4665 in adult patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) over six weeks of treatment. Mon, 28 Apr 2008 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/105406.php Lannett Company, Inc. (AMEX:LCI), a manufacturer of generic pharmaceuticals, announced that it has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of its Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) for Dipyridamole Tablets USP, 25mg, 50mg, and 75mg, the generic equivalent of Persantine® Tablets manufactured by Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH. According to Wolters Kluwer, total sales of generic Dipyridamole Tablets were $46 million a year in 2007 at average wholesale price (AWP). Mon, 28 Apr 2008 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/105394.php Merck Sharp & Dohme Limited (MSD) announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has recommended marketing approval for 'Tredaptive'™ (nicotinic acid/laropiprant, MSD) 1000 mg / 20 mg modified-release tablets for the treatment of mixed dyslipidaemia and primary hypercholesterolaemia. Mon, 28 Apr 2008 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/105518.php ASM Press announces the latest addition to its Cumulative Techniques and Procedures in Clinical Microbiology (Cumitechs) publication series: Cumitech 46 -- Laboratory Procedures for Diagnosis of Blood-Borne Parasitic Diseases."This Cumitech is intended to provide guidance to the laboratory personnel and other members of the patient care team in the appropriate selection, ordering and application of tests for the diagnosis and management of blood-borne parasitic infections.