Development of non-toxic flame retardants

Main Category: Public Health
Article Date: 25 Jul 2013 - 1:00 PDT Current ratings for:
Development of non-toxic flame retardants

Flame retardants are often extremely harmful to health. Despite this, they are found in many types of synthetic materials which would otherwise ignite quickly. Empa researchers have now succeeded in producing non-harmful flame retardants.

Synthetic materials made from organic polymers usually burn very well due to their high carbon content; when turned into foams, they ignite even more easily - and, depending on their chemical compositions, they produce toxic gases such as hydrogen cyanide or carbon monoxide. For this reason, polyurethane foams and other similar products have to be treated with flame retardants. These foam materials are widely used in upholstered furniture and mattresses, as insulation and packaging materials and as expanding spray foams. Conventional halogenated flame retardants such as tri(chloropropyl) phosphate (TCPP) or some polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) are suspected of being harmful to health and the environment: a number of these substances are extremely persistent and accumulate in the environment, have hormone-like effects and are even thought to be carcinogenic. Non-harmful replacements are therefore called for. These are exactly what Empa researchers have developed in conjunction with Swiss company FoamPartner within the scope of a project sponsored by the Commission for Technology and Innovation (CTI).

Healthier, more environmentally friendly and with no additional cost

The novel flame retardants are organic phosphorus-containing compounds, so-called phosphoramidates. The Empa researchers synthesised several of these substances (which differ from each other in terms of the type of amine substituents attached to the phosphorus) and added them to the polyurethane foam in increasing concentrations. First results indicate that the flame retardants did not have a negative effect on the foam manufacturing process. As a result, conventional agents that are harmful to health may soon be a thing of the past. The research results have recently been accepted by the professional journal Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research and authorised for publication.

Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release. Click 'references' tab above for source.
Visit our public health section for the latest news on this subject. Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

MLA

Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science a. "Development of non-toxic flame retardants." Medical News Today. MediLexicon, Intl., 25 Jul. 2013. Web.
25 Jul. 2013. APA

Please note: If no author information is provided, the source is cited instead.

'Development of non-toxic flame retardants'

Please note that we publish your name, but we do not publish your email address. It is only used to let you know when your message is published. We do not use it for any other purpose. Please see our privacy policy for more information.

If you write about specific medications or operations, please do not name health care professionals by name.

All opinions are moderated before being included (to stop spam). We reserve the right to amend opinions where we deem necessary.

Contact Our News Editors

For any corrections of factual information, or to contact the editors please use our feedback form.

Please send any medical news or health news press releases to:

Note: Any medical information published on this website is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a health care professional. For more information, please read our terms and conditions.

View the original article here

Mechanism discovered behind development of autoimmune hepatitis

Main Category: Liver Disease / Hepatitis
Also Included In: Immune System / Vaccines;  Genetics
Article Date: 25 Jul 2013 - 1:00 PDT Current ratings for:
Mechanism discovered behind development of autoimmune hepatitis

A gene mutation disrupts the activity of certain immune cells and causes the immune system to erroneously attack the liver, according to a new animal study from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. The findings, published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, will provide a new model for studying drug targets and therapies for Autoimmune Hepatitis (AIH), a condition for which the only treatment options are short-acting steroids or liver transplant.

T-cells, immune cells created in an organ called the thymus, grow into healthy T-cells with the help of medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs). mTECs act as coaches to T-cells to teach them when to attack tissue that might be harmful and when to leave it alone. T-cells that attack healthy body tissue are programmed to die. Led by Konstantina Alexandropoulos, PhD, Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Clinical Immunology at Mount Sinai, the research team sought to create a model for understanding why certain immune cells called T-cells inappropriately attack healthy tissues in the body, leading to inflammation and autoimmune diseases like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and AIH.

Dr. Alexandropoulos and her team, consisting of Anthony Bonito, first author and PhD candidate at Mount Sinai and contributing author Costica Aloman, PhD, former Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Liver Diseases at Mount Sinai, created mutations in a gene called Traf6 in a mouse model, which caused depletion of mTECs. The research team hypothesized that without mTECs to coach them, T-cells would aberrantly attack healthy cells. Surprisingly, while the depletion of mTECs did cause an autoimmune reaction, the T-cells homed directly to the liver and attacked it rather than other healthy tissue.

"We thought that deleting Traf6 would trigger an autoimmune reaction due to a depletion of mTECs, but did not expect the autoimmune response to be specific to the liver," said Dr. Alexandropoulos. "These findings provide an exciting new animal model to study AIH. We hope that this research will pave the way for new therapies to address a significant unmet need for people with this disease."

Dr. Alexandropoulos and her team hope to identify and study compounds or proteins that prevent the depletion of mTECs using cells from humans with AIH. Mount Sinai has one of the largest cohort of patients in the country to support research on liver diseases such as AIH.

Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release. Click 'references' tab above for source.
Visit our liver disease / hepatitis section for the latest news on this subject.

This research was supported by grants R01 AI49387-01, R56 AI049387-05, and R01 AI068963-01 from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, a division of the National Institutes of Health.

The Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine

Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

MLA

The Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of M. "Mechanism discovered behind development of autoimmune hepatitis." Medical News Today. MediLexicon, Intl., 25 Jul. 2013. Web.
25 Jul. 2013. APA

Please note: If no author information is provided, the source is cited instead.

'Mechanism discovered behind development of autoimmune hepatitis'

Please note that we publish your name, but we do not publish your email address. It is only used to let you know when your message is published. We do not use it for any other purpose. Please see our privacy policy for more information.

If you write about specific medications or operations, please do not name health care professionals by name.

All opinions are moderated before being included (to stop spam). We reserve the right to amend opinions where we deem necessary.

Contact Our News Editors

For any corrections of factual information, or to contact the editors please use our feedback form.

Please send any medical news or health news press releases to:

Note: Any medical information published on this website is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a health care professional. For more information, please read our terms and conditions.

View the original article here

ARC Linkage Grant To Support Patrys' Partnership With Macquarie University For Development Of Cancer Diagnostics

Main Category: Pharma Industry / Biotech Industry
Also Included In: Cancer / Oncology
Article Date: 11 Jul 2013 - 2:00 PDT Current ratings for:
ARC Linkage Grant To Support Patrys' Partnership With Macquarie University For Development Of Cancer Diagnostics

Patrys Limited (ASX: PAB), a clinical stage biotechnology company, announced today that scientific collaborators at Macquarie University (Macquarie), Sydney, have been awarded a $427,510 Australian Government grant to support the development of new highly sensitive, non-invasive cancer diagnostic kits using Patrys' lead candidate PAT-SM6.

PAT-SM6 is an IgM antibody that has successfully completed a Phase I trial in melanoma and is currently in a Phase I/IIa trial for patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma.

The grant, which has been awarded by the Australian Research Council ("ARC"), will bring together experts from Macquarie led by Dr. Dayong Jin, Professor Nicolle Packer, Professor James Piper, Associate Professor Robert Willows and Professor Simon Foote with industry partners Minomic International Limited and Patrys.

The project will combine Macquarie's new Super Dot nanocrystal technology with Minomic's and Patrys' antibodies directed against prostate and multiple myeloma cancer biomarkers, respectively.

Patrys' previous collaboration with Professor Packer showed that PAT-SM6 detects specific changes in the proteins present on the surface of multiple myeloma cells, but not on normal cells. These cancer-modified cells in the patients' blood and urine are very rare in early stages of disease and their detection poses a "needle-in-a-haystack" challenge at both the research and clinical levels. Current diagnostic tests are not sensitive enough to detect these rare-event cells, resulting in an inefficient early detection and diagnosis of cancer and consequently poor prognosis.

Dr. Jin and colleagues from Macquarie University have developed highly sensitive technologies using super-bright nanocrystals that will enable the detection of single abnormal cells in body fluids, and will provide the basis for new, sensitive and non-invasive, early-stage screening of multiple myeloma, prostate cancer and other malignancies.

Patrys CEO, Dr. Marie Roskrow, said: "Patrys is very proud to be part of this exciting and cutting-edge project and welcomes the opportunity to explore the innovative aspects of Patrys' antibodies. The possibility to use Patrys' antibodies as cancer diagnostics as well as therapeutics is very exciting and potentially brings additional opportunities and value to the Patrys' pipeline."

Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release. Click 'references' tab above for source.
Visit our pharma industry / biotech industry section for the latest news on this subject. Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

MLA

n.p. "ARC Linkage Grant To Support Patrys' Partnership With Macquarie University For Development Of Cancer Diagnostics." Medical News Today. MediLexicon, Intl., 11 Jul. 2013. Web.
11 Jul. 2013. APA

Please note: If no author information is provided, the source is cited instead.

'ARC Linkage Grant To Support Patrys' Partnership With Macquarie University For Development Of Cancer Diagnostics'

Please note that we publish your name, but we do not publish your email address. It is only used to let you know when your message is published. We do not use it for any other purpose. Please see our privacy policy for more information.

If you write about specific medications or operations, please do not name health care professionals by name.

All opinions are moderated before being included (to stop spam)

Contact Our News Editors

For any corrections of factual information, or to contact the editors please use our feedback form.

Please send any medical news or health news press releases to:

Note: Any medical information published on this website is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a health care professional. For more information, please read our terms and conditions.

View the original article here

App In Development To Monitor Blood Pressure At Home Scoops Top Prize At First BMJ Hack Day

Main Category: Hypertension
Also Included In: IT / Internet / E-mail
Article Date: 11 Jul 2013 - 2:00 PDT Current ratings for:
App In Development To Monitor Blood Pressure At Home Scoops Top Prize At First BMJ Hack Day

A simple smartphone app that makes it easier for GPs to help patients with long terms conditions that require regular monitoring, such as high blood pressure, won "Best in Show" at the first ever BMJ hack day in London which took place on 6/7 July 2013.

As Andy Murray clinched the Wimbledon singles title, hackers Andrea Weir and Alok Matta teamed up with Anne Marie Cunningham, a GP and clinical lecturer at the University of Cardiff, to develop a simple yet effective way for patients manage their high blood pressure based on national guidelines.

The judges were impressed by its "simplicity and cheapness" and the team will now work with BMJ to take their idea forward. For example, how the data would be sent to the GP and how the app could be adapted to other conditions such as diabetes and asthma that also rely on patient self management.

The two-day hack, organised for BMJ by Rewired State, began on Saturday morning with an outline of the four challenges by BMJ staff and 13 "hack teams" were given access to the underlying datasets that drive products such as Best Practice, BMJ learning and Onexamination, as well as collections of journal articles.

The hackers were asked to develop ideas aimed at:

Creating a "zero harm" NHSInnovative applications to create better doctors for future healthcare needsHow to "localise" BMJ's published materials to make them more relevant in different countries How to revolutionise the scholarly publishing process

On Sunday afternoon, each of the teams took part in a "show and tell" to present their solutions to the judges.

The winning team outlined key features of their app, including a video on how and when to take blood pressure readings at home - and "push notifications" to remind patients that they need to take a reading.

The app also prevents patients from adding wrong values or adding more readings too quickly. It would work offline and across different platforms and results could be emailed or exported.

In second place was a reward-based game aimed at making revision for medical students more collaborative and less solitary. It was developed by Jon Hilton, Daniel Inniss, Giuseppe Sollazzo, Kaelan Fouwels, and Kush Depala using BMJ'sOnexamination obstetrics and gynaecology questions.

Hilton, a medical student sitting his exams this week, who describes himself as a "self confessed geek" said the technology could also accommodate a doctor who can join in to advise on answers - and could also address BMJ's localisation challenge by testing the translation skills of UK doctors working overseas.

In third place was an idea to address the challenge set by BMJ on the scholarly publishing process, with an open access button that allows researchers to find an open access version of the paper they are trying to read.

The judges felt that, as well as championing open access publishing models, the tool could also function as a "pester power" resource to persuade librarians to subscribe to a particular journal.

Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release. Click 'references' tab above for source.
Visit our hypertension section for the latest news on this subject. Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

MLA

BMJ. "App In Development To Monitor Blood Pressure At Home Scoops Top Prize At First BMJ Hack Day." Medical News Today. MediLexicon, Intl., 11 Jul. 2013. Web.
11 Jul. 2013. APA

Please note: If no author information is provided, the source is cited instead.

'App In Development To Monitor Blood Pressure At Home Scoops Top Prize At First BMJ Hack Day'

Please note that we publish your name, but we do not publish your email address. It is only used to let you know when your message is published. We do not use it for any other purpose. Please see our privacy policy for more information.

If you write about specific medications or operations, please do not name health care professionals by name.

All opinions are moderated before being included (to stop spam)

Contact Our News Editors

For any corrections of factual information, or to contact the editors please use our feedback form.

Please send any medical news or health news press releases to:

Note: Any medical information published on this website is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a health care professional. For more information, please read our terms and conditions.

View the original article here

Supporting The Growth And Development Of The Kingdom's Health Care Facilities, 29 September - 1 October 2013, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Main Category: Conferences
Article Date: 11 Jul 2013 - 7:00 PDT Current ratings for:
Supporting The Growth And Development Of The Kingdom's Health Care Facilities, 29 September - 1 October 2013, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

The biggest challenge faced by any government is to provide adequate health care services to its population. Faced with a growing population, a growth in the ageing population and low healthcare penetration, Saudi Arabia is experiencing an increase in demand for health care services.

For this reason, the Government of the largest country in the GCC, is currently investing SR274 billion into its health care sector. The main objective of this investment is to provide better access to heath care, improve health care services and ultimately position Saudi Arabia as a global leader in health care provision.

For these objectives to be achieved, hospitals in Saudi will need to meet certain international standards to gain accreditation from the relevant regulatory and industry bodies. In order to realize this, the health care sector will need to develop and implement cohesive strategies.

Taking place from 29 September - 1 October 2013 in Riyadh, Health Facilities Infrastructure Saudi Arabia 2013 will serve as an industry leading platform for healthcare professionals to discuss these strategies.

Held under the auspices of the Ministry of Health, and supported by various health care stakeholders, Health Facilities Infrastructure Saudi Arabia 2013 is the most comprehensive health facilities event for Saudi Arabia. The event will host both local and international speakers, including:

Eng. Ibrahim Al-Khelaifi, Executive Director of Operations, King Fahad Medical City Dr. Hossam Ghoneim, Supervisor General, Ministry of Health Accreditation Program Dr. Walid Fitaihi, CEO, International Medical Center Jeddah Dr. Mounir Marhaba, Programme Director, Programming and Processes Design, Project Management Office (KKMC-PMO), King Khalid Medical City Rami Abulsamen, Executive Director, Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Group Nasser Al Luhaidan, Assistant Chief Operating Officer, Specialized Medical Center Hospital Dr. Fawaz Abdulaziz Al-Hussain, Associate Medical Director, King Khalid University Hospital Dr. Salem Al Whabi, Secretary General, Central Board of Accreditation for Healthcare Institutions Dr. Ashraf Ismail, Managing Director, Middle East Office, Joint Commission International (JCI)

The event will feature a two day conference dedicated to developing strategies and actionable plans to design build and upgrade hospitals in order to gain the required accreditation. The event will also feature a one day healthcare technology focus day.

For more information about Health Facilities Infrastructure Saudi Arabia 2013 visit http://bit.ly/15hweHM

Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release. Click 'references' tab above for source.
Visit our conferences section for the latest news on this subject.

About IQPC:

IQPC provides business executives around the world with tailored practical conferences, large scale events, topical seminars and in-house training programmes, keeping them up-to-date with industry trends, technological developments and the regulatory landscape. IQPC produces more than 1,700 events annually around the world, and continues to grow. Founded in 1973, IQPC now has offices in major cities across six continents including: Bengaluru, Berlin, Dubai, London, New York, Singapore, Sydney, and Toronto. IQPC leverages a global research base of best practices to produce an unrivalled portfolio of conferences.

Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

MLA

IQPC. "Supporting The Growth And Development Of The Kingdom's Health Care Facilities, 29 September - 1 October 2013, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia." Medical News Today. MediLexicon, Intl., 11 Jul. 2013. Web.
11 Jul. 2013. APA

Please note: If no author information is provided, the source is cited instead.

'Supporting The Growth And Development Of The Kingdom's Health Care Facilities, 29 September - 1 October 2013, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia'

Please note that we publish your name, but we do not publish your email address. It is only used to let you know when your message is published. We do not use it for any other purpose. Please see our privacy policy for more information.

If you write about specific medications or operations, please do not name health care professionals by name.

All opinions are moderated before being included (to stop spam)

Contact Our News Editors

For any corrections of factual information, or to contact the editors please use our feedback form.

Please send any medical news or health news press releases to:

Note: Any medical information published on this website is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a health care professional. For more information, please read our terms and conditions.

View the original article here

Supporting The Growth And Development Of The Kingdom's Health Care Facilities, 29 September - 1 October 2013, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Main Category: Conferences
Article Date: 11 Jul 2013 - 7:00 PDT Current ratings for:
Supporting The Growth And Development Of The Kingdom's Health Care Facilities, 29 September - 1 October 2013, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

The biggest challenge faced by any government is to provide adequate health care services to its population. Faced with a growing population, a growth in the ageing population and low healthcare penetration, Saudi Arabia is experiencing an increase in demand for health care services.

For this reason, the Government of the largest country in the GCC, is currently investing SR274 billion into its health care sector. The main objective of this investment is to provide better access to heath care, improve health care services and ultimately position Saudi Arabia as a global leader in health care provision.

For these objectives to be achieved, hospitals in Saudi will need to meet certain international standards to gain accreditation from the relevant regulatory and industry bodies. In order to realize this, the health care sector will need to develop and implement cohesive strategies.

Taking place from 29 September - 1 October 2013 in Riyadh, Health Facilities Infrastructure Saudi Arabia 2013 will serve as an industry leading platform for healthcare professionals to discuss these strategies.

Held under the auspices of the Ministry of Health, and supported by various health care stakeholders, Health Facilities Infrastructure Saudi Arabia 2013 is the most comprehensive health facilities event for Saudi Arabia. The event will host both local and international speakers, including:

Eng. Ibrahim Al-Khelaifi, Executive Director of Operations, King Fahad Medical City Dr. Hossam Ghoneim, Supervisor General, Ministry of Health Accreditation Program Dr. Walid Fitaihi, CEO, International Medical Center Jeddah Dr. Mounir Marhaba, Programme Director, Programming and Processes Design, Project Management Office (KKMC-PMO), King Khalid Medical City Rami Abulsamen, Executive Director, Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Group Nasser Al Luhaidan, Assistant Chief Operating Officer, Specialized Medical Center Hospital Dr. Fawaz Abdulaziz Al-Hussain, Associate Medical Director, King Khalid University Hospital Dr. Salem Al Whabi, Secretary General, Central Board of Accreditation for Healthcare Institutions Dr. Ashraf Ismail, Managing Director, Middle East Office, Joint Commission International (JCI)

The event will feature a two day conference dedicated to developing strategies and actionable plans to design build and upgrade hospitals in order to gain the required accreditation. The event will also feature a one day healthcare technology focus day.

For more information about Health Facilities Infrastructure Saudi Arabia 2013 visit http://bit.ly/15hweHM

Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release. Click 'references' tab above for source.
Visit our conferences section for the latest news on this subject.

About IQPC:

IQPC provides business executives around the world with tailored practical conferences, large scale events, topical seminars and in-house training programmes, keeping them up-to-date with industry trends, technological developments and the regulatory landscape. IQPC produces more than 1,700 events annually around the world, and continues to grow. Founded in 1973, IQPC now has offices in major cities across six continents including: Bengaluru, Berlin, Dubai, London, New York, Singapore, Sydney, and Toronto. IQPC leverages a global research base of best practices to produce an unrivalled portfolio of conferences.

Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

MLA

IQPC. "Supporting The Growth And Development Of The Kingdom's Health Care Facilities, 29 September - 1 October 2013, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia." Medical News Today. MediLexicon, Intl., 11 Jul. 2013. Web.
11 Jul. 2013. APA

Please note: If no author information is provided, the source is cited instead.

'Supporting The Growth And Development Of The Kingdom's Health Care Facilities, 29 September - 1 October 2013, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia'

Please note that we publish your name, but we do not publish your email address. It is only used to let you know when your message is published. We do not use it for any other purpose. Please see our privacy policy for more information.

If you write about specific medications or operations, please do not name health care professionals by name.

All opinions are moderated before being included (to stop spam)

Contact Our News Editors

For any corrections of factual information, or to contact the editors please use our feedback form.

Please send any medical news or health news press releases to:

Note: Any medical information published on this website is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a health care professional. For more information, please read our terms and conditions.

View the original article here