The first clinical test for saliva-based oral cancer detection

Oral cancer is the 6th most common cancer in men and the 14th most common cancer in women. In the US, oral cancer will be diagnosed in an estimated 30,000 Americans this year and will cause more than 8,000 deaths. The disease kills approximately one person every hour. Oral cancer can spread quickly. The majority of oral cancers are diagnosed in late stages, which accounts for the high death rates. Only half of those diagnosed with the disease will survive more than five years. However, if the cancer is detected early, there is an 80 to 90% chance for survival. more  

Plant sterol pills significantly lower LDL cholesterol

A pill containing plant substances called sterols can help lower cholesterol, according to researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. more

Scientists use PET scans to monitor lung inflammation noninvasively

A noninvasive approach for assessing lung inflammation should accelerate efforts to develop drugs for inflammatory lung conditions like cystic fibrosis and pneumonia, scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis report. more  

Blood levels of suspected carcinogen vary by race, ethnicity

Whites have three times higher blood serum levels of perfluorochemicals (PFCs) than Hispanics and two times higher levels than blacks, according to a study scheduled for publication in the April 1 issue of the American Chemical Society's journal, Environmental Science & Technology. The study, by scientists at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, is the first to detect racial or ethnic differences in levels of PFCs among humans. more

New study shows benefit of early therapy in HIV-infected infants 

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) for infants born with HIV infection may be most effective when given in their first five months of life, according to a study published in the April 1 issue of The Journal of Infectious Diseases, now available online. more

Gliadel® Wafer demonstrates long-term survival benefit for patients with high-grade malignant glioma  

MGI Pharma announced the publication of long-term (56 month) follow-up data showing that Gliadel® Wafer provides a durable long-term survival benefit for patients with high-grade malignant glioma. more

Scientists issue unprecedented forecast of next sunspot cycle

The next sunspot cycle will be 30-50% stronger than the last one and begin as much as a year late, according to a breakthrough forecast using a computer model of solar dynamics developed by scientists at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). Predicting the Sun's cycles accurately, years in advance, will help societies plan for active bouts of solar storms, which can slow satellite orbits, disrupt communications, and bring down power systems. more