Barker earns physical therapist assistant degree. April Barker began working at Haywood Regional Medical Center eight years ago as a receptionist in the hospital's rehabilitation department.

The Governor's Lively Night Off. If things had gone just a bit differently this spring, Martin O'Malley -- an enthusiastic backer of Hillary Clinton -- might have been one of those guys agonizing by the phone all this week, waiting for that invitation to be No. 2 on the ticket.

Study: Childhood Exposure To Pet Animals Raises Snoring Risks. Children who are exposed to pet dogs, cats or other furry friends at home can develop problem snoring when they grow up, a new study has revealed. Fri, 22 Aug 2008 22:14:43 GMT.

Genmab Has Announced Plans To Begin Four Studies Of Ofatumumab In Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia And Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Genmab A/S announced plans to begin four studies of ofatumumab in chronic lymphocytic leukemia and follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma this year. "Genmab and GSK have worked diligently to expand the ofatumumab development program to maximize the value of the antibody for patients and shareholders since our collaboration began," said Lisa N. Drakeman, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Genmab.

Isolagen Reports Positive Results From Open Label, Phase II Study Of Isolagen Therapy Of The Full Face Regarding The Treatment Of Wrinkles. Isolagen, Inc. announced results from a prospective, open label, Phase II study of Isolagen Therapy for the treatment of facial wrinkles and creases in approximately 40 subjects. Study subjects received two treatments of Isolagen Therapy in multiple facial regions approximately five weeks apart.

Novel Technology Could Transform Production Of Flu Vaccine With Enhanced Potency, Manufacturing Capacity And Cost-Effectiveness. VaxInnate Corporation announced that its M2e universal influenza vaccine candidate was safe and immunogenic in its first Phase I clinical trial, raising hopes for a universal influenza vaccine that could provide protection against seasonal and pandemic influenza strains.

Dead Cash Cow Still Milks. Astrazeneca sued Apotex and Impax for infringing patents of "pharmaceutical preparations containing omeprazole, the active ingredient in Prilosec." Filing ANDAs prompted the patent assertion.

International Diabetes Federation Supports Study To Foster Improved Control Of Type 2 Diabetes. The International Diabetes Federation BRIDGES translational research grant program will fund a diabetes self-management education study in Dallas. Self-management education is an important component in diabetes care and designed to help people with diabetes to gain and maintain control of their condition.

MMRC Partners With Celgene Corporation On Phase I/II Trial Of Pomalidomide In Relapsed And Refractory Multiple Myeloma Patients. The Multiple Myeloma Research Consortium announced the initiation of a clinical trial with the oral immunomodulatory agent pomalidomide in patients who have received at least two prior therapies including treatments with REVLIMID® and VELCADE® for Injection.

Salad Spinning. It lurks in the Produce Department, sneaky-silent, all tied up in a bunch, seemingly minding its own business even as it threatens to change the course of the 2008 presidential election. It is arugula. Some call it rocket, or roquette. It's a trendy salad ingredient, often viewed as a type of..

Vidaza, Only Agent To Extend Survival In Patients With Higher-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndromes. The Myelodysplastic Syndromes Foundation supports the decision by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration to extend the label for VIDAZA to include data from the AZA-001 clinical trial. Results from the trial found that azacitidine is the only agent which has been shown to extend survival in MDS patients.

This package of Prestige Brands' Allergen Block sells for $14.99. Prestige Brands Holdings Inc. Allergy sufferers have no shortage of medications - both over-the-counter and prescription - to help them treat allergy symptoms, such as sneezing, runny nose and watery eyes.

Cel-Sci lets Teva sell cancer drug. Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. got the OK to market and distribute Cel-Sci Corp.

Phase III Clinical Trial For ADENTRI For Acute Decompensated Heart Failure Patients With Renal Insufficiency. Biogen Idec announced the initiation of a Phase III clinical trial of intravenous ADENTRI®, an adenosine A1 receptor antagonist, for acute decompensated heart failure patients with renal insufficiency. The trial will evaluate ADENTRI, which is being developed under a licensing agreement with CV Therapeutics, or placebo in addition to standard of care in approximately 900 patients in 21 countries globally, including the United States.

PolyMedix Initiates Dosing In Phase I Clinical Study Of Novel Systemic Antibiotic Compound. PolyMedix, Inc., an emerging biotechnology company developing new therapeutic drug products to treat infectious diseases and acute cardiovascular disorders based on biomimetics, has initiated dosing and commenced a Phase I clinical study in Canada for its defensin mimetic antibiotic compound, PMX-30063. PolyMedix received a notice of no objection from Health Canada for the Company's Clinical Trial Application for PMX-30063 in May 2008.

News From The Journal Of The National Cancer Institute, August 26 2008. Novel Trial Design Aims to Speed Drug Development Researchers propose a novel multi-arm trial design that can test several therapies simultaneously and could speed drug development in cancer. Scientists have gained important insights into the biological underpinnings of cancer, but this knowledge has not led to a jump in the number of therapies approved for clinical use.

Medication Slows Nearsightedness In Children. Daily treatment with pirenzepine can slow the rate of progressive myopia in children, according to an article published on August 26, 2008 in the Journal of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus. When someone is myopic, or nearsighted, he is able to focus on objects that are close to the eye but objects that are more distant appear blurry.

Acute Maternal Stress During Pregnancy Boosts Schizophrenia Risk In CHildren. Women who undergo severe stress during pregnancy risk giving birth to children who develop schizophrenia, a complex brain disorder, a study suggests. Fri, 22 Aug 2008 23:29:03 GMT.

Severity Of Psoriasis Varies: Can Lead To Other Problems. August is Psoriasis Awareness month and National Institutes of Health scientists say that as many as 7.5 million Americans suffer from the skin condition that occurs about equally in women and men. Fri, 22 Aug 2008 11:26:07 GMT.

KV Pharmaceutical sees Q1 profit double, faces inquiry into alleged misconduct. KV Pharmaceutical Co. said Monday its profit doubled in the first quarter due to demand for generic drugs.