http://medicalxpress.com/ en-us Medical Xpress internet news portal provides the latest news on Health and Medicine. Pain is an undeniable focal point for patients with sickle cell disease but it's not the best focus for drug development, says one of the dying breed of physicians specializing in the condition. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-04-anti-sickling-therapies-focus-sickle-cell.html Medical research Wed, 17 Apr 2013 14:29:43 EST news285427777 (HealthDay)—For patients with polycythemia vera, more intense treatment to achieve a hematocrit target of less than 45 percent correlates with a significantly lower rate of cardiovascular death and major thrombosis compared with a target of 45 to 50 percent, according to a study published online Dec. 8 in the New England Journal of Medicine to coincide with presentation at the annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology, held from Dec. 8 to 11 in Atlanta. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-12-ash-intense-treatment-beneficial-polycythemia.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Mon, 10 Dec 2012 16:21:06 EST news274378812 In the first randomized clinical trial assessing the proper target hematocrit level, or percentage of red blood cells that should be maintained in patients with polycythemia vera (PV), researchers have concluded that the current recommendation to maintain a hematocrit level of less than 45 percent is associated with a lower risk of thrombosis compared with a less aggressive treatment strategy of maintaining a hematocrit level between 45 and 50 percent. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-12-large-scale-trial-intensity-cytoreductive-therapy.html Medical research Sun, 09 Dec 2012 03:50:01 EST news274244491 In a preliminary clinical trial, investigators at Johns Hopkins have shown that even partially-matched bone marrow transplants can eliminate sickle cell disease in some patients, ridding them of painful and debilitating symptoms, and the need for a lifetime of pain medications and blood transfusions. The researchers say the use of such marrow could potentially help make bone marrow transplants accessible to a majority of sickle cell patients who need them. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-09-half-match-bone-marrow-transplants-sickle.html Medical research Thu, 20 Sep 2012 17:11:45 EST news267379886 A thalidomide analog is shaping up as a safe, worthy opponent of sickle cell disease, Georgia Health Sciences University researchers report. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-07-thalidomide-analog-worthy-opponent-sickle.html Medical research Mon, 18 Jul 2011 11:41:56 EST news230208105 New research shows a drug commonly used to treat sickle cell anemia in adults reduces bouts of acute pain and a pneumonia-like illness, cuts hospitalization time and eases other symptoms of the disease in young patients. Results of the randomized, double-blind trial mark a dramatic advance in treatment of children with the inherited blood disorder. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-05-sickle-cell-anemia-drug-safe.html Medications Thu, 12 May 2011 18:30:01 EST news224428066 Nitric oxide gas appears to directly impact the source of the classic, disabling pain crises of sickle cell disease, Georgia Health Sciences University researchers report. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-05-nitric-oxide-impacts-source-sickle.html Medical research Mon, 09 May 2011 15:55:01 EST news224175262