Every moment we live, cells in our bodies are dying. One type of cell death activates an immune response while another type doesn't. Now researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital in Memphis have figured out how some dying cells signal the immune system. They say the finding eventually could have important implications in the treatment of autoimmune diseases and cancer.

In the July 18 issue of the journal Immunity, the researchers report a molecule, called high mobility group box-1 protein (HMGB1), which cells release when they die, seems to determine whether the immune system is alerted. But what happens to HMGB1 after it's made and whether the immune system ever gets the signal depends on how the cell dies.

Researchers at Queensland University of Technology have had good results with a trial vaccine for chlamydia, a disease which is decimating koala populations in the wild.

Chlamydia in koalas was a significant cause of infertility, urinary tract infections, and inflammation in the lining of the eye that often led to blindness.

Professors Peter Timms and Ken Beagley from Queensland University of Technology's Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI) said the vaccinated koalas, which are at Brisbane's Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, were mounting a good response to the vaccine.

PHILADELPHIA and LONDON, July 17 /PRNewswire/ --

- Survey Highlights Trends In eCTD Migration And Submissions Outsourcing And Provides Insights Into Regulatory Product Management Trends Across North America And Europe

The Scientific business of Thomson Reuters today announced the early findings of its 2008 Liquent Regulatory Affairs Trends Survey. The survey attracted respondents from across the globe representing small, medium and large pharmaceutical companies and provides a unique insight into emerging and future trends in regulatory product management usage and adoption.

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MUMBAI, July 17 /PRNewswire/ -- BASF SE today announced that it has revised its offer price for shares in BASF India, to Rs. 300 per share. The revised price provides a compelling premium of 26.7 percent above the minimum price directed by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), 33.4 percent above the average share price for the two weeks preceding the date of the original announcement. BASF SE will pay the revised offer price for all the equity shares validly tendered any time during the offer if accepted under the offer. In line with current regulations, this represents the final revision of the offer.

LAUSANNE, Switzerland, July 17 /PRNewswire/ --

- Based on the Largest Ever Clinical Program for Acne in Japan

Galderma Pharma S.A., a global specialty pharmaceutical company focused on dermatology, announced today that Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has approved Differin(R) Gel 0.1% (adapalene), a novel topical treatment for acne vulgaris in Japan. The drug will be marketed in Japan by Galderma KK, the fully-owned Japanese arm of Galderma, and strategic alliance partner Shionogi.

LONDON, July 17 /PRNewswire/ --

Local government workers across England, Wales and Northern Ireland will strike again to win their fight against a wage cut, Unite, the UK's biggest union, warned today.

The claim comes as council workers begin their second consecutive day of industrial action (today, Thursday, July 17th, 2008). Workers from town halls, school canteens and refuse depots across the country will again walk out in protest against a 2.5 per cent pay offer, which with inflation now at 4.6 per cent means a real terms pay cut.

Reports from Unite officials around the country show that yesterday's strike call was answered by thousands of low paid council workers, reflecting the widespread determination among the workforce to win a fair pay deal.

LONDON, July 17 /PRNewswire/ --

- .ME Domain Registration Opens its Doors at 4pm Today.

- With Photo

Web use is expected to spike at 4pm today as bloggers rush to secure the new .ME domain name extension, according to www.LCN.com, a leading UK domain registration company.

Following the likes of co.uk and .com, the domain .ME is expected to be incredibly popular with bloggers as well as businesses now able to make use of the personal web addresses, such as date.me or marry.me. Sales for the .ME domain launch are expected to rival that of the .EU launch.

“If you want to be happy for the rest of your life you need to make an ugly woman your wife,” or “if your rent is late and you might have to litigate, don’t worry, be happy,” are a few of the ways some popular singers verbalize ways to stay happy. The role that genes and environment play on happiness and the choices a person makes in life have been regularly investigated in studies involving criminals and twins.

SAO PAULO, Brazil, July 16 /PRNewswire/ --

The Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association (UNICA) welcomes the OECD Report "Economic Assessment of Biofuel Support Policies" as another major report that highlights the benefits of sugarcane ethanol in terms of greenhouse gas reduction and urges governments to level the playing field by removing trade-distorting subsidies and tariffs.

READING, Pennsylvania, July 16 /PRNewswire/ --

EnerSys (NYSE: ENS), the world's largest manufacturer, marketer and distributor of industrial batteries, announced that it has been awarded contracts for submarine batteries worth over US$13 million in recent weeks. The batteries are scheduled for delivery over the next several years.

The orders were received from HDW, the German shipbuilder, and are for the supply of submarine batteries for propulsion power on diesel electric vessels with several navies worldwide. The contracts include the supply of the batteries as well as the ongoing maintenance and technical support for the customers. The batteries will be manufactured in EnerSys' new special purpose submarine battery facility in Europe.