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Environmental Factors Instruct Lineage Choice Of Blood Progenitor Cells
The research team led by Dr. Timm Schroeder, stem cell researcher at Helmholtz Zentrum MÃønchen, has developed a new bioimaging method for observing the differentiation of hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPC) at the single-cell level. With this method the researchers were able to prove for the first time that not only cell-intrinsic mechanisms, but also external environmental factors such as growth factors can control HPC lineage choice directly. The findings, published in the current issue of the prestigious journal Science, provide an essential building block for understanding the molecular mechanisms of hematopoiesis and are an important prerequisite for optimizing therapeutic stem cell applications.
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Study Shows GSK's Novel Diabetes Treatment SYNCRIA(R) (albiglutide) Improves Glucose Control And Reduces Weight
New Phase II data presented at the American Diabetes Association 69th Scientific Sessions in New Orleans show that the investigational type 2 diabetes treatment Syncria(R) (albiglutide) significantly reduced blood glucose levels and provided weight loss across weekly, biweekly and monthly dosing. Reducing blood sugar is a key part of managing type 2 diabetes, a disease that affects over 250 million people worldwide.
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HIMSS Electronic Health Record Association Supports Achievable 'Meaningful Use' Criteria In Comments To ONC
The Electronic Health Records Association (EHR Association) has made specific recommendations to the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) on measurable criteria for achieving "meaningful use" of electronic health records (EHRs), as called for in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). The Association specifically calls for 2011 objectives to be based on software and standards that are currently deployed and implemented, with a focus on adoption and use of comprehensive EHRs and recognition of the need for differences between inpatient and ambulatory meaningful use criteria.
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California Medical Association Supports Senate Move To Expand Health Care Coverage

The California Medical Association applauded the U.S. Senate Finance Committee for producing a thoughtful analysis of ways to expand the nation"s health care coverage. The committee"s paper, titled "Expanding Health Care Coverage: Proposals to Provide Affordable Coverage to All Americans," includes certain market reforms that all participating health plans would be required to participate in. "In California, doctors have long argued for a system that provides universal access to health care," said Dr. Dev GnanaDev, a trauma surgeon who is president of CMA. "Expanding coverage is a start, but does not necessarily translate into patients having access to doctors when they need it, a critical component of people staying healthy and checking rising health care costs." A critical piece of expanding access to care will be insurance reform. CMA supports the paper"s proposal for a Health Insurance Exchange, a government-coordinated pool of health insurance plans for consumers to purchase from, as long as it ensures patient choice by providing enough plans to facilitate competition and keep cost down. Although the Exchange would be part of national reform, the plans must be held accountable to the laws in states where they sell their insurance products. For example, in California, the Knox Keene Act offers robust protections, such as requiring health plans to assist patients in their primary language and provide breast cancer screening, whereas federal law does not. CMA has been a constant advocate for insurance plans to have a minimum medical loss ratio, spending at least 85% of health care premiums on patient care. Such a standard would help lower health care costs by ensuring more health care dollars go to health care, not administrative costs or profits. The paper also outlines the role of public programs, such as Medicaid, and discusses their expansion to cover low-income families. Any expansion of current public programs must address the shortcomings of current programs which hinder access to health care for their enrollees. As we"ve seen in California, the failure to fully fund Medi-Cal has led to well-documented shortages of providers, many of whom simply cannot afford to participate more vigorously in the program. (Click here to see Los Angeles Times, March 24, 2008) This has left patients struggling to get access to care. Any expansion to a these programs must have appropriate funding to ensure real access to a doctor. The committee is scheduled to release a separate paper detailing financing options in coming weeks. The California Medical Association


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