Health Insurance
Scientists at Singapore"s Bioprocessing Technology Institute (BTI) have made a novel discovery about how the gene, "Fas-apoptosis inhibitory molecule" (FAIM), protects both immune and liver cells from apoptosis, or programmed cell death.
Few people changed their behaviour in the early stages of the swine flu outbreak, finds a study published on bmj.com. But the results do support efforts to inform the public about specific actions that can reduce the risks from swine flu and to communicate about the government"s plans and res.
Even when she"s well, little Cammy Barber doesn"t like getting her ears
A team of University of Oregon biologists, using fruit flies, has created a way to isolate RNA from specific cells, opening a new window on how gene expression drives normal development and disease-causing breakdowns.
Pregnant women who are indigenous to the Andes Mountains deliver more blood and oxygen to their fetuses at high altitude than do women of European descent. The study helps explain why babies of Andean descent born at high altitude weigh more than European babies born at altitude.
State health officials are urging Hoosiers to take steps to protect themselves from the West Nile virus this holiday weekend. West Nile virus is transmitted by mosquitoes. Last year, there were four human cases of West Nile virus in the state, and recently, the first reported mosquito groups have tested positive for West Nile virus.
Diabetes UK has today cautioned that research claiming there is a link between certain insulins and some cancers is "inconclusive".
MPS, a leading medical protection organisation, is advising doctors on the issues they should be aware of when consulting with patients via email.
In groundbreaking research, scientists at the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth have determined that rapid estrogen administration can protect the brain following brain injury. These findings are now being tested on human trauma patients in North Texas.
Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE: WPI), a leading specialty pharmaceutical company, today announced that its subsidiary, Watson Laboratories, Inc., has received approval today from the United States Food and Drug Administration on its Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) for levonorgestrel tablets, 0.75 mg, for women seventeen years and younger. Levonorgestrel is the generic equivalent to Duramed Pharmaceuticals" PLAN B(R), which is indicated for the prevention of pregnancy following unprotected intercourse or contraceptive failure. This product is approved for prescription use only. The Company intends to market the product under the trade name Next Choice(TM) and plans to launch the product shortly. For the 12-months ending March 2009, PLAN B(R) had total U.S. sales of approximately $123 million, of which approximately ten percent are attributable to prescription sales, according to IMS sales data. PLAN B(R) over-the-counter (O.T.C.) new product exclusivity expires on August 24, 2009.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) informed in its weekly update on Friday evening, 3rd July, 2009, that the total number of confirmed human cases of swine flu A(H1N1) infection stands at 33,902, including 170 deaths.
The Health Protection Agency (HPA), UK, informed yesterday 3rd July, 2009, in its weekly update that the total number of confirmed human cases of Swine Flu A(H1N1) infection has reached 7,447. British health authorities estimate that the figure will be over 100,000 by the end of this summer.
ETH Zurich researchers have successfully created an optical transistor from a single molecule. This has brought them one step closer to an optical computer.
The British Dental Association (BDA) has responded to the publication of outline plans for the reform of NHS dentistry in England by the Conservative Party which have been released today. The plans, which are outlined in a document titled Transforming NHS dentistry, include commitments to improve access to dental care, scrap the unit of dental activity, reintroduce formal patient registration and reward preventive care given by dentists. The document also sees the Conservatives pledge to properly pilot any reforms.
A group of international experts will meet at the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) on the occasion of South Asia Day to discuss ways to achieve Millennium Development Goals 4 (reduce child mortality) and 5 (improve maternal health). This historic conference gathers together specialists in obstetrics and gynaecology, midwives, health care providers and policy makers to share experiences and discuss strategies to improve women"s health in South Asia.
New strategies to reduce maternal death in Bangladesh will be presented at the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) South Asia Day. The conference gathers together a group of international experts to discuss ways to achieve Millennium Development Goals 4 (reduce child mortality) and 5 (improve maternal health).
High profile doctors have today lent their support to the latest phase of the GMC"s licensing campaign.
A consortium of European and Australian scientists doing a genome-wide association study found three gene variants were strongly linked to
Three programs that expand the reach of palliative and end-of-life care will be recognized as the 2009 recipients of the Circle of Life Award®: Celebrating Innovation in End-of-Life Care, along with two others that were awarded citations of honor.
A new study by researchers at Rhode Island Hospital have found a substantial link between increased levels of nitrates in our environment and food, with increased deaths from diseases, including Alzheimer"s, diabetes mellitus and Parkinson"s. The study was published in the Journal of Alzheimer"s Disease (Volume 17:3 July 2009).
Power3 Medical Products, Inc. (OTCBB: PWRM), announced that results for the early stage diagnosis from clinical validation trials of the NuroPro® PD test for Parkinson"s disease are better than expected. The NuroPro PD test was developed to help clinicians distinguish patients with Parkinson"s disease from "normal" individuals and patients with other neurological disorders. The NuroPro PD test, developed by Power3, utilizes a panel of blood serum protein biomarkers evaluated by biostatistical analysis to predict the probability that a patient has Parkinson"s disease. The test is intended to solve a critical challenge facing physicians, clinicians, and patients for a quick, early stage and accurate diagnosis of the debilitating disease known as Parkinson"s.
A study of elderly patients receiving CPR in the hospital shows that rates of survival did not improve from 1992 to 2005. During that period, the proportion of hospital deaths preceded by CPR rose, and the proportion of patients who were successfully resuscitated and later discharged home fell. The researchers found that 18.3 percent of the Medicare beneficiaries age 65 and older who underwent in-hospital CPR survived to discharge.
The AP/Los Angeles Times examines Haiti"s success at reducing the number of people infected with HIV/AIDS in the country through the work of the "nonprofit groups, Boston-based Partners in Health (PIH) and Port-au-Prince"s GHESKIO, widely considered to be the world"s oldest AIDS clinic." Haiti"s HIV rate is "lower than the Bahamas, Guyana and Suriname, and much lower than sub-Saharan Africa, where the rate averages about 5 percent but spikes to 24 percent in Botswana and 33 percent in Swaziland," according to the newspaper. Still, as the article notes, Haiti"s "crisis is far from over," with varying infection rates across remote regions in the country.
A recent directive to streamline the HIV testing consent process in Massachusetts as well as consent forms "no longer hav[ing] to accompany test specimens to the lab," are bringing "the state closer to a CDC recommendation that clinicians provide HIV screening on an opt-out basis," according to a Boston Globe editorial. "The opt-out provision is at the heart" of legislation sponsored by state Sen. Patricia Jehlen (D) that would end the state"s requirement of written consent for HIV testing "and instead have healthcare providers inform patients verbally that the test is planned but that they can decline it," the editorial states, adding, "The Jehlen bill would help destigmatize HIV testing itself" (7/6).
Combining antidepressant drugs with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) does a better job of reducing symptoms of severe depression and causes less memory loss than using ECT alone, according to a new study by researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine and colleagues.
Anal cancer occurs in the anus, the end of the gastrointestinal tract. Anal cancer is very different from colorectal cancer, which is much more common. Anal cancer"s causes, risk factors, clinical progression, staging and treatment are all very different from colorectal cancer. Anal cancer is a lump which is created by the abnormal and uncontrolled growth of cells in the anus.
The Medicare Rights Center (Medicare Rights) and Food Bank For New York City (Food Bank) have joined forces to enroll poor older New York City residents in programs to help them afford health care and healthy food. Funded by a $1 million grant from the Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Foundation, the two advocacy organizations will help city seniors enroll in four under-utilized assistance programs, with a total project value to enrollees of $46 million.
"A network of health insurance plans run by the customers they serve, proposed in the U.S. Congress to offset opposition to a government-run system, may take a generation to pay off, even with $10 billion in seed money," Bloomberg reports. The co-ops, according to Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., who first floated the idea last month could lower costs, cover more Americans, and gain bipartisan support. President Obama said in late June that he was "open" to the idea.
The number of new primary care doctors each year has fallen nearly 50 percent since 1997, the Dallas Morning News reports, leaving a shortage that could hinder Congress"s ambition to reform health care and cover millions of uninsured Americans. One cause of the shortage is that primary care doctors earn less - the average pediatrician makes $171,000 compared with $480,000 for orthopedic surgeons, according to one study - but must pay back medical school debts similar to those drawn by their higher-paid colleagues. As a result the higher paid specialists outnumber primary care physicians 2 to 1 (Roberson, 7/6).
Researchers in Greece carrying out a review of cases of patients suffering symptoms ranging from mild weakness to profound muscle paralysis
HELP Is On The Way New York Times
Aine Brady, T.D., Minister for Older People, officially launched the "Directory of Services for Older People in the Stoneybatter Area".
A new treatment for Type 2 diabetes has hit the headlines today. Liraglutide (Victoza), a once-daily injectable treatment for Type 2 diabetes, is pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk"s latest brain child.
Downing between eight and 14 units of alcohol a week boosts the total number of days spent in hospital, finds research published ahead of print in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.
The first findings from a one-of-a-kind, patient-driven effort to provide lung tissue for research might help doctors predict when patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) are becoming dangerously ill and also could point the way to interventions that could sustain them until life-saving transplants can be performed.
A study comparing how two common dietary oil supplements affect body composition suggests that both oils, by themselves, can lower body fat in obese postmenopausal women with Type 2 diabetes.
CanBas Co., Ltd. (Numazu, Shizuoka, "CanBas") and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (Osaka, "Takeda") together with Takeda"s wholly-owned subsidiary Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Company (Cambridge, MA, "Millennium") announced the advancement of CBP501 into Phase II clinical trials for the treatment of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Current pre-clinical data suggest that CBP501 has the potential to induce cancer cell death through a mechanism of action that blocks the ability of cancer cells to transition through the cell cycle. Data from a previous Phase I study indicate that CBP501 may enhance anti-cancer cytotoxic activity when combined with selected chemotherapeutic drugs.
The Stanford University School of Medicine will host its fifth annual Bipolar Education Day on July 25. Individuals with bipolar disorder, their families, caregivers, friends and interested community members are invited to attend.
Covidien (NYSE: COV), a leading global provider of healthcare products, announced that Health Canada has approved the Company"s Abbreviated New Drug Submission (ANDS) for its Kit for the Preparation of Technetium Tc 99m Sestamibi Injection. Covidien"s generic product is fully substitutable for Cardiolite®, a myocardial perfusion imaging agent used for detecting coronary artery disease.
With the first innings of the Ashes commencing this week, celebrity TV
Pharmasset, Inc. (Nasdaq: VRUS) announced the nomination of PSI-352938 ("PSI-938") as a lead development candidate from two series of purine analogs for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. PSI-938 is a proprietary nucleotide analog polymerase inhibitor of HCV that is being advanced into studies required for submission of an Investigational New Drug (IND) application with the FDA or equivalent foreign regulatory application.
On the eve of the G8 Summit in Italy, the International Treatment Preparedness Coalition (ITPC) calls on leaders of the world"s richest countries to announce significant additional funds to ensure that AIDS treatment and prevention programs for millions of men, women and children do not become a casualty of the economic down-turn.
The common cold is the most pervasive recurring illness on earth.
The word malaria comes from 18th century Italian mala meaning "bad" and aria meaning "air". Most likely, the term was first used by Dr. Francisco Torti, Italy, when people thought the disease was caused by foul air in marshy areas. It was not until 1880 that scientists discovered that malaria was a parasitic disease which is transmitted by the anopheles mosquito. The mosquito infects the host with a one-cell parasite called plasmodium. Not long after they found out that Malaria is transmitted from human-to-human through the bite of the female mosquito, which needs blood for her eggs.
Despite some roadblocks, Senate Democrats are trying to hold true to their pledge to pass health care reform legislation by the August recess, Roll Call reports.
NPR reports on the struggle of Alzheimer"s patients who don"t have health insurance trying to find ways to pay for their care and lobby for greater protections for themselves.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced a regulation expected to prevent each year 79,000 cases of foodborne illness and 30 deaths caused by consumption of eggs contaminated with the bacterium Salmonella enteritidis.
Michael R. Taylor, J.D., a nationally recognized food safety expert and research professor at George Washington University"s School of Public Health and Health Services, will return to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to serve as senior advisor to the commissioner.
The Wall Street Journal examines the "strategic shift in the $770 billion pharmaceutical industry to target the working poor in the developing world" through the eyes of a Pfizer pharmaceutical representative working in the slums overlooking Caracas, Venezuela. The newspaper writes: "For the first time in a half-century, sales of prescription drugs are forecast to decline this year in the U.S., historically the industry"s biggest and most profitable market ò€¦ As a result, developing countries ò€¦ have begun to look more attractive to the industry."
Current combination malaria therapies recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) provide adequate treatment for mild malaria, according to a Cochrane Systematic Review of the evidence. However, selected trials had high failure rates for some combinations and evidence for the effectiveness of anti-malarial therapies is lacking in some vulnerable groups.
Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX) announced positive outcomes from a substudy of patients with left main coronary disease who were treated with the TAXUS(R) Express2(R) Paclitaxel-Eluting Coronary Stent System. SYNTAX-LE MANS is a substudy of the landmark SYNTAX trial, the first randomized, controlled clinical trial to compare percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) using the TAXUS Stent to coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery in patients with left main disease and/or significant narrowing of all three coronary arteries (three-vessel disease). The substudy data were presented by A. Pieter Kappetein, M.D., Ph.D., at the annual EuroPCR Scientific Program in Barcelona.
When soldiers leave base for a 3-day mission, how much water should they bring? Military planners and others have long wrestled with that question, but new research from the Journal of Applied Physiology may now provide them an accurate answer.
Progressive resistance strength training not only helps older adults become stronger but also makes their everyday life easier, a Cochrane Review suggests.
Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) may relieve symptoms in the treatment of endometriosis. A systematic review by Cochrane Researchers found some evidence that women had comparable benefits following laparoscopic surgery and suffered fewer adverse effects if they were given Chinese herbs compared with conventional drug treatments.
The Rosetta Stone of bacterial communication may have been found.
Stressing out can cause people to gain weight, according to a study appearing in the July 15 issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology. This new study is believed to be one of the first of its kind to look at the relationship between weight gain and multiple types of stress - job-related demands, difficulty paying bills, strained family relationships, depression or anxiety disorder - in the U.S. population.
Hyperion Therapeutics announced that it has reached agreement with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under the Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) process for the pivotal Phase III trial of investigational product HPN-100 (glycerol phenylbutyrate) in adults with urea cycle disorders (UCD). The SPA is a written agreement between the trial sponsor and the FDA regarding the design, endpoints, and planned statistical analysis of the Phase III trial to be used in support of a New Drug Application (NDA).
SMOKING CESSATION MAY PROVIDE IMMEDIATE BENEFIT TO HEART
Surgical teams at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, INTEGRIS Baptist Medical Center in Oklahoma City and Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit successfully completed the first eight-way, multihospital, domino kidney transplant. The transplant involved eight donors -3 men and 5 women along with eight organ recipients - 3 men and 5 women. "All Johns Hopkins patients are in good condition and are recovering as anticipated," according to Robert A. Montgomery, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Johns Hopkins Comprehensive Transplant Center.
Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX) announced the launch of the platinum chromium TAXUS(R) Element(TM) Paclitaxel-Eluting Coronary Stent System in select markets worldwide. The TAXUS Element Stent features a new platinum chromium alloy engineered specifically for coronary stent applications and represents the Company"s third-generation drug-eluting stent (DES) technology.
A Purdue University scientist has discovered a key process in cell growth that can lead to the formation of tumors.
MEDRAD Interventional(TM)/Possis(R) announced that it has reached key milestones in bringing the Paccocath(R) Technology closer to market as an option for the over 14 million patients in the United States and Europe who suffer from Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD). These milestones include the selection of physician investigators for U.S. clinical trials and the completion of a new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility.
University of Texas at San Antonio Assistant Professor of Psychology Rebekah Smith has been awarded a five-year, $1 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to study adult memory. To conduct the research, beginning in July, Smith will be recruiting younger adult volunteers aged 18-30 and older adults, aged 60 and above.
Pluronic surfactants are synthetic copolymers based on ethylene oxide and propylene oxide. It has been reported that a nonionic L-81, effectively inhibits absorption of dietary lipids from the intestine and secretion of VLDL and LDL from the liver. Although L-81 is a potent anti-obesity drug, its potential in alleviating obesity-induced insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes has not been fully explored.
A new study from the US suggests that travel is linked to a higher risk of developing a deep vein thrombosis (DVT), also known as a venous
Iatrogenic perforation of cancer of the esophagus or the gastroesophageal (GE) junction is a severe complication. Its incidence has increased most likely because of more aggressive palliative endoscopic therapy and the current widespread use of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) for accurate preoperative staging. Therapy, i.e. conservative versus surgical treatment remains controversial.
Predicting whether pregnancy complications affect long-term maternal health as well as future pregnancies is at the heart of two studies conducted by researchers in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at Yale School of Medicine.
Eisai Corporation of North America announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted for review the company"s supplemental new drug application (sNDA) for an alternative five-day dosing regimen for Dacogen(R) (decitabine for injection) to treat patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). MDS is a potentially life-threatening group of bone marrow diseases that limit the production of functional blood cells.
The Narconon drug rehab program has noticed a trend of many drug addicts being involved with drug related charges due to their addiction. "You can have the everyday functioning addict who is battling a drug addiction, and just one day gets caught by police for possession of a small amount," comments Nick Hayes, a representative of Narconon Trois-Rivieres. "This is an all too common situation for many people who are involved in a drug addiction." More people are using illicit drugs in Canada, in fact Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, Canada, where the Narconon drug rehab program is located, is one of the leading cities in Canada for drug crimes. "There are so many youth in Trois-Rivieres who are addicted to different drugs like speed, ecstasy, marijuana, and even cocaine. These teens get caught up with the law and start heading down the wrong path at a very young age," says Nick.
The American Society of Nuclear Cardiology will host its 14th Annual Scientific Session October 1 - 4, 2009 in Minneapolis, MN. Imaging specialists from around the world will gather at ASNC2009 to discuss the meeting"s theme - "Quality and Patient-Centered Outcomes in Cardiac Imaging."
New research reveals around 22 million people suffered back pain in the last year - just under half of all UK adults (45 percent)[1]. More than one in four UK adults - nearly 13 million people - suffered from knee pain in the last year. Over 80 percent of the people with back or knee pain still suffer some pain after undergoing treatment recommended by a healthcare professional. Bupa is making APOS Treatment for knee and lower back pain available in the UK for the first time. The breakthrough treatment can eliminate the need for prescription pain relief for seven out of 10 people[2].
Scientists in Japan are reporting development of a faster, less expensive version of the fabled polymerase chain reaction (PCR), a DNA test widely used in criminal investigations, disease diagnosis, biological research and other applications. The new method could lead to expanded use of PCR in medicine, the criminal justice system and elsewhere, the researchers say. Their study is scheduled for the July 15 issue of Analytical Chemistry, a semi-monthly journal.
The IFPMA was invited to attend a special session of the United Nations (UN) in Geneva on health in Africa and other least developed countries, organized by the UN Economic and Social Commission (ECOSOC). Michael D. Boyd, Acting Director General of the IFPMA, gave a briefing on the research-based pharmaceutical industry"s contribution to improving health in the developing world, speaking to an audience which included foreign ministers of UN Member States and senior UN officials.
As Ministers of Natural Res and Health, we are disappointed with AECL"s announcement of delays to the repair of the National Research Universal Reactor (NRU) at Chalk River. We wish to be clear to Canadians. The unplanned shutdown of the NRU will result in a significant shortage of medical isotopes in Canada and in the world this summer.
Researchers in London have demonstrated the ability of adult stem cells from bone marrow (mesenchymal stem cells, or MSCs) to deliver a cancer-killing protein to tumors.
The Elephant In The Room On Health Care Minneapolis Star Tribune
Researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that survival among women with ovarian cancer is influenced by age of menarche and total number of lifetime ovulatory cycles.
For the first time, an international group of researchers has found genetic evidence linking schizophrenia to a specific region of DNA - on chromosome 6. This is the same area where key genes for immune function are located. The LSUHSC research team was led by Nancy Buccola, APRN, PMH CNS-BC, Assistant Professor of Clinical Nursing at LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans, who also coordinated the ten clinical sites. The work, Common variants on chromosome 6p22.1 are associated with schizophrenia, along with two related papers, is published in the July 1, 2009 issue of the journal Nature.
Adverse work conditions may be to blame for the decline in the number of primary care physicians nationwide, according to a study published in the latest issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
With appointment waiting periods stretching as long as three-months to see a psychiatrist, Delaware County patients often don"t know where to turn for "best in class" mental health services. This barrier to care is further compounded by the fact that 67 percent of primary care physicians nationwide have trouble accessing mental health services on behalf of their patients.
An independent external validation of QRISK® (http://www.qrisk.org) - a new score for predicting a person"s risk of heart disease - has shown that it performs better than the existing test and should be recommended for use in the United Kingdom by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE).
Elsevier, a world-leading publisher of scientific, technical and medical information products and services, is pleased to announce that PM&R - The journal of injury, function and rehabilitation, the official scientific journal of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AAPM&R), has been accepted for coverage by MEDLINE, just six months after its launch in January 2009.
Inpatients at Southampton"s teaching hospitals are to be offered advice on lifestyle and weight management as part of a radical new project. Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust"s pharmacy team has invented an innovative plan to tackle obesity during routine risk assessments for venous thromboembolism (VTE), better known as blood clots.
Saudi Arabia"s warning to elderly Muslims, pregnant women and children against undertaking Hajj/Umrah pilgrimage this year in view of rapidly spreading swine flu worldwide sent a shock wave amongst Muslim community in Britain.
The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection is notifying consumers about a voluntary recall announced by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. The recalled Jaloma Pacifiers were sold in retail stores in New Jersey and New York from February 2008 through March 2009, for approximately $1.00. Although not sold in Connecticut stores, this recalled product may have been purchased while visiting the above noted states or may have been sent to Connecticut as a gift. The pacifiers were manufactured in Mexico and imported by Gromex Inc., of Passaic, New Jersey. Although no injuries and/or incidents have been reported, the potential for injury is high due to the pacifier mouth guard and the ventilation holes are too small and fail to meet federal safety standards, for this reason, the pacifier poses a choking hazard to young children.
Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. announced the successful treatment of the first patient of its IDE feasibility trial. The case, which was performed at The Ohio State University Center for Minimally Invasive Surgery, marks the first natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) procedure involving the company"s investigational devices. NOTES is a surgical method in which external incisions are eliminated, potentially leading to reduced pain, a quicker recovery and a faster return to normal activities for the patient.
MAP Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: MAPP) announced that it has received a notice of termination of the license agreement with AstraZeneca related to the company"s Unit Dose Budesonide (UDB) product candidate. The termination was received on July 8, 2009, effective immediately. All rights licensed to AstraZeneca in the agreement now revert to the company. MAP Pharmaceuticals plans to suspend development of UDB, which did not meet primary endpoints in a Phase 3 trial in children 12-months to eight years of age with mild asthma.
Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: AMLN) announced positive results from a 28-week dose-ranging study of pramlintide/metreleptin, a combination treatment comprising pramlintide, an analog of the natural hormone amylin, and metreleptin, an analog of the natural hormone leptin, in overweight and obese patients. This Phase 2 study successfully characterized patients who responded best to treatment and also provided important information to inform dose selection.
Life Spine announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given 510(k) marketing clearance to the FS3 Minimally Invasive Spinal System.
In response to a recent increase in media interest in lupus, the Lupus Foundation of America (LFA) is providing a fact sheet about the disease.
A potential vaccine for Alzheimer"s disease also has been shown in mice to slow the weakening of muscles associated with inclusion body myositis, a disorder that affects the elderly.
ZyGEM Corp. Ltd., a provider of innovative enzyme-based products for DNA extraction and other life sciences applications, today announced the availability of a new application note documenting that its prepGEM(R) Bacteria DNA extraction kit is capable of producing high quality, ready-to-analyze DNA from a broad range of bacterial species, including mixed or unknown sample types. This addresses an important unmet need --current DNA extraction methods typically require the use of different enzymes for each type of bacteria tested. The prepGEM(R) Bacteria kit also uses a single closed-tube system that reduces extraction time and cost while protecting the sample from contamination and making the kit easily adaptable for automation.
A study just published on bmj.com concludes that the defects in a particular gene known as the filaggrin gene are linked to a considerably amplified risk of developing allergic disorders such as eczema, rhinitis, and asthma.
The International Diabetes Federation (IDF), the International Union Against Cancer (UICC) and the World Heart Federation (WHF) called today on the UN"s Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) to take immediate action to avert the fastest growing threat by non-communicable diseases (NCDs) to global health.
The Government of Canada announced changes to reduce regulatory burden and encourage innovation and competitiveness in the seed sector. Amendments to the Seeds Regulations will create a more flexible variety registration system with reduced regulation while continuing to maintain the integrity of seed certification and environmental, food, and feed safety.
Pharmaceutical firm Biogen Idec announced that the American drug watchdog the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Fast Track designation for its multiple sclerosis (MS) drug PEGylated interferon beta-1a (BIIB017).
In a bid to reduce levels of undiagnosed HIV, HIV and sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust (THT), Positive East and NHS Tower Hamlets are encouraging people who may have been at risk to attend a local service offering fast HIV testing. A "Fastest" clinic runs at Mile End Road every Tuesday from 6pm-9pm and there is also a monthly mobile clinic at venues across the borough.
"As Congress wrangles with overhauling the health care system, there is one population not being discussed. No proposal for a national health plan would cover the nation"s estimated 11 million illegal immigrants," NPR reports. But "analysts say the notion that illegal immigrants drain the health system is overblown. Simply figuring out how many undocumented immigrants lack insurance is not easy," although the Lewin Group has estimated that the number is about 6.1 million, which is "only about half the total population of undocumented immigrants." John Sheils of the Lewin Group "says many illegal immigrants use false documents to work on the books, with regular tax deductions and benefits."
A focus on end-of-life care emphasizes social and spiritual elements over aggressive medical intervention.
Changing Humanitarian Messaging Could Save More People
Athletic injuries can derail any player"s ability to compete, but for a baseball pitcher his shoulder strength and control is critical. A new study to be presented at the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine"s (AOSSM) Annual Meeting in Keystone, Colorado, suggests that testing a pitcher"s shoulder strength through a series of exercises during the preseason may help create a focused strength training program to prevent serious injury during the season.
A new study shows that patients who use workplace primary care and pharmacy services have higher adherence rates to medications for chronic conditions, suggesting that by investing in integrated workplace health and pharmacy programs companies can realize health care savings while also improving patient outcomes.
As soccer continues to grow in popularity, injuries to soccer players are likely to increase as well. Certain injuries fall into gender-based patterns and new research at Hospital for Special Surgery suggests some underlying causes that could help lead to better treatment, or even prevention for present and future soccer stars.
Following today"s announcement that President Obama nominated Dr. Thomas Frieden to head the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the Center for Consumer Freedom"s Senior Research Analyst, J. Justin Wilson, released the following statement:
Daiichi Sankyo, Inc. and Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Effient(TM) (prasugrel) tablets for the reduction of thrombotic cardiovascular events (including stent thrombosis) in patients with acute coronary syndromes who are managed with an artery-opening procedure known as percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). PCI usually includes the placement of a stent to help keep the artery open.
LifeBridge Health in Baltimore, Maryland is one of the few heath care systems with computerized records that can now be accessed across our whole system, which includes two acute hospitals, one sub-acute hospital and two nursing homes.
Whether having fun, staying in shape or pushing your physical capacity to the extreme, the summer is a great time to enjoy your physical health and move more. Swimming and training for or participating in a marathon or triathalon can be rewarding activities -- and can stay fun with the proper preparation and form. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) offers summer athletes the following safety tips.
UroToday.com - Dietary micronutrients are a common component of people"s diet as they seek to prevent cancer and other diseases. Micronutrients protect against cellular oxidative damage by neutralizing oxygen free radicals. In the May 2009 issue of Cancer Prevention Research, Dr. VasundaraVenkateswaran and associates tested the effects and timing of the micronutrients vitamin E (E), selenium (S), and lycopene (L) on the development of prostate cancer (CaP) in the Lady transgenic model.
Twenty people in California were arrested on Thursday "in a $4.6-million Medi-Cal fraud scheme that law enforcement officials allege used unlicensed individuals to provide in-home nursing care for disabled patients," The Los Angeles Times reports. "About 75 patients, many of them children with cerebral palsy or developmental disabilities, were treated at home or at school by the unlicensed individuals who stole identities to pose as licensed nurses, according to the United States Attorney"s office." Those arrested "are among 42 defendants named in a 41-count indictment," in what United States Attorney Thomas O"Brien calls "the largest single case alleging Medi-Cal fraud ever filed in the state of California" (Abdulrahim, 7/9).
The Los Angeles Times and the New York Times recently published opinion pieces examining issues related to international women"s health. Summaries appear below.~ Michelle Goldberg, Los Angeles Times: The solution to addressing issues of over-population and under-population in various parts of the world is "giving women more control over their fertility and their lives," Goldberg, author of "The Means of Reproduction: Sex, Power and the Future of the World," writes in a Times opinion piece. Goldberg says that both problems are "symptoms of countries" failures to meet women"s needs." Citing United Nations data, Goldberg writes that the world"s population is growing at an "unsustainable" rate of 78 million people annually, and it will probably continue to increase by 70 million or 75 million annually through 2020. Almost all of that growth will occur in developing countries, she says. "The ethical and effective way to counter rapid population growth is to bolster women"s rights and improve their access to family planning," as well as access to education, Goldberg writes, adding that "study after study has found that girls who go to school marry later and have fewer, healthier children." Meanwhile, some developed countries -- including Japan, Russia, Italy and Spain -- are seeing a decline in birth rates, a fact that some social conservatives are using "to argue for restrictions on women"s rights." According to Goldberg, "Fertility is reaching dangerously low levels in countries where social attitudes and institutions haven"t caught up with women"s desire to combine work and family. When faced with men who are unwilling to share domestic burdens, inflexible workplaces and day-care shortages, many women respond by having fewer children." However, "when societies make it possible for women to combine having children with pursuing their other ambitions, fertility rates are fine," Goldberg says. She adds, "Give women freedom and support, and they will find reproductive equilibrium, so that when societies do shrink or grow, they do so in a manageable way" (Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, 5/17).~ Nicholas Kristof, New York Times: About 500,000 women "die annually from complications related to pregnancy or childbirth without attracting much interest because the victims are typically among the most voiceless people in the world: impoverished, rural, uneducated and female," Kristof writes in a Times opinion piece. He adds, "It"s no mystery how to save the lives of pregnant women; what"s lacking is the will and res." Kristof writes that Sierra Leone, which has the highest maternal mortality rate in the world, "is now making progress with the help of the United Nations Population Fund." Former President George W. Bush cut off U.S. funding for UNFPA, but President Obama has restored the funding. Kristof adds that a bill (H.R. 1410) that would "establish American leadership in this area ... has attracted pathetically little attention." He continues that if the lives of women in West Africa "were a priority, there would be many simple ways to keep them alive," such as providing them with bed nets to help protect against malaria or iron tablets to fight anemia at a cost of "just a few dollars" (Kristof, New York Times, 5/17).
The Natural Orifice Surgery Consortium for Assessment and Research® (NOSCAR®), a joint effort of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) and the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES), has announced Olympus" continuing commitment to funding research in an emerging minimally invasive transdisciplinary therapy known as Natural Orifice Translumenal Endoscopic Surgery®, with a $250,000 grant to the existing Olympus Research Fund supporting NOTES® research. This grant increases Olympus" total funding to $1.25 million.
A new Mayo Clinic study may help physicians differentially diagnose three common neurodegenerative disorders in the future. The study was presented at the Alzheimer"s Association International Conference on Alzheimer"s Disease on July 11 in Vienna.
New results may help scientists develop treatments for women with a type of breast cancer that currently does not respond to targeted therapies.
Telomeres, the repetitive sequences of DNA at the ends of linear chromosomes, have an important function: They protect vulnerable chromosome ends from molecular attack. Researchers at Rockefeller University now show that telomeres have their own weakness. They resemble unstable parts of the genome called fragile sites where DNA replication can stall and go awry. But what keeps our fragile telomeres from falling apart is a protein that ensures the smooth progression of DNA replication to the end of a chromosome.
A new study in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) reports that the number of prescriptions in Canada for cardiovascular medications has been increasing over the last ten years. There has been a 200 percent increase in costs. Overall costs of cardiovascular medications exceeded $5 billion in 2006. And statins accounted for nearly 40 percent of the expenditure.
Researchers in the US found that the destructive cellular pathways that occur following traumatic brain injury are the same as those activated in
Taller men are able to earn more money than their shorter counterparts simply because taller people are perceived to be more intelligent and powerful, this according to a study published in The Economic Record by Wiley-Blackwell.