UNICEF Data Shows Global Child Deaths Now Below 9M Annually, Progress Not Enough To Achieve MDG In Most Regions

The annual number of deaths among children younger than five worldwide "has fallen below nine million" compared with 12.5 million in 1990, according to new data from UNICEF, the New York Times reports. "That's 10,000 less children dying per day," Ann Veneman, UNICEF's executive director, said.

DIY For Plants: Getting Plants To Rid Themselves Of Pesticide Residues

Scientists in China are reporting the "intriguing" discovery that a natural plant hormone, applied to crops, can help plants eliminate residues of certain pesticides. The study is scheduled for the Sept. 23 issue of ACS' Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, a bi-weekly publication.

QuatRx Announces Positive Results Of Second Pivotal Phase 3 Clinical Study For Ophena(TM) (Ospemifene Tablets)

QuatRx Pharmaceuticals Company, a privately-held biopharmaceutical company, announced positive efficacy results from the second of two patient cohorts in the second pivotal Phase 3 study for Ophena(TM) (ospemifene tablets), the company's investigational compound in development for the treatment of postmenopausal vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA).

Obama Outlines Health Reform Plan In Speech To Congress

Saying that "[n]ow is the season for action," President Obama used Wednesday's address before a joint session of Congress to outline his proposals for reforming the U.S. health care system, the Los Angeles Times reports (Parsons et al., Los Angeles Times, 9/10).

Prototype NIST Method Detects And Measures Elusive Hazards

A chemist at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has demonstrated a relatively simple, inexpensive method for detecting and measuring elusive hazards such as concealed explosives and toxins, invisible spoilage in food or pesticides distributed in soil by wind and rain.

DrugScope Street Drug Trends 2009: Falling Illegal Drug Quality 'Accelerates Trend' In Users Combining Different Drugs

A downward trend in the quality of illegal drugs on the UK's street drug market could be driving changes in patterns of drug use, with users increasingly interchanging or combining a range of low quality drugs, according to DrugScope's 2009 Street Drug Trends Survey.

Andromeda Biotech Successfully Completes Patient Recruitment In Phase III Trials For Its Lead Drug, "DiaPep277" For Type 1 Diabetes

Andromeda Biotech Ltd. announces that it has completed patient recruitment in its' current Phase III study using DiaPep277 for the treatment of Type 1 diabetes. The current clinical study includes 456 patients and is being conducted at 40 medical centers in Europe, South Africa, and Israel.

Can-Fite Announces Positive Results From Its Psoriasis Phase II Trial With CF101

Can-Fite BioPharma (TASE:CFBI), a biotechnology company traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, an Israeli Biopharmaceutical company, announced today that its 75-patient Phase II clinical study with CF101 to treat patients with moderate to severe Psoriasis has successfully met its primary objectives.

The Benefits Of Community Gardens

Urban residents across the United States have dug in to create green spaces in their neighborhoods, transforming vacant lots into colorful and crowd-pleasing community gardens. According to the American Community Gardening Association, there were an estimated 150,000 community gardens in the U.S. in 2004.

Advances In Wound Care Highlighted, England

A University of Wolverhampton lecturer is organising a national conference for academics and frontline medical staff working in wound management. Dr Claire Martin from the University's School of Applied Sciences is chairing the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB) event this month.

Society To Host A Masterclass For Licensing Herbal Medicines

In today's age many people are looking to herbal remedies as a natural and alternative form of medication to relieve illnesses and maintain good health, but various EU guidelines make it very difficult to register a traditional herbal medicinal product (THMP) in Europe.

Health Bills Might Not Protect Some Needy Americans, Experts Say

KHN explores whether pending Democratic health proposals would protect low- and moderate-income earners from excess financial burdens. "Patrick Gilbert, an uninsured lumber company worker in upstate New York, is in a predicament that President Barack Obama and congressional Democrats believe they can solve.

NHS Budget Cuts Demand New Thinking, UK

Simon Knighton, Chief Executive of The Expert Patient Programme Community Interest Company (EPP CIC) said: "Cuts to NHS funding seem inevitable in the face of the current economic situation, particularly when coupled with the Government's massive investment into the banking system and economy.

Transgenomic And Power3 Medical Report Identification Of Abnormal Serum Proteins In Parkinson's Disease

Transgenomic, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: TBIO) and Power3 Medical Products, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: PWRM) announced the advance on-line publication of a clinical research paper entitled "Abnormal Serum Concentrations of Proteins in Parkinson's Disease" in the scientific journal Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications.

Nitec Pharma Reports Positive And Highly Significant Phase III Results From Capra-2 Study Of Lodotra(TM) In RA

Nitec Pharma AG ("Nitec" or "Nitec Pharma"), a Switzerland-based specialty pharma company focused on the development and commercialization of medicines to treat chronic inflammation and pain-related diseases, announced positive results from the second pivotal phase III trial for its lead product, Lodotra(TM).

House Protection With Mosquito Screening Reduces Malaria And Anaemia In Children

An article published Online First and in a future edition of The Lancet reports that protecting houses with screening measures can substantially decrease both the numbers of malaria-carrying mosquitoes and the occurrence of anaemia related to malaria in children leaving in those homes.

AMCP Past President, FMCP Trustee John Hopkins Retires As CEO Of Rocky Mountain Health Plans

John Hopkins, R.Ph., a past president of the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) and current trustee of the Foundation for Managed Care Pharmacy (FMCP), recently retired as CEO of Rocky Mountain Health Plans (RMHP). As head of the Grand Junction, Colo.

Three Federal Agencies Join With Sesame Workshop To Launch National PSA Campaign Stressing Healthy Habits To Prevent H1N1 Flu Infection

The Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Education and Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational organization behind Sesame Street, have teamed up to launch a new, national public service advertising campaign designed to encourage American c

Election Date Set For Kennedy's Replacement; Dodd Ponders Political Future

A special election for Kennedy's vacant Senate seat is scheduled for Jan. 19, leaving candidates little time to prepare their campaigns. "Amid fevered speculation about possible contenders for Senator Edward M. Kennedy's seat, Gov. Deval Patrick on Monday scheduled a special election for Jan.

Cutting 'Hidden' Salt Could Lower Nation's Blood Pressure

Many people think twice before adding a dash of salt to their food, but don't realize that the majority of dietary sodium comes from packaged foods and eating out, according to a new study. Reducing sodium intake to recommended levels could result in 11.

Scientists Identify Gene That Predicts Post-surgical Survival From Brain Metastasis Of Breast Cancer Patients

Researchers at the National Cancer Institute have identified a gene that may play a role in breast cancer metastasis to the brain, according to a report in Molecular Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research. Diane Palmieri, Ph.D.

Primary Angioplasty May Be More Effective Than Thrombolysis In Very Elderly Patients With AMI: Results From The TRIANA Trial

Primary angioplasty is superior to thrombolysis in the treatment of very old patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), according to results from the TRIANA (TRatamiento del Infarto Agudo de miocardio eN Ancianos*) study, a randomised trial sponsored by the Spanish Society of Cardiology.

Recently Published Study Demonstrates Pharmacokinetic Advantages Of ENDOMETRIN(R) Over Crinone(R) For Progesterone Supplementation

Endometrin(R) (progesterone) Vaginal Inserts, 100 mg showed clear advantages over Crinone* (progesterone gel) for progesterone supplementation, according to the results of a new pharmacokinetic (PK) study. Progesterone is necessary to increase endometrial receptivity for implantation of an embryo and to support early pregnancy.

Swift And Accurate Breast Biopsies Via Full-Field Digital Mammography

Patients of the Mammography Department at NHS Fife's Queen Margaret Hospital are now benefitting from faster treatment due to the installation of a Full-Field Direct Digital Mammography system from Siemens Healthcare. The MAMMOMAT Inspiration™ includes a stereotactic biopsy attachment and syngo® MammoReport workstation.

Advanced Life Sciences' Restanza Demonstrates Efficacy In Treating Anthrax Infection

Advanced Life Sciences Holdings, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: ADLS), announced positive results from an animal study involving its novel, once-a-day, oral antibiotic Restanza(TM) (cethromycin) that was conducted to measure Restanza's therapeutic efficacy in treating inhalation anthrax after symptoms of infection had developed.

Red Cross Shelters Wildfire Evacuees, California

The American Red Cross is on the scene offering evacuees a safe place to stay as wildfires in California force people from their homes and scorch thousands of acres. Overnight, nearly 200 people took refuge from the smoke and fire in Red Cross shelters.

President's Approval Rating Drops To 50 Percent, GOP Poll Says Reform Less Popular Than In 1994

President Obama's approval ratings dropped to 50 percent in a Gallup Poll released Thursday, his lowest rate so far, The Los Angeles Times reports. "The new low for Obama compares with his peak public job approval rating of 69 percent after his inauguration in January.

Pressure On G20 Leader To Tax Financial Transactions For Aid Money Intensifies

G20 finance ministers meeting in London next Friday, ahead of a G20 meeting in Pittsburgh, "will face concerted pressure to introduce a tax on financial transactions as a coalition of anti-poverty campaigners aim to force the issue onto the agenda," the Guardian reports.

Integrated Environmental Technologies, Ltd. Announces EcaFlo(R) Anolyte (Excelyte(R)) Effective Against Swine Flu (H1N1)

Integrated Environmental Technologies, Ltd. (OTCBB: IEVM) announces the successful results of IET's EcaFlo® Anolyte solution, marketed as Excelyte®, against Swine Influenza (H1N1). Specific testing performed by Microbiotest Labs of Sterling, Virginia concluded that Excelyte® is efficacious against the microorganism which causes Swine Flu.

Genzyme's Campath Meets Primary Endpoint In Phase 3 Combination Therapy Trial For Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Genzyme Corporation (Nasdaq: GENZ) announced today that its randomized Phase 3 clinical trial investigating Campath® (alemtuzumab) in combination with Fludara® (fludarabine phosphate) in relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients met its primary endpoint by demonstrating a significant improvement in progression free survival (PFS).

Small Business Leaders Say Affordability Is Key To Health Reform

NPR reports: "Under various health care overhaul bills on Capitol Hill, small-business owners would be required to insure themselves. Amanda Austin, director of federal public policy for the National Federation of Independent Business, says affordability is the key if the government mandates health coverage.

Molecule Responsible For Axonal Branching Discovered By MDC Researchers

The human brain consists of about 100 billion (1011) neurons, which altogether form about 100 trillion (1014) synaptic connections with each other. A crucial mechanism for the generation of this complex wiring pattern is the formation of neuronal branches. The neurobiologists Dr. Hannes Schmidt and Professor Fritz G.

Single-Molecule Tests Help Scientists Address Long-Standing Questions

The tools of biochemistry have finally caught up with lactose repressor protein. Biologists from Rice University in Houston and the University of Florence in Italy this week published new results about "lac repressor," which was the first known genetic regulatory protein when discovered in 1966.

Bevacizumab (Avastin) Could Play An Important Role In Improving The Neurocognitive Function Of Patients With The Most Aggressive Form Of Brain Cancer

Roche today announced that an analysis of the phase II BRAIN study of bevacizumab (Avastin®) alone or in combination with irinotecan chemotherapy for the treatment of relapsed or progressive glioblastoma (GBM) demonstrated that in addition to increasing the chance of patients being alive without

Treating Depression In Pregnancy

A new report from the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, which is published by Elsevier in the September-October 2009 issue of General Hospital Psychiatry, explores the management of pregnancy and depression. Depression is not uncommon in pregnant women.

Blogs Comment On Baucus Health Reform Bill, Health Insurance For Women, Other Topics

The following summarizes selected women's health-related blog entries. "Baucus Shifts in a Pro-Life Direction," Steven Waldman, Beliefnet: "At first blush," the health care bill released Wednesday by Senate Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus (D-Mont.) appears "more pro-life than the House bill," according to Waldman.

American Psychological Association Leads Senate Briefing On Reducing Health Inequalities In Health Care Reform

In an effort to build support for health reform, the National Working Group on Health Disparities and Health Reform, led by the APA, will hold a congressional briefing to highlight the costs associated with health care inequalities among certain populations in the United States.

Universal Detection Technology Addresses Bioterrorism Threat To National Security At ASIS 2009

Universal Detection Technology (OTCBB: UNDT), a developer of early-warning monitoring technologies and counter-terrorism training programs to protect people from bioterrorism and other infectious health threats, announced today that it will be showcasing its TS-10-5-agent biodetection kit at ASIS International 2009 in Anaheim, California.

People In Deprived Areas Missing Out On Vital Heart Health Services, Says Heart Charity

In response to a report published by the Care Quality Commission which examined how the prescription of statins and stop smoking services could best be used to tackle cardiovascular disease and health inequalities, Betty McBride, Policy & Communications Director at the British Heart Foundation, said:

Top Tips For Healthy And Young Looking Skin

Skin experts say that the best way to keep your skin healthy and looking young is to protect it from the sun and not smoke: and after that, taking care with how you wash and moisturize your skin and also shaving carefully also helps.

Memories Of The Way They Used To Be

A team of researchers from the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla have developed a safe strategy for reprogramming cells to a pluripotent state without use of viral vectors or genomic insertions.

The American Society Of Human Genetics Honors Dr. Huntington Willard As 2009 Allan Award Recipient

The American Society of Human Genetics will present the 2009 William Allan Award to Huntington F. Willard, PhD, Director of the Institute for Genome Sciences & Policy (IGSP) at Duke University, in a formal ceremony at the Society's 59th Annual Meeting on October 23, 2009, in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Long-Term Adolescent Vulnerability To Drugs Explored By Researchers

As part of efforts to understand drug abuse, Georgia State University researchers are finding that adolescent rats appear to be less vulnerable to the long-term effects of withdrawal and relapse in certain types of drug use than rats that take the drugs in adulthood.

Early Research Shows Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy May Benefit Patients With Ejection Fractions Above 35 Percent

Early findings from a Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE: MDT) sponsored study show heart failure patients with moderate ejection fractions, over 35 percent, may receive comparable benefits from cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) as compared to those with low ejection fractions of equal to or less than 35 percent.

Akebia Announces Initiation Of Phase 1 Clinical Study Of AKB-6548

Akebia Therapeutics, Inc., a small molecule discovery and development company focused on anemia and vascular disorders, announced that it has initiated dosing of healthy volunteers in the first-in-man Phase 1 study for AKB-6548, an orally bioavailable hypoxia-inducible factor-prolyl hydroxylase (HIF-PH) inhibitor in development for anemia.

Students With ADHD Benefit From Meditation

A panel of physicians and scientists will report on the benefits of a simple meditation practice for aiding students diagnosed with ADHD during a national medical webinar, which will be hosted by the David Lynch Foundation on Wednesday, September 30, 12 noon (ET). http://www.adhd-tm.

Boosting Pine Beetle Fight And Improving Cancer Research With The Help Of New UBC Sequencing Technique

UBC researchers have helped develop a cheaper, faster way to compile draft genome sequences that could advance the fight against mountain pine beetle (MPB) infestation and improve cancer research. Current sequencing methods have a variety of advantages and disadvantages -- including the cost involved.

It Is Crucial To Deal With Climate Change To Avoid A Global Health Catastrophe

Failure to agree to radical cuts in carbon dioxide emissions at the UN climate change conference in Copenhagen this December spells a global health catastrophe. This warning is communicated in an editorial and a letter published simultaneously by the BMJ and The Lancet today.

Prostate Cancer Survival Improving Among Older Men Who Have Conservative Management

Older men whose localized prostated cancer is not aggressively treated with surgery or radiation but follows a conservative management regime also known as "watchful waiting" are surviving longer, according to a new US study. These are the conclusions of Senior author Dr Grace L.

Victory For Patient Care In Texas: CMS Approves Increased Dispensing Fee That Reflects Pharmacies' Costs In Providing Prescription Drugs

National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) President and CEO Steven C. Anderson, IOM, CAE, issued the following statement upon the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approval of the Texas State Plan Amendment (SPA) to increase the pharmacy dispensing fee from $5.14 to $7.

The Development Of Noninvasive Heart Care: The Story So Far

Fifty-one years ago the average American home cost $30,000, Elvis Presley wooed listeners with Hard Headed Woman, and the hula hoop was introduced. That same year, 1958, a team comprised of a groundbreaking engineer -- Dean Franklin -- in concert with two exceptional physicians -- Drs.

Report Urges World Leaders To Expand Access To Free Health Care In Developing Countries

A new report from Oxfam and 62 other non-governmental organizations and health groups finds that international goals aiming to reduce child and maternal mortality rates are "desperately off track," with four million babies around the world dying annually within 28 days of birth, Agence France-Press reports (9/13).

7 Million Babies And Children And 6 Million Hispanics In The U.S. Have Acid Reflux

The Pediatric Adolescent Gastroesophageal Reflux (PAGER) Association has been helping families learn about acid reflux since 1992. The medical name for the disease is gastroesophageal reflux. It means stomach + esophagus + backwash. "Acid reflux in children is often overlooked," says Beth Pulsifer-Anderson, Director of PAGER Association.

Secretary Sebelius Releases $33 Million In ARRA Funds To Train Health Professionals

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced awards totaling $33 million to expand the training of health care professionals. The funds are part of the $500 million allotted to HHS' Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to address workforce shortages under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

No Taxpayer Funding For Abortion In Health Reform, Planned Parenthood President Writes In Opinion Piece

Washington Post columnist Kathleen Parker's recent column "offered the journalistic equivalent" of a town-hall-style "scare tactic" by "falsely stating that health care reform would lead to federally funded abortions," Planned Parenthood Federation of America President Cecile Richards writes in a Baltimore Sun opinion piece.

Decreasing Salt Intake Could Save US $18 Billion Annually In Health Costs, Study Finds

Reducing Americans' average intake of sodium to the amount recommended by health officials could save the nation as much as $18 billion annually in avoided health care costs and improve the quality of life for millions of people, according to a new RAND Corporation study.

Alcohol Involvement In Fatal Crashes Reduced By Mandatory Alcohol Testing For Truck And Bus Drivers

Mandatory alcohol testing programs for truck and bus drivers have contributed to a significant reduction in alcohol involvement in fatal crashes, according to a new study by researchers at the Mailman School of Public Health and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Early Research Holds Promise For New Therapies And Better Prediction Of Patient Outcomes In Multiple Sclerosis

A Mayo Clinic study has found that two genes in mice were associated with good central nervous system repair in multiple sclerosis (MS). These findings give researchers new hope for developing more effective therapies for patients with MS and for predicting MS patients' outcomes.

Analysis: Marketing Research Sheds Light On Low Vaccination Rates In Some Developing Countries

Despite progress in raising the vaccination rates in the world's poorest countries, some countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia and Nigeria continue to have vaccination rates "below 50% in certain regions, compared with the 80% or more needed to achieve a lo

Suicidality In Depressed Patients Reduced By Ketamine

Drug treatment options for depression can take weeks for the beneficial effects to emerge, which is clearly inadequate for those at immediate risk of suicide. However, intravenous (IV) ketamine, a drug previously used as an anesthetic, has shown rapid antidepressant effects in early trials.

Calling A New Generation Of Lifesavers, UK

As universities across the country welcome their first-year students, the NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) team is donning its swimwear to find a new generation of lifesavers! NHSBT's 'Baywatch' themed roadshow is visiting 19 freshers' fairs across the country to encourage students arriving at univ

Racial Disparities In Cancer Survival Among Randomized Clinical Trials Patients Of The Southwest Oncology Group

UroToday.com - While advances in cancer treatments have benefited many patients, survival may still differ among different racial groups. In the July 15, 2009 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Dr. Kathy Albain and colleagues report on racial disparities in cancer survival.

Face, Content, And Construct Validity Of DV-trainer, A Novel Virtual Reality Simulator For Robotic Surgery

UroToday.com - The development of a virtual reality surgical simulator is an arduous process. Appropriate validation studies are critical to determining the appropriateness of the simulator as a teaching device and to assist in the continuous improvements and upgrades of the learning platform.

GLG Life Tech Corporation Announces Rebaudioside A Stevia Extract Is Approved In France

GLG Life Tech Corporation (TSX:GLG) ("GLG" or the "Company"), the vertically integrated leader in the agricultural and industrial development of high quality stevia extracts, is pleased to announce the approval in France of Rebaudioside A stevia extract for use in food and beverages.

AMA Reaction To President Obama's Address On Health-System Reform - Physicians Agree That Medical Liability Reform Is Needed

"It is clear that the status quo is unacceptable. The AMA will continue to work for reform that makes the system work better for patients and physicians. We must seize this opportunity this year to achieve meaningful health reform for America's patients and physicians.

FDA Advisory Committee Makes Favorable Recommendation For Cervarix, GlaxoSmithKline's Candidate Cervical Cancer Vaccine

GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE: GSK) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) voted that clinical data support both the efficacy and safety of CERVARIX((R)), the company's candidate cervical cancer vaccine (12-1 and 11-1, respectively).

Mathematicians Identify Genes Linked To Lou Gehrig's Disease

Michigan Technological University researchers have linked three genes to the most common type of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), generally known as Lou Gehrig's disease. Professor Shuanglin Zhang leads the team of mathematicians that isolated the genes from the many thousands scattered throughout human DNA.

Almirall Aims To File Once Daily Aclidinium Bromide For COPD In Europe In Early 2010

Almirall, S.A. (ALM.MC) today announced its intention to file a Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) with the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) for its once-daily long acting muscarinic antagonist Eklira® (aclidinium bromide) in early 2010, for the maintenance bronchodilator treatment and symptom control of COPD.

Inhaling A Heart Attack: How Air Pollution Can Cause Heart Disease

It's well known that measures such as exercise, a healthy diet and not smoking can help reduce high blood pressure, but researchers at the University of Michigan Health System have determined the very air we breathe can be an invisible catalyst to heart disease.

ISTA Pharmaceuticals' Bepreve(TM) Receives FDA Approval For The Treatment Of Ocular Itching Due To Allergies

ISTA Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ISTA) announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Bepreve(TM) (bepotastine besilate ophthalmic solution) 1.5% as a twice-daily prescription eye drop treatment for ocular itching associated with allergic conjunctivitis in patients two years of age and older.

British Veterinary Association Responds To CVO Annual Report, UK

Commenting on the publication of the Chief Veterinary Officer's annual report 'Animal Health 2008: The Report of the Chief Veterinary Officer', which may be the last annual report produced in the current format, Nicky Paull, President of the British Veterinary Association, said "The CVO's annual

Meda: Expanded Rights For Azelastine And Fluticasone Combination

Meda (STO:MEDAA) and Cipla Ltd, a leading pharma company in India, have expanded the existing long term collaboration agreement for the combination of azelastine and fluticasone. Azelastine is an antihistamine and fluticasone a corticosteroid; both are indicated for nasal treatment of allergic rhinitis.

Community-Based Prevention System Appears To Reduce Risky Behaviors In Teens

A prevention system that trains community leaders to identify and apply appropriate evidence-based programs may reduce substance use and other delinquent behaviors among adolescents, according to a report in the September issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Money Won't Buy Happiness

Poverty-reduction programs need to also look at improving people's well-being There is more to life satisfaction than money, and public policy programs aiming to tackle poverty need to move beyond simply raising people's income to also improving their quality of life in other areas.

Groundbreaking Results In The RE-LY® Trial - Novel Oral Direct Thrombin Inhibitor Dabigatran Etexilate Convincingly Beats Warfarin

Boehringer Ingelheim announced data from the landmark RE-LY® study the largest atrial fibrillation (AF) outcomes trial ever conducted (18,113 patients in 44 countries worldwide) presented for the first time at the European Society of Cardiology Congress and published online in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Japanese Encephalitis Vaccination Urged for Travel to Asia

ATLANTA â€" Japanese encephalitis was identified in four U.S. travelers who returned from Asia during 2003-2008. The four are the only known cases of Japanese encephalitis among U.S. residents to have occurred since the licensure of a vaccine against the mosquito-borne infection in 1992.

MicroRNAs Circulating In Blood Show Promise As Biomarkers To Detect Pancreatic Cancer

A blood test for small molecules abnormally expressed in pancreatic cancer may be a promising route to early detection of the disease, researchers at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center report in the September edition of the journal Cancer Prevention Research.

The AARP Seeks A More Neutral Image

AARP, the seniors' lobby that has shed as many as 60,000 members in two months over "its support of efforts to revamp the health care system," will launch a campaign next week to regain ground with seniors and reestablish its advocacy role, USA Today reports.

Casualty Toll Of The Dread Risk Effect

The 7/7 London bombings may have resulted in a second wave of casualties on London's roads as people reacted to their feelings of dread. This is the finding of a study presented today 3rd September 2009 at the British Psychological Society's Cognitive Psychology section annual conference.

Big Brother's Star Builder 'Steps Up' To Promote Ladder Safety, UK

Professional builder and Big Brother star Craig Phillips says 'safety' is key when working with ladders. The construction entrepreneur and winner of the first series of the reality show today gave his support to the Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) ladder safety campaign for 2009.

Action Needed For A Healthy Future, Says The Australian National University

The draft National Primary Health Care Strategy, released last day, provides a clear direction for the future frontline health system and now's the time for action, says the Director of the Australian Primary Health Care Research Institute (APHCRI) based at The Australian National University.

Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma: More Common But More Curable

Cases of non-Hodgkin lymphoma have more than tripled in the last thirty years according to the latest Cancer Research UK figures published today. Overall the number of people diagnosed with the disease in Great Britain has risen from over 3,000 in 1975 to more than 10,300 in 2006.

Poll: Most Americans Confused About Health Care Proposals

According to a new CBS News poll, "two in three Americans call the health care reforms being debated by lawmakers confusing; only 31 percent said they have a clear understanding of the proposed changes. Sixty-seven percent of those questioned said the reform ideas were confusing.

Trial Reports On New Therapy That Prevents Heart Failure

Patients who had a cardiac resynchronization device combined with a defibrillator (CRT-D) implanted had a 34 percent reduction in their risk of death or heart failure when compared to patients receiving only an implanted cardiac defibrillator (ICD), according to a landmark study published online toda

Nearly Half Of Statin-Treated Patients Not Currently Reaching LDL-C Target

Almost half (48%) of statin-treated patients are not meeting target levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), according to the results of a new international study, conducted by Merck Sharp & Dohme Limited and presented today at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) congress in Barcelona, Spain.

Scientist Calls For Federal Review To Protect Workers In Pharmacies Using Air Pressure-Driven Pill Dispensing Machines

A leading U.S. aerosol scientist released his analysis, adding further questions about risks posed to workers in pharmacies using air-pressure activated pill dispensing machines. Two machines of this type are presently in use - McKesson/Parata RDS and McKesson/Parata Max. Specifically, Dr.

The Economist Examines Africa's Demographic Transition

The Economist examines how Africa's economic growth is resulting in a demographic transition "that others have already traced: as people get richer, they have fewer children" and poses the question: "Can Africa capitalise on the demographic dividend?" Despite slowed population growth, food and w

Sporting Heroes Not Trusted To Coach Our Children, UK

Gold medal winning triple jumper Phillips Idowu is calling on the public to take giant strides to end to mental health stigma by taking part in this year's Get Moving week (3 to 11 October 2009) a part of the Time to Change campaign to end discrimination.

Nadroparin Nearly Halves Risk Of Developing Blood Clots In Ambulatory Cancer Patients Receiving Chemotherapy

An article published Online First and in the October edition of The Lancet Oncology reports that the blood-thinning drug nadroparin halves the risk of developing blood clots in ambulatory cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Consequently, it could become an important preventive treatment in these patients.

Roche XCELLigence System For Cell Analysis To Provide Predictive Mechanistic Information For Small Molecule Compounds

The extent to which protein targets are modulated by drugs or small molecule compounds depends on a number of factors, including the expression levels of the target, the effective concentration of the compound, and the time needed for the compound to perturb the target.

Psychotherapy As A Basic Right: A Lesson From UK

At the World Congress on Psychosomatic Medicine which opened today in Torino Lord Richard Layard, Professor at the London School of Economics, has provided data on the British experience concerned with Improved Access to Psychological Therapy (IAPT). This programme aims to train 3,500 therapists in CBT.

Sanofi Aventis : Multaq(R) (dronedarone) Recommended For Approval In The European Union

Sanofi-aventis (EURONEXT: SAN and NYSE: SNY) announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) has adopted a positive opinion recommending to grant a marketing authorization in the European Union for Multaq(R) (dronedarone - 400mg Tablets).

Young Adults Visit Doctors Least At An Age When Risky Behavior Peaks

When adolescents graduate to young adulthood, their preventive care tends to fall by the wayside. A recent study has found that young adults are much less likely to use ambulatory or preventive care, even though their mortality rate is more than twice that of adolescents.

Big Sheep And Little Cow Farm, North Yorkshire, Partially Closed As Precautionary Measure - 3 Cases of E.Coli O157, UK

The Health Protection Agency has advised Hambleton District Council that Big Sheep and Little Cow farm in Bedale, North Yorkshire, should partially close as a precautionary measure. This follows the confirmation this week of three cases of E.coli O157 potentially linked to the farm.

Reports Of Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Syphilis Increase Among Tennessee Women, Study Finds

National Partnership for Women & Families Reported cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis among Tennessee women all rose from 2002 to 2007, prompting state health officials to issue a grade of "F" in the sexually transmitted infections category on the 2009 Tennessee Women's Health Report Card, the Tennessean reports.

States Worry Over Medicaid Expansion; Montana Expands Kids Coverage

State officials continue to worry about additional costs that would stem from a Medicaid expansion. Meanwhile, Montana unveils a plan to expand health insurance for children and Iowa Republicans are touting their own alternative to a federal health care overhaul. "Assurances from the U.S.

Key Issues In H1N1 Pandemic Identified, Addressed By Medical Ethics Experts

The anticipated onset of a second wave of the H1N1 influenza pandemic could present a host of thorny medical ethics issues best considered well in advance, according to the University of Toronto Joint Centre for Bioethics, which today released nine papers for public discussion.

Is Inhaled Insulin Delivery Still A Possibility? Why Has It Been A Commercial Failure?

The commercial failure of Exubera® (Pfizer, New York, NY), the first inhaled insulin product to come to market, led other companies such as Eli Lilly-Alkermes to halt studies of similar drug delivery in development intended to compete for a share of the lucrative diabetes market.

Open Innovation Networks Are One Key To Improved Care

Fostering innovation to speed the improvement of health care is the goal of an $8.3 million grant to researchers at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. "The system of providing care for the chronically ill is broken," says Peter Margolis, MD, PhD, co-Principal Investigator of the project.

Fostering Creativity In Problem Solving

Profound discoveries and insights on the frontiers of science do not burst out of thin air but often arise from incremental processes of weaving together analogies, images, and simulations in a constrained fashion. In cutting-edge science, problems are often ill-defined and experimental data are limited.

At TCT 2009: One-Year Results From Horizons-AMI Trial

Two subset analyses from the landmark HORIZONS-AMI trial show that the anticoagulant bivalirudin lowers major bleeding and cardiac death versus the combination of heparin and a GP IIb/IIIa inhibitor in patients with ST-segment myocardial infarction (STEMI) who have disease of the left anterior descen

Millions More In Horn Of Africa Could Face Food Shortages This Year, FAO Says

Millions of additional people in the Horn of Africa could face food shortages this year because of poor harvests from a lack of rain, worsening conflicts and the El Nino climatic effect, the U.N. Food and Agriculture organization (FAO) said on Monday, Reuters reports.

Following Smoking Bans, Heart Attack Rates Drop, Continue Downward Over Time

One year after passing smoking bans, communities in North America and Europe had 17 percent fewer heart attacks compared to communities without smoking restrictions, and the number of heart attacks kept decreasing with time, according to a report in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.

Government Will Miss 2010 Care Plan Target According To National Survey Of Patient Advocacy Groups, UK

Government will miss 2010 care plan target according to national survey of patient advocacy groups A nationwide survey of 430 advocacy groups representing the views of over 1 million patients in England has found that over 70 per cent believe the government will miss its target of offering everyone

HSE Launches Campaign To Inform Polish And Other Migrant Construction Workers, UK

A campaign is being launched today to inform Polish construction workers based in London about on-site health and safety. Research has suggested that foreign workers are vulnerable to potentially dangerous working practices and the Polish community is one of three nationalities receiving advice in particular.

2-Way Communication Between Common Biological Pathways And Body's Daily Clock Revealed By Gene Screen

While scientists have known for several years that our body's internal clock helps regulate many biological processes, researchers have found that the reverse is also true: Many common biological processes - including insulin metabolism - regulate the clock, according to a new study by investigators

The Freezing Of Human Sperm, Eggs And Embryos In Athens: ESHRE's Workshop

ESHRE invites you to attend its workshop on freezing of human sperm, eggs and embryos in Athens, Greece "Cryobiology and cryopreservation of human gametes and embryos". The workshop provides a forum for clinicians and scientists to share research results and discuss problems and new developments.

A Simple Intervention For General Practice To Improve Depression Care

German researchers from the Institutes for General Practice in Frankfurt / Main and Jena have achieved positive results from a sustainable intervention in the primary care practice (Annals of Internal Medicine, volume 151, number 6, Sep. 15, 2009). The international relevance of the trial is also highlighted in the editorial.

Groundbreaking Breast Cancer Radiation Technique Delivers Proven Long-Term Benefits And Saves Lives

One minute of radiation in the operating room (OR) could save the lives of thousands of women being treated for breast cancer in the US today. According to a growing body of research, a 60-second course of radiation therapy delivered during surgery dramatically improves results.

The Making Of Mucus In Common Lung Diseases

In the lung, mucus is produced by cells known as goblet cells, which are present in small numbers in the walls of the lungs and airways. Many inflammatory stimuli, including allergens, cigarette smoke, and chronic infections, increase the number and activity of these goblet cells.

Two Studies Look At The Benefits And Limits Of The Information In Personal Genetics

Two recent studies by Dartmouth researchers use individual genetic data to reveal the powers and limits of our current understanding of how the genome influences human health and what genes can reveal about the ancestry of the people of New Hampshire. Published in the Sept.

Fort Washington Medical Center To Ensure Effective Communication For Deaf Or Hard Of Hearing Patients

Under a settlement agreement reached with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, deaf patients at the Fort Washington Medical Center in Prince George's County, Md., will be screened and provided with sign language interpreters whenever interpreter services are necessary for effective communication.

Study Finds Iraq Troops' PTSD Rate As High As 35 Percent

The Veterans' Administration should expect a high volume of Iraq veterans seeking treatment of post traumatic stress disorder, with researchers anticipating that the rate among armed forces will be as high as 35%, according to the Management Insights feature in the current issue of Management Science

Social Psychologists Meet In Sheffield

Around 200 top psychologists from the UK and beyond will gather at The Edge in Sheffield from today, 15th September 2009, to discuss current research and issues surrounding individuals' thoughts, feelings and behaviour in the social world, at the British Psychological Society's Social Psychology Section annual conference.

Innovative Medicines Initiative: Putting Europe At The Forefront Of Biopharmaceutical Innovation

The Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI), the public-private partnership between the European Commission and the European pharmaceutical industry, represented by EFPIA, today made its first major announcement of the success of the collaboration. IMI also announced the topics of research of its second call for proposals.

For Babies Two's Friendship, Three's A Crowd

Babies don't like being ignored by their peers. This is one of the findings of Gabriela Markova, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, and Maria Legerstee, York University, Canada, who presented their research at the British Psychological Society Developmental Section Conference on Thursday 10 September.

Clinical Trial Begins For Testing H1N1 Vaccine In Pregnant Women

NIH's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases launched a clinical trial last week to examine the effectiveness of an experimental H1N1 influenza vaccine in pregnant women, a group that health officials consider one of the most susceptible to the disease, CQ HealthBeat reports.

Depression Increases Cancer Patients' Risk Of Dying

Depression can affect a cancer patient's likelihood of survival. That is the finding of an analysis published in the November 15, 2009 issue of CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society. The results highlight the need for systematic screening of psychological distress and subsequent treatments.

Clinical Labs Report Additional Data To Aid In Detecting Kidney Disease

Early identification of individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD) can delay the onset of end stage renal disease (ESRD) and the need for chronic dialysis treatments. The incidence of CKD continues to grow, and early identification and intervention are critical to manage this costly disease.

Secretary Sebelius To Deliver Health Insurance Reform Address, Release New Report On Insurance Insecurity

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today will address the University of Chicago's dialogue on health care reform and education and issue a new report on the employer-sponsored insurance market. The new report, Insurance Insecurity: Families Are Losing Employer-Sponsored Insurance Coverage is available at http://www.healthreform.

Obama: 'Time For Bickering Is Over' On Health Care Reform

The Associated Press: "Obama said the changes he has in mind would cost about $900 billion over [a] decade, 'less than we have spent on the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, and less than the tax cuts for the wealthiest few Americans' passed during the Bush administration.

Electronic Health Records: A Focus For Big Tech Companies

"On one proposal for health care reform at least, there is a rare bipartisan consensus: the push to computerize patient records," The New York Times reports. The federal recovery package sets aside $19 billion "to encourage doctors and hospitals to install and use electronic health records.

Obama's Speech Leaves Room For Snowe's Compromise To Put Off Public Option; Experts, Consumers React To Obama's Speech; More

Obama's Speech Leaves Room For Snowe's Compromise To Put Off Public Option Kaiser Health News reports that President Obama's joint address to Congress last night appeared to leave room for compromise on a key issue: "By signaling his flexibility last night on a government-run i

Electronic Health Records To Be Addressed At TCT 2009

In addition to breaking news and new research data from clinical trials, investigations and registries, TCT (Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics) 2009, the largest global medical and scientific symposium dedicated to interventional cardiovascular medicine, will feature an important discussion led by national experts on Electronic Health Records (EHR).

Peripheral Arterial Disease: Simple Quiz Keeps You Circulating

As recent medical studies continue to highlight the seriousness of peripheral arterial disease (or PAD) and its association with heart attack, stroke and early mortality 1-2, the Society of Interventional Radiology Foundation recommends that older Americans, smokers and diabetics take its free, online self-assessment quiz.

Postpartum Baby Blues Impact Majority Of New Moms

Tracy Perkins Rodriguez, 36, thought her life was finally on the upswing. When her husband returned from his third tour of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, the couple purchased their dream home and promptly became pregnant with the child they had always hoped to conceive together.

California Nurses/NNOC, Nation's Largest Nurses' Organization, Unanimously Endorses Joining RN Super Union

Formation of the largest RN union and professional association in U.S. history took a major step forward Thursday as delegates to the biennial convention of the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organization in San Francisco voted unanimously to endorse and join the new union.

Need To Test Animals Decreased By Model Which Backs Green Tea And Lemon Claim

An animal study at Purdue University has shown that adding ascorbic acid and sugar to green tea can help the body absorb helpful compounds and also demonstrates the effectiveness of a model that could reduce the number of animals needed for these types of studies.

LED Light And Green Tea Cream To Smooth Facial Wrinkles

Scientists in Germany are reporting a major improvement in their potential new treatment for facial wrinkles that could emerge as an alternative to Botox and cosmetic surgery. The non-invasive technique combines high-intensity light from light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and a lotion made of green tea extract.

Dodd Will Not Replace Kennedy As Senate HELP Committee Chair

Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.) on Wednesday is expected to announce that he will not replace Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) as chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, The Hill reports. Kennedy died last month of brain cancer (Brush et al., The Hill, 9/8).

American Lung Association Supports Health Officials To Prevent The Spread Of Seasonal Influenza By Urging People To Get Vaccinated

The American Lung Association is making it easier for people to get their seasonal flu vaccine this year with the availability of its 2009-2010 Flu Clinic Locator. The largest online directory of public seasonal influenza vaccination clinics is now available at http://www.flucliniclocator.org.

TB-Free Status For Scotland: Vets Urge Continued Vigilance

The British Veterinary Association (BVA) and British Cattle Veterinary Association (BCVA) noted Europe's decision to recognise Scotland as Officially Tuberculosis Free (OTF) and warned that Scotland could still be exposed to an increasing risk of disease unless it implemented the most stringent of disease controls.

Hospital Executives Weigh Benefits, Risks Of Health Reform

Hospital executives are balancing their hopes that expanded coverage will provide a windfall for facilities now burdened by uncompensated care with their fears that government intervention, such as the possible creation of a public insurance option, could cut into their revenues, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Polio Vaccination Resumes In Pakistan's Swat Valley

"Authorities in Pakistan's Swat Valley have resumed vaccinating children for polio, an act once banned by Taliban militants, now beaten back by an army offensive," the Associated Press reports. The three-day campaign, which started on Monday, is targeting about 215,000 children, said government official Khurshid Khan.

How Significant Is The Bleeding Toxicity After External Beam Radiotherapy For Prostate Cancer Patients On Anticoagulation Therapy?

UroToday.com - Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men, especially in elderly men. Since these men often also have cardiovascular diseases that require anticoagulation therapy, it is not uncommon for prostate cancer patients to be on anticoagulants, such as Coumadin and Plavix.

Oramed Pharmaceuticals Commences Human Clinical Trials Of An Oral GLP-1 Analog

Oramed Pharmaceticals, Inc. (OTCBB: ORMP.OB), a developer of oral drug delivery systems, announced that it has received approval from the Institutional Review Board (IRB) to commence human clinical trials of an oral GLP-1 Analog. This approval was granted after successful pre-clinical results were reported.

New Monkey Malaria Potentially Fatal To Humans

Researchers in Malaysia have found that an emerging new form of malaria, thought previously only to infect monkeys, that can be easily confused with a less serious type, is widespread among humans in the region and is potentially fatal if not diagnosed and treated early.

Peregrine Pharmaceuticals Reports Advances In Bavituximab Clinical Program

Peregrine Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: PPHM) reported completion of patient enrollment in its Phase II trial evaluating bavituximab in combination with carboplatin and paclitaxel in advanced breast cancer patients. The trial's planned total of 46 patients has been enrolled and patients are currently undergoing treatment and follow-up.

Maternal Literacy Level Associated With The Cognitive Home Environment

Literacy levels of low-income mothers appear to be a more accurate indicator of parenting behaviors that are important for child development than maternal educational levels, according to a report in the September issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Unlicensed Asbestos Removal Will Be Penalised Warns HSE, UK

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is warning the building trade that companies and contractors will face prosecution if they remove asbestos without a licence. It follows HSE's successful prosecution of three contractors who carried out unlicensed asbestos removal at Kelford School in Rotherham in 2006.

Advancement Made In Automatic Autism Screen Increases Accuracy To 91%, Scheduled For Release This Month

LENA Foundation has increased the accuracy of the LENA Autism Screen (LAS) to 91 percent for children 24 to 48 months. LAS - the first automatic and totally objective autism screen is now as accurate or more accurate than other autism screens currently available to parents and clinicians.

Over Ninety Per Cent Of Pathologists Find Research Rules Too Complex

Ninety two per cent of pathologists feel that the regulations controlling their work using human tissues is too complicated and a lack of useful guidance puts them off carrying out this research, according to a report* published by the national cancer biobanking group onCore UK.

Letters

I enjoyed reading Dr. S.Y. Tan's Law & Medicine column titled “Learned-Intermediary Doctrine” (June 1, 2009, p. 50). If it is incumbent on the physician to notify a patient of all possible side effects or adverse drug reactions from a particular medication, how are we to do that?

Taskforce Formed To Help Speed Licensure, Vaccine Distribution Following RTS,S Trials

GNA/Peace FM examines the recent creation of a local and international taskforce to help shorten the window of time between the completion of the clinical trial of the RTS,S malaria vaccine - currently being tested across Africa - and licensure and vaccine distribution.

NSF Grant For Infrared Imaging System Received By Mercyhurst

A grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) will enable Mercyhurst College to further fine-tune its search for pathogens in the recreational waters of Presque Isle State Park, while providing students access to highly sophisticated research equipment and supplementing the work of local health officials.

$3.6 Million To Fund Center Studying Hazardous Waste Cleanup And Health Impacts Received By LSU

LSU Professor and Patrick F. Taylor Chair of Chemistry Barry Dellinger was recently awarded a grant of $3.6 million by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, or NIEHS, to support a Superfund Research Center focusing on hazardous waste disposal and its impact on public health.

Outcome Of Bypass Surgery Strongly Predicted By Cardiac Biomarker Levels

Levels of a biomarker used in the diagnosis of heart attacks are almost universally elevated in patients who have undergone coronary-artery bypass grafting (CABG) and, when markedly elevated, are powerfully prognostic, a team of researchers from the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Heart Center has found.

Heart Abnormalities In Athletes: Need For Mandatory Screening To Prevent Sudden Death

Several studies in the first of a series of quarterly partnership issues between the British Journal of Sports Medicine and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) are dedicated to injury prevention in elite sports. They report that young athletes should be routinely tested for heart abnormalities.

Doctors At Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center Now Offering Precise Image-Guided Radiosurgery For Cancer And Neurological Disorders

John J. Kresl, M.D., Ph.D., and colleagues at Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center are now treating a wide variety of cancers and neurological disorders with highly-accurate, non-invasive, image-guided radiosurgery using the Novalis Txâ„¢ radiosurgery platform from Varian Medical Systems (NYSE: VAR) and BrainLAB.

Genetic Cause For Type Of Deafness Identified By Scripps Research Scientists

A team led by scientists from The Scripps Research Institute has discovered a genetic cause of progressive hearing loss. The findings will help scientists better understand the nature of age-related decline in hearing and may lead to new therapies to prevent or treat the condition.

Nadroparin Almost Halves The Risk Of Developing Blood Clots In Ambulatory Cancer Patients Receiving Chemotherapy

Nadroparin, a blood-thinning drug, halves the risk of developing blood clots in ambulatory cancer patients receiving chemotherapy, and as such could become an important preventive treatment in these patients, according to an Article published Online First and in the October edition of The Lancet Oncology.

Discovery Of New Treatment For Hand Disorder Affecting Millions Shown Promising

Researchers in the Department of Orthopaedics at Stony Brook University Medical Center have developed an injectable form of the enzyme, collagenase, that significantly improves outcomes of Dupuytren's contracture (or disease), a debilitating disorder caused by progressive accumulation of collagen that deforms fingers and limits motion.

HSE Warns Of The Dangers Of Misusing Fork Lifts After Worker Hit By Falling Load, UK

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is warning companies of the importance of implementing safe systems for lifting loads and using suitable lifting equipment for the job. It follows the prosecution of a Birmingham company after an incident in which a worker was seriously injured.

Smokers And Overweight Women Are At Greater Risk Of Breast Cancer

A recent study published in the Journal of Cancer Epidemiology has reinforced the correlation between being overweight, smoking and breast cancer. What makes this study unique is how test subjects were not diagnosed for BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations, which predispose women to breast cancer.

The Kyoto Heart Study Results

The KYOTO HEART Study, which took place in Japan between January 2004 and January 2009, shows that the addition of valsartan to conventional antihypertensive treatment to improve blood pressure control is associated with an improved cardiovascular outcome in Japanese hypertensive patients at high risk of CVD events.

New Ways To Combat Diabetes And Obesity

Type 2 diabetes, the most common form of diabetes, is increasing at an alarming state with more than 180 million people affected worldwide. With the rising incidence of obesity, a major risk factor for the onset of type 2 diabetes, this metabolic disorder represents a major health concern.

MADIT-CRT Trial Results Provide Clinical Evidence That Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Significantly Slows Heart Failure Progression

Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX) announced final results from the landmark MADIT-CRT trial, which were published by the New England Journal of Medicine and presented during a Hot Line session at the annual European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress in Barcelona. Arthur Moss, M.D.

American Veterinary Medical Association Survey Indicates Most Starting Salaries Are Up For New Veterinarians

The results of an annual survey conducted by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) reveal an economic mixed bag when it comes to what new veterinary graduates encountered in 2009. The survey results appear in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association in a Sept.

Detection Of Myocardial Infarction - New Sensitive Markers

New biomarkers significantly improve the early detection of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Recent studies reveal a novel and promising way for doctors to conclusively ensure that a patient is having or not having an AMI in a timely and accurate manner saving time and money.

High Caffeine Intake Can Lead To Arrhythmias

Coffee is routinely consumed in countries within the Mediterranean basin. Coffee, an infusion of ground, roasted coffee beans, is the most widely consumed behaviourally active substance in the world. It contains several hundred different substances including, antioxidants, carbohydrates, lipids, vitamins, minerals, phenolic compounds and alkaloids.

Cytomegalovirus, A Common Virus, Shuts Down Antiviral Defenses By Destroying MHC I Protein

Viruses have numerous tricks for dodging the immune system. In the September 7, 2009 issue of the Journal of Cell Biology, Stagg et al. reveal a key detail in one of these stratagems, identifying a protein that enables cytomegalovirus to shut down an antiviral defense (online August 31).

Women On The March For Cancer Research UK

Royal Navy Commander leads pink march to highlight need for increases in breast cancer screening uptake and fundraising Women from around the UK marched through the streets of London on Sunday in a pink march to encourage people to join the fight for women's survival.

New REVERSE Analysis Reinforces Improvements Seen In Mild Heart Failure Patients With Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is a proven therapy indicated for patients with moderate to severe heart failure. Additional 24-month clinical data presented today on the European cohort of 262 patients in the REVERSE (Resynchronization Reverse Remodeling in Systolic Left Ventricular Dysfunction) trial, sponsored by Medtronic, Inc.

Laser Breakthrough Opens Door To DNA Manipulation

Heralded as a breakthrough in laser technology that will benefit biomedicine by opening the door to DNA manipulation and other applications, scientists in the US have made the world's smallest semiconductor laser that can focus light in a space smaller than a single protein molecule.

Health Workers Top Priority for Vaccine

Health care workers should be the top priority to receive immunization with the pandemic influenza vaccine, and individual countries should take their nations' domestic needs into account when determining how to prioritize inoculating subgroups vulnerable to the virus, a top international health panel has decided.

59th Annual Meeting In Honolulu Of The American Society Of Human Genetics

The world's top scientists and clinicians in the human genetics field will gather in Honolulu, Hawaii to present their latest research findings at the 59th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Human Genetics, from Tuesday, October 20, through Saturday, October 24, 2009, at the Hawaii Convention Center.

Children With Cancer Face Unique Nutritional Needs

Proper nutrition is important for all children, but especially for those undergoing treatment at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Some treatments for cancer and other pediatric catastrophic diseases can affect appetite by causing nausea, unusual allergies, changes to the sense of taste and mouth sores.

What Is Jet Lag? What Causes Jet Lag? How Do You Prevent Jet Lag?

Jet lag is also known as time zone change syndrome or desynchronosis. It is considered a sleep disorder that can affect everybody who travels across multiple time zones in airplanes. Jet lag effects largely reflect de-synchronization between the body's internal time clock and local environmental cues.

Prime-Boost Vaccine Study Shows Modest Effect In Preventing HIV

Global Solutions for Infectious Diseases ("GSID") announced today that a Phase III clinical trial of an investigational HIV vaccine regimen has been shown to be safe and modestly effective in preventing HIV infection. The double-blind, placebo controlled study was conducted in Thailand among more than 16,000 volunteers.

The Vasculature Emerges As A Potential Therapeutic Target In Treating ADPKD Liver Cysts

As part of an effort to develop effective medical therapies that block the progression of liver cyst growth in patients with Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD), researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Center have found that the liver cyst walls develop and maintai

Obama Aides Say Media Blitz Helps; Polls Show Majority Of Americans Are Satisfied With Health Care Quality

White House advisers believe the strategy of blanketing the airwaves with President Obama's live speeches has been an effective one in gaining a foothold in the health care debate, Roll Call reports. After a particularly media-heavy month for the president, critics have said Obama is "overexposed.

The Millennium Development Goals May Be Challenged By Malnutrition Among Older Adults In Rural Bangladesh

Ninety per cent of older persons in rural Bangladesh displayed either overt or risk for malnutrition in a collaborative study presented in a dissertation by Tamanna Ferdous from Uppsala University Sept 22, 2009. The results, which are part of a larger international study, challenge the Millenium Development Goals.

Walgreens To Compound Tamiflu Oral Suspension For Children In Response To Supply Shortage

Less than a month after launching the largest flu prevention initiative in the company's 108-year history, Walgreens (NYSE: WAG)(NASDAQ: WAG) is taking proactive measures to ensure its nearly 7,000 pharmacies can provide the suspension - or liquid - form of seasonal flu-fighting drug Tamiflu this season.

ANA Commends UN Resolution On The Creation Of A UN Women's Agency

American Nurses Association (ANA) is gratified to see the UN General Assembly's decision to create a new United Nations (UN) Agency for Women. The ANA has been a vocal advocate for the creation of an agency dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women globally.

Analysts Wonder How Reform Will Affect Wall Street

U.S. News & World Report examines how a health care overhaul could affect investments. "While politicians on Capitol Hill remain fixated on pinpointing direct costs, analysts on Wall Street are worrying about an even more elusive calculation: the downstream impacts reform would have on the markets.

Fate Of Nanoparticles In Human Cells Revealed By New Discovery

Scientists funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) have uncovered what happens to biomimetic nanoparticles when they enter human cells. They found that the important proteins that make up the outer layer of these nanoparticles are degraded by an enzyme called cathepsin L.

Program For Physicians Emphasizing Self-Awareness Associated With Improvements In Burnout, Mood And Patient Empathy

Primary care physicians who participated in an educational program that included an emphasis on mindful communication reported improvement in personal well-being, emotional exhaustion, empathy and attitudes associated with patient-centered care, according to a study in the September 23/30 issue of JAMA, a theme issue on medical education.

Treatment For Severe Respiratory Failure From Conditions Like Swine Flu Is Better When ECMO Is Part Of Treatment Than With Conventional Ventilation

Patients with severe acute respiratory failure (ARF) should be referred for treatment using extracorporeal membrane `oxygenation (ECMO), rather than using conventional ventilator management, to improve their chances of survival without disability. ECMO would be cost-effective in the UK and other countries with similar health care costs.

Medicare Round Up: News Coverage Of Cost Issues And Leadership Gap

The Los Angeles Times reports on Medicare costs and how timely interventions by Medicare Advantage plans can reduce expensive hospital stays: "At 82, Bettie Lowden is about as chronically ill as they come. Besides heart failure, she has diabetes and a history of heart attacks and strokes.

Monitoring Pollution And Detecting Disease Using Portable And Precise Gas Sensor

In the air, it is a serious pollutant. In the body, it plays a role in heart rate, blood flow, nerve signals and immune function. Nitric oxide, a gas well known to scientists for its myriad functions, has proven challenging to measure accurately outside the laboratory.

Gardasil Vaccination Rates Increased To 37% Of Teen Girls In 2008, CDC Says

Thirty-seven percent of girls ages 13 to 17 in the U.S. had received one or more doses of Merck's human papillomavirus vaccine, Gardasil, in 2008, an increase from 25% in 2007, according to data released on Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the AP/Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Campaigners To SHout Loud About Sexual Health

On September 18, six leading sexual health and HIV organisations are launching SHout loud (Sexual Health out loud) http://www.shoutloud.org.uk , a website which enables the general public, community groups and campaigners to have their say about sexual health, contraception and HIV services in England.

Abbott Wins Top Honor In Wall Street Journal Technology Innovation Awards

Abbott announced it has been named the overall Gold winner of the 2009 Wall Street Journal Technology Innovation Awards for its Ibis T5000 Biosensor system, which is designed to detect and characterize a broad range of infectious agents in a given sample, including viruses, bacteria and fungi.

Chronic Pancreatitis And Endothelin-1 Inhibitors

Fibrosis is a key feature of chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. The extensive deposition of extracellular matrix proteins fosters the development of an exocrine and endocrine organ insufficiency, and accelerates progression of the tumour. Pancreatic stellate cells (PSC) are the principal effector cells in pancreatic fibrosis.

Misunderstood Expressions Facilitate Adolescent Aggression

Juvenile delinquency may be a result of misunderstood social cues. Research published in BioMed Central's open access journal Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health shows that male juvenile delinquents frequently misinterpret facial expressions of disgust as anger, providing a possible cause for their aggressive behaviour.

Green Tea May Benefit Bone Health

New research from Hong Kong found that green tea, one of the most popular drinks around the world, may benefit bone health and the researchers suggest it has the potential to help prevent and treat osteoporosis and other bone diseases suffered by millions of people worldwide.

Doctor Shortage And Malpractice Insurance Pose Challenges To Reform

The Associated Press reports: "Due to increasing medical demands from aging baby boomers, the U.S. faces a dangerous shortage of primary-care doctors whether sweeping overhaul is passed or not." "Several doctors' groups are backing the legislation, citing in part provisions to expand the work force.

Wisconsin Town Offers Low Cost, Quality Care Model

A Wisconsin clinic offers a better model that provides high-quality care and saves the federal government money. CQ HealthBeat reports on the Marshfield Clinic where nurses are readily available, doctors offer coordinated care to manage chronic conditions, and staff follows best practices based on convincing data.

HIV Treatments: Weighing The Costs And Benefits

Prevention versus treatment? Cost versus efficacy? So go two of the dilemmas looming over Dartmouth's Paul E. Palumbo, M.D., and his fellow researchers in the race to fight HIV and other infectious diseases in the developing world - especially among women and their young children.

Link Between Protein And Lung Disease Discovered By UT Scientists

In a development that could lead to a novel approach to the treatment of a devastating lung disease, biochemists at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston report they are the first to link the osteopontin (OPN) protein to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

U.S. FDA Licenses Sanofi Pasteur's Pandemic Influenza Vaccine

Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of the sanofi-aventis Group (EURONEXT: SAN and NYSE: SNY), announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the company's supplemental biologics license application (sBLA) for licensure of its Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 Monovalent Vaccine. The U.S.

Corventis Announces Enrollment Completion Of Clinical Trial Studying Non-Invasive Multi-Sensor Monitoring For Congestive Heart Failure

Corventis, Inc., a developer of wireless cardiovascular solutions designed to enable early detection, prevention and treatment of cardiovascular conditions, announced enrollment completion of the company's MUSIC (Multi-Sensor Monitoring in Congestive Heart Failure) program consisting of 2 trials: the MUSIC Asia (180 patients) and the pivotal MUSIC study (362 patients).

HHS Awards $35 Million To States For Increasing Adoptions

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today awarded $35 million to 38 states and Puerto Rico for increasing the number of children adopted from foster care. States use the funds from the adoption incentive award to enhance their programs for abused and neglected children.

Tuberculosis Patients Can Reduce Transmissability By Inhaling Interferon Through A Nebulizer

A new study published in the September 15, 2009, issue of PLoS ONE found that patients with cavitary pulmonary tuberculosis receiving anti-TB medications supplemented with nebulized interferon-gamma have fewer bacilli in the lungs and less inflammation, thereby reducing the transmissibility of tuberculosis in the early phase of treatment.

Conservative Blue Dog Democrats 'Pivotal' To Health Overhaul

In his address to Congress on health care last week, President Obama attempted to reassure Blue Dog Democrats, such as Georgia Reps. Jim Marshall and Sanford Bishop, that the plan would not be too expensive or intrusive for their conservative constituencies, the Columbus, Ga., Ledger-Enquirer reports.

Gladstone's Shinya Yamanaka Wins Lasker Award

Shinya Yamanaka, MD, PhD, of the Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease (GICD) and Kyoto University, has won the 2009 Albert Lasker Basic Medical Research Award for his discovery of a method of reprogramming adult skin cells to become embryonic-like stem cells. Yamanaka, who is the L.K.

Crash Performance Improved By Dual Simulation

There are components that save lives: if a car rolls over during an accident, the 'B-pillar' plays a key role. It forms one of the connections between the floor and roof of the vehicle and is designed to prevent the passenger cell from deforming too much.

Reducing Drinking In University Students: Web-Based Screening And Intervention May Be Helpful

A report in the September issue of Archives of Internal Medicine (one of the JAMA/Archives journals) shows that web-based screening and personalized interventions for alcohol use may reduce drinking in undergraduate students. In many countries, unhealthy alcohol use is becoming more common among young adults.

Dividing Cells "Feel" Their Way Out Of Warp

Every moment, millions of a body's cells flawlessly divvy up their genes and pinch perfectly in half to form two identical progeny for the replenishment of tissues and organs - even as they collide, get stuck, and squeeze through infinitesimally small spaces that distort their shapes.

Addex' ADX10059 Has Potential For Parkinson's Disease Levodopa Induced Dyskinesia (PD-LID)

Allosteric modulation company Addex Pharmaceuticals (SWISS: ADXN) reported that its lead product, ADX10059, which is nearing completion of Phase IIb testing in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and migraine prevention, also has demonstrated significant potential in a non-human primate model of Parkinson's disease levodopa induced dyskinesia (PD-LID).

Fighting The Burden Of Mental Disorders

Mental disorders are a global problem and represent one of the biggest challenges for health care systems. In the world, there are some 500 million people suffering from mental disorders, and in the European Union, mental disorders range as one of the leading causes of disease burden.

New Stem Cell Identification Technology Could Cure Breast Cancer

GENova Biotherapeutics, Inc., ("GENova"), released important information about its innovative method for destroying breast cancer cells, using stem cell technology. GENova's approach is based on cutting-edge technology that enables us to identify the protein expression in the original cancer stem cells that give rise to tumors.

Dividing Cells 'Feel' Their Way Out Of Warp

Every moment, millions of a body's cells flawlessly divvy up their genes and pinch perfectly in half to form two identical progeny for the replenishment of tissues and organs - even as they collide, get stuck, and squeeze through infinitesimally small spaces that distort their shapes.

News From The Journals Of The American Society For Microbiology

New Antibiotic Shows Promise in Fighting Malaria A new study suggests that tigecycline, the first member of a new class of antibiotics, shows significant antimalarial activity on its own and may also be effective against multi drug-resistant malaria when administered in combination with traditional antimalarial drugs.

Mixed Progress In Reducing World Under-5 Mortality, With Most Regions Not On Track To Meet Millennium Development Goal 4

There has been mixed progress in reducing world under-5 mortality. Figures released by UNICEF, based on the work of the Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (IGME)*, show that the overall average annual rate of reduction (AARR) is much higher from 2000-2008 than it was 1990-2000.

Abortion, Health Care Reform Revive Support For Christian Right

The Christian right, which faced "questions before the presidential election about its continuing potency as a force for cultural and political change," has "found new life" in the health care reform debate by bringing its "bread-and-butter" issue of abortion to the forefront, the Washington Post reports.

Reduce The Risk Of Wandering With Tunstall Healthcare, Australia

In 2008 there were 227,300 people in Australia living with dementia, with the number expected to increase by 321% by 2050¹. It is estimated that 60% of people in high care and 30% of those in low care have dementia. However, putting people with dementia into care is not the only solution¹.

Prevalence Of TMPRSS2-ERG Fusion Prostate Cancer Among Men Undergoing Prostate Biopsy In The United States

UroToday.com - A genetic rearrangement with fusion of the TMPRSS2 prostate-specific gene with the ERG transcription factor is commonly found in prostate cancer (CaP) and has oncogenic potential. How frequently it occurs varies in the literature. In the July issue of Clinical Cancer Research, Dr.

Sharing The Results Of Research Critical To Advancement Of Biological Sciences

Sharing the fruits of research in the biomedical sciences is critical for the advance of knowledge, yet with the advent of large-scale data gathering following the completion of the genome projects this is becoming harder to facilitate and more difficult to monitor, as reported in Nature.

New Obesity Drug Qnexa Showed Positive Results In Late Stage Trials Test Says Company

According to Vivus Inc, their experimental drug Qnexa for treating obesity showed positive results in late stage trials, where patients who took the new diet pill, a combination of phentermine (a stimulant) and topiramate (an anticonvulsant), shed an average of nearly 15 per cent of their body

Large Majority Of Americans Want Stronger Food Safety Rules: Pew-Commissioned Poll

Among likely voters surveyed across the nation, about 9 in 10 support the federal government adopting additional food safety measures, and 64 percent believe that imported foods are often or sometimes unsafe, according to a new Pew-commissioned poll by the bipartisan team of Hart Research and Public Opinion Strategies.

Overexpressed Protein Converts Noninvasive Breast Cancer Into Invasive Disease

Active, but non-invasive breast cancer is set free to roam as invasive breast cancer when an overexpressed protein converts it to a different cell type, scientists at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center report in the Sept. 9 issue of the journal Cancer Cell.

ECCO 15 - ESMO 34 Multidisciplinary Cancer Congress

ESMO 34 will take place at the ICC Berlin - Internationales Congress Centrum, Messedamm 22, D-14055 Berlin, Germany (http://www.icc-berlin.de) from Sunday 20 September to Thursday 24 September 2009. There will be more than 2,000 presentations and over 15,000 participants from 120 countries, making it the largest European cancer congress to date.

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Easily Converted From Liposuction Leftovers: Stanford Study

Globs of human fat removed during liposuction conceal versatile cells that are more quickly and easily coaxed to become induced pluripotent stem cells, or iPS cells, than are the skin cells most often used by researchers, according to a new study from Stanford's School of Medicine.

Cancer Drug May Improve Memory In Alzheimer's Patients

A drug now used to treat cancer may also be able to restore memory deficits in patients with Alzheimer's disease, according to a new study conducted by scientists at Columbia University Medical Center, which appeared in the September issue of The Journal of Alzheimer's Disease: Volume 18:1.

Discovery Of Two New Alzheimer's Genes Described As Leap Forward

An international team of scientists working on the largest ever genome-wide study looking for genes linked to Alzheimer's have discovered two new genes, CLU and PICALM, are related to the disease, a finding that is being described as a "leap forward" for dementia research, especially because

ETBOND TECHNOLOGYTM Defines Biotechnology Approach For Global Healthcare Reform

ETBOND TECHNOLOGY defines Biotechnology approach to fight H1N1 Influenza A (Swine Flu) 1. Plan for Morbidity Reduction: H1N1 Influenza A (Swine Flu and its symptoms) is spreading at a lightening speed globally. It is infecting millions of patients since first reported in April, 2009 in Mexico.

Google Searches For 'Death Panels' Trigger New Ad War

Weeks after Sarah Palin coined the term, "death panels" to refer to a proposal in the House health reform bill, the term is among those helping to generate the most active internet advertising spree ever linked to a public policy issue, the Los Angeles Times reports.

College Students And Hand Hygiene: Proper Tools, Attention-Getting Tactics Required

The path to poor hand sanitation is paved with good intentions, according to researchers from Kansas State and North Carolina State universities. As college campuses prepare for an expected increase in H1N1 flu this fall, the researchers said students' actions will speak louder than words.

MEDICREA PASS(R) LP Iliac Fixation Receives FDA Clearance

MEDICREA® (Paris:ALMED) announced it has received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market the PASS® LP Iliac Fixation within the United States. This new Iliac Fixation supplements the PASS® LP range, a ultra Low Profile Polyaxial Spine System launched recently.

Large Thighs Protect Against Heart Disease And Early Death

Men and women whose thighs are less than 60cm in circumference have a higher risk of premature death and heart disease, according to research published on bmj.com today. The study also concluded that individuals whose thighs are wider than 60cm have no added protective effect.

Researchers Identify Critical Gene For Brain Development, Mental Retardation

In laying down the neural circuitry of the developing brain, billions of neurons must first migrate to their correct destinations and then form complex synaptic connections with their new neighbors. When the process goes awry, neurodevelopmental disorders such as mental retardation, dyslexia or autism may result.

Scientists Move Closer To A Safer Anthrax Vaccine

Researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University have identified two small protein fragments that could be developed into an anthrax vaccine that may cause fewer side effects than the current vaccine. The research is significant because anthrax is considered a major bioterrorism threat.

Tuberculosis Treatment May Be Shortened

According to Dutch researcher Hanneke Later-Nijland, it may be possible to shorten the duration of treatment for tuberculosis. Due to the long duration of treatment, not every patient sees it through. Partly because of this, tuberculosis is one of the most lethal diseases in developing countries.

Kidney Disease Linked To Depression, Even In Early Stages

Depression has long been associated with end stage kidney disease, but a new study published today in the American Journal of Kidney Diseases, the official journal of the National Kidney Foundation, found that 20% of patients with early stage chronic kidney disease (CKD) also suffered from depression.

Telemonitoring: A Bridge To Personalized Medicine

An increasing number of heart failure patients are treated with a number of complex devices, i.e. cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). Recently completed and ongoing clinical trials such as MADIT-CRT and EchoCRT provide evidence of a growing number of CRT patients, in need of individualised treatment.

When Reporting Medical Errors, Patient Perception Is Vital

When reporting medical errors, patients' perceptions of their physicians' disclosure may be key to gaining their trust, according to researchers from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. However, a positive perception of the disclosure has little effect on the lawsuit risk a physician faces.

Sleep Quality Negatively Impacted By GERD, Results In Considerable Economic Burden

There has been much debate about the relationship between gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and sleep. Three new studies in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology explore GERD's effect on sleep quality and the health-care system as well as how a widely prescribed sleeping pill may mask the disease.

World Climate Conference Calls For Global Weather Surveillance System, Could Help Predict Disease Outbreaks

The U.N. World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Monday opened the World Climate Conference - a week of talks in Geneva aimed at establishing a better global weather surveillance system to provide countries with "earlier, more accurate warnings about hurricanes, droughts and floods," the Associated Press reports.

Cardiovascular Risk: Aspirin Works For Primary Prevention In Moderate And High Risk Diabetics

The beneficial effects of aspirin in primary prevention of cardiovascular events i.e. stroke, MI and cardiac death are known and generally accepted. In a recent meta-analysis total cardiovascular event rate was shown to be reduced by 12% and the rate of myocardial infarctions by 18% (Lancet 2009; 373, 1849-60).

According To New Study, Expanded Insurance Benefits Break Down Barriers To Hospice Care

Patients with advanced illnesses more than doubled their use of hospice care when a major national health plan made hospice care more readily accessible, according to the results of a comparative study published in Journal of Palliative Medicine, a peer-reviewed publication from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.

The Ongoing Challenges For Cardiovascular Prevention In Europe

A comprehensive strategy, focusing on changes in lifestyle and on the management of risk factors, is needed to prevent premature mortality and reduction of life expectancy in good health due to cardiovascular disease (CVD). The European Heart Health Charter has established a roadmap for European countries.

Equal Pay Day - Aged Care Workers Among Australia's Worst Paid, 95 Per Cent Women, Australia

The Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) has marked 'Equal Pay Day' by joining the ACTU to call for an end to the gender pay gap. ANF Federal Secretary Ged Kearney said pay inequity is at its worst in aged care, where the workforce is 95 per cent women.

Genes In Prevention Of Heart Disease: Hopes And Doubts

At present almost every month there are papers reporting the discovery of new genetic variants that affect the risk of coronary artery disease and heart attacks. This is a truly exciting time for both researchers and clinicians interested in understanding the genetic basis of heart disease.

VCA Animal Hospitals Offers Free Boarding For Pets Affected By Fires In Los Angeles

VCA Animal Hospitals announced that all VCA facilities located near the Station Wild Fire that is burning thousands of acres north of Los Angeles are offering free boarding for companion animals whose families have been evacuated or displaced from as a result of the current firestorms.

Globe And Mail Examines HIV/AIDS Rate In India

The Globe and Mail writes that "[w]hen India announced in 2007 that it had 2.3 million people living with HIV, rather than the 5.7 million reported the year before, the government first attributed much of the change to better data collection. Many in the AIDS field were skeptical.

Ultimate Health Quiz To Determine Risk For Peripheral Arterial Disease

Who Ten million Americans have peripheral arterial disease or PAD, and research shows that the highest risk populations include seniors (12-20 percent of those 65 and older), African-Americans (twice as likely to develop clogged leg arteries) and diabetics (one in three who are over the age of 50).

Sinovac's H1N1 Vaccine Passes Experts Evaluation Organized By SFDA

Sinovac Biotech Ltd. (NYSE Amex: SVA), a leading provider of biopharmaceutical products in China, announced today that Sinovac's H1N1 vaccine has passed the experts evaluation organized by State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA). The vaccine is expected to obtain the production license within this week.

Regado Biosciences Releases Positive Phase 2a Data For The Reversible Anticoagulant System REG1 At The European Society Of Cardiology Congress

Regado Biosciences, a privately held company leading the development of antithrombotic aptamers with active control agents, announced that the results of a Phase 2a clinical trial of their lead product, the anticoagulant system REG1, were released at the European Society of Cardiology Congress in Barcelona, Spain.

HSE Reiterates Warnings About Working At Height After Company Fined For Fatal Fall, UK

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is urging companies to re-examine their working from height practices after a firm was fined for the death of an employee. This warning comes after the HSE's successful prosecution today (27 August 2009) of EDF Energy Contracting Ltd at Chichester Crown Court.

What Is Ataxia? What Causes Ataxia?

Ataxia is a lack of muscle coordination which may affect speech, eye movements, the ability to swallow, walking, picking up objects and other voluntary movements. A person with persistent ataxia may have damage in the part of the brain that controls muscle coordination - the cerebellum.

Traveling Around the World to Help Treat AIDS

Dr. Kwan Kew Lai knows about poverty firsthand. Growing up in Penang, an island on the west coast of Malaysia, she recalled seeing two brothers swap one pair of shoes halfway through the school day so that each boy could attend some classes (shoes were required).

Seasonal Influenza Diagnosis and Treatment

DR. GOLDEN (left) is professor of medicine and public health and DR. HOPKINS is program director for the internal medicine/pediatrics combined residency program at the University of Arkansas, Little Rock. Write to Dr. Golden and Dr. Hopkins at our editorial offices or imnews@elsevier.com.

America Needs More Physician Hospitals

The Senior Center for Health and Security (SCHS) announced the publication of an important new white paper which fully explores the critical nature of high-quality physician hospitals for seniors, their promise for the nation, and their competitors' latest effort to drive them completely out of existence.

Michigan Faces Nearly $1.5 Billion In Medicare-Funded Nursing Home Cuts Over 10 Years, Placing 1,800 Jobs In Jeopardy

An American Health Care Association (AHCA) analysis of a pending U.S. House health reform bill, HR 3200, finds seniors in Michigan requiring nursing and rehabilitative care will face funding cuts of $1.5 billion over the next 10 years. This equals the 10th highest state cut across the nation.

Patient Feedback Is Vital To Improving Support

The Care Quality Commission released the results of its mental health inpatient survey. Mental Health Network Director Steve Shrubb emphasised how patient feedback and involvement is key to improving services. The Care Quality Commission has released the findings from its 2009 mental health acute inpatient service users survey.

Metallic Foam Improves On Memory Foam

Researchers from Northwestern University and Boise State University have figured out how to produce a less expensive shape-shifting "memory" foam, which could lead to more widespread applications of the material, such as in surgical positioning tools and valve mechanisms. David Dunand, the James N. and Margie M.

PCE Exposure Increases Risk Of Birth Defects

Exposure to tetrachloroethylene (also known as perchlorethylene, PCE) may cause congenital birth defects. A study of expectant women exposed to PCE in drinking water, published in BioMed Central's open access journal Environmental Health, found an increased risk of oral clefts and neural tube defects in their children.

Hygiene And Physical Barriers Should Be Given Higher Priority In Pandemic Plans

Hygiene and physical measures, such as handwashing, wearing masks and isolating potentially infected patients, are highly effective in preventing the spread of viral infections (including influenza) and should be given higher priority in national pandemic preparation plans, argue researchers in a study published on bmj.com today.

UNAIDS, NGOs Partner To Eliminate Mother-To-Child Transmission Of HIV In Africa

UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibe in New York on Monday signed a partnership agreement with several non-governmental organizations (NGOs) pledging to work towards eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Africa, Agence France-Presse reports. Presidents Abdoulaye Wade of Senegal and Yoweri Museveni of Uganda attended the signing ceremony.

Mid-Maryland Musculoskeletal Institute To Ensure Effective Communication With Persons Who Are Deaf Or Hard-of-Hearing

Under a voluntary resolution agreement reached with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), deaf or hard-of-hearing patients at the Mid-Maryland Musculoskeletal Institute (MMI) of Frederick, Md., will be screened and provided with sign language interpreters whenever interpreter services are necessary for effective communication.

2-Way Health Information Exchange To Fight Disease Outbreaks

Building upon four decades of research and real world operation of electronic medical records and health information exchange, Regenstrief Institute researchers have developed, tested and are now operating innovative technologies to allow for the bi-directional flow of evidence-based medical information between clinical sources and public health organizations.

New Type Of Sirolimus-Eluting Stent Demonstrates Superior Results

A new type of sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) successfully showed significantly greater neointimal suppression than the paclitaxel-eluting stent (PES) with greater vessel wall integrity surrounding the stent, confirming the finding of superiority of the SES over the PES stent for the trial's primary endpoint of in-stent late loss.

WFUBMC Heart Center Receives Recognition For Treatment Of Heart Attack Patients

Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center's Heart Center has received the American College of Cardiology Foundation's NCDR ACTION Registry-GWTG Silver Performance Achievement Award for 2009. The Silver Performance award recognizes commitment and success for implementing a higher standard of care for heart attack patients during the past year.

Government Of Canada And AFN Confirm Protocol On H1N1

The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health, the Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (INAC), and Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Chief, Shawn Atleo, met today to sign a Communications Protocol to affirm their commitment to work together on pandemic planning efforts.

Lantheus Medical Imaging, Inc. Initiates Phase 1 Study Evaluating Safety And Dosimetry Of Novel Heart Failure Imaging Agent

Lantheus Medical Imaging, Inc., a worldwide leader in diagnostic imaging, announced the initiation of a Phase 1 clinical study to assess the safety, dosimetry and tolerability of LMI1195, a novel F-18 small molecule tracer for imaging cardiac neuronal function, in healthy subjects, undergoing positron emission tomography (PET) imaging.

Health Care Premiums Rose 6.3 Times Faster Than Earnings In Tennessee From 2000 Through 2009

Family health care premiums rose an estimated 6.3 times faster than earnings for Tennessee's workers from 2000 through 2009, according to a report issued today by the consumer health organization Families USA. In that 10-year period, family health insurance premiums rose by 99.6 percent, while median earnings rose by only 15.9 percent.

Health Care Premiums Rose 7.2 Times Faster Than Earnings In Ohio From 2000 Through 2009

Family health care premiums rose an estimated 7.2 times faster than earnings for Ohio's workers from 2000 through 2009, according to a report issued today by the consumer health organization Families USA. In that 10-year period, family health insurance premiums rose by 84.1 percent, while median earnings rose by only 11.7 percent.

HSPH-Led Team Discovers Protective Cellular Process In ALS Disease In Mice, Hinting At New Therapeutic Approach

When Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) scientists disabled a specific protein in mice that were genetically prone to develop ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease), they expected -- based on previous work -- to hasten the onset of the paralyzing, lethal disorder. What they found was the reverse.

The Sage Group Supports The "Stop P.A.D." Petition Drive To Expand Medicare Coverage To Test Patients For Peripheral Arterial Disease

In recognition of National P.A.D. Awareness Month, Mary L. Yost, President of THE SAGE GROUP recommends that patients, relatives, and the medical community join the campaign to increase access to a simple noninvasive test to diagnose peripheral arterial disease (abbreviated P.A.D. or PAD).

Hyperion Therapeutics Announces First Patient Enrolled In Trial In Children With Urea Cycle Disorders

Hyperion Therapeutics announced that the first patient has been enrolled in a clinical trial of investigational compound HPN-100 (glycerol phenylbutyrate) in children ages 6-17 with urea cycle disorders (UCD). The study will evaluate the safety, tolerability, and ammonia control of glycerol phenylbutyrate compared to BUPHENYL® (sodium phenylbutyrate).

KYTHERA Biopharmaceuticals Announces Initiation Of First-in-Human Trial For ATX-104 - A Light-Activated Facial Contouring Agent

KYTHERA Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. (KYTHERA) announced that it has initiated a first-in-human, proof-of-concept study evaluating the safety, tolerability, persistence and histological effects of ATX-104, a light-activated facial contouring agent. "We are very excited to move ATX-104 into the clinic," said Patricia Walker, MD, PhD, KYTHERA's Chief Medical Officer.

Implantable Defibrillators Not Associated With Reduced Risk Of Death In Women With Heart Failure

Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators do not appear to be associated with a reduced risk of death in women with advanced heart failure, according to a meta-analysis of previously published research in the September 14 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. Heart failure affects about 5.

New Drug That Targets Inherited Breast And Ovarian Cancers May Work Against Other Cancers, Study

A new study suggests that a new type of cancer drug called PARP inhibitors, including a new drug called olaparib that is currently showing promising results in trials as a targeted treatment for inherited forms of breast and ovarian cancer, may also be effective against other cancers.

Health Care Premiums Rose 5.3 Times Faster Than Earnings In Alaska From 2000 Through 2009

Family health care premiums rose an estimated 5.3 times faster than earnings for Alaska's workers from 2000 through 2009, according to a report issued today by the consumer health organization Families USA. In that 10-year period, family health insurance premiums rose by 90.8 percent, while median earnings rose by only 17.3 percent.

Researchers Close In On Engineering Recognizable, Drug-Free Cannabis Plant

In a first step toward engineering a drug-free Cannabis plant for hemp fiber and oil, University of Minnesota researchers have identified genes producing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive substance in marijuana. Studying the genes could also lead to new and better drugs for pain, nausea and other conditions.

Why Children Who Live Without Dads Have Earlier Sex

Previous research has found that children raised in homes without a biological father have sex earlier than children raised in traditional nuclear families. Now a new study that used a novel and complex design to investigate why this is so challenges a popular explanation of the reasons.

Comprehensive Cardiac CT Scan May Give Clearer Picture Of Significant Heart Disease

A team of researchers led by Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) radiologists has developed a computed-tomography-based protocol that identifies both narrowing of coronary arteries and areas of myocardial ischemia - restricted blood flow to heart muscle tissue - giving a better indication of clinically significant coronary artery disease.

ECMO Is Better Than Conventional Ventilation For Treating Severe Respiratory Failure From Conditions Like Swine Flu (CESAR Trial)

An article published Online First and in a future edition of The Lancet reports that patients with severe acute respiratory failure (ARF) should be referred for treatment using extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). This approach improves their chances of survival without disability compared to using conventional ventilator management.

Data From Multiple Clinical Trials Of OrbusNeich's Genous(TM) Bio-engineered R Stent(TM) To Be Presented At TCT 2009

Data from multiple clinical trials of the world's first pro-healing stent, OrbusNeich's Genous Bio-engineered R stent, and preclinical data from Combo Bio-engineered Sirolimus Eluting Stent will be presented next week at the Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics symposium, TCT 2009, in San Francisco. Robbert de Winter, M.D., Ph.D.

Action On Violence And Aggression Against NHS Staff In Wales Doesn't Go Far Enough

Commenting on the memorandum of understanding which has been established to enable police in Wales to work with the NHS to eradicate violence and aggression against health professionals, Dr Richard Lewis, Welsh Secretary of the BMA said; "BMA Cymru Wales very much welcomes this development and it

RCN Comments On The Creation Of The Independent Safeguarding Authority

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) commented on government plans to implement the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) scheme on October 12th. The scheme will require anybody who works or volunteers to work with children or vulnerable adults to register as part of the vetting and barring scheme.

St. Jude Medical Announces FDA Approval Of EnSite Velocity Cardiac Mapping System

St. Jude Medical, Inc. (NYSE: STJ) announced U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance and U.S. launch of its EnSite Velocity(TM) Cardiac Mapping System. This new system has been designed to help physicians more efficiently diagnose and guide therapy to treat abnormal heart rhythms.

Sir Christopher Kelly Announced As New Chairman Of The King's Fund

The King's Fund is delighted to announce that Sir Christopher Kelly will become the independent health charity's next chairman. Sir Christopher, who will succeed Sir Cyril Chantler, will start his appointment on 1 October 2010. Sir Christopher Kelly is chairman of the NSPCC and of the Financial Ombudsman Service.

Medtronic Study Shows Fluid Monitoring More Accurate Than Weight Measures For Heart Failure Patients

Fluid monitoring with OptiVol® Fluid Status Monitoring is a more accurate predictor of worsening heart failure compared to daily weight monitoring in heart failure patients with implantable devices, according to results released today from the FAST (Fluid Accumulation Status Trial) clinical trial. Results showed that Medtronic, Inc.

Data From Optimer's Second Phase 3 Study Of Prulifloxacin Presented At Annual Interscience Conference On Antimicrobial Agents And Chemotherapy (ICAAC)

Optimer Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: OPTR) announced the presentation of results from its second prulifloxacin Phase 3 clinical study for the treatment of infectious diarrhea in travelers, by clinical investigator Robert Steffen, M.D., at the annual Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC) in San Francisco. Dr.

Administering Dopamine To Brain-Dead Kidney Donor May Improve Outcome Of Transplant

Pretreatment of a brain-dead, heart-beating kidney donor with dopamine reduced the need for dialysis for the kidney recipient in the first week after the transplantation, according to a study in the September 9 issue of JAMA. "The majority of kidneys transplanted worldwide are retrieved from deceased heart-beating donors.

When Should A Head-Injured Child Have A CT Scan?

An article published Online First and in a future edition of The Lancet reports that using validated prediction rules to identify children at very low risk of clinically-important traumatic brain injuries (ciTBIs) can reduce the need for CT scans. This can therefore diminish their resulting radiation exposure.

Government Of Canada Takes Action To Improve Food Safety

The Government of Canada is making significant investments to strengthen Canada's food safety system. Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq today announced that the Government will invest $75 million in Canada's food safety system and act on all 57 recommendations made by Independent Investigator Sheila Weatherill.

ACLU Files Lawsuit Against Miss. Over Religious-Themed Abstinence Summit

The American Civil Liberties Union on Wednesday filed a lawsuit against the Mississippi Department of Human Services alleging that the agency included religious music and Bible teachings during a state-sponsored event promoting abstinence until marriage, the AP/Hattiesburg American reports. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S.

Public Health Manual Scoops Book Prize

The Essentials of Toxicology for Health Protection: a handbook for field professionals was published in September 2008 by the HPA and was aimed at health protection consultants, public health specialists, environmental health scientists, emergency services, workers in the water and waste industries and other industrial and regulatory bodies.

Wyeth Launches New Innovative Delivery System For Enbrel(R) (etanercept)

Enbrel (etanercept), Wyeth's biological treatment for rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis, is now available as a new easy-to-use pre-filled auto-injector device, known as the Enbrel MYCLIC pen. The Enbrel MYCLIC pen is a single-use auto-injector, designed to deliver Enbrel as a 50mg subcutaneous injection.

Some Insurers Still Back Obama After Speech

"President Obama had few nice things to say about insurance companies in his speech on health care last night, but leaders of two of this region's largest private insurers -- Independence Blue Cross and Aetna Inc. -- gave him generally high marks anyway," the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Crisis Of Uninsured Continues: Demands Immediate Health Reform, Says APHA

The following is a statement from Georges C. Benjamin, MD, FACP, FACEP (E) Executive Director, American Public Health Association: "According to new Census Bureau data released today, there are now more than 46 million Americans who do not have health coverage. And alarmingly, things are only getting worse.

Use Of NICE-appraised Medicines In The NHS: ABPI Response

While the release of statistics showing the use of medicines approved by NICE is a welcome step forward, their value is limited when further refinement is required of the way some of the figures have been calculated, the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) said today.

Nurses, AFL-CIO Unions To Host Michael Moore And Special Screening Of New Film At AFL-CIO Convention

The California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee, joined by other AFL-CIO unions, will host filmmaker Michael Moore at a special reception Monday night, along with a screening of his highly anticipated new film, "Capitalism: A Love Story" at the AFL-CIO national convention in Pittsburgh Monday night.

Diet & Exercise & Transdermal Testosterone Reverses Metabolic Syndrome And Improves Glycaemic Control In Men With Newly Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes

UroToday.com - It was formerly firmly believed that testosterone had no essential role to play in male physiology, other than on sexual and reproductive functioning. Over the last three decades it has become apparent that testosterone plays a significant role in glucose homeostasis and lipid metabolism.

NephroGenex Announces Full Enrollment In New Pyridorin(TM) Clinical Trial - PYR 210

NephroGenex, Inc., a privately held drug development company focusing on kidney disease, announced the completion of patient enrollment in its Phase 2b clinical trial (PYR-210) studying the safety and efficacy of its lead drug candidate Pyridorin(TM) (pyridoxamine dihydrochloride) in type 2 diabetic patients with overt diabetic nephropathy.

Molecular Mechanism Underlying A Form Of Diabetes Revealed

By investigating a rare and severe form of diabetes in children, University of Iowa researchers have discovered a new molecular mechanism that regulates specialized pancreatic cells and insulin secretion. The mechanism involves a protein called ankyrin, which UI researchers previously linked to potentially fatal human heart arrhythmias.

Plants On Steroids: Key Missing Link Discovered

Researchers at the Carnegie Institution's Department of Plant Biology have discovered a key missing link in the so-called signaling pathway for plant steroid hormones (brassinosteroids). Many important signaling pathways are relays of molecules that start at the cell surface and cascade to the nucleus to regulate genes.

UVA Health System Opening World's First Fully-Dedicated Focused Ultrasound Facility

The University of Virginia Health System will hold a morning scientific symposium and early afternoon dedication ceremony on Monday, September 14 to mark the opening of its new MR Guided Focused Ultrasound (MRgFUS) Surgery Center, the first facility in the world that will be used exclusively for perf

Hovione's TwinCaps(R) Inhaler Delivers Successfully In Phase III Clinical Trials For Influenza

Hovione is pleased to announce that its TwinCaps(R) inhaler licensees Daiichi Sankyo Co. Ltd. (Tokyo, Japan) and Biota Holdings Ltd (Victoria, Australia) have both announced successful Phase III trials for CS-8958, a new long-acting neuraminidase inhibitor for treatment of influenza (known as a prodrug of laninamivir).

International Adventure Therapy Conference, UK

The conference, 'Adventure therapy as an emerging approach: towards a profession', is hosted by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and will take place from 7-11 September 2009 at Pollock Halls, The University of Edinburgh. Adventure therapy involves the combination of physically and psychologically demanding activities.

Study Examines Association Between Childhood Bullying And Later Psychiatric Hospitalization, Treatment

Childhood bullying and victimization appear to predict future psychiatric problems in both males and females although females appear more likely to be affected regardless of pre-existing psychiatric problems, according to a report in the September issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Genetic Variations May Underlie Multiple Psychiatric Conditions

Similar submicroscopic variations and rearrangements appear in the genetic material of individuals with schizophrenia, autism and mental retardation, suggesting that the three disorders may share a developmental pathway, according to a report in the September issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Fighting Infection With Manuka Honey

Manuka honey may kill bacteria by destroying key bacterial proteins. Dr Rowena Jenkins and colleagues from the University of Wales Institute - Cardiff investigated the mechanisms of manuka honey action and found that its anti-bacterial properties were not due solely to the sugars present in the honey.

New Type 2 Diabetes Gene Identified

Researchers have identified a gene that may promote insulin resistance, one of the key factors in the development of Type 2 diabetes. Imperial College London scientists say the IRS1 gene controls how the body responds to insulin, and that a variation in the gene's DNA promotes insulin resistance.

Conservatives Commit To Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain Campaign To Decriminalise Single Dispensing Errors

Reflecting on comments made by Shadow Health Minister Andrew Lansley, at the annual conference of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB), President Steve Churton said: "I am delighted that Andrew Lansley has responded to the commitments which the RPSGB has today made to the profe

NOXXON Is Awarded Research And Development Grant For First-in-Human Clinical Trial With Spiegelmer(R) NOX-A12

NOXXON Pharma AG (NOXXON), clinical-stage developer of L-RNA based scaffolds (Spiegelmers®) that bind their targets conceptually similar to antibodies, announced that the company was awarded a research grant from Germany's Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) under the ministry's small and medium enterprise innovation initiative ("KMU-Innovativ").

Shire Announces FDA Approval Of Once-Daily INTUNIV⢠Extended Release Tablets For The Treatment Of ADHD In Children And Adolescents Aged 6 To 17

Shire plc (LSE: SHP, NASDAQ: SHPGY), the global specialty biopharmaceutical company, today announced that it has received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for INTUNIVâ„¢ (guanfacine) Extended Release Tablets for the treatment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children and adolescents aged 6 to 17 years.

PreSCD II Registry Shows ICDs Lead To 44 Percent Reduction In Mortality For Heart Attack Survivors

Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX) announced long-term data from the Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death II registry (PreSCD II). The results found that implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) were associated with a 44 percent reduction in all cause mortality (p=0.053) when implanted in patients following myocardial infarction (heart attack).

Gene Called Flower Missing Link In Vesicle Uptake In Neurons

As part of the intricate ballet of synaptic transmission from one neuron to the next, tiny vesicles - bubbles containing the chemical neurotransmitters that make information exchange possible - travel to the tip of neurons (synapses), where they fuse with the cell's membrane (a process called exocytosis).

INTUNIV (Guanfacine) Extended Release Tablets For ADHD In Children And Adolescents Approved By FDA

Shire plc (LSE: SHP, NASDAQ: SHPGY), the global specialty biopharmaceutical company, has announced that it has received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for INTUNIVâ„¢ (guanfacine) Extended Release Tablets for the treatment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children and adolescents aged 6 to 17 years.

Newest Taser Research Finds No Adverse Cardiac Effects

One of the country's foremost experts on the effect of Taser® use has published a new study that evaluated the immediate cardiac and cardiovascular effects on a group of volunteer police officers, finding that Taser exposure overall was safe and well tolerated. William P. Bozeman, M.D.

Insurance Premiums For Some Family Health Plans Cost $20,000 Or More

One in 10 enrolled workers in Alaska, Indiana and Minnesota were in health insurance plans costing $20,000 or more at least $7,000 more than the national average for employer-based health insurance premiums that covered their families in 2008, according to the latest numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Surgical Scrub Solution: It's Good For Patients, Too

Giving critically ill hospital patients a daily bath with a mild, soapy solution of the same antibacterial agent used by surgeons to "scrub in" before an operation can dramatically cut down, by as much as 73 percent, the number of patients who develop potentially deadly bloodstream infections, accord

Small Business, Labor And Insurance Groups Express Opinions On Health Reform 'Must-Haves'

The San Francisco Chronicle reports that a majority of small business owners in California support health reform. "A solid majority - 61 percent of 700 California small businesses that participated in a survey released Tuesday - said health care reform is needed now to get the economy on track.

Urine And Wood Ash Produce Large Harvest

Results of the first study evaluating the use of human urine mixed with wood ash as a fertilizer for food crops has found that the combination can be substituted for costly synthetic fertilizers to produce bumper crops of tomatoes without introducing any risk of disease for consumers.

SNPs Linked With Prostate Cancer Confirmed In Japanese Men Too

A third of the previously identified single-nucleotide polymorphisms, or SNPs, associated with prostate cancer in men of European or African ancestry were also associated with prostate cancer in a Japanese population, according to a new study published online September 2 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Wellpoint Chief Calls For Reform, Defends Insurers

The top executive of Wellpoint, a major health insurer, called for health reform at a meeting of the Economic Club in Indianapolis Tuesday, WTHR, the local NBC affiliate, reports. "The high and rising cost of health care in America is just not sustainable …" said CEO Angela Braly.

Relapse Of Infections Is The Most Challenging Aspect Of Treating Clostridium Difficile Infections In The Hospital Setting

Arlington Medical Resources (AMR) and Decision Resources find that relapse or recurrence of infections is the most challenging aspect of treating Clostridium difficile infections in the hospital setting. Surveyed infectious disease specialists emphasize the need for new agents that have lower relapse rates than the current standard-of-care.

The Medicines Company Announces New Patent Issuance For Angiomax(R)

The Medicines Company (NASDAQ: MDCO) announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) issued a new U.S. patent No. 7,582,727 ('727 patent). The '727 patent relates to a more consistent and improved Angiomax drug product. The new patent has been submitted to the U.S.

Cationic CT Contrast Agents Improve Visualization Of Joint Cartilage

In its quest to find new strategies to treat osteoarthritis and other diseases, a Boston University-led research team has reported finding a new computer tomography contrast agent for visualizing the special distributions of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) - the anionic sugars that account for the strength of joint cartilage.

Pioneering Research Succeeds In Producing Industrially Vital Chemical Through Engineered Bacteria

A team of South Korean scientists have succeeded in engineering the bacterium E. coli to produce the industrial chemical putrescine. The research, published in the journal Biotechnology and Bioengineering, provides a renewable alternative to the production of this important chemical which is traditionally created using fossil fuels.

TransPharma Announces Successful Completion Of Phase 2 Trial Of ViaDerm-hPTH (1-34) In Postmenopausal Women With Osteoporosis

TransPharma Medical Ltd., a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of drug products utilizing a proprietary active transdermal drug delivery technology, announced today the successful completion of the Phase 2A trial of ViaDerm-hPTH(1-34) which is being developed for the treatment of severe osteoporosis.

White House: Key GOP Senator Has 'Walked Away' From Negotiations

The Obama administration struck back at Wyoming Sen. Mike Enzi's Saturday remarks that proposed health reforms "will actually make our nation's finances sicker without saving you money," Bloomberg/The Washington Post reports. White House spokesman Robert Gibbs called the remarks "tremendously unfortunate but in some ways illuminating.

Also In Global Health News: U.S. Global Development Policy; DDT In Uganda; Potential Drought, Famine In Ethiopia

New Presidential Directive Signals More Coordinated Approach To Development Policy "President Barack Obama has signed a Presidential Study Directive [PSD] authorizing a U.S. government-wide review of global development policy, according to sources briefed on the review by the White House," Foreign Policy's blog, "The Cable," reports.

Patients With Medical Homes Receive Better Primary Care At No More Cost

A one-year evaluation at Group Health Cooperative is the first to demonstrate the measurable benefit to both patients and staff when a primary care practice adopts a "patient-centered medical home" model. This model gives patients more time with doctors, more preventive care, and improved collaboration among caregivers.

Waist-hip Ratio Better Than BMI For Gauging Obesity In Elderly

Body mass index (BMI) readings may not be the best gauge of obesity in older adults, according to new research from UCLA endocrinologists and geriatricians. Instead, they say, the ratio of waist size to hip size may be a better indicator when it comes to those over 70.

Health Care Ad Blitz Expected To Ramp Up

The health care advertising blitz continues. Many of the statements made in health care TV ads are "misleading - if not flat-out wrong," The San Francisco Chronicle reports. Those statements include claims that reform would "'ration' care to the nation's oldest citizens and hike premiums '95 percent.

Single-Dose H1N1 Vaccine Wins Approval In China

The Chinese biopharmaceutical company Sinovac Biotech Ltd. on Monday announced its H1N1 (swine) flu vaccine won the approval of a panel of experts from China's State Food and Drug Administration, the Associated Press/Forbes reports. The company expects to obtain a production license later this week.

Information For California Fire Victims And Evacuees

Health Net of California, Inc. is helping ensure that Health Net members who are victims and evacuees of the wildfires currently taking place in California have access to essential prescription medications, critical Health Net information and services to help them cope with grief, loss, stress or trauma.

Sleep Disturbances And Workplace Bullying

A study in the Sept.1 issue of the journal SLEEP shows that current or past exposure to workplace bullying is associated with increased sleep disturbances. Associations also were found between observed bullying and sleep disruption, indicating that bullying has detrimental effects even when it is experienced indirectly.

Cardiovascular Diseases: Can We Change Society?

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) result from a negative interaction between genes, lifestyle and environment. To prevent CVD, it is necessary to influence the natural history of the disease development in an individual. While we cannot change our genes, we can do a lot to our lifestyles and environments.

Mastectomy Decisions Among Racially And Ethnically Diverse Breast Cancer Patients

Women diagnosed with nonmetastatic breast cancer who were concerned about body image and their spouse's opinion were less likely to have a mastectomy than those who placed less concern on these issues, according to new study published online August 31 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

HealthPartners One Of First To Integrate Electronic X-rays, Radiology Reports Into Patients' Electronic Health Record

HealthPartners is one of the first organizations in the country to integrate electronic X-rays, MRIs and CT scans and radiology reports into patients' electronic health records (EHR). The images and the radiology reports can be accessed quickly by doctors at Regions Hospital and at all 25 HealthPartners Clinics.