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Combined chemo and radionuclide therapy stops neuroendocrine tumors

Advanced cancer of the neuroendocrine system can lead to dismal prognoses, but a novel therapy is packing a punch by uniting powerful radionuclide treatment and chemotherapy drugs, revealed researchers at the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging's 2014 Annual Meeting.

10 Jun 2014

Study: Lifetime costs for individual with autism spectrum disorder may reach $2.4 million

Costs for a lifetime of support for each individual with autism spectrum disorder may reach $2.4 million, according to a new study from researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

10 Jun 2014

Late-life depression could become major risk factor for developing Alzheimer's

Many people develop depression in the latest stages of life, but until now doctors had no idea that it could point to a build up of a naturally occurring protein in the brain called beta-amyloid, a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease.

10 Jun 2014

Combination of novel molecular imaging techniques can help predict spread of cancer, patient survival

A simple noninvasive blood test matched with state-of-the-art molecular imaging of individual cells could help oncologists understand their patients' chances of survival, say researchers at the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging's 2014 Annual Meeting.

10 Jun 2014

Antibody-based molecular imaging agent offers hope for novel breast cancer treatments

For years researchers have been developing molecular imaging techniques that visualize hormonally active breast cancer cells-specifically those testing positive for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2).

10 Jun 2014

Insurers propose rate hikes for plans on the individual market

News reports detail the latest on insurers' efforts in Maryland and Connecticut to gain approval for increases in 2015 premiums on the state exchanges.

10 Jun 2014

National study provides insights into current approaches and barriers for patient-centered care

In order to meet new cancer program accreditation standards, institutions have placed new focus on patient navigation, psychosocial distress screening, and survivorship care plans.

9 Jun 2014

Forerun releases UrgiCare Manager documentation and care management solution

Forerun, Inc. announced today its launch of UrgiCare Manager documentation and care management solution.

9 Jun 2014

Politics continue to swirl around state Medicaid expansion debates

A group of Democratic senators have written a letter to Republican governors in states such as South Dakota, Wyoming, Wisconsin and Nebraska urging that they set politics aside and pursue the health law's expansion of the state-federal low-income insurance program. Meanwhile, the issue is also front and center in primary elections.

9 Jun 2014

Celsus’ expert highlights serious side effects of topical corticosteroids

A 2013 Mayo Clinic study involving more than 140,000 patients revealed that skin disorders are the most common nonacute reason Americans seek health care.

9 Jun 2014

Antiviral therapy may prevent hepatitis B virus from developing into hepatocellular carcinoma

Researchers have found that antiviral therapy may be successful in preventing hepatitis B virus from developing into the most common form of liver cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

9 Jun 2014

Hospital shifting away from billing for individual services

Bundled payments may be the "wave of the future," the Wall Street Journal suggests. Meanwhile, health care providers are working to get patients more involved in decisions about their care.

9 Jun 2014

HHS identifies overpayments to Medicare advantage plans but doesn't recover funds

Medicare auditors found the government overpaid the plans hundreds of millions of dollars but in 2013 opted to scrap such reviews, the Center for Public Integrity writes. Meanwhile, Modern Healthcare looks at Medicare's difficult job in dealing with safety failures.

9 Jun 2014

Cosgrove withdraws his name from consideration for top job at the VA

Cleveland Clinic CEO Dr. Delos M. Cosgrove said that, though he seriously considered the position, he did not feel he could step away from his commitments at the clinic.

9 Jun 2014

Merck enters into definitive agreement with Idenix

Merck, known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, and Idenix Pharmaceuticals, Inc., today announced that the companies have entered into a definitive agreement under which Merck will acquire Idenix for $24.50 per share in cash.

9 Jun 2014

Sequenom signs national agreement to provide MaterniT21 PLUS LDT

Sequenom, Inc., a life sciences company providing innovative testing and genetic analysis solutions, announced today its wholly owned subsidiary, Sequenom Laboratories, has signed a national agreement with a leading health insurance company covering 13 million people throughout the United States, to provide the MaterniT21™ PLUS laboratory-developed test (LDT).

9 Jun 2014

First Edition: June 9, 2014

Today's headlines include reports about efforts on the state level and within the health care system to address health care costs and advance other system reforms.

9 Jun 2014

Banner Health receives prestigious stroke award

Several Banner Health facilities in Arizona have received a prestigious stroke award in recognition of their ability to better diagnose and treat stroke patients, to reduce death and disability among patients and to speed recovery.

9 Jun 2014

Mylan launches generic version of Bristol-Myers Squibb's Paraplatin Injection

Mylan Inc. today announced that it has launched Carboplatin Injection, 50 mg/5 ml, in multi-dose vials, which is the generic version of Bristol-Myers Squibb's Paraplatin® Injection.

9 Jun 2014

Research finding paves way for targeted approaches to treating cancer patients

Twelve years ago, UNC School of Medicine researcher Brian Strahl, PhD, found that a protein called Set2 plays a role in how yeast genes are expressed - specifically how DNA gets transcribed into messenger RNA. Now his lab has found that Set2 is also a major player in DNA repair, a complicated and crucial process that can lead to the development of cancer cells if the repair goes wrong.

9 Jun 2014