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New computational tool identifies undiagnosed illnesses and unknown gene mutations

23 Apr 2014

New painkiller, with fewer side-effects, up for FDA approval

The drug, Moxduo, allows patients to take lower doses of other painkillers. Elsewhere, a Food and Drug Administration official talks about another painkiller, Zohydro.

23 Apr 2014

Pfizer reports positive results from two tofacitinib Phase 3 trials for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis

Pfizer Inc. announced today top-line results from two pivotal Phase 3 trials from the Oral treatment Psoriasis Trials (OPT) Program, OPT Pivotal #1 (A3921078) and OPT Pivotal #2 (A3921079), evaluating the efficacy and safety of tofacitinib, an oral Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor, the first in a new class of medicines being investigated for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.

23 Apr 2014

University of Utah software successfully identifies diseases with unknown gene mutations in three separate cases

A computational tool developed at the University of Utah (U of U) has successfully identified diseases with unknown gene mutations in three separate cases, U of U researchers and their colleagues report in a new study in The American Journal of Human Genetics. The software, Phevor (Phenotype Driven Variant Ontological Re-ranking tool), identifies undiagnosed illnesses and unknown gene mutations by analyzing the exomes, or areas of DNA where proteins that code for genes are made, in individual patients and small families.

22 Apr 2014

First Edition: April 22, 2014

Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including marketplace news about the Novartis purchase of GlaxoSmithKline's oncology unit for $14.5 billion.

22 Apr 2014

Researchers examine direct impact of fiscal austerity on suicide rates in Greece

The effect of economic cuts on debt ravaged Greece included a dramatic rise in the number of men committing suicide, according to new research.

22 Apr 2014

Researchers aim at developing mobile phone app that can diagnose cancer

Plans to design a smart phone app that can detect leukaemia will be among the innovations presented by Northumbria University researchers at the Centre for Life this weekend.

22 Apr 2014

Lifespan receives 2013 "Best Practice" award for improving employees’ health

The New England Employee Benefits Council named Lifespan, Rhode Island's largest health system, as a recipient of the 2013 "Best Practice" award, presented annually to the companies exhibiting novel, innovative, and impactful strategies in employee benefits.

22 Apr 2014

Cost of Hep C medicines vexing insurers

As health insurance companies reveal much anticipated first-quarter earnings, it's the unpredictable impact from the five-figure cost of new Hepatitis C treatments that are the subject of as much Wall Street worry as the Affordable Care Act.

22 Apr 2014

New initiative helps individuals and families to discuss end-of-life issues

Henry Ford Health System is embarking on a major initiative over the coming year to inform its patients about "The Conversation" - an often daunting and uncomfortable discussion of advance planning for death and dying.

22 Apr 2014

Doctors must consider factors when administering combination vaccines, say researchers

One of the most popular vaccine brands for children may not be the most cost-effective choice. And doctors may be overlooking some cost factors when choosing vaccines, driving the market toward what is actually a more expensive option, according to a new study by University of Illinois researchers.

22 Apr 2014

Internet bug spurs HealthCare.gov to reset customer passwords

The Obama administration has reset the passwords of consumers who created accounts through HealthCare.gov, saying the precautionary move was necessary to protect personal information at risk through the newly discovered Heartbleed Internet bug. Those who have accounts will be prompted to create new ones the next time they visit the site, according to an announcement posted on HealthCare.gov (King, 4/19).

22 Apr 2014

Study evaluates stigma and public perceptions related to lung cancer

It's not uncommon these days to find a colored ribbon representing a disease. A pink ribbon is well known to signify breast cancer. But what color ribbon does one think of with lung cancer?

22 Apr 2014

Researcher explores public perceptions related to newborn screening programs

While 94 per cent of Canadians surveyed said they would participate in public health programs that screen newborns for a specific number of genetic conditions, only 80 per cent said they would be willing to participate in screening that would sequence their newborns' genomes.

22 Apr 2014

Narrowing of carotid artery in neck without any symptoms may be linked to memory problems

For the first time, researchers have demonstrated that narrowing of the carotid artery in the neck without any symptoms may be linked to problems in learning, memory, thinking and decision-making, compared to people with similar risk factors but no narrowing in the neck artery, according to a study released today that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 66th Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, April 26 to May 3, 2014.

22 Apr 2014

States have limited time for decision on setting up marketplaces

Meanwhile, other outlets look at the deadline enrollment surge and its possible effect on health care costs.

22 Apr 2014

All Together Better Health conference to be held in Pittsburgh this June

The biennial All Together Better Health conference will hold its first U.S. meeting in Pittsburgh this June to highlight the latest research on interprofessionalism and team-based health care delivery. The international conference serves as a forum for health system executives, educational leaders and policy makers to share new studies and shape the future of the health care workforce.

22 Apr 2014

Allergan notes public filings made by Pershing Square and Valeant Pharmaceuticals

Allergan, Inc. ("Allergan" or the "Company") today became aware of public filings made by Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. ("Valeant") and Pershing Square Capital Management, L.P. ("Pershing Square") regarding Valeant's purported intention to propose a merger in which the Company's stockholders would receive a combination of Valeant common shares and cash in exchange for the outstanding shares of the Company's common stock.

22 Apr 2014

Hospitals ask officials for easier ACO bonuses

The American Hospital Association is lobbying the CMS Innovation Center to make it easier for accountable care organizations to earn Medicare bonuses and delay potential penalties as the agency looks to expand the initiative (Evans, 4/18).

22 Apr 2014

Clinton papers reveal failed health law efforts

Newly released papers offer a glimpse of how the former president's team had hoped to win over moderate Republicans as well as Democrats, and also reassure Americans that the plan wouldn't disrupt coverage if they already had it.

22 Apr 2014