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Study investigates effectiveness of potential treatment for Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis

Estimates of the prevalence of liver disease suggest that one‐third of the United States population has non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). NAFLD is now the most common cause for elevated liver function tests in the United States, a trend related to the obesity epidemic in this country. Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), the progressive form of NAFLD, can lead to cirrhosis and all its complications.

19 Oct 2010

Discovery of 4 new DNA 'hotspots' may aid in developing new therapies for psoriasis

Scientists at the University of Michigan Heath System and their collaborators have found four new DNA "hotspots" that may one day help guide new treatments for psoriasis, one of the most common autoimmune diseases in the country.

19 Oct 2010

Discovery may aid in developing new psoriasis therapies

Scientists at the University of Michigan Heath System and their collaborators have found four new DNA “hotspots” that may one day help guide new treatments for psoriasis, one of the most common autoimmune diseases in the country.

18 Oct 2010

VBA awards DOMA contract for Pilot Study into Private Medical Records

The Department of Veterans Affairs through the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) has awarded DOMA Technologies (DOMA) the contract for a Pilot Study into the Centralized Retrieval, Assembly, and Secure Transmission of Private Medical Records to expedite claims processes.

15 Oct 2010

Bristol-Myers, Otsuka launch My SPRYCEL Support program to assist patients with CML

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. today announced the launch of My SPRYCEL (dasatinib) Support, a useful resource to assist adult patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) who are taking SPRYCEL.

15 Oct 2010

More minorities enroll in U.S. medical schools in 2010

More minorities enrolled in U.S. medical schools this year, according to new data released today by the AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges). While total enrollment increased by 1.5 percent over 2009, to 18,665 students, all underrepresented racial and ethnic groups saw gains in 2010.

14 Oct 2010

Improving muscle mass benefits kidney disease patients

Kidney disease patients are healthier and live longer if they've beefed up their muscles, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society Nephrology (CJASN). The results suggest that patients may benefit from pumping iron or taking medications to boost their lean body mass.

14 Oct 2010

Consumers get advice on how to handle rising health costs, access health benefits

Kaiser Health News: "When you examine your health plan options during open enrollment season this fall, you may get sticker shock from the increases in both the premiums and the cost-sharing for services. Even benefits that are increasing under the health care overhaul may come with financial strings attached." The article says consumers should check for higher premiums, higher deductibles, more coinsurance, extra costs for dependents and a greater emphasis on wellness (Andrews, 10/12).

13 Oct 2010

First Edition: October 12, 2010

Today's early morning highlights from major news organizations look at a probe of a California hospital chain, the effect that the governors' races around the country will have on the federal health law and a review of prescription purchases that shows more Americans are foregoing their medicines.

12 Oct 2010

Agilex named region's fastest growing company by Washington Business Journal

Agilex Technologies, Inc., a leading provider of mission and technology solutions to the national security, healthcare and public sectors, announced today it was named the region's fastest growing company by the Washington Business Journal. In the company's first year of eligibility, Agilex debuted at the top of the list with reported three year growth of 372.32% and total revenue of $38M (FY2009). This annual ranking covers the entire Washington, DC metro area.

11 Oct 2010

HHS, PEPFAR to invest $130 million to transform African medical education

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is partnering with the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) to invest $130 million over five years to transform African medical education and dramatically increase the number of practicing health care workers.

8 Oct 2010

University of Colorado receives $6.3 million for umbilical cord blood bank

The University of Colorado Cord Blood Bank, a component of ClinImmune Labs and the University of Colorado School of Medicine, has been awarded $6.3 million to collect and bank umbilical cord blood, with an emphasis on donors from minority groups.

8 Oct 2010

U.S. Army re-awards Patient Appointing Services bridge contracts to Health Net Federal Services

Health Net Federal Services, LLC, part of the Government Contracts segment of Health Net, Inc. today announced it was re-awarded three Patient Appointing Services bridge contracts, continuing its Patient Appointing Services work in Fort Irwin and Puget Sound through March 31, 2011, and in Great Lakes through January 31, 2011, by the United States Army's Center for Health Care Contracting, Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Each contract includes an option to extend services for an additional six months.

6 Oct 2010

Diamond-coated electrodes for implantable devices

Diamonds adorning tiaras to anklets are treasures but these gemstones inside the body may prove priceless.

6 Oct 2010

Study shows no difference between Bevacizumab and Ranibizumab efficacy in treating AMD

Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) and the VA Boston Healthcare System have conducted a study that failed to show a difference in efficacy between Bevacizumab (Avastin) and Ranibizumab (Lucentis) for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

4 Oct 2010

Some Minn. insurers will end certain Medicare plans; Utah issues rule on child-only plans; Fla. law on pain clinics takes effect

Five insurance companies including Minnetonka-based Medica next year will stop providing a particular type of Medicare health plan in much of Minnesota, a state official said Thursday.

4 Oct 2010

Lawmaker proposes trust fund for veterans' growing health costs

"A new study estimates that health costs for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans could top $900 billion, and [Rep. Bob Filner, D-Calif.] wants to set up a trust fund to make sure the bill will be paid," The Associated Press reports.

1 Oct 2010

New England Journal of Medicine praises VA’s policy on disclosure of adverse medical events

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) policy on disclosure of adverse medical events was praised as a "valuable resource for all health care institutions" in an article in a recent issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

30 Sep 2010

Trial demonstrates improved outcomes in unsedated colonoscopy by water method

The October issue of GIE Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, the monthly peer-reviewed scientific journal of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE), features the results of two randomized controlled trials of unsedated colonoscopy comparing water infusion versus air insufflation to distend the colon.