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Breast cancer: Lower dose of radiotherapy in fewer, larger doses as effective as higher total dose

The chronic side-effects of radiotherapy for early breast cancer, as reported by women themselves, are not any worse when treatment is given in a lower overall dose in fewer but larger treatments according to a trial part funded by Cancer Research UK and published today in the Lancet Oncology.

8 Feb 2010

Increased Medicare reimbursement leads to rise in outpatient bladder cancer surgeries

Increased Medicare payments to physicians for outpatient surgeries for bladder cancer have led to a dramatic rise in the number of these procedures being performed and an overall increase in cost to the healthcare system. That is the conclusion of a new study published early online in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society. The findings indicate that some Medicare policies aimed at decreasing costs may instead be contributing to an increase in healthcare expenditures.

8 Feb 2010

Mutation in alpha tectorin gene causes progressive childhood deafness

Deafness is the most common disorder of the senses. Tragically, it commonly strikes in early childhood, severely damaging an affected child's ability to learn speech and language. In many cases, children gradually lose their hearing to become profoundly deaf over a long period of months to years, but scientists know very little about how this progressive loss happens, making prospects for prevention and cure very slim.

8 Feb 2010

Stanford researchers use DNA minicircles to induce pluripotency in stem cells from human fat

Tiny circles of DNA are the key to a new and easier way to transform stem cells from human fat into induced pluripotent stem cells for use in regenerative medicine, say scientists at the Stanford University School of Medicine. Unlike other commonly used techniques, the method, which is based on standard molecular biology practices, does not use viruses to introduce genes into the cells or permanently alter a cell's genome.

8 Feb 2010

HealthSpring nurse practitioner identifies impending heart attack

Olive Branch, Miss. resident Glenn Lusk has a special perspective on the value of his Medicare Advantage plan. It was a HealthSpring-contracted nurse practitioner who discovered during a home visit in November that Lusk was experiencing serious heart trouble.

6 Feb 2010

Athlete hopes for first U.S. cross-country medal; health issues plagued 2006 Olympic bid

Kris Freeman is back in the hunt for an Olympic medal in Vancouver after being named today to the U.S. ski team following a disappointing finish at the 2006 Games in Torino, Italy.

6 Feb 2010

Two U.S. insurers approve coverage of radioembolization for treatment of unresectable liver cancer

MDS Nordion, a global leader in providing products and services for medical imaging and radiotherapeutics, today announced that two of the largest health insurers in the United States have recently approved coverage of radioembolization to treat unresectable liver cancer, which includes the use of MDS Nordion's TheraSphere(R) treatment. The two insurance companies and their affiliates together serve more than one-quarter of Americans and do business in all 50 states.

6 Feb 2010

Over 12,000 courses of lung cancer treatment completed with Accuray's CyberKnife radiosurgery

Accuray Incorporated, a global leader in the field of radiosurgery, announced today that more than 12,000 courses of lung cancer treatment have been completed with CyberKnife radiosurgery. Usage of CyberKnife radiosurgery for lung cancer continues to grow, as illustrated by a 25 percent increase year over year in calendar year 2009.

6 Feb 2010

HDC partners with New York surgery center to develop new molecular diagnostic tests for pancreatic cancer

Health Discovery Corporation announced today that the Company has entered into an exclusive agreement with the Pancreas, Biliary and Liver Surgery Center of New York at Saint Vincent Catholic Medical Centers in New York City to develop new molecular diagnostic tests for the early detection of pancreatic cancer. The Pancreas, Biliary and Liver Surgery Center is under the leadership of Drs. Michael Wayne, Franklin Kassim and Avram Cooperman.

6 Feb 2010

Strativa Pharmaceuticals' Zuplenz NDA: FDA issues complete response letter

Strativa Pharmaceuticals announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a complete response letter regarding the new drug application (NDA) for Zuplenz® (ondansetron) oral soluble film for the prevention of nausea and vomiting associated with highly- and moderately-emetogenic chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery.

6 Feb 2010

BioTime announces results of independent Hextend study in hemodynamically unstable trauma patients

BioTime, Inc. today reported recently-released results from an independent study evaluating the use of Hextend® in hemodynamically unstable trauma patients. Hextend (6% Hetastarch in Lactated Electrolyte Injection) is BioTime’s commercially-available blood plasma volume expander used to treat hypovolemia (low blood volume). The study, conducted at the University of Miami Ryder Trauma Center, reported that initial resuscitation with Hextend was associated with no obvious coagulopathy and reduced mortality compared to fluid resuscitation without Hextend.

5 Feb 2010

Intrathecal drug delivery cost effective for chronic pain treatments

Estimates of pain care treatment costs exceed $1 billion annually in the United States. Today at the American Academy of Pain Medicine's 26th Annual Meeting two abstracts looked at the issue. One evaluated intrathecal drug delivery (a targeted medicine delivery system) that could save costs over time. The other analyzed the differences between the costs of treatment for chronic pain treatments.

5 Feb 2010

Tracking early signs of coronary artery clogs: CT perfusion vs. SPECT nuclear imaging tests

Cardiologists and heart imaging specialists at 15 medical centers in eight countries, and led by researchers at Johns Hopkins, have enrolled the first dozen patients in a year-long investigation to learn whether the subtle squeezing of blood flow through the inner layers of the heart is better than traditional SPECT nuclear imaging tests and other diagnostic radiology procedures for accurately tracking the earliest signs of coronary artery clogs.

5 Feb 2010

Hope for back pain: Minimally invasive facet arthrodesis and spinal cord stimulation

Results from the first prospective study of minimally invasive facet arthrodesis and long-term data on spinal cord stimulation demonstrate the viability of these options to achieve pain relief in patients with various back pain conditions. The studies were presented today at the American Academy of Pain Medicine's 26th Annual Meeting in San Antonio, TX.

5 Feb 2010

HSS supports Arthritis Foundation's educational campaign for osteoarthritis

Hospital for Special Surgery, (HSS), a world leader in orthopedics and rheumatology, today announced its support of the Arthritis Foundation and Ad Council newly launched campaign, "Moving is the Best Medicine," to raise awareness of osteoarthritis, increase public health education and support breakthrough research.

5 Feb 2010

Patients with mild gallstone pancreatitis can be operated within 48 hours of admission

Patients with mild gallstone pancreatitis usually stay in the hospital for several days, waiting for the symptoms to subside, before undergoing surgery to remedy the condition. A new study from researchers at Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute (LA BioMed) indicates patients may no longer have to wait so long for surgery and could leave the hospital sooner.

5 Feb 2010

$AAOS issues new clinical practice guidelines for treating distal radius fractures$

AAOS issues new clinical practice guidelines for treating distal radius fractures

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) recently approved and released an evidence-based clinical practice guideline on the Treatment of Distal Radius Fractures.

5 Feb 2010

Use of laparoscopic hepatectomy in treating HCC patients achieves complete resection

Conventional hepatectomy is an effective way to treat hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, it is invasive and stressful. Laparoscopic surgery, a kind of minimally invasive surgery, has recently gained considerable advances.

5 Feb 2010

FDA approves first laser treatment for stretch marks

Palomar Medical Technologies, Inc. is pleased to announce that the Lux1540™ Fractional non-ablative laser handpiece has received the first clearance by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of striae (stretch marks) using a fractional laser. This new clearance will allow aesthetic practitioners to treat the millions of women worldwide who have unwanted stretch marks.

4 Feb 2010

IMRIS to acquire NASL

IMRIS Inc. today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire NeuroArm Surgical Limited ("NASL"), a privately held company based in Calgary, Alberta, and its magnetic resonance-compatible neurosurgical robot. The companies expect to close the transaction no later than February 8, 2010, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. IMRIS has also entered into a memorandum of understanding with MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates Limited ("MDA") to create the next generation of the technology.

4 Feb 2010

Surgery News and Research

Breast cancer: Lower dose of radiotherapy in fewer, larger doses as effective as higher total dose

Increased Medicare reimbursement leads to rise in outpatient bladder cancer surgeries

Mutation in alpha tectorin gene causes progressive childhood deafness

Stanford researchers use DNA minicircles to induce pluripotency in stem cells from human fat

HealthSpring nurse practitioner identifies impending heart attack

Athlete hopes for first U.S. cross-country medal; health issues plagued 2006 Olympic bid

Two U.S. insurers approve coverage of radioembolization for treatment of unresectable liver cancer

Over 12,000 courses of lung cancer treatment completed with Accuray's CyberKnife radiosurgery

HDC partners with New York surgery center to develop new molecular diagnostic tests for pancreatic cancer

Strativa Pharmaceuticals' Zuplenz NDA: FDA issues complete response letter

BioTime announces results of independent Hextend study in hemodynamically unstable trauma patients

Intrathecal drug delivery cost effective for chronic pain treatments

Tracking early signs of coronary artery clogs: CT perfusion vs. SPECT nuclear imaging tests

Hope for back pain: Minimally invasive facet arthrodesis and spinal cord stimulation

HSS supports Arthritis Foundation's educational campaign for osteoarthritis

Patients with mild gallstone pancreatitis can be operated within 48 hours of admission

AAOS issues new clinical practice guidelines for treating distal radius fractures

Use of laparoscopic hepatectomy in treating HCC patients achieves complete resection

FDA approves first laser treatment for stretch marks

IMRIS to acquire NASL

Industry Focus eBook - Analytical Chemistry (2nd Edition) eBook

Designing fluidic architecture for scalable diagnostic platforms

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

Expanding access to NMR with the Fourier 80 Duo

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