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Researchers map processes that power health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids

For the first time, researchers at the University of California, San Diego have peered inside a living mouse cell and mapped the processes that power the celebrated health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids. More profoundly, they say their findings suggest it may be possible to manipulate these processes to short-circuit inflammation before it begins, or at least help to resolve inflammation before it becomes detrimental.

16 May 2012

Micronutrients, early food supplementation during pregnancy improve survival of newborns

Pregnant women in poor communities in Bangladesh who received multiple micronutrients, including iron and folic acid combined with early food supplementation, had substantially improved survival of their newborns, compared to women in a standard program that included usual food supplementation, according to a study in the May 16 issue of JAMA, a theme issue on Global Health.

16 May 2012

Comcast, UnitedHealth Group completes enrollment in VOD study for type 2 diabetes

UnitedHealth Group and Comcast Corporation announced they have met enrollment targets for an innovative pilot study to evaluate the effectiveness of using video on demand (VOD) to deliver the Diabetes Prevention Program.

16 May 2012

Avita commences enrollment in ReCell study for hypertrophic dyspigmented scars

Avita Medical Ltd.,the regenerative medicine company, today announced that it has commenced enrolment in the US FDA-approved feasibility study for the use of ReCell Spray-On-Skin in the treatment of hypertrophic dyspigmented scars.

16 May 2012

Palpitations, hypertension strongest risk factors for AF

A large cohort study has found that the strongest risk factors for atrial fibrillation in both men and women were a history of palpitations and hypertension. While hypertension is a well known risk factor for AF, the investigators note that "the impact of self-reported palpitations on later occurrence of AF has not been documented earlier".

16 May 2012

Derma Sciences first quarter net sales increase 6% to $15.3 million

Derma Sciences, Inc., a medical device and pharmaceutical company focused on advanced wound care, today reported financial and operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2012.

15 May 2012

InVivo Therapeutics reports net income of $3,150,000 for first quarter 2012

InVivo Therapeutics Holdings Corp., a developer of groundbreaking technologies for the treatment of spinal cord injuries (SCI), today reported the financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and provided a business update.

15 May 2012

Health care system should provide proactive interventions to prevent depression

Major depressive episodes can be prevented, and to help ensure that they are, the health care system should provide routine access to depression-prevention interventions, just as patients receive standard vaccines, according to a new article co-authored by UCSF researcher Ricardo F. Mu-oz, PhD.

15 May 2012

HMO critically important in understanding how breastfeeding protects babies

A new University of Illinois study shows that human milk oligosaccharides, or HMO, produce short-chain fatty acids that feed a beneficial microbial population in the infant gut. Not only that, the bacterial composition adjusts as the baby grows older and its needs change.

15 May 2012

Cubist announces results from CB-5945 Phase 2 studies on chronic non-cancer pain, OIC

Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that the results from the Phase 2 studies of CB-5945 (formerly ADL5945) in patients with chronic non-cancer pain and opioid-induced constipation (OIC) will be presented at the 31st Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Pain Society taking place May 16 to 19, 2012, in Honolulu and during Digestive Disease Week 2012 taking place May 19 to 22, 2012, in San Diego.

15 May 2012

Biogen Idec announces availability of two new AVONEX dosing innovations for MS

Biogen Idec announced that two new dosing innovations designed to help patients receiving once-a-week AVONEX (interferon beta-1a) for relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) are now available in U.S. pharmacies.

15 May 2012

Celleration initiates enrollment in MIST Therapy study for VLU

Celleration, Inc., a privately-held medical device company focused on developing and commercializing therapeutic ultrasound healing technologies, announced the first patient enrollment in IN-BALANCE VLU (Inflammation, Bacteria, & Angiogenesis effects in Launching Venous Leg Ulcer healing: A Clinical Evaluation).

15 May 2012

Acupuncture may improve dyspnea in COPD patients

According to a small clinical trial reported by investigators from Japan, acupuncture appears to be associated with improvement of dyspnea (labored breathing) on exertion, in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to a study published Online First by Archives of Internal Medicine, a JAMA Network publication.

14 May 2012

Excess weight before, during pregnancy can have long-lasting health consequences for the baby

That overweight during pregnancy can lead to overweight children and adolescents has been known for some time, but new research at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and in the US indicates that excess weight before and during pregnancy can have long-lasting health consequences for the offspring of such mothers even later in life.

14 May 2012

New Jefferson Hepatitis C Center

Thomas Jefferson University Hospital recently opened its new Jefferson Hepatitis C Center, one of only a few comprehensive, multidisciplinary centers dedicated to the study of hepatitis C virus and hepatic disease in the Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware tri-state area.

14 May 2012

Maternal overweight can have long-lasting health consequences for children

14 May 2012

HealthFitness praises IOM for in-depth report on obesity in the U.S.

In some 478 pages, the Institute of Medicine laid out a thorough case this week to re-cast the nation's growing obesity problem as both an individual and societal responsibility to solve. Despite both private and public efforts over the past decade to address the problem, obesity-related illnesses cost an estimated $190 billion a year in the first five years of the millennium.

14 May 2012

Analysis stresses importance of multidisciplinary approach to cancer in the elderly

New research showing that almost half of 13,000 patients with head and neck cancers had other health-related problems at the same time is one of the presentations in a special session at the 31st conference of the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO 31) today.

14 May 2012

Five-point checklist to protect eyes from sun’s harmful rays

Like your skin, overexposure to the sun can wreak havoc on your eyes. Sun damage can cause severe conditions such as sunburn to the cornea, tissue growth on the surface of eyes that can block vision, skin cancer of the eyelids and may even contribute to the development of cataracts and other eye problems.

14 May 2012

April job growth numbers reflect increased need for skilled home healthcare services

A Department of Labor (DOL) report released last week signaled that 19,000 American jobs were added in April, primarily resulting from 15,000 new jobs in the ambulatory care field, which includes the home healthcare sector. This news comes at a critical time as the economy and American job creation remain a top priority for all lawmakers.

14 May 2012