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Families with chronically ill member less likely to benefit from employer-sponsored insurance

Benefits paid out under employer-sponsored health care plans are less generous to families covering a member with a chronic illness than to families without a chronically ill member, according to a trio of university researchers. The difference is due primarily to higher out-of-pocket expenses for prescription drugs.

23 Nov 2011

Dendritic cells play a novel protective role in pancreas

NYU Langone Medical Center researchers have discovered the novel protective role dendritic cells play in the pancreas. The new study, published in the November issue of journal Gastroenterology, shows dendritic cells can safeguard the pancreas against acute pancreatitis, a sudden dangerous swelling and inflammation of the pancreas gland.

23 Nov 2011

UnitedHealthcare announces agreement to acquire XLHealth

UnitedHealthcare, a UnitedHealth Group company, has agreed to acquire XLHealth Corp., a sponsor of Medicare Advantage health plans with a primary focus on Medicare recipients with special needs, such as those with chronic illness, and those also eligible for Medicaid.

22 Nov 2011

TRIGOcare, Systagenix partner to deliver wound care products

In a pressed economic climate, the estimated 3 million chronic wounds treated every year costs the German health care system several billion Euros, a situation fuelled by an annual prevalence of 650,000 new patients. This creates an immense cost pressure on everyone involved in wound care, in a market already characterised by tough competition, ever changing political framework and an expectation of innovation and improved quality of care.

22 Nov 2011

Researchers discover molecular sensor that detects wound-induced hydrogen peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide isn't just that bottled colorless liquid in the back of the medicine cabinet that's used occasionally for cleaning scraped knees and cut fingers. It's also a natural chemical in the body that rallies at wound sites, jump-starting immune cells into a series of events. A burst of hydrogen peroxide causes neutrophils, the immune system's first responders, to rush to the wound to fight microorganisms, remove damaged tissue and then start the inflammation process.

22 Nov 2011

Diaverum signs joint venture agreement with Nazer Group

November 2011: Diaverum, one of the world´s largest independent renal care providers, has signed a joint venture agreement with Nazer Group, a Saudi Arabian Holding Company with major investments in the medical sector including Bupa Arabia.

22 Nov 2011

New device safe, more effective for patients with chronic neurological conditions

Functional electrical stimulation (FES) was developed to help return lost function to patients with upper and lower extremity injuries and spinal cord injuries, among other applications. However, the devices, which work by stimulating neuronal activity in nerve-damaged patients, have a potential shortcoming in that the electrical currents needed for the treatment to work can also send errant signals to surrounding nerves, resulting in painful side effects.

22 Nov 2011

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease does not appear to affect survival

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common condition associated with obesity and heart disease long thought to undermine health and longevity. But a new study by Johns Hopkins researchers suggests the condition does not affect survival.

22 Nov 2011

WSU receives NHLBI grant to develop new CF treatments

A Wayne State University research team led by Fei Sun, Ph.D., assistant professor of physiology in the School of Medicine, recently received a grant with an anticipated amount of nearly $1.9 million from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health to better understand how this defective protein in cystic fibrosis patients is prematurely digested.

22 Nov 2011

CardioComm demonstrates HeartCheck ECG monitor at Medica 2011

At the world's largest medical trade fair, Medica 2011 held in Düsseldorf last week, CardioComm Solutions, Inc. demonstrated their newly developed remote patient ECG monitoring service, called HeartCheck Smart Monitoring

22 Nov 2011

Hypertension on the rise in Canada

Hypertension in Canada is increasing, and it is projected that more than one-quarter of Canadian adults will be diagnosed with hypertension by 2012/13, according to a study in CMAJ.

22 Nov 2011

Recommendations aim to enhance health and quality of life for frail and vulnerable patients in nursing home care

More than 1.5 million adults live in nursing homes in the United States, and approximately 30 percent of people will diewith a nursing home as their last place of residence. As this population continues to increase, so will the need for physicians to assist those patients with proper care and guidance in making end-of-life decisions.

21 Nov 2011

Aetna, Banner Health Network enter accountable care collaboration

Aetna today announced an accountable care collaboration with Banner Health Network and the introduction of Aetna Whole Health, a new commercial health care product that provides members access to highly coordinated care from physicians and facilities in the Banner Health Network.

21 Nov 2011

Gilead enters agreement for Pharmasset acquisition

Gilead Sciences, Inc. and Pharmasset, Inc. announced today that the companies have signed a definitive agreement under which Gilead will acquire Pharmasset for $137 per share in cash.

21 Nov 2011

ICON selected as CRO for Tasly's Dantonic pill global Phase III studies for chronic stable angina pectoris

ICON plc, a global provider of outsourced development services to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries, today announced that it has been selected by Tasly Pharmaceuticals for the company's global Phase III T89 trial. T89, also known as Dantonic pill, aims to become the first traditional Chinese medicine to receive FDA approval in the United States.

21 Nov 2011

New blood pressure remote monitoring program for Stamford employees, families

Stamford Hospital has launched a new blood pressure remote monitoring program for its employees and their families in order to detect risk factors for heart disease while helping to improve their overall health.

21 Nov 2011

Convergence commences CNV2197944 multiple ascending dose Phase I study for chronic pain

Convergence Pharmaceuticals Limited, the company focused on the development of novel and high value analgesic medicines, today announces that the multiple ascending dose Phase I study of the novel, first in class calcium channel blocker CNV2197944, for the treatment of chronic pain has been initiated.

21 Nov 2011

Roger C. Lipitz Center to offer free Guided Care training and tools for ACOs

The Roger C. Lipitz Center for Integrated Health Care at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health will offer free training and technical assistance for organizations that seek to use the Guided Care model to participate in the Medicare Shared Savings Program.

19 Nov 2011

Roundup: Fla. Medicare HMO closed; Tufts and BCBS resume talks

Quality Health Plans, a Medicare HMO with 10,000 Florida members, has been ordered into liquidation after failing to come up with the cash reserves the state says were needed. Its members will be moved to another -- still unnamed -- plan by Dec. 1.

19 Nov 2011