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CT scans can help detect COPD among men smokers

Among men who were current or former heavy smokers, undergoing lung cancer screening with computed tomography (CT) scanning identified a substantial proportion who had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), suggesting that this method may be helpful as an additional tool in detecting COPD, according to a study in the October 26 issue of JAMA.

27 Oct 2011

Yoga for low back pain as effective as stretching exercises: Study

Study shows that weekly yoga classes eased pain and improved functioning in some people with chronic lower back pain. However the effects of yoga were not much different from usual stretching exercises.

25 Oct 2011

Three dry days a week reduces risk of alcohol related liver disease

The Royal College of Physicians said the present official guidance on healthy drinking limits is ‘extremely dangerous’ and must be rewritten – because it implies that drinking every day is fine. Government advice states men should drink no more than four units a day and women no more than three.

24 Oct 2011

CompCare to distribute innovative lumbar traction DDS belt in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico

Comprehensive Care Corporation, which provides behavioral health, substance abuse and psychotropic pharmacy management services for managed care companies throughout the U.S., today announced that it has acquired exclusive distribution rights to an innovative patented product aimed directly at reducing depression in individuals resulting from chronic back pain.

24 Oct 2011

Vertex initiates INCIVEK combination Phase 3b study for hepatitis C

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated today announced the initiation of a Phase 3b study called CONCISE that will evaluate the potential for treatment with INCIVEK (telaprevir) combination therapy to be shortened to 12 weeks in people with genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C who have the 'CC' variation near the IL28B gene.

24 Oct 2011

FDA's ODAC to review Affymax peginesatide NDA for treatment of CKD-associated anemia

Affymax, Inc. today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee (ODAC) will review the New Drug Application (NDA) for peginesatide proposed for the treatment of anemia associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD) in adult patients on dialysis on December 7, 2011 during the afternoon session.

24 Oct 2011

Holtorf Medical Group opens new affiliate center in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania

Holtorf Medical Group, California's leading integrative, evidence-based medical facility, is pleased to announce the opening of its newest affiliate center, Garabedian Medical Clinic in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania.

24 Oct 2011

Cubist signs definitive agreement to acquire Adolor

Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Adolor Corporation today announced that they have signed a definitive agreement under which Cubist will acquire all of the outstanding shares of Adolor for $4.25 per share in cash, or approximately $190 million on a fully-diluted basis, net of Adolor's third quarter 2011 cash balance.

24 Oct 2011

Synergy commences plecanatide Phase II/III trial in chronic idiopathic constipation

Synergy Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a developer of new drugs to treat gastrointestinal (GI) disorders and diseases, today announced initiation of dosing of patients in a major Phase II/III clinical trial of plecanatide to treat chronic idiopathic constipation.

24 Oct 2011

HealthWarehouse.com to provide prescription medications for WhiteGlove

HealthWarehouse.com, Inc., a leading VIPPS-accredited retail mail-order pharmacy, announced today that it will begin providing prescription medications for WhiteGlove Health, Inc., a leader in service-driven healthcare.

24 Oct 2011

FDA accepts Ironwood and Forest Laboratories' linaclotide NDA for review

Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Forest Laboratories, Inc. today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted for review the New Drug Application (NDA) for linaclotide for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) and chronic constipation.

24 Oct 2011

C. sinensis parasite lacks enzymes required for fatty acid biosynthesis

The human liver fluke Clonorchis sinensis affects more than 35 million people in South East Asia and 15 million in China. Infection by this parasite causes clonorchiasis. Repeated or chronic infection can lead to serious disease of the liver, gall bladder or bile ducts, including the frequently fatal bile duct cancer - cholangiocarcinoma.

24 Oct 2011

Physiological changes, chronic illness make older adults more susceptible to illness during disasters

In a summer with unprecedented weather events, from tornados, floods, fires and hurricanes, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing found that physiological changes associated with aging and the presence of chronic illness make older adults more susceptible to illness or injury, even death, during a disaster.

22 Oct 2011

NIPPV helps decrease mortality rates among hospitalized COPD patients

Although increased use of noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation (NIPPV) nationwide has helped decrease mortality rates among patients hospitalized with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a small group of patients requiring subsequent treatment with invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) have a significantly higher risk of death than those placed directly on IMV, according to researchers in the United States who studied patterns of NIPPV use.

22 Oct 2011

New sleepwear now available for post-surgery breast cancer patients

For breast cancer patients, surgery is often the first line of treatment. Following surgery, patients must deal not only with the healing process, but also with lasting after effects such as scarring, skin sensitivity and body asymmetry. A new line of sleepwear now available to breast cancer survivors is the result of an ongoing research partnership between Ryerson University and Princess Margaret Hospital that examines how the side effects of surgery and treatment affect women's physical comfort, confidence and sexuality.

22 Oct 2011

PATH B programme for patients with hepatitis B launches in Europe

A pioneering educational resource, designed to improve the lives of people living with chronic hepatitis B, was launched today at an annual conference organised by Bristol-Myers Squibb in Hong Kong where 26 patient advocacy groups from 14 countries and regions gathered to discuss viral hepatitis.

22 Oct 2011

WHO Director-General calls for sustainable development, investment to address social determinants of health

"Representatives from more than 100 governments around the world, health experts, civil society organizations and other stakeholders are converging in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for three days" at the WHO-convened World Conference on Social Determinants of Health "to discuss how social, economic and environmental conditions could be improved to reduce the health gaps within and between countries," a WHO press release states.

22 Oct 2011

Research roundup: Disparities in heart failure improvements; vets face barriers to mental health care

Hospitalization And Mortality Rates For Medicare Beneficiaries, 1998-2008 -- This report examines treatment of more than 55 million Medicare fee-for-service heart failure patients, from 1998 to 2008. The researchers found that heart failure hospitalization declined susbstantially over that time but "occurred unevenly across race-sex categories, especially for black men, who had the lowest rate of decline."

22 Oct 2011

Common risk factors for hepatocellular cancer

Among known risk factors for hepatocellular cancer, smoking, obesity, and heavy alcohol consumption, along with chronic hepatitis B and C infection, contribute to a large share of the disease burden in Europe, according to a cohort study published online October 21 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

22 Oct 2011

Boehringer Ingelheim announces new data from hepatitis C virus portfolio

Boehringer Ingelheim announced today that new data from its hepatitis C virus (HCV) portfolio will be presented in scientific sessions at The Liver Meeting 2011, the 62nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD), taking place November 4 - November 8 in San Francisco, CA.

22 Oct 2011