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Raised levels of carbon dioxide in blood may lead to ‘near death experiences’

Near death experiences (NDEs), reported to include sensations such as life flashing before the eyes, feelings of peace and joy, and apparent encounters with mystical entities, may be caused by raised levels of carbon dioxide in the blood. Researchers writing in BioMed Central's open access journal Critical Care investigated the unexplained events in 52 cardiac arrest patients.

8 Apr 2010

Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics announces new contract with Premier Purchasing Partners

Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics announces a new three-year contract with Premier Purchasing Partners, L.P., the group purchasing unit of Premier Inc., that includes Siemens powerful integrated diagnostic systems, several specialty diagnostic instruments, and a comprehensive menu of diagnostic tests for Premier's more than 2,300 member hospitals and 64,000 additional healthcare sites.

29 Mar 2010

Biophotonics: Light to cure disease

Biophotonics, or photomedicine, is a relatively unknown discipline, though it has existed for years now. You may have even benefited from it without realizing it. Some of the greatest advances of this field can be found in applications for the areas of oncology, dermatology, ophthalmology, surgery and cardiology.

27 Mar 2010

Sorin Group's newest generation C5 HLM system receives FDA clearance

Sorin Group, a global company and a leader in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, announced today the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance of its newest generation C5 Heart-Lung Machine (HLM).

18 Feb 2010

Study shows severe OSA suppresses cognitive experience of nightmare recall

A study in the Feb. 15 issue of the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine shows that patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) report a significantly lower frequency of nightmares than patients with mild or no sleep apnea, indicating that OSA suppresses the cognitive experience of nightmare recall.

15 Feb 2010

Vision of mountain climbers not adversely affected despite presence of edema at altitudes up to 6,300 meters

Swelling commonly occurs in the corneas of mountain climbers, but does not appear to affect vision at altitudes of up to 6,300 meters (about 20,670 feet), according to a report in the February issue of Archives of Ophthalmology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

10 Feb 2010

Study assesses gray matter concentration deficits in multiple brain areas of people with OSA

A study in the Feb. 1 issue of the journal SLEEP found gray matter concentration deficits in multiple brain areas of people with severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The study suggests that the memory impairment, cardiovascular disturbances, executive dysfunctions, and dysregulation of autonomic and respiratory control frequently observed in OSA patients may be related to morphological changes in brain structure.

1 Feb 2010

NovaSom Diagnostic System approved for diagnostic evaluation of adults with OSA

Some 18-20 million Americans are at risk for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and of those, only 5 to 10 percent have been diagnosed. Studies prove that fatality is a major risk of undiagnosed and untreated OSA; however, once detected, OSA can be readily and successfully treated.

29 Jan 2010

Fourth-quarter and fiscal year 2009 results announced by Somanetics

Somanetics Corporation today reported financial results for the fourth fiscal quarter and year ended November 30, 2009.

21 Jan 2010

Masimo Rad-57 Pulse CO-Oximeter helps detect CO poisoning on-the-scene

Masimo, the inventor of Pulse CO-Oximetry™ and Measure-Through Motion and Low Perfusion pulse oximetry, today announced that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security recently issued a Federal warning about the increased risk of carbon monoxide exposure during the winter season—urging heightened awareness and precaution for firefighters, who are at increased risk of duty-related CO danger. The life-threatening consequences of CO poisoning make immediate detection, helped by the noninvasive Masimo Rad-57 Pulse CO-Oximeter, a lifesaving necessity for fire and emergency operations.

20 Jan 2010

Positive results from phase 2 study evaluating the safety and efficacy of Qnexa announced

VIVUS, Inc. today announced positive results from a phase 2 study evaluating the safety and efficacy of Qnexa®, an investigational drug, for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). VIVUS recently completed phase 3 development of Qnexa for the treatment of obesity and submitted a New Drug Application (NDA) to the FDA for that indication.

7 Jan 2010

Inverness Medical Innovations and Epocal enter into distribution agreement

Inverness Medical Innovations, Inc., a global leader in enabling individuals to take charge of their health at home through the merger of rapid diagnostics and health management, announced today that it has entered into a distribution agreement with Epocal Inc. of Ottawa, Canada to distribute its epoc® Blood Analysis System for blood gas and electrolyte testing.

6 Jan 2010

Study: Ethyl nitrite improves blood flow and organ status during laparoscopy

As good as laparoscopy is in preventing some of the stresses of open surgery on the body, it does have drawbacks, including reduced blood flow and organ dysfunction. Laparoscopy is a type of surgery in the abdomen done through small incisions.

14 Dec 2009

VNA of Greater Philadelphia expands its home health and specialty services in Bucks County

The Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) of Greater Philadelphia is expanding its traditional home health and specialty services to patients who reside in lower Bucks County.

14 Dec 2009

Pneumatic tube systems still going strong

One of the most important working parts of Stanford Hospital is practically invisible ― and its invention dates back more than 200 years.

10 Dec 2009

Lung disease linked to the use of contaminated well water in a CPAP machine

Many people rely on continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines as a safe and effective treatment for sleep apnea. But a new case report describes a rare complication—a lingering inflammatory disease of the lungs, apparently related to the use of contaminated well water in a CPAP machine. The report appears in the December Southern Medical Journal, official journal of the Southern Medical Association.

3 Dec 2009

Repeated use of ecstasy drug increases the risk of developing sleep apnea

Repeated use of the drug popularly known as "ecstasy" significantly raises the risk of developing sleep apnea in otherwise healthy young adults with no other known risk factors for the sleep disturbance, a new study by Johns Hopkins scientists suggests.

2 Dec 2009

IVT to demonstrate its new mobile health system at CES 2010 in Las Vegas and GSMA Mobile Asia Congress

IVT Corporation announced today that it will demonstrate its new mobile health system at GSMA Mobile Asia Congress in Hong Kong on Nov. 18-19, at Booth F08, and CES 2010 in Las Vegas. This system allows medical monitoring from home, reducing risk of diseases and assisting with emergency rescue.

13 Nov 2009

Mechanical ventilation damages lungs, says scientist

As more Canadians are diagnosed with H1N1 influenza infection, some will be admitted to hospital. The most severely affected may be treated in the intensive care unit (ICU) and placed on a mechanical ventilator to help them breathe while they recover from the infection.