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Nebulized interferon-gamma helps minimize transmissibility of TB

A new study published in the September 15, 2009, issue of PLoS ONE found that patients with cavitary pulmonary tuberculosis receiving anti-TB medications supplemented with nebulized interferon-gamma have fewer bacilli in the lungs and less inflammation, thereby reducing the transmissibility of tuberculosis in the early phase of treatment.

15 Sep 2009

Positive results from Transave's Phase II clinical trial of ARIKACE in non-CF bronchiectasis patients

Transave, Inc., today reported positive results from a Phase II clinical trial in non-cystic fibrosis (CF) bronchiectasis patients for its lead investigational drug, ARIKACE(TM) (liposomal amikacin for inhalation). The Phase II data indicated that ARIKACE, delivered once daily for 28 consecutive days, demonstrated superior clinical benefit compared to placebo as measured by patient and physician reported outcomes and reduction in Pseudomonas aeruginosa density.

14 Sep 2009

Capsule launches new Enterprise Medical Device Connectivity Solution

Capsule (www.capsuletech.com), the leading provider of medical device connectivity, today announces the release of their new Enterprise Medical Device Connectivity Solution enabled by the Capsule Neuron™.

10 Sep 2009

Top 10 U.S.hospitals prefer Arctic Sun temperature management system

The number of Arctic Sun(R) users among hospitals ranked top 20 jumped to 90 percent this year from 72 percent last year, Medivance announced today. All top 10 "best hospitals" prefer the ease and safety of its advanced non-invasive method for rapid, controlled temperature reduction followed by slow rewarming.

9 Sep 2009

Genetic risk factor involved in cystic fibrosis discovered

Researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have discovered a genetic risk factor for severe liver disease in people with cystic fibrosis. Those who carry a particular variant of the SERPINA1 gene (also known as alpha-1-antitrypsin or alpha-1-antiprotease) are five times more likely to develop cirrhosis and other liver complications than patients who carry the normal version of the gene.

9 Sep 2009

Benefits of early exposure to daycare not sustainable

New research hints that the common belief that kids who go to daycare have lower rates of asthma and allergy later in life might be nothing more than wishful thinking. While young children in daycare definitely do get more illnesses and experience more respiratory symptoms as a result, any perceived protection these exposures afford against asthma and allergy seem to disappear by the time the child hits the age of eight.

8 Sep 2009

COPD patients to have better protection against pneumonia with new vaccine

A new vaccine against pneumonia may offer better protection from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients than the currently accepted vaccine, according to recent research that will be published in the September 15 issue of the American Journal of the Respiratory and Critical Care Journal, a publication of the American Thoracic Society.

8 Sep 2009

Bloodstream infections can be avoided with a daily scrub solution bath

Giving critically ill hospital patients a daily bath with a mild, soapy solution of the same antibacterial agent used by surgeons to "scrub in" before an operation can dramatically cut down, by as much as 73 percent, the number of patients who develop potentially deadly bloodstream infections, according to a new study by patient safety experts at The Johns Hopkins Hospital and five other institutions.

5 Sep 2009

Alternative device for increased specificity of bronchoscopic lung cancer detection

Research published in the September 2009 issue of the Journal of Thoracic Oncology has found that narrow-band imaging bronchoscopy increases the specificity of bronchoscopic early lung cancer detection and can serve as an alternative detection device.

3 Sep 2009

Peplin announces merger agreement with LEO Pharma

Peplin, Inc. (ASX:PLI) today announced a definitive merger agreement whereby LEO Pharma A/S (LEO), a privately-held, leading global pharmaceutical company within Dermatology and Critical Care, will acquire all outstanding securities of Peplin for approximately US$287.5 million (currently A$348.4 million) in cash. This represents a purchase price of US$16.99 per common share of Peplin stock or A$1.03 per Peplin CHESS Depositary Interest (CDI).

3 Sep 2009

Actelion launches new 20 mcg/mL Ventavis formulation

Actelion Pharmaceuticals US, Inc., today announced the first commercial sales of a new 20 microgram per milliliter (mcg/mL) formulation of Ventavis(R), for the treatment of New York Heart Association Class III and IV pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). This increased strength formulation delivers the same dose of Ventavis in half the volume, which is expected to reduce inhalation time and further support patient compliance.

2 Sep 2009

GE Healthcare to develop wireless medical monitoring systems for patient care

In what would represent an important step forward in revolutionizing the way patients are monitored in the future, GE announced an initiative aimed to develop wireless medical monitoring systems, or body sensor networks (BSN), which would replace the traditional tangle of bedside cables used to capture a patient’s vital signs. GE’s vision for the systems would enable wireless monitoring from anywhere in the hospital—or even remotely from home.

2 Sep 2009

Edwards Lifesciences divests hemofiltration product business to Baxter International

Edwards Lifesciences Corporation, the global leader in the science of heart valves and hemodynamic monitoring, announced today that it has completed the sale of certain assets related to its hemofiltration product line to Baxter International Inc. (NYSE: BAX), consistent with the previously announced terms of the agreement.

From Baxter International Inc. 2 Sep 2009

Involving nursing staffs in the assessment and application of healthcare technologies helps VCU Medical Center to improve workflow efficiency

InnerWireless®, Inc., the premier provider of end-to-end in-building converged wireless solutions, today reported that Spyglass Consulting Group’s independent study of the new Critical Care Hospital at Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center (VCU Medical Center) reveals the benefits of involving nursing staffs in the assessment and application of healthcare technologies such as InnerWireless’ Horizon™ Converged Wireless solution.

28 Aug 2009

Uncontrolled NHBDs could help counter the shortage of kidney grafts in France

A pilot study of a system for harvesting kidneys from non-heart-beating donors where attempts of resuscitation after a witnessed out-of-hospital cardiac arrest have failed (uncontrolled NHBDs) resulted in 21 successful kidney transplants - a 10% increase in the transplantation rate - over 17 months.

28 Aug 2009

Bioethicists and safety experts suggest guidelines for policy makers to improve patient safety

Is it more urgent for hospitals, doctors and nurses to focus resources on preventing the thousands of falls that injure hospitalized patients each year, or to home in on preventing rare but dramatic instances of wrong-side surgery? Is it best to concentrate immediately on preventing pediatric medical errors or on preventing drug interactions in the elderly?

26 Aug 2009

Smokers twice as likely to get active TB, study finds

"A study in Taiwan has found that smokers are twice as likely to develop active tuberculosis compared to people who have never smoked, prompting calls for policymakers to be tougher on smoking," Reuters reports (Lyn, 8/24).

26 Aug 2009

Masimo SET pulse oximetry technology implemented in Childrens Hospital Los Angeles

Masimo (Nasdaq: MASI), the inventor of Pulse CO-Oximetry(TM) and Measure-Through Motion and Low-Perfusion pulse oximetry, announced today that Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of 'America's Best Children's Hospitals', has completed its system-wide conversion to Masimo SET pulse oximetry technology.

26 Aug 2009

Royal Philips Electronics and Geisinger Health System to launch the eICU Program

Royal Philips Electronics announced today that it has entered into an agreement with Geisinger Health System to launch an eICU Program. The Philips VISICU eICU(R) Program combines early warning alerts and remote monitoring technology to connect off-site critical care specialists with intensive care unit (ICU) patients and their bedside care teams.

25 Aug 2009

Research reveals the life-long detrimental impact of maternal smoking during pregnancy

A new study by researchers at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California (USC) has found that the life-long effects of maternal smoking during pregnancy may occur through specific changes in DNA patterns.

25 Aug 2009

Critical Care News and Research

Nebulized interferon-gamma helps minimize transmissibility of TB

Positive results from Transave's Phase II clinical trial of ARIKACE in non-CF bronchiectasis patients

Capsule launches new Enterprise Medical Device Connectivity Solution

Top 10 U.S.hospitals prefer Arctic Sun temperature management system

Genetic risk factor involved in cystic fibrosis discovered

Benefits of early exposure to daycare not sustainable

COPD patients to have better protection against pneumonia with new vaccine

Bloodstream infections can be avoided with a daily scrub solution bath

Alternative device for increased specificity of bronchoscopic lung cancer detection

Peplin announces merger agreement with LEO Pharma

Actelion launches new 20 mcg/mL Ventavis formulation

GE Healthcare to develop wireless medical monitoring systems for patient care

Edwards Lifesciences divests hemofiltration product business to Baxter International

Involving nursing staffs in the assessment and application of healthcare technologies helps VCU Medical Center to improve workflow efficiency

Uncontrolled NHBDs could help counter the shortage of kidney grafts in France

Bioethicists and safety experts suggest guidelines for policy makers to improve patient safety

Smokers twice as likely to get active TB, study finds

Masimo SET pulse oximetry technology implemented in Childrens Hospital Los Angeles

Royal Philips Electronics and Geisinger Health System to launch the eICU Program

Research reveals the life-long detrimental impact of maternal smoking during pregnancy

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