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Hands-free electronic water faucets more likely to be contaminated with hazardous bacteria

A study of newly installed, hands-free faucets at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, all equipped with the latest electronic-eye sensors to automatically detect hands and dispense preset amounts of water, shows they were more likely to be contaminated with one of the most common and hazardous bacteria in hospitals compared to old-style fixtures with separate handles for hot and cold water.

1 Apr 2011

Viewpoints: Controlling long-term-care spending; march madness and health reform; hospital physicians

Prepare to hear a lot about Medicaid, the government health-insurance program for the poor. ... The U.S. government can't put itself on a sustainable fiscal course without doing something to slow health spending. It can't slow health spending costs without treating Medicaid. And it can't treat Medicaid without confronting the fact that it has become the long-term-care insurer of last resort for an aging society.

1 Apr 2011

Roundup: Minn. and Fla. weigh changes in programs for disabled, poor; Iowa lawmakers consider new abortion restrictions

Due to a shockingly large deficit, Gov. Rick Scott is planning to invoke his emergency powers and make deep cuts to the rates charged by group homes and case workers who help the developmentally disabled. Scott could announce a 15 percent rate cut as early as Thursday to close the $170 million budget gap in the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, according to lawmakers who were briefed Wednesday.

1 Apr 2011

HHS unveils ACO details

During a Thursday morning press call, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Donald Berwick unveiled the long-awaited federal rule on accountable care organizations.

1 Apr 2011

China BCT fourth quarter revenue increases 82.3% to $66.8 million

China BCT Pharmacy Group, Inc.,, a leading pharmaceutical distributor, retail pharmacy, and manufacturer of pharmaceutical products in Guangxi Province, China, today announced results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2010.

31 Mar 2011

First Edition: March 31, 2011

In today's news, reports on continuing congressional efforts to reach a deal on the current-year budget and on a move by Medicare to cover Provenge, a prostate cancer drug.

31 Mar 2011

FDA grants Nile Fast Track designation for cenderitide post-acute development program

Nile Therapeutics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company that develops novel therapeutics for heart failure patients, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Fast Track designation to Nile's post-acute development program for cenderitide, which has the goal of reducing cardiovascular mortality and cardiovascular re-hospitalization in the post-acute period in patients with acute decompensated heart failure.

31 Mar 2011

Aetna commends FDA's decision on hydroxyprogesterone caproate

The United States Food and Drug Administration today announced that specialty pharmacies can continue compounding 17P based on a valid prescription for an individually identified patient.

31 Mar 2011

Important updates on spondyloarthritis highlighted at 2010 SPARTAN meeting

Spondyloarthritis is a group of inflammatory conditions causing spine and joint pain and deformity, mostly in young men. Important updates on the epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of SpA are presented in the April issue of The American Journal of the Medical Sciences, official journal of the Southern Society for Clinical Investigation.

31 Mar 2011

Pacira reports net loss of $7.0 million for quarter ended December 31, 2010

Pacira Pharmaceuticals, Inc., an emerging specialty pharmaceutical company, today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and full-year ended December 31, 2010, provided an update on the execution of its pre-commercial and launch strategies for EXPAREL and established 2011 financial guidance.

31 Mar 2011

Low-level radiation from Japan's damaged nuclear plant detected as far away as U.S.

The Environmental Protection Agency on Monday said U.S. government sensors had detected radiation believed to be from the damaged nuclear plant, Reuters writes.

31 Mar 2011

Facing possible cuts, international aid advocates attempt to drum up support for foreign assistance

International aid groups are "scrambling to engage members of Congress and the American public in a dialogue about the need to secure U.S. foreign assistance funding" as the "next deadline for the U.S. Congress to pass a full fiscal year 2011 budget or another short-term continuing resolution is fast approaching" and discussions on the FY12 budget need to begin, the Devex blog "Obama's Foreign Aid Reform" reports.

31 Mar 2011

SMFM praises FDA's announcement on Makena drug

The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine weighed in on today's FDA announcement to continue to allow pharmacies to compound hydroxyprogesterone caproate, also known as 17P.

31 Mar 2011

South Sudan faces serious health challenges as new nation, Lancet Newsdesk reports

In South Sudan, which is poised to become "the world's newest country" in July, "90% of the population lives on less than $1 a day," and the region is plagued by multiple systemic health issues as a result of years of war, Lancet Infectious Diseases Newsdesk reports.

31 Mar 2011

Health advocates file petition with U.N. over proposed trade agreement among several countries

Several health advocacy groups have submitted a letter to U.N. Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health Anand Grover "outlining their objections" to negotiations over a trans-Pacific partnership agreement being negotiated by the governments of Australia, Brunei, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, United States and Vietnam, claiming that the agreement would inhibit access to low-cost medications in developing countries, BMJ News reports.

31 Mar 2011

Funding restrictions backed by some GOP lawmakers present hurdles to budget deal

These "policy riders" restrict spending on certain social and regulatory initiatives, including implementation of the health law and funding for Planned Parenthood. These contentious issues are becoming as difficult to resolve as reaching agreement on a final figure for spending cuts.

31 Mar 2011

U.N., aid groups highlight food aid need in North Korea

World Food Program delegates "on Wednesday stressed the need for major food aid for North Korea, while a cautious South Korea called for transparent distribution of any assistance," Agence France-Presse reports.

31 Mar 2011

Health lobbyists, advocates brace for much-anticipated accountable care organization regulations

ACOs continue to hold attention, with the administration's rule expected this week. Meanwhile, other reform news includes reports about health exchanges and a medical device tax.

31 Mar 2011

Wall Street Journal: Data comparisons trigger changes in VA care

The Wall Street Journal: Data Spur Changes In VA Care.

31 Mar 2011

Bipartisan senate bill would set process to review future Medicare provider cuts

The measure would bar any cuts from taking place before the Health and Human Services secretary determines they are necessary. Meanwhile, in other Medicare news, ProPublica reports that federal regulators are in the process of making kidney dialysis clinic data more accessible to the public.

31 Mar 2011

Health Care News and Research

Hands-free electronic water faucets more likely to be contaminated with hazardous bacteria

Viewpoints: Controlling long-term-care spending; march madness and health reform; hospital physicians

Roundup: Minn. and Fla. weigh changes in programs for disabled, poor; Iowa lawmakers consider new abortion restrictions

HHS unveils ACO details

China BCT fourth quarter revenue increases 82.3% to $66.8 million

First Edition: March 31, 2011

FDA grants Nile Fast Track designation for cenderitide post-acute development program

Aetna commends FDA's decision on hydroxyprogesterone caproate

Important updates on spondyloarthritis highlighted at 2010 SPARTAN meeting

Pacira reports net loss of $7.0 million for quarter ended December 31, 2010

Low-level radiation from Japan's damaged nuclear plant detected as far away as U.S.

Facing possible cuts, international aid advocates attempt to drum up support for foreign assistance

SMFM praises FDA's announcement on Makena drug

South Sudan faces serious health challenges as new nation, Lancet Newsdesk reports

Health advocates file petition with U.N. over proposed trade agreement among several countries

Funding restrictions backed by some GOP lawmakers present hurdles to budget deal

U.N., aid groups highlight food aid need in North Korea

Health lobbyists, advocates brace for much-anticipated accountable care organization regulations

Wall Street Journal: Data comparisons trigger changes in VA care

Bipartisan senate bill would set process to review future Medicare provider cuts

Event guide: 3rd Measuring Patient Engagement Summit eBook

Advancing Neuroscience Research Through Collaboration and Patient-Centered Innovation

The impact of vibration on microscopy

How Omics Technologies Are Transforming Biological Research and Drug Discovery

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