Becker News and Research

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Left ventricular assist device improves quality of life in two brothers with Becker's Muscular Dystrophy

Tyler Wertz, 18, and his 16-year old brother Austin Tucker, fight, tease, love and support each other like most brothers do. Unlike most brothers, however, they share the same uncertain future—both have heart assist devices keeping them alive while they struggle with a debilitating disease. As young boys, Tyler and Austin were diagnosed with Becker's Muscular Dystrophy, a disease that slowly weakens the arms and legs and damages the heart.

31 Jan 2013

Rider error, bad conditions cause most mountain biking accidents

Injury risk is high for downhill mountain bikers, but could be reduced by ensuring trails are in good condition and improving rider technique, say researchers.

28 Jan 2013

Cordis presents two-year STROLL study results at ISET 2013

Cordis Corporation today announced the presentation of the two-year STROLL study results at the Abstracts and Late Breaking Clinical Trials session at ISET 2013.

22 Jan 2013

Roundup: Ill. to scrutinize Medicaid eligibility; 20% of Fla. nursing homes on 'watch' list; Conn.'s 'inadequate' mental health care system

Fort Pierce resident Cathi Odom recently learned that her mother's nursing home is one of 140 on the state's "Watch List." Families for Better Care, a citizen advocacy organization, found that one in five facilities in Florida are on that list for not meeting state standards, or for not making corrections quickly enough. Twelve of the homes have been on the watch list for more than 100 days. Brian Lee, executive director for Families for Better Care, says that is unacceptable.

4 Jan 2013

Feds OK health insurance exchange plans for three more states; Other 'Obamacare' implementation news

The Obama administration gave conditional approvals to Delaware, Minnesota and Rhode Island, saying they will be ready to open new insurance markets in 2014, as required under the health care law. Meanwhile, Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper indicates he's likely to push for Medicaid expansion.

21 Dec 2012

Access to mental health care, increased funding key in emerging strategies to curb gun violence

As President Barack Obama vowed to restart the "national conversation" on gun issues, he included the need to improve access to mental health services among the central elements of this discussion. Meanwhile, a new Gallup poll concluded that Americans believe that increasing federal spending on mental health screenings and services is among the steps more likely to deter mass shootings than banning the sale of assault weapons.

21 Dec 2012

Roundup: Calif. Report sets 10-year health goals; Conn. hospitals plead to stop cuts; Colo. lawmaker wants state universal health care on ballot

With the state facing rising medical costs and increasing rates of chronic disease, California health leaders issued a report Wednesday setting specific health targets to meet by 2022. The state's goals include reducing smoking rates, increasing vaccinations among children and improving depression screening and treatment. The report also describes ways to improve end-of-life care, by expanding palliative care at hospitals and hospice programs at home.

20 Dec 2012

Newtown shooting spotlights gaps in mental health care

The elementary school massacre prompts an examination of mental health care policies and access to guns by the mentally ill.

20 Dec 2012

Conn. shootings spur questions about adequacy of mental health services

Lawmakers in both chambers are calling for Congress to start a conversation about mental health issues in the wake of last week's deadly shooting at a Connecticut elementary school, with one goal of ensuring adequate funding for services for those who need treatment.

19 Dec 2012

Roundup: Mass. a template for controlling health care costs?; Fewer than expected use Minn. health care vouchers; Blue Shield in Calif.'s proposed rate hikes

This simple shift in how health care is paid for -- long seen as key to taming costs -- has been occurring in pockets of the country. But nowhere is it happening more systematically than in Massachusetts, the state that blazed a trail in 2006 by guaranteeing its residents health insurance. Now Massachusetts, a model for President Obama's 2010 national health care law, may offer another template for national leaders looking to control health spending.

13 Dec 2012

FDA grants Orphan Drug designation to Milo Biotechnology's AAV1-FS344 inhibitor

Milo Biotechnology today announced its AAV1-FS344 has been granted Orphan Drug designation from the FDA's Office of Orphan Products Development for treatment of Becker and Duchenne muscular dystrophy. AAV1-FS344 is a gene therapy-delivered myostatin inhibitor that increases muscle strength.

12 Dec 2012

Christie rejects state-run health insurance exchange

The New Jersey governor said he didn't have enough information about the alternatives.

7 Dec 2012

‘Weekend pill’ employed for muscular dystrophy

A drug used to treat erectile dysfunction may prevent functional muscle ischemia in patients with Becker muscular dystrophy, a small randomized trial shows.

6 Dec 2012

Clear association between media multitasking and mental health problems

Using multiple forms of media at the same time - such as playing a computer game while watching TV - is linked to symptoms of anxiety and depression, scientists have found for the first time.

5 Dec 2012

Mo. governor wants Medicaid expansion; Other states consider health exchanges

After mulling the controversial decision, Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon said Thursday he wants the state to expand Medicaid, a key part of the health law, but he faces substantial opposition from Republicans who control the legislature. Meanwhile, some states continue to wrestle with issues related to health exchanges.

30 Nov 2012

DFG to establish 11 Collaborative Research Centres in Jan 2013

The Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) will establish eleven Collaborative Research Centres (CRCs) as of 1 January 2013. This was decided by the responsible Grants Committee during its fall session in Bonn.

30 Nov 2012

Health insurance exchange news: Arizona looks to feds, Conn. and Colorado move ahead with state efforts

Arizona's Gov. Jan Brewer has decided Arizona will not implement a key part of the health law.

30 Nov 2012

Roundup: Conn. health care programs face $70M cut; Miss. abortion clinic again asks judge to block law that could force it to close

Connecticut's social services safety net and its public colleges and universities took the brunt Wednesday of Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's first effort to whittle down a $363 million state budget deficit.

30 Nov 2012

Tadalafil may offer therapeutic strategy in patients with Becker muscular dystrophy

Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute researchers have found in an initial clinical trial that a drug typically prescribed for erectile dysfunction or pulmonary hypertension restores blood flow to oxygen-starved muscles in patients with a type of muscular dystrophy that affects males, typically starting in childhood or adolescence.

29 Nov 2012

Roundup: Big insurance premium hikes sought in Calif., Conn.; Lawsuit alleges state regulators pad nursing home profits

California's largest for-profit health insurer, Anthem Blue Cross, is seeking to raise rates an average of 18 percent for more than 630,000 individual policyholders, drawing scrutiny from regulators and the ire of consumers already struggling with soaring premiums. Some Anthem customers may see rates rise as much as 25 percent in February under the company's proposal at a time when medical inflation is running at historic lows nationwide.

29 Nov 2012

Becker News and Research

Left ventricular assist device improves quality of life in two brothers with Becker's Muscular Dystrophy

Rider error, bad conditions cause most mountain biking accidents

Cordis presents two-year STROLL study results at ISET 2013

Roundup: Ill. to scrutinize Medicaid eligibility; 20% of Fla. nursing homes on 'watch' list; Conn.'s 'inadequate' mental health care system

Feds OK health insurance exchange plans for three more states; Other 'Obamacare' implementation news

Access to mental health care, increased funding key in emerging strategies to curb gun violence

Roundup: Calif. Report sets 10-year health goals; Conn. hospitals plead to stop cuts; Colo. lawmaker wants state universal health care on ballot

Newtown shooting spotlights gaps in mental health care

Conn. shootings spur questions about adequacy of mental health services

Roundup: Mass. a template for controlling health care costs?; Fewer than expected use Minn. health care vouchers; Blue Shield in Calif.'s proposed rate hikes

FDA grants Orphan Drug designation to Milo Biotechnology's AAV1-FS344 inhibitor

Christie rejects state-run health insurance exchange

‘Weekend pill’ employed for muscular dystrophy

Clear association between media multitasking and mental health problems

Mo. governor wants Medicaid expansion; Other states consider health exchanges

DFG to establish 11 Collaborative Research Centres in Jan 2013

Health insurance exchange news: Arizona looks to feds, Conn. and Colorado move ahead with state efforts

Roundup: Conn. health care programs face $70M cut; Miss. abortion clinic again asks judge to block law that could force it to close

Tadalafil may offer therapeutic strategy in patients with Becker muscular dystrophy

Roundup: Big insurance premium hikes sought in Calif., Conn.; Lawsuit alleges state regulators pad nursing home profits

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