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Minor symptoms a big deal in nasal polyposis

Asthma does not have any significant influence on quality of life among patients with nasal polyposis, but it may increase the intensity of individual minor symptoms such as headache, or fullness in the ears, report researchers.

14 Nov 2012

AspenBio Pharma provides clinical and business update for third quarter 2012

AspenBio Pharma, Inc., an in vitro diagnostic company, today provided a clinical and business update for the third quarter 2012. The Company reported it has started the hospital training phase of its pivotal U.S. clinical study and remains on track to initiate patient enrollment before the end of the year.

13 Nov 2012

SCCA to raise awareness about importance of lung cancer screening

Lung cancer is the No. 1 cause of cancer deaths in the United States, despite the fact it is largely preventable. For people at high risk of developing lung cancer, such as current or former longtime smokers, screening for the disease with low-dose CT scans is now a viable option that has been shown to significantly reduce mortality rates. In conjunction with National Lung Cancer Awareness Month, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (SCCA) wants to raise awareness about the importance of prevention and early detection for at-risk populations.

9 Nov 2012

International Day of Radiology marks 117th anniversary of X-ray discovery

International Day of Radiology — November 8, 2012 — marks the 117th anniversary of the discovery of the X-ray and the tremendous advances in patient care made possible by radiation therapy and medical imaging exams, such as MRI and CT scans. It is also a reminder that Congress needs to pass the Diagnostic Imaging Services Access Protection Act (H.R. 3269/ S. 2347) and halt drastic cuts in Medicare funding for imaging scans. This vital legislation would preserve ready access to lifesaving imaging care and may help reduce harm to seniors already resulting from cutbacks.

8 Nov 2012

Study reveals increased risk of leukemia among Chernobyl cleanup workers

A 20-year study following 110,645 workers who helped clean up after the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident in the former Soviet territory of Ukraine shows that the workers share a significant increased risk of developing leukemia. The results may help scientists better define cancer risk associated with low doses of radiation from medical diagnostic radiation procedures such as computed tomography scans and other sources.

8 Nov 2012

Viewpoints: Newspapers opine on Obama's health care, fiscal challenges

President Obama's dramatic re-election victory was not a sign that a fractured nation had finally come together on Election Day. But it was a strong endorsement of economic policies that stress job growth, health care reform, tax increases and balanced deficit reduction - and of moderate policies on immigration, abortion and same-sex marriage. ... Republicans had to be disappointed in the results of their unrelenting assault on Mr. Obama's health care reform law.

8 Nov 2012

Calcium intake does not increase risk of coronary artery calcification

Researchers at the Institute for Aging Research (IFAR) at Hebrew SeniorLife, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School (HMS), have published a study that shows no evidence of a link between calcium intake and coronary artery calcification, reassuring adults who take calcium supplements for bone health that the supplements do not appear to result in the development of calcification of blood vessels.

8 Nov 2012

SCYNEXIS announces results from SCY-635 Phase 2a study on HCV

SCYNEXIS, Inc. today announced that the results of a Phase 2a study of lead candidate SCY-635 for the treatment of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) will be the subject of an oral presentation at the 63rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD), taking place from November 9-13 in Boston, Massachusetts.

7 Nov 2012

Positive results from BioCardia's Helical Infusion System Phase 1/2 trial on ischemic cardiomyopathy

BioCardia, Inc., focused on regenerative biologic therapies for cardiovascular disease, today announced positive results from a Phase 1/2 heart failure trial using the Company's Helical Infusion System, comprising the Helical Infusion System Catheter and Morph Vascular Access Catheter, to deliver allogeneic, or "off-the-shelf," and autologous, or from the treated patient, mesenchymal (adult) stem cells (MSCs) via transendocardial injection.

7 Nov 2012

Phantom caries revealed?

Microcomputed tomography of teeth can detect demarcated radiolucencies below the enamel–dentin junction that are of noncarious origin, and can therefore be classified as possible developmental irregularities, show study results.

6 Nov 2012

Imaging Healthcare Specialists implements successful radiation dose reduction program

According to an article in the November issue of the Journal of the American College of Radiology, a medical imaging facility in San Diego, Imaging Healthcare Specialists, has implemented a successful radiation dose reduction program, reducing radiation exposure by up to 90 percent in some patients.

6 Nov 2012

In fight for control of the House and the Senate, status quo appears to be winning

News reports suggest that Republicans are likely to hold onto the majority in the House, despite Democrats' hopes around the impact of the Medicare issue, and that Democrats are likely to retain the Senate majority.

6 Nov 2012

Anti-TNF-α therapy reduces CVD risk in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis exhibit a sub-clinical vasculitis that may underlie their increased risk for cardiovascular disease, shows research.

5 Nov 2012

Pradaxa use does not appear to increase serious bleeding

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today announced the results of a Mini-Sentinel assessment that indicates bleeding rates associated with new use of Pradaxa (dabigatran etexilate mesylate) capsules do not appear to be higher than bleeding rates associated with new use of warfarin, which is consistent with observations from the pivotal RE-LY trial.

4 Nov 2012

House Republicans appear to have thwarted Democratic attack on Medicare

Attacking Paul Ryan's Medicare plan - once seen as the most potent weapon in House Democrats' campaign arsenal - is turning out to be a dud. Democratic leaders have hit Medicare harder than any other issue for more than a year, even calling Ryan's plan a "majority-maker."

4 Nov 2012

Doctor self-referrals for advanced imaging cost Medicare $100M in 2010

According to a Government Accountability Office report, doctors who referred patients for tests involving advanced imaging machines that they or a family member owned cost Medicare more than $100 million in 2010.

2 Nov 2012

Study explores impact of IL1β on brain function alterations associated with schizophrenia

There are a growing number of clues that immune and inflammatory mechanisms are important for the biology of schizophrenia. In a new study in Biological Psychiatry, Dr. Mar Fatjó-Vilas and colleagues explored the impact of the interleukin-1β gene (IL1β) on brain function alterations associated with schizophrenia.

2 Nov 2012

FoXTROT results: preoperative chemo could become new standard

Preoperative chemotherapy is a feasible option for resectable advanced colon cancer, show results of the FoXTROT trial.

1 Nov 2012

Ischemic stroke: an interview with Dr Gregory Ford

A stroke is a sudden interruption of blood flow to the brain which deprives the brain of oxygen and nutrients. Approximately two millions brain cells die each minute during a stroke. This can lead to brain damage, physical and mental disability and death.

1 Nov 2012

Varian highlights numerous lung cancer treatment systems at ASTRO meeting

Varian Medical Systems highlighted the company's technologies for the non-invasive treatment of lung cancer at the 54th annual meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) in Boston this week.

1 Nov 2012