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Pixel and Panasonic Shikoku Electronics collaborate in the development of PixelOptics' electronic eyeglasses

PixelOptics, Inc. ("Pixel") of Roanoke, Virginia announced today that Pixel and Panasonic Shikoku Electronics Co., Ltd ("Panasonic Shikoku Electronics") of Matsuyama, Japan have been collaborating in the development of PixelOptics' electronic eyeglasses. Pixel, the world's first composite ophthalmic lens company, is developing, and plans to market and sell both static (fixed focus) and electronic dynamic (changeable focus) lenses. Pixel launched atLast!® its first static composite enhanced multifocal in November of 2008. Panasonic Shikoku Electronics is one of group companies of Panasonic Corporation. Panasonic Corporation is a global electronics company and is well known around the world.

From PHC Europe B.V. 6 Jan 2010

Most of world's 13m preterm births occur in Africa, Asia

The "vast majority" of the world's 13 million preterm births each year occur in developing countries where the babies' "chances of survivals are low," according to an article published Monday in the January issue of the Bulletin of the World Health Organization, Reuters reports.

6 Jan 2010

Rural Americans often struggle to access care

Access to care remains a major burden for Americans in rural areas, according to recent media reports. The Texas Tribune reports: "Across much of rural Texas, emergency or trauma care is simply nonexistent, or limited to one ambulance and a part-time EMS crew. ... Roughly half of the state is covered by the trauma centers in El Paso and Lubbock. In remote counties in West Texas, South Texas and the Panhandle, residents are often more than an hour from any trauma care at all."

6 Jan 2010

For pregnant African tourist, U.S. health care system comes through

Kaiser Health News, in collaboration with The Washington Post, reports about Jeanne d'Arc Kayembe, an African tourist who came to Washington in May 2007 on what was meant to be a month-long respite from an abusive boyfriend and a chance to visit relatives before going home. But sharp pains signaled trouble with her pregnancy and she eventually delivered her son here.

6 Jan 2010

Clinton foundation releases donor list

Former president Bill Clinton on Friday released a list of the donors who have given money to his foundation "under an agreement with President Obama to prevent the appearance of conflicts with Hillary Rodham Clinton's role as secretary of state," the Washington Post reports.

6 Jan 2010

State lawmakers vow to fight variations in health overhaul's costs for Medicaid expansions

Newspapers report on the controversy about variations in individual state costs for a Medicaid expansion in health care overhaul legislation.

6 Jan 2010

Governor's threats to fight health reforms would do more harm than good for Idahoans, says ARRP

As Congress readies to merge the Senate and House health care reform bills, some states, including Idaho, are stepping up to serve as the latest roadblock. Before even seeing the details of the final legislation, Idaho's Governor "Butch" Otter recently announced he would fight reform efforts and possibly sue the United States over the constitutionality of the issue.

6 Jan 2010

H1N1 flu vaccine now available at CVS/pharmacy locations throughout California

CVS/pharmacy announced today that it has expanded the availability of H1N1 flu vaccine to more than 220 stores throughout the State of California.

6 Jan 2010

C-SPAN asks Democrats to open health reform conference negotiations

C-SPAN has asked congressional Democrats to open to the public the conference negotiations on reconciling the two health care reform bills, Politico reports.

6 Jan 2010

Vitamin D deficiency may contribute to higher risk of death among African-Americans compared to whites

Vitamin D deficiency may contribute to a higher number of heart and stroke-related deaths among black Americans compared to whites, according to a University of Rochester Medical Center study.

6 Jan 2010

MHA acquires Net-Rx

Managed Health Care Associates, Inc. (MHA), the largest Alternate Site Group Purchasing Organization (GPO) in the country, is pleased to announce the acquisition of Net-Rx. Net-Rx is a leading provider of pharmacy reimbursement management services and offers a full suite of technology products to help pharmacies lower costs and increase profitability.

6 Jan 2010

Congress likely to skip formal conference committee negotiations regarding health reform

"The House and Senate aren't officially back in session until later this month, but action is already well under way on merging their health-care bills," The Wall Street Journal's Washington Wire blog reports.

6 Jan 2010

U.S. health spending slows in '08, but federal share soars

A new government report shows that U.S. health spending grew 4.4 percent in 2008 to $2.3 trillion, the slowest annual rate of increase since federal tracking efforts began in 1960, USA Today reports.

6 Jan 2010

DSMB recommends Quark Pharmaceuticals to continue clinical study of QPI-1002

Quark Pharmaceuticals, Inc., the world leader in clinical development of RNAi-based therapeutics, announced today that the independent Data Safety Monitoring Board ("DSMB") recommended that QPI-1002 (I5NP) continue on to the next phase of clinical testing.

5 Jan 2010

Also in global health news: Aid in S. Somalia; virus-resistant mosquitoes; composting toilets in Haiti; U.S. Congressional Group visits India

The U.N. World Food Program (WFP) announced Tuesday that it has been forced to halt "aid distribution to about 1 million people in southern Somalia because of attacks against staff and demands by armed groups that aid groups remove women from their teams," the Associated Press reports.

5 Jan 2010

Wisconsin rural hospitals hope for federal money to offset state Medicaid cut

Wisconsin's rural hospitals hope to offset a state Medicaid cut with a tax that would bring more federal money to the hospitals. The proposed tax on the state's 59 'critical access' hospitals, all in rural areas, would prevent the hospitals from closing important services, officials say.

5 Jan 2010

Congress would make insurers spend more money on consumers' care

Slate: "One of the biggest lingering criticisms of the Democrats' health care reform plan is that it doesn't control costs. This line persists in part because it's hard to refute in simple terms. ... But for those who want a single, clear example of how reform will attempt to keep the cost of health care -- or, at least, the cost of insurance -- down, there's no easier-to-grasp concept than the medical loss ratio."

5 Jan 2010

UAE hosts five-day global health conference

Public health experts and researchers from around the world gathered on Monday for a five-day conference at the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) in Al Ain, UAE, to discuss the role of the Middle East in tackling global health issues, AMEinfo.com reports.

5 Jan 2010

With a day of meetings, Democratic leaders focus on health bill

President Barack Obama plans to have a substantive discussion with Democratic Congressional leaders about reconciling the House and Senate health care bills when he meets with them Tuesday evening, according to White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs.

5 Jan 2010

WPI researchers lay groundwork for new generation of advanced prosthetic limbs

The conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan have left a terrible legacy: more than 1,200 returning American soldiers have lost one or more limbs. To address this growing national need, researchers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) are laying the groundwork for a new generation of advanced prosthetic limbs that will be fully integrated with the body and nervous system.

5 Jan 2010