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Two Uofl professors provide reference works in oncology field

Two University of Louisville School of Medicine professors recently authored reference works in the field of oncology, one focusing on the use of radiation treatment for childhood cancers and the other on hepatocellular carcinoma, or liver cancer.

14 Feb 2011

New clinical trial to test surgery specifically for Type 2 diabetes

A new clinical trial at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center is among the first to test surgery specifically for Type 2 diabetes. The aim of the study is to understand whether surgery can control diabetes, as well or even better than the best medical treatment available today. This is the first study of its kind open to patients who are overweight or mildly obese.

14 Feb 2011

The Lancet publishes CHAMPION trial results against heart failure

The CHAMPION clinical trial was published online today in The Lancet. CHAMPION demonstrated a 30% reduction in the primary efficacy endpoint of heart failure hospitalization rates at 6 months, and a 39% reduction in heart failure hospitalization rates at 15 months for heart failure patients whose treatment was guided by pulmonary artery pressures obtained through a miniature, wireless sensor, compared to control patients receiving standard heart failure treatment.

14 Feb 2011

Researchers discover mechanism for normalizing blood sugar without insulin need

Diabetes can result from either a deficiency of insulin or decreased sensitivity to insulin. Researchers at Children's Hospital Boston have discovered a mechanism for normalizing blood sugar that doesn't involve insulin and could offer a new therapeutic approach to both kinds of diabetes.

14 Feb 2011

Study: Coastal Canadians living in deprived neighbourhoods likely to have poor health

Canadians living in deprived neighbourhoods are twice as likely to have poor health if they live on the Atlantic or Pacific Coast, according to a new study by researchers at St. Michael's Hospital.

13 Feb 2011

Silent strokes can cause long-term cognitive, learning deficits in children with sickle cell disease

Silent strokes, which have no immediate symptoms but could cause long-term cognitive and learning deficits, occur in a significant number of severely anemic children, especially those with sickle cell disease, according to research presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2011.

13 Feb 2011

Proposed health reforms need to be ironed out

There are new questions over the detail of Julia Gillard's $16.4 billion health reform package. According to West Australian Premier Colin Barnett the introduction of an activity based funding system through a national pool by mid next year was achievable, but stressed it needed to be “well understood and easy to administer”.

13 Feb 2011

HIV infection in mothers reduces disease resistance in babies: Study

New research suggests that babies whose mothers have HIV, but are not HIV-infected themselves, are born with lower levels of specific proteins in their blood called antibodies, which fight infection, compared with babies not exposed to HIV.

13 Feb 2011

Burden of stroke over next 40 years to skyrocket: Studies

Findings presented at the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference in Los Angeles revealed that strokes are expected to rise by 350% over the next four decades.

13 Feb 2011

More people sick with salmonella from custard pastries

According to South Australia Health authorities, 13 more people have fallen ill with salmonella that spread via three types of custard-filled pastries made in Adelaide. This brings the total number of ill people to 74 with 29 admitted to hospital with salmonella typhimurium phage type 9 infection. The custard-filled products from Vili’s and St George Cakes and Gelati were recalled after being associated with the salmonella outbreak.

13 Feb 2011

53 share a needle & HIV risk due to a clinic blunder

Over 50 patients at a private radiology clinic were given blood tests using a needle device meant for single-patient use. Authorities have launched an investigation into the matter. These patients are all at risk of hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV infection. These cancer patients will need testing for the viruses, and again in three months. They had visited the hospital for a positron emission tomography (PET) scan for cancer detection.

13 Feb 2011

Silver treated IV connectors may cause potentially deadly infections

Nationally-acclaimed researcher and award-winning author Dr. Cynthia C. Chernecky warned in a speech at the 11th National Conference on Cancer Nursing Research that silver treated IV connectors could actually cause potentially deadly infections they were supposed to prevent.

11 Feb 2011

More research needed to determine link between folic acid and breast cancer

Optimer prices underwritten public offering of common stock

Optimer Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced the pricing of a previously announced underwritten public offering of 6,000,000 shares of its common stock, offered at a price to the public of $11.25 per share. The gross proceeds to Optimer from this offering are expected to be $67.5 million, before deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and other estimated offering expenses payable by Optimer.

11 Feb 2011

Early MRI in young adults associated with lower rate of stroke misdiagnosis

While the American Stroke Association reports that stroke is the third leading cause of death and one of the top causes of disability in the United States, young adults showing signs of suffering a stroke are sometimes misdiagnosed in hospital emergency rooms, preventing them from receiving early effective treatment that can prevent serious damage.

11 Feb 2011

Research roundup: Access to care in Mass.; Mental health spending; Gender and medical debt: How much do Americans know about health law?

Health Affairs: Lack Of Access Due To Costs Remains A Problem For Some In Massachusetts Despite The State's Health Reforms - Based on an analysis of state data, the authors found that the percentage of people without insurance fell "to twelve-year lows in Massachusetts, from 11.5 percent (SE 0.91) in 1996 to 3.5 percent (SE 0.33) in 2008.

11 Feb 2011

Surgical procedure to repair spina bifida while still in the uterus may help the baby walk after birth

More than two thousand physicians, some of the top obstetric/gynecologists in the world who specialize in maternal-fetal medicine, especially high risk pregnancies, gathered today for their annual meeting in San Francisco to begin four days of intensive research presentations. Presentations each year at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's (SMFM) annual meeting, The Pregnancy Meeting -, represent major findings in reducing high-risk pregnancies and complications.

11 Feb 2011

Women need good nutrition and regular exercise

Obesity levels are at an all-time high among men, women, and children in the United States. The need for good nutrition and regular exercise is paramount for maintaining proper health and for keeping those extra pounds at bay, especially for women.

11 Feb 2011

Harvard Bioscience's novel bioreactor technology featured on National Geographic Channel

Harvard Bioscience, Inc., a global developer, manufacturer and marketer of a broad range of specialized products used to advance life science research and regenerative medicine, is pleased to announce that its novel bioreactor technology was featured on the National Geographic Channel's Explorer television program on February 7, 2011.

From Harvard Bioscience 11 Feb 2011

Longer looks: KHN's best health policy picks from thought-provoking publications

When U.S. District Court judge Roger Vinson struck down President Obama's health care program as unconstitutional, the White House declared the decision an "outlier." It was anything but that. The ruling on January 31 was in harmony with limits the Supreme Court has imposed on the use of the Constitution's commerce clause to justify far-reaching legislation by Congress.

11 Feb 2011