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CDC: Hip replacement surgical procedures are more prevalent in the U.S.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), hip replacements are among the most common surgical procedures in the United States; and with osteoarthritis and obesity on the rise, demand for the procedure is expected to grow.

3 Dec 2010

Justice Department offers expedited antitrust review for ACOs

Bloomberg: "Sharis Pozen, chief of staff of the [Justice] Department's antitrust division, told a House judiciary subcommittee" that "[t]he department intends to offer whatever guidance and clarity may be needed to ensure that providers pursue beneficial integrated ACOs without running afoul of the antitrust laws."

3 Dec 2010

Scientists propose new effort to identify proteins in cancer cells

Scientists are proposing an international effort, on the scale of the Human Genome Project (HGP), to identify all the proteins present in cancer cells. HGP was the international scientific research project that identified and mapped all the genes in humans.

3 Dec 2010

Quitting smoking eases symptoms of depression

Quitting smoking is certainly healthy for the body, but doctors and scientists haven't been sure whether quitting makes people happier, especially since conventional wisdom says many smokers use cigarettes to ease anxiety and depression. In a new study, researchers tracked the symptoms of depression in people who were trying to quit and found that they were never happier than when they were being successful, for however long that was.

3 Dec 2010

Debt panel proposals target health costs

A White House-appointed commission's deficit-taming proposals would affect every corner of society. Workers with solid coverage on the job, seniors, drug companies, trial lawyers, hospitals, doctors, state governments and federal employees would all feel the effects.

3 Dec 2010

AtriCure initiates enrollment in DEEP AF feasibility trial

AtriCure, Inc., a medical device company and a leader in cardiac surgical ablation systems and systems for the exclusion of the left atrial appendage, announced initial patient enrollment in its DEEP AF feasibility trial. The first procedure was performed in a new, state-of-the-art hybrid room at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital in Norfolk, Virginia by Jonathan Philpott, M.D., Director of the Sentara Atrial Fibrillation Surgery Program, Ian Woollett, M.D., and John Onufer, M.D., Medical Director of Cardiac Electrophysiology.

3 Dec 2010

Olympus PlasmaButton- vaporization technology now usable with Gyrus ACMI SuperPulse- Generator platform

Olympus, a precision technology leader in designing and delivering innovative solutions in Medical and Surgical Products among other core businesses, announced today that its revolutionary PlasmaButton- vaporization technology can now be used with the Gyrus ACMI SuperPulse- Generator platform. Together, the PlasmaButton electrode and SuperPulse Generator provide physicians and patients with a new, virtually bloodless treatment option for benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) or enlarged prostate.

From Evident Corporation - Life Sciences 3 Dec 2010

TUM physicist's new approach expected to improve image contrast with low radiation

The DFG cited Pfeiffer's research in biomedical imaging, and in particular his pioneering work in X-ray phase-contrast imaging. His systematic approach has laid the foundation for applications of this technique in medicine and industry, where it is expected to deliver improved image contrast with lower doses of radiation.

3 Dec 2010

Trillium presents results from cancer stem cell program at ASH Annual Meeting

Trillium Therapeutics Inc. (TTI), a biopharmaceutical company developing innovative immune-based biologics, today announced that preliminary results from its cancer stem cell program, targeting the CD47 protein, will be reported in an oral presentation at the 52nd American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting to be held in Orlando, Florida, December 4-7, 2010.

2 Dec 2010

FDA approves Abiomed to begin MINI-AMI trial to evaluate Impella 2.5

Abiomed, Inc., a leading provider of breakthrough heart support technologies, today announced it has received conditional approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to begin MINI-AMI, a prospective, randomized, controlled multi-site trial to assess the potential role of the Impella 2.5 in reducing infarct size in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

2 Dec 2010

New agreement gives CIGNA customers in-network access to medical center

CIGNA HealthCare and the University of Illinois Medical Center today announced a new agreement now in effect that gives CIGNA customers in-network access to the medical center and its 707 multi-specialty employed physicians.

2 Dec 2010

Today's Op-Eds: Preventing hospital errors; myths about the reform law; Medicare and the independent payment advisory board

Greenbay Press Gazette: No matter what happens with health care reform, the principles we've been discussing the past few months still hold true. Health care systems should continue to focus on quality and cost.

2 Dec 2010

Early autism diagnostic test on the horizon

Soon scientists may have a test to diagnose autism spectrum disorders using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. As of now this dreaded developmental disorder is typically diagnosed through observations, along with educational and psychological testing.

2 Dec 2010

Weighty issues

A new study shows that the ideal body mass index or BMI is between 20 and 24.9. BMI is calculated by dividing weight in Kilograms by the square of height in meters. The study authors examined nearly 1.5 million adults and found that even being slightly overweight but not obese, are enough to raise the risk of an early death.

2 Dec 2010

Super GP clinic minus GP grabs attention

The Government defended the situation saying the $25 million Smart Road Super Clinic is not yet fully open. It has social workers and a dietitian already though. SA Health Minister John Hill said construction would not be finished until next year so only a small section of the clinic was open. He said, “We’re expecting all of the remaining services to be arranged so that when the building is opened some time next year, all of the services will be available.”

2 Dec 2010

Physician-led models of care benefit patients, health system

To best meet the goals of optimized, coordinated patient care and also help curb health care costs, physicians should be the heart of accountable care organizations (ACOs), an evolving model of patient care. The American Medical Association today outlined recommendations to make this a reality in comments provided to the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

2 Dec 2010

Covidien's iDrive powered stapling system granted FDA 510(k) clearance

Covidien, a leading global provider of healthcare products and recognized innovator in surgical stapling applications, today announced 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the iDrive™ powered stapling system. This reusable stapling platform is battery-powered, enabling one-handed push-button operation of all primary controls and a reduction in the required firing force when compared to traditional endomechanical surgical staplers.

2 Dec 2010

HSS creates Center for Musculoskeletal Outcomes and Patient Oriented Research

Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) announced the creation of the Center for Musculoskeletal Outcomes and Patient Oriented Research to translate information collected from an extensive patient population into studies that will guide experts in preventing, diagnosing and treating musculoskeletal disorders.

2 Dec 2010

Universal Health Care's Medicare members offered Healthways SilverSneakers Fitness Program

In an effort to promote wellness and disease prevention to its older adult members, Universal Health Care will begin offering the Healthways SilverSneakers® Fitness Program on January 1, 2011, to subscribers of their Medicare Advantage Plan in 13 states (Florida, Arizona, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Utah and Virginia). SilverSneakers is the nation's leading social support and exercise program designed to improve seniors' well-being and health.

2 Dec 2010

Red Cross field hospital treats people who have contracted cholera in Haiti

Canadian Red Cross will deploy its new field hospital to treat people who have contracted cholera in Haiti. The field hospital was created as part of the First Responder Initiative, a partnership with the Government of Canada.

2 Dec 2010