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St. Jude Medical’s AMPLATZER Amulet device receives European CE Mark approval

St. Jude Medical, Inc., a global medical device company, today announced European CE Mark approval of its AMPLATZER Amulet Left Atrial Appendage Occluder.

19 Jan 2013

JNS publishes data from Providence’s DTRAX Facet Screw System clinical study

Providence Medical Technology, Inc. today announced the publication of the first peer-reviewed clinical paper describing the outcomes of the DTRAX Facet Screw System.

19 Jan 2013

Viewpoints: Krugman cautions against locking in benefit cuts that may not be necessary; Lift the freeze on CDC's gun research

Well, its probable (although not certain) that, within two or three decades, the Social Security trust fund will be exhausted, leaving the system unable to pay the full benefits specified by current law. So the plan is to avoid cuts in future benefits by committing right now to ... cuts in future benefits. Huh? O.K., you can argue that the adjustment to an aging population would be smoother if we commit to a glide path of benefit cuts now. On the other hand, by moving too soon we might lock in benefit cuts that turn out not to have been necessary.

19 Jan 2013

Stroke patients with PTSD less likely to adhere to treatment regimens

A new survey of stroke survivors has shown that those with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are less likely to adhere to treatment regimens that reduce the risk of an additional stroke. Researchers found that 65 percent of stroke survivors with PTSD failed to adhere to treatment, compared with 33 percent of those without PTSD.

18 Jan 2013

Study: Social stigma of chronic migraine and epilepsy are similar

A groundbreaking study lead by William B. Young, MD, a neurologist at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital's Headache Center, shows that patients with migraine (a combination of severe headache, nausea, light sensitivity, and other factors) suffer social stigma from their disease similar to the stigma experienced by patients with epilepsy.

17 Jan 2013

WHO reports unprecedented progress against 17 neglected tropical diseases

WHO reports unprecedented progress against 17 neglected tropical diseases, thanks to a new global strategy, a regular supply of quality assured, cost-effective medicines and support from global partners.

17 Jan 2013

Researchers identify new group of growth factor receptors that signal to brain tumours

One in 25,000 people worldwide is affected by neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2), a condition where the loss of a tumour suppressor called Merlin results in multiple tumours in the brain and nervous system.

16 Jan 2013

Elan, Biogen Idec submit applications to FDA and EMA for updation of TYSABRI labels

Today Biogen Idec and Elan Corporation, plc announced that they have submitted applications to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Medicines Agency (EMA) requesting updates to the TYSABRI (natalizumab) labels.

16 Jan 2013

Study explains how Timothy syndrome mutation causes wiring defects that underlie cognition

A new finding in neuroscience for the first time points to a developmental mechanism linking the disease-causing mutation in an autism-related disorder, Timothy syndrome, and observed defects in brain wiring, according to a study led by scientist Ricardo Dolmetsch and published online yesterday in Nature Neuroscience.

16 Jan 2013

Obese youngsters at far greater risk than had been supposed

While a great deal of research on childhood obesity has spotlighted the long-term health problems that emerge in adulthood, a new UCLA study focuses on the condition's immediate consequences and shows that obese youngsters are at far greater risk than had been supposed.

15 Jan 2013

Dizziness does not hamper neck pain therapy

Neck pain patients with dizziness may suffer more pain and disability than their peers without dizziness, but they are no less likely to improve with chiropractic treatment, study findings indicate.

15 Jan 2013

ADHD symptoms may influence bipolar disorder course

Comorbid attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder is common in patients with bipolar disorder, and is associated with more mixed states, more severe psychopathology, and more impaired family functioning, Italian researchers report.

14 Jan 2013

Factors linked to self-harm in early psychosis identified

A meta-analysis of published studies has identified factors associated with deliberate self-harm before and after treatment in patients with first-episode psychosis.

14 Jan 2013

Roundup: Advocates watching Calif. budget for Medi-Cal cuts; Mich. AG to appeal same-sex health benefits ruling; Kansas city seeks to extend health care tax

Brown's proposed budget will outline his plans for expanding health coverage under the new federal health care law, which is set to require increased coverage beginning in January 2014. The law will put hundreds of thousands of new enrollees into California's public insurance program, but the governor has raised concerns about what that will cost.

11 Jan 2013

Americans die sooner and experience higher rates of disease and injury than others

On average, Americans die sooner and experience higher rates of disease and injury than people in other high-income countries, says a new report from the National Research Council and Institute of Medicine. The report finds that this health disadvantage exists at all ages from birth to age 75 and that even advantaged Americans -- those who have health insurance, college educations, higher incomes, and healthy behaviors -- appear to be sicker than their peers in other rich nations.

11 Jan 2013

Glycan released by parasites might help treat metabolic disorders associated with obesity

On the list of undesirable medical conditions, a parasitic worm infection surely ranks fairly high. Although modern pharmaceuticals have made them less of a threat in some areas, these organisms are still a major cause of disease and disability throughout much of the developing world.

9 Jan 2013