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NNIT selects Verizon Business to manage global communications infrastructure for Novo Nordisk

NNIT, a leading Danish IT consultancy, has chosen Verizon Business to deploy and manage a global communications infrastructure for Novo Nordisk, the global health care company. A fully managed Verizon Private IP solution will provide secure, scalable and flexible connectivity for 75 of Novo Nordisk's locations around the world, helping the company to streamline its global operations, while also realizing cost and management efficiencies.

7 Apr 2010

MDA, FFSHR award $200,000 grant for developing FSH dystrophy therapy

The Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA), headquartered in Tucson, Ariz., and Friends of FSH Research (FFSHR), based in Kirkland, Wash., has jointly awarded a two-year, $200,000 grant to Dr. Joel Chamberlain, a research assistant professor of medical genetics at the University of Washington. The grant, equally funded by the two organizations, will enable the laboratory led by Dr. Chamberlain to study RNA interference as an investigative and therapeutic tool for facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy.

7 Apr 2010

UHC awards dual 3-year agreements to UHS, Crothall Services Group

University HealthSystem Consortium today announced that after a competitive bid process, it has awarded dual 3-year agreements for clinical/diagnostic equipment maintenance services to Universal Hospital Services, Inc. and Crothall Services Group. Contracts were effective January 1, 2010 and February 1, 2010 respectively.

7 Apr 2010

Sickle cell disease: Rehospitalization rates high

The largest study to date of the use of acute care medical services by people with sickle cell disease found four of every 10 had to return to the hospital within 30 days of a previous hospitalization or go to the emergency department for treatment of pain, according to a new study funded in part by HHS' Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

7 Apr 2010

AHRQ: Women accounted for nearly 60% of 39.4M admissions to U.S. hospitals in 2007

Women accounted for nearly 60 percent of the 39.4 million admissions to U.S. hospitals in 2007, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

7 Apr 2010

Liver transplant loan repayment expected says WA Premier

Claire Murray, 24 died last week in a Singapore hospital following complications related to her second liver transplant. Her first tax-payer funded transplanted liver was damaged due to her relapsing into heroin addiction.

7 Apr 2010

Improving static balance key to preventing falls in older adults

Being able to stay in their homes and remain independent is a daily struggle for many older adults. As we age we tend to lose our flexibility, our connective tissue tightens and we have prolonged reaction times. Problems with vision, including depth perception, all increase the likelihood of falling. When a child falls it may result in a few bumps and bruises.

7 Apr 2010

Hospital charges for uninsured inpatient care grows by 88%

The amount that hospitals charge the uninsured for inpatient care grew by 88 percent between 1998 and 2007, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. The average charge for an uninsured hospital stay grew from $11,400 in 1998 to $21,400 in 2007 after adjusting for inflation.

7 Apr 2010

Doctors prepare to take recertification tests; California case examines patient safety

The Associated Press: "For the first time since leaving medical school, many doctors are having to take tests to renew board certification in their fields — 147 specialties from dermatology to obstetrics. Any doctor can deliver a baby, treat cancer, or declare himself a cardiologist. Certification means the doctor had special training in that field and passed an exam to prove knowledge of it.

7 Apr 2010

Jantibody Therapeutics, Pfenex collaborate in production of HSP-avidin fusion proteins

Boston BioCom LLC today announced the successful completion of a collaborative research agreement between its Jantibody Therapeutics LLC subsidiary and Pfenex Inc., resulting in the rapid production of a HSP-avidin fusion protein for the Jantibodies self-assembling vaccines platform.

7 Apr 2010

Nationwide Phase III clinical trial of OncoVEX for advanced melanoma

Rush University Medical Center is leading a nationwide Phase III clinical trial to determine whether a promising vaccine for advanced melanoma can effectively treat the deadly skin cancer.

7 Apr 2010

Women with preeclampsia have fewer EPCs: Magee-Womens Research Institute

Compared to women with uncomplicated pregnancies, women with preeclampsia have reduced numbers of special cells that are thought to help grow and maintain blood vessels, according to a study by researchers at the Magee-Womens Research Institute and the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

7 Apr 2010

Rome Foundation develops Diagnostic Algorithms to diagnose GI symptoms

New clinical algorithms will give physicians a practical, efficient and cost-effective aid to diagnose the frequent gastrointestinal symptoms that patients commonly bring to their primary care doctors and gastroenterologists--symptoms of functional GI disorders that are often difficult to diagnose.

7 Apr 2010

LCA: Few possess genetic mutation necessary for positive outcome from gene therapy

Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA) is a congenital retinal dystrophy present in approximately 1 of 80,000 births. It is estimated that about 3,000 people in the United States are living with LCA and will likely become blind in their lifetimes. Recently, there has been progress in gene therapy for this condition.

7 Apr 2010

USPTO issues notice of allowance for vRad's patent applications

Virtual Radiologic Corporation, a national radiology practice and a leader in the development of radiologist workflow technology, received notice of allowance of a patent by the United States Patent and Trademark Office for several applications within its technology portfolio.

7 Apr 2010

Expert testimony at Patel manslaughter trial

In the trial of Dr Jayant Patel an expert surgeon who testified last week was cross examined by the defence lawyers. Patel is currently on trial in the Supreme Court in Brisbane for the manslaughter of three patients and causing grievous bodily harm to a fourth.

7 Apr 2010

Patients with sickle cell disease require acute care: Study

Patients with sickle cell disease average about 2.5 hospital visits per year, with 18- to 30-year old patients more likely to require acute care or rehospitalization, according to a study in the April 7 issue of JAMA.

7 Apr 2010

Adventist Medical Center expands emergency department

Adventist Medical Center (AMC), a southeast Portland, Ore., hospital serving the greater Portland and Vancouver, Wash., metropolitan area, has completed its third and final phase of its emergency department expansion. With this expansion, the hospital now has 32 beds in its emergency department, making it one of the largest in Portland. AMC is also one of the busiest emergency departments in the Portland metro area, serving more than 46,000 patients a year.

7 Apr 2010

MMRC initiates Phase Ib/II study of Treanda in combination with Revlimid and dexamethasone

The Multiple Myeloma Research Consortium (MMRC) today announced the initiation of a Phase Ib/II study of bendamustine (Treanda®), an anticancer agent currently approved for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), in combination with lenalidomide (Revlimid®) and dexamethasone in patients with relapsed multiple myeloma. The trial, led by Shaji Kumar, MD, of Mayo Clinic, is open for enrollment at Mayo Clinic (Rochester, Minn.), City of Hope Cancer Center (Duarte, Calif.) and the University of Chicago (Chicago, Ill).

7 Apr 2010

20 regional cancer care units to get $560 million for upgrades

There is good news for millions of cancer patients across Australia. Prime Minister Rudd has announced a contribution of $560 million with the intention of upgrading and opening new cancer centers in regional and rural communities all over Australia.

7 Apr 2010