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Study: Heart rate turbulence is linked with increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease

Abnormal heart rate turbulence is associated with an increased risk of heart disease death in otherwise low-risk older individuals, according to a study funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health.

15 Feb 2011

The Lancet publishes Baxter's PREFLUCEL phase III trial results against seasonal influenza

Baxter International Inc. announced today results of a study published in this week's issue of The Lancet that demonstrate effectiveness and tolerability of Baxter's PREFLUCEL in protecting against seasonal influenza.

From Baxter International Inc. 15 Feb 2011

First Edition: February 15, 2011

Today's headlines include reports about the health portion of the President's budget blueprint along with the politics that accompany it.

15 Feb 2011

CWRU's REC helps doctors to adopt electronic health records

Nearly $8 million of federal stimulus funds provided through the Ohio Health Information Partnership is already starting to help hundreds of doctors in northeast Ohio switch to electronic health records. Now, with a greater sense of urgency, the word is going out to providers who might not yet be aware that valuable advice is easily available to them.

15 Feb 2011

Study finds GI bleeding rare outside of ICU, regardless of whether or not patients receive medication

Over the last several decades, the prophylactic use of acid-suppressive medications to help prevent gastrointestinal bleeding in hospitalized patients has increased significantly, with some studies estimating that as many as 40 to 70 percent of all medical inpatients are given these drugs at some point during their hospitalization.

15 Feb 2011

State Roundup: Calif. adult day care; S.C.'s budget cuts; Minn. 'boomer bust'

As Gov. Jerry Brown has proposed slashing government aid for poor people, he argues that California still provides more generous benefits than many other states. … State-by-state comparisons are complicated. ... While California pays health costs for a larger share of its population, it spends less per person. It reimburses health care providers less and covers a younger, healthier group of people (Yamamura, 2/14).

14 Feb 2011

New research shows link between two pesticides and Parkinson's disease

New research shows a link between use of two pesticides, rotenone and paraquat, and Parkinson's disease. People who used either pesticide developed Parkinson's disease approximately 2.5 times more often than non-users.

14 Feb 2011

K-V Pharmaceutical to raise $32 million through private placement

K-V Pharmaceutical Company today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement with a group of institutional investors to raise approximately $32 million of gross proceeds from a private placement of 9,950,000 shares of its Class A Common Stock at $3.25 per share.

14 Feb 2011

AP: Crooks find Medicare Part D an easy target

Crooks are taking advantage of lax oversight in Medicare's Part D prescription drug program to obtain highly addictive drugs including oxycodone, Ritalin, and methadone, according to results of a federal probe.

14 Feb 2011

NHGRI's new strategic plan to identify genetic bases of most single-gene disorders

A new strategic plan from an arm of the National Institutes of Health envisions scientists being able to identify genetic bases of most single-gene disorders and gaining new insights into multi-gene disorders in the next decade. This should lead to more accurate diagnoses, new drug targets and the development of practical treatments for many who today lack therapeutic options, according to the plan from the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI).

14 Feb 2011

ER visits involving drug related suicide attempts reveal considerable fluctuations among adolescent males

A new study examining monthly and seasonal trends in the number of emergency department visits involving drug related suicide attempts reveals considerable fluctuations among adolescent males. The rate for the general population varies little.

14 Feb 2011

New Republican spending cuts include well-known health programs

House Republican leaders pushed out a new round of proposed spending cuts Friday night as they sought to meet demands by conservatives in the party to trim $100 billion from the current spending levels. Health programs were among the targets.

14 Feb 2011

High risk insurance pools: Enrollment is up but still short of projections

The Department of Health and Human Services announced a 50 percent jump in enrollment in the health law's pre-existing condition plans during the last three months. Even with this recent jump, the total enrollment is nowhere near the administration's initial projections.

11 Feb 2011

White House, GOP governors spar over health care exchanges

On Thursday, the White House was in the midst of pushing back against the Republican claims that they did not have enough flexibility to implement this key part of the health law.

11 Feb 2011

AHRQ: $25.3 billion spent for kidney disease treatment every year

Overall, an average of 3.7 million adults in the United States were treated for kidney disease each year between 2003 and 2007, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Kidney disease can lead to renal failure and may be caused by diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease.

11 Feb 2011

New resources made available to increase awareness of PCIP

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services today made new resources available to the media, consumer groups, states, health care providers, and others to increase awareness of the Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan, a health plan for uninsured Americans with pre-existing conditions created by the Affordable Care Act.

11 Feb 2011

HHS lists GE PSO as part of AHRQ Patient Safety Organization program

The Secretary of Health and Human Services has listed the GE-MERS National Patient Safety Organization as part of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's Patient Safety Organization program. With this federal certification, GE Healthcare Performance Solutions joins leading healthcare organizations across the U.S. working to minimize risks in patient care.

11 Feb 2011

State roundup: Arizona Medicaid waiver; Mass. BCBS plans charge more for high-cost hospitals; Texas Dems' abortion fight

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer's proposal to cut 280,000 people from the state's Medicaid rolls is being reviewed by U.S. officials who don't know whether they have the power to approve the action, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said.

10 Feb 2011

College health plans must comply with health law's 'central provisions'

The Department of Health and Human Services made clear Wednesday that the nation's colleges and universities would not be exempt from the requirements of the health overhaul.

10 Feb 2011