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Cost/quality relationship in health care still poorly understood: Study

A new study examines -- and finds little clear -- on the relationship between health care quality and cost.

3 Jan 2013

Johns Hopkins scientists uncover itch-specific nerve cells in skin

Johns Hopkins researchers have uncovered strong evidence that mice have a specific set of nerve cells that signal itch but not pain, a finding that may settle a decades-long debate about these sensations, and, if confirmed in humans, help in developing treatments for chronic itch, including itch caused by life-saving medications.

3 Jan 2013

Prenatal brain development may be important influence on psychiatric risk later in life

Some brain changes that are found in adults with common gene variants linked to disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, and autism can also be seen in the brain scans of newborns.

3 Jan 2013

UMDNJ-School of Osteopathic Medicine establishes Biomarker Discovery Center

Following recent discoveries by its researchers that could significantly change the diagnosis and treatment of a number of diseases, the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ)-School of Osteopathic Medicine has established the Biomarker Discovery Center on its Stratford campus.

3 Jan 2013

Paul Farmer appointed as U.N. Special Adviser for Haiti cholera efforts

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon "has appointed renowned United States physician Paul Farmer to help galvanize support to eliminate cholera in Haiti, where the disease has already claimed over 7,750 lives," the U.N. News Centre reports.

3 Jan 2013

Treatment of maternal sleep-disordered breathing with CPAP therapy improves fetal activity levels

A new study suggests that treatment of mild sleep-disordered breathing with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy in pregnant women with preeclampsia improves fetal activity levels, a marker of fetal well-being.

3 Jan 2013

Ineffective communication contributes to poor drug adherence

Even the best medicines in the world can be rendered ineffective if they are not taken as prescribed. The problem known as medication "non-adherence" is a major health issue in the United States, contributing to worse outcomes for people who have diabetes and other chronic diseases.

3 Jan 2013

EPIRUS’ BOW-015 achieves bioequivalence to Remicade in a single dose comparator trial

EPIRUS Biopharmaceuticals, Inc., formerly known as fourteen22 Inc, announced that its lead asset, BOW-015, achieved bioequivalence to Remicade in a single dose comparator trial.

3 Jan 2013

FDA acknowledges resubmission of Merck’s NDA for ezetimibe and atorvastatin tablets

Merck, known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has acknowledged the resubmission of a New Drug Application (NDA) for ezetimibe and atorvastatin tablets, an investigational combination medicine.

3 Jan 2013

Heart attack patients may benefit from mild to moderate sleep-disordered breathing

People who suffer from breathing disorders such as sleep apnea are usually at higher risk for cardiovascular disease. But an intriguing new study from Technion-Israel Institute of Technology scientists suggests that some heart attack patients with these conditions may actually benefit from mild to moderate sleep-disordered breathing.

3 Jan 2013

Salix receives FDA approval for crofelemer to treat HIV-associated diarrhea

On New Year's Eve of 2012, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced its approval of crofelemer (Fulyzaq, Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd., Raleigh, North Carolina) — marking the second time a botanical, and the first time an orally administered botanical, has received drug approval from the Administration.

3 Jan 2013

Bristol-Myers Squibb, Pfizer receive FDA approval for ELIQUIS to reduce risk of stroke and SE

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and Pfizer Inc. announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved ELIQUIS (apixaban) to reduce the risk of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation.

2 Jan 2013

Global infertility unchanged

The global rate of infertility has not significantly changed over the past 2 decades, with the exception of regions in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, a study shows.

2 Jan 2013

Poor awareness, misunderstanding hinder palliative care for heart failure

A lack of awareness among heart failure patients prevents them accessing palliative care services during the late stages of their disease, indicate US study findings.

2 Jan 2013

Fibrinogen could bypass intraoperative transfusion needs

Giving fibrinogen as first-line treatment for intraoperative bleeding could reduce the need for blood transfusion, shows a small randomized controlled trial.

2 Jan 2013

Farmers face increased risk for multiple myeloma

People working as farmers and those with long-term exposure to pesticides have an increased risk for multiple myeloma, results of a large European study suggest.

2 Jan 2013

Mortality risk from long-term exposure to traffic pollution

Long-term exposure to air pollution is associated with increased rates of all-cause, cardiopulmonary, and lung cancer mortality, a large German study indicates.

2 Jan 2013

Inpatient mortality increased by emergency department overcrowding

Periods of high crowding at emergency departments have a detrimental impact on outcomes, with increased patient mortality, length of hospital stay, and healthcare costs for admitted patients, US study findings indicate.

2 Jan 2013

News anchor shares experience about link between multiple sclerosis and dental mercury fillings

Nashville news anchor (Fox 17) Stacy Case will share her personal experience about the link between multiple sclerosis (MS) and dental mercury fillings on the January 3rd episode of CBS's The Doctors entitled "Dangerous Toxins."

2 Jan 2013

Prompt smoking cessation important for patients to receive CABG

Smoking cessation even a year prior to coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery does not fully normalize the changes smoking has made to the saphenous (leg) veins used for the surgery and may lead to later graft failure, according to a study published in the January 2013 issue of The Annals of Thoracic Surgery.

2 Jan 2013