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KaloBios Pharmaceuticals' KB001 promising in prevention of serious lung infection

The data from the initial clinical studies with KB001, a novel antibody fragment against PcrV on Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pa) bioengineered by KaloBios Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and partnered with sanofi pasteur, demonstrated promising therapeutic activity in the prevention of serious lung infection in mechanically ventilated patients colonized with the bacterium and in limiting potentially damaging inflammation in patients with cystic fibrosis, where Pa plays an important role in the disease.

18 May 2010

New study shows DFA testing for H1N1 influenza unreliable in ICU patients

Direct Immunofluorescence Assay testing for H1N1 influenza is unreliable in ICU patients, according to a new study from Stanford University. Multiple methods exist for diagnosing influenza, but data on the utility and accuracy of these tests for H1N1 are still emerging, given the relatively recent onset of the epidemic.

18 May 2010

Early CPAP as effective for preemies as ventilator, with fewer complications: Study

Two findings from an NIH research network study provide new information on how much oxygen very preterm infants should receive starting on the first day of life and the most effective means to deliver it to them.

17 May 2010

Patients who participate in physical therapist-led exercise achieve higher functional mobility: Report

Patients who are critically ill and participate in mild exercise programs led by physical therapists achieve higher functional mobility and spend fewer days in intensive care units and hospitals than those who receive less exercise, according to a report published in the April issue of the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

12 May 2010

Texas CHIP program faces budget uncertainties while Arizona Governor restores funds for health care programs for the poor

Seven years ago, state leaders working to close a $9.9 billion budget gap took a hatchet to government health insurance for children of the working poor. Thousands of children paid the price when officials tightened eligibility rules and whacked dental, vision and mental health benefits. Gradually, benefits were restored to the Children's Health Insurance Program and, this month, enrollment reached roughly the same level as in 2003.

7 May 2010

Teleflex Medical voluntarily recalls certain lots of AQUA+FLEX Hygroscopic Condenser Humidifier

Teleflex Medical has announced a worldwide voluntary recall initiated on March 19, 2010, affecting certain lot numbers of the Teleflex Medical AQUA+FLEX Hygroscopic Condenser Humidifier (HCH) (catalog number 1570) a passive humidifier indicated for use to effectively warm and humidify inspired gas during mechanical ventilation.

6 May 2010

New data on Surfaxin LS presented at 2010 PAS Annual Meeting

Discovery Laboratories, Inc., announced that new data regarding Surfaxin LS (its novel, lyophilized KL4 surfactant dosage form) were presented at the 2010 Pediatric Academic Societies Annual Meeting. The two studies presented demonstrate that Surfaxin LS improves lung function and oxygenation while attenuating lung inflammation in the preterm lamb model of respiratory distress syndrome.

5 May 2010

Researchers explore use of nanomedicine techniques for treatment of diseases in children

"Children are not small adults"—pediatricians say that's what makes their specialty different from the practice of medicine in adults. For similar reasons, researchers exploring the medical uses of nanotechnology believe that the use of molecular-level nanomedicine techniques in children will also require its own specialty.

3 May 2010

New tool may help neurologists predict candidates for organ donation

A new tool may help neurologists predict which coma patients may be candidates for organ donation, according to a study published in the April 27, 2010, print issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

3 May 2010

Early tracheotomy does not reduce risk of VAP in mechanically ventilated adult ICU patients

Adult ICU patients who received tracheotomy 6 to 8 days vs. 13 to 15 days after mechanical ventilation did not have a significant reduction in the risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia, according to a study in the April 21 issue of JAMA.

21 Apr 2010

LOTS results of Myozyme in older children and adults with Pompe disease published

Genzyme Corp. today announced that the results from its Late-Onset Treatment Study have been published in today's New England Journal of Medicine. The study was undertaken to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Myozyme (alglucosidase alfa) in older children and adults with Pompe disease.

16 Apr 2010

Kenta Biotech presents positive Phase IIa results of panobacumab

Kenta Biotech has presented positive Phase IIa results of its lead drug candidate, panobacumab (KBPA101), with all patients completing the treatment for hospital-acquired pneumonia and ventilator-acquired pneumonia caused by P. aeruginosa achieving an effective clearance of pneumonia as well as a 100% survival rate.

15 Apr 2010

Critical experts introduce mild exercise programs to care critically ill patients in ICU

A new report from critical care experts at Johns Hopkins shows that use of prescription sedatives goes down by half so that mild exercise programs can be introduced to the care of critically ill patients in the intensive care unit.

9 Apr 2010

HRV devices reduce respiratory symptoms in children: Study

Houses today are so well sealed that they can trap humidity and pollutants indoors as a result of insufficient ventilation. Recently, a team of Canadian scientists led by Dr. Tom Kovesi, a pediatric respirologist at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario in Ottawa, Canada, performed a randomized double-blind, placebo controlled trial to determine whether use of heat recovery ventilators would increase home ventilation and therefore reduce the risk of lower respiratory tract illness in young children.

7 Apr 2010

Therapeutic hypothermia helps save marathon cardiac arrest victim

Jay Yim, 21, had worked on improving his fitness since age 15. In preparation for this year's Los Angeles Marathon on March 21, the University of Southern California pre-med student had been training with a marathon club and regularly did 10-mile runs on his own.

3 Apr 2010

Masimo PVI predicts hemodynamic effects of PEEP in mechanically ventilated patients

Masimo, the inventor of Pulse CO-Oximetry™ and Measure-Through Motion and Low Perfusion pulse oximetry, announced today that a new clinical study published in the March 2010 issue of Anesthesia & Analgesia, shows Masimo PVI successfully predicts the hemodynamic effects of Positive End-Expiratory Pressure in mechanically ventilated patients after cardiac surgery.

1 Apr 2010

FDA accepts for review Abbott's novel diagnostic test for rapid detection of NGAL

A novel diagnostic test to rapidly detect neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), an early biomarker that identifies patients at risk for acute kidney injury (AKI), has been accepted for review by the United States Food and Drug Administration. If approved, this would be the first test available for use in the United States for the detection of NGAL.

1 Apr 2010

New edition of Cardiac Intensive Care to be published

A new edition of Cardiac Intensive Care, the only textbook dedicated to cardiac intensive care medicine, chronicles the progress made in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with critical cardiac illness during an era in which clinical cardiology has become a progressive and interventional field.

27 Mar 2010

Post Acute Medical purchases Northshore Specialty Hospital

Post Acute Medical today announced the purchase of Northshore Specialty Hospital, a 58-bed, Long Term Acute Care Hospital.

22 Mar 2010

HAIs in southeast U.S. community hospitals: Infection rates for CDI surpass MRSA's

Researchers studying epidemiology of healthcare-associated infections in community hospitals in the southeast U.S. found that rates of Clostridium difficile infections (CDI) surpassed infection rates for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Scientists also discovered that healthcare-associated CDI, which is a bacterium that causes diarrhea and more serious intestinal conditions such as colitis, occurs more often (21 percent) than healthcare-associated infections due to MRSA.