Palliative Care News and Research

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Palliative care is an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing the problem associated with life-threatening illness, through the prevention and relief of suffering by means of early identification and impeccable assessment and treatment of pain and other problems, physical, psychosocial and spiritual.

Never smokers' lung adenocarcinomas show greater genome instability

Lung adenocarcinomas in people who have never smoked show greater genome instability than those in smokers, supporting the theory that lung cancer in never smokers arises through different pathways, according to research presented at the 14th World Conference on Lung Cancer in Amsterdam, hosted by the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer.

5 Jul 2011

Positive results from Nexavar Phase 2b trial on breast cancer presented at ASCO

Accelerated Community Oncology Research Network, Inc., reported positive results of a large double-blind, randomized Phase 2b trial in patients with breast cancer at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 47th annual meeting in Chicago, June 3-7.

1 Jul 2011

Lotus Tissue Repair to develop DEB protein replacement therapy with $26 million Series A financing

Lotus Tissue Repair, Inc. today announced the closing of a $26 million Series A financing led by Third Rock Ventures. Proceeds of the financing will be used to advance the company's proprietary recombinant collagen type VII (rC7) technology as the first and only protein replacement therapy in development for the treatment of dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (DEB), an orphan disease that causes devastating skin blisters, morbidity and early mortality.

30 Jun 2011

First Edition: June 28, 2011

Today's headlines include reports from the states about action on public employee benefit reforms and Planned Parenthood funding.

28 Jun 2011

Twelve institutions receive NPCRC and American Cancer Society grants for palliative care research

The American Cancer Society and the National Palliative Care Research Center (NPCRC) are awarding $2 million in research grants to researchers at 12 institutions for studies aimed at reducing suffering for seriously ill patients and their family caregivers.

22 Jun 2011

Millennium Labs founder receives Ernst & Young award in Life Sciences category

Millennium Laboratories, a leading provider of medication monitoring services to physicians and staff treating chronic pain, announced today that James Slattery, CEO and founder, has received the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2011 San Diego Award in the Life Sciences category.

21 Jun 2011

Interventions can buffer caregivers from stresses faced in providing care to terminally ill patients

Interventions can buffer caregivers of terminally ill patients from the significant stresses they face in providing care to a loved one, a new evidence review finds.

15 Jun 2011

Unique approach improves discharge disposition and older patient's outcomes

The rehospitalization of senior patients within 30 days of discharge from a skilled nursing facility (SNF) has risen dramatically in recent years, at an estimated annual cost of more than $17 billion.

13 Jun 2011

Study affirms effectiveness of palliative care discussions before LVAD surgery

For patients with severe heart failure, an implanted mechanical pump known as a Left Ventricular Assist Device can be a life-sustaining treatment. Even though the technology involves risks, few patients and their families tend to talk explicitly about the "what ifs" before surgery takes place.

4 Jun 2011

Study affirms effectiveness of palliative care discussions before LVAD heart surgery

For patients with severe heart failure, an implanted mechanical pump known as a Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) can be a life-sustaining treatment. Even though the technology involves risks, few patients and their families tend to talk explicitly about the "what ifs" before surgery takes place.

2 Jun 2011

Koreans show positive attitude towards end-of-life care for cancer patients: Study

Attitudes toward end-of-life care for cancer patients vary, but most patients, family members, oncologists and members of the public are receptive to withdrawing futile life-sustaining treatments in people who are dying, found a Korean study in CMAJ.

31 May 2011

Novartis employees to do volunteer work for non-profit groups during 15th annual Community Partnership Day

Some 200 employees of Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc. will again this year be helping out with cleaning, painting and various other chores and activities at 15 Montreal-area organizations as part of their 15th annual Community Partnership Day, during which they leave their offices for the day to do volunteer work for non-profit groups. It is part of a global effort by Novartis employees that involves 20,000 employees in 55 countries.

30 May 2011

Ten changes medical oncologists can do to flatten costs, improve care

The cost of cancer care is threatening to bankrupt our healthcare system. New drugs are prolonging life, but at staggering costs. This coupled with aging baby boomers and an increasing population mean the U.S. will spend $173 billion annually on cancer care by the year 2020. This trend is not sustainable; however, there are evidence-based ways to maintain or improve the quality of care while saving money for the new therapies being discovered every day.

27 May 2011

Terminally ill missing out on palliative care: Survey reports

According to two new surveys, increased hospital admissions in the last three months of life could be of little benefit to dying people and are in contrast to the wishes of many.

23 May 2011

Millennium Laboratories founder to be honored as 2011 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur for pain care

Millennium Laboratories, a leading provider of medication monitoring services to physicians and staff treating chronic pain, announced today that James Slattery, CEO and founder, is a regional finalist for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2011 San Diego region.

23 May 2011

APS honors recipients of Clinical Centers of Excellence in Pain Management Awards

The American Pain Society, www.ampainsoc.org, today honored the recipients of its fifth annual Clinical Centers of Excellence in Pain Management Awards recognizing the nation's outstanding pain care centers.

21 May 2011

Phase 3 open-label study of RELISTOR presented at American Pain Society meeting

Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. today announced findings from two analyses of a Phase 3 open-label study of RELISTOR (methylnaltrexone bromide) presented at the 30th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Pain Society. The meeting is being held in Austin, TX, on May 19-21, 2011.

21 May 2011

Viewpoints: Coburn on his dropout; Malpractice reform and states

For the past several months I have been meeting with a small group of senators from both parties, informally known as the Gang of Six, that was designed to force the idle — not gridlocked — Senate, and then the House and the president, to enact a long-term deficit-reduction package.

20 May 2011

Research roundup: Medicare costs in nursing homes; Docs reluctant to adopt EHRs; Health law to improve access to care

Medicare Expenditures Among Nursing Home Residents With Advanced Dementia -- Researchers followed 323 dementia patients in 22 nursing homes for up to 18 months and found that over an 18-month period, "total mean Medicare expenditures were $2303 per 90 days but were highly skewed; expenditures were less than $500 for 77.1% of the 90-day assessment periods and more than $12 000 for 5.5% of these periods.

13 May 2011

Wealth, population size, race and age associate with local availability of hospice programs

Wealth, population size, race and age associate with the supply of hospice care available in a county, according to a study published in the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management this month.

10 May 2011