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Clinical trial to investigate statins in patients with acute severe respiratory failure

Queen's University and NUI Galway and are leading a clinical trial to investigate the possibility that statins, a drug commonly used to combat cholesterol, might help patients with acute severe respiratory failure.

4 May 2012

Comorbidities common among patients with COPD

Comorbidities are common among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and a number of these comorbidities are independently associated with an increased mortality risk, according to a new study.

4 May 2012

Portfolio theory applied to basic science research portfolio

Researchers suggest that application of Nobel-prize-winning portfolio theory could provide objective funding allocations that would improve risk/reward trade-off in years of life lost.

3 May 2012

Cardiac testing important for lung disease prognosis, treatment

A simple test for heart disease risk can go a long way toward determining the long-term prognosis for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, according to UC Irvine researchers.

3 May 2012

Teleflex strengthens Anesthesia product portfolio

Teleflex Incorporated, a leading global provider of medical devices for critical care and surgery, announced it has acquired the EZ-BlockerTM disposable catheter product line with a unique bifurcated distal end, a novel and patented bronchial blocker for lung isolation and one-lung ventilation.

2 May 2012

Teleflex to acquire all assets of Axiom Technology Partners

Teleflex Incorporated, a leading global provider of medical devices for critical care and surgery, today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire substantially all of the assets of Axiom Technology Partners, LLC, which makes the EFx family of laparoscopic fascial closure system products.

2 May 2012

Asahi Kasei acquires ZOLL

Asahi Kasei Corporation, Japan's leading diversified chemical manufacturer with businesses in the health care, chemicals & fibers, homes & construction materials, and electronics sectors, announced today the successful completion of its acquisition of ZOLL Medical Corporation, a major US manufacturer of medical devices for critical care, on April 26, 2012, US Eastern time.

27 Apr 2012

Study confirms overuse of blood transfusions during surgery

Citing the lack of clear guidelines for ordering blood transfusions during surgery, Johns Hopkins researchers say a new study confirms there is still wide variation in the use of transfusions and frequent use of transfused blood in patients who don't need it.

25 Apr 2012

Vitamin D deficiency associated with increase in lung transplant rejection, infections

Vitamin D deficiency is associated with an increase in lung transplant rejection and infections, according to research conducted at Loyola University Health System.

25 Apr 2012

TGA approves Ikaria’s LUCASSIN to treat Hepatorenal Syndrome Type 1

Ikaria, Inc., a critical care company focused on developing and commercializing innovative therapies for critically ill patients, announced today the approval of LUCASSIN (terlipressin) by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) of Australia.

24 Apr 2012

Nano-devices cross blood-brain barrier to deliver drug to treat cerebral palsy

A team of scientists from Johns Hopkins and elsewhere have developed nano-devices that successfully cross the brain-blood barrier and deliver a drug that tames brain-damaging inflammation in rabbits with cerebral palsy.

23 Apr 2012

Trauma patients flown in to the A&E may fare better: Study

A new study has found that transport by helicopter to a level I or II trauma center was associated with improved survival to hospital discharge compared with ground emergency medical services. The study, which appears in the April 18 issue of JAMA, included data on more than 200,000 adult patients.

18 Apr 2012

Though costly, helicopter trips save lives of seriously injured trauma patients

Seriously injured trauma patients transported to hospitals by helicopter are 16 percent more likely to survive than similarly injured patients brought in by ground ambulance, new Johns Hopkins research shows.

18 Apr 2012

Anaesthetists identify major shortfall in funding for emergency laparotomies

Anaesthetists have identified a major shortfall in funding for emergency laparotomies in England and have called for a national database to establish a more accurate picture of outcomes and costs. Figures published in the May issue of Anaesthesia suggest a shortfall of -300 million per year for emergency midline general surgical laparotomies, 32% of the total cost of care.

18 Apr 2012

Steroids still work better for patients with sciatica

Despite the great promise that injecting a new type of anti-inflammatory pain medicine into the spine could relieve the severe leg and lower back pain of sciatica, a Johns Hopkins-led study has found that the current standard of care with steroid injections still does better.

17 Apr 2012

Beds in pediatric intensive care unit could be used more efficiently with improved flow

The pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) is a precious resource. With limited number of beds and resource-intensive services, it is a key component of patient flow. A new study published in the Journal of Hospital Medicine reveals that while a large PICU observed for the study delivered critical care services most of the time, periods of non-critical care services represented a barrier to access for new patients. At times when a bed was needed for a new patient, the PICU had beds being used for patients who could have been in other settings.

16 Apr 2012

Annual Shallenberger Lecture In Ethics to take place on April 17

Myra Christopher, the Kathleen M. Foley Chair for Pain and Palliative Care at the Center for Practical Bioethics and a nationally renowned patient advocate, will deliver the 19th annual Shallenberger Lecture In Ethics April 17, 2012 at 12:00 noon.

16 Apr 2012

VasoNova receives BSI CE certification for Arrow VPS system

Teleflex Incorporated, a leading global provider of medical devices for critical care and surgery, has announced that its VasoNova Inc. subsidiary has been issued CE certification from its notified body, the British Standards Institution (BSI), to market the company's Arrow VPS system to the European Union.

9 Apr 2012

Nursing research news from Johns Hopkins

Two decades ago, the landmark Cruzan decision catalyzed individual thinking, policy discussions and lawmaking about advance care directives and choices.

7 Apr 2012

Methylphenidate may help induce recovery from propofol anesthesia

The ability of the commonly used stimulant methylphenidate (Ritalin) to speed recovery from general anesthesia appears to apply both to the inhaled gas isoflurane, as previously reported, and to the intravenous drug propofol. Members of the same Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) research team that reported the isoflurane study are publishing similar results for propofol in the May issue of Anesthesiology, and their paper has been issued online.

6 Apr 2012