Fistula News and Research

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A Fistula is an abnormal opening or passage between two organs or between an organ and the surface of the body. Fistulas may be caused by injury, infection, or inflammation, or may be created during surgery.

Study finds substantial regional variation in treatment practices for older adults with ESRD

There is substantial regional variation in treatment practices for care of older adults with end-stage renal disease, including receipt of hospice care and discontinuation of dialysis before death, according to a study in the July 14 issue of JAMA.

14 Jul 2010

Opinions: Coordinate debris removal in Haiti; Focus on sustainability to feed Africa; G20's role in health, development; Role of health workers in reducing maternal deaths

Marking the six-month anniversary since the earthquake in Haiti, Reginald DesRoches, Ozlem Ergun and Julie Swann, all of the Georgia Institute of Technology, call for increased attention to be paid towards efforts to remove the "[t]wenty million to 25 million cubic yards of debris [that] fill the streets, yards, sidewalks and canals of Port-au-Prince" in a New York Times opinion piece.

9 Jul 2010

Medicare reimbursement rates for outpatient repair of anal fistulas increased by 6%

Hospitals nationwide will receive six percent higher reimbursement payments for outpatient repair of anal fistulas using Cook Medical's Biodesign® Fistula Plug, a device designed specifically to treat this painful and embarrassing disorder of the lower GI tract. According to new Medicare payment schedules effective January 1st, hospital outpatient surgery departments will receive approximately $2,200 per procedure, while freestanding ambulatory surgery centers will be paid about $1,300 on average.

7 Jul 2010

Genentech's second Phase III ICON7 study of Avastin in ovarian cancer meets primary endpoint

Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, announced today that a second large, Phase III, international study showed that the combination of Avastin® (bevacizumab) and chemotherapy, followed by the continued use of Avastin alone, increased the time women with previously untreated ovarian cancer lived without the disease worsening (progression-free survival or PFS, the primary endpoint), compared to chemotherapy alone.

2 Jul 2010

Equatorial Guinea strengthens health facilities to boost access to reproductive health services

The Republic of Equatorial Guinea (Republica de Guinea Ecuatorial, along with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), is working to strengthen and equip health facilities throughout the country to boost access to reproductive health services. The rebuilding process includes the construction and renovation of health centers and maternity units as well as proper training for medical students.

19 Jun 2010

Office-based duplex guided hemodialysis access angioplasty safe: Study

Duplex guided dialysis access angioplasty can be performed safely and effectively in the office setting according to a new study presented today at the 64th Vascular Annual Meeting presented by the Society for Vascular Surgery®. According to researchers, ultrasound offers the advantage of treating the patient without ionizing radiation and sedation or iodinated contrast.

11 Jun 2010

Researchers receive funding to study care processes in patients beginning dialysis

Researchers at the University of Cincinnati and the Cincinnati Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center have received funding to study the care processes that lead to placement of arteriovenous fistulas in patients beginning dialysis.

9 Jun 2010

Genentech reports results from Phase III study of Avastin in women with advanced ovarian cancer

Genentech, Inc., a wholly owned member of the Roche Group, today announced results from a Phase III study of Avastin (bevacizumab) that showed women with previously untreated advanced ovarian cancer who received Avastin in combination with chemotherapy, followed by the continuation of Avastin alone, had a 39 percent improvement in the likelihood of living longer without the disease worsening (progression-free survival or PFS) compared to chemotherapy alone.

7 Jun 2010

Genentech to present new data for targeted cancer medicines at 46th ASCO

Genentech, Inc., a wholly owned member of the Roche Group, today announced that it will present new data for its targeted cancer medicines and the way they may be used in several different cancer types at the 46th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). Approximately 400 abstracts featuring Genentech and Roche's cancer medicines and investigational agents across 30 cancer types will be presented during the meeting that is taking place June 4 to 8, 2010 in Chicago.

21 May 2010

Long-term data demonstrates clinical benefits of Exelixis XL184 for medullary thyroid cancer

Exelixis, Inc. today reported long-term results in a cohort of 37 medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) patients who participated in the phase 1 study of XL184. Dr. Razelle Kurzrock from the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX will present the data in a Clinical Science Symposium (Abstract #5502) on Monday, June 7 at 10:15 AM at the 2010 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Chicago.

21 May 2010

New case report addresses diagnostic significance of CT and MRI for DCF

Duodenocaval fistula is an uncommon but lethal clinical entity. The high mortality has been attributed to the difficulty of diagnosis before attempts at definitive therapy.

13 May 2010

MBPs offer no clinical benefit to patients undergoing PD: Research team

Mechanical bowel preparations are commonly administered preoperatively to patients who undergo a pancreaticoduodenectomy (Whipple procedure) to treat benign and malignant tumors of the pancreas, common bile duct or duodenum. MBPs are employed as a preventative measure in gastrointestinal surgery but their effectiveness in reducing perioperative infectious complications remains unclear.

7 May 2010

Results of study comparing REMICADE to azathioprine for Crohn's disease published

Findings published today in The New England Journal of Medicine from a first-of-its-kind comparator trial evaluating the anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha biologic treatment REMICADE (infliximab) in the treatment of moderately to severely active Crohn's disease in patients who were naive to immunomodulator and biologic therapy, showed that a significantly greater proportion of patients receiving REMICADE achieved steroid-free remission and mucosal healing compared with patients receiving azathioprine.

16 Apr 2010

Data from Phase 2 clinical trials of Hematide/peginesatide presented at NKF Annual Meeting

Affymax, Inc. and Takeda Global Research & Development Center, Inc., U.S., today announced data from several post hoc analyses of Phase 2 clinical trials that evaluated Hematide/peginesatide in dialysis patients with anemia in chronic kidney disease. The data provide hypotheses for further investigation of this agent in anemia management in this patient population.

16 Apr 2010

Hemosphere completes $9.3M venture capital financing

Hemosphere, Inc., a private medical device company, has completed a late round of venture capital financing totaling $9.3 million. The company has developed the HeRO® Vascular Access Device, which provides access for hemodialysis - the process of filtering waste products from blood when kidneys are in renal failure - similar to a conventional graft.

1 Apr 2010

Genentech announces topline results from Phase III trial of Avastin

Genentech, Inc., a wholly owned member of the Roche Group, announced today the topline results of a Phase III trial led by the U.S. Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB) and sponsored by the National Cancer Institute investigating the use of Avastin® (bevacizumab) in combination with docetaxel chemotherapy and prednisone in men with late stage prostate cancer (hormone-refractory / HRPC).

12 Mar 2010

Opinions: Haiti corruption; Financial sector tax, G8 promises; Investing in women

A Washington Post editorial reflects on Haitian President Rene Preval's response to U.S. policy makers' queries "about the perils of corruption and what measures the Haitian government might devise to minimize misuse and theft of the billions of dollars in recovery assistance flowing into the country and the billions more expected" during his visit this week to Washington D.C. "Surprisingly, he seems utterly unprepared to discuss the matter," the editorial notes.

12 Mar 2010

HDI announces results of Rapid Maternal Mortality and Obstetric Fistula Prevention Project

In honor of the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day, Health & Development International (HDI) announced the results of its Rapid Maternal Mortality and Obstetric Fistula Prevention Project today, in advance of its second hosted global meeting on this topic to be held at The Carter Center in Atlanta on March 9 and 10.

8 Mar 2010

Data evaluating safety, efficacy of STELARA and REMICADE in patients with plaque psoriasis to be presented

Data evaluating the efficacy and safety of STELARA™ (ustekinumab) and REMICADE® (infliximab) in patients with plaque psoriasis who had an inadequate response to Enbrel® (etanercept) will be presented at the 68th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) in Miami, Fla., from March 5-9, 2010.

5 Mar 2010

Advanced ovarian cancer: Avastin-chemotherapy combination followed by Avastin alone improves PFS

Genentech, Inc., a wholly owned member of the Roche Group, today announced that a Phase III study showed the combination of Avastin® (bevacizumab) and chemotherapy followed by maintenance use of Avastin alone increased the time women with previously untreated advanced ovarian cancer lived without the disease worsening (progression-free survival or PFS), compared to chemotherapy alone. A preliminary assessment of safety noted adverse events previously observed in pivotal trials of Avastin.

25 Feb 2010