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.

U.N. panel recommends reparations fund for victims of sexual violence in DRC

A high-level U.N. panel on Thursday recommended that the international community "create a special reparations fund for victims of sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo," following an assessment of the conditions faced by survivors of such acts, Agence France-Presse reports.

5 Mar 2011

Genentech granted FDA hearing on Avastin for metastatic breast cancer

Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, today announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted a hearing to allow the company the opportunity to present its views on why Avastin® (bevacizumab) should remain FDA-approved for metastatic breast cancer (mBC). The FDA has scheduled the hearing for June 28 to 29, 2011.

25 Feb 2011

Genentech's OCEANS Phase III study of Avastin in platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer meets primary endpoint

Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, announced today that OCEANS, a Phase III study evaluating Avastin® (bevacizumab) in combination with chemotherapy (carboplatin and gemcitabine) followed by continued use of Avastin alone until disease progression in women with previously treated (recurrent), platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer, met its primary endpoint.

8 Feb 2011

Centocor Ortho Biotech files REMICADE sBLA for ulcerative colitis in pediatric patients

Centocor Ortho Biotech Inc. announced today that it has filed a supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requesting the approval of REMICADE® (infliximab) for the treatment of moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis (UC) in pediatric patients who have had an inadequate response to conventional therapy.

29 Dec 2010

MCP-1 protein may contribute to failure of AV fistulas created for vascular access in dialysis patients

A protein implicated in the development of vascular diseases may also contribute to the failure of arteriovenous (AV) fistulas created for vascular access in dialysis patients, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN).

23 Dec 2010

Genentech confirms EMA, FDA updates on Avastin for metastatic breast cancer

Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, confirmed that following the reviews of Avastin® (bevacizumab) in metastatic breast cancer by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the following regulatory announcements were made by the individual health authorities:

17 Dec 2010

Recent releases in Global Health

New This Week In The Kaiser Global Health Policy Tracker: The President's Malaria Initiative announced a new focus country and USAID released a new fact sheet on the agency's reform initiative. Kaiser's Policy Tracker provides a timely single reference point for the latest information on congressional and administration action on global health.

20 Nov 2010

Biologic grafts are increasingly being used to repair complex hernias

Surgical residents in their final years of surgical training learned the latest techniques in using biologic grafts to treat hernias in a workshop led by the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES), and sponsored through an educational grant from Cook Medical.

9 Nov 2010

Cook Medical's controlled-release esophageal stent receives FDA clearance

Cook Medical's controlled-release esophageal stent fully covered in silicone has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), making available yet another advanced solution from Cook Medical, the only full-line supplier of endoscopic devices.

9 Nov 2010

$750 million needed to treat obstetric fistula until 2015

A report released by the United Nations today calls for intensified investment in cost-effective interventions to address the problem of obstetric fistula. The document estimates that at least $750 million is needed to treat existing and new cases between now and 2015. Caused by prolonged, obstructed labour without timely medical intervention, the condition affects as many as 3.5 million women in the world.

11 Oct 2010

New EID/Qb technique offers real-time monitoring of AVF function during dialysis

A simple equation provides real-time feedback to detect access recirculation in arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) during hemodialysis, reports a study in the September/October issue of ASAIO Journal, Official Journal of the American Society of Artificial Internal Organs.

24 Sep 2010

Bioconnect's Optiflow Vascular Anastomotic System granted CE mark approval

Bioconnect Systems, Inc. today announced CE mark approval for the Optiflow™ Vascular Anastomotic System. The Optiflow™ enhances a surgeon's ability to create precise vascular connections. The initial indication is the creation of an arteriovenous fistula needed for vascular access in hemodialysis patients.

21 Sep 2010

FDA decides to review information on Avastin for advanced HER2-negative breast cancer

Genentech, Inc., a member of the Roche Group, today announced that information submitted by the company to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) during the review of the supplemental Biologics License Applications (sBLAs) for Avastin (bevacizumab) for previously untreated (first-line) advanced HER2-negative breast cancer has been deemed a major amendment.

18 Sep 2010

IPS examines obstetric fistula in Africa

Inter Press Service examines how women's "low status" can contribute to the development of obstetric fistulas in women in East, Central and Southern Africa.

13 Sep 2010

First ROSE procedures with USGI Medical's Incisionless Operating Platform performed in Europe

USGI Medical, Inc., the Incisionless Surgery Company, announced that a surgeon in the U.K. successfully completed Europe's first two scar-free stomach surgery repairs using the company's Incisionless Operating Platform™ (IOP). Elemental Healthcare Ltd. distributes the IOP in the U.K. market.

30 Aug 2010

BioTrends' online survey provides in-depth view of dialysis vascular access market

BioTrends Research Group, Inc. recently published its TreatmentTrends: Vascular Access report. This report is based on online survey results from over 150 physicians (general nephrologists, surgeons, interventional radiologists and interventional nephrologists).

25 Aug 2010

Hemodialysis with AVF depends on patient’s health insurance: Study

Kidney disease patients insured by some federally sponsored national health care organizations are more likely to undergo an important predialysis procedure than patients with other types of insurance, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society Nephrology (JASN). The results may provide insights into ways to improve kidney-related care for patients before they go on dialysis.

10 Aug 2010

Research shows variations in care that kidney disease patients receive before starting dialysis

The wealth or poverty of kidney disease patients' communities impacts the quality of care patients receive before starting dialysis, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society Nephrology. The results suggest that medical professionals need to improve care for patients who have not yet started dialysis.

6 Aug 2010

Also in Global Health News: India's food security; ASEAN to address disaster preparedness; Iraqi food aid; Why fistula plagues Kenya

A Reuters article discusses the implications of an Indian bill that would "subsidise grains for the poor, a move that will impact government finances as well as political support." According to the news service, the proposal "aims to partly shield a substantial voter base from surging inflation in a country where about 40 percent of the 1.2 billion population lives below the U.N. estimated poverty line."

22 Jul 2010

Genentech disappointed with FDA ODAC's recommendation against Avastin

Genentech, Inc., a member of the Roche Group, announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee (ODAC) voted 12 to one that use of Avastin® (bevacizumab) in combination with paclitaxel for previously untreated (first-line) advanced HER2-negative breast cancer be removed from Avastin's U.S. label.

21 Jul 2010