Health and Human Services News and Research

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Study indicates possibility of a vaccine to prevent Group B Streptococcus infection

Scientists supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, have completed a Phase II clinical study that indicates a vaccine to prevent Group B Streptococcus (GBS) infection is possible. GBS is the most common cause of sepsis and meningitis in newborns in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It can also cause severe illness in pregnant women, the elderly and adults with chronic illnesses.

31 Oct 2009

Innovative optical system to study the complex mechanisms that lead to sudden cardiac arrest developed

A research team at Vanderbilt University has developed an innovative optical system to simultaneously image electrical activity and metabolic properties in the same region of a heart, to study the complex mechanisms that lead to sudden cardiac arrest.

31 Oct 2009

Texas McAllen Hospitals violates the False Claims Act, to pay $27.5M for settling allegations

A hospital group based in McAllen, Texas, has agreed to pay the United States $27.5 million to settle claims that it violated the False Claims Act, the Anti-Kickback Statute and the Stark Statute between 1999 and 2006, by paying illegal compensation to doctors in order to induce them to refer patients to hospitals within the group, the Justice Department announced today.

31 Oct 2009

Public concern can undermine flu vaccination campaigns

The effectiveness of pandemic flu vaccination campaigns - like that now underway for H1N1 - could be undermined by the public incorrectly associating coincidental and unrelated health events with the vaccines.

31 Oct 2009

Senate confirms Benjamin as surgeon general

The Senate confirmed Alabama doctor Regina Benjamin as surgeon general Thursday night. Her confirmation, which was approved with a voice vote, comes at a critical time as the nation deals with a swine flu emergency.

30 Oct 2009

House Democrats hail, grumble about health reform bill

News outlets detailed the House health care reform bill and reaction from members. The Congressional Budget Office estimated its net cost to be $894 billion over 10 years.

30 Oct 2009

Left side grafting has lower risk to donors; small graft size not the only cause of 'small-for-size graft syndrome'

A recent study by doctors at Shinshu University, School of Medicine, in Japan determined that left side grafting has lower risk to donors compared to grafts taken from the right lobe, and it appears to be the procedure of choice for adult-to-adult living donor liver transplantation (LDLT).

30 Oct 2009

Third-quarter fiscal 2009 results announced by HMS Holdings

HMS Holdings Corp. today announced its financial results for the third quarter of 2009.

30 Oct 2009

Scientists present new perspective on antigenic drift of flu viruses

Influenza viruses evade infection-fighting antibodies by constantly changing the shape of their major surface protein. This shape-shifting, called antigenic drift, is why influenza vaccines-which are designed to elicit antibodies matched to each year's circulating virus strains-must be reformulated annually.

30 Oct 2009

NIH awards $75 million to establish medical research consortium to combat health disparities

The National Institutes of Health has awarded $75 million to Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science and three other historically black institutions to establish a medical research consortium to combat health disparities in minority and underserved populations.

30 Oct 2009

Human Genome Sciences declares financial results for third quarter 2009; reports increased revenue growth

Human Genome Sciences, Inc. today announced financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2009, and provided highlights of recent key developments.

30 Oct 2009

NIH launches randomized trail to determine whether lower BP goal cuts the risk of heart and kidney diseases

The National Institutes of Health is launching a large multicenter randomized clinical trial to determine whether maintaining blood pressure levels lower than current recommendations further reduces the risk of cardiovascular and kidney diseases, or age-related cognitive decline.

30 Oct 2009

Obama administration hits reset button in wake of flu vaccine shortage

Obama administration officials are working to control the H1N1 flu message after shortages have forced many to wait for the swine flu vaccine.

29 Oct 2009

Lawmakers try to weed out fraud and waste

Lawmakers target Medicare and Medicaid fraud to generate greater savings in health care reform while doctors worry about efforts to cut waste.

29 Oct 2009

Gen-Probe receives FDA emergency use authorization for its Prodesse ProFlu-ST test

Gen-Probe Incorporated today announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted an EUA (emergency use authorization) for its test, the Prodesse ProFlu-ST(TM), to be used in CLIA high complexity laboratories for the diagnosis of 2009 H1N1 influenza virus infection, aided by an algorithm that relies on seasonal influenza A/H1 virus and seasonal influenza A/H3 virus results, from a single sample in individuals who are diagnosed with influenza A by currently available FDA-cleared or authorized devices.

29 Oct 2009

BioCryst Pharmaceuticals reports fiscal 2009 third-quarter results

BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced financial results for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2009 and provided a corporate update regarding clinical programs and potential emergency use of intravenous (i.v.) peramivir.

29 Oct 2009

NIEHS supports research to study the potential effects of BPA on human health

Researchers studying the health effects of the chemical bisphenol A (BPA) gathered in North Carolina to launch an integrated research initiative to produce data that will allow for a comprehensive assessment of its possible human health effects.

29 Oct 2009

Biomoda to launch multisite Phase III clinical trials of CyPath assay

Medical diagnostics company Biomoda, Inc. is taking preliminary steps to launch multisite Phase III clinical trials of its in-vitro diagnostic for early-stage lung cancer, trademarked under the name CyPath®.

29 Oct 2009

GE Healthcare to provide surveillance data for H1N1 and seasonal influenza activity throughout the U.S.

GE Healthcare, one of the leading providers of healthcare information technology, today announced its selection by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to provide extensive surveillance data for H1N1 and seasonal influenza activity throughout the United States.

29 Oct 2009

Statement regarding the need to eliminate waste and fraud in Medicare and Medicaid submitted

Mr. Chairman and Ranking Member, on behalf of the American Association for Homecare's more than 4,000 member locations serving Medicare beneficiaries in every state in the nation, we appreciate the opportunity to submit this statement to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary regarding the need to eliminate waste and fraud in Medicare and Medicaid.

29 Oct 2009

Health and Human Services News and Research

Study indicates possibility of a vaccine to prevent Group B Streptococcus infection

Innovative optical system to study the complex mechanisms that lead to sudden cardiac arrest developed

Texas McAllen Hospitals violates the False Claims Act, to pay $27.5M for settling allegations

Public concern can undermine flu vaccination campaigns

Senate confirms Benjamin as surgeon general

House Democrats hail, grumble about health reform bill

Left side grafting has lower risk to donors; small graft size not the only cause of 'small-for-size graft syndrome'

Third-quarter fiscal 2009 results announced by HMS Holdings

Scientists present new perspective on antigenic drift of flu viruses

NIH awards $75 million to establish medical research consortium to combat health disparities

Human Genome Sciences declares financial results for third quarter 2009; reports increased revenue growth

NIH launches randomized trail to determine whether lower BP goal cuts the risk of heart and kidney diseases

Obama administration hits reset button in wake of flu vaccine shortage

Lawmakers try to weed out fraud and waste

Gen-Probe receives FDA emergency use authorization for its Prodesse ProFlu-ST test

BioCryst Pharmaceuticals reports fiscal 2009 third-quarter results

NIEHS supports research to study the potential effects of BPA on human health

Biomoda to launch multisite Phase III clinical trials of CyPath assay

GE Healthcare to provide surveillance data for H1N1 and seasonal influenza activity throughout the U.S.

Statement regarding the need to eliminate waste and fraud in Medicare and Medicaid submitted

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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