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Obesity experts call on policymakers to adopt obesity recommendations

The Obesity Society and other steering committee members of the Strategies to Overcome and Prevent (STOP) Obesity Alliance, and two former US Surgeons General, join together today to develop effective recommendations to urge policymakers to act on the inclusion of obesity as the largest and most urgent driving factor in healthcare reform.

10 Sep 2009

Contradictions between personal and systemic health issues could thwart reform

Health care reform efforts must confront a paradox, the Los Angeles Times reports: "Millions of Americans say the system they depend on for everything from routine flu shots to life-saving heart surgery is broken and needs fixing.

9 Sep 2009

American Asthma Foundation awards $750,000 for asthma research

Dr. Serpil Erzurum, one of the nation's leading experts in asthma, has been awarded $750,000 by the American Asthma Foundation (AAF). Dr. Erzurum will collaborate with experts in nuclear medicine and physics to develop an innovative way for clinicians to observe changes in the lungs of patients during an asthma attack.

9 Sep 2009

New television program to raise awareness about cardiovascular diseases in women

Research shows that 80 percent of cardiac events in women could be prevented if women make the right choices for their hearts, involving diet, exercise and abstinence from smoking.

9 Sep 2009

Top 10 U.S.hospitals prefer Arctic Sun temperature management system

The number of Arctic Sun(R) users among hospitals ranked top 20 jumped to 90 percent this year from 72 percent last year, Medivance announced today. All top 10 "best hospitals" prefer the ease and safety of its advanced non-invasive method for rapid, controlled temperature reduction followed by slow rewarming.

9 Sep 2009

Neuralstem's patent on neural stem cell transplantation approved

Neuralstem, Inc. today announced that it has received notice of allowance from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for its patent entitled “Transplantation of Human Neural Cells For Treatment Of Neurodegenerative Conditions,” number 11/281,640.

9 Sep 2009

Sequoia Hospital completes 1000 atrial fibrillation ablation procedures

Sequoia Hospital announced that the Cardiac Arrhythmia Program has completed 1,000 atrial fibrillation (A-Fib) ablation procedures, making it the highest total volume A-Fib ablation institution currently performing ablations in Northern and Central California.

9 Sep 2009

Psoriasis Walk organized to support the research and education programs of Psoriasis Cure Now

The first-ever New Jersey Psoriasis Walk will take place in Paramus this Saturday, September 12, 2009, at beautiful Van Saun Park. The walk, to support the research and education programs of the nonprofit Psoriasis Cure Now, will include entertainment, information booths on psoriasis treatments, and a chance to meet and learn from others living with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Janine Natoli of Little Falls is volunteer Chair of the NJ Psoriasis Walk, on the Web at http://www.PsoriasisWalkNJ.org.

9 Sep 2009

Prostate cancer treatment options discussed in a study

A new study in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) appears to support the theory outlined in earlier studies that men with more advanced forms of prostate cancer don't benefit from a combination of hormone and radiation therapy.

9 Sep 2009

New findings may help identify treatments for diabetes and hyperinsulinemia

By investigating a rare and severe form of diabetes in children, University of Iowa researchers have discovered a new molecular mechanism that regulates specialized pancreatic cells and insulin secretion. The mechanism involves a protein called ankyrin, which UI researchers previously linked to potentially fatal human heart arrhythmias.

9 Sep 2009

Free pedometers from Humana for spectators at the Utah Championship in Sandy

Have you ever wondered how many steps you take during a round of golf? You can find out for sure — and maybe even win a prize — during the Nationwide Tour’s Utah Championship, thanks to a promotion from Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM), the official health benefits company of the PGA TOUR.

9 Sep 2009

Humana Military announces the URAC re-accreditation for its Case Management Program

Humana Military Healthcare Services, a wholly owned subsidiary of Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM), recently received re-accreditation for its Case Management Program from URAC, a Washington, D.C.-based health care accrediting organization that establishes quality standards for the industry.

9 Sep 2009

European Dynamic Annuloplasty Activation study completes patient enrollment

MiCardia (MiCardia Corporation, Irvine, California) today announced the completion of enrollment in its European “DYANA” (Dynamic Annuloplasty Activation) study, designed to support submission for CE mark of the firm’s Dynaplasty technology in Europe.

9 Sep 2009

Nutrisystem D program helps overweight type 2 diabetic people lose weight

Results from a clinical study conducted at the Temple University School of Medicine and published today in the journal Postgraduate Medicine(1), show that a pre-packaged, portion controlled meal plan helped overweight individuals with type 2 diabetes lose significantly more weight and reduce their A1C test scores (a 90-day measure of blood sugar control) by almost a full point greater than those following a standard hospital-based diabetes support and education program, according to the findings.

9 Sep 2009

Regular usage of CGM devices help manage diabetes

The latest data from groundbreaking human clinical trials of the effectiveness of continuous glucose monitors (CGM) show that the primary determinant of improvements in achieving better diabetes control is regular use of monitors - six days per week or more - rather than the age of patients, and that benefits continue well past the time when people with type 1 diabetes begin using the devices - including experiencing fewer low blood sugar emergencies.

9 Sep 2009

Research study examines the depression rate in chronic kidney disease patients

One in five patients with chronic kidney disease is depressed, even before beginning long-term dialysis therapy or developing end-stage renal disease, UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers have found.

9 Sep 2009

New procedure for transapical valve replacement minimizes trauma and blood loss

Edwards Lifesciences Corporation (NYSE: EW), the world leader in the science of heart valves, announced today the first successful clinical use of its new lower-profile Ascendra 2 transapical delivery system, designed to benefit both patients and physicians by minimizing trauma and blood loss, and facilitating transcatheter heart valve delivery and deployment.

9 Sep 2009

Adverse impact of drinking during pregnancy highlighted by health department

In recognition of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Awareness Week, the Pennsylvania Department of Health today reminded women about the serious implications of drinking while pregnant.

9 Sep 2009

USA Today's 24-hour emergency room visit

A team of USA Today reporters spent a full, 24-hour day in the emergency room at University of Virginia Medical Center in late August. "The key elements of today's debate on health care converge in the ER, from the cutting-edge quality of the U.S. system to the millions of uninsured people who show up for care," according to the report. A key reform goal is covering an estimated 46 million uninsured Americans. But the task is expensive, and in many cases, born by ERs under the current system.

8 Sep 2009

Pharos Innovations' RPM technology enables healthcare cost reduction

Pharos Innovations announced today that results of the Henry Ford Health System Patient-Centered Team Care program show a 36% reduction in expected all-cause hospital admissions for enrolled heart failure patients after six months of enrollment and a return of 2.3:1 vs. program costs.

8 Sep 2009