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Two U.S. insurers approve coverage of radioembolization for treatment of unresectable liver cancer

MDS Nordion, a global leader in providing products and services for medical imaging and radiotherapeutics, today announced that two of the largest health insurers in the United States have recently approved coverage of radioembolization to treat unresectable liver cancer, which includes the use of MDS Nordion's TheraSphere(R) treatment. The two insurance companies and their affiliates together serve more than one-quarter of Americans and do business in all 50 states.

6 Feb 2010

HPV vaccination programs may reduce genital diseases

High-coverage human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccinations among adolescents and young women may result in a rapid reduction of genital warts, cervical cell abnormalities, and diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, researchers report in a new study published online February 5 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Some of these genital abnormalities are precursors of cervical, vulvar, and vaginal cancers.

6 Feb 2010

Study suggests environmental factors play a significant role in the etiology of Crohn's disease

Although inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) [comprising mainly Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC)] is thought to affect about 150 000 people in the United Kingdom, the prevalence of severe IBD is not known. Mortality following hospitalization for IBD is significant but little has been reported on long-term follow-up.

6 Feb 2010

Over 12,000 courses of lung cancer treatment completed with Accuray's CyberKnife radiosurgery

Accuray Incorporated, a global leader in the field of radiosurgery, announced today that more than 12,000 courses of lung cancer treatment have been completed with CyberKnife radiosurgery. Usage of CyberKnife radiosurgery for lung cancer continues to grow, as illustrated by a 25 percent increase year over year in calendar year 2009.

6 Feb 2010

HDC partners with New York surgery center to develop new molecular diagnostic tests for pancreatic cancer

Health Discovery Corporation announced today that the Company has entered into an exclusive agreement with the Pancreas, Biliary and Liver Surgery Center of New York at Saint Vincent Catholic Medical Centers in New York City to develop new molecular diagnostic tests for the early detection of pancreatic cancer. The Pancreas, Biliary and Liver Surgery Center is under the leadership of Drs. Michael Wayne, Franklin Kassim and Avram Cooperman.

6 Feb 2010

Illinois high court rules medical malpractice caps are unconstitutional

The Illinois Supreme Court on Thursday struck down a medical malpractice law enacted in 2005 that limited monetary damages to $1 million from hospitals and $500,000 from doctors for pain and suffering, the Chicago Tribune reports. "The much-anticipated ruling deals a blow to doctors and hospital officials who say caps on damages are a way to tame rising health care costs. … The court said the law violates the state's separation-of-powers clause between the branches of government by allowing lawmakers to interfere with a jury's right to determine damages."

6 Feb 2010

Ohio hospitals advertise ER wait times on billboards, internet

Akron General Health System, a hospital system in Ohio, "recently began advertising up-to-the-minute wait times for its emergency rooms on billboards throughout town," the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

6 Feb 2010

Local organizations team up to support Haiti's healthcare system

Injured Haitians desperately in need of medical treatment will soon have advanced technology available to the medical professionals providing their care. Through a partnership of Stamford Hospital, FUJIFILM Medical Systems USA (Fujifilm), and AmeriCares, a portable digital x-ray system is being donated to the Haitian relief effort and will be sent to a hospital where currently x-ray capabilities are simply non-existent.

6 Feb 2010

Study calls for individualized therapeutic interventions for MS patients

Fewer African Americans than Caucasians develop multiple sclerosis (MS), statistics show, but their disease progresses more rapidly, and they don't respond as well to therapies, a new study by neurology researchers at the University at Buffalo has found.

6 Feb 2010

Teens with suicidal thoughts and depressive symptoms can benefit from family therapy

Adolescents with suicidal thoughts and elevated depression had stronger and faster reduction of symptoms when treated with family therapy than with standard treatment in the community.

5 Feb 2010

DOD to investigate mental health care at Camp Lejeune, also will stock morning-after pill

The Associated Press reports that, according to Rep. Walter Jones, R-N.C., "The Defense Department will investigate complaints of substandard mental health care for Marines at Camp Lejeune. ... Public questions about the quality of mental health care provided by a private contractor at the base were raised last year by the September firing of Dr. Kernan Manion, a brain trauma specialist who had complained to commanders about poor facilities, inadequate care programs and weak security.

5 Feb 2010

Novus Scientific's TIGR Matrix Surgical Mesh receives FDA marketing approval

Novus Scientific Pte. Ltd today announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given the company 510(k) clearance to market the TIGR™ Matrix Surgical Mesh, for use in reinforcement of soft tissues where weakness exists. TIGR™ Matrix Surgical Mesh is a 100 percent resorbable, synthetic matrix, knitted from two different resorbable fibers that degrade at different rates following implantation.

5 Feb 2010

Recent releases in Global Health

A Lancet study examines childbirth practices and the relationship between these practices and maternal and perinatal outcomes in nine Asian countries, as assessed by a WHO global survey. Based on the analysis of over 107,000 deliveries, the authors conclude, "To improve maternal and perinatal outcomes, caesarean section should be done only when there is a medical indication" (Lumbiganon et al., 2/6). These findings "should help us to prioritise our strategies to reduce unnecessary interventions in childbirth," write the authors of a Lancet comment.

5 Feb 2010

MEDNAX announces EPS for three months ended December 31, 2009

MEDNAX, Inc., the national medical group providing hospital-based neonatal, anesthesia and pediatric physician services and office-based maternal-fetal and pediatric cardiology physician services, reported earnings per share for the three months ended December 31, 2009, of $1.07 on a GAAP basis, or $1.00 per share when adjusted to exclude the favorable impact of a legal settlement and lower tax rate for the period.

5 Feb 2010

P.A.D. Task Force Committee: BioMedix Vascular Solutions invited to participate

BioMedix Vascular Solutions, Inc. announced today that John Romans, CEO and Meg Heim, RN, Vice President of Marketing have been invited to participate as members of the P.A.D. Task Force Committee on behalf of the Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, The California Podiatric Medical Association and the California Department of Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention (CDPH). The committee will meet today, February 4th, 2010 in the California State Capitol, Governors conference room.

5 Feb 2010

News piece may highlight the importance of cord blood donation among Hispanic and Latino community

CORD:USE Cord Blood Bank and its program at South Miami Hospital are being featured on CNN en Espanol's show "Salud." This story on the importance of cord blood donation aired this week and can be seen Friday, February 5 at 9:30 a.m. EST and Sunday, February 7 at 9 a.m. EST and 3 p.m. EST on CNN en Espanol.

5 Feb 2010

Survey finds majority of patients are interested in video recording of colonoscopy procedure

Colonoscopy is operator-dependent and substantial numbers of pre-cancerous polyps are missed during colonoscopy. Colonoscopies are often poorly documented, with only a few still photographs taken of anatomic landmarks and abnormal findings.

5 Feb 2010

Supreme Court strikes down critically needed medical liability reforms: Illinois Hospital Association disappointed

The Illinois Hospital Association is disappointed that the Illinois Supreme Court has struck down critically needed medical liability reforms that were improving health care access throughout the state and restoring predictability to our broken medical liability system.

5 Feb 2010

Safety checklist reduces bloodstream infections in ICUs

The state of Michigan, which used a five-step checklist developed at Johns Hopkins to virtually eliminate bloodstream infections in its hospitals' intensive care units , has been able to keep the number of these common, costly and potentially lethal infections near zero - even three years after first adopting the standardized procedures.

5 Feb 2010

Tracking early signs of coronary artery clogs: CT perfusion vs. SPECT nuclear imaging tests

Cardiologists and heart imaging specialists at 15 medical centers in eight countries, and led by researchers at Johns Hopkins, have enrolled the first dozen patients in a year-long investigation to learn whether the subtle squeezing of blood flow through the inner layers of the heart is better than traditional SPECT nuclear imaging tests and other diagnostic radiology procedures for accurately tracking the earliest signs of coronary artery clogs.

5 Feb 2010

Hospital News and Research

Two U.S. insurers approve coverage of radioembolization for treatment of unresectable liver cancer

HPV vaccination programs may reduce genital diseases

Study suggests environmental factors play a significant role in the etiology of Crohn's disease

Over 12,000 courses of lung cancer treatment completed with Accuray's CyberKnife radiosurgery

HDC partners with New York surgery center to develop new molecular diagnostic tests for pancreatic cancer

Illinois high court rules medical malpractice caps are unconstitutional

Ohio hospitals advertise ER wait times on billboards, internet

Local organizations team up to support Haiti's healthcare system

Study calls for individualized therapeutic interventions for MS patients

Teens with suicidal thoughts and depressive symptoms can benefit from family therapy

DOD to investigate mental health care at Camp Lejeune, also will stock morning-after pill

Novus Scientific's TIGR Matrix Surgical Mesh receives FDA marketing approval

Recent releases in Global Health

MEDNAX announces EPS for three months ended December 31, 2009

P.A.D. Task Force Committee: BioMedix Vascular Solutions invited to participate

News piece may highlight the importance of cord blood donation among Hispanic and Latino community

Survey finds majority of patients are interested in video recording of colonoscopy procedure

Supreme Court strikes down critically needed medical liability reforms: Illinois Hospital Association disappointed

Safety checklist reduces bloodstream infections in ICUs

Tracking early signs of coronary artery clogs: CT perfusion vs. SPECT nuclear imaging tests

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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