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Childhood obesity impacts musculoskeletal system

An epidemic of childhood obesity can have a devastating impact on a child's musculoskeletal system, the U.S. Bone and Joint Decade says. Extra weight stresses growing bones, causing pain and interfering with normal growth and development.

15 Oct 2010

Chest compression-only method of CPR better than standard CPR

Heart attack patients whose hearts have stopped beating and who receive cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) from bystanders fare better if their resuscitators skip the rescue breaths and do only chest compression, according to a study led by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

15 Oct 2010

UCLA study sheds light on roots of schizophrenia, autism

UCLA scientists have discovered that exposing fetal neurons to higher than normal levels of a common immune protein leads to abnormal brain development in mice.

15 Oct 2010

Scientists identify mechanism that regulate nuclear size

Size matters when it comes to the nucleus of a cell, and now scientists have discovered the signals that control how big the nucleus gets. Nuclear size varies not only among different species, but also in different types of cells in the same species and at different times during development. In addition, cancer cells are known to develop larger nuclei as they become more malignant. Screening for cervical cancer, for example, involves looking for grossly distorted nuclei in cervical cells collected during a Pap smear.

15 Oct 2010

IOM Report: Food nutrition labels should be simple, on front

The food industry should provide simple, clearly-worded nutrition information on the front of food packages, according to a new report from the Institute of Medicine.

15 Oct 2010

Yoga exercises may combat fibromyalgia: Research

According to new research conducted at Oregon Health & Science University, yoga exercises may have the power to combat fibromyalgia a medical disorder characterized by chronic widespread pain. The research is being published in the November 10 online edition of the journal Pain and will appear online Thursday, Oct. 14.

14 Oct 2010

Loyola announces 36-hour drill to test response to flu outbreak

Loyola University Health System (LUHS) will conduct a 36-hour drill to test its ability to quickly and efficiently respond to a deadly disease outbreak by inoculating its staff against the flu.

14 Oct 2010

Top biopharma leaders to share strategies at Windhover's 2nd PharmAsia Summit

Elsevier Business Intelligence, publisher of PharmAsia News, IN VIVO and The Pink Sheet, today announced the agenda for Windhover's 2nd PharmAsia Summit (Oct. 25-26). This year's Summit will bring top biopharma leaders from Asia and the U.S. to San Francisco to share what works and what doesn't in China, India, Japan and the Pacific Rim.

14 Oct 2010

Magellan clinical leaders discuss solutions to improve mental illnesses

On the heels of Mental Illness Awareness Week, clinical leaders from Magellan Health Services, Inc., an industry leader in behavioral health care management, are now gathering to discuss a variety of innovative solutions for addressing the unique needs and improving outcomes of individuals with mental illnesses.

14 Oct 2010

Quantros to demonstrate patient safety, risk management solution at ASHRM Conference

Quantros, a leading provider of clinically-focused data management and decision support solutions for the healthcare industry, will demonstrate several new patient safety and risk management solutions at the American Society for Healthcare Risk Management (ASHRM) Annual Conference and Exhibition, to be held Oct. 13 to 16 in Tampa, FL.

14 Oct 2010

States grapple with Medicaid problems in access, improper payments

The Washington Post reports on the District of Columbia's Medicaid program and mental health coverage. "The federal government handed [the city] an opportunity to save $56 million over four years by expanding Medicaid this summer and they jumped at it. They switched 35,000 low-income residents from the city-funded D.C. Health Care Alliance insurance plan to a Medicaid plan and reaped the reward.

14 Oct 2010

OptiMedica to feature Catalys Precision Laser System at Ophthalmology annual meeting

Global ophthalmic device company OptiMedica Corp. has announced that its Catalys Precision Laser System will be featured as part of four clinical presentations at the American Academy of Ophthalmology annual meeting in Chicago on October 16, 17 and 18.

13 Oct 2010

Dr. Nabarro to deliver keynote address at Third McGill Conference on Global Food Security

Dr. David Nabarro, Assistant Secretary-General at the United Nations and co-ordinator of the Secretary-General's High-Level Task Force on the Global Food Security Crisis, will deliver the keynote address at the opening evening of the Third McGill Conference on Global Food Security on Tuesday, Oct. 19, 5 p.m., at Centre Mont-Royal, 2200 Mansfield St. in Montreal.

13 Oct 2010

Fourth annual luncheon benefits MD Anderson Children's Cancer Hospital

Golf great Jack Nicklaus and veteran CBS sportscaster Jim Nantz take the stage Oct. 19 at the Hilton Americas-Houston for the 2010 Houston A Conversation With a Living Legend benefiting The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. The fourth annual luncheon, featuring an exclusive onstage interview, benefits the MD Anderson Children's Cancer Hospital and already has raised more than $472,000.

13 Oct 2010

New cancer initiative may promote rapid drug development

Greenville Hospital System University Medical Center (GHS) unveiled details of its new Institute for Translational Oncology Research, a visionary cancer initiative that will help pave the way for new breakthroughs in rapid drug development, diagnostic discovery and advanced cancer care. ITOR is part of the GHS Cancer Center, a recognized regional multi-disciplinary center.

13 Oct 2010

World Economic Forum index ranks countries by gender disparities

An index issued Tuesday by the World Economic Forum (WEF) ranked 134 countries according to how much they had reduced gender disparities over the past year in the areas of economic participation, education, political empowerment and health, the New York Times reports.

13 Oct 2010

Health care politics: Republican messages examined, how state propositions evolved

PolitiFact/St. Petersburg Times evaluated Republican claims in campaign ads about Medicare and the new health law that are "targeting older voters who may be worried their Medicare benefits will be harmed." Such ads are airing in Florida, Pennsylvania and California. "PolitiFact found each of those attacks to be Barely True. In these attacks and many others, PolitiFact found the ads have taken a small amount of truth — the Democratic incumbent's vote in favor of the health care law — and exaggerated the impact.

13 Oct 2010

Tryton Medical enrolls first patient in registry study

Tryton Medical, Inc., the leading developer of stents designed to definitively treat bifurcation lesions, today announced that the first patient has been enrolled in E-Tryton Italy, a registry study of the company's Tryton Side Branch Stent System.

12 Oct 2010

World Bank, IMF discuss development funds at annual meeting

The World Bank's International Development Association (IDA) fund requires new resources from Western governments to adequately fight global poverty, World Bank President Robert Zoellick said on Saturday during the annual meetings of the bank and International Monetary Fund in Washington, D.C., the Guardian reports.

12 Oct 2010

New microchip technology to identify neuronal regenerators

Scientists have long sought the ability to regenerate nerve cells, or neurons, which could offer a new way to treat spinal-cord damage as well as neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's or Parkinson's. Many chemicals can regenerate neurons grown in Petri dishes in the lab, but it's difficult and time-consuming to identify those chemicals that work in live animals, which is critical for developing drugs for humans.

12 Oct 2010