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StemCells receives Swissmedic authorization to initiate HuCNS-SC Phase I/II clinical trial in spinal cord injury

StemCells, Inc. announced today that is has received authorization from Swissmedic, the Swiss regulatory agency for therapeutic products, to initiate a Phase I/II clinical trial in Switzerland of the Company's proprietary HuCNS-SC® product candidate (purified human neural stem cells) in chronic spinal cord injury. The trial is designed to assess both safety and preliminary efficacy in patients with varying degrees of paralysis who are three to 12 months post-injury, and will progressively enroll patients based upon the severity of injury.

7 Dec 2010

PET/CT scan predicts, detects local recurrence after radiofrequency ablation

A study published in the December issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine identified positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) scans as a potentially useful tool for predicting local recurrence in lung cancer patients treated with radiofrequency ablation (RFA). RFA, which uses localized thermal energy to kill cancer cells, is increasingly used as an alternative treatment for patients unable to undergo surgery or other therapies to treat lung cancer.

7 Dec 2010

Interleukin-1 plays major role in wound healing

Anesthesiologists are playing a leading role in research into the molecular factors affecting inflammation, pain, and healing of surgical incisions, as illustrated by papers published in the December issue of Anesthesia & Analgesia, official journal of the International Anesthesia Research Society (IARS).

7 Dec 2010

Calhoun Vision LAL Light Adjustable Lens for customized cataract surgery

Vision RejuvenationTM Victoria, a Canadian leader in advanced cataract and refractive lens exchange surgery has become the first centre in Canada to implant the world's first Light Adjustable Intraocular Lens.

7 Dec 2010

Early physical therapy associated with fewer subsequent injections, surgery, physician visits: Study

The American Physical Therapy Association is pointing to a new study on low back pain in Medicare patients in its efforts to encourage the newly established Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation to promptly launch a demonstration project on direct access to physical therapist services that was recommended in the recent health reform law.

7 Dec 2010

No evidence of toxicity in hemophilia B patients enrolled in gene therapy trial

Investigators report no evidence of toxicity in the four hemophilia B patients enrolled to date in a gene therapy trial using a vector under development at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and UCL (University College London) to correct the inherited bleeding disorder.

7 Dec 2010

New research focusing on VTE presented at ASH Annual Meeting

The latest advances in the treatment of bleeding and clotting disorders will be presented today at the 52nd Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology, focusing on venous thrombeombolism, a potentially life-threatening disorder in which abnormal blood clots form in the veins and restrict the flow of blood. New studies examine risk-prediction models and cutting-edge treatment options for patients with VTE.

6 Dec 2010

QRxPharma completes patient enrolment of pivotal MoxDuo IR phase 3 study

QRxPharma Limited (ASX: QRX and OTCQX: QRXPY) announced today it has completed patient enrolment for a pivotal Phase 3 registration trial (Study 009) for MoxDuo IR. The comparative study was designed to evaluate analgesic efficacy and safety of MoxDuo IR, a patented 3:2 ratio fixed dose combination of morphine plus oxycodone, for managing moderate to severe pain in patients who have undergone total knee replacement surgery.

5 Dec 2010

University of Portland's school of engineering named after Bjork-Shiley heart valve inventor

University of Portland's school of engineering will now be known as the Donald P. Shiley School of Engineering in recognition of the late Donald Shiley, a 1951 graduate who was an engineer, inventor, entrepreneur, businessman, philanthropist and loving husband and father. Among his many groundbreaking inventions was the Bjork-Shiley heart valve, an innovative medical device that has been credited with saving more than a half million lives.

4 Dec 2010

HSS creates Center for Musculoskeletal Outcomes and Patient Oriented Research

Hospital for Special Surgery announced the creation of the Center for Musculoskeletal Outcomes and Patient Oriented Research to translate information collected from an extensive patient population into studies that will guide experts in preventing, diagnosing and treating musculoskeletal disorders.

4 Dec 2010

Conference focuses on new molecular, mechanical solutions to improve surgeries

A two-day conference at the University of Chicago Medical Center is designed to offer surgeons a peek at the profession's future by focusing on new molecular and mechanical solutions to three age-old problems: preventing the breakdown of anastomoses (the surgically created connections between blood vessels), improving tissue healing after surgery and developing new tools to test and sharpen surgical skills.

4 Dec 2010

Closer to restoring vision loss due to optic nerve damage

Damage to the optic nerve, connecting the eye with the brain, is a major cause of blindness. The most common culprit is glaucoma, estimated to affect more than 4 million Americans. There is currently no way to restore the lost vision, because the optic nerve, like other nerves in the mature central nervous system (CNS), cannot regenerate. Now, scientists at Children's Hospital Boston report achieving the greatest regeneration to date in the mammalian optic nerve.

4 Dec 2010

ETP, EF announce latest grant recipients of New Therapy Grants Program

The Epilepsy Therapy Project and the Epilepsy Foundation today announced the latest grant recipients of their New Therapy Grants Program, a unique joint venture of two non-profit epilepsy organizations, to advance promising epilepsy research in clinical development.

4 Dec 2010

Active recreational athletes at risk for shoulder injuries this holiday season, say doctors

Around the holidays, even the friendliest game of flag football can lead to injury. According to sports medicine doctors at Hospital for Special Surgery, older and newly active recreational athletes are particularly at risk for shoulder injuries.

4 Dec 2010

New standard treatment for early stage breast cancer

Spanish Oncology has established a new standard treatment for Breast Cancer at early stages thanks to the results of the study 9805/Target 0 funded by Spanish Breast Cancer Research Group and sponsored by Sanofi Aventis.

4 Dec 2010

Zometa improves OS, PFS in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients: Phase III study

A newly published study in the Lancet suggested that a first-line treatment regimen including Zometa (zoledronic acid) significantly improved overall survival and progression-free survival in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients compared with a regimen that included oral clodronate. The impact on survival was independent of the effect of Zometa on bone complications (also known as skeletal-related events or SREs).

4 Dec 2010

FDA Advisory Panel recommends approval of Solesta for bowel incontinence

Oceana Therapeutics, a global company focused on acquiring, developing and commercializing best-in-class specialty therapeutics, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Gastroenterology and Urology Devices Panel recommended approval of Solesta™ as a treatment for fecal (bowel) incontinence, a condition afflicting many Americans, primarily women.

3 Dec 2010

Loyola nurses honored

Loyola University Health System revenue specialist Judy Williams, RN, CEN, TNS, recently took on a nontraditional nursing role, which resulted in a significant cost savings for the organization. Williams oversees fiscal responsibility for the Emergency Department. In this position, she has identified opportunities to overcome billing obstacles through intradepartmental collaboration and nurse education on proper documentation for reimbursement.

3 Dec 2010

Smith & Nephew's VERILAST technology shows superior survivorship than other hip replacement implants

A newly released patient registry reports that hip replacement implants made from ceramicized metal heads which articulate against polyethylene lined cups have been shown to have superior survivorship compared to implants made from any other material five years after surgery.

3 Dec 2010

Cardiac surgeons are trying innovative approaches to traditional open heart surgery

According to Millennium Research Group (MRG), the global authority on medical technology market intelligence, cardiac surgeons are trying new innovative approaches to traditional open heart surgery as they try to make coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) procedures less invasive where possible.

3 Dec 2010