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Premier international conference to discuss latest diagnostic tools, emerging therapies for personalized medicine

What As scientists understand more about a tumor's underlying biology, personalized medicine is emerging as the new patient management paradigm. This year, the American Association for Cancer Research will host its fourth Molecular Diagnostics in Cancer Therapeutic Development: Challenges and Horizons conference at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel in Denver, Colo. This meeting regularly draws representatives from academia and industry to discuss the latest in diagnostic tools and emerging therapies.

4 Aug 2010

Smokers are 11 times more likely to develop subareolar abscess

Women who smoke or pierce their nipples are more likely to develop a breast abscess, according to a new study in the July issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons. Researchers at the University of Iowa found the odds of developing primary breast abscess were six times higher in smokers than in nonsmokers, and smokers were 11 times more likely to develop subareolar abscess. Breast abscesses were 15 times more likely to recur in smokers than in nonsmokers. In addition, this study is one of the first to provide clinical evidence that nipple piercing is also a risk factor for subareolar breast abscess, with the onset of abscess occurring from one month to seven years from the time of piercing.

4 Aug 2010

Surgical intervention in elderly people improves quality of life

Age alone should not determine surgical risk in a person age 80 or over, according to expert commentary from Mark Katlic, M.D., director of Thoracic Surgery at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. Dr. Katlic's commentary complements a McGill University Health Science Center trend study, appearing in this week's edition of the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ). The study finds an increase in coronary artery bypass grafts (CABGs) and percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) with better results in people previously believed to be too old for these procedures.

4 Aug 2010

SCA enters into joint venture with West Coast Endoscopy Center to provide management solutions

Surgical Care Affiliates (SCA), one of the country's largest providers of outpatient surgical services, announced today it has entered into a joint venture arrangement with West Coast Endoscopy Center in Clearwater, Florida to partner in the operation of the center.

4 Aug 2010

Lack of understanding about anesthesia may lead patients to postpone surgery

Lack of understanding and apprehension about anesthesia may lead as many as one in four patients to postpone surgery according to the Vital Health Report, a quarterly health survey of Americans released today by the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA).

4 Aug 2010

Excaliard reports positive results from EXC 001 Phase 2 clinical trial for reducing scar severity

Excaliard Pharmaceuticals, Inc., today announced positive results from its Phase 2 clinical trial of EXC 001, a new chemical entity for reducing fibrosis. Results showed that EXC 001 treatment significantly reduced scar severity in subjects undergoing an elective abdominoplasty compared to placebo.

4 Aug 2010

Accuray receives Shonin approval to market CyberKnife G4 Robotic Radiosurgery System

Accuray Incorporated, a global leader in the field of radiosurgery, announced today it received Shonin approval from the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare to market the CyberKnife G4 Robotic Radiosurgery System to treat tumors non-invasively anywhere in the body, inclusive of head and neck. The System will be marketed in Japan as the "CyberKnife Radiosurgery System."

3 Aug 2010

Proposed settlement does not cover underpaying professional provider claims: Federal court

A federal court in New York, overseeing a proposed class action settlement against United Healthcare for underpaying professional provider claims, has confirmed that the settlement does not cover claims for services and supplies rendered by facilities.

3 Aug 2010

NWBT reports long-term follow-up data from DCVax-Brain immune therapy clinical trials for GBM

Northwest Biotherapeutics, Inc. today announced further positive long-term follow-up data from its prior Phase I and Phase I/II clinical trials, in which patients with newly diagnosed Glioblastoma multiforme ("GBM"), the most rapid and lethal type of brain cancer, were treated with NWBT's DCVax®-Brain personalized immune therapy.

3 Aug 2010

Implementing CRM program to dentistry may reduce human errors: Study

Pilots and dentists have more in common than one might think: Both jobs are highly technical and require teamwork. Both are subject to human error where small, individual mistakes may lead to catastrophe if not addressed early.

3 Aug 2010

New surgical technique to maximize preservation of periprostatic anatomy

Stress urinary incontinence is one of the most feared complications of radical prostatectomy. The weighted mean continence rate immediately after catheter removal following robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALP) is 25.7%. Evidently, early recovery of urinary continence remains a challenge to be overcome. The Surgery in Motion section of the September issue of European Urology describes the surgical steps of pubovesical complex (PVC)-sparing RALP and presents the preliminary results of the technique.

3 Aug 2010

Study shows prevalence, severity of dyspnea in long-term lung cancer survivors

With the growing number of long-term lung cancer survivors, research is needed to identify and address cancer survivorship issues. One of the most common and debilitating symptoms among lung cancer patients is dyspnea, or shortness of breath. As most studies of dyspnea have reviewed patients with active lung cancer or immediately after treatment, the prevalence of dyspnea over the long-term once treatment has been completed is not well characterized.

3 Aug 2010

Menstrual cycle affects body's response to tracheal intubation: Research

In women undergoing surgery, the heart rate and blood pressure response to ventilation tube placement varies at different times of the menstrual cycle, according to a study in the August issue of Anesthesia & Analgesia, official journal of the International Anesthesia Research Society (IARS).

3 Aug 2010

MRCC deploys CTT's Calmare Pain Therapy Treatment medical device

Competitive Technologies, Inc. announced that McKinney Regional Cancer Care Center, a private physician oncology practice based in McKinney, TX, is the first cancer center in Texas treating with CTT's Calmare Pain Therapy Treatment medical device. Patients suffering from pain related to cancer are being treated under the direction of medical oncologist Dennis Birenbaum, M.D.

3 Aug 2010

Americans halved their risk of dying from CHD over past 20 years: Study

By smoking less, watching their cholesterol and lowering their high blood pressure, Americans halved their risk of dying from coronary heart disease over the past 20 years, a new study shows.

3 Aug 2010

Bypass better strategy for treating progressive, complex recurrent SFA disease: Study

Researchers from The Methodist Hospital's DeBakey Heart and Vascular Center in Houston, Texas have studied outcomes of patients who had endovascular and open interventions for recurrent superficial femoral artery (SFA) occlusive disease. Results of their work are detailed in the August issue of the Society for Vascular Surgery's® Journal of Vascular Surgery®.

3 Aug 2010

Study explores role of genetic influence on ulcerative colitis

Adults diagnosed with ulcerative colitis after age 50 are more likely to achieve remission from their symptoms than patients diagnosed at younger ages, even when those patients receive similar treatments, according to research at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

3 Aug 2010

Vanguard signs definitive agreement to acquire Arizona Heart Institute

Vanguard Health Systems and Arizona Heart Institute (AHI) announced today that they have signed a definitive agreement for Vanguard to acquire Arizona Heart Institute, one of the world's leading providers of cardiovascular care. Through this agreement, AHI will align with Abrazo Health Care, a Phoenix-based subsidiary of Vanguard, to become part of its distributive cardiovascular network of community-based physicians, providing future opportunities to greatly expand cardiovascular services and patient base throughout the region.

3 Aug 2010

Etoricoxib better than opioid drug tramadol for postoperative pain: Study

For patients with moderate pain after foot surgery, the cyclo-oxygenase 2 (COX-2) inhibitor drug etoricoxib provides better pain relief with fewer side effects than the opioid drug tramadol, concludes a study in the August issue of Anesthesia & Analgesia, official journal of the International Anesthesia Research Society (IARS).

3 Aug 2010

Percutaneous heart valve replacement may be an alternative for open heart surgery

A newer, less invasive method of heart valve replacement shows promise and may be appropriate for patients who cannot tolerate traditional open heart surgery, but research is needed to understand its potential risks and benefits, according to a new study funded by HHS' Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

3 Aug 2010

Surgery News and Research

Premier international conference to discuss latest diagnostic tools, emerging therapies for personalized medicine

Smokers are 11 times more likely to develop subareolar abscess

Surgical intervention in elderly people improves quality of life

SCA enters into joint venture with West Coast Endoscopy Center to provide management solutions

Lack of understanding about anesthesia may lead patients to postpone surgery

Excaliard reports positive results from EXC 001 Phase 2 clinical trial for reducing scar severity

Accuray receives Shonin approval to market CyberKnife G4 Robotic Radiosurgery System

Proposed settlement does not cover underpaying professional provider claims: Federal court

NWBT reports long-term follow-up data from DCVax-Brain immune therapy clinical trials for GBM

Implementing CRM program to dentistry may reduce human errors: Study

New surgical technique to maximize preservation of periprostatic anatomy

Study shows prevalence, severity of dyspnea in long-term lung cancer survivors

Menstrual cycle affects body's response to tracheal intubation: Research

MRCC deploys CTT's Calmare Pain Therapy Treatment medical device

Americans halved their risk of dying from CHD over past 20 years: Study

Bypass better strategy for treating progressive, complex recurrent SFA disease: Study

Study explores role of genetic influence on ulcerative colitis

Vanguard signs definitive agreement to acquire Arizona Heart Institute

Etoricoxib better than opioid drug tramadol for postoperative pain: Study

Percutaneous heart valve replacement may be an alternative for open heart surgery

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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