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Major advance in treatment of brain disorders with external genes

In the October 17 issue of Nature Methods, researchers at Thomas Jefferson University describe how they can transfer genes into brain neurons intravenously, using a viral gene delivery vehicle (vector) that causes no side effects.

18 Oct 2010

Hands only CPR effective: New guidelines

According to latest changes made to CPR guidelines rescuers need to start with hard, fast chest presses before giving mouth-to-mouth. The change is termed as “the simplest step first” for traditional CPR, said Dr Michael Sayre, an emergency doctor at Ohio State University Medical Centre and co-author of the guidelines issued by the American Heart Association.

17 Oct 2010

Elective surgeries routed to private health system to ease burden

According to the Australian Medical Association, the ACT Government's elective surgery plan is not a long term solution. The plan will see 200 public patients undergoing elective surgery at two private health facilities. The Government has planned to clear up the backlog of elective surgery by using the private health system. At present there is a focus on ear, nose and throat procedures, urology and orthopedic procedures.

17 Oct 2010

Change to WA organ donor laws tabled

Under a new proposal Western Australia could become the first state in Australia to introduce ‘opt-out’ organ donor laws. At present people need to opt in to be a part of national organ donor register. However, only 16 per cent of West Australians have signed to date. Under this proposal all West Australians will automatically donate their organs after they die unless they register their objection.

17 Oct 2010

New implantable pressure sensor for patients with cataract and glaucoma

AcuMEMS, Inc. today announced the development of a new sensor for wireless intraocular pressure (IOP) monitoring of patients with co-incident cataract and glaucoma. Successful animal studies confirm the precise delivery of the implantable pressure sensor into the eye where synthetic intraocular lenses (IOL) are inserted for cataract treatment.

15 Oct 2010

GI Dynamics' EndoBarrier therapy to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity granted European CE mark approval

GI Dynamics, a leader in non-surgical, endoscopic treatments for type 2 diabetes and obesity, today announced that it has received European CE mark approval for the EndoBarrier, a non-surgical therapy to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity. This approval is specific to up to 12 months of treatment with the EndoBarrier; the product has already received CE mark approval for three and six months of treatment. Through its commercial partner, Elemental Healthcare, GI Dynamics has also announced the launch of the EndoBarrier in the United Kingdom.

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

VertiFlex enrolls patients in Superion IDE clinical trial

VertiFlex, Inc., a leading innovator of minimally invasive and motion preserving spinal surgery technologies, today announced that 200 patients have been enrolled in its pivotal IDE clinical trial of the Superion Interspinous Spacer (ISS).

15 Oct 2010

Study finds TMS is an effective treatment solution for major depression

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), the treatment delivers a series of electrical pulses to the part of the brain associated with depression and other mood disorders. The pulses generate an electric current in the brain that stimulates neurons to increase the release of more mood-enhancing chemicals like serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine.

15 Oct 2010

Biodar Plus to provide INVO Bioscience's infertility treatments and distribute INVOcell device across Ukraine

INVO Bioscience, Inc., a medical device company focused on treatment options for patients diagnosed with infertility, today announced the signing of an exclusive sales and distribution agreement with the Biodar Plus Company, based in Donetsk, Ukraine to distribute the INVOcell product throughout Ukraine and to provide the INVO Bioscience infertility treatments in its in-house infertility center.

14 Oct 2010

ERS calls Europeans for lung test on World Spirometry Day

With new data revealing 23 Europeans die each hour from a preventable lung condition, the European Respiratory Society (ERS) is calling on people across Europe to get their lungs tested on the first ever World Spirometry Day 14th October.

14 Oct 2010

IVF is now consider as first-line infertility treatment

With the Nobel prize for medicine awarded to Robert Edwards, the pioneer British biologist who developed in vitro fertilization (IVF) for humans, "any remaining doubts about the importance of 'test tube babies' that have lingered over the past 32 years ago should finally be put to rest," says Michael S. Opsahl, M.D., recently named one of "Washington State's Best Doctors" in Washington Magazine.

14 Oct 2010

Study confirms long term survival benefit of ELAD bioartificial liver support system in Chinese ACLF patients

Vital Therapies, Inc., today announced that a poster is being presented at the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) meeting in Boston on Tuesday, November 2nd. It confirms that previously reported findings of improved transplant free survival (TFS) in Chinese subjects with acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) treated with the ELAD® bioartificial liver support system are maintained for up to three years.

14 Oct 2010

IsoRay initiates study of Cesium-131 brachytherapy seeds for NSCLC cancer

IsoRay, Inc. announced today the initiation of a multi-institutional study of Cesium-131 brachytherapy seeds (internal radiation therapy) for use in Non Small Cell Lung Cancers (NSCLC). A number of institutions and physicians will be working to collect scientific data to further the use of Cesium-131 internal radiation therapy in conjunction with surgery for NSCLC.

14 Oct 2010

Surface electromyography can assist postoperative recovery process in patients following knee surgery

Following knee surgery, fear of pain and reinjury can inhibit recovery. Patients who experience chronic pain and disability may avoid physical activity and develop deconditioning syndrome—decreased muscle strength and range of motion, and even weakness of the cardiovascular system. Surface electromyography (SEMG) biofeedback training, in conjunction with rehabilitation efforts, can assist the postoperative recovery process by helping patients reduce or overcome muscle inhibition.

14 Oct 2010

Study finds hemostatic powder effective in treating 95% of patients with bleeding peptic ulcers

A new material similar to that used by the U.S. Military to treat traumatic injuries is showing promise as the next novel treatment for bleeding ulcers, a condition that commonly affects up to 15 per cent of adults, according to Hong Kong physician Dr. James Lau.

14 Oct 2010

'Keyhole' procedure safer than invasive approaches in removing acoustic neuroma without hearing loss

Results from a newly released 9-year study is bringing newfound hope to the approximately 3,000 Americans diagnosed each year with acoustic neuromas (AN), little-known brain tumors that can have devastating and even fatal consequences for sufferers.

14 Oct 2010

Experts reach consensus about DBS treatment for Parkinson's disease

Since the late 1990s, deep brain stimulation (DBS) has proven to be a lifeline for some patients suffering from Parkinson's disease, a cruel neurological disorder that can cause lack of control over movement, poor balance and coordination, and rigidity, among other symptoms.

14 Oct 2010

Taller kids with IVF: Study

A new study has found that children born via IVF are typically taller than those born naturally. Newborn IVF babies created from a fresh embryo transferred back into the mother, also tended to be about 190g lighter than naturally conceived children.

13 Oct 2010

Study finds wide variability in use of blood transfusions for coronary artery bypass graft surgery

A study that includes data on more than 100,000 patients who underwent coronary artery bypass graft surgery finds that there is wide variability among hospitals in the U.S. on the use of blood transfusions, without a large difference in the rate of death, suggesting that many transfusions may be unnecessary, according to a study in the October 13 issue of JAMA. Another study in this issue of JAMA examines the effect of a restrictive transfusion strategy on outcomes after cardiac surgery.

13 Oct 2010