Healthcare News and Research

Latest Healthcare News and Research

First Edition: April 23, 2012

Today's headlines feature advance information about what the trustees who oversee Medicare and Social Security will say about the financial well-being of these massive programs when they release their annual report later today.

23 Apr 2012

India's most-renowned homeopath receives Padma Shri award

Dr. Mukesh Batra, India's most-renowned homeopath, was conferred with the Padma Shri today, the country's fourth highest civilian award, by the President, Smt. Pratibha Patel for his exceptional and distinguished service in the field of medicine.

23 Apr 2012

Pfizer enters agreement to divest Nutrition business to Nestlé for $11.85B

Pfizer today announced that it has entered into an agreement to divest its Nutrition business to Nestlé for $11.85 billion in cash. Pfizer's Nutrition business recorded revenues of approximately $2.1 billion in 2011, an increase of 15% versus 2010.

23 Apr 2012

Two salt reduction strategies could decrease CVD mortality

Voluntary industry reductions in salt content and taxation on products containing salt in 19 developing countries could reduce the number of deaths each year from cardiovascular disease (CVD) by 2-3 per cent in these countries.

21 Apr 2012

Budget battle frames election campaigns

The budget debate focuses on competing priorities -- spending on defense versus the health law or making chocies between tax cuts for business or safety net programs. Also in the news, spending bills continue to percolate in Congress.

21 Apr 2012

UnitedHealth sees bright skies ahead -- earnings up

UnitedHealth Group Inc. (UNH), the biggest U.S. health insurer, increased its 2012 earnings forecast after reporting that first-quarter profit beat analysts' estimates for higher enrollment and low medical costs. ... UnitedHealth's shares climbed, along with other health insurers, after Chief Executive Officer Stephen Hemsley said he expects only a "gradual" rise in health spending this year.

21 Apr 2012

LCIG improves quality of life, reduces symptoms of Parkinson's

A recent clinical trial conducted at Evergreen Healthcare shows that a new form of a common drug used to treat Parkinson's Disease greatly improves the quality of life for patients and reduces the affects of symptoms such as tremors, slowness, stiffness and difficulty walking.

21 Apr 2012

Consumer-directed health plans surge, get boost from health law

The concept is also central to Republican-backed market-based reforms. Also in the news, media outlets analyze what's a stake as the Supreme Court considers challenges to the health law, and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius reiterates the administration's confidence that the law will be upheld.

21 Apr 2012

Health costs up nearly 6%; Medicare trustees solvency report due Monday

The cost of health care rose nearly 6 percent in the last year, according to a key indicator. In the meantime, Medicare's trustees will release its forecast on the solvency of the program on Monday.

21 Apr 2012

Dems express regrets, grievances over health law push

Some prominent Democrats wish for a political do-over as they criticize the White House for focusing on the health law instead of the economy during President Barack Obama's first term.

21 Apr 2012

VA plans big boost in mental health staff

The Department of Veterans Affairs will increase its corps of mental health professionals to try to cope with the increased demand from vets of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

21 Apr 2012

23andMe, Khan Academy partner to celebrate DNA Day

To celebrate DNA Day, Khan Academy, the world's online classroom, and 23andMe, a leading personal genetics company, are working together to promote the importance of genetics education. 23andMe's Genetics 101 and Human Prehistory 101 video series are now available on KhanAcademy.org.

21 Apr 2012

Orthopaedic research studies in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery

Below are highlights of orthopaedic research studies appearing in the April 18th issue of the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (JBJS), as well as the issue's full Table of Contents.

21 Apr 2012

IHW study reveals high prevalence of CVD risk factors in India

The Indian Heart Watch (IHW) study has revealed the truth behind the prevalence, awareness, treatment and control of key risk factors that are driving the country's growing cardiovascular disease (CVD) epidemic, in a first-of-a-kind presentation of data at the World Congress of Cardiology today.

21 Apr 2012

Study finds under-treatment of RHD in India, Africa

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is significantly under-treated in Africa and India according to the preliminary findings of a new global study presented today at the World Congress of Cardiology.

21 Apr 2012

Sequana Medical's ALFApump System safe and effective in managing ascites

Sequana Medical announced that initial results from the PIONEER Clinical Study of its ALFApump System were presented today at the 47th annual European Association for Study of the Liver Meeting in Barcelona.

21 Apr 2012

Standard Register first quarter total revenues decline 4% to $157.6M

Standard Register today announced its financial results for the first quarter 2012. The Company reported revenue of $157.6 million and a net loss of $5.1 million, or $0.18 per share. The results compare to prior year revenue of $164.9 million and net income of $0.4 million, or $0.01 per diluted share.

21 Apr 2012

New wiki of medical devices designed for resource-limited settings

In parts of the world without reliable electricity, a pedal-powered nebulizer could provide life-saving asthma treatments. Small wax-filled sleeping bags could keep premature infants warm. A salad spinner centrifuge for blood samples could help clinicians diagnose anemia.

20 Apr 2012

National award celebrates landmark discovery in gut flora and cardiovascular disease

Stanley Hazen, M.D., Ph.D., was recently honored with an inaugural Top 10 Clinical Research Achievement Award from an organization comprised of the nation's most acclaimed academic medical centers and other groups, in recognition of Dr. Hazen's Nature article, "Gut flora dependent metabolism of dietary phosphatidylcholine contributes to cardiovascular disease."

20 Apr 2012

Obama administration will expand use of competitive bidding in Medicare

A year-long experiment found that the competitive bidding approach saved money without harming beneficiaries. It also made inroads against waste and fraud.

20 Apr 2012