Healthcare News and Research

Latest Healthcare News and Research

No clear consensus on prevalence, diagnosis, management, and prevention of food allergies

A review of previous research indicates that there are few high-quality studies on food allergies, with limited uniform criteria for making a diagnosis and determining prevalence and effective treatments, according to an article in the May 12 issue of JAMA.

13 May 2010

Study reveals increase in treatment admissions for drug abuse

From 1998 to 2008 there were marked changes in some patterns of substance use treatment admissions according to a study by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Although the concurrent abuse of both alcohol and drugs has remained widespread, the proportion of treatment admissions for the co-abuse of these substances has declined gradually yet significantly during this period - from 44 percent to 38 percent.

13 May 2010

25% of adults quit their overactive bladder medication: Study

Study of 5,392 adults found that a quarter had quit their overactive bladder medication, with nine out of ten saying it didn't work as expected or they couldn't tolerate it. A follow-up study found that being a current smoker raised the risk of quitting by 80%, having an enlarged prostate by 74% and believing that bladder medication caused side effects by 111%.

13 May 2010

Study: Treating serious gum disease in diabetics can help lower blood sugar levels

Researchers have found that reducing inflammation of the gums in people with diabetes can help lower the risk of serious complications associated with the condition, such as eye problems and heart disease.

13 May 2010

Proposed cuts in Medicare payments impact access to healthcare: Poll

An independent poll recently conducted on behalf of the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) shows that an alarming number of physicians will stop seeing Medicare beneficiaries if current payment policies are not reformed.

13 May 2010

AHF targets BMS over pricing and policies for its HIV/AIDS drug

AIDS Healthcare Foundation will host a protest Wednesday morning, May 12th at 10:30am targeting New York-based Bristol Myers Squibb Co. over the pricing and policies for its key HIV/AIDS drug, Reyataz, one of the most expensive first-line AIDS treatment in the US, during the Bank of America-Merrill Lynch 2010 Health Care Conference.

13 May 2010

Family medical costs surge to new high

Families' health care costs continued to rise last year, Modern Healthcare reports. "Total healthcare costs for a typical family of four increased $1,303 or 7.8% over the past year, according to the Milliman Medical Index, the highest total dollar increase in the history of the actuarial firm's annual study.

13 May 2010

CBO raises cost estimate for health law, sparking political reaction

The Associated Press: "President Barack Obama's new health care law could potentially add at least $115 billion more to government health care spending over the next 10 years, congressional budget referees said Tuesday," to beyond $1 trillion. "The Congressional Budget Office said the added spending includes $10 billion to $20 billion in administrative costs to federal agencies carrying out the law, as well as $34 billion for community health centers and $39 billion for Indian health care" (Alonso-Zaldivar, 5/11).

13 May 2010

Ascendant Solutions' first-quarter consolidated net income increases to $395,000

Ascendant Solutions, Inc. today announced its results for the first quarter of fiscal 2010. The Company reported consolidated net income of $395,000 for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2010, compared to net income of $203,000 in 2009, resulting in net income per share ("EPS") of $0.02 compared to net income per share of $0.01.

13 May 2010

BioPharm Asia revenues increase 36.4% for fiscal 2009

BioPharm Asia, Inc., a producer, distributor and retailer of medical products in China, today reported its financial results for the full year ended December 31, 2009. The finalization of these results was delayed due to the February 2010 appointment of Davis Accounting Group P.C. as the Company's auditor.

13 May 2010

FDA urges doctors to police drug ads

A new Federal Drug Administration program will urge doctors to blow the whistle on misleading drug advertisements.

13 May 2010

HIV caseload increasing among primary care providers

Primary care providers (PCPs) are increasingly caring for and treating people living with HIV, according to the HealthHIV State of HIV Primary Care survey released today.

12 May 2010

Avexa halts HIV drug trials

Melbourne-based biotech Avexa has announced the closure of its lead HIV program for apricitabine after failing to attract a licensing partner for the Phase III drug.

12 May 2010

More for mental health and first nurse led clinic

Tuesday’s budget saw the Australian government allocate $7.4 billion for health. Many critics have brought to notice that only $200 million has gone towards mental health. The Rudd government has denied such accusations.

12 May 2010

China Biologic subsidiary Shandong Taibang receives approval to build two new plasma stations

China Biologic Products, Inc., a leading plasma-based biopharmaceutical company in China, today announced that its majority-owned subsidiary, Shandong Taibang Biological Products Co. Ltd., has been approved by the Shandong Province Health Department to build two new plasma stations.

12 May 2010

Clinical Data expands PGxHealth's FAMILION tests to include two new tests to diagnose heart diseases

Clinical Data, Inc., announced today that its PGxHealth division is expanding its FAMILION family of genetic tests to include two new tests to diagnose heart diseases. With the launch of a test for Conduction Disease associated with Dilated Cardiomyopathy and a test for Short QT Syndrome, PGxHealth continues to lead the industry with the most comprehensive menu of genetic tests to diagnose or confirm familial heart diseases.

12 May 2010

RevMed partners with Santa Monica to set up safety syringe manufacturing facility in Brazil

Revolutions Medical Corporation, has signed an agreement of understanding for the setting up of a manufacturing facility in Brazil to produce the RevVac safety syringe for domestic and global markets and to facilitate distribution throughout South America.

12 May 2010

Sweeping and prescriptive path to green nation's operating rooms

A sweeping and prescriptive path to green the nation's operating rooms was announced today by Practice Greenhealth, the nation's leading membership and networking organization for institutions in healthcare that have made a commitment to sustainable, eco-friendly practices.

12 May 2010

Proposed cuts to New Jersey's tobacco control programs will increase teen smoking, healthcare costs

Proposed cuts to New Jersey's Comprehensive Tobacco Control Program may raise teen smoking and will increase costs to the state in the long run, said a former New Jersey health commissioner today.

12 May 2010

Registered nurses to march and rally in Washington to press for landmark patient safety legislation

Up to 1,000 registered nurses from Maine to California will march and rally in Washington, DC, today to press the case for moving beyond insurance reform to improving the quality of care in U.S. hospitals and other healthcare settings.

12 May 2010