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Tricuspidization preferred for unicuspid aortic valve repair

Unicuspid aortic valves may be reconstructed with tricuspidization using glutaraldehyde-treated autologous pericardium, with excellent early results and no mortality or major morbidity, the results of a preliminary study suggest.

22 Oct 2012

Thiol peroxidase involved in S. pneumoniae defenses

The Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria defends itself from high levels of hydrogen peroxide with the help of thiol peroxidase, research shows.

22 Oct 2012

Mother–baby intensive care admission carries high mortality risk

Mothers and newborns who are both admitted to an intensive care unit are significantly more likely to die than mother–baby pairs who are not, a study suggests.

22 Oct 2012

Sleep symptoms impair fibromyalgia patients’ QoL

A study of fibromyalgia patients highlights the impact of sleep symptoms on health-related quality of life in this population.

22 Oct 2012

$Ustekinumab success in refractory Crohn’s disease$

Ustekinumab success in refractory Crohn’s disease

Patients with Crohn’s disease who have failed to respond adequately to anti–tumor necrosis factor treatment may benefit from the monoclonal antibody ustekinumab, results of a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial suggest.

22 Oct 2012

Bipartisan support for foreign assistance improves, saves lives abroad

Briefly recapping a history of foreign aid policy since 1920, former Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (R) write in a Politico opinion piece, "Credit for America's global leadership role belongs to both major political parties and Americans of all stripes" who "have always been guided by the notion that all lives have equal value, regardless of where someone was born."

22 Oct 2012

Adachi purchases Mazor Robotics' Renaissance surgical guidance system for spine procedures

Mazor Robotics Ltd., a developer of innovative surgical robots and complementary products, today announced that Adachi Medical Instruments Co., Mazor's distribution partner in Japan, placed an order for its Renaissance™ system. As part of the distribution agreement, Adachi is committed to obtain Japanese PMDA (Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency) approval for the Renaissance system.

22 Oct 2012

Researchers continue hunt for AIDS vaccine

"Finding a safe, effective AIDS vaccine has, thus far, proved elusive even after some $8 billion invested from 2001-2011 into vaccine research and development," PlusNews reports in an article examining ongoing HIV vaccine research efforts. "Scientists point to HIV's Houdini-like ability to escape immune system attack, and less-than-strategic use of funds over the past decade, as reasons for the continued hunt," the news service writes.

22 Oct 2012

New data on Posiphen for Alzheimer's disease treatment to be presented at Biotech Symposium

QR Pharma, Inc., a clinical stage specialty pharmaceutical company committed to developing therapeutics with novel approaches for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD) and other neurodegenerative disorders, announced today that Dr. Maria Maccecchini, CEO, will be presenting new data on its lead compound "Posiphen® Recovers Memory, Learning and Brain Function in Alzheimer Transgenic Mice" at the 12th Annual Biotech Symposium, taking place October 22, 2012 in Philadelphia, PA.

22 Oct 2012

Blog reports on ID Week in San Diego

The Center for Global Health Policy's "Science Speaks" blog on Friday published two posts reporting on ID Week, which concluded in San Diego on Sunday.

22 Oct 2012

Initiation of dinaciclib Phase 2b/3 CLL trial triggers $2M milestone payment from Merck

Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated today announced that it will receive a $2 million milestone payment from Merck, known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, under the terms of a development and license collaboration for the development of dinaciclib.

22 Oct 2012

New inhibitor may help nicotine addicts to resist the urge

A new inhibitor helps previously nicotine-addicted rats stay on the wagon, according to a study published on October 22nd in The Journal of Experimental Medicine.

22 Oct 2012

Medicare's policy on compounded drugs under scrutiny; Lawsuits growing in meningitis outbreak

The Associated Press reports on the role Medicare plays in national drug purchasing and The Washington Post finds the "race is on" to sign up clients for lawsuits.

22 Oct 2012

Stress in parents linked to obesity in their children

Parents with a higher number of stressors in their lives are more likely to have obese children, according to a new study by pediatric researchers. Furthermore, when parents perceive themselves to be stressed, their children eat fast food more often, compared to children whose parents feel less stressed.

22 Oct 2012

Potential biomarker diagnostic test for pre-eclampsia

Collaborators at Cottage Health System and University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) have identified biomarkers that may yield a revolutionary diagnostic test for pre-eclampsia, a complex and potentially life-threatening hypertensive condition affecting 5% of pregnancies worldwide.

22 Oct 2012

Large companies eye on-site health clinics to lower health costs, up employee productivity

On-site health care clinics are increasingly being set up at large companies that are looking for new ways to reduce health care costs and boost employees' productivity. These facilities are being established by firms across all sectors to offer everything from urgent and primary care to biometric screenings to chronic disease management.

22 Oct 2012

Choice Spine launches vertebral body replacement system

Choice Spine, a Knoxville, TN-based spine company, announces the launch of the HAWKEYE VBR System. The HAWKEYE VBR System was designed by a surgeon panel with the goal of simplifying vertebral body replacement.

22 Oct 2012

MID commences treatment in Permaseal cardiac access and closure technology clinical trial

Micro Interventional Devices, Inc., an emerging cardiovascular medical device company, announced today that the first patient has been treated using its self-sealing, cardiac access and closure technology, Permaseal. The patient is the first to be enrolled in the company's STASIS clinical trial that has commenced in Europe.

22 Oct 2012

Implementation update: What health law changes will be evident in 2013

The Wall Street Journal reports on how the 2010 health law might impact consumers' health coverage in 2013. In addition, CQ HealthBeat examines what might become of insurance exchanges if GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney wins the election.

22 Oct 2012

Lantheus Medical Imaging extends contract to supply molybdenum-99 to Nordion

Lantheus Medical Imaging, Inc., a global leader in developing, manufacturing and distributing innovative diagnostic imaging agents, today announced that it has extended its contract with Nordion to supply molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) for use in its TechneLite (Technetium Tc 99m Generator) generators. Mo-99 is the parent isotope of technetium-99m (Tc-99m), the medical radioisotope most widely used in nuclear medicine diagnostic imaging tests.

22 Oct 2012