Medical News

RSS

STENTYS initiates enrollment in Self-Apposing Sirolimus-eluting stent trial for heart attack

STENTYS S.A., a medical technology company commercializing the world's first and only Self-Apposing Stent to treat Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI), announced today that it has enrolled the first patient in its 'APPOSITION IV' clinical study using its new Self-Apposing Sirolimus-eluting stent.

From Medtronic 15 Jun 2012

The Healing Group launches Hey Mom! campaign

The Healing Group, a Salt Lake City-based women's wellness center, today announced the launch of its Hey Mom! campaign, designed to raise awareness, offer support and reduce the stigma commonly associated with postpartum depression (PPD) and related disorders.

15 Jun 2012

Researchers outline strategy and benchmarks to curb childhood preventable deaths

Preventable childhood deaths caused by illnesses such as pneumonia and diarrhea can be nearly eliminated in 10 years according to researchers from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the National Institutes of Health. In a new commentary featured in the June issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers outline a strategy and benchmarks for curbing childhood preventable deaths and recommend a new common vision for a global commitment to end all preventable child deaths.

15 Jun 2012

CardioFocus, CryoLife resolve outstanding patent dispute

CryoLife, Inc., a leading medical device company focused on cardiac and vascular surgery, announced today that it has entered into a settlement agreement with CardioFocus, Inc. ending the outstanding patent dispute between CryoLife's wholly owned subsidiary, Cardiogenesis Corporation, and CardioFocus that was pending in the United States District Court of Massachusetts.

15 Jun 2012

Press Ganey, AMGA introduce healthcare industry's first survey for ACOs

The American Medical Group Association (AMGA) and Press Ganey Associates, Inc. today launched the healthcare industry's first survey designed to help accountable care organizations (ACOs) and high-performing health systems identify opportunities for improving both efficiency and quality. The tool, called the AMGA-Press Ganey Coordinated Care Solution, assesses a patient's entire episode of care and enables better management of population health to create positive patient outcomes and maximize shared savings.

15 Jun 2012

Medicaid fraud audits show little return on program costs

A program to fight fraud in the Medicaid health system for the poor has cost the U.S. at least $102 million in auditing fees since 2008 while identifying less than $20 million in overpayments, investigators found. The majority of the audits conducted by 10 companies were discontinued, produced "low or no findings" or were "put on hold," the Government Accountability Office, the nonpartisan investigative arm of Congress, said today in a report.

15 Jun 2012

Top five prostate wellness tips

David Samadi, MD, Vice-Chair of Urology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, knows that many men put off caring for their health, even when they have a family. But just a loving nudge from his family can help keep Dad on track for long-term prostate health, prostate cancer prevention, and prostate cancer awareness.

15 Jun 2012

Dems, GOP jockey for position on health law, budget legislation

In advance of the upcoming general election, Democrats and Republicans are trading barbs on the reasons -- each accusing each other of playing politics -- for delaying economic legislation and how the health care law has affected jobs in America.

15 Jun 2012

Take home MMT may reduce hospital admissions

A recent study conducted by researchers at Boston Medical Center (BMC) shows that patients receiving "take home" methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) were less likely to be admitted to the hospital as compared to those not receiving take home doses.

15 Jun 2012

USAID Administrator Shah speaks about Child Survival Call to Action

USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah on Wednesday spoke with GlobalPost's John Donnelly about the Child Survival Call to Action, a two-day high-level meeting convened by the governments of Ethiopia, India, and the U.S., in collaboration with UNICEF, according to a post in GlobalPost's "Global Pulse" blog.

15 Jun 2012

People can train their brains to become less impulsive

New research from psychologists at the Universities of Exeter and Cardiff shows that people can train their brains to become less impulsive, resulting in less risk-taking during gambling. The research could pave the way for new treatments for people with addictions to gambling, drugs or alcohol as well as impulse-control disorders, such as ADHD.

15 Jun 2012

Electronic health records inspire Mostashari, researchers, Olympians

CQ HealthBeat interviews the head of the government's IT effort while other news coverage focuses on a new report detailing the promise of electronic health monitoring.

15 Jun 2012

ISCO develops new TTF-based stem cell technology

International Stem Cell Corporation announced that scientists in its wholly-owned subsidiary, Lifeline Cell Technology (LCT), have developed a technology to modify human stem cells by using engineered proteins, called "transducible transcription factors" or "TTFs."

15 Jun 2012

Colorado and Alabama leaders offer different views on health law decision

Colorado's governor says the state will continue to build its insurance exchange and to advance other elements of the health law regardless of the Supreme Court's ruling. Meanwhile, Alabama's attorney general predicts the court will strike down the law.

15 Jun 2012

DFINE completes initial phase of STAR Tumor Ablation System trial

DFINE, Inc., the developer of minimally invasive radiofrequency (RF) targeted therapies for the treatment of vertebral pathologies, today announced an upcoming poster presentation at the World Congress of Interventional Oncology (WCIO), June 14-18 in Chicago.

15 Jun 2012

Calif. Dems balking on more Medicaid cuts; Big jump in Minnesota Medicaid rolls

Democratic legislative leaders announced Wednesday that they plan to move forward with their proposal to address California's $15.7 billion deficit even though Gov. Jerry Brown hasn't signed off on the plan. ... Democrats refused to cut an additional $1.2 billion on programs for the poor, particularly the welfare-to-work program CalWORKS; childcare; In-Home Supportive Services, which provides care for the sick and disabled in their homes; low-cost health insurance known as Healthy Families; and Medi-Cal, California's Medicaid program.

15 Jun 2012

MU in-home sensors monitor changes in aging adults’ health

Many adults wish to maintain their independence as they age, but health problems often require them to live in assisted-care facilities where they can be observed by medical professionals. Now, technologies developed by University of Missouri researchers could help aging adults stay in their own homes longer while still being monitored by health care providers.

15 Jun 2012

U.S. Africa command establishes regional task forces to combat malaria in Africa

"Two new task forces being established by U.S. Africa Command Africom have set their sights on one of the biggest killers on the continent: the mosquito," the American Forces Press Service reports.

15 Jun 2012

Changing guidelines threaten important HIV drug trial

In the battle against HIV/AIDS conditions on the frontlines are constantly in flux as treatment, research and policy evolve. The landmark HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN) 052 study, which established that antiretroviral treatment in people who are HIV positive decreases the likelihood of transmitting HIV to their sexual partners, was no exception.

15 Jun 2012

Longer looks: Battling HIV in Washington; Adderall use among U.S. high schoolers

On a recent day not far from Capitol Hill and the White House, about a dozen HIV outreach workers toting bright yellow duffle bags stuffed with condoms and prevention information stood outside of the Anacostia Metro station. ... After a couple of hours, they had handed out hundreds of packs of condoms -- and had persuaded 21 people to take an HIV test with an oral swab in a Chevy van parked nearby. "You have to know your status, man. I'd rather be safe than sorry," said Alvern Harris, 25, as he waited for his results.

15 Jun 2012