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Low dose carbon monoxide therapy can prevent fetal death

Heme oxygenase-1 is essential for the growth of blood vessels in the placenta and in establishing blood flow in the umbilical cord. Too little HO-1 can lead to a restriction in the growth of the fetus and even in fetal death and miscarriage. New research published in BioMed Central's open access journal Medical Gas Research has shown that low dose carbon monoxide therapy is able to restore placental function and prevent fetal death in mice, without any detrimental effects.

19 Feb 2012

Bristol-Myers Squibb awards 3 new grants to enhance HBV and HCV prevention, diagnosis and care

The Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation has awarded three new grants to improve prevention, diagnosis and care of hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV) in China and India as part of its Delivering Hope: Awareness, Prevention and Care umbrella program which is committed to reducing hepatitis-related health disparities in Asia.

19 Feb 2012

Botox efficacy uncertain in treating migraine says NICE

Botox – used as an anti-wrinkle agent - is unlikely to be recommended for the treatment of chronic migraines on the NHS in England and Wales. According to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) draft guidelines there is insufficient evidence that it works.

18 Feb 2012

Norovirus outbreak at the George Washington University campus

Officials at the university and the District of Columbia's Health Department confirmed 85 cases of the gastrointestinal illness were diagnosed since Monday. The virus was found in locations including the central Foggy Bottom campus and the Mount Vernon campus in Northwest Washington. Members of the university also reported cases off campus.

18 Feb 2012

Quit-smoking drug Chantix effective in cocaine and alcohol addiction

Varenicline is unique among anti-addiction medications in the way it affects the brain. Like nicotine, varenicline activates a specific receptor for a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine, but it does so less intensely than the active ingredient of cigarettes does. The net effect is that the drug seems to help by both cutting cravings and making the formerly desired drug less pleasant — without making non-drug pleasures less intense. Alcohol works on the same chemical receptors in the brain as nicotine, and it may enhance the pleasurable effects of smoking.

18 Feb 2012

Mars Inc. pledges to limit candy bars to 250 calories

Mars Inc., the makers of popular candy brands including Snickers, M&M's and Twix, have said that they would stop making chocolate products that exceed 250 calories by the end of next year. The privately-held company also makes Milky Way, 3Musketeers, Bounty, Skittles candies, Juicy Fruit chewing gum and Kudos bars.

18 Feb 2012

Slow walk and poor grip may predict dementia and stroke

According to U.S. researchers the speed of a person’s walk may predict the likelihood of developing dementia later in life. They also told a conference that grip strength in middle-age was linked to the chance of a stroke. The scientists said more studies were needed to understand the connection.

18 Feb 2012

Remote controlled microchip successfully delivers drug in early clinical trial

Researchers have developed a new microchip implant device that can deliver bone-building drugs to seven osteoporosis patients. The microchips worked inside patients as drug-delivering pacemakers, following a prescription plan sent by radio signal.

18 Feb 2012

Arsenic found in baby formula containing organic brown rice syrup

Rice is among the plants that are efficient in taking up arsenic from the soil, environmental chemist Brian Jackson of Dartmouth College in Hanover, N.H., and his co-authors said in Thursday's issue of the journal Environmental Health Perspectives. Long-term exposure to extremely high levels of inorganic arsenic can increase the risk of lung, liver and bladder cancer as well as miscarriage and infertility.

18 Feb 2012

OICR launches Phase III Active Surveillance Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study Trial

Dr. Nicole Onetto, Deputy Director and Chief Scientific Officer of the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research (OICR), today announced the launch of an innovative Phase III clinical trial that aims to determine whether multi-parametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) coupled with transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) guided biopsy (called fusion technology) can accurately identify men with prostate cancer who are at risk of developing aggressive disease.

18 Feb 2012

Vitality program reaches milestone of over one million members in the U.S

The Vitality Group, part of the world's largest and longest standing incentive-based wellness program, announced that the Vitality program has reached a milestone of more than one million members in the U.S. who are adopting new behaviors to live healthier lives.

18 Feb 2012

Medicare cuts include psychotherapy payment reduction

Medicare recipients currently receiving mental health outpatient services stand to be affected by the payroll tax legislation passed by Congress today. As a result of the new law, which President Obama is expected to sign, payment for Medicare outpatient psychotherapy services will be cut by five-percent beginning March 1.

18 Feb 2012

Health law implementation: State insurance exchange bills; HHS rules on MLR Waiver requests

States are grappling to implement aspects of the Affordable Care Act.

18 Feb 2012

SFCS to host special showing of the Third Age Suit for seniors

Leading design professionals came together earlier this week for the 27th annual By Design conference. By Design was developed by SFCS Architects to provide staff and industry professionals the opportunity to participate and share the latest innovations and research in the field of senior living. The conference was attended by over 250 participants.

18 Feb 2012

Flooding leaves millions in Pakistan at risk of malnutrition, disease, aid groups warn

"A feeble international response to Pakistan's second major flooding crisis in two years has left millions of people at serious risk of malnutrition and disease, aid groups warned Thursday," Agence France-Presse reports.

18 Feb 2012

NPAF commends passage of bill for parity in insurance coverage for orally administered chemotherapy

Representatives of Virginia's patient advocacy community praised the State House of Representatives and State Senate today for voting strongly in support of legislation that, if enacted, will help thousands of Virginia's insured cancer patients who are currently unable to access their physician-prescribed chemotherapy treatment regimens of choice.

18 Feb 2012

FDA prioritizes review of Ra-223 and MDV3100 for treating CRPC

The arsenal of prostate cancer treatments for men with advanced prostate cancer may soon be strengthened as the FDA prioritizes the review of both Ra-223 and MDV3100 for treating metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Based on positive, independent research of each drug, better survival rates and improved bone health for patients with late-stage prostate cancer may be within reach.

18 Feb 2012

Elekta's Fraxion integrates all proven cranial immobilization options in a single solution

The Fraxion head frame helps ensure accuracy and precision in stereotactic radiation therapy (SRT) of cancer targets in the brain and cranium. Elekta's Fraxion is the first to introduce an innovative system that integrates all proven cranial immobilization options in a single solution.

From Elekta 18 Feb 2012

AADA expresses disappointment over Medicare SGR fix

The American Academy of Dermatology Association (AADA) is severely disappointed that Congress once again allowed partisan politics to stand in the way of a full sustainable growth rate (SGR) fix.

18 Feb 2012

AGHE announces new elected officers, fellow and recipients of 2012 awards

The Association for Gerontology in Higher Education (AGHE) - the educational branch of The Gerontological Society of America - is proud to announce its newest elected officers, fellow, and the recipients of its 2012 awards.

18 Feb 2012