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Study finds spinal bleeding in young children with abusive head trauma

A new study found that spinal bleeding is found often in young children who are victims of abusive trauma. The findings support performing complete spine imaging for children undergoing brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for moderate or severe traumatic brain injury and suggest a pathway for distinguishing between abusive and accidental injury.

8 Nov 2011

CHS commences cash tender offer for 8⅞% Senior Notes due 2015

Community Health Systems, Inc. today announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc., has commenced a cash tender offer for up to $1.0 billion of the Issuer's approximately $2.8 billion aggregate principal amount outstanding of its 8⅞% Senior Notes due 2015 on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Issuer's Offer to Purchase dated November 7, 2011.

8 Nov 2011

First city-wide study of impact of widespread HIE data access in EDs

Sharing of electronic health information across every major emergency department in the Memphis, Tenn., area resulted in reduced hospital admissions, reduced radiology tests and an annual cost savings of nearly $2 million, according to a Vanderbilt study released today by the Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association.

8 Nov 2011

MBL-HCV1 can reduce viral load in liver transplant patients

A human monoclonal antibody developed by MassBiologics of the University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS) given to patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection undergoing liver transplantation significantly suppressed the virus for at least a week after transplant and delayed the time to viral rebound.

8 Nov 2011

Link between heavy methamphetamine use and schizophrenia

In the first worldwide study of its kind, scientists from Toronto's Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) found evidence that heavy methamphetamine users might have a higher risk of developing schizophrenia.

8 Nov 2011

Study examines how men's crime, tobacco and alcohol use change over time

After men become fathers for the first time, they show significant decreases in crime, tobacco and alcohol use, according to a new, 19-year study.

8 Nov 2011

First public health study to examine a state-level approach to fire safety

A new study by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy finds fire and life safety programs in Delaware offer a strategic, comprehensive and coordinated approach to fire prevention.

8 Nov 2011

EpiCept reports net loss of $5.4 million for third quarter 2011

EpiCept Corporation today announced operating and financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, and provided an update with respect to the Company's key business initiatives.

8 Nov 2011

Study shows improvement in diagnosis time for bowel, oesophageal and pancreatic cancers

NEW research shows that bowel, oesophageal and pancreatic cancers have seen the greatest improvement in the time it takes from when a patient first visits their GP with symptoms to when they are diagnosed with the disease.

8 Nov 2011

CGD releases report on improving clinical trials, regulatory pathways for fighting neglected diseases

The Center for Global Development (CGD) last week released a new report on global health, the Global Health Technology Coalition's "Breakthroughs" blog reports.

8 Nov 2011

FDA clears Femasys' first low pressure HSG device

Femasys Inc., an emerging medical device developer of women's healthcare solutions, announced today that it has received 510(k) clearance for the FemChec Pressure Management Device, the first device designed for a low pressure HSG as a confirmation test after a permanent sterilization procedure is performed.

8 Nov 2011

Economic burden of chronic hepatitis C-related liver disease

Health care costs for hepatitis C patients with end-stage liver disease are nearly 2.5 times higher than those in the early stages, according to a Henry Ford Hospital study.

8 Nov 2011

Hirano bodies may play a protective role in progression of Alzheimer's

Hirano bodies are almost indescribably tiny objects found in nerve cells of people suffering from conditions such as Alzheimer's, mad cow and Lou Gehrig's diseases. Yet for decades, researchers weren't sure if these structures helped cause the conditions or appeared after onset of the disease and had some other role.

8 Nov 2011

Bristol-Myers Squibb receives FDA approval for Erbitux to treat head and neck cancer

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Erbitux (cetuximab) for use with chemotherapy to treat patients with late-stage (metastatic) head and neck cancer.

8 Nov 2011

Health coverage issues for young and old: Broadening access to CHIP; closing the door on CLASS Act

As many states open CHIP programs to provide coverage for children of some state employees, the halting of CLASS Act implementation means consumers must carefully consider their long-term care options.

8 Nov 2011

Epigenetic alterations may play an important role in autism

Scientists at the University of Massachusetts Medical School are the first to map epigenetic changes in neurons from the brains of individuals with autism, providing empirical evidence that epigenetic alterations-changes in gene expression caused by mechanisms other than changes in the underlying DNA sequence-may play an important role in the disease.

8 Nov 2011

Patient and nurse safety may be related by common causes

A safe working environment for nurses is also a safe environment for the patients in their care, according to a new study led by public health researchers at Drexel University. Researchers, led by Dr. Jennifer Taylor, an assistant professor in Drexel's School of Public Health, found that safety climate was associated with both patient and nurse injuries, suggesting that patient and nurse safety may be linked outcomes.

8 Nov 2011

Study on epigentics and cellular memory

How do fetal cells know what cell types to become? Why do cells in the adult body sometimes forget what they are and develop into cancer cells? These are some of the questions intensively investigated within the research field of epigenetics.

8 Nov 2011

First large-scale study to address treatment of prescription opioid addiction

Individuals addicted to prescription painkillers are more likely to succeed in treatment with the aid of the medication buprenorphine-naloxone (Suboxone), report McLean Hospital and Harvard Medical School researchers in today's online edition of the Archives of General Psychiatry.

8 Nov 2011

South Africa draws inspiration from Brazil's health care system despite skepticism by some Brazilians, IPS reports

Inter Press Service reports on how the South African government, in setting up its own universal health coverage scheme, was inspired by Brazil's Sistema Unico de Saude or Single Health System (SUS), which was shaped during the 1980s when the system was restructured to make health care a universal right. However, IPS notes that the news may be met with skepticism by Brazilians with a negative opinion of the country's public health care system.

8 Nov 2011