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Update to federally mandated system significantly expands number of diagnostic codes used by health care providers

Today, hospitals and doctors use a system of about 18,000 codes to describe medical services in bills they send to insurers. Apparently, that doesn't allow for quite enough nuance. A new federally mandated version will expand the number to around 140,000 - adding codes that describe precisely what bone was broken, or which artery is receiving a stent.

14 Sep 2011

Autism Speaks introduces new tool kit to make blood draws and routine procedures less stressful

For children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), routine medical procedures such as having their blood drawn can be very difficult. Communication and social interaction deficits and reliance on fixed routines experienced by many children with ASD are the significant factors to be considered when preparing a child with ASD for a blood draw.

14 Sep 2011

Genetic variant associated with increased long-term mortality risk after coronary artery bypass graft procedure

Duke University Medical Center researchers have found a genetic variant that seems to be associated with lower five-year survival after a coronary artery bypass.

14 Sep 2011

Practical NCD guide for everyone to improve their health

The world's health professions have launched an easy-to-use, practical guide to help individuals and their health professionals reduce the risk of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) - conditions which currently account for 60% of global deaths.

14 Sep 2011

New minimally invasive technique to diagnose early-stage ovarian cancer

By combining three previously unrelated imaging tools into one new device, a team of researchers from the University of Connecticut and the University of Southern California has proposed a new way to diagnose early-stage ovarian cancer in high-risk women through minimally invasive surgery. The new technique may be better than the current standard procedure of preemptively removing the ovaries.

14 Sep 2011

ACP offers menu of options to reduce health care spending and promote high-value care

Recommendations to reduce federal health care spending in a socially and fiscally responsible manner today were made in a letter to the Congressional Joint Committee on Deficit Reduction from the American College of Physicians.

14 Sep 2011

USU, HJF to host 'The TBI Spectrum' symposium on Sept. 22

New Jersey Congressman and former Philadelphia Eagles offensive lineman Jon Runyan and Army Vice Chief of Staff General Peter Chiarelli will deliver keynote addresses at the fourth USU-HJF Military Medicine Symposium, "The TBI Spectrum," Sept. 22, 2011.

14 Sep 2011

Smoking cessation improves overall personality: Study

University of Missouri researchers have found evidence that shows those who quit smoking show improvements in their overall personality.

14 Sep 2011

Acceleron commences ACE-536 Phase 1 clinical trial in anemia

Acceleron Pharma, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company developing protein therapeutics for cancer and orphan diseases today announced that it has initiated a Phase 1 clinical study of ACE-536.

14 Sep 2011

Henry Ford study identifies 23 microRNAs for laryngeal cancer

A Henry Ford Hospital study has identified 23 microRNAs for laryngeal cancer, a discovery that could yield new insight into what causes certain cells to grow and become cancerous tumors in the voice box.

14 Sep 2011

Kremers Urban reaches settlement agreement with ALZA over Concerta patent litigation

Kremers Urban Pharmaceuticals Inc. is pleased to announce that it has reached a settlement dismissing all pending litigation arising from its Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) to market an extended release methylphenidate hydrochloride product, for which Concerta is the reference listed drug product. The ANDA is currently under review with FDA.

14 Sep 2011

U.S. officials step up enforcement of 'responsible corporate officer doctrine' to pursue violations of federal food and drug laws

Use of this doctrine allows federal officials to hold health care executives personally and criminally responsible for corporate violations. Meanwhile, in other news related to health care fraud and abuse, a number of states have reached settlements with firms accused of defrauding the Medicaid program.

14 Sep 2011

Tips for choosing a childbirth education class

A recent report from the World Health Organization set off alarm bells for many expectant parents. The report showed that newborns in 40 countries, including Cuba, South Korea and Poland, have a lower risk of death than newborns in the United States.

13 Sep 2011

Combining cell biology and molecular genetics for single-cell research

Fluidigm Corporation has announced a collaboration with BD Biosciences, a segment of BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company), to co-host a public seminar series on the isolation and analysis of single cells. Entitled 'A Powerful Technique for Single-Cell Analysis', the public seminar series will showcase cell isolation using the BD FACSAria™ III Cell Sorter and analysis using the Fluidigm BioMark™ HD System.

13 Sep 2011

FDA’s response to Tobacco company’s allegations on graphic cigarette labels

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has replied to the claims from cigarette makers that new graphic-warning labels due to take effect next year violate tobacco companies’ free speech rights.

13 Sep 2011

Data on veterans affairs hospitals shows high rates of readmissions

The Veterans Health Administration, the largest integrated health care system in the country, has long employed many of the approaches Medicare is pushing on all hospitals to reduce unnecessary readmissions. But new data show VA hospital patients are just as likely to end up back in a hospital bed as are patients at private hospitals.

13 Sep 2011

Fathers and family men low on testosterone: Study

A new study shows that men who spend time with their children have lower levels of testosterone than single guys. The study shows that family men experience a biological shift that may awaken their nurturing side.

13 Sep 2011

IBM's Watson supercomputer and WellPoint working towards computerized access to records and diagnoses

IBM's Watson supercomputer and a leading health insurer WellPoint Inc. are working towards diagnosis of medical ailments and authorize treatments for its 34.2 million members. Wellpoint operates Blue Cross Blue Shield plans in 14 states, including New York and California.

13 Sep 2011

Older drugs may be better than newly approved ones

It is a common belief that drugs given the okay by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are safer and more effective than they have to be to win approval, according to a new study. Especially in the first few years after a drug becomes available, researchers note, there are still questions about how well it will work and whether it will have any serious side effects warn experts. For example FDA-approved painkiller Vioxx was pulled off the market in 2004 after longer-term evidence showed that it may increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.

13 Sep 2011