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COGCare chooses UPMC Health Plan as exclusive insurance provider

UPMC Health Plan has been chosen as the exclusive provider of a health care benefits program for COGCare, an insurance cooperative representing 40 Councils of Government that include over 400 municipalities, county governments and other local governmental agencies in western Pennsylvania.

26 Apr 2011

Survey: Pharmacists top OTC product picks in more than 77 total categories

The 2010 Pharmacy Today Over-the-Counter Product Survey, conducted by the American Pharmacists Association, reveals pharmacists believe that 81% of consumers purchase the over-the-counter product that was recommended by their pharmacist, 92% of pharmacists walk a patient to the OTC section to assist with a product selection and the average patient consult takes only three minutes of the patient's time.

26 Apr 2011

World Malaria Day opinion pieces

Andrew Mitchell, Britain's secretary of state for international development, discusses the U.K.'s approach to combating malaria around the world in a post on the Guardian's "Poverty Matters Blog."

26 Apr 2011

Tai chi exercise linked to improved quality of life in CHF patients

Tai chi exercise appears to be associated with improved quality of life, mood and exercise self-efficacy in patients with chronic heart failure, according to a report in the April 25 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

26 Apr 2011

African-American couples with HIV can benefit from health promotion interventions

Interventions to promote healthy behaviors, including eating more fruits and vegetables, increasing physical activity, and participating in cancer screenings, as well as prevention of HIV/sexually transmitted diseases, appear beneficial for African-American couples who are at high risk for chronic diseases, especially if one of the individuals is living with HIV.

26 Apr 2011

Researchers report game-changing advance in stem cell science

In a paper published in the April 25 early online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, the Gladstone Institutes in San Francisco and colleagues report a game-changing advance in stem cell science: the creation of long-term, self-renewing, primitive neural precursor cells from human embryonic stem cells that can be directed to become many types of neuron without increased risk of tumor formation.

26 Apr 2011

Unintentional prescription opioid overdose deaths have reached epidemic proportions in the U.S.

Unintentional overdose deaths in teens and adults have reached epidemic proportions in the U.S. In some 20 states in 2007 the number of unintentional drug poisoning deaths exceeded either motor vehicle crashes or suicides, two of the leading causes of injury death.

26 Apr 2011

Men with high DHA levels may face risk of developing aggressive prostate cancer

The largest study ever to examine the association of dietary fats and prostate cancer risk has found what's good for the heart may not be good for the prostate.

26 Apr 2011

FDA approves Bayer's new Kogenate FS storage option for hemophilia A treatment

Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a new storage option for Kogenate FS, antihemophilic factor, now allowing the product to be stored at room temperature for up to one year.

26 Apr 2011

KemPharm to formulate and develop KP106 as oral film dosage for ADHD treatment

KemPharm, Inc. today announced that KP106, its clinical candidate for Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, will be formulated and developed in an oral film dosage form pursuant to an exclusive collaboration agreement with MonoSol Rx relating to the development, commercialization and manufacture of KP106.

26 Apr 2011

AAA honors anatomy researchers with prestigious scientific award

The American Association of Anatomist's presented its highest awards on April 12 during the society's Annual Meeting in Washington, DC. This year's honors went to:

26 Apr 2011

High non-overtime RN staffing can reduce patient readmission rates

Higher non-overtime staffing levels of registered nurses lower the probability of patient readmissions to the hospital, a new study finds. However, higher levels of RN overtime increase the likelihood of unplanned visits to emergency departments after discharge.

26 Apr 2011

Vexim's SpineJack implant obtains ISO certification in Canada

Vexim, the specialist in medical devices for the minimally invasive, anatomical treatment of vertebral compression fractures, today announced that it has obtained CAN/CSA ISO 13485:2003 certification in Canada.

26 Apr 2011

Alkem, Karo Bio partner to license eprotirome

Karo Bio has entered into a collaboration and license agreement with the Indian pharmaceutical company Alkem Laboratories Ltd.

26 Apr 2011

Oxford Nanopore raises $41 million via private placement of ordinary shares

Oxford Nanopore Technologies Ltd., the UK-based developers of nanopore technology for the direct, electronic analysis of single molecules, today announced that it has raised £25 million in new funding via a private placement of ordinary shares in the Company.

From Oxford Nanopore Technologies 26 Apr 2011

Simple radar system can diagnose traumatic brain injuries in soldiers, athletes

Walking and thinking at the same time can be especially difficult for persons who've suffered concussions, and scientists hope to use that multitasking challenge -- measured by a simple radar system -- to quickly screen individuals who may have suffered brain injuries.

26 Apr 2011

Dactinomycin more effective for low-risk gestational tumor treatment

A clinical trial has sifted out the most effective single-drug chemotherapy regimen for quick-growing but highly curable cancers that arise from the placentas of pregnant women.

26 Apr 2011

Patients of orthopedists are more apt to undergo back surgery

When doctors own or lease MRI equipment, their patients are more likely to receive scans for low back pain. Patients of orthopedists are more apt to undergo back surgery as well, according to a study published online in Health Services Research.

26 Apr 2011

In the statehouses: Localities vs. unions in Mass.; supporters to rally for SustiNet in Conn.

Massachusetts House lawmakers kick off a busy week on Beacon Hill Monday with full chamber negotiations over the state budget. ... The biggest point of contention in the budget is the DeLeo-backed provision giving cities and towns the ability to alter employee health plans without union approval. At least 50 Democrats have reportedly signed on to an amendment that would soften that provision.

26 Apr 2011

Death rates have decreased among people with high blood pressure

Death rates have decreased among people with high blood pressure but remain far higher than in those without it, according to research in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.

26 Apr 2011