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Whole body MRI may help to diagnose suspected child abuse: Study

Whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which is highly accurate at detecting soft-tissue abnormalities, may serve a role in detecting suspected child abuse in infants, according to a study in the September issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology.

21 Aug 2010

N.C. Blue requests 7 percent rate hike

BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina has proposed increasing its average insurance premiums by 6.97 percent — although some policies could rise by up to 30 percent — in a move that would have to be approved by state regulators, the Charlotte Observer reports. The biggest increases will hit children, men and some older members. Still, "[t]hat's the lowest proposed annual increase since 2007, and about 28,000 people will see rate decreases, including women in their early 20s" (Wolf, 8/20).

21 Aug 2010

Warner Chilcott adds $1.5 billion for senior secured credit facilities

Warner Chilcott plc today announced that it has completed an amendment to its existing senior secured credit facilities, pursuant to which it has incurred an additional $1.5 billion aggregate principal amount of new term loans

21 Aug 2010

ASIR coronary CTA technique reduces radiation dose by 27%

A new low-dose coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) technique called adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction (ASIR) can reduce the radiation dose associated with coronary CTA by 27 percent, according to a study in the September issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology (www.ajronline.org). Coronary CTA is a common heart imaging test that helps determine if fatty or calcium deposits have narrowed a patient's coronary arteries.

21 Aug 2010

Reliv surpasses earnings milestone in second quarter

Reliv International, Inc. distributors have earned more than $500 million in commissions and bonuses since the company's founding in 1988, Reliv Chairman, President and CEO Robert L. Montgomery announced at the company's international conference last week.

21 Aug 2010

Dilation of blood vessels restores muscle synthesis in elderly

University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston researchers believe they've found a way to use widely available blood pressure drugs to fight the muscular weakness that normally accompanies aging.

21 Aug 2010

Select Medical's waiting period to acquire Regency Hospital Company terminated

Select Medical Holdings Corporation today announced that it has received notification of early termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, applicable to its acquisition of Regency Hospital Company.

21 Aug 2010

Feds to revamp bioterrorism and flu plans

Federal officials say they will revamp strategies for dealing with bioterrorism and pandemic flu because efforts to develop medical solutions have lagged, the Los Angeles Times reports. They "announced a $1.9-billion makeover of the system for identifying and manufacturing drugs and vaccines for public health emergencies." The makeover includes plans to hasten manufacturing time and improve surveillance to detect such threats more quickly.

21 Aug 2010

Sport Endurance signs letter of intent to acquire S&T Distributors

Pursuant to the 8K filing by Sport Endurance, Inc., the Company announced today that it has entered into a letter of intent to acquire S&T Distributors, a Company currently generating in excess of $2,000,000 in annual revenues, with NOI of approximately 30% from its primary business of distributing food and beverage products throughout the Southwest.

21 Aug 2010

Angeion partners with Data Innovations to create MedGraphics BreezeConnect software interface

Angeion Corporation today announced that it has partnered with Data Innovations to create MedGraphics BreezeConnect, a software interface that provides interfacing options in one comprehensive solution. BreezeConnect is currently available in the United States and is expected to launch internationally in September.

21 Aug 2010

Allscripts completes public offering of 27,000,000 shares at $17.05 per share

Allscripts-Misys Healthcare Solutions, Inc., the leading provider of clinical software, information and connectivity solutions for physicians, today announced that certain wholly-owned subsidiaries of Misys plc, Allscripts' majority stockholder, have completed their previously announced underwritten public offering of 27,000,000 shares of Allscripts common stock at a public offering price of $17.05 per share.

21 Aug 2010

ETC Biomedical Systems receives FDA 510-k clearance for computer hyperbaric oxygen control system

Environmental Tectonics Corporation's Biomedical Systems, a worldwide leader in the development, manufacture of computerized monoplace hyperbaric chambers, today confirmed that it has received FDA 510-k clearance for O.S.C.A.R. ™. O.S.C.A.R. ™ is an acronym for "Operating System for Control And Recording." This computerized system is configured as a stand–alone unit that will operate, control and record whole-body hyperbaric oxygen therapy treatments.

21 Aug 2010

FDA extends review on Acetadote for non-acetaminophen acute liver failure

Cumberland Pharmaceuticals Inc. today announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has extended its review of the supplemental new drug application (sNDA) for the use of Acetadote® (acetylcysteine) Injection in patients with non-acetaminophen acute liver failure.

21 Aug 2010

State Roundup: Hospital safety, infant mortality, immigration and more

Officials in Oregon say hospitals accidentally killed 32 patients; in Texas, as the immigration debate simmers, the government is tallying illegal immigrants' health costs.

21 Aug 2010

CryoPort closes initial round of private placement

CryoPort, Inc. today announced that it closed the initial round of the private placement announced on August 10, 2010 with various institutional and accredited investors for an aggregate of approximately 4.5 million shares of common stock and warrants to purchase approximately 4.9 million shares of its common stock at an exercise price of $0.77 per share pursuant to Securities Purchase Agreements.

21 Aug 2010

Today's Opinions: Florida's medical association; Massachusetts' politics; Medicine and money

What a colossal mess! That first sentence in the Miami-Dade Grand Jury report on what's wrong with Jackson Health System summed up the community's frustration with Miami-Dade's ailing safety net hospital. The report spared no one it examined before offering a string of remedies (8/20).

21 Aug 2010

Recent releases in Global Health

In view of World Humanitarian Day, a Huffington Post blog discusses the "lessons" of disaster response and the global "proliferation of humanitarian crises." First, the authors write that "the number of people affected by disasters is on the rise," mostly due to conflict and natural disasters. "Second, and in spite of these trends, U.S. humanitarian assistance is a sound investment. Though only about one-tenth of one percent of the federal budget, our aid not only saves lives, but promotes security and well-being where despair and misery threaten."

21 Aug 2010

ActiveCare announces capital raise commitment, balance sheet restructuring

ActiveCare, Inc., a biotelematic technology company that specializes in products and services that help seniors manage and control their health and wellbeing while reducing overall costs to the healthcare industry, announced a capital raise commitment and balance sheet restructuring.

21 Aug 2010

First Physicians Capital reports 12.6% increase in net revenue for third fiscal quarter 2010

First Physicians Capital Group, Inc., an operator of healthcare services firms primarily in rural and suburban markets in the U.S., reported results for the Company's third fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2010.

21 Aug 2010

New plans for uninsured off to slow start

Kaiser Health News staff writer Phil Galewitz reports that some officials say there has been "an unexpectedly small number of people" signing up for a new federally subsidized program for uninsured people with health problems.

20 Aug 2010