Medical News

RSS

LDR announces submission of Mobi-C cervical artificial disc PMA to FDA

LDR, a privately held medical device company offering innovative spinal implants for both non-fusion and fusion applications, announced the January 14th submission of its single-level Mobi-C cervical artificial disc PMA to the FDA.

26 Jan 2011

Lehigh Valley Physician Hospital, Aetna reach agreement on new four-year contract for LVHN

Aetna announced that it has reached agreement on a new four-year contract for Lehigh Valley Health Network with Lehigh Valley Physician Hospital, DBA Valley Preferred.

26 Jan 2011

Study: Low SES is linked to high risk of depression in patients with RA

Physical and Mental Health Disparities Found in Those with Low Socioeconomic Position. A recent study confirmed that low socioeconomic status is associated with higher risk of depressive symptoms in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

26 Jan 2011

ICV Partners acquires Stauber Performance Ingredients

ICV Partners, a private investment firm focused on investments in smaller middle market companies, announced today the acquisition of Stauber Performance Ingredients, Inc., a value-added distributor of nutraceutical ingredients to the dietary supplement industry, from J. H. Whitney & Co.

26 Jan 2011

ChemoCentryx commences CCX832 Phase I trial in patients with psoriasis

ChemoCentryx, today announced the initiation of a Phase I clinical trial of CCX832, an orally-administered small molecule that is a potent and selective inhibitor of the chemoattractant receptor, ChemR23.

26 Jan 2011

First Edition: January 26, 2011

Reporting for KHN, in collaboration with Politico, Bara Vaida writes: "Lobbyists for doctors, hospitals and drug companies are urging lawmakers to derail a planned government panel that health industry officials fear will sharply curb Medicare spending -- a critical revenue source for them".

26 Jan 2011

Anadys begins dosing in ANA598 Phase IIb study for hepatitis C

Anadys Pharmaceuticals, announced today that dosing has begun in the Phase IIb study of ANA598 in combination with pegylated interferon and ribavirin in hepatitis C patients.

26 Jan 2011

Researchers develop anti-HIV gene therapy for rendering T-cells resistant to infection

An innovative genetic strategy for rendering T-cells resistant to HIV infection without affecting their normal growth and activity is described in a paper published in Human Gene Therapy, a peer-reviewed journal published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. The paper is available free online.

26 Jan 2011

Ligand announces acquisition of CyDex Pharmaceuticals

Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated today announced it has acquired privately held CyDex Pharmaceuticals, for a combination of cash and contingent payments.

26 Jan 2011

Next generation sequencing on the European growth path: Report

Next Generation Sequencers have found their way into service providing labs and the global biomedical research community. 2010 has seen a serious uptake of Next Generation Sequencing technology, and today it is perceived as an indispensable tool.

26 Jan 2011

Research shows how pathogenic bacteria hide inside host cells

A new study into Staphylococcus aureus, the bacterium which is responsible for severe chronic infections worldwide, reveals how bacteria have developed a strategy of hiding within host cells to escape the immune system as well as many antibacterial treatments. The research, published by EMBO Molecular Medicine, demonstrates how ‘phenotype switching’ enables bacteria to adapt to their environmental conditions, lie dormant inside host cells and become a reservoir for relapsing infections.

26 Jan 2011

Microvisk secures £6 million to launch world's first diagnostic SmartStrip

Microvisk Technologies, the developer of a handheld system to monitor the blood clotting status of patients taking the drug Warfarin, has raised £6 million through a rights issue to existing investors in an oversubscribed round. This is the third successful funding round for Microvisk, which has secured £10.5m in the past 12 months - the largest amount raised by a UK life science company**.

26 Jan 2011

ECCA and EDMA advance the EU health literacy debate

As part of the 2011 European Cervical Cancer Week, EDMA, the European Diagnostic Manufacturers Association and the ECCA, the European Cervical Cancer Association jointly organised the "Better Health Literacy for Better Health in Europe" dinner debate.

26 Jan 2011

ASTRO reaffirms commitment to quality, issues progress report on patient safety plan

The American Society for Radiation Oncology is continuing its commitment to Target Safely, a six-point patient protection plan developed in January 2010, to improve the safety and quality of radiation therapy treatments and reduce the chances of medical errors.

26 Jan 2011

Faked cancer lands British man in jail

A British father who faked a terminal cancer to his family and friends to ‘con’ them out of cash, is beginning a 20 month jail sentence today. Simon Swift, 39, from Rugby in Warwickshire, central England started by telling his wife and three teenage children that he only had months to live and sold tickets worth hundreds of pounds for a fake charity auction. He claimed in May that the cancer had started in his spine and had become terminal. He even shaved his hair and claimed marks on his neck were from radiotherapy.

26 Jan 2011

Weighty problem: 127kg man trying to put on weight

When Darin McCloud, 45 from Portsmouth, was told he did not qualify for a gastric bypass, he planned to get fatter to tip the scales at more than 133kg - the weight deemed necessary by his local NHS primary care trust. At present he is eating three-quarters of a loaf of bread, four packets of crisps and bacon rolls each day to put on the weight. He also has diabetes ad he believes that the surgery could get him off the insulin injections.

26 Jan 2011

Traffic noise and stroke risk: Study

A new study shows that traffic noise may increase the risk of stroke, particularly for older individuals. The study looked at the association between road traffic noise and stroke in more than 51,000 Danish people and found that for every 10-decibel increase in noise level, the risk of stroke increased by 14 percent. In those over 65, the risk of stroke increased 27 percent.

26 Jan 2011

Alcohol-related liver disease rising among young Britons

According to latest National Health Service (NHS) figures the number of people under 30 admitted to hospital in the past decade has risen by more than 50 per cent. 351 people aged 30 and under were admitted to an English hospital with alcohol related liver disease in 2009/10, up from 230 in 2000/01. That is still only a small fraction of the 14,500 people aged 31 or over who were admitted for alcohol-related liver problems in the last year.

26 Jan 2011

Measles warnings for Australia and New Zealand

In a flight from Brisbane that arrived in Auckland two weeks ago, a child was confirmed to have measles and has been taken to hospital. Five other cases of the virus have been confirmed. At present a further 100 cases are being investigated by the Auckland Regional Public Health Service.

26 Jan 2011

Mental health laws delayed to take into account public opinion

The Victorian government has extended the closing date for public comment on changes to the state’s Mental Health Act. The deadline has been extended to February 28. Submissions on the Exposure Draft Mental Health Bill 2010 can be lodged online.

26 Jan 2011