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Lead exposure may reverse blindness: Research

Some unexpected effects of lead exposure that may one day help prevent and reverse blindness have been uncovered by a University of Houston (UH) professor and his team.

26 Oct 2010

Confusion over reform may fuel health fraud

CNNMoney: People running health care scams may find new opportunities in consumers' confusion over the health overhaul law. "Most of the schemes are poorly constructed, using the pretext of reform. 'So far there's no major criminal organization behind them,' said James Quiggle, spokesman for non-profit group Coalition Against Insurance Fraud.

26 Oct 2010

Baxter announces launch of GLASSIA in the U.S.

Baxter International Inc. today announced the commercial launch of GLASSIATM [Alpha1-Proteinase Inhibitor (Human)] in the United States. GLASSIATM is the first available ready-to-use liquid alpha1-proteinase inhibitor (Alpha1-PI) and is indicated as a chronic augmentation and maintenance therapy in adults with emphysema due to congenital deficiency of alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT), an under-diagnosed hereditary condition characterized by a low level of alpha-1 protein in the blood.

From Baxter International Inc. 26 Oct 2010

Vertex initiates OPTIMIZE Phase 3b study in patients infected with genotype 1 HCV

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated today announced the initiation of a Phase 3b study called OPTIMIZE that will evaluate twice-daily (BID) dosing of a telaprevir-based combination regimen in people chronically infected with genotype 1 hepatitis C virus (HCV) who have not been treated previously. This is the first Phase 3 study to evaluate twice-daily dosing of a protease inhibitor for the treatment of hepatitis C. OPTIMIZE will not include a control arm of pegylated-interferon and ribavirin alone.

26 Oct 2010

Study looks at long-term consequences of heavy smoking on dementia

Heavy smoking in midlife is associated with a 157 percent increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease and a 172 percent increased risk of developing vascular dementia, according to a Kaiser Permanente study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

26 Oct 2010

NIH awards Phase I SBIR grant to develop Generic Antibodies for cancer

Rockland Immunochemicals Inc., a biotechnology company focusing on antibodies and antibody based tools for basic research, diagnostic assay development and preclinical studies, today announced that it has received a Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the National Institutes of Health to develop Generic Antibodies "Biosimilars" for the Treatment of Cancer.

26 Oct 2010

High erythropoietin levels predict higher mortality

High erythropoietin levels in people over age 85 indicate a higher risk of death, according to a study published in CMAJ.

26 Oct 2010

CBER's Laboratory Quality System program receives accreditation

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today announced that the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation has accredited the Laboratory Quality System program in the Center for Biologics and Evaluation Research (CBER) under ISO/IEC 17025 in the fields of biological and chemical testing.

26 Oct 2010

Amgen reports $3,816 million for 2010 third quarter revenue

Amgen reported revenue unchanged for the third quarter of 2010 at $3,816 million versus $3,812 million for the third quarter of 2009.

26 Oct 2010

Transcat 2011 second quarter increases 13.1% to $20.9 million

Transcat, Inc. a leading distributor of professional grade handheld test and measurement instruments and accredited provider of calibration, repair and weighing system services, today reported financial results for its fiscal 2011 second quarter ended September 25, 2010.

26 Oct 2010

Chemed third quarter revenue increases 8.0% to $320.5 million

Chemed Corporation which operates VITAS Healthcare Corporation (VITAS), the nation's largest provider of end-of-life care, and Roto-Rooter, the nation's largest commercial and residential plumbing and drain cleaning services provider, reported financial results for its third quarter ended September 30, 2010, versus the comparable prior-year period.

26 Oct 2010

Alzheimer’s risk raised 157% with smoking: Study

A Kaiser Permanente study reported this Monday that heavy smoking in midlife more than doubles the odds of developing Alzheimer's disease. This study is one of the first of its kind to examine the long-term consequences of heavy smoking on Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia explained the study's principal investigator, Rachel Whitmer, a research scientist with Kaiser Permanente in Oakland. The research is published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

25 Oct 2010

Northern Territory reports worst mosquito plague ever

Authorities in Australia’s Northern Territory report the worst mosquito plague since records began in 1979. An organization helping homeless people in Darwin is distributing insect repellent and coils to combat the mosquito onslaught.

25 Oct 2010

Junk food taxes not the answer for childhood obesity: Report

A Productivity Commission report, “Childhood Obesity: an Economic Perspective”, released this Monday said that junk food taxes were not a cure for childhood obesity. It read, “Bans or taxes on particular energy-dense nutrient-poor foods, for example, face design difficulties, affect all consumers regardless of their weight status, and in the case of taxes, can have perverse budgetary and health effects particularly for the neediest groups.”

25 Oct 2010

Paramedics at risk of stress, anxiety and depression: Study

According to the latest research paramedics are at a high risk of stress and depression. The Victorian study showed that around ten per cent of paramedics were found to have severe or extremely severe depression, while 40 per cent reported feeling the effects of stress. Nearly 25% were also found to suffer an “above normal degree of anxiety”.

25 Oct 2010

Haiti cholera epidemic abates

The rate of deaths in Haiti's cholera epidemic slowed on Monday. This followed a multinational medical operation scale up to limit the spread of an outbreak that has killed 259 people in the earthquake-hit country. However Haitian and international health authorities are still bracing for more cases before the epidemic is finally controlled. So far, the epidemic has mostly impacted two rural central Haitian provinces, Artibonite and Center, along with the few isolated cases in the capital Port-au-Prince. Suspected cases have also been reported in the Nord and Sud provinces.

25 Oct 2010

Entrust Healthcare acquires PRISMA Systems Medical Billing

Entrust Healthcare today announced it has expanded its physician billing and revenue cycle consulting services with the acquisition of PRISMA Systems Medical Billing. Entrust made today's announcement at The Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) 2010 Annual Conference in New Orleans. No financial details on the transaction were provided.

25 Oct 2010

Mergers between hospitals and insurers expected to increase

"Health system reform, in combination with economic factors and trends in play, is expected to speed consolidation of health insurers and hospitals, leaving physicians to figure out how they should adapt," American Medical News reports. "The prospect for mergers and acquisitions throughout the industry is high thanks not only to health system reform, but also more access to financing to buy up other companies.

25 Oct 2010

Catalyst Rx awarded new service contract with Wellmark

Catalyst Rx, the pharmacy benefit management (PBM) subsidiary of Catalyst Health Solutions, Inc., announced the award of a new service contract with Wellmark following a competitive bid process. Wellmark does business as Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Iowa and its subsidiaries include Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of South Dakota and Wellmark Health Plan of Iowa, Inc. Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

25 Oct 2010

Helicos names Illumina and Life Technologies as additional defendants in lawsuit against Pacific Biosciences

Helicos BioSciences Corporation announced today that it has amended its lawsuit against Pacific Biosciences of California, Inc. for patent infringement by naming Illumina, Inc. and Life Technologies Corporation as additional defendants.

From Illumina, Inc. 25 Oct 2010