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Study: p63 gene stifles spread of cancer

Long overshadowed by p53, its famous tumor-suppressing sibling, the p63 gene does the tougher, important job of stifling the spread of cancer to other organs, researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center report in the Oct. 21 issue of Nature.

21 Oct 2010

C PORT Solutions releases new mobile computing platform for healthcare facilities

With the launch of MEDI PORT, C PORT Solutions is the world's first company to converge all forms of communication and collaboration with patient data, medical applications, and existing healthcare technologies so all healthcare professionals can diagnose or treat a patient with the highest level of care regardless of the healthcare professional's location.

21 Oct 2010

WorldHeart announces completion of private placement

World Heart Corporation, a developer of mechanical circulatory systems, announced today that it has completed its previously announced private placement of common stock and warrants to purchase common stock. Gross proceeds from the offering were approximately $25.3 million. Proceeds from the private placement are expected to be used for general corporate and working capital purposes.

21 Oct 2010

CMS head Berwick praises new center for Medicare and Medicaid innovation

The planned Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation has the potential to be the 'jewel in the crown' of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Donald M. Berwick, administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

21 Oct 2010

VA checklists save lives, study says

The Associated Press: Going through a "surgery checklist" to confirm the basic procedures of a planned operation can help save lives, according to a study of 74 Veterans Affairs hospitals. In the hospitals being studied, "Surgery team members all created checklists and discussed them in briefings before, during and after surgery," reviewing basic information such as the reason for the surgery and the identity of the patient.

21 Oct 2010

DMC concludes Protege Phase 3 clinical trial for type 1 diabetes lacks efficacy

MacroGenics, Inc. and Eli Lilly and Company today announced that the Protege Data Monitoring Committee (DMC), composed of independent experts in the fields of diabetes and biostatistics, has completed a planned analysis of one-year safety and efficacy data of the Protege Phase 3 clinical trial of teplizumab, an investigational biologic under development for the treatment of individuals with recent-onset type 1 diabetes.

21 Oct 2010

Aqueous cream worsens eczema: Study

Researchers claim that a cream that is often used in a skin condition called eczema may actually make the condition worse. The research conducted at Bath University found that aqueous cream thinned the skin after a few weeks of use. They found that the cream contains a detergent rather than just moisturizers. The team also said that most GPs seemed unaware of official advice not to prescribe the cream as a moisturizer.

21 Oct 2010

NYU Langone Medical Center announces establishment of Smilow Comprehensive Prostate Cancer Center

NYU Langone Medical Center is pleased to announce that it has established The Smilow Comprehensive Prostate Cancer Center with a $5 million gift from Joel E. Smilow, a member of the Board of Trustees at NYU Langone Medical Center and New York University. The Smilow Center is dedicated to providing comprehensive, state-of-the-art personalized care for men with prostate cancer as well as educating men and their families about the disease and the wide range of treatment options available today.

21 Oct 2010

Link between low testosterone and heart disease deaths: Study

In a new study it was seen that men diagnosed with coronary heart disease with low testosterone were almost twice as likely to die over a seven year period. The team led by Prof Kevin Channer a cardiologist of the Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield looked at 930 men for the study. This study is in contrast to the popular belief that testosterone increases heart disease risk. The study was published in the journal Online First Heart.

21 Oct 2010

Vascular Solutions acquires EXPRO Elite and MICRO Elite snare products from Radius

Vascular Solutions, Inc. today announced that it has acquired the assets related to the EXPRO Elite™ and MICRO Elite™ snare products from Radius Medical Technologies, Inc. and its subsidiary, Radius Medical, LLC. Vascular Solutions has been selling the EXPRO Elite™ and MICRO Elite™ snares in the U.S. under a distribution relationship with Radius since 2008, while in international markets Radius has been selling the products through a network of independent distributors.

21 Oct 2010

Health reform law news: HHS awards $30 million in consumer assistance grants

The Department of Health and Human Services says it will award $30 million in consumer assistance grants to help states and territories either establish or strengthen programs that provide direct services to patients related to their health insurance, Modern Healthcare reports.

21 Oct 2010

Joint stem cell study to investigate multiple sclerosis

A $2.2 million project by Victorian and Californian researchers will assess whether stem cell therapies can be used to combat diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis and Type-1 diabetes, and help organ transplant recipients. Speaking at AusBiotech 2010 in Melbourne today, Innovation Minister Gavin Jennings said the Brumby Labor Government had contributed $575,505 to the project, the fifth to be funded through the $28 million Victoria–California Stem Cell Alliance which was established in 2008 under the Biotechnology Strategic Development Plan.

21 Oct 2010

NIH awards $7 million grant to provide sustained care for HIV-positive inmates

The University of Illinois at Chicago has received a $7 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to study effective ways to seek, test, and treat inmates with HIV.

21 Oct 2010

Candidates discuss Medicare, Medicaid spending

News outlets report on the role of Medicare and Medicaid spending in this year's elections.

21 Oct 2010

Victorian Government grants assist companies build global markets

The Brumby Labor Government is providing $410,000 in grants to help three Melbourne companies improve their global competitiveness, save money on production costs and create local jobs.

21 Oct 2010

FDA issues complete response letter for BYDUREON NDA

Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Eli Lilly and Company and Alkermes, Inc. today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a complete response letter regarding the New Drug Application (NDA) for BYDUREON™ (exenatide extended-release for injectable suspension).

21 Oct 2010

Business groups seek health care payment reforms

Businesses are continuing to seek health payment reform. Businesses are looking for ways to control costs, improve quality and reward successful treatments instead of paying more for readmissions and longer hospital stays.

21 Oct 2010

FDA clears Burton Medical's AIM-200 O.R. for surgical lighting applications

Burton Medical, Inc., the leader in examination and minor surgery lighting equipment, has received FDA clearance for its AIM-200® O.R. light for surgical lighting applications in operating rooms for ambulatory surgical centers as well as acute care facilities.

21 Oct 2010

Nexcore announces acquisition of Meditron product line from CooperSurgical

Nexcore Technologies, Inc. of Waldwick, an original equipment manufacturer of medical devices, today announced it has acquired the Meditron line of gastroenterology endoscopy products from CooperSurgical, Inc. of Trumbull, CT.

21 Oct 2010

A new way to pay for chemotherapy

Kaiser Health News staff writer Julie Appleby reports: "One of the nation's largest health insurers said today it is testing a new way to pay for some cancer treatments, aiming to identify the best medicines - and limit profits doctors make by dispensing in-office chemotherapy drugs" (Appleby, 10/20).

21 Oct 2010