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Jefferson researchers progress in understanding mechanism behind systemic fibrotic disorder

Scientists from the Jefferson Institute of Molecular Medicine of Thomas Jefferson University are now several steps closer to understanding the mechanism behind a novel systemic fibrotic disorder that affects some patients with renal insufficiency who receive imaging contrast agents for MRI. Two of their studies on the disorder appear together in the November issue of the Annals of Rheumatic Diseases.

20 Oct 2010

Health IT sector may face workforce shortage

A top federal health IT official said there is a workforce shortage in the sector that could hinder the widespread adoption of electronic medical records, but federal aide is on the way, for that, too. David Blumenthal, the national health IT coordinator, said federal training programs would meet 85 percent of the demand, which he estimated as a shortage of about 50,000 workers.

20 Oct 2010

Research paves way to understand the mechanism of leptin therapy to improve type 1 diabetes

New findings by UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers suggest a novel role for the brain in mediating beneficial actions of the hormone leptin in type 1 diabetes.

20 Oct 2010

BIOTRONIK EHR DataSync software offers advanced patient management capabilities

BIOTRONIK SE Co. & KG, a leading manufacturer of implantable cardiac devices, has announced the European release of BIOTRONIK EHR DataSync. The software supports physicians, hospitals and clinics by integrating routine follow-up details, BIOTRONIK Home Monitoring remote follow-up information and data from the company's cardiac device programmers - ICS 3000 and the new programmer, Renamic, soon to be launched across Europe.

20 Oct 2010

Reports examine drug company payments to doctors

ProPublica: "Drug companies say the millions of dollars they pay physicians for speaking and consulting justly compensates them for the laudable work of educating their colleagues. But a series of lawsuits brought by former employees of those companies allege the money often was used for illegal purposes — financially rewarding doctors for prescribing their brand-name medications.

20 Oct 2010

Feds ask Connecticut to reconsider rate hike approval, other health law implementation news

The Hartford Courant reports that a high-ranking health official in the Obama administration has asked Connecticut insurance regulators to reconsider allowing Blue Cross Blue Shield in Connecticut to raise health insurance rates by as much as 47 percent.

20 Oct 2010

New 3D Body Volume Index measurement calculates obesity risk

A new obesity measurement for the 21st Century, which can help identify individuals at risk of illness such as heart disease, strokes and diabetes, has been officially launched.

20 Oct 2010

Pearl announces $69 million Series C financing round

Pearl Therapeutics Inc., a privately held company developing clinically differentiated combination therapies for the treatment of highly prevalent chronic respiratory diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), today announced a $69 million Series C financing. The financing round was led by Vatera Healthcare Partners and included existing investors, Clarus Ventures, New Leaf Venture Partners and 5AM Ventures.

20 Oct 2010

Spectral commences pivotal Toraymyxin trial for severe sepsis

Spectral Diagnostics Inc., a Phase III company seeking FDA approval for its lead theranostics product for the treatment severe sepsis and septic shock, today announced initiation of its U.S. pivotal trial of Toraymyxin™, a therapeutic hemoperfusion device that removes endotoxin from the bloodstream, for patients with severe sepsis.

20 Oct 2010

ASBP reviews current rules of prescription medication to treat obesity in Kansas

In response to the alarming increase in the overweight and obese population in Kansas, a representative of the American Society of Bariatric Physicians (ASBP) recently testified to the Kansas State Board of Healing Arts. ASBP is America's oldest and most experienced society devoted to the medical treatment of overweight and obesity and associated health conditions and risks.

20 Oct 2010

New research blames billions in medical costs on obesity

Joint research from Cornell University and Lehigh University finds that nearly 17% of U.S. medical costs can be blamed on obesity.

20 Oct 2010

European Commission grants orphan drug status to OBI-1 for hemophilia treatment

Inspiration Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today that the European Commission has granted orphan drug status for OBI-1 for the treatment of hemophilia.

20 Oct 2010

Candidates continue to clash over health care law

Candidates around the nation are increasingly focusing on what they'll do with the new health law if they're elected as clashes over the overhaul's usefulness and future continue to occur on the campaign trail.

20 Oct 2010

En Ze Jia Shi Pharmaceuticals receives patent for controlled-release oral gliclazide

Lotus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.a fast-growing, profitable developer, manufacturer and seller of medicine and drugs in the People's Republic of China announced today that its wholly owned subsidiary, En Ze Jia Shi Pharmaceuticals, has been issued a patent by the State Intellectual Property Office of the People's Republic of China for controlled-release oral gliclazide. The patent covers the composition and preparation methods for the drug through 2030.

20 Oct 2010

Gilead Sciences third quarter total revenues increase 8% to $1.94 billion

Gilead Sciences, Inc. announced today its results of operations for the quarter ended September 30, 2010. Total revenues for the third quarter of 2010 were $1.94 billion, up 8 percent compared to total revenues of $1.80 billion for the third quarter of 2009. Net income for the third quarter of 2010 was $704.9 million, or $0.83 per diluted share, compared to net income for the third quarter of 2009 of $673.0 million, or $0.72 per diluted share.

20 Oct 2010

As state commissioners meet on medical loss ratio, insurers warn of impact

Insurers are warning that a provision in the health law that requires them to spend 80 or 85 percent of premiums they collect on actual medical costs and not administrative expenses could put them out of business.

20 Oct 2010

Long term exposure to air pollution increases risk of severe COPD

Long term exposure to low-level air pollution may increase the risk of severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to researcher s in Denmark. While acute exposure of several days to high level air pollution was known to be a risk factor for exacerbation in pre-existing COPD, until now there had been no studies linking long-term air pollution exposure to the development or progression of the disease.

20 Oct 2010

454 Life Sciences enters co-promotional agreement with Fluidigm

454 Life Sciences, a Roche Company, and Fluidigm Corporation announced today that they have entered a worldwide co-promotional agreement for the companies' complementary amplicon sample preparation and high-throughput sequencing platforms.

20 Oct 2010

State Roundup: Md.'s heath info exchange; LA to cut retiree health benefits; N.Y.'s mental health building boom

The Washington Post: "A Maryland health information exchange that will allow hospitals, physicians, labs and radiology centers to share patient information within the state went live last week. Three hospitals, three radiology centers, Quest Diagnostics and the Laboratory Corp. of America are already participating in the exchange."

20 Oct 2010

CIED implantation with AIGISRx Antibacterial Envelope reduces overall infection rate

Patients undergoing CIED (Cardiac Implantable Electronic Device) implantation with TYRX, Inc.'s FDA-cleared AIGISRx Antibacterial Envelope enjoyed a 99.5% rate of successful implantation with an overall infection rate of 0.48% in the first 1.9 months following the procedure, as reported in newly published results of TYRX's COMMAND Clinical Study.

20 Oct 2010