Medical News

RSS

Hospital staph infection rate drops as national prevention effort steps up

The rate of drug-resistant staph hospital-acquired infections has dropped as the U.S. has stepped up prevention efforts to fight the deadly condition, The Associated Press reports. "The decline was seen in a federal study of methicillin-resistant staph, or MRSA. The bug often causes only a boil or skin infection. But researchers in the study focused on invasive cases that can become deadly, invading the bloodstream, flesh, lungs and bones. Researchers found that in nine metro areas, cases of MRSA (MUR'-suh) fell about 16 percent between 2005 and 2008.

12 Aug 2010

Human Immune Phenotyping Centers to receive NIAID grants for research

A new nationwide research initiative has been launched to define changes in the human immune system, using human and not animal studies, in response to infection or to vaccination. Six U. S.-based Human Immune Phenotyping Centers will receive a total of $100 million over five years to conduct this research.Funding for the centers is provided by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health. Support for the first year of this initiative will come from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

12 Aug 2010

AdvanDx announces European launch of CE-IVD marked GNR Traffic Light PNA FISH test

AdvanDx today announced the launch of its CE-IVD marked GNR Traffic Light™ PNA FISH® test in Europe. GNR Traffic Light PNA FISH is the first-ever test capable of simultaneously identifying Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa directly from positive blood cultures in less than 90 minutes.

12 Aug 2010

Scientists develop new imaging technique to create three-dimensional images of melanoma

Melanoma is one of the less common types of skin cancer but it accounts for the majority of the skin cancer deaths (about 75 percent).The five-year survival rate for early stage melanoma is very high (98 percent), but the rate drops precipitously if the cancer is detected late or there is recurrence.So a great deal rides on the accuracy of the initial surgery, where the goal is to remove as little tissue as possible while obtaining "clean margins" all around the tumor.So far no imaging technique has been up to the task of defining the melanoma's boundaries accurately enough to guide surgery.Instead surgeons tend to cut well beyond the visible margins of the lesion in order to be certain they remove all the malignant tissue.Two scientists at Washington University in St. Louis have developed technologies that together promise to solve this difficult problem.

12 Aug 2010

Wound Management Technologies introduces CellerateRX wound care collagen product in South Africa

Wound Management Technologies, Inc. is pleased to announce the sales expansion of its advanced wound care collagen product, CellerateRX, into South Africa. With EWA Government Systems and Spiramed (Pty) Ltd., the Company has obtained the registration of the product in the region and has also obtained the necessary NAPPI codes, which are a pre-requisite for any billable health product in South Africa. In addition, CellerateRX® is registered with various South African insurance companies and is an authorized product for reimbursement.

12 Aug 2010

Scientific research on effects of oil-eating bacteria in Gulf of Mexico waters

The environmental impact of millions of gallons of oil still in the Gulf of Mexico from the Deepwater Horizon incident may depend on microscopic helpers: Bacteria that consume oil and other hydrocarbons and could break down the spilled crude, making it disappear. That's the topic of an article in the current issue of Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN), ACS' weekly newsmagazine.

12 Aug 2010

What doctors say and what patients hear may be entirely different things

A study of 89 patients at one U.S. hospital has found that "doctors and patients are often not on the same page when discussing diagnoses and treatment," Reuters reports. "In interviews with the patients on the day of their discharge, researchers found that only 18 percent even knew the name of the main physician in charge of their hospital care.

12 Aug 2010

Viatronix releases latest version of V3D-Colon software with FDA 510(k) approved colon CAD

Viatronix Incorporated, a Stony Brook, New York, based company announced the release of the latest version of its leading edge V3D-Colon software with the option to have the industry's first FDA 510(k) approved colon CAD, VeraLook™ by iCAD.

12 Aug 2010

Study finds lithium drugs not effective for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis treatment

A new study has found that the drug lithium is not effective in treating people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease. The research is published in the August 11, 2010, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

12 Aug 2010

FDA advisory committee votes in favor of investigational anti-epileptic drug ezogabine

GlaxoSmithKline and Valeant Pharmaceuticals International announced today that a U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory committee voted unanimously that clinical studies had provided substantial evidence of the effectiveness of ezogabine as adjunctive treatment for adults with partial-onset seizures.

12 Aug 2010

Intellect Neurosciences receives patent for insulin sensitizer drugs

Intellect Neurosciences, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company with an internal preclinical and clinical-stage pipeline and licenses with major pharmaceutical companies covering products in late-stage clinical trials, announced today that its Chairman & CEO, Dr. Daniel Chain, was granted a patent by the European Patent and Trademark Office related to the use of insulin sensitizers for the prevention and treatment of memory loss and dementia. Insulin sensitizer drugs include Rosiglitazone and Pioglitazone, which have been approved for the treatment of type II diabetes mellitus.

12 Aug 2010

Ascendant reports $260,000 consolidated net income for second-quarter 2010 vs. $55,000 net loss in 2009

Ascendant Solutions, Inc. today announced its results for the second quarter of fiscal 2010. The Company reported consolidated net income of $260,000 for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2010, compared to net loss of $55,000 in 2009, resulting in net income per share ("EPS") of $0.01 compared to net loss per share of less than ($0.01).

12 Aug 2010

Study examines cosmetic impact of surgical procedure for body dysmorphic disorder

A new study finds that while many who suffer from body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) seek cosmetic procedures, only two percent of procedures actually reduced the severity of BDD. Despite this poor long-term outcome, physicians continue to provide requested surgeries to people suffering from BDD. The study was recently published in Annals of Plastic Surgery.

12 Aug 2010

Report: Top insurance execs pulled in nearly $200 million in compensation last year

The Los Angeles Times: "The top executives at the nation's five largest for-profit health insurance companies pulled in nearly $200 million in compensation last year — while their businesses prepared to hit ratepayers with double-digit premium increases, according to a new analysis conducted by healthcare activists. The leaders of Cigna Corp., Humana Inc., UnitedHealth Group and WellPoint Inc. each in effect received raises in 2009, the report concluded, based on an analysis of company reports filed with the Security and Exchange Commission.

12 Aug 2010

Modifiable factors associated with stroke survivor compliance to taking medication: Study

At least a quarter of patients who have suffered a stroke stop taking one or more of their prescribed stroke prevention medications within the first three months after being hospitalized - when the chance of having another stroke is highest - according to a new study by researchers at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center and colleagues.

12 Aug 2010

Increased brain activity predicts anxious temperament in young primates

A new study focused on anxiety and brain activity pinpoints the brain regions that are relevant to developing childhood anxiety. The findings, published in the Aug. 12 edition of the journal Nature, may lead to new strategies for early detection and treatment of at-risk children.

12 Aug 2010

MedQuist second-quarter net revenues increase 25.9% to $97.5 million

MedQuist Inc., a leading provider of medical transcription services and in the technology-enabled clinical documentation workflow, announced its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2010.

12 Aug 2010

Researchers develop first diabetes risk assessment for multi-ethnic population

A team from the University of Leicester, led by Professor Melanie Davies from the Department of Cardiovascular Sciences and Professor Kamlesh Khunti from the Department of Health Sciences, has developed an easy way for people to assess their risk of having diabetes. Working in partnership with Diabetes UK, the largest diabetes charity in the country, and University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, they have produced the first diabetes risk assessment that can be used in a multi-ethnic population.

12 Aug 2010

Latest health overhaul repeal petition gains GOP leadership backing

Politico: "Republicans are continuing to telegraph their opposition to health care reform by filing another petition that would force the House to vote on repealing the legislation. Rep. Wally Herger (R-Calif.) filed a discharge petition Tuesday that would get rid of the Democrats' health care reform and replace it with a Republican alternative. His push follows Rep. Steve King's (R-Iowa) petition to simply repeal the reform without replacing it with new legislation" (Aujla, 8/10).

12 Aug 2010

TLV, Emergent BioSolutions form joint venture to develop broad spectrum pandemic flu vaccine

Temasek Life Science Ventures Pte Ltd and Emergent BioSolutions Inc. today announced their agreement to form EPIC BIO Pte Ltd, a joint venture to develop, manufacture, and commercialize a multivalent, cross-protective human vaccine to protect against influenza caused by a broad range of circulating H5 influenza strains.

12 Aug 2010

Medical News

Hospital staph infection rate drops as national prevention effort steps up

Human Immune Phenotyping Centers to receive NIAID grants for research

AdvanDx announces European launch of CE-IVD marked GNR Traffic Light PNA FISH test

Scientists develop new imaging technique to create three-dimensional images of melanoma

Wound Management Technologies introduces CellerateRX wound care collagen product in South Africa

Scientific research on effects of oil-eating bacteria in Gulf of Mexico waters

What doctors say and what patients hear may be entirely different things

Viatronix releases latest version of V3D-Colon software with FDA 510(k) approved colon CAD

Study finds lithium drugs not effective for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis treatment

FDA advisory committee votes in favor of investigational anti-epileptic drug ezogabine

Intellect Neurosciences receives patent for insulin sensitizer drugs

Ascendant reports $260,000 consolidated net income for second-quarter 2010 vs. $55,000 net loss in 2009

Study examines cosmetic impact of surgical procedure for body dysmorphic disorder

Report: Top insurance execs pulled in nearly $200 million in compensation last year

Modifiable factors associated with stroke survivor compliance to taking medication: Study

Increased brain activity predicts anxious temperament in young primates

MedQuist second-quarter net revenues increase 25.9% to $97.5 million

Researchers develop first diabetes risk assessment for multi-ethnic population

Latest health overhaul repeal petition gains GOP leadership backing

TLV, Emergent BioSolutions form joint venture to develop broad spectrum pandemic flu vaccine

How the Vutara VXL simplifies single-molecule imaging

How cohesin mechanics and nanotracker tech are redefining DNA research

Todd Bauman and Chris Povich

Latest News