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Republicans plan to block health law by withholding implementation funds

Republicans may not have the numbers to repeal the health overhaul, even after the election, but they are increasingly likely to try to "deny the Obama administration the money it needs to implement the law," Politico reports.

3 Aug 2010

Study finds low carbohydrate diet may help improve cardiovascular risk factors

The effectiveness of a low-carbohydrate diet versus a low-fat diet for weight loss have been frequently debated. According to a new study published in Annals of Internal Medicine, both diets produce identical weight loss when coupled with comprehensive behavior treatment, but a low-carbohydrate diet may help improve cardiovascular risk factors.

3 Aug 2010

MRCC deploys CTT's Calmare Pain Therapy Treatment medical device

Competitive Technologies, Inc. announced that McKinney Regional Cancer Care Center, a private physician oncology practice based in McKinney, TX, is the first cancer center in Texas treating with CTT's Calmare Pain Therapy Treatment medical device. Patients suffering from pain related to cancer are being treated under the direction of medical oncologist Dennis Birenbaum, M.D.

3 Aug 2010

Sebelius tries to soothe state worries about health reform

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius is trying to soothe the fiscal and administrative concerns of officials in states who have considerable power in implementing the nation's attempt at health reform, The Wall Street Journal reports. "The law puts heavy demands on Ms. Sebelius — it has more than 1,000 references to actions that the 'secretary shall' take. But much of the responsibility for actually implementing the changes falls to states, so the Obama administration's top health official has been working to guide them."

3 Aug 2010

Americans halved their risk of dying from CHD over past 20 years: Study

By smoking less, watching their cholesterol and lowering their high blood pressure, Americans halved their risk of dying from coronary heart disease over the past 20 years, a new study shows.

3 Aug 2010

Rush University Medical Center first to receive Octapharma grant under anniversary program

Octapharma USA today announced the first grant recipient of the Octapharma 25th Anniversary Grants Program is the Rush Hemophilia & Thrombophilia Center at Rush University Medical Center. The Octapharma grants program supports clinical or pre-clinical research focused on human protein therapies in hematology, immune therapy, intensive care and emergency medicine.

3 Aug 2010

Free health clinic planned for D.C. area; University of Kansas to study Indian health; Ga. weighs health needs of older prisoners

In the run-up to this week's giant free clinic in the District, Nicole Lamoureux, the lead organizer, could tell that hearts were racing, blood pressure was increasing and tension was rising. Calls from patients scheduling appointments were starting to pour into her office, but there weren't enough volunteer medical workers to see them.

3 Aug 2010

Emerging Healthcare Solutions executes Term Sheet with Stand-By Systems

Emerging Healthcare Solutions, Inc. disclosed today that the Company has executed a Term Sheet with Stand-By Systems. The Term Sheet represents successful negotiations between the two companies just ahead of finalizing a Definitive Agreement. Stand-By Systems (SBS) owns the FDA approved SBS 1615 catalytic oxygen generator and associated systems. This cutting edge generator provides medical grade USP oxygen at the push of a button from self-contained inert dry compounds.

3 Aug 2010

Study reveals potential marker for prostate cancer

Studies by a Purdue University-led team have revealed a potential marker for prostate cancer that could be the starting point for less invasive testing and improved diagnosis of the disease.

3 Aug 2010

$International study of more than 60,000 women highlights additional risk associated with fractures$

International study of more than 60,000 women highlights additional risk associated with fractures

Researchers seeking to understand the impact of osteoporosis and fractures on various aspects of health have found that women who had previous fractures experienced a significant reduction in health-related quality of life similar to or worse than that experienced by patients with diabetes, arthritis, lung disease and other chronic illnesses. This latest study from the Global Longitudinal Study of Osteoporosis in Women (GLOW), which is based at the Center for Outcomes Research at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, was published online.

3 Aug 2010

miRagen Therapeutics develop MicroRNA based therapeutics for cardiovascular and muscle disease

miRagen Therapeutics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on improving patients' lives by developing innovative microRNA-based therapeutics for cardiovascular and muscle disease, announced today the publication of data demonstrating the essential role of microRNA-451 (miR-451) in the regulation of erythropoiesis, the process of red blood cell production in the body.

3 Aug 2010

Federal judge says Virginia challenge to health reform law may proceed

USA Today On Deadline Blog: "A federal judge has refused to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the state of Virginia that challenges the new health care reform act, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reports." The suit, filed by Ken Cuccinelli, Virginia's state attorney general, "challenged a provision of the health care act that requires individuals to buy health insurance or pay a penalty" (Stanglin, 8/2).

3 Aug 2010

GE, Intel enter joint venture to create new healthcare company

GE and Intel Corporation have announced the entry into a definitive agreement to form a 50/50 joint venture to create a new healthcare company focused on telehealth and independent living. The new company will be formed by combining assets of GE Healthcare's Home Health division and Intel's Digital Health Group, and will be owned equally by GE and Intel. Pending regulatory and other customary closing conditions, the joint venture is expected to become operational by the end of the year. Financial terms were not disclosed.

3 Aug 2010

Other brain regions compensates loss of amygdale: Research

Many neuroscientists believe the loss of the brain region known as the amygdala would result in the brain's inability to form new memories with emotional content. New UCLA research indicates this is not so and suggests that when one brain region is damaged, other regions can compensate.

3 Aug 2010

Bypass better strategy for treating progressive, complex recurrent SFA disease: Study

Researchers from The Methodist Hospital's DeBakey Heart and Vascular Center in Houston, Texas have studied outcomes of patients who had endovascular and open interventions for recurrent superficial femoral artery (SFA) occlusive disease. Results of their work are detailed in the August issue of the Society for Vascular Surgery's® Journal of Vascular Surgery®.

3 Aug 2010

Oxygen Biotherapeutics collaborates with U.S. Navy to develop treatment for DCS

Oxygen Biotherapeutics, Inc. today announced it has entered into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the U.S. Naval Medical Research Center (NMRC) to conduct preclinical trials to assess the safety and efficacy of Oxygen Biotherapeutics' proprietary Oxycyte perfluorocarbon emulsion (PFCE) for the prevention and treatment of decompression sickness and related injuries.

3 Aug 2010

NCI awards LSUHSC-NOLA Louisiana Tumor Registry $12 million SEER contract

The Louisiana Tumor Registry (LTR) at the LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans School of Public Health has been awarded a $12 million contract over seven years by the National Cancer Institute to continue its work as a SEER (Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results) Program-designated cancer registry. There are 18 competitively awarded SEER cancer registries in the United States.

3 Aug 2010

Mount Sinai joins MMRC to develop new treatments for multiple myeloma

The Multiple Myeloma Research Consortium (MMRC) and Mount Sinai School of Medicine today announced that Mount Sinai has become the newest Member Institution to join the MMRC to accelerate the development of new treatments for multiple myeloma.

3 Aug 2010

Prolonged use of high heels can contribute to joint degeneration, knee osteoarthritis

While women have been making a fashion statement in high heels for years -- wearing trendy stilettos, wedges, pumps and kitten heels -- there's reason for concern about what those heels may be doing to their knees and joints over time. A new study by an Iowa State University kinesiology master's student has found that prolonged wearing of and walking in heels can contribute to joint degeneration and knee osteoarthritis.

3 Aug 2010

Senate FMAP vote expected this evening

CQ:An administration official was making last-minute calls Monday "in the lead-up to an evening vote on a stand-alone bill to extend increased Medicaid payments to states and provide $10 billion for educators' jobs." The measure, with a $26.1 billion price tag, contains the Medicaid and education provisions that were "struck a from other bills despite heavy lobbying by state and local officials."

3 Aug 2010