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Financial shortcomings in healthcare industry declines DR, CR purchase

Widespread capital freezes and financial shortcomings in the healthcare industry have caused a significant decline in the number of Digital Radiography (DR) and Computed Radiography (CR) purchases. One key challenge faced by the industry has been the lack of capital available for technologies which require high initial investments, such as digital solutions. However, with the economy recovering and funds becoming available to potential buyers, the unit shipment volume is expected to gain momentum in 2011.

2 Aug 2010

Nutritional labeling, point-of-purchase signs influence healthy food choices: Study

Poor diet and physical inactivity leading to obesity are poised to overtake tobacco use as the leading cause of preventable death in the United States. With over 30% of U.S. adults obese, the significant adverse health effects of obesity (including heart disease and diabetes) are widespread throughout the country. Two studies published in the August issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association shed light on behaviors regarding food choices and good nutrition and report on how nutritional labeling and point-of-purchase signs are influencing healthy food choices.

2 Aug 2010

Merck reports strong bottom-line performance in second quarter

Merck & Co., Inc. today announced financial results for the second quarter of 2010. The company reported non-GAAP (generally accepted accounting principles) earnings per share (EPS) for the second quarter of $0.86, which excludes purchase accounting adjustments, merger-related expenses, restructuring costs and the gain on AstraZeneca's asset option exercise. Second-quarter GAAP EPS was $0.24.

2 Aug 2010

Health Care Politics: parties dispute tax reporting requirement; administration woos seniors with new Ad

The Associated Press "Tucked into the new health care law is a requirement that could become a paperwork nightmare for nearly 40 million businesses. They must file tax forms for every vendor that sells them more than $600 in goods. The goal is to prevent vendors from underreporting their income to the Internal Revenue Service.

2 Aug 2010

Almac's solutions to support biopharma companies by adopting biomarker strategies

Almac today announced the launch of Biomarkers for biopharma a range of solutions specifically designed to meet the needs of the biopharma industry.Almac's solutions are to support biopharma companies in adopting biomarker strategies to enable them to better understand their drug, improve their drug's success rate, improve the drug's value and ultimately maximise their drug's potential.

2 Aug 2010

Scottsdale Healthcare surgeon elects as new president for ASMBS

Scottsdale Healthcare surgeon Robin Blackstone, MD is the new president-elect of the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS), recognizing her leadership and expertise in the field of weight-loss surgery.

2 Aug 2010

Ohio, Oklahoma offering coverage for hard-to-insure people

The Cleveland Plain Dealer "Ohioans who haven't been able to find affordable health insurance because of pre-existing conditions can get high-risk coverage as soon as Sept. 1. The state will receive $152 million in federal money to pay for the new program a product of the health-care reform bill President Barack Obama signed into law in March. That's enough to cover about 5,000 people, said Carly Glick, spokeswoman for the Ohio Department of Insurance."

2 Aug 2010

Scientists identify way to regulate uncontrolled growth of blood vessels

Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have identified a new way to regulate the uncontrolled growth of blood vessels, a major problem in a broad range of diseases and conditions.

2 Aug 2010

Alcon shareholders to vote on conditional election of Novartis' board designees

The Alcon Independent Director Committee (the "IDC") today announced that RiskMetrics Group, Inc. and Glass Lewis & Co., two global leaders in risk management, corporate governance and proxy advisory services, have both recommended that Alcon minority shareholders vote against all five of Novartis AG's ("Novartis") designees to the Alcon board of directors. As previously announced, pursuant to the terms of agreements between Novartis and Nestlé SA entered into in 2008, Alcon shareholders will vote on the conditional election of Novartis' board designees at an extraordinary general meeting on August 16, 2010.

2 Aug 2010

Store-and-forward telemedicine as effective as in-person evaluation for planning ear surgery: Study

The 2010 Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO of the American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Foundation,the largest meeting of ear, nose, and throat doctors in the world, will convene September 26-29, in Boston, MA. The official abstract supplement for the annual meeting is now available with the regular August 2010 issue of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery.

2 Aug 2010

Study shows increased rate of SIDS in male infant

A study in the Aug. 1 issue of the journal Sleep shows that at 2 to 4 weeks of age male infants are easier to arouse than females during quiet sleep, and by 2 to 3 months of age there are no significant gender differences in arousability. The results suggest that the increased rate of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) in males may not reflect a pre-existing vulnerability involving arousal responses.

2 Aug 2010

Scientists develop light-controlled membrane for drug delivery

A new membrane developed at the University of Rochester's Laboratory for Laser Energetics blocks gas from flowing through it when one color of light is shined on its surface, and permits gas to flow through when another color of light is used. It is the first time that scientists have developed a membrane that can be controlled in this way by light.

2 Aug 2010

RANZCR optimization training workshop enables radiation dose reduction in adult scans

Numerous radiology practices were able to significantly reduce the radiation dose associated with multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) scans by participating in a one day dose optimization workshop provided by the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists and supported by the local state health department, according to a study in the August issue of the Journal of the American College of Radiology.

2 Aug 2010

An overview of IntraHealth-UNC Summer Fellows Program

Four master's students and one doctoral candidate from the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health shared their global health research and insights at the culmination of a 10-week joint fellowship with IntraHealth International this Wednesday during a poster exhibition and discussion with faculty and staff.

2 Aug 2010

Researchers develop search tool to extract data from patient's electronic medical record

Researchers at one of the top five hospitals in the United States have developed an advanced search tool called the Queriable Patient Inference Dossier (QPID) that helps radiologists and other physicians extract useful data from a patient's electronic medical record (EMR) in a timely and efficient manner, according to an article in the August issue of the Journal of the American College of Radiology.

2 Aug 2010

microRNA protects red blood cells from oxidant stress: Study

Pediatric researchers have discovered a new biological pathway in which small segments of RNA, called microRNA, help protect red blood cells from injury caused by chemicals called free radicals. The microRNA seems to have only a modest role when red blood cells experience normal conditions, but steps into action when the cells are threatened by oxidant stress.

2 Aug 2010

Processed meats may increase risk of developing bladder cancer: Research

A new study suggests that consuming specific compounds in meat related to processing methods may be associated with an increased risk of developing bladder cancer. Published early online in CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the findings may be relevant for understanding the role of dietary exposures in cancer risk.

2 Aug 2010

Aetna offers two RHP plans for companies in need of health care cover

Companies operating across the Middle East now have a new choice in health benefits plans from Aetna Global Benefits (AGB), the international business segment of Aetna, that provides additional flexibility in cover and affordability. The organisation has expanded its Regional Healthcare Plan (RHP) for companies in need of health care cover for their expatriate employees living across the region.

2 Aug 2010

Abnormal sleep duration adversely affects cardiovascular health

A study in the Aug. 1 issue of the journal Sleep suggests that regularly sleeping for more or less than seven hours per day is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

2 Aug 2010

Study on disparities in survival of cancer patients from different socioeconomic groups

A new analysis from Canada has found that cancer patients from poorer communities have a greater chance of dying prematurely than individuals from more affluent backgrounds even though cancer stage at time of diagnosis is similar across socioeconomic groups. Published early online in CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the study indicates that efforts are needed to understand and reduce disparities in the survival of cancer patients from different socioeconomic groups.

2 Aug 2010