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'Medical homes' bolster primary care and cut emergency costs

Several news outlets look at efforts to manage care for Medicaid patients and the uninsured better.

3 Aug 2010

Orthovita second-quarter operating income improves to $0.4 million

Orthovita, Inc., an orthobiologics and biosurgery company, reported financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2010. Product sales for the second quarter of 2010 were $23.9 million compared to $24.5 million for the second quarter of 2009. Product sales for the second quarter of 2009 included $0.6 million from the sale of Vitomatrix™, a bone graft material used in dental products. There were no Vitomatrix sales in the second quarter of 2010 and no further sales of Vitomatrix are currently expected.

3 Aug 2010

Research links body weight to glaucoma risk

This month's Ophthalmology journal includes surprising research from the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary on the relation of body weight to the risk for glaucoma. Also, from researchers at the Tokyo Medical and Dental University, comes the first specific map of how the development of myopic maculopathy, an illness that afflicts many severely nearsighted people, predicts which patients will be most susceptible to vision loss.

3 Aug 2010

Doctor discounts for the asking

Reporting for Kaiser Health News, in collaboration with the Los Angeles Times, Lisa Zamosky writes: "Looking to save money on healthcare? Consider asking your doctor for a discount.

3 Aug 2010

Alphavirus vaccine blocks tumor growth in advanced cancer: Research

An experimental vaccine based on a virus that causes encephalitis in the wild appears to block tumor growth in some cases of advanced cancer, according to researchers at Duke University Medical Center. Scientists say the vaccine is able to stimulate an immune response, even in the face of profound immune system suppression, a condition most patients with advanced cancer experience.

3 Aug 2010

BioMarin completes BMN 195 Phase 1 clinical trial for Duchenne muscular dystrophy

BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. announced today that it has completed the Phase 1 clinical study of BMN 195, a small molecule utrophin up-regulator, for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). The Phase 1 clinical trial was a single-center, double-blind, placebo-controlled, single-dose escalation study followed by a multiple-dose escalation study in healthy volunteers.

3 Aug 2010

Allergan second-quarter diluted EPS increases to $0.78

Allergan, Inc. today announced operating results for the quarter ended June 30, 2010. Allergan also announced that its Board of Directors has declared a second quarter dividend of $0.05 per share, payable on September 7, 2010 to stockholders of record on August 17, 2010.

3 Aug 2010

Color red makes men more alluring to women: Study

It's a symbol of courage and sacrifice, of sin and sexuality, of power and passion - and now new research demonstrates that the color red makes men more alluring to women.In the United States, England, Germany and China, women found men more appealing when they were either pictured wearing red or framed in red, compared with other colors. The finding is reported in the August issue of the Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, published by the American Psychological Association.

3 Aug 2010

As e-prescribing becomes more popular, hurdles to adoption persist

The [Gary, IN] Post-Tribune: "While the trend toward e-prescribing has picked up steam in recent years, some doctors "said there continue to be barriers to widespread acceptance of a technology that could save thousands of lives.

3 Aug 2010

VertiFlex enrolls 150 patients in Superion Interspinous Spacer IDE clinical trial

VertiFlex, Inc., a leading innovator of minimally invasive and motion preserving spinal surgery technologies, today announced that 150 patients have been enrolled in its pivotal IDE clinical trial of the Superion Interspinous Spacer (ISS).

3 Aug 2010

Researchers develop techniques to identify evolution of drug resistance strains of malaria

Researchers at Case Western Reserve University developed techniques to quickly identify evolution of drug resistance in strains of malaria. Their goal is to enable the medical community to react quickly to inevitable resistance and thereby save lives while increasing the lifespan of drugs used against the disease.Currently, disease monitoring requires months of clinical trials. The new methods can provide more information in just days, and far cheaper.

3 Aug 2010

Patrys secures funding of up to A$15 million to support advancement of clinical products

Patrys Limited (ASX: PAB), a company focused on the development of natural human antibodies for the treatment of cancer, announced today that it has secured up to A$15 million in funding.

3 Aug 2010

Severe swine flu cases on the rise

Severe cases of swine flu requiring intensive care are on the rise this week. This has prompted a warning for the vulnerable to be vaccinated. NSW Health Communicable Diseases Branch director Dr Jeremy McAnulty said that the cases appear to be caused by the flu strain that caused the 2009 pandemic.

3 Aug 2010

Man dies at a routine traffic stop

In a bizarre incident a 58 year old man died after the police intercepted his car during a routine traffic inspection on Bermuda Street, Varsity Lakes, about 10am on Monday (AEST).

3 Aug 2010

High levels of lead found in Mount Isa children: Study

According to a report published in the Medical Journal of Australia (MJA) yesterday, on average one child in the Queensland mining town of Mount Isa will exceed safe lead levels every nine days. The report also claimed that not enough was done to address the problem. MP Betty Kiernan has defended the measures taken to address this serious problem.

3 Aug 2010

MBF announces sale of MSD to Water Street Healthcare Partners

MBF Healthcare Partners, L.P., a middle market healthcare focused private equity firm, announced it has sold Medical Specialties Distributors, LLC, to private equity firm Water Street Healthcare Partners.

2 Aug 2010

Pakistani officials fear cholera outbreak after massive flooding

After floods in northwest Pakistan have "already killed up to 1,200 people" and forced 2 million from their homes, authorities are now concerned about disease spread, the Associated Press reports.

2 Aug 2010

VHGI Holdings' Medical Office Software sold to a private company

VHGI Holdings, Inc. announced today that it has sold the assets of its medical practice management subsidiary, Medical Office Software, Inc., to a private company for a purchase price of between $1,200,000 - $1,300,000 and a warrant to purchase 1% of the common stock in the new company.

2 Aug 2010

Disparities in cardiovascular disease risk linked to socioeconomic differences between races: Study

A new UCLA study suggests that disparities in cardiovascular disease risk in the United States are due less to race or ethnicity than to socioeconomic status.

2 Aug 2010