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Art therapy benefits children with persistent asthma: Researchers

In the first randomized trial of art therapy for asthma, National Jewish Health researchers found that children with persistent asthma enjoyed decreased anxiety and increased quality of life after seven weekly art-therapy sessions.

13 May 2010

BioPharm Asia revenues increase 36.4% for fiscal 2009

BioPharm Asia, Inc., a producer, distributor and retailer of medical products in China, today reported its financial results for the full year ended December 31, 2009. The finalization of these results was delayed due to the February 2010 appointment of Davis Accounting Group P.C. as the Company's auditor.

13 May 2010

Scientists discover link between offspring lung function and maternal vitamin A supplementation

Vitamin A is critical to maternal health and child survival, yet in most developing countries Vitamin A deficiency is a leading cause of blindness and increased child mortality. The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health has long been a leader in vitamin A research, and scientists at the School recently discovered a link between offspring lung function and maternal vitamin A supplementation.

13 May 2010

FDA approves St. Jude Medical's Unify CRT-D and Fortify ICD devices

St. Jude Medical, Inc., a global medical device company, today announced U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval and first U.S. implants of its Unify™ cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator (CRT-D) and Fortify™ implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). The new devices feature advanced battery technology and circuitry that allow for the smallest device footprint in the industry and rapid charge times, without any compromise in device longevity or power.

13 May 2010

Pfizer to acquire terguride from Ergonex Pharma GmbH for treatment of PAH

Pfizer Inc. and Ergonex Pharma GmbH announced today that they have entered into an agreement under which Pfizer will acquire terguride, which is in development as a potential treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension.

13 May 2010

Michelle Obama releases plan to 'reverse childhood obesity'

USA Today: "First lady Michelle Obama unveiled a plan today to 'reverse the epidemic of childhood obesity' and called for help from governments, schools and businesses as well as the families themselves. ... Obama and her aides released a task force report titled Solving the Problem of Childhood Obesity Within a Generation. The goal, she said, is to 'ensure that our children can have the healthy lives and the bright futures that they deserve'" (Jackson, 5/11)

13 May 2010

pSivida reports consolidated net loss of $2.7 million for third-quarter 2010

pSivida Corp., a drug delivery company with two of the only three ophthalmic sustained release delivery products approved by the FDA for treatment of back-of-the-eye diseases, today announced financial results for its third quarter and nine months ended March 31, 2010.

13 May 2010

Researchers develop new technology to manage prostate cancer treatment

Researchers at Queen's University have developed a new way of performing lab tests that could improve the way doctors manage prostate cancer treatment. It will allow them to identify with unprecedented accuracy losses of a gene called PTEN that is associated with an aggressive group of prostate cancers.

13 May 2010

Today's OpEds: Mass. health reform and small business; Mccain's ideas not in Obama plan; Wellpoint's impact on law

The Commonwealth's 2006 health care reform was supposed to help address rising health insurance costs for small businesses. It hasn't — and small businesses are paying the price (Jim Stergios and Amy Lischko, 5/12).

13 May 2010

Boston Scientific receives CE Mark approval for TAXUS Element Paclitaxel-Eluting Coronary Stent System

Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that its corporate partner, Boston Scientific Corporation, has received CE Mark approval for its TAXUS(R) Element(TM) Paclitaxel-Eluting Coronary Stent System, Boston Scientific's third-generation drug-eluting stent (DES) technology.

13 May 2010

Study evaluates cost-utility of MARS treatment in ALF patients

Numerous studies have documented the favorable effects of MARS albumin dialysis treatment on clinical and laboratory parameters and survival in liver failure patients. However, to ensure that limited resources are utilized in an ethical manner, the subjective feelings of the patient in terms of health-related quality of life and costs should also be taken into account.

13 May 2010

FDA urges doctors to police drug ads

A new Federal Drug Administration program will urge doctors to blow the whistle on misleading drug advertisements.

13 May 2010

SunOpta first-quarter revenues increase 14.7% to $266.1 million

SunOpta Inc., a leading global company focused on natural, organic and specialty foods and natural health products, today announced financial results for the quarter period ended April 3, 2010. All amounts are expressed in U.S. dollars and results are reported in accordance with U.S. GAAP, except where specifically noted.

13 May 2010

FDA approves Evia pacemaker for distribution in the U.S.

BIOTRONIK today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has cleared the Evia pacemaker for distribution in the U.S., giving physicians and patients access to a unique Bradycardia system designed and manufactured with BIOTRONIK's unparalleled legacy of quality.

13 May 2010

Challenges to health reform face long campaign in many states

Thirty-three states are trying to block the mandate on individual American citizens to purchase health insurance, "as a growing roster of mostly Republican officials have mounted legal and legislative challenges" to this requirement. "This Friday, seven more states will formally join a lawsuit originally filed by Florida and 12 other states in late March.

13 May 2010

ABMC reports 7.6% increase in first-quarter 2010 net sales

American Bio Medica Corporation announced today its financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2010.

13 May 2010

Disabled vets strain overburdened VA system

NPR: "The Department of Veterans Affairs is struggling to cope with tens of thousands of veterans filing for disability benefits. Because there are applicants from two current wars — plus a new wave from the first Gulf War and Vietnam — thousands are now stuck in the clogged pipeline." Although there are differing estimates of how many, "everyone agrees that way too many vets are waiting way too long to get benefits.

13 May 2010

FDA approves Sagent's bacitracin for pneumonia and empyema

Sagent Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a privately held specialty pharmaceutical company, today announced FDA approval of bacitracin for injection, USP (bacitracin), an anti-infective product used to treat pneumonia and empyema. Bacitracin will be offered in a 50,000 MU, AP-rated, preservative-free, latex-free, single-dose vial packaged both individually and in packages of ten.

13 May 2010

Nurses give evidence of the horrifying day in Dr. Jayant Patel’s surgery

The trial of Dr. Jayant Patel continues. In recent evidence at the court one of the operating theatre nurses revealed under oath to the Brisbane Supreme Court how staff had tried to deter former Bundaberg-based surgeon Jayant Patel from transferring an unstable patient from the theatre to ICU, where he died. There was earlier evidence that the man was bleeding uncontrollably and also allegations that Patel urged junior doctors not to tell anyone what happened.

12 May 2010

HIV caseload increasing among primary care providers

Primary care providers (PCPs) are increasingly caring for and treating people living with HIV, according to the HealthHIV State of HIV Primary Care survey released today.

12 May 2010