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BD Diagnostics receives 510(k) clearance to market GBS assay on BD MAX System

BD Diagnostics, a segment of BD, announced today that it has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to market the BD MAX™ GBS Assay for Group B Streptococcus on the BD MAX System. The BD MAX System is a next-generation automated workstation for molecular testing designed to streamline workflow and offer full walkaway automation to accommodate varying workloads for maximum lab efficiency and flexibility.

From BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) 3 Jun 2010

DBS procedure effective for treating Parkinson's disease

Studies have shown that a "brain pacemaker" called deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an effective treatment for Parkinson's disease.

3 Jun 2010

AP: Asking questions can save patients money

Doing some simple homework before receiving medical treatment may help consumers save money, The Associated Press reports. "Here are some things to consider before checking in to a hospital or outpatient surgery center for non-emergency care. Be prepared to ask your doctor or insurer questions."

3 Jun 2010

Queensland Health pay bungle continues into June

The new payroll system for Queensland health care staff introduced this March is still not fixed even at the end of the sixth fortnightly pay cycle. Many have been over, under or not paid after the system was introduced. More to the “shame” of the authorities two dead nurses have been paid and one dead nurse’s name reappeared in the duty rosters.

2 Jun 2010

Novel anti-malarial drug developed from blood thinner by Australian scientists

Malaria caused by a parasite that is borne in female mosquitoes and that spreads in humans through mosquito bites is a major public health problem and it kills more than a million people world wide each year. With the rise of resistance of many of the strains of the malaria parasite to most of the anti-malarial drugs the problem is escalating at an alarming pace.

2 Jun 2010

Major loophole in physical education mandates for students in U.S.

The Shape of the Nation Report: Status of Physical Education in the USA released today from the National Association for Sport and Physical Education and the American Heart Association, shows that while the majority of states mandate physical education, there are two significant inadequacies: time requirements and exemptions/waivers.

2 Jun 2010

Companies offer cash to employees to lose weight

Companies are betting that cash incentives will make employees want to lose weight and get healthier in other ways, The Associated Press reports. A third of companies in the U.S. offer such incentives. "Take OhioHealth, a hospital chain whose workforce is mostly overweight. The company last year embarked on a program that paid employees to wear pedometers and get paid for walking.

2 Jun 2010

Rural hospitals: Does the health law help or hurt?

Some politicians and hospital administrators worry that the new health law will cause rural facilities to lose revenue, bucking the trend of Washington's political establishment's long support for rural hospitals, the Omaha World-Herald reports. The law does have "pro-rural provisions" that received bipartisan support. But as the federal government writes rules for the law, partisan interpretations of the true impact on rural hospitals has continued.

2 Jun 2010

AMA to campaign for Medicare payment 'doc fix,' physicians increasingly frustrated

The American Medical Association is launching an ad campaign urging Congress to end a 21 percent cut to Medicare doctor reimbursement rates as physicians consider opting out the federal health care program.

2 Jun 2010

Data on ImmunoCellular Therapeutics' ICT-107 for GBM to be presented at 46th ASCO

ImmunoCellular Therapeutics, Ltd. a biotechnology company focused on the development of novel immune-based cancer therapies, today announced that data from a recent clinical trial of ICT-107, the company's dendritic cell based cancer vaccine candidate for the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), will be presented at the 46th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) being held June 4-8 in Chicago.

2 Jun 2010

3.5 million FC2 Female Condoms ordered for distribution at 2010 World Cup

The Female Health Company announced that it has fulfilled an order for 3.5 million FC2 Female Condoms to be distributed for HIV/AIDS prevention to attendees at the 2010 World Cup. The 2010 World Cup will take place in The Republic of South Africa from June 11, 2010 to July 11, 2010.

2 Jun 2010

Entelos' T1D PhysioLab platform published in Clinical and Experimental Immunology

Entelos, Inc. has announced a publication in the peer-reviewed journal Clinical and Experimental Immunology describing the Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) PhysioLab® platform, an in silico solution for rapidly streamlining preclinical research through the evaluation of alternative scenarios for therapeutic strategies.

2 Jun 2010

CompCare joins Peoples Health network as exclusive managed behavioral healthcare provider

Comprehensive Care Corporation today announced that it has signed a multi-year contract to provide behavioral health services for Peoples Health. Based in Metairie, Louisiana, Peoples Health is an entirely physician-owned and operated local organization that provides benefits exclusively to Medicare recipients in southeast Louisiana.

2 Jun 2010

New oral blood-thinning drugs may have dangerous interactions when taken with prescription drugs : Study

Three new oral blood-thinning drugs nearing approval by the Food and Drug Administration are more convenient than the standard drug Coumadin® because they do not require monthly visits to adjust doses.

2 Jun 2010

CCAC applauds Quebec Ministry of Health's colorectal cancer screening pilot

The Colorectal Cancer Association of Canada (CCAC) applauds the decision of the Quebec Ministry of Health and its Minister Yves Bolduc to implement a colorectal cancer screening pilot in anticipation of launching a province wide colorectal cancer screening program.

2 Jun 2010

Bangalore INDIA BIO 2010 inaugurated

Bangalore INDIA BIO 2010, India's premier Biotechnology event organized by the Department of Information Technology, Biotechnology and Science & Technology, Government of Karnataka, Vision Group on Biotechnology and MM Activ Sci-Tech Communications Co was inaugurated today by Shri B.S. Yeddyurappa, Hon'ble Chief Minister of Karnataka, and Shri Katta Subramanya Naidu - Hon'ble Minister for IT & BT, Information, Excise and BWSSB, Government of Karnataka.

2 Jun 2010

Synergetics reports preliminary results for third-quarter fiscal 2010

Synergetics USA, Inc. today announced its preliminary results for the third fiscal quarter ended April 30, 2010 related to the allocation of proceeds from the settlement, license and supply agreement with Alcon Laboratories, Inc. and the expected gain from the sale of the Omni® product line to Stryker Corporation.

2 Jun 2010

IntriCon completes divestiture of RTI Electronics

IntriCon Corporation, a designer, developer, manufacturer and distributor of body-worn medical and electronics devices, today announced that it has completed the previously announced divestiture of its non-core electronics business, Anaheim, Calif.-based RTI Electronics, Inc. IntriCon has sold the business to an affiliate of Shackleton Equity Partners, a Los Angeles-based private equity group.

2 Jun 2010

Celerion announces launch of new Hybrid Phase I/ ECG Core lab

Celerion, the premier provider of innovative early stage clinical research solutions, announces the launch of a new Hybrid Phase I/ ECG Core lab. The Hybrid Phase I/ ECG Core lab provides highly automated ECG analysis for Celerion's global Phase I clinical network. Celerion's highly automated approach employs cutting-edge technology to perform automated measurement of ECG recordings, thereby minimizing cardiologist review and providing clients with faster access to data.

2 Jun 2010

Cantel Medical acquires Texas-based Purity Water

CANTEL MEDICAL CORP., through its Mar Cor Purification subsidiary, has continued the expansion of its water purification and filtration segment by purchasing Texas-based Purity Water Company of San Antonio, Inc. Purity provides water treatment equipment and services for laboratory, industrial, medical, pharmaceutical and semiconductor customers in Texas and neighboring states. The acquired business had pre-acquisition revenues of approximately $3.0 million.

2 Jun 2010