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Researchers discover potential way to stop tumor growth

Washington State University researchers have discovered a way to help cancer cells age and die, creating a promising avenue for slowing and even stopping the growth of tumors. "Hopefully, we can make cancer cells die like normal cells," says Weihang Chai, an assistant professor in the WSU School of Molecular Biosciences and WWAMI medical education program in Spokane. "Basically, you make the cancer cell go from immortal to mortal."

17 Jul 2010

NEOP receives stockholder approval to increase company shares to 205 milliion

Neoprobe Corporation (OTCBB: NEOP), a diversified developer of innovative oncology surgical and diagnostic products, announced at its 2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders that it received the approval of its stockholders to increase the number of authorized shares of the Company from 155 million to 205 million. In addition, stockholders re-elected Neoprobe President and CEO David C. Bupp, and elected for the first time, Brendan A. Ford and Eric K. Rowinsky, M.D. as Directors of the Company for terms ending at the 2013 Annual Meeting. Stockholders also approved the appointment of BDO Seidman, LLP to act as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for 2010.

17 Jul 2010

Meet the actuary who unwound Anthem's big rate increase request

The Los Angeles Times delivers the inside story of David Axene, a California actuary who, working from home and a hospital bed, unwound the mistaken math behind Anthem Blue Cross's request to raise rates by up to 39 percent earlier this year. "Axene Health Partners is off the beaten path, but it was well known to senior managers from the California Department of Insurance as a top-flight actuarial firm with a reputation for deft work.

17 Jul 2010

No abortion coverage in high risk pools, HHS says

"Elective abortion services will not be covered in state high-risk pools set up to provide coverage for sick people who can't get insurance, according to Obama administration officials," CQ HealthBeat reports.

17 Jul 2010

Alliance HealthCare commences $190 million registered exchange offer

Alliance HealthCare Services, Inc. announced today that it has commenced a registered exchange offer to exchange up to $190 million aggregate principal amount of its 8.00% series B senior notes due 2016 which have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, for any and all of its outstanding 8.00% senior notes due 2016 which were issued in a private placement.

17 Jul 2010

FDA can promote personalized medicine by identying gaps in laboratory operations: ACLA

The Food and Drug Administration can promote progress toward personalized medicine by approaching the oversight of laboratory developed tests (LDTs) in a focused, flexible, and balanced way according to the American Clinical Laboratory Association (ACLA). ACLA, which represents the nation's leading clinical laboratories, says that the factors supporting this approach include the growing role that such tests play in clinical decision making, especially in the area of new advanced diagnostics that derive from the mapping of the human genome and help fulfill the promise of personalized medicine.

17 Jul 2010

Grossman Burn Center moves to West Hills Hospital & Medical Center in West Hills

On Saturday, July 17, 2010, the Grossman Burn Center will relocate to West Hills Hospital & Medical Center in West Hills, CA.

17 Jul 2010

Capitol Hill hearing examines health, social consequences of child marriage

VOA News covered a hearing on Capitol Hill Thursday, which addressed child marriage in the developing world and its impact on girls and communities (Presto, 7/15).

17 Jul 2010

Health law backers say most small businesses will get tax credits

More than 85 percent of Utah small businesses - those with less than 25 employees - will be eligible for federal tax credits to help pay for employee health coverage according to two lobbying groups that favored the health overhaul, The Salt Lake Tribune reports. "The two organizations said 37,800 companies will qualify for the credit, worth up to 35 percent of a small business's premium costs in 2010. The credit increases to 50 percent in January" (Beebe, 7/15).

17 Jul 2010

Simulations Plus third-quarter consolidated revenues increase 14.9% to record $3.1 million

Simulations Plus, Inc., a leading provider of simulation and modeling software for pharmaceutical discovery and development, today reported financial results for its third quarter of fiscal year 2010 ended May 31, 2010 (3QFY10).

17 Jul 2010

Emisphere Technologies discuses on high dose oral Eligen B12 1000mcg

Emisphere Technologies, Inc. announced today that it is engaged in ongoing discussions with a potential licensee for its high dose oral Eligen B12 1000mcg as a Medical Food for individuals with B12 deficiency. In addition, the Company is evaluating other potential licensees as well as the possibility of marketing the product without a partner.

17 Jul 2010

Capitol Hill Watch: Obama agenda under scrutiny as lawmakers talk Medicare, budgets

President Obama's agenda, which includes a sweeping overhaul of the health care system, is coming under increased political scrutiny as lawmakers struggle with health budget challenges, and consider issues such as medical bankruptcy and improper Medicare payments.

17 Jul 2010

Mother’s obesity surgery may cause vitamin deficiencies in children

Biliopancreatic diversion surgery for morbid obesity is known to cause multiple vitamin deficiencies that may worsen during pregnancy. In the June issue of the Journal of AAPOS, the Official Publication of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, a group of Australian clinicians report a child who was born blind as a result of Vitamin A deficiency caused by his mother's obesity surgery.

17 Jul 2010

GTC Biotherapeutics regains US commercialization rights to ATryn from Lundbeck

GTC Biotherapeutics, Inc. announced today that it has signed a definitive agreement whereby the Company has regained US commercialization rights to ATryn from Lundbeck, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of H. Lundbeck A/S in Denmark.

17 Jul 2010

94 indicted in five-state crackdown on Medicare fraud

Law enforcement officers fanned out across five states Friday in what federal officials called the largest Medicare fraud bust ever conducted. Nearly 100 people were indicted in frauds that totaled $251 million.

17 Jul 2010

Opinions: Science communication for development; International disaster response

"Helping developing countries communicate and use science is essential to international aid and diplomacy. The biggest single factor limiting developing countries' potential for achieving sustainable economic growth - or even attaining the Millennium Development Goals - is their ability to access and apply the fruits of modern science and technology," David Dickson, the director of SciDev.Net, writes in an editorial on the website.

17 Jul 2010

Research findings may help identify human TOR kinase inhibitors

A parasite estimated to afflict as many as 12 million people worldwide relies on a family of genes that should make it vulnerable to compounds developed to treat cancer and other disorders, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have found.

17 Jul 2010

Simple health messages can prevent excess weight gain in young mothers

A simple community program has been shown to be effective in preventing excess weight gain commonly experienced by young mothers. The research, published online today in the British Medical Journal at bmj.com has found that weight gain can be prevented with a program based on simple health messages, small changes to behaviour, and delivered conveniently in a community setting.

17 Jul 2010

FCC to step up rural broadband for health care

"The U.S. Federal Communications Commission took the first step Thursday toward reworking a US$400 million-a-year program to subsidize telecommunications services to rural health-care facilities, with the new emphasis on broadband. The commission voted unanimously to approve a notice of proposed rulemaking, or NPRM, designed to bring affordable broadband connectivity to more than 2,000 rural hospitals and clinics across the U.S. The purpose of an NPRM is to ask members of the public whether they agree with the proposed changes" (Gross, 7/15).

17 Jul 2010

Research Roundups: Health IT progress; Telecare and cancer pain; State exchanges; Adults with no medical care

eHealth/Commonwealth Fund: National Progress Report On eHealth - This extensive report examines changes in the adoption and use of health information technology (HIT) since 2007, as assessed by a group of more than 100 experts.

17 Jul 2010