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DFG approves establishment of twelve new CRCs

The Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft has approved the establishment of twelve new Collaborative Research Centres beginning 1 July 2010. This was decided by the responsible Grants Committee at its spring meeting in Bonn. The new CRCs will initially be funded for four years with a total of 112 million euros (including a 20% programme allowance for indirect project costs).

29 May 2010

Victhom attributes 99.6% decrease in first-quarter revenues to transfer of development activities to Ossur

Victhom Human Bionics Inc. today reported its first quarter 2010 financial results.

29 May 2010

Medicare 'doughnut hole' rebate checks are in mail, Obama adminstration announces

Senior citizens who hit the so-called doughnut hole in Medicare's drug benefit will begin getting $250 rebate checks in two weeks, the Obama administration announced Thursday — providing one of the first tangible benefits of the recently enacted healthcare law. The rebates, designed in part to bolster support for the controversial law, are the first steps in a decade-long phase-out of the unpopular gap in Medicare Part D drug coverage.

29 May 2010

FDA approves Cysview for detection of non-muscle-invasive papillary cancer of bladder

GE Healthcare, a unit of General Electric Company, today announced that the US Food and Drug Administration has approved Cysview (hexaminolevulinate HCl) for the detection of non-muscle-invasive papillary cancer of the bladder in patients with known or suspected bladder cancer.

29 May 2010

Today's Opinions: Never-events, Medicare 'propaganda' and drug copays

According to the Labor Department, overall inflation has averaged about 2.5 percent annually, and prescription drug prices have gone up about 3.6 percent each year, over that time frame. Co-pays, though, have increased four times faster than inflation (Peter J. Pitts, 5/28).

29 May 2010

US HIFU acquires Sonatherm 600 medical device from Misonix

USHIFU, LLC (US HIFU), a world leader in minimally invasive high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) technologies and manufacturer of the Sonablate® 500 (Sonablate) medical device, announces the acquisition of certain Misonix HIFU assets and European distribution rights. In addition, through its transaction with Misonix, US HIFU acquires the Sonatherm® 600 medical device, a laparoscopic HIFU system used to ablate certain soft tissues.

29 May 2010

Pancreatic cancer patients with circulating tumor cells tend to have worse outcomes: Study

Fox Chase Cancer Center investigators find that pancreatic cancer patients who have circulating tumor cells tend to have worse outcomes than patients without circulating tumor cells. Additionally, the team has uncovered evidence that not all circulating tumor cells are the same, and some may predict worse outcomes than others.

29 May 2010

Sebelius urges employers to quickly cover young adults

Kaiser Health News staff writer Mary Agnes Carey reports on a press conference yesterday in which Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius detailed how federal officials are working to get "self-insured employers — who provide health coverage for millions of Americans — to keep young adults up to age 26 on their parents' plans before the new law requires them to do so" (Carey, 5/28).

29 May 2010

New GreenLight XPS Laser System launched for treatment of BPH

American Medical Systems, a leading provider of world-class devices and therapies for both male and female pelvic health, today announced the launch and immediate availability of its new GreenLight XPS (Xcelerated Performance System) for laser treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia or enlarged prostate.

29 May 2010

Health law having effect on managed-care firms, medical suppliers

Managed-care firms may be positioned for a rebound on the stock market, The Wall Street Journal reports. "Over the past two years, the Standard & Poor's 500 managed-care index has fallen about 19%, weighed down by the health overhaul bill, weak economy and specific industry issues.

29 May 2010

3M announces acquisition of J.R. Phoenix

3M announced today it has acquired J.R. Phoenix Ltd., a manufacturer of hand hygiene and skin care products for health care and professional use including soaps, hand cleansers, moisturizing and protecting creams, antimicrobial soaps and sanitizing gels, shampoo and body wash.

29 May 2010

Novel pipette technique for study of structural properties of tissues

A collaboration of French and Canadian researchers have found that sucking a portion of a spherical globule of cells into a tiny pipette provides information about the adhesion between cells and the elastic properties of the tissue. The method is a novel approach for the study of the structural properties of tissues, and should offer insights into processes such as embryonic development, tissue growth and cancer. A paper describing the research appears online in Physical Review Letters on May 24.

28 May 2010

Scientists offer low-cost solutions to reduce arsenic in drinking water

An estimated 60 million people in Bangladesh are exposed to unsafe levels of arsenic in their drinking water, dramatically raising their risk for cancer and other serious diseases, according to the World Health Organization.

28 May 2010

2010 Quality Index Reports on Ontario's Cancer System

Wait times for cancer radiation treatment continued their decline across Ontario during 2009, despite a more than 10 per cent increase in the number of patients receiving treatment, according to the 2010 Cancer System Quality Index report issued today.

28 May 2010

Simoni Lift minimally invasive surgery to be revealed at international facial cosmetic surgery symposium

Renowned surgeons and aesthetic practitioners from around the world will be gathering to share and discuss the latest techniques and technologies in cosmetic surgery and dermatology at The 6th Annual Facial Cosmetic Surgery International Multi-Specialty Symposium in Las Vegas, July 14-18. For the first time, Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon Payman Simoni, MD, FACS, will be revealing the highly specialized techniques he has perfected with his highly publicized Simoni Lift™.

28 May 2010

Children watch more television if parents do

Children are more likely to watch high levels of television if their parents do, but parents do not need to be physically active to help their children to be active, a new study has found.

28 May 2010

Life Technologies acquires majority stake in Geneart

Life Technologies Corporation, a provider of innovative life science solutions, announced today that it has concluded its tender offer and acquired a majority stake in Geneart AG, the global leader of the synthetic gene market segment. The combination of Geneart with Life Technologies' resources and commercial capabilities creates a well-capitalized synthetic biology company with advanced technology and production capabilities, providing products to fuel innovation in this emerging field.

28 May 2010

Previous recommendations on H1N1 pandemic influenza vaccine still stand: SAGE

Previous recommendations on who should be vaccinated with the H1N1 pandemic influenza vaccine still stand according to the World WHO's Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization, the principal advisory group to WHO for development of policy related to vaccines and immunization.

28 May 2010

Advaxis doses first patient in FDA-approved phase II CIN trial

Advaxis, Inc., the live, attenuated Listeria monocytogenes biotechnology company, has dosed the first patient in its US Food and Drug Administration -approved, phase II clinical trial in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, commonly known as cervical dysplasia.

28 May 2010

Authentidate Holding receives Nasdaq deficiency notification

Authentidate Holding Corp., a worldwide provider of secure health information exchange, workflow management services and telehealth solutions, today announced that it received a deficiency notification from the Nasdaq Stock Market dated May 26, 2010 as the result of Authentidate not complying with the $1 minimum closing bid price requirement of Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2) during the consecutive 30 business day period from April 13, 2010 through May 25, 2010. This notification has no effect on the listing of the company's common stock at this time.

28 May 2010