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Democrats, Republicans using health reform votes to plot November strategies

The Associated Press: Vulnerable Democrats around the country are "tiptoeing" during the recess as they prepare for midterm elections. "Tough votes for Obama's health care plan have further complicated the re-election prospects of dozens of already vulnerable freshman and second-term Democrats. There's even a chance the party could lose control of one or both houses in the midterm elections."

9 Apr 2010

The Harvard Drug Group sold to Court Square Capital Partners

H.I.G. Capital, L.L.C., a leading global private equity investment firm, today announced the successful sale of The Harvard Drug Group, LLC to Court Square Capital Partners, a private equity firm based in New York, NY.

9 Apr 2010

Mass. Judge says he will decide by Monday whether state erred in rejecting premium increases

A Suffolk Superior Court judge today "promised to make a decision by Monday afternoon in a high-stakes showdown between the [Gov. Deval] Patrick administration and the state's top health insurers" over proposed premium increases rejected by the state's Division of Insurance, the Boston Herald reports (McConville, 4/8).

9 Apr 2010

QuadraMed introduces Quantim ICD-10 Coding Simulator

QuadraMed® Corporation, a leading provider of healthcare technologies and services that help turn quality care into positive financial outcomes, today announced the general availability of the industry's first ICD-10 Simulator developed to help coders prepare for the transition to ICD-10. The Quantim ICD-10 Coding Simulator, which is available today as a component of the ICD-10 Countdown Program, is a unique solution that duplicates the ICD-10 coding environment for accelerated training and practice purposes.

9 Apr 2010

Triclosan antibacterial found in soap in the spotlight

If a chemical is banned in other countries and by the European Union, it does merit a study by the FDA, even if there is no existing study to suggest that it is harmful to humans. While there may be no current evidence available that triclosan is hazardous to humans, it has been linked to hormone alterations in animals.

9 Apr 2010

Linda Douglass leaving Obama's staff

The Hill reports that the "White House's top spokeswoman" on the health care issue is leaving.

9 Apr 2010

Abortion coverage debate moves to the states

The debate over insurance coverage for abortion is moving to the state level, with "lawmakers in at least six states" pushing for a ban on the coverage that goes beyond provisions in the new health law, The Wall Street Journal reports.

9 Apr 2010

Æterna Zentaris commences perifosine Phase 3 registration trial

Æterna Zentaris Inc., a late-stage drug development company specialized in oncology and endocrine therapy, today announced the initiation of a Phase 3 registration clinical trial with perifosine (KRX-0401) ), the Company's novel, potentially first-in-class, oral anti-cancer agent that inhibits Akt activation in the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway, for the treatment of refractory advanced colorectal cancer.

9 Apr 2010

Bernanke warns: Trouble ahead for Medicare and Social Security

"Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke warned Wednesday that Americans may have to accept higher taxes or changes in cherished entitlements such as Medicare and Social Security if the nation is to avoid staggering budget deficits that threaten to choke off economic growth," The Washington Post reports. "'These choices are difficult, and it always seems easier to put them off -- until the day they cannot be put off anymore,' Bernanke said..."

9 Apr 2010

Tennessee removes about 100,000 people from Medicaid rolls

Anita Wadhwani reports for Kaiser Health News: "After losing the use of her arms and legs in a car accident five years ago, Jessica Pipkin received around-the-clock nursing care through Tennessee's Medicaid program.

9 Apr 2010

ZIOPHARM Oncology commences Phase I/II study of Zybulin for metastatic breast cancer

ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc., announced today it has initiated a Phase I/II study at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center for the novel, mathematically - determined administration of oral indibulin (Zybulin™ or ZIO-301) in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer.

9 Apr 2010

Kids who walk are on track to better health

Children who walk to school are more physically active in their day-to-day activities around their neighbourhood than those children who are driven to school, a new study finds.

8 Apr 2010

Raised levels of carbon dioxide in blood may lead to ‘near death experiences’

Near death experiences (NDEs), reported to include sensations such as life flashing before the eyes, feelings of peace and joy, and apparent encounters with mystical entities, may be caused by raised levels of carbon dioxide in the blood. Researchers writing in BioMed Central's open access journal Critical Care investigated the unexplained events in 52 cardiac arrest patients.

8 Apr 2010

WTC FDNY Rescue Workers have not recovered normal lung function, yet

A study of nearly 13,000 rescue workers from the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) shows that the significant proportion who suffered acute lung damage after exposure to World Trade Center (WTC) dust have not recovered normal lung function in the years since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

8 Apr 2010

Dealing with emotional impacts of bullying before it's too late

The California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) encourages parents to talk with teens about bullying before it's too late. A conversation can be an important first step in identifying a bullying problem and stopping the abuse before it goes too far.

8 Apr 2010

Whey Protein Isolate damages and accelerates hair loss

Dr. Larry Shapiro, a nationally recognized hair transplant surgeon and dermatologist in South Florida, announced today the results of a study that compared the Effects of Whey Protein Concentrate (WPC) to Whey Protein Isolate (WPI) on Hair, which suggests that WPI, an ingredient found in many popular weight loss, meal replacement and body building products, is contributing to hair loss.

8 Apr 2010

Merge Healthcare to exhibit expanded suite of women's imaging solutions at NCBC 2010

Merge Healthcare, a health IT solutions leader, today announced it will be showcasing it's expanded suite of innovative solutions and support of comprehensive continuing education programs for the advancement of women's imaging at the National Conference on Breast Cancer (NCBC) 2010. Additionally, Merge plans to introduce and collaborate with attendees on its Women's Healthcare Initiative, which builds partnerships with clinicians to provide broader access to training in the analysis and interpretation of these important studies.

8 Apr 2010

Political controversies surrounding healthcare reform law may continue

A comprehensive review of national opinion polls taken before and after Congressional voting and when President Obama signed into law a major healthcare reform bill last month has found that the law's signing did not lead the country to come together in support of this landmark legislation. Partisan differences are stark, according to researchers at Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) who analyzed 33 independent opinion polls in an effort to gauge public support for healthcare change.

8 Apr 2010

Crohn's disease: Remicade prescription to decrease, while Humira's increases

Decision Resources, one of the world's leading research and advisory firms for pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, finds that surveyed gastroenterologists estimate that (assuming no new data on adverse events emerge) they will treat fewer Crohn's disease patients with Centocor Ortho Biotech/Merck/Mitsubishi Tanabe's Remicade by the end of 2010, while the percentage of biologics-treated patients receiving Abbott/Eisai's Humira will increase to 36 percent.

8 Apr 2010

USCA recognizes Union Dental Holdings with Best of Coral Springs Award

Union Dental Holdings, Inc. - http://www.uniondental.com/ir - a Company that operates and manages a network of dentists throughout the United States for union members announced today it has received the Best of Coral Springs Award in the Dentists category by the U.S. Commerce Association for the second year in a row.

8 Apr 2010