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Business Roundtable issues report on health care cost trends

In September 2009, Business Roundtable issued a report on health care cost trends prepared by Hewitt Associates. Its central finding was that, if present trends continue, the cost to provide an employee with health care will rise from $10,000 to $28,000 over ten years. Cost increases of this magnitude imperil the competitiveness of our companies and the health care coverage of our employees; they must be addressed.

2 Mar 2010

Study finds most HIV prevention, treatment, care efforts overlook IDUs

A systematic review of HIV prevention, treatment and care for injecting drug users (IDUs) throughout the world, published Monday in the journal Lancet, found that international efforts to fight the disease are largely overlooking this population, the Australian Associated Press/Sydney Morning Herald reports (Rose, 3/1).

2 Mar 2010

Majority of prediabetic patients are not adopting preventive measures to avoid diabetes

Although it is known that diabetes can be prevented or delayed among adults at high risk through modest weight loss and increased physical activity, a study published in the April 2010 issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine revealed that only about half of U.S. adults with prediabetes reported that in the past year they tried to lose weight or exercise more.

2 Mar 2010

Columbia University, FairChoice Systems sign agreement to market student health information system

Columbia University and FairChoice Systems, Inc. have signed a multi-year commercialization agreement that will bring to market a cost-effective, online student health information system developed and implemented by Columbia University's own Student Health Services.

2 Mar 2010

Research focuses on DYRK1A gene in association with Down's syndrome

Research undertaken in recent years on Down's syndrome has focused on the DYRK1A gene. The superexpression of this gene affects transmission in the neurones, according to Mr Garikoitz Azkona. In his PhD thesis, The molecular bases of neuropathology in Down's syndrome: the role of DYRK1A, Mr Azkona argues that this failure in neurone transmission could be behind the problem that persons with Down's syndrome have regarding visual-spatial memory.

2 Mar 2010

Pelosi says Obama to propose 'smaller' health care bill; Durbin defends reconciliation

During a stop in Denver Monday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said President Barack Obama plans to propose a "health care bill that will be 'much smaller' than the House bill but 'big enough' to put the country on a 'path' toward health care reform" within days, FoxNews.com reports. According to a senior administration official, Obama plans to unveil his proposal Wednesday

2 Mar 2010

Wolters Kluwer Health introduces advanced medication decision support platform for EMR vendors

Wolters Kluwer Health, a leading global provider of information for healthcare professionals and students, today unveiled Medi-Span® Clinical, a robust clinical decision support (CDS) platform that delivers the functionality, interoperability and medication-related CDS necessary to advance the practice of evidence-based medicine and to achieve meaningful use of health IT.

2 Mar 2010

RMEI and PIM sponsor education webcast on therapeutic considerations for CRPC

Castrate-refractory prostate cancer (CRPC), which is characterized by tumor progression despite castrate levels of testosterone, develops in many prostate cancer patients treated with androgen-deprivation therapy. Standardized guidelines for treatment of CRPC are lacking and healthcare professionals must consider several factors, including serum markers, patient age and pre-existing comorbidities when choosing between second-line hormonal therapy and chemotherapy for treatment of CRPC.

2 Mar 2010

Hill-Rom extends smart room technology for improved clinical workflow

Today, Hill-Rom announced the extension of its smart room technology to provide a choice of solutions that connect the smart bed and other medical devices to the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) on both a wired and a wireless platform.

2 Mar 2010

Eliminating sugary beverages and junk foods from schools may help slow childhood obesity

New policies that eliminate sugary beverages and junk foods from schools may help slow childhood obesity, according to a San Francisco State University study released today and published in the March issue of the journal Health Affairs.

2 Mar 2010

Association between depression and obesity bidirectional

Obesity appears to be associated with an increased risk of depression, and depression also appears associated with an increased risk of developing obesity, according to a meta-analysis of previously published studies in the March issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

2 Mar 2010

Foster Friess to make substantial contribution to fund ovarian cancer research at TGen

Moved by the death of an employee's daughter, prominent international businessman and philanthropist Foster Friess will make a substantial contribution to fund ovarian cancer research at the Translational Genomics Research Institute.

2 Mar 2010

Briggs Medical Service earns ISO Registration and CE Mark certification

Briggs Medical Service Company today announced that it has earned both the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Registration and the CE Mark certification.

2 Mar 2010

GTC Biotherapeutics achieves high-level production of TG20 monoclonal antibody

GTC Biotherapeutics, Inc. announced that it has achieved high-level production of TG20; an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody (MAb). The TG20 MAb, which is produced in the milk of transgenic goats, is being co-developed by GTC and LFB as part of the LFB-GTC joint venture.

2 Mar 2010

IgPro20 protects PI patients against infection

Data presented today suggest that 20 percent liquid formulation, Immune Globulin Subcutaneous (Human) (SCIg), or IgPro20 effectively protects patients with primary immunodeficiencies (PI) against infection. The 20 percent formulation, the highest Ig concentration currently available, was also shown to sustain serum IgG levels without causing unexpected rates of adverse events. The data were presented at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) Annual Meeting in New Orleans, US.

2 Mar 2010

MEDSEEK publishes eHealth patterns guide for healthcare organizations

MEDSEEK, the leading provider of healthcare enterprise portal connectivity solutions, today announced the publication of the first in a series of eHealth patterns guides, eHealth Patterns in the 21st Century: The Patient Experience.

2 Mar 2010

HMS initiates new interoperability product for customers

Healthcare Management Systems, Inc. ® announced today the launch of a new interoperability product for customers that will enable the exchange of clinical data between third party systems, health information exchanges, and public registries. The new product will assist clients in qualifying for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act HITECH stimulus funds.

2 Mar 2010

Michigan hospitals face rising costs; Doctor urges culture changes to increase safety

Hospitals in Michigan are losing money, according to a report expected to be released today by the Michigan Health & Hospital Association. The Detroit Free Press reports that the losses are leading to "layoffs, hiring freezes and elimination of some services."

2 Mar 2010

Patients admitted to hospice care are rarely having their ICDs deactivated

Researchers from Mount Sinai School of Medicine have found that patients admitted to hospice care who have an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) are rarely having their ICDs deactivated and are receiving electrical shocks from these devices near the end of life. This first-of-its-kind study of hospice patients with ICDs is published in the March 2, 2010 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.

2 Mar 2010

Rescission is one of rare points of agreement in health care overhaul

NPR reports that rescission, "where health insurance companies cancel policies after people run up heavy bills" is one of the points of agreement among lawmakers of both parties in health care reform as evidenced by its inclusion in comments at last week's health care summit.

2 Mar 2010