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AIDS Healthcare Foundation bans Merck's sales representatives for unwarranted pricing of Isentress

AIDS Healthcare Foundation, the largest global AIDS organization which operates free AIDS treatment clinics in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean, the Asia/Pacific Region and Eastern Europe, including 18 healthcare centers in California, Florida, and Washington, DC, has banned pharmaceutical sales representatives from Merck and Co. Pharmaceuticals, from calling on AHF’s medical providers and staff in its US healthcare centers.

27 Jan 2010

UCF researcher develops first dual vaccine to fight malaria and cholera

A University of Central Florida biomedical researcher has developed what promises to be the first low-cost dual vaccine against malaria and cholera.

27 Jan 2010

Medtronic' Melody Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve receives FDA approval under HDE

In a significant development for congenital heart disease patients, Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE: MDT), announced today that its Melody® Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval under a Humanitarian Device Exemption (HDE).

27 Jan 2010

Scott & White conducts DBS research for Parkinson's patients

At Scott & White Memorial Hospital, a multi-disciplinary team of neurosurgeons, neurologists, neurophysiologist, neuropsychologists and a movement disorders specialist are offering hope to some Parkinson's patients with a treatment called Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS). DBS involves placing a thin wire that carries electrical currents deep within the brain on Parkinson's patients who are no longer benefitting from medications, and have significant uncontrollable body movements called dyskinesia. Scott & White is also performing research into the effects of DBS on the non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease including "drenching sweats," bladder dysfunction, depression, hallucination, anxiety, and dementia as well as intestinal disorders, loss of sense of smell, and sleep disturbances.

27 Jan 2010

Ecolab signs exclusive license agreement with C Change Surgical

Ecolab Inc. today announced it has entered into an exclusive agreement with C Change Surgical LLC to license products that improve surgical outcomes by helping to maintain consistent body temperature of patients. The

27 Jan 2010

Dr. Shinya Yamanaka to receive the 2010 March of Dimes Prize in Developmental Biology

The scientist who reprogrammed adult cells into embryonic-like stem cells has been chosen to receive the 2010 March of Dimes Prize in Developmental Biology.

27 Jan 2010

Osiris Therapeutics completes enrollment in Prochymal MSC therapy Phase II trial for type 1 diabetes

Osiris Therapeutics, Inc. today announced that it has achieved a $750,000 milestone payment from the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) for completing enrollment in a Phase II clinical trial evaluating Prochymal, an adult mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy, as a treatment for patients recently diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. The milestone is the fourth in a series of payments resulting from JDRF’s partnership with Osiris for the development of a therapy for type 1 diabetes.

27 Jan 2010

Health companies adapt to diminished likelihood of health reform

Some health executives are still calling for reform in the wake of Scott Brown's upset in the Massachusetts Senate race last week that undermined Democratic efforts to advance health reform, The (Richmond) Virginian-Pilot reports.

27 Jan 2010

Low-cost ventilators for healthcare emergencies

A group of UK anaesthetists have designed and tested three prototype low-cost ventilators that could provide vital support during major healthcare emergencies involving large numbers of patients or casualties. The devices, detailed in a paper published online by Anaesthesia, could also be used where resources are limited, such as in developing countries, remote locations or by the military.

27 Jan 2010

Insurance companies increased lobbying by 24 percent in 2009

The Hill reports on insurer lobbying spending in 2009: "America's largest insurance companies spent millions more on lobbying last year as lawmakers debated healthcare reform, lobbying disclosure records show.

27 Jan 2010

Findings may point toward potential therapies for type 2 diabetes

In people who put on a lot of weight, or whose bodies start developing the inability to use insulin effectively that leads toward type 2 diabetes, the pancreas typically ramps up its supply of insulin-generating "beta" cells, at least partly by replication of the existing cells.

27 Jan 2010

Idaho Technology commences clinical trials of FilmArray RP

Idaho Technology, Inc. (ITI) announced today that clinical trials of the FilmArray Respiratory Panel (RP) have commenced at three US Hospital Laboratories.

27 Jan 2010

Health care providers play a critical role in H1N1 vaccinations

Results from the latest C.S. Mott Children's Hospital National Poll on Children's Health indicate health care providers play a critical role in influencing parents and patients to vaccinate their children and themselves against H1N1 flu.

27 Jan 2010

Obama acknowledges mistakes in health overhaul politics and processes

President Barack Obama acknowledged Monday in an interview with ABC News' Diane Sawyer that mistakes were made in the health reform debate, among the biggest "was the confusing way in which the health bill was shaped." Obama said: "'I think the healthcare debate as it unfolded legitimately raised concerns not just among my opponents, but also amongst reporters that we just don't know what's going on,' and that some 'stray cats' got in the bill." Obama also said he "didn't make a bunch of deals" and "I am happy to own up to the fact that I have not changed Congress and how it operates the way I would have liked" (Mooney, 1/25).

27 Jan 2010

People with higher levels of vitamin D less likely to develop bowel cancer

People with higher levels of vitamin D appear to be significantly less likely to develop bowel cancer, a new European study has found.

27 Jan 2010

AAN guideline finds diazepam drug is effective for treating children with cerebral palsy

A new guideline from the American Academy of Neurology and the Child Neurology Society finds botulinum toxin type A to be an effective treatment for spasticity, muscle tightness that interferes with movement, in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy, but poses some risk.

27 Jan 2010

caprotec bioanalytics launches three new caproKits based on its CCMS technology

caprotec bioanalytics announced today the commercial launch of three new caproKits(TM), enabling the discovery, identification and characterization of proteins belonging to the groups of metallo-proteases, histon-deacetylases and GDP/GTP binding proteins.

27 Jan 2010

Fluxion Biosciences expands its IonFlux automated patch clamp system

Fluxion Biosciences announced today a product expansion for its IonFlux automated patch clamp system which includes full automation and walk-away capability.

From Fluxion Biosciences 27 Jan 2010

Merck to appeal against U.S. court's ruling in TEMODAR patent infringement lawsuit

Merck & Co., Inc. announced today that the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware ruled against the company in a patent infringement suit against Teva Pharmaceuticals USA Inc.

27 Jan 2010

Los Angeles Times examines how Miss. Delta region hopes to learn from Iran's rural health care

The Los Angeles Times reports on how health workers in the Mississippi Delta region of the U.S. are hoping to mimic Iran's success in reducing infant mortality by recreating the country's low-cost rural healthcare delivery system in their own backyard.

27 Jan 2010