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Webchat to discuss the benefits of new health reform law

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Small Business Administrator Karen Mills will host a webchat today to discuss the benefits of the new health reform law.

1 Apr 2010

Cell study may yield new treatment strategies for debilitating diseases

A Los Alamos National Laboratory toxicologist and a multidisciplinary team of researchers have documented potential cellular damage from "fullerenes"-soccer-ball-shaped, cage-like molecules composed of 60 carbon atoms. The team also noted that this particular type of damage might hold hope for treatment of Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, or even cancer.

1 Apr 2010

States face health care budget cuts, seek health-related legislation

Parents, caregivers and advocates joined hospital executives and legislators Tuesday to complain about the potential impact of [Louisiana] Gov. Bobby Jindal's proposed budget cuts and privatization initiatives on Louisiana's most vulnerable residents.

1 Apr 2010

FDA accepts for review Abbott's novel diagnostic test for rapid detection of NGAL

A novel diagnostic test to rapidly detect neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), an early biomarker that identifies patients at risk for acute kidney injury (AKI), has been accepted for review by the United States Food and Drug Administration. If approved, this would be the first test available for use in the United States for the detection of NGAL.

1 Apr 2010

IGEN Networks signs MOU with Bio Business Development

IGEN Networks Corp. is pleased to announce that it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Bio Business Development Corp. International, Inc. to negotiate the acquisition of the exclusive global distribution rights to the patented lateral-flow diagnostic testing platform technology for rapid detection of the infectious prion protein diseases.

1 Apr 2010

Crack, cocaine usage increases risk of HIV in adolescents

Teens with a history of crack or cocaine use are significantly more likely to engage in unprotected sex than youth who have never used these drugs, putting themselves at increased risk for HIV, according to a study in the April issue of the Journal of Child and Adolescent Substance Abuse.

1 Apr 2010

Link between occupational exposures and postmenopausal breast cancer

Occupational exposure to certain chemicals and pollutants before a woman reaches her mid-30s could treble her risk of developing cancer after the menopause, suggests research published in Occupational and Environmental Medicine .

1 Apr 2010

Attends completes successful recapitalization: KPS

KPS Capital Partners, LP announced today that its portfolio company Attends Healthcare, Inc. has completed a successful recapitalization. Attends raised $98 million of new financing, including a $20 million asset-based revolving credit facility and $78 million in term loans.

1 Apr 2010

Bile secretions in small intestine send signals to disease-causing gut bacteria

Bile secretions in the small intestine send signals to disease-causing gut bacteria allowing them to change their behavior to maximize their chances of surviving, Montana State University research associate Steve Hamner told the Society for General Microbiology during its spring meeting in Edinburgh, Scotland.

1 Apr 2010

CIA, Justice, other Federal depts. won't get health IT data, Blumenthal says

There's no need to fear that patients' health information will end up in the hands of CIA officers, FBI agents or other federal agencies that deal in security and law enforcement, David Blumenthal, the national coordinator for health information technology, said last week, according to Modern Healthcare. He "denied allegations that a framework for selecting data transmission standards for the proposed national health information network would configure the system to afford federal control over patient data and funnel that information to federal agencies, including the CIA, Justice Department and National Security Agency."

1 Apr 2010

Levator ani syndrome: Biofeedback more effective than EGS or digital massage

A new study conducted by Italian researchers, in collaboration with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, finds that biofeedback is more effective than two other treatments for a type of chronic rectal pain called levator ani syndrome.

1 Apr 2010

New index developed to determine risk of death in patients with end-stage kidney disease

A new clinical prediction index has been developed to determine the risk of death in patients with end-stage kidney disease considering transplantation, states a Research article in CMAJ.

1 Apr 2010

Hill-Rom announces organizational changes to improve cost structure

Hill-Rom announced today organizational changes consistent with its on-going efforts to improve its cost structure. The changes include the elimination of approximately 160 positions throughout the company.

1 Apr 2010

Early use of CT and MRI scans may reduce duration of hospital stay and hospitalization costs

Advanced imaging techniques such as computed tomography (CT) scans and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) might shorten the length of a person's hospital stay and decrease the high costs associated with hospitalization if used early, according to a study in the April issue of the Journal of the American College of Radiology (www.jacr.org).

1 Apr 2010

Worker health checks reveal 50% men at risk of developing diabetes

Over the last one year 100,000 State Government financed worker health check ups have been conducted. The results have been an eye-opener. 800 workers after their check ups have been asked to consult their physicians immediately. These check ups included measurements of blood pressure, blood cholesterol, blood sugar and waist circumference. The workers were also questioned regarding their eating, drinking and exercising habits.

1 Apr 2010

International medical graduates earn medical residency placement

More than 80 international medical graduates (IMGs) who have just earned a coveted medical residency placement came together this evening to celebrate their achievement with The Hon. Deb Matthews, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care.

1 Apr 2010

Dutasteride reduces risk of prostate cancer

There is good news for those at high risk for prostate cancer. The drug dutasteride which is manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline as the drug Avodart, has been found to reduce the risk of prostate cancer by a quarter. The drug is at present being used to treat enlarged prostates.

1 Apr 2010

Hormone ghrelin may improve appetite in gastric cancer patients

In gastric cancer patients who have had part or all of their stomach removed, the hormone ghrelin may lessen post-operative weight loss and improve appetite, according to a new study in Gastroenterology, the official journal of the American Gastroenterological Association Institute.

1 Apr 2010

Likely CMS pick Berwick has advised governments around the world

The Boston Globe explores the background of President Barack Obama's likely pick for head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. "Governments around the world have long sought Donald Berwick's expertise to help solve stubborn health care problems — from hospital-acquired infections to medication errors."

1 Apr 2010

People in 60s and 70s more likely to be diagnosed with skin cancer

People in their 60s and 70s are now over five times more likely to be diagnosed with malignant melanoma - the deadliest type of skin cancer - than their parents would have been 30 years ago, reveal new Cancer Research UK statistics1 to launch the 2010 SunSmart campaign today (Thursday).

1 Apr 2010