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XIENCE V Everolimus Eluting Coronary Stent System exhibits its advantages over the TAXUS system

Long-term data presented today from the SPIRIT III pivotal U.S. clinical trial demonstrated that the observed clinical advantages of Abbott's market-leading XIENCE V(R) Everolimus Eluting Coronary Stent System continued to increase as compared to the TAXUS(R) Express2 Paclitaxel-Eluting Coronary Stent System (TAXUS).

21 Sep 2009

G proteins could help fight cardiovascular, neurodegenerative disorders, and cancer

New data on signalling proteins, called G proteins, may prove important in fighting diseases such as cardiovascular, neurodegenerative disorders, and cancer. For many decades scientists have puzzled on "How signalling proteins transport and organize in specific areas of the cell?" Researchers from Nano-Science Center and Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology at the University of Copenhagen provide yet unrecognized clues to solve this mystery.

21 Sep 2009

Seven-year program launched to combat maternal, infant mortality in the Philippines

The Philippines' Department of Health (DOH) on Friday - in partnership with UNICEF, the U.N. Population Fund (UNFPA), the WHO and the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) - launched a seven-year program aimed at reducing maternal and infant mortality rates, the Philippine Star reports.

21 Sep 2009

Some religious groups seek health care for illegal immigrants

NPR reports: "In the Hispanic community, there are issues in the debate over health care that spill over into the debate over immigration policy."

21 Sep 2009

Obama pushes new message while opposition continues

In his Sunday talk show offensive (related story: Obama Blankets Airwaves To Push For Health Reform) President Barack Obama called for civility, advertised his willingness to consider malpractice reform, said a proposed tax on health benefits would not have a large impact on working people and reiterated that illegal immigrants would not receive government coverage under the plans, the Washington Post reports.

21 Sep 2009

Illinois court to weigh how much charity nonprofit hospitals must perform

Illinois' highest court on Wednesday will consider how much charity care a nonprofit hospital must provide to earn its property tax exemption, the Chicago Tribune reports. Nonprofit hospitals provide charity care in the form of unreimbursed services to low-income people and the uninsured, and in exchange, receive tax benefits.

21 Sep 2009

IRIN examines HIV/AIDS advocates' reaction to U.N. agency for women

IRIN examines how a recent resolution to create an agency to promote women's "rights and wellbeing" by the U.N. General Assembly is being welcomed by international HIV/AIDS advocates. According to IRIN, "[w]omen make up 60 percent of people living with AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa, a figure that rises to 75 percent in the 15-24 age range. In Asia, nearly 50 million women are at risk of becoming infected with HIV from their partners."

21 Sep 2009

Cydex Pharmaceuticals announces extension of agreement with Hovione

CyDex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced the extension of its relationship with Hovione SA as the company’s exclusive supplier of Captisol® for an additional five years.

21 Sep 2009

NIDDK grants HealthPartners Research Foundation $7.3M to study childhood obesity

Three new HealthPartners Research Foundation studies will examine ways to prevent and treat childhood obesity and hypertension. One study will look at interventions to prevent obesity in children ages 5-9, another will focus on obesity prevention in children ages 2-5, while another will examine hypertension in children and adolescents, including the quality and cost of care.

21 Sep 2009

Junk DNA could accelerate development of gene therapies

Scientists have identified how a protein enables sections of so-called junk DNA to be cut and pasted within genetic code - a finding which could speed development of gene therapies.

21 Sep 2009

GOP lawmakers opposed to reform reflect on their own experiences

Two Republican lawmakers with extensive personal interactions with the health care system warn of the dangers in health overhaul.

21 Sep 2009

Neurodegenerative disorders are the second-leading cause of early-onset dementia, says report

Neurodegenerative disorders called frontotemporal dementias (FTD) are the second-leading cause of early-onset dementia in persons under age 65 and can emerge sometimes as early as age 20.

21 Sep 2009

U.N. report calls for $1.48B to help developing nations cope with H1N1

The U.N. this week will request that wealthy nations and development banks donate $1.48 billion to help developing countries fight H1N1 (swine flu), Bloomberg reports. "Most of the money is needed for vaccines and drugs … to help the least-developed nations cope with the influenza pandemic, according to a U.N. report obtained" Monday by the news service.

21 Sep 2009

Full Senate Finance Committee to take up health reform

The full Senate Finance Committee takes up health care legislation this week and there are already a slew of amendments that would significantly alter the proposal from the chairman, Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont.

21 Sep 2009

Many Australians at risk of having a heart attack are not receiving the best possible care: Study

The research suggests that GPs are still managing individual risk factors such as blood pressure and cholesterol in isolation of one another, and are not adopting recommendations to treat a patient's overall or absolute risk. Absolute risk management is based on the principle that the major risk factors for cardiovascular disease act together. By taking this approach treatment can be targeted to those most likely to benefit.

21 Sep 2009

Confusing insurance jargon prompts call for reform

Kaiser Health News, in collaboration with the Los Angeles Times, reports on the challenges consumers confront in trying to understand insurance industry jargon. "Insurance industry critics say some insurers intentionally make their policies and procedures confusing, and some policy experts believe Congress should require standardized plan information as part of any overhaul of the health system" (Meyer, 9/21).

21 Sep 2009

Also in Global Health news: HIV/aids in Zambia; Ugandan medical workers; Obama administration officials' Q&A, speech; South African health care reform efforts; texting to combat drug shortages in Africa

The Post of Zambia examines the findings of a recent report revealing "the devastating effects" the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Zambia is having on the country's ability to meet the U.N. Millennium Development Goals. The article also looks at the relationship between HIV/AIDS and nutrition, maternal health and education (Chackwe, 9/21).

21 Sep 2009

Today's selection of opinions and editorials

Obama's Nontax Tax Wall Street Journal It turns out the President thinks a health-care tax is not a tax if he thinks the tax is for your own good (9/21).

21 Sep 2009

Medicare round up: News coverage of cost issues and leadership gap

"The national average for Medicare spending on such patients was $46,412, including outpatient care," the Times reports. "But in Los Angeles County, the average cost was nearly double that, $84,179, according to a Los Angeles Times review of Dartmouth data. In seeking to explain why, some researchers have concluded that doctors in areas such as Los Angeles, with more hospitals and other resources, are more likely to have patients admitted, order tests and schedule visits, largely because they can."

21 Sep 2009

Vitae Pharmaceuticals initiates Phase 1 clinical trial of its novel cardiovascular agent

Vitae Pharmaceuticals, Inc., an integrated discovery and development company, today announced that it has initiated a Phase 1 clinical trial of its novel cardiovascular agent, VTP-27999.

21 Sep 2009

Medical News

XIENCE V Everolimus Eluting Coronary Stent System exhibits its advantages over the TAXUS system

G proteins could help fight cardiovascular, neurodegenerative disorders, and cancer

Seven-year program launched to combat maternal, infant mortality in the Philippines

Some religious groups seek health care for illegal immigrants

Obama pushes new message while opposition continues

Illinois court to weigh how much charity nonprofit hospitals must perform

IRIN examines HIV/AIDS advocates' reaction to U.N. agency for women

Cydex Pharmaceuticals announces extension of agreement with Hovione

NIDDK grants HealthPartners Research Foundation $7.3M to study childhood obesity

Junk DNA could accelerate development of gene therapies

GOP lawmakers opposed to reform reflect on their own experiences

Neurodegenerative disorders are the second-leading cause of early-onset dementia, says report

U.N. report calls for $1.48B to help developing nations cope with H1N1

Full Senate Finance Committee to take up health reform

Many Australians at risk of having a heart attack are not receiving the best possible care: Study

Confusing insurance jargon prompts call for reform

Also in Global Health news: HIV/aids in Zambia; Ugandan medical workers; Obama administration officials' Q&A, speech; South African health care reform efforts; texting to combat drug shortages in Africa

Today's selection of opinions and editorials

Medicare round up: News coverage of cost issues and leadership gap

Vitae Pharmaceuticals initiates Phase 1 clinical trial of its novel cardiovascular agent

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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