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Injured veterans' caregivers face emotional, financial pressures

Caregivers of severely injured veterans and their families face emotional and financial pressures and difficulty accessing military medical care. USA Today reports on the "thousands of unpaid caregivers — parents, spouses, siblings and war buddies — helping veterans injured in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars get through each day.

28 Jan 2010

BG Medicine launches new, CE-marked galectin-3 test

BG Medicine, Inc., a privately-held developer of biomarker-based in vitro diagnostics, today announced the commercial launch in the European Union of a new, CE-marked test for the measurement of galectin-3 in human plasma or serum. Galectin-3 was first shown by researchers at the University of Maastricht, The Netherlands, to play an integral role in the development and progression of heart failure.

27 Jan 2010

Lawmakers voice opinions and search for ways forward on health overhaul

The Hill: "[Centrist] Democrats such as Sens. Blanche Lincoln (Ark.), Bill Nelson (Fla.) and Max Baucus (Mont.) have approached [Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine,] within the past week to discuss her potential support for various healthcare proposals." Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., who caucuses with the Democrats, has also broached the topic with Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, another moderate Republican, who "said she would consider supporting a scaled-back version of the health legislation," (Bolton, 1/26).

27 Jan 2010

Uninsured residents of Hartford area in need of medical attention should register for free health clinic

Uninsured residents of the Hartford area in need of medical attention should call 877-233-5159 toll-free as soon as possible to schedule appointments for a free health clinic at the Connecticut Convention Center on Feb. 3.

27 Jan 2010

Good bacteria may help counteract negative effects of antibiotics in humans

Scientists have long pondered the seeming contradiction that taking broad-spectrum antibiotics over a long period of time can lead to severe secondary bacterial infections. Now researchers from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine may have figured out why.

27 Jan 2010

House Democrats meet, weigh reform's reconciliation option

The Wall Street Journal / Dow Jones reports on a meeting of House Democrats on the health overhaul Tuesday night. Some Democrats have suggested that the House adopt the bill passed by the Senate in December and then have the House and Senate modify that bill through a cumbersome budget process called reconciliation. Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., said earlier in the day that he was confident Democrats could pass a health overhaul that way. But other members are reluctant.

27 Jan 2010

Access Scientific's PICC WAND receives FDA clearance

Access Scientific has received FDA clearance for The PICC WANDTM, which enables clinicians to insert a peelable sheath for PICC or Midline catheter placement using the new Accelerated Seldinger Technique (AST). The PICC WAND is an all-in-one safety introducer that addresses the over-wire vascular access market, valued at more than $1 billion, by providing faster, safer and simpler vascular access.

27 Jan 2010

Vitamin D supplements can counter the effects of Crohn's disease

A new study has found that Vitamin D, readily available in supplements or cod liver oil, can counter the effects of Crohn's disease. John White, an endocrinologist at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, led a team of scientists from McGill University and the Universit- de Montr-al who present their findings about the inflammatory bowel disease in the latest Journal of Biological Chemistry.

27 Jan 2010

Obama to Congress: 'Don't walk away' from health reform

The Associated Press: "His health care remake near collapse, President Barack Obama on Wednesday implored lawmakers not to abandon a historic opportunity even as he accepted part of the blame for failing to sell the complex plan to average Americans ... Obama defended his ambitious proposal, saying it would protect most Americans from being rejected for insurance if they get sick, preserve choice of doctors, bring down the federal deficit and provide affordable coverage for millions now uninsured" (Alonso-Zaldivar, 1/27).

27 Jan 2010

Large research gap exists in effectiveness, mechanism and safety of drugs in children

Only a few anti-spasticity medications used for children with cerebral palsy are backed by sufficient research to justify their use, according to a new review of scientific literature headed by a UT Southwestern Medical Center neurologist and conducted by a national panel of interdisciplinary experts nationwide.

27 Jan 2010

Gilead Sciences reviewing Notice Letter regarding Teva Pharmaceuticals' generic Viread ANDA

Gilead Sciences, Inc. today announced receipt of a Paragraph IV Certification Notice Letter advising that Teva Pharmaceuticals submitted an Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requesting permission to manufacture and market a generic version of Viread® (tenofovir disoproxil fumarate).

27 Jan 2010

Two former LA Medical Center owners to pay $10 million in Medicare fraud case

"The two former owners of City of Angels Medical Center will pay $10 million as part of a consent judgment over allegations that they performed unnecessary medical work on homeless people recruited from skid row shelters as part of a Medicare fraud scheme." Authorities alleged that the center would charge the government for the treatments (Grad, 1/26).

27 Jan 2010

Warner Chilcott receives complete response letter from FDA for low dose oral contraceptive

Warner Chilcott plc announced today that it has received a complete response letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to its New Drug Application submitted in March 2009 for its "low dose" oral contraceptive (also referred to as WC 3016).

27 Jan 2010

Health care stocks gain as reform falters

"Health care stocks lagged the broader market's recovery in 2009," Forbes reports.

27 Jan 2010

WHO addresses handling of H1N1 at Council of Europe meeting

During a Council of Europe meeting on Tuesday to address the WHO's handling of the H1N1 virus, the WHO said it had not "fallen under the sway of drugs firms and exaggerated the dangers of the H1N1 flu virus, but said it might have handled the crisis better," Reuters reports.

27 Jan 2010

Tissue Genesis, AMS to develop adipose-derived regenerative cells for treating pelvic health disorders

Tissue Genesis, Inc., an emerging leader in advanced tissue engineering and cell therapy solutions, and American Medical Systems Holdings, Inc. announced today they have signed an agreement for the research and development of adipose (fat)–derived regenerative cells for use in treating pelvic health disorders.

27 Jan 2010

FDA approves FIRST RESPONSE Early Result Pregnancy Test

Church & Dwight Co., Inc. announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared the FIRST RESPONSE® Early Result Pregnancy Test which can determine pregnancy up to six days before the day of a woman's missed period

27 Jan 2010

CTS announces $499M revenue for 2009

CTS Corporation today announced fourth quarter 2009 revenues of $133.9 million, 6% higher than third quarter 2009 revenues of $126.6 million. Fourth quarter 2009 net earnings were $4.1 million, or $0.12 per diluted share, including a discrete tax valuation allowance charge of $2.5 million (or $0.07 per diluted share). Excluding this charge, fourth quarter non-GAAP adjusted net earnings were $6.6 million, or $0.19 per diluted share, compared to third quarter 2009 net earnings of $4.5 million, or $0.13 per diluted share.

27 Jan 2010

Discovery could help improve diagnosis and treatment for anxiety disorders

Draw a map of the brain when fear and anxiety are involved, and the amygdala-the brain's almond-shaped center for panic and fight-or-flight responses-looms large.

27 Jan 2010

NET acquires Riverside Care; preserves patient services and employee jobs

NorthEast Treatment Centers (NET), a community-based provider of behavioral health and social services, announced its acquisition of Riverside Care, Inc., formerly an affiliate of Eagleville Foundation, Eagleville, PA.

27 Jan 2010