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Democrats stress 'doughnut hole' provisions to woo senior support for reform

The Associated Press: "Lawmakers have wooed seniors skeptical of the health care overhaul by emphasizing the plan would close the 'doughnut hole' — a gap in Medicare drug coverage that can cost thousands of dollars a year. But getting support for the entire overhaul from this powerful voting bloc has been difficult, despite Democrats repeated town hall meetings, interviews and congressional hearings."

4 Dec 2009

Abnormal EEG waveforms in neurological disorder patients can now be better understood

The electroencephalogram (EEG) is widely used by physicians and scientists to study brain function and to diagnose neurological disorders. However, it has remained largely unknown whether the electrodes on the head give an exact view of what is happening inside the brain.

4 Dec 2009

Democrats debate public option: Publicly with GOP, and privately among themselves

Democrats are engaged in an urgent debate behind closed doors about a government-run health insurance plan, known as the public option, according to The Associated Press. "Our caucus is now in the process of negotiating with ourselves because we need all 60 of us to get this done," said Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., a moderate who has not yet embraced the public option concept.

4 Dec 2009

Today's opinions and editorials

In short, if the changes that are proposed for employer subsidies in the current Medicare Part D program are enacted, everyone will lose (Tom Scully, 12/3).

4 Dec 2009

Cosmetic surgery industry lobbies against the 'Botax' in Senate health bill

"Leading makers of antiwrinkle drugs, breast implants and other appearance-related products are trying to derail a proposed tax on elective cosmetic surgery in the Senate's health-overhaul bill," The Wall Street Journal reports. "The proposed 5% levy -- dubbed the 'Botax' after the antiwrinkle treatment product Botox -- would raise an estimated $5.8 billion over 10 years."

4 Dec 2009

BUSM researchers report an inverse association between dairy intake and fibroid risk

Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) researchers at the Slone Epidemiology Center found that black women with high intake of dairy products have a reduced incidence of uterine leiomyomata (fibroids). This report, based on the Black Women's Health Study, appears in the current issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology.

4 Dec 2009

Geisinger Health System's diabetic bundling program pays dividends

Diabetes is one of the nation's most prevalent chronic diseases, and Geisinger has created a "bundle" of best practice measures to improve the quality of diabetes care and outcomes.

4 Dec 2009

Silicon to transport drugs in the human body: a novel drug delivery method under development

Several Finnish universities have joined forces to develop an innovative drug delivery method that utilises silicon to transport drugs in the human body. Among other advances, the project has been able to sustain the effect of peptides controlling appetite, which may facilitate the use of nanotechnology for dieting purposes. The research is being carried out as part of the Academy of Finland's Research Programme on Nanoscience (FinNano).

4 Dec 2009

Absorption Systems opens renovated AAALAC-accredited GLP surgical suite for medical device testing

Absorption Systems, a leader in testing drugs for ADMET (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicity), today introduced an extensively renovated surgical suite for preclinical medical device testing at the company’s facility in San Diego, CA. Absorption Systems has long been recognized as a leader in drug testing and is experiencing increased demand for its medical device testing services as well.

4 Dec 2009

Axsun Technologies reports successful testing of novel OCT imaging integrated light source architecture

Axsun Technologies, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Volcano Corporation, today announced the initial development and successful testing of a novel integrated light source architecture for OCT imaging. Axsun believes this proprietary optical engine design raises the bar on imaging speed and overcomes fundamental limitations of laser-based designs for swept source OCT light sources.

4 Dec 2009

Results from Phase III pivotal study of FIRMAGON presented

Drs. Neal Shore and E. David Crawford presented results for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) recurrence from the additional analysis of secondary end points of biochemical recurrence rate in a Phase III pivotal study of FIRMAGON® (monthly degarelix for injection) or monthly leuprolide in prostate cancer patients during the first year of treatment.

4 Dec 2009

Stentys commences enrollment in its comparative stent study

Medical device pioneer Stentys announced today that the first patient has been enrolled into the ‘APPOSITION II’ clinical study—a randomized trial comparing the Stentys self-expanding stent with a conventional balloon-expandable stent in AMI patients. The primary endpoint of the ‘APPOSITION II’ study is stent strut apposition at day three post-procedure via extremely high-resolution OCT (optical coherence tomography) imaging.

4 Dec 2009

Surgeon General Benjamin: U.S. needs more minority doctors

The new U.S. Surgeon General called for an increased effort to recruit more minority doctors Thursday in a speech in Atlanta.

4 Dec 2009

Overview of the important research and treatments in ADHD

Worldwide longitudinal studies performed since the 1970s have clearly shown that ADHD persists into adulthood. These findings have stimulated researchers to develop the therapeutic approaches for adult patients, especially in European countries where scientific and clinical interest in ADHD has increased.

4 Dec 2009

Public Campaign Action Fund names Sen. Richard Burr as its final 'Insurance Puppet'

Public Campaign Action Fund, a national campaign finance watchdog group, named Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) its final "Insurance Puppet" in an online advertising campaign targeting North Carolina and Washington, D.C.

4 Dec 2009

Some Doctors' groups breaking with AMA to oppose health bill

Doctors are divided over health care reform with an increasing number of them expressing opposition.

4 Dec 2009

FNAC plays an increased role in the diagnosis of bone lesions

In recent years, fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) has become a widely accepted procedure in the diagnosis of bone lesions. Rapid progress in immunocytochemistry and molecular genetics has increased the role of FNAC in the investigation of primary bone lesions.

4 Dec 2009

Senate's efforts on health care being slowed by other issues

The Wall Street Journal: "The Senate's slow-moving health bill is colliding with other legislative priorities on the economy, raising chances that Democrats won't meet their goal of pushing a health-care overhaul through the chamber this month." Though some forward progress was evidenced on Thursday when the chamber, for the first time since floor consideration of the health bill began, voted on amendments.

4 Dec 2009

Surgeon General calls for more minority doctors to join physician workforce

The new U.S. Surgeon General called for an increased effort to recruit more minority doctors Thursday in a speech in Atlanta.

4 Dec 2009

Watson Laboratories files an ANDA for generic version of Rozerem

Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leading global specialty pharmaceutical company, today confirmed that its subsidiary, Watson Laboratories, Inc.-Florida, filed an Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration seeking approval to market its 8mg ramelteon tablets prior to the expiration of a patent owned by Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited.

4 Dec 2009