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New bone matrix implant offers hope for babies born with skull deformities

A synthetic bone matrix offers hope for babies born with craniosynostosis, a condition that causes the plates in the skull to fuse too soon. Implants replacing some of the infant's bone with the biodegradable matrix could eliminate some of the operations currently used to treat the condition.

19 Nov 2009

Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval for Eating Recovery Center

By demonstrating compliance with the Joint Commission's national standards for health care quality and safety, Eating Recovery Center (http://www.eatingrecoverycenter.com), a behavioral hospital providing comprehensive treatment and sustainable recovery for eating disorders, has earned the Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval.

19 Nov 2009

CDAS, Prestwick Chemical sign drug discovery research agreement

Caliper Life Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: CALP), a leading provider of tools and services for drug discovery and life sciences research, today announced a strategic partnership between the company's contract research organization, Caliper Discovery Alliances & Services (CDAS), and Prestwick Chemical (Strasbourg, France) to provide customized outsourced medicinal chemistry and in vitro and in vivo preclinical biology programs for drug discovery research.

19 Nov 2009

New non-surgical procedure to improve body contours

The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Dermatology is offering a new non-surgical, needle-free skin-tightening procedure that doctors say smoothes wrinkles, firms up baggy or loose skin and improves body contours.

19 Nov 2009

Health organizations commend Alberta government for passage of bill to sue tobacco companies

A coalition of prominent health organizations is applauding the Alberta government for passing a bill that will hold tobacco companies accountable for their tremendous impact on the healthcare system.

19 Nov 2009

IVF FLORIDA and Springstone to provide new financing options for fertility treatments

IVF FLORIDA Reproductive Associates today announced their partnership with Springstone Financial LLC to provide patients with improved financing options to fund IVF procedures and certain other fertility treatments. Financing programs are available to IVF FLORIDA and all IntegraMed Fertility Network patients immediately.

19 Nov 2009

Goosby says PEPFAR remains among 'highest priorities' of Obama administration, welcomes partnership with South African president Zuma

Eric Goosby, head of PEPFAR, on Wednesday reemphasized the U.S. commitment to fighting HIV/AIDS globally, the Associated Press reports. Despite concerns by international aid groups that the current economic climate might force HIV/AIDS funding to be scaled back, "Goosby said President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton have assured him his program remains among 'the highest priorities,'" the news service writes.

19 Nov 2009

Tax on cosmetic surgery opposed by AACS

As negotiators on Capitol Hill try to find ways to fund a health care overhaul, a 5% tax on cosmetic surgery has been introduced on Nov. 18 as part of the Senate's proposed health reform bill, introduced by US Senator Harry Reid (D-NV).

19 Nov 2009

UNFPA report highlights relationship between family planning, women's health and climate change

"Providing access to contraception for 215 million women, mainly in developing countries, would help to stabilize population growth and significantly reduce the effects of climate change," according to a report released Wednesday by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Nature News reports (Gilbert, 11/18).

19 Nov 2009

Particles released by car brake pads can harm lung cells: Study

Real-life particles released by car brake pads can harm lung cells in vitro. Researchers writing in BioMed Central's open access journal Particle and Fibre Toxicology found that heavy braking, as in an emergency stop, caused the most damage, but normal breaking and even close proximity to a disengaged brake resulted in potentially dangerous cellular stress.

19 Nov 2009

American Diabetes Association launches redesigned diabetes website

To meet the changing needs of people affected by this growing epidemic, the American Diabetes Association has launched a completely redesigned www.diabetes.org in English and Spanish. Even though diabetes is a growing epidemic, a recent survey conducted by the Association showed that Americans received a failing grade in diabetes awareness.

19 Nov 2009

New technology to investigate sleep disorders developed

Virtanen has developed a method for analysing snoring sounds by using a PC with a microphone connection and a wireless microphone. The objective was to create an application that could be used at home to monitor snoring. By utilizing this technology, researchers from Tampere University of Technology and the University of Helsinki have investigated sleep disorders and further refined related screening technologies.

19 Nov 2009

High prevalence of asthma among children with H1N1

A new study on pediatric H1N1 influenza admissions has found that asthma is a significant risk factor for severe disease in children with pandemic H1N1 compared with the seasonal flu.

19 Nov 2009

Low-level laser therapy increases tumour growth in skin cancer

High irradiances of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) should not be used over melanomas. Researchers writing in the open access journal BMC Cancer studied the pain relieving, anti-inflammatory 'cold laser', finding that it caused increased tumour growth in a mouse model of skin cancer.

19 Nov 2009

Ligand Pharmaceuticals receives $2 million in milestone payments from N. V. Organon

Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated announced today that it has received $2 million in milestone payments from N. V. Organon, a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., stemming from its research collaboration that is due to expire at the end of December.

19 Nov 2009

Canadian Arthritis Network to host 2009 Annual Scientific Conference in Vancouver

People with arthritis and leading Canadian and international researchers will share the stage under the theme "Decoding Arthritis - A Joint Effort" when the Canadian Arthritis Network (CAN) hosts its 2009 Annual Scientific Conference beginning tonight, in Vancouver, BC.

19 Nov 2009

Health care spending in Canada expected to reach $183.1 billion in 2009: CIHI

Health care spending in Canada is expected to reach $183.1 billion in 2009, an estimated increase of $9.5 billion, or 5.5%, since 2008, according to new figures released today by the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI).

19 Nov 2009

Ligon Discovery raises $1 million

Ligon Discovery, Inc., which uses proprietary small molecule microarray technology to find drugs against high-value targets, today announced that it has raised $1M in seed financing led by incTANK Ventures. The company will use the capital to complete its initial discovery campaign that will screen over 100 high-value disease protein targets. With this investment, incTANK Ventures General Partner Christian Bailey joins the board.

19 Nov 2009

Reid says Senate will hold first health bill vote on Saturday

Reuters reports that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Thursday the Senate will vote Saturday on a procedural move to begin debate on the Senate's health care reform bill. "'The finish line is in sight,' ... Reid said.

19 Nov 2009

$10 million grant to help enroll uninsured, eligible American Indian and Alaska Native children in CHIP

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced the availability of up to $10 million in grants to help reach American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) children who qualify for, but are not yet enrolled, in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

19 Nov 2009