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The mysterious origin of Merkel cells

A new study resolves a 130-year-old mystery over the developmental origin of specialized skin cells involved in touch sensation. The findings will appear in the October 5, 2009 issue of the Journal of Cell Biology (online September 28).

29 Sep 2009

Radiation treatment after prostate cancer surgery eradicates recurrent cancer

The largest single-institution study of its kind has found few complications in prostate cancer patients treated with radiotherapy after surgery to remove the prostate. Men in this study received radiotherapy after a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test following surgery indicated their cancer had recurred.

29 Sep 2009

BDI Pharma's proprietary flu vaccine supply program SecuriFLU successful

BDI Pharma, Inc., the fastest growing national wholesale distributor of biotech therapies, announced today the success of its proprietary supply program SecuriFLU. The program provides ordering solutions for customers who require quick, easy access to online ordering for flu vaccine. Customers may access brands from multiple manufacturers offering a full range of age indications.

29 Sep 2009

Walk-in flu shots to lure customers into drugstores

Americans may be as likely to get a flu shot at one of the nation's largest pharmacy chains as in a doctor's office or clinic. That should not be surprising, according to healthcare market research publisher Kalorama Information. The nation's major drugstores have been using flu shot programs to earn revenue and to draw customers in the store to make other purchases, an indirect revenue strategy that Kalorama Information predicted in its reports on the retail clinic phenomenon in recent years.

29 Sep 2009

Free cholesterol screening to attendees of NBAA convention

For the 19th consecutive year, MedAire (booth 775) will offer free cholesterol screening to attendees of the 62nd Annual National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Meeting and Convention.

29 Sep 2009

Leptin can determine osteoarthritis in obese patients

The link between obesity and osteoarthritis may be more than just the wear and tear on the skeleton caused by added weight.

29 Sep 2009

New York hospital system invests in digital patient records

The New York Times reports: "The nation's drive toward computerized medical records is getting a push from big hospitals, which hope not only to improve patient care but to gain an edge on competitors. And an effort to be announced on Monday by a big New York regional hospital group may be the most ambitious effort of this type yet — a sizable investment intended as a linchpin in the group's $400 million commitment to digitize patient records throughout its system, including 13 hospitals."

29 Sep 2009

Winners of Paul Marks Prize 2009

Three young investigators who have taken significant steps toward advancing the understanding of cancer will be the recipients of this year's Paul Marks Prize for Cancer Research, a prize awarded biennially since 2001 to scientists under the age of forty-six by Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

29 Sep 2009

Protection of front-line healthcare workers compromised

According to George Kappler, "If hospitals were subjected to the same protection standards as factories, many would have been shut down a long time ago." Those are tough words for healthcare workers to hear as they brace for an onslaught of H1N1 patients, but the CEO of Kappler, Inc., a 33-year veteran in the protective garment business, knows of what he speaks.

29 Sep 2009

NovoCure initiates newly-diagnosed GBM clinical trial

NovoCure, Ltd., a privately held medical device company focused on developing the Novo-TTF device, a non-invasive portable medical device for the treatment of cancer, announced the completion of a new funding round today. Key investors in this round included Pfizer Inc, Johnson & Johnson Development Corporation and Index Ventures.

29 Sep 2009

Celsion Corporation to purchase over 1 million shares of common stock in a registered direct offering

Celsion Corporation, an innovative oncology drug development company dedicated to the development and commercialization of innovative oncology drugs, today announced that it has entered into definitive agreements with a select group of institutional investors to sell 2,018,153 shares of common stock and warrants to purchase up to 1,009,077 shares of common stock in a registered direct offering.

29 Sep 2009

Sen. Lincoln, who once won election on support for health care reform, feeling political pressures

"Arkansas Sen. Blanche Lincoln has run two successful Senate campaigns on pledges to expand and improve health insurance coverage. Now, as Congress works to deliver on that promise, it threatens to become an issue that could end her career."

29 Sep 2009

Urodynamix closes $1.5 million non-brokered private placement for common shares

Urodynamix Technologies Ltd. (TSX VENTURE:URO) is pleased to announce that it has closed a $1.5 million non-brokered private placement for 30,000,000 common shares previously reported on September 11, 2009.

29 Sep 2009

Not enough insurance and swimming in medical bills

As part of the series, "Are You Covered?" Kaiser Health News and NPR report that "more than 25 million Americans have Swiss-cheese health insurance: it's full of holes. Experts call them the 'under-insured'" (Knox, 9/28).

29 Sep 2009

World Federation of Neurology awards UT Southwestern director the first Medal for Scientific Achievement

Dr. Roger Rosenberg, director of the Alzheimer's Disease Center at UT Southwestern Medical Center, has been awarded the first Medal for Scientific Achievement by the World Federation of Neurology.

29 Sep 2009

New measles vaccination methods to reduce costs and improve safety

Worldwide, there are estimated to be 10 million cases of measles and 197,000 deaths from the disease each year. While vaccines exist to protect children against measles, the vaccines are often difficult to store, costly to transport and may be prone to contamination when shipped to developing countries.

29 Sep 2009

Ligand and GSK amend agreement to pursue independent research programs

Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated today announced that pursuant to an amendment to a March 2006 research agreement with GlaxoSmithKline, GSK has agreed to accelerate the timing of a $500,000 payment to Ligand that would otherwise have been required upon the identification of a new lead chemical series for advancement in its alliance with GSK.

29 Sep 2009

Photosynthesis can contribute to bacterial infiltration in fresh produce

Exposure to light and possibly photosynthesis itself could be helping disease-causing bacteria to be internalized by lettuce leaves, making them impervious to washing, according to research published in the October issue of the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology.

29 Sep 2009

IPayX and ARM Solutions partner to offer collection services for hospitals and physicians’ offices

Internet Payment Exchange, a provider of electronic billing and payment (EBP) technology and customer service solutions to healthcare providers, utility companies, municipal governments and other organizations, announced an alliance with Ventura, Calif.-based Accelerated Revenue Management (ARM) Solutions to offer clients soft collection capabilities through IPayX’s eInvoice Delivery ServiceSM and eCareView Healthcare Billing PortalSM.

29 Sep 2009

Health care reform: Detailing women's stake in the debate

The Times reports: "Women need more health care than men because of the combined demands of pregnancy and family planning. ... Partly as a result, young women typically must pay more than young men for individual health insurance, unless they live in one of 10 states where 'gender rating' is illegal.

29 Sep 2009