Medical News

RSS

Dems court Snowe for key 60th vote

Democrats are courting Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Me., the Republican most likely to provide the key 60th vote that Democrats need to pass a health care overhaul package without the use of budget reconciliation.

25 Sep 2009

New recommendations for strengthening oversight of laboratory-developed tests

The College of American Pathologists today announced new recommendations for strengthening oversight of laboratory-developed tests (LDTs), proposing a three-tier 'risk-based' system that would protect patients by ensuring every laboratory developed test is reported to an oversight body, and instituting a graduated system of review based on a test's potential risk to patients.

25 Sep 2009

NIDCD awards research grant to Mobius Therapeutics

Mobius Therapeutics, LLC ™ has been awarded a research grant from the National Institute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) to study its investigational procedure, selective Photodynamic Myringotomy (PDM).

25 Sep 2009

Moderately elevated levels of ROS positive in fruit flies

It has been known for decades that reactive oxygen species (ROS) - ions or very small molecules that include free radicals - damage cells. But much to their surprise, Jonsson Cancer Center researchers found that in Drosophila, the common fruit fly, moderately elevated levels of ROS are a good thing.

25 Sep 2009

Investment in preventative healthcare is vital during recession: Experts

In these economically challenging times, many experts say it is vital to invest in preventative healthcare. Better overall health means lower medical bills.

25 Sep 2009

Phase III clinical trial of investigational HIV vaccine regimen complete

Global Solutions for Infectious Diseases (“GSID”) announced today that a Phase III clinical trial of an investigational HIV vaccine regimen has been shown to be safe and modestly effective in preventing HIV infection. The double-blind, placebo controlled study was conducted in Thailand among more than 16,000 volunteers.

25 Sep 2009

Qrxpharma forms an alliance with Liaoning Nuokang Medicines to commercialise its venomics assets

QRxPharma Limited,announced today a strategic alliance with Liaoning Nuokang Medicines Co. Ltd. ("Nuokang"), a Chinese biopharmaceutical company based in Shenyang, China, to develop and commercialise QRxPharma's venomics assets for the Chinese market.

25 Sep 2009

Enacting the health care reform will lead to higher health care costs

A vast majority of employers anticipate that, if enacted, health care reform will lead to higher health care costs and weaken their role in providing coverage to workers, according to a new poll by Watson Wyatt, a leading global consulting firm.

25 Sep 2009

Also in global health news: Urban malnutrition in CAR; U.S. HIV travel ban; East Africa hunger

"The global financial crisis has led to an alarming rate of urban malnutrition in the south of the Central African Republic, where diamond mines have closed as demand for the gems falls, the medical relief group Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) says," Reuters AlertNet reports (Fominyen, 9/24). In a related blog post, Reuters AlertNet writes that aid agencies are warning that without additional support from donors, the Central African Republic could "start sliding backwards after three years of progress at a time when humanitarian assistance was raised" (Fominyen [2], 9/24).

25 Sep 2009

Seasonal and H1N1 flu vaccines from Priority Health

Priority Health has announced its coverage of both the seasonal flu and H1N1 flu vaccines. “Preventing the flu through immunization is the best way to keep yourself and your family healthy,” said John Fox, M.D., associate vice president of Medical Affairs at Priority Health. “We encourage our members to receive both vaccines to protect themselves against the two viruses.”

25 Sep 2009

Congressman Culberson's web site invites his constituents to debate the healthcare bill online

Congressman John Culberson, R-Texas, today announced that his office will post the current healthcare bill in the House of Representatives, “H.R.3200 - America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009,” on the congressman’s Web site and, using a new technology, invite his constituents to participate in, comment on and debate the pending bill.

25 Sep 2009

Democrats, seeking to ease seniors concerns, propose freeze on Medicare Part B premiums

Politico reports: "House Democrats proposed Wednesday to freeze Medicare Part B premiums for the coming year rather than risk what would be an October surprise for health care reform — threatened cuts in Social Security checks for millions of elderly."

25 Sep 2009

Test results for Medico Express encouraging: Dynamic Response Group

Dynamic Response Group, Inc. today announced that the test results for its subsidiary Medico Express have met or exceeded all company projections and Medico's diabetic supply products will be ready for mass distribution immediately.

25 Sep 2009

Research study supports reovirus and cisplatin combination for cancer treatment

Oncolytics Biotech Inc. ('Oncolytics') reported today that research led by Prof. Hardev Pandha of the Royal Surrey County Hospital, U.K., was published September 22, 2009 in the online version of Clinical Cancer Research.

25 Sep 2009

Costs to government, consumers remain unclear in finance bill

The effect of a health overhaul on the country's finances is hard to predict. The Congressional Budget Office, the official scorekeeper for new legislation's price tag, tends to miss the mark on bigger bills, the office's director said, Bloomberg reports.

25 Sep 2009

SuiteMed EHR package customised to receive patient data from ALR Technologies' Health-E-Connect system

SuiteMed Solutions, a NC Triad healthcare technology company, announces it is customizing their SuiteMed EHR to facilitate receipt of patient data from ALR Technologies' patented Health-E-Connect patient monitoring system. This data can be important for care plan evaluation, monitoring services billing and reimbursement as well as lending to the "meaningful use" criteria for government funding to medical clinics for implementation of EHRs.

25 Sep 2009

Three antibodies dried using EnWave's freezeREV vial dehydration technology

EnWave Corporation ("EnWave" or "the Company") today announced that it has successfully dried three different antibodies in the Company's prototype freezeREV vial dehydration technology.

25 Sep 2009

GOP threatens to block health nominees over insurer "gag order"

"The Senate's top Republicans say they won't allow President Barack Obama to fill health posts until his administration stops barring insurers from telling seniors about Democrats' plans to overhaul the health care system," The Associated Press reports. In a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Republicans demanded that the "gag order" against insurers be lifted.

25 Sep 2009

Health policy research roundup

In this brief, researchers analyze the cost burden associated with excess rates of diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, stroke and renal disease among Hispanics and African Americans relative to non-Hispanic whites. The study predicts that in 2009, "Medicare alone will spend an extra $15.6 billion while private insurers will incur $5.1 billion in additional costs due to elevated rates of chronic illness among African Americans and Hispanics."

25 Sep 2009

Webcast on the treatment of cardiovascular diseases

On September 24th at 7:00pm EDT, Dr. Holly Andersen, Director of Education and Outreach at the Ronald O. Perelman Heart Institute at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, will host a live webcast exploring the advances and innovations in the treatment of cardiovascular disease. The air live on ORLive.com from the Hospital's new Ronald O. Perelman Heart Institute.

25 Sep 2009