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ATLANTA-France study of the CATANIA Coronary Stent announced

Physicians at more than 40 centers in France have joined a study of the CATANIA(TM) Coronary Stent with NanoThin Polyzene®-F manufactured by CeloNova BioSciences. With Professor Emmanuel Teiger and Doctor Paul Barragan as co-Principal Investigators, the researchers today announced the Assessment of The Latest Non-Thrombogenic Angioplasty (ATLANTA-France) stent study. Each center will enroll 50 patients with the first procedures expected in early November.

31 Oct 2009

Grenadian Prime Minister calls for continued investment in Caribbean HIV/AIDS programs

During the 9th annual general meeting of the Pan Caribbean Partnership on HIV and AIDS (PANCAP) - which kicked off this week in St. George's, Grenada - Grenadian Prime Minister Tillman Thomas called on leaders in the Caribbean to maintain their commitment to HIV/AIDS in the face of the global recession, CMC/Jamaica Observer reports.

31 Oct 2009

FDA approves an expanded indication for BYETTA injection

Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved an expanded indication for BYETTA® (exenatide) injection. BYETTA is now approved for use as a stand-alone medication (monotherapy) along with diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes.

31 Oct 2009

Aetna signs new expanded agreement with Sarasota Memorial Hospital

Aetna announced today that it has expanded its relationship with Sarasota Memorial Hospital by reaching agreement on a long-term contract that will provide access for Aetna’s Medicare Advantage members. This agreement marks the first time Sarasota Memorial has agreed to participate in a Medicare Advantage network plan.

31 Oct 2009

Individualized MicroNutrient Testing for patients

In response to the current trend toward personalized medicine, the Beaumont Weight Control Center, affiliated with Beaumont Hospitals, a major Detroit-area health system, now offers individualized MicroNutrient Testing for patients.

31 Oct 2009

Research suggests the possibility of an effective treatment for Hendra virus infections in humans

A scientific team from CSIRO and the US has demonstrated that administering human monoclonal antibodies after exposure to Nipah virus, which is closely related to Hendra virus, protected animals from challenge in a disease model.

31 Oct 2009

Public concern can undermine flu vaccination campaigns

The effectiveness of pandemic flu vaccination campaigns - like that now underway for H1N1 - could be undermined by the public incorrectly associating coincidental and unrelated health events with the vaccines.

31 Oct 2009

Data from multiple clinical and preclinical studies evaluating Hematide announced

Affymax, Inc. and Takeda Pharmaceutical Global Research & Development Center, Inc., today announced data from multiple clinical and preclinical studies evaluating Hematide, including preliminary results of a Phase 2 trial which demonstrated that Hematide increased hemoglobin levels in a group of anemic hemodialysis (HD) patients.

31 Oct 2009

As House bill continues to stir reaction, focus turns to costs, potential amendments

Lawmakers and various groups continue to react to the House health bill, which was released Thursday and may significantly increase federal spending on health care.

31 Oct 2009

Administration officially ends HIV travel ban

The Washington Post reports: "President Obama called the 22-year ban on travel and immigration by HIV-positive individuals a decision 'rooted in fear rather than fact' and announced the end of the rule-making process lifting the ban.

31 Oct 2009

Advocates call for increased U.S. investment in global health

A report released Thursday (.pdf) by a group of global health advocates outlines ways the U.S. can work toward increasing access to health care throughout the world, Inter Press Service reports. They call "for doubling U.S. aid to global health projects from the current level of nearly eight billion dollars a year to 16 billion by 2011," followed by "annual increase[s] leading to a six-year total investment of 95 billion dollars."

30 Oct 2009

Recent releases in Global Health

"Action always leads to reaction, a fundamental law of nature," write the authors of an introduction appearing in a Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes (JAIDS) supplemental issue that focuses on global health systems.

30 Oct 2009

New York Times examines debate over U.S. global health spending priorities

The New York Times examines the "debate over whether the United States and other rich nations spend too much on AIDS, which requires lifelong medications, compared with diarrhea and the other leading killer of children, pneumonia, both of which can be treated inexpensively."

30 Oct 2009

ABC News reports on U.S. food aid policy

ABC News examines U.S. food aid policy, which "requires that food aid money be spent on food grown in the U.S., at least half of it must be packed in the U.S. and most of it must be transported in U.S. ships." But "critics are complaining that" these policies are "exacerbating the cycle of starvation."

30 Oct 2009

Researchers report an epidemic of sexually-transmitted HCV infection among HIV-infected men in NY City

Researchers in New York City are reporting their work uncovering a new epidemic of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among men-who-have-sex-with-men (MSM) who have HIV infection.

30 Oct 2009

Study: Lack of insurance may have caused 17,000 child deaths over 20 years

"An estimated 17,000 children in the United States might have died unnecessarily over nearly two decades because they didn't have health insurance, according to a report from researchers at Johns Hopkins Children's Center in Baltimore," reports U.S. News and World Report.

30 Oct 2009

Solasia Pharma completes Phase I clinical trial for Sancuso extended release transdermal granisetron patch

Solasia Pharma K.K. (http://www.solasia.co.jp), a developer of Western oncology pharmaceuticals in-licensed for commercialization in Asian markets, announced today the completion of a Phase I clinical trial for SP-01 (extended release transdermal granisetron patch; brand name: Sancuso®) in Japanese volunteers.

30 Oct 2009

Senators jostle for position on health reform provisions

CongressDaily reports that the "only public insurance option proposal Senate Majority Leader (Harry) Reid included in his healthcare overhaul bill this week appears simply to be a starting point that will be sliced and diced before reform is said and done."

30 Oct 2009

130 million children to be immunised against pneumonia

Marking the first international World Pneumonia Day on 2 November, the GAVI Alliance plans to immunise 130 million children in poor countries against pneumonia, the world's leading child killer.

30 Oct 2009

Senate confirms Benjamin as surgeon general

The Senate confirmed Alabama doctor Regina Benjamin as surgeon general Thursday night. Her confirmation, which was approved with a voice vote, comes at a critical time as the nation deals with a swine flu emergency.

30 Oct 2009