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Major shift in cancer research priorities needed

Cancer research is too focused on new drug development, while not enough money and effort is being devoted to pursuing important advances in knowledge likely to have the biggest impact on combating the disease in the next few decades, a leading research policy expert says, adding that a major shift in research priorities will be crucial to the ability to cope with the coming wave of cancer cases.

22 Sep 2009

Drug-eluting stents effective for diabetic patients

Results of a multicenter study in Asia, demonstrating that drug-eluting stents are effective with a low rate of complications in diabetic patients, will be presented at the 21st annual Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) scientific symposium, sponsored by the Cardiovascular Research Foundation (CRF).

22 Sep 2009

CDC recommends seasonal influenza vaccination to counter H1N1

Public health experts, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), recommend seasonal influenza vaccination as the first line of defense this year in protecting against the influenza virus.

22 Sep 2009

New online service for information exchange and product recalls launched

The Food Marketing Institute (FMI) and GS1 US today announced the launch of Rapid Recall Exchange, an online service to enable prompt and accurate information exchange between retailers/wholesalers and suppliers about food and product recalls and withdrawals. It replaces an existing recall system, the Product Recall Portal, by improving ease of use and adding significant capabilities.

22 Sep 2009

Technique to reduce stroke in cardiac surgery patients

Sequoia Hospital announced today that they are one of only two hospital participant abstracts selected for oral presentation at the Society of Thoracic Surgeons Advances in Outcomes and Quality national conference held this week in San Diego, California. "Separated Cerebral and Corporeal Perfusion Reduces Stroke Risk in Cardiac Surgery Patients with Mobile Aortic Atheromata" will be presented by Audrey Fisher, MPH, Sequoia Hospital Manager of Cardiovascular Quality & Outcomes. This new technique was developed to reduce strokes in cardiac surgery patients by isolating blood flow to the brain during cardiopulmonary bypass.

22 Sep 2009

Diabetes more prevalent in African Americans due to living conditions

The higher incidence of diabetes among African Americans when compared to whites may have more to do with living conditions than genetics, according to a study led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. The study, available online in advance of publication in the October 2009 edition of the Journal of General Internal Medicine, found that when African Americans and whites live in similar environments and have similar incomes, their diabetes rates are similar, which contrasts with the fact that nationally diabetes is more prevalent among African Americans than whites.

22 Sep 2009

HTA acquires GHS medical office building portfolio

Healthcare Trust of America, Inc., (the "REIT"), a self-managed non-traded real estate investment trust, announced the completed acquisition of a 16-building portfolio from Greenville Hospital System ("GHS") based in Greenville, South Carolina for approximately $162,820,000 on September 18, 2009.

22 Sep 2009

Health Robotics chooses Device Technologies Australia as its exclusive CytoCare partner for Oceania

Health Robotics today announced that it has signed an exclusive five-year strategic partnership with Device Technologies Australia Pty Ltd. for its revolutionary CytoCare(TM) Robot. This strategic agreement enables Device Technologies Australia to achieve its goal of safely, accurately and cost-effectively automating the preparation of Oncology I.V. Admixtures to complement its other market-leading Oncology and Surgery Robotic solutions.

22 Sep 2009

CSL Behring offers new dosage strength of Helixate FS in U.S.

Hemophilia A patients who require high doses of Helixate® FS, Antihemophilic Factor (Recombinant), can now benefit from greater convenience in administering their treatment, thanks to a new 3000 IU (international unit) dosage strength. CSL Behring announced today that this new dosage strength is available in the U.S., allowing many patients to reduce reconstitution time by eliminating the need to mix and pool multiple vials of Helixate FS.

22 Sep 2009

Stress makes people to choose less-familiar foods

You'd think in times of uncertainty, people would gravitate toward familiar favorites. But a new study in the Journal of Consumer Research shows that stress and upheaval actually lead people to choose less-familiar foods over "comfort foods."

22 Sep 2009

Survey: 77% of Latino women avoid milk to manage lactose intolerance

A new Lactose Intolerance in Multicultural Communities Survey sponsored by the LACTAID(R) Brand found that 77 percent of Latinas reduce the amount of milk or dairy in their diet as a way to manage their lactose intolerance. Yet, 63 percent of Latinas who have lactose intolerance worry the condition keeps them from consuming important nutrients, such as calcium and vitamins A and D. Despite their concerns, only 14 percent have talked to a health care professional about lactose intolerance.

22 Sep 2009

Winners of the 2009 Biotechnology Vision Summit's Emerging Company Showcase announced

Six Wisconsin biotechnology companies have been selected the winners of the first Emerging Company Showcase. The showcase is part of the Biotechnology Vision Summit 2009, being held on Wednesday, Oct. 7, at the Madison Marriott West in Madison, Wis. The summit and the showcase are being hosted by BioForward, the member-driven state association that is the voice of Wisconsin’s biotechnology industry.

22 Sep 2009

KYPHON Cement Delivery System from Medtronic

Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE:MDT), today announced the full U.S. launch of the KYPHON Cement Delivery System (CDS), adding an innovative bone cement delivery option to its extensive KYPHON Balloon Kyphoplasty product portfolio for the treatment of vertebral compression fractures (VCFs).

22 Sep 2009

35 million people around the world affected by Alzheimer's disease: Nancy Pelosi

"Alzheimer's disease is a scourge afflicting Americans in every state and community. According to a new report, it affects 35 million people around the world -- and that number is expected to nearly double in 20 years, to more than 65 million in 2030.

22 Sep 2009

Poor money management: A sign of developing Alzheimer's disease

New research finds poor money management skills may indicate that a person with mild memory problems will soon develop Alzheimer's disease. The study is published in the September 22, 2009, print issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

22 Sep 2009

Molecule responsible for neuronal branches identifed

The human brain consists of about 100 billion (1011) neurons, which altogether form about 100 trillion (1014) synaptic connections with each other. A crucial mechanism for the generation of this complex wiring pattern is the formation of neuronal branches. The neurobiologists Dr. Hannes Schmidt and Professor Fritz G. Rathjen at the Max Delbr-ck Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) Berlin-Buch, Germany, have now discovered a molecule that regulates this vital process. At the same time they have succeeded in elucidating the signaling cascade induced by this molecule (PNAS, Early Edition, 2009, doi:10.1073).

22 Sep 2009

AAA Assurance Corporation of Vietnam and International Medical Group sign historic agreement

International Medical Group®, Inc. (IMG®), a worldwide leader in designing, distributing and administering global health care benefits, signed a historic agreement in Ho Chi Minh City with the joint stock company, AAA Assurance Corporation of Vietnam.

22 Sep 2009

Winners of "Passion & Results" Award announced by Instrumentation Laboratory

Instrumentation Laboratory (IL) today announced the three recipients of their "Passion & Results" Award. The winners were presented with their awards by IL during ceremonies at the Congress for the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) held in Boston, MA, July 11-16 and at the Annual Meeting for the American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC), in Chicago, IL, July 19-23.

22 Sep 2009

Antigen to block infection by genetically-diverse strains of HIV

Scientists working to develop a vaccine for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) report they have created the first antigen that induces protective antibodies capable of blocking infection of human cells by genetically-diverse strains of HIV. The new antigen differs from previously-tested vaccines by virtue of its chemically-activated property that enables close sharing of electrons and produces strong covalent bonding.

22 Sep 2009

Amgen announces Phase 3 results evaluating Vectibix in combination with FOLFIRI chemotherapy

Amgen (Nasdaq: AMGN) today announced detailed results from the Phase 3 '181' trial evaluating Vectibix((R)) (panitumumab) in combination with FOLFIRI (an irinotecan based chemotherapy), as a second-line treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). In this trial, Vectibix significantly improved progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with KRAS wild-type mCRC.

22 Sep 2009