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Eat strawberries to improve cholesterol levels

According to a new study published in the October 2009 issue of Nutrition Journal, women with metabolic syndrome had reduced total cholesterol levels - including LDL - after a brief period of daily consumption of a strawberry-based beverage.

6 Oct 2009

$16 million federal stimulus funds for cancer research projects

Researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Group Health Research Institute and the University of Washington schools of Public Health and Pharmacy have been selected to lead four projects backed by approximately $16 million in federal stimulus funding for comparative-effectiveness research in cancer.

6 Oct 2009

U.N. officials highlight need for vaccine assistance to poor countries

U.N. officials on Sunday said that the H1N1 (swine flu) virus had arrived in poorer countries, highlighting a growing need for financial assistance and H1N1 vaccines for such regions, SAPA/News24.com reports.

6 Oct 2009

More efforts needed to present breast reconstruction options to all patients: Study

Latinas who spoke little English were less likely to undergo reconstruction surgery after a mastectomy for breast cancer, according to a study from researchers at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center.

6 Oct 2009

Conceptus obtains Ovion intellectual property rights from American Medical Systems

Conceptus, Inc., developer of the Essure® procedure, the first proven non-incisional permanent birth control method available, today announced that it has acquired Ovion intellectual property rights from American Medical Systems Holdings, Inc. for a cash purchase price of $23.6 million.

6 Oct 2009

YM BioSciences to acquire Cytopia

Cytopia Limited has today announced that Cytopia and Toronto-based YM BioSciences Inc. ("YM") have signed an exclusive and binding Implementation Agreement ("Agreement") in which it is proposed that YM will acquire all of the issued shares and options in Cytopia.

6 Oct 2009

Research reveals that 52% Americans are not worried about H1N1 virus and its impact

As the first recipients of the H1N1 vaccine are vaccinated, more than half of Americans surveyed (52 percent) do not believe the H1N1 virus, or Swine Flu, will have a major impact in the United States compared to 44 percent who believe it will, according to the results of a new Deloitte Center for Health Solutions survey.

6 Oct 2009

Mutual of Omaha offers new dental product for workplace needs

Mutual of Omaha, a leading provider of group benefits, has announced a new group dental product designed to meet the evolving needs of the workplace.

6 Oct 2009

BBC examines 'huge imbalance' between funding for HIV/AIDS, other health needs in Uganda

The BBC examines the balance between funding for HIV/AIDS and for the broader health system and other diseases in Uganda.

6 Oct 2009

Obama discretely lobbying for public option in Senate health bill

"Despite months of outward ambivalence about creating a government health insurance plan, the Obama White House has launched a behind-the-scenes campaign to get divided Senate Democrats to take up some version of the idea for a final vote in the coming weeks," The Los Angeles Times reports.

6 Oct 2009

Features of Ingenix's CareTracker EMR e-prescribing solution expanded

Ingenix today announced that it has expanded the electronic prescribing (e-prescribing) capabilities of its CareTracker™ EMR solution. The new e-prescribing features are Surescripts® certified and allow physicians to access their patients’ prescription histories and drug benefit information as part of an electronic health record.

6 Oct 2009

NCQA awards Excellent Accreditation status to AvMed Health for its commercial and Medicare products

For two consecutive years, AvMed Health Plans has received an Excellent Accreditation status from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) for both its commercial and Medicare products. The Excellent rating is the NCQA's highest accreditation status for service and clinical quality that meet or exceed NCQA's rigorous requirements for consumer protection and quality improvement.

6 Oct 2009

GE Healthcare announces FDA clearance of CARESCAPE Monitor B850

GE Healthcare today announced the FDA-cleared CARESCAPE™ Monitor B850, which provides caregivers with a unique level of integration between patient monitoring data and hospital information systems. Unlike traditional patient monitors, CARESCAPE Monitor B850 directly links hospital networks, electronic medical records (EMRs), diagnostic images, lab results and third-party devices with real-time patient monitoring data, to support efficient clinical decision-making.

6 Oct 2009

News outlets examines health impact of disasters in Indonesia, Samoa, Philippines

In Indonesia, "[r]escue workers called off the search Monday for life under the rubble left by a massive earthquake, focusing instead on bringing aid to survivors," the Agence France-Presse reports. "The United Nations has said at least 1,100 people were killed in the disaster, but estimates of the final toll range up to 5,000. The official toll stood at 650 dead and 672 missing, according to the health ministry," the news service writes (Belford, 10/5).

6 Oct 2009

FOLOTYN available for commercial sale in the United States

Allos Therapeutics, Inc. today announced that FOLOTYN (pralatrexate injection) is now available for commercial sale in the United States. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted accelerated approval for FOLOTYN for use as a single agent for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) on September 24, 2009. This indication is based on overall response rate.

6 Oct 2009

Ankota releases Healthcare Delivery Management software

Ankota, Inc. a Baltimore, MD-based software company, announced today the release of the Ankota Healthcare Delivery Management (HDM) software suite for Home Medical Equipment (HME), Durable Medical Equipment (DME) and Respiratory Therapy (RT).

6 Oct 2009

Vocollect Healthcare's alliance with American HealthTech to deliver unified EMR

Vocollect Healthcare Systems, Inc. and American HealthTech, Inc. announce the sharing of information to contribute towards a more timely and unified Electronic Medical Record (EMR) for American HealthTech clients. This alliance interfaces the market's top performing interactive point-of-care delivery system into American HealthTech's market-leading clinical software and EMR offering.

6 Oct 2009

Incentives move doctors to e-prescribe; hospitals slow to join HIT exchanges

"The number of U.S. physicians and other medical professionals prescribing electronically is expected to more than double this year, enticed by higher Medicare payments tied to the technology's use," Dow Jones Newswires/Wall Street Journal reports.

6 Oct 2009

Pomegranate juice beneficial for patients with elevated cardiovascular disease risk factors: Study

According to a clinical study released in The American Journal of Cardiology, a daily serving of POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice may decrease the progression of arterial plaque in patients with elevated cardiovascular disease risk factors. The study was intended to see if POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice may slow the progression of intima-media thickness of the carotid artery (CIMT) in patients with moderate coronary heart disease risk.

6 Oct 2009

Guided Therapeutics awarded $2.5M NCI grant for marketing LightTouch technology

Guided Therapeutics, Inc. today announced that it was awarded a $2.5 million matching grant by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to bring to market and expand the array features for its LightTouch™ non-invasive cervical cancer detection technology. The award provides resources to complete the regulatory process and begin manufacturing ramp up for the device and single-patient-use disposable.

6 Oct 2009