Saturday, April 26, 2008
SynergEyes Hybrid Contact Lenses Provide A Vision Solution For Post LASIK Patients
SynergEyes Hybrid Contact Lenses Provide A Vision Solution For Post LASIK Patients SynergEyes, Inc., of Carlsbad, CA, recently launched a revolutionary hybrid contact lens designed for people who need further vision correction after undergoing refractive vision surgery. SynergEyes(R) PS (post-surgical) is also designed for patients who have experienced some type of corneal trauma or suffer from certain degenerative vision conditions. Source: www.medicalnewstoday.comDelcath Expands Phase III Trial For Metastatic Melanoma To Include University Of Maryland Medical Center Delcath Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: DCTH) announced that the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) has approved UMMC's participation in the Phase III study of the Company's Percutaneous Hepatic Perfusion (PHP) System for the isolated, high dose delivery of the anti-cancer agent melphalan to treat inoperable metastatic melanoma in the liver. Source: www.medicalnewstoday.comMonitoring AIDS Treatment By Regular Physical Examination Is Nearly As Effective As Advanced Laboratory Tests When millions of HIV-infected people in poor countries began receiving advanced drug therapies, critics worried that patient care would suffer because few high tech laboratories were available to guide treatments. But according to a study being published in Lancet Friday, 25 April, these concerns are as yet unfounded. Source: www.medicalnewstoday.comReport Slates Service Provision For Children With Autism A hard-hitting report on the lack of statutory services for children with autism and their parents and carers will be published this week. Source: www.medicalnewstoday.com$1.5 Million Robot Cuts Risk Of Drug Errors A new pharmacy robot at Loyola University Hospital is designed to eliminate the type of life-threatening human medication errors that injured actor Dennis Quaid's newborn twins.Loyola's pharmacy recently began filling patient prescriptions with the two-armed, $1.5 million dollar robot. The robot places single doses of medication in small plastic bags. Source: www.medicalnewstoday.comMyocardial Infarction: Mortality For Women Not Higher Than For Men In this study, the authors analyzed the medical data from AOK (a large general statutory health insurance company) patients who had received hospital treatment for a myocardial infarction between 2004 and 2005. Within this period, 57,000 women and 75,000 men insured by AOK suffered from a myocardial infarction somewhere in Germany. Source: www.medicalnewstoday.comProstate Specific Antigen At Or Before Age 50 As A Predictor Of Advanced Prostate Cancer Diagnosed Up To 25 Years Later: A Case-Control Study UroToday.com - Dr. Lilja and his group have previously shown that a single PSA measurement at or before age 50 is a strong predictor of prostate cancer (CaP) occurring up to 25 years later. In the online version of BMC Medicine, Dr. Ulmert leads an analysis from the group that supports that a single PSA measurement is also a very strong predictor of advanced CaP diagnosed up to 25 years later. Source: www.medicalnewstoday.comRenal Transplantation In Children With Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction Of Different Origin: A Single-Center Experience UroToday.com - A study out of Turkey reported a single center experience evaluating patient graft survivals in patients who had renal transplantation with concomitant lower urinary tract dysfunction. The group evaluated 70 pediatric transplant patients and found 11 of them to display severe lower urinary tract dysfunction. Source: www.medicalnewstoday.comDisinfecting Water Saves Lives In Rwanda The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is pleased to announce the relaunch of Sur'Eau, a safe-water solution that reduces the risk of diarrhea. Sur'Eau is a water purification solution that prevents waterborne diseases. Source: www.medicalnewstoday.comDeadly Dose: Heparin Expert Helps Uncover Source Of Lethal Contamination The mysterious death of patients around the world following a routine dosage of the common blood thinner, heparin, sent researchers on a frantic search to uncover what could make the standard drug so toxic. A researcher at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute was among a small group of scientists with the expertise and the high-tech equipment necessary to determine the source of the contamination. Source: www.medicalnewstoday.com
Friday, April 25, 2008
Mandatory HIV Testing In North Carolina Prisons Will Not Stem Spread Of Virus, Opinion Piece Says
Mandatory HIV Testing In North Carolina Prisons Will Not Stem Spread Of Virus, Opinion Piece Says Given that HIV/AIDS prevalence among prison inmates in North Carolina is "several-fold higher than that of the general population," mandatory HIV testing "of inmates on face value seems attractive," David Wohl -- associate professor of medicine at the University of North Carolina Center for Infecti Source: www.medicalnewstoday.comHIV/AIDS Hindering Angola's Efforts To Eradicate Illiteracy, Education Official Says The HIV/AIDS epidemic in Angola is hindering the country's efforts to implement a program aimed at eradicating illiteracy by 2015, Deputy Education Minister Pinda Simao said Tuesday during a talk that was part of the International Week on Education for All, the APA/AllAfrica.com reports. Source: www.medicalnewstoday.comBreast Cancer Subtypes Are Different Diseases There is a biological distinction between breast cancers that depend on hormones and those that do not, according to research published in PLoS Genetics* today (Friday). Source: www.medicalnewstoday.comSenate Compromises On Bill To Ban Insurers, Employers From Discriminating Based On Genetics Senate leaders on Tuesday reached a compromise on a measure (S 358) that would ban insurance companies and employers from discriminating against individuals based on genetic tests that show a predisposition for certain conditions -- such as breast cancer, heart disease or diabetes -- the Portland Press Herald reports. Source: www.medicalnewstoday.com
Earthquake In Illinois Could Portend An Emerging Threat
Earthquake In Illinois Could Portend An Emerging Threat To the surprise of many, the earthquake on April 18, 2008, about 120 miles east of St. Louis, originated in the Wabash Valley Fault and not the better-known and more-dreaded New Madrid Fault in Missouri's bootheel.The concern of Douglas Wiens, Ph.D., and Michael Wysession, Ph.D., seismologists at Washington University in St. Source: www.medicalnewstoday.comDemocratic Lawmakers Set Smaller Goals For Health Care Than Presidential Candidates' Proposals, The Hill Reports Democratic lawmakers are "maneuvering to lower public expectations" about the prospects of health care proposals offered by Democratic presidential candidates Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) and Barack Obama (Ill.) amid concerns that "sweeping change will be difficult," The Hill reports. Source: www.medicalnewstoday.com
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Patient Education Software For Chiropractors
Patient Education Software For Chiropractors Forté Holdings, Inc., a technology and investment company, has announced the launch of Chiroglyphix. Chiroglyphix is patient education software for the Chiropractic profession. Chiroglyphix through the use of 3D animation gives practices the ability to create custom playlists and 'movies' for prospects, first-time patients, or patients with recurring conditions. Source: www.medicalnewstoday.comPositive Results From Re-Read Of Vasovist(R) Phase 3 Images Announced By EPIX Pharmaceuticals EPIX Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Source: www.medicalnewstoday.com
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Chemotherapy's Effects On The Brain
Chemotherapy's Effects On The Brain "A commonly used chemotherapy drug could be inflicting serious brain damage on cancer patients", the Daily Mail reported. It said that research on 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) found that "its damaging effects on the brain can be felt for years after treatment has ended". Source: www.medicalnewstoday.comSensitive Skin A Symptom Of Migraine "Migraine hurts skin" is the headline in the Daily Mirror. The newspaper describes the symptom of sensitive skin, called allodynia, where sufferers of migraine find combing their hair, wearing jewellery or getting dressed "excruciatingly painful". The newspaper reports that 10% of people in the UK suffer migraine. Source: www.medicalnewstoday.comMaine Middle School Clinic Providing Contraception Used By One Girl, Officials Say Only one girl, who was 14, during the last six months has utilized a program at an independently operated health care center at King Middle School in Portland, Maine, that provides students in grades six through eight with a range of contraception and counseling for sexually transmitted infections, officials said recently, the AP/Google.com reports. Source: www.medicalnewstoday.comResearch Priorities To Fight Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis Tuberculosis (TB) has long been one of the world's great killers. Now, forms of drug-resistant TB--multidrug (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR)--are occurring at an ominous and accelerating rate. Source: www.medicalnewstoday.comAMA Committed To Enforcement Of BCBS Settlement The American Medical Association (AMA) announced that it will begin enforcement of the national Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS) settlement as a signatory medical society to the agreement. The AMA joins 27 other participating medical societies that are able to provide direct assistance to physicians when a BCBS plan or subsidiary has failed to comply with the national BCBS settlement. Source: www.medicalnewstoday.comHouse Democrats Schedule Vote On Medicaid Bill Requiring Two-Thirds Vote For Passage House Democratic leaders have scheduled a vote Tuesday on a bill (HR 5613) aimed at blocking seven new Medicaid regulations for one year under a "suspension of the rules," which prohibits amendments and requires a two-thirds vote for passage, CQ Today reports. According to CQ Today, the scheduled vote signals House leaders' confidence in a "strong show of bipartisan support for the bill. Source: www.medicalnewstoday.comFDA Approves Cimzia To Treat Crohn's Disease A new drug has been approved to help sufferers of Crohn's disease, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced today. Cimzia (certolizumab pegol) received approval for adults with moderate to severe Crohn's disease who have not responded to conventional therapies. This product was approved with a Medication Guide. Source: www.medicalnewstoday.comCimzia� Approved In United States For Crohn's Disease According to a press release from UCB on April 22, 2008, a newpegylatedanti-TNFα, will be made available in the United States under thename Cimzia� in the next few days. This will be a new,promising option for patients suffering from moderate to severe Crohn'sDisease. Source: www.medicalnewstoday.com
Lumbar Supports Not Particularly Effective For Low Back Pain
Lumbar Supports Not Particularly Effective For Low Back Pain Lumbar or lower back supports those large belts that people wear around their waists when they lift or carry heavy objects are not very useful for preventing low back pain, according to a new systematic review. Source: www.medicalnewstoday.comHow Exercise Changes Structure And Function Of Heart Shown By Mass. General Study For the first time researchers are beginning to understand exactly how various forms of exercise impact the heart. Source: www.medicalnewstoday.comNational Learning At Work Day Leading first aid training provider, the British Red Cross, is encouraging businesses to use National Learning at Work Day (22/05/08) as a chance to provide more employees with life saving skills. Source: www.medicalnewstoday.comPrestigious UK Accolade Highlights The Outstanding Innovation At The Heart Of Thomson Pharma(R) Thomson Reuters, the world's leading source of intelligent information for businesses and professionals, announced that on the occasion of the Queen's birthday it has been awarded a Queen's Award for Enterprise in the Innovation category. Source: www.medicalnewstoday.com
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Growing Human Eggs In The Lab
Growing Human Eggs In The Lab "Fertility hope for cancer patients," is the headline in The Times. An advance in the method of growing human eggs in the laboratory could "help women and girls to preserve their fertility during treatment for cancer," the newspaper says. Other newspapers also carry the story. Source: www.medicalnewstoday.comFDA Approves First Compact Heart Assist Device Heart assist devices are surgically implanted mechanical pumps that help the heart's ventricle do its work of pumping blood to the rest of the body. Previous models were too large to be placed in the upper abdomen of some women and small-sized men. But the Thoratec HeartMate II Left Ventricular Assist System employs a first-of-a-kind design. Source: www.medicalnewstoday.comTwo Dozen New Celebrities Join The Alzheimer's Association Champion Awareness Campaign Terrell Owens, Penny Marshall, Garry Marshall, Molly Sims, Wayne Brady, Leeza Gibbons, Anthony Anderson, John Glover, Lainie Kazan, Kathy Mattea, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Bryant Gumbel, Ahmad Rashad, and Emerson Drive have joined celebrities such as Dick Van Dyke, Vivica Fox, Olympia Dukakis, Natalie M Source: www.medicalnewstoday.comUSDA Barter Initiative Helps Feed The Hungry Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer said that USDA donations will exceed $100 million in a swap of government surplus raw commodity stocks for domestic and international food through USDA's "Stocks-for-Food" initiative. Internationally, the barter initiative will benefit more than 700,000 children through the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program. Source: www.medicalnewstoday.comPublic Plea To End Pester Power, UK Four out of five people (83 per cent) believe that irresponsible marketing of unhealthy food makes it harder to encourage children to eat a healthy diet, shows new Which? research*.Restrictions on the marketing of unhealthy food to children on non-broadcast promotions, such as online and on packaging, are either weak or non-existent. Source: www.medicalnewstoday.comRat Study Suggests Why Teens Get Hooked On Cocaine More Easily Than Adults, And Find It Harder To Quit New drug research suggests that teens may get addicted and relapse more easily than adults because developing brains are more powerfully motivated by drug-related cues. This conclusion has been reached by researchers who found that adolescent rats given cocaine - a powerfully addicting stimulant - were more likely than adults to prefer the place where they got it. Source: www.medicalnewstoday.com
Melanoma Lurks In Larger Skin Lesions
Melanoma Lurks In Larger Skin Lesions Skin lesions that are about the size of a pencil eraser are more likely to be melanomas, a deadly form of skin cancer, than smaller moles, according to a new study led by NYU Langone Medical Center researchers. Source: www.medicalnewstoday.comStrativa Pharmaceuticals Announces Phase III Results For Loramyc(R) To Treat Oropharyngeal Candidiasis Strativa Pharmaceuticals, the proprietary products division of Par Pharmaceutical Companies, Inc. (NYSE: PRX) announced that its development partner, BioAlliance Pharma reported preliminary, top-line results for a Phase III study of Loramyc(R) (miconazole Lauriad(R)) mucoadhesive buccal tablets, in the treatment of oropharyngeal candidiasis (OPC). Source: www.medicalnewstoday.comPregnant Women Need Omega 3 To Boost Infant Development A new study funded by Health Canada and other organizations has proven a direct correlation between dietary consumption of the omega-3 DHA and enhanced infant development. Source: www.medicalnewstoday.comThoratec Announces FDA Approval Of HeartMate II(R) For Bridge To Transplantation Thoratec Corporation (Nasdaq: THOR), a world leader in device-based mechanical circulatory support therapies to save, support and restore failing hearts, said that it has received FDA approval of its PMA (PreMarket Approval) application, allowing the use of its HeartMate II LVAS (Left Ventr Source: www.medicalnewstoday.comCounseling Trauma Victims Causes Secondary Trauma Hearing repeated stories of suffering from trauma victims causes serious psychological stress in clinical social workers, a new Geisinger-led study suggests. Source: www.medicalnewstoday.comNostrum Announces The Successful Completion Of Early Proof Of Concept Study For Its Novel Clot Busting Therapeutic Protein Nostrum, a privately-held company based in Edison, New Jersey, announced that it has successfully completed its early, primate, proof-of-concept study for its novel thrombolytic clot-buster protein currently known as SMRX11. Source: www.medicalnewstoday.com
Monday, April 21, 2008
Popular Ear Drops And Complications Risk? Australia
Popular Ear Drops And Complications Risk? Australia Hearing loss and balance disorders can be caused by commonly used antibiotic ear drops if the patient has a perforated eardrum, writes Associate Professor Harvey Coates in the April edition of Australian Prescriber. These serious complications, the result of ototoxicity, may be more common than reported, as some cases are unrecognised. Source: www.medicalnewstoday.comReports Examine Health System Change, Medicaid Policy, Life Expectancy Disparities, MA Plans, Individual Health Plan Premiums "Are We Heading Toward Socialized Medicine?" Urban Institute: The report by Stan Dorn and John Holahan discusses rhetoric that claims recent proposals to restructure the U.S. health care system represent "dangerous steps" that will move the country toward government-run health care and socialized medicine. Source: www.medicalnewstoday.comPittsburgh Post-Gazette Examines Democratic Presidential Candidates' Health Care Plans Democratic presidential candidates Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) and Barack Obama (Ill.) have both proposed health care plans that would "build on the existing health care system" to make affordable coverage available to the uninsured, but they differ on whether an individual insurance mandate is necessary to expand coverage to all U.S. residents, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. Source: www.medicalnewstoday.comHealthcare Commission Welcomes New National Clinical Advisor For Nursing, UK Senior nurse Ann Close joins the Healthcare Commission this month as a national clinical advisor, responsible for providing the Commission with senior strategic advice on issues related to nursing and patient care.Professor Close is currently Nursing Director and Director of Infection Prevention and Control at The Dudley Group of Hospitals NHS Trust in the West Midlands. Source: www.medicalnewstoday.com
Florida Senate Passes Gov. Crist's Plan To Expand Health Coverage To Uninsured Residents
Florida Senate Passes Gov. Crist's Plan To Expand Health Coverage To Uninsured Residents The Florida Senate on Wednesday unanimously approved a plan proposed by Gov. Charlie Crist (R) that aims to reduce the ranks of the state's 3.7 million uninsured residents, the Miami Herald reports (Caputo, Miami Herald, 4/17). Source: www.medicalnewstoday.comMiss. House Speaker To Appoint Panel To Study Bill Regulating Abortions For Minors Mississippi House Speaker Billy McCoy (D) on Wednesday announced that he will appoint a "diverse group" of House members to study a Senate-approved bill (HB 520) that would restrict abortions for minors, which is currently held up in a House committee, the AP/Biloxi Sun Herald reports. McCoy said the bill, as well as other antiabortion-related legislation, will be considered in 2009. Source: www.medicalnewstoday.comCampaigns, Grants Support Interpretation Services, Diabetes Care, Organ Donation; Health Summit Features Seminar On Minority Health California: Cardinal Health has awarded Madera, Calif.-based Children's Hospital Central California with a $25,000 grant to fund a program that will create audio discharge instructions in Hmong, Mixteca and Spanish, the Stockton Record reports. Source: www.medicalnewstoday.comPharmaceutical Innovation Platform Publication Describes Policies Which Encourage R&D For Innovative Medicines To Meet Essential Global Health Needs The International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations (IFPMA) is pleased to announce its new publication "The Pharmaceutical Innovation Platform: Meeting Essential Global Health Needs". Source: www.medicalnewstoday.comNew CLSI Guideline Provides Protocols For Verification And Validation Of Multiplex Nucleic Acid Assays Multiplex assays detect the presence of and discriminate two or more analytes simultaneously in the same sample. The number of commercially available multiplex assays is increasing rapidly, as is the number of laboratory-developed multiplex assays, and these use a variety of technologies and instrument platforms. Source: www.medicalnewstoday.comVaccination Week In The Americas Set To Immunize 62 Million In The Western Hemisphere A record 62 million children, adults and elderly people are expected to receive free vaccines against leading infectious diseases as part of the sixth annual Vaccination Week in the Americas, which will take place April 19 to 26. Source: www.medicalnewstoday.com
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Three Patients, Age 14, 28 And 72, Receive Heart Valve Replacements Without Surgery Using High Tech Investigational Device
Three Patients, Age 14, 28 And 72, Receive Heart Valve Replacements Without Surgery Using High Tech Investigational Device Interventional cardiologists at Rush University Medical Center now offer a minimally invasive transcatheter valve replacement procedure for patients with congenital heart disease that doesn't involve open heart surgery. Source: www.medicalnewstoday.com
|
