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Community-based program proves to be successful in reducing skin infections in Australian aboriginal children

A community-based program aimed at reducing the burden of skin disease across remote communities in Australia's Northern Territory has been successful according to a study published November 24 in the open-access journal PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases.

25 Nov 2009

Study finds no significant difference in hospital angioplasty volume and death rates in patients with myocardial infarction

A study based on a contemporary registry of patients with myocardial infarction (heart attack) indicates that even though hospitals that perform a higher number of angioplasties are more likely to follow evidence-based guidelines and have shorter times to the angioplasty procedure, there appears to be no significant difference in outcomes such as length of hospital stay or risk of death, according to a study in the November 25 issue of JAMA.

25 Nov 2009

New biodegradable drug-eluting fibers advance stent technology and brain surgery

Stents that keep weakened and flabby arteries from collapsing have been true life-savers. But after six months, those stents are no longer needed -- once the arteries are strengthened, they become unnecessary. Previously, doctors had no choice but to leave them in place.

25 Nov 2009

Medical advances abound while surgeons report concerns about medical errors

The Wall Street Journal reports on "20 health-care advances to give thanks for this Thanksgiving." Among the most key: "Life expectancy in the U.S. reached an all-time high of 77.9 years in 2007, the latest year for which statistics are available, continuing a long upward trend. (That's 75.3 years for men and 80.4 years for women.) ... Death rates dropped significantly for eight of the 15 leading causes of death in the U.S., including cancer, heart disease, stroke, hypertension, accidents, diabetes, homicides and pneumonia, from 2006 to 2007."

24 Nov 2009

Innovation Award for GMI presented at the 2009 World Congress on Medical Physics

Gamma Medica-Ideas, Inc., a leading developer of digital molecular imaging systems, announced today that it has been awarded an Innovation Award for its new prototype imaging system that combines the molecular imaging (MI) capability of single-photon nuclear imaging with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The award was presented to GMI at the 2009 World Congress on Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering in Munich, Germany that took place on September 7th, 2009.

24 Nov 2009

Second-quarter fiscal 2010 results announced by Medtronic

Medtronic, Inc. today announced financial results for its second quarter of fiscal year 2010, which ended Oct. 30, 2009.

24 Nov 2009

Vitamin D deficiency may increase risk of stroke, heart disease and death, finds study

While mothers have known that feeding their kids milk builds strong bones, a new study by researchers at the Heart Institute at Intermountain Medical Center in Salt Lake City suggests that Vitamin D contributes to a strong and healthy heart as well - and that inadequate levels of the vitamin may significantly increase a person's risk of stroke, heart disease, and death, even among people who've never had heart disease.

24 Nov 2009

New MEMS sensor may help clinicians distinguish stable and unstable plaque during cardiac emergencies

University of Sourthern California biomedical engineer and cardiologist Tzung "John" Hsiai hopes to develop a new tool to help clinicians distinguish cardiac emergencies requiring immediate surgery from chronic problems manageable with drugs and lifestyle change.

24 Nov 2009

New data indicates early association between anti-inflammatory medication and cardiovascular risk

Clinical trial data indicated an association between the anti-inflammatory medication rofecoxib and cardiovascular risk as early as December 2000, before the product was taken off the market in September 2004, according to a report in the November 23 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

24 Nov 2009

Scientists identify factors behind chronic coughing

Scientists have revealed how environmental irritants such as air pollution and cigarette smoke cause people to cough, in research published today in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. The

24 Nov 2009

Study reveals high levels of cardiac biomarkers in the blood of heart attack patients

Many heart attack patients have high levels of cardiac biomarkers in the blood for several months after leaving the hospital, with more shortness of breath and chest pain, according to a Henry Ford Hospital study.

24 Nov 2009

LFAGW celebrates 35th anniversary

The Lupus Foundation of America Greater Washington Chapter (LFAGW) will celebrate 35 years of success providing free day-to-day education, advice and resources for the 75,000+ people with lupus and their families in the greater D.C. area.

24 Nov 2009

New technology developed to rapidly identify compounds for the treatment of heart failure

Research conducted by University of Minnesota scientists, in collaboration with Celladon Corporation, has led to the invention of technology to more rapidly identify compounds for the treatment of heart failure.

24 Nov 2009

Lysteda tablets to treat menorrhagia approved by the FDA

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Lysteda tablets (tranexamic acid), the first non-hormonal product cleared to treat heavy menstrual bleeding (menorrhagia). Lysteda works by stabilizing a protein that helps blood to clot.

24 Nov 2009

USC University Hospital receives Heart Transplant Excellence Award

The University of Southern California (USC) University Hospital received a Heart Transplant Excellence Award from the independent healthcare ratings organization Health Grades, ranking among the top one percent of hospitals in the U.S. that perform heart transplants.

24 Nov 2009

New computational tool may aid surgeons plan for life-saving pediatric operation

A team of researchers at the University of California, San Diego and Stanford University has developed a way to simulate blood flow on the computer to optimize surgical designs. It is the basis of a new tool that may help surgeons plan for a life-saving operation called the "Fontan" surgery, which is performed on babies born with severe congenital heart defects.

24 Nov 2009

GMC named in the 2009 Thomson Reuters 100 Top Hospitals Cardiovascular Benchmarks for Success list

Geisinger Medical Center (GMC) has been named to the 2009 Thomson Reuters 100 Top Hospitals® Cardiovascular Benchmarks for Success list, which annually identifies high-performing cardiovascular hospitals nationally and sets performance targets for managing and improving cardiovascular services.

24 Nov 2009

Human-derived UCB stem cell transplant has positive therapeutic effects on specific lung and heart disorders

Two separate studies published in the current issue of Cell Transplantation (18:8), - now freely available on-line at http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/cog/ct - have shown that transplanted human-derived umbilical cord blood (UCB) stem cells transplanted in an animal model had positive therapeutic effects on specific lung and heart disorders the animal models.

24 Nov 2009

Health Heritage: New website for maintaining family's health history

A team of researchers at the University of Virginia received funding from the National Cancer Institute, an agency of the National Institutes of Health, to enhance a Web site called Health Heritage®. This site will enable family members to enter their family medical histories so that other family members and their health care professionals can use this information while dealing with medical issues.

24 Nov 2009

Medicare cuts in cardiovascular services will lead to reduced access to imaging tests, reveals survey

The American Society of Nuclear Cardiology (www.asnc.org) released preliminary results from a survey of its membership today, which show that the impending cuts to cardiovascular services outlined in the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule will force widespread layoffs, office closures, and limited imaging services. These actions will ultimately lead to reduced access to imaging tests and more expensive care for America's seniors.

24 Nov 2009

Heart News and Research

Community-based program proves to be successful in reducing skin infections in Australian aboriginal children

Study finds no significant difference in hospital angioplasty volume and death rates in patients with myocardial infarction

New biodegradable drug-eluting fibers advance stent technology and brain surgery

Medical advances abound while surgeons report concerns about medical errors

Innovation Award for GMI presented at the 2009 World Congress on Medical Physics

Second-quarter fiscal 2010 results announced by Medtronic

Vitamin D deficiency may increase risk of stroke, heart disease and death, finds study

New MEMS sensor may help clinicians distinguish stable and unstable plaque during cardiac emergencies

New data indicates early association between anti-inflammatory medication and cardiovascular risk

Scientists identify factors behind chronic coughing

Study reveals high levels of cardiac biomarkers in the blood of heart attack patients

LFAGW celebrates 35th anniversary

New technology developed to rapidly identify compounds for the treatment of heart failure

Lysteda tablets to treat menorrhagia approved by the FDA

USC University Hospital receives Heart Transplant Excellence Award

New computational tool may aid surgeons plan for life-saving pediatric operation

GMC named in the 2009 Thomson Reuters 100 Top Hospitals Cardiovascular Benchmarks for Success list

Human-derived UCB stem cell transplant has positive therapeutic effects on specific lung and heart disorders

Health Heritage: New website for maintaining family's health history

Medicare cuts in cardiovascular services will lead to reduced access to imaging tests, reveals survey

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