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Research on patients' immune system may lead to new diagnostic tool for HIV treatment

Mayo Clinic researchers have shown why, in a minority of HIV patients, immune function improves despite a lack of response to standard anti-retroviral treatment. In these cases, researchers say, the virus has lost its ability to kill immune cells. The findings appear in the online journal PLoS Pathogens.

1 Dec 2010

Medicare often overpays for wheelchairs, durable medical equipment

(Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) Sun-Sentinel: Medicare continues to pay high prices - often three times the cost on the private market - for power wheelchairs and other high-cost equipment. "As for the prices, the government is well aware that Medicare often pays too much. The Medicare reimbursement rate for wheelchairs ranges from $490 to $1,750 for the 13-month rental period, depending on the type of chair.

1 Dec 2010

African agriculture fund designates $135M to expand food production

The African Agriculture Fund (AAF) announced Monday that it has designated $135 million for expanded food production, agricultural processing and distribution, especially for small holder farms, PANA/Afrique en ligne reports.

1 Dec 2010

Health law causing ripples in Congress, insurance industry, among doctors

The Washington Post: "One of the most significant savings envisioned in the new health- care law - limiting payments to the private health plans that cover 11 million older Americans under Medicare - is, so far, bringing little of the turbulence that the insurance industry and many Republicans predicted. ... Early clues to the actual effects have now materialized, as elderly Americans may sign up for a health plan for 2011 during an enrollment period through the end of the year, and the warnings of swift, serious damage to the program are not borne out.

1 Dec 2010

Array BioPharma achieves $10 million clinical research milestone in Celgene collaboration

Array BioPharma Inc. announced today that a $10 million clinical research milestone was achieved in its collaboration with Celgene Corporation. Celgene and Array entered into this research collaboration in September 2007. Array anticipates initiating a Phase 1 dose escalation trial in cancer patients with ARRY-382, a small molecule cFMS inhibitor, during the first quarter of 2011.

1 Dec 2010

Scientists create couch potato mouse model to study muscle function

Daniel Kelly, M.D., and his colleagues at Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute (Sanford-Burnham) at Lake Nona have unveiled a surprising new model for studying muscle function: the couch potato mouse.

1 Dec 2010

Flawed health care system fuels low life expectancy rank for U.S., researchers say

The U.S. spends more on health care than any other nation but ranks 49th in life expectancy which has led researchers to conclude that the problem is the health care system.

1 Dec 2010

Research shows anti-microbial medications lead to acute liver failure

New research shows that anti-microbial medications are a common cause of drug-induced liver injury (DILI) leading to acute liver failure (ALF), with women and minorities disproportionately affected.

1 Dec 2010

The complexity involved in efforts to dismantle the health law

The last time lawmakers repealed a major piece of health care legislation was more than 20 years ago, when vehement opposition to a 1988 measure providing new Medicare prescription drug coverage in exchange for higher income taxes led to repeal 16 months later, CQ HealthBeat reports. Polls are more evenly divided on the newest health care overhaul, and due to the law's unprecedented complexity, "efforts to unwind the measure are as fragmented as the health care system itself."

1 Dec 2010

Study finds boosting glucose levels can reduce aggressive behavior

A spoonful of sugar may be enough to cool a hot temper, at least for a short time, according to new research. A study found that people who drank a glass of lemonade sweetened with sugar acted less aggressively toward a stranger a few minutes later than did people who consumed lemonade with a sugar substitute.

1 Dec 2010

GenSpera expands G-202 Phase I safety trial to CTRC at University of Texas Health Science Center

GenSpera, Inc. announced its intention to expand its Phase I safety trial to study G-202 in relapsed, refractory cancer patients to the Cancer Therapy and Research Center (CTRC) at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio in San Antonio, TX. The expansion is dependent upon a successful review of the clinical protocol by the Health Science Center Institutional Review Board (IRB). The company anticipates admitting the first patient at this site in the first quarter of 2011.

1 Dec 2010

Quality issues persist at hospitals, plastic surgery centers; use of CT scans in ER increases

Despite intensive efforts to improve patient safety, a six-year study at 10 North Carolina hospitals showed no decline in so-called patient harms, which included medical errors and unavoidable mistakes.

1 Dec 2010

Pfizer awards $2.1 million grant to NCCN to evaluate axitinib in solid tumors

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network has been awarded a $2.1 million grant from Pfizer to develop a program to scientifically evaluate and define the clinical activity of axitinib in various tumor types.

1 Dec 2010

Deficit plans target politically-protected Medicare program

The politically-sacrosanct Medicare program is in the crosshairs of proposals to cut the deficit, prompting possible battles between seniors' advocates and debt-conscious lawmakers, Kaiser Health News reports.

30 Nov 2010

Medical records and medical device interests gain attention from big names, congressional delegation

The Hill: "The new lobby shop of former Rep. Billy Tauzin (R-La.) and his son Tom has registered its first client. The San Francisco-based tech company Resilient Networks Systems has hired Tauzin Consultants to help lobby on the deployment of electronic medical records under the healthcare reform law among other issues, according to lobbying disclosure records.

30 Nov 2010

Researchers reveal ultra-fast processes of DNA photostability

The genetic material of DNA contains shielding mechanisms to protect itself from the exposure to the UV light emitted by the sun. This is of crucial importance, since without photostability i.e. without programmed defense mechanisms against UV irradiation a rapid degradation of DNA and RNA would be the consequence. As part of a project funded by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) a group of researchers led by Hans Lischka, Quantum Chemist of the University of Vienna, Austria, could, for the first time, comprehensively unravel these ultra-fast processes of the photostability of the nucleobases.

30 Nov 2010

Cordis to distribute OSTIAL PRO Stent Positioning System worldwide

Cordis Corporation has entered into a distribution agreement with Ostial Solutions for the worldwide distribution of the OSTIAL PRO Stent Positioning System™. The OSTIAL PRO™ is the world's first and only aorto-ostial stent positioning system for coronary and peripheral applications. The OSTIAL PRO™ is intended to optimize the treatment of patients who require a stent implantation for treatment for aorto-ostial blockages.

30 Nov 2010

Lame duck update: Congress delays Medicare payment cuts, fails to roll back health law's 1099 provision

Congress on Monday agreed to delay for one month a cut in Medicare reimbursement rates for doctors, giving a short-term reprieve to a looming crisis over treatment of the nation's elderly.

30 Nov 2010

Health care models: Accountable Care Organizations, medical homes

Kansas Health Institute News Service examines accountable care organizations (ACOs): "In an effort to combat the lack of coordination that is widely recognized as a major shortcoming of the current health system, the new federal health reform law includes provisions intended to encourage wider use of Accountable Care Organizations or ACOs."

30 Nov 2010

New findings offer insights into novel treatment avenue for Crohn's Disease, sarcoidosis

A new finding out in the December 1st issue of Genes & Development offers insight into a new treatment avenue for two painful inflammatory diseases: Crohn's Disease and sarcoidosis.

30 Nov 2010

Research News and Research

Research on patients' immune system may lead to new diagnostic tool for HIV treatment

Medicare often overpays for wheelchairs, durable medical equipment

African agriculture fund designates $135M to expand food production

Health law causing ripples in Congress, insurance industry, among doctors

Array BioPharma achieves $10 million clinical research milestone in Celgene collaboration

Scientists create couch potato mouse model to study muscle function

Flawed health care system fuels low life expectancy rank for U.S., researchers say

Research shows anti-microbial medications lead to acute liver failure

The complexity involved in efforts to dismantle the health law

Study finds boosting glucose levels can reduce aggressive behavior

GenSpera expands G-202 Phase I safety trial to CTRC at University of Texas Health Science Center

Quality issues persist at hospitals, plastic surgery centers; use of CT scans in ER increases

Pfizer awards $2.1 million grant to NCCN to evaluate axitinib in solid tumors

Deficit plans target politically-protected Medicare program

Medical records and medical device interests gain attention from big names, congressional delegation

Researchers reveal ultra-fast processes of DNA photostability

Cordis to distribute OSTIAL PRO Stent Positioning System worldwide

Lame duck update: Congress delays Medicare payment cuts, fails to roll back health law's 1099 provision

Health care models: Accountable Care Organizations, medical homes

New findings offer insights into novel treatment avenue for Crohn's Disease, sarcoidosis

eBook: Advancing neurodegenerative research with iPSC-derived microglia models eBook

Leveraging the power of automation to boost research

Automating research - solutions and best practices

How can microdialysis benefit drug development

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