Health and Medical News Headlines for January 23, 2010

FDA Approves For Permanent Treatment Of Advanced Heart Failure Assist Device Pioneered By Texas Heart Institute At St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital

The federal Food and Drug Administration today approved a continuous-flow heart-assist device pioneered at the Texas Heart Institute (THI) at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital (SLEH) for use as a permanent treatment for advanced heart failure. The approval of the pump device, the HeartMate II, follows several years of clinical trials and is seen as a major milestone for patients in the United States. In any given year there are some 250,000 people who suffer from advanced heart failure, while only about 2,000 heart transplants are performed annually in the U.S...

Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 23 Jan 2010 | 12:00 am

Scientologists 'heal' Haiti quake victims using touch

Amid the mass of aid agencies piling in to help Haiti quake victims is a batch of Church of Scientology "volunteer ministers", claiming to use the power of touch to reconnect nervous...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 22 Jan 2010 | 11:30 pm

Patient Money: Dealing With the Financial Burden of Autism

Medical costs for an autistic child can run as much as $72,000 a year and insurance does not cover many treatments.

Source: NYT > Health | 22 Jan 2010 | 11:22 pm

Vital Signs: Choking Game No Mystery to Children, Oregon Study Finds

A risky pastime is more popular than once thought, researchers said.

Source: NYT > Health | 22 Jan 2010 | 11:21 pm

Heart Patients Warned Against Using Meridia, an Anti-Obesity Drug

European and American drug regulators had two starkly different reactions this week to data on an obesity drug.

Source: NYT > Health | 22 Jan 2010 | 11:15 pm

Dr. Oz Show Focuses On Patients With Sleep Disorders Spotlight On 20 Million Americans With Sleep Apnea

Watermark Medical CEO Sean Heyniger, said the recent Dr. Oz Show segment on sleep apnea and obesity will help the estimated 20 million undiagnosed Americans realize their symptoms and seek help. Watermark's ARESTM is an innovative, low-cost, patient-friendly wireless device, offered through primary care physicians that is worn while the patient sleeps at home. The device collects physiological data and integrates it with clinical history to determine the presence and severity of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)...

Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 22 Jan 2010 | 11:00 pm

Teva Announces Tentative Approval Of Generic Femara(R) Tablets

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (Nasdaq: TEVA) announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted tentative approval for the Company's Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) to market its generic version of Novartis' breast cancer treatment Femara® (letrozole) Tablets, 2.5 mg. Final approval of Teva's Letrozole Tablets is expected upon expiry of patent protection for the brand product in June 2011. The brand product had annual sales of approximately $556 million in the United States, based on IMS sales data. Source Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd...

Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 22 Jan 2010 | 10:00 pm

Hanmi says it made no comments about potential suitor

NEW YORK, Jan 22 (Reuters) - Hanmi Financial Corp the parent of Hanmi Bank, on Friday said its chairman has spoken to Woori Finance Holdings , but added it would not comment on rumours that it was a potential...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 22 Jan 2010 | 9:51 pm

Health Tip: Controlling Diabetic Nephropathy (HealthDay)

HealthDay - (HealthDay News) -- Diabetic nephropathy is damage to the kidneys that occurs from uncontrolled diabetes.
Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 22 Jan 2010 | 9:49 pm

Potty Training Best Between Ages 2 and 3 (HealthDay)

HealthDay - FRIDAY, Jan. 22 (HealthDay News) -- If you're ready to ditch your toddler's diapers for good, the best time to start potty training may be between the second and third birthdays.
Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 22 Jan 2010 | 9:49 pm

Gene Variation May Speed Recurrence of Stomach Cancer (HealthDay)

HealthDay - FRIDAY, Jan. 22 (HealthDay News) -- An inherited genetic trait may be linked to more aggressive cases of stomach cancer, researchers say.
Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 22 Jan 2010 | 9:49 pm

Combo Therapy Shows Promise Against Brain Cancer (HealthDay)

HealthDay - FRIDAY, Jan. 22 (HealthDay News) -- A synthetic form of a naturally occurring hormone combined with chemotherapy inhibited tumor growth and achieved a 25 percent cure rate in mice with a deadly brain cancer called glioblastoma, a new study reports.
Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 22 Jan 2010 | 9:49 pm

Clinical Trials Update: Jan. 22, 2010 (HealthDay)

HealthDay - (HealthDay News) -- Here are the latest clinical trials, courtesy of ClinicalConnection.com:
Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 22 Jan 2010 | 9:49 pm

Obesity Tied to Common Kidney Cancer (HealthDay)

HealthDay - FRIDAY, Jan. 22 (HealthDay News) -- Obesity increases the risk of developing a common and virulent form of kidney cancer, a new study finds.
Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 22 Jan 2010 | 9:49 pm

Stillborn Case Linked to Bleeding Gums During Pregnancy (HealthDay)

HealthDay - FRIDAY, Jan. 22 (HealthDay News) -- A new report shows the first documented link between fetal death and a mother's pregnancy-related gum disease.
Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 22 Jan 2010 | 9:49 pm

Video Gaming Just Might Fight Aging (HealthDay)

HealthDay - FRIDAY, Jan. 22 (HealthDay News) -- Slaying orcs, charting military campaigns and gunning down bad guys might not sound like things seniors would be interested in pursuing for fun or exercise.
Source: Yahoo! News: Health News | 22 Jan 2010 | 9:49 pm

Plea Rejected in Case of Hepatitis Infections

Suggesting that 20 years in prison was not enough punishment, a federal judge rejected a plea agreement for a hospital technician who exposed hundreds of patients to hepatitis C.

Source: NYT > Health | 22 Jan 2010 | 9:14 pm

HealthPartners Medical Group Launches Initiative To Improve Colorectal Cancer Screening Rates For African American Patients

HealthPartners Medical Group today announced that it has launched an initiative aimed at saving lives by providing more timely colorectal cancer screening for African American patients. Organizations such as the American College of Gastroenterology recommend that regular colorectal cancer screening for African Americans should begin at age 45, compared to age 50 for other races...

Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 22 Jan 2010 | 9:00 pm

Somaxon Provides Update On New Drug Application For Silenor(R) For The Treatment Of Insomnia

Somaxon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: SOMX), a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the in-licensing, development and commercialization of proprietary branded pharmaceutical products and late-stage product candidates for the treatment of diseases and disorders in the central nervous system therapeutic area, today provided an update on the status of its New Drug Application (NDA) for Silenor® (doxepin) for the treatment of insomnia. Somaxon held a meeting with senior leadership at the U.S...

Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 22 Jan 2010 | 8:00 pm

Five Questions You Should Ask Your Doctor About Losing Weight

The American Society of Bariatric Physicians (ASBP) works with physicians so they're better prepared to deal with society's obesity epidemic. Even though people focus on weight loss more in January than any other month, successful weight loss is a year-round long-term initiative that goes far beyond just diet and exercise. The ASBP has highlighted five questions everyone who needs to lose weight should ask their physician. 1...

Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 22 Jan 2010 | 7:00 pm

40 Health Facilities, 24 Operating Theatres Now Functioning in Haiti

As healthcare services arrive in Haiti, risks for emerging infectious diseases and wound infections increase.
Medscape Medical News
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 22 Jan 2010 | 6:21 pm

FDA approves oral drug for multiple sclerosis

The second-to-last time EJ Levy was at Disney World, she used a scooter to navigate the enormous park. Her legs were weak and she suffered from foot drop caused by multiple sclerosis. That was 4½ years ago. On her most recent trip, a few months ago, Levy walked the entire time, thanks in part to a drug approved by the FDA on Friday.

Source: CNN.com - Health | 22 Jan 2010 | 6:03 pm

ACT BIOTECH Announces FDA Acceptance Of IND For ACTB1003, A First-in-Class Anti-Cancer Therapeutic

ACT Biotech Inc., a privately held biotechnology company developing a portfolio of oral kinase inhibitors as anti-cancer drugs, today announced the acceptance of the Investigational New Drug (IND) application for ACTB1003 by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The company has now assembled a complete preclinical package, including manufacturing and toxicology studies, allowing ACTB1003 to enter a clinical trial. ACTB1003 is a novel oral kinase inhibitor that targets cancer cells through multiple modes of action...

Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 22 Jan 2010 | 6:00 pm

'Broken' baby

New hope for boy who fractured leg while in the womb
Source: BBC News | Health | World Edition | 22 Jan 2010 | 5:38 pm

"Norway-Type" MRSA Strategy In U.S. Likely To Boost Diagnostics

Norwegian hospitals have received considerable attention in the news media this month due to their successful anti-MRSA efforts, and this coverage could be helpful to the diagnostics industry, according to healthcare market research publisher Kalorama Information. Norway's strict limit on antibiotic use has resulted in far less cases of the methycillin-resistant streptococci infections that kill an estimated 19,000 patients in U.S. hospitals each year, and some observers are wondering if the U.S...

Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 22 Jan 2010 | 5:00 pm

Citigroup says trying to move Terra Firma suit to UK

NEW YORK, Jan 22 (Reuters) - Citigroup Inc on Friday said it is trying to move to London a New York lawsuit by British private equity firm Terra Firma [TERA.UL] over that firm's purchase of music business...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 22 Jan 2010 | 4:54 pm

Haitian's futile effort to save her child

Sonia Flury, 40, was trapped for five days, along with her 20-year-old daughter, in the rubble after the earthquake in Haiti. Here is her story of survival.

Source: CNN.com - Health | 22 Jan 2010 | 4:35 pm

UPDATE 2-RiskMetrics up for sale -- source

(Adds second source confirmation, no comment from Thomson
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 22 Jan 2010 | 4:03 pm

UPDATE 2-RiskMetrics up for sale -- source

(Adds second source confirmation, no comment from Thomson
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 22 Jan 2010 | 4:03 pm

Health Records Security Top Priority, Australia

A general practice at the heart of the Black Saturday bushfires, awarded the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) 2009 Victoria General Practice of the Year Award, has worked tirelessly to get the practice back on its feet a year on from the fires. One of the painfully slow after-effects of the Black Saturday bushfires has been to rebuild all of the vital community information that was lost, including the medical records of all the patients at the Marysville Medical Clinic, now located in Buxton...

Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 22 Jan 2010 | 4:00 pm

UPDATE 2-US approves Acorda MS drug to help with walking

* Ampyra first drug cleared to boost walking speeds in MS
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 22 Jan 2010 | 3:56 pm

WRAPUP 7-China, U.S. spar over Internet censorship

* China says accusations harm ties, controls are lawful
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 22 Jan 2010 | 3:52 pm

UPDATE 2-Motorola files U.S. ITC complaint against RIM

* Motorola: Most Rim phones are infringing (Adds Motorola comment, adds that RIM declines comment)
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 22 Jan 2010 | 3:38 pm

Narrowing an Eating Disorder

When anorexia, bulimia and other labels don’t fit, experts use other labels for disordered eating.

Source: NYT > Health | 22 Jan 2010 | 3:37 pm

Mental health experts help volunteers in Haiti

For people in the business of coming to the rescue, it's easy to lose sight of their own mental health. That's why organizations are sending help for both disaster victims and volunteers.

Source: CNN.com - Health | 22 Jan 2010 | 3:35 pm

UPDATE 3-USTR mulling WTO case on China web barriers

WASHINGTON, Jan 22 (Reuters) - U.S. trade officials have asked for more information as they weigh whether to pursue a case against Chinese Internet restrictions that impede Google and other companies,...
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 22 Jan 2010 | 3:31 pm

UPDATE 2-U.S. seeks to undo Dean Foods-Foremost Farms deal

(Adds Dean Foods comment, antitrust reporting requirement)
Source: RSS feed - channel BNewsHealth | 22 Jan 2010 | 3:30 pm

Girls With ADHD at High Risk for Psychiatric Complications in Young Adulthood

Girls with ADHD are at high risk for psychiatric complications in young adulthood, including antisocial, addictive, mood, anxiety, and eating disorders, new research suggests.
Medscape Medical News
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 22 Jan 2010 | 3:23 pm

FDA Approves Dalfampridine to Improve Walking in Multiple Sclerosis

The US Food and Drug Administration announced approval for the drug (Ampyra, Elan/Acorda) January 22.
Medscape Medical News
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 22 Jan 2010 | 3:07 pm

Invest In The Future Of General Practice - RACGP Federal Budget Submission, Australia

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) is calling for more funding for general practice in the May Federal Budget. RACGP President Dr Chris Mitchell said that GPs provide care to patients on a daily basis and are in an ideal position to understand what is and isn't working in each sector of the health care system "In May, the Australian Government has an opportunity to make clear its commitment to real and meaningful health care reform and to take further steps to ensure a sustainable general practice profession," he said...

Source: Health News from Medical News Today | 22 Jan 2010 | 3:00 pm

Varenicline May Help Smokers With Heart Disease to Quit

Promising news for smokers with cardiovascular disease: the nicotine receptor partial agonist varenicline helps treat the addiction not only in healthy smokers but also in smokers with cardiovascular disease (CVD), say researchers in the January 19 issue of Circulation.
Reuters Health Information
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 22 Jan 2010 | 2:31 pm

Books of The Times: A Hospital How-To Guide That Mother Would Love

Dr. Atul Gawande’s provocative new book explains how a technique used by pilots — the simple checklist — can dramatically reduce patients’ deaths in hospitals.

Source: NYT > Health | 22 Jan 2010 | 2:03 pm

Vital Signs: Behavior: Too Much Sitting Shortens Lives, Study Suggests

Research in Australia showed that each daily hour of television viewing was associated with an 11 percent rise in mortality.

Source: NYT > Health | 22 Jan 2010 | 2:03 pm

Obesity Linked to Clear-Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma

A case series shows that each extra body mass index point is associated with an increased risk for clear-cell renal cell carcinoma.
Medscape Medical News
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 22 Jan 2010 | 1:00 pm

Daily Calcium Plus Vitamin D Supplements May Reduce Fracture Risk

A study shows that daily supplements of calcium and vitamin D are linked to a significantly lower risk for fracture, irrespective of age, sex, or previous fractures.
Medscape Medical News
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 22 Jan 2010 | 12:59 pm

Antimalarials Recommended for All Lupus Patients

A study shows that use of antimalarial agents can increase survival time with systemic lupus erythematosus and should be given to all patients with the disease.
Reuters Health Information
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 22 Jan 2010 | 12:59 pm

Sedatives, Analgesics Not Linked to Adverse Neurodevelopment in Neonates After Cardiac Surgery

Children who received sedatives and analgesics as neonates for cardiac surgery have normal neurologic development at 2 years of age, new study shows.
Medscape Medical News
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 22 Jan 2010 | 12:20 pm

CDC: 1 in 5 teens has cholesterol problems

One in five teens in the U.S. -- and more than 40 percent of obese teens -- have abnormal cholesterol, whether it's low HDL (good cholesterol); high LDL (bad cholesterol); or high levels of triglycerides, another type of blood fat, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Source: CNN.com - Health | 22 Jan 2010 | 12:07 pm

Haiti's amputees

Hundreds of thousands need help
Source: BBC News | Health | World Edition | 22 Jan 2010 | 10:50 am

Pelosi Says U.S. Senate Health Bill Cannot Pass House

U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Thursday she did not think the Senate's version of healthcare reform had enough support to pass the House of Representatives without changes.
Reuters Health Information
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines | 22 Jan 2010 | 9:53 am

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