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May 2009

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Metabolic surgery could revolutionize diabetes treatment
Metabolic surgery, a new surgical approach to metabolic disease, may provide the key to curing diabetes in some patients. Recent studies have indicated that bariatric surgery, typically used to treat severe obesity, often results in normalization of blood sugar levels and other metabolic abnormalities. 28 May 2009

European online obesity survey launched
With excess weight and obesity increasing across Europe at an alarming rate, the online survey seeks to understand to what degree this is of concern to European citizens and what steps we think should be taken to address this pressing issue. 28 May 2009
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Reducing chronic diseases critical to US economic recovery and healthcare reform
The second annual Almanac of Chronic Disease published by the US Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) highlights the factors making up the US$1.7 trillion cost to the US economy of treating chronic diseases. 28 May 2009

Diabetes experts issue new recommendations for inpatient glycemic control
New recommendations by a consensus group of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) and the American Diabetes Association (ADA) are calling for major changes in the way healthcare professionals treat hospitalized patients with high blood glucose (sugar) levels. 28 May 2009

Connections between diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease explored
Numerous epidemiological studies have described the incidence of both Alzheimer’s disease and type 2 diabetes in the Western world and extensively defined common environmental risk factors. In a special issue of the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease (April 2009), nineteen contributions examine the possible connections between AD and T2D. 28 May 2009

Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine to develop field kit to detect insecticide resistance in mosquitoes
Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) has been awarded a £1.1m grant by the US National Institutes of Health to lead a five-year project to develop a Field Applicable Screening Tool (FAST) kit to detect resistance to public health insecticides in mosquitoes. 28 May 2009

Medtronic device registry shows how implantable heart devices work in clinical practice
The first results from the Medtronic Inc., OMNI Study reveal that one out of six patients with an ICD or CRT-Ds to prevent sudden cardiac arrest, received potentially life-saving medical therapy. 28 May 2009

Roche launches detection kit for influenza A(H1N1)
Roche Applied Science has launched a new detection kit for the Influenza A(H1N1) virus for use in life science research. Roche is filing to get approval of the local health authorities worldwide for use of the kit in emergency situations. 28 May 2009

Nanogen enters asset purchase agreement with Elitech and files for bankruptcy
Nanogen, Inc. (Pink Sheets: NGEN), developer of molecular and rapid diagnostic products, has executed an asset-purchase agreement with French company Elitech Group, a privately held diagnostics company, to acquire substantially all of the assets of Nanogen. 28 May 2009

RaySearch enters partnership with Siemens
Swedish company RaySearch Laboratories AB has entered into a long-term development and licensing agreement with Siemens Healthcare in which RaySearch will provide a number of treatment planning modules that will be integrated in Siemens’ syngo Suite for Oncology. 28 May 2009

Test of benefit of blue-white light on dementia patients
A team of lighting and nursing researchers in the US are testing the effects of blue-white light on dementia patients in a long-term care facility to see if simulating daylight can have health benefits for the patients who spend long periods indoors. 28 May 2009

Developed world neglects diarrheal diseases that kill 1.6 million children
PATH and WaterAid America have released two new reports that show that the international aid community and developing-country governments are not responding to clear evidence on child mortality by targeting resources where the disease burden is greatest. 27 May 2009

Institute for OneWorld Health in collaboration to fight neglected diarrheal diseases
The US-based non-profit pharmaceutical company has successfully completed its first screening campaign of the Roche proprietary compound library and will select up to 40 new drug leads for further study intended to identify a new treatment for childhood diarrhea. 28 May 2009

St Jude Medical gains EU approval for cardiac mapping system
St. Jude Medical, Inc. has gained European CE Mark approval and first use of its EnSite Velocity cardiac mapping system. This new system has been designed to help physicians more efficiently diagnose and deliver therapy to treat abnormal heart rhythms. 28 May 2009

Canopus BioPharma studies use of statins for treating flu
Canopus BioPharma Inc. has commissioned a team of experts to assist with its plans for major collaborations to license, manufacture and distribute its H1N1 swine flu statin antiviral. It is in negotiations to initiate large scale clinical trials and gaining marketing approval. 28 May 2009

Sartorius Stedim Biotech introduces innovative single-use bioreactors
Sartorius Stedim Biotech has introduced two prototypes of innovative single-use bioreactors that operate based on novel mixing technologies. 28 May 2009

Cardiola receives EU approval for home cardiac counterpulsation system
Cardiola AG has received CE Mark recertification to market its m.pulse system for at-home use to treat chronic heart failure (CHF), the most frequent cause of hospitalization in persons over 65. 27 May 2009

Bruker introduces next-generation ultra-sensitive ion trap
Bruker Daltonics amaZon series ion trap has 10-times improved MS/MS sensitivity over current platforms, novel technology for accelerated data acquisition, significantly enhanced mass resolution, and second-generation fast and sensitive ETD/PTR capabilities. 27 May 2009

Health interventions in early childhood could save billions in adult health costs
A study by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in the US has found that promoting the health of young children before five years of age could save US society up to US$65 billion in future healthcare costs. 27 May 2009

Clinical decision support system for iPhone
Wave Medical has expanded its clinical decision support applications for general practitioners, nurses, emergency doctors and medical students to the iPhone and iPod Touch. 27 May 2009

Antibody fragment production breakthrough with 2nd generation EBA
Richter-Helm BioLogics GmbH & Co. KG has announced a technological breakthrough in the purification of antibody fragments from an E. coli expression system. 27 May 2009

Corbis offers Science Faction’s medical, science and space photos
Visual media provider Corbis has partnered with leading science and technology image supplier Science Faction to distribute its premium rights-managed photography covering physical and natural sciences, high technology, medicine and space. 27 May 2009

Horiba Medical launches Pentra SAfe for POC haematology
HORIBA Medical has launched Pentra SAfe to provide secure and remote access to its bench top haematology analyser, the ABX Pentra 60 C+ in point-of-care environments. 27 May 2009

Report: In Vitro Diagnostics in a Recession
It is commonly asserted that in vitro diagnostics is a recession-proof industry. This report tests that assumption: What impact is the downturn having on in vitro diagnostic companies? What are the best areas of IVD and the best world markets? How should companies price and market their products? What are key companies in the market doing at this time? more ...

Report: Top Ten Global In-Vitro Diagnostics Companies
The global in-vitro diagnostics (IVD) market is forecast to grow at a rate of 6% to reach $50.0bn in 2012. Roche is the largest player in the market with a share of 20%. It is followed by Siemens and Abbott, who both hold 12% of the market. The IVD market is highly consolidated, with the top ten players holding close to 80% market share. A number of large in-vivo players have entered the IVD market recently, signalling the convergence of the two diagnostic fields. Siemens Healthcare is a prominent example of this trend, following their acquisition of DPC, Bayer Diagnostics and Dade Behring. more ...

Thin-film battery revenues to come from medical devices, sensors and watches
Thin-film batteries are being designed as energy storage devices for small photovoltaic or thermoelectric systems to create ultra-long-lived power sources for medical devices, sensors and watches. 19 May 2009

Generic pharmaceuticals saved US healthcare $734 billion over last decade
The use of generic pharmaceuticals saved the American healthcare system more than $734 billion from 1999-2008, with approximately $121 billion in savings in 2008 alone, according to a report published by the Generic Pharmaceutical Association. 19 May 2009

Biotech business model unsustainable in current economic crisis
The global biotechnology industry delivered a solid financial performance in 2008 despite worldwide economic turmoil, according to Ernst & Young's 23rd annual report on the biotech industry. 19 May 2009

Early findings on development of Mexican swine flu reported in new study
An international team including World Health Organisation and public health agencies in Mexico, have found that the outbreak data so far is very consistent with the early stages of a pandemic and the strain of influenza is as lethal as the 1957 pandemic. 13 May 2009

Imperial College to build £99m health science centre in London
A new centre will will form a key part of the Academic Health Science Centre, which is a unique partnership between Imperial College London and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust that aims to bring new therapies and treatments to patients much more quickly than ever before. 13 May 2009

Dementia in Clinical Practice — a new book
Dementia in Clinical Practice summarizes the most recent advances in the field and provides an updated view of the disorders likely to be encountered in daily practice. 11 May 2009

Warning over 6-month time lag to develop pandemic flu vaccine
Research from the University of Leicester and University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust warns of a six-month time lag before effective vaccines can be manufactured in the event of a pandemic flu outbreak. 11 May 2009

GE expands developing health globally program to Cambodia
GE has announced that it is expanding its Developing Health Globally program to include six sites in Cambodia and is donating ultrasound equipment, mobile x-rays and patient monitors to Cambodia’s Ministry of Health, for distribution to 23 public health facilities. 11 May 2009

GE commits US$6bn to healthcare innovation
GE has announced a US$3 billion budget for the next six years for healthcare innovation, a further US$2 billion of financing and US$1 billion in related GE technology and content to drive healthcare information technology and health in rural and underserved areas. 11 May 2009

UK company produces first DNA test kit for Mexican swine flu
PrimerDesign Ltd based in Southampton says it has won the race to produce the first DNA test kit for the Mexican swine flu A (H1N1). The rapid test gives results in only two hours compared to two days for current diagnostic tests. 11 May 2009

Swine flu having powerful impact in Sweden
Sales of face masks are breaking records in Sweden. Before the outbreak of the A(H1N1) flu in Mexico, few Swedes were concerned about pandemics, previously unknown diseases, or diseases related to animals, such as mad cow disease or BSE. 11 May 2009

Stem cell transplantation helps diabetics become insulin free
The majority of patients with type 1 diabetes who underwent a certain type of stem cell transplantation became insulin free, several for more than three years, according to a new study. 8 May 2009

Chemical compound that may stop brain tumours identified
Researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine have identified a compound that could be modified to treat one of the most deadly types of cancer, and discovered how a particular gene mutation contributes to tumour growth. 8 May 2009

New TB vaccine clears important hurdle
An urgently needed new tuberculosis vaccine cleared a vital step in testing, an important advance at time when a third of the world’s population is believed to be have latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI), which, when re-activated, can cause full-blown disease. 8 May 2009

Autism genes discovery suggests biological reasons for altered neural development
A research team has connected more of the intricate pieces of the autism puzzle, with two studies that identify genes with important contributions to the disorder. 8 May 2009

Energex proposes HemoModulation therapy for treatment of H1N1 swine flu
Energex Systems Inc. has announced that it has notified the FDA of its interest in applying for an Emergency Use Approval that would permit the company to offer its HemoModulation therapy for the treatment of influenza type A(H1N1), otherwise known as swine flu. 8 May 2009

New rodent virus implicated in human sudden infant death syndrome
Ljungan virus which was only discovered in the 1990s in rodents, has been found in 11 of 12 cases of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) by investigators from Sweden and the USA. 8 May 2009

Custom-designed nanoparticles key to new generation of highly effective vaccines
Liquidia Technologies has developed a method to custom design and produce nanoparticles for carrying vaccines that can enhance immune response up to 10-fold. 7 May 2009

Modified antibiotics could treat genetic diseases
By modifying the properties of the common antibiotic gentamicin, researchers at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology have developed what could become an effective treatment for many human genetic diseases, including cystic fibrosis, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Usher Syndrome and numerous cancers. 7 May 2009

Common human virus kills cancer stem cells
Reovirus, a common virus in humans that does not cause disease, has been found to effectively target and kill cancer stem cells in breast cancer tissue. The finding could lead to new ways of treating cancer. 7 May 2009

e-Zassi software streamlines commercialisation of medical device technologies
e-Zassi.com is predictive decision support software that provides rapid due diligence, triaging and assessment of new medical device innovations. 7 May 2009

Phase Forward signs agreement with Novo Nordisk for use of InForm for clinical trial data capture
The multi-million dollar agreement allows Danish company Novo Nordisk to use Phase Forward’s InForm electronic data capture product across all clinical trial phases, from Phases I through IV. 7 May 2009

Medication Management Canada offers decision support and electronic record system for pharmacists
The system provides pharmacists a clinical decision support system and electronic therapeutic record to promote common practice standards, document therapeutic outcomes, and improve patient care. 7 May 2009

PerkinElmer becomes exclusive distributor for ID Biological Systems’ newborn screening sample collection cards. 7 May 2009

Major Portuguese hospital selects Sectra to provide PACS
Hospital de São João, one of Portugal’s largest hospitals, has selected Sectra to provide picture archiving and communications (PACS) products and services in a multi-year contract. 7 May 2009

St Jude Medical gains EU approval for remote care system for implantable cardiac devices
St Jude Medical's Merlin.net Patient Care Network (PCN) is a secure, Internet-based remote care system that gathers and stores data from the implant procedure, a clinic follow-up visit or from remote follow-up transmissions of patients with implanted cardiac devices. 7 May

iSOFT wins €600,000 HIS contract in Italy
IBA Health Group Limited has announced that iSOFT has entered the Italian market with a €600,000 contract to install its hospital information system in four hospitals operated by Consorzio Regionale Servizi Sociali (CRESS), a private healthcare group. 6 May 2009

Philips acquires Canadian minimally invasive instrument supplier Traxtal
Royal Philips Electronics has announced that it has acquired Canada-based Traxtal Inc., Traxtal will become part of the Ultrasound business within the Philips Healthcare sector. 6 May 2009

SCM Microsystems completes merger with Hirsch Electronics
SCM Microsystems, Inc. based in Ismaning, Germany, has announced that it has closed its merger with Hirsch Electronics Corp. Hirsch is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of SCM. 6 May 2009

Ventilator controlled by brain signals helps infants in critical condition
Patient case reports from several hospitals show that a revolutionary technique for assisted breathing by mechanical ventilation called NAVA can improve the interaction between a child and the ventilator. 6 May 2009

Hospital infection control will be critical in preventing spread of swine flu
The severity and extent of the current swine flu outbreak (now officially named influenza A(H1N1) by WHO) are unknown, but the SARS outbreak (severe acute respiratory syndrome) in 2003 taught that rigorous infection control in hospitals may be key to limiting deaths from any disease outbreak. 1 May 2009

Preparing for pandemic flu — guides for families, businesses, healthcare providers
Trust for America's Health (TFAH) has re-issued its series of It's Not Flu As Usual guides on pandemic flu preparedness for families, businesses, medical providers, and community groups. The guides are applicable to all countries. 1 May 2009

Course on nanotechnology and regenerative medicine
The Institute of Nanotechnology in partnership with Nanomednet and the Cranfield Institute of Technology is holding a one-day course on nanotechnology and regenerative medicine at the Linnean Society, London on 7 May 2009. 1 May 2009.

Swine flu could be a disaster for weak public health systems in developing countries
A potential spread of swine flu to developing countries without adequate means to track the outbreak or to treat those infected could prove disastrous, says humanitarian agency World Vision. 1 May 2009

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