Current Health and Wellness Research
We report a novel method for estimating fluorescence impulse response function (fIRF) from noise-corrupted time-domain fluorescence measurements of biological tissue. This method is based on the use of high-order Laguerre basis functions and a constrained least-squares approach that addresses the problem of overfitting due to increased model complexity. The new method was extensively evaluated on fluorescence data from simulation, fluorescent standard dyes, ex vivo tissue samples of atherosclerotic plaques and in vivo oral carcinoma. Current results demonstrate that this method allows for rapid and accurate deconvolution of multiple channel fluorescence decays without adaptively adjusting the Laguerre scale parameter. The appropriate choice of the scale parameter is essential for accurate ...
Physics in Medicine and Biology
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February 3, 2012
We present a new version of STIR (Software for Tomographic Image Reconstruction), an open source object-oriented library implemented in C++Â for 3D positron emission tomography reconstruction. This library has been designed such that it can be used for many algorithms and scanner geometries, while being portable to various computing platforms. This second release enhances its flexibility and modular design and includes additional features such as Compton scatter simulation, an additional iterative reconstruction algorithm and parametric image reconstruction (both indirect and direct). We discuss the new features in this release and present example results. STIR can be downloaded from http://stir.sourceforge.net.
PMID: 22290410 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Physics in Medicine and Biol...
Physics in Medicine and Biology
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February 3, 2012
Authors: Defrise M, Rezaei A, Nuyts J
Abstract
In positron emission tomography (PET), a quantitative reconstruction of the tracer distribution requires accurate attenuation correction. We consider situations where a direct measurement of the attenuation coefficient of the tissues is not available or is unreliable, and where one attempts to estimate the attenuation sinogram directly from the emission data by exploiting the consistency conditions that must be satisfied by the non-attenuated data. We show that in time-of-flight PET, the attenuation sinogram is determined by the emission data except for a constant and that its gradient can be estimated efficiently using a simple analytic algorithm. The stability of the method is illustrated numerically by means of a 2D simulation.
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Physics in Medicine and Biology
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February 3, 2012
Authors: Jing Y, Meral FC, Clement GT
Abstract
This paper proposes the use of a k-space method to obtain the correction for transcranial ultrasound beam focusing. Mirroring past approaches, a synthetic point source at the focal point is numerically excited, and propagated through the skull, using acoustic properties acquired from registered computed tomography of the skull being studied. The received data outside the skull contain the correction information and can be phase conjugated (time reversed) and then physically generated to achieve a tight focusing inside the skull, by assuming quasi-plane transmission where shear waves are not present or their contribution can be neglected. Compared with the conventional finite-difference time-domain method for wave propagation simulation...
Physics in Medicine and Biology
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February 3, 2012
Authors: Kyriakou E, McKenzie DR
Abstract
Evidence that some lung tumors change shape during respiration is derived from respiratory gated CT data by statistical shape modeling and image manipulation. Some tumors behave as rigid objects while others show systematic shape changes. Two views of lung motion are presented to allow analysis of the results. In the first, lung motion is viewed as a wave motion in which inertial effects arising from mass are present and in the second it is a quasistatic motion in which the mass of the lung tissues is neglected. In the first scenario, the extremes of tumor compression and expansion are expected to correlate with maximum upward and downward velocity of the tumor, respectively. In the second, they should occur at end exhale and end inhale, re...
Physics in Medicine and Biology
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February 3, 2012
This study opens up the possibility of improved tumor ablation therapy via a combination of percutaneous ethanol injection and high-intensity focused ultrasound.
PMID: 22290554 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Physics in Medicine and Biology)
Physics in Medicine and Biology
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February 3, 2012
Authors: Laakso I, Hirata A
Abstract
From extremely low frequencies to intermediate frequencies, the magnitude of induced electric field inside the human body is used as the metric for human protection. The induced electric field inside the body can be computed using anatomically realistic voxel models and numerical methods such as the finite-difference or finite-element methods. The computed electric field is affected by numerical errors that occur when curved boundaries with large contrasts in electrical conductivity are approximated using a staircase grid. In order to lessen the effect of the staircase approximation error, the use of the 99th percentile electric field, i.e. ignoring the highest 1% of electric field values, is recommended in the ICNIRP guidelines. However, the 99...
Physics in Medicine and Biology
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February 3, 2012
This study reports on the electron slowing-down spectra and mean energy per ion pair, the W-value, in water for monoenergetic electron and photon sources calculated with Geant4-DNA. These quantities depend on electron energy, but not on spatial or angular variables which makes them a good choice for testing the model of energy transfer processes. The spectra also have a scientific value for radiobiological modeling as they describe the energy distribution of electrons entering small volumes, such as the cell nucleus. Comparisons of Geant4-DNA results with previous studies showed overall good agreement. Some differences in slowing-down spectra between Geant4-DNA and previous studies were found at 100 eV and at approximately 500 eV that were attributed to approximations in models of vibratio...
Physics in Medicine and Biology
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February 3, 2012
Authors: Provost J, Thiébaut S, Luo J, Konofagou EE
Abstract
Electromechanical Wave Imaging (EWI) is a non-invasive, ultrasound-based imaging method capable of mapping the electromechanical wave (EW) in vivo, i.e. the transient deformations occurring in response to the electrical activation of the heart. Optimal imaging frame rates, in terms of the elastographic signal-to-noise ratio, to capture the EW cannot be achieved due to the limitations of conventional imaging sequences, in which the frame rate is low and tied to the imaging parameters. To achieve higher frame rates, EWI is typically performed by combining sectors acquired during separate heartbeats, which are then combined into a single view. However, the frame rates achieved remain potentially sub-optimal and this approac...
Physics in Medicine and Biology
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February 3, 2012
Authors: Lampe J, Bassoy C, Rahmer J, Weizenecker J, Voss H, Gleich B, Borgert J
Abstract
Magnetic particle imaging (MPI) is a new tomographic imaging method which is able to capture the fast dynamic behavior of magnetic tracer material. From measured induced signals, the unknown magnetic particle concentration is reconstructed using a previously determined system function, which describes the relation between particle position and signal response. After discretization, the system function is represented by a matrix, whose size can prohibit the use of direct solvers for matrix inversion to reconstruct the image. In this paper, we present a new reconstruction approach, which combines efficient compression techniques and iterative reconstruction solvers. The data compression is based...
Physics in Medicine and Biology
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February 3, 2012
Authors: Chaswal V, Thomadsen BR, Henderson DL
Abstract
The development and application of an automated 3D greedy heuristic (GH) optimization algorithm utilizing the adjoint sensitivity fields for treatment planning to assess the advantage of directional interstitial prostate brachytherapy is presented. Directional and isotropic dose kernels generated using Monte Carlo simulations based on Best Industries model 2301 I-125 source are utilized for treatment planning. The newly developed GH algorithm is employed for optimization of the treatment plans for seven interstitial prostate brachytherapy cases using mixed sources (directional brachytherapy) and using only isotropic sources (conventional brachytherapy). All treatment plans resulted in V100 > 98% and D90 > 45 Gy for the t...
Physics in Medicine and Biology
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February 3, 2012
In this study, we developed a pencil beam algorithm for scanning proton dose calculation by focusing on properly modeling individual scanning spots. All modeling parameters required by the pencil beam algorithm can be generated based solely on a few sets of measured data. We demonstrated that low-dose halos in single-spot profiles in the medium could be adequately modeled with the addition of a modified Cauchy-Lorentz distribution function to a double-Gaussian function. The field size effects were accurately computed at all depths and field sizes for all energies, and good dose accuracy was also achieved for patient dose verification. The implementation of the proposed pencil beam algorithm also enabled us to study the importance of different modeling components and parameters at various b...
Physics in Medicine and Biology
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February 3, 2012
Authors: Pursiainen S, Lucka F, Wolters CH
Abstract
In electroencephalography (EEG) source analysis, a primary current density generated by the neural activity of the brain is reconstructed from external electrode voltage measurements. This paper focuses on accurate and effective simulations of EEG through the complete electrode model (CEM). The CEM allows for the incorporation of the electrode size, shape and effective contact impedance into the forward simulation. Both neural currents in the brain and shunting currents between the electrodes and the skin can affect the measured voltages in the CEM. The goal of this study was to investigate the CEM by comparing it with the point electrode model (PEM), which is the current standard electrode model for EEG. We used a three-dimension...
Physics in Medicine and Biology
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February 3, 2012
Authors: Russell G, Harkins KD, Secomb TW, Galons JP, Trouard TP
Abstract
A new finite difference (FD) method for calculating the time evolution of complex transverse magnetization in diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy experiments is described that incorporates periodic boundary conditions. The new FD method relaxes restrictions on the allowable time step size employed in modeling which can significantly reduce computation time for simulations of large physical extent and allow for more complex, physiologically relevant, geometries to be simulated.
PMID: 22297418 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Physics in Medicine and Biology)
Physics in Medicine and Biology
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February 3, 2012
In biomedical research and practice, quantitative tests or biomarkers are often used for diagnostic or screening purposes, with a cut point established on the quantitative measurement to aid binary classification. This paper introduces an alternative to the traditional methods based on the Youden index and the closestâtoâ(0, 1) criterion for threshold selection. A concordance probability evaluating the classification accuracy of a dichotomized measure is defined as an objective function of the possible cut point. A nonparametric approach is used to search for the optimal cut point maximizing the objective function. The procedure is shown to perform well in a simulation study. Using data from a realâworld study of arsenicâinduced skin lesions, we apply the method to a measure of blo...
Statistics in Medicine
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February 3, 2012
AbstractA number of cardioprotective effects, including the reduction of the LDL particle to oxidation, have been attributed to dietary soy isoflavones. Paraoxonase 1 (PON1), an enzyme mainly synthesized in the liver, may exhibit antiâatherogenic activity by protecting LDL from oxidation. Thus, dietary and pharmacological inducers of PON1 may reduce cardiovascular disease risk. Using a luciferase reporter gene assay we screened different flavonoids for their ability to induce PON1 in Huh7 hepatocytes in culture. Genistein was the most potent flavonoid regarding its PON1 inducing activity, followed by daidzein, luteolin, isorhamnetin and quercetin. Other flavonoids such as naringenin, cyanidin, malvidin and catechin showed only little or no PON1 inducing activity. Genisteinâmediated PON...
Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine
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February 2, 2012
Abstractâ Because of its critical role in the regulation of skeletal muscle metabolism, AMPâactivated protein kinase (AMPK) remains a central focus of research for the treatment of insulin resistance. The purpose of the current study was to determine the role of AMPKα2 activity in the regulation of glucose uptake and FA metabolism in insulinâresistant skeletal muscle. Male C57BL/6 mice were divided into control diet (CD) or high fat (60%) diet (HFD) fed groups for six weeks and were either wild type (WT) or possessed an AMPKα2 dominant negative transgene (DN). After 6 weeks, hindlimbs of CD (n = 10) and HFD (n = 10) mice were perfused ± 450 μU/ml insulin (IS). CD (n = 8) and HFD (n = 8) muscles were used for measurement of basal protein expression. In CD mice, low AMPKα2 activit...
Experimental Physiology
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February 2, 2012
Authors: Hopps E, Caimi G
Abstract
Metabolic syndrome is commonly accompanied by an elevated cardiovascular risk with high morbidity and mortality. The alterations of the arterial vasculature begin with endothelial dysfunction and lead to micro- and macrovascular complications. The remodeling of the endothelial basal membrane, that promotes erosion and thrombosis, has a multifactorial pathogenesis that includes leukocyte activation, increased oxidative stress and also an altered matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) expression. MMPs are endopeptidases which degrade extracellular matrix proteins, such as collagen, gelatins, fibronectin and laminin. They can be secreted by several cells within the vascular wall, but macrophages are determinant in the atherosclerotic plaques. Their activit...
European Journal of Internal Medicine
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February 2, 2012
CONCLUSION: A 16-week VLCD induces considerable weight loss, metabolic amelioration, and major improvements in QoL in obese T2DM patients. The addition of exercise is of paramount importance for the maintenance of better QoL.
PMID: 22284244 [PubMed - in process] (Source: European Journal of Internal Medicine)
European Journal of Internal Medicine
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February 2, 2012
The United States Department of Health and Human Services recently launched the Million Hearts initiative to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes over the next 5 years by implementing proved, effective, and inexpensive interventions. But why stop at a million? We already have all the information we need to eradicate atherosclerotic disease, which is a food-borne illness. Coronary artery disease is virtually nonexistent in large populations of individuals who consume plant-based nutrition. Some of the most renowned cardiovascular pathologists in the world have stated that maintaining a total cholesterol level >150 mg/dl is the true cause of this disease. Plaque regression occurs in >80% of patients who adopt a low-fat vegetarian diet. Cardiac positron emission tomographic scans show ...
The American Journal of Cardiology
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February 2, 2012
Conclusions
This study provides insight into dietary habit as one of the modifiers of health effects of air pollution. Our findings merit further studies to characterise the influence of diet on air pollution-related health and elucidate the underlying mechanisms. (Source: Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health)
Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health
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February 1, 2012
Conclusions
Community-belonging was strongly related to health-behaviour change in Canada and may be an important component of population health prevention strategies. Efforts to increase community-belonging, however, need to be considered along with contextual factors. (Source: Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health)
Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health
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February 1, 2012
Authors: Boleij A, Tjalsma H
Abstract
A healthy human body contains at least tenfold more bacterial cells than human cells and the most abundant and diverse microbial community resides in the intestinal tract. Intestinal health is not only maintained by the human intestine itself and by dietary factors, but is also largely supported by this resident microbial community. Conversely, however, a large body of evidence supports a relationship between bacteria, bacterial activities and human colorectal cancer. Symbiosis in this multifaceted organ is thus crucial to maintain a healthy balance within the host-diet-microbiota triangle and accordingly, changes in any of these three factors may drive a healthy situation into a state of disease. In this review, the factors that sustain health...
Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society
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February 1, 2012
CONCLUSIONS: Elimination diet by a double-blind placebo controlled food challenge is the gold standard for diagnosis. Elimination of the offending allergen from the infants' diet is the main treatment principle.
PMID: 22282379 [PubMed - in process] (Source: World Journal of Pediatrics : WJP)
World Journal of Pediatrics : WJP
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January 31, 2012
[Children should eat more fruit and vegetables : Results of PRO GREENS].
Bundesgesundheitsblatt Gesundheitsforschung Gesundheitsschutz. 2012 Feb;55(2):254-9
Authors: Behrendt I, Krawinkel M
Abstract
A diet rich in fruits and vegetables in schoolchildren is important for the physical and cognitive development of the child as well as for the prevention of nutrition-related diseases. In Germany, 816 schoolchildren (boys and girls, aged 10-13 years) from 14 public schools in the central region of Hesse were asked about their fruit and vegetable intake in May 2009. The results show that the mean fruit intake is 185 g fruit per day and 83 g vegetables per day in all schoolchildren. There is no significant difference in the amounts of fruit consumed by boys and girls. Regard...
Bundesgesundheitsblatt, Gesundheitsforschung, Gesundheitsschutz
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January 31, 2012
This review considers the potential of certain dietary supplements, including garlic, Ginkgo biloba, ginger, ginseng, fish oil, and vitamin E, to interfere with hemostasis. Dietary supplements are common components of the diet in the United States, with about half the US adult population taking some type of dietary supplement regularly. It has been suggested that some supplements could adversely affect coagulation when taken alone or in combination with antiplatelet medications. Supplements could alter hemostasis by a variety of mechanisms, such as reducing platelet aggregation or inhibiting arachidonic acid, a cellular signaling messenger and inflammatory intermediate. To conduct this review, multiple databases were searched using a variety of search terms to ensure relevant papers were l...
Nutrition Reviews
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January 31, 2012
The rise in obesity in many countries has led to the emergence of nutritional information policies that aim to change people's diets. Changing an individual's diet is an ambitious goal, since numerous factors influence a person's foodâchoice decisions, many of which are made unconsciously. These frequently subconscious processes should not be underestimated in foodâchoice behavior, as they play a major role in food diet composition. In this review, research in cognitive experimental psychology and neuroscience provides the basis for a critical analysis of the role of pleasure in eating behaviors. An assessment of the main characteristics of nutritional policies is provided, followed by recent findings showing that food choices are guided primarily by automatic emotional processes. Neur...
Nutrition Reviews
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January 31, 2012
In the media, evocative headlines such as âEating Processed Foods Leads to Depressionâ () can be found within a few clicks of searching the term on any Internet browser. Still other news sources offer advice on how to slowly eliminate processed foods from the diet (), advancing the eating of natural food instead of processed food. The growing industry of organic foods, which has seen sales increase more than 25-fold since 1990 (), is seen as providing healthier, whole alternatives to refined processed foods. The effect of this manner of large-scale exposure is predictableârecent research shows that 43% of consumers have a negative view of processed foods, whereas only 18% look at them positively (). It is not surprising that recent times have seen the public respond against the incre...
Journal of the American Dietetic Association
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January 31, 2012
We claim as a matter of routine that âknowledge is power.â But we have known for decadesâindeed, centuriesâthat diet is a cornerstone of health, yet we have failed to achieve optimal dietary patterns for all. We have known the leading causes of premature death and chronic disease in the United States for 2 decades or more, and have done relatively little with the information. Knowledge may be necessary for power, but it is clearly not sufficient. Knowledge may be prerequisite to power, but is clearly not commensurate with it. The gap between what we know and what we do in disease prevention and health promotion, and specifically in the application of nutrition to these goals, belies the wishful thinking that just knowing is enough. What is required to bridge this gap? What operatio...
Journal of the American Dietetic Association
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January 31, 2012
Response Genetics Inc. said it has raised more than $7.8 million through the private placement of 5.3 million in newly issued stock.
The Los Angeles-based company, which makes molecular diagnostic tests for cancer, said it sold the shares to undisclosed investors for $1.50 a share, a premium of 27 percent above its closing stock price of $1.18 a share on Wednesday.
New investors accounted for the majority of the financing, while existing investors, as well as board members and senior management, made up the remainder, Response Genetics said... (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines)
bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines
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February 3, 2012
Shares of Chapel Hill drug developer Cempra (Nasdaq: CEMP) opened at $6.20 on its first day of trading as a public company, up 3.3 percent from the IPO price of $6. A total of 8.4 million shares at a price well below the expected $11 to $13. For more, go here.
Cempra is headed by CEO Prabha Fernandes. (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines)
bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines
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February 3, 2012
Two Alabama House members from opposing parties have filed similar bills seeking to legalize the medical use of marijuana.
With the 2012 session to begin Tuesday, Rep. Patricia Todd (D-Birmingham) is again carrying a bill that would allow qualifying patients to possess up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana if prescribed by a physician.
Meanwhile, Rep. K.L. Brown, R-Jacksonville, a funeral home owner who says his sister used marijuana to control pain before her death from breast cancer 25 years ago, has filed a similar bill... (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines)
bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines
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February 3, 2012
Two executives have left HealthSpring following the company's merger with Cigna, which closed earlier this week.
Karey Witty, executive vice president and chief financial officer of HealthSpring, and Michael Mirt, president of the company, are no longer with the company, as of Jan. 31, the day Cignaâs $3.8 billion acquisition of Franklin-based HealthSpring was finalized.
Mirt's duties will split between two HealthSpring executive vice presidents, Shawn Morris and Scott Huebner. Morris will be president of operations, and Huebner president of clinical operations... (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines)
bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines
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February 3, 2012
Stanley Black & Decker is closing a West Baltimore facility and cutting 142 jobs, according to a notice with the stateâs labor department. Meanwhile, Adventist Behavioral Health is closing a Crownsville facility and laying off 100 people, a separate filing with the state said.
Stanley Black & Decker plans to close its Baltimore Protection Net Center on Sisson Street, the filing said. The layoffs will take place in waves, starting April 1-14, and ending with a Oct. 23-Nov. 6 wave.
Adventist is closing a treatment facility and school in Crownsville on March 31... (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines)
bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines
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February 3, 2012
Hanger Orthopedic Group Inc., a manufacturer and provider of prosthetics, orthotics and related services, has unveiled a new name, logo and strategy.
The Austin-based company plans to shorten its name to Hanger (NYSE: HGR), and change its clinic business, now called Hanger Prosthetics & Orthotics, to Hanger Clinic. The companyâs shareholders are expected to approve the name changes at the annual shareholder meeting in May.
The company has developed a new logo to compliment the name changes called Empower Mark, that âsymbolizes a beacon of hope for Hangerâs clients,â company officials said... (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines)
bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines
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February 3, 2012
Talon Therapeutics Inc. must hurdle a Food and Drug Administration advisory panel March 21 before its experimental leukemia drug can be approved.
San Mateo-based Talon (OTCBB: TLON) said Friday that its drug Marqibo will be assessed by the FDAâs oncology drugs advisory committee for treating adult Philadelphia chromosome-negative acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a rare blood cancer.
âWe believe Marqibo has the potential to help a near end-stage leukemia population of patients without good treatment options,â Talon President and CEO Dr... (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines)
bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines
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February 3, 2012
The Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation on Friday said it has reversed its decision about funding grants for Planned Parenthood.
The organization, which has Cincinnati affiliate, said earlier this week that it would not fund grant applications to groups under federal investigation, which includes Planned Parenthood.
Culture Map reports that after the initial Komen announcement, Planned Parenthood received more than $400,000 in donations in 24 hours.
A Friday statement from Nancy Brinker, the founder of the foundation, apologized for upsetting its supporters and partners with the funding removal, and said the foundation will âensure that politics has no place in our grant process... (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines)
bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines
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February 3, 2012
The Ohio Department of Health has awarded two grants worth a combined $65,000 to the Alcohol, Drug Addiction & Mental Health Services Board for Montgomery County.
One grant, worth $40,000, will go toward programs for mental health consultation, assessments and treatment of children from birth to 5 years old who are at risk of removal from their custodial home, are victims of abuse or neglect or are entering foster care. Those dollars also can be used to help educate biological and foster parents of children in the welfare system... (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines)
bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines
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February 3, 2012
The Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation on Friday said it has reversed its decision about funding grants for Planned Parenthood.
The organization, which has an Albany, New York, affiliate, said earlier this week that it would not fund grant applications to groups under federal investigation, which includes Planned Parenthood.
Culture Map reports that after the initial Komen announcement, Planned Parenthood received more than $400,000 in donations in 24 hours.
A Friday statement from Nancy Brinker, the founder of the foundation, apologized for upsetting its supporters and partners with the funding removal, and said the foundation will âensure that politics has no place in our grant process... (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines)
bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines
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February 3, 2012
Avermectins are the most widely used class of anthelmintic drugs, both as pesticides and as treatments for nematode-borne diseases, with the evolution of resistance presenting a major global health and ⦠[Read more] (Source: This Week in Science)
This Week in Science
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February 3, 2012
This week's Newsmakers are Janet Rowley of the University of Chicago, Brian Druker of the Oregon Health & Science University, Nicholas Lydon of Blueprint Medicines, and Masato Sagawa of Intermetallics Co., winners of the Japan Prizes; Scott Doney, whose nomination to be chief scientist of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has been withdrawn by the White House; Johannes Vogel, an expert on fern genetics, who took over as director of Berlin's Natural History Museum this week; and Paul Alivisatos of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Charles Lieber of Harvard University, Jacob Bekenstein of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Ronald Evans of the Salk Institute, Michael Aschbacher of the California Institute of Technology, and Luis Caffarelli of the University of Texas, A...
Science: Current Issue
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February 3, 2012
J. Environ. Monit., 2012, 14,319-326DOI: 10.1039/C2EM90001G, NewsRead the latest environmental news including:
Public and occupational health
Research
Chemical hazards
Environmental quality
LegislationThe content of this RSS Feed (c) The Royal Society of Chemistry (Source: RSC - J. Environ. Monit. latest articles)
RSC - J. Environ. Monit. latest articles
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February 3, 2012
How medicine, sports and society are trying to heal and protect the brains of millions amidst the growing awareness of the long-lasting effects of traumatic head injury [More] (Source: Scientific American - Official RSS Feed)
Scientific American - Official RSS Feed
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February 3, 2012
ABSTRACTWe examine the effect of a health plan's pay for performance incentives on the percentage of outpatient drug prescriptions that are filled with generic rather than brandâname drugs in physicians' practices in an established physician network â the generic prescription rate (GPR). The financial reward was based on the performance of the entire network, but the network implemented rewards at the practice level. Practiceâlevel rewards were awarded on an allâorânothing basis if the GPR met or exceeded specialtyâspecific targets that increased each year. Although that design gave the practices a strong incentive to meet the target, practices performing far below the target might âgive upâ, costing the network its reward. Using a partial adjustment model, we estimate that...
Health Economics
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February 3, 2012
The weight-loss surgery centers in Southern California are under intense scrutiny for their safety record, advertising, and billing practices. Medscape Medical News (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)
Medscape Today Headlines
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February 4, 2012
A new series of studies is being launched by the University of Wisconsin-Madison, exploring insight knowledge on how laboratory measures of moral qualities, such as compassion, relate to real-life behavior. Founder of the UW's Center for Investigating Healthy Minds (CIHM), Dr. Richard J. Davidson at the Waisman Center, was awarded a three-year, $1.7 million grant from the John Templeton Foundation for developing laboratory and real life measures of moral qualities, such as compassion and selflessness... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
Health News from Medical News Today
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February 4, 2012
Vaccination coverage for adults in the United States in 2010 fell far below Healthy People 2020 aims and need to be increased substantially to lower the burden of vaccine-preventable diseases. Medscape Medical News (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)
Medscape Today Headlines
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February 4, 2012
A decade-long decline in measles cases reversed in 2010, with 40% of countries not meeting the annual incidence target of fewer than 5 cases per million population. Medscape Medical News (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)
Medscape Today Headlines
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February 4, 2012
The February edition of Neurosurgery reports that animal experiments in brain-injured rats have shown that stem cells injected via the carotid artery travel directly to the brain, greatly enhancing functional recovery... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
Health News from Medical News Today
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February 4, 2012
Drinking decaffeinated coffee may improve brain energy metabolism associated with diabetes type 2, according to a study published in Nutritional Neuroscience and carried out by researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. Brain energy metabolism is a dysfunction with a known risk factor for dementia and other neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's disease... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
Health News from Medical News Today
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February 4, 2012
In five years the NHS will require another reform, caution the editors of three leading healthcare publications. In addition, they request a public debate regarding the NHS's future to "salvage some good" from the government's "damaging" reforms. According to a second BMJ report discarding the Health and Social Care Bill, now would save more than ã1 billion in 2013. Editors from the BMJ, Nursing Times, and Health Service Journal, explain that: "(the NHS) is far too important to be left at the mercy of ideological and incompetent intervention... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
Health News from Medical News Today
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February 4, 2012
According to an investigation of GPs (general practitioners) in one region of South East England, burnout levels in UK general practice are high. The study is published in BMJ Open. The article reveals that primary care physicians (GPs, general practitioners, family doctors) who work in group practices, those who always see the same patient, and male doctors appear to be at considerably higher risk. This finding urged the researchers to reveal that "a significant group of doctors is in trouble... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
Health News from Medical News Today
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February 4, 2012
A Missouri State Medical Association, led by two Saint Louis University pediatricians, aims to raise awareness about the importance of getting children vaccinated and change the way in which doctors respond to parents' fears of vaccines. The campaign is the focus point of Ken Haller, M.D., associate professor of pediatrics, and Anthony Scalzo, M.D... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
Health News from Medical News Today
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February 4, 2012
Any physician can predict death as the outcome of a fatal illness, but the physician who can predict death from among seeming randomness has certainly acquired a superior level of insight. (Source: Psychiatric Times)
Psychiatric Times
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February 4, 2012
Though pacemakers require only small amounts of energy (about 1 millionth of a Watt), their batteries have to be replaced periodically, which means multiple surgeries for patients. Researchers have searched for ways to prolong battery life - trying to generate energy to power a pacemaker using blood sugar, or the motion of the hands and legs - but these methods either interfere with metabolism or require a more drastic surgery, such as passing a wire from the limbs to the chest area... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
Health News from Medical News Today
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February 4, 2012
A new study recently published in the Journal of Integrated Pest Management (JIPM) shows that from 2003 to 2008, the use of insecticide active ingredients was reduced by about 90% in University of Florida housing buildings after an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program was implemented. IPM is a systematic approach to managing pests based on long-term prevention or suppression by a variety of methods that are cost effective and minimize risks to human health and the environment... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
Health News from Medical News Today
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February 4, 2012
The same gene mutations linked to inherited, early-onset Alzheimer's disease have been found in people with the more common late-onset form of the illness. The discovery by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis may lead doctors and researchers to change the way Alzheimer's disease is classified. They reported their findings in the online journal PLoS One (Public Library of Science)... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
Health News from Medical News Today
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February 4, 2012
Rutgers scientists have uncovered genetic clues as to why some mice no longer in danger are still fearful while others are resilient to traumatic experiences - knowledge that could help those suffering with crippling anxiety and PTSD. "Our work with mice demonstrates how genes play a role in developing and extinguishing pathological fear like Post Traumatic Stress Disorder," says Gleb Shumyatsky, an associate professor in the Department of Genetics in the School of Arts and Sciences... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
Health News from Medical News Today
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February 4, 2012
A research team led by investigators at Mayo Clinic in Florida has found that a small device worn on a patient's brow can be useful in monitoring stroke patients in the hospital. The device measures blood oxygen, similar to a pulse oximeter, which is clipped onto a finger. Their study, published in Neurosurgical Focus, suggests this tool, known as frontal near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), could offer hospital physicians a safe and cost-effective way to monitor patients who are being treated for a stroke, in real time... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
Health News from Medical News Today
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February 4, 2012
[How is burnout treated? : Treatment approaches between wellness, job-related prevention of stress, psychotherapy, and social criticism].
Bundesgesundheitsblatt Gesundheitsforschung Gesundheitsschutz. 2012 Feb;55(2):190-6
Authors: Hillert A
Abstract
The subjective illness burnout is often described as the combination of workload-related suffering and job dissatisfaction, thus, leading to depressive symptoms. Burnout is a serious model of personal illness perception, but not useful as a diagnosis term because of its lack of specification and reliability. In this respect, burnout therapy cannot be regarded as a specific form of psychotherapy or any other form of therapy, but rather a pragmatic procedure focusing on the burnout clients' needs. When applying scientific standard...
Bundesgesundheitsblatt, Gesundheitsforschung, Gesundheitsschutz
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January 31, 2012
The Bright Futures for Women’s Health and Wellness Initiative (BFWHW) Physical Activity and Healthy Eating tools encourage patient–provider discussion in the primary care setting, and promote patient self-management, goal setting, and behavior change. An interim evaluation of the BFWHW tools with 274 female adult patients, 18 providers, and 4 site administrators was conducted at 4 health care sites in the United States. Results suggest that patients, particularly overweight women, were interested in discussing healthy eating and physical activity with their provider during the health care visit and that the tools were helpful for goal setting. Nearly three quarters of providers reported that the materials strengthened their discussion of healthy eating with patients; 67% report...
Health Promotion Practice
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January 26, 2012
Conclusions.â This exploratory study shows that providing mental health practitioners and people with personal experience of mental health problems with a systematic education and training in recovery principles using the Wellness Recovery Action Planning approach leads to positive changes in peopleâs knowledge, skills and attitudes towards recovery. This education appeared to inspire, invigorate and empower people, and for many, it was a life changing experience. (Source: Journal of Advanced Nursing)
Journal of Advanced Nursing
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January 24, 2012
Second City Capital Partners of Vancouver, British Columbia, has purchased Thunderbird Commons at 67th Avenue and Thunderbird Road for $7.65 million. The seller was Thunderbird Commons Holdings I LLC in Kansas.
Second City, a private equity group, plans to invest in significant property improvements and rename the property Thunderbird Wellness Centre. Current tenants include Pinnacle Surgery Center, Valley Anesthesiology, Canyon Orthopedic Surgeons and Desert Sky Pharmacy.
âThunderbird Wellness Centre is a tremendous opportunity for us to enter the Phoenix-area marketplace and to do so with a property we believe is well-positioned for success,â said Jamie Farrar, managing director of Second City... (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Physician Practices headlines)
bizjournals.com Health Care:Physician Practices headlines
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January 23, 2012
Discuss the role of palliative care as a component of cancer survivorship and chronic disease management. (Source: Journal of Pain and Symptom Management)
Journal of Pain and Symptom Management
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January 18, 2012
With its own privately coordinated medical home project in full swing, Central Ohio is not part of a growing state initiative to train primary care doctors as wellness quarterbacks.
The state is investing $1 million in training for 50 primary care practices to convert to the patient-centered medical home model, which emphasizes coordination, prevention and follow-up in the hopes of keeping patients out of emergency rooms and hospitals. The initiative by the Ohio Department of Health and the state Office of Health Transformation is centered on Athens, Dayton, Toledo and the Akron/Canton region... (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines)
bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines
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January 18, 2012
Abstract.â Tian Q, Price ND, Hood L (Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle, WA, USA). Systems cancer medicine: towards realization of predictive, preventive, personalized and participatory (P4) medicine (Key Symposium). J Intern Med 2012; 271: 111â121.A grand challenge impeding optimal treatment outcomes for patients with cancer arises from the complex nature of the disease: the cellular heterogeneity, the myriad of dysfunctional molecular and genetic networks as results of genetic (somatic) and environmental perturbations. Systems biology, with its holistic approach to understanding fundamental principles in biology, and the empowering technologies in genomics, proteomics, singleâcell analysis, microfluidics and computational strategies, enables a comprehensive approach to medicine...
Journal of Internal Medicine
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January 18, 2012
Conclusion:
Both NCD risk factors and infectious diseases are associated with increased rates of short-term absenteeism of formal sector employees in Namibia. Programs to manage these conditions could help employers avoid costs associated with absenteeism. These programs could include basic health care insurance including regular wellness screenings. (Source: BMC Public Health - Latest articles)
BMC Public Health - Latest articles
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January 17, 2012
John Bluford III, CEO of Kansas City's Truman Medical Centers, is one of the nation's 40 most powerful people when it comes to shaping health care, according to a new listing from Becker's Hospital Review.
The Kansas City Business Journal reports Bluford was noted for his role as chairman of the American Hospital Association. The report also said he focused on creating a "culture of wellness" for health care employees.
Former Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, now the secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, also made the list. (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Hospitals headlines)
bizjournals.com Health Care:Hospitals headlines
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January 10, 2012
The objective of this research is to link measures of body burden of environmental chemicals and a "holistic" measure of wellness. The approach is demonstrated using biomonitoring data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES). Forty-two chemicals were selected for analysis based on their detection levels. Six biological pathway-specific indices were evaluated using groups of chemicals associated with each pathway. Five of the six pathways were negatively associated with wellness. Three non-zero interaction terms were detected which may provide empirical evidence of crosstalk across pathways. The approach identified five of the 42 chemicals from a variety of classes (metals, pesticides, furans, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) as accounting for 71% of the weight ...
Environment International
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January 9, 2012
Hospira shares the concern over improper use of our drugs in US executions. Hospira has long communicated that we do not support the use of any of our products in lethal injectionsâa use that is clearly outside the licensing approved by the Food and Drug Administration and completely counter to our company vision of advancing wellness. In fact, over the years, Hospira has regularly written to every US state to make clear that we oppose the use of our drugs, including pancuronium bromide, in executions, and we have stated our opposition publicly through the media innumerable times. (Source: LANCET)
LANCET
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January 6, 2012
Conclusions:
There is a mismatch between those women who could benefit from treatment for osteoporosis and those who are actually treated. For example, self-reported use of glucocorticoids, tobacco, and alcohol were not associated with prescription treatment of osteoporosis. Other clinical and socioeconomic factors were associated with treatment (e.g. prescription drug coverage and higher income) or not (e.g. comorbid osteoarthritis and anxiety) and could be opportunities to improve care. (Source: BMC Women's Health - Latest articles)
BMC Women's Health - Latest articles
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January 5, 2012
Conclusion. The Android application provides valid HRs at varying levels of movement free mental/perceptual motor exertion. Lack of electrode patches or wireless sensor telemetric straps make it advantageous for use in mobile-cell-phone-delivered health promotion and wellness programs. Further validation is needed to determine its applicability while engaging in physical movement-related activities. (Source: Advances in Pharmacological Sciences)
Advances in Pharmacological Sciences
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January 5, 2012
A controversial wellness component of a new health care plan for state workers will not be subject to union negotiations.
As the Statesman Journal reports, the Employment Relations Board sided with the state over the Association of Oregon Corrections Employees regarding how the Health Engagement Model will be implemented. (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Physician Practices headlines)
bizjournals.com Health Care:Physician Practices headlines
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January 4, 2012
Authors: Demattei RR, Allen J, Goss B
Abstract
Children with special health care needs face many barriers to oral care and are at high risk for oral disease. School nurses are in a unique position to promote oral wellness in this vulnerable population. Collaboration between school nurses and dental hygiene faculty resulted in the formation of a partnership between a university-based dental hygiene program and two special education districts in rural southern Illinois. Senior dental hygiene students participated in a school-based service-learning project that provided dental examinations, preventive services, and education to children with special health care needs. Evidence-based behavioral interventions were used to teach children to comply with oral procedures. School nurses ment...
The Journal of School Nursing
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January 2, 2012
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Health Research in Progress
The following information provided by:
ClinicalTrials.gov: Provides patients, family members, and members of the public easy and free access to information on clinical studies for a wide range of diseases and conditions.
Status:
Recruiting
Condition Summary:
Chronic Medical Conditions; Personal Health Records; Electronic Medical Record
Status:
Active, not recruiting
Condition Summary:
Mental Health Services
Status:
Completed
Condition Summary:
Weight Loss
Status:
Recruiting
Condition Summary:
Depression; Adolescent Health
Status:
Completed
Condition Summary:
Tuberculosis, Pulmonary; Quality of Health Care; Community Health Care; Volunteer Health Workers; Tuberculosis Treatment Effectiveness
Status:
Completed
Condition Summary:
Schizophrenia; Schizoaffective Disorder
Status:
Active, not recruiting
Condition Summary:
Infectious Disease; Cardiovascular Disease
Status:
Enrolling by invitation
Condition Summary:
Family Characteristics; Health Status; Family Research
Status:
Recruiting
Condition Summary:
Depression
Status:
Completed
Condition Summary:
Maternal Health
Status:
Recruiting
Condition Summary:
Overweight; Obese
Status:
Recruiting
Condition Summary:
Health Records, Personal
Status:
Completed
Condition Summary:
Overweight; Obesity; Diabetes; Hypertension
Status:
Enrolling by invitation
Condition Summary:
Overweight; Physical Capacity; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Work Ability; Sick-leave
Status:
Not yet recruiting
Condition Summary:
Mood Disorder; Psychotic Disorder
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