Saturday, August 31, 2013

New documents of revolutionary books studies of modified citrus pectin

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New documents of revolutionary books studies of modified citrus pectin -

One of the main writers of the nation on the use of Naturopathic Medicine published new documentation revolutionary book studies the modified citrus pectin (MCP) and its application to treat serious health problems such as cancer, heart disease, chronic inflammation and fibrosis

the book New Twist on health :. citrus pectin modified for cancer, heart disease and more by Karolyn A. Gazella, centers on integrative medical breakthroughs made by the study of MCP. A nutraceutical ingredient commonly used, MCP is a specialized form of citrus pectin that is modified for better absorption and therapeutic benefit. MCP has undergone numerous preclinical and clinical studies and is currently being studied as a treatment for serious medical conditions, including congestive heart failure, fibrosis, metastasis of cancer, cirrhosis, the asthma and more. It has also been clinically proven to gently remove heavy metals and environmental toxins from the body without affecting essential minerals.

"MCP could have a wide range of applications to help patients and health professionals treat some of the most pressing health challenges of society, and I am very pleased to publish a book detailing what important work, "said Gazella." the discovery and development of MCP is a subject on which each doctor should be informed. this book provides the essential context and insight into the formation of what could be one of the most important medical discoveries inclusive of the century ".

new twist on health describes the way has been shown that MCP to inhibit inflammatory protein galectin-3, which is associated with the progression cancer and metastasis, heart failure, chronic inflammation and fibrosis, as well as a variety of other medical conditions. MCP absorbed into the bloodstream, binding to galectin-3 and excess blocking this "rogue protein" to be expressed. The book analyzes in particular the research behind PectaSol-C © , currently the only clinically proven MCP brand on the market.

As a cancer survivor herself, Gazella permeates the book with passion and personal experience as well as having a number of additional recommendations to achieve optimal health and well-being.

The book also recounts the search for Isaac Eliaz, MD, MS, LAc, whose work led to the development of MCP as a medical treatment. Dr. Eliaz integrative doctor is a specialist in cancer, which has had great success using MCP in the treatment of his patients. Its wide range of first-hand experiences, inspiring stories of patients and medical recommendations based on research are presented in the book. The book also includes a forward by Jacob Schor, ND, FABNO and endorsements back cover by respected medical professionals and researchers Lise Alschuler, ND, FABNO and Ralph Moss, PhD.

"This book is essential reading for all those interested in the field of integrative medicine and the use of natural therapies based on research," said Gazelle. "It is an exploration into the development of scientifically substantiated complementary medical treatments that help to revolutionize the modern approach to common fatal diseases. My hope is that health New Twist offers an important glimpse into the future of integrative medical treatment in the world whole. "

Gazella is a highly respected health writer who publishes natural medicine Journal, which provides feature articles peer reviewed for clinical practitioners, professors, researchers, students and all another person interested in the growing field of natural medicine. She has written and published hundreds of articles and dozens of books on various health related topics.

Affymetrix, BioDiscovery launches new analysis software for research on cancer

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Affymetrix, BioDiscovery launches new analysis software for research on cancer -

Affymetrix: ad (Nasdaq AFFX) and BioDiscovery, Inc. today announced the launch of a new analysis software, Nexus Copy Number for Affymetrix, which is specifically for data generated by the platforms of genetic analysis Affymetrix 'in cancer research, including CytoScan ® and cytogenetic Suite OncoScan ® FFPE Assay Kit.

"CytoScan cytogenetic Suite and OncoScan FFPE Assay Kit are key elements of our cancer portfolio," said Dr. Andy Last, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Affymetrix. "The researchers found CNV and copy neutral changes in samples of solid and liquid tumors. With the use of Nexus Copy Number, an advanced discovery tool to query large sets of data, the researchers were able to identify biomarkers that drive disease progression. The new Nexus Copy Number Affymetrix software offers researchers a software version Nexus Copy Number which is easier to access and has been specially designed for testing Affymetrix '. "

" We are delighted to extend our relationship with Affymetrix by this unique product, "said Dr. Soheil Shams, Scientific Director of BioDiscovery. "The high quality data from Affymetrix testing works extremely well in our software to detect the number of variants copies. We have customers all over the world who have been taking advantage of cytogenetics Suite CytoScan and platforms OncoScan for analysis of the number of copies from various types of cancer samples, and we are pleased to offer this joint solution to help scientists gain new information on the biology of cancer. "

New targets for potential intervention found in the breast cancer

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New targets for potential intervention found in the breast cancer -

new scientific targets of Florida campus of The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) found for potential intervention in breast cancer. These new targets could possibly increase efficiency and reduce undesirable side effects associated with current treatments.

The study was published online before print June 5, 2014 in the journal Structure .

Approximately two out of three breast cancers are driven by receptors that bind estrogen and progesterone hormones when the hormones bind to these receptors in cancer cells, they report the cancer cells to grow. What makes it interesting therapeutic progesterone receptor is that it has two fields AF1 and AF2 activation. Normally both are necessary for the full activation of the receptor.

"Using technology exchange hydrogen-deuterium, our study highlights how AF2 AF1-point communicates with the first evidence of long-term interaction between these two functional areas," said Patrick R. Griffin, professor IRST who led the study. "These results support further research to find promising small molecules that block this interaction."

the results are particularly important because in some mutations AF2 is removed, but the receiver always pushes cancer using the AF1 domain. current drugs used for the treatment of these cancers targeting domain AF2, so with nothing to bind to, they do not work at all. Although several studies have shown the importance of the AF1, the binding domain is remarkably dynamic, frequently changing shape and making it difficult to target with drugs.

in the new study, the scientists used a advanced technology called the hydrogen deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HDX) to measure the complex interactions between the AF1 and AF2 areas of the progesterone receptor.

HDX mass spectrometry is a high precision, high sensitivity mapping technology that allowed scientists to determine the specific receptor regions that are altered upon interaction. This information was used to infer structural changes that result from the interaction and to probe conformational flexibility intact multidomain proteins.

In addition to exploring potential new drugs for breast cancer, the researchers also hope to study the implications for prostate cancer, other hormone-driven disease.

"many androgen receptor characteristics are similar to the progesterone receptor, as they belong to the same subfamily of steroid receptors," said Devrishi Goswami, the first author of the study and a member of the Griffin lab. "This might work the same way. So these new ideas can also help find new approaches for the treatment of prostate cancer hormone refractory to treatment. "

Scientists use mice to reproduce aspects of human breast cancer to find healing in women

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Scientists use mice to reproduce aspects of human breast cancer to find healing in women -

Scientists have regularly used mice to replicate aspects of cancer human breast in an effort to find a cure for the most common type of cancer in women.

But what is the effectiveness of these preclinical models effectively mimicking the disease and giving scientists the opportunity to develop meaningful comparisons?

Eran Andrechek, a professor of physiology in the College of Human Medicine at the University of Michigan, found that most of the different models used in research on breast cancer can reproduce several features of human disease, in particular in genes.

study can now be found in the paper Breast Cancer Research .

using all existing data that was available, Andrechek with MSU doctoral student Daniel Hollern, analyzed 1,172 breast samples tumors of mice from 26 different preclinical models and was able to compile one of the largest databases to show that mouse strains were best suited to study a particular type of human breast cancer.

"We found that the vast majority of human breast cancers may be represented by one of the strains we studied," said Andrechek. "But these models must be chosen very carefully."

A careful examination is important because all models can reproduce the same diversity found in breast cancer. A strain can show similarities in tumors, while others may have similarities in genes that are activated. However, none of the models can be effective in demonstrating how the cancer signals to other cells that indicate the disease from developing.

the research highlights how how these models should be used to study the disease and new Andrechek database it could prove to be a valuable resource for researchers worldwide.

"There are definitely clear parallel between mice and men regarding breast cancer and this study provides legitimacy to the use of these models to ultimately a cure can be found, "he said.

Highlights of experts Celsus serious side effects of topical corticosteroids

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Highlights of experts Celsus serious side effects of topical corticosteroids -

A 2013 Mayo Clinic study involving more than 140,000 patients have shown that skin disorders are the most common reason Americans seek nonacute and home health care. Topical corticosteroids, available since 1950, are the most prescribed medications and dermatological the mainstay of treatment for many conditions. According to IMS Health, which tracks prescription data, the total number of retail prescriptions for steroids increased from 171,300,000 in 07 to 207,0,000 in 2012, with topical steroids representing 39 million prescriptions.

A man with a view striking trend is Gur Roshwalb, MD, CEO of Celsus Therapeutics, a drug development company focusing on first-in-class non-steroidal synthetic drugs anti new drugs-inflammatory anti-inflammatory called multi-functional (MFAIDs). According to Dr. Roshwalb, prolonged use of steroids can cause unwanted side effects such as tachyphylaxis (tolerance to vasoconstriction), rosacea, stretch marks and skin atrophy. In addition, the small size and the suppression of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in children are of concern for physicians and patients. the use of long-term steroids may also promote the development of infections. To counter steroid treatment limitations, some doctors prescribed calcineurin inhibitors, which in turn carry a risk of cancer and can suppress the immune system.

The concerns of Dr. Roshwalb are taken up by the National Eczema Association, who notes that the frequent and prolonged application of a topical corticosteroid on the eyelids, for example, can cause glaucoma and even cataracts ; acne around the mouth; and redness around the hair follicles.

Dr. Determining Roshwalb to develop alternatives to topical corticosteroids is made possible by his own background and the work he is doing to Celsus. Before entering the business world, Dr. Roshwalb was in private practice in New York and certified in internal medicine. He received his MD from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and trained in internal medicine at Mount Sinai Medical Center, where he also held the residency position in 1997-1998.

MFAIDs Celsus' are designed to block a key enzyme that triggers inflammation. lead drug candidate from the company, MRX-6, is a topical cream being tested in a phase II trial in atopic dermatitis, with results expected in the fourth quarter of 2014. A previous trial of MRX-6 showed significant improvement in patients with dermatitis contact. Celsus believes MRX-6 and other MFAIDs it is developing could offer an effective treatment for a wide range of diseases, noninflammatory in dermatitis, but also in lung inflammation such as cystic fibrosis, inflammatory disease of intestine and conjunctivitis.

If the work Celsus materializes, it could be the beginning of a new series of options for patients suffering from various types of inflammation and avoiding the very real risks of steroids to today.

Celsion definitive signs of the asset purchase agreement to acquire VMMR

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Celsion definitive signs of the asset purchase agreement to acquire VMMR -

Celsion Corporation (Celsion) (NASDAQ: CLSN), a drug development company oncology, and EGEN, Inc. (EGEN), a private biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of therapeutic products based on nucleic acids for the treatment of cancer and other difficult to treat diseases, announced today the signing a definitive purchase agreement in which assets Celsion will acquire substantially all the assets of VMMR, including its candidate based phase Ib DNA product EGEN-001 immunotherapy and therapeutic technologies, TheraPlas ™ for delivery of DNA and mRNA, TheraSilence ™ for delivery of RNA, and RAST ™ mobile Enabled expression and secretion of RNA.

Under the terms of the agreement, a wholly owned subsidiary of Celsion will acquire the assets of VMMR and assume certain liabilities in exchange for cash and shares of Celsion totaling $ 14 million. The initial payment consists of $ 10.6 million in Celsion common shares representing approximately 16.4% of the outstanding shares of Celsion, including $ 2.1 million in Celsion common shares are subject to a deduction of 24 months for Celsion adjustment expenses and certain claims of Celsion, and $ 3.4 million in cash.

in addition to the initial payment, a total of $ 30.4 million in future milestone obligations are payable VMMR based on the success of certain development and clinical milestones license. The acquisition is expected to close in June 2014, subject to customary closing conditions. The boards of both Celsion and VMMR have unanimously approved the transaction. The transaction is not subject to shareholder approval Celsion.

The combination of Celsion and VMMR will create a research and development company in oncology fully integrated focus with a multi-phase clinical pipeline, the platform technology for the discovery of novel immunotherapies based nucleic acid and other anti-cancer therapies DNA / RNA, and expertise of the laboratory to the bedside. The transaction brings to advance Celsion VMMR, clinical phase Ib candidate, EGEN-001, a plasmid IL-12 immunotherapy enclosed in a nanoparticle delivery system, and three technology platforms, TheraPlas ™, ™ and TheraSilence RAST ™ Enabled mobile Expression and secretion of RNA.

The complete transaction lead development candidate Celsion, ThermoDox®, a proprietary liposomal encapsulation heat activated doxorubicin, now advancing in a double-blind pivotal, global Phase III placebo-controlled trial (the OPTIMA study) in primary liver cancer.

"This transaction provides a strategic fit well defined immediately, bringing the discovery and preclinical expertise with the clinical and operational excellence, breakthrough technologies with clinical assets with high value added, to form a company whose synergy provides much more than its parts, "said Michael H. Tardugno, Celsion President and CEO. "As a combined company, Celsion-VMMR will focus on the cutting edge of cancer treatment, with assets in directed chemotherapies, immunotherapies and DNA- or RNA-based therapies. With clinical programs in Phases III, II and I, and a broad product pipeline preclinical candidates, Celsion-VMMR will be well positioned to offer new innovative therapies to address areas of unmet medical needs pressing in oncology. "

Khursheed Anwer, Ph.D. . .D, President and Chief scientific Officer VMMR, said: "since VMMR was founded twelve years ago, our team has been working to develop technologies that overcome the delivery challenges that have kept therapies nucleic acid base to realize their potential and promise complete significant. by joining Celsion now, we add not only the operational and management expertise to accelerate the development of these assets and technologies, but have access to financial resources additional an established public company. "

key strategic benefits of the transaction include:

  • A high-value, multi-line with pipeline programs Spanning Discovery Through Phase III. After completion of the acquisition, Celsion portfolio include two clinical stage candidates targeting various oncology indications, and three platform technologies for developing new immunotherapies based nucleic acid and . other therapies DNA / RNA anti-cancer These include:
    • ThermoDox ® - ThermoDox® Celsion of liposomal encapsulation is a proprietary heat activated doxorubicin This. liposomal technology allows for the provision of high concentrations of doxorubicin, an anthracycline chemotherapy widely used in a region specifically for the localized application of heat, for example in radiofrequency ablation (RFA). Celsion recently received FDA authorization to initiate a 550 patient Phase III pivotal study of ThermoDox® in combination with RFA in primary liver cancer. ThermoDox® is also being evaluated in a Phase II study courses in breast cancer wall of recurrent chest
    • TheraPlas ™ -. TheraPlas ™ is a versatile platform technology for the delivery of DNA and mRNA of the therapeutic through synthetic nonviral carriers and is only capable of providing a transfection ability of cells to DNA double strand plasmids and large segments of therapeutic RNAs, such as messenger RNA. The first clinical candidate on TheraPlas platform is VMMR-001.
      • VMMR-001 - VMMR of EGEN-001 is a DNA-based immunotherapy for the localized treatment of cancer. VMMR-001, designed using the technology TheraPlas ™ platform is a vector IL-12 plasmid DNA enclosed in a nanoparticle delivery system which allows the transfection of cells followed by persistence, local secretion of IL-12 protein. IL-12 is one of the most active cytokine for the induction of potent anticancer immunity acting by induction of T cells and natural killer (NK) cells, cell proliferation. As a recombinant protein, however, IL-12 has poor pharmacokinetic properties and has historically been associated with severe toxicity. The Company believes that these problems can be effectively treated with a unique mechanism of action VMMR-001 and method of administration
      • EGEN-001 for ovarian and brain cancer -. positive safety and encouraging Phase I results with EGEN-001 monotherapy in patients with peritoneal cancer metastasized ovarian strongly support a trial of combination of planned phase II. A Phase Ib EGEN-001 in combination with pegylated doxorubicin in patients with ovarian cancer resistant to platinum is currently underway. EGEN-001 has also demonstrated preclinical activity in glioblastoma (brain cancer) and the Company plans to initiate a Phase I study in this indication
    • TheraSilence ™ . - TheraSilence ™ is a versatile technology platform focused on delivering synthetically generated by small inhibitory RNA (siRNA), microRNA, and microRNA mimics and related molecules that can regulate the expression of proteins by exploiting endogenous cellular mechanisms. VMMR developed several classes of pharmaceutical carriers that can efficiently deliver the siRNA in the cytoplasm of many types of cells both in vitro and in vivo. The TheraSilence ™ platform has generated its first drug candidate, EGEN-ARN-002, which is currently in preclinical development
    • RAST ™ -. VMMR developing a new technology that allows cells to express and secrete RNA (microRNA, mRNA, shRNA, aptamers) called RAST ™ (RNA Amplification and Secretion Technology). VMMR got broad intellectual property rights on this technology and is currently evaluating new opportunities for therapeutic products and life sciences.
  • fully integrated research and development organization with a wide range of scientific and clinical expertise. combined organization will draw on the experienced group of scientists, physicians, employees and managers of both companies to create a wide range of abilities and skills from early discovery and validation, clinical development , regulatory, quality control and assurance, manufacturing on a commercial scale, business development and corporate strategy.
  • potential for significant value creation. as a combined company, the organization has a potential value higher than any single company, combining the recording potential of a pivotal Phase III study with near term milestones earlier clinical stage, and additional opportunities for strategic partnerships leveraging the ThermoDox®, TheraPlas ™, TheraSilence ™ and RAST ™ platforms.
  • Financial arrangements to preserve capital and investment risks. The structure of the negotiated acquisition transaction provides Celsion investors with a "risk shared mutual trust" approach, capital preservation for oncology research with strong potential while establishing an earn out based program value creating steps. These characteristics of friendly investors are designed to strengthen the alignment of Celsion with shareholders and the commitment to pay for performance.

The combined company will retain all Egen employees and will be headquartered in Lawrenceville, NJ discovery and preclinical operations will be based on current, leased Egen facilities in Huntsville, Alabama, where Celsion also considering consolidate all of its functions and service analytical laboratory.

Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. acted as financial advisor to Celsion. Sidley Austin LLP and O'Melveny & Myers LLP acted as legal advisor to Celsion this transaction.

Information on the conference call

Celsion Corporation will hold a conference call to discuss the acquisition of VMMR 11:00 AM EDT Tuesday, June 10, 2014. For participate in the call, interested parties may dial 1-888-510-1765 (toll free / North America) or 1-719-325- 2428 (International / toll) and ask for the Celsion Corporation Acquisition VMMR (code the conference: 5633593) to save ten minutes before the call is scheduled to begin. The call will also be broadcast live on the Internet at http://www.celsion.com.

The call will be archived for replay Tuesday, June 10, 2014 and will remain available until June 24, 2014. the replay is accessible at 1-888-203-1112 (Toll Free / North America) or 1-719-457-0820 (International / Toll) using the conference code: 5633593. A replay of the call will also available on the Company's website, http://www.celsion.com for 30 days after 14:00 EDT Tuesday, June 10, 2014.

Friday, August 30, 2013

Emphysema does not aggravate lung cancer prognosis beyond pulmonary fibrosis

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Emphysema does not aggravate lung cancer prognosis beyond pulmonary fibrosis -

By Sarah Pritchard, medwireNews Reporter

The fibrosis patients combined lung and emphysema (CSPS) who are undergoing treatment for advanced lung cancer does not have a prognosis significantly less than their counterparts with isolated idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP), Japanese researchers report.

Indeed, the results of their study show that age, performance status of cancer (PS), the percentage predicted forced vital capacity (VC%, indicating lung function) and serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH; an pneumocytes marker damaged). are the most significant predictors of poor prognosis, rather than the presence of emphysema or given type of treatment

results did not confirm the initial hypothesis of the team that "can indicate CSPS a significantly increased risk of lung cancer than either chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or a single isolated pulmonary fibrosis. "

researchers, led by Yugi Minegishi, Nippon Medical School in Tokyo, retrospectively reviewed the medical records of lung cancer patients with IIP 151, including 58.3% met criteria for CSPS on CT . While the rate of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis was similar between CpFe and not CpFe patients, 54.5% and 61.3%, respectively, those who had a significantly CSPS fibrosis score and a reduced percentage significantly predicted capacity lung diffusion for carbon monoxide.

patients were classified as having an acute exacerbation (AE) of IIP if they had an exacerbation of dyspnea in a month, newly developed diffuse lung opacities on the analyzes of the breast, decreased arterial oxygen tension of more than 10 mmHg and no heart failure or pulmonary infectious diseases.

Although there was no difference in the type of CpFe treatment and non-CpFe patients had initially AE was higher in the CSPS than non-patients undergo CpFe surgery and the best support care (26.9 vs 15.8%, and 45.0 vs 18.2%, respectively).

In addition, the median overall survival was not significantly different depending on the status of emphysema, 23.7 months and 20.3 months for patients not CpFe CpFe respectively. However, this trend was reversed among those who received chemotherapy as first-line treatment, with a respective 14.8 compared to 21.6 months.

Multivariate analysis revealed that age over 68 years, a PS of 1-3 against Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group 0,% VC less than 80% and a level of at least 244 IU / L of LDH significantly predicted poor prognosis with ratios 1.1, 3.8, 3.2 and 2.8, respectively hazard.

Minegishi and colleagues believe that their findings indicate that pulmonary fibrosis, but not emphysema, may affect lung cancer prognosis CSPS, and this, as well as isolated IIP can work through similar mechanisms for AE.

"Therefore, we conclude that it is not necessary to adjust the treatment strategy for lung cancer with IPI for the existence of emphysema at this time," they wrote in lung cancer .

licensed medwireNews with permission of Springer Healthcare Ltd. © Springer Healthcare Ltd. All rights reserved. None of these parties endorse or recommend any commercial products, services or equipment.

First Edition: June 20, 2014

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First Edition: June 20, 2014 -

morning of the day highlights the major news agencies, including reports on a new survey showing the majority of those signing for market plans had been uninsured before and the decision of the Obama administration to extend the benefits of marriage, including family leave to same-sex couples

Kaiser Health News: review Finds mismanagement Nursing Home inspections in the county of Los Angeles
Kaiser staff writer Anna Gorman health News, in collaboration with the Los Angeles Daily News, reports: "Los Angeles County public health staff repeatedly failed to follow the state policy on inspections of care homes, leading to the improper closure of cases and incomplete and delayed investigations, according to a report by the Ministry of public health of California. After examining a sample of 136 cases received since 09, the Ministry of Health of the state found that lA. County officials did not properly prioritize or monitoring surveys. The county faces a backlog of hundreds of complaints about nursing home security "(Gorman, 6/20)

Kaiser Health News :. Survey: Most people purchase on the exchange insurance were not previously covered
Kaiser health News reports writer Julie Appleby staff: "Nearly six in 10 Americans who bought insurance for this year through online health law markets were previously uninsured- , most for at least two years, according to a new survey that looks at the experiences of those most affected by the law. This finding is higher than previous estimates, and counters the arguments by critics of the law that most of those who bought the new policies were previously insured "(Appleby, 6/19)

Kaiser health News :. A reader asks :? Our plan can Kick Off Our daughter because it offers employment cover
consumer columnist Michelle Andrews NHK said the health law initially allowed some plans to do, but this provision is no longer valid (Andrews, 6 / 20).

Kaiser Health News: Capsules: Senators Offer Bill To Ease readmission penalties on some hospitals, Consumer Group urges hospitals to stop promoting dubious Screenings
now on the blog of Kaiser Health News, Jordan Rau reports on the new Congress legislation "a bipartisan group of senators introduced legislation Thursday to make Medicare take the financial situation of hospitalized patients into account when deciding to punish a hospital for too many readmissions Bill. attempts to answer one of the main complaints about the readmissions program :. That the hospitals serving large numbers of low-income patients are more likely to be penalized "(Rau, 6/19)

Also on Capsules, Julie Appleby reports on new criticism of a screening program offered by some hospitals "Citizen of public consumer advocacy group called on Thursday 20 hospital systems to stop partnering with companies that offer low cost projections for heart disease and stroke risk, saying that promotions are "(Appleby, 6/19) unethical" and examinations are more likely to do harm than good "Find out what else is on blog

the Wall Street Journal: .. Poll: Nearly 60% of exchange Enrollees were uninsured
Nearly six out of 10 people who bought health insurance through the exchanges online the affordable care Act had been assured just before you go shopping for a health plan, according to a new study by the Kaiser Family Foundation. the discovery provides another glimpse of whether the 2010 law achieved its primary objective: to reduce the number of uninsured people in the United States, which was approximately $ 45 million before the passage of the law (Radnofsky, 6/19).

The New York Times: Health Exchange Enrollees had mostly been uninsured people
Four to 10 enrolled in health plans through new insurance exchanges already had insurance but six in 10 were previously uninsured, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation survey released Thursday. Most of the uninsured have been without coverage for two years or more, and 45 percent said they had been without coverage for at least five years, the foundation said in a report on the people in the market of personal insurance (Pear, 6/19).

Los Angeles Times: Most With Obamacare were previously uninsured, New Survey Finds
Approximately 4.5 million of the 8 million Americans who have registered for the health insurance market created by the new law on the federal health care insurance did not previously, according to a national survey that offers the most detailed look to date at which registered for coverage under the affordable care Act this year (Levey , 6/19).

The Washington Post: Most Obamacare Enrollees exchange were previously uninsured, survey reveals
About six out of 10 people who bought their own health insurance through the Affordable Care Trade Act were previously uninsured, according a new survey providing the first comprehensive look at the insurance landscape after the first open enrollment period health care law (Millman, 6/19).

The Washington Post :. In Southwest Va, Health Needs and poverty Antipathy To Collide With Affordable Care Act
Carolyn Underwood recalls that his father comes home covered in black mine coal dust. ... In old age, he suffered from black-lung disease and had a permanent oxygen supply. But unlike his daughter, he never worried about how he pay his medical bills. The union took care of it. That does not Carolyn Underwood, 63, a supporter of health coverage expanded government, even if benefit. In a region where the decline of the coal industry has sent poverty and soaring health needs, another force has increased by at least equal measures: the antipathy of the President of the Affordable Care Act (Portnoy, 6 / 19) and Obama.

The Wall Street Journal: Carney: Obamacare rollout was Toughest Period As spokesman
As White House press secretary Jay Carney prepared to head for the exits, it is a reflection on the ups and downs of the job .... Mr. Carney's time in the White House included many political victories and setbacks for the president, but he said the most difficult period was dealing with the "pretty awful deployment "HealthCare.gov website. The technical problems that thwarted enrollment efforts for several weeks last fall created a bad news story sustained, he said, noting that this was a problem of its own administrative decision (McCain Nelson, 6 / 19).

Los Angeles Times: Ballot Measure will not disrupt Obamacare In California, Backers Say
In response to concerns raised by the exchange of health of California, donors of a ballot measure scale the State on the regulation of health insurance rates insisted Thursday that the measure would not affect how Obamacare works in the state. Consumer groups and the California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones are pushing for more authority over health premiums for consumers and small businesses. In November, voters will decide to give the commissioner the power of veto on insurance rate increases (Terhune, 6/19).

The Wall Street Journal: Cancer Doctors Rings Up Big Bills To Medicare Drug Tarnished Procrit
Many cancer doctors now use a drug called Procrit sparingly. It was approved in 1989 for anemia and became a popular treatment for this side effect of chemotherapy. But later, regulators have learned Procrit can accelerate tumor growth and hasten death in cancer patients. ... Medicare paid US $ 128 million oncologists to administer Procrit in 2012, show the data of the federal government. One-sixth of that money went oncologists in the group, the Florida Cancer Specialists. Of the 20 oncologists Medicare paid more for Procrit, 11 belonged to the group Florida (Weaver, Wilde Mathews and McGinty, 6/20).

The New York Times: House Ways and Means Committee in Insider Case assigned trading
Federal prosecutors and financial regulators have assigned the Congress in an investigation that could test the limits of legislation on the offense of federal insider. The investigation focuses on a research organization in Washington, Securities height. Last year, he correctly predicted a change in the policy of the government health care, causing a spike in share prices of health insurance companies. ... The authorities want to know if anyone in evil government revealed the next change in policy (Apuzzo, 6/19).

The New York Times: Obama to extend all the marriage benefits to homosexual couples
The federal government on Friday will extend a wide range of marriage benefits to same-sex couples, making good on a promise made by President Obama after the Supreme Court rejected the defense of marriage law last year. ... The spouses of gay federal employees have health insurance, life insurance and flexible spending accounts. Furthermore, federal employees will be able to take leave to care for a spouse of the same sex, something that has long been limited to heterosexual married couples (Shear, 6/20).

The Wall Street Journal: Same-Sex Couples to get more benefits
The Obama administration will announce Friday the extension of several benefits and obligations to same-sex married couples, including plans to enable workers throughout the country to take leave their jobs to care for same-sex couples. The White House should also press Congress to pass legislation to amend certain provisions, such as social security benefits, to apply to married same-sex couples (McCain Nelson and Bravin, 6/20).

Los Angeles Times: Couples of the same sex eligible to leave the family, said the administration
Obama administration will announce Friday that it plans to make same-sex eligible to leave family emergency to take care of their partners, the state in which they live their marriages recognized. The Ministry of Labour will issue a proposed rule specifying that the right to a leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act applies to all legally married couples, an official of the White House who requested anonymity because the news is not yet official (Phelps, 6/19).

The New York Times: C.D.C. Details Anthrax Scare for scientists in facilities
As much as 75 scientists from the Centers for Disease Control may have been exposed to anthrax bacteria alive after potentially infectious samples were sent to laboratories not equipped to handle dangerous pathogens, a spokesman for the federal government health agency said Thursday. The agency was testing a new way to kill anthrax, which discovered did not work as expected (Tavernise and McNeil, 6/19).

Los Angeles Times: Anthrax: The 75 CDC workers may have been exposed to pathogens
About 75 staff of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta are supervised or given antibiotics after potentially been exposed to anthrax, the CDC announced. Non-compliance with established safety rules caused the possible exposure, the agency said Thursday in a statement, adding that he believed the risk of infection is very low and that no one else was at risk exposure (Raab, 6/19).

The Wall Street Journal: CDC laboratory Scientists may have been exposed to live anthrax
potentially exposed staff are antibiotics and monitored for symptoms of infection, the CDC said in a statement. "Based on the most potential exposure scenarios, the risk of infection is very low," he said. He said that there is no risk to other CDC employees or the general public (McKay, 6/19).

The Washington Post: CDC Says About 75 scientists may have been exposed to Anthrax
Potential exposure occurred after researchers failed to follow proper protection procedures to inactivate samples anthrax CDC lab in Atlanta before transferring three other CDC laboratories not equipped to handle live bacteria anthrax, the statement said. Workers in these three laboratories, believing the samples were inactivated, not wearing proper personal protective equipment when handling the material (Sun, 6/19).

Politico: CDC Reports Anthrax Exposure In the laboratory, no known disease
Dozens of scientific centers for laboratories prevention control diseases and Atlanta may have been exposed this month to live anthrax bacteria, the agency said Thursday. Up to seven investigators in a high-level biosafety laboratory on the CDC campus could be in danger after failing to follow procedures to inactivate bacteria. Their error was compounded when samples were sent to three laboratories not equipped to handle live anthrax, where unknowing workers not wearing proper protective equipment when handling the material (Levine, 6/19) lower security.

The New York Times: The leaders of New York Conclude Agreement on medical marijuana
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and legislative leaders announced an agreement on Thursday for a pilot program to provide access to marijuana to sick New Yorkers, making the state one of the most important to embrace the use of the drug as a medicine (McKinley, 6/19).

The Wall Street Journal: New York Met multiple offers last minute
After days of intense negotiations, the proposed medical pot law was more limited than many lawmakers wanted, after the Governor warned he would sign only with strict requirements. It only allow doctors to prescribe marijuana in the forms, including steam and oil-based, people with any of about half a dozen conditions, including cancer, AIDS, epilepsy and multiple sclerosis (orden, 6/19).

Los Angeles Times: Audit questions That 39 women prisoners consented to sterilization
At least 39 female inmates in California prisons have undergone sterilization in which informed consent of women was concerned, according to an audit of the State published Thursday. The investigation by the state auditor of California has found no evidence that doctors have established that the women had consented to the procedure in 27 cases. In 18 cases, there were "potential violations" of the waiting period required between consent and sterilization procedure, the report said. Both violations have occurred in some cases (Willon, 6/19).

The Associated Press: Audit seeks investigation of detainee sterilizations
State auditors found 39 cases where women of state prisoners may not have understood that they undergo procedures medical leave that infertile, according to a report released Thursday that the authorities recommended to investigate the doctors and hospitals involved. the state law prohibits held elective sterilizations that birth control methods. However, prison officials allow sterilization in cases deemed medically necessary (Thompson, 6/19).

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http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org This article has been reprinted of kaiserhealthnews .org courtesy of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. Kaiser Health News, an editorially independent news service, is a program of the Kaiser Family Foundation, a professional health policy research non-partisan organization affiliated with Kaiser Permanente.

Clovis Oncology begins tiger2 study for the treatment of NSCLC patients with EGFR mutations / T70M of

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Clovis Oncology begins tiger2 study for the treatment of NSCLC patients with EGFR mutations / T70M of -

Clovis Oncology, Inc. (NASDAQ: CLVS) announced today the study began with tiger2 dosing of the first patient in a US study site. CO-1686 is again of the company, targeted covalent oral (irreversible) inhibitor of mutant forms of the receptor for epidermal growth factor (EGFR) for the treatment of cancer non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in patients with mutations initial activation of EGFR and as the dominant mutation T70M resistance.

"In the clinic, we see a need for more and more acute for effective treatments against T70M" said Lecia V. Sequist, MD, MPH, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center and associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and principal investigator of the study phase 1/2 CO-1686. "CO-1686 provides a path of hope for patients who otherwise may use the old standard of chemotherapy is often ineffective and comes with many other side effects."

"We are pleased to begin tiger2 enlist, our registration study for CO-1686 focused on the T70M positive patients who have progressed after first EGFR targeted therapy," said Patrick J. Mahaffy, President and CEO of Clovis Oncology. "The CO-1686 data observed to date have been very consistent, including the growing evidence of a long-term benefit and tolerability profile of the drug. We remain committed to file an NDA in mid-2015 on the based on this study and TIGERX during the expansion cohorts. "

data recently presented at the 2014 American Society of Clinical oncology annual meeting included the activity and results of safety in 40 evaluable centrally confirmed positive patients T70M through effective doses in the expansion phase 1 dose of study and the early expansion phase 2 cohorts. These include 23 partial responses (PR) observed in early May, for an objective response rate of 58 percent (ORR). Thirty-six of 40 evaluable T70M positive patients, or 0 percent, experienced stable disease or a PR. nervous system (CNS) Central Responses have also been observed in heavily pretreated patients positive T70M. The median duration of response can not yet be determined positive patients T70M. Similarly, the median PFS was not reached. However, monitoring of some patients over one year, and the current estimate for the median PFS than 12 months. CO-1686 is well tolerated, with no signs of systemic inhibition of EGFR wild-type. In the Phase 1 study, the most common adverse events were nausea, hyperglycemia, diarrhea, vomiting and decreased appetite, and these were mostly grade 1 or 2 in severity . The most common grade 3 adverse events were hyperglycemia, which was observed in 22 percent of patients. Hyperglycaemia when viewed in need of treatment, is generally managed by a single agent orally commonly prescribed.

breakthrough therapy designation was granted by the FDA last month for CO-1686 as monotherapy for the treatment of EGFR-mutant NSCLC patients with T70M mutation after progression on EGFR-directed therapy.

tiger2 the study is the first of three recording studios in the (third-generation inhibitor of mutant EGFR in lung cancer) TIGER program scheduled to launch in 2014. Tiger2 The study is conducted in T70M positive patients directly after the progression of their first and only TKI therapy. Study sites are now part of the United States, Europe and Australia. For more information about the study, please visit www.tigertrials.com.

The tiger2 study is recruiting 125 patients with NSCLC EGFR T70M mutation mutant with centrally confirmed that CO-1686 to receive recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D) of 625mg BID. The primary endpoint of the study is the overall response rate; Secondary endpoints include duration of response, progression-free survival, overall survival and safety.

In addition to tiger2, Clovis recruits currently two Phase 2 expansion cohort of a Phase 1/2 EGFR mutant patients with T70M mutation; the first comprises about 150 to 0 T70M positive patients directly after the progression of their first and only TKI therapy, comparable to the population at tiger2 recording studio. The second cohort includes about 150 to 0 line later T70M positive patients after progression of their second or later TKI therapy or subsequent chemotherapy. Both cohorts exploring 500mg doses of 625mg and 750mg bid.

The data expansion cohort, combined with tiger2 data, should be the basis of an NDA submission for CO-1686 to mid-2015.

Clovis plans to launch the part of Phase 2 of TIGER1 study, a randomized phase 2/3 study study CO-1686 registration compared to erlotinib in EGFR mutant patients newly diagnosed in mid-2014. TIGER3 The study, a randomized, comparative study versus chemotherapy in patients positive T70M directly after the progression of their first and only TKI therapy, expected to open in the second half of 2014.

The Company launched its phase 1 study CO-1686 in Japan during the first quarter of 2014.

The mortality rate remains higher for African-Americans with colon cancer

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The mortality rate remains higher for African-Americans with colon cancer -

African Americans with colon cancer are half as likely as patients Caucasian to have a type of colon cancer that is related to better results. The finding may provide insight into why African Americans are more likely to die of colon cancer than Caucasians with the same stage of disease.

The study of 503 people with colon cancer based on population found that 14 percent of Caucasians and 7 percent of African Americans had a genetic marker called microsatellite instability, or MSI . These types of tumors are known to be resistant to the chemotherapeutic agent 5-FU. Yet even without chemotherapy, these patients tend to have better results.

"We know that colon cancer patients without chemotherapy MSI do better. But these improved survival benefits are limited in African-Americans with colon cancer," says lead author the John M. Carethers study, MD, John G. Searle Professor and chair of internal medicine at the University of Michigan medical School

results of the study appear in the journal PLOS ONE .

researchers identified patients through the North Carolina Colon Cancer Study, a case-control study conducted in population throughout the Central and Eastern Carolina North. The study in North Carolina includes rural and urban areas, the creation of adequate representation by African Americans and rural residents.

The group Carethers patients and colleagues looked at was 45 percent Caucasian African American and 55 percent. The researchers examined tissue samples taken at the time of surgery and evaluated for different markers, including MSI.

In addition to the racial imbalance in MSI, the researchers also found that African-American patients were more likely than white patients to have cancer on the right side of their colon. This is important because cancer of the colon on the right is easier to miss with screening and more likely to be more or more advanced than the cancers on the left.

"face right colon cancer may be the" black ice "colon - .. invisible but potentially fatal strategies to better recognize and detect cancer on the right side may need to be pursued more broadly "said Carethers

Method of recognizing cancer cells opens new possibilities for leukemia immunotherapy

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Method of recognizing cancer cells opens new possibilities for leukemia immunotherapy -

Singapore Immunology Network Scientists from A * STAR (SIGN) have discovered a new class of lipids in leukemic cells that are detected by a unique group of immune cells. Recognizing the lipids, immune cells stimulate an immune response to destroy the leukemia cells and suppress their growth. The newly identified mode of the recognition of cancer cells by the immune system opens up new possibilities for leukemia immunotherapy.

Leukemia is characterized by the accumulation of cancer cells from blood cells in the blood or bone marrow. Current leukemia treatments involve mainly chemotherapy to eradicate all cancer cells, followed by a stem cell transplant to restore healthy blood cells in patients.

In a recent study reported in the Journal of Experimental Medicine ( JEM ) online, team co-led by Dr. Lucia Mori and Professor Gennaro Libero has identified a new class of fat, methyl-lysophosphatidic acid (MLPA), which accumulates in leukemic cells. After that, the team identified a specific group of immune cells, described as specific T cells MLPA that are able to recognize the MLPA in leukemia cells. The detection triggers an immune response that activates T-cells to kill leukemia cells and cancer progression limits. The effectiveness of T cells in the destruction of leukemia cells was also demonstrated in a mouse model of human leukemia.

So far, only proteins in cancer cells have been known to activate T cells This study is a pioneer in the discovery of the MLPA, and specific T cells that can identify expressed lipids by cancer cells. Unlike proteins, lipids in cancer cells did not differ between individuals, indicating that the recognition of MLPA by T cells specific MLPA occurs in all leukemia patients. This new mode of recognition of cancer cells suggests that T cells can potentially be utilized for immunotherapy of leukemia that is effective in all patients.

"Identifying MLAA and its role in the activation of specific T cells is new. This knowledge not only highlights future studies of leukemia, but also full during the leukemia studies immunotherapy focusing on proteins in cancer cells, "said Dr. Lucie Mori, senior researcher at SIgN. "Current treatments run the risk of failure due to re-growth of residual leukemic cells that survive after a stem cell transplant. Immunotherapy T cells can be used as a complementary treatment more effective and safer therapeutic approach to leukemia . "

Professor Laurent Renia, Acting Executive Director of SIgN, said "at SIgN, we study how the human immune system protects us against infections naturally. we engage in specific research projects to promising disease that eventually pave the way for the development of treatments and medications that can better fight against these diseases a relevant example is the study; .. this mode of immune cell recognition leukemia is an insightful discovery that will create new opportunities for immunotherapy to improve the lives of leukemia patients "

Conventional proton radiotherapy to fight against cancer

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Conventional proton radiotherapy to fight against cancer -

The future face of modern anti-cancer therapy with charged particles such as protons could potentially involve the use of laser accelerators. However, these facilities must be reduced in size and cost compared to conventional ones. In the journal, Applied Physics B , Dresden Medical Physicist Umar Masood was the first to introduce a new design for the entire complex machine - the accelerator on the radiation site. In the process, he managed to reduce the size of the installation in half.

In the fight against cancer, proton therapy is particularly accurate and is better able to spare healthy tissues compared to establish high-level, hard X on the basis of the radiation rays. An installation of conventional radiotherapy proton usually consists of a cycle of accelerator plus a gigantic steel construction called a gantry with 360 degree rotation capability. Between, the protons are sent flying in a long line of light where heavy electromagnets keep on track

In Germany, only two universities - Heidelberg and Essen - are currently offering proton therapy as a treatment option . Dresden is about to operating its own installation of any new start. Professor Michael Baumann, director of the new Proton Therapy Dresden University and OncoRay - National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology highlights the reason behind this: "On the one hand, the application of proton therapy beam in different types cancer does not to further explore ;. 15 to 20 percent of all patients radiotherapy, proton beam therapy will most likely be a considerable advantage over the established form of the other radiation therapy, the necessary facilities are quite large and expensive. Thus, this treatment option will be more widely accepted, becomes more compact and cheapest equipment available "

for this it is necessary to reduce the three main components -. Throttle, beamline, and the porch - and a doctoral student Omar Masood has managed to do just that in its design study initially, he went ahead and replaced the classic ring accelerator. with a new type of laser accelerator, where the distance along which the particles are accelerated to high energy levels is of the order of several millimeters. as part of its design study, and work in closely with other researchers from the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), the Technische Universit t-Dresden (University of Technology), and the Dresden University hospital - together, these parties are the OncoRay Center -. Masood was the first to significantly reduce the size of the individual components that are beyond the accelerator

"We will have to rearrange all the different components from scratch in the coming years," Masood said. Indeed, laser beams based particles have properties which differ from those produced by ring accelerators. They have a lot more energy distribution. At first glance, this seems like an obvious disadvantage. method of radiotherapy is established based on the premise that a tumor is scanned fragmentary using a beam pencil-shaped with a narrow energy window, starting with higher energy, which is then reduced gradually. As such, the proton beam is able to target each unique location within the total mass of the tumor. As he gives off the majority of its energy only at the end of the distance, the healthy tissue that lies beyond the tumor is spared.

volume of more targeted tumor in a short time

Given the energy window wide when radiation using protons laser accelerated, much of protons must be removed from the beam to achieve a relatively narrow energy window. This undermines the effectiveness. However, Omar Masood came up with an innovative solution to this dilemma: He not only uses the largest energy distribution, but also naturally larger diameter of the proton beam, which thus emits its dose in a larger volume. This translates into a greater number of cancer cells that are irradiated simultaneously in the same unit of time. Technische Universit-t M-nchen is currently developing a particular type of software to help calculate the dose deposition in the patient when planning the optimized treatment for laser beams of accelerated protons.

Another property of laser accelerated protons lies in the fact that we are not looking at a continuous particle beam here, but rather to impulses of individual particles. For pulsed beams, more powerful magnets can be used to guide the accelerator beam to the patient - an important prerequisite for reducing and, more importantly, the overall size of the massive portico of the beamline. Dresden on account of pulsed magnets from Dresden High Magnetic field Laboratory HZDR has extensive experience with these.

Stay on track by using pulsed magnets

Omar Masood had to run tests on a number of different incarnations of his idea to be able coming up with a concept to guide the laser beams of protons accelerated in the first place. First, a magnetic coil mode a proton beam which has been accelerated directly inside the gantry using the intense laser light. Then, a dipole magnet directs the beam around a 0 degree curve while ensuring that the protons with an inadequate energy window are cut off. A focusing quadrupole magnets group called, that are also activated only for about 100 milliseconds at a time, keep the beam on track. Transport of a pulsed beam with an energy distribution on the scale can be difficult because there are at least six dimensions to support. A second dipole redirects the beam in a direction opposite to the initial acceleration to the examination table in the porch of the center.

Despite the fact that now, for the first time, a full installation was modeled on the basis of a laser accelerator, there are still many obstacles to overcome before such a facility can become a reality. As such, the different pulsed magnets must first be developed and tested. In addition, at this time, the energies of laser accelerated protons are below target deep-lying tumors inside the patient's body. Which is why the own laser DRACO HZDR currently undergoing an upgrade and is also getting a new big sister, PENELOPE, which in a time of 1 petawatt take its place among the most powerful lasers of the world. Professor Ulrich Schramm, head of laser-particle acceleration HZDR group, is quite certain that "follows some five years of intense research using DRACO we believe that we will finally be able to achieve the necessary parameters for radiation therapy patients."

New imaging software measures the growth of nodules in patients at risk for lung cancer

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New imaging software measures the growth of nodules in patients at risk for lung cancer -

Software medical imaging under development at Rochester Institute of Technology may someday give radiologists a tool for measuring the growth of nodules in patients at risk for lung cancer, the leading cause of cancer death in the United States, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Nathan Cahill, an associate professor at RIT's School of Mathematical Sciences, is the creation of algorithms to quantify the growth of lung nodules imaged on computed tomography (CT) scans. The two-year longitudinal study, funded by the National Institutes of Health, compares the existing analyzes of individual patients. The algorithms analyze medical images, to measure changes in the nodules to identify small cancers or if stable avoid unnecessary biopsies, often risky.

simple factors can complicate the comparison of CT scans, creating unnecessary information in medical images, the introduction of artifacts and errors in diagnosis.

"It is not a problem apples to apples reliable correspondence between two images," said Cahill.

differences between the analysis of a single patient can lead to differences in position and inhalation during imaging. A weight gain of 10 pounds between the CT scan may also affect the way the surrounding organs and push against the lungs stretch or compress the nodules.

"Having even 1 or 2 millimeters of difference could throw off estimates of volumes of nodules because the size of the nodules can be 5 mm or more," said Cahill. "The purpose of this project is to develop an algorithm that tries to compensate for all these potential background factors. "

Dr. David Fetzer, a radiologist at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and a member of the collaboration, suggested that the clinical problem . Fetzer, a former student of F. Carlson center for Imaging Science RIT Chester, had worked as a student with Maria Helguera, a professor at the center and a team member of Cahill.

"devices modern CT imaging produce hundreds and sometimes thousands of images, "Fetzer said." If a patient is monitored for trouble, as a pulmonary nodule, a radiologist must compare these images visually, mentally compensating for differences such as patient position. Slight changes in technology between the two CT scans can simulate tumor growth, for example. "

radiologists calculate the doubling time of a nodule, or range of time it takes for the size of the nodule to increase twofold. A mass doubling in less than 30 days is growing rapidly and could be an infection, Cahill said. "If it takes years more than one and a half to double, it is more and more slowly and is probably benign. If it is somewhere between what one months and 1.5 years, so it could be malignant and you have to do additional tests and a biopsy. "

Cahill and Kfir Ben Zikri, a doctoral student in the Center for Imaging Science, register, or alignment, backgrounds to create a common frame of reference between the series of images. The process transforms geometrically a three-dimensional image to another and compensates for background information that blurs the edges of nodules, even when the underlying diseases such as emphysema or fibrosis are the intensities in the lighter background .

"Then we can estimate the volumes, which will allow us to more accurately estimate the doubling time and have a better chance to determine whether it is malignant or benign," said Cahill .

technology will be part of the free software libraries provided by Kitware, an open-source software company based in North Carolina that specializes in image medical analysis. Cahill and Ben Zikri work closely with scientists Kitware and Professor Marc Niethammer at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Fetzer selects 30 CT scans of patients treated for lung cancer at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. The images are scrubbed information on identifying the patient and sent to Cahill and Ben Zikri. Fetzer is clinically verify the algorithmic results.

"With today's technology, we can create the data sets in three dimensions, the image data volumes that can be manipulated and analyzed non-visual way," Fetzer said. "with techniques such as this, we may be able to offset the substantial changes and, hopefully, show more precisely the growth, to assess the aggressiveness or prove the stability of a nodule . This accurate assessment could significantly affect patient care, the cost of lower unnecessary procedures and number, and improve outcomes through early detection of cancer. "

Cepheid releases molecular test for the detection of carbapenemase producing Gram-negative bacteria

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Cepheid releases molecular test for the detection of carbapenemase producing Gram-negative bacteria -

Cepheid (NASDAQ: CPHD) today announced the release of Xpert ® Carba -R, a molecular test the demand for fast and accurate detection of Gram-negative bacteria producing carbapenemase, to be marketed as a product IVD according to the European Directive in vitro medical devices diagnosis. The test runs on Cepheid GeneXpert of ® system, molecular diagnostic platform leader in the world. Xpert carba-R detects and differentiates the genes encoding the most common carbapenemases -. Reports five gene families that comprise 68 individual resistance genes known, including KPC, NDM, VIM, OXA-48 and IMP-1

"Carbapenemase- producing organisms were named for their ability to fight antibiotic carbapenems. - the last line of defense in our medical toolbox, "said John Bishop, president of Cepheid and CEO" Xpert carba-R provides healthcare institutions a necessary tool for the rapid detection and precise patients colonized by these multiresistant organisms to help prevent generalized epidemics and identify best infection control channels. "

carbapenemase producers () resistant organisms, or CROs, include Enterobacteriaceae, a family bacteria that normally live in the digestive system, including organizations such as Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli. They are part of the normal bacteria in the human gut. However, carbapenemase producers also Pseudomonas aeruginosa Acinetobacter baumannii , and a variety of other nosocomial pathogens which have become resistant to antibiotics called carbapenems. Carbapenems are often referred to as the antibiotic of last resort and are usually reserved for severe life-threatening infections caused by multidrug resistant organisms. All these organisms are able to host and distribute these carbapenem resistance genes.

The emergence and global spread of producer organizations carbapenemase is a big concern for health services around the world. These bacteria are often resistant to all beta-lactam antibiotics and often co-resistant to most other antibiotics, leaving very few treatment options.

"The detection of patients carriers of microorganisms carbapenemase producers, with a differentiation between the five major families of resistance genes, can have a significant control of the infection impact. With results in less one hour, we have the advantage of rapid implementation of epidemiological measures to control the spread of these organisms, "said Dr. Rafael Canton, professor of microbiology at the Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain.

carbapenemases of global significance include Klebsiella pneumonia carbapenemase (KPC), New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase (NDM), Verona integron-encoded metallo-β-lactamase (VIM), imipenemase metallo-β-lactamase ( IMP) and oxacillinase-48 (OXA-48). In 2014, KPC is the most common carbapenemase the US while OXA-48 is becoming the most important in most European countries.

"Like our other GeneXpert cartridges Xpert CARBA -R can be performed on a STAT basis. - No waiting for the results in batches Rapid identification of patients colonized allows health facilities to begin the immediate implementation of measures against the infection to prevent the spread in highly susceptible populations, "said David Persing, MD, Ph.D., Cepheid Chief medical and technology." the active screening high-risk patients has the added benefit of allowing clinicians to optimize segregation decisions and avoid unnecessary impact isolates. "

Healthy people rarely get CRO infections, which are usually associated infections found in patients in hospitals, nursing homes and other health facilities. Patients who require devices such as ventilators, urinary catheters or intravenous catheters, and patient care taking long courses of certain antibiotics are most at risk for CRO infections.

Xpert carba-R begins shipping this month as -IVD CE Mark product. For more information on the Cepheid GeneXpert systems or a complete menu of Xpert tests CE-IVD, visit www.cepheidinternational.com.

Highlights of state: retiree benefits of deficits; requests for data on the health and cost

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Highlights of state: retiree benefits of deficits; requests for data on the health and cost -

A selection of health policy stories from California, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire , Virginia, Iowa, Florida, Missouri, Washington, Connecticut, Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina and Tennessee

the Wall Street Journal :. accounting changes proposed to the State, City plans retiree-benefit
states and cities could be forced to declare at least half a trillion dollars of additional costs on their books under proposed rules that shine a harsher light on the growing burden of health insurance for retired workers and other benefits. The proposals, unveiled on Monday by a group accounting standards would require state and local governments to add retiree benefit promises to their balance sheets, which makes the overall fiscal position of governments seems worse. In addition, many governments should change the way they calculate their benefit obligations in a way that could make their deficits appear bigger than they do now (Rapoport, 6/16)

Stateline :. Q & A: Can Cost claims data Crack The Riddle Health Care?
Nearly a decade before the Affordable Care Act, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and some other states began to create all-payer claims database (APCDS). Acting as a trusted third party, they began to require all commercial insurance carriers within their borders to submit their claims data, including prices paid by consumers. Over the past three years, the number of states that invest in these laborious data collection projects has accelerated. Nineteen states have APCDS in the development stages and at least 21 states are considering legislation to create the variant, according to the APCD Board, which helps states set up insurance databases (Vestal, 6 / 17).

Los Angeles Times: California Word extends the Elderly, frail
California parole officials said Monday the state is ready to begin the early release of elderly and frail inmates who meet to new criteria for parole. Details of the program were made public for the first time at a meeting of the Board of Parole Hearings. They were ordered by a panel of federal judges earlier this year as part of the necessary steps, the state must take to reduce jail crowding to acceptable levels (St. John, 6/16)

Los Angeles Times :. Bills targeting Sweetened Sodas, plastic bags, Grease Theft Survive
What carbonated sugar drinks loaded, fragile plastic bags and cooking fat used have in common? They are the subject of a controversial law in Sacramento. So far they have survived a gauntlet lobbying and multiple committees and floor votes to get it out of the Senate or the Assembly, where they started a few months ago - along with thousands of other proposals. In all, lawmakers this session have introduced 2,766 bills in the House and the Senate in 1467 (Lifsher, 6/15)

The Washington Post :. New Free Clinic in Chantilly Serves patients Loudoun, Fairfax
The low-income people who do not have health insurance can obtain medical services to a new free clinic in Chantilly. The Adams Compassionate Healthcare Network, a non-profit arm of the All Dulles Area Muslim Society, officially opened the clinic on June 8 with an inaugural ceremony at the ADAMS Center Sully. An interdenominational team of volunteers and other health professionals doctors donate their services on Saturday at the clinic, the ADAMS officials describe as "the first Muslim initiative organized in Virginia, which aims to meet the comprehensive health care needs all qualifications, people with low income (Barnes, 6/16)

of Moines Register :. Number of documents in Iowa increases
Iowa continues to see a steady increase in physician supply, despite dire predictions that doctors flee the profession because big changes in health care. A new report from the Council of Iowa Medical said 6829 doctors worked in the state last year. It was up 2 percent from 2012 and up 12 percent from 06. Iowa continues to have fewer physicians per capita than the average of the United States, and he faces the shortage of important physicians in some medical specialties and rural areas. But overall, the supply of Iowa physicians increased much faster than the population over the past three decades condition (Leys, 6/16).

Baltimore Sun: Midwife Practice Finds New Home In spite of the medical expenses Malpractice
a practice popular midwife whose partnership with Mercy Medical Center ends because of rising malpractice costs found a new home to the University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center in Towson. Mercy said midwives in October, it was breaking ties after two cases of medical malpractice high level, although unrelated to the hospital, had driven up the cost of insurance and that he was looking for ways to ease the financial pressure. Midwives had worried about whether they would be able to find another hospital partner because of cost and feared women would have less access to care. Mercy has covered more than $ 50,000 a year in insurance costs against malpractice for each midwife to practice (Walker, 6/16).

ProPublica: Iowa Court Tosses Sentence In the case of HIV exposure
After a legal battle of three years, the highest court in Iowa has thrown out the sentence of Nick Rhoades, who was sentenced to 25 years in prison and lifetime sex offender registration for criminal transmission of HIV. Rhoades, whose case was the focus of a ProPublica investigation published last year, pleaded guilty to the charge in 09 after failing to notify a sexual partner once he was HIV positive. In a 6-1 decision last week, the Supreme Court of Iowa Rhoades overturned the sentence, saying his trial counsel provided ineffective advice when he allowed Rhoades to plead guilty to a charge for which he does there was no factual basis (Hernandez, 6/16).

Miami Herald: Florida Governor Rick Scott Signs Medical Marijuana Bill
As promised, Governor Rick Scott signed a bill Monday that legalizes the use of a strain non- euphoric marijuana to treat conditions such as epilepsy, Lou Gehrig's disease, and cancer. He signed the bill the Senate in 1030, which approves the drug, and SB 1700, which protects the identity of the patients who use it (a Klas Mitchell, 6/16).

Miami Herald: First announcement of Democrats in Old Theme: Rick Scott and Medicare fraud
first Democratic Party TV spot of the Florida governor's race in 2014 airs this week and attack Gov. Rick Scott on an old weakness: the Medicare fraud. "Maybe you've heard of what was the largest Medicare fraud in history, committed when Rick Scott was a CEO," the ad says. "Or that Scott's company paid record fines for fraud of $ 1.7 billion." If you have not heard, your memory is bad or if you do not put on a TV in Florida during the height of the 2010 elections, when Republican rival Scott and his Democratic opponent made sure voters knew the fine paid by 1997 Columbia / HCA, a company of the hospital built Scott (Caputo, 6/17)

Carolina public release / NC Health News :. Racial disparities persist in WNC Infant mortality
Shortly after the second child of Demekia Kincaid, Lamar, was born, she noticed that something was wrong. As a member of the hospital staff bathed the newborn, his breathing seemed different, as he was breathing hard. Although she was sure he was OK, the problem has worsened. Lamar spent seven days in the neonatal intensive care unit of the Mission Hospital. He is now a healthy 15 month, who likes to shout, "Stop!" Kincaid said with a laugh. And she said he should not have long-term effects of the problem. But Throughout North Carolina, black children are dying at higher rates than white children, a disparity that persists in the western mountainous counties of the state (Rose, 6/16).

St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Sharing Work Ministries healthcare for members
Health care sharing Samaritan Ministries came through when the wife of Walter McCaslin had to have a replacement knee $ 50,000 a year ago. McCaslin, Wood River, said the approach non-insurance company based Christian nonprofit health care needs has been phenomenal. "We did not pay a penny," he said of the company based in Peoria that has been operating since 1994. "Samaritan Ministries covered the entire amount." Unlike insurance, when a medical need arises among members Samaritan Ministries, his name is on a list sent to members monthly through the national grid. Members then send the checks to the patient to cover the bills (Luster, 6/16).

Seattle Times: Whistleblower Testifies Before State Senators on the fairness of the OIC
state senators on Monday heard testimony about whether people and businesses that call question the decisions of some state agencies get a fair chance. Specifically, the Committee of Law and Justice of the Senate held a working meeting to delve into the role of the administrative hearing officer presiding disputes Office of Insurance. They considered three ideas that could be fashioned in proposed laws that would give agents more independent hearing when deciding cases (Stiffler, 6/16).

The CT Mirror: Digital Town Hall: Caregiving and Aging In Connecticut
Connecticut officials describe as the "silver tsunami" The population of the state of elderly is expected to rise considerably in the next decade, while the working-age population shrinks. This should bring a growing need for caregivers - both people who care for others professionally and those who do it for free, for love or obligation, to friends or family members. To understand some of the consequences of these changes, The Mirror hosted a digital hall of the city on care and aging in Connecticut, with panelists Anne Foley, undersecretary of the office of the state of politics and management; Sen. Kevin Kelly, a Stratford Republican who works as a lawyer in law of the elderly; and Amy Goyer, an expert on care and families with AARP (6/16)

Georgia Health News :. Transplant "equity" Issues To Panel, Georgians
A committee on liver transplants said Monday that reducing the nation's number transplant regions - from the current 11 to four - could save hundreds of lives. The United Network for Organ Sharing panel said his goal of the initiative is to reduce the current geographical variation in patient access to transplants ... "concept paper" of his liver Committee released on Monday, says changing the number of regions to four would lead to a reduction of 581 deaths of people on a liver transplant waiting list ... But the idea of ​​such a change has already been draw fire in Georgia (Miller, 6/16)

Modern Healthcare :. UnitedHealth continues to cut Medicare Advantage
suppliers UnitedHealth Group continues to remove doctors from its provider networks for Medicare Advantage plans in states across the country. In recent weeks, doctors in Alabama, Georgia, Massachusetts, North Carolina and Tennessee have received notifications that their services are no longer covered for patients with United plans. The insurer based in Minnetonka Minnesota, does not release how many doctors are eliminated in each state. But a spokesman said the company plans to reduce its network by up to 85 percent to 0 percent of their 2013 size Physicians will have the opportunity to appeal the decision (Demko, 6/16).


http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org This article has been reprinted kaiserhealthnews.org with permission from the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. Kaiser Health News, an editorially independent news service, is a program of the Kaiser Family Foundation, a professional health policy research non-partisan organization affiliated with Kaiser Permanente.

First edition June 18, 2014

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First edition June 18, 2014 -

Today the titles include a report that the cost of health law grants can push the entire price tag the measure beyond the projections

Kaiser health News: FAQ: Observation hospital care can be costly for Medicare patients
Writing for Kaiser health News, Susan Jaffe reports: "Some seniors think Medicare made a mistake others are amazed when they discover that being in a hospital. for days does not always mean they were actually admitted. instead, they received observation care, regarded by Medicare as an outpatient. The observation designation means they may have higher expenses out of pocket and fewer benefits to Medicare. However, a government survey found that observation patients often have the same health problems than those admitted "(Jaffe, updated 6/18). Check the FAQ

Kaiser Health News Capsules: Enroll America kicks off the second registration period begins ;. Insurer Huge palliative care Program
Now on the blog of Kaiser Health News, Lisa Gillespie reports Join America meeting "Join America organized a national conference in Washington this week to discuss strategies proven over the first opening Affordable Care Act registration period and prepare for the next, which will start on November 15 the organizers also want to ensure browsers and organizations working for inclusion of maintaining their energy - despite reports of logged Medicaid applications and ongoing struggles in a state-run exchanges "(Gillespie 6/18)

also on Capsules, Marissa Evans reports on a new hospice program :. " Cambia Health Solutions, which includes Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield, will provide training to providers and additional benefits for insured :. more than 2.2 million members in the family of Cambia health plan businesses in Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Utah palliative care improves the quality of life in pain management and other problems for people who have serious life-threatening diseases such as cancer, heart and kidney failure. It differs from palliative care, particularly because patients may not be less than six months to live "(Evans, 6/17) Find out what else is on the blog

Los Angeles Times :. . Obamacare subsidies Push cost of health law above projections
large subsidies for health insurance that has helped fuel the success drive to register some 8 million Americans to coverage under the affordable care Act may push the cost of the law significantly above current projections, a new federal report says Nearly 9 in 10 Americans who bought health coverage on healthcare markets by federal government received help from the government to offset their premiums (Levey, 6/17)

Los Angeles Times: .. healthy young adults after the passage of Obamacare, study finds
increasing the number of young adults with health insurance seems to have improved their health and save money, according to a new study is among the first to measure the effect of the health care law that President Obama signed four years since. From 2010, the Affordable Care Act has enabled adults under 26 to stay on the health plans of their parents, the first extension of coverage to take effect under the law (Levey, 6 / 17).

The Washington Post Fact Checker: complaints Old Obamacare do not age well in New Crossroads GPS Ad
The announcement of the pro-GOP Crossroads GPS group is almost like a record oldies of the best tunes lambasting ACT affordable care, and it has the same touch as well. Just about everything in this announcement has been questioned before, except its opening scenes-, which highlight our colleagues PolitiFact had judged the promise of President Obama you could keep your health care plan the "lie of the year." No argument about that - Obama's statement was also one of the biggest Pinocchios of 2013- but even the lie of the year reference seems dated. (We have seen in what looks like a gadzillion ads.) Let's look at the other elements of this ad (Kessler, 6/17)

The Associated Press. Lawmakers Urge Medicare cancer test coverage
More than 130 lawmakers are urging the Obama administration to expand coverage for lung cancer test in Medicare that could cost program logs by calling significant screening for vulnerable seniors. In a letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, lawmakers called for a quick decision on coverage for low dose CT for higher risk patients aged developing lung cancer (6/17).

The Wall Street Journal: delays medicine health care payers cost the United States millions of dollars
delays generic versions of an Indian company of three blockbuster drugs annually US payers care health of millions of dollars- cost and preserve millions of dollars of revenue for makers of branded versions. heartburn drug Nexium to AstraZeneca is the latest great medicine to deal with delays in its generic version. key patents on the "purple pill" of the company in the UK, which ranks among the best-selling prescription drugs in the world, expired at the end of May, but manufacturing issues at Ranbaxy Laboratories India prevented the launch of a generic competitor expected (Plumridge and McLain, 6/17)

the Associated Press. 1000-a-Pill Sovaldi Jolts US health system
Leading medical societies recommend the drug as first-line treatment, and patients clamoring for it. But insurance companies and state programs gag on price. In Oregon, officials propose to limit the number of low-income patients can get Sovaldi. Yet if Sovaldi did not exist, insurers would still pay in the numbers of high-five medium to treat the most common form of hepatitis C, a new price survey indicates. Some older alternatives involve more side effects and are less likely to provide remedies (6/17)

The Wall Street Journal :. Overhaul Novartis Case Lift profitability
Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis Wednesday offered details of how the review of the scanning business increase its performance, saying its profit base operating margin would have been more than two percentage points higher if the changes were implemented last year. Novartis in Basel is in the midst of a series of transactions worth about $ 25 billion including the sale of its vaccines division at GlaxoSmithKline and animal health activities to Eli Lilly. Novartis also buys oncology business of Glaxo in the Offers (Revill, 6/18)

Politico :. House Bill Advances VA
The House moved closer Tuesday to give veterans stuck on federal waiting lists MEDICAL free to visit private providers. The Rules Committee approved legislation that would allow veterans who live far from a Department of Veterans Affairs medical service or have been delayed longer than "standard" time waiting for the VA to process request care of a private physician (french, 6/17)

the Associated Press. New Jersey Hospital to provide former combatants priority
veterans go to the front of the line in New Jersey private health care system as part of a new start running program in response to problems with the health system of the federal Government administration veterans. As part of the initiative announced Tuesday, the veterans in the seven counties in southern New Jersey are promised the same day appointments for primary care and help from health care browsers to health care of Cooper University. Veterans would be served at the Camden hospital and clinic system in southern New Jersey (6/17)

The New York Times :. Governors Unite to fight against Heroine In New England
Faced with a heroin crisis they say has reached epidemic proportions, the governors of the five states of New England met Tuesday to develop a regional strategy against the rise in overdoses and deaths from opioid abuse (Seelye, 6/17).

Los Angeles time: IPC The Hospitalist defrauded Medicaid and Medicare, US lawsuit says
in a complaint filed Monday in Chicago, federal lawyers said IPC The Hospitalist Co. defrauded Medicare and Medicaid by billing care more expensive than planned. The company attributes to hospital doctors in 28 states and bill insurers, including government programs, for the treatment they provide. The company reported $ 610 million in revenue last year (Pfeifer, 6/17)

Los Angeles Times :. The bill requiring health labels on soft drinks fails in the Assembly Panel
proposal to affix warning labels to the health of soft drinks, including sodas and drinks athletes failed to win enough support in a key Assembly panel Tuesday. The measure would have required sugary drinks sold in California to be labeled with a warning that sugar contributes to obesity, diabetes and tooth decay (Mason, 6/17).


http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org This article has been reprinted kaiserhealthnews.org with permission from the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. Kaiser Health News, an editorially independent news service, is a program of the Kaiser Family Foundation, a professional health policy research non-partisan organization affiliated with Kaiser Permanente.

Thursday, August 29, 2013

Research Roundup: funding for safety net hospitals; competition from insurance

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Research Roundup: funding for safety net hospitals; competition from insurance -

Each week, KHN compiles a selection of studies and health policy briefs published recently

Health Affairs: . disproportionate-share payment may Hospital cuts threaten payments The financial stability of Safety-net hospitals
Safety-net hospitals rely on disproportionate share of the hospital (DSH) to help cover the costs and insufficient care not compensated by Medicaid .... the affordable care Act (ACA) provides that insurance expansion will increase the income of hospital safety net and reduce DSH payments accordingly. We examined the impact of Medicaid DSH cuts ACA Financial Stability California public hospitals .... decreases the costs of uncompensated care resulting from the expansion of the ACA insurance may not match the DSH reductions due to the high number of people who remain insured of the law, low Medicaid reimbursement rates, and inflation of medical costs. ... We estimate that the total cost DSH California public hospitals will increase from $ 2.044 billion in 2010 to $ 2.363- $ 2.503 billion in 2019, with costs of unmet DSH billions of $ 1.381- $ 1.537 (Neuhausen et al. , 6/2).

Annals of Internal Medicine: Medical Patient-Centered Home, electronic health records, and quality of care
The medical home (PCMH) model of primary care patient-centered is implemented widely although its effects on quality are not clear. The PCMH usually involves electronic health records (EHR), the change of organizational practice and payment reform. [The researchers sought to] compare the quality of care provided by physicians in PCMHs with those provided by physicians using paper medical records and, separately, with those provided by physicians using EHRs without PCMH .... The group PCMH improved significantly over time than either the group of paper or DSE group for 4 of the 10 measures (from 1 to 9 points percentage measure): eye exams and A1c hemoglobin testing in patients with diabetes, chlamydia screening and screening for colorectal cancer (adjusted P <0.05 for each). The chances of improving overall quality within the PCMH group were 7% higher than in the paper group and 6% higher than in the group of EHR (Kern, 6/3)

National Bureau economic research. More insurers lower premiums: evidence of initial pricing in health insurance markets
participation freshman insurer in the health insurance market (HIM) established by the Affordable Care Act is limited in many parts of the country. ... We study the impact of competition on premiums. We use the change of competition area-rating level induced by the decision of United Healthcare not to participate in one of [federally facilitated marketplaces] VPCM. We believe that the money bonus second lowest price (which is directly related to federal subsidies) would have decreased by 5.4 percent, on average, had participated United. If all insurers active on the market for individual insurance in each state in 2011 had participated in all evaluation areas in IT this state, we believe this key premium would be 11.1 percent less and 2014 grants federal would be reduced by $ 1.7 billion (Dafny, Gruber and Ody, 6/4)

National Bureau of economic research. ACA: Some Unpleasant Arithmetic Welfare
under the Affordable Care Act, between six and eleven million workers increase their disposable income by reducing their weekly working hours. About half of them would mostly do so by making eligible for federal aid ACA with Medicare premiums and out-of-pocket health costs, despite the fact that subsidized workers are not able to pay health premiums with pre-tax dollars. The rest would mainly by relieving employers of sanctions, or the threat of sanctions, as mandated by the employer of the ACA. Women, especially those who are not married, are more likely than men to have their short-term financial reward to a full-time job eliminated by the ACA. additional workers, beyond 6-11000000 could increase their disposable income using reduced hours to assemble one of the "cliff" that are part of the mapping of the ACA of household income for federal assistance ( Mulligan, March 2014).

Avalere Health: design delivery Analysis of Variations of money regime
both federal ease trade based on the state and offer financial assistance for registrants with lower incomes. The aid takes two forms: tax credits of advanced premium and cost sharing reductions (CSRS). This report focuses on CSR schemes that are available for individuals and families earning between 100% of the federal poverty level (FPL) to 250% FPL; ... The health insurers have great flexibility on how to adjust the sharing of costs for other services ... in fact, the plans vary greatly in how they affect cost sharing for each of the benefits examined in this analysis. ... For example, there is a tendency among issuers to systematically reduce medical franchises, while at the same time a little more than half of the plans to modify cost sharing for level four prescription drugs in CSR plans AV 94%. Given the continued flexibility granted issuers the design of CSR plans and the high proportion of registrants eligible for financial aid, stakeholders may wish to identify trends in the design of benefit plans and evaluate CSR accessibility of consumers heading into the plan year 2015 (. Brantley, Bray and Pearson, June 2014)

This is a selection of news coverage of other recent research:

the New York Times: study may change the approach to prostate cancer
many men with prostate cancer put off using chemotherapy as long as possible, fearing side effects. But a new study has found that men given chemotherapy early in treatment for advanced disease experienced a median of nearly 14 months longer than those who do not receive early chemotherapy. The result could upset the established management practice, researchers said here Sunday [at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology]. ... Another study presented Sunday found that drugs called aromatase inhibitors may be better than standard drug tamoxifen to prevent a recurrence of the disease in premenopausal women with early breast cancer (Pollack, 6/1).

The Associated Press: Doctors Use immune therapy against cancer of the cervix ago
Two years Arrica Wallace was riddled with tumors widespread cervical cancer chemotherapy and radiation the stronger could not fight back. Today, Kansas mother shows no signs of illness, and it was his own immune system which removed. The experimental approach that helped her was one of the last frontiers in the field of rapid advancement of cancer immunotherapy, which stimulates the natural pathways of the body to attack tumors. At a conference in Chicago on Monday, doctors have also reported gains ranging achieved recently with immune therapies against leukemia and skin cancer melanoma, bladder, lung and other tumor types (Marchione, 6/2).

Reuters: young Insured cancer patients do better, live longer: study
Young adults with cancer are much more likely to recover or live longer if they have health insurance, a new study on the potential impact of the Affordable Care Act shows. The study published Monday reported benefits for young people who were uninsured before the act, also known as Obamacare, entered into force this year (Steenhuysen, 6/2)

Reuters :. In the treatment of some patients with cancer, Less Is More: American studies
doctors can scale back treatment for some cancer patients, based on evidence that some drugs can be used less frequently, according to new information that opens the way for doctors to limit the risks of care. Several studies support the strategy "less-is-more", which can also reduce the cost of care, were presented Friday at the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting in Chicago (Beasley, 5/30).

Modern Healthcare: Move to ICD-10 Will Hurt low-margin practice, a study
Pediatricians and other practices with low margins could take a significant financial hit during the transition to the procedural codes and ICD-10 diagnosis, according to a study in Pediatrics, the journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics. 68000 ICD-10 code system is intended to replace ICD-9 code system 14,000 1 October 2015. researchers from the University of Illinois at Chicago used the general equivalent mapping tool or CMS Gems, to "translate" ICD -9 codes ICD-10 in their most granular counterparts. They calculated that, for meetings of pediatric patients, payment and clinical data may be lost in about 8% of these translations (Robeznieks, 6/2)

Reuters :. Telemedicine Detects eye problems, doctors must prepare for other patients
Setting up a telemedicine screening option for patients in primary care clinics can catch a lot of potential eye problems early. But sending more patients to eye doctors, who need to be prepared for the influx, according to a new study of the administration of former Health Affairs. Researchers at the Atlanta VA Medical Center used two years of medical records to analyze what happened when retinal cameras were placed in primary care clinics to monitor eye problems related to diabetes. nurses trained abroad have used specialized cameras to take pictures of patients with diabetes retinas, which were then sent to an eye specialist or medical image analysis for readers (Doyle, 6 / 4).


http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org This article has been reprinted of kaiserhealthnews.org with permission from the Henry J. Kaiser family Foundation. Kaiser Health News, an editorially independent news service, is a program of the Kaiser Family Foundation, a professional health policy research non-partisan organization affiliated with Kaiser Permanente.