| British health officials endorse NRI couple’s crusade |
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A non-resident Indian (NRI) couple’s crusade for the right to create a donor sibling for stem cell treatment of their ailing son has led British health authorities agree to fund the controversial technique for treating similar cases.
A non-resident Indian (NRI) couple’s crusade for the right to create a donor sibling for stem cell treatment of their ailing son has led British health authorities agree to fund the controversial technique for treating similar cases.
Britain’s National Health Service (NHS) has reportedly come to accept the technique that enables scientists to find out whether an embryo will grow into a child whose tissue will match that of a brother or sister.
When Raj and Shahana Hashmi wanted to create a designer baby to help cure their son, Zain, who suffers from a rare blood disorder, they were met with stiff resistance from pro-life activists, who even moved the high court to block the couple.
The parents wanted to use the genetic screening technique in which a donor sibling (a test tube baby) is created whose umbilical cord blood is then used to cure Beta Thalassaemia, the disease afflicting Zain. A non-matching embryo is destroyed.
The high court had barred the Hashmis in 2002, but last year they won the right to create a saviour sibling amidst protests from many quarters which described this mode of treatment as unethical and objectionable.
The Hashmis were accused of killing embryos in their attempt to create a baby of their design.
The Leeds-based Hashmis had a natural baby after Zain, but his bone marrow didn’t match. Zain, who has had about 100 blood transfusions so far, this week appealed for more ethnic-minority bone marrow donors.
While Zain’s parents try to have a donor sibling and they have already made six failed attempts, the boy has to depend on bone marrow from matching donors. Shahana is 40.
The NHS is now reported to have begun funding the controversial stem cell treatment of more children even as opponents of this technique say the authorities were spending taxpayers’ money inappropriately.
According to the Daily Telegraph, three local health authorities in the UK have agreed to fund couples wanting to create donor siblings to treat their ailing children. It said another eight or nine local health authorities were considering appeals from parents with similarly ailing children.
The NHS is apparently agreeing to fund such treatment methods because it could save dozens of children every year and relieve them from a painful, expensive and invasive medical care.
It costs up to 1 million pounds to treat someone with Zain’s disease for life. The Hashmis say they have exhausted their search for a matching bone marrow donor for their son and have turned to the contentious stem cell treatment.
--Indo-Asian News Service
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| New eHI Group Brings Small Medical Practices Closer to Using Information Technology - Nov 27, 2004 14:8 IST |
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Small medical practices ready to use electronic health records are that much closer to implementation because of a new eHealth Initiative (eHI) working group. Launched today, the Working Group for Health Information Technology (HIT) in Small Medical Practices will put practical, easy-to-use resources into the hands of those who deliver the majority of U.S. health care -- clinicians practicing in groups of 10 or less -- thereby improving the quality of care delivered to a majority of America’s patients.
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| Novation Pilots Online Contract Bidding Tool for Its Medical-Surgical Distribution Bid - Nov 27, 2004 14:7 IST |
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Novation, the supply company of VHA Inc. and the University HealthSystem Consortium (UHC), has created a new online Web site that will allow companies to participate in a competitive bid for its upcoming medical-surgical distribution contract. The online tool saves distributors time and money, and will help Novation speed new contracts to market. Novation has received more than 65 registrations for its medical-surgical distribution request for information (RFI) since the site went live in early November.
The registration site (http://www.novationco.com/suppliers/su_bidcalendar.asp) enables suppliers to register to participate in the RFI. Once registered, distributors are provided access to a separate Web site where they can electronically view and download all documents related to the RFI.
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| IBM and Massachusetts General Hospital Announce Effort to Improve Information Sharing Among Cancer Researchers - Nov 27, 2004 14:3 IST |
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IBM and Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), a teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School, announced today that they are working together to study how the development of a grid-based, distributed computing infrastructure can facilitate improved collaboration and information sharing among cancer researchers.
Working with leading cancer researcher Dr. Thomas Deisboeck, M.D., of MGH’s Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging -- who is also affiliated with the Division of Health Sciences and Technology (HST) of Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) -- IBM computer scientists at the company’s Cambridge, Massachusetts, research lab have built a grid of high-performance computers designed to improve information sharing and help researchers gain new insight through advanced brain tumor modeling and simulation.
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| Milk to help treat osteoporosis - Nov 27, 2004 13:1 IST |
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The remarkable bone-building properties of a milk protein can help treat osteoporosis, researchers in New Zealand have discovered.
Auckland’s Osteoporosis Research Group has found that lactoferrin inhibits bone breakdown and boosts bone growth four times faster than normal when injected directly into bone cells, reports Xinhua.
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| Stanly Memorial Hospital Seamlessly Integrates Meditech With MEDHOST’s Full ED Product Suite - Nov 27, 2004 12:50 IST |
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Stanly Memorial Hospital seamlessly integrated its Meditech interfaces with the fully powered suite of MEDHOST Emergency Department Management System (EDMS) software products on August 10, 2004. Stanly Memorial, which experiences approximately 30,000 patient visits per year, made this integration decision in 90 days, from contract to go-live.
While MEDHOST is an electronic record designed specifically for the ED, Stanly Memorial used global thinking in selecting the vendor, taking into consideration how the system impacts patients as they travel through the rest of the organization. According to Brian Freeman, Vice President of Diagnostics and Information Technology at Stanly, MEDHOST can transfer the data into other clinical systems and data repositories. The data is readily accessible, allowing us to provide exceptional care and increase efficiency.
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| Colarossi Spa & Health Club Consulting & Management - Nov 27, 2004 12:26 IST |
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Colarossi Spa & Health Club Consulting & Management has been retained by WCI to help prepare for the opening of the new luxurious Spa & Health Club at The Resort at Singer Island, Florida. Responsibilities include the initial consult, spa program development, design, layout, and equipment selection, to name a few.
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| Nociceptive Pain - Safety Profile Uppermost in Crowded Market - Nov 27, 2004 12:23 IST |
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Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c10173) has announced the addition of Pipeline Insight: Nociceptive Pain - Safety Profile Uppermost in Crowded Market to their offering.
The nociceptive pain pipeline contains few novel drugs, instead being filled with reformulations and drug combinations. To make a drug stand out in this replete market, particularly at a time when there is great public concern about drug withdrawals, it must have an unquestionable safety profile, proven over long-term trials.
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| The Italian Market for Medical Equipment and Supplies Was Valued at Us$3,922 Million in 2004 - Nov 27, 2004 12:16 IST |
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Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c10117) has announced the addition of Italy Medical Market Intelligence Report to their offering.
In recent years, Italian health reforms have centred on cost containment and the decentralisation of financial responsibility to the regions. Cost containment measures in the 2003 Finance Bill included the reinstatement of patient co-payments for specialist examinations and diagnostic visits. In February 2004, 150,000 healthcare workers held a 24 hour strike to protest against health service cuts. The Italian market for medical equipment and supplies was valued at US$3,922 million in 2004. The market ranks sixth in the world and the fourth in Europe, behind Germany, the UK and France. Per capita spending ranks just inside the top twenty at around US$68 in 2004. Although Italy has a strong manufacturing sector, its balance of trade deficit in medical equipment and supplies has been in excess of US$1 billion since 1998.
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| Germany’s Medical Device Market Ranks as the World’s Third Largest, Valued At US$8.0 Billion In 2004 - Nov 27, 2004 12:14 IST |
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Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c10105) has announced the addition of Germany Medical Market Intelligence Report to their offering.
Despite economic problems and need for reform in many areas, Germany continues to be one of the world’s strongest health markets. Germany’s medical device market ranks as the world’s third largest, valued at US$8.0 billion in 2004, around a quarter of the west European market. However, financial problems and healthcare reforms have negatively affected market development in Germany. The domestic medical equipment and device industry has largely managed to remain profitable and continue to grow based on a good export performance.
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| Norway’s Medical Market is Estimated to Be Worth US$571.7 Million - Nov 27, 2004 12:13 IST |
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Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c10122) has announced the addition of Norway Medical Market Intelligence Report to their offering.
Ranked 4th in the World in terms of per capita expenditure, Norway represents a mature and wealthy medical device market. In 2004, the market is estimated to be worth US$571.7 million with a per capita spending of US$130. Health policy is centred around a publicly run health service available to the whole population, hindered neither by the individual’s geographical location or income. The organisation of the health system has been a topic of debate in recent years. In particular, the central government took over the responsibility of running all public hospitals in 2001, making them into health enterprises. The reform is aimed at improving efficiency and performance within in the hospital sector and generating savings from economies of scale, especially for equipment purchases.
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| Imported Drugs Account for around 60% of Slovenia’s Pharmaceutical Market - Nov 27, 2004 12:12 IST |
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Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c10130) has announced the addition of Slovenia Pharmaceutical Country Intelligence Report to their offering.
Whatever your needs, whether you are monitoring developments in national markets, identifying new opportunities, assessing product areas, or using the data as an integral part of your market planning, WPM’s country reports are invaluable. Sections are included on the organisation and administration of health services, healthcare expenditure, hospital and outpatient services, medical personnel and healthcare development. Issues relevant to the pharmaceutical market environment are outlined, including regulation, registration, patent protection and distribution. The market section includes data on domestic production and international trade.
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| Plastic Surgeons in New York, Florida, Chicago, Los Angeles Named America’s Top Plastic Surgeons - Nov 27, 2004 12:9 IST |
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MDNationwide.org randomly asked that question of 5,000 board-certified plastic surgeons nationwide With 33 percent responding and after checking our research for proper licensure status, disciplinary status, education, and training our results determined 358 top plastic surgeons in America. (See http://www.mdnationwide.org/search.php.) “We are Pleased to recognizing these surgeons as the pinnacle of plastic surgeons, and we thank them for contributing a high quality of health care nationwide.” Said Hugo Gallegos, president of MDNationwide.
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| Upgrading to Gomembers’ Latest Version Benefits Christus - Nov 27, 2004 12:8 IST |
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Gomembers, Inc. (http://www.gomembers.com) is pleased to announce that Christus Santa Rosa Medical Center (CSRMC, http://www.christussantarosa.org) has chosen to upgrade to the latest version of meetingtrak/ce. The newest version of meetingtrak will provide the center with the most comprehensive meeting software solution available today.
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| Bally Total Fitness Appoints Marc D. Bassewitz as Senior Vice President and General Counsel - Nov 27, 2004 12:1 IST |
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Bally Total Fitness (NYSE:BFT) today announced that the Company has appointed Marc D. Bassewitz to serve as Senior Vice President and General Counsel, effective January 1, 2005. In his new capacity, Mr. Bassewitz will oversee all corporate legal responsibilities, including regulatory compliance and corporate governance. For the past several years, Mr. Bassewitz has served as lead outside counsel for the Company in his position at Latham & Watkins LLP.
Mr. Bassewitz succeeds Cary A. Gaan, who will transition to the newly created role of Senior Vice President, Special Counsel to the President. Mr. Gaan’s primary responsibility will be to handle special high priority projects for the CEO and the Company. Mr. Gaan has served as General Counsel to Bally since 1977.
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| HealthRenu Medical Announces Date of Shareholders Meeting - Nov 27, 2004 11:59 IST |
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HealthRenu Medical, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board:HRUM.OB) will be holding its Annual shareholder meeting on December 8, 2004 at 2:00 p.m. CST. The meeting will be held at company headquarters, located at 12777 Jones Road, Suite 481, Houston, Texas. All shareholders are encouraged to attend. For further information please call (281) 890-2561 or 888-583-3356.
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| Mi-Co Funded by National Cancer Institute to Deploy Mi-Forms - Nov 27, 2004 11:58 IST |
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Mi-Co and its partners, the University of North Carolina (UNC) Breast Imaging Section, Health Decisions and American College of Radiology Imaging Network (ACRIN) have been awarded a $750,000 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract by the National Institute of Health’s National Cancer Institute. Mi-Co will utilize its Mi-Forms product suite in order to study the impact of the industry-leading digital writing, data capture software in a clinical trials setting.
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| Low cost International Pharmacies Save Elderly on Prescription Drug Costs. - Nov 27, 2004 11:50 IST |
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As pointed out by Jack Shapiro, an internationally-known healthcare marketing consultant “For the first nine months of this year, the U.S. imported $40 billion in pharmaceuticals and exported only $21 billion. In 2003, we imported $50 billion and exported $23 billion. So what makes buying from your local U.S. based pharmacy any safer then purchasing from Mexico or Canada?
Many of today’s elderly (U.S.) cross the borders of Mexico and Canada in order to get their prescriptions filled at a huge discount. For some it has become a necessity because they simply can’t afford necessary drug treatments any other way.
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| SourceOne Healthcare Technologies Signs Strategic National Distribution Agreement with Barco - Nov 27, 2004 11:43 IST |
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SourceOne Healthcare Technologies, Inc., the nation’s leading distributor of medical imaging systems, equipment, radiographic consumable supplies, and service to healthcare providers, today announced that the company has signed a strategic national distribution agreement with Barco, (the medical imaging unit of BARCO – (Reuters: BARBt.BR and Bloomberg: BAR BB), the global leader in high-performance medical-imaging display technology.
Under terms of the agreement, SourceOne will offer Barco’s full line of medical display systems to customers throughout the United States. Recognized worldwide, Barco’s high-performance display technology for X-ray, digital radiography, PACS, digital mammography, ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging are considered to be among the most advanced technology in the imaging industry.
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| Online Pharmacy adds HIV Prescription Drugs - Nov 27, 2004 11:41 IST |
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Indinavir is one of several new AIDS related drugs added to the www.hiv-supplements.info site. Other HIV drugs recently added were Triomune 30, Triomune 40, Combivir, Duovir-N, Lamivudine 3TC, Nevirapine and Zidovudine.
As described on the www.hiv-supplements Indinavir page Indinavir is used, alone or in combination with other medicines in the treatment of the infection caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
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| Functional Beauty Products are Expected to Increase at a CAGR 13.7%, Reaching Nearly $1 Billion by 2008 - Nov 27, 2004 11:22 IST |
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As consumers increasingly demand measurable, instant benefits, interest in functional products with short-term, visible effects continues to drive the multi-billion dollar nutraceuticals industry. This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the industry, identifying opportunities for growth and offering recommendations to enable manufacturers to take advantage of the beauty foods trend.
Report Scope:
US nutraceuticals 1998-2003 industry, with 2003-2008 forecasts of the beverages, bakery, dairy, confectionery, snacks, and supplements markets
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