Categories
Cardiovascular
Diagnostics
Endocrinology
Health Insurance
Medical Devices
Mental Health
Nutrition
Oncology
Public Health
Sexual Health
Popular Articles
Burdock Root

Battles Over Insurance Reform Afflict House Dems
"House liberals are offended that Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) mocked their threats to oppose a Democratic healthcare bill, saying leaders are underestimating their frustration over a deal cut with centrist Blue Dogs," The Hill reports. "Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-Calif.), co-chairwoman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, on Monday expressed outrage at the comments and said her group is being "laughed at." Woolsey is the author of a letter signed by 60 fellow House liberals vowing to vote against a deal cut with the Blue Dogs ... Woolsey said the signers of the letter plan to "remind leadership" of the group"s support for a "robust public option." "Robust" to liberals generally means similar to Medicare. Liberals are irritated leaders granted Blue Dogs" concessions that prevent the public option from using Medicare rates for reimbursement. They believe that will make care too expensive for many people" (Soraghan and Allen, 8/3).
generic viagra online
Majority Of HIV-Positive Pregnant Women In Developing World Lack Access To PMTCT Services, Report Says
Two-thirds of HIV-positive pregnant women in the developing world do not have access to treatment to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission, which could lead to 370,000 new HIV cases annually among infants, according to a study released Thursday by the International Treatment Preparedness Coalition, Bloomberg reports (Chase, Bloomberg, 5/21). Of the 1.5 million HIV-positive pregnant women each year in the developing world, about one-third receive any kind of drug therapy at all, the report said, adding that most of the treatment is inadequate and fails to prevent MTCT. According to the report, eight years after world governments pledged to cut the number HIV cases among infants in half by 2010, only about 8% of pregnant women in developing countries are receiving the complete triple-dose combination therapy widely used in wealthy nations (York, Globe and Mail, 5/22). The report cited poor government and donor coordination, as well as funding gaps, as the main reasons many women do not obtain the treatment, Stephen Lewis, founder of AIDS-Free World and a co-author of the report, said (Bloomberg, 5/21). According to the report, there is a "shocking lack of consistency and coordination" between governments and agencies, and about 18% of pregnant women worldwide were offered HIV tests in 2007. In addition, there is an acute shortage of prevention and counseling services for women, the report said. It added that one of the largest issues is a lack of counseling on infant feeding, as most women are not properly counseled and advice sometimes can lead to a bias toward using formula over breastfeeding. Lewis also criticized United Nations health agencies for claims that an increasing number of pregnant women in developing countries are gaining treatment access. He added that the large majority of such women do not have access to the complete triple-dose treatment. "It makes the access a simple mockery," Lewis said.The report found that in 61 countries -- such as Cameroon, Ethiopia, India and Nigeria -- more than three-quarters of HIV-positive pregnant women do not receive any drug treatment for PMTCT. It said that the world is tolerating a "shameful example of double standards" because MTCT has been virtually eliminated in wealthy nations, where most HIV-positive pregnant women have access to the complete drug regimen (Globe and Mail, 5/22).According to Bloomberg, most HIV-positive pregnant women who do have access to prevention services in developing countries receive nevirapine for PMTCT, which is 40% effective at reducing transmission. Nevirapine can so lead to drug-resistant strains of HIV from developing, Bloomberg reports. Boehringer Ingelheim, which manufactures nevirapine, provides the drug at no-cost to pregnant HIV-positive women in developing countries, according to Bloomberg. According to CDC, the availability of PMTCT services in the U.S. has reduced the number of HIV cases in infants by more than 90%.Officials from UNAIDS, the World Health Organization and 20 international groups are expected to meet this week in Nairobi, Kenya, to launch a campaign aimed at improving access to PMTCT services, UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibe said. Gregg Gonsalves, head of ITPC, said, "For millions of women, maternal and child health is about HIV/AIDS and we have failed them" (Bloomberg, 5/21). He added, "Our failure to prevent HIV transmission to babies is truly a failure to prevent disease progression in women living with HIV. If we treat mothers properly, if we treat women properly for their own health, we would have few or no HIV infections in babies" (VOA News, 5/21). Sidibe said, "There has been some progress" in PMTCT services, but added, "Overall coverage is still very low for this proven, inexpensive and effective intervention." Sidibe said that UNAIDS "agree[s] with the report that the combination of stigma, fragmented health services, inadequate knowledge within the community and insufficient political leadership are root causes of low coverage" (Bloomberg, 5/21). UNAIDS also has called for the
News of the day
Biomodels' Oral Mucositis Expertise Speeds FDA Approval For ActoGeniX's Phase 1b Trial Of AGO13 In Cancer Patients
Biomodels LLC, a preclinical research organization specializing in cancer support care, announced that its customized research program allowed ActoGeniX NV, a development stage biopharmaceutical company, to rapidly attain Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for Phase 1b clinical trials of AGO13 in cancer patients with oral mucositis.
Public Health

New Breast Implant Designed As Alternative To Silicone Gel

At a time when breast augmentation tops the list for U.S. cosmetic surgical procedures, women are still left choosing between either the safety of saline or the natural result of silicone gel. Plastic surgeons are now looking to offer the best features of both in the revolutionary new technology of the IDEAL IMPLANT® Saline-filled Breast Implant. A clinical trial is launching this month in select markets nationwide, giving some women the opportunity to be among the first to have this new implant. The first major new breast implant technology in over 20 years, the IDEAL IMPLANT is designed to offer the natural result of silicone gel, but with only saline inside to give peace of mind. Its novel yet simple design was developed by a noted plastic surgeon expert and consists of a series of implant shells of increasing size nested together. The internal perforated shells control saline movement to reduce "sloshing and bouncing." The IDEAL IMPLANT is also engineered to conform to the chest wall with the edge low, to minimize the unattractive wrinkling on the sides often associated with standard saline implants. Despite recent FDA approval of silicone gel implants, standard saline implants represent about 60 percent of all breast augmentations, reflecting women"s desire for the benefits and safety of saline. The IDEAL IMPLANT looks to provide natural results similar to silicone gel implants, but without the safety concerns, such as difficulty detecting silent ruptures requiring MRI scans, diffusion of small silicone compounds into the tissues, and possible long-term side effects. "With advances in healthcare technology and an awakening of environmental consciousness, Americans are more aware of what we put into our bodies than ever before - we eat organic food, avoid pesticides, and scrutinize labels," explains Dr. Robert S. Hamas, M.D., the plastic surgeon inventor of the IDEAL IMPLANT. "Women seeking breast augmentation are increasingly informed about the potential risks and benefits. I designed the IDEAL IMPLANT to meet the needs of today"s women, who want a natural result but prefer the safety of saline." The selected plastic surgeons in Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Southeast Florida (Miami and Fort Lauderdale area), and Southern California (Los Angeles and Orange County area), will enroll a total of 500 women in the clinical trial, set to provide the FDA with the data needed to establish the safety and effectiveness of the IDEAL IMPLANT. The trial is open to healthy women who are undergoing a first breast augmentation or the replacement of their existing augmentation implants. Women interested in the IDEAL IMPLANT are encouraged to make a consultation appointment with one of the plastic surgeon investigators to get acquainted and learn about both the benefits and risks of breast augmentation. Ideal Implant Incorporated is offering a unique follow-up incentive plan to patients who complete all required follow-up visits for the trial. For a full list of participating surgeons and contact information, please see the "To Enroll" section of the Web site at http://www.idealimplant.com. Ideal Implant Incorporated


Add your comment:
Name:
Site address: http://
Your message:
Enter today\\\\'s date, 2 digits
(spam protection):

© Copyright 2009