Healthcare | Page 89 of 96 | SpiritIndia.com

Health :: Bayer HealthCare acquires western OTC cough & cold business of Topsun Science and Technology

Bayer HealthCare (BHC) and Topsun Science and Technology Co., Ltd. (Topsun, 600771.SS) together announced that BHC’s Consumer Care Division has signed an agreement in China to acquire the Western over-the-counter (OTC) cough and cold portfolio of Topsun Science and Technology Qidong Gaitianli Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. for the consideration of RMB 1,072 million (approximately EUR 103 million) plus contingent payments of RMB 192 million (approximately EUR 19 million) subject to fulfilment of certain performance criteria.

HIV :: Most HIV infected individuals with inadequate outpatient medical care

In a first-of-its-kind study, UCLA researchers have shown that segments of the HIV-infected population who have little to no consistent outpatient medical care ? and yet are most in need of such services ? are overwhelmingly minorities, the poor and substance abusers.

Imaging :: MRI Scans by Remote Control

UCLA radiologists and Siemens Medical Solutions have jointly developed remote-control software that enables an off-site imaging expert to log onto a personal computer and operate a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine by remote control. Reported in the November issue of Radiology, the study found that the quality of the remote scans were superior to onsite scans by a less experienced technologist, suggesting options for helping facilities or regions with limited medical staff and expertise.

Healthcare :: Americans are upset over rising health-care costs

Rising health care costs are a primary driver of American?s increasing dissatisfaction with the nation?s health care system, the 2006 Health Confidence Survey (HCS) shows. Many Americans report that rising health care costs have hurt their household finances and believe that steps should be taken to slow the increases.

Imaging :: Philips streamlines cath lab care and management

Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) will showcase innovative cardiac solutions designed to streamline workflow and facilitate advanced information management at Cardiovascular Research Foundation?s (CRF) eighteenth annual Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) scientific symposium in Washington, D.C.Shown for the first time ever in the U.S., the pre-release of the Philips Xcelera 2.1 Cardiovascular Information Solution is one of the key components to Philips integrated catheterization (cath) lab, which includes physiomonitoring, reporting and cardiovascular X-ray technologies to improve patient care and lab management.

Breast Cancer :: Racial disparity in breast cancer outcome linked to aggressive tumors

Malignancies of the breast can be more aggressive and associated with poorer outcome in African-Americans than other races, according to a new study. Published in the December 1, 2006 issue of CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the study reviewed patient data from two different clinical trial protocols – to control for healthcare access biases – and found that African-Americans have tumors with poorer prognostic cellular characteristics and more aggressive clinical presentations, pointing to the possibility that racially influenced tumor biology may contribute to observed racial disparities in breast cancer outcome.

Pregnancy :: Preterm births in London peaked only once a year in winter

A Cross-sectional study “Seasonal patterns and preterm birth: a systematic review of the literature and an analysis in a London-based cohort” conducted by SJ Lee,a PJ Steer,b V Filippia at Eighteen maternity units in a London health region from 1988 to 2000. The objectives of this study included a systematic review of the countries in which a seasonal pattern of preterm birth has been reported and an analysis on the seasonal variability of preterm birth in a London-based cohort.

HIV :: REYATAZ, atazanavir sulfate for Adults With HIV-1 Infection

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE: BMY) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted approval of a new 300 mg single capsule formulation of REYATAZ? (atazanavir sulfate) for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in adults as part of combination therapy. Taken once daily along with ritonavir and food as part of a anti-HIV drug regimen, the REYATAZ 300 mg single capsule formulation can replace two REYATAZ 150 mg capsules for: patients who have previously received anti-HIV medicines, patients who will be receiving tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, and patients who have never taken anti-HIV medicines that require SUSTIVA? (efavirenz) as part of their anti-HIV drug regimen. The REYATAZ single capsule formulation will be available in the United States within seven business days.

Hunter Syndrome :: ELAPRASE, idursulfase – therapy for Hunter syndrome patients in Europe

Shire plc (LSE: SHP, NASDAQ: SHPGY, TSX: SHQ) today reported that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) issued a positive opinion recommending approval of ELAPRASE for the long-term treatment of patients with Hunter syndrome (Mucopolysaccharidosis II). The EU Marketing Authorisation is expected early in 2007 and will result in unified labelling that will be valid in the current EU 25 member states as well as in Iceland and Norway.

Health :: Racial disparities in preventive health care persist

The racial gap in preventive health care — such as Pap tests, mammograms, and prostate and colorectal cancer screenings — persists and might be larger than previously thought, a study published online in BMC Heath Services Research finds, the Washington Post reports. For the study, Kevin Fiscella, an associate professor of family medicine and community and preventive medicine at the University of Rochester’s School of Medicine, and colleagues compared self reports from patients and Medicare claims from their physicians to see when they were eligible for and last had screenings for several conditions.