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.

Health :: Glivec, imatinib approved for five rare life threatening disorders

In another important milestone, Glivec? (imatinib) has received US regulatory approval to help patients with five distinct and potentially life-threatening disorders, representing the first time that a regulatory authority has ever simultaneously approved one targeted medicine for so many disorders. With today’s decision, and in only five years, Glivec has now been approved in the US for seven diseases, including two solid tumors and five blood disorders with molecular targets known to be inhibited by the drug.

Telemedicine :: Michigan hospitals to have robot on call

When a patient arrives at an emergency room with symptoms of a stroke, doctors must act fast. But the crucial decisions that can prevent death or severe disability are harder to make without a neurologist, and not every hospital has one on call. Starting next month, however, 21 Michigan hospitals will have what is being touted as the next best thing: a robot on call.

Infertility :: Stress may affect in vitro fertilization, IVF outcome

The way women deal with the stress of infertility treatment may affect their chances of becoming pregnant, a new study suggests. In particular, researchers found, women who tended to focus on and share their feelings were less likely to become pregnant than women who found other ways to cope with their stress – such as finding ways to “distract” themselves from their emotions. The findings, published in the journal Fertility & Sterility, are based on pregnancy rates among 342 women who underwent in vitro fertilization (IVF) at a single fertility clinic in Greece.

Diabetes :: Merck KGaA & Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Collaboration on DPPIV Inhibitor for Type 2 Diabetes

Merck KGaA and Glenmark Pharmaceuticals S.A (Switzerland), a wholly owned subsidiary of Glenmark Pharmaceuticals India (GPL), have entered into an agreement for Glenmark?s DPPIV inhibitor GRC 8200, a treatment for type 2 diabetes in Phase II of clinical development. The transaction is expected to close this year upon approval of the exclusive license to GRC 8200 by the U.S. anti-trust agencies under the HSR Act.

Baby Care :: Luvs & Mocha Moms offer money saving solutions for parents

Parents are always looking for the best way to provide for their families while spending wisely and discovering great bargains at the same time. Luvs, a trusted name in baby care, understands that sometimes it can be challenging to maintain a budget while still providing the best for our families. So, Luvs has partnered with Mocha Moms Inc. — a national, not-for-profit support group for moms of color who work less than full-time to devote more time to their families — to share tips on finding that happy medium between splurging and saving.

Hepatitis :: Roche and InterMune’s ITMN-191 HCV protease inhibitor for hepatitis c

Roche and InterMune Inc. announced that the companies have entered into an exclusive worldwide collaboration agreement to develop and commercialize products from InterMune?s Hepatitis C (HCV) protease inhibitor program. The agreement includes InterMune?s lead candidate compound ITMN-191, expected to enter clinical trials before the end of the year. The companies will also collaborate on a research program to identify, develop and commercialize novel second-generation HCV protease inhibitors.

Eyes :: Bayer & Regeneron’s VEGF Trap for the treatment of eye diseases, AMD

Bayer HealthCare (NYSE: BAY) and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: REGN) today announced that the companies have entered into a collaboration agreement for the global development, and commercialization outside the U.S., of the VEGF Trap for the treatment of eye disease by local administration (VEGF Trap-Eye). The VEGF Trap-Eye, currently in Phase I and Phase II clinical trials, is a protein that binds to or ?traps? vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and blocks its activity. VEGF is thought to play a critical role in certain eye diseases.

Allergy :: Food allergies could be fought with friendly bacteria in alcoholic milkshake

Feeding babies alcoholic milk may help to protect against some food allergies. Kefir, a traditional fermented drink, is consumed in Eastern Europe as a health food, and is often used to wean babies, as it is easily digested. Food allergy prevalence is especially high in children under the age of three, with around 5-8% of infants at risk. Currently the only treatment is avoidance of the problematic food.

Dementia :: Researchers Discover Misfolded Protein Clumps Common to Dementia, Lou Gehrig?s Disease

Scientists have identified a misfolded, or incorrectly formed, protein common to two devastating neurological diseases, frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig?s disease), according to a report in the Oct. 6, 2006, issue of Science. The findings suggest that certain forms of FTD, ALS and possibly other neurological diseases might share a common pathological process.