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

Ambulance Of Tomorrow Unveiled
"Smart Pod", ideas for the ambulance of the future - was unveiled to the NHS and the healthcare industry at the NHS Innovation Expo in London.
generic viagra online
Washington Post Opinion Piece Examines O'Reilly's Role In Tiller Murder
Fox News host Bill O"Reilly is "being incredibly disingenuous when he claims that he bears no responsibility for others" actions in the killing of Dr. George Tiller on Sunday," Mary Alice Carr, vice president of communications for NARAL Pro-Choice New York, writes in a Washington Post opinion piece. "When you tell an audience of millions over and over again that someone is an executioner, you cannot feign surprise when someone executes that person," she continues, adding that "O"Reilly knew that people wanted Tiller dead, and he knew full well that many of those people were avid viewers of his show. Still, he fanned the flames."Carr writes that she has pledged to no longer appear on O"Reilly"s show because she realized that her appearance "would only legitimize his speech and that no good would come of my efforts." She adds that when a producer called her to come on the show following Tiller"s murder, she responded that, among other things, the community of abortion-rights supporters "hold[s] O"Reilly responsible for helping to create a climate in which hate was allowed to fester."Carr notes that following Tiller"s death, "O"Reilly had the opportunity to apologize for his words" and "say that this tragic outcome was something about which he felt sorry," but "[h]e didn"t." She adds, "When restraint and perspective were called for, he fanned the flames higher." Carr concludes that she will not appear on O"Reilly"s show because "if the murder of a man in a house of worship wasn"t enough to make Bill O"Reilly repent, what hope d[o] I have?" (Carr, Washington Post, 6/4).
News of the day
Catholic Law Professors Debate Obama Administration's Efforts To Reduce Need For Abortion
Catholic constitutional law professors Doug Kmiec of the Pepperdine University School of Law and Robert George of Princeton University on Thursday during a forum at the National Press Club debated the Obama administration"s abortion policies and whether opposing sides in the abortion-rights debate should work toward finding "common ground," the Washington Times reports. Kmiec -- a Republican who broke rank with many Catholics and supported President Obama"s run for the presidency -- stressed that the president is serious about reducing the need for abortion. However, George "challenged the administration to do something concrete," such as ban certain abortion procedures, according to the Times. He said that Obama "rejects what we and pro-lifers propose is common ground. ... He does not believe human beings acquire rights until after birth."Kmiec and George also debated the role of Catholics in politics, such as whether Catholics who support abortion rights should be denied Holy Communion or whether Catholic bishops should speak out against politicians who support abortion rights. In April 2008, a Los Angeles priest denied Kmiec Communion because of his support for Obama. Kmiec asked, "Are we as Catholics expected to sit on the sidelines aloof with the truth talking to ourselves or are we to engage our fellow citizens and offer that faith? The 2008 election was very much a test of that." He said that he does not believe that intimidation is the correct way to address abortion-rights issues, adding that the "denial of Communion is intimidation." Kmiec said that Catholic bishops" opposition to abortion-rights supporters who are Catholic "is not either an effective nor a Catholic approach. Nor is it a Catholic approach to endorse candidates. Yet certain bishops endorse candidates. Nor should churches allow materials in their vestibule saying it is a sin of the highest order to cast a vote for Barack Obama." He noted that 54% of Catholics voted for Obama.George opted to focus on Obama"s legislative record instead of the issue of Catholics in politics. He said, "Obama"s record as an activist, legislator and now as president is that an unborn baby possesses no rights. Throughout his career, he has denied every fundamental legislation that would discourage its practice or limit its liability" (Duin, Washington Times, 5/29).
Nutrition

Abbott Initiates Trial Of Next-Generation XIENCE PRIME(TM) Drug Eluting Stent, Building Upon Superior Outcomes From SPIRIT Family Of Trials

Abbott (NYSE: ABT) announced the initiation of SPIRIT PRIME, a clinical trial to study the performance of the company"s next-generation XIENCE PRIME(TM) Everolimus Eluting Coronary Stent System, currently an investigational device, for the treatment of coronary artery disease. Results from SPIRIT PRIME will be used to support the regulatory filing for XIENCE PRIME in the United States. The first patient was enrolled into the SPIRIT PRIME clinical trial at Hillcrest Medical Center in Tulsa, Okla., by Rajesh Chandwaney, M.D. XIENCE PRIME utilizes the same well-studied drug and proven biocompatible polymer as Abbott"s market-leading XIENCE V(R) Everolimus Eluting Coronary Stent System. In addition, it offers a novel stent design and a modified delivery system designed for greater flexibility and improved deliverability. XIENCE PRIME uses cobalt chromium technology, which allows for very thin struts while maintaining strength to support the vessel as well as excellent visibility under X-ray during the stent implantation procedure. XIENCE PRIME is based upon the proven design of the MULTI-LINK(R) family of stents, which is the most widely used stent platform in the world - with more than 2 million implants worldwide. The company expects to launch XIENCE PRIME in a broad size matrix with sizes up to 38 mm in Europe later this year. "XIENCE PRIME carries the same successful drug and polymer as the XIENCE V stent. Its stent platform and delivery balloon are designed to be highly deliverable, and as such, XIENCE PRIME has the potential to simplify procedures in challenging cases," said Marco A. Costa, M.D., Ph.D., FACC, FSCAI, professor of medicine, director of the Interventional Cardiology Center, and director of the Center for Research and Innovation, Harrington-McLaughlin Heart and Vascular Institute, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, and principal investigator of the SPIRIT PRIME trial. "XIENCE V is used routinely in my practice, and I look forward to studying the enhanced features and sizes of Abbott"s next-generation drug eluting stent, XIENCE PRIME." The SPIRIT PRIME study is a prospective, multi-center, nonrandomized trial designed to study XIENCE PRIME in 500 patients at 75 hospital centers. Patients may receive a maximum of two stents in separate vessels. SPIRIT PRIME will have two arms: the Core Size arm will follow 400 patients who will be treated with a stent from 2.25 mm to 4.0 mm in diameter and from 8 mm to 28 mm in length, and the Long Lesion arm will follow 100 patients who will receive a stent from 2.5 mm to 4.0 mm in diameter and either 33 mm or 38 mm in length. The primary endpoint is major adverse cardiac events (MACE), which is a composite measure of cardiac death, heart attack (myocardial infarction) and repeat procedure of the treated lesion (target lesion revascularization) at one year. "Based upon the market-leading technology of XIENCE V, XIENCE PRIME will be available in a greater breadth of sizes, and is designed to provide improved deliverability," said Charles Simonton, M.D., FACC, FSCAI, divisional vice president, Medical Affairs, and chief medical officer, Abbott Vascular. "SPIRIT PRIME is expected to build upon the superior outcomes from the SPIRIT family of clinical trials, and the initiation of the study represents Abbott"s commitment to bringing important advances in drug eluting stent technology to clinicians and their patients." In the SPIRIT family of trials, XIENCE V demonstrated superiority to Boston Scientific"s TAXUS(R) Paclitaxel Eluting Coronary Stent System in two randomized clinical trials. In the SPIRIT II trial, XIENCE V demonstrated a statistically significant 69 percent reduction of in-stent late loss (a measure of vessel re-narrowing) at six months compared to TAXUS. In the SPIRIT III trial, XIENCE V demonstrated a statistically significant 50 percent reduction of in-segment late loss (a measure of vessel re-narrowing) at eight months compared to TAXUS. Long-term results further reinforce the excellent clinical outcomes, with XIENCE V demonstrating an 88 percent reduction in cardiac death and a 57 percent reduction in MACE compared to TAXUS at three years in the SPIRIT II trial. At two years in the SPIRIT III trial, XIENCE V demonstrated a 45 percent reduction in the risk of MACE compared to TAXUS. Across the SPIRIT family of trials, Abbott plans to study more than 20,500 patients treated with everolimus eluting stents. In addition to SPIRIT PRIME, Abbott"s robust vascular research program includes clinical trials in coronary artery disease and peripheral artery disease. Key products in the vascular pipeline include: the MULTI-LINK 8(TM) Coronary Stent System, a next-generation frontline balloon dilatation catheter, a fully bioabsorbable drug eluting coronary device, and the Omnilink Elite(TM) Peripheral Stent System. The MULTI-LINK 8 Coronary Stent System, the next-generation frontline balloon dilatation catheter, the fully bioabsorbable drug eluting device and the Omnilink Elite Peripheral Stent System are in development and are not available for sale. XIENCE PRIME currently is an investigational device in the United States and not available for sale. About XIENCE V Abbott"s market-leading XIENCE V drug eluting stent is marketed in the United States, Europe and other international markets. XIENCE V is an investigational device in Japan and is currently under review by Japan"s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency. Everolimus, developed by Novartis Pharma AG, is a proliferation signal inhibitor, or mTOR inhibitor, licensed to Abbott by Novartis for use on its drug eluting stents. Everolimus has been shown to inhibit in-stent neointimal growth in the coronary vessels following stent implantation, due to its anti-proliferative properties. About Abbott Vascular Abbott Vascular, a division of Abbott, is one of the world"s leading vascular care businesses. Abbott Vascular is uniquely focused on advancing the treatment of vascular disease and improving patient care by combining the latest medical device innovations with world-class pharmaceuticals, investing in research and development, and advancing medicine through training and education. Headquartered in Northern California, Abbott Vascular offers a comprehensive portfolio of vessel closure, endovascular and coronary products. About Abbott Abbott is a global, broad-based health care company devoted to the discovery, development, manufacture and marketing of pharmaceuticals and medical products, including nutritionals, devices and diagnostics. The company employs more than 72,000 people and markets its products in more than 130 countries. Abbott


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

© Copyright 2009