Medicine and Law Weekly

Aastrom Biosciences, Inc. - Diabetic limb ischemia clinical trial agreement signed

Abortion - Abortion clinic says it will not require parental consent

Abortion - Challenge to Oklahoma's parental notification law thrown out

Cellerant Therapeutics, Inc. - European patent office grants broad claims on the human hematopoietic stem cell

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services - Payment rates and policy changes announced for hospital outpatient services

Coalition for Affordable and Reliable Healthcare - New report lauded as evidence that medical malpractice reform works

Competitive Technologies - After settlement, company licenses homocysteine assay to Bayer

Correctional Medicine - New Alabama healthcare chief says system needs funds, not Band-Aids

Decision Resources - Study shows 16% increase in 2003-2004 HMO Medicare enrollment in 6 states

Endius, Inc. - MIS company acquires intellectual property portfolio from MIS surgery pioneer

Environmental Health - West Virginia residents file lawsuit over chemical leak

Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered - Genetic counselors and advocacy group develop genetic discrimination brochure

Finance - Gentiva reports Q3 2004 EPS of $0.17 and double-digit medicare revenue increase

Finance - Information Holdings reports third quarter financial results

Genmab - Antibodies with activity against non-Hodgkin lymphomas characterized

3DM, Inc. - PuraMatrix maker secures $1.7M financing

3M Pharmaceuticals - Bacteria more likely to develop resistance to clindamycin than metronidazole

AEterna Zentaris, Inc. - Deal signed with Tulane for potential anticancer agents

AMS Health Sciences, Inc. - Nutritional supplements company reports loss of $0.15 per share

Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing - Genome content of live plague vaccines defined using DNA microarray

Acadia Pharmaceuticals, Inc. - Pharmaceutical firm earns milestone on advancement of pain drug

Acusphere, Inc. - Pharmaceutical firm reports second closing of $21.5M private financing

Advanced Neuromodulation Systems, Inc. - Device firm reports 37% increase in sales

Aerogen, Inc. - Nebulizer developer reports loss of $0.96 per share

Affymetrix, Inc. - ENCODE array launched to uncover function of human genome

Alaris Medical Systems, Inc. - Alaris Medical Systems extends contract with MedAssets

AlbaNova University Center - Microarray-based AMASE offers a novel way to scan for gene mutations

All-India Institute of Medical Sciences - Frequency-doubled Nd:YAG laser useful for treatment of overhanging blebs

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. - Study shows reduction of alpha-synuclein expression by RNA interference

Alpharma, Inc. - FDA approval granted for citalopram hydrobromide tablets

American Diabetes Association - Study: Diabetes drug reduces artery reclogging

American Legacy Foundation - Funding granted to study doctors' smoking cessation practices

American Pharmaceutical Partners, Inc. - Approval granted for amiodarone hydrochloride

American Pharmaceutical Partners, Inc. - Pharmaceutical company reports sales of $96M in third quarter

American Red Cross, Greater Cleveland Chapter - American Red Cross, Greater Cleveland Chapter names chairman

American Society of Clinical Oncology - New curriculum seeks to standardize training of cancer physicians worldwide

Amgen Inc. - Technique provides a simple way to create hypoxic/ischemic conditions in vitro

Anthrax Vaccine - Grant provides $3.5 million for anthrax vaccine study

AntiCancer Inc. - Cells expressing nestin-driven marker model early skin angiogenesis

ArQule, Inc. - Ultrafast analytical method developed for high-throughput parallel synthesis

Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. - Biopharmaceutical firm reports loss of $0.54 per share

Artemis Pharmaceuticals GmbH - Research agreement signed with Merck for RNAi-modified mice

Assisted Living - Assisted living in the U.S. costs an average of $2,524 per month

Assisted Reproduction - Winston-Salem woman gives birth to quintuplets

AstraZeneca LP - Data demonstrates the efficacy of CRESTOR in treating elevated cholesterol

Aurora Imaging Technology, Inc. - Company ships first dedicated breast MRI system outside the U.S.

Aventis Pasteur - Dengue infection enhanced by sera from dengue-vaccinated children

Awards - Invacare Corporation's 2003 annual report honored by NAIC

Axonyx, Inc. - Firm retains pharmaceutical special projects group to develop Phenserine

B. Braun - Contract awarded for safety IV catheter device

BSD Medical Corporation - NYU Cancer Center features new hyperthermia system

Bacterial Dysentery - Taiwan warns travelers to be on alert against bacterial dysentery

Baskent University - Higher OPG levels may be associated with IMT in postmenopausal women

Bausch & Lomb - Cataract surgeons get more flexibility with Millennium Advanced Flow System

Baxter Healthcare Corporation - Alpha1-proteinase inhibitor treatment may improve hereditary emphysema outcome

Baxter International, Inc. - Regulatory application submitted in Japan for Advate

Bayer AG - Cipro XR provides rapid symptom improvement in uncomplicated UTIs

Bayer Pharmaceuticals Corporation - Study shows Avelox IV is successful in treating pneumonia in elderly patients

Baylor College of Medicine - Multiple mechanisms are involved in pathogenesis of phenotypes in cardiomyopathy

Beckman Coulter, Inc. - Stem cell monitoring system available to labs on flow cytometry system

Berlex Biosciences - Corin gene is upregulated in hypertrophic cardiomyocytes and failing myocardium

Binax, Inc. - FDA grants clearance for NOW Influenza A & B test

BioStar - Real-time PCR GBS detection test rapidly screens intrapartum vaginal specimens

Biocompare Inc. - Survey expects laboratory product purchases to increase in 2005

Biogen Idec, Inc. - Biotech company reports $132M in net income

Bionomics Limited - Epilepsy diagnostic maker reports strong cash position

Biotech Holdings - Biotech Holdings private placement funding to be applied to diabetes drug launch

Blue Care Network of Michigan - Weight loss program introduced by Michigan provider

Boehringer Ingelheim - Marketing authorization application submitted for Tipranavir

Bone Marrow Transplantation - Bone marrow found for woman seeking South Asian donors

Boston Science Corp. - Paclitaxel induces G₁ arrest in arterial smooth muscle cells

Breast Cancer - Women put bra art on display to promote health

Brigham & Women's Hospital - Safety data should not be extrapolated from early to new HIV protease inhibitors

Brigham and Women's Hospital - Dialysis patients half as likely to be treated after a heart attack

Brigham and Women's Hospital - Excessive alcohol intake plus low folate increase risk of colorectal cancer

Brigham and Women's Hospital - Limiting interns' work hours can substantially reduce serious medical errors

Brigham and Women's Hospital - Psychosocial/behavioral variables do not effect 1-year survival after BMT

Bristol-Myers Squibb - Pediatric HIV/AIDS medical centers to be built in Africa

CNR, Pisa - Study indicates need to integrate alternative medicine practice with research

California Institute of Technology - Studies enable analysis of mechanical forces influence during heart development

California Institute of Technology - Systems biology approach may bring new age of predictive, preventive medicine

Callisto Pharmaceuticals, Inc. - American Stock Exchange lists stock of pharmaceutical firm

Canadian Breast Cancer Research Alliance - Gene signatures of transient and acute megakaryoblastic leukemia identified

Cancer & Fertility - Lance Armstrong's former wife summons the courage for her own race

Case Western Reserve University - Nitric oxide and cyclooxygenase-2 interact to generate diabetic eye disease

Catholic University of Korea - Disease and therapy can result in thoracic changes

Catholic University of Louvain - Improved activity of abacavir prodrug due to increased CBV-TP metabolites

Catholic University, Rome - Nonadherence to HAART independently associated with depression

Cell Therapy Research Foundation - Heart cell therapy revitalizes the ailing heart

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services - Coverage expansion proposed for cancer patients

Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - Chronic pneumonia occurs despite immune response to BCG

Chaim Sheba Med Center, Tel Hashomer - Cyoplasmic p53 may enhance the accuracy of HIV-1 RT DNA synthesis

Chiba University - KDEL receptor disturbs endoplasmic reticulum quality control

Chinese University of Hong Kong - SELDI MS plus proteomics scoring distinguishes cancerous from normal cervix

Chiron Corporation - Flu vaccine maker taking action to return to market as reliable supplier

Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. - Antibody research to be published in hematology journal

Chukyo Women's University - Receptor polymorphisms associated with midlife weight gain

Clatterbridge Hospital - METH-2 silencing correlates with the advent of non-small cell lung cancer

Cleveland Clinic Foundation - Patients with impaired LV ejection fraction can achieve long-term survival

ClinSource - Use of TrialXS extended into the Asia Pacific region.

Cntr. for Science in the Public Interest - Study links low HDL levels with increased risk of postmenopausal breast cancer

Collaborations - Aetna, Priority Healthcare announce location of new pharmacy partnership

Collaborations - Amedisys selects MedeFinance business intelligence solution

ComPsych Corporation - Increased calls to guidance counselors by parents regarding child depression

Community Research Initiative New England - Quality of life increased with enfuvirtide plus optimized background regimen

Compugen, Ltd. - New method for identifying alternative splicing announced

Coney Island Hospital, New York - Platelet count is an important clue to the diagnosis of malaria

Connetics Corp. - Dermatology-focused pharma reports Q3 earnings per share of $0.10

Connetics Corp. - Velac NDA accepted for filing by the FDA

Continuing Medical Education LLC - U.S. Psychiatric & Mental Health Congress highlights advances in mental health

Corcept Therapeutics, Inc. - CORLUX maker reports increased losses in Q3

Corgentech, Inc. - TF decoy technology company reports Q3 results

Corixa Corp. - EMEA issues positive opinion on hepatitis B vaccine containing Corixa's MPL

Cornell University - Overcrowded and noisy living conditions may contribute to bad health

CuraGen Corp. - Genomics-based pharma reports on Q3, including advances in pipeline

DENTSPLY International, Inc. - Dental products company reports record sales and earnings in Q3

DUSA Pharmaceuticals, Inc. - Phase II Levulan PDT clinical trial for acne

Dalhousie University - Embryonic SC-derived motoneurons develop appropriate transmitter receptors

Datascope Corp. - Monitor maker reports higher first-quarter results

DePuy Spine, Inc. - U.S. FDA approves artificial disc for treatment of low back pain

Dendreon Corp. - Data: Provenge extends survival in patients with advanced prostate cancer

Dental Health - Texas publication selects super dentists for 2004

Diagnostic Products Corp. - Immunodiagnostics company announces increased Q3 sales

Disease Prevention - Malawi: Project encourages female condom use to prevent HIV transmission

Duke University - Animal models help identify mechanisms related to sudden unexplained death

Duke University - Effect of viscosity on the resonance frequency of microbubbles determined

East Tennessee State University - NF-kappaB could be a target for inhibiting development of cardiac hypertrophy

Eclipsys Corporation - Cancer institute installs research, management software system

Elbit Medical Imaging Ltd. - FDA approves ExAblate 2000 system for symptomatic uterine fibroids

Electronic Medical Records - Glendora Digestive Disease Institute selects EMR system from Prime Clinical

Eli Lilly and Company - Pharmaceutical company acquires new compound to treat insomnia

Emory University - Ninein regulates microtubule nucleation

Eon Labs, Inc. - Final approval granted for Citalopram HBr tablets; shipping begins immediately

Epoch Biosciences - Genomic-analysis company reports Q3 loss of $1.2 million

Eurand - Company receives approval to market generic sodium diclofenac

Facilities - Humana adds Sonora Quest Laboratories for outpatient laboratory services

Finance - Community Health Systems reports 18.4% increase in Q3 revenues

Finance - HCA reports increased third-quarter revenues

Finance - Health Grades announces Q3 results: Third consecutive quarter of net income

Finance - Healthcare operator begins trading on New York Stock Exchange

Finance - Horizon Health announces fourth quarter earnings increase of 14%

Finance - IDEXX Laboratories announces third quarter financial results

Flu Vaccine - Arkansas flu shots almost gone

Flu Vaccine - Coconino, Arizona, officials to administer flu shots

Flu Vaccine - Illinois Governor pressures FDA for flu shot plan

Flu Vaccine - Veterans Health Administration cancels flu shot clinics

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center - A new assay improves the timeliness and sensitivity of hepatitis C detection

Frederiksberg University Hospital - Calcium plus vitamin D-3 improves healing of proximal humerus fracture

Free University of Berlin - Titanium, HA-coated implants studied in human bone-derived cells

Fudan University - NMDA receptors in anterior cingulate cortex mediate pain-induced aversion

GWT Technical University - Postprandial hyperglycemia increases risk of cardiovascular disease

GelStat Corp. - Migraine-therapy maker names Nicholas Bluhm as CFO

Gene Research - Researchers find gene to help soybeans repel aphids

George Washington University - Hsp70 protects cells from cell cycle arrest and apoptosis induced by HIV-1 Vpr

George Washington University - Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus immediate early gene activity explored

Georgia Institute of Technology - Beta₁ integrins mediate stratum-derived neural SC adhesion and migration

Georgia Institute of Technology - Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) enhances maturation of dendritic cells

German Institute for Human Nutrition - Neurodegenerative disorders associated with diabetes reviewed

Gifu University - Interruption of the Fas/Fas ligand system may treat heart failure

HIV/AIDS Testing - British embassy in Zimbabwe denies racism, staff unrest

Hannover Medical School - Biochemical tests could supplant liver biopsies for diagnosing liver fibrosis

Harvard University - Resistance to obesity in A/J mice not linked to hypothalamic neuropeptides

Health Insurance - Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Blue Care Network sell new offerings

Health Sciences Group, Inc. - Company gets exclusive worldwide license for cholesterol-reducing nutraceutical

Healthcare Coverage - Companion HealthCare to cover FluMist nasal spray

Healthcare Coverage - New health board approves, rejects hospital proposals

Heart Hospital, London - Mutations in cell adhesion genes provide basis for improved diagnosis

Hebei Medical University - Newly detected hhLIM protein is implicated in heart hypertrophy

Henry Ford Health Systems - New approaches to common methods depict vascular morphology in the brain

Hiroshima University - MOK direct target gene for Cdx2; may be involved in intestinal epithelial cells

Hollis-Eden Pharmaceuticals, Inc. - Acute radiation syndrome therapeutics manufacturer to respond to RFI

Hopital Saint-Antoine, Paris - BEAM with only cytokine support effective in high-risk patients

Hosp. Universitario La Paz, Madrid - Study compares predictive spirometric values to those of other studies

Hospital Central de la Defensa, Madrid - Routine use of chip-mediated diagnostic techniques still in question

Hospital for Sick Children - Chromosome 7 studied for structure and function of the human genome

Hospital of the University of Munster - Study examines molecular mechanisms that predispose hearts to arrhythmias

Human Genome Sciences, Inc. - Drug discovery company announces third quarter 2004 financial results

Hydromer, Inc. - NIH grant to research development of coating to prevent biliary stent occlusion

INSERM Unit 559, Marseille - Hepatic Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase reduced after ischemia-reperfusion

INSERM, U258, Villejuif - Combined oral contraceptives affect activated protein C resistance

ISTA Pharmaceuticals, Inc. - Positive results reported from Xibrom study in ocular inflammation

IVAX Corporation - Pharmaceutical company to trade on Warsaw Stock Exchange

Immersion Corporation - Touch feedback technology developer reports third quarter financial results

Immtech International, Inc. - Enrollment completed for DB289 clinical trial in Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia

Immunology - IL-8 involved in cervical dilatation but not in prelabor cervical ripening

In Vivo Medical Diagnostics, Inc. - Prothrombin time monitor under development for use in U.S. clinical trials

Indevus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. - Licensing agreement announced for citicoline therapy for stroke

India Natl. Center Cell Science, Maharashtra - HIV-1 integration sites flanked by potential MARs can act as promoters

Indiana University - Skeletal myoblast grafts generated heterogeneity of Ca²⁺_i ) signaling

InforMedix Inc. - Integrated technology platform for clinical studies presented at PARCS meeting

Injury Prevention - Alliance to create injury prevention program for students

Insmed Incorporated - SomatoKine receives European orphan drug designation

Inst. of Medicinal Molecular Design, Inc., Tokyo - Novel screening method yields acetylcholinesterase inhibitors

Institut de Biologie Structurale, Grenoble - Screening assay devised for inhibitors of mitotic kinesin Eg5

Institute of Zoology, Basel - Jellyfish possess homologues of human vascular endothelial growth factor

Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corporation - DuraGen Plus Adhesion Barrier Matrix issued CE Mark certification

Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corporation - MAYFIELD Infinity Support System to launch in the United States

Intercell AG - Artificial peptide induces Th2 immune response to antigens

International Medical Center of Japan - Single nucleotide polymorphisms lead disease susceptibility

Intuitive Surgical, Inc. - Operative surgical robotics developer reports record third quarter sales

Inverness Medical Innovations, Inc. - Diagnostics company announces third quarter financial results

Invitrogen Corporation - Biotech research company announces 30% increase in third quarter revenues

JPT Peptide Technologies - German biotech expands to United States

Jackson Laboratory - Mouse model yields gene insights

Janssen Pharmaceutical Products, L.P. - Awareness campaign launched after several drug prescribing errors

Japan National Institute Health Science - Ingested Salmonella dose correlates with disease rate

Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions - Hepatitis C virus variants are adequately represented in amplicons

Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions - National survey shows few physicians elected to Congress

Johns Hopkins University - Retardation treatment in the womb may one day be possible

Kansas City Blood & Marrow Transplant Program - Daily IV busulfan + cyclophosphamide for 4 days followed by SCT may be toxic

Karolinska Institute - Hyperinsulinemia and hyperglycemia suppress muscle lipolytic activity

Keio University - Serum ALP, urinary NTX predict 1-year lumbar BMD response to alendronate

Keio University - Tumor reoxygenation compared after carbon-ion and X-ray irradiation

Kensey Nash Corporation - Surgical repair patch receives 510(k) approval

Kimberly-Clark Corporation - Healthcare company reports third quarter results

Kitasato University - Pathway independent of p53 appears to exist related to ulcerative colitis

Kochi University - Membrane protein of Edwardsiella tarda is vaccine candidate

Kyoto University Hospital - Counting immunoassay detects hepatitis markers in whole-blood samples

LAB International Inc. - Clinical trials announced for inhaled cancer pain medication

Labcyte Inc. - Patent awarded for rapid acoustic transfer of nanovolumes in microplate formats

Labopharm Inc. - Canadian biotech reports third quarter results

Legal Issues - New Mexico State board revokes pharmacist's license

Legal Issues - Suicide victim family seeks damages from mental health facility

Legal Issues - Washington man sentenced for stealing cancer patient's identity

Los Angeles Co. Dept. of Health Services - MRSA outbreaks in NICU linked to breast milk

Louis Pradel Hospital, Lyon - Study investigated preexisting apoptosis in donor hearts

Louisiana State University - Estradiol may be beneficial in preventing cardiovascular disease

Louisiana State University of Hlth Science - Abnormal light chains induce divergent phenotypic transformations

Loyola University - The evolutionary history of angiotensinogen suggests nonrandom gene mutations

Lumera Corporation - Peter Biere named chief financial officer at nanotechnology firm

MEDICAL VENTURES CORP. - Medical device company expands product line

MN Council of Health Plans - New nonprofit organization established to improve health care in Minnesota

MPI fur Kernphysik, Heidelberg, Germany - A source of cosmic rays discovered

Mahidol University - Ya-hom inhibits histamine effects on stomach acid and pepsin

Maimonides Hospital - Preexisting diseases influence cytotoxic T-cell response to adenoviral vectors

Malpractice Insurance - Survey shows doctors considering closing their practices

Massachusetts General Hospital - Fewer risks seen for patients participating in early-phase cancer drug trials

Max Delbruck Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin - Downregulation of corin mRNA may be a mechanism for ANP release in heart failure

Mayo Clinic - Dopamine blocks the effects of vascular growth factors on endothelial cells

Mayo Clinic & Mayo Foundation - Harris-Galante total hip arthroplasty has excellent long-term outcome

McGill University - Support for mental retardation needed

McGraw-Hill Professional - Information technology companies expand strategic alliance

McLaughlin Research Institute - Loci of susceptibility to amyloid precursor protein identified

McMaster University - Trial shows metoprolol CR/XL does not impair glucose and insulin levels

McNeil Consumer & Specialty Pharmaceuticals - U.S. FDA approves use of CONCERTA 72 mg for treatment of ADHD

Medco Health Solutions, Inc. - Study finds expensive medications being used by youngest patients

MediGene AG - Pharma company announces completion of recruitment for skin tumor trial

Medical Action Industries Inc. - Supplier of medical and surgical disposable products reports record revenue

Medical College of Georgia - ROS-induced Ca²⁺ sensitization is through activation of Rho