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E-records: 'Why is the U.S. so far behind?' (modernhealthcare.com)
Until there is general acceptance of electronic medical records by the majority of independent providers, EHR will have a limited role outside of the large institutional setting. Current software packages are either to complicated and expensive for smaller practices AND lack functionality that these...
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Vertex Pharmaceuticals Announces Results of First Interim Safety and Antiviral Analysis of the PROVE 1 Clinical Trial of Investigational HCV Protease Inhibitor Telaprevir (VX-950) (www.vpharm.com)
The current treatment for patients with hepatitis C genotype 1 is not optimal. The standard therapy with Peg interferon and ribavirin has an efficacy rate of 48%. The preliminary efficacy data of the combination therapy by adding telaprivir to peg interferone and ribavirin is outstanding at 88%. Only...
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Gallstone Risk Seen With Roche Weight Drug Xenical: FDA Staff (www.medscape.com)
Obesity is a potentially deadly condition. Poor nutrition and physical inactivity account for some 300,000 premature deaths in the United States each year. Obesity-related illness results in hundreds of thousands of preventable deaths each year in the United States and billions of dollars in health...
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Cerimon Pharmaceuticals Initiates ARREST UC-1, A Global Phase 2b Study Of Basiliximab In Patients With Steroid-Refractory Ulcerative Colitis (www.medicalnewstoday.com)
Steroid therapy is fairly effective treatment for UC but up to 30% of patients will have a poor response to steroids. These steroid resistant individuals present a difficult clinical challenge to gastroenterologists, with few treatment options available after steroids. One of the options would be therapy...
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Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy Relieves Chronic Pancreatitis Pain (www.medscape.com)
A number of factors may contribute to the pain in chronic pancreatitis. Acute disease with inflammation and pseudocyst formation may be superimposed on chronic disease. Obstruction of the pancreatic duct by strictures or stones may cause increased duct pressure and pain. Pancreatic ischemia,...