Journal of the American Medical Association: Funding of US Biomedical Research, 2003-2008 – After doubling in a decade, the rate of increase in biomedical research in the U.S. has slowed since 2005, and the level of funding from the National Institutes of Health and industry appears to have decreased by 2 percent in 2008, after adjusting for inflation, the authors of this study report.

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American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance and Homewatch CareGivers, teamed up to conduct a study examining trends in long-term health care and the utilization of associated support services. Among the conclusions of the study is the dramatic growth of people receiving support care at home and the significantly greater percentage of those with long-term care insurance who are able to receive home-based care and stay in the their homes longer.

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The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has ruled against the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI)’s request on the expansion of Medicare coverage for carotid artery stenting. SCAI has 30 days to remind the CMS that the studies on the less invasive procedure for treating carotid stenosis that support of the kind of coverage SCAI is seeking have been conducted and published.

Silverlink Communications Inc has launched solutions focused specifically on the Medicare market. These services help health plans more effectively communicate with beneficiaries. This is especially critical when the enrollment season for the 2010 plan year opens in October 2009. Anticipated benefits changes are likely to cause confusion with Medicare recipients creating an opportunity for health plans to take a leadership role with clear information and guidance to their Medicare members and potential enrollees.

According to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, people under Medicare are more likely to survive the first 30 days after a heart attack than they would have done more than a decade ago. The people are also likely to find more consistent quality of care among hospitals in terms of its treatment of heart attack survivors.

The FDA has implemented rules that require drug companies to place stronger warnings on the labels of common over-the-counter pain relievers about the risk of liver damage and stomach bleeding. The FDA’s Matthew Ray Holman, PhD, says the new warnings are necessary “to raise consumer awareness about the potential for liver damage when using acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) and the potential for stomach bleeding when using a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug,” commonly called an NSAID. NSAIDs include aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen and ketoprofen.

The issue of ‘American Family Physician’ dated October 15 comprised of a review that had information on techniques for usage of corticosteroid injections for common musculoskeletal conditions. Doctors say that to administer successfully, conducting the correct diagnosis (who to inject), carrying out the right procedure (how to inject), and use of the appropriate pharmaceutical (what to inject) is important. To relieve from pain, reduce inflammation and improve mobility, corticosteroids can be injected into articular, periarticular, or soft tissue structures. For rapid pain relief, anesthetic agents can be added to the injection. Along with that, steroid injections may provide useful diagnostic information.

Baxa Ltd has launched its Baxa ZR pre-filled saline IV syringes in Britain. The new line of sterile syringes is safer than manually filled syringes. Easy to administer, ZR is cheaper, more effective and uses lesser shelf-space than its alternatives. They are available in the units of 10 mL and 5 mL. Clear labeling reduces errors in liquid medication. A pull-off cap on the tip hints towards a broken seal, preventing re-use. The shelf life is two-years and the nursing staff can see the expiry dates clearly.

Nonin Medical Inc. has released the first and only wireless fingertip pulse oximeter to system integrators worldwide. The Onyx(R) II, Model 9560 fingertip pulse oximeter enables patients to accurately monitor vital signs and remotely connect with their clinicians — gaining independence to go about their daily activities. The innovative device combines Bluetooth(R) wireless technology with the revolutionary Onyx(R) fingertip oximeters product line to address rising healthcare costs and promote patient-friendly remote disease management.

Opto Circuits India Ltd.’s subsidiary, Mediaid Inc., received Food and Drug Administration approval for its key vital signs monitoring products. The approval for marketing for model 900 and model 960 opens up the U.S. hospital market for Mediaid products. The model 900 and 960 devices monitor blood oxygen, blood pressure and temperature for a complete and quick assessment of vital signs.