Campaign for stem-cell treatment gives Fern hope
Brantford Expositor - Canada
For nearly a decade, she has been trapped in a body ravaged by primary progressive multiple sclerosis. She can no longer walk, move her arms or even talk. ...
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New Data on Disease-modifying Therapies for Multiple Sclerosis
Medscape (subscription) - USA
The Results of the BEYOND trial [1] are similar to the recently presented results from the REGARD trial [2] that compared interferon beta-1a 44 mcg SC 3 ...
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Novartis says FTY720 trial continues despite death
guardian.co.uk - UK
By Sam Cage ZURICH, June 5 (Reuters) - Novartis AG said two patients taking its multiple sclerosis drug FTY720 in clinical trials had problems with ...
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UPDATE 1-Novartis says two FTY720 patients got infections
Reuters - USA
VX: Quote, Profile, Research) said two patients taking its multiple sclerosis drug FTY720 in clinical trials contracted infections, but the role of the ...
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Finding Clues For Nerve Cell Repair
A new study at the Montreal Neurological Institute at McGill University identifies a key mechanism for the normal development of motor nerve cells (motor neurons) - cells that control muscles.

US Drug Firm To Seek Market Approval For Fampridine
A US drug company will seek marketing approval early next year for a drug which could improve mobility and quality of life for people with multiple sclerosis (MS).Acorda Therapeutics reported positive results following a second 05 June 2008

Care Charges Risk Leading People With MS Into Poverty, UK
The MS Society is among 18 major organisations to back a new report published, which reveals that rising care charges are putting older and disabled people at risk of not being able to afford to eat, heat, wash or get essential support.

Acorda Therapeutics Announces Positive Data From Second Phase 3 Study Of Fampridine-SR On Walking Ability In People With Multiple Sclerosis
Acorda Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: ACOR) announced positive results from its second Phase 3 clinical trial of Fampridine-SR (MS-F204) on walking ability in people with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Game Your Brain To Peak Performance With Fit Brains
Vivity Labs announced the official launch of its all-new brain fitness platform available at http://www.fitbrains.com. Fit Brains hosts a variety of fun, casual games developed by brain health experts, proven to improve brain function while targeting the five major cognitive brain functions - memory, concentration, language, executive functions (logic and reasoning), and visual-spatial skills.

News From The Journal Of Neuroscience
1. Krox20-Nab2 Interactions in MyelinationAnne Desmazières, Laurence Decker, Jean-Michel Vallat, Patrick Charnay, and Pascale Gilardi-HebenstreitThe transcription factor Krox20 controls expression of genes that are essential for maturation of myelin sheaths.

Human Stem Cells Cure Fatal Myelin Deficiency In Mice And Could One Day Help Children
Scientists in the US have used human cells that behave like stem cells to help "shiverer" mice grow myelin around their nerve fibres and thereby avoid an inevitable early death and poor quality of life; the researchers hope their finding will one day lead to treatments for similar neurological conditions in humans, and children especially.

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Our Neighbor: Bluffs' Kopera says cleansing is the best medicine
Council Bluffs Daily Nonpareil - Council Bluffs,IA,USA
Gina Kopera of Council Bluffs will never rely on traditional medicine again after being healed of multiple sclerosis, she believes, through her own line of ...
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Icahn challenges Biogen on effort to sell itself
Reuters - USA
I: Quote, Profile, Research), Biogen's partner on the multiple sclerosis drug Tysabri, potentially causing that bidder to walk away. ...
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When Are Antibiotics for Lyme Disease Medically Necessary?
Earthtimes (press release) - London,UK
Doctors unfamiliar with Lyme disease often misdiagnose it as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome or other ...
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Fampridine acorda

Zacks Bull and Bear of the Day Highlights: Coca-Cola FEMSA, Acorda ...
Business Wire (press release) - San Francisco,CA,USA
... we remain unconvinced that Fampridine-SR will see significant use upon approval. And, at the current level, we believe Acorda’s stock is significantly ...
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US Drug Firm To Seek Market Approval For Fampridine
Medical News Today (press release) - UK
Acorda Therapeutics reported positive results following a second phase III clinical trial of the experimental drug Fampridine (4-aminopyridine) which showed ...
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Acorda shares soar on positive drug results
CNNMoney.com - USA
Acorda said that 42.9 percent of patients treated with Fampridine-SR saw a consistent improvement in walking compared with only 9.3 percent of those on ...
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Acorda Therapeutics Announces Positive Data From Second Phase 3 Study Of Fampridine-SR On Walking Ability In People With Multiple Sclerosis
Acorda Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: ACOR) announced positive results from its second Phase 3 clinical trial of Fampridine-SR (MS-F204) on walking ability in people with multiple sclerosis (MS).

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GE Healthcare Announces World's First High Definition CT Scanner
GE Healthcare, a global leader in imaging and in dose reduction technologies, has announced U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) clearance of the LightSpeed CT750 HD, the world's first high definition CT scanner.

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Modern Healthcare Online - Walgreen to pay - $35 million settlement

Story posted: June 4, 2008 - 3:00 pm EDT

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Walgreen Co. has agreed to pay $35 million to resolve allegations that Walgreens pharmacies switched patients to more expensive drugs in order to get more money from Medicaid, the third large settlement to arise out of what the government calls improper drug switching. In the agreement with the U.S. Justice Department, the Deerfield, Ill.-based company explicitly denies engaging in the alleged conduct, which was relayed to the government through a whistle-blower lawsuit filed in 2003.
According to the Justice Department, between 2001 and 2005, Walgreens dispensed capsules rather than tablets of generic Zantac, generic Prozac and brand-name and generic Eldepryl to Medicaid patients when doctors hadn’t specified the form. The switches allowed the company to collect higher reimbursement “while providing no additional medical benefit to patients,” according to a Justice Department news release.
The federal portion of the settlement is $18.6 million, and 46 states and Puerto Rico will share $16.4 million. Whistle-blower Bernard Listiza is set to receive a total of $5 million to be drawn from those sums. CVS Caremark Corp. reached a $36.7 million settlement with the government in March involving alleged switching, and in 2006 Omnicare agreed to pay $49.5 million to resolve similar allegations. As with the Walgreen case, those investigations were triggered by Listiza.
Walgreen maintains the reimbursement was “consistent with all applicable regulations” and explains the settlement was reached “to avoid the expense and uncertainty of litigation.” -- by Gregg Blesch
What do you think? Post a comment on this article and share your opinion with other readers. Submit your comments to Modern Healthcare Online at mheditorial@crain.com. Please be sure to include your hometown and state, along with your organization and title.
http://www.modernhealthcare.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080604/REG/24140998

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Caregivers / Homecare News
Best Practice In Care Homes: Definitive Guide Launched, UK
My Home Life, a programme that works to ensure care home practice is underpinned by robust evidence on what contributes toward quality of life for older people, has published 'Best practice in care homes - what is the evidence?', a special bulletin summarising the best practice guidance for achieving quality of life for people living, dying, visiting and working in care homes for older people.
Red Wine Ingredient Keeps Hearts Young
How do the French get away with a clean bill of heart health despite a diet loaded with saturated fats? Scientists have long suspected that the answer to the so-called "French paradox" lies in red wine.
Agent In Red Wine Found To Keep Hearts Young
How, scientists wonder, do the French get away with a clean bill of heart health despite a diet loaded with saturated fats?The answer to the so-called "French paradox" may be found in red wine.
'Cyborg Engineering' For Coronary Bypass Grafting Combines Man-Made Materials With Human Cells
A team of London scientists have taken a major step in making the use of artificial veins and arteries in coronary bypass grafts a reality. In a study published in the June 2008 print issue of 05 June 2008

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Diabetes News
Global View Supports Concept Of Using Vitamin D In Reducing Disease Risks For Type 1 Diabetes
Sun exposure and vitamin D levels may play a strong role in risk of type 1 diabetes in children, according to new findings by researchers at the Moores Cancer Center at University of California, San Diego (UCSD) and the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine.
Long-term Pesticide Exposure May Increase Risk Of Diabetes
Licensed pesticide applicators who used chlorinated pesticides on more than 100 days in their lifetime were at greater risk of diabetes, according to researchers from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

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Stem Cells Stop Mouse Shivers Cold, Could Thwart Rare ...
Scientific American - USA
The scientists report today in the journal Cell Stem Cell that the finding could bring them closer to finding a treatment for incurable neurological ...
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Brain Stem Cells Reverse Myelin Deficiency in Mice
U.S. News & World Report - Washington,DC,USA
They run the gamut from autoimmune disorders like multiple sclerosis to congenital conditions like adrenoleukodystrophy, the condition featured in the movie ...
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Human Stem Cells Cure Fatal Myelin Deficiency In Mice And Could ...
Medical News Today - UK
Myelin loss is also the reason for multiple sclerosis, and occurs to some extent in other diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure. ...
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Mouse Models Give New Insight Into Human Cell Behavior
Wired News - USA
... chance of using stem cells to treat leukodystrophy -- caused by a shortage of brain cell insulation -- than multiple sclerosis, his original target. ...
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Family Doctors Issued With Stem Cell Research Information To Help ...
Allmediascotland - Edinburgh,Scotland,UK
SCOTLAND’S family doctors are being sent information on stem cell research and potential therapies to help them increase their knowledge and understanding ...
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The latest rage
Malaysia Star - Malaysia
... cancer and Multiple sclerosis. These, of course, remain as hypotheses. Scientists primarily work with two kinds of stem cells: embryonic