Heart Attack Patients Benefit From Thrombus Aspiration Prior to Stenting, Study Shows
Medtronic's Export® Aspiration Catheter Featured in Late-Breaking Clinical Trial at ACC.08
CHICAGO--March 30, 2008--Using the Export Aspiration Catheter from Medtronic (NYSE:MDT), before stenting, in patients suffering acute myocardial infarction (AMI) can significantly improve blood flow and survival rates compared to conventional treatment with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) alone, according to results of a Dutch study presented today at the American College of Cardiology meeting.
Presented by Prof. Felix Zijlstra of the University Medical Center Groningen in the Netherlands during a special late-breaking clinical trial session, the study - dubbed TAPAS - found that most AMI patients with ST-segment elevation achieved better reperfusion and clinical outcomes when receiving thrombus aspiration before standard PCI, regardless of their clinical and angiographic characteristics at baseline. It was supported by a grant from Medtronic for angiographic analyses by the core laboratory; all other costs were covered by the Thorax Center of the University Medical Center Groningen.
"We are on the brink of a new development," Dr. Zijlstra told WebMD in an interview about the study when it was published in The New England Journal of Medicine, Feb. 7, 2008. "Instead of fragmenting clot material with a balloon and potentially sending it downstream, where it could cause further damage to the heart muscle, it makes sense to get rid of the debris to start with."
Dr. Zijlstra's presentation - "Thrombus Aspiration during Coronary Angioplasty for Acute Myocardial Infarction" (2404-5) - summarized the design and findings of the study. Researchers at his center randomly assigned 1,071 AMI patients with ST-segment elevation to thrombus aspiration using the Export Aspiration Catheter or to conventional PCI prior to coronary angiography. The Export group had 35 percent fewer patients than the conventional PCI group exhibiting angiographic signs of poor blood flow to the heart muscle. In addition, 28 percent more patients in the Export group had resolution of ST-segment elevation compared to the conventional PCI group. Importantly, the study showed a reduction in death and major adverse cardiac events in patients that exhibited angiographic signs of improved blood flow to the heart muscle and resolution of ST-segment elevation. There also was a positive trend in favor of the Export Aspiration Catheter in reducing death.
Results from TAPAS are consistent with those from Medtronic's EXPORT study, a randomized, controlled trial of 250 patients at 24 sites in Europe and India comparing the use of the Export Aspiration Catheter with conventional PCI. Reported at the Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) meeting in October 2007, the EXPORT study demonstrated that primary aspiration with the Export Aspiration Catheter followed by stenting improved myocardial reperfusion in AMI patients.
About Medtronic
Medtronic, Inc. (www.medtronic.com), headquartered in Minneapolis, is the global leader in medical technology - alleviating pain, restoring health, and extending life for millions of people around the world.
Editor's note: Reporters with an interest in thrombus aspiration are welcome to experience the Export Aspiration Catheter in a hands-on simulation at the Medtronic booth (#18063) on Sunday, March 30.
Any forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties such as those described in Medtronic's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended April 27, 2007. Actual results may differ materially from anticipated results.
Contacts
Medtronic, Inc.
Joe McGrath, 707-591-7367 (Public Relations)
Jeff Warren, 763-505-2696 (Investor Relations)
Digital Healthcare, a Wake Forest, NC company specializing in sight-saving retinal risk assessment, announced today that DiabetesAmerica, a group of comprehensive diabetes management Health Centers based in Houston, Texas has selected the Retasure solution to provide retinal imaging risk assessment. DiabetesAmerica specializes in helping individuals live with diabetes. Their medical professionals promote wellness through a variety of personalized treatment and educational programs--from medical treatment to diabetes education, nutritional counseling, exercise programs and lifestyle instruction.
Wake Forest, NC - March 25, 2008 -- Digital Healthcare, a Wake Forest, NC company specializing in sight-saving retinal risk assessment, announced today that DiabetesAmerica, a group of comprehensive diabetes management Health Centers based in Houston, Texas has selected the Retasure solution to provide retinal imaging risk assessment.
DiabetesAmerica specializes in helping individuals live with diabetes. Their medical professionals promote wellness through a variety of personalized treatment and educational programs--from medical treatment to diabetes education, nutritional counseling, exercise programs and lifestyle instruction. Five of their physicians have been recognized nationally by the Diabetes Physician Recognition Program for providing outstanding diabetes care to their patients. DiabetesAmerica currently has health centers in Houston, Dallas, Corpus Christi and San Antonio, and will be adding additional facilities across Texas and in other states in 2008.
"We are proud to have DiabetesAmerica as our latest client," said Scott Sanner, Senior Vice President, North American Operations of Digital Healthcare. "They are an organization that prides itself on providing comprehensive services to their patients. Our Retasure solution addresses an unmet need for their patients and is an excellent compliment to their patient-focused mission."
"Our focus is to provide our patients the tools needed to self-manage their diabetes and become healthier and more independent," said Wendy Hawkins, MD, Director of Clinical Affairs for DiabetesAmerica. "Diabetics have a high risk for diabetic retinopathy and blindness and the Retasure solution will increase our ability to assess our patients' total health."
The FDA-approved and HEDIS compliant Retasure program provides a simple, affordable, and non-invasive solution that allows physicians to capture their patients' retinal images during a three to five minute procedure without eye dilation. Images are transmitted over a secure, HIPAA compliant network to an accredited reading center. A state-licensed and board certified ophthalmologist reviews the images and results are returned to the original physician within 72 hours. The simplicity of the assessment process is unique in the market and addresses a previously un-met need for one of the nation's largest public health issues.
There are an estimated 21 million diabetic patients in the US, but only about half have any retinal assessments, despite a high risk of diabetic retinopathy. The National Eye Institute indicates diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness among working age American adults. More than a million patients worldwide have received a retinal risk assessment using Digital Healthcare software.
About Digital Healthcare
Digital Healthcare is the global leader in retinal risk assessment. They are the world's leading provider of care management programs for diabetic retinopathy. Their award-winning MS-HUG technology is used by leading hospitals and research centers including University Hospitals Case Medical Center at Case Western Reserve University, The Wilmer Eye Institute at The Johns Hopkins University and the United States Military. Digital Healthcare's Retasure solution offers several advantages for primary care and endocrinologist physicians and their patients: It can be operated by non-clinicians; it is non-invasive and requires no dilation; it obtains exceptionally high-quality digital images of the retina using a simple-to-operate fundus camera; it returns results quickly to the ordering physicians; and it encourages patient compliance for retinal evaluation and comprehensive eye examinations. For more information, visit www.retasure.com.
Press Contact: Scott Sanner
Company Name: Digital Healthcare
Phone: 919-554-9650
Website: www.retasure.com
Organizations designated to disseminate accurate information about cancer actually spread most of the modern myths surrounding this disease, says Bill Sardi, author of the book You Don't Have To Be Afraid Of Cancer Anymore ( www.thecancerbook.com ).
October 15, 2007 -- Cancer information bureaus claim cancer is not contagious, surgery doesn't spread cancer, sugar doesn't make cancer grow faster, hair dye doesn't cause cancer, and use of sunscreen lotion prevents skin cancer. "All of these are falsehoods," says Sardi.
Cancer is contagious
"Cancer certainly is indirectly contagious," says Sardi. Up to 15% of cancers are caused by germs, says Sardi, who says a whole book documents that fact. (Microbes and Malignancy, Oxford University Press, 1999) Lymphomas, sarcoma, gastric carcinoma, liver and cervical cancer all emanate from viral or bacterial infection, says Sardi. Examples are oral, throat and cervical cancers which are caused by the Human papilloma virus and gastric cancer which is unequivocally caused by the bacterium Helicobacter pylori. Furthermore, masses caused by Mycobacteria tuberculosis are indistinguishable from cancer. TB may be a major cause of cancer. [Quarterly Journal Medicine 100(1):59, 2007; European J Gynaecology Oncology 24(6):561-2, 2003; Acta Neurochir (Wien). 145(6):513-7, 2003; Diagnostic Cytopathology 28(2):107-9, 2003
Does surgery cause cancer to spread?
A survey indicates 41% of Americans believe surgery can cause cancer to spread. Cancer agencies say that is fiction. A physician spokesperson for the American Cancer Society says this myth "really keeps patients from potentially receiving what could be a definitive, if not curative, surgery." But surgery is not a cure for cancer, and there is published evidence surgery does indeed facilitate the spread of tumors.
Researchers at Harvard Medical School clearly state that "surgical wounding associated with the removal of experimental primary cancers can trigger angiogenesis (new blood vessels) in previously dormant micro-metastatic tumor deposits, which can result in the acceleration of relapse and death." (Lancet 357: 1048, 2001)
It is said that surgery "kick starts" hidden small tumors. Surgeons know this and often prescribe pre-operative chemotherapy, or anti-estrogen drugs, to limit the effect surgery has upon accelerated growth of remaining small tumors following surgery. {Lancet 347: 260, 1996)
In a report entitled "Excisional surgery for cancer sure: therapy at a cost," researchers indicate there is "strong" evidence that tumor removal influences the growth of remaining tumors. (Lancet 4: 760-68, 2003)
A report in Medical Hypotheses states that "surgery can increase the number of circulating tumor cells and induce an immunosuppressive effect that might facilitate metastatic spread. The process of wound healing can stimulate growth factors that have been shown to accelerate tumor cell growth. This situation is a double-edged sword." (Medical Hypotheses 67: 1054-59, 2006)
Researchers in Ireland report that surgical removal of a primary tumor is often followed by a faster and more aggressive tumor at the same site. (Annals Thoracic Surgery 80: 1046-50, 2005)
Even a simple biopsy is invasive enough to activate the wound-healing process and accelerate tumor progression. (Lancet 357: 1048, 2001)
Finally, Georgetown University doctors report that surgery carries an increased risk for cancer weeks or even years after an operation. (Anesthesiology Clinics North America, June 2006)
Hair dye and cancer.
The American Cancer Society says hair dyes don't cause cancer. But this so-called myth persists. After examining 79 different studies, a report published in the Journal of the American Medical Association says "We did not find strong evidence of a marked increase in the risk of cancer among personal hair dye users." (Journal American Medical Assn 293: 2516-25, 2005)
However, a study conducted by researcher at the University of North Carolina School of Public Health found that the use of any hair dye in the month before and/or during pregnancy is associated with a modest increased risk of neuroblastoma in offspring. (Cancer Causes Controls 16: 743-48, 2005) Neuroblastoma is a tumor containing embryonic nerve cells.
When data was pooled from different population studies, it was found that "personal use of hair dye products increases bladder cancer risk by 22% to 50%." (Public Health Reports 120: 31-38, 2005)
A recent study shows that the use of hair dyes is associated with adult acute leukemia and that more frequent use and long-term use increased the risks for this type of cancer. Non-permanent hair dyes were not associated with leukemia, but long duration of permanent hair dye "may have an impact on the risk of leukemia." (American Journal Epidemiology 160: 19-25, 2004)
Another study could not completely dismiss data linking hair dye use with a modest increased risk for bladder cancer. (International Journal Cancer 109: 581-86, 2004)
It's possible the hair care industry knows why hair dye is linked with cancer since a recent study shows that the increased risk for Hodgkin's lymphoma was only found among women who started using hair coloring products prior to 1980. (American Journal Epidemiology 159: 148-54, 2004) It's possible some carcinogens have been removed from currently made products.
The data is not clear enough to say no to the idea that hair dye may increase cancer risk, even if only by a modest degree.
Does sugar promote cancer growth?
According to the American Cancer Society, sugar doesn't make cancer grow faster.
Dr. John T. Ely of the University of Washington decided to test whether sugar abets tumor growth. Dr. Ely found that patients in remission from tumors have lower blood sugar levels. (Integrative Cancer Therapy 4: 25-31, 2005)
Dr. Ely and colleagues went on to conduct an animal test. Mice were placed on three different diets designed to produce different blood sugar levels and then injected with highly aggressive breast tumor cells. Seventy days later 16 of 24 mice on a high sugar diet had succumbed to cancer, 8 of 24 mice on a normal sugar diet died and only 1 of 20 mice on a low-sugar diet died. (Biochemistry Biophysical Research Communications 132: 1174-79, 1985)
Dr. Ely has taken breast cancer patients, placed them on a low sugar diet, added supplemental vitamin C and treated their tumors with radiation, and demonstrated a prolonged survival. (Integrative Cancer Therapy 4: 25-31, 2005)
Does sunscreen use prevent skin cancer?
When Americans were surveyed, 43% said that sunscreen use can prevent skin cancer. The ACS says: "The use of sunscreen on a daily basis is a good practice for reducing skin cancer risk."
Yet, when researchers scrutinized the issue of whether sunscreen use prevents skin cancer, they found that there is no association between sunscreen use and the development of malignant melanoma, the most feared form of skin cancer. (British Journal Dermatology 153: 378-81, 2005) When researchers analyzed data from many studies they concluded that "the melanoma protective potential of sunscreens cannot be proven using the existing evidence." (Photodermatology Photoimmunology Photomedicine 18: 153-56, 2002)
The big shocker is that 95% of solar radiation is UV-A energy, while most sunscreens protect from the harsher UV-B rays. UV-A may also induce skin cancer. [Journal Investigative Dermatology 121:869-75, 2003 The latest study shows that UV-B rays only partially contribute to the development of melanoma. UV-A is also involved. (Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Vol. 97: 1822-1831, December 21, 2005)
SPF (sun protection factor) refers to the ability of a product to block out UV-B rays. So there is a flaw in the design of the sunscreen products themselves. (Postgraduate Medicine 116: July 2004)
Melanoma was rare up until the 1950s when sunscreen use began as "tanning lotions." Now there are over 40,000 cases of melanoma and 7,000 deaths from melanoma reported annually. Rising trends in the incidence of and mortality from melanoma began in the 1970s and 1980s, when sunscreens with high sun protection factors were more widely used. (Annals Epidemiology 3: 103-10, 1993)
Blockage of UV-B sun rays by sunscreen lotion inhibits production of vitamin D in the skin. (American Journal Clinical Nutrition 80: 1678-88S, 2004) According to a recent report, frequent regular sun exposure acts to cause cancers that have a 0.3% death rate with 2,000 U.S. fatalities per year and acts to prevent cancers that have death rates from 20-65% with 138,000 U.S. fatalities per year. (Preventive Medicine 22: 132-40, 1993):
A recent study estimates that 50,000-63,000 individuals in the United States and 19,000-25,000 in Britain die prematurely from cancer annually due to insufficient vitamin D. (Photochemistry Photobiology 81: 1276-86, 2005)
For more information about myths that surround cancer read the new book You Don't Have To Be Afraid Of Cancer Anymore, offered at www.thecancerbook.com
Press Contact: WILLIAM SARDI
Company Name: Knowledge of Health
Phone: 909 596 9507
Website: www.thecancerbook.com
The main cause of angiosarcoma liver cancer is thought to be from exposure to the chemical benzene. Workers in many industries such as plastics and petroleum plants are at the highest risk for benzene exposure.
Mayor Bobby Bright will sign a proclamation declaring April 1 as Asbestos Awareness Day in Montgomery in a ceremony at his office Friday, March 28, 2008, at 10 a.m.
Montgomery, Ala. - March 25, 2008 -- Mayor Bobby Bright will sign a proclamation declaring April 1 as Asbestos Awareness Day in Montgomery in a ceremony at his office Friday, March 28, 2008, at 10 a.m. This proclamation will go hand-in-hand with a senate resolution declaring April 1 National Asbestos Awareness Day, and April 1-7 Asbestos Awareness Week. Asbestos Awareness Day is a project of the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization.
Locally, Asbestos Awareness Day strives to educate the public about the ongoing dangers of asbestos exposure, which can lead to asbestos-related disease such as asbestosis, lung cancer, and malignant mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer affecting the mesothelium, or the protective lining around our internal organs. It most commonly affects the linings of the lungs, abdomen and heart. Unfortunately, many symptoms of mesothelioma (shortness of breath, severe cough, chest pain) do not appear for 20 or more years, making it difficult to diagnose early. For this reason, the cancer is often diagnosed in the later stages, making it difficult for proper treatment and survival.
Asbestos has been used in a wide range of building materials, including roofing, insulation, ceiling tiles, and sheet rock. For this reason, it is especially important to identify any potential asbestos hazards before engaging in home improvement projects.
In the U.S., current statistics show 2,000-3,000 people are diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma each year. However, 10,000 Americans die each year from all asbestos-related diseases, according to statistics compiled by the Environmental Working Group. Mesothelioma was not tracked as a specific cause of death by federal health officials until 1999, so actual totals for mesothelioma may be much higher.
It is the primary goal of MyMeso.org to raise awareness in the public about mesothelioma and related asbestos diseases, to provide a forum for those affected by mesothelioma, and to create a network of information and resources expanding hope for a cure. MyMeso.org is a public awareness and community outreach effort of Beasley, Allen, Methvin, Portis & Miles, P.C.
Contact: Wendi Lewis
334-495-1308 / 334-221-3595 cell
Press Contact: Wendi Lewis
Company Name: MyMeso.org
Phone: 334-495-1308
Website: www.MyMeso.org
Mesothelioma lawsuit; family members' 'take home' asbestos fibers and 50-year-old victim's own college summer employment at GM facilities in Bloomfield and Englewood, New Jersey caused cancer that killed rising-star advertising executive, according to mesothelioma lawyers Levy Phillips & Konigsberg, LLP.
Hackensack, NJ (PRWEB) March 16, 2008 -- Deadly "take home" asbestos fibers on work clothes his father and brother wore while employed at GM parts warehouses in Bloomfield and Englewood, and exposure to the carcinogenic material during his own GM summer employment caused the death of a 50-year-old rising star advertising executive, a Bergen County jury ruled yesterday. The wife and three daughters of Mark Buttitta, who died four days before Christmas 2002, will receive $30.3 million in what is believed to be New Jersey's largest verdict for a mesothelioma lawsuit, the New Jersey mesothelioma lawyers of Levy Phillips & Konigsberg, LLP announced.
Bloomfield born and raised Buttitta's advertising clients had included Coca Cola and Continental and Northwest Airlines before he died a few days after his 50th birthday. His father, Frank Buttitta, Sr., and brother, Frank Jr., unknowingly brought home asbestos fibers on their work clothes contributed to the deadly cancer, the experts testified at trial. The elder Buttitta was a lifelong GM employee, working as a parts picker at the GM warehouses, handling brakes and clutches made with asbestos, according to mesothelioma lawyer Moshe Maimon, of Levy Phillips & Konigsberg, LLP, lead trial counsel in the 15-day trial before New Jersey Superior Court Judge Brian R. Martinotti.
In addition to the senior Buttitta's lifelong full-time employment at the GM warehouse, the victim and his brother, Frank Jr., had worked summers during college at the facility -- also as parts pickers. All three Buttittas would wear the same work clothes for days at a time, Maimon said, "bringing home cancer-causing asbestos fibers every day from work, unknowingly letting the microscopic fibers fragments waft throughout their home and settle. Worse yet, as a young boy Mark would sit on his dad's lap -- or next to him on the sofa -- every night to watch TV, and was innocently exposed to asbestos."
After high school Mark Buttitta attended Colgate University, eventually residing with his wife and three daughters in Glen Ridge, New Jersey. He was a vice president of MediaVest when first diagnosed with Mesothelioma in 2001 and died a year later, Maimon said.
In 2003, Buttitta's family established the Mark Buttitta Memorial Foundation for Research for the "Prevention, Treatment and Cure of Mesothelioma," according to the foundation's Web site http://www.markbuttittafoundation.com/.
"While most Mesothelioma victims are employed in the construction or automotive manufacturing industries, Mark did not fit this typical profile," the foundation's home page noted. On Saturday, March 8th the foundation is holding a wine tasting and silent auction at the Time-Life Building in Manhattan.
"Mark Buttitta's sad case shows convincingly how blue-collar workers from the automotive, construction and other asbestos-using industries are not the only potential victims of mesothelioma," Maimon said. "In Bloomfield, Englewood and all across New Jersey, men and woman who wouldn't know a brake shoe from a horseshoe can be struck down by this horrible disease decades later from simply living with someone who contacted asbestos in his daily occupation. In Mark Buttitta's case we were able to get justice for him and his young family."
Maimon's co-counsel in the mesothelioma lawsuit were Richard Cattenacci, Esq. of Connell Foley in Livingston, and Donald MacLaughlin, Esq. of Ridgewood.
Case Caption: Susan Buttitta as Executrix of the Estate of Mark Buttitta v. Asbestos Corporation Limited, et al. (BER-L-9592-02)
Press Contact: Jay Berkowitz
Company Name: Levy Phillips & Konigsberg, LLP
Phone: 561-620-9121
Website: www.lpklaw.com
For interesting coverage of a number of different topics, check out Peter Tyson's Blog. Pete follows a number of different topics and always makes for pretty interesting reading.
Medtronic Announces Sales Milestone of One Million Continuous Glucose Monitoring Sensors Worldwide
Milestone highlights the growth and increasing adoption of continuous glucose monitoring
MINNEAPOLIS- March 24, 2008 -Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE: MDT) announced today that it has reached the milestone of more than one million sensors for its continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) products manufactured and sold. The recipient of the milestone one millionth sensor was Tim Parker of San Jose, Calif. Parker, diagnosed with type 1 diabetes 11 years ago, has used CGM therapy for two years to help him manage his diabetes.
"Today we salute Tim, thousands of patients like him and all of the Medtronic employees who have contributed to the success of our CGM technology," said Chris O'Connell, president of the Diabetes business at Medtronic. "Medtronic pioneered CGM 10 years ago, and this important milestone demonstrates our momentum and clear industry leadership in the exciting new field of continuous glucose monitoring."
Parker relies on his ParadigmT REAL-Time System, and says it is fundamental to managing his diabetes effectively. Prior to adopting integrated insulin pump and CGM therapy, Parker - like many people with diabetes - experienced unexplained blood glucose excursions that worried him. "I would go to bed with my blood glucose levels at 110 and wake up at 220. What could be happening to my body while I was asleep?" said Parker. Motivated to keep his blood glucose in check, he began researching options and learned about Medtronic's CGM products on the Internet.
After receiving a prescription from his physician, Parker quickly experienced the value of having an integrated approach to his diabetes.
"When I first started using CGM, I was amazed at all the information I had at my fingertips. I could see how food, exercise and sleep affected my blood glucose levels day and night, which is something I wasn't able to do before," he recalled. "CGM gives me powerful information that allows me to take the right steps to better manage my diabetes, and provides alarms to help me avoid dangerous lows that I often cannot detect on my own."
As the pioneer in glucose sensing technology, Medtronic has more than a decade of CGM experience, and is leading the technology revolution in diabetes care by providing patients with new levels of protection, confidence and freedom in managing their diabetes.
The Paradigm REAL-Time Insulin Pump and Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) System is the world's first insulin pump with REAL-Time continuous glucose monitoring. The Paradigm REAL-Time System has all of the benefits of CGM plus the added value of precise insulin delivery through the use of insulin pump therapy. The GuardianT REAL-Time System is a stand-alone CGM device without insulin delivery. Both devices are available for adult patients as well as children ages seven to 17.
The Paradigm REAL-Time System relays glucose readings every five minutes from a glucose sensor to the insulin pump, which displays up to 288 readings a day - nearly 100 times more information than three daily fingersticks. Glucose measurements obtained by the sensor are relayed every five minutes and displayed in three-hour and 24-hour trend graphs, as well as arrows to indicate how quickly glucose is moving up or down.
To celebrate Parker's receipt of the one millionth glucose sensor, he will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Medtronic's Diabetes facility located in Northridge, Calif., where he will tour the facility, meet the senior management and engineering teams and see the glucose sensor manufacturing process.
Diabetes Statistics
According to the American Diabetes Association, almost 21 million Americans (seven percent of the population) have the disease. Diabetes affects children and adults, costing the United States more than $174 billion in direct and indirect healthcare expenditures.
About The Diabetes Business at Medtronic
The Diabetes division at Medtronic (www.medtronicdiabetes.com) is the world leader in advanced diabetes management solutions, including integrated diabetes management systems, insulin pump therapy, continuous glucose monitoring systems and therapy management software.
About Medtronic
Medtronic, Inc. (www.medtronic.com), headquartered in Minneapolis, is the global leader in medical technology, alleviating pain, restoring health and extending life for millions of people around the world.
Any forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties such as those described in Medtronic's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended April 27, 2007. Actual results may differ materially from anticipated results.
Contacts
Medtronic, Inc.
Steve Sabicer, 818-576-4826
Public Relations
or
Jeff Warren, 763-505-2696
Investor Relations
Walgreens Awarded Exclusive Contract as Specialty Pharmacy Provider to Prime Therapeutics
Contract provides service to specialty pharmacy users among 20 million health plan members
DEERFIELD, Ill.-- Walgreens (NYSE:WAG) (NASDAQ:WAG) will be the exclusive specialty pharmacy provider for Prime Therapeutics under a new, multi-year contract the companies have signed. Walgreens will provide the service through its Pittsburgh-based Medmark, A Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy.
Prime Therapeutics, based in St. Paul, Minn., is a pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) collectively owned by 10 Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans, subsidiaries or affiliates of those plans. The contract serves specialty pharmacy users among more than 20 million health plan members.
"While we can't predict the exact value of this contract, the annual specialty pharmacy spending by Prime's total client base is significant," said Stanley B. Blaylock, President of Walgreens Health Services. "Our partnership with Prime gives us the opportunity to manage specialty pharmaceuticals that are covered under both the medical and pharmacy benefit. We believe many - if not most - of those plans will use our services through Prime over time.
"We also believe our independence from the major PBMs was a significant factor in winning Prime's business and will help us consistently win other contracts over the long term. Another significant factor for Prime was our proven quality and patient service that allows health management companies like Prime to stay focused on improving care and managing costs."
The services provided by Medmark, A Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy will be part of Prime Therapeutics' new TriessentT specialty pharmacy program.
"Prime believes the complexity of specialty pharmacy is too important to simply outsource," said Tom Solberg, assistant vice president of specialty pharmacy at Prime. "Medmark's proven track record complements Prime's existing core capabilities in specialty and pharmacy benefit management and will allow Prime to offer a complete specialty pharmacy program through Triessent. Prime is committed to providing a variety of solutions to help our clients manage specialty spend and strengthen their ability to compete effectively in the specialty marketplace with a complete solution."
Medmark, A Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy will provide Prime with medication fulfillment and complement Prime's existing patient education and clinical support services. Its pharmacists and nurses will counsel patients on the importance of medication adherence and the management of side effects.
"Our specialized, disease-focused teams coordinate care as part of our patient-focused clinical programs," said Blaylock. "By focusing on customer service, we've scored 98 percent patient satisfaction rates for all of our services as measured by CJ Olson Market Research Inc."
Medmark, A Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy will serve Prime's members through central-fill facilities that are supported by Walgreens local retail and home care locations.
Medmark, A Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy was acquired in August 2006 by Walgreens, the nation's largest drugstore chain with fiscal 2007 sales of $53.8 billion. Walgreens operates 6,237 stores in 49 states and Puerto Rico, and is expanding its patient-first health care services beyond traditional pharmacy through Walgreens Health Services, its managed care division, and Take Care Health Systems, a wholly owned subsidiary that manages 146 convenient care clinics at Walgreens drugstores. Walgreens Health Services assists pharmacy patients and prescription drug and medical plans through Walgreens Health Initiatives Inc. (a pharmacy benefit manager), Walgreens Mail Service Inc., Walgreens Home Care Inc., Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy LLC and SeniorMed LLC (a pharmacy provider to long-term care facilities). More information about Walgreens is available at Walgreens.com.
Contacts
Walgreen Co.
Michael Polzin
(847) 914-2925
Do you know the signs of diabetes?
New diabetes management center at www.TheBeehive.org includes tools that empower diabetics to take control of their disease using a combination of audio/video storytelling, interactive and personalized content, and practical advice. The new diabetes management center is available in both Spanish and English and can be found at: http://www.thebeehive.org/Templates/Health/DiabetesNoRight.aspx?PageId=1.2.28.70.88.11096
Washington - November 30, 2007 -- Diabetes affects more than 20 million Americans, and low-income communities suffer disproportionately high rates of the disease. To address the unique needs of low-income and low-literacy people in managing their diabetes, One Economy Corporation today announced a new online health resource, Manage Your Diabetes, created with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Pioneer Portfolio.
The new Manage Your Diabetes website tools enhance the instructions diabetics receive from doctors and empowers diabetics to take control of their disease, using a combination of audio/video storytelling, interactive and personalized content, and practical advice. The website allows users to customize the content, available in English and Spanish, to fit their specific physical limitations, other medical conditions, and even dietary preferences. Features include:
Take Your Meds: Learn about diabetes medicines and reading labels, and watch how-to videos.
Monitoring: Learn the guidelines for and importance of testing for blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol, and keep track of crucial diabetic information with our Blood Sugar Tracker.
Eat Well: Use audio-enhanced tools to take the mystery out of managing diet.
Get Moving: Watch videos of patients' strategies for working exercise into their lives.
Learn the Language: Hear diabetes-related terms commonly used by doctors translated into easy-to-understand language with our audio glossary.
The website also includes information about how to manage diabetes at work, diabetes and your mood, questions to ask your doctor about diabetes, and a helpful Diabetes frequently asked questions (FAQ) section.
"Millions of American families have struggled with the steps that follow a diabetes diagnosis," said Rey Ramsey, chief executive officer of One Economy, "Manage Your Diabetes makes it easier for patients and their families to understand the diagnosis, make a plan for managing the disease, and go on living a full life."
Proper management of diabetes requires constant monitoring, an understanding of healthy diet and exercise, and the ability to comprehend and use often complex medications. The information necessary to succeed is often too confusing and complicated for low-literacy individuals. Literacy, a stronger predicator of health than age, income, employment status, education level, and race, puts the health of approximately 90 million people, primarily low-income and minority individuals, at risk.
This comprehensive online destination for diabetics is one of the many health resources available on One Economy's self-help web portal, the Beehive (www.thebeehive.org.) This multilingual website connects low-income people to information and resources targeting the things that matter most: health, jobs, money, schools, and family. With over 40 local Beehives, cities around the world are benefiting from these tools.
To view the Manage Your Diabetes website please go to:
http://www.thebeehive.org/Templates/Health/DiabetesNoRight.aspx?PageId=1.2.28.70.88.11096
About One Economy Corporation:
One Economy Corporation is a global nonprofit organization that uses innovative approaches to deliver the power of technology and information to low-income people, giving them valuable tools for building better lives and entering the economic mainstream. We help bring broadband into the homes of low-income people, employ youth to train their community members to use technology effectively, and provide socially responsible media properties that offer a wealth of information on education, jobs, health care and other vital issues. Visit www.one-economy.com for more information.
Press Contact: Austin Bonner
Company Name:
Phone: (202) 393-0051
Website: www.thebeehive.org
Two healthcare executives will describe how their organizations have improved their hospital discharge processes and the impact these changes have had on patient outcomes, satisfaction and readmission rates during the Healthcare Intelligence Network's "Best Practices in Hospital Discharge to Reduce Preventable Readmissions" webinar on October 23, 2007.
Manasquan, NJ October 2 -- According to a report in the American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy, nearly 20 percent of patients suffer adverse events shortly after being discharged from the hospital. Often, such adverse events are preventable. To reduce the number of these events and the readmissions that often result, the patient and/or caregiver must clearly understand and comply with the original hospital discharge instructions, putting much emphasis on the notion of self-care.
Thought leaders from the healthcare industry will describe patient discharge process improvements during Best Practices in Hospital Discharge to Reduce Preventable Readmissions, a webinar from the Healthcare Intelligence Network (HIN) on October 23, 2007 at 1:30 p.m. Eastern.
For webinar details, please visit http://www.hin.com/cgi-local/link/news/pl.cgi?hospdisrel
NEWS FACTS:
Featured Healthcare Experts:
- Nora Baratto, manager of the case management department at St. Peter's Hospital's CHOICES program, Albany, N.Y.
- Michelle M. Berry, director of the Community Alternative Systems Agency (CASA) in Broome County, N.Y.
Webinar Highlights: Their organization's best practices in hospital discharge policies and procedures that have improved this transition in care; assessing and stratifying patients at discharge based on their risk level for readmission and assigning targeted interventions based on those risks; enhancing the communication between providers and patients to improve results; developing patient and caregiver education programs that lead to a clearly understood plan of care; structuring follow-up phone calls and/or home visits to ensure patient compliance; analyzing the impact of changes to hospital discharge procedures; and special considerations for the elderly population during hospital discharge.
Target Audience: CEOs, medical directors, disease management directors, managers and coordinators, health plan executives, care management nurses, discharge planners, quality improvement executives, customer service managers, patient services and patient relations managers and patient advocates.
Webinar Formats: 90-minute interactive webinar on October 23, 2007 includes a 30-minute Q&A; "On-Demand" rebroadcast available October 25, 2007; 90-minute recording on CD-ROM with printed transcript available November 5, 2007. For webinar details, please visit http://www.hin.com/cgi-local/link/news/pl.cgi?hospdisrel
QUOTES ATTRIBUTABLE TO MELANIE MATTHEWS, HIN EXECUTIVE VP AND COO:
"Many problems that occur after a patient is discharged are ultimately preventable. It is crucial that healthcare providers ensure that patients and caregivers comprehend their prescribed hospital discharge plan. As patients transition from a tightly managed care environment to a more self-reliant setting, patient education and doctor-patient communication are key."
Please contact Patricia Donovan to arrange an interview or to obtain additional quotes.
About the Healthcare Intelligence Network - HIN is the premier advisory service for executives seeking high-quality strategic information on the business of healthcare. For more information, contact the Healthcare Intelligence Network, PO Box 1442, Wall Township, NJ 07719-1442, (888) 446-3530, fax (732) 292-3073, e-mail info(at)hin.com, or visit http://www.hin.com.
Press Contact: PATRICIA DONOVAN
Company Name: Healthcare Intelligence Network
Phone: 732-528-7347
Website: http://www.hin.com/cgi-local/link/news/pl.cgi?hospdisrel
Premier Assisted Living Memory Care Community Uses Solution from Intelligent InSites to Set New Standard in Resident Care and Safety
Real-Time Location Solution Enables Holistic Approach to Care
St. Paul, MN - February 12, 2008 - Pioneering new uses of technology to enhance resident care and service, The Alton Memory Care and Care Suites in St. Paul, Minnesota, today announced it will begin using healthcare's leading real-time location solution from Intelligent InSites when they open their new community next month.
"Our goal is to extend beyond the traditional type of care provided in assisted living and memory care facilities," explains Kim Webster, Director of Senior Care for The Alton. "We have embraced a holistic approach that includes not only excellent healthcare services, but also promotes a higher quality of care through increased resident independence, more staff-resident interaction, and more involvement with the family. We believe technology can play a key role in this. We selected the Intelligent InSites solution because it positively impacts how we provide care and service in so many ways."
The Intelligent InSites solution is a real-time location and communication system that uses small pendants to monitor the location of residents and staff within the community. Each pendant includes a button the residents or staff press should they need assistance. The system includes configurable rules that enable alerts to be routed and, if necessary, automatically escalated to notify the appropriate staff member via their mobile PDA. The tags will also be used for locating equipment within the community.
In addition to location, The Alton will utilize the flexible solution for a variety of other purposes as well, including wireless resident call, wander monitoring, security and access control, mobile alerting, and as their primary staff communication system. The system has also been integrated with their clinical and billing software, Residex, which will enable staff to access a resident's medical information and care plan anywhere in the community with just a few taps on their PDA.
"We love how integrated and expandable the system is. That was a key consideration in making this choice," added Webster. "Our staff can instantly receive resident calls, look up a resident's allergies, communicate with another staff member, and locate a needed piece of equipment via their PDA. It allows a higher level of productivity, which means more time with our residents."
The Alton staff feels that families are an integral part of the team in providing high quality care and service. Information regarding response times to resident calls, activities attended, staff-resident contact time, and the residents' general mobility will be automatically monitored by the Intelligent InSites system. The information can, as appropriate, be shared with families so they can see the types of activities and level of attention their family member is receiving.
"The Alton is a perfect example of how assisted living/memory care and other healthcare organizations are leveraging technology in innovative ways to transform the way care is provided to their residents and patients, while at the same time increasing productivity of their staff," states Mark Rheault, CEO of Intelligent InSites. "We're excited to play a key part in making their vision a reality."
About The Alton Memory Care and Care Suites
Located adjacent to the Wellington Assisted Living in St. Paul's Highland Park area, The Alton Memory Care and Care Suites is designed to provide a person-centered, caring, homelike living environment for the specialized needs and services for residents with memory loss.
Locally owned and operated by Stuart Management Corporation, The Alton is registered with the State of Minnesota as a Housing with Services provider, licensed as a Class F homecare provider, and is an active member of the Minnesota Health and Housing Alliance. For more information, visit www.TheAlton.com
About Intelligent InSites
Intelligent InSites is a leading provider of enterprise visibility solutions for the healthcare market. The InSites Enterprise Visibility PlatformT improves operational performance by providing healthcare organizations with a single system capable of locating patients, staff, equipment, and inventory via information derived through a variety of wireless locating technologies. The information is then leveraged to streamline and automate patient flow, asset management, and inventory management activities, resulting in increased productivity and efficient deployment of resources.
The platform serves as the core of the enterprise visibility strategy for Intelligent InSites' healthcare clients by enabling the seamless integration of real-time location data with their existing IT systems, communication systems, building systems, and mobile devices. The platform also allows customers and integrators to customize and enhance the system to suit their unique requirements and environment. For more information, visit www.IntelligentInSites.com
Contact Information
Houston Klassen
Intelligent InSites
701-499-3611
press@IntelligentInsites.com
Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment
Some useful guidelines from the Johns Hopkins White Paper 2008: Prescription Drugs on how to dispose of your unwanted medications safely to minimize the impact on humans and wildlife.
New York, NY - March 12, 2008 -- The Johns Hopkins White Paper 2008: Prescription Drugs recently published a summary of the Office of National Drug Control Policy literature on the subject of how to dispose of your medications safely.
According to a recent Associated Press investigation, prescription drugs have been found in drinking water across the U.S. They found a vast array of pharmaceuticals -- including antibiotics, anti-convulsants, mood stabilizers and sex hormones in the drinking water of 41 million Americans.
Though the level of concentration has been said to be very small, at this point it is unclear as to what the effects of continuous exposure to these drugs in these combinations could mean for humans and wildlife.
In light of these findings, the Johns Hopkins Prescription Drug White Paper summary should prove of some use in answering Americans' concerns about how to dispose of unwanted medications safely.
The original summary states:
How To Dispose of Your Medications
If you've ever wondered what to do with leftover or expired prescription medications, the federal government recently released some important advice. Here are the three options:
1. Throw in the trash.
To do this, remove pills from their original containers. If you are worried about illegal reuse, mix the pills with coffee grounds or kitty litter and place in an empty can or sealable bag.
2. Flush down the toilet.
Do this only if the drug label says so. Drugs that should be flushed down the toilet rather than thrown in the trash include narcotic pain medications, such as fentanyl (Actiq, Duragesic Transdermal System, Fentora), oxycodone (Oxycontin, Percocet), meperidine, and morphine (Avinza); the narcolepsy drug sodium oxybate (Xyrem); the hepatitis drug entecavir (Baraclude); the attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder drug methylphenidate (Daytrana Transdermal Patch); and the HIV drugs atazanavir (Reyataz) and stavudine (Zerit).
3. Utilize take-back programs.
If you are concerned about the environmental effects of flushing medications down the toilet or throwing them in the trash, take advantage of take-back programs, which allow you to bring unused drugs to a central location for proper disposal. Ask your local pharmacy or municipal waste collection system if they have such a program.
Source: THE OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY, February 2007
But in view of the recent AP investigation findings, the Office of National Drug Control Policy might want to consider revising their recommendations with regard to Option 2.
In the meantime, Americans can all do their share for the environment by choosing Options 1 or 3.
We might also like to consider applying the same vigilance in disposing of any over the counter medications we might have on hand the next time we decide to clean out our bathroom cabinet.
For more Health Alerts on Prescription Drugs and how to take them safely, please visit:
Prescription Drugs Health Alerts
For a review of the latest research on prescription drugs, please visit The Johns Hopkins White Paper 2008: Prescription Drugs:
http://www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com/white_papers/prescription_drugs_wp/digital08_landing.html [Prescription Drugs White Paper__title__ Prescription Drugs White Paper Information Page
"How To Dispose of Your Medications" excerpted from The Johns Hopkins Prescription Drugs White Paper, page 41. C 2008
Press Contact: JOAN MULLALLY
Company Name: Johns Hopkins Health Alerts
Phone: 917-640-4362
Website: http://www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com
Medtronic Introduces Improvement to Minimally Invasive Treatment of Aortic Aneurysms in Europe
Hydrophilic Coating on Talent® Abdominal Stent Graft Aids Navigation of Medical Device through Tight and Tortuous Arteries
MINNEAPOLIS--March 12, 2008--Continuing its record of innovation in endovascular therapies for aortic aneurysms, Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE: MDT), today announced the European market launch of the Talent® Abdominal Stent Graft on the new Xcelerant® Hydro Delivery System, which features a hydrophilic coating designed to aid navigation of the device through tight and tortuous arteries by reducing friction with the artery wall.
"The Xcelerant Hydro Delivery System is a significant innovation that will make endovascular repair (EVAR) using the Talent Stent Graft a treatment option for more patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms," said Dr. Dierk Scheinert, MD, PhD, of Park-Hospital and University of Leipzig - Heartcenter in Germany, and the leader of the first team worldwide to implant the device using the new delivery system. "It will simplify the procedure for endovascular interventionalists in treating patients whose iliac arteries are difficult to navigate when they are small and tortuous." The iliac arteries connect the femoral arteries, the entry point for stent grafts, to the aorta, the site of aortic aneurysms.
The Xcelerant Hydro Delivery System represents the seventh generation of innovation for the Talent Abdominal Stent Graft, which was introduced in Europe in April 1998. In bench testing, the Xcelerant Hydro Delivery System was shown to generate a 99 percent reduction in friction compared to the previous delivery system, which does not have the hydrophilic coating. Hydrophilic means "affinity for water"; because water is a major component of blood, the hydrophilic coating is designed to ease the delivery system's passage through the artery.
The Xcelerant Hydro Delivery System features a uniquely integrated sheath that contributes to the system's low profile characteristics, which are intended to enable excellent tracking and access through small vessels.
"Experience remains the foundation of our innovations in endovascular therapy, and the Xcelerant Hydro Delivery System represents our latest innovative contribution to this exciting field," said Katie Szyman, vice president and general manager of the Endovascular Innovations business at Medtronic. "Combined with the Talent Stent Graft, Medtronic now offers endovascular physicians in Europe an even stronger option for their EVAR procedures."
Medtronic has been an innovator and leader in the endovascular stent graft industry for more than a decade, as evidenced by more implants than any other company. Its long history includes more than 130,000 patients treated with aortic stent grafts dating back to 1995. Medtronic currently offers the broadest portfolio of endovascular stent grafts in the industry. These include the AneuRx AAAdvantage Abdominal Stent Graft System in the United States, and the Talent Abdominal, Talent Thoracic and Valiant Thoracic Stent Graft Systems outside the United States.
Present in an estimated one million people in Europe, an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a dangerous bulge or weakening of the body's main artery that can rupture with fatal consequences if left untreated. If detected before rupturing, AAAs with diameters of more than twice the size of the normal infrarenal aorta are typically treated with either open surgical repair or endovascular repair. In contrast to open surgical repair, EVAR involves a minimally invasive procedure in which a tube-like sleeve called a stent graft is threaded through the femoral artery in a compressed state on a delivery system and expanded inside the aorta at the site of the aneurysm. Once in place, the sleeve creates a new path for blood flow, reducing pressure on the aneurysm. The delivery system is then removed.
EVAR has been shown to be an effective therapy for AAA, with fewer postoperative complications and shorter recovery times than open surgical repair. In a landmark study conducted in the United Kingdom and published in The Lancet (Sept. 4, 2004), the 30-day mortality rate for EVAR patients was 1.7 percent compared to 4.7 percent for patients who underwent open repair - a nearly threefold difference. Similarly, results from a U.S. study published recently in The New England Journal of Medicine (Jan. 31, 2008) indicate that perioperative mortality was significantly lower after EVAR than after open repair (1.2 percent vs. 4.8 percent - a fourfold difference).
About Medtronic
Medtronic, Inc. (www.medtronic.com), headquartered in Minneapolis, is the global leader in medical technology - alleviating pain, restoring health, and extending life for millions of people around the world.
Any forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties such as those described in Medtronic's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended April 27, 2007. Actual results may differ materially from anticipated results.
Contacts
Medtronic, Inc.
Public Relations:
Joe McGrath, 707-591-7367
or
Investor Relations:
Jeff Warren, 763-505-2696
LegalView readers were recently informed of a Ohio prison, opened in 1966, that had tested positive for asbestos after prisoners from the jail sent samples of insulation to a lawyer. Asbestos fibers and dust can cause an incurable form of lung cancer known as mesothelioma.
Denver, CO (PRWEB) January 29, 2008 -- LegalView.com, your source for everything legal on the web, has updated its mesothelioma blog, alerting readers to an Ohio prison that has tested positive for asbestos. Chillicothe Correctional Institute, which was opened in 1966, had tested positive for the presence of asbestos after prisoners secretly sent insulation and dust found in their housing areas to an outside lawyer, who sent the materials to a lab for testing.
Asbestos fibers and dust are the cause of an incurable form of lung cancer known as mesothelioma. The cancer takes anywhere from ten years to a few decades to develop and the symptoms are similar to other illnesses, so an individual is often misdiagnosed and unaware of their fate. Asbestos had been used in the construction of homes, government buildings, schools, and offices among other structures before it was discovered to have been the root of http://mesothelioma.legalview.com[mesothelioma cancer __title__ Mesothelioma Information. To receive an attorney consultation on the specifics of an asbestos exposure case it is important to contact an experienced mesothelioma law firm who can offer a referral.
Of the 37 prisoners who claim to have been exposed to the asbestos, 33 are current inmates of the prison, while four have since been released. The prisoners have filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court, CV0015, stating that not only are they being exposed to asbestos, but that inmates "are routinely forced to remove asbestos or work with asbestos without training or protection," according to the lawsuit.
Individuals who feel they too have been previously exposed to asbestos should contact a medical professional as well as an attorney. Another illness that is similar to mesothelioma in its seriousness is Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis (NSF). NSF is a rare illness associated with individuals who are already suffering from kidney disease and are receiving gadolinium dye during magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) tests. NSF causes a patient's skin to harden, especially around the joints, and eventually becomes so hard and stiff that a victim cannot even move their appendages. If you or someone you know suffers from this illness contact an http://nsf-nephrogenic-systemic-fibrosis.legalview.com[NSF lawyer __title__ Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis Law Firm specializing in this illness to learn about what can be done to provide relief from such a debilitating disease. Additionally, if an individual is the victim of a construction accident or traumatic brain injury, use LegalView's practice areas to find more information on how to reach a http://construction.legalview.com[construction accident attorney __title__ Construction Accident Lawyer or a brain injury law firm to receive a consultation on potential compensation.
About LegalView:
LegalView.com is a public service brought to you by Legal WebTV Network, LLC, a Limited Liability Corporation created by a group of the nation's most highly respected law firms: Anapol Schwartz; Brent Coon and Associates; Burg Simpson; Cohen, Placitella and Roth; James F. Humphreys and Associates; Lopez McHugh; and Thornton and Naumes. For more information on the accomplishments and track records of LegalView.com's superior sponsoring law firms and to get in touch with LegalView attorneys, visit LegalView at www.LegalView.com.
Press Contact: Katie Kelley
Company Name: LegalView
Phone: 720-771-3246
Website: http://www.LegalView.com
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