Patients are emerging as an increasingly strong group when it comes to influencing the success and failure of new drugs – according to a newly published New Health Report commissioned by Quintiles to gauge the opinions of biopharma executives, managed care executives and patients, and to track progress in the New Health.

According to the survey, almost one third (32%) of biopharmaceutical executives think patients will be very or extremely influential in the success or failure of new drug therapies over the next five years. In stark contrast, only 11% of patients feel they will influence which new prescription drugs are available over that same time period.

The survey also reveals that the perception of how patients demonstrate influence varies considerably between biopharma executives and patients themselves. Only 6% of biopharma executives feel that patients show their influence most by choosing lifestyle or holistic approaches, despite 45% of patients who report they have made lifestyle changes within the past five years to avoid taking prescription drugs.

“This misalignment speaks volumes about biopharma’s challenge to better understand patients and their perception of the value of prescription drugs in order to address the needs of this increasingly influential stakeholder group,” added Amin.

Additional findings from The New Health Report include:

• What is the impact of the rise in generics? – Almost half (46%) of biopharma executives believe a worsening of public health is likely if generics continue to gain market share.
• What do patients think of patent protection? – Nearly all biopharma executives (99%) and three-quarters (75%) of patients feel patent protection is important in promoting the development of new drug therapies. However, nearly one third (30%) of patients believe that drug companies should never be the only company that can make and sell a drug.
• What should be the therapeutic area of greatest focus? Biopharma executives, managed care executives and patients all agree that oncology should be the therapeutic area of greatest focus in the next five years.
• Which cancer should be a top priority? – Among patients, more than one in three (35%) feel breast cancer should be the priority focus, followed by lung cancer (16%) and leukemia (13%).

Boston Medical Group, a national physician network specializing in the treatment of erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation, today released ten top acronyms that matter to men’s health. From weight loss to mental, heart and sexual health, the medical lexicon can be confusing for patients, family members and healthcare professionals alike. Boston Medical Group is taking a step to dispel the confusion around men’s health conditions and treatments in order to help patients move towards self-care as a crucial part of their overall health-care.

Ten Important Men’s Health Terms Include (listed in alphabetical order):

1. AOD: Adult Onset Diabetes, more commonly referred to as “Type II Diabetes,” is a condition marked by high blood glucose and insulin deficiency. Because diabetes affects blood sugar levels and a man’s vascular system, diabetes is often associated with other health conditions, such as heart disease and erectile dysfunction. Men will benefit by understanding the underlying health issues affecting all bodily functions and taking a holistic approach to healthcare, rather than treating a singular condition such as diabetes.

2. BMI: Body Mass Index is a number calculated using a person’s height and weight. One’s BMI is a reliable indicator of the various weight classifications, such as obesity, that can lead to other health problems. Once a man’s BMI is calculated, he can take the diet and exercise measures necessary to improve his weight category and overall health.

3. BP: High blood pressure, or hypertension, occurs when the force of blood within an artery is unusually high. The risk of high blood pressure increases in a man’s forties, and can cause a wide range of health problems, including aneurysms, heart failure, kidney failure and blindness. While high blood pressure is often genetic, a man can decrease his risk of hypertension by improving his diet and exercise level, and decreasing salt and alcohol intake.

4. ED: Erectile dysfunction is a condition that affects 30 million American men. According to the Massachusetts Male Aging Study, 52 percent of men between the ages of 40 and 70 report having some difficulty achieving or maintaining erections.¹ Many physicians point to the fact that the penis serves as the barometer of a man’s overall health, with ED acting as an early sign of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and other physical ailments. Men with even mild symptoms of ED should examine their overall health to ensure longevity.

5. HDL/LDL: HDL—or high-density lipoprotein—is known as “good cholesterol,” because it is thought to carry cholesterol away from the arteries to be processed by the liver and excreted from the body. LDL—or low-density lipoprotein—can form plaque in the arteries that feed the heart and the brain, increasing risk of clot formation and heart attack. Foods heavy in omega-3 fatty acids, such as fish oils, flax seeds, soy products and dark leafy greens have been shown to lower fat in the bloodstream and improve overall blood flow.

6. ICP: Used to treat erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation, intracavernous pharmocotherapy (ICP) is a combination of FDA-approved medications that is injected into the spongy tissue of the penis, using an auto-applicator, to produce an erection within minutes. Because ICP is a localized treatment, many of the systemic risk factors that keep oral medications from being a safe treatment option for men affected with diabetes and heart conditions are not present with ICP.

7. EKG: Recommended for men over thirty-five, an electrocardiogram (EKG) is an important medical test that records the electrical activity of the heart. EKGs are used to detect abnormal rhythms and heart muscle damage.

8. STI: Sexually transmitted diseases, in recent years referred to as sexually transmitted infections (STIs), are illnesses transmitted through sexual contact. Gone untreated, many STIs can adversely affect one’s immune system, organ function, blood cells and other health conditions. The most effective way to prevent STIs is by avoiding the transfer of bodily fluids; proper use of condoms also reduces risk of STIs. Both sexual partners should also get tested for STIs before initiating sexual activity.

9. CDE: In order to promote good health and strong bodily functions, it is important that the male diet is rich in vitamins and minerals. Three important vitamins for men include Vitamin C to strengthen blood vessels and muscles and protect against infection; Vitamin D, which is important for preventing some types of bone disease; and Vitamin E, an antioxidant that helps repair cell membranes that protect the heart.

10. PSA: A Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a protein secreted by the prostate–measuring one’s PSA level has been used for some time as a method of screening for prostate cancer.

States, territories, and large metropolitan areas will receive grants totaling $390.5 million this month to help hospitals and other health care organizations strengthen the medical surge capability across the nation.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response will provide the funds through the Hospital Preparedness Program. The grants enhance community resilience by increasing the ability of hospitals and healthcare facilities to respond to the public health and medical impacts of any emergency, such as natural disasters, disease outbreaks, or acts of terrorism.

All states, territories and the metro areas of New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles County and Washington, D.C., will receive the 2010 Hospital Preparedness grants. The funds will be used by state and local governments to boost the readiness of hospitals and other healthcare facilities in their jurisdictions by finalizing development or improving:

• Interoperable communication systems
• Systems to track available hospital beds
• Advance registration of volunteer health professionals
• Processes for hospital evacuations or sheltering-in-place
• Processes for fatality management
• Strengthening health care partnerships at the community level
• Strengthen hospital participation in statewide and regional exercise programs.

The 2010 awards are as follows:

The grant cycle aligns with the state fiscal year of July 1 – June 30.

The Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act requires accountability of the use of the Hospital Preparedness Program funds. These funds can be withheld from awardees if they fail to meet established state-level performance measures.

Neuros Medical announced today they have received notification of award for $1.5 million from the U.S. Department of Defense. The Applied Research and Technology Development Award was provided by the Defense Medical Research and Development Program (DMRDP). The funding will aid technology development and human clinical research for their novel neurostimulation therapy, called Nerve Block, focusing on the treatment of chronic residual limb pain which is suffered by nearly one million amputees. The Company’s technology utilizes high frequency alternating current stimulation to block chronic pain signals in the peripheral nervous system.

“The U.S. Military holds a strong commitment to continued care for the wounded warrior, even after the battlefield experience,” stated Jon J. Snyder, President and CEO of Neuros Medical. “Our efforts via this funding will greatly advance our technology’s application in providing a proven treatment for patients with chronic pain, specifically residual limb pain.” In addition, military casualties and amputations experienced by those serving in Iraq and Afghanistan have contributed to the need to develop effective treatments for patients suffering from chronic residual limb pain.

Whether it’s called a hybrid room or an interventional platform, Room 9 at Stanford Hospital & Clinics is that singular space where a patient can stay in one place to be diagnosed and treated, either with surgery or the latest interventional procedure, in an environment as sterile as an operating room, with all-important imaging devices, microscopes and monitors right at hand.

“It’s a quantum leap up,” said Robert Dodd, MD, PhD, who is both Stanford neurosurgeon and interventional neuroradiologist. “We can have a full operating team in the room and we won’t have to move the entire team and patient down the hall, up the elevator and back down again.”

The patient, in that old scenario, remains anesthetized, and movement requires all the IV poles to come, too, along with a medical team. It also means that the surgical opening remains unclosed until imaging can confirm that the surgery has done what was needed. That kind of back and forth, Dodd said, can take all day, instead of four hours and no moving necessary.

“It’s much safer for the patient,” said Shelly Reynolds, RN, Interim Director of the Hospital’s Cath-Angio Interventional Services Lab. “If someone has their brain exposed, it’s not really ideal to be moving them down the hallway.” Until Room 9 opened, however, that was the only option.

Room 9, open only a couple of weeks, was designed specifically to allow on-scene collaboration between specialists in neurosurgery and neuroradiology. The room’s centerpiece is a stereoscopic biplane digital subtraction angiography system−its curvilinear arms nearly reaching the ceiling, encircling a space as broad as a giant redwood trunk. It’s a machine that captures all-around images of the brain without having to turn the patient from side to side. Because fewer images are required to build the 3D images that offer the required precision of detail, the patient is exposed to less radiation and less contrast dye injection.

The improved detail enhances patient safety as well as diagnosis and treatment. “Combined with live fluoroscopy, the newer angiographic hardware and software in the room produces a fully-dimensional image that reconstructs a patient’s arterial system,” said Michael Marks, MD, Chief, Interventional Neuroradiology. “We can understand anatomy better and more precisely navigate.”

The larger space is not just about the equipment, Reynolds said. In the older rooms, “people are literally up against the wall−attending physicians, anesthesiologist, residents, nurses, technicians. It’s a lot of people in a very tight space. And that’s just essential personnel.”

Thirty years ago, the industry standard size for operating rooms was 450 square feet. Advanced imaging technology is now part of the standard equipment at top-flight hospitals, like Stanford, and that equipment requires space. The new industry standard operating room is at minimum, 600 square feet. New operating rooms must also accommodate the greater degree of collaboration between specialists that means more personnel around a patient. At 800 square feet, hybrid rooms like Stanford’s can hold those extra people that might be needed in an unanticipated turn of events, if what begins as a catheterization suddenly becomes a situation for surgery.

Neurocatheterization is a treatment option whose capabilities have grown rapidly in the last decade. In a typical procedure, Dodd will make a fingernail-sized opening at the top of a patient’s thigh and then thread a very tiny tube−the catheter−into an artery that will, ultimately, reach the patient’s brain. Once there, Dodd manipulates tools carried by the catheter to remove stroke-causing blood clots with exquisite specificity. It’s a procedure that requires the highest degree of imaging and must be done as precisely as any surgery, and yet, until now, hospital design has separated catheter procedures from operating rooms.

Planning Room 9 took months of careful evaluation of the needs of physicians, nurses and technologists, Marks said. The transformation was precipitated by the natural end of Room 9’s usefulness, said the Hospital’s Vice President-Clinical Services Jerry Maki. “We were convinced that a new hybrid room was what was needed at Stanford, so it made sense to invest the effort and funds to make it happen.”

The new Stanford Hospital will include one entire floor of this kind of multipurpose space, with several 1,000-square-foot units large enough to accommodate larger scale equipment and more people. In the meantime, the hospital is considering renovations, to surgical standards, of other catheterization procedure or operating rooms. Room 9 will not be restricted to neurological procedures. Many other fields of medicine−such as cardiology, vascular, thoracic, gastrointestinal−now include minimally invasive procedures guided by advanced imaging.

New research presented at the American Diabetes Association’s 70^th Scientific Sessions in Orlando, Florida on June 27, 2010 suggests that a medical food developed by Metagenics called UltraMeal PLUS 360° enhances the cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk-lowering benefits of a Mediterranean-style low-glycemic-load diet.

A team of researchers from the University of Florida College of Medicine in Jacksonville, FL compared the effects of two dietary interventions on CVD risk factors in 47 women with metabolic syndrome. In the 12-week, two-arm, randomized, parallel group study, participants received a Mediterranean-style, low-glycemic-load diet alone or in conjunction with UltraMeal PLUS 360°.

Both groups experienced improvements in the following markers of CVD risk:

• Improvements in total cholesterol, LDL-C, apolipoprotein B (apoB) and non-high density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) compared to baseline
• Reduction in total LDL particle number

The group that additionally received UltraMeal PLUS 360° experienced:

• Reductions in triglycerides, apoB/apoA-1, cholesterol/HDL, and small LDL particle number
• Greater reductions in total cholesterol, LDL-C, non-HDL-C, apoB, total LDL particle number, and small LDL particle number

According to lead researcher, Mark McIntosh, MD, “All of our subjects benefited from switching to this heart-healthy diet for 12 weeks. But those who received a medical food which contained the plant sterols, hops rho iso-alpha acids and acacia proanthocyanidins experienced additional benefits. We believe this combination of healthy eating and targeted nutrients offers an effective therapeutic option for clinicians whose patients suffer from metabolic syndrome.”

The study was conducted by Dr. McIntosh, Colleen J. Kalynych, Clare Vukich, Vivek Kumar, Michelle Lott (all of the University of Florida College of Medicine/Jacksonville) and Robert Lerman (of MetaProteomics, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Metagenics, Inc.) and sponsored by Metagenics, Inc.

A Mediterranean-style low-glycemic-load diet emphasizing “good” fats, whole grains, fresh produce, and fish, has been shown to be effective in addressing metabolic syndrome, a cluster of conditions that affects nearly a third of adults in the U.S. and increases their risk to develop cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and many other chronic diseases. Metabolic syndrome is defined as the presence of three or more of the following: elevated blood pressure, elevated blood sugar, central obesity (“apple shape”), elevated blood triglycerides, and low HDL (“good cholesterol”).

The key ingredients in UltraMeal PLUS 360° are soy protein (shown to have cholesterol-lowering effects and which may be more beneficial than animal protein in reducing the risk of heart disease); plant sterols (shown to promote healthy cholesterol levels); and hops rho iso-alpha acids and acacia proanthocyanidins (which function as selective kinase response modulators).

The best one-word description for multiple sclerosis (MS) is “unpredictable,” according to the June issue of Mayo Clinic Women’s HealthSource. MS interferes with the communication between the brain and the rest of the body. Just how that interference plays out in symptoms is different for everyone — thus, the unpredictable label.

In patients with MS, the immune system attacks the covering (myelin sheath) that surrounds the nerves in the brain and spinal cord. The attacks lead to inflammation and injury to the myelin sheath, which can result in multiple areas of scarring (sclerosis). Eventually, the scarring can slow or block nerve signals that control vision, muscle coordination, strength and sensation.

MS symptoms vary in intensity and duration, and occur in various combinations. Some people experience attacks or flare-ups followed by remissions. Others experience gradual worsening of symptoms. Typically, symptoms first appear between ages 20 and 50. Women are about twice as likely as men to develop MS.

The most common symptoms are abnormal sensory feelings such a numbness, tingling or prickling pain in the lower half or on one side of the body. Many people with MS also experience muscle weakness in one or more limbs and difficulty with coordination and balance. Symptoms may be severe enough to impair walking or standing. Other symptoms can include muscle stiffness and spasms, fatigue, blurred or double vision, difficulty concentrating, depression and loss of bowel and bladder control.

What causes or triggers MS is unclear. There is no cure for MS, but a number of therapies can treat symptoms or reduce the duration or severity of flare-ups. Other treatments, some still being studied, may help slow the course of the disease. Treatment options include:

Corticosteroids: These anti-inflammatory drugs can shorten and reduce the severity of acute attacks.

Interferons: These drugs — including Betaseron, Avonex and Rebif — are genetically engineered copies of antiviral proteins that occur naturally in the body. They have been shown to decrease the number of attacks and may decrease the destruction of myelin, possibly slowing progression of MS.

Glatiramer (Copaxone): An alternative to interferons, it is believed to help curb MS attacks by blocking the immune system’s attack on myelin.

Natalizumab (Tysabri): This drug can reduce the frequency of MS attacks by limiting the ability of immune cells to move from the bloodstream to the brain. However, it can increase the risk of serious brain infection.

Mitoxantrone (Novantrone): Clinical trials show that this immunosuppressant drug may help slow down MS. It may not be effective unless there’s evidence of active inflammation. The drug has been associated with serious side effects such as heart problems and leukemia.

Symptom-specific medications: A number of drugs can help relieve symptoms such as muscle stiffening, fatigue, depression and incontinence. Recently, the Food and Drug Administration approved the drug dalfampridine (Ampyra) as a treatment to improve walking in adults with MS.

In addition to medications, patients with MS may benefit from counseling, physical therapy and lifestyle modifications to help manage symptoms.

When it comes to healthy diet advice it can be a nightmare deciding what’s junk and what’s genuine.  It’s actually quite simple to get a balanced diet – just eat the right amount of foods from all the food groups. But every day we’re bombarded with celebrity diets, superfood fads and advertising pushing new ways to eat well and stay in shape. And not everything you read about is true – so here are five common myths busted by the NHS.

Myth 1: ‘Foods labelled “low fat” are always a healthy choice’.

The reality: ‘Low fat’ foods can still pack plenty of calories. All the low-fat label really means is that this food is 30% lower in fat than the standard equivalent. So if the type of food in question is high in fat in the first place – like a doughnut – the low-fat version may also still be high in fat. Low-fat foods are often high in sugar too – so check the label carefully.

Myth 2: ‘Steer clear of starchy foods if you want to stay slim.’

The reality: Starchy foods such as rice, pasta, bread and potatoes should make up around one third of everything we eat. This means we should base our meals on these foods for a healthy, balanced diet.

Myth 3: ‘Eating less is the secret of a healthy diet.’

The reality: When it comes to healthy eating, balance is the key. While it’s true that many of us eat too much, a healthy diet means eating a wide variety of foods in the right proportions. Most people eat too much fat, sugar and salt, and not enough fruit, vegetables and fibre.

Myth 4: ‘All fat is the same.’

The reality: Many of us would benefit from cutting down on all types of fat but swapping saturated for unsaturated fat can have health benefits.

Saturated fat – found in sausages, pies, cheese, butter and biscuits – can raise cholesterol and increase your risk of heart disease. But unsaturated fat - found in oily fish, sunflower and olive oils – can help reduce cholesterol and provide essential nutrients. So, for a healthy diet, limit the total amount of fat you eat and switch to unsaturated fat where possible.

Myth 5: ‘I don’t add salt to my food, so I can’t be eating too much of it.’

The reality: Not salting your food is a good idea but three-quarters of the salt we eat is already in our food when we buy it.

Too much salt can raise blood pressure and increase your risk of stroke and heart problems. Adults shouldn’t eat more than six grams a day, so keep an eye on food labels.

With their world turned upside down by enactment of healthcare reform, senior U.S. healthcare executives are divided over whether the new environment offers growth possibilities or challenges to the survival of existing business models, a new survey shows.

Of the senior supply chain executives surveyed, a third said reform would either open up new markets or create new customers. But 20% doubted the ability of their companies “to afford to operate” in the coming new world; 26% said flatly that reform would hamper their research and development programs, and another 22% said they already had concluded their firms did not have the infrastructure needed to compete in the future.

Despite domestic upheaval in the wake of reform and a still-recovering economy, many healthcare companies show signs of positive change. Companies are pursuing global expansion plans to develop new market opportunities outside the United States and supply chain investments are on the rise.

The results are drawn from the latest annual UPS “Pain in the (Supply) Chain” survey of senior-level healthcare supply chain executives. Now in its third year, the survey is conducted by Harris Interactive and is designed to identify the greatest pain points and future trends in the supply chains of companies in the pharmaceutical, medical device and supplies and biotech sectors.

Beyond the issues of healthcare reform and globalization, the 2010 survey also explored healthcare companies’ top business and supply chain issues. Not surprisingly, the top business concern remains what the industry considers an escalation of complex regulations around the world. The top supply chain concern is managing costs.

Global market expansion plans

Many 2010 survey findings centered around healthcare companies’ global operations and expansion plans, with nearly half (47%) of respondents planning to expand into new or emerging markets in the next 18 months.

China, India and Brazil are the emerging markets with the most current healthcare business. These countries, along with Argentina, also are the top four markets into which healthcare companies are most likely to expand in the next two to three years.

“Globalization of the healthcare market has led to numerous opportunities while simultaneously creating challenges,” added Hook. “Among these challenges are country-specific regulatory hurdles; the security of high-value, temperature-sensitive products, and the difficulties of managing multiple suppliers. To manage risks while reaching new customers, companies must focus on building greater flexibility and visibility into their supply chains.”

While most companies already are participating in some activity abroad (selling, manufacturing, sourcing and/or clinical trials), 21% of healthcare companies surveyed don’t participate in any of these activities outside the United States.

The ability to access new global and emerging markets is a growing concern for many healthcare companies with 22% more respondents reporting concerns around this in 2010 versus 2009 findings. Only 32% of this year’s respondents claim success with accessing global markets. Country regulations are the largest barrier to global expansion, cited by 54% of respondents.

Top business and supply chain concerns

The 2010 UPS Pain in the (Supply) Chain survey also explores healthcare companies’ top business and supply chain issues.

As the top business concern (“increasing regulations”) and second largest supply chain concern (“regulatory compliance”), industry regulations are a critical focus area for healthcare companies. In addition to country regulations being named the largest barrier to global expansion, 60% of companies are “very” or “extremely concerned” with regulatory compliance as a supply chain issue. Fifty-eight percent rank increasing regulations as their top business concern, making this the top overall business concern ahead of such things as intellectual property protection, increasing competition and patent expirations.

For the third year in a row, managing costs tops the list of healthcare companies’ supply chain concerns. Sixty-four percent of respondents report being “very” or “extremely concerned” with managing supply chain costs, up from 55% in 2009. At the same time, only 44% of companies report success in addressing cost management.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services today unveiled an innovative new on-line tool that will help consumers take control of their health care by connecting them to new information and resources that will help them access quality, affordable health care coverage. Called for by the Affordable Care Act, HealthCare.gov is the first website to provide consumers with both public and private health coverage options tailored specifically for their needs in a single, easy-to-use tool.

HealthCare.gov is the first central database of health coverage options, combining information about public programs, from Medicare to the new Pre-Existing Conditions Insurance Plan, with information from more than 1,000 private insurance plans. Consumers can receive information about options specific to their life situation and local community.

In addition, the website will be a one-stop-shop for information about the implementation of the Affordable Care Act as well as other health care resources. The website will connect consumers to quality rankings for local health care providers as well as preventive services.

“This website is unlike any government website you have ever seen or used before,” said HHS Chief Technology Officer Todd Park. “It was developed with significant consumer input and is remarkably easy to navigate. This is despite the sheer volume of content it offers consumers: billions of health care choices through the insurance finder and more than 500 pages of new content, all of which is designed to grow with ongoing consumer feedback and as our health care system improves.”

As the health care market transforms, so will HealthCare.gov. In October, 2010, price estimates for health insurance plans will be available online. In the weeks and months ahead, new information on preventing disease and illness and improving the quality of health care for all Americans will also be posted. The website also includes a series of opportunities where users can indicate whether pages were helpful to them and we will continue to seek user feedback to grow and strengthen the site.