CAPHOSOL Results In Minimal Oral Mucositis And Pain In Head/neck Cancer Patients
New data show that CAPHOSOL® (www.cahttp://www.caphosol.comphosol.com), an advanced electrolyte solution, results in low rates of oral mucositis and pain in patients with head and neck (HN) cancer who are undergoing chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Medication Compliance In African Americans Boosted By Gifts, Affirmations
Study highlights: Phone calls and low-cost gifts to African Americans with hypertension increased how frequently they correctly took their medication. Taking medication consistently and correctly is a major issue in all patient populations and especially African Americans, researchers said.

Glaucoma Research Highlights From AAO-SOE Joint Meeting Nov. 9
Glaucoma-related highlights of the scientific program of the 2008 Joint Meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (Academy) and European Society of Ophthalmology (SOE) include a study that correlates optic nerve damage in glaucoma patients with carotid artery narrowing and potentially elev

According To Cutting Edge Information, Only 59% Of Pharma Companies Own Dedicated Compliance Departments
A new study by business intelligence firm Cutting Edge Information finds that only 59% of pharmaceutical companies currently own dedicated departments for compliance. The study, "Monitoring and Ensuring Pharmaceutical Compliance," highlights the growing need for creating a dedicated compliance department.

Economic Downturn Leads U.S. Residents To Skip, Delay Medical Care
The AP/Salt Lake Tribune on Wednesday examined how the "ailing economy is leading many Americans to skip doctor visits, skimp on their medicine, and put off mammograms, Pap smears and other tests," a trend that physicians worry will result in "sicker patients who need more expensive treatment later." A

Some U.S. Residents Cut Back On Prescription Drugs To Save Money
The New York Times on Wednesday examined how, as "people around the country respond to financial and economic hard times by juggling the cost of necessities like groceries and housing, drugs are sometimes having to wait." An analysis conducted recently by IMS Health found that U.S.

How Safe Are Biological Medicines?
According to an article published in the October 22/29 issue of JAMA, about 25% of biological medicinal products that United States and European authorities have approved since 1995 have had at least one regulatory action issued due to safety within 10 years after approval. Around 11% of these antibody, enzyme, and insulin products have even received "black box" warnings that indicate the possibility of serious side effects.

InfoMedics Survey Clearly Demonstrates Gap Between Doctors' Orders And Patient Prescription Behaviors
InfoMedics, Inc., the patient feedback company, announced the results of a survey examining the behaviors of patients on prescription medications. The findings show that a significant portion of medication users tend to ignore or stray from their doctor's orders, and that there are opportunities for improved patient-physician communication.

Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit 'Doughnut Hole' Prompts Many Beneficiaries To End Treatment With Medications
BusinessWeek on Wednesday examined how many Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in the prescription drug benefit do not take necessary medications after they reach the "doughnut hole" coverage gap, in which they must cover the full cost of their treatments. According to an

Better Outcomes In HIV-Infected Adults Treated Initially With Efavirenz-Based Therapies
A study led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that HIV-infected patients taking the antiretroviral drug efavirenz were more likely to adhere to treatment and less likely to experience virologic failure and death compared to patients taking nevirapine. Nevirapine is the most frequently prescribed drug for patients undergoing highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) for the treatment of HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa, where the study was conducted.

Woman Suffers Serious Vitamin Deficiency After Gastric Bypass Surgery
A woman developed disease because, after her weight-loss surgery, she did not take her multivitamin, as reported in a Case Report released on October 10, 2008 in The Lancet. The obesity epidemic is well documented around the world, and has affected developed countries in great magnitude. One treatment for obesity is gastric bypass surgery, which actually limits the size of the stomach cavity to help curb the patient's appetite.

University Of Montreal Students Design Argus, A High-tech Pill Organizer - Could Help Save Lives And Money
A new high-tech pill organizer designed by two students could help save lives and billions of dollars to the health-care system. According to Statistics Canada, 50 percent of Canadians don't follow their prescriptions. As a result, one out of 10 patients ends up in the emergency room. This problem can have lethal consequences on the health of a patient and contributes to the blockage of ERs across the country.

Compliance For Lifeâ„¢ Medication Dosing Reminders Go Global
Compliance for Lifeâ„¢ is going global. iReminder, LLC, announces that Compliance for Life now delivers dosing reminders anywhere in the world by phone and SMS text message, as well as email.

HealthHonors' Innovative Technology Platform Adopted By AstraZeneca - Program Will Help Patients Take Their Medicines As Prescribed
HealthHonors® today announced that AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP has implemented HealthHonors' proprietary technology platform to help patients remember to take their medicine as prescribed. The HealthHonors platform, known as Dynamic Intermittent Reinforcement (DIR™), is a patient incentive program that uses intermittent reinforcement schedules to motivate patients to take their medications as prescribed.

Pharmaceutical Safety Company Shares Insight Into European Quality Assurance Regulations
Drug Safety Alliance (DSA), a global leader in pharmaceutical safety and pharmacovigilance, was invited to share their extensive insight into quality assurance protocols in Europe with the Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society (RAPS) at their annual conference held recently in Boston.