Diagnosing a risk of fatal lung disorders may be possible by analysing the umbilical cords of premature babies, according to research published in the online open access journal Genome Biology.  Until now, paediatricians have not been able to predict the development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) because of the difficulties with obtaining lung samples. [click link for full article]

Preliminary research suggests that use of the ACE inhibitor perindopril, along with a beta-blocker, may help reduce cardiac measures such as aortic stiffness and dilation that are associated with the cardiac complications of Marfan syndrome, according to an article in the October 3 issue of JAMA. [click link for full article]

Today the American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP) is pleased to announce the launch of a new patient education program. The AAKP HealthLine is a FREE, one-hour conference call designed to educate kidney patients on a variety of topics affecting them and their families. Conference calls feature kidney healthcare experts from across the country and provide patients with the convenience of gaining knowledge from the comfort of their home or office. [click link for full article]

The Medical University of South Carolina Hollings Cancer Center has received $500,000 from the Spaulding-Paolozzi Foundation to create the Countess Alicia Paolozzi Distinguished Endowed Chair in Breast Cancer Diagnosis, Treatment and Research. Hollings Cancer Center will provide matching funds of $500,000 for the endowed chair. [click link for full article]

UCB and sanofi-aventis announced that XYZAL®, a new once-daily medication used to treat indoor and outdoor allergies, as well as chronic idiopathic urticaria, is now available by prescription in the USA. XYZAL® is an oral antihistamine that has been shown to provide powerful allergy symptom relief. XYZAL® is approved for use in adults and children 6 years and older. [click link for full article]

A new study finds that a growing number of inpatient rehabilitation hospitals and units are inappropriately denied Medicare payment for care provided to their patients. A high rate of these payment denials are successfully overturned with findings that the care questioned was in fact medically appropriate. But the administrative red tape required to set things straight drains hospital resources resulting in less funds available for patient care. [click link for full article]

A partnership to advance the rights of children with intellectual disabilities was announced by UNICEF and Special Olympics International, on the occasion of the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Shanghai, China. Working together, the two organizations will advocate for health care, education, recreational sports and employment policies that will benefit children with intellectual disabilities. [click link for full article]

Thirty-one members of Congress have formed a bipartisan group to advocate for passage of bills that would establish reimbursement schedules and other guidelines for independent pharmacists working with insurers and pharmacy benefit managers, CQ HealthBeat reports. [click link for full article]

Osteoporosis is now a significant public health issue in the United States. In the special J. Robert Gladden Society supplement of the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Patricia A. Thomas, MD, a professor of pathology and laboratory medicine at the University of Kansas, School of Medicine, reviewed the racial and ethic differences in osteoporosis for women. [click link for full article]

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) announced that Kmart has reinforced its commitment to ADA and elevated its support for the diabetes community by becoming a National Strategic Partner (NSP). As a National Strategic Partner, Kmart will raise at least $1 million to support ADA’s mission to prevent and cure diabetes, and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. Kmart’s relationship with ADA began in 2006. [click link for full article]