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Novartis Successfully Demonstrates Capabilities Of Cell-based Technology For Production Of A(H1N1) Vaccine
Novartis has successfully completed the production of the first batch of influenza A(H1N1) vaccine, weeks ahead of expectations. Cell-based manufacturing technology[1] allows vaccine production to be initiated once a pandemic virus strain is identified without the need to adapt the virus strain to grow in eggs, as with traditional vaccine technologies. This advance has cut weeks off the time required to begin vaccine production. This first batch of ten liters of wild type influenza A(H1N1) vaccine monobulk will be used for pre-clinical evaluation and testing and is also being considered for use in clinical trials. It demonstrates the value of the cell-based production approach, that is also being used by Novartis with reassortant influenza A(H1N1) seed.
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Data Ranks Insurers According To Speed Of Claim Payment, Share Of Denials
Aetna, Cigna and Humana ranked highest nationally on criteria including speed of health claim payments and fewest claims denied, according to the 2009 PayerView Rankings, the Boston Globe reports. The rankings -- prepared by Athenahealth in collaboration with Physicians Practice management journal -- evaluated 172 national, regional and government payers in 40 states.According to the data, insurers paid physicians an average 5.3% faster in 2008 and denied an average of 9% fewer medical claims compared with 2007 figures. On average, national health insurers paid physicians in 33 days and denied 9.2% of claims.According to the Globe, the rankings reveal some of the obstacles that can result from the complexities and bureaucracy involved in the medical billing process, with each insurer operating in different ways. Jonathan Bush, chair and CEO of Athenahealth, said, "This is the biggest problem we have in health care -- the inability to close supply chains and to practically and tactically connect doctors with payers and patients," adding, "These connections are broken" (Weisman, Boston Globe, 5/28).
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Doctors Warn That Alcoholic Beverages combined with Trampolines Must Be Avoided
During the warmer months, the use of trampolines is more frequent and as a result children are more likely to be hospitalized with related injuries, especially after bouncing with adults at the same time, according to doctors" warnings.
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Food For Thought: Report Published Into The UK's Health

Medical scientists from Southampton have contributed to a major new report published today, setting out plans to enhance the nation"s health by improving diet, increasing physical activity and cutting harmful drinking. Professor David Coggon and Dr Nick Sheron of the University of Southampton"s School of Medicine, are among a panel of experts from health charities, consumer organisations, academia and the food and drink industry, commissioned to explore how business and government can work together to promote public health. The report found that deaths from alcohol have doubled in the last 15 years as consumption has increased and in two decades obesity has tripled, while just 1 in 4 women and 4 in 10 men do the recommended amount of exercise. Dr Sheron, a hepatologist at the University of Southampton and one of the UK"s leading experts on alcohol misuse explains: "Alcohol-related liver deaths in the UK have outstripped France, Spain and Italy. This report highlights the need for proper funding of alcohol services and makes the point that the Government needs to think about both minimum pricing and fiscal measures that can reduce alcohol consumption. "We have reached the stage where hazardous and harmful drinkers are now drinking three-quarters of all the alcohol sold in the UK." Professor David Coggon, who researches occupational and environmental medicine at the University, adds: "We have outlined ways in which business and government could work as partners to help people live longer and healthier lives. It"s about provision of simple, clear, consistent information, and creating an environment in which it is easier for the individual to make healthy choices." Other recommendations of the report, commissioned by the Conservative party and chaired by Dave Lewis of Unilever, include: - consistent delivery of key health messages by a single branded vehicle with standardised information on food packaging and in restaurants and bars - reduction of salt, saturated fat and sugar and the complete elimination of industrial transfats in foods - reduced portion sizes in shops and restaurants - restriction of food advertising to children, and a full and independent review of exposure to alcohol advertising - incentivising GPs for prevention of alcohol and other health problems, with ring-fenced PCT funding for prevention - replacing the term "units", which represent different sizes across the EU, with centilitres (cl); one UK unit is actually one centilitre of pure alcohol. University of Southampton


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