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RenalWEB's Daily News Archive

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April 24 May 1
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April 25-26 May 2-3

Thursday, May 8

  May 8, 2008

New Editorial from Lufkin Daily News on Patients Deaths at DaVita Dialysis Center
New editorial and background article from Lufkin Daily News.

DaVita: Company Saddened by Deaths at Lufkin, Texas Facility
Article from Lufkin Daily News. See reader comment entered by DaVita VP Jerry McNeill on May 7th at the bottom of the April 30th story.  RenalWEB news summary.
DaVita Board of Directors Increases Share Repurchase Authorization
Press release.

Vitamin D Linked to Reduced Mortality Rate in Chronic Kidney Disease
News release from the American Society of Nephrology. JASN ePress abstract from the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.  RenalWEB news summary.

Market Trends for Renal Anemia, Hyperphosphatemia, and Secondary Hyperparathyroidism
Press release on two new publications from BioTrends Research Group.
Highlights of the 28th Annual Dialysis Conference: Optimum Management of Anemia in Children -- ESA Administration and Iron Supplementation
Article from Medscape Nephrology (registration required).
Predicting Acute Renal Failure after Cardiac Surgery: External Validation of Two New Clinical Scores
CJASN ePress abstract from the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
Medtronic Recalls Heparin-Coated Bypass Equipment
Article from Reuters via Yahoo.
NxStage Announces Supply Agreement With Kawasumi Laboratories for Blood Tubing Sets
$271 Million in stem Cell Grants OKd in California
Article from the San Francisco Chronicle.
Too Much, Too Little Sleep tied to ill Health in CDC Study
AP article via Yahoo.
Patients Prefer Polite Physicians
Article from Reuters via Yahoo.  Free, full-text article from The New England Journal of Medicine.
Economic Downturn Prompts Many Nurses To Work More Shifts, Helps Address Nursing Shortage
CMS Follow Up from the Recent ESRD Open Door Forum on New Conditions of Coverage
RenalWEB news summary.
Senate Finance Committee Holds First in Series of Congressional Hearings on U.S. Health System Overhaul
CMS launches personal health record pilot in SC


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Wednesday, May 7

Vitamin D Linked to Reduced Mortality Rate in Chronic Kidney Disease
News release from the American Society of Nephrology.  RenalWEB news summary.

CMS Follow Up from the Recent ESRD Open Door Forum on New Conditions of Coverage
RenalWEB news summary.

DaVita: Company Saddened by Deaths at Lufkin, Texas Facility
Article from Lufkin Daily News. See reader comment entered by DaVita VP Jerry McNeill on May 7th at the bottom of the April 30th story.  RenalWEB news summary.

Amgen's Visit From The "Tooth Fairy" (By Way Of Root Canal?)
  May 7, 2008
Short Daily Hemodialysis: Survival in 415 Patients Treated for 1006 Patient-Years
Advance Access abstract from Nephrology Dialysis Tranplantation.

Conclusions: Survival of patients on short daily hemodialysis was 2–3 times better than that of matched three times weekly hemodialysis patients reported by the USRDS.
Baxter Boss Plays Defense on Handling of Heparin Crisis
Article from Crain's Chicago Business.
Baxter Says Legal Costs Related to Heparin Recall Not Significant
Article from The Chicago Tribune.
'Mysterious' Kidney Disease in Sri Lanka
Article from The Bottom Line.
Towards Improved Cardiovascular Management: The Necessity of Combining Blood Pressure and Fluid Overload
Advance Access abstract from Nephrology Dialysis Tranplantation.
Influence of the Ionic Dialysance Monitor on Kt Measurement in Hemodialysis
Article in Press abstract from the American Journal of Kidney Diseases.
Medical Research Is Essential To Improving the Economy and Bettering Lives
Press release from the American Society of Nephrology.
Pharmacovigilence in Nephrology
Videoblog by Dr. Allen Nissenson on Medscapre Nephrology (registration required, but free).
Kidney Trouble Short-Lived in Most Liver Transplant Patients
Article from HealthDay.
Lack of Vitamin D Linked to Depression in Elderly
Article from AFP via Yahoo.
Rockwell Medical Technologies Reports 1st Qtr; Sales Increase 31%; SFP Development Efforts
Fresenius Offers Nocturnal Dialysis in Beds in Savannah, GA
Effect of Folic Acid and B Vitamins on Risk of Cardiovascular Events and Total Mortality Among Women at High Risk for Cardiovascular Disease
Free, full-text article from the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Conclusion: After 7.3 years of treatment and follow-up, a combination pill of folic acid, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 did not reduce a combined end point of total cardiovascular events among high-risk women, despite significant homocysteine lowering.
Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease Breaks Out in China; 15,000 Children Infected
AP article via Yahoo.
Stem Cells May Reduce Transplants
Article from the BBC.
Hospital Emergency Room Overwhelmed; Unprepared for Disasters or Attack
Reuters article via Yahoo.
Election Win by Houston RNs Upheld
Senate Begins Member-Level Talks On Medicare Bill; Floor Vote Slips To June
See Breaking News headline from InsideHealthPolicy.com.


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Tuesday, May 6

  May 6, 2008
Texas Officials Expand Lufkin DaVita Dialysis Probe from 30 Days to 18 Months
Article from Lufkin Daily News. The facility is expected to be shut down a minimum of 45 days while investigations are carried out.
Baxter Didn't Fully Cooperate With Heparin Probe, China Says
Article from Bloomberg. In this AP article, China's drug safety group denies of a proven link between contaminated heparin and patient deaths.
The Middle-Molecule Hypothesis 30 Years After: Lost and Rediscovered in the Universe of Uremic Toxicity?
Free review (15-page pdf file) from Journal of Nephrology.
Managing Sudden Cardiac Death in Predialysis CKD Patients and in Patients Undergoing Dialysis
An Expert Interview With Charles A. Herzog, MD. Registration required, but free from Medscape Nurses.
Uremic Pruritus in Chronic Hemodialysis Patients
Free review (5-page pdf file) from Journal of Nephrology.
Comparative Studies of Dialysis Therapies Should Reflect Real World Decision-Making
Free review (7-page pdf file) from Journal of Nephrology.
Utah Researchers Find Link between EPO Gene and Diabetes Complications
Article from Deseret News. Article from Bloomberg.
Merck Cutting 1,200 Jobs After FDA Failures
AP article via CNN.
DaVita Named to 'Most Democratic Workplace' List for 2008
Listing from WorldBlu. Related article from the Christian Science Monitor.
PD Catheter Removal Lowers Death Rate
Costs Can Vary By $100 or More for Same Drugs
Article from HealthDay. Survey finds that It pays to shop around for the best prescription prices.
Wal-Mart Expanding Its Low-Priced Drug Program
Article from Reuters. Target stores will also offer a similar program.
FDA Study: Insulin Pumps Linked to Injuries, Deaths in Teens
AP article via Yahoo.
2 ACE Inhibitors Associated with Higher Mortality Risks
NH Hospitals Promote Hand Hygiene
CMS Announces Decision on Medicare Coverage of Artificial Hearts, Long-Term Acute Care Hospital Reimbursements
Health Care Groups Sue California for Planned Medi-Cal Cuts


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Monday, May 5

  May 5, 2008
Putting a Price on the Life of a Dialysis Patient
Article from the Wharton School of the Univ. of Pennsylvania. Related blog from The Huffington Post.

The article refers to a study titled, "An Empiric Estimate of the Value of Life: Updating the Renal Dialysis Cost-Effectiveness Standard." The study shows that the average cost of a dialysis patient's quality-adjusted year of life (QALY) is $129,090, higher than prior studies have shown.

Editor's note: Dialysis patients whose treatment costs exceed $240,000 per QALY fall in the top 10%. The study points out that 50% of the Medicare's ESRD costs are used to treat the "sickest" 10% of dialysis patients.

The question is if and/or when this kind of cost data will be used to determine a patient's access to dialysis treatments. The study will appear in an upcoming issue of Value in Health.
Editorial from Lufkin Daily News on Diaylsis Patient Deaths
Also see April 30th article from Lufkin Daily News (Texas) and the 9 pages of reader comments.
Acquistion Announced of Chinese Dialysis Supplies Company
Press release from Shanghai Medical Technology (acquired by Aamaxan Transport Group).
Why Illinois Dialysis Patient Bled To Death Remains a Mystery
Article from the Springfield Journal Register.
Australian Doctor Proposes US$47,000 Payment for Kidney Donation, Sparking Debate
AP article via Yahoo. Related article from LIVENEWS.com.au.
Australian Health Minister Rules Out Kidney Sales, Says Plan Would Be "Exploitive"
Article from Scopical. Related article from Herald Sun.
Texas Nephrology Nurse is a Walking Example of Hope
Article from Nurse.com.
Experiences Of Parents Who Have Children With Chronic Kidney Disease: A Systematic Review Of Qualitative Studies
Article from Medical News Today.
Transplant Tourism: Treating Patients When They Return to the U.S.
Article from the American Enterprise Institute (neoconservative think tank).
Company Developing Replacement for Heparin Gets $2.4 Million
MIT Bioengineer Who Solved Heparin Contamination Puzzle
Common Medications Could Cause Physical Impairment in the Elderly
Article from HealthDay.
Bacterial Slime Helps Cause Serious Disease
Press release from the Society for General Microbiology.
China Child-Killing Virus May Be Yet To Peak: WHO
FDA Official Pulls Back on Estimates of Cost To Inspect Foreign Drug Makers Properly
The Outpatient Maintenance Dialysis - End-Stage Renal Disease Fact Sheet
This fact sheet provides general information about outpatient maintenance dialysis for End-Stage Renal Disease, the composite payment rate system, and separately billable items and services, is now available in print format from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Medicare Learning Network. To place your order, visit http://www.cms.hhs.gov/mlngeninfo/, scroll down to “Related Links Inside CMS” and select “MLN Product Ordering Page.” It is found near the bottom of the "Medicare Payment Policy" section.
CMS Seeks To Add 9 Hospital-Acquired Conditions to No-Pay List
Article from American Medical News.
CMS to Host NPI Roundtable


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Fri./Sat., May 2-3

Acquistion Announced of Chinese Dialysis Supplies Company
Press release from Shanghai Medical Technology (acquired by Aamaxan Transport Group).
DaVita Establishes Hotline for Dialysis Patients in Lynwood, California in Response to Area Power Outage
Press release.
Why Illinois Dialysis Patient