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A Potential Treatment For Gastric Motility Disorders
GES or pacing has been under investigation as a potential therapy for gastrointestinal motility disorders. Conventionally, GES is performed using a single pair of electrodes or single-channel GES. However, few studies have investigated the effects of two-channel GES with trains of pulses on gastric motility, such as gastric slow waves and gastric emptying.

Cardiva Medical, Inc. Receives FDA Clearance For The Catalyst(TM)III System, First In Class Drug Coated Vessel Closure Device
Cardiva Medical, Inc. announced that it has received clearance from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for its latest technology, the Cardiva Catalyst III, which is considered the first drug coated vessel closure device in the market.
News of the day
Connecticut House Approves Two Health Insurance Pooling Bills
The Connecticut House on Wednesday approved two separate measures to expand health insurance pooling in the state, the Hartford Courant reports. The first measure would create a public health insurance pool open to all residents. The pool, intended to compete with rather than replace private insurance, would be based on the existing pool for state workers (Keating, Hartford Courant, 5/21). The bill will create a nine-member board of directors to investigate and recommend a plan to guarantee every resident health insurance. The bill also creates four committees that will work with the board and provide advice on electronic health records, medical homes, clinical care guidelines and preventive care. In addition, three task forces will examine obesity, tobacco use and care provider shortages (Stuart, CT News Junkie, 5/20).The cost of plan, known as SustiNet, could be a "sticking point" given the state"s $8.7 billion budget deficit over the next two years, the Courant reports The state Senate and Gov. Jodi Rell (R) will consider the plan next.The second measure would allow local governments, small businesses and not-for-profit groups join the state employee insurance plan. The bill would increase the current pool"s membership from 200,000 to an estimated 300,000. Juan Figueroa, a former state legislator and president of the Universal Health Care Foundation of Connecticut, said, "Both of these plans reduce costs and increase choice. The partnership (pooling) bill has features that SustiNet can build on. The two bills fit hand in glove." Democrats said the second bill would utilize economies of scale to lower costs. Steve Fontana (D), co-chair of the State House Insurance and Real Estate Committee, said, "The larger the pool you have, ... you reduce the volatility and the risk associated with that pool."Opponents say the pooling measure would affect only those who already have coverage. According to House Republican Leader Larry Cafero, "This bill does not solve that problem. If you don"t have it now, you"re not going to have it because of this" (Keating, Hartford Courant, 5/21).
Cardiovascular

Swine Flu Vaccination 'to Be Delayed By At Least Six Weeks', UK

The GP leading on swine flu for the BMA has told Pulse the planned vaccination campaign will be delayed by "at least six weeks". Such a delay would ruin the Government"s plans of having the first doses of swine flu vaccine available by the end of August. Instead, the vaccine would not become available until October at the earliest - when a major surge of swine flu cases is expected. Dr Peter Holden, lead GP negotiator on swine flu for the BMA, told Pulse lengthy delays would be inevitable because of the logistical nightmare of trying to run two different flu vaccine campaigns at once. The problem has been compounded because of the lack of crossover between the seasonal and swine flu priority groups - as revealed by Pulse last week - limiting the potential for combined flu clinics. Dr Holden said: "We will be negotiating on the assumption that in patients eligible for seasonal and swine flu vaccines, one of the swine flu doses will be given at the same time. "But the August prediction is far too optimistic. I don"t think we will have confidence to deliver both vaccination campaigns until at least six weeks later." Dr Holden"s comments suggest the seasonal flu campaign, which normally begins in September, could also face delay. He advised GPs to begin cleaning patient lists and clearing fridge space to ensure they were as prepared as possible for the huge workload of two different vaccine campaigns. But GPs warned they could be overwhelmed once the two vaccination campaigns began. Dr James Larcombe, a GP in Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham, said: "We"ll have to be careful to ensure quality of care doesn"t suffer - the chances are we"ll miss some QOF targets [for treating chronic illness]." Richard Hoey, editor of Pulse, said: "Part of the problem GPs face is a complete lack of information from the Government about when the swine flu vaccine will be available, exactly who will be getting it and what res will be available to support its delivery. "In theory GPs will be leading on a major vaccination campaign in just a matter of weeks, but there is a complete information vacuum and therefore no opportunity for planning. In those circumstances Dr Holden is surely right - a delay must be absolutely inevitable." Pulse


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