A new federal project, funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, will lead efforts to develop, implement and evaluate four computer-based decision-support tools that will help clinicians and patients better use genetic tests to evaluate and treat breast cancer.

The first pair of tools will assess whether a woman with a family history of cancer should be tested for BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations. Knowing whether a woman has inherited these gene mutations may help determine her chances of developing certain kinds of cancer, especially breast cancer. The second pair of tools, for women already diagnosed with breast cancer, will help determine which patients are appropriate for a Gene Expression Profiling (GEP) test. GEP test results can help evaluate which patients are at a high risk of cancer recurrence and therefore are good candidates for chemotherapy, in addition to other appropriate treatments.

“Genetic testing can be a powerful tool for assessing the risk of breast cancer and treating the disease effectively, but clinicians need better support in identifying which patients will benefit from specific tests,” said AHRQ Director Carolyn M. Clancy, M.D. “This work is part of a broader effort to provide decision support tools that will help physicians and patients in achieving the best possible outcomes and improving patient care.”

The $1 million project will be completed by RTI International, an independent, non-profit research institute in Research Triangle Park, N.C. It is expected to take about 16 months. It responds to recent recommendations from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Secretary’s Advisory Committee on Genetics, Health, and Society. The committee concluded there are extensive gaps in knowledge about genetic tests and their impact on patient care. The project also reflects the goals of HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt’s priority initiative on personalized health care, which aims at increasing the effectiveness of medical care by more precisely matching each patient’s conditions and needs with therapies that will be effective for them.

Development of these tools will support AHRQ’s work of translating research into clinical practice in the areas of genetic tests, health information technology and patient care. For instance, the

AHRQ-sponsored U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has recommended that women whose family history is associated with an increased risk for BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations are referred for genetic counseling and evaluation to measure the need for BRCA testing. AHRQ has also published an Evidence-based Practice Center report on the impact of GEP tests on breast cancer outcomes.

The new project to create decision-support tools is funded through AHRQ’s DEcIDE (Developing Evidence to Inform Decisions about Effectiveness) research network, part of the Effective Health Care Program. The Effective Health Care Program sponsors the development of new scientific knowledge through studies on the outcomes of health care technologies and services. For more information about AHRQ’s Effective Health Care Program and the DEcIDE Network, visit the Effective Health Care Web site at http://effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/.

To learn more about the project to create gene-based clinical decision-support tools for breast cancer patients, visit: http://effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/healthInfo.cfm?infotype=nr&ProcessID=68.

Source: Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality


First Robot of its Kind in a Community-Based Hospital

WHAT: Launch and demonstration of the KineAssist Robot, which represents a giant leap forward in safety and effectiveness for people learning to walk again after a stroke or disability

The KineAssist(TM) Walking & Balance Exercise System, winner of the prestigious international Industrial Design Excellence Award, applies robotic technology to helping patients learn to walk, step sideways, climb stairs and regain the balance, strength and mobility to carry on daily activities. The new KineAssist Robot increases physical therapists’ ability to safely challenge patients in real-life tasks, since it protects them from falling. Fully supported and held in a safe position even if they lose their balance, patients using the KineAssist Robot feel safer and more confident as they build strength and stamina. Its portability means it can be used in a wide variety of clinical settings, even outside.

The KineAssist Robot enables physical therapists to safely perform more intensive and effective therapy, while enhancing the connection between them and their patients. This type of body weight support was previously limited to a treadmill with a harness. The KineAssist allows total mobility and removes the need for therapists to support the patient’s weight, freeing them for other hands-on interaction. It also accurately records patient performance data and reports objective measures of progress.

Developed through a joint venture of the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC) and Kinea Design, a company of expert physical therapists and engineers, the KineAssist Robot has been in clinical trials since 2004. This new prototype is being introduced at Alexian Rehabilitation Hospital following three years of successful clinical trials.

WHEN: Wednesday, September 24, 2008 10:00 a.m.

WHERE: Alexian Rehabilitation Hospital 935 Beisner Road Elk Grove Village

Alexian Rehabilitation Hospital

WHO: Mark Frey, Chief Executive Officer, Alexian Brothers Hospital Network
Bruce Anderson, Chief Executive Officer, Alexian Rehabilitation Hospital
John Dunkin, Executive Director, Alexian Rehabilitation Hospital
Dr. Elliott Roth, Chief Academic Officer, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago
Dr. David Brown, KineAssist Designer, Co-Founder Kinea Design and PhD Associate Professor at Northwestern University

Alexian Rehabilitation Hospital offers a full range of inpatient, day rehabilitation and outpatient services in partnership with the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. It is a member of the Alexian Brothers Hospital Network, which provides the one million residents of Chicago’s Northwest suburbs the most advanced medical care. Alexian Rehabilitation Hospital and the Alexian Bothers Hospital Network are nationally recognized for providing a continuum of care for stroke patients, from screening and acute treatment to post stroke rehabilitation. The Alexian Brothers Hospital Network and the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago share a dedication to providing the finest, most comprehensive rehabilitation services for people with disabilities.

Kinea Design is a committed practitioner of user-oriented observational design research. By understanding real users, in real tasks, set in real contexts, Kinea gains a thorough understanding of the terrain before it commences design. Kinea Design believes that its user-centered approach, backed by a proven team of human-machine design engineers, clinical researchers and experienced commercial experts, uniquely positions it to bring technology into practice. Individuals interested in being research subjects in the therapy program using the KineAssist robot should contact Linda Foster at 847-640-5600, x3752.

Matt Wakely
+1-847-385-7176
Alexian Brothers Hospital Network

Source: Alexian Brothers Hospital Network

http://www.alexianbrothershealth.org/


Twenty-Six Million People Around the Globe Have Alzheimer’s

  • Author: Health Informer
  • Filed under: Health News
  • Date: Sep 22,2008

In honor of World Alzheimer’s Day, Sunday, September 21st, the Alzheimer’s Association asked people across the globe to turn their attention to this disease and visit www.actionalz.org to learn more and make a donation to support research and care service programs for those touched by the disease in the United States. For every dollar donated, the Alzheimer’s Association’s national board of directors will match it dollar-for-dollar, up to $250,000.

“The number of people affected by Alzheimer’s is growing at an alarming rate, and the increasing financial and personal costs will have a devastating effect on the world’s economies, healthcare systems and families,” said Gerry Sampson, development chair of the Alzheimer’s Association National Board of Directors. “We must make the fight against Alzheimer’s a global priority. It’s up to every one of us to learn more about the disease and join the fight.”

Currently there are more than 26 million people across the world living with Alzheimer’s and that number will quadruple by 2050. This means by mid-century more than 100 million people will be living with this degenerative disease that kills brain cells and eventually the person with the disease.

Did You Know

  • Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States.
  • 10 million American baby boomers will develop Alzheimer’s.
  • There are approximately 5.2 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s today and that number is expected to increase to as many as 16 million by 2050.
  • One out of eight people age 65 and older have Alzheimer’s and nearly one out of every two over age 85 has it.
  • Every 71 seconds, someone in America develops Alzheimer’s disease; by mid-century someone will develop Alzheimer’s every 33 seconds.
  • Odds are you know or are caring for someone with Alzheimer’s. There are almost 10 million caregivers in the US.
  • Initial symptoms include memory loss but as the disease progresses and kills more of the brain, the brain is unable to tell the body how to move, swallow or breathe.
  • The plaques and tangles associated with the disease act as weeds that literally choke the healthy brain tissue causing it to die; Alzheimer’s brains actually shrink due to cell loss.

The Alzheimer’s Association’s commitment to raising awareness and funds on World Alzheimer’s Day is part of an accelerating worldwide effort to find better ways to treat the disease, delay its onset, or prevent it from developing, and fund programs and services for those touched by the disease, and fund programs and services for those touched by the disease.

About the Alzheimer’s Association

The Alzheimer’s Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer care, support and research. Our mission is to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer’s. For more information, visit www.alz.org.

Source: Alzheimer’s Association


Patients show significant improvement through 2-year follow-up

Two multicenter studies published this week in Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery confirm Balloon Sinuplasty(TM) technology is safe and effective when used by physicians to treat chronic sinusitis patients.

The foundation for those studies was a six-month clinical trial called CLEAR that began in 2005. It included 109 patients who had minimally invasive sinus surgery with the Balloon Sinuplasty(TM) technology. They participated in one-year and two-year follow-up studies which reported:

  • 92% functional patency at one-year follow-up.
  • At two-year follow-up, 85% of patients reported improvement in their sinus symptoms. No patient’s condition worsened.
  • Clinically and statistically significant improvements in patient quality of life maintained at one and two year follow-up.
  • No serious adverse events observed at any time point throughout the study.

Balloon Sinuplasty(TM) technology is used to restore normal sinus drainage by widening constricted sinus passages with specially designed catheters and balloons. The technology has been used to treat over 40,000 patients since receiving FDA clearance in 2005 and can be used alone or with standard surgical instrumentation.

The Center for Disease Control data reports sinusitis is among the most common illnesses in the U.S., affecting an estimated 37 million Americans and leading to 500,000 surgeries a year. Symptoms include repeated infections, headaches, facial pain, persistent congestion and unrelenting fatigue.

“The goal of sinus surgery is to open the sinuses so they can function normally, while preserving as much natural anatomy as possible. With Balloon Sinuplasty(TM) technology, we are able to accomplish that goal with our current approach in a true minimally invasive way, and give our patients the relief they have been seeking,” said Frederick A. Kuhn, M.D. of the Georgia Nasal and Sinus Institute in Savannah, and lead author of the one-year outcomes study.

“These multi-year data continue to affirm the safety and effectiveness of Balloon Sinuplasty(TM) technology. Patients can feel confident that this technology truly provides significant, durable improvement in sinus symptoms and overall quality of life,” said otolaryngologist Raymond Weiss, M.D. of the Sinus Center of the South in Biloxi, and lead author of the two-year study.

Recovery times vary after sinus surgery, but patients typically return to normal activities within 24 hours of treatment. Since 2005, more than 4,000 sinus surgeons have been trained to use Balloon Sinuplasty(TM) technology.

Bill Facteau, President and CEO of Acclarent, Inc. said, “We are very pleased with the 1- and 2-year results of the CLEAR Study. It is evident from these data that when Balloon Sinuplasty(TM) devices are used in sinus surgery they are safe, effective, and significantly improve a patient’s quality of life.”

Source: Acclarent, Inc.


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