The hospital costs for treating septicemia increased by an average of nearly 12 percent each year from 1997 to 2007, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Treating this potentially deadly blood infection increased from $4.1 billion in 1997 to $12.3 billion in 2007. After adjusting for inflation, the federal agency also found other conditions that saw high annual increases in hospital costs in each of the 11 years between 1997 and 2007: — Osteoarthritis, up 9.5 percent each year ($4.8 billion to $11…

PolyMedix, Inc. (OTC BB: PYMX), an emerging biotechnology company focused on developing new therapeutic drugs to treat acute cardiovascular disorders and infectious diseases, has initiated a Phase 1B clinical study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of PMX-60056 in reversing the anticoagulant activity of low molecule weight heparin (LMWH). In a previously conducted Phase 1B, PMX-60056 demonstrated safety and efficacy in reversing heparin in healthy subjects. PMX-60056, one of PolyMedix’s lead compounds, is designed as a small synthetic molecule to reverse heparin-induced anticoagulation…

Large amounts of frozen plasma are being used inappropriately, states a commentary in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal). There has been increased attention given to the clinical use of red blood cells and platelets but not enough has been paid to the use of frozen plasma. “Two recent studies in Canada found that 45% and 48% of audited frozen plasma transfusions represented inappropriate use, according to published guidelines,” write Dr. Peter Pinkerton, Department of Clinical Pathology, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, and coauthor…

Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ:LGND) today announced that GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE: GSK) was granted marketing authorization from the European Commission (EC) for Revolade® (eltrombopag) for the oral treatment of thrombocytopenia (reduced platelet count) in adults with the blood disorder chronic immune (idiopathic) thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). Eltrombopag is indicated for adult chronic ITP splenectomized patients who have not responded (are refractory) to other treatments, such as corticosteroids and immunoglobulins…

Amsterdam Molecular Therapeutics (Euronext: AMT), a leader in the field of human gene therapy, announced that the first patient has been dosed in the Phase I/II exploratory clinical trial with a gene therapy product for hemophilia B, a seriously debilitating and potentially lethal disease. The trial is an open label dose-escalation study using a vector-gene combination developed at the renowned St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Dr. Arthur W. Nienhuis of St. Jude is the principal investigator of the on-going trial

Components of the blood or hematopoietic system derive from stem cell subtypes rather than one single stem cell that gives rise to all the different kinds of blood cells equally, said scientists from Baylor College of Medicine in a report that appears in the current issue of the journal Cell Stem Cell (http://www.cell.com/cell-stem-cell/) “While previous reports in journals have hinted at the possibility of stem cell subtypes, this study represents the clearest data to show that is true,” said Dr. Margaret Goodell, director of the Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine (STaR) Center at BCM…

For some Canadians, any cut such as from dental work or surgery can cause days or more of bleeding. Although they are not hemophiliacs, for some an ordinary bruise can balloon into the size of an orange. For others, knees, elbows and ankles are crippled when bleeding seeps into joints. In very serious cases, hundreds of blood transfusions are required for recovery. Now a team led by McMaster University hematologist Dr. Catherine Hayward has discovered the genetic cause of Quebec Platelet Disorder (QPD)…

The American Society of Hematology (ASH) announces the 2010 recipients of its Scholar Awards. The program is designed to support hematologists who have chosen a career in research by providing partial salary or other support during that critical period required for completion of training and achievement of status as an independent investigator. The awards are made possible through grants from the corporate community, individual donors, foundations, and funds committed by the Society. The awards are for two years at $50,000 per year for fellows and $75,000 per year for junior faculty…

As spring approaches and people return to outdoor activities, caution should be taken in areas of the country that are home to Loxosceles reclusa, also called the brown recluse spider. A new study from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital found that when patients present with sudden anemia, but the cause is elusive, the brown recluse spider should be part of the differential diagnosis, at least in parts of the nation where the spider is regularly found. In a recent issue of The Journal of Pediatrics, St…

Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE), in partnership with Canadian Blood Services, announced they will be hosting “The Big Save,” the largest blood donor clinic ever held in the city of Toronto. The clinic will take place, March 1 from 10am to 8pm on the Air Canada Centre floor. Richard peddle, president and CEO of MLSE, along with Brian Burke and Bryan Colangelo, general managers for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Raptors, made the announcement Wednesday while rolling up their sleeves to donate blood at a local blood donor clinic…