Cancer Prevention Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Tillotts Pharma AG sign licensing agreement for CPP-1X/sulindac in Europe and Japan.

January 9, 2014 – Cancer Prevention Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (CPP) and Tillotts Pharma AG (Tillotts), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Zeria Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Zeria), are pleased to announce today that the companies have entered into an exclusive licensing agreement for European and Japanese rights to develop and commercialize the combination of CPP-1X/sulindac for the treatment of familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), an orphan disease, and other gastrointestinal conditions.Continue reading

UA Study Shows Intensive Exercise Training Program for Dementia Patients Improves Care in Clinical Setting

By Jo Marie Barkley, Department of Surgery | January 8, 2014

Rehabilitation of basic functional tasks, such as rising from a chair or walking, reduces fall risk, prevents loss of independence and increases mobility-related quality of life in patients with dementia.

A high intensity, tailored exercise program might benefit patients with dementia more than a traditional rehabilitation program, according to new UA research.

A high intensity, tailored exercise program might benefit patients with dementia more than a traditional rehabilitation program, according to new UA research.
A study by researchers at the University of Arizona Department of Surgery, published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, showed that an innovative, customized exercise program applied to clinical practice substantially improved care for dementia patients.

The UA study combined high-intensity strength and functional exercises with specifically designed strategies for patients with dementia to promote exercise training in a hospital setting. The new exercise program was implemented in a hospital rehabilitation unit and compared with a usual-care rehabilitation program.

“Rehabilitation of basic functional tasks, such as the ability to rise from a chair or walking, is of utmost importance to reduce fall risk, prevent loss of independence and increase mobility-related quality of life in patients with dementia,” said Michael Schwenk, lead author of the paper and a research associate with the UA Interdisciplinary Consortium on Advanced Motion Performanc, or iCAMPHowever, there has been a lack of evidence whether patients with dementia can benefit from more intensive rehabilitation exercise programs.”

In addition to cognitive deficits, people with dementia experience declining basic motor performances, such as walking, during the course of the disease. Motor deficits worsen by the reduced physical activity and increase the fall rate in these patients, causing an additional disability burden. Based on motor and cognitive deficits, people with dementia have a threefold risk of falling compared with those without cognitive impairment, Schwenk said.

Results of the UA study showed that the higher-intensity, tailored exercise program greatly increased the benefits of functional performances in patients with dementia as compared with the traditional rehabilitation program. The patients who received the novel intensive training improved substantially in basic motor functions, such as lower-extremity muscle strength and postural balance, which are linked to the high fall risk in this population.

“Improvement in lower extremity strength was four times higher in the group that received the new training program compared to the group that received usual rehabilitation care only,” said Schwenk. “Results indicate that medium to high training adherence can be achieved in the majority of geriatric inpatients despite cognitive impairment and acute functional impairment.”

Several studies have identified cognitive impairment as a negative predictor for functional rehabilitation outcomes and that memory loss, language impairments or lack of motivation may be barriers for effective rehabilitation. Schwenk said geriatricians and therapists struggle with which type of exercise and what level of intensity is appropriate for these patients, and that little guidance is available as to which exercise program is the most suitable. Specific exercise programs incorporating strategies to promote exercise training in patients with dementia have not been adequately developed, he said.

“The UA study provides important insight as to how geriatric rehabilitation exercise programs in patients with dementia can be adjusted and rendered more effective,” Schwenk said. “Current findings may help to establish specifically designed rehabilitation exercise programs for patients with dementia and may provide guidance to clinicians as to which rehabilitation protocols are the most effective.”

Schwenk, who also is a member of the UA’s Arizona Center on Aging, collaborated on the study with a multidisciplinary team that included Bijan Najafi, iCAMP director, UA associate professor of surgery and engineering, and member of the Arizona Center on Aging, the UA Arthritis Center and the UA Cancer Center; Jane Mohler, iCAMP clinical adviser, associate director of the Arizona Center on Aging and associate professor of medicine with co-appointments in the UA colleges of Nursing and Pharmacy and the UA Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health; Ilona Dutzi, William Micol and Klaus Hauer, all with the Department of Geriatric Research, Bethanien-Hospital/Geriatric Centre at the University of Heidelberg, Germany; and Stefan Englert, with the Institute of Medical Biometry and Informatics, University of Heidelberg, Germany.

Contacts

Jo Marie Barkley
Department of Surgery
520-626-7219
jgellerm@email.arizona.edu

OMB releases Federal Grant Reform Guidance developed by COFAR

As 2013 came to a close, on December 26, 2013, the Office of Management Budget (OMB) issued the long-awaited final rule to the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards, more commonly known as the “Super Circular.” This rule finalizes OMB’s proposed guidance from February 1, 2013, and represents the culmination of an effort that was more than two years in the making. Among other things, this rule streamlines eight Federal regulations (including OMB Circulars A-110, A-122, and A-133) into a single, comprehensive policy guide and affords the Federal government the ability to better administer the $600 billion awarded annually for grants, cooperative agreements, and other types of financial assistance. This will have important implications for all nonprofit recipients of, and applicants for, Federal grants and cooperative agreements (“awards”). (Source and Super Circular summary:  Venable, LLP)

 

(NSF Video: http://youtu.be/xBmjulDwDWk)

To assist organizations in understanding the final rule, OMB  hosted an informational webcast on December 20, 2013 with team members from  COFAR agencies. The recorded webcast is shown above.  For more information visit www.cfo.gov/cofar.

To view the Super Circular, click here.

While effective December 26, 2013, actual  roll out by agencies will continue throughout 2014.  It will be imperative for nonprofit organizations to assess their current practices and policies and take appropriate steps to ensure that they conform with the final rule in a timely manner.

 

SynCardia raises $14M in December to Fund Rapid Growth

Privately held SynCardia Systems, Inc. announced, on December 17th, that it had raised $14 million to fund the rapid growth of the only approved medical device that eliminates the symptoms and source of end-stage heart failure, the SynCardia temporary Total Artificial Heart. The SynCardia Total Artificial Heart is the world’s first and only FDA, Health Canada and CE (Europe) approved Total Artificial Heart.Continue reading

Telemedicine is everybody’s business

Arizona Telemedicine Program is a Model ‘Telehealth Technology Innovation Accelerator’ for the Telemedicine Industry:  A number of outstanding telemedicine programs, owned by different health-care organizations, work together on telemedicine challenges ranging from legal and regulatory issues, to telecommunications technology, to reimbursement.Continue reading