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St. Jude Medical has reported a 15 percent net decline in earnings for the second quarter, which ended July 4, compared with the year-ago quarter.

Merck and Portola Pharmaceuticals have signed a global collaboration and license agreement for the development and commercialization of betrixaban, an investigational oral Factor Xa inhibitor anticoagulant currently in Phase II clinical development for the prevention of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Although much of the focus on advanced visualization in medical imaging has been on its use in diagnostic interpretation, one of the technologys strongest clinical roles may be its utilization by clinicians in planning interventional treatments. In addition to improving the quality of patient care, the applications may also foster even stronger collaboration between radiology services and surgical units.

Although measured glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is the best overall index of renal function, determining this measurement can be both costly and time consuming. A technique employing advanced visualization technology holds promise for both a quicker and lower-cost method of estimating GFR, according to research published this month in Radiology.

As electrophysiology (EP) lab volumes in the U.S. continue to rise and as new innovations in EP technologies and devices emerge, hospitals of all sizes are faced with similar supply chain issueshaving enough stock on hand, keeping physicians happy and controlling costs.

Cambridge Heart has signed a non-exclusive development and distribution agreement with an undisclosed U.S. stress test manufacturer to develop a microvolt T-Wave alternans module.

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the Josh Miller HEARTS Act, (H.R. 1380), legislation that establishes a federal grant program to help fund the placement of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) at elementary and secondary schools across the country. While also requiring school personnel to receive training in the operation of AEDs, the legislation will increase public awareness of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) and the importance of AEDs in schools.