The engagement between physicians and their patients is an important part of a successful health care outcome. To study how this can happen more effectively, the National Health Council and Genetic Alliance recently teamed up and invited a group of key officials to examine the issue and later released the group's findings in a white paper called "Dialogue/Advancing Meaningful Patient Engagement in Research, Development and Review of Drugs."

Expectant mothers worried about epidurals or spinal anesthesia during childbirth may have their fears reduced by a study that found the rate of anesthesia-related complications for cesarean delivery decreased 25 percent over the past 10 years. The findings were published Thursday in the online edition of Anesthesiology, the journal of the American Society of Anesthesiologists.

Last week two treatments aimed at lowering blood sugar in adult patients with diabetes mellitus --Tresiba and Ryzodeg 70/30 -- were approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. About 21 million people in the United States are living with diabetes, which can increase the risk of health conditions such as heart disease, blindness, nerve and kidney damage.

Through a study conducted by researchers at University of New South Wales (UNSW) Australia and the University of Oxford, scientists have the capability to better predict how fast the HIV virus will reappear in a patient after treatment is halted. Results of the study were recently published in the journal Nature Communications.

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued a Notice of Allowance for a patent application from Glytec for key aspects of the company's core technology for diabetes management; Glytec is an innovator in the field of glucose management software, and the Notice of Allowance is for a system for glycemic control of a diabetic patient that includes a smartphone-based diabetes mobile application.

Pharmaceutical manufacturer Allergan said Sept. 25 it is releasing a generic version of Janssen's Invega (paliperidone extended release tablets) in the U.S. Allergan , based in Dublin, Ireland, is the first company to receive U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval for a generic version of Invega, which is used to treat schizophrenia in patients aged 12-17.

Sen. Alexander -- along with 117 other lawmakers -- believe that the Stage 3 EHR program is being rushed to the detriment of many.

Roche subsidiary Genentech recently released results from three Phase III studies of ocrelizumab on patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS) and primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS).Data from two identical studies, OPERA I and OPERA II, were done using test subjects with relapsing MS.

Breastfeeding is widely considered the healthiest way to nourish a baby, and a recent report, published in Vital Signs and compiled by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said that since 2007, hospital support for breastfeeding moms has been on the rise.

U.S. Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) recently unveiled bipartisan legislation aimed at enhancing accountability and transparency in health information technology (IT) systems.

Aetna has partnered with Rush Health to establish Aetna Whole Health Chicago, a commercial health care product in Illinois, to provide its members with comprehensive care that will not only track outcomes, but also provide for the sharing of data and measurement of clinical standards, the companies said this week.

CVS/pharmacy has unveiled a new website with health insurance tools, resources and information aimed at assisting consumers as they learn about options for health care coverage and choose which Medicare Part D, Health Insurance Marketplace or Medicaid plans are best for them.

A study underway by a team from the Edmonton Oliver Primary Care Network (PCN) in Edmonton, Canada, is utilizing new technology that could help parents keep better track of their children's diet and physical activity habits, thus decreasing the risks of childhood obesity.

A recent University of Virginia School of Medicine study found that low-income Virginians enrolled in Affordable Care Act (ACA) health care plans were more likely to have better outcomes than those enrolled in the state's AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP).

U.S. Sens. Patty Murray (D-WA) and Ron Wyden (D-OR), along with   other Democratic senators, unveiled legislation recently to protect Medicare beneficiaries and states from a spike in Part B premiums and deductibles in 2016.

CVS subsidiary SilverScript Insurance Co. recently announced its new Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) options for 2016. Beneficiaries have the choice of two SilverScript plans - SilverScript Choice and SilverScript Plus, both of which offer $0 deductibles and lower premiums than the 2015 SilverScript plans in many states, as well as low co-pays on a variety of commonly prescribed medications.

Pfizer and the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), as part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, announced grant recipients this week under the Seeding Progress and Resources for the Cancer Community: Metastatic Breast Cancer (SPARC MBC) Challenge, an initiative that aims to address challenges facing women with metastatic breast cancer.

Plant scientists from ETH Zurich and the University of Geneva have engineered a cassava plant that produces extra vitamin B6 in its roots and leaves, which could help alleviate deficiencies of the vitamin in African populations.

Pharmaceutical companies Amgen and Allergan recently launched a Phase 3 study of biosimilar candidate ABP 215, which met its primary and secondary endpoints. The study evaluated the efficacy and safety of ABP 215 compared with Avastin (bevacizumab) in adult patients with advanced non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

A recent multi-medical-center study of young patients living with bipolar disorder indicates that lithium can be safely and effectively used to treat children with the condition. The study was led by a researcher at Johns Hopkins Children's Center. The results were published this week in the journal Pediatrics. Researchers said physicians can, with confidence, add lithium to the treatment regimens of pediatric bipolar sufferers, at least on a short-term basis.