Like most people, I am intrigued by novelty and my interest is piqued by research that addresses pressing clinical needs and gaps in our knowledge. The findings soon to be presented in the ACC.12 late-breaking clinical trials in Chicago offer much to anticipate, but I also wonder, is newer necessarily better?

Ninety percent of hospitals and health systems are leaving 2012 salary increase budgets unchanged from 2011 or increasing those budgets, according to the spring "2012 Salary Increase, Incentive, and Benefit Updates Survey," published by Integrated Healthcare Strategies, a consulting firm, with offices in Kansas City, Minneapolis and Dallas.

The American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT) has selected 61 radiologic science students to participate in the ASRT 2012 Student Leadership Development Program.

Merck has communicated to Cardiome Pharma its decision to discontinue further development of the oral formulation of vernakalant, which is being evaluated as maintenance therapy for the long-term prevention of atrial fibrillation recurrence. The decision was based on Merck's assessment of the "regulatory environment and projected development timeline."

The FDA's  Circulatory System Devices Panel will review Cameron Health's premarket approval application for the S-ICD system (subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator) on April 26.

A post-market study has been launched to assess the safety and efficacy of iCADs FDA-cleared Xoft Axxent eVx System when used for single-fraction, intra-operative radiation therapy at the time of lumpectomy for early stage breast cancer.

Mylan Pharmaceuticals ULC, the Canadian subsidiary of Mylan, has received approval from Health Canada for Mylan-rosuvastatin calcium tablets, 5mg, 10mg, 20mg and 40mg. Mylan-rosuvastatin is the generic version of AstraZeneca's Crestor tablets, which are used for the management of primary hypercholesterolemia, mixed dyslipidemia and familial hypercholesterolemia.

The National Research Council of CanadaIndustrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP) has approved funding up to $107,000 to assist Arch Biopartners in the development of diagnostic imaging applications for its brain tumor initiating cell targeting technology.