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Research offers new understanding about cause of Parkinson's disease

Until very recently, Parkinson's had been thought a disease that starts in the brain, destroying motion centers and resulting in tremors and loss of movement.

21 Mar 2018

Adults skipping vaccines may miss out on effective new shingles shot

Federal officials have recommended a new vaccine that is more effective than an earlier version at protecting older adults against the painful rash called shingles. But persuading many adults to get this and other recommended vaccines continues to be an uphill battle, physicians and vaccine experts say.

20 Mar 2018

Flu risk less on flights if in a window seat finds study

Airplanes are known to be medium for spreading airborne infections mainly because of the number of people including some with contagious infections such as flu, being clubbed together in a closed space.

19 Mar 2018

Modifying Oncolytic Adenoviruses to Target Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer is one of the less common but deadliest cancers. Modified oncolytic adenoviruses represent an alternative to chemotherapy and targeted therapies, which have a high mortality rate.

9 Mar 2018

FDA approves new tests to detect tickborne parasite in human plasma and whole blood samples

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved the Imugen Babesia microti Arrayed Fluorescent Immunoassay, for the detection of antibodies to Babesia microti (B. microti) in human plasma samples, and the Imugen Babesia microti Nucleic Acid Test (NAT), for the detection of B. microti DNA in human whole blood samples.

7 Mar 2018

Jury’s in: Opioids are not better than other medicines for chronic pain

A few years ago, Renea Molden’s doctors told her they wanted to take her off her opioid pills. It did not sound like good idea to her.

6 Mar 2018

Study assesses healthcare workers' exposures to airborne influenza virus

In United States, more than 18 million workers are employed in healthcare sector. Healthcare workers providing direct patient care services face a wide range of hazards including exposures to infectious diseases.

5 Mar 2018

FDA reminds consumers to be wary of unapproved flu products

As part of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's ongoing efforts to protect consumers from health fraud, the agency is reminding consumers to be wary of unapproved products claiming to prevent, treat or cure influenza, or flu.

5 Mar 2018

Young men recovering from flu have increased risk of developing Guillain-Barré syndrome

This year's flu season has been one of the worst in recent memory causing thousands of people to be hospitalized. The virus can be particularly dangerous for young men who can experience nerve damage caused by the body's response to the flu.

2 Mar 2018

Extra sunlight in late summer could help reduce severity of flu season

People getting more rays of sunlight -; and therefore vitamin D -; in August and September could help reduce the severity of flu season, according to a National Bureau of Economic Research working paper co-authored by a University of Kansas economist.

2 Mar 2018

Tens of thousands of Medicaid recipients skip paying new premiums

When Arkansas lawmakers debated in 2016 whether to renew the state's Medicaid expansion, many Republican lawmakers were swayed only if some of the 300,000 adults who gained coverage would have to start paying premiums.

1 Mar 2018

Getting influenza vaccine linked to 50% drop in risk of death for heart failure patients

For people with heart failure, getting a seasonal influenza (flu) vaccine in a given year was associated with a 50 percent drop in the risk of death during flu season and a 20 percent drop in the risk of death during the rest of the year, according to research presented at the American College of Cardiology's 67th Annual Scientific Session.

1 Mar 2018

At some California hospitals, fewer than half of workers get the flu shot

How well are doctors, nurses and other workers at your local hospital vaccinated against the flu?

28 Feb 2018

Obesity not found to be risk factor for acute respiratory illnesses

Although obesity has been considered a risk factor for more-severe cases of the flu, a new study found that it is not a risk factor for severe acute respiratory illnesses, including the flu, in children or adults.

28 Feb 2018

Researchers create models that predict spread of flu in the United States

Using several large datasets describing health care visits, geographic movements and demographics of more than 150 million people over nine years, researchers at the University of Chicago have created models that predict the spread of influenza throughout the United States each year.

27 Feb 2018

Following the fire: Montana scientists seize chance to scrutinize smoke exposure

Jean Loesch and her family live in Seeley Lake, Mont., which saw the longest and most intense smoke from Montana’s wildfires last summer. Loesch has 10 children, adopted or in her foster care, and they are learning what it’s like to have lingering respiratory problems.

27 Feb 2018

Steps to take for boosting immune system and maintaining a healthy body

We know that germs can make you sick, but if you seem to constantly be under the weather with cold symptoms, could it be something other than germs that are getting you down?

24 Feb 2018

Targeted vaccination can be successful in containing epidemic outbreaks

Amidst growing concerns over the low uptake of flu shots in Europe, scientists from the Italian National Research Council and the Joint Research Centre, the European Commission's sciuence and knowledge service, confirm that vaccinations remain the best way forward when it comes to stopping the spread of infectious diseases.

23 Feb 2018

Researchers create algorithm to reduce spread of infectious diseases

Public outreach campaigns can prevent the spread of devastating yet treatable diseases such as tuberculosis (TB), malaria and gonorrhea. But ensuring these campaigns effectively reach undiagnosed patients, who may unknowingly spread the disease to others, is a major challenge for cash-strapped public health agencies.

21 Feb 2018

Immune history influences person's response to flu vaccine

New research on why the influenza vaccine was only modestly effective in recent years shows that immune history with the flu influences a person's response to the vaccine.

20 Feb 2018