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Scripps biologist describes major advancement in flu vaccine research

Every fall, millions of people roll up their sleeves to get a flu shot. Up to 20 percent of the population gets the flu and more than 200,000 people are hospitalized with flu complications each year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While seasonal vaccines provide some protection, they are not always effective because the strains of influenza virus in the vaccine may not be well matched to the flu viruses circulating that year. So researchers are searching for a way to develop a more universal vaccine that would be effective against any variety of influenza.

5 Jan 2016

Minor flu strains carry bigger viral punch

Minor variants of flu strains, which are not typically targeted in vaccines, carry a bigger viral punch than previously realized, a team of scientists has found. Its research, which examined samples from the 2009 flu pandemic in Hong Kong, shows that these minor strains are transmitted along with the major strains and can replicate and elude immunizations.

5 Jan 2016

CFDA issues new drug certificate and production license for Sinovac's EV71 vaccine

Sinovac Biotech Ltd., a leading provider of biopharmaceutical products in China, today announced that the China Food and Drug Administration issued the new drug certificate and production license for its Enterovirus 71 ("EV71") vaccine.

4 Jan 2016

Study on how immune systems of astronauts respond to seasonal flu vaccine

Every year, as influenza season - and flu shot season--rolls around, medical experts weigh in on just how effective it will be against that year's particular strain. What if that equation could take into account a person's own immune response?

24 Dec 2015

Music therapy in conjunction with standard rehabilitation benefits COPD patients

Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and other chronic respiratory disorders who received music therapy in conjunction with standard rehabilitation saw an improvement in symptoms, psychological well-being and quality of life compared to patients receiving rehabilitation alone, according to a new study by researchers at The Louis Armstrong Center of Music and Medicine at Mount Sinai Beth Israel (MSBI).

24 Dec 2015

Shells of plant virus trigger immune system to wipe out tumors, provide protection against metastases

The shells of a common plant virus, inhaled into a lung tumor or injected into ovarian, colon or breast tumors, not only triggered the immune system in mice to wipe out the tumors, but provided systemic protection against metastases, researchers from Case Western Reserve University and Dartmouth University report.

23 Dec 2015

BiondVax's patent application for universal flu vaccine accepted in Israel

BiondVax Pharmaceuticals Ltd. which is developing the Universal Flu Vaccine, announced today that its patent application in Israel on the Multimeric Multi-Epitope Polypeptide Influenza Vaccines (a universal flu vaccine), was accepted.

21 Dec 2015

Flu vaccine: the facts. An interview with Dr Lisa Maragakis

There are different formulations of the flu vaccine but in general they all do the same thing, which is to stimulate our body's immune system to recognize and fight against the influenza virus.

21 Dec 2015

Luminex's NxTAG Respiratory Pathogen Panel obtains FDA clearance

Luminex Corporation today announced that it has received FDA clearance for its NxTAG Respiratory Pathogen Panel that detects 20 clinically relevant viral and bacterial respiratory pathogens, including the atypical bacteria Chlamydophila pneumoniae and Mycoplasma pneumonia.

20 Dec 2015

Molecular signatures can predict flu vaccine responses in young and old

What factors inhibit strong responses to seasonal flu vaccines in the elderly? Why do anti-flu antibodies last longer after vaccination in some people? Answers are emerging from an Emory University-based systems biology analysis of blood samples from more than 400 volunteers who received seasonal flu vaccines. Bali Pulendran, PhD, led a team of researchers who tracked patterns of gene expression, known as molecular signatures, of strong immune responses in volunteers' blood across five consecutive seasons from 2007 to 2011.

16 Dec 2015

Flu vaccine strategy needs to be reworked, York U study finds

In the face of a flu epidemic, a one-size fits all vaccine strategy won't be effective, a York University study has found. Instead, strategies need to change significantly depending on the characteristics of each region in Canada and how easily the particular flu strain spreads.

15 Dec 2015

Virginia Governor speaks at ADAMS Compassionate Healthcare Network Health Fair in Chantilly, VA

As ACHN Chairman Dr. Yahya Alvi explained, "Local and state officials have called the ADAMS Free clinic a model for healthcare to community members who could not otherwise afford that care. We are delighted Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe will attend and speak at the Fair on Saturday, along with many other County and State Civic Leaders who will join us. This is a perfect way for our officials to tell their constituents about our Clinic services."

14 Dec 2015

Four journalists from China and India win 2016 EurekAlert! Fellowships for International Science Reporters

Four early-career journalists from China and India have emerged from the fiercest competition to date to win the 2016 EurekAlert! Fellowships for International Science Reporters.

13 Dec 2015

Sinovac gets approval to begin clinical trials on Sabin Inactivated Polio Vaccine candidate

Sinovac Biotech Ltd., a leading provider of biopharmaceutical products in China, today announced that the Company has obtained approval to begin human clinical trials on its Sabin Inactivated Polio Vaccine (or "sIPV") candidate.

10 Dec 2015

Study reveals molecular function of protein essential for replication of H5N1 flu virus

An international collaboration of scientists from the CEA, CNRS, University Joseph Fourier, the EMBL and the ILL has revealed the molecular function of a protein essential for replication of H5N1 influenza virus.

10 Dec 2015

More than half of U.S. hospitals don't require flu shots for staff, new study finds

Within weeks, flu will start spreading across North America, sickening millions of people. It will hit people with health problems and weak immune systems hardest, and may kill tens of thousands of them.

10 Dec 2015

Paracetamol provides no benefits in fighting influenza virus

Some doctors may recommend that patients with the flu take acetaminophen, or paracetemol, to relieve their symptoms; however, a new randomized clinical trial found no benefits to the over-the-counter medication in terms of fighting the influenza virus or reducing patients' temperature or other symptoms.

8 Dec 2015

Reduced antibiotic prescribing associated with lower patient satisfaction

Reduced antibiotic prescribing is associated with lower patient satisfaction on the national General Practice Patient Survey, according to a new study by King's College London. The study found a 25 per cent lower rate of antibiotic prescribing by a GP practice corresponded to a 5-6 point reduction on GP satisfaction rankings.

7 Dec 2015

Yale researchers develop vaccine strategy that reduces risk of flu in cancer patients

Yale Cancer Center researchers have developed a vaccine strategy that reduces the risk of flu infections in cancer patients at highest risk for influenza. The findings were presented Dec. 6 at the 57th annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology in Orlando, Florida.

7 Dec 2015

Blood gas analyser for use in winter flu isolation beds

Sphere Medical, an innovator company in critical care monitoring and diagnostics equipment, announces that at the Intensive Care Society State of the Art Meeting 2015, it will be discussing the potential application of its Proxima patient-dedicated blood gas analyser with isolation beds during winter flu outbreaks.

3 Dec 2015

Flu News and Research

Scripps biologist describes major advancement in flu vaccine research

Minor flu strains carry bigger viral punch

CFDA issues new drug certificate and production license for Sinovac's EV71 vaccine

Study on how immune systems of astronauts respond to seasonal flu vaccine

Music therapy in conjunction with standard rehabilitation benefits COPD patients

Shells of plant virus trigger immune system to wipe out tumors, provide protection against metastases

BiondVax's patent application for universal flu vaccine accepted in Israel

Flu vaccine: the facts. An interview with Dr Lisa Maragakis

Luminex's NxTAG Respiratory Pathogen Panel obtains FDA clearance

Molecular signatures can predict flu vaccine responses in young and old

Flu vaccine strategy needs to be reworked, York U study finds

Virginia Governor speaks at ADAMS Compassionate Healthcare Network Health Fair in Chantilly, VA

Four journalists from China and India win 2016 EurekAlert! Fellowships for International Science Reporters

Sinovac gets approval to begin clinical trials on Sabin Inactivated Polio Vaccine candidate

Study reveals molecular function of protein essential for replication of H5N1 flu virus

More than half of U.S. hospitals don't require flu shots for staff, new study finds

Paracetamol provides no benefits in fighting influenza virus

Reduced antibiotic prescribing associated with lower patient satisfaction

Yale researchers develop vaccine strategy that reduces risk of flu in cancer patients

Blood gas analyser for use in winter flu isolation beds

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