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EPFL sets up foundation to release antibiotic for tuberculosis

Even though tuberculosis kills more than 1.5 million people every year, the market is not cost-effective for pharmaceutical companies. So EPFL is setting up a foundation to release an antibiotic developed in its own laboratories under EU funding.

12 Mar 2014

Novel approach to track Montreal consumers' food choices

Poor food choices, such as overconsumption of carbonated soft drinks, are an important factor driving the global obesity epidemic and have been linked directly to diabetes and heart disease. While public health agencies are working to help people to make healthier choices, monitoring the effectiveness of these efforts has been costly and difficult. But now, using the same digital data employed by marketers to promote food products, McGill University's David Buckeridge has developed a way for health agencies to track Montreal consumers' food choices, neighborhood by neighborhood.

11 Mar 2014

DaVita to host Google+ Hangout on Air to global kidney disease awareness on World Kidney Day

DaVita, a division of DaVita HealthCare Partners Inc. and a leading provider of kidney care services, will host a Google+ Hangout on Air dedicated to global kidney disease awareness on World Kidney Day.

11 Mar 2014

Glycoprofiling test could halve number of false-positives in diagnosis of ovarian cancer

11 Mar 2014

New sugar-test may reduce false-positive ovarian cancer screening tests

The world's most widespread test for ovarian cancer reports false-positives in 94 of 100 diagnosed cases. Now, chemists at the University of Copenhagen working with clinical researchers at University College London have developed a method able to halve the number of false-positives. When fully developed, the new test will spare a significant number of women from unnecessary worry and further testing. Furthermore, global health care providers stand to save substantial sums - just by including a test on a certain sugar molecule in tandem with the currently prevailing diagnostic test.

10 Mar 2014

Findings indicate improved knowledge and beliefs about mental health problems

The findings of the survey, which was led by Orygen Youth Health Research Centre, in collaboration with the University of Melbourne, also indicated improved knowledge and beliefs about mental health problems within the community due, in part, to educational campaigns about mental health.

10 Mar 2014

Nordion generates $70.8 million in revenue for first quarter of fiscal 2014

Nordion Inc., a leading provider of products and services to the global health science market, today reported results for the first quarter of fiscal 2014.

7 Mar 2014

Azoi announces launch of innovative mobile health monitoring device

Azoi, a technology company dedicated to helping people improve their lives, today announced Wello – an innovative health monitoring device embedded within a mobile phone case. With just a few powerful sensors, Wello fits onto a smartphone and measures a number of key vitals including blood pressure, electrocardiography (ECG), heart rate, blood oxygen, temperature, lung functions and more – with a high level of accuracy. Fast and easy-to-use, Wello empowers people to track key data, improve awareness of their body's state, and make more informed lifestyle choices.

6 Mar 2014

Bio-Rad announces release of beta version of the USP Spectral Library

Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE: BIO and BIOb), a multinational manufacturer and distributor of life science research and clinical diagnostic products, today announced the release of beta version of USP Spectral Library™ powered by Bio Rad's KnowItAll® software technology platform for spectral analysis, identification, search, data management, and reporting.

From Bio-Rad Laboratories 5 Mar 2014

Small-molecule drug effective in protecting nonhuman primates from lethal Marburg virus

For the first time, scientists have demonstrated the effectiveness of a small-molecule drug in protecting nonhuman primates from the lethal Marburg virus. Their work, published online in the journal Nature, is the result of a continuing collaboration between Army scientists and industry partners that also shows promise for treating a broad range of other viral diseases.

5 Mar 2014

Study shows SuperMum campaign improves handwashing behaviour

An analysis of a unique “SuperMum” handwashing campaign shows for the first time that using emotional motivators, such as feelings of disgust and nurture, rather than health messages, can result in significant, long-lasting improvements in people’s handwashing behaviour, and could in turn help to reduce the risk of infectious diseases.

4 Mar 2014

NPR correspondent to deliver keynote address at Seattle Biomed's annual event

Seattle BioMed today announced that Jason Beaubien, global health and development correspondent of National Public Radio (NPR), will deliver the keynote address at the Passport to Global Health Celebration on March 5.

28 Feb 2014

UNC receives $40M for clinical trials unit devoted to HIV/AIDS treatment, prevention and research

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has received a seven-year, more than $40 million award from the National Institutes of Health for a clinical trials unit that will implement the scientific agendas of five NIH networks devoted to HIV/AIDS treatment, prevention, and cure research.

27 Feb 2014

Optum buys majority stake in Audax Health Solutions

Optum and Audax Health Solutions, Inc., today announced that Optum has acquired a majority stake in Audax.

20 Feb 2014

Samoa Island harbors a global health mystery that could predict obesity crisis

The South Pacific archipelago of Samoa and American Samoa harbors a global health mystery that may seem both remote and extreme but could foretell trends in obesity and related conditions across much of the developing world.

18 Feb 2014

More men contract chlamydia in Australia, finds new study

The largest Australian chlamydia study to date, led by the University of Melbourne, has found more men contract chlamydia than previously thought and most cases of infection are being missed.

17 Feb 2014

Manchester researchers become first in world to assess all genetic links with fungal lung infection CPA

A grandfather-of-three from Tameside is helping University of Manchester researchers become the first in the world to assess all the genetic links with Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis (CPA) - a debilitating fungal lung infection that claims the lives of thousands of people in the UK and millions more worldwide.

From The University of Manchester 12 Feb 2014

Dental care in schools for children wipes out social inequities

A new survey conducted by the University of Copenhagen and the World Health Organization (WHO) is highlighting the role of schools in work to promote health and prevent disease.

11 Feb 2014

Researchers shed new light on pain associated with bacterial infections

Components in the outer wall of bacteria directly activate pain sensors, triggering immediate pain and inflammatory responses. This finding by a multinational team of researchers led by Professor Karel Talavera (KU Leuven, Belgium) and Professor Félix Viana (Institute of Neuroscience, Spain) sheds new light on pain associated with bacterial infections and reveals a new target for drugs designed to treat them.

11 Feb 2014

Allianz Worldwide Care introduces Maritime Healthcare Plan for seafarers

Global health insurer Allianz Worldwide Care has announced the launch of a new plan which offers a compliant solution for onshore healthcare to shipping companies affected by the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC 2006), commonly known as the "Seafarers' Bill of Rights". MLC 2006, which came into force in August 2013, requires shipping companies to provide comprehensive rights and protection to the world's 1.2 million seafarers, including the provision of a minimum level of healthcare cover.

10 Feb 2014