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New study tracks spread of H5N1 variant in Egypt recently identified as major epicenter for virus

Since its first identification in Asia, highly pathogenic avian influenza-H5N1-has caused significant alarm in the scientific community. While the virus' primary target is birds-tens of millions have already died from it-it is capable of infecting mammals, including humans, causing serious illness and a frightening rate of mortality.

10 Feb 2014

Despite jump in enrollment, Aetna says it faces losses from health law marketplaces

Aetna Inc. said it expects to lose money on its business in the health-law marketplaces this year, with the demographics of enrollees skewing slightly more than expected toward people likely to rack up higher costs. The insurer, which is participating in public consumer exchanges in 16 states and the District of Columbia, the most of any carrier, said it has signed up about 135,000 paid members through the end of January (Mathews, 2/6).

9 Feb 2014

First Edition: February 7, 2014

Today's headlines include reports from Capitol Hill about the continuing efforts to overhaul Medicare's payment system for doctors.

9 Feb 2014

Rice, UTMB develop diagnostic test for cryptosporidiosis

Bioengineers at Rice University and the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) at Galveston have developed a simple, highly sensitive and efficient test for the diarrheal disease cryptosporidiosis that could have great impact on global health.

7 Feb 2014

Fraunhofer USA receives FDA clearance for IND malaria TBV that targets Pfs25 antigen

Fraunhofer USA Center for Molecular Biotechnology (FhCMB) announced today that clearance was obtained from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for an investigational new drug (IND), Fraunhofer's plant-derived malaria transmission-blocking vaccine (TBV), which targets the Pfs25 antigen, to proceed into the clinic in a Phase 1 safety and immunogenicity study.

5 Feb 2014

Population Council launches large new research program to benefit adolescent girls in Kenya

The Population Council announced today the launch of a large new research program designed to benefit adolescent girls in Kenya. The initiative will provide girls with access to interventions in the health, wealth creation, education, and violence-prevention sectors.

5 Feb 2014

Sanford Hospital starts clinical trial to study dissolving device in patients with CAD

Sanford Heart Hospital has started a clinical trial to study a dissolving device in patients with coronary artery disease. The ABSORB III clinical trial will investigate the safety and effectiveness of the Absorb Bioresorbable Vascular Scaffold (BVS) device, manufactured by global health care company Abbott.

4 Feb 2014

Addressing antibiotic resistance: an interview with Professor Otto Cars, Uppsala University, Sweden

Antibiotic resistance is a consequence of antibiotic use. Bacteria adapt to the threat of antibiotics using mechanisms to overcome the drug. These bacteria, which we call resistant bacteria, then survive.

3 Feb 2014

Keystone Symposia to convene conference focusing on the science of malaria eradication

Keystone Symposia, in collaboration with MESA (Malaria Eradication Scientific Alliance), is convening its first conference in Mexico – on "The Science of Malaria Eradication" at the Fiesta Americana Hotel in Merida, Yucatan. The four-day conference begins Sunday evening, February 2, 2014 and is part of the Keystone Symposia Global Health Series, supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which has also funded travel awards for investigators from malaria-endemic countries to attend. The conference will gather experts from 37 countries.

31 Jan 2014

Bubble CPAP device increases survival rate of newborns with severe respiratory illness

The first clinical study of a low-cost neonatal breathing system created by Rice University bioengineering students demonstrated that the device increased the survival rate of newborns with severe respiratory illness from 44 percent to 71 percent.

31 Jan 2014

NIBIO signs collaboration agreement for clinical development of new mucosal TB vaccines

Japan's National Institute of Biomedical Innovation ("NIBIO"), Aeras and Create Vaccine Company, Ltd ("CREATE") announce today that they signed a collaboration agreement on December 26, 2013, on the preclinical and clinical development of new mucosal tuberculosis (TB) vaccines based on NIBIO's human parainfluenza type-2 (rhPIV2) vector technology.

27 Jan 2014

Copenhagen researchers boost self-efficacy of diabetic patients through motivational health coaching

By means of so-called health coaching, researchers at the University of Copenhagen have helped a large group of diabetics to markedly improve their oral health.

27 Jan 2014

USF Health receives $2.1M grant to study on new factors required for growth of malaria-related parasites

Animal cells similar to those of humans contain a "control room," called the centrosome, which regulates cell replication. Disrupt this core hub and you kill cell division.

24 Jan 2014

Scientists to decode intestinal disease bacteria using genome sequencing technologies

The University of Liverpool is to decipher the genomes of the UK's main bacterial cause of food poisoning which results in over 21,000 hospital admissions and 100 deaths each year.

22 Jan 2014

The fight against HIV/AIDS: an interview with Dr. Mit Philips, HIV/AIDS Policy Analyst, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)

People mainly speak about the progress in HIV/AIDS. We at MSF know and are very conscious of the fact that there has been enormous progress, but the progress is very uneven.

6 Jan 2014

EcoHealth Alliance joins Bat Conservation International to conserve bats, safeguard human health

EcoHealth Alliance, a nonprofit organization that focuses on local conservation and global health issues, and Bat Conservation International, which works to conserve bats and their habitats around the world, are joining forces in formal partnership.

3 Jan 2014

Controlling tobacco marketing may reduce number of smokers by one-third

Tripling taxes on cigarettes around the world would reduce the number of smokers by one-third and prevent 200 million premature deaths from lung cancer and other diseases this century, according to a review published today in the New England Journal of Medicine.

2 Jan 2014

Study suggests that cocktail of AMA1 proteins can overcome major limitations of AMA1-based vaccines

A safe and effective malaria vaccine is high on the wish list of most people concerned with global health. Results published on December 26 in PLOS Pathogens suggest how a leading vaccine candidate could be vastly improved.

27 Dec 2013

Researchers complete genomic analysis of cervical cancer in two patient populations

Researchers from the Boston area, Mexico, and Norway have completed a comprehensive genomic analysis of cervical cancer in two patient populations. The study identified recurrent genetic mutations not previously found in cervical cancer, including at least one for which targeted treatments have been approved for other forms of cancer.

25 Dec 2013

New tools for neglected diseases: an interview with Dr. BT Slingsby, CEO, GHIT Fund

Nearly 3.3 billion people, a little less than half of our world’s population, are at risk of malaria, TB and what we call “neglected tropical diseases”—diseases caused by worms, parasites, viruses and bacteria like Chagas disease, river blindness, elephantiasis, sleeping sickness, etc.

24 Dec 2013