Disease/Infection News

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Haiti's cholera outbreak has plateaued, death rate remains high in rural regions, U.N. says

The U.N. on Friday said Haiti's cholera outbreak appears to be waning overall, but high death rates from the virus in rural regions of the country remain a concern, the Associated Press reports. According to figures released by the Haitian government, 231,070 cholera cases and 4,549 deaths from the disease have been reported since the outbreak first emerged in October.

23 Feb 2011

Biochemist receives STAC grant to find treatment for C. albicans infection in premature infants

A $200,000 grant from the Rhode Island Science and Technology Advisory Council is helping a Bryant University biochemist find a treatment for a fungal infection that is often lethal to premature infants.

23 Feb 2011

New DNA technology to study cystic fibrosis 'superbug' during infection

The bacterium, called Pseudomonas aeruginosa, is the most common cause of persistent and fatal lung infections in cystic fibrosis patients. Scientists at Liverpool identified a particularly virulent strain of the bacteria that is transmissible between patients. The Liverpool Epidemic Strain (LES), referred to as a cystic fibrosis 'superbug', can cause aggressive infection and results in progressive lung decline.

23 Feb 2011

Tifacogin administration shows no treatment benefit in patients with severe CAP

Use of the blood clot-inhibiting medication tifacogin does not appear to improve outcomes of patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia, according to a study conducted by researchers from North and South America, Europe, Asia and Africa. The drug had shown some potential benefit in the sCAP subgroup of an earlier trial involving sepsis patients.

23 Feb 2011

New nanoparticle can help develop vaccines against HIV, malaria

MIT engineers have designed a new type of nanoparticle that could safely and effectively deliver vaccines for diseases such as HIV and malaria.

23 Feb 2011

'Day on Deadly Killers'

Experts from Europe, the US and Asia will present their research results and discuss how new therapeutical approaches against infectious diseases may look like.

22 Feb 2011

Researcher finds antibiotic in Eastern Red Cedar tree effective against MRSA

Most people would never suspect that a "trash tree," one with little economic value and often removed by farmers due to its ability to destroy farmland, could be the key to fighting a deadly bacterium. Now, a University of Missouri researcher has found an antibiotic in the Eastern Red Cedar tree that is effective against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, a "superbug" that is resistant to most medications.

22 Feb 2011

Novartis FLUAD seasonal flu vaccine for older adults receives Health Canada approval

Health Canada has approved FLUAD, a Novartis seasonal flu vaccine for adults 65 years and older. Canadian seniors are the hardest hit of all age groups by seasonal influenza and account for 90 per cent of influenza deaths and 70 per cent of hospitalizations.

22 Feb 2011

Murray valley encephalitis surfaces after 37 years

A fatal and severe form of mosquito borne viral brain infection has been detected in the Riverina Murray region of New South Wales. Murray Valley encephalitis has affected sentinel chicken flocks in the northern Victorian towns of Mildura, Robinvale, Kerang and Barmah as well in the New South Wales town of Tooleybuc, near Swan Hill. The virus has not been diagnosed in a Victorian for 37 years said Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Dr John Carnie. He said although the virus had not been detected in a human, Victorians living along the Murray River should avoid being bitten by mosquitoes.

22 Feb 2011

Old folk remedy revived: How Tansy may be a treatment for herpes

For centuries tansy has been used as a folk remedy, but now scientists from Britain and Spain believe the plant may have medical benefits after all, as a treatment for herpes. The team’s findings, published in Phytotherapy Research, are the result of joint work between two teams to established scientific evidence for traditional medicines.

22 Feb 2011

Why are Chlamydia and HPV major public health problems?

Chlamydia trachomatis is a bacterium that is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections in Europe. Rates in sexually active young people are commonly between 5% and 10%. The number of diagnosed cases is increasing in many European countries, in part due to increased testing and the use of more sensitive tests.

22 Feb 2011

Vical extends relationship with U.S. NMRC for emerging disease vaccine platform

Vical Incorporated announced today that the company has extended its relationship with the U.S. Naval Medical Research Center to develop its platform technology for the rapid development and production of vaccines against emerging infectious diseases.

22 Feb 2011

FDA approves OraSure's rapid antibody test to detect HCV

OraSure Technologies, Inc. announced today that its OraQuick HCV Rapid Antibody Test has now been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in detecting HCV antibodies with a fingerstick whole blood sample.

22 Feb 2011

Scientists believe plant extracts may have medical benefits to treat herpes

For centuries tansy has been used as a folk remedy, but now scientists from Britain and Spain believe the plant may have medical benefits after all, as a treatment for herpes. The team's findings, published in Phytotherapy Research, are the result of joint work between two teams to established scientific evidence for traditional medicines.

22 Feb 2011

Tropical seaweed's antifungal chemical cues may have promising antimalarial properties for humans

A group of chemical compounds used by a species of tropical seaweed to ward off fungus attacks may have promising antimalarial properties for humans. The compounds are part of a unique chemical signaling system that seaweeds use to battle enemies - and that may provide a wealth of potential new pharmaceutical compounds.

22 Feb 2011

Experimental vaccine appears to protect against pneumonia

Researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University have developed an experimental vaccine that appears to protect against an increasingly common and particularly deadly form of pneumococcal pneumonia. Details of the new vaccine, which was tested in an animal model, are reported in a paper published today in the Journal of Infectious Diseases.

22 Feb 2011

Seal Shield launches new SILVER BLUE wireless iPad keyboard and case for healthcare

Seal Shield LLC today announced the new SILVER BLUE Bluetooth wireless keyboard and case for the iPad. The product has been designed specifically for healthcare and addresses infection control concerns over iPad use in hospital settings.

22 Feb 2011

Positive results from TMC435 phase 2b PILLAR study in treatment-naive patients with HCV

Medivir AB, the emerging research-based specialty pharmaceutical company focused on infectious diseases, announces today further positive results from the phase 2b PILLAR study of TMC435 in treatment-naive patients with hepatitis C virus genotype-1.

22 Feb 2011

Standard Register launches world's first anti-microbial laser wristband for patient identification

Long recognized for its patient identification leadership, Standard Register Healthcare today unveiled the world's first anti-microbial laser wristband for patient identification at the Healthcare Information Management System Society's Annual Conference and Exhibition in Orlando, FL.

21 Feb 2011

Scientists show bacteria in polluted rivers become resistant to range of antibiotics

Many of the substances in our most common medicines are manufactured in India. Some of these factories release huge quantities of drugs to the environment. Swedish scientists now show that bacteria in polluted rivers become resistant to a range of antibiotics. International experts fear that this may contribute to the development of untreatable infectious diseases world-wide.

21 Feb 2011

Disease/Infection News

Haiti's cholera outbreak has plateaued, death rate remains high in rural regions, U.N. says

Biochemist receives STAC grant to find treatment for C. albicans infection in premature infants

New DNA technology to study cystic fibrosis 'superbug' during infection

Tifacogin administration shows no treatment benefit in patients with severe CAP

New nanoparticle can help develop vaccines against HIV, malaria

'Day on Deadly Killers'

Researcher finds antibiotic in Eastern Red Cedar tree effective against MRSA

Novartis FLUAD seasonal flu vaccine for older adults receives Health Canada approval

Murray valley encephalitis surfaces after 37 years

Old folk remedy revived: How Tansy may be a treatment for herpes

Why are Chlamydia and HPV major public health problems?

Vical extends relationship with U.S. NMRC for emerging disease vaccine platform

FDA approves OraSure's rapid antibody test to detect HCV

Scientists believe plant extracts may have medical benefits to treat herpes

Tropical seaweed's antifungal chemical cues may have promising antimalarial properties for humans

Experimental vaccine appears to protect against pneumonia

Seal Shield launches new SILVER BLUE wireless iPad keyboard and case for healthcare

Positive results from TMC435 phase 2b PILLAR study in treatment-naive patients with HCV

Standard Register launches world's first anti-microbial laser wristband for patient identification

Scientists show bacteria in polluted rivers become resistant to range of antibiotics

Leveraging the power of automation to boost research

Automating research - solutions and best practices

How can microdialysis benefit drug development

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