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FnBP is central to bacteria's ability to invade organs: Researchers

Scientists studying the so-called "superbug" MRSA have identified one of the components responsible for making it so deadly. Staphylococcus aureus is a type of bacteria commonly found on the skin that is relatively harmless unless it gets into the bloodstream, where it can cause blood poisoning and create abscesses in organs such as the heart and brain.

1 Jul 2010

Community-based lymphatic filariasis education increases treatment compliance up to 90%: Study

Community-based lymphatic filariasis education in Orissa State, India, increased treatment compliance from around 50% to up to 90%, according to a study published June 29 in the open-access journal PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases. In their study, researchers from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in partnership with the Church's Auxiliary for Social Action, an India-based non-governmental organization, and IMA World Health, a US-based non-governmental organization, identified barriers to compliance with India's MDA program for LF, and suggest that timely educational and lymphedema management programs can reverse this trend.

1 Jul 2010

CDC issues new guidelines on detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infections

Today the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued new and important guidelines on the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infections, the causative agent of tuberculosis. In these landmark guidelines, CDC advises that Interferon Gamma Release Assay blood tests are now preferred over the 100+-year-old tuberculin skin test for diagnosing TB infection in certain populations, including people who typically do not return for the necessary reading of TST results, and those who have received Bacille Calmette-Guerin as a vaccine or for cancer therapy

1 Jul 2010

Behavioral intervention program can reduce incidence of HIV, STIs among female sex workers: Researchers

A team of researchers from the University of California San Diego and Mexico has found that even a modest behavioral intervention program averaging just 35 minutes can measurably reduce the incidence of HIV and sexually transmitted infections among female sex workers in the U.S.-Mexico border region - and that the program succeeds at comparatively little expense.

1 Jul 2010

Ecolab launches Virasept to treat Clostridium difficile spores

Ecolab Inc. today announced the launch of Virasept, Ecolab's first ready-to-use (no mixing required) hard surface disinfectant approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to be effective against Clostridium difficile spores.

1 Jul 2010

World Bank, WHO, UNAIDS report offers comprehensive look at HIV/AIDS in Middle East, N. Africa

The World Bank, WHO and UNAIDS on Monday released a joint report that pulls together data characterizing the HIV/AIDS epidemic from 23 countries in the Middle East and North Africa region, IRIN reports (6/30).

1 Jul 2010

Gen-Probe's APTIMA Trichomonas assay receives European CE mark

Gen-Probe Incorporated announced today that it has received a European CE mark for its APTIMA® assay for Trichomonas vaginalis, a common parasitic sexually transmitted disease.

1 Jul 2010

Cubist commences enrollment in Phase 2 study of CXA-201 for complicated intra-abdominal infections

Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leading acute care therapeutics company, today announced the enrollment of the first patient in a Phase 2 study with CXA-201. This multicenter, double-blind, randomized, study will compare the safety and efficacy of intravenous CXA-201 with an active comparator in patients with complicated intra-abdominal Infections (cIAI). This international study is expected to enroll 120 patients.

1 Jul 2010

Prasco commences shipments of generic prescription ZEGERID Capsules

Santarus, Inc., a specialty biopharmaceutical company, today announced that pursuant to its distribution and supply agreement with Prasco, LLC, Prasco is commencing shipments of an authorized generic of prescription ZEGERID® (omeprazole/ sodium bicarbonate) Capsules in 20 mg and 40 mg dosage strengths in the U.S. under the Prasco label. ZEGERID is an immediate-release proton pump inhibitor (PPI) approved as a prescription product in the U.S. for the treatment of certain upper gastrointestinal diseases and disorders.

1 Jul 2010

Antibacterial ingredient in honey identified

Sweet news for those looking for new antibiotics: A new research published in the July 2010 print edition of the FASEB Journal explains for the first time how honey kills bacteria. Specifically, the research shows that bees make a protein that they add to the honey, called defensin-1, which could one day be used to treat burns and skin infections and to develop new drugs that could combat antibiotic-resistant infections.

30 Jun 2010

Call for incorporation of scientific evidence into illicit drug policies

Three leading scientific and health policy organizations today launched a global drive for signatories to the Vienna Declaration, a statement seeking to improve community health and safety by calling for the incorporation of scientific evidence into illicit drug policies. Among those supporting the declaration and urging others to sign is 2008 Nobel Laureate and International AIDS Society (IAS) Governing Council member Prof. Fran-oise Barr--Sinoussi, co-discoverer of HIV.

30 Jun 2010

Infection and severe sepsis mortality rates higher in black patients

A greater frequency of severe sepsis among black patients is attributable to higher rates of infection and higher risks of organ dysfunction than what white patients experience, according to a study in the June 23/30 issue of JAMA.

30 Jun 2010

Repeated viral screening for ART patients unnecessary with each donation

European legislation that requires all couples undergoing assisted reproduction treatment (ART) to be screened for HIV and hepatitis at the time of every sperm or egg donation is unnecessary, expensive, and potentially distressing for patients, the 26th annual meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology heard today (Monday).

30 Jun 2010

Cubist Phase 2 trial for efficacy of CXA-101 in complicated urinary tract infections meets objectives

Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leading acute care therapeutics company, today announced that the recently-completed Phase 2 study of CXA-101, a novel cephalosporin, compared to ceftazidime for the treatment of complicated urinary tract infections (cUTI) in adults met its study objectives.

30 Jun 2010

Cal/OSHA explores ways to strengthen adult film worker safety regulations

California's of Department Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) convened its first meeting of an Advisory Panel to explore strengthening adult film worker safety regulations in California today in downtown Los Angeles. In March, the Cal/OSHA Standards Board voted unanimously to convene the Advisory Panel in order to take public comment from health advocates, industry officials and the general public on whether—and how—to amend state health statutes to better protect adult film workers.

30 Jun 2010

Recent, upcoming FDA efforts address rare, 'neglected' diseases

The FDA's new rare disease review group will hold its first public hearing on Tuesday and Wednesday to discuss how to expand efforts to develop treatments for rare diseases that affect fewer than 200,000 people, Reuters

30 Jun 2010

Original viral genetic sequences still present months after initial infection, says study

Scientists have been surprised to learn that, despite thousands of changes that viruses like HIV undergo in rapid fashion to evade the body's immune system, the original version that caused the infection is still present in the body months later.

30 Jun 2010

White House to release domestic strategy against AIDS

The White House is poised to release the country's first comprehensive domestic strategy against AIDS, as funds to prevent infections have failed to halt the epidemic in those most at risk of the disease, AIDS groups said. Release of the National AIDS Strategy may come as early as today, fulfilling Obama's campaign pledge to unify priorities among federal agencies and state partners, said Mitchell Warren.

30 Jun 2010

UCLA School of Dentistry awarded NIH grant to study methamphetamine's oral, dental health consequences

The abuse of methamphetamine - a powerful and highly addictive psychostimulant that is toxic to the nervous system - has reached epidemic proportions in many parts of the United States. The National Institute on Drug Abuse estimates that more than 10 million Americans have tried methamphetamine, while more than 1.4 million are habitual users.

30 Jun 2010

Greenwire/New York Times examine dengue vaccine development

Greenwire/New York Times reports on the growing number of cases of dengue worldwide, including the CDC's report last month that the virus has now been locally acquired in the continental U.S. for the first time in 65 years. "While a few cases were reported earlier, they were primarily in Americans who had caught the virus abroad or at the Texas-Mexico border," the news service writes.

30 Jun 2010