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Combination MMRV vaccine associated with increased risk of febrile seizures

The combination vaccine for measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox (MMRV) is associated with double the risk of febrile seizures for 1- to 2-year-old children compared with same-day administration of the separate vaccine for MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) and the varicella (V) vaccine for chicken pox, according to a Kaiser Permanente Division of Research study appearing online in the journal Pediatrics. A febrile seizure is a brief, fever-related convulsion but it does not lead to epilepsy or seizure disorders, researchers explained.

28 Jun 2010

New affiliation formed to accelerate nation's progress in fighting HIV/AIDS

Two leading institutions in public health and health policy are joining forces to accelerate the nation's progress in fighting HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C and tuberculosis in Washington – the Forum for Collaborative HIV Research and the University of California, Berkeley, School of Public Health.

28 Jun 2010

Antioxidant therapy may prevent long-lasting cognitive impairment in cerebral malaria: Research

Using an experimental mouse model for malaria, an international group of scientists has discovered that adding antioxidant therapy to traditional antimalarial treatment may prevent long-lasting cognitive impairment in cerebral malaria. Their findings were published online June 24, 2010, in the journal PLoS Pathogens.

28 Jun 2010

Data on MetAP2 inhibitors for treatment of obesity presented at ADA 2010

Zafgen, Inc., a pharmaceutical company pioneering novel obesity therapeutics to help the body regain and sustain a lean, healthy state by targeting imbalances in fat metabolism, today announced data on ZGN-201, a prototype methionine aminopeptidase 2 inhibitor, for the treatment of obesity. Preclinical studies demonstrate MetAP2 inhibition eliminates excess body weight through the regulation of fat metabolism and food intake, and normalizes glucose tolerance in animal models.

28 Jun 2010

FDA approves OraSure Technologies' OraQuick HCV Rapid Antibody Test

OraSure Technologies, Inc. announced today that its OraQuick Hepatitis C Rapid Antibody Test has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in detecting HCV antibodies in venous whole blood specimens, making it the first rapid HCV test approved by the FDA for use in the United States.

28 Jun 2010

Mechanism that regulates stem-cell differentiation in mice may trigger degenerative disease in humans: Research

A mechanism that regulates stem-cell differentiation in mice testes suggests a similar process that may trigger degenerative disease in humans, according to a Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences reproductive physiologist.

28 Jun 2010

Florida seeks new tools to stop dengue outbreak

While all eyes are on the Gulf oil spill, another natural disaster worsens as Key West Florida battles the first U.S. outbreak of dengue in 75 years. With over 30 confirmed cases (27 in 2009, 8 in 2010) and 5% of residents showing exposure to the mosquito-spread disease, Florida is seeking new tools to stop the emerging threat. Aiming to enhance their existing control program, the Florida Keys Mosquito Control District turned to SpringStar Inc in Woodinville, WA.

28 Jun 2010

FDA approves OraQuick HCV Rapid Antibody Test for HCV

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today announced approval of the first rapid blood test for antibodies to the hepatitis C virus for individuals 15 years and older.

25 Jun 2010

Sixth annual Mayors Campaign Against HIV launched to encourage people test for HIV

OraSure Technologies, Inc. and the National Association of People with AIDS announced today the launch of the sixth annual Mayors Campaign Against HIV, a national campaign to encourage testing for HIV and promote the benefits of knowing one's HIV status. The Campaign is part of the annual observance of National HIV Testing Day on Sunday, June 27, 2010.

25 Jun 2010

Overview of scientific research on medical technology to combat anthrax threat

The 2001 anthrax attacks in the United States are fostering development of a new generation of vaccines, antibiotics, and other medications to protect people against the potentially deadly bacteria in any future bioterrorist incident. That's the conclusion of a sweeping overview of scientific research on medical technology to combat the anthrax threat. It appears in ACS' bi-weekly Journal of Medicinal Chemistry.

25 Jun 2010

Scientist at Children Hospital Los Angeles receives NIH grant to research on meningitis

A white blood cell that normally removes bacteria from the bloodstream helps Escherichia coli (E. coli) accumulate in the blood and enter the brain resulting in the deadly infection known as meningitis. Prasadarao V. Nemani, PhD, a scientist at The Saban Research Institute at Children Hospital Los Angeles plans to find out how this happens with a grant of $1.65 million from the National Institutes of Health - National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Strokes.

25 Jun 2010

Minnesota AIDS Project awarded federal grant to support HIV prevention services for young gay, bisexual men

The Minnesota AIDS Project is pleased to announce that it has been notified that it will be awarded a federal grant for five years totaling over $1.5 million from the Centers for Disease Control targeting HIV prevention services for young gay and bisexual men in Minnesota. This segment of the community represents the fastest growing population of HIV infections in Minnesota with the total number of new cases in 2009 at the highest level since 1994. The Minnesota AIDS Project Board of Directors is focusing its efforts to reduce these numbers and is committed to using the funds to target these prevention services.

25 Jun 2010

Opinions: Harper and global health; Health workers in developing countries; Funding commitments; DDT, GMO use

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper "can use the relatively intimate setting of the G8's Muskoka meeting to press for a renewal of the G8's commitment to better health for Africans, and help the developed world be truly accountable for its promises," the Globe and Mail writes in an editorial. "The G8's failure to fully fund the historic aid commitments to Africa it made at the 2005 Gleneagles summit" puts the future success of the developing world at risk, the editorial states.

25 Jun 2010

AAHIVM encourages medical providers to utilize its screening tools on National HIV Testing Day

National HIV Testing Day is June 27, 2010. Like every day in a country where there are 56,000 new HIV infections a year, approximately 150 Americans will learn of their HIV infection on June 27th. So, here's the question -- what happens on June 28th, the day after National HIV Testing Day? What do medical providers do with these newly-identified HIV patients?

25 Jun 2010

Increasing the amount of preservatives may reduce food poisoning

In response to consumer demand for more natural food, the food industry has reduced the amount of preservatives in food over recent years. A common preservative is acetic acid, which is used to stop bacterial growth in dressings, sauces, cheese and pickles.

25 Jun 2010

Researchers say ear tubes are safe for children with cochlear implants

Children who are being treated for hearing loss with cochlear implants can safely have ear tubes installed to help clear up infections, say researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB).

25 Jun 2010

UNICEF and Kiwanis team up to protect mothers and babies from tetanus

Kiwanis International and UNICEF have joined forces to save the lives of babies and their mothers by eliminating maternal/neonatal tetanus (MNT), a disease that kills an estimated 60,000 newborns and 30,000 mothers each year.

25 Jun 2010

MDG targets still attainable despite setbacks from global economic situation, U.N. report says

Efforts to curb poverty worldwide have been slowed by the global economic situation, but the developing world is still on track to reach the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of halving the number of people living on less than $1 per day by 2015 - according to an annual U.N. report (.pdf) on the MDGs, which this year shows a "mixed picture" on reaching all eight targets - the Associated Press reports (Lederer, 6/23).

25 Jun 2010

Standard CRP test ineffective for detecting inflammatory bowel disease: Study

C-reactive protein (CRP) is used to assess disease activity in diverse inflammatory disorders including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, in IBD, a significant number of patients present with low CRP levels despite clinically active disease.

25 Jun 2010

Editors of Canadian Medical Association Journal warn polio outbreak in Tajikistan could spread

"A large polio outbreak in Tajikistan - Europe's first in years - has the potential to further spread the dangerous virus to other regions of the world, the [editors of] the Canadian Medical Association Journal [CMAJ] warned Wednesday" in an editorial appearing in the journal, the Canadian Press reports.

25 Jun 2010

Disease/Infection News

Combination MMRV vaccine associated with increased risk of febrile seizures

New affiliation formed to accelerate nation's progress in fighting HIV/AIDS

Antioxidant therapy may prevent long-lasting cognitive impairment in cerebral malaria: Research

Data on MetAP2 inhibitors for treatment of obesity presented at ADA 2010

FDA approves OraSure Technologies' OraQuick HCV Rapid Antibody Test

Mechanism that regulates stem-cell differentiation in mice may trigger degenerative disease in humans: Research

Florida seeks new tools to stop dengue outbreak

FDA approves OraQuick HCV Rapid Antibody Test for HCV

Sixth annual Mayors Campaign Against HIV launched to encourage people test for HIV

Overview of scientific research on medical technology to combat anthrax threat

Scientist at Children Hospital Los Angeles receives NIH grant to research on meningitis

Minnesota AIDS Project awarded federal grant to support HIV prevention services for young gay, bisexual men

Opinions: Harper and global health; Health workers in developing countries; Funding commitments; DDT, GMO use

AAHIVM encourages medical providers to utilize its screening tools on National HIV Testing Day

Increasing the amount of preservatives may reduce food poisoning

Researchers say ear tubes are safe for children with cochlear implants

UNICEF and Kiwanis team up to protect mothers and babies from tetanus

MDG targets still attainable despite setbacks from global economic situation, U.N. report says

Standard CRP test ineffective for detecting inflammatory bowel disease: Study

Editors of Canadian Medical Association Journal warn polio outbreak in Tajikistan could spread

How can microdialysis benefit drug development

Global and Local Efforts to Take Action Against Hepatitis

Addressing Important Cardiac Biology Questions with Shotgun Top-Down Proteomics

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