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Report: Conditions in Zambian prisons fueling spread of HIV, TB

"Conditions in Zambia's prisons are so overcrowded and medical care so inadequate that they are breeding grounds for disease and pose a serious threat to public health, says a new report by Human Rights Watch, produced in association with the AIDS and Rights Alliance for Southern Africa and the Prisons Care and Counselling Association," BMJ News reports.

29 Apr 2010

Seasonal flu shots: Are they responsible for the adverse reactions? Investigations on

After the seasonal flu vaccines caused over 250 cases of fever, vomiting and convulsions and one reported death in under-fives there has been intense investigations to detect the cause. Further vaccinations were stopped last Friday.

28 Apr 2010

Scientists discover human DNA that act as a traitor to body's defences

Cancer Research UK-funded scientists have discovered that stretches of human DNA act as a traitor to the body's defences by helping viruses infect people and trigger cancer-causing diseases, according to a study published in Nature Cell Biology today.

28 Apr 2010

Stalk structure of Mx protein restrains components of influenza virus in infected cells

When the human body becomes infected with new influenza viruses, the immune system rapidly activates an inborn protective mechanism to inhibit the intruding pathogen. A protein known as Mx plays an important role in this process, keeping the spread of viruses in check. Exactly how Mx accomplishes this task was previously unknown.

28 Apr 2010

Study evaluates cost benefits of new interventions for treating, preventing PDN and PHN

Constantly rising U.S. health care costs could be reduced significantly by preventing and treating neuropathic pain conditions associated with diabetes and herpes zoster virus infections, according to research published in The Journal of Pain, the peer review publication of the American Pain Society, www.ampainsoc.org and jpain.org.

28 Apr 2010

AHF applauds Merck for doubling Isentress discount rebates and freezing price for ADAPs

Following an innovative, years long advocacy campaign spearheaded by AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) that targeted Merck and Co. Pharmaceuticals over the pricing of its AIDS drug Isentress—one of the most expensive first line AIDS therapies on the US market today—officials from AHF lauded Merck today for significant concessions that the drug giant is putting in place on its pricing and rebate policies for the nation's AIDS Drug Assistance Programs (ADAP), the federally funded, state run programs that supply lifesaving AIDS drugs to low-income Americans in need.

28 Apr 2010

BiondVax announces successful conclusion of second Phase I/II trial of Multimeric-001 Universal Flu Vaccine

BiondVax Pharmaceuticals Ltd., an Israeli biopharmaceutical company at the forefront of global efforts towards the development of a Universal Influenza Vaccine, announced the successful conclusion of the Company's second Phase I/II clinical trial of the Multimeric-001 Universal Influenza Vaccine.

28 Apr 2010

Causes of death in AIDS patients

New research shows that Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) continues to dramatically reduce rates of mortality from HIV infection in high-income countries, such that non-AIDS-related deaths exceed AIDS deaths after approximately four years of taking ART.

28 Apr 2010

State Round-up: Federal prosecutors investigate bid rigging at New York hospitals; Montana prepares for health reform implementation; and Florida spares Medicaid from budget cuts

The Wall Street Journal: "Federal prosecutors are investigating allegations that bid rigging and fraud at Mount Sinai Medical Center and New York-Presbyterian Hospital resulted in the hospitals awarding contracts worth tens of millions of dollars to outside contractors. Purchasing officials at the hospitals ... are alleged to have gotten more than a million dollars in payments from companies that were then given lucrative contracts to perform work such as re-insulating pipes and removing asbestos, according to documents filed in the Southern District of New York.

28 Apr 2010

Researchers develop new diagnostic approach to fight against Chagas disease

Chagas disease is one of the most deadly parasitic diseases in the world. It affects more than 10 million people, primarily in the Americas. In South America alone it kills 50 000 people each year. A reliable and rapid diagnosis is the key in the battle against infection but until now, this has been next to impossible.

28 Apr 2010

Trade negotiations between EU, India could affect access to low-cost generics

The Associated Press examines the ongoing free-trade negotiations between the EU and India - a country that according to PricewaterhouseCoopers currently "makes one-fifth of the world's generics." The negotiations "could make it harder for millions … across the developing world to get lifesaving drugs. The deal is taking shape as India tries to transform itself from a generics powerhouse into a base for drug discovery - a trend that could ultimately do more than any trade agreement to curtail its reign as a pharmacy to the poor."

28 Apr 2010

China lifts ban on tourists suffering from HIV/AIDS

In a new development China has lifted its decades old reservations towards travelers and tourists suffering from HIV and AIDS in the wake of the Shanghai World Expo this weekend.

28 Apr 2010

WHO welcomes China's decision to remove entry, travel restrictions for people living with HIV

"China's decision to categorically remove HIV/AIDS from the list of conditions subject to entry restrictions is a significant step in the right direction," said Dr Margaret Chan, WHO Director-General. "This decision should inspire other nations to change laws and policies that continue to discriminate against people living with HIV."

28 Apr 2010

Report looks at AIDS funding in developing countries

"A global pullback on commitments to fund and fight AIDS is resulting in restrictions on the number of people being enrolled into treatment programmes, more frequent drug shortages, and reduced national AIDS budgets," according to a report released Monday by the International Treatment Preparedness Coalition, BMJ News reports.

28 Apr 2010

News outlets continue malaria coverage

World Malaria Day was Sunday and news organizations continued to cover local events.

28 Apr 2010

International initiative seeks to reduce heterosexual HIV transmission

Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute has received a $350,000 grant to study the safety of a gel designed to reduce the heterosexual transmission of HIV from the International Partnership for Microbicides, a nonprofit global initiative to develop products to reduce HIV transmission, and the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Institute announced today.

28 Apr 2010

Australian Medical Association says doctor followed all procedures in flu shot death

The death of a two year old girl a day after she relieved a flu shot has become an issue for the Brisbane doctor who gave the girl and her twin sister the flu shot. The Australian Medical Association branch in Queenland has warned against making Dr Amir Eskandari the scapegoat in the case.

27 Apr 2010

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals publishes encouraging results from Phase II GEMINI study in PNAS

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leading RNAi therapeutics company, announced today that it has published results from its Phase II GEMINI study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). These data, previously presented at the International Symposium on Respiratory Viral Infections in Singapore in 2008, showed human proof of concept with an RNAi therapeutic in a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled study.

27 Apr 2010

Prime-boost malaria vaccine regimen provides sterile protection: Vical

Vical Incorporated announced today that a prime-boost malaria vaccine regimen provided sterile protection, with no disease symptoms and no detectable malaria parasites, in 4 of 15 vaccinated volunteers a full 28 days after challenge with multiple infected-mosquito bites.

27 Apr 2010

UK MHRA authorizes Presidio Pharmaceuticals to initiate Phase 1 clinical trial of PPI-461 for HCV

Presidio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today that the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has authorized the initiation of a Phase 1 first-in-human clinical trial of PPI-461, an orally administered NS5A inhibitor for the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV). The Phase 1 clinical trial will be conducted in healthy volunteers.

27 Apr 2010

Disease/Infection News

Report: Conditions in Zambian prisons fueling spread of HIV, TB

Seasonal flu shots: Are they responsible for the adverse reactions? Investigations on

Scientists discover human DNA that act as a traitor to body's defences

Stalk structure of Mx protein restrains components of influenza virus in infected cells

Study evaluates cost benefits of new interventions for treating, preventing PDN and PHN

AHF applauds Merck for doubling Isentress discount rebates and freezing price for ADAPs

BiondVax announces successful conclusion of second Phase I/II trial of Multimeric-001 Universal Flu Vaccine

Causes of death in AIDS patients

State Round-up: Federal prosecutors investigate bid rigging at New York hospitals; Montana prepares for health reform implementation; and Florida spares Medicaid from budget cuts

Researchers develop new diagnostic approach to fight against Chagas disease

Trade negotiations between EU, India could affect access to low-cost generics

China lifts ban on tourists suffering from HIV/AIDS

WHO welcomes China's decision to remove entry, travel restrictions for people living with HIV

Report looks at AIDS funding in developing countries

News outlets continue malaria coverage

International initiative seeks to reduce heterosexual HIV transmission

Australian Medical Association says doctor followed all procedures in flu shot death

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals publishes encouraging results from Phase II GEMINI study in PNAS

Prime-boost malaria vaccine regimen provides sterile protection: Vical

UK MHRA authorizes Presidio Pharmaceuticals to initiate Phase 1 clinical trial of PPI-461 for HCV

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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