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U.S. encounter with swine flu highlights health system weaknesses

As the number of H1N1 (swine flu) cases in the U.S. continues to wane, the New York Times reflects on how federal officials handled the pandemic and other factors that helped the situation. "The outbreak highlighted many national weaknesses: old, slow vaccine technology; too much reliance on foreign vaccine factories; some major hospitals pushed to their limits by a relatively mild epidemic," the newspaper writes.

4 Jan 2010

Discovery of key process in bacterial infection could lead to new drug targets to prevent infection

Bacteria can swim, propelling themselves through fluids using a whip-like extension called a flaggella. They can also walk, strolling along solid surfaces using little fibrous legs called pili. It is this motility that enable some pathogenic bacteria to establish the infections - such as meningitis - that cause their human hosts to get sick or even die.

4 Jan 2010

CDC aims for improved efficiency, increased support of science

Changes "aimed at increasing the agency's efficiency and making it more user-friendly" include combining "the work of the malaria branch, the epidemiology program and HIV/AIDS efforts" under the newly formed Center for Global Health, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports (Poole, 1/1).

4 Jan 2010

Cepheid granted EUA for Xpert Flu A Panel test

Cepheid today announced it has been granted Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its Xpert® Flu A Panel test.

4 Jan 2010

Health risks of wooden pallet shipping platforms, call for Congress and FDA regulation

The expanded recall of TYLENOL Arthritis pain reliever is fresh evidence of the need for Congress and the FDA to regulate wood pallets used to transport food and pharmaceuticals in the United States because of the dangers they pose to human health.

4 Jan 2010

Scientists identify genetic marker to diagnose DFTD

An international team of scientists led by a Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) investigator has discovered that the deadly facial tumors decimating Australia's Tasmanian devil population probably originated in Schwann cells, a type of tissue that cushions and protects nerve fibers.

4 Jan 2010

HHS secretary unveils new H1N1 flu vaccination advertisement

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today announced a new H1N1 flu vaccination advertisement that will air during four College Football Bowl Games held over the New Year's holiday.

4 Jan 2010

Southern Chicago healthcare provider takes extra precautions to prevent H1N1 virus

There have been some new changes to the visitor guidelines at Riverside Medical Center. With the recent upswing in the number of people infected with the H1N1 virus, the southern Chicago suburbs healthcare provider has decided that there should be extra precautions put in place to protect patients, visitors and staff during this influenza outbreak.

31 Dec 2009

Study says short-term school closures during flu pandemic may increase infection rates

Closing schools for less than two weeks during a flu pandemic may increase infection rates and prolong an epidemic, say University of Pittsburgh researchers in a study published ahead-of-print and online in the Journal of Public Health Management and Practice.

31 Dec 2009

Presence of Streptococcus pneumoniae could predict risk of severe disease in H1N1 pandemic influenza

The presence of the Streptococcus pneumoniae in samples that can be easily obtained in clinics and emergency rooms may predict risk of severe disease in H1N1 pandemic influenza.

31 Dec 2009

U.S. Congress designates January as ‘Cervical Health Awareness Month’

Nearly 4,000 women in America will die this year from cervical cancer. These cancers are, largely, preventable, and raising public awareness can save lives. It's why the U.S. Congress has designated January as Cervical Health Awareness Month.

31 Dec 2009

HHS Secretary to unveil new H1N1 flu vaccination advertisement

U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius will hold a press conference call at 12 p.m. EST, Thursday, December 31st, to announce a new H1N1 flu vaccination advertisement that will air during four College Football Bowl Games held over the New Year's holidays.

31 Dec 2009

Young people more likely to catch swine flu from an infected person in their household

Young people aged under 18 years are more likely than adults to catch swine flu from an infected person in their household, according to a new study published today in the New England Journal of Medicine.

30 Dec 2009

J&JPRD receives FDA Complete Response Letter for ceftobiprole

Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development, L.L.C. (J&JPRD) today announced it received a Complete Response letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for ceftobiprole. The New Drug Application (NDA) was originally submitted to the FDA in May 2007 for the treatment of complicated skin and skin structure infections (cSSSI), including diabetic foot infections.

30 Dec 2009

Santarus submits rifamycin SV MMX IND to the FDA

Santarus, Inc., a specialty biopharmaceutical company, today announced that it has submitted an Investigational New Drug (IND) application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requesting approval to begin a Phase III clinical program evaluating rifamycin SV MMX® in patients with travelers’ diarrhea.

30 Dec 2009

CPF reports success in advocacy, research support and awareness of PF

The Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis (CPF) calls 2009 a year of success in advocacy, research support and awareness, even in a year plagued by the economic recession. PF is a fatal disease that has no known cause, no FDA-approved treatment, and no cure.

30 Dec 2009

Fred Pritzker calls on meat suppliers to pay medical bills incurred by victims of E. coli

National food safety lawyer Fred Pritzker is calling on National Steak and Poultry company to immediately pay all medical bills and lost wages incurred by victims of a multi-state outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 associated with blade-tenderized steaks.

30 Dec 2009

Lakeshore General Hospital restricts patient visits as a result of bacterial outbreak

Lakeshore General Hospital, a West Island HSSC facility, is restricting patient visits in the 4-West medical unit as a result of a bacterial outbreak. Other services provided by this hospital centre will not be affected. This preventive measure will remain in place until January 5.

30 Dec 2009

Gene mutation that decreases flesh-eating disease discovered by scientists

Scientists at The Methodist Hospital Research Institute in Houston recently discovered a simple gene mutation that decreases the chance people will get a flesh-eating disease called necrotizing fasciitis. Further, they proved that inactivating this section of the gene lessens the devastating disease in humans.

30 Dec 2009

Researchers develop automated system to differentiate strains of influenza

Researchers from the Medical College of Wisconsin, the Children's Research Institute, and the Children's Hospital of Wisconsin have developed a rapid, automated system to differentiate strains of influenza.

30 Dec 2009

Disease/Infection News

U.S. encounter with swine flu highlights health system weaknesses

Discovery of key process in bacterial infection could lead to new drug targets to prevent infection

CDC aims for improved efficiency, increased support of science

Cepheid granted EUA for Xpert Flu A Panel test

Health risks of wooden pallet shipping platforms, call for Congress and FDA regulation

Scientists identify genetic marker to diagnose DFTD

HHS secretary unveils new H1N1 flu vaccination advertisement

Southern Chicago healthcare provider takes extra precautions to prevent H1N1 virus

Study says short-term school closures during flu pandemic may increase infection rates

Presence of Streptococcus pneumoniae could predict risk of severe disease in H1N1 pandemic influenza

U.S. Congress designates January as ‘Cervical Health Awareness Month’

HHS Secretary to unveil new H1N1 flu vaccination advertisement

Young people more likely to catch swine flu from an infected person in their household

J&JPRD receives FDA Complete Response Letter for ceftobiprole

Santarus submits rifamycin SV MMX IND to the FDA

CPF reports success in advocacy, research support and awareness of PF

Fred Pritzker calls on meat suppliers to pay medical bills incurred by victims of E. coli

Lakeshore General Hospital restricts patient visits as a result of bacterial outbreak

Gene mutation that decreases flesh-eating disease discovered by scientists

Researchers develop automated system to differentiate strains of influenza

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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