Disease/Infection News

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Lethality of H1N1 virus has dropped from its peak of 3.7, shows new data

Biotech firm Replikins Ltd., which has analyzed the H1N1 virus' genomic data from the 1918 pandemic through the prediction, outbreak, and progress of the current H1N1 pandemic, today issued its latest biochemical analysis of the virus.

25 Nov 2009

Under-five child mortality up 20% in Zimbabwe, new data shows

UNICEF and the government of Zimbabwe announced Tuesday that, according to new social development data, the mortality rate for children under age five has risen by 20 percent since 1990, Reuters reports.

25 Nov 2009

WHO investigates cases of H1N1 drug resistance in U.S., Britain

The WHO is looking into reports that patients with "severely suppressed immune systems" in Britain and the U.S. developed resistance Tamiflu, which is used to treat the symptoms of H1N1 (swine flu), a spokesman for the organization said Tuesday, Reuters reports.

25 Nov 2009

Despite gains, HIV/AIDS remains public-health priority, UNAIDS, WHO say

"The U.N. report said 'AIDS continues to be a major public-health priority' and called for more funds to support efforts to curb the epidemic and to distribute lifesaving drugs," the Wall Street Journal reports.

25 Nov 2009

Novel way to fight UTIs: Research into Alzheimer's disease

Research into Alzheimer's disease seems an unlikely approach to yield a better way to fight urinary tract infections (UTIs), but that's what scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and elsewhere recently reported.

25 Nov 2009

Novartis to terminate its research collaboration agreement with Idera Pharmaceuticals

Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc., today announced that Novartis will terminate its research collaboration agreement with the Company, effective as of February 21, 2010.

25 Nov 2009

Basic food safety measures can help prevent foodborne illness

Parties, family dinners, and other gatherings where food is served are all part of the holiday cheer. But the merriment can change to misery if food makes you or others ill.

25 Nov 2009

Synexus recruits patients to study paediatric vaccine against rotavirus

UK-based Synexus, the world’s largest multi-national company dedicated to the recruitment and running of clinical trials, recruited the highest number of patients to the South African study investigating a paediatric vaccine against rotavirus.

From AES - Accelerated Enrollment Solutions 25 Nov 2009

Pennsylvanians at-risk for H1N1 flu receive H1N1 vaccination

Governor Edward G. Rendell today announced that 100,000 Pennsylvanians at-risk for the H1N1 flu were vaccinated during the weekend at public health clinics held by the Department of Health and local health departments.

25 Nov 2009

Pilot clinical study results of laser treatment for toenail fungus presented

PinPointe USA, Inc., a privately held emerging medical technology company which introduced the breakthrough PinPointe FootLaser treatment for toenail fungus in Europe, today announced that Dr. Brian McDowell presented the results of his pilot clinical study “Laser Treatment for Toenail Fungus” (Harris, McDowell and Strisower, Proc. SPIE 7161A, 2009) at the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists Annual Conference 2009 at Harrogate International Centre on November 19.

25 Nov 2009

FDA provides marketing clearance for Prodesse's ProParaflu+ assay

Gen-Probe Incorporated announced today that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared for marketing Prodesse's ProParaflu+(TM) assay, a molecular test that detects and differentiates parainfluenza 1, 2 and 3 viruses, which cause lower respiratory tract infections.

25 Nov 2009

Pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies test medicines and vaccines to treat HIV/AIDS

America's pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies are testing 97 medicines and vaccines to treat or prevent HIV/AIDS and related conditions, according to a new report released today by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA).

25 Nov 2009

Community-based program proves to be successful in reducing skin infections in Australian aboriginal children

A community-based program aimed at reducing the burden of skin disease across remote communities in Australia's Northern Territory has been successful according to a study published November 24 in the open-access journal PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases.

25 Nov 2009

Comparison study finds no significant differences in post-transplant survival rates of NASH and ETOH groups

Researchers at the University of Miami School of Medicine compared the outcomes of cirrhotic patients who underwent liver transplants for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) versus alcoholic liver disease (ETOH) and found no statistically significant differences in post-transplant survival rates between the NASH and ETOH groups

25 Nov 2009

‘Testing Millions’ campaign in conjunction with World AIDS Day launched by AHF

As part of a groundbreaking global effort to test several million people for HIV in conjunction with this year’s observation of World AIDS Day on Tuesday, December 1st, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest global AIDS organization, is spearheading and coordinating the ‘Testing Millions’ campaign. The campaign, which has been organized by AHF in coalition with hundreds of global partners from 52 countries around the world, is mobilizing non-governmental organizations (NGOs), local and national governments, international relief agencies, faith-based organizations and civil society to participate.

25 Nov 2009

Obese, HIV patients do not respond to antiretroviral therapy, says new study

The immune systems of HIV patients who are obese don't respond to antiretroviral therapy as well as do those of people of normal weight, according to a study conducted by researchers from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU). The findings were presented by San Diego-based Nancy Crum-Cianflone, MD at the annual meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society of America.

25 Nov 2009

Alzheimer's disease research leads to more effective UTI treatments

24 Nov 2009

News outlets examine conditions of refugees in Yemen, malnutrition, cholera risks

Reuters reports that as a new camp capable of hosting 10,000 to 12,000 refugees in Yemen will open in a few weeks, "[m]alnutrition and the risk of a cholera outbreak are threatening lives at Yemen's main camp [Masrak] for people fleeing fighting in the north." According to Thomas Davin, regional UNICEF chief, "Hygiene is terrible, really, really terrible."

24 Nov 2009

Over 33m people worldwide living with HIV/AIDS, UNAIDS/WHO report finds

An estimated 33.4 million people worldwide are living with HIV/AIDS, according to a report released Tuesday in Shanghai by the WHO and UNAIDS that shows "more people are living longer due to the availability of drugs," Reuters/Washington Post reports (Rujun/Chan, 11/24).

24 Nov 2009

Also in Global Health news: Home HIV treatment; voluntary testing in Kenya; women/HIV scorecard; Global Fund Zimbabwe grant; contraceptives in Tanzania

The New York Times reports on a Lancet study that found treating Ugandan HIV patients at home is cheaper and just as effective as treating them in a clinic.

24 Nov 2009