Cold, Flu & Cough News and Research

Latest Cold, Flu & Cough News and Research

Mothers who catch a flu during pregnancy may increase the risk of their child developing schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe, and disabling brain disease. Approximately 1 percent of the population develops schizophrenia during their lifetime — more than 2 million Americans suffer from the illness in a given year.

3 Aug 2004

Aventis ships its influenza vaccine, Fluzone

Aventis began to ship its influenza vaccine (Fluzone(R), Influenza Virus Vaccine) today, meeting the company's goal to provide Fluzone vaccine to customers to allow health-care providers to plan successful immunization programs for the upcoming influenza season.

3 Aug 2004

America's childhood immunization rates are at record high levels

The U. S. Department of Health and Human Services has announced that the nation's childhood immunization rates are at record high levels, including significant increases in rates of immunization for chickenpox and pneumococcal pneumonia, the two most recent additions to the childhood immunization schedule.

2 Aug 2004

Measures to keep people safe in unusually hot weather

Britain's Chief Medical Officer has outlined measures to keep people safe in unusually hot weather.

31 Jul 2004

Study shows blood transfusions during heart surgery appear to increase death risk

Patients who received blood platelet transfusions during coronary bypass surgery were more likely to have prolonged hospital stays, longer surgeries, more bleeding and higher risk of infection, stroke and death, according to an international study led by the Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center.

29 Jul 2004

Rapid detection of anthrax inhalation

Authors of a research letter in this week’s issue of THE LANCET outline progress in the ability to rapidly detect anthrax inhalation in the event of bioterrorist attacks.

29 Jul 2004

Health Canada is advising consumers not to use products containing Aristolochic Acid

Health Canada is advising consumers not to use products containing Aristolochic Acid, a naturally occurring toxin that can cause cancer, mutations in human cells, and end-stage kidney failure.

29 Jul 2004

Swedish Medical Center is expanding its investigation of possible exposures to the pertussis (whooping cough) bacteria

As a precautionary measure, Swedish Medical Center is expanding its investigation of possible exposures to the pertussis (whooping cough) bacteria to include additional patients and employees.

29 Jul 2004

Drug to fight virus from the herpes family in transplant patients moves forward in trials

A drug once considered for cancer chemotherapy is advancing in clinical trials to test its effectiveness in fighting a virus from the herpes family that threatens transplant patients.

29 Jul 2004

Chickasaw County residents in need of emergency medical services will now have access to a lifesaving device

Chickasaw County residents in need of emergency medical services will now have access to a lifesaving device, thanks to a Mississippi State Department of Health initiative that allows purchasing and placement of these devices in rural areas of the state.

29 Jul 2004

What is wavefront LASIK?

Millions of people have reduced their dependence on eyeglasses and contact lenses over the past several years with the refractive surgery procedure known as LASIK. This procedure can correct refractive errors such as nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism.

29 Jul 2004

IVF pioneer wins international recognition

Monash in vitro fertilisation pioneer Professor Alan Trounson has been awarded the 2004 Bertarelli Foundation Award in Reproductive Health for his outstanding contribution to the field of assisted reproductive technologies.

29 Jul 2004

Patent pending botanical extract, V38-AMF-1, completely inhibits bird flu (H5N1) and Fujian Flu

PRB Pharmaceuticals and Lee's Pharmaceuticals have announced the discovery that PRB'S patent pending botanical extract, V38-AMF-1, completely inhibits bird flu (H5N1) and Fujian Flu (H3N2) infections in vitro.

29 Jul 2004

Surprising differences in the DNA of normal cells from different people

A new study by Michael Wigler’s group at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory has, in collaboration with researchers from Karolinska Institutet, revealed surprising differences in the DNA of normal cells from different people.

23 Jul 2004

Researchers discover a mechanism that blocks replication of a retrovirus

A team of scientists led by University of Georgia researchers has discovered a naturally occurring mechanism that blocks a critical step late in retrovirus replication.

21 Jul 2004

Computer modeling method for mapping the evolution of the influenza virus

A University of California scientist working at Los Alamos National Laboratory with collaborators from the University of Cambridge (England) and the World Health Organization National Influenza Center at Erasmus Medical Center, (Rotterdam, Netherlands) have developed a computer modeling method for mapping the evolution of the influenza virus.

21 Jul 2004

World's first personal facemask for SARS protection

Triosyn Corp., a developer of products aimed at protecting against microbial threats, announced today that tests conducted by Health Canada’s National Microbiology Laboratory show that Triosyn T-1000™ Series Respirators protect against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

21 Jul 2004

Botox approved as treatment for severe underarm sweating

The FDA has approved Botulinum Toxin Type A (Botox) to treat severe underarm sweating known as “primary axillary hyperhidrosis” that cannot be managed by topical agents such as prescription antiperspirants. Botox has already been approved for several other purposes.

20 Jul 2004

Tinned tuna lowers the risk of an irregular hearbeat

A new study out today suggests that tuna or broiled/baked fish lowers the risk of an irregular hearbeat among elderly people.

19 Jul 2004

Virginia mans dies from Hantavirus disease

The Virginia Department of Health announced last week that a man from the New River Health District in Southwest Virginia has died from Hantavirus disease.

19 Jul 2004