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Researchers develop new test to identify drugs that could work against Lyme disease

Researchers from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health have developed a test they say will allow them to test thousands of FDA-approved drugs to see if they will work against the bacteria that causes tick-borne Lyme disease.

4 Nov 2014

VCU Massey Cancer Center researchers develop tool for measuring cancer health literacy

Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Massey Cancer Center researchers have developed the first and only tool that can accurately measure cancer health literacy (CHL) and quickly identify patients with limited CHL. This tool has the potential to improve communication and understanding between physicians and patients, which, in turn, could lead to better clinical outcomes.

4 Nov 2014

Health impacts of inhalable constituents of thirdhand smoke

Ever walked into a hotel room and smelled old cigarette smoke? While the last smoker may have left the room hours or even days ago, the lingering odors—resulting from noxious residue that clings to walls, carpets, furniture, or dust particles—are thanks to thirdhand smoke.

4 Nov 2014

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service receives grant to help reduce chronic diseases

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service has been awarded a "Programs to Reduce Obesity in High-Obesity Areas" grant to support national efforts by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to reduce chronic diseases, promote healthier lifestyles, reduce health disparities and control health care spending.

4 Nov 2014

LSU Health New Orleans receives grant to support young breast cancer survivors in the Gulf South

The LSU Health New Orleans School of Public Health has been awarded a $2.2 million grant to increase the availability of health information and support services for young breast cancer survivors in the Gulf South.

4 Nov 2014

Nasal vaccine shows promise against Ebola virus

A nasal vaccine in development by researchers at The University of Texas at Austin has been shown to provide long-term protection for non-human primates against the deadly Ebola virus. Results from a small pre-clinical study represent the only proof to date that a single dose of a non-injectable vaccine platform for Ebola is long-lasting, which could have significant global implications in controlling future outbreaks.

4 Nov 2014

FDA approves Fluzone High-Dose vaccine sBLA to include efficacy data in Prescribing Information

Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of Sanofi, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the supplemental biologics license application (sBLA) for Fluzone High-Dose (Influenza Vaccine) to include efficacy data in the Prescribing Information.

3 Nov 2014

Gates Foundation awards US$156 million to support PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative

In support of a bold quest to rid the world entirely of malaria, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation today announced an award of US$156 million to PATH to support the PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative (MVI) in building new vaccines that will interrupt the cycle of malaria parasite transmission and help realize the "accelerating to zero" agenda. Such vaccines would ensure that parasite reintroduction is prevented by providing what could be called an "immunological bed net."

3 Nov 2014

New, easy-to-use test to accelerate progress toward eliminating onchocerciasis in Africa

A new test will accelerate global progress toward eliminating onchocerciasis, a leading cause of preventable blindness in Africa. PATH, an international nonprofit health organization, today announced the availability of the SD BIOLINE Onchocerciasis IgG4 rapid test, manufactured and distributed by Standard Diagnostics, Inc.

3 Nov 2014

Researchers develop mouse model to improve basic research on Ebola treatments, vaccines

Researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and colleagues have developed the first genetic strain of mice that can be infected with Ebola and display symptoms similar to those that humans experience.

31 Oct 2014

Insomnia contributes to deaths caused by motor vehicle crashes, other fatal injuries

New research suggests that insomnia is a major contributor to deaths caused by motor vehicle crashes and other unintentional fatal injuries. The results underscore the importance of the "Sleep Well, Be Well" campaign of the National Healthy Sleep Awareness Project.

31 Oct 2014

Diabetes treatment with low-cost generic drug can have positive implications for patient's quality of life

New research from CVS Health finds starting a new diabetes patient on metformin, a generic oral diabetes medicine that helps control blood sugar levels, reduced the need to add on additional treatments to control the condition over time. Although there are many classes of oral diabetes medications, there has historically been little evidence available on the comparative effectiveness of treatments to help patients and providers select an initial diabetes therapy.

31 Oct 2014

Profectus BioSciences gets funding to develop VesiculoVax Zaire-Ebola virus vaccine

Profectus BioSciences, Inc., a clinical-stage vaccine company developing novel vaccines for the treatment and prevention of infectious diseases, announced today that the Department of Defense through the Medical Countermeasure Systems-Joint Vaccine Acquisition Program, a subordinate command of the Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical and Biological Defense, Edgewood, MD, has contracted the manufacture and IND-enabling preclinical testing of the Profectus trivalent Ebola/Marburg vaccine.

31 Oct 2014

PORT can improve survival for non-small cell lung cancer patients

Patients who received post-operative radiation therapy (PORT), radiation therapy after surgery, lived an average of four months longer when compared to the patients who had the same disease site, tumor histology and treatment criteria and who did not receive PORT, according to research presented today at the 2014 Chicago Multidisciplinary Symposium in Thoracic Oncology.

31 Oct 2014

Initiative may allow 'instantaneous diagnosis of potentially fatal rhythm disorders' in endurance athletes

The condition of an athlete's heart has for the first time been accurately monitored throughout the duration of a marathon race. The real-time monitoring was achieved by continuous electrocardiogram (ECG) surveillance and data transfer over the public mobile phone network to a telemedicine centre along the marathon route.

31 Oct 2014

Google search data can provide more accurate real time picture of flu

Researchers have found that Google search data really can provide a more accurate real time picture of current flu infections.

31 Oct 2014

Challenges of maintaining enriched health care for pregnant women enrolled in Covered California

A new report by Milken Institute School of Public Health at the George Washington University examines the challenge of maintaining enriched health care for pregnant women who are enrolled in Covered California and who are also eligible for Medi-Cal, which includes the Comprehensive Perinatal Services Program (CPSP).

31 Oct 2014

New research shows link between perinatal exposure to BPA and risk of food intolerance in later life

If it seems like more people are allergic to, or intolerant of, more and different kinds of foods than ever before, there might be a reason why. A new research published in November 2014 issue of The FASEB Journal, scientists show, for the first time, that there is a link between perinatal exposure to Bisphenol A (BPA) at low doses and the risk to develop food intolerance in later life.

31 Oct 2014

VCOR project aims to improve coronary angioplasty services in Victoria

Victorian Hospitals will be better equipped to measure the quality of care for their cardiac patients, under a new project that collects and compares data on coronary angioplasty practice.

31 Oct 2014

Hypocalcaemic seizure surveillance highlights UK public health policy failings

The occurrence of 91 confirmed or probable hypocalcaemic seizures in children with vitamin D deficiency over a 2-year period in the UK highlights a failure to promote appropriate supplementation.

30 Oct 2014

Public Health News and Research

Researchers develop new test to identify drugs that could work against Lyme disease

VCU Massey Cancer Center researchers develop tool for measuring cancer health literacy

Health impacts of inhalable constituents of thirdhand smoke

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service receives grant to help reduce chronic diseases

LSU Health New Orleans receives grant to support young breast cancer survivors in the Gulf South

Nasal vaccine shows promise against Ebola virus

FDA approves Fluzone High-Dose vaccine sBLA to include efficacy data in Prescribing Information

Gates Foundation awards US$156 million to support PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative

New, easy-to-use test to accelerate progress toward eliminating onchocerciasis in Africa

Researchers develop mouse model to improve basic research on Ebola treatments, vaccines

Insomnia contributes to deaths caused by motor vehicle crashes, other fatal injuries

Diabetes treatment with low-cost generic drug can have positive implications for patient's quality of life

Profectus BioSciences gets funding to develop VesiculoVax Zaire-Ebola virus vaccine

PORT can improve survival for non-small cell lung cancer patients

Initiative may allow 'instantaneous diagnosis of potentially fatal rhythm disorders' in endurance athletes

Google search data can provide more accurate real time picture of flu

Challenges of maintaining enriched health care for pregnant women enrolled in Covered California

New research shows link between perinatal exposure to BPA and risk of food intolerance in later life

VCOR project aims to improve coronary angioplasty services in Victoria

Hypocalcaemic seizure surveillance highlights UK public health policy failings

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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