Respiratory News and Research

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Vaccines for preventing influenza in the elderly

Although national and international health organizations urge anyone over age 65 to get yearly flu shots, the vaccinations are only modestly effective in preventing flu and its complications among older adults, according to a new review of recent studies.

19 Jul 2006

Calcium supplementation during pregnancy for preventing hypertensive disorders and related problems

Expectant mothers may be able to prevent potentially serious medical problems in themselves and their babies simply by boosting their daily calcium intake, says a new systematic review.

19 Jul 2006

Researchers find protein associated with brain cell death

Neuroscientists at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine have found evidence of which protein in the brain's immune cells triggers a cascade of reactions that produces unregulated free radical production that eventually leads to the neural cell death found in Alzheimer's disease.

19 Jul 2006

Colorectal cancer patients suffer from psychological problems long after completion of treatment

According to a survey, colorectal cancer patients rate their quality of life after treatment as good, particularly if they have to cope with small physical restrictions only.

19 Jul 2006

Rise in asthma linked to chlorine in indoor swimming pools

New research into the rising number of asthma sufferers is suggesting that indoor swimming pools may be partly to blame.

18 Jul 2006

Predicted Hantavirus risk in 2006 for the Southwestern U.S.

The Four Corners region of the United States (where Ariz., N.M., Colo. and Utah meet) will be at greater risk for hantavirus outbreak this year than in 2005, say scientists at Johns Hopkins University, the University of New Mexico, and other institutions.

12 Jul 2006

Being a whistle-blower in China could mean going to jail

According to Chinese media sources a farmer who reported bird flu outbreaks to the central government has been jailed for three-and-a-half years for fraud and blackmail.

12 Jul 2006

Scientists unravel breast cancer risk gene mystery

The risk of developing breast cancer is doubled in women who inherit a damaged version of a gene called ATM, according to a study published by Cancer Research UK funded scientists and collaborators in Nature Genetics.

10 Jul 2006

Conjoined twin critical after separation surgery

One of the conjoined twin girls separated from her sister in a lengthy operation last week is apparently in a critical condition.

10 Jul 2006

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients using beta-agonist inhalers are at risk

A new analysis that compares two common inhalers for patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) finds that one reduces respiratory-related hospitalizations and respiratory deaths, but the other - which is prescribed in the majority of cases - increases respiratory deaths.

9 Jul 2006

Study supports routine vaccination of children against flu

According to a new study childhood influenza is much more common in the USA than previously thought and more often than not doctors often fail to diagnose it in young children.

6 Jul 2006

Some common inhalers double death rate in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients

4 Jul 2006

Being "at risk for overweight" really means kids are too fat or obese

Obesity appears to be a problem worldwide affecting millions of people in many developed countries.

3 Jul 2006

More birds with H5N1 found in China but details are guesswork!

According to Chinese officials another outbreak of the H5N1 avian flu virus in birds has been found in the northwestern region of the country.

3 Jul 2006

Stopping SARS viruses from reproducing

In times of the "bird flu" SARS seems to be no threat anymore. This notion is deceptive.

29 Jun 2006

CDC recommends human papillomavirus virus vaccination

CDC Advisory Committee Recommends Human Papillomavirus Virus Vaccination Vaccine considered highly effective in preventing infections that are the cause of most cervical cancers.

29 Jun 2006

CDC’s advisory committee recommends changes in varicella vaccinations

Second dose of varicella vaccine to offer more protection for children, adolescents, and adults.

29 Jun 2006

When the smoke clears even secondhand smoke is found to be a killer

Dr. Richard Carmona the American Surgeon-General has stated in a new report that secondhand smoke is a killer and smoking should be banned in all work places.

28 Jun 2006

Insecurity fans spread of pneumonic plague in Congo

Medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) urged its international partners to help contain an outbreak of the highly contagious pneumonic plague in north-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

27 Jun 2006

Where bird flu began is a Chinese puzzle

A surprising revelation by a group of Chinese researchers has led to a formal request from the World Health Organization (WHO) for a meeting with officials of the Chinese Ministry of Health.

26 Jun 2006