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FDA, EMA accept boceprevir for expedited review

Merck, known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, announced today that regulatory applications for boceprevir, Merck's investigational oral hepatitis C virus (HCV) protease inhibitor, were submitted in 2010 and have been accepted for expedited review in both the U.S. and the European Union.

10 Jan 2011

Majority of U.S. adults strongly support innovative programs to discourage teen pregnancy

Every hour in the United States, about 40 children are born to teenage mothers. Americans consistently rate teen pregnancy as one of the top 10 biggest health problems for young people and the U.S. still has the highest teen birth rate among all industrialized countries -- despite decreases in the birth rate during the past 20 years.

7 Jan 2011

ADA commends HHS for reaffirming safety, efficacy of optimal community water fluoridation

The American Dental Association (ADA) today commended the Federal agencies responsible for public health and safety for recalibrating the ratio of fluoride to water that they consider optimal based on scientific evaluation and the full appreciation of fluoride received from all sources.

7 Jan 2011

Fact-checking claims, questions in the continuing overhaul debate

News outlets review some of the health law's policy specifics and ask questions about specific components, such as how the law's prevention fund is faring.

7 Jan 2011

Today's Opinions: Brooks, Reich, Fund, Cook on repeal; End-of-life care controversy continues

The health care reform law was signed 10 months ago, and what's striking now is how vulnerable it looks. Several threats have emerged — some of them scarcely discussed before passage — that together or alone could seriously endanger the new system. ... After the trauma of the last two years, many people wish the issue would go away. But it's not going away, especially since costs will continue to rise. (David Brooks, 1/6).

7 Jan 2011

Substantial equivalence review requirement for new tobacco products announced

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced today that certain tobacco products introduced or changed after Feb. 15, 2007 must be reviewed by the agency. In FDA guidance published today, the agency outlines a pathway for marketing a product whereby the company marketing the product must prove that it is "substantially equivalent" to products commercially available on Feb. 15, 2007.

7 Jan 2011

Elevated rates of 'Sarcoid Like' Granulomatous Pulmonary Disease found in WTC responders

Mount Sinai researchers coordinating the largest clinical study to date of "Sarcoid Like" Granulomatous Pulmonary Disease in World Trade Center (WTC) responders have found that the rate of the condition was increased in this group as compared to the records of pre-9/11 FDNY personnel. The study is published online in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine.

7 Jan 2011

IDSA releases MRSA treatment guidelines

Physicians now have help in their battle against methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a potentially deadly infection that initially was limited to hospitals and health care facilities but has become a growing problem in healthy children and adults. The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) has released its first guidelines for the treatment of increasingly common MRSA infections.

7 Jan 2011

Roundup: In Oregon, New Gov. Kitzhaber vows to change state's health care delivery system; In Ariz., 2nd person denied transplant coverage dies

Oregon Governor-elect John Kitzhaber, a Democrat who will be inaugurated in Salem on Monday (January 10), is no stranger to the state's top political office: He was a two-term governor between 1995 and 2003. ... An emergency-room physician by background, Kitzhaber, 62, also is no stranger to the nation's health care system, which he sees as costly, ineffective and unsustainable.

7 Jan 2011

Extreme obesity a powerful risk factor for death among 2009 H1N1 patients

For those infected with the 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus, extreme obesity was a powerful risk factor for death, according to an analysis of a public health surveillance database. In a study to be published in the February 1, 2011, issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases, researchers associated extreme obesity with a nearly three-fold increased odds of death from 2009 H1N1 influenza. Half of Californians greater than 20 years of age hospitalized with 2009 H1N1 were obese.

7 Jan 2011

Poll shows strong support as Smoke-Free Kentucky Campaign launches today

Kentucky health advocates today released a new poll showing 59% of Kentucky voters support passing a law to make all restaurants, bars and other workplaces smoke-free. The release is part of the launch of Smoke-Free Kentucky's campaign to ensure that all Kentuckians have the right to breathe clean, smoke-free air in public places and at work.

7 Jan 2011

Ligand, Chiva Pharmaceuticals enter strategic relationship to develop multiple Ligand assets, technology

Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated announced today that it has entered into a strategic relationship with Chiva Pharmaceuticals, to develop multiple Ligand assets and technology in China and potentially worldwide.

7 Jan 2011

FDA introduces new Web resource that helps companies to save time, resources

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today introduced a new Web resource called FDA Basics for Industry to help companies and others save time and resources in their interactions with the agency.

7 Jan 2011

Queensland’s flooded residents warned against insect bites

The Queensland Health authorities have issued warnings to residents and tourists in the Emerald region regarding mosquitoes, biting midges (commonly known as sand flies) and black flies in areas affected by flooding. The Council insect control programs are helping with reducing the number of insects, say authorities but people still need to protect themselves to reduce the risk of being bitten in the next few weeks.

6 Jan 2011

Report urges Minnesotans to protect, preserve water resources

The University of Minnesota's Water Resources Center has authored a first-ever, comprehensive report designed to protect and preserve Minnesota's lakes, rivers and groundwater for the 21st century and beyond.

6 Jan 2011

InHealth awards grant to assess effects of hip replacement therapy on aging populations

The Institute for Health Technology Studies has awarded a grant of $240,000 to an international consortium of researchers, for a study that will assess the effects of hip replacement therapy on the employment and retirement decisions of older adults. Led by researchers at the Universit- Bocconi (Milan), the consortium also includes investigators at the University of York (York, UK), and the Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health (Baltimore).

6 Jan 2011

Violence against mothers increases risk of death among female children in India: Study

The deaths of 1.8 million female infants and children in India over the past 20 years are related to domestic violence against their mothers, according to a new study led by researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health.

6 Jan 2011

Impact of flu vaccine opt-out is being seen as A(H1N1) returns to Europe

As the UK and a number of European countries are now experiencing epidemics of influenza, including A(H1N1) which was the 2009 pandemic virus, the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) warns that the consequences of non-vaccination could emerge as a new flu emergency and are calling for greater efforts to encourage vaccination, not only for at risk groups but also health care workers.

6 Jan 2011

Studded tires can cause damage to public health and pavement

Scientists are reporting new evidence on how studded tires - wintertime fixtures in some areas but banned in others for causing damage to pavement - may also damage the health of motorists and people living near highways.

6 Jan 2011

Scientists identify prognostic biomarker to treat patients with HCV

Scientists at Inserm and Institut Pasteur have performed biomarker discovery on patients being treated for chronic hepatitis C infection. Their work, published in The Journal of Clinical Investigation, demonstrates that the plasma levels of the protein IP-10 predict, prior to treatment initiation, the efficacy of treatment with pegylated-interferon and ribavirin.

6 Jan 2011

Public Health News and Research

FDA, EMA accept boceprevir for expedited review

Majority of U.S. adults strongly support innovative programs to discourage teen pregnancy

ADA commends HHS for reaffirming safety, efficacy of optimal community water fluoridation

Fact-checking claims, questions in the continuing overhaul debate

Today's Opinions: Brooks, Reich, Fund, Cook on repeal; End-of-life care controversy continues

Substantial equivalence review requirement for new tobacco products announced

Elevated rates of 'Sarcoid Like' Granulomatous Pulmonary Disease found in WTC responders

IDSA releases MRSA treatment guidelines

Roundup: In Oregon, New Gov. Kitzhaber vows to change state's health care delivery system; In Ariz., 2nd person denied transplant coverage dies

Extreme obesity a powerful risk factor for death among 2009 H1N1 patients

Poll shows strong support as Smoke-Free Kentucky Campaign launches today

Ligand, Chiva Pharmaceuticals enter strategic relationship to develop multiple Ligand assets, technology

FDA introduces new Web resource that helps companies to save time, resources

Queensland’s flooded residents warned against insect bites

Report urges Minnesotans to protect, preserve water resources

InHealth awards grant to assess effects of hip replacement therapy on aging populations

Violence against mothers increases risk of death among female children in India: Study

Impact of flu vaccine opt-out is being seen as A(H1N1) returns to Europe

Studded tires can cause damage to public health and pavement

Scientists identify prognostic biomarker to treat patients with HCV

News Medical 2025: Healthcare Shifts That Mattered Most eBook

Advancing Neuroscience Research Through Collaboration and Patient-Centered Innovation

The impact of vibration on microscopy

How Omics Technologies Are Transforming Biological Research and Drug Discovery

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