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FDA and FSIS announce joint public meeting to prevent foodborne illness

A joint public meeting focused on improving the system for tracing of food products and ingredients that are causing illness outbreaks or presenting other risks to the health of consumers was announced today by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

5 Nov 2009

Also in global health news: Kenya child mortality; DRC rape; Cape Verde dengue outbreak; Guatemala malnutrition; East Africa flooding

"The most current data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics under the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) launched on Wednesday shows mortality among children under five years stands at 7.4 percent, while that of infants is at 5.2 percent," Business Daily reports.

5 Nov 2009

Climate change is biggest global health threat to children, report says

According to a report (.pdf) by Save the Children, climate change is the biggest global health threat to children in the 21st century, the Hindu reports. Save the Children says that climate change will "exacerbate the leading causes of death among children, including diarrhoea, malnutrition and malaria. Diarrhoea, which kills one million children every year, is set to increase by 10 percent by 2020.

5 Nov 2009

FDA grants Abraxis BioScience orphan drug designation for ABRAXANE

Abraxis BioScience, Inc., a fully integrated biotechnology company, today announced that the Office of Orphan Products Development of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted orphan drug designation to the chemotherapy agent ABRAXANE® for Injectable Suspension (paclitaxel protein-bound particles for injectable suspension) (albumin-bound) for the treatment of pancreatic cancer as well as stage IIB-IV melanoma.

5 Nov 2009

Oncolytics Biotech reports financial results for the third quarter of 2009

Oncolytics Biotech Inc. today announced its financial results for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2009.

5 Nov 2009

Dietary options and better detection improve food allergy management procedures

Less restrictive dietary options, better detection, targeted avoidance measures, educational directives and potential new therapies are improving food allergy management and giving hope to the more than 12 million Americans affected according to experts at the thirteenth international food allergy conference held during the annual meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) in Miami Beach, Fla.

5 Nov 2009

FDA approves the New Drug Application for Pennsaid Topical Solution

Covidien, a leading global provider of healthcare products, and Nuvo Research Inc., a Canadian drug development company, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the New Drug Application for Pennsaid(R) Topical Solution (diclofenac sodium topical solution) 1.5% w/w.

5 Nov 2009

Pennsaid Topical Solution approved by FDA

Covidien, a leading global provider of healthcare products, and Nuvo Research Inc. (TSX:NRI), a Canadian drug development company, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the New Drug Application for Pennsaid® Topical Solution (diclofenac sodium topical solution) 1.5% w/w.

5 Nov 2009

Cereplast confirms that all its resins are made without the use of BPA

Cereplast, Inc., a leading manufacturer of proprietary bio-based, sustainable plastics, confirmed today that all its resins are made without the use of Bisphenol A, commonly referred to as BPA. All products made with both Cereplast resin families, including the Compostables® and the Hybrids® are BPA free.

5 Nov 2009

Food advertising aimed at children contributes to obesity

Childhood obesity in the United States is reaching epidemic proportions. With more than one fourth of advertising on daytime and prime time television devoted to foods and beverages and continuing questions about the role television plays in obesity, a study in the November/December issue of the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior examines how food advertising aimed at children might be a large contributor to the problem.

5 Nov 2009

Health-At-Every-Size approach has long-term beneficial effects, shows study

Most weight-control strategies emphasize energy-restricted diets and increased physical activity - and most are not effective over the long term. In a study of a "weight-acceptance" intervention, published in the November 2009 issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, researchers found that there could be long-term beneficial effects on certain eating behaviors using a weight- acceptance intervention approach.

5 Nov 2009

FDA announces new initiative program to reduce risks from inappropriate medication use

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today announced the Safe Use Initiative, a program aimed at reducing the likelihood of preventable harm from medication use.

5 Nov 2009

SafetyTies and SafetyScarves of SafeSmart help reduce the spread of H1N1

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), H1N1 - better known as the swine flu - was widespread in 48 states as of Oct. 18-24. The CDC's website offers guidelines, from cough etiquette to keeping sick workers at home, for healthcare professionals and the public on how to minimize spread of the H1N1 influenza.

5 Nov 2009

Bursting common myths about psoriasis

Psoriasis is a real disability that affects approximately one million Canadians. A recent Canadian survey found that the causes and effects of this chronic, recurrent skin disorder are often misunderstood - and the result of these misperceptions can leave a lasting negative impact on those who suffer from this debilitating immune system disease.

5 Nov 2009

Phadia offers ImmunoCAP, a reliable test to accurately diagnose the severity of egg allergy

The World Health Organization recently declared H1N1 swine flu a global pandemic, resulting in the creation of rigorous vaccination programs worldwide. Children are among those considered particularly susceptible to contracting swine flu and are viewed as a top priority in receiving this vaccine.

5 Nov 2009

InterMune seeks FDA marketing approval for pirfenidone

InterMune, Inc. today announced that it has submitted an electronic New Drug Application (NDA) with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) seeking approval to market pirfenidone for the treatment of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Pirfenidone has been granted Orphan Drug and Fast Track designation by the FDA, and also has been granted Orphan Drug status in Europe.

5 Nov 2009

Patient enrollment in three late-stage clinical trials completed

Inspire Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today patient enrollment is complete in three of its late-stage clinical trials.

5 Nov 2009

New paper-strip test for detecting pesticides in beverage and food samples

Scientists in Canada are reporting the development of a fast, inexpensive "dipstick" test to identify small amounts of pesticides that may exist in foods and beverages. Their paper-strip test is more practical than conventional pesticide tests, producing results in minutes rather than hours by means of an easy-to-read color-change, they say.

5 Nov 2009

One Health Commission summit to focus on emerging infectious diseases

The growing threat of the H1N1 pandemic and West Nile virus -- as well as other emerging zoonotic, food, or waterborne diseases and environmental changes -- has prompted experts to look for solutions to the increasingly integrated problems among animal, human, and environmental health.

5 Nov 2009

Nano-size capsule that boosts the body's uptake of curcumin being developed

Scientists are reporting development of a nano-size capsule that boosts the body's uptake of curcumin, an ingredient in yellow curry now being evaluated in clinical trials for treatment of several diseases. Their study is in ACS' Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, a bi-weekly publication.

5 Nov 2009