Asthma News and Research

RSS

Asthma is a common inflammatory disease affecting the airways that leads to shortness of breath, coughing and wheezing. Symptoms range from mild to severe but are generally manageable with appropriate treatment.

Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute and Brigham and Women's Hospital collaborate on respiratory diseases research

Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute (LRRI) recently announced the formation of a research agreement between the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine of the Department of Medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH), teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School in Boston.

28 Oct 2009

TOPROL-XL and metoprolol succinate are available for patients in all regions across the country: AstraZeneca

Following published reports that two generic companies had recalled or suspended shipments of metoprolol succinate, a beta-blocker medication taken by over half a million Americans for the treatment of high blood pressure, TOPROL-XL and its authorized generic, metoprolol succinate extended-release tablets are available.

28 Oct 2009

Climate change and public health: only fives states have published public health response plans, says study

Trust for America's Health (TFAH) released a new report today that finds only five states have published a strategic climate change plan that includes a public health response. This includes planning for health challenges and emergencies expected to develop from natural disasters, pollution, and infectious diseases as temperatures and sea levels rise.

27 Oct 2009

Dartmouth explores glucorticoid side effects on bladder-cancer patients

In her most recent study of possible triggers of cancer among northern New England residents, Dartmouth epidemiologist Margaret R. Karagas, Ph.D., and her team identified an enhanced risk to the bladders of patients taking drugs that suppress the immune system.

27 Oct 2009

Difficult-to-treat asthma may be attributed to poor medication adherence

Difficult-to-treat asthma often may have more to do with patients who do not take their medication as instructed than ineffective medication, according to researchers in Northern Ireland.

26 Oct 2009

Report on health insurance reform to support women with breast cancer

As Americans mark breast cancer awareness month, Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius today released a new report, Health Insurance Reform and Breast Cancer: Making the Health Care System Work for Women.

24 Oct 2009

PPA reaches historic milestone; helps the six millionth person

After visiting more than 3,000 cities in all 50 states, the Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA) has reached a historic milestone today by helping the six millionth person at an event in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

24 Oct 2009

Tips to prevent allergy during Halloween

The haunted happenings of Halloween are upon us and soon we'll be carving pumpkins, dressing in costumes and telling spooky stories. But if your child has a food allergy, what's at the bottom of his or her trick-or-treat bag may be more frightening than any ghost or goblin.

23 Oct 2009

Quality of U.S. health care was virtually stagnant in 2008, says NCQA report

A report released today by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) finds that the quality of U.S. health care was virtually stagnant in 2008, a disturbing slowdown after a decade of improvements. The across-the-board trend was seen in care provided to people with private insurance coverage as well as in Medicare and Medicaid.

23 Oct 2009

MedImmune announces interim data from its live attenuated influenza vaccine studies

MedImmune announced today that interim data from human studies of its nasal spray vaccine for the 2009 novel Influenza A (H1N1) virus demonstrate a similar clinical profile in children and adults 2 to 49 years of age as previously studied seasonal formulations of the vaccine.

23 Oct 2009

Non-adherence to medication may be the cause for difficult asthma

Difficult-to-treat asthma often may have more to do with patients who do not take their medication as instructed than ineffective medication, according to researchers in Northern Ireland.

23 Oct 2009

Report: Quality of care for insured Americans slipped in 2008

CNNMoney reports that for the first time in more than 10 years, the "overall quality of health care" for Americans insured through commercial and public plans appears to have slipped.

23 Oct 2009

Majority of allergy patients can be vaccinated against swine flu after evaluation by an allergist

Once supply catches up with the immediate demand for H1N1 "swine" flu vaccine, some allergy patients who could benefit from the vaccine may needlessly avoid it due to confusion over who should, and should not, be vaccinated, cautions Dr. Peter R. Smith, a board-certified allergist and clinical immunologist with Allergy Partners of Fredericksburg, Virginia.

23 Oct 2009

Merck's sales increases by 2% in third quarter 2009

Merck & Co., Inc. today announced financial results for the third quarter of 2009. The company reported non-GAAP (generally accepted accounting principles) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter of $0.90, which excludes a $1.7 billion after-tax gain from the sale of the company's interest in Merial Limited as well as restructuring charges and pre-closing merger-related expenses. Third-quarter GAAP EPS was $1.61.

22 Oct 2009

Schering-Plough announces 2009 third quarter financial results

Schering-Plough Corporation (NYSE: SGP) today reported financial results for the 2009 third quarter.

22 Oct 2009

New procurement guidelines to minimize formaldehyde and VOCs exposure

To minimize formaldehyde and exposure to other volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in emergency housing, FEMA developed new procurement guidelines for allowable airborne levels in manufactured housing.

22 Oct 2009

ISTA Pharmaceuticals' presentations on Phase 3 clinical results of Bepreve

ISTA Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced poster presentations of results from the Company's Bepreve(TM) (bepotastine besilate ophthalmic solution) 1.5% Phase 3 clinical studies in allergic conjunctivitis. The studies demonstrated Bepreve was safe and well-tolerated when given twice daily for six weeks in a healthy pediatric population as young as three years of age.

22 Oct 2009

Optimized mouthpiece design reduces wastage of medication

Researchers have developed an optimized mouthpiece design to aid efficient drug delivery to the lungs by reducing the amount of medication wasted as it passes through the mouthpiece of an aerosol inhaler.

22 Oct 2009

CHOP implements InforSense-based Translational Research Solution to study complex genetic disease

IDBS, the leading worldwide provider of research data management and analytics solutions to R&D organizations, today announced that The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), one of the leading pediatric hospitals and research facilities in the world, has implemented the InforSense-based Translational Research Solution to advance the understanding of complex genetic disease.

22 Oct 2009

Health Impact Project to promote the use of health impact assessments

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) and The Pew Charitable Trusts (Pew) today announced the launch of the Health Impact Project, a national initiative designed to promote the use of health impact assessments (HIAs) as a decision-making tool for policymakers.

21 Oct 2009