Common Cold News and Research

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FDA clears test for 12 specific respiratory viruses

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has cleared for marketing a test that simultaneously detects and identifies 12 specific respiratory viruses.

4 Jan 2008

How might lack of light cause depression?

People troubled by depression usually experience their dark moods in an on-again, off-again fashion.

18 Dec 2007

Antibiotics may be of little use in treating sinus infections

A new British study disputes the effectiveness of antibiotic drugs prescribed to treat sinus infections.

6 Dec 2007

Bill finds another $200m to beat polio

The fight against polio has had an enormous boost by way of a grant of $200m from Bill Gates and Rotary.

27 Nov 2007

Nasty new cold virus claims lives across the U.S.

A nasty new version of the virus which causes the common cold is spreading across the United States.

15 Nov 2007

Volunteers in AIDS vaccine trial may be at greater risk of infection

Following the aborting of two international trials of an experimental AIDS vaccine, thousands of volunteers have been told the vaccine may have actually raised their risk of infection.

14 Nov 2007

Seattle Post-Intelligencer examines reactions of people who participated in Merck's canceled HIV vaccine

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer on Friday examined the reaction of volunteers in the Seattle arm of Merck's recently halted HIV vaccine trial. According to the Post-Intelligencer, participants who were interviewed on the condition of anonymity have voiced "decidedly mixed feelings" about participating in the trial because of safety concerns (Paulson, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 11/9).

12 Nov 2007

Microtek Medical introduces disposable stethoscope covers

Microtek Medical Holdings Inc. has announced the release of StethoClean, a new device that offers clean, disposable stethoscope covers to protect each patient from germs and infectious disease.

6 Nov 2007

HIV vaccine trial volunteers asked to undergo testing to determine whether they are at increased risk of HIV

Researchers have asked more than 3,000 people who participated in a trial of Merck's experimental HIV vaccine that was halted last month to undergo additional testing to determine if they are at an increased risk of HIV, Reuters reports (Fox, Reuters, 10/25).

29 Oct 2007

FDA says OTC cough and cold medicines do not work for young children

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the U.S. are warning parents about the use of over-the-counter (OTC) cough and cold medicines in young children.

22 Oct 2007

Trials of a new HIV vaccine come to an abrupt halt

Trials of a new HIV vaccine have come to an abrupt halt after it did not prevent volunteers from becoming infected.

24 Sep 2007

Cancer patients, spouses report similar emotional distress

A cancer diagnosis affects more than just the patient. A new study from researchers at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center finds spouses report similar physical and emotional quality of life as the patient.

21 Sep 2007

Virochip technique identifies new viruses in study of respiratory infections and asthma attacks

A new study has found an unexpected number of viruses and viral subtypes in patients with respiratory tract infections (RTIs). The technique used in the study may help identify new viruses associated with human diseases.

10 Sep 2007

Zinc lozenges are not effective in treating colds

Despite 20 years of research, the benefits of zinc lozenges as a therapy for the common cold have not been proven.

3 Aug 2007

TB back in the news again in the U.S.

After years of hearing very little news on tuberculosis (TB), these days it seems to appear in the news on an almost weekly basis.

1 Aug 2007

Manual material handling advice and assistive devices for preventing and treating back pain in workers

Back pain is the number one cause of worker-compensation complaints, second only to the common cold in causing lost workdays.

20 Jul 2007

Vitamin C for treating the common cold

Unless you run marathons, you probably won't get much protection from common colds by taking a daily supplemental dose of vitamin C, according to an updated review of 30 studies.

18 Jul 2007

Scientists create sheets of protein-gold arrays

In groundbreaking research, scientists have demonstrated the ability to strategically attach gold nanoparticles -- particles on the order of billionths of a meter -- to proteins so as to form sheets of protein-gold arrays.

28 Jun 2007

New approach for tackling allergies

Allergies, like the common cold and asthma, have basically defied the best efforts of modern medicine to cure them.

28 Jun 2007

Echinacea helps protect against colds

According to new research Echinacea, a herbal remedy traditionally used to help fight infections does work and can in fact reduce the chances of catching a cold by more than half.

25 Jun 2007