Infectious Diseases News and Research

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Scientists adapt modern weather prediction techniques to generate local flu outbreak forecasts

Scientists at Columbia University and the National Center for Atmospheric Research have adapted techniques used in modern weather prediction to generate local forecasts of seasonal influenza outbreaks.

28 Nov 2012

Ultrasound puts emergency lines in the right place

Training emergency department staff in use of ultrasound to guide difficult peripheral intravenous catheter placement appears to reduce the unnecessary use of central venous lines, a study suggests.

27 Nov 2012

Simple measures halve ventilator-associated pneumonia

Adding a bundle of low-cost interventions to surveillance significantly reduces rates of ventilator-associated pneumonia in adult intensive care units in developing countries, shows an international study.

27 Nov 2012

GW professor receives federal grant to study effects of microsporidia in HIV patients

Imtiaz A. Khan, M.D., professor of microbiology, immunology, and tropical medicine at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, received a $1.6 million federal grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to study the effects of microsporidia-opportunistic inter-cellular pathogens-that cause morbidity and mortality in HIV patients.

27 Nov 2012

Experimental flu vaccine technique could reduce time needed to develop new shots for humans

"An experimental vaccine based on a molecule related to DNA protects animals against influenza and may one day offer an ultra-rapid way to develop new shots for humans, German scientists reported on Sunday," Reuters reports.

27 Nov 2012

ICU use, outcomes vary globally

Intensive care unit use varies significantly between the USA and Europe, raising important questions about approaches to the critical care of patients with severe sepsis and septic shock, say researchers.

26 Nov 2012

Chronic suppurative lung disease: an interview with Dr Robyn Marsh

Chronic suppurative lung disease, or CSLD, is used to describe a range of lung diseases characterised by a chronic wet cough and progressive lung damage. We are interested in the non-cystic fibrosis forms of the disease with a focus on bronchiectasis – the severe form of CSLD.

26 Nov 2012

Avermectin family of drugs shows promise against TB

A well-established family of drugs used to treat parasitic diseases is showing surprising potential as a therapy for tuberculosis (TB), according to new research from University of British Columbia microbiologists.

26 Nov 2012

Inovio's SynCon DNA vaccine effective at inducing CD8+ T cell responses specific to CMV

Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today that testing of multiple synthetic vaccine constructs for cytomegalovirus (CMV) induced robust T cells in mice, demonstrating the potential for a SynCon DNA vaccine to treat this virus that causes infant death and congenital abnormalities, is associated with cerebral palsy and brain tumors, and is the most common viral infection in organ transplant recipients. CMV is also associated with numerous inflammatory diseases and cancers, and is implicated in hypertension, a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases.

26 Nov 2012

mRNA vaccines offer protection against influenza A virus infections in various animal models

CureVac GmbH, a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing a new class of therapies and vaccines based on mRNA, and the German Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute (FLI), Germany, today announced that mRNA vaccines (RNActive) based on the company's RNA technology platform have the potential to provide effective protection against infectious diseases.

26 Nov 2012

Official stats underestimate brain injury

A population-based study suggests that the true incidence of traumatic brain injury is about sixfold higher than official figures state.

23 Nov 2012

Online flu survey launched in the UK

Does “man flu” exist? How effective is the flu vaccine? And do pets keep you healthy? These are just some of the questions scientists from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine want to explore as they launch a nationwide flu survey.

22 Nov 2012

Checklist diverts inebriated from emergency department

A checklist for use by ambulance crews helps paramedics decide which drunk patients need emergency medical care and which can be diverted to a detoxification facility, say researchers.

22 Nov 2012

DiscoGnosis project aims to develop rapid malaria test

An estimated 500 million people become infected with malaria each year. The disease is often lethal - particularly in tropical developing countries with insufficient health care services. The infected suffer from a high fever. As this is also the case with other germs, however, it is important to conduct a rapid and precise analysis to determine the cause of the disease for a successful therapy.

22 Nov 2012

Walter and Eliza Hall Institute researcher wins 2012 Victoria Prize for Science and Innovation

Professor Terry Speed, a senior researcher at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, was today awarded a 2012 Victoria Prize for Science and Innovation.

22 Nov 2012

Viewpoints: Protecting us from counterfeit medicines; Governors making excuses on insurance exchanges?; Simpson-Bowles and the health law

HHS has made it clear that after federally operated exchanges are up and running, states may eventually take over operations. This seems like wasted effort. States have the information they need to move on insurance exchanges. Governors who care about fiscal responsibility, strong state government and the basic welfare of their residents would do well to get with the program.

21 Nov 2012

Cryoprecipitate plus tranexamic acid boost war injury survival

Administration of cryoprecipitate and tranexamic acid significantly improves the likelihood of survival among seriously injured patients requiring packed red blood cells, suggest results from MATTERS II.

21 Nov 2012

Emory University, Georgia Tech to establish Malaria Host-Pathogen Interaction Center

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health, has awarded a five-year contract of up to $19.4 million, depending on contract options exercised, to establish the Malaria Host-Pathogen Interaction Center (MaHPIC).

20 Nov 2012

UBC microbiologist receives Prix Galien 2012 Research Award

UBC microbiologist Robert E.W. Hancock has received the Prix Galien 2012 Research Award, widely considered the most prestigious honour in Canadian pharmaceutical research and innovation. Hancock is being recognized for pioneering work unravelling the complex interactions between antibiotics and bacteria.

20 Nov 2012

Texas Biomed applies patent for new genetically-engineered vaccine strategy to prevent HIV

The Texas Biomedical Research Institute in San Antonio has applied for a patent for a genetically-engineered vaccine strategy to prevent HIV infection that targets the outer layers of body structures that are the first sites of contact with the virus.

20 Nov 2012

Infectious Diseases News and Research

Scientists adapt modern weather prediction techniques to generate local flu outbreak forecasts

Ultrasound puts emergency lines in the right place

Simple measures halve ventilator-associated pneumonia

GW professor receives federal grant to study effects of microsporidia in HIV patients

Experimental flu vaccine technique could reduce time needed to develop new shots for humans

ICU use, outcomes vary globally

Chronic suppurative lung disease: an interview with Dr Robyn Marsh

Avermectin family of drugs shows promise against TB

Inovio's SynCon DNA vaccine effective at inducing CD8+ T cell responses specific to CMV

mRNA vaccines offer protection against influenza A virus infections in various animal models

Official stats underestimate brain injury

Online flu survey launched in the UK

Checklist diverts inebriated from emergency department

DiscoGnosis project aims to develop rapid malaria test

Walter and Eliza Hall Institute researcher wins 2012 Victoria Prize for Science and Innovation

Viewpoints: Protecting us from counterfeit medicines; Governors making excuses on insurance exchanges?; Simpson-Bowles and the health law

Cryoprecipitate plus tranexamic acid boost war injury survival

Emory University, Georgia Tech to establish Malaria Host-Pathogen Interaction Center

UBC microbiologist receives Prix Galien 2012 Research Award

Texas Biomed applies patent for new genetically-engineered vaccine strategy to prevent HIV

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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