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Swine flu outbreak at USAFA: Investigators study behavior of the nH1N1 virus

With the 2009 influenza season upon us, characterization of the epidemiology and duration of shedding for the nH1N1 virus is critical. Investigators from the U.S. Air Force Academy and the U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine Epidemiology Consult Service capitalized on a unique opportunity to gain valuable insights about the natural behavior of the nH1N1 virus, including shedding patterns, during a recent large-scale swine flu outbreak at the U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA).

20 Oct 2009

70% of workers have changed their behavior to prevent flu, reveals survey

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20 Oct 2009

GlaxoSmithKline may see increased sales of Relenza during the A/H1N1 2009 pandemic

Decision Resources, one of the world's leading research and advisory firms focusing on pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, finds that during the A/H1N1 (swine flu) pandemic, GlaxoSmithKline could see its Relenza sales increase if Tamiflu-resistant strains of the virus spread. GlaxoSmithKline recently signed A/H1N1 2009 vaccine contracts with various governments for more than $3 billion and is donating supplies to less wealthy nations, ensuring that the company strikes a balance between profit and public health concerns.

20 Oct 2009

Stemedica completes pre-IND meeting with the FDA concerning allogeneic mesenchymal bone marrow cells

Stemedica Cell Technologies, Inc., a world leader in stem cell research and manufacturing, announced that it completed its pre-IND meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding a proposed IND (Investigative New Drug) to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Stemedica's high potency proprietary allogeneic mesenchymal bone marrow-derived stem cells (adult human) as a treatment for ischemic stroke.

20 Oct 2009

Uninsured American adults with diabetes or high cholesterol often go undiagnosed and undertreated: Study

new study shows uninsured American adults with chronic illnesses like diabetes or high cholesterol often go undiagnosed and undertreated, leading to an increased risk of costly, disabling and even lethal complications of their disease.

20 Oct 2009

Progressive group launches ad urging Sen. Reid to include public option in reform legislation

"The Progressive Change Campaign Committee (PCCC) launched an ad urging Sen. Harry Reid to muscle through a public option as part of healthcare reform," The Hill's Blog Briefing Room reports (Zimmerman, 10/19).

20 Oct 2009

Four Pharma companies underpay Medicaid rebate obligations, pay $124M to resolve allegations

Mylan Pharmaceuticals, UDL Laboratories, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals and Ortho McNeil Pharmaceutical have entered into settlement agreements for a total of $124 million to resolve claims that they violated the False Claims Act by failing to pay appropriate rebates to state Medicaid programs for drugs paid for by those programs, the Justice Department announced today.

20 Oct 2009

Opinions: HIV vaccine; HIV resources help promote global disease control; U.S. fight against world hunger

Seth Berkley, president and chief executive of the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, in a New York Times opinion piece examines how the "pessimism" over the recent controversy surrounding the results of an experimental HIV vaccine tested in Thailand "may ultimately thwart other efforts to develop an AIDS vaccine.

20 Oct 2009

Lawmakers struggle to balance interests as sweeping health legislation negotiations proceed

Lawmakers continue to try to shape health bills as they move closer to floor votes.

20 Oct 2009

California's community hospitals launch public education and media campaign on H1N1

As preparations for the H1N1 flu season kick into high gear, California's community hospitals have launched a statewide public education and media campaign.

19 Oct 2009

School-age children most vulnerable to malaria infection in Africa, study says

Children and adolescents between the ages of 5 and 19 in malaria-endemic African countries are "the most vulnerable group to malaria following the successful distribution of the free bednets to protect children under five and pregnant women against the killer fever," according to a study published in the journal BMC Public Health, the East African reports.

19 Oct 2009

Federal grant for ecstasy research

A so-called "club drug" - typically not used all that often by those who take it - can still have the potential to cause a lot of damage among some users, say University of Cincinnati researchers. Trials are underway to trace the effects of ecstasy and to see who's most at risk. The study is supported by $471,000 in federal stimulus funds awarded by the National Institutes of Health and spread out over two years.

19 Oct 2009

Innovative financing for global health issues discussed at Nairobi meeting

As more countries prepare to introduce a voluntary travel tax to help fight HIV/AIDS and other diseases worldwide, Philippe Douste-Blazy, chair of UNITAID and a U.N. special advisor on innovative development financing said at a recent event in Nairobi, Kenya, that "the airline levy gives participating developing nations an opportunity to contribute to treatment in their countries rather than depending on handouts from the developed world," the Standard reports.

19 Oct 2009

A selection of today's opinions and editorials

"The American people deserve facts and a fair discussion of what's most important as Congress tackles healthcare reform. AARP and the American Medical Association are committed to preserving the best of our current system and to working to improve it with policies that expand coverage, improve quality and make insurance more affordable" (Jennie Chin Hansen and J. James Rohack, 10/19).

19 Oct 2009

Smoking bans reduce risk of of heart attack in nonsmokers and smokers

Smoking bans are effective at reducing the risk of heart attacks and heart disease associated with exposure to secondhand smoke, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine. The report also confirms there is sufficient evidence that breathing secondhand smoke boosts nonsmokers' risk for heart problems, adding that indirect evidence indicating that even relatively brief exposures could lead to a heart attack is compelling.

19 Oct 2009

TheraDoc commences beta testing of new computerized patient surveillance tool

TheraDoc®, the leading provider of clinical decision support technology in healthcare, today announced that it has started beta testing of a new computerized patient surveillance tool that will help hospitals monitor and manage screening programs for multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs), such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, which every year kills more people in the United States than AIDS.

19 Oct 2009

New scientific journal from Elsevier

Elsevier, a world-leading publisher of scientific, technical and medical information products and services announced today the launch of a new peer-reviewed scientific journal, Spatial and Spatio-temporal Epidemiology (http://www.elsevier.com/locate/sste).

19 Oct 2009

Study reveals greater public support for reducing health care disparities among socio-economic groups

As Congress debates the public health care option, a recent study reveals greater public support for reducing health care disparities among socio-economic groups (i.e. by income or education) than among racial groups.

19 Oct 2009

ESC comments on France preparing to authorise the sale of cigarettes on the internet

The European Society of Cardiology wishes to comment on media reports this week that France is preparing to authorise the sale of cigarettes on the internet, to conform to European rights.

19 Oct 2009

Leading Blue Dog suggests extending Medicare to uninsured

Leading Blue Dogs wrestle over options to increase coverage for the uninsured and extend Medicare. The Hill reports that Rep. Mike Ross, D-Ark., "who had emerged as a leader among centrist Blue Dog Democrats opposing the public health insurance option, has suggested something his colleagues consider even more drastic - opening Medicare to those under 65 without insurance. He made the suggestion in meetings with House Democratic leaders and brought the idea to the closed-door House Democratic Caucus meeting Thursday."

19 Oct 2009

Public Health News and Research

Swine flu outbreak at USAFA: Investigators study behavior of the nH1N1 virus

70% of workers have changed their behavior to prevent flu, reveals survey

GlaxoSmithKline may see increased sales of Relenza during the A/H1N1 2009 pandemic

Stemedica completes pre-IND meeting with the FDA concerning allogeneic mesenchymal bone marrow cells

Uninsured American adults with diabetes or high cholesterol often go undiagnosed and undertreated: Study

Progressive group launches ad urging Sen. Reid to include public option in reform legislation

Four Pharma companies underpay Medicaid rebate obligations, pay $124M to resolve allegations

Opinions: HIV vaccine; HIV resources help promote global disease control; U.S. fight against world hunger

Lawmakers struggle to balance interests as sweeping health legislation negotiations proceed

California's community hospitals launch public education and media campaign on H1N1

School-age children most vulnerable to malaria infection in Africa, study says

Federal grant for ecstasy research

Innovative financing for global health issues discussed at Nairobi meeting

A selection of today's opinions and editorials

Smoking bans reduce risk of of heart attack in nonsmokers and smokers

TheraDoc commences beta testing of new computerized patient surveillance tool

New scientific journal from Elsevier

Study reveals greater public support for reducing health care disparities among socio-economic groups

ESC comments on France preparing to authorise the sale of cigarettes on the internet

Leading Blue Dog suggests extending Medicare to uninsured

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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