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Lancet examines dengue fever in Mexico

Lancet World Report examines the factors contributing to a steady uptick in the number of dengue fever cases in Mexico over the past decade. Compared to the year 2000, when "there were 1,781 reported cases … Last year, the number totalled 33,000, according to Mexico's Public Health Department. And confirmed cases this year have already surpassed 2008 figures by 15%," according to the journal.

24 Aug 2009

Adamas Pharmaceuticals forges agreement with U.S. Naval Health Research Center for evaluating triple combination antiviral drug

Adamas Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a privately held company, announced today that it has entered into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the United States Naval Health Research Center for preclinical studies evaluating Adamas' triple combination antiviral drug (TCAD) therapy for influenza A, including novel influenza A/H1N1. TCAD therapy includes Adamas' investigational proprietary fixed-dose oral combination drug, to be administered adjunctively with a neuraminidase inhibitor, including Tamiflu (oseltamivir phosphate, Roche).

22 Aug 2009

Clinical grade stem cells to be manufactured by Stemedica as it awaits FDA approval of an IND to commence clinical trials

Stemedica Cell Technologies, Inc. USA, a leader in adult stem cell research and manufacturing, has requested a pre-Investigational New Drug (IND) meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") to discuss a proposed IND to use Stemedica's proprietary line of allogeneic mesenchymal bone marrow cells (adult human) as a treatment for ischemic stroke.

21 Aug 2009

Physicians lack knowledge of off-label drug use and FDA approval status

In a recent national survey, a substantial minority of physicians erroneously believed that certain off-label uses of prescription drugs were approved by the Food and Drug Administration. This mistaken belief could encourage them to prescribe these drugs, despite the lack of scientific evidence supporting such use.

21 Aug 2009

Smoke free hospital campuses in USA by end of 2009

A new study from The Joint Commission projects that a majority of U.S. hospitals will have a smoke-free campus by the end of 2009. The study, "The Adoption of Smoke-Free Hospital Campuses in the United States," appears in the latest online issue of Tobacco Control, a British Medical Journal Group publication.

21 Aug 2009

New book reveals information on the occurrence and spread of rabies in bats

Bat Rabies is intended for scientists and the general public. Dr. Constantine presents the material in a simple, straightforward manner that serves both audiences. The book, prepared by the U.S. Geological Survey National Wildlife Health Center, was published with the goal of increasing public understanding of rabies and the often misunderstood bat, and providing a balanced perspective on the risk of bat rabies to people.

21 Aug 2009

The Gerontologist discusses perceptions of different groups about cognitive health

A new special issue of The Gerontologist has identified for the first time how ethnically, culturally, linguistically, and geographically diverse groups think about aging and brain health.

21 Aug 2009

Newspapers examine debate over affordable drugs in developing countries

The Los Angeles Times examines how "activists in Washington, and Thailand and other developing countries are accusing the Obama administration of endangering access to affordable drugs to fight AIDS and other epidemic diseases."

21 Aug 2009

New study reveals that influenza vaccination may prevent inappropriate antibiotic use

We all know that influenza vaccination helps prevent disease, but a new study from Canada suggests it may also prevent another public health problem: inappropriate antibiotic use. The findings come from a new study in the September 1, 2009 issue of Clinical Infectious Disease, which is now available online.

21 Aug 2009

Research reveals smokeless tobacco users at higher risk of a heart attack or stroke

People who use smokeless tobacco products like snus have a slightly higher risk of having a fatal heart attack or stroke, according to research published on bmj.com today.

21 Aug 2009

Link found between teenage viewership and alcohol advertising on cable television

A new study from the Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth, in collaboration with UCLA, has found a striking correlation between teenage viewership and the frequency of alcohol advertising on cable television. The findings show that ads for beer, spirits and "alcopop" aired much more frequently when more teens were watching.

21 Aug 2009

Influenza A H1N1 Real Time RT-PCR tests detect RNA of H1N1 influenza virus

Focus Diagnostics, the infectious disease diagnostics business of Quest Diagnostics Incorporated, today announced that its Influenza A H1N1 (2009) Real Time RT-PCR test is now available as a test kit for use by "high complexity" clinical laboratories in the U.S.

21 Aug 2009

NextGen Healthcare Information Systems secures 12 new community health center contracts

NextGen Healthcare Information Systems, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Quality Systems, Inc. and a leading provider of ambulatory healthcare and connectivity solutions, today announced that during the last few months it has secured 12 new community health center contracts, validating the company’s continued leadership in the space.

20 Aug 2009

New discovery on cellular fusion

Success in soccer sometimes comes with "bending it like Beckham." Success in cellular fusion - as occurs at the moment of conception and when nerve cells exchange neurotransmitters - requires that a membrane be bent before the merging process can begin, University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers have shown.

20 Aug 2009

Federal guidelines for seasonal and swine flu vaccines questioned

With the seasonal flu season approaching and uncertainty over whether swine flu will become more severe, new research published by Yale School of Public Health has found that more people are likely to avoid illness if vaccines are given out first to those most likely to transmit viruses, rather than to those at highest risk for complications.

20 Aug 2009

Consumer groups urge transparency in health care reform for pharmacy benefit managers

Three top consumer groups are urging Congress to include in health care reform legislation transparency requirements for pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) participating in any new federally sponsored health plans in a public health care exchange. The Consumer Federation of America (CFA), U.S. Public Interest Research Group (PIRG), and the National Legislative Association on Prescription Drug Prices (NLARx) have sent a joint letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) supporting the provision, authored by Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY) and included in the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009 (H.R. 3200).

20 Aug 2009

Cambodia's maternal mortality; drugs in Uganda; cholera risk in Zimbabwe; HIV laws in Niger

A lack of outreach by public health officials and rural villagers' preference for traditional midwives have hindered efforts to reduce maternal morality in Cambodia, government officials said recently at regional conference, the Phnom Penh Post reports.

20 Aug 2009

House Democrats ask to examine health insurers' finances

House Democrats examine pay and profit for health insurers as health insurance stocks dip lower than market.

20 Aug 2009

Chemical components of elderberry, cinnamon and green tea extracts block HIV viruses from infecting cells

The development of new antiviral drugs has had a tremendous impact on the quality of life and life expectancy of HIV-positive and AIDS patients, as the drugs effectively disrupt the replication cycle of the HIV virus. Yet the regular use of those drugs - such as zidovudine (also known as azidothymidine or AZT), protease inhibitors, and highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) involving multidrug therapies - has led to resistant HIV strains.

20 Aug 2009

Inovio Biomedical records $2.9 million revenues in the six months ended June 30, 2009

Inovio Biomedical Corporation (NYSE AMEX: INO) (“Inovio”) today reported financial results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009. Total revenue of $2.5 million and $2.9 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, compared to $663,000 and $1.3 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2008, respectively.

20 Aug 2009

Public Health News and Research

Lancet examines dengue fever in Mexico

Adamas Pharmaceuticals forges agreement with U.S. Naval Health Research Center for evaluating triple combination antiviral drug

Clinical grade stem cells to be manufactured by Stemedica as it awaits FDA approval of an IND to commence clinical trials

Physicians lack knowledge of off-label drug use and FDA approval status

Smoke free hospital campuses in USA by end of 2009

New book reveals information on the occurrence and spread of rabies in bats

The Gerontologist discusses perceptions of different groups about cognitive health

Newspapers examine debate over affordable drugs in developing countries

New study reveals that influenza vaccination may prevent inappropriate antibiotic use

Research reveals smokeless tobacco users at higher risk of a heart attack or stroke

Link found between teenage viewership and alcohol advertising on cable television

Influenza A H1N1 Real Time RT-PCR tests detect RNA of H1N1 influenza virus

NextGen Healthcare Information Systems secures 12 new community health center contracts

New discovery on cellular fusion

Federal guidelines for seasonal and swine flu vaccines questioned

Consumer groups urge transparency in health care reform for pharmacy benefit managers

Cambodia's maternal mortality; drugs in Uganda; cholera risk in Zimbabwe; HIV laws in Niger

House Democrats ask to examine health insurers' finances

Chemical components of elderberry, cinnamon and green tea extracts block HIV viruses from infecting cells

Inovio Biomedical records $2.9 million revenues in the six months ended June 30, 2009

Sensing a Healthier Future

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

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