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New antibiotic proves effective in treating serious bacterial skin and skin-structure infections

A study published in today's New England Journal of Medicine reports that the antibiotic dalbavancin is as effective as vancomycin, the current standard-of-care antibiotic used to treat serious bacterial skin and skin-structure infections.

5 Jun 2014

Novel technology to block human infections receives I-Corps grant

A novel technology developed at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) to block human infections by taking a lesson from fish has landed a $50,000 grant from the National Science Foundation's Innovation Corps (I-Corps) program.

5 Jun 2014

NORD's letter to FDA raises concerns on rare diseases

In a letter submitted today to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) urged Commissioner Margaret Hamburg to give serious consideration to the concerns of the rare disease community when setting policy regarding official names for biologics, including biosimilars.

5 Jun 2014

High dose vitamin C therapy may have positive effect on Epstein-Barr virus infection

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a member of the herpes family that targets lymphocytes and epithelial cells. While the infection is usually benign, it can in some cases lead to acute infectious mononucleosis and can impair the immune system. EBV is also linked to several malignancies. There is currently no cure for removing EBV infections and very little success treating acute EBV infection and mononucleosis with drugs.

4 Jun 2014

Researchers develop antibodies that reduce liver damage, recovers liver function

A Tainan-based research team from National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) has discovered the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis and developed antibodies that reduce liver damage, inhibit hepatic fibrosis, and recover liver function.

4 Jun 2014

GPM Pediatrics doctor offers safety tips on tick bites

Dr. Michael Gabriel of GPM Pediatrics responds to an article published on Ozarksfirst.com on May 23rd that gives advice on tick bites and urges people to be cautious during the summer.

4 Jun 2014

Researchers figure out way to disable a part of SARS virus

A Purdue University-led research team has figured out how to disable a part of the SARS virus responsible for hiding it from the immune system; a critical step in developing a vaccine against the deadly disease.

4 Jun 2014

Salk Institute receives $25 million for cutting-edge biological research

The Salk Institute for Biological Studies has received a $25 million gift from San Diego philanthropist and former Salk trustee Conrad T. Prebys to support cutting-edge biological research on a wide range of diseases.

3 Jun 2014

Obesity, overweight correlated with prevalence of H. pylori infection

The germ Helicobacter pylori is the cause of most stomach ulcers, but new research in Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics suggests that treating the bacteria is linked to weight gain.

3 Jun 2014

New discovery may shed light on how common cold triggers asthma attacks

Cold season may be just behind us, but a new discovery may shed light on how this common condition triggers asthma attacks. In a new research report published in the June 2014 issue of the Journal of Leukocyte Biology, researchers show that in individuals with asthma, statins significantly reduce the in vitro inflammatory response of human monocytes to rhinovirus (RV), the cause of the common cold.

3 Jun 2014

HCV reactivation may not worsen survival outcomes for lymphoma patients with HIV

More than a quarter of HIV+ patients are also infected with the Hepatitis C virus (HCV), which may complicate treatment and care decisions after a cancer diagnosis. The specifics of those complications haven't been well-researched in the past. Results from a new Fox Chase Cancer Center study on this patient population may start filling in that gap.

31 May 2014

CIRM grants $5.6 million to develop HIV/AIDS therapeutic using Sangamo's ZFN genome-editing technology

Sangamo BioSciences, Inc. announced that the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) has granted a $5.6 million Strategic Partnership Award to fund clinical studies at City of Hope to develop a potentially curative ZFP Therapeutic for HIV/AIDS based on the application of Sangamo's zinc finger nuclease (ZFN) genome-editing technology in hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs).

31 May 2014

Astellas seeks marketing approval for Flublok recombinant influenza vaccine in Japan

Protein Sciences Corporation announced today that Astellas Pharma has submitted an application for marketing approval of recombinant influenza HA vaccine ASP7374 (marketed as Flublok® in the United States by Protein Sciences) to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in Japan for the prevention of influenza.

31 May 2014

Patients with AIDS-related lymphomas may face increased risk of CNSi

Patients with AIDS-related lymphomas (ARL) may face an increased risk of central nervous system involvement (CNSi) compared to other lymphomas. The effect of CNSi on survival outcomes, however, hasn't been thoroughly examined until now.

31 May 2014

TSRI scientists receive more than $13M to design effective HIV vaccine

A team led by scientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) has received a grant of more than $13 million from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease of the National Institutes of Health to study antibodies to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)—which will play an essential role in the creation of any effective vaccine against HIV.

30 May 2014

Review on effects of pre-referral rectal artesunate for people with severe malaria

Researchers from the Cochrane Infectious Diseases Group, hosted at LSTM, conducted an independent review of the effects of pre-referral rectal artesunate for people with severe malaria, published in the Cochrane Library today.

30 May 2014

Lyme disease bacteria older than human race, says study

Lyme disease is a stealthy, often misdiagnosed disease that was only recognized about 40 years ago, but new discoveries of ticks fossilized in amber show that the bacteria which cause it may have been lurking around for 15 million years - long before any humans walked on Earth.

30 May 2014

New approach could lead to more effective HIV vaccine

Using a genetically modified form of the HIV virus, a team of University of Nebraska-Lincoln scientists has developed a promising new approach that could someday lead to a more effective HIV vaccine.

30 May 2014

TSRI scientists receive $13M grant to create effective vaccine against HIV

A team led by scientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) has received a grant of more than $13 million from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease of the National Institutes of Health to study antibodies to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-which will play an essential role in the creation of any effective vaccine against HIV.

30 May 2014

Hand sanitizer powerful weapon against current measles outbreak

With measles cases in the U.S. at a 20-year high, it's more important than ever to keep your hands clean. Measles, caused by an airborne virus that's spread by breathing, coughing, and sneezing, can linger for up to two hours in the air or on surfaces.

30 May 2014