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Scientists aim at protecting adults from virulent strain of avian influenza virus

Scientists at the University of Maryland School of Medicine's Center for Vaccine Development are part of nationwide vaccine research aimed at protecting adults from a new and virulent strain of avian (bird) influenza (flu) virus.

20 Sep 2013

Now is the best time to get immunized against influenza, says UAB expert

It is that time of year again to consider the protection offered by a flu shot. One University of Alabama at Birmingham internal medicine expert says with a vaccine already available, it is best to get immunized against influenza now.

20 Sep 2013

Drexel University researchers create molecule that can cause AIDS virus to destroy itself

Pinning down an effective way to combat the spread of the human immunodeficiency virus, the viral precursor to AIDS, has long been challenge task for scientists and physicians, because the virus is an elusive one that mutates frequently and, as a result, quickly becomes immune to medication.

20 Sep 2013

Scientists are preparing for possible pandemic spread of new bird flu strain

Scientists at Saint Louis University are preparing for the potential pandemic spread of a new bird flu strain that caused severe disease in China last spring, joining researchers from seven other Vaccine and Treatment Evaluation Units funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to test vaccines to protect against the illness in adults.

20 Sep 2013

Incidence of MRSA bacterial infection increases among Danes

In 2012, 1,556 Danes were found positive with methicillin-resistant staphylococci - MRSA. This represents an increase of 20% from 2011. In fact, the total number of cases has almost doubled since 2009. MRSA bacteria are resistant to antimicrobial agents that are essential for treatment of treating life-threatening infections in humans.

19 Sep 2013

Only few service providers are available to help young gay black men, say researchers

Physical, sexual and emotional abuse among young gay black men is a pervasive problem, yet there remains a lack of social services and resources available to help them, a Michigan State University scholar argues in a new study.

19 Sep 2013

Toxoplasma infection makes mice fearless

The Toxoplasma parasite can be deadly, causing spontaneous abortion in pregnant women or killing immune-compromised patients, but it has even stranger effects in mice.

19 Sep 2013

Study: Neurocognitive impairment is one of common side effects of HIV and AIDS

One of the common side effects of HIV and AIDS is neurocognitive impairments - changes in how fast a person can process information, pay attention, multi-task and remember things - yet there are no adequate tests to screen patients for these problems, according to a new study out of St. Michael's Hospital.

19 Sep 2013

Scientists prepare to test vaccines to protect against new bird flu strain

Scientists at Group Health Research Institute are preparing for the potential pandemic spread of a new bird flu strain that caused severe disease in China earlier this year, joining researchers from seven other Vaccine and Treatment Evaluation Units funded by the National Institutes of Health to test vaccines to protect against the illness in adults.

19 Sep 2013

School of Public Health professor gets NIH grant to study alcohol use among African youth acquiring HIV

Dr. Monica Swahn, professor in the School of Public Health and associate vice president for research at Georgia State University, has received a two-year, $390,000 grant from the National Institutes of Health to study the role of alcohol marketing and early alcohol use among African youth acquiring HIV.

19 Sep 2013

New blood test accurately differentiates viral and bacterial infections

A blood test developed by researchers at Duke Medicine showed more than 90-percent accuracy in distinguishing between viral and bacterial infections when tested in people with respiratory illnesses.

19 Sep 2013

Inhaled corticosteroid increases risk for pneumonia reoccurrence

A University of Alberta researcher says health professionals should be cautious about prescribing inhaled corticosteroids to high-risk patients such as pneumonia survivors, citing a twofold risk for repeat infection.

19 Sep 2013

New gonorrhea treatment eliminates gonococcal infection from female mice

A new gonorrhea treatment, based on an anti-cancer therapy developed by a Buffalo startup company, has successfully eliminated gonococcal infection from female mice and prevented reinfection, according to research published today by University at Buffalo scientists in the Journal of Infectious Diseases.

19 Sep 2013

Researchers discover new way to combat HIV-1 infection

Current drug treatments for HIV work well to keep patients from developing AIDS, but no one has found a way to entirely eliminate the virus from the human body, so patients continue to require lifelong treatment to prevent them from developing AIDS.

19 Sep 2013

Scientists develop experimental vaccine against human CMV infection

An experimental vaccine against human cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, which endangers the developing fetus, organ transplant recipients, patients with HIV and others who have a weakened immune system, proved safe and more effective than previous vaccines developed to prevent infection by the ubiquitous virus.

19 Sep 2013