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MSF expresses concern over proposed FY13 spending reduction for PEPFAR

Medical aid organization Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) has expressed concern over proposed cuts to PEPFAR under the White House FY 2013 budget proposal, "saying it will undermine the president's own goals" of "treating six million people infected with HIV around the world by the end of 2013," VOA News reports.

12 Apr 2012

Scientists create reference guide for harmful germs in sand

On warm days, the beach seems an ideal destination for family rest and relaxation. Who hasn't built a sand castle or been buried up to the neck in sand? However, that family fun has a dark side -- sand can harbor illness-causing microbes. Unfortunately, there are no guidelines for sand quality at recreational sites.

12 Apr 2012

Communications engineers join fight against AIDS in Africa through wireless printer program

The Associated Press/Huffington Post reports on how communications engineers are joining the fight against AIDS in Africa, highlighting a project in Mozambique that brings wireless printers equipped with cell phone technology to remote villages.

12 Apr 2012

PATH Blog examines organization's work in malaria through affiliate drug development program

This PATH Blog post examines PATH's work in malaria through OneWorld Health, a non-profit drug development program. Since 2004, "when OneWorld Health formed a partnership to develop an alternative source of the malaria drug artemisinin, ... OneWorld Health, which became an affiliate of PATH late last year, has quietly forged relationships with public and private partners, creating the Artemisinin Project to take the work from research to commercialization," the blog writes.

12 Apr 2012

Support for Global Fund helps work of PEPFAR

In this post on the State Department's "DipNote" blog, U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator Ambassador Eric Goosby provides an update on the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, stating, "I am buoyed by the reform that is happening at the Fund under the leadership of new General Manager Gabriel Jaramillo."

12 Apr 2012

Quest Diagnostics receives FDA clearance for Simplexa C. difficile Universal Direct test

Quest Diagnostics, the world's leading provider of diagnostic testing, information and services, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted 510(k) clearance to its Simplexa C. difficile Universal Direct Test on the 3M Integrated Cycler.

From Quest Diagnostics 12 Apr 2012

FDA takes three steps to protect public health and promote judicious antimicrobial use

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced today that it is taking three steps to protect public health and promote the judicious use of medically important antibiotics in food-producing animals.

12 Apr 2012

GAVI Alliance secures deal to purchase rotavirus vaccines from GlaxoSmithKline, Merck

The GAVI Alliance "has struck a deal for bulk buying rotavirus shots from GlaxoSmithKline and Merck, which cuts the price by two-thirds and will allow poorer countries access to them at around $5 per course," Reuters reports.

12 Apr 2012

PURE Bioscience launches new disinfectant/sanitizer product

PURE Bioscience, Inc., creator of the patented silver dihydrogen citrate (SDC) antimicrobial, today reported the launch of the PURE Complete Cleaning, Sanitizing and Disinfecting System.

12 Apr 2012

FDA clears Cerecor’s FP01 IND for treatment of cough

Cerecor Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of prescription pharmaceuticals whose primary activity is in the human nervous system, today announced that its Investigational New Drug (IND) Application for FP01 for the treatment of cough has cleared the 30 day deliberation period by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

12 Apr 2012

Participation of big pharma companies critical to success of drug patent pools

In this post in the Huffington Post's "Impact" blog, David de Ferranti, president of the Results for Development Institute, and Robert Hecht, managing director at the Institute, examine whether patent pools could help increase access to AIDS drugs among the world's poor, writing, AIDS program managers and advocates must pursue all measures that can keep the cost of treatment low and affordable.

12 Apr 2012

Influenza vaccine recommended but select the appropriate vaccine

Further to advice issued by the RACGP and the Chief Medical Officer, NPS is encouraging health professionals to offer their patients influenza vaccination, especially for those at risk, but to be aware that the choice of influenza vaccine is important, especially for children.

11 Apr 2012

Inexpensive female genital schistosomiasis prevention could help reduce women's risk of HIV infection

In this Huffington Post "Global Motherhood" blog post, Peter Hotez, president of the Sabin Vaccine Institute and dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, describes female genital schistosomiasis (FGS), which affects more than 100 million women and girls in Africa and "causes horrific pain and bleeding in the uterus, cervix and lower genital tract, not to mention social stigma and depression."

11 Apr 2012

Study shows how biofilms form on implanted devices

Bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, the 'superbug' behind MRSA, can be a major problem for patients who have a medical implant, such as a replacement heart valve or pacemaker.

11 Apr 2012

Akorn launches generic Vancocin for treatment of CDAD

Akorn, Inc., a niche specialty pharmaceutical company, today announced that it has launched Vancomycin Hydrochloride USP 125mg and 250mg capsules, the generic version of ViroPharma's Vancocin, which is indicated for the treatment of Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea.

10 Apr 2012

New initiative focusing on GBV and HIV/AIDS will help prevent both

"The advancement of women's health and their rights is one of the core principles of President Barack Obama's Global Health Initiative," a VOA editorial states, adding, "And so it is that the United States has rolled out a new initiative that will tackle one of the greatest threats to women's health, HIV/AIDS, by attacking another scourge: gender-based violence [GBV]."

10 Apr 2012

Prepositioning of supplies, knowledge to handle disease outbreaks 'future of disaster management'

In this New York Times opinion piece, columnist Tina Rosenberg examines a global rise in cholera cases, writing, "The World Health Organization estimates that there are between three million and five million cases of cholera each year, and between 100,000 and 120,000 deaths. New and more virulent strains are emerging in Asia and Africa, and the WHO says that global warming creates even more hospitable conditions for the disease."

10 Apr 2012

U.S. must embrace competitive election process for World Bank presidency to support Kim's nomination

In this New York times opinion piece, Thomas Bollyky, senior fellow for global health, economics and development at the Council on Foreign Relations, comments on the controversy surrounding President Barack Obama's nomination of Jim Yong Kim for the World Bank presidency, writing, "For the first time since the World Bank's creation at the end of World War II, the United States is facing a real challenge over the bank's leadership. Leaders of some developing and emerging economies have refused to support President Obama's unexpected choice of Jim Yong Kim, the president of Dartmouth College, to lead the bank."

10 Apr 2012

Researchers determine that bacteria are present in the bladders of healthy women

Researchers have determined that bacteria are present in the bladders of some healthy women, which discredits the common belief that normal urine is sterile. These findings were published in the April issue of the Journal of Clinical Microbiology by researchers at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine.

10 Apr 2012

Study: Body and head lice are the same species

A new study offers compelling genetic evidence that head and body lice are the same species. The finding is of special interest because body lice can transmit deadly bacterial diseases, while head lice do not.

10 Apr 2012

Disease/Infection News

MSF expresses concern over proposed FY13 spending reduction for PEPFAR

Scientists create reference guide for harmful germs in sand

Communications engineers join fight against AIDS in Africa through wireless printer program

PATH Blog examines organization's work in malaria through affiliate drug development program

Support for Global Fund helps work of PEPFAR

Quest Diagnostics receives FDA clearance for Simplexa C. difficile Universal Direct test

FDA takes three steps to protect public health and promote judicious antimicrobial use

GAVI Alliance secures deal to purchase rotavirus vaccines from GlaxoSmithKline, Merck

PURE Bioscience launches new disinfectant/sanitizer product

FDA clears Cerecor’s FP01 IND for treatment of cough

Participation of big pharma companies critical to success of drug patent pools

Influenza vaccine recommended but select the appropriate vaccine

Inexpensive female genital schistosomiasis prevention could help reduce women's risk of HIV infection

Study shows how biofilms form on implanted devices

Akorn launches generic Vancocin for treatment of CDAD

New initiative focusing on GBV and HIV/AIDS will help prevent both

Prepositioning of supplies, knowledge to handle disease outbreaks 'future of disaster management'

U.S. must embrace competitive election process for World Bank presidency to support Kim's nomination

Researchers determine that bacteria are present in the bladders of healthy women

Study: Body and head lice are the same species

The Proteoform Puzzle: Unlocking the Next Frontier

Synthetic Biology and the Pursuit of Living Diagnostics

Modular, Scalable, Intelligent: How n6 Is Rethinking NGS Library Prep

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