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Patient for Patient Safety Canada launches on Stop! Clean Your Hands Day

Patients for Patient Safety Canada, with a national vision of "Every Patient Safe", is officially launching as an organization today. Patients for Patient Safety Canada is a patient led national organization committed to safety in healthcare.

6 May 2010

Prescription drug may have new use in boosting effectiveness of vaccines for bacterial, viral diseases

A prescription drug already approved to treat genital warts and skin cancer may have a new use in boosting the effectiveness of future vaccines for bacterial and viral diseases, such as hepatitis C and HIV (the AIDS virus). These findings appear in ACS' Molecular Pharmaceutics, a bi-monthly journal.

6 May 2010

GW researchers partner with Grassroot Project to educate D.C. youth about HIV/AIDS

The George Washington School of Public Health and Health Services has partnered with the Grassroot Project, an organization of NCAA Division I varsity athletes using the universal language of sports to engage youth in educational outreach about HIV/AIDS. GW researchers are working with the Grassroot Project to develop and implement a sustainable monitoring and evaluation plan.

6 May 2010

Patients Medical provides patients with valuable tips to prevent Lyme disease

Patients Medical, a leading integrative and holistic medical center in New York City, is supporting National Lyme Disease Awareness month by providing patients with valuable tips to prevent the disease, as well as education on the best treatment options available.

6 May 2010

CU-Boulder develops inhalable vaccine for measles prevention

A team of researchers led by the University of Colorado at Boulder believe a dry powder, inhalable vaccine developed for measles prevention and slated for human clinical trials later this year in India will lead to other inhalable, inexpensive vaccines for illnesses ranging from tuberculosis to cervical cancer.

6 May 2010

Social changes spawn massive resurgence of syphilis in China

Despite the virtual elimination of syphilis in China in the 1950s, the sexually transmitted infection is currently at epidemic proportions in the country and rates of infection will continue to grow unless a more comprehensive, coordinated effort of control is implemented, according to a perspective published in the May 6 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

6 May 2010

Advocates ask donor nations, African Governments to maintain health commitments as WEF on Africa starts

As the 2010 World Economic Forum on Africa begins Wednesday in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, advocates from more than 10 African countries plan to "stage a demonstration" highlighting the need for funding for HIV/AIDS and other diseases, health-e reports (Thom, 5/5).

6 May 2010

Intercell to acquire Cytos' platform technology for monoclonal antibody discovery

Intercell AG today announced that it has signed an agreement with Cytos Biotechnology Ltd. to acquire Cytos' platform technology for monoclonal antibody discovery. The technology is based on expression cloning of monoclonal antibodies from human B-cells and enables the identification of anti-infective antibodies to prevent and treat infectious diseases.

6 May 2010

Opinions: G8's track record; Maternal, child health; Chan on N. Korea; USAID, DDT in Haiti

In a Vancouver Sun opinion piece, columnist Barbara Yaffe writes about the "disappointing track record of delivery on past G8 aid promises" in light of recent concern over Canada's announcement that it will not fund abortion in its G8 initiative.

6 May 2010

New combination eye drops effective in treating bacterial keratitis

Scientists are reporting development of a potential new way of enabling patients with bacterial keratitis to stick with the extraordinarily intensive treatment needed for this potentially blinding eye infection.

6 May 2010

Caffeine is effective in preventing cataract formation, says study

Caffeine may be effective in protecting the lens against damage that could lead to the formation of cataracts, according to a study presented on May 4 at the 2010 Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.

6 May 2010

TearScience completes $44.5 million Series C funding

TearScience, a privately-held medical device company, today announced the completion of $44.5 million of Series C funding from new investors Essex Woodlands Health Ventures, Investor Growth Capital and General Catalyst. The company's existing investors, De Novo Ventures, Spray Ventures and Quaker Bio Ventures completed the round. The funding will allow TearScience to commercialize its devices designed for use by eye care professionals to diagnose and treat the most common form of chronic dry eye disease.

5 May 2010

Vical commences enrollment in Phase 1 trial of Vaxfectin DNA pandemic influenza vaccine

Vical Incorporated today announced the enrollment of the first subject in its Phase 1 trial of the company's Vaxfectin®-formulated plasmid DNA (pDNA) pandemic influenza vaccine. The trial will be conducted in collaboration with the U.S. Naval Medical Research Center (NMRC).

5 May 2010

Pre-treatment quality-of-life scores predict malignancy in patients with pancreatic disease

Quality-of-life measures used routinely to assess treatment outcomes for patients with pancreatic disease may be used to predict both malignancy and survival for those patients, according to a study by Henry Ford Hospital.

5 May 2010

Hepatitis B treatment appears to improve liver transplant outcomes for some patients: Study

Treatment to reduce recurrence of hepatitis B appears to improve liver transplant outcomes for some patients, according to a Mayo Clinic study presented at the American Transplant Congress under way May 1-5 in San Diego.

5 May 2010

Archivel Farma to start phase II clinical trials of RUTI vaccine for Latent Tuberculosis

Archivel Farma, S.L. has announced that its breakthrough treatment for tuberculosis (TB) will shortly start phase II clinical trials. The treatment uses the company's unique combination of its novel therapeutic vaccine called RUTI® in conjunction with an antibiotic. This cuts treatment time from nine months to one month, which reduces side effects and healthcare costs, by preventing re-infection during the eradication process. The company expects commercial availability in 2015.

5 May 2010

U.N. Development Program head begins four-country tour of Africa to promote MDGs

Over the weekend, U.N. Development Program (UNDP) Administrator Helen Clark began a four-country tour of Africa "to highlight progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in the run up to a Summit in September," Tanzania Daily News/allAfrica.com reports. Clark will make stops in Tanzania, Mali, Burkina Faso and South Africa, where she will "meet with heads of state and ministers, as well as touch base with women leaders and members of civil society, and visit development projects," the news service writes.

5 May 2010

Calgary doctors research how to minimize complications from Cryptococcus disease

Cryptococcus disease is a rare but serious infection resulting from inhaling a toxic fungus often found in fir trees. Approximately 250 people have been infected with the disease in British Columbia since its emergence in 1999. The disease can cause meningitis, pneumonia and in 10 per cent of cases it can lead to death.

5 May 2010

Results from STEALTH C-3 clinical trial of nitazoxanide presented at DDW 2010

Romark Laboratories announced results from its STEALTH C-3 clinical trial, a phase 2 clinical study of nitazoxanide in treatment-naive patients with genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C. Study results were presented this afternoon as an oral communication at a late breaking forum of the American Gastroenterological Association Institute during Digestive Disease Week 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

5 May 2010

Increase in spending for AIDS drugs validates price cuts offered to ADAPs

On the heels of a report released by the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD) yesterday regarding the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) noted that new data contained in the report validates recent drug company price cuts offered to the program.

5 May 2010

Disease/Infection News

Patient for Patient Safety Canada launches on Stop! Clean Your Hands Day

Prescription drug may have new use in boosting effectiveness of vaccines for bacterial, viral diseases

GW researchers partner with Grassroot Project to educate D.C. youth about HIV/AIDS

Patients Medical provides patients with valuable tips to prevent Lyme disease

CU-Boulder develops inhalable vaccine for measles prevention

Social changes spawn massive resurgence of syphilis in China

Advocates ask donor nations, African Governments to maintain health commitments as WEF on Africa starts

Intercell to acquire Cytos' platform technology for monoclonal antibody discovery

Opinions: G8's track record; Maternal, child health; Chan on N. Korea; USAID, DDT in Haiti

New combination eye drops effective in treating bacterial keratitis

Caffeine is effective in preventing cataract formation, says study

TearScience completes $44.5 million Series C funding

Vical commences enrollment in Phase 1 trial of Vaxfectin DNA pandemic influenza vaccine

Pre-treatment quality-of-life scores predict malignancy in patients with pancreatic disease

Hepatitis B treatment appears to improve liver transplant outcomes for some patients: Study

Archivel Farma to start phase II clinical trials of RUTI vaccine for Latent Tuberculosis

U.N. Development Program head begins four-country tour of Africa to promote MDGs

Calgary doctors research how to minimize complications from Cryptococcus disease

Results from STEALTH C-3 clinical trial of nitazoxanide presented at DDW 2010

Increase in spending for AIDS drugs validates price cuts offered to ADAPs

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