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Seasonal flu tends to move in traveling waves: Researchers

An analysis of hospitalization records for adults age 65 and over found that seasonal flu tends to move in traveling waves, peaking earliest in western states such as Nevada, Utah, and California and working its way east. New England states such as Rhode Island, Maine, and New Hampshire tend to have the latest peak in seasonal flu, according to public health researchers at Tufts University in Boston.

16 Apr 2010

Positive interim data from Idera Pharmaceuticals' Phase 1 trial of IMO-2125 TLR9 agonist presented at 45th EASL

Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today that positive interim data from a Phase 1 clinical trial of IMO-2125, a Toll-like Receptor 9 (TLR9) agonist, in null responder patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection were presented at the 45th Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL).

16 Apr 2010

GeoViz methods help users visualize the pattern of how disease spreads

Disease statistics buried within patient records or detailed in newspaper clippings can be sorted and organized to depict geographic patterns, allowing the discovery of trends that were previously overlooked, according to a Penn State geographer.

16 Apr 2010

Results from Romark Laboratories' STEALTH C-3 clinical trial presented at EASL Annual Meeting

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 as a late breaking communication at the International Liver Congress™ 2010, the 45th Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of the Liver in Vienna, Austria.

16 Apr 2010

Escherichia coli cases drop in 2009

As per a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) a 12 % drop in rates of Escherichia coli (E.coli) infection has been noted in 2009 as compared to statistics for 2008. This is being seen by federal health officials as a sign that the new food safety measures are effective. Most of the pathogens under study are from the bacteria family like E.coli 0157, salmonella, campylobacter, listeria and vibrio. It was found that food poisoning rates for the most common pathogens have changed little from statistics collected in 2004.

16 Apr 2010

Idaho Technology receives USASMDC contract to develop flu tests for military personnel

Idaho Technology, Inc. has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command (USASMDC) to develop tests for multiple flu strains on the Joint Biological Agent Identification and Diagnostic System (JBAIDS).

16 Apr 2010

Nottingham and Japanese scientists to study genetic variation of E. coli bacteria

University of Nottingham scientists will join forces with Japan in the fight against a common bacterium - thanks to an international research award.

16 Apr 2010

International experts discuss threats posed by ticks and fleas

As experts from around the world met in New York this week they discussed the need for greater understanding of the threat posed by ticks, fleas and sand flies. Leading scientists called on veterinarians and dog-owners around the world to take action to protect dogs and humans from potentially lethal diseases.

16 Apr 2010

Swiss epidemiologist calls for more quality studies on malaria control measures

Despite wide acclaim as a successful policy there is currently almost no quantitative evidence showing how well spraying the walls of people's homes with mosquito-killing insecticide really works against malaria.

16 Apr 2010

FAAN conference provides new insights about food allergies and anaphylaxis

The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (c) is bringing together parents, physicians, dietitians, caregivers, and others for its 17th Annual Food Allergy Conferences. The second of this year's four conferences will be held in Las Vegas and promises to give attendees new insights and strategies about food allergies and anaphylaxis.

16 Apr 2010

First meeting of WHO H1N1 response probe concludes

The first meeting of external experts tasked with reviewing the WHO's handling of the H1N1 (swine flu) virus came to a close Wednesday, with health leaders maintaining it was still too early to declare the pandemic over, Agence France-Presse reports.

16 Apr 2010

Vertex Pharmaceuticals announces results from Phase 1b clinical trial of VX-222

In conjunction with an oral presentation at the 45th Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of the Liver in Vienna, Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated today announced results from a Phase 1b clinical trial of the investigational oral hepatitis C virus polymerase inhibitor, VX-222. In the trial, treatment with VX-222 for three days was well-tolerated, with all adverse events being mild to moderate in severity.

16 Apr 2010

Genocea Biosciences, NMRC sign CRADA to develop vaccine against malaria

Genocea Biosciences, a leading vaccine discovery and development company, today announced that it has entered into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with the Naval Medical Research Center. NMRC will collaborate with Genocea to identify antigens that will be used in the development of a vaccine candidate against Plasmodium falciparum for the prevention of malaria.

16 Apr 2010

FDA publishes guidance to prevent Salmonella Enteritidis in shell eggs

On April 13, 2010, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration published guidance for small egg producers to help them comply with a 2009 federal egg safety regulation designed to prevent Salmonella Enteritidis in shell eggs during production, transportation, and storage.

16 Apr 2010

Lauric-acid-filled nano-scale bombs for treating acne

A natural product found in both coconut oil and human breast milk - lauric acid -- shines as a possible new acne treatment thanks to a bioengineering graduate student from the UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering. The student developed a "smart delivery system" - published in the journal ACS Nano in March - capable of delivering lauric-acid-filled nano-scale bombs directly to skin-dwelling bacteria (Propionibacterium acnes) that cause common acne.

15 Apr 2010

Positive results from NovaBay Pharmaceuticals' Phase 2a trial of NVC-422

NovaBay Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a clinical stage biotechnology company developing first-in-class anti-infectives for the treatment and prevention of antibiotic-resistant infections, today reported positive results of an open-label Phase 2a trial of NVC-422 in chronically catheterized patients with significant bacteriuria, or bacteria in the urine. The study showed that NVC-422 was well tolerated and reduced or eliminated certain pathogens in the urine.

15 Apr 2010

Smith & Nephew to launch new line extensions to ACTICOAT antimicrobial barrier dressing portfolio

The Advanced Wound Management Division of Smith & Nephew, Inc., a subsidiary of Smith & Nephew plc will launch extensions to its ACTICOAT(TM) Silver Coated Antimicrobial Barrier Dressing portfolio at the upcoming Symposium on Advanced Wound Care Spring meeting April 17-19, 2010, in Orlando, FL. The new dressings will be highlighted at the Smith & Nephew booth, #301.

15 Apr 2010

Despite national guidelines, teen boys still get inadequate HIV/STI counseling

Despite national guidelines aimed at improving sexual health services for teenagers, most sexually active boys - even those who report high-risk sexual behaviors - still get too little counseling about HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) during their visits to the doctor, according to a study led by researchers at Johns Hopkins Children's Center.

15 Apr 2010

SJHS-HC tracks potential influenza cases using SafetySurveillor solution

St. Joseph Health System - Humboldt County, a member of St. Joseph Health System based in Orange, Calif., was able to track potential influenza cases minutes after California health officials released new requirements regarding influenza reporting. The SJHS-HC hospitals achieved this using SafetySurveillor, a safety surveillance solution offered by the Premier healthcare alliance.

15 Apr 2010

Study finds variation in H1N1 infection risks and antibody levels: JAMA

An analysis of blood samples taken before, during and after an epidemic wave of influenza A(H1N1) in Singapore in 2009 finds variation in infection risks and antibody levels, with younger age groups and military personnel having higher infection rates than other groups, according to a study in the April 14 issue of JAMA.

15 Apr 2010