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Research challenges current thinking about TB bacterium

Two new tuberculosis studies by UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers provide good news and bad news about the bacterium that infects nearly a third of the world's population and a disease that kills nearly 2 million people each year.

30 Mar 2010

Potential new target for treating HCV infection

A team of scientists including University of Utah researchers has discovered that binding of a potent inhibitor of the hepatitis C virus to the genetic material of the virus causes a major conformational change that may adversely affect the ability of the virus to replicate.

30 Mar 2010

DIATHERIX GI test panel can detect nine types of GI infections

DIATHERIX Laboratories adds a gastrointestinal panel to its lineup of highly sensitive, rapid response diagnostic tests. In a single result, the DIATHERIX GI panel can detect and differentiate nine types of GI infections so physicians can quickly identify patients who have severe, life-threatening infections.

30 Mar 2010

Trius Therapeutics' Phase 1 trial establishes safety and tolerability of IV torezolid phosphate for MRSA

Trius Therapeutics, Inc. today announced results from its Phase 1 clinical trial evaluating the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of the intravenous (IV) dosage form of torezolid phosphate, an IV and orally administered second generation oxazolidinone for the treatment of serious gram positive infections, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

30 Mar 2010

Also in Global Health News: H1N1; USAID's Global Pulse; Rotavirus vaccine; Uzbek doctors; Zimbabwe development; Malaria vaccine

WHO flu chief Keiji Fukuda on Monday announced that a group of 29 independent scientists and public health experts has been formed to evaluate the response of the organization and national governments to the emergence of H1N1 (swine flu), the Associated Press reports. According to Fukuda, the committee will hold its first meeting April 12-14 (3/29).

29 Mar 2010

GSK offers free vaccines for low income adults without insurance coverage

GlaxoSmithKline today announced the launch of the GSK Vaccines Access Program, which will provide the company's adult vaccines free of charge to eligible, low income individuals who do not have insurance coverage for vaccines. The program will cover the company's FDA-approved vaccines for Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis for eligible persons ages 19 and older.

29 Mar 2010

Final results from Novavax' Phase II clinical trial of trivalent seasonal influenza VLP vaccine announced

Novavax, Inc. a clinical-stage vaccine company, released the final results from a Phase II clinical trial evaluating Novavax's trivalent seasonal influenza Virus-like particle (VLP) vaccine candidate in healthy adults. The study enrolled healthy volunteers 18 to 49 years in age who were immunized with a single injection of Novavax's trivalent seasonal influenza VLP vaccine matched to the influenza strains recommended for the 2008-2009 influenza vaccine.

29 Mar 2010

Positive results from Pearl Therapeutics' Phase 1 study of inhaled combination bronchodilator for COPD

Pearl Therapeutics Inc., a company developing clinically differentiated combination therapies for the treatment of highly prevalent chronic respiratory diseases, today announced positive results from a Phase 1 safety and pharmacokinetics study of PT003, its lead combination therapeutic for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Based on these results, and previously announced positive results from Phase 2a studies of PT003's individual components, the company has advanced PT003 into a Phase 2b trial.

29 Mar 2010

Parenteral Biotech to supply and distribute Sinovac Biotech's Anflu and PANFLU.1 vaccines in India

Sinovac Biotech Ltd., a leading China-based vaccine manufacturer, announced today it has entered into exclusive license, supply and distribution agreements with Parenteral Biotech Ltd., a subsidiary of Parenteral Drugs (India), Ltd., an India-based pharmaceutical company. Pursuant to the agreements, Parenteral is authorized to register, supply and distribute Sinovac's Anflu (seasonal influenza vaccine) and PANFLU.1 (H1N1 vaccine) to the government of India and private market in India. Currently, the registration process is ongoing in India.

29 Mar 2010

Rift Valley Fever on the rise

Rift Valley fever (RVF) is a viral infection transmitted by mosquitoes that mainly affects animals and livestock but may also infect humans. It can lead to high rates of death and disease. While mild forms of the disease can cause fever, muscle and joint pains, headaches, loss of appetite etc., the severe form can affect the eyes, cause meningitis, severe bleeding and even death.

29 Mar 2010

SMARTube technology helps physicians create index to get accurate picture of HIV infection

New data presented at the Center for Disease Control -sponsored 2010 HIV Diagnostics Conference suggests that an assay based on SMARTube™ technology may prove useful in developing a standardized measure for estimating what proportion of those infected with HIV have become recently infected.

29 Mar 2010

Bonis project develops multimedia system to identify dengue plague and febrile illnesses in Paraguay

Xabier Basogain Olabe (Donostia-San Sebasti-n, 1962), lecturer at the Higher Technical School of Engineering in Bilbao, is leading this project, known as Bonis. It involves developing a multimedia system in order to undertake visual monitoring of epidemiology in isolated areas of Paraguay and thus avoid the dengue plague and other febrile illnesses.

29 Mar 2010

TB-causing bacteria can hijack fat metabolism to drive progression of the disease

The factors instrumental in triggering latent tuberculosis infection to progress into active disease have long remained elusive to researchers. New insight into the mystery is provided by Professor David Russell, speaking at the Society for General Microbiology's spring meeting in Edinburgh today. His work could help develop innovative strategies for treating the disease.

29 Mar 2010

Backpacker problem in Australia - binge drinking and unprotected sex

The tourist season may not be quite as healthy for the locals as it was before. In an eight year old study conducted by the Sydney Sexual Health Care Centre some scary facts have come to light. The study was based on about 5,700 backpackers who belonged mostly to the UK or Ireland and were in their mid twenties.

28 Mar 2010

Norovirus outbreak associated with oysters: FDA and Mississippi, Louisiana public health agencies issue warning

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is working with state health officials from Mississippi and Louisiana to notify consumers, food service operators and retailers nationwide about an outbreak of norovirus associated with oysters recently harvested from an area near Port Sulphur, La. known as Area 7. The oysters were sold or distributed nationwide.

27 Mar 2010

Role Tregs play in therapeutic HIV vaccines

Like a skittish driver slamming the brakes, a special class of T cells may be limiting the effectiveness of therapeutic vaccines for HIV by slowing the immune system response too soon, report University of Pittsburgh health science researchers in the current issue of PLoS ONE. Their study, the first to look at the role of regulatory T cells in therapeutic HIV vaccines, may help researchers improve the efficacy of such vaccines by devising methods to circumvent the braking mechanism of these cells.

27 Mar 2010

Antiviral treatment may lead to drug-resistant H1N1 virus: NIAID

Two people with compromised immune systems who became ill with 2009 H1N1 influenza developed drug-resistant strains of virus after less than two weeks on therapy, report doctors from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health.

27 Mar 2010

ThisCaringHome.org: Interactive web site for caregivers of Alzheimer's

It is estimated that Alzheimer's disease affects 5.3 million Americans and that number is expected to double by 2050. Caregivers shoulder a particularly heavy burden as the illness alters the dementia patient's behavior, mood and judgment, impeding his or her ability to engage in normal, everyday activities.

27 Mar 2010

New ways to halt the rise of antimicrobial-resistant infections

Preventing, controlling and treating drug-resistant infections is one of the major challenges in modern medicine. Antimicrobial Resistance goes beyond simple definitions and microbiological data to fully explore this rapidly changing area, describing evidence for effective interventions, costs, treatment strategies and directions for future research.

27 Mar 2010

FDA: Outbreak of campylobacteriosis linked to drinking raw milk

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, along with several state agencies, is alerting consumers to an outbreak of campylobacteriosis associated with drinking raw milk. At least 12 confirmed illnesses have been recently reported in Michigan. Symptoms of campylobacteriosis include diarrhea, abdominal pain and fever.

27 Mar 2010

Disease/Infection News

Research challenges current thinking about TB bacterium

Potential new target for treating HCV infection

DIATHERIX GI test panel can detect nine types of GI infections

Trius Therapeutics' Phase 1 trial establishes safety and tolerability of IV torezolid phosphate for MRSA

Also in Global Health News: H1N1; USAID's Global Pulse; Rotavirus vaccine; Uzbek doctors; Zimbabwe development; Malaria vaccine

GSK offers free vaccines for low income adults without insurance coverage

Final results from Novavax' Phase II clinical trial of trivalent seasonal influenza VLP vaccine announced

Positive results from Pearl Therapeutics' Phase 1 study of inhaled combination bronchodilator for COPD

Parenteral Biotech to supply and distribute Sinovac Biotech's Anflu and PANFLU.1 vaccines in India

Rift Valley Fever on the rise

SMARTube technology helps physicians create index to get accurate picture of HIV infection

Bonis project develops multimedia system to identify dengue plague and febrile illnesses in Paraguay

TB-causing bacteria can hijack fat metabolism to drive progression of the disease

Backpacker problem in Australia - binge drinking and unprotected sex

Norovirus outbreak associated with oysters: FDA and Mississippi, Louisiana public health agencies issue warning

Role Tregs play in therapeutic HIV vaccines

Antiviral treatment may lead to drug-resistant H1N1 virus: NIAID

ThisCaringHome.org: Interactive web site for caregivers of Alzheimer's

New ways to halt the rise of antimicrobial-resistant infections

FDA: Outbreak of campylobacteriosis linked to drinking raw milk

Unlocking live single-cell functional insights

Fluidics in Modern Healthcare & Medical Device Innovation

How microRNA is transforming science: From discovery to diagnostics

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