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California's dirty air costs more than $193M in hospital-based medical care, finds RAND study

California's dirty air caused more than $193 million in hospital-based medical care from 2005 to 2007 as people sought help for problems such as asthma and pneumonia that are triggered by elevated pollution levels, according to a new RAND Corporation study.

2 Mar 2010

Stress increases resistance to influenza infection

A new study using mice suggests that a repeated stressful situation that triggers the animals' natural "fight-or-flight" response may actually enhance their ability to fight disease when re-exposed to the same pathogen.

2 Mar 2010

Inovio Biomedical's SynCon preventive DNA vaccine receives approval in Korea for Phase I clinical trial

Inovio Biomedical Corporation, a leader in DNA vaccine design, development and delivery, announced today that its affiliate VGX International Inc. has received approval in Korea to begin a Phase I clinical trial in healthy volunteers for Inovio’s SynCon™ preventive DNA vaccine (VGX-3400) targeting H5N1 avian influenza.

2 Mar 2010

Most strains of pandemic H1N1 flu virus resist Tamiflu, say scientists

If the behavior of the seasonal form of the H1N1 influenza virus is any indication, scientists say that chances are good that most strains of the pandemic H1N1 flu virus will become resistant to Tamiflu, the main drug stockpiled for use against it.

2 Mar 2010

Simvastatin impairs ability of macrophages to kill pathogens, and enhances cytokine production

Simvastatin might help us control our cholesterol, but when it comes to infection, it's an entirely different story says a new research study published in the Journal of Leukocyte Biology. In the research report, scientists from Italy show that simvastatin delivers a one-two punch to the immune system. First it impairs the ability of specialized immune cells, called macrophages, to kill pathogens. Then, it enhances production of molecules, called cytokines, which trigger and sustain inflammation.

2 Mar 2010

Merck's Isentress HIV/AIDS drug pricing: CalSTRS and CalPERS express concern

Today AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) announced that the two largest public pension funds in the nation, the California State Teachers' Retirement System (CalSTRS) and the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS), have sent letters to Merck and Co. Pharmaceuticals expressing concern over the company’s pricing for its key HIV/AIDS drug, Isentress—now the most expensive first-line AIDS treatment in the U.S.

2 Mar 2010

News outlets examine development of low-cost diagnostic tool, infectious disease surveillance

CNN examines the work of a Harvard University chemistry professor to "shrink a medical laboratory onto a piece of paper that's the size of a fingerprint and costs about a penny." According to George Whitesides, who created a prototype of the inexpensive paper "chip," the technology could be used to diagnose such diseases as HIV, malaria and tuberculosis in developing countries.

2 Mar 2010

Study finds most HIV prevention, treatment, care efforts overlook IDUs

A systematic review of HIV prevention, treatment and care for injecting drug users (IDUs) throughout the world, published Monday in the journal Lancet, found that international efforts to fight the disease are largely overlooking this population, the Australian Associated Press/Sydney Morning Herald reports (Rose, 3/1).

2 Mar 2010

IgPro20 protects PI patients against infection

Data presented today suggest that 20 percent liquid formulation, Immune Globulin Subcutaneous (Human) (SCIg), or IgPro20 effectively protects patients with primary immunodeficiencies (PI) against infection. The 20 percent formulation, the highest Ig concentration currently available, was also shown to sustain serum IgG levels without causing unexpected rates of adverse events. The data were presented at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) Annual Meeting in New Orleans, US.

2 Mar 2010

New report: Federal spending for public health flat for nearly five years

Trust for America's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation today released a new report, Shortchanging America's Health: A State-By-State Look at How Public Health Dollars Are Spent, which finds federal spending for public health has been flat for nearly five years, while states around the country cut nearly $392 million for public health programs in the past year, which leaves communities around the country struggling to deliver basic disease prevention and emergency health preparedness services.

2 Mar 2010

Joint Chiefs Chair visits Haiti to examine aid response

Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Mike Mullen, who is President Barack Obama's top military adviser, visited Haiti over the weekend to examine relief and rebuilding efforts and meet with local leaders, Agence France-Presse reports. It was his first visit to the country after the earthquake, according to AFP.

2 Mar 2010

FDA works closely with different states to investigate the outbreak of Salmonella Montevideo infections

The Food and Drug Administration, along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service, continues to work closely with the Rhode Island Department of Health and other states in the investigation of an outbreak of Salmonella Montevideo infections associated with certain Italian-style sausage products including salami/salame.

1 Mar 2010

Gender roles and sexual behavior among Latino teens: Characterization complicated

A University of Illinois researcher advises caution when trying to characterize gender roles and sexual behavior among this country's Latino adolescents and young adults.

27 Feb 2010

3M and PCTS to globally market innovative automated hand hygiene compliance solution

3M and Patient Care Technology Systems, a subsidiary of Consulier Engineering, Inc., today announced that they have signed an agreement to bring a state-of-the-art automated hand hygiene compliance solution to healthcare customers globally.

27 Feb 2010

Widespread cases of flu plunge from 49 to zero

Normally, this is the peak period for the flu in the United States. But that just doesn't seem to be the case this year.

27 Feb 2010

iBioLaunch platform technology to be licensed for plant-expressed influenza vaccines project

iBio, Inc. announced today that it has agreed in principle to license its technology, the iBioLaunch™ platform, and provide technology transfer services to G-Con, LLC, a private Texas company, and its affiliates, for the development and manufacture of plant-expressed influenza vaccines at a new facility being constructed in Bryan, Texas. The “GreenVax Project” will show proof of concept for a large-scale vaccine production facility using Nicotiana plants grown hydroponically in a contained environment.

27 Feb 2010

CHI lauds California state Assembly's proclamation of Feb. 28, as Rare Disease Day

CHI-California Healthcare Institute, a non-profit public policy research organization, applauds the state Assembly’s proclamation of Feb. 28, as Rare Disease Day. This day helps bring awareness of the biomedical companies that are dedicated to researching and developing treatments for patients suffering from rare diseases.

27 Feb 2010

AHF’s Magic Johnson ‘Testing America’ Tour arrives in Atlanta to host free HIV testing events

AHF’s Magic Johnson ‘Testing America’ Tour, a six month, 48 state national cross country HIV testing tour, will arrive in Atlanta to host free HIV testing events over two days, Friday, February 26th and Saturday, February 27th.

27 Feb 2010

Prevention of recurrent strokes: Antiplatelet drug cilostazol effective and safer than aspirin

The antiplatelet drug cilostazol — used in the United States to treat leg pain associated with peripheral vascular disease — was more effective and safer than aspirin at preventing recurrent strokes in a Japanese trial presented as late-breaking science at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2010.

27 Feb 2010

Rare Disease Day 2010: Alexion Pharmaceuticals joins NORD and EURORDIS to raise awareness

Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., has joined the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) and the European Organization for Rare Diseases (EURORDIS) in supporting the goals of the third annual Rare Disease Day, February 28, 2010.

26 Feb 2010

Disease/Infection News

California's dirty air costs more than $193M in hospital-based medical care, finds RAND study

Stress increases resistance to influenza infection

Inovio Biomedical's SynCon preventive DNA vaccine receives approval in Korea for Phase I clinical trial

Most strains of pandemic H1N1 flu virus resist Tamiflu, say scientists

Simvastatin impairs ability of macrophages to kill pathogens, and enhances cytokine production

Merck's Isentress HIV/AIDS drug pricing: CalSTRS and CalPERS express concern

News outlets examine development of low-cost diagnostic tool, infectious disease surveillance

Study finds most HIV prevention, treatment, care efforts overlook IDUs

IgPro20 protects PI patients against infection

New report: Federal spending for public health flat for nearly five years

Joint Chiefs Chair visits Haiti to examine aid response

FDA works closely with different states to investigate the outbreak of Salmonella Montevideo infections

Gender roles and sexual behavior among Latino teens: Characterization complicated

3M and PCTS to globally market innovative automated hand hygiene compliance solution

Widespread cases of flu plunge from 49 to zero

iBioLaunch platform technology to be licensed for plant-expressed influenza vaccines project

CHI lauds California state Assembly's proclamation of Feb. 28, as Rare Disease Day

AHF’s Magic Johnson ‘Testing America’ Tour arrives in Atlanta to host free HIV testing events

Prevention of recurrent strokes: Antiplatelet drug cilostazol effective and safer than aspirin

Rare Disease Day 2010: Alexion Pharmaceuticals joins NORD and EURORDIS to raise awareness

Redefining control and consistency in anaerobic microbiome workflows

AI in Healthcare: How generative tools are transforming clinical practice

The future of automation: Machine learning–driven hepatocyte and organoid counting

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