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Roche receives EUA from FDA for its RealTime ready Influenza A/H1N1 Detection Set for the 2009 H1N1 virus

Roche`s RealTime ready Influenza A/H1N1 Detection Set for the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus has received emergency use authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The Roche kit detects RNA from the 2009 H1N1 influenza A virus and allows rapid and accurate identification of patients infected with this virus.

17 Nov 2009

New Web-based application for tracking the H1N1 flu virus across the globe

New methods of studying avian influenza strains and visually mapping their movement around the world will help scientists more quickly learn the behavior of the pandemic H1N1 flu virus, Ohio State University researchers say.

17 Nov 2009

Antioxidant found in vegetables can protect cells from damage caused by infection and injury

Scientists at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine discovered that a dietary antioxidant found in such vegetables as broccoli and cauliflower protects cells from damage caused by chemicals generated during the body's inflammatory response to infection and injury. The finding has implications for such inflammation-based disorders as cystic fibrosis (CF), diabetes, heart disease, and neurodegeneration.

17 Nov 2009

Healthy adults may have better immunity to 2009 H1N1 influenza virus, says study

A new study shows that molecular similarities exist between the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus and other strains of seasonal H1N1 virus that have been circulating in the population since 1988. These results suggest that healthy adults may have a level of protective immune memory that can blunt the severity of infection caused by the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus.

17 Nov 2009

FDA approves CSL's seasonal and H1N1 flu vaccines for children

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the use of the CSL Limited's seasonal and 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccines to include children ages 6 months and older. These vaccine were previously approved for use in adults, ages 18 years and older

17 Nov 2009

Scientists find major genetic differences between the pandemic H1N1 strain and seasonal strains

As the number of deaths related to the pandemic H1N1 virus, commonly known as "swine flu," continues to rise, researchers have been scrambling to decipher its inner workings and explain why the incidence is lower than expected in older adults.

17 Nov 2009

Handwashing: A simple, effective way to prevent the spread of communicable diseases

In this day and age, with the latest in medical equipment and scientific advances adding both quantity and quality to our lives, it is easy to forget that the simplest actions can provide some of the most important results. In fact, your mother's instructions to "wash up before dinner" should be considered some of the soundest medical advice ever offered.

17 Nov 2009

Live Facebook chat on H1N1 flu

People who have questions about the H1N1 flu can get answers from infectious disease experts at Rush University Medical Center during a one-hour, live Facebook chat to be held on Friday, November 20 from12 p.m. until 1 p.m.

16 Nov 2009

Sterile Insect Technique can play a vital role in malaria elimination

The Sterile Insect Technique (SIT), the release of sexually sterile male insects to wipe out a pest population, is one suggested solution to the problem of malaria in Africa. A new supplement, published in BioMed Central's open access Malaria Journal, reviews the history of the technique, and features details about aspects of its application in the elimination of malaria.

16 Nov 2009

Implementing infection-limiting measures a challenge, say researchers

The H1N1 flu virus is spreading misery around the country, but University of Michigan researchers say that implementing and sustaining infection-limiting measures will still be a challenge.

16 Nov 2009

H1N1 continues to spread, despite leveling off in some regions, WHO reports

Despite reports that the numbers of new H1N1 (swine flu) are leveling off in some parts of the Northern Hemisphere, the virus continues to spread, the WHO said Friday, Reuters reports. "In an update on the H1N1 swine flu virus, the WHO said parts of the southern and southeastern United States, as well as Iceland and Ireland, seemed to have weakening levels of disease after an unusually early start of the winter flu season," the news service writes.

16 Nov 2009

Opinions: Health system funding; malnutrition assistance; social dimension of HIV

"For too long, global health funding has gone to diseases like AIDS with the most vocal lobby groups and not to the diseases with the greatest need," Philip Stevens, a senior fellow at International Policy Network, writes in a Business Daily opinion piece.

16 Nov 2009

Also in Global Health News: HIV/AIDS in Uganda; medical equipment in Tanzania; birth control in Afghanistan; Ethiopia malaria fight

"The Uganda AIDS Commission (UAC) is revamping its national HIV information campaign after HIV prevention messages were less successful than hoped," PlusNews reports. "Campaigns aimed at ending cross-generational sex will be abandoned in favour of generic warnings about engaging in risky sex because of fears that young people may believe that sex within their own generation is risk-free. Officials have also said factors such as alcohol abuse, which predispose people to risky sexual behaviour, must be tackled alongside HIV prevention" (11/16).

16 Nov 2009

Sequella broadens the licensed therapeutic indications of its SQ109 lead drug candidate

Sequella, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on commercializing products to treat life-threatening infectious diseases, today announced that it amended an existing agreement with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to significantly broaden the licensed therapeutic indications, or "field of use," for Sequella's lead drug candidate, SQ109.

16 Nov 2009

Additional data from Aegerion Pharmaceuticals' ongoing lomitapide Phase III trial

Aegerion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on the treatment of cardiovascular and metabolic disease, today announced additional data from its ongoing Phase III trial involving its lead cholesterol management compound, lomitapide (AEGR-733), which is a microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP) inhibitor small molecule drug.

16 Nov 2009

Researchers, decision makers, and people with HIV to attend Ontario HIV Treatment Network's conference

The 11th annual research conference of the Ontario HIV Treatment Network will examine the factors that increase risk for individuals and communities most affected by HIV, as well as interventions that may improve the lives of people living with HIV and prevent the spread of the virus.

16 Nov 2009

FDA issues a Complete Response Letter for Human Genome Sciences' raxibacumab BLA

Human Genome Sciences, Inc. today announced that it has received a Complete Response Letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) relating to the Company’s Biologics License Application (BLA) requesting the approval of raxibacumab for use in the treatment of inhalational anthrax. The FDA issues Complete Response Letters to request additional information needed to complete the review of a BLA.

16 Nov 2009

Publicly available research center for H1N1 influenza pandemic launched

ebrary®, a leading provider of digital content products and technologies, today announced that it has created a publicly available research center featuring a highly interactive, searchable database of documents pertaining to the H1N1 influenza pandemic.

16 Nov 2009

SPOT: A one-stop HIV and sexually transmitted diseases testing center for youth

In the last 10 years, the St. Louis area has seen an alarming increase in new diagnoses of HIV and sexually transmitted infections among 13-24 year-olds. Between 1997-2007, more than 50 new diagnoses of HIV were made each year among adolescents and young adults, who are often disconnected from the health-care system or support services. Nationwide, St. Louis has among the highest rates of sexually transmitted diseases in this age group.

16 Nov 2009

Researchers discover new immune mechanism against viruses

Viruses are microscopically sized parasites. They plant their genes in the cells of their victim in order to 'reprogram' them. The infected cells then no longer produce what they need to live, making lots of new viruses instead.

16 Nov 2009

Disease/Infection News

Roche receives EUA from FDA for its RealTime ready Influenza A/H1N1 Detection Set for the 2009 H1N1 virus

New Web-based application for tracking the H1N1 flu virus across the globe

Antioxidant found in vegetables can protect cells from damage caused by infection and injury

Healthy adults may have better immunity to 2009 H1N1 influenza virus, says study

FDA approves CSL's seasonal and H1N1 flu vaccines for children

Scientists find major genetic differences between the pandemic H1N1 strain and seasonal strains

Handwashing: A simple, effective way to prevent the spread of communicable diseases

Live Facebook chat on H1N1 flu

Sterile Insect Technique can play a vital role in malaria elimination

Implementing infection-limiting measures a challenge, say researchers

H1N1 continues to spread, despite leveling off in some regions, WHO reports

Opinions: Health system funding; malnutrition assistance; social dimension of HIV

Also in Global Health News: HIV/AIDS in Uganda; medical equipment in Tanzania; birth control in Afghanistan; Ethiopia malaria fight

Sequella broadens the licensed therapeutic indications of its SQ109 lead drug candidate

Additional data from Aegerion Pharmaceuticals' ongoing lomitapide Phase III trial

Researchers, decision makers, and people with HIV to attend Ontario HIV Treatment Network's conference

FDA issues a Complete Response Letter for Human Genome Sciences' raxibacumab BLA

Publicly available research center for H1N1 influenza pandemic launched

SPOT: A one-stop HIV and sexually transmitted diseases testing center for youth

Researchers discover new immune mechanism against viruses

How microRNA is transforming science: From discovery to diagnostics

Advancing benzodiazepine detection

The Surgeon-Scientist Pioneering Regenerative Engineering

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