Cold, Flu & Cough News and Research

Latest Cold, Flu & Cough News and Research

Changing toothbrush will not prevent sore throat

Word on the street has it you should replace your toothbrush after suffering from a cold, the flu or a bout of strep throat. That may not be necessary - at least when it comes to sore throats, according to a study to be presented Saturday, May 4, at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) annual meeting in Washington, DC.

6 May 2013

Oral drops provide a safe and effective alternative for allergy sufferers

Allergy shots are commonly used to treat children with severe environmental allergies and asthma, but under-the-tongue drops may offer yet another beneficial - and stick-free - option for pediatric allergy sufferers, according to a Johns Hopkins Children's Center review of existing scientific evidence.

6 May 2013

Hand Hygiene Day: WHO encourages patients, family members to practice good hand hygiene

On Hand Hygiene Day (5 May), the World Health Organization is encouraging patients and their family members to join health workers in their efforts to practice good hand hygiene.

3 May 2013

Scientists warn of H7N9 risks as number of cases, deaths continue to rise

"A new strain of bird flu that is causing a deadly outbreak among people in China is a threat to world health and should be taken seriously, scientists said on Wednesday," Reuters reports (Kelland, 5/1).

3 May 2013

Scientists generate map of H7N9 risk

A map of avian influenza (H7N9) risk is presented in Biomed Central's open access journal Infectious Diseases of Poverty today. The map is comprised of bird migration patterns, and adding in estimations of poultry production and consumption, which are used to infer future risk and to advise on ways to prevent infection.

3 May 2013

Reuters examines White House proposal to reform food aid program

"A White House plan to modernize the major U.S. food aid program ... is in trouble after fierce lobbying by farm groups, food processors, shippers and others who set out to sink the idea months before it was unveiled in President Barack Obama's fiscal 2014 budget [request]," Reuters reports in an article outlining opposition and support for the administration's effort to reform the Food for Peace program.

3 May 2013

New approach could democratize viral surveillance, says UCSF scientist

The tick-borne Lone Star virus has been conclusively identified as part of a family of other tick-borne viruses called bunyaviruses, which often cause fever, respiratory problems and bleeding, according to new research led by scientists at UC San Francisco.

3 May 2013

Study: Chalk may cause allergy and asthma symptoms in students with milk allergy

Many of today's school teachers opt for dustless chalk to keep hands and classrooms clean. But according to a study published in the May issue of Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, the scientific journal of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI), this choice in chalk may cause allergy and asthma symptoms in students that have a milk allergy.

3 May 2013

Research: Protein complex in human breast milk can help reverse antibiotic resistance

A protein complex found in human breast milk can help reverse the antibiotic resistance of bacterial species that cause dangerous pneumonia and staph infections, according to new University at Buffalo research.

3 May 2013

Neuraxial anesthesia improves outcomes in patients undergoing hip or knee replacement

A highly underutilized anesthesia technique called neuraxial anesthesia, also known as spinal or epidural anesthesia, improves outcomes in patients undergoing hip or knee replacement, according to a new study by researchers at Hospital for Special Surgery.

2 May 2013

Aclidinium and formoterol combination demonstrates significant lung function improvement in the second pivotal efficacy trial

Almirall, S.A. (ALM:MC) and Forest Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE:FRX) today announced positive topline results from AUGMENT/COPD, the second six-month pivotal phase III clinical trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of investigational fixed dose combinations of aclidinium bromide (LAMA) and formoterol fumarate (LABA) for the treatment of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), delivered in the Pressair™ inhaler (Genuair® outside the USA).

2 May 2013

Forest Laboratories, Almirall report positive topline results from AUGMENT COPD

Forest Laboratories, Inc. and Almirall, S.A. today announced positive topline results from AUGMENT COPD, the second six-month pivotal phase III clinical trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of investigational fixed dose combinations of aclidinium bromide and formoterol fumarate, delivered in the Pressair (Genuair outside the USA) inhaler.

2 May 2013

Opinion pieces address Global Vaccine Summit

Project Syndicate last week published two opinion pieces addressing the Global Vaccine Summit, held in Abu Dhabi from April 24-25, which was hosted by His Highness General Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, in partnership with U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

2 May 2013

Editorial, opinion piece address emergence of H7N9 bird flu strain in China

The following is a summary of an editorial and an opinion piece addressing the emergence of a new strain of bird flu -- H7N9 -- in China.

2 May 2013

Viewpoints: Outrage at mistaken report on Hill health coverage; Two views of Florida's option on Medicaid

Because members of Congress are accustomed to high-quality medical care provided to them through federal employee benefit programs, one might expect that they would push for top quality care to be delivered through the exchanges too.

2 May 2013

New official clinical practice guidelines on diagnosis, management of EIB

The American Thoracic Society has released new official clinical practice guidelines on the diagnosis and management of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction, the acute airway narrowing that occurs as a result of exercise.

2 May 2013

Scientists pursue new therapies as H7N9 flu spreads in China

An experimental drug has shown promise in treating influenza, preventing lung injury and death from the virus in preclinical studies, according to University of Maryland School of Medicine researchers publishing in the journal Nature on May 1.

2 May 2013

Specific inflammatory pattern found in patients with pneumonia and COPD

Patients with community-acquired pneumonia on a background of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease have a different early inflammatory pattern than patients with CAP only, a prospective study shows.

30 Apr 2013

Study examines link between serum vitamin D3, risk of contracting pneumonia

A University of Eastern Finland study showed that low serum vitamin D levels are a risk factor for pneumonia. The risk of contracting pneumonia was more than 2.5 times greater in subjects with the lowest vitamin D levels than in subjects with high vitamin D levels.

30 Apr 2013

Somalia launches pentavalent vaccine with support from GAVI, UNICEF, WHO

"Coinciding with World Immunization Week, the Somali government announced on 24 April its intention to vaccinate all children under the age of one with a new five-in-one vaccine, known as a pentavalent vaccine, funded by the GAVI Alliance, with [UNICEF] and the [WHO] as implementing partners," IRIN reports.

30 Apr 2013