Cold, Flu & Cough News and Research

Latest Cold, Flu & Cough News and Research

Leukotriene antagonists can serve as effective alternative to conventional asthma treatment

A rarely prescribed asthma drug is easier to use and just as effective as conventional treatment with inhalers, according to a new study led by the University of East Anglia.

5 May 2011

Breakthrough research offers hope for new obesity treatment

By knocking down the expression of a protein in rat brains known to stimulate eating, Johns Hopkins researchers say they not only reduced the animals' calorie intake and weight, but also transformed their fat into a type that burns off more energy. The finding could lead to better obesity treatments for humans, the scientists report.

4 May 2011

Roundup: Mass. officials wrestle with municipal health care issues

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick says he and legislative leaders are in fundamental agreement over what should be included in a municipal health care bill, even while there remains disagreement on the specifics. The House approved a measure last week that would largely strip public employee unions of collective bargaining rights over health care benefits. The Senate is expected to act in the coming weeks.

4 May 2011

Addition of family physicians linked to reduced risk of hospital readmissions

Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine and Boston Medical Center have found that by adding one family physician per 1,000, or 100 per 100,000, could reduce hospital readmission costs by $579 million per year, or 83 percent of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act target.

4 May 2011

Merial, GenVec extend deal to develop and commercialize foot-and-mouth disease vaccine

GenVec, Inc. today announced that it has entered into a second agreement with Merial, the animal health division of sanofi-aventis.

3 May 2011

NanoViricides' FluCide drug candidate greatly reduces lung viral load in animals

NanoViricides, Inc. reports that post-infection treatment with its optimized FluCide drug candidates achieved 1,000-fold reduction in the levels of infectious virus in the lungs of animals with a lethal level of influenza virus infection.

3 May 2011

Vidyo, American Well partner to enable Online Care services

Vidyo, Inc., the first company to deliver personal telepresence, today announced a partnership with American Well, whose Online Care Suite connects providers and patients for live, immediate, and clinically meaningful encounters using the Web or phone.

3 May 2011

Germ Genie is also effective against C.difficile infection

Scientists at the University of Hertfordshire, who proved the effectiveness of Germ Genie, a tool to prevent infections from keyboards, have now found that it can kill C.difficile.

3 May 2011

Secondhand smoke is hazardous for children hospitalized with flu

Children who are exposed to secondhand smoke are more likely to need intensive care and intubation when hospitalized with influenza, according to new research by the University of Rochester Medical Center presented today at the Pediatric Academic Society meeting in Denver. The children also had longer hospital stays.

3 May 2011

New insight into itch and pain

A new study of itch adds to growing evidence that the chemical signals that make us want to scratch are the same signals that make us wince in pain.

3 May 2011

FDA clears ITI's FilmArray RP assay for respiratory virus detection

Idaho Technology, Inc. announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a 510(k) clearance for the FilmArray instrument and the FilmArray Respiratory Panel.

3 May 2011

Pregnant women with H1N1 more likely to have low birth weight baby

In 2009, the United States was gripped by concern for a new winter threat: the H1N1 strain of influenza. According to research conducted through that winter, pregnant women were right to be concerned.

3 May 2011

New research shows honey fights drug-resistant germs

Herbal ingredients and natural nutrients are often capable of supporting different functions within the body, and current research is showing that a certain kind of honey may be useful in fighting drug-resistant germs.

2 May 2011

MedImmune abstracts on influenza and RSV to be presented at PAS meeting

MedImmune announced today it will present 11 abstracts at the Pediatric Academic Societies Meeting at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, CO, April 30 - May 3, 2011.

2 May 2011

Penn State launches unique oral hygiene approach for dementia patients

Nurses who care for patients with dementia now have a tailored approach to dental hygiene for their charges, thanks to a pilot study by a team of nurses.

2 May 2011

Addison's patients with low cortisol levels more likely to get infections

Two new studies presented at the European Congress of Endocrinology in Rotterdam show the possible dangers facing patients with Addison's disease are higher than previously thought.

2 May 2011

Ontario Lung Association to launch new asthma education book to mark World Asthma Day

In Ontario, an astounding 1.7 million people have asthma, making it one of the most widespread chronic diseases. Nearly half of them don't have it under control and yet asthma is a disease that must be well managed because there is no cure.

30 Apr 2011

PURE named winner of CSN 2011 National Child Safety Award

PURE Bioscience, Inc., creator of the patented silver dihydrogen citrate antimicrobial, today announced that Child Safety Network has named PURE the winner of its 2011 National Child Safety Award and has granted PURE Hard Surface disinfectant its Safe Family Seal of Approval.

30 Apr 2011

Penn Nursing, Surgeon General partner to promote breastfeeding awareness in the U.S.

While 75 percent of U.S. babies start out breastfeeding, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports only 13 percent are exclusively breastfed at the end of six months. Six months of exclusive breastfeeding is the American Academy of Pediatrics' minimum recommendation.

30 Apr 2011

Healthcare advertising agencies earn Med Ad News recognition

UBM Canon has announced the winners of the 22nd annual Med Ad News Manny Awards 2011. The gala event, held at the Sheraton New York Hotel and Towers, culminated with the naming of AbelsonTaylor Inc. as Agency of the Year: Category I.

30 Apr 2011