Cold, Flu & Cough News and Research

Latest Cold, Flu & Cough News and Research

New DNA technology to study cystic fibrosis 'superbug' during infection

The bacterium, called Pseudomonas aeruginosa, is the most common cause of persistent and fatal lung infections in cystic fibrosis patients. Scientists at Liverpool identified a particularly virulent strain of the bacteria that is transmissible between patients. The Liverpool Epidemic Strain (LES), referred to as a cystic fibrosis 'superbug', can cause aggressive infection and results in progressive lung decline.

23 Feb 2011

Tifacogin administration shows no treatment benefit in patients with severe CAP

Use of the blood clot-inhibiting medication tifacogin does not appear to improve outcomes of patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia, according to a study conducted by researchers from North and South America, Europe, Asia and Africa. The drug had shown some potential benefit in the sCAP subgroup of an earlier trial involving sepsis patients.

23 Feb 2011

UCI study details benefits of physical activity, diet, relationships, fun and spirituality

Getting more exercise, spending time outdoors and helping others are among the activities that can be as effective as drugs or counseling in treating an array of mental illnesses, including depression and anxiety, according to a UC Irvine study.

23 Feb 2011

HealthGrades recognizes America's 50 Best Hospitals for 2011

HealthGrades America's 50 Best Hospitals for 2011 were identified in a report issued today by the leading independent healthcare ratings organization. These hospitals demonstrated superior and sustained clinical quality over an eleven year time period, based on an analysis of more than 140 million Medicare patient records.

23 Feb 2011

New study shows strong link between climate and air pollution

Differences in air pressure over the North Atlantic have meant that the last two winters in Gothenburg, Sweden, have been extremely cold. This has led to the air in Gothenburg being more polluted with nitrogen oxides than ever before. A new study from the University of Gothenburg shows that there is a strong link between climate and air pollution.

23 Feb 2011

Regeneron submits VEGF Trap-Eye BLA to FDA for treatment of wet AMD

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that the company submitted a Biologics License Application (BLA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for VEGF Trap-Eye for the treatment of the neovascular form of age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD). Under the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA), the goal for a standard review time from submission to FDA action is ten months.

22 Feb 2011

'Day on Deadly Killers'

Experts from Europe, the US and Asia will present their research results and discuss how new therapeutical approaches against infectious diseases may look like.

22 Feb 2011

Researcher finds antibiotic in Eastern Red Cedar tree effective against MRSA

Most people would never suspect that a "trash tree," one with little economic value and often removed by farmers due to its ability to destroy farmland, could be the key to fighting a deadly bacterium. Now, a University of Missouri researcher has found an antibiotic in the Eastern Red Cedar tree that is effective against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, a "superbug" that is resistant to most medications.

22 Feb 2011

Novartis FLUAD seasonal flu vaccine for older adults receives Health Canada approval

Health Canada has approved FLUAD, a Novartis seasonal flu vaccine for adults 65 years and older. Canadian seniors are the hardest hit of all age groups by seasonal influenza and account for 90 per cent of influenza deaths and 70 per cent of hospitalizations.

22 Feb 2011

Tips for treating loose tooth

Pulling a tooth is a rite of passage for children as they shed their baby teeth for an adult set. But parents often ask: What are the safest and most painless ways to pull a loose tooth?

22 Feb 2011

Henry Schein fourth quarter net sales increase 15.1% to $7.5 billion

Henry Schein, Inc., the largest provider of healthcare products and services to office-based practitioners, today reported record financial results for the quarter ended December 25, 2010.

22 Feb 2011

Vical extends relationship with U.S. NMRC for emerging disease vaccine platform

Vical Incorporated announced today that the company has extended its relationship with the U.S. Naval Medical Research Center to develop its platform technology for the rapid development and production of vaccines against emerging infectious diseases.

22 Feb 2011

Johnson & Johnson completes cash tender for Crucell shares, declares offer unconditional

Johnson & Johnson and Crucell N.V. today announce that Johnson & Johnson has completed the tender offer for Crucell N.V. and has declared the offer unconditional.

22 Feb 2011

Experimental vaccine appears to protect against pneumonia

Researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University have developed an experimental vaccine that appears to protect against an increasingly common and particularly deadly form of pneumococcal pneumonia. Details of the new vaccine, which was tested in an animal model, are reported in a paper published today in the Journal of Infectious Diseases.

22 Feb 2011

Desperate governors, state Legislatures seek ways to cut Medicaid costs

News outlets across the country are reporting that states are planning to trim Medicaid rolls and benefits. Some are especially focusing on nursing home costs.

22 Feb 2011

Sanofi Pasteur, International Vaccine Institute support Dengue Vaccine Initiative

Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of sanofi-aventis Group, announced today that it is partnering with the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) to support the recently launched Dengue Vaccine Initiative (DVI). Sanofi Pasteur and the IVI will aim to raise awareness and to work to move dengue vaccination higher on the global health agenda.

21 Feb 2011

$Tip sheets provide details on hip and knee fracture treatment$

Tip sheets provide details on hip and knee fracture treatment

Patients who wait more than 36 hours for surgery to correct a hip fracture have a 39 percent rate of medical complication and those who wait 48 hours have a 46 percent complication rate. Patients who receive surgical treatment within 24 hours have a lower complication rate of 25 percent and a shorter hospital stay. Each day the surgery was delayed added an additional two days to hospital stay.

21 Feb 2011

Synexus creates specialist vaccines team to help pharma and biotech companies

Synexus has created a specialist vaccines team to help pharma and biotech companies find the thousands of patients they need for their late phase trials. The company has a well-established reputation for delivering results in the vaccine field following successes in late phase vaccine trials including most recently, studies for cancer prevention, influenza and rotavirus where it has delivered in excess of three thousand randomised patients in all three areas.

From AES - Accelerated Enrollment Solutions 21 Feb 2011

Canada Scholar presents research on link between cities and water-related diseases at AAAS conference

Despite clean water and improved public services, water-related diseases continues to spread in cities around the world. Vanier Canada Graduate Scholar Kate Mulligan presents her research on the connection between cities, water and health at the THINK CANADA Press Breakfast at the American Association for the Advancement of Science conference Sunday.

21 Feb 2011

New York smoking ban gone too far? Health experts disagree

Now there is a faction that believes the soon-to-pass smoking ban on most parks and many beaches throughout New York City to be “going too far” and is questioning the bill.

20 Feb 2011