Cold, Flu & Cough News and Research

Latest Cold, Flu & Cough News and Research

First evidence of H5N1 transmission between domestic farms and wild birds

Wild migratory birds may indeed play a role in the spread of bird flu, also known as highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1.

25 Mar 2011

POET-COPD study looks at controlling 'lung attacks' which can lead to increased ER visits

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a major cause for hospital stays and emergency room visits across Canada and researchers say minimizing exacerbations or flare-ups of the disease can go a long way to reducing hospitalizations.

25 Mar 2011

Antibiotic treatment does not benefit patients with discoloured phlegm

Prescribing antibiotics for patients with discoloured phlegm caused by acute cough has little or no effect on alleviating symptoms and recovery, a Cardiff University study has found.

25 Mar 2011

Non-invasive brain stimulation improves swallowing ability among stroke survivors

Stroke patients who received electrical brain stimulation coupled with swallowing exercises showed greater improvement in swallowing ability than patients who did not receive this stimulation, according to a pilot study reported in Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association.

25 Mar 2011

Almac extends Pharma Services business unit to increase demand for storage capacity

In response to increased client demand for cold and dedicated frozen storage capacity for biopharmaceuticals, Almac's Pharma Services business unit has expanded its commercial facilities to include an additional 6124 sq ft of cold and frozen storage.

25 Mar 2011

Behavioural therapy may benefit children with Tourette syndrome

Children with Tourette syndrome could benefit from behavioural therapy to reduce their symptoms, according to a new brain imaging study.

25 Mar 2011

Mouse sperm created in lab: Hope for male infertility

In a scientific breakthrough, researchers report that they've grown mouse sperm from testicular tissue in the laboratory, a development that could advance the field of infertility in human males. Although still proven in mice, “this is a small but important step in understanding how sperm are formed, which may, in time, lead to us being able to grow human sperm in the laboratory,” said Dr. Allan Pacey, senior lecturer in andrology at the University of Sheffield in England, who is familiar with the study results.

24 Mar 2011

Most clinicians feel systems and procedures for preventing hospital readmissions ineffective

More than nine out of ten clinicians believe that reducing readmissions is an important topic, but few have the resources at hand to tackle it, according to a new study from QuantiaMD®, the leading mobile and online physician community, and the Society of Hospital Medicine (SHM).

24 Mar 2011

Study demonstrates superiority of Spiriva over salmeterol in reducing risk of exacerbations in COPD

Results of the one-year Prevention Of Exacerbations with Tiotropium in COPD (POET-COPD®) study, published today by the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), demonstrate that Spiriva® (tiotropium), is superior to salmeterol, in reducing the risk of exacerbations in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

24 Mar 2011

Department of Health acting Secretary stresses need to raise TB awareness

Department of Health acting Secretary Dr. Eli Avila today stressed the need to raise public awareness of tuberculosis, or TB, and the importance of efforts to control—and eventually eliminate—the infectious airborne disease.

24 Mar 2011

New report shows 2% decrease in anxiolytic and hypnotic sales in Norway

After many years of gradual increase followed by a three-year levelling off period, sales of addictive anxiolytic and hypnotic drugs decreased by just under two per cent in 2010.

24 Mar 2011

Drug resistance tuberculosis concerns

According to a report released Wednesday, the World Health Organization revealed that drug resistant tuberculosis (TB) accounts for about 440,000 cases and 150,000 deaths worldwide each year. The WHO called for better diagnosis and more funding for treatment of the drug-resistant disease that's harder to cure.

23 Mar 2011

Japanese, International officials continue to monitor radiation levels

Japanese officials plan to measure radiation levels in the ocean beyond the country's borders on Tuesday and Wednesday, the International Atomic Energy Agency said, CNN reports.

23 Mar 2011

Corticosteroids may decrease occurrence of hospital-acquired pneumonia in ICU patients

Patients admitted to a hospital with major trauma and treated with the steroid hydrocortisone were less likely to be diagnosed with hospital-acquired pneumonia than patients who received placebo, according to a study in the March 23/30 issue of JAMA.

23 Mar 2011

WHO releases first list of 30 priority medicines for women, children

The WHO on Monday released a list of 30 medicines that "are essential for treating common diseases of mothers and children," Ghana News Agency reports (3/21).

23 Mar 2011

USP teams up with FDA, CHPA to update quality standards for common medications

As part of its ongoing mission to protect public health, the U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention is working with the Food and Drug Administration and the Consumer Healthcare Products Association to update quality standards for widely used medicines and ingredients.

22 Mar 2011

Northwest Russian women breast milk consists of more POPs than Norwegian

Russian women living in Northwest Russia are more exposed to environmental toxins than Norwegian women. In spite of this, PhD candidate Anuschka Polder urges Russian women to breastfeed their babies.

22 Mar 2011

CSL Behring presents Hizentra study data against PI at AAAAI meeting

Data presented by CSL Behring today suggest that treatment with higher dose Hizentra correlates with reduced risk of infection and missed school or work among patients with primary immunodeficiencies.

22 Mar 2011

VirWall launches new UV sanitizer to eliminate bacteria, virus from communication devices

ViraShield, the new UV sanitizer introduced by VirWall Systems Inc., is the first multi-purpose device of its kind that takes only seconds to rid those products we've come to depend on of the bacteria and viruses that typically crawl, breed and cover the surfaces of our personal communications devices.

22 Mar 2011

Watson introduces Famciclovir tablets to treat cold sores, genital herpes

Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today confirmed that its subsidiary, Watson Laboratories, Inc. has launched Famciclovir tablets, 125 mg, 250 mg and 500 mg, the generic version of Novartis' Famvir following approval of its Abbreviated New Drug Application by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

22 Mar 2011