Cold, Flu & Cough News and Research

Latest Cold, Flu & Cough News and Research

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

Additional vaccine for 2009 H1N1 flu approved by FDA

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that it has approved a fifth vaccine for protection against the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus. The vaccine is manufactured by ID Biomedical Corp. of Quebec, Canada, owned by GlaxoSmithKline PLC.

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

Lotus Pharmaceuticals reports $5.4 million net earnings for third-quarter 2009

Lotus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. a growing developer and producer of prescriptions drugs and licensed national seller of pharmaceutical products in the People's Republic of China, today reported third-quarter 2009 net earnings were $5.4 million, or $0.11 per diluted share, compared with $3.2 million, or $0.07 per diluted share, in 2008. Net revenues were $14.5 million during the third quarter of 2009, compared with $16.7 million in the third quarter of 2008.

16 Nov 2009

Preliminary fourth-quarter 2009 financial results from Winner Medical

Winner Medical Group Inc., today reported preliminary financial results for the fourth quarter 2009. The unaudited numbers are subject to change.

16 Nov 2009

Alkermes' phase 3 trial of naltrexone XR-NTX meets primary endpoint

Alkermes, Inc. today announced positive preliminary results from a phase 3 clinical trial of naltrexone for extended-release injectable suspension (XR-NTX) for the treatment of opioid dependence. The six-month phase 3 study met its primary efficacy endpoint and data showed that patients treated once-monthly with XR-NTX demonstrated statistically significant higher rates of clean (opioid-free) urine screens, compared to patients treated with placebo, as measured by the cumulative distribution of clean urine screens (p<0.0002).

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

Self-care tips for hemorrhoids from Mayo Clinic

By about age 50, more than half of adults have dealt with hemorrhoids. The November issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter covers home treatments that can relieve symptoms of this common and embarrassing problem.

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

Macomb County targets pregnant women and health care workers for its next two H1N1 vaccine clinics

Pregnant women, their families and health care workers are being targeted by the Macomb County Health Department for its next two H1N1 vaccine clinics, department officials announced today. All are being offered at no charge.

16 Nov 2009

Inovio Biomedical reports financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009

Inovio Biomedical Corporation today reported financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009.

16 Nov 2009

FDA files for permanent injunction against seafood processor Haifa Smoked Fish

The U.S. Department of Justice, on behalf of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, has filed a complaint for permanent injunction against seafood processor Haifa Smoked Fish Inc. of Jamaica, N.Y., and two of its top officers for violations of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.

16 Nov 2009

Low-cost, simple interventions could save 2.5 million child lives a year: World Vision

Almost a third of the children under age five who die each year could be saved if governments rebalance health spending to ensure low-cost, simple interventions such as safe water and hygiene, bed nets and basic maternal and newborn care, leading aid agency World Vision said today. Currently, 8.8 million children a year die before age five, most of preventable causes.

16 Nov 2009

UT physicians treat Iraqi girl with myasthenia gravis

Plagued by a growing weakness that left her unable to walk, talk and even take a normal breath, 11-year-old Iraqi Aram Ali was a shell of the bright little girl she used to be.

16 Nov 2009

Simcere Pharmaceutical announces financial results for the third quarter of 2009

Simcere Pharmaceutical Group, a leading pharmaceutical company specializing in the development, manufacturing, and marketing of branded generic and proprietary pharmaceuticals in China, today reported unaudited financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2009.

16 Nov 2009

WHO revises clinical H1N1 guidelines, sends antivirals to some hard-hit nations

On Thursday, the WHO issued revised guidance for the clinical management of H1N1 (swine) flu, the Associated Press reports. According to the AP, the WHO "says doctors shouldn't wait for lab confirmation before giving anti-viral drugs to pregnant women and other at-risk groups with suspected swine flu" (11/12).

16 Nov 2009

AtHoc IWSAlerts third-generation mass emergency alerting system to be deployed

AtHoc, Inc., the pioneer and leader in network-centric emergency notification systems, today announced the Lyster Army Health Clinic will deploy the AtHoc IWSAlerts™ third-generation mass emergency alerting system to help protect staff and patients.

16 Nov 2009

CDC releases revised H1N1 estimates

USA Today: As expected, CDC released revised H1N1 estimates Thursday indicating that 3,900 people in the U.S. have died from the infection, including 540 children (Sternberg, 11/12).

13 Nov 2009

Study of GBHN Order Set project reveals improvements in the length of stay and ordering of best practices

A study of the Grey Bruce Health Network (GBHN) Order Set project has revealed impressive improvements in the length of stay and ordering of best practices.

13 Nov 2009

First Edition: November 13, 2009

On this Friday the 13th, the headlines offer an array of health policy views -- from the possibility of including a Medicare payroll tax in health reform legislation to continuing analysis of the overhaul's winners and losers as well as the CDC's new estimate of the far-reach of the swine flu.

13 Nov 2009