Cold, Flu & Cough News and Research

Latest Cold, Flu & Cough News and Research

Patients at highly rated hospitals have a 52% lower chance of dying: Study

The largest annual study of patient outcomes at each of the nation’s 5,000 nonfederal hospitals found a wide gap in quality between the nation’s best hospitals and all others. According to the study, issued today by HealthGrades, the leading independent healthcare ratings organization, patients at highly rated hospitals have a 52 percent lower chance of dying compared with the U.S. hospital average, a quality chasm that has persisted for the last decade even as mortality rates, in general, have declined.

14 Oct 2009

Rapid rollout of H1N1 vaccines is effective in reducing infection rates according to simulation model

Early action, especially rapid rollout of vaccines, is extremely effective in reducing the attack rate of the H1N1 influenza virus, according to a simulation model of a pandemic outbreak reported in a new study in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) www.cmaj.ca.

14 Oct 2009

American Lung Association to raise awareness about the seriousness of seasonal influenza

In the spirit of "healthy competition," the American Lung Association in Minnesota is teaming up with the Minneapolis and St. Paul Fire Departments to raise awareness about the seriousness of seasonal influenza and the importance of vaccination this year.

14 Oct 2009

New Ultra Sensitive facemasks to protect against seasonal and swine flu

BIOSAFE, Inc., a company that manufactures and sells a novel antimicrobial polymer, has announced that they are launching in specific markets outside the United States through a unique facemask treated with BIOSAFE(®). Crosstex' new BIOSAFE-treated Ultra Sensitive facemasks begin to reduce microorganisms such as MRSA, VRE, and Staph immediately upon contact, and have further proven to be effective against Influenza A strains such as seasonal flu and the novel H1N1 virus.

14 Oct 2009

Studies examine H1N1 treatment, outcome differences in Mexico, Canada

New studies suggest that "[d]eveloping countries with limited access to advanced health-care facilities may be in for a rough ride with swine [H1N1] flu and even countries with high-tech ICUs may find themselves pushed to the limit as their hospitals struggle to save gravely ill H1N1 patients," the Canadian Press reports.

14 Oct 2009

NIH awards $2.2m grant to Smiths Detection to develop a test for multiple types of influenza

Smiths Detection today announces the award of a $2.2m, two-year grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the US National Institutes of Health (NIH), to develop a test for multiple types of influenza.

14 Oct 2009

Market Street's initiative to combat cold and flu season

As a complimentary service, Market Street pharmacies are expanding the grocer’s whole-health commitment to its guests by offering free antibiotics and prenatal vitamins to North Texans to help weather the cold and flu season through its “Free to Feel Better” program. Additionally, Market Street’s new partnership with Dallas-based MedicalEdge has transformed the Living Well ExpressCare Centers into more than just walk-in clinics.

14 Oct 2009

Study says critical illness among Canadian patients with H1N1 occurred rapidly after hospital admission

Critical illness among Canadian patients with 2009 influenza A(H1N1) occurred rapidly after hospital admission, often in young adults, and was associated with severely low levels of oxygen in the blood, multi-system organ failure, a need for prolonged mechanical ventilation, and frequent use of rescue therapies, according to a study to appear in the November 4 issue of JAMA.

13 Oct 2009

Johnson & Johnson announces financial results for the third quarter of 2009

Johnson & Johnson today announced sales of $15.1 billion for the third quarter of 2009, a decrease of 5.3% as compared to the third quarter of 2008. Operational results declined 2.8% and the negative impact of currency was 2.5%. Domestic sales declined 8.1%, while international sales declined 2.5%, reflecting operational growth of 2.4% and a negative currency impact of 4.9%.

13 Oct 2009

Sequella receives Phase 1 SBIR grant for developing SQ641

Sequella, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on commercializing novel antibiotics to treat life-threatening infectious diseases, today announced that it received a $594,661 two-year Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) for the development of SQ641, Sequella's lead compound in its capuramycin series, a new class of antibiotic.

13 Oct 2009

Vioguard launches the first self-sanitizing computer keyboard

Vioguard LLC, www.vioguard.com, is introducing the world’s first self-sanitizing computer keyboard to kill MRSA and other healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) at the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) 91st annual meeting, October 12-17 in Toronto. The event marks the first availability of the innovative keyboard for medical market uses and consumers in Canada.

13 Oct 2009

Online health and personal care products from Walmart

Walmart.com today announced that it has launched a wide assortment of personal care products online, including health and beauty items, diapers and over-the-counter medication, now available for home delivery at www.walmart.com/health.

13 Oct 2009

Massive mismanagement leads to catastrophic decline in freshwater biodiversity

The world will miss its agreed target to stem biodiversity loss by next year, according to experts convening in Cape Town for a landmark conference devoted to biodiversity science.

13 Oct 2009

Psoriasis patients taking immunosuppressive drugs at increased risk of H1N1 flu viruses

People with psoriasis and/or psoriatic arthritis who are taking biologic or non-biologic immunosuppressive medications should receive the inactived forms of both seasonal influenza and H1N1 (swine flu) vaccines as soon as possible, according to a recommendation from the National Psoriasis Foundation.

13 Oct 2009

HAAN provides swine flu tips

While Americans anxiously await the arrival of the H1N1 Flu Vaccine in their area, many are seeking new methods to try to keep their homes germ free and their families healthy during this flu season.

13 Oct 2009

Sonitus Medical’s SoundBite hearing system ranks first on Top 10 Medical Innovations for 2010

Sonitus Medical, Inc., a medical device company developing the world's first non-surgical and removable hearing device to transmit sound via the teeth, today announced that technology it developed was ranked #1 on Cleveland Clinic's Top 10 Medical Innovations for 2010.

13 Oct 2009

Good Samaritan Hospital tops HealthGrade ratings for stroke treatment and joint replacement

A study issued today by HealthGrades, Inc., the leading independent healthcare ratings organization, finds that Good Samaritan Hospital is among the Top 5% in the Nation for Treatment of Stroke and Top 10% in the Nation for Joint Replacement. The nation’s nearly 5,000 nonfederal hospitals were all included in the sweeping study, which examined mortality rates and complication rates from government data from 2006, 2007 and 2008.

13 Oct 2009

Campaign to address rising health care costs

What if you could not find the price for anything at the grocery store, even the most basic items? What if the check-out clerk offered to mail you a bill, but could not tell you what your total amount would be?

13 Oct 2009

Health care workers raise troubling concern about H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccines

Hospital workers are asking the same questions about the safety and necessity of flu vaccines as the general public, according to a survey conducted by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP).

13 Oct 2009

Patient outcomes better in highly rated hospitals than others

The largest annual study of patient outcomes at each of the nation's 5,000 nonfederal hospitals found a wide gap in quality between the nation's best hospitals and all others. According to the study, issued today by HealthGrades, the leading independent healthcare ratings organization, patients at highly rated hospitals have a 52 percent lower chance of dying compared with the U.S. hospital average, a quality chasm that has persisted for the last decade even as mortality rates, in general, have declined.

13 Oct 2009

Cold, Flu & Cough News and Research

Latest Cold, Flu & Cough News and Research

Patients at highly rated hospitals have a 52% lower chance of dying: Study

Rapid rollout of H1N1 vaccines is effective in reducing infection rates according to simulation model

American Lung Association to raise awareness about the seriousness of seasonal influenza

New Ultra Sensitive facemasks to protect against seasonal and swine flu

Studies examine H1N1 treatment, outcome differences in Mexico, Canada

NIH awards $2.2m grant to Smiths Detection to develop a test for multiple types of influenza

Market Street's initiative to combat cold and flu season

Study says critical illness among Canadian patients with H1N1 occurred rapidly after hospital admission

Johnson & Johnson announces financial results for the third quarter of 2009

Sequella receives Phase 1 SBIR grant for developing SQ641

Vioguard launches the first self-sanitizing computer keyboard

Online health and personal care products from Walmart

Massive mismanagement leads to catastrophic decline in freshwater biodiversity

Psoriasis patients taking immunosuppressive drugs at increased risk of H1N1 flu viruses

HAAN provides swine flu tips

Sonitus Medical’s SoundBite hearing system ranks first on Top 10 Medical Innovations for 2010

Good Samaritan Hospital tops HealthGrade ratings for stroke treatment and joint replacement

Campaign to address rising health care costs

Health care workers raise troubling concern about H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccines

Patient outcomes better in highly rated hospitals than others

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Cold, Flu & Cough News and Research

Latest Cold, Flu & Cough News and Research

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Advancing benzodiazepine detection

The Surgeon-Scientist Pioneering Regenerative Engineering

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