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Poll reveals that 43% of American adults undecided about getting the swine flu vaccine

According to a new Consumer Reports poll, 43 percent of American adults say they're on the fence about getting the swine flu vaccine and just 34 percent of those polled plan on getting the swine flu vaccine when it becomes available. Additionally, a mere 35 percent of parents say they'll definitely have their children vaccinated. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that all children over the age of 6 months get the vaccine.

1 Oct 2009

Jagiellonian University to develop modern reagents for serological tests

Every year, 2 million patients in Poland are treated with blood and blood products. But only blood compatible with the recipient's blood type can be safely transfused.

1 Oct 2009

CDC Software expands operations in China, adds seven resellers

CDC Software Corporation, a global provider of enterprise software applications and services, today announced it has added seven resellers to its Global Partner Program as part of its previously announced expansion plans to position China as the second largest market, in terms of revenue, for the company in the next few years.

1 Oct 2009

Reports: Climate change effects could increase hunger in developing countries by 2050

By 2050, climate change could lead to decreased outputs of corn, rice and wheat across the developing world resulting in price increases and hunger, according to an International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) study, Bloomberg reports (Ruitenberg, 9/30).

1 Oct 2009

Injectible H1N1 vaccine ships ahead of schedule in U.S.

The first H1N1 (swine flu) vaccine shots available in the U.S. were shipped ahead of schedule after the pharmaceutical company Sanofi-Aventis finished production nearly two weeks early, the chief executive of the company said Tuesday, the New York Times reports.

1 Oct 2009

Cost-effective screening test for coronary artery disease

A simple, non-invasive test appears to be an effective screening tool for identifying patients with silent heart disease who are at risk for a heart attack or sudden death.

1 Oct 2009

Parabon Nanolabs receives SBIR grant to design DNA biometric devices

Parabon NanoLabs (PNL), a leading designer and manufacturer of breakthrough, nano-enabled products, announced today its award of a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) grant.

1 Oct 2009

Stop cuts to home care services: AARP

Older individuals needing long term care services find themselves between a rock and hard place: not only are some Illinois nursing homes ranked among the worst in the nation -- the state is threatening to cut home care services for thousands of residents. Today, AARP and other advocate organizations took to the phone lines, sending a strong message to Governor Quinn: stop the cuts and ensure critical home care services are not depleted.

1 Oct 2009

Valeant Pharmaceuticals to acquire Private Formula International Holdings

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International (NYSE: VRX) today announced that it has agreed to acquire Private Formula International Holdings Pty Limited, a leading skincare company.

1 Oct 2009

Participants seek depression treatment post initial screening, according to NDSD study

Screening for Mental Health, Inc., the leading nonprofit provider of online and in-person mental health screening programs, today released results from a follow-up study of participants in the 2008 National Depression Screening Day® (NDSD) online program.

1 Oct 2009

Finance panel continues march to the floor, considers a number of health bill amendments

At the end of a long day of amendments to the Finance Committee's health bill, Sen. Chuck Grassley won approval of a provision to raise rural doctor Medicare reimbursement rates. Meanwhile, other senators hope to make adjustments in the bill.

1 Oct 2009

Health care TV ads top $100 million

"Medical providers, businesses and other groups battling over a health care overhaul have spent more than $100 million this year on television advertising — an enormous sum that highlights the stakes involved," according to the Campaign Media Analysis Group, The Associated Press/The Boston Globe reports.

1 Oct 2009

Stockholders approve BioSante Pharmaceuticals–Cell Genesys merger

BioSante Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Cell Genesys, Inc., today announced that BioSante stockholders have approved the merger between the two companies with BioSante as the surviving company.

1 Oct 2009

Also in global health news: Tanzania's development initiatives; disease surveillance in West Africa; water, sanitation in Kenya, Malawi; doctor fights Lassa fever

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., on Tuesday commended Tanazanian President Jakaya Kikwete on the country's utilization of U.S. aid money and vowed her support for the country's future development projects, during a meeting in Washington, D.C., the Zimbabwean reports. "Pelosi hailed President Kikwete and his government for the commitment demonstrated by the campaigns against HIV/AIDS, malaria and TB and implementation of MCC programmes," the newspaper writes (Kulekana, 9/30).

1 Oct 2009

Latest optical and laser technology in medicine displayed at FiO meeting

From scopes that help premature babies breathe to techniques for imaging live neurons and beating hearts as they develop, the latest optical and laser technology being deployed in medicine and the biosciences will be on display at the Optical Society's (OSA) Annual Meeting, Frontiers in Optics (FiO), which takes place Oct. 11-15 at the Fairmont San Jose Hotel and the Sainte Claire Hotel in San Jose, Calif.

1 Oct 2009

New technique developed to kill swine flu in any indoor environment

The swine flu has started to spread across the US and there is one company ready to stop it in its tracks. Premier Ozone of Charlotte, NC has developed a proprietary system to kill swine flu in any indoor environment and eliminate bacteria and mold in the process. The specialized system uses no chemicals and has been proven to kill over 99.99% of all surface and airborne viruses and bacteria. The process has no adverse effects on buildings or furniture and is not dangerous to the public.

1 Oct 2009

PSA test vital for assessing prostate cancer

When it comes to the prostate cancer, the disease known as the "silent killer" because it often exhibits no symptoms, to be forewarned is to be forearmed. It is the second leading cancer killer in men, just behind lung cancer. Every year, more than 218,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer in the United States, claiming about 28,000 lives.

1 Oct 2009

Update from BioCryst Pharmaceuticals regarding intravenous peramivir

BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that it has delivered a written response to the request for proposal (RFP) announced on September 21, 2009 from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) for the supply of intravenous (i.v) peramivir for the treatment of critically ill influenza patients under Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). BioCryst management intends to provide an update once the RFP process has reached a conclusion.

1 Oct 2009

Can-Fite BioPharma commences preparatory work for a Phase III trial with CF101 to treat Psoriasis

Can-Fite BioPharma, a biotechnology company traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, an Israeli Biopharmaceutical company, announced today the initiation of preparatory work for a Phase III trial with CF101 in Psoriasis. This is based on the successful conclusion of a Phase II dose-response clinical study with CF101 to treat patients with moderate to severe Psoriasis; the study successfully met its primary objective of efficacy and safety

1 Oct 2009

Study reveals how kidney repair processes are controlled

A study by Monash University researchers has shed new light on the microscopic antennas in the kidney that are involved in the organ's repair process.

1 Oct 2009