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High alert as bird flu sweeps relentlessly across the globe

The spread of the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu continues relentlessly across the world with the confirmation that dead swans found in Hungary and Croatia this week also succumbed to the virus.

22 Feb 2006

Concern grows over possible bird flu spread in West Africa

The FAO has expressed growing concern that the bird flu virus H5N1 may spread to other countries in West Africa following the discovery of the virus in Nigeria last week. The effects on a region already facing severe malnutrition would be devastating, the UN agency warned.

21 Feb 2006

Statins and beta blockers may reduce heart attack risk

For patients with undiagnosed heart disease, taking a statin or beta blocker could mean the difference between experiencing mild chest pain, or having a full-blown heart attack as a first symptom. That's the finding of a Kaiser Permanente study in the February 21 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.

21 Feb 2006

Mutations in H5N1 avian influenza viruses

Several recent media reports have included speculations about the significance of mutations in H5N1 avian influenza viruses. Some reports have suggested that the likelihood of another pandemic may have increased as a result of changes in the virus.

21 Feb 2006

Extract from Scutellaria Barbata may treat breast cancer

A new clinical formulation extracted from a botanical may provide physicians with a new tool in treating aggressive late-stage breast cancer.

21 Feb 2006

More time exercising not intensity results in long-term weight loss

Women fighting the post-pregnancy weight battle face a lot of challenges, not the least of which is just finding the time to exercise. New research from Duke University suggests that more time exercising -- not intensity -- results in long-term weight loss.

21 Feb 2006

Reovirus may be able to eliminate cancer cells from autologous stem cell transplants

Medical studies show that a common virus may be able to eliminate cancer cells from autologous stem cell transplants.

21 Feb 2006

Ebola DNA vaccine shows promise

Vical Incorporated has announced that an Ebola vaccine candidate administered using Vical's proprietary DNA delivery technology was safe and well tolerated, and produced both antibody and T-cell Ebola-specific responses in all healthy volunteers who received the full 3 doses of vaccine.

21 Feb 2006

M. D. Anderson Cancer Center to investigate CTCE-9908 chemokine CXCR4 antagonist

Chemokine Therapeutics has announced that it has entered into an agreement with The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center of Houston, Texas to study the Company's lead anti-cancer compound, CTCE-9908, a chemokine CXCR4 antagonist.

21 Feb 2006

Multikine treatment increases survival in cancer patients

CEL-SCI Corporation has announced positive results from a long-term follow-up study of head & neck cancer patients treated with its drug Multikine in a Phase II clinical trial.

21 Feb 2006

Pfizer receives FDA approval for Eraxis to treat candidemia

Pfizer said today that Eraxis (anidulafungin) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat candidemia, a potentially life-threatening bloodstream infection. Candidemia is the most deadly of the common hospital-acquired bloodstream infections, with a mortality rate of approximately 40 percent.

21 Feb 2006

Sentillion issued U.S. patent for technology for managing context sharing systems

Sentillion, Inc., the leading provider of identity and access management (IAM) solutions for the always-on healthcare industry, has received its third patent (U.S. Patent No. 6,993,556) from the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

21 Feb 2006

Vitamin B3 variant reverses effects of fetal alcohol syndrome in mice

A form of vitamin B3 called nicotinamide can reverse the molecular, cellular, and behavioral effects of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) in mice, according to a study by physician-scientists at Weill Medical College of Cornell University.

21 Feb 2006

Food experts say public has inadequate understanding of food risk issues

A recent study shows that food safety experts have little confidence in the public’s understanding of food risk issues. The study is published in the Journal of Food Safety.

21 Feb 2006

Organic diet for children means less exposure to pesticides

In a new study researchers in the U.S. have shown that organic diets meant that children had less exposure to two common pesticides.

21 Feb 2006

Expert panel dispels the many myths of Autism

A panel of autism experts at a meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, have presented reports which comment on the assumptions about the developmental disability.

21 Feb 2006

Doctors told to loosen up in the interests of hygiene

According to the prestigious British Medical Association (BMA), doctors should abandon wearing ties and traditional white coats to work because they could harbour deadly hospital superbugs.

21 Feb 2006

Animals diseases jumping to humans faster than ever before

According to scientists in the U.S. and Scotland, 75% of the 38 species of harmful organisms and viruses identified in the past 25 years are believed to have "jumped" from animals to humans.

21 Feb 2006

Men in their fifties are happier with their sex lives than younger men

According to researchers in America and Norway, men in their fifties are happier with their sex lives than younger men, despite experiencing more problems.

21 Feb 2006

Chewing gum after bowel surgery gets you out of hospital sooner

According to a team of doctors at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in California, patients who chew gum following intestinal surgery leave hospital sooner.

21 Feb 2006