MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'flu'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 01:48:14 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5174612&cid=t_93969_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fchinese-study-compares-flu-treatments-prescription-drug-vs-herbal-remedy%2F2011.08.29 During the early days of the 2009 H1N1 influenza A pandemic, the popular herbal formula maxingshigan–yinqiaosan was used widely by TCM practitioners to reduce symptoms. (It’s hard to pronounce and spell, so I’ll refer to it as M-Y.) A new study was done to test whether M-Y worked and to compare it to the prescription drug oseltamivir. It showed that M-Y did not work for the purpose it was being used for: it did not reduce symptoms, although it did reduce the duration of one sign, fever, allowing researchers to claim they had proved that it works as well as oseltamivir. “Oseltamivir Compared With the Chinese Traditional Therapy: Maxingshigan–Yinqiaosan in the Treatment of H1N1 Influenza” by Wang et al. was published in the Annals of Internal Medicine earlier this month. The stu... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5174612 Mon, 29 Aug 2011 18:00:51 +0100 5174612 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5139716&cid=t_93969_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F08%2Fmany-pregnant-women-are-still-not-getting-flu-shots.html Flu vaccination has been historically low for pregnant women, despite the long-standing recommendation that pregnant women get vaccinated. And that troubling trend hasn’t changed much in recent years. According to survey data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention today, only about half (49 percent) of pregnant women were estimated to have been vaccinated during last year’s flu season. Pregnant women who were offered a flu shot by a health provider were five times as likely to be vaccinated as women who weren’t offered the shot, and were more likely to have positive attitudes about the effectiveness of the vaccine. However, four out of 10 women did not receive a provider offer. Among pregnant women who planned to skip the flu shot, top concerns were s... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5139716 Thu, 18 Aug 2011 22:55:00 +0100 5139716 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5107515&cid=t_93969_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fcould-twitter-be-used-to-predict-epidemics%2F2011.08.09 Do you remember when Google Flu Trends was announced to be able to track and predict flu outbreaks in US states based on the search queries focusing on flu symptoms? Do you remember when a study pointed out although it was interactive and neat but was not as useful as CDC national surveillance programs? Well, now Twitter is meant to fill this gap. If you ask me, it won’t. *This blog post was originally published at ScienceRoll* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5107515 Tue, 09 Aug 2011 12:00:43 +0100 5107515 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5107522&cid=t_93969_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fconsumer-reports-promotes-alternative-medicine-with-questionable-research%2F2011.08.07 Ever since I was a teenager, I’ve intermittently read Consumer Reports, relying on it for guidance in all manner of purchase decisions. CR has been known for rigorous testing of all manner of consumer products and the rating of various services, arriving at its rankings through a systematic testing method that, while not necessarily bulletproof, has been far more organized and consistent than most other ranking systems. True, I haven’t always agreed with CR’s rankings of products and services about which I know a lot, but at the very least CR has often made me think about how much of my assessments are based on objective measures and how much on subjective measures. Until now. I just saw something yesterday on the CR website that has made me wonder just how scientific CR’s testing ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5107522 Sun, 07 Aug 2011 18:00:43 +0100 5107522 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5076972&cid=t_93969_139_f&fid=38879&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FVirologyBlog%2F%7E3%2FJeVr6RW5KD0%2F The Chilean salmon farming industry has been severely affected by disease caused by infectious salmon anemia virus. Salmon eggs shipped from Norway to Chile in 2007 are the cause of the outbreak (New York Times): A virus that has killed millions of salmon in Chile and ravaged the fish farming industry there was probably brought over from Norway, a major salmon producer has acknowledged. Infection salmon anemia virus is a member of the orthomyxovirus family, which also includes influenza virus. The virus causes disease in Atlantic salmon and has caused economic losses on fish farms in Canada, Norway, Scotland and Chile. We discussed the virus on This Week in Virology #41: Fish flu. (Source: virology blog) virology blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5076972 Fri, 29 Jul 2011 17:58:23 +0100 5076972 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5051235&cid=t_93969_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F0aGEPpZ3D4M%2F Several months after a curious link was observed between the GlaxoSmithKline pandemic flu vaccine known as Pandremix and unexplained cases of narcolepsy emerged in Finland and Sweden, the European Medicines Agency has decided to restrict usage. Specifically, those younger than 20 years old should use Pandemrix only in the absence of seasonal trivalent flu vaccines, and if immunization against H1N1 swine flu is still needed. An example would be those at risk of complications from infection, according to the EMA (read here). However, the EMA notes that, for now, the benefits continue to outweigh the risks. Over 31 million doses of Pandemrix have been administered worldwide in 47 countries, according to Glaxo. And a total of 335 cases of narcolepsy in people vaccinated with Pandemrix have bee... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5051235 Fri, 22 Jul 2011 12:52:53 +0100 5051235 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008509&cid=t_93969_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2Fu6iLUvhK3-w%2F You know how you can sometimes get a feel for what kind of bugs are going around your city, school or social circle from tweets or Facebook status updates? Sickweather can too. The still-in-beta site —s ure to be a hypochondriac’s new favorite URL — aggregates illness-related data from social networks to produce real-time “weather maps” of flus, fevers and other reported symptoms like some sort of digital epidemiologist. Is this cool or creepy? Sickweather boasts that it can “forecast the movement of everything from stomach bugs to chronic illness and other sickness, including depression.” Someone should inform its copywriter that reflecting is not the same thing as ‘forecasting,’ which implies some sort of prescience with concern to mood disorders, as in, ‘Watch ou... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5008509 Thu, 07 Jul 2011 20:55:16 +0100 5008509 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4953360&cid=t_93969_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FJ_ALGGujptA%2F If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again? Last year at this time, the FDA chastised CSL, a big maker of flu vaccines based in Australia, for flunking an inspection that found several manufacturing deficiencies and, in addition to demanding a summary of corrective actions, agency officials took the unusual step of demanding a meeting with senior execs to review their plan (back story). Apparently, such meetings have absolutely no impact. The FDA has just issued a warning letter as a follow up to a March 2011 inspection, which generated a 483 report showing that CSL has no idea how to properly conduct an investigation to determine why fevers and convulsions were reported after children were given its products. Just the same, the FDA wants another meeting. But how bad was the effo... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4953360 Tue, 21 Jun 2011 14:09:08 +0100 4953360 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4952991&cid=t_93969_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F18%2Fhow-to-overcome-embarrassment%2F There’s a reason why we say we’re “dying of embarrassment” — because while we’re in the midst of an embarrassing episode, dying really does seems like the better option. No human being I know is immune from these moments; however, I seem to have a knack at collecting a large variety. After a recent incident that made me want to hide in a corner of the world without wi-fi, my writing and spiritual mentor gave me great advice. “It’s okay to be embarrassed,” he said. “It’s cleansing. This one has already passed, and passed nicely, like a kidney stone after the first day. You may relax.” Of course that didn’t stop me from feeling embarrassed some more. So after collecting some nuggets from friends and professionals, ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4952991 Sat, 18 Jun 2011 12:14:50 +0100 4952991 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4921753&cid=t_93969_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FPIwO-IEL5xE%2F And so another working week will soon draw to a close. This is, of course, our signal to dream about weekend doings. Our modest agenda includes spending time with Mrs. Pharmalot and the short people, catching up on our own version of R&D - a never-ending quest - and maybe taking a nap. And you? Perhaps there will be time for a walk in the park? A moment with someone special? Or seize the moment and make plans to enter the Republican presidential primary? Whatever you do, have a great time. See you soon… Bristol-Myers Resolves Problems At Puerto Rico Plant (Dow Jones) Japan Does Not Plan To Recall Actos (Reuters) Germany Joins France In Suspending Actos (Reuters) FDA Links Some Prostate Drugs To Cancer Risk (Associated Press) Sanofi CEO Tells Canada To Upgrade Patent Protection (... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4921753 Fri, 10 Jun 2011 12:02:18 +0100 4921753 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4893383&cid=t_93969_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2F_U6ga7wxmsE%2F The CDC is out with its wrap-up of the 2010-11 flu season and a look ahead at the next one. In its report, the agency says the FDA has recommended that the 2011-12 flu vaccine protect against the same strains as it did this year: H1N1 (aka the swine flu, a type of influenza A virus), another type of influenza A virus (H3N2) and a type of influenza B virus. Having no change in the vaccine components from one year to the next happens occasionally, Lyn Finelli, the CDC’s chief of influenza surveillance, tells the Health Blog. So can you skip the shot if you were vaccinated during the flu season that just passed? Sadly for the needle-phobic, no. “You definitely need to get it. The immunity conferred by the flu shot isn’t very long-lasting,” Finelli says. Since last year... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4893383 Thu, 02 Jun 2011 16:30:08 +0100 4893383 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4803524&cid=t_93969_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FL8HlrImotBE%2F Hello, everyone, and how are you today? A shiny day is unfolding on the Pharmalot corporate campus where, once again, we are scrambling to deliver the short people to the local school house. And, of course, we are quaffing our mandatory cup of stimulation. This will be a particularly busy day as we tend to podcast matters. Meanwhile, here is the news of the world. Hope your day goes well… Drugmakers Replace Reps With Digital Tools (Wall Street Journal) Pfizer’s Chantix Blamed For Murder-Suicide In Lawsuit (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) Sanofi Wins FDA OK For Short Needle Flu Vaccine (Reuters) NSAIDs May Raise Risks After Heart Attack (Health Day) MannKind Narrow Quarterly Loss While Awaiting FDA OK (Associated Press) Aurobindo Pharma Considers Spin Offs (Wall Street Journal) US Atta... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4803524 Tue, 10 May 2011 12:02:42 +0100 4803524 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4789252&cid=t_93969_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Ffluphone-tracks-super-spreaders-of-disease%2F2011.05.04 “Are you a super-spreader?” That’s the catchphrase for a new study out of the University of Cambridge. However, if you answered “yes”, you may want to stay home and cover your mouth, because the study was designed to track the spread of influenza using cellular phone technology. The study (and accompanying app) is called FluPhone, and it uses cell phones to collect information on social encounters within the study sample of participants in Cambridge. A phone’s Bluetooth antenna detects encounters with other participants and also records the proximity to each other. The built-in GPS chip tracks each user’s location, but this feature was disabled due to recent ethical concerns. Finally, the phone’s 3G/GPRS antenna sends all the proximity data a... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4789252 Wed, 04 May 2011 16:00:55 +0100 4789252 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4762937&cid=t_93969_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2Fhg7QGCQONN0%2F Hello, everyone. Another busy day is about to unfold here on the Pharmalot corporate campus, as we prepare for a round of meetings and deadlines. To cope, we are our brewing our mandatory cup of stimulation - we continue to favor Wild Mountain Blueberry this week. Meanwhile, here are some items to help you get started. Hope your day goes well and stay in touch… Par Pharma Pays $153M To Settle Pricing Lawsuits (Reuters) Sanofi-Aventis Profit Falls Due To Generics (Bloomberg News) More US Women Are Using The Morning After Pill (Reuters) Roche Wins FDA Approval For HPV Diagnostics Test (Bloomberg News) AstraZeneca Profits Get A Lift From Tax Breaks (Pharma Times) Merck Hepatitis C Drug Wins FDA Panel Backing (Boston Globe) Australia Delays Subsidies For Some Medicines (Australian Broadc... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4762937 Thu, 28 Apr 2011 11:49:06 +0100 4762937 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4724262&cid=t_93969_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FeHY6DN5Y0og%2F Hard to believe, yes? But even we take a break now and then. While we have our laptop and Blackberry with us and will, periodically, check on interesting developments, regular posting will not occur this week. We apologize for any inconvenience, but we promised Mrs. Pharmalot and The Short People (that famous, non-existent ’60’s group) that we would focus on their desires. Meanwhile, we hope you enjoy any holidays that you may celebrate. Have a great time, everyone, and see you in a few days… Synthes Confirms Aquisition Talks With Johnson & Johnson (Bloomberg News) Will Amgen Declare A Dividend On Thursday? (Reuters) EU Proceeds With Plan To Cut Patent Costs By 80 Percent (Pharma Times) Merck Scientist Sees Potential HIV Vaccine As Distant Goal (Dow Jones) FDA Warns Patients Ove... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4724262 Mon, 18 Apr 2011 13:00:40 +0100 4724262 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4723785&cid=t_93969_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2Ff0o5sbk1xdw%2F Deal Talk: Johnson & Johnson is conducting due diligence of Synthes as the companies discuss a deal that could be worth $20 billion and would give a needed boost to J&J’s orthopedic device business, the WSJ reports. Synthes — which makes plates and screws used in surgery to repair broken bones — has confirmed that it’s in talks with J&J, while J&J tells the paper it doesn’t comment on speculation. Sex Commentary Scandal: The president-elect of the American College of Surgeons has quit following a brouhaha over a controversial Valentine’s Day commentary that he authored, Retraction Watch reports. The commentary, on the topic of sexual reproduction in animals and humans, included the notion that semen has “major salutary effects for t... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4723785 Mon, 18 Apr 2011 12:48:58 +0100 4723785 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4693280&cid=t_93969_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fappliances%2F2011%2F04%2Foreck-fined-750000-for-claiming-vacuum-and-air-cleaner-killed-germs.html The Oreck Corporation has agreed to stop making “allegedly false and unproven claims” that its Halo vacuum and ProShield Plus air cleaner can prevent illness, in a settlement announced today by the Federal Trade Commission. Oreck also agreed to pay the FTC $750,000. During the 2009 holiday season, Oreck began advertising the pair of appliances together under the headline “Introducing the Oreck Flu Fighters.” The ads claimed that the vacuum and air cleaner would “help reduce the flu on virtually any surface and in the air in your home.” The vacuum sold for $600 and the air cleaner for $400. The complaint against Oreck also alleged that Oreck provided “deceptive advertisements” to its franchises to use in marketing the Halo and ProShield Plus... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4693280 Thu, 07 Apr 2011 20:20:00 +0100 4693280 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4626801&cid=t_93969_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2011%2F03%2Fsupreme-court-decision-zicam-side-effects-info-lawsuit-matrixx-shareholders.html The Supreme Court unanimously sided yesterday with investors suing Matrixx Industries, makers of Zicam, for failing to reveal indications of the over-the-counter cold remedy's dangerous side effects--including loss of smell. The shareholders, in a 2004 lawsuit against Matrixx, argued that by withholding reports of adverse events, the company had defrauded investors. The company's defense was that early reports of Zicam's side-effects were statistically insignificant. (Consumer Reports Health experts and other medical professionals had warned of Zicam's adverse effects prior to the Food and Drug Administration's official warning in 2009, which lead to the drug's removal from store shelves.) Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote for the court: Given that medical professionals and regulators act o... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4626801 Wed, 23 Mar 2011 18:37:59 +0100 4626801 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4626978&cid=t_93969_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FzA9nzpUNRP4%2F By now you know the tell-tale signs that you’re getting a cold. First you wake up with a scratchy throat that looks like will be gone by the end of the day with a few “ahems” and glasses of water. But as night draws nearer, you admit to yourself that this is the just the beginning of a week of sniffling, sneezing, hacking, coughing, and wheezing. At best it will be a snotty inconvenience, but at worst, you’ll be laying in bed, dizzy with a fever, deliriously fluctuating between hot and cold. It’s not March Madness, it’s March Sadness! Cold and flu season is depressing. That was me last week, waking up with a throat so sore and red, it felt as if it had been scrubbed with a Brillo pad. I decided to use this opportunity to enact a long-desired experiment I’d been planning. Inst... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4626978 Wed, 23 Mar 2011 13:44:05 +0100 4626978 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4622345&cid=t_93969_113_f&fid=39278&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogsite.mdbuyline.com%2F%3Fp%3D217 A highly sensitive laboratory test that uses gold nanoparticles caught my interest.  The need for accuracy has allowed DNA laboratory tests for genetics and infectious diseases to become the standard of care.  But, when it comes to infectious diseases, speed and ease of use can make a test much more valuable. Each year, over 12 million patients will seek emergency room treatment for flu symptoms.  These patients may spend hours in the ER and 200,000 will eventually be hospitalized.  One concern of respiratory viruses is pandemic influenza control.  Historical data shows that rapid tests used to detect outbreaks in institutions play an important role in controlling pandemic influenza. Researchers have developed the Verigene System, which uses DNA probes that coat the molecules of inter... MD Buyline blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4622345 Tue, 22 Mar 2011 17:08:48 +0100 4622345 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4600796&cid=t_93969_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FlZfBhu1WMhM%2F Five years ago, Roche undertook a promotional experiment that involved its Tamiflu med, an unbranded web site about the flu and an animated movie from Warner Bros. Not surprisingly, the combination of a major Hollywood cartoon flick - which was called Happy Feet and featured funny little penguins - and the start of the flu season generated some media attention. But what kind of attention? A new study finds that most articles reported that Roche ran the FluFacts web site, while almost half described the site as an educational resource. And some provided links to FluFacts or suggested readers visit the site, yet none of the articles mentioned other antiviral meds or different health options for combatting the flu. Some quick background: The film was rather successful, grossing more than $38... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4600796 Wed, 16 Mar 2011 13:31:14 +0100 4600796 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4575041&cid=t_93969_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FMyWDLZ1RIUA%2F Mutual Consent: Johnson & Johnson’s McNeil Consumer Healthcare unit faces at least five years of regulatory oversight under the terms of a consent decree that doesn’t fine the company or close down additional plants, the WSJ reports. The decree, prompted by manufacturing problems that have resulted in a series of recalls, requires J&J to get FDA approval to reopen its now-shuttered troubled Fort Washington, Pa., plant. As Dow Jones Newswires reports, a consent decree is essentially a “negotiated injunction with the Justice Department that gets approved by a federal court and generally requires five years of outside oversight of a facility once its problems are officially resolved.” WHO, Me?: A draft report by an independent panel of experts says that the wor... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4575041 Fri, 11 Mar 2011 13:16:47 +0100 4575041 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4549790&cid=t_93969_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2F47MSsq47ErA%2F photo: Thinkstock The U.S. Food and Drug Administration ordered more than 500 prescription cough, cold and allergy products off the market Wednesday, saying its office had not evaluated the medication for safety, effectiveness and quality. “Removing these unapproved products from the market will reduce potential risks to consumers,” said Deborah Autor, director of the Office of Compliance in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, in a news release from the agency. The FDA said removing the products from the market poses no harm to consumers, but taking the unapproved drugs may put the health of people at risk. “There are many FDA-approved prescription products, as well as appropriately marketed over-the-counter products, available to treat cough, cold, a... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4549790 Thu, 03 Mar 2011 18:31:54 +0100 4549790 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4536451&cid=t_93969_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FF1tWDgOPbVU%2F Hello, everyone, and nice to see you again. A mild and sunny day is unfolding here on the Pharmalot corporate campus, where the dogs are barking and a needed cup of stimulation is brewing. What does today hold in store? Meetings and deadlines, no doubt. We relate. So to help you along, we have gathered a few tidbits. Let us know if you come across something noteworthy yourselves. Meanwhile, have a good one… FDA Rejects MS Pill From Merck KGgA (Reuters) Roche Gets EU Backing For Avastin For Breast Cancer (MarketWatch) Celgene Discloses Fed Probe Of Cancer Drug Marketing (Dow Jones) Glaxo Offer To Pay Trainee Tuition Fees (BBC News) Glaxo HIV Drugs Not Tied To Heart Risks (Bloomberg News) Judge Rules Patent Settlement Documents To Remain Sealed (Dow Jones) Poor Health Literacy Leads To... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4536451 Wed, 02 Mar 2011 12:40:14 +0100 4536451 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4521814&cid=t_93969_139_f&fid=38879&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FVirologyBlog%2F%7E3%2FTxMh5AyY0-k%2F From the New York Times: Dr. Edwin D. Kilbourne, a medical researcher who figured out how to outwit fast-evolving flu germs, developing a new vaccine each year by intermingling genes of different disease strains, died Monday in Branford, Conn. He was 90. I’m saddened by Dr. Kilbourne’s passing – he was the Chairman of the Department of Microbiology at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, New York, during the years when I did my Ph.D. research. Dr. Kilbourne had many accomplishments during his research career, but three stand out in my mind. First, he devised a method for producing high-yielding recombinant vaccine strains. The seasonal influenza virus strains often do not multiply well in embryonated eggs; he solved this problem by crossing them with a virus strain, called PR8,... virology blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4521814 Fri, 25 Feb 2011 22:29:58 +0100 4521814 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4512539&cid=t_93969_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FURbROMenEQM%2F Bad news, allergy sufferers — your torture time is about to be seem even more interminable, and climate change is to blame. “A new study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences shows a link between warming temperatures and a longer ragweed pollen season,” according to TIME. As if there weren’t already enough reasons to be bummed out about global warming. But before you start building yourself a hermetically-sealed bubble to keep out that nasty pollen, try one of these ten allergy home remedies that are all available over the counter, if not in your very own kitchen. (As always, consult with a health care practitioner before embarking on any new herbal regimen.) Sure, seeing a doc may defeat the purpose of exploring at-home allergy remedies, but you co... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4512539 Wed, 23 Feb 2011 22:41:32 +0100 4512539 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4507282&cid=t_93969_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fkids-upper-respiratory-viruses-and-ear-infections%2F2011.02.22 According to a new study published this month, more than 20 percent of young children with colds or other upper respiratory viruses will develop middle ear infections. This finding isn’t that surprising. Eear symptoms along with a viral upper respiratory infection (URI) are common, including ear fullness and difficulty popping the ear. Although adults tend to be able to keep their ears clear by swallowing, chewing gum, yawning, or ear popping, most kids don’t know what to do when their ears feel full. Whether in adults or kids, when the ears don’t ventilate or clear properly it can lead to ear problems including fluid buildup and middel ear infection. Why does this occur? With a viral URI the lining of the nose swells, leading to symptoms of runny nose, nasal congest... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4507282 Tue, 22 Feb 2011 16:00:00 +0100 4507282 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4501583&cid=t_93969_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Ftheres-still-time-for-a-flu-shot%2F2011.02.21 It’s not too late to protect yourself and your family from the flu. Influenza is about to enter its peak season in the United States. Now is the time to be vigilant in protecting against and preventing the spread of flu. Washing your hands, staying home from work or school, and covering your cough can be incredible steps. But the most effective way to prevent influenza is to get vaccinated. If you haven’t had a flu shot, get one this week. Your child can be immunized if over six months of age, and remember that many children under age nine will need a second dose (booster shot). Find out how to determine if your child needs a second dose. 1o Things To Know About Influenza 1. Influenza peaks in February and March in the United States. Look at the CDC data that reflects ongoing in... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4501583 Mon, 21 Feb 2011 18:00:38 +0100 4501583 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4498293&cid=t_93969_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F02%2F19%2Fshould-you-tell-your-boss-about-a-mental-illness%2F Many people struggle with the question of whether or not to tell their bosses about their mood disorders at work. Washington Post columnist Amy Joyce wrote an excellent article on this a few years ago. I have included the first few paragraphs below, but urge you to read the rest of her article, as it gives no straight answers but explores that terrain with great depth. If you have depression or some other mental illness, what do you do about work? Hope no one notices? Disclose your illness early on and trust that your boss will understand? Should You Tell is a complicated question. There is no right answer, and there are some risks to consider. I discovered this years ago after watching a movie at home with two friends. One of them looked up, scared. She hesitated. And then she let it out:... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4498293 Sat, 19 Feb 2011 13:39:08 +0100 4498293 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4495206&cid=t_93969_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fapp-tracking-the-flu%2F2011.02.18 As a part of the TheraFlu campaign, Novartis has developed free Android, Blackberry and iPhone applications for tracking flu outbreaks in the U.S. These days it’s become inevitable to develop free apps on all platforms in order to promote your product. From Novartis: Keep up-to-date on the most active cold and flu reports around the country. The WheresFlu™ app follows sickness incidence levels from week to week and keeps track of the current top 5 affected cities in the nation. The WheresFlu™ app will find your current location and provide you with results for that area. Or you can enter a ZIP code to get information for that area. If you’re wondering how it actually works and how it differs from Google Flu Trends, here it is: WheresFlu™ measures weekly activity for cold ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4495206 Fri, 18 Feb 2011 14:00:39 +0100 4495206 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4489673&cid=t_93969_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Ftreating-the-common-cold%2F2011.02.17 For the last week I have had a cold. I usually get one each winter. I have two kids in school and they bring home a lot of viruses. I also work in a hospital, which tends (for some reason) to have lots of sick people. Although this year I think I caught my cold while traveling.  I’m almost over it now, but it’s certainly a miserable interlude to my normal routine. One thing we can say for certain about the common cold — it’s common. It is therefore no surprise that there are lots of cold remedies, folk remedies, pharmaceuticals, and “alternative” treatments. Finding a “cure for the common cold” has also become a journalistic cliche — reporters will jump on any chance to claim that some new research may one day lead to a cure for the common cold. Just about any re... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4489673 Thu, 17 Feb 2011 17:00:17 +0100 4489673 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4478161&cid=t_93969_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FE4YxlSrSI60%2F The use of language is a subtle art. Ask any regulator. And the regulators at the FDA have determined that Novartis was a bit too subtle, perhaps, in trying to promote its Fluvirin vaccine for the flu. The agency recently issued a warning letter that chastised the drugmaker for distributing a sales aid and print advertisement that were deemed misleading. Specifically, the promotional materials incorrectly characterized a published recommendation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and implied the Novartis vaccine can be used in all age ranges covered by the ACIP recommendations, according to the FDA letter, which was issued on February 4. For the current flu season, the ACIP recommended annual vaccination including infants who ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4478161 Mon, 14 Feb 2011 13:22:30 +0100 4478161 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4450519&cid=t_93969_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F9T71D5oU0mg%2F After reviewing data generated by researchers from Finland, the World Health Organization agrees that a curious link between the GlaxoSmithKline pandemic flu vaccine and narcolepsy should be investigated. And so the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control is now conducting epidemiological studies of narcolepsy and pandemic influenza vaccines…plural. The move comes after Finland’s National Narcolepsy Task Force last week reported an increased risk of narcolepsy among 4 to 19-year-olds who were vaccinated with Glaxo’s Pandemrix. A similar increase in cases have also been reported in Sweden and Iceland. However, the Finnish researchers conceded the findings were inconclusive and more research was needed (look here). The report generated controversy not only because of... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4450519 Tue, 08 Feb 2011 16:20:21 +0100 4450519 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4450523&cid=t_93969_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FujKHiAQXNLE%2F Hello, everyone, and welcome to a brand new day. Here on the Pharmalot corporate campus we are getting our start by hustling our short people off to the local school houses. And you? No doubt, you are readying for another round of meetings and deadlines. To help you along, we have gathered some tidbits. Meanwhile, please join us for a cup of stimulation. Hope your day goes well and stay in touch… Merck-Serono Opens R&D Site, Adding 100 Jobs (Boston Business Journal) Roche’s Avastin Works In Late-Stage Trial For Ovarian Cancer (Reuters) Teva Earnings Miss Analyst Estimates (Bloomberg News) Has RNAi Fever Cooled? (The New York Times) Black Box Warnings Are Applied Inconsistently (Health Day) Glaxo To Move Philadelphia Offices, Denies Job Cuts (Philadelphia Inquirer) Schizoph... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4450523 Tue, 08 Feb 2011 13:06:18 +0100 4450523 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4433243&cid=t_93969_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2Fc4OszkG_zUg%2F Three years ago, I was five months into life with my first kid, starting a new part-time gig, and smack in the midst of perfecting a book proposal. I was overworked, overtired, and completely overwhelmed. And then I got sick. Not stuffy nose and sore throat kind of sick, but lie-down-on-the-floor-because-the-room-spinning-and-I-forgot-my-name sick. That’s when I realized that I didn’t have a doctor. Well, at least not one I could call at a moment’s notice. Desperate and miserable, I remembered a friend telling me about the CVS Minute Clinic (available in 24 states and D.C.) and, fever rising, I drove directly to the nearest location and promptly passed out in the pharmacy (true). After I regained consciousness, downed a Coke, and stretched out on the exam room’s foldout table, I wa... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4433243 Thu, 03 Feb 2011 18:33:19 +0100 4433243 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4429228&cid=t_93969_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2Fl411FQvaYHI%2F Good morning, everyone. How are you today? Here on the Pharmalot corporate campus, the Iceman Cometh, but we are keeping warm with our traditional cup of stimulation. Please join us as we dig in, so to speak, for the usual routine of deadlines and the like. And as always, feel free to share interesting stories. By the way, we would like to note that we are co-sponsoring an upcoming conference on patient adherence. We hope you will join us. Meanwhile, here are a few tidbits to help you along. Have a great day… Lilly & Bristol End Enrollment For Lung Cancer Trial Over Safety (Reuters) Sanofi Fails To Block Generic Taxotere In Australia (Bloomberg News) Glaxo Sells Quest Stake For $1.7 Billion (Reuters) Anti-Counterfeit Rules Will Limit Access To Meds: Oxfam (The Guardian) S&P... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4429228 Wed, 02 Feb 2011 13:05:31 +0100 4429228 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4424442&cid=t_93969_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FXAVTiWtRAPo%2F Five months after the European Medicines Agency began a review of the GlaxoSmithKline pandemic vaccine over ties to narcolepsy, the World Health Organization is doing the same. The impetus is a report from Finnish researchers who found an increased risk of narcolepsy among 4 to 19-year-olds who were vaccinated with Pandemrix. A study by Finland’s National Narcolepsy Task Force indicates vaccination “contributed to the observed increase in incidence of narcolepsy” compared to those in the same age group who were not given Pandremix. However, report also suggested the increase was likely due to a “joint effect of the vaccine and some other factor.” Consequently, more research is needed, since a similar increase has not been reported in other countries, except fo... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4424442 Tue, 01 Feb 2011 16:46:02 +0100 4424442 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4424238&cid=t_93969_87_f&fid=39261&url=http%3A%2F%2Fvactruth.com%2F2011%2F02%2F01%2Ffearful-uk-healthcare-workers-refuse-flu-vaccine-us-nurse-fired%2F The side effects of the flu vaccine have been causing many UK healthcare workers to question its safety. The latest figures show the uptake for the vaccine has been as low as 26%. Professor David Salisbury, director of immunization, told Nursing Times that the healthcare professionals were making a big mistake and risked not only their own lives, but the lives of their patients. (http://www.nursingtimes.net/nursing-practice…) Salisbury, a firm believer in vaccines, represents the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunizations as the Medical Secretary for the Department of Health. The JCVI is an independent expert advisory committee that advises Ministers on matters relating to the provision of vaccination and immunisation services. This means that Professor Salisbury would have ful... vactruth.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4424238 Tue, 01 Feb 2011 15:57:17 +0100 4424238 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4382951&cid=t_93969_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F8XrunC8mJJE%2F And so, another work week will soon draw to a close. Although once again, we are dusting off the snow on the Pharmalot corporate campus. Please excuse any delays this morning, but due to the economy, we no longer have a maintenance crew. This does give us the opportunity, though, to daydream about weekend plans - hanging out with the short people and catching up on some reading. What about you? Anything fun on the agenda? How about a good flick or spending time with someone special? Whatever you do, enjoy. Meanwhile, here are some tidbits. Catch you soon… EMA To Review Safety Of Sanofi’s Multaq (Wall Street Journal) AstraZeneca Responds To FDA About Brilinta (Bloomberg News) Biogen Boosts Prices Of MS Drug (Wall Street Journal) EU Panel Does Not Recommend Biogen MS Pill (Reuter... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4382951 Fri, 21 Jan 2011 12:55:15 +0100 4382951 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4372249&cid=t_93969_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F0MCrR9F3g5k%2F Hello, everyone. Gray skies are enveloping the Pharmalot corporate campus this morning, but our spirits remain sunny. Why? Every so often we like to remind you of what the Morning Mayor would say: Every brand new day should be unwrapped like a precious gift. While you tug on the ribbon, please join us for a cup of stimulation and a gander at the news of the world. Hope your day goes well and drop us a line if you spot something interesting. Cheers… Pfizer Strikes Antibody Deal With Theraclone (New York Times) The Pfizer Model For Hiring Law Firms, A Year Later (American Lawyer) Roche Responds To The FDA Over Avastin (San Francisco Business Times) UK’s NICE Changes Mind Over Alzheimer’s Drugs (The Telegraph) Roche Melanoma Drug Helps Patients Live Longer: Study (Reuters) D... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4372249 Wed, 19 Jan 2011 12:49:23 +0100 4372249 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4394518&cid=t_93969_107_f&fid=36672&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sciencebase.com%2Fscience-blog%2Fscience-news-5.html Latest science news snippets from Sciencebase Bee team funded by Bayer – It is revealed that the lead investigator in the study that recently published results suggesting that bee colony collapse disorder (CCD) is due to the combined effect of a virus and a fungus is funded by the insecticide company (Bayer). The researcher denies that this funding is connected to the research, it pays for other work, but you can't help but wonder whether there is a conflict of interest here. Who’s your favourite scientist? – Who's your favourite scientist? For me it has to be Feynman, although Faraday would be a close second, oh and perhaps Sagan, and then there's Curie, and Kroto…oh the list goes on… Definition of a chemistry research paper – I've ... Sciencebase Science Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4394518 Mon, 17 Jan 2011 10:56:48 +0100 4394518 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4377228&cid=t_93969_139_f&fid=38879&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia.rawvoice.com%2Fpmn_twiv%2Ftraffic.libsyn.com%2Ftwiv%2FTWiV116.mp3 Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Alan Dove, and Rich Condit On episode #116 of the podcast This Week in Virology, Vincent, Dickson, Alan, and Rich review an adenovirus-based vaccine strategy against drug addiction, a field trial of RNAi to prevent Israeli acute paralysis virus infection in honeybees, and suppression of avian influenza transmission in transgenic chickens. Right click to download TWiV #116 (64 MB .mp3, 89 minutes). Subscribe to TWiV (free) in iTunes , at the Zune Marketplace, by the RSS feed, or by email, or listen on your mobile device with Stitcher Radio. Links for this episode: Cocaine analog coupled to disrupted adenovirus Field application of RNAi in honeybees Suppression of avian influenza transmission in GM chickens (EurekAlert) Phage tailspike protein therapy Use... virology blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4377228 Sun, 16 Jan 2011 20:02:43 +0100 4377228 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4352713&cid=t_93969_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthe-slippery-slope-of-anti-vaccine-complacency%2F2011.01.15 I got a package in the mail today: My very own (complimentary) copy of Paul Offit’s new book, “Deadly Choices; How the Anti-Vaccine Movement Threatens Us All.” Needless to say, I can’t wait to read it. Not coincidentally, Dr. Offit has been making the rounds of interviews in the wake of the book’s release. Although I haven’t heard any of them directly, I did see a reference to this NPR interview on the FaceBook page of an old friend, who quoted from it thusly: IRA FLATOW:  You write that some pediatricians will not see kids who are not vaccinated. Is that a good solution to the problem? DR. PAUL OFFIT: I don’t know what’s a good solution to that problem. And I feel tremendous sympathy for the clinician who’s in private practice. On the one hand, and my wife sort ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4352713 Sat, 15 Jan 2011 15:00:02 +0100 4352713 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4343127&cid=t_93969_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Finfluenza-its-not-just-the-flu%2F2011.01.13 One of our readers suggested that I review the book The Great Influenza: The Epic Story of the Deadliest Plague in History, by John M. Barry. It’s not a new book (it was published in 2004) but it is very pertinent to several of the issues that we have been discussing on this blog, especially in regards to the current anti-vaccine movement. It’s well worth reading for its historical insights, for its illumination of the scientific method, and for its accurate reporting of what science has learned about influenza. In the great flu epidemic of 1918, influenza killed as many people in 24 weeks as AIDS has killed in 24 years. It’s hard to even imagine what that must have been like, but this book helps us imagine it. It tells horror stories: Children found alone and starving beside the cor... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4343127 Thu, 13 Jan 2011 20:00:51 +0100 4343127 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4394521&cid=t_93969_107_f&fid=36672&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sciencebase.com%2Fscience-blog%2Fscience-news-3.html International Year of Chemistry, "Naturally" – Nature's take on the launch of the International Year of Chemistry 2011 (IYC11) Stinging vision – A group of school children aged between 8 and 10 years old have had their school science project accepted for publication in an internationally recognised peer-reviewed journal. The paper, which reports novel findings in how bumblebees perceive colour, is published in the Royal Society journal Biology Letters. Physical Methods – Organophoshorus Chemistry provides a comprehensive and critical review of the recent literature. Coverage includes phosphines and their chalcogenides, phosphonium salts, low coordination number phosphorus compounds, penta- and hexa- coordinated compounds, tervalent phosphorus acid derivativ... Sciencebase Science Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4394521 Wed, 12 Jan 2011 11:26:04 +0100 4394521 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4302944&cid=t_93969_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FnGdRrBA1bCU%2F photo: Thinkstock If you happen to be traveling in the U.K. these days, you may want to bring along some over-the-counter cold and flu medicine. In just the last week, there’s been a 60% increase in people who are critically ill with the flu in Britain (from 460 to 738). Most of those patients had not been vaccinated and were in high-risk groups for certain strains of the flu. In all, almost 40 people in the U.K. died from the flu in 2010. I just spent the Christmas holidays in London and Brighton, and can personally attest that everywhere I went (hotel, pub, restaurant, shop, train, tube) there was at least one person sitting next to me who was sneezing into a tissue or coughing into a handkerchief. (I also went to Paris, and the same was true there.) Unfortunately, toward the end o... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4302944 Sun, 02 Jan 2011 00:34:35 +0100 4302944 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4302127&cid=t_93969_87_f&fid=39261&url=http%3A%2F%2Fvactruth.com%2F2010%2F12%2F31%2Fgovernment-against-giving-children-flu-vaccine%2F News in from the UK government. Last night ministers and senior government advisers ruled against the flu vaccine for children under five. Their decision was made despite the current flu epidemic in the UK. Reports say that 39 people have died from flu since October, four of these were under the age of five. Daily Mail reporter Sophie Borland who took up the story wrote (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health…): “The latest figures show that an epidemic has now broken out among children under four and levels have reached a ten-year high. But ministers and senior Government advisers last night ruled that the immunisation programme for those aged six months to five years – which was quietly cancelled earlier this year – would not have significant ‘gain’.” Why the sudden turn aro... vactruth.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4302127 Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:39:25 +0100 4302127 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4302123&cid=t_93969_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fechinacea-for-colds-does-it-really-work%2F2010.12.31 This study is unlikely to change minds about whether to take this remedy. Have you tried echinacea as a cold remedy? Has it worked? How do research findings, pro and con, affect your opinion of so-called alternative medicines? Many of the echinacea studies, especially early on, were sponsored by companies making or selling the product. This study was supported by a grant from the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, which is part of the National Institutes of Health. - Peter Wehrwein, Editor, Harvard Health Letter *This blog post was originally published at Harvard Health Blog* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4302123 Fri, 31 Dec 2010 20:00:12 +0100 4302123 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4285203&cid=t_93969_87_f&fid=39261&url=http%3A%2F%2Fvactruth.com%2F2010%2F12%2F23%2Fsanofi-pasteur-plays-santa-and-pays-for-children-to-take-part-in-vaccine-trials%2F With Christmas nearly here and the flu season well and truly under way, Sanofi Pasteur is playing Santa Claus this year. Not only is the drug giant offering free flu vaccines to children, but they are paying parents $350 to use them as guinea pigs in flu vaccine trials. With many health departments already out of flu vaccines this year, parents in Overland Park, Kansas are allowing their children to have the untested vaccines instead. One official said clinical trials may be the way to go for some parents. Radiant Research is conducting phase three testing of a new quadrivalent influenza vaccine. Dr. Carl Petit, the lead investigator for Radiant Research, reassures parents that the side effects, if any, are only minimal. A parent will rake in $350 per child (between the ages of six months ... vactruth.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4285203 Thu, 23 Dec 2010 22:21:49 +0100 4285203 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4281455&cid=t_93969_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FnANS4ZTMcmU%2F Trying to cure your pre-Christmas cold with all-natural Echinacea? A new study suggests that the so-called wonder herb, that’s been purported to prevent colds, may not be a miracle worker after all. It seems the herb, which is a wild flower found in the Midwestern plains, doesn’t have much impact on the duration or strength of colds. The study followed more than 700 cold sufferers, and found that people who took Echinacea saw around a 10% reduction in the duration of their cold. That ends up being about seven to ten fewer hours, which is not, according to lead researcher Bruce Barrett, considered a medically significant decrease. But Barrett advised that people who’ve experienced Echinacea’s healing properties should continue taking it, since the study isn’t absolutel... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4281455 Wed, 22 Dec 2010 22:14:53 +0100 4281455 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4245297&cid=t_93969_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2010%2F12%2Fmore-flu-viruses-develop-resistance-to-antiviral-drugs-.html That news, from a study published online this week in the Journal of Infectious Diseases, underscores our reservations about inappropriate use of antiviral flu drugs. The researchers said that almost all of the strains of the H1N1 (swine) flu virus they looked at showed at least some resistance to the drugs oseltamivir (Tamiflu), though all still responded to the related medication zanamivir (Relenza). Previous research suggests that some other flu strains might also be developing resistance to those and other antiviral drugs.  The best way to prevent the development of viruses that are resistant to the drugs is using them only when they are really necessary. Antiviral drugs make the most sense for people who are at the highest risk for complications from the flu, such as dehydr... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4245297 Thu, 09 Dec 2010 17:38:21 +0100 4245297 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4245011&cid=t_93969_139_f&fid=38879&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FVirologyBlog%2F%7E3%2FsoDQyobQdZg%2F Influenza researcher Peter Palese visited yesterday and spoke about “Pandemic influenza: Past and Future”. A key part of his talk was a review of his efforts to produce a universal influenza vaccine which protects against all strains. He used the following graph to make the point that when influenza pandemic strains emerge, there is insufficient time to deliver a vaccine using current technology. Image source: CIDRAP The graph depicts the percentage of visits for influenza-like illness (ILI – the red line) and distribution of the swine-origin influenza vaccine (blue line) from September 2009 to May 2010 in the US. At the peak of ILI at the end of October 2009, fewer than 20 million doses of vaccine had been shipped. By the time 120 million doses had been distributed, infe... virology blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4245011 Thu, 09 Dec 2010 17:15:05 +0100 4245011 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4238058&cid=t_93969_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FITIH5pA4UIA%2F It was recently reported that one in three Americans have been vaccinated for the flu. While that’s on par with the number of seasonal flu vaccinations in the past, many doctors are hoping that the number will increase before the flu season peaks between January and March.  But why listen to doctors when there are so many celebrities willing to inform us about the pros and cons of vaccinations?  Save yourself the trouble of waiting in a crowded medical clinic or trying to find time in your schedule for a doctor’s appointment.  Instead, if you’re not sure what your stance on immunizations is – and don’t limit your opinion to just flu shots – look to these celebrities for guidance: ... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4238058 Tue, 07 Dec 2010 22:42:00 +0100 4238058 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4230159&cid=t_93969_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fhaving-diabetes-and-being-real-people-sick%2F2010.12.04 Since the beginning of November, I’ve been dealing with a random few weeks of feeling “real-people sick” (RPS). Like I wrote about last week, diabetes is something I’m used to and can deal with pretty well, but the common cold knocks me right on my end. I deal with colds like a guy. I hate being RPS: Real People Sick: The differentiation between blood sugar issues and the common cold. Phrase slips out most often when the diabetic admits to not feeling well and must specify that it is not blood sugar related. This month’s Animas “Life, Uninterrupted” vlog is about being “sick” on top of having diabetes, and about how cracked-out squirrels and I sometimes share the same vocal patterns. Unfortunately, there’s another cameo by Abby... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4230159 Sun, 05 Dec 2010 00:00:05 +0100 4230159 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4203151&cid=t_93969_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FS_cby6zMV18%2F Authors of a NEJM piece write that increasing acceptance of a vaccine for the next flu pandemic may be tougher than producing the vaccine in a timely manner. (Source: WSJ.com: Health Blog) WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4203151 Fri, 26 Nov 2010 17:22:58 +0100 4203151 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4197073&cid=t_93969_87_f&fid=39261&url=http%3A%2F%2Fvactruth.com%2F2010%2F11%2F22%2Fhow-government-and-pharmaceutical-companies-gamble-with-your-childs-life%2F The large number of adverse reactions to influenza vaccine this year led the government to suspend the vaccine for children across Australia. Nationally, there were 1,729 adverse events reported to the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). After analysis the TGA stated there were 1,152 reports of fever and 123 reports of convulsions in children under 5 within 24 hours of the vaccine being administered. In Western Australia (WA) 517 children had adverse reactions, of which 72 had febrile convulsions. Prof. Collignon, director of the infectious diseases unit at Canberra hospital states that this is a very high rate of adverse reactions when the risk of dying of swine flu last winter was one in a million). The adverse reactions were linked to CSL’s 2010 trivalent influenza vaccine Fluvax ... vactruth.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4197073 Mon, 22 Nov 2010 22:50:50 +0100 4197073 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4183295&cid=t_93969_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fits-cold-and-flu-season-snls-hibernol%2F2010.11.19 Thanks to former student Allison Miller for reminding me about this clip from the Saturday Night Live (SNL) archives: *This blog post was originally published at Gary Schwitzer's HealthNewsReview Blog* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4183295 Fri, 19 Nov 2010 19:00:54 +0100 4183295 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4133973&cid=t_93969_117_f&fid=38856&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.timemastermd.com%2F%3Fp%3D1236  In Case of Emergency – Borrow a Bra from the Biggest Breasted Woman you can Find! Dr. Elena Bodnar won an Ignoble (aka Stupid) Award for her invention of a bra that can be used for a dust mask for just $29.95.  The fibers on the cups might hold back large dust particles but they are not woven tight enough to prevent bacteria, colds, or the bird flu as many foolishly hoped.  And then you have to share with some other fool?  No thanks! Bras can be quite utilitarian however, and have been around for over 103 years now!  Thanks Italy! The Real Baconator Double! Move over Wendy’s – there’s a new sheriff in town!  Throw out your 980 calorie two pattie and  6 bacon strip sandwich and let’s have some real dining pleasure with this bacon bra.  I guess, if y... Timemaster MD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4133973 Thu, 04 Nov 2010 19:38:55 +0100 4133973 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4125008&cid=t_93969_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fvaccines-top-10-reasons-to-get-your-shots%2F2010.11.01 Vaccines have saved more lives than any other medical intervention in history. They are incredibly safe and effective and are well-tolerated by most people. In the US, the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) carefully reviews all reports of adverse reactions that could be associated with vaccines. Over decades of review, they have found that the rate of potential severe reactions is so low that they cannot even calculate a risk. There are many vaccines available for babies, children, and adults. Please check these vaccine schedules to make sure that you and your family are fully protected from vaccine-preventable diseases. (Or you can ask your doctor/nurse to review your vaccine needs with you in person.) Vaccines for ages 0-6 click here. Vaccines for ages 7-18 click here. Vac... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4125008 Mon, 01 Nov 2010 17:00:32 +0100 4125008 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4121936&cid=t_93969_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FFT74E0QPuqk%2F photo: Thinkstock Check out this post about possible stroke triggers by Deborah Huso on AOL Health. Tossing back a few drinks during a night out with friends. Coming down with a cold or the flu. These might seem like harmless and seemingly unrelated events. But they all have something in common: They could raise your risk of having a stroke — at least temporarily, a new study examining stroke triggers finds. The temporary spike in risk is especially true for those who are already at an increased risk for stroke, including smokers and people with cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure or diabetes. The study was published in the latest issue of Stroke, a journal of the American Stroke Association, and focused specifically on ischemic stroke, which occurs when a clot disrupts blood... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4121936 Sat, 30 Oct 2010 17:00:32 +0100 4121936 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4119124&cid=t_93969_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2Fi-2gzHZrwbQ%2F photo: Thinkstock We’re not big fans of pumping ourselves full of cold medicine the second our noses start running. But we’re also not fond of feeling like crap all day. Luckily, The Daily Green has got 12 all-natural, at-home remedies to get us through cold season. 1. For a cough: Put three tablespoons of dried thyme into a pint of boiling water. Once it cools, add a cup of honey and take one teaspoon every hour (if needed). 2. To prevent colds: Eat a diet rich in vitamin C to keep colds at bay. 3. For a runny nose: Add garlic to your food for a few days, and kiss your snot goodbye. 4.  For nosebleeds: Eat a cup of leafy greens daily to get the vitamin K you need to keep your capillaries strong against dry indoor air. 5. For sore throats: To soothe your aching throat, try a j... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4119124 Wed, 27 Oct 2010 20:20:34 +0100 4119124 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4096785&cid=t_93969_139_f&fid=38879&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FVirologyBlog%2F%7E3%2FvAP_q8lu_8s%2F After my lecture on influenza pathogenesis and evolution at the Northeast Laboratory Conference 2010 in Portland, Maine, I was asked if it is necessary to receive the influenza vaccine every year. This question was precipitated by my statement that the 2010-11 trivalent influenza vaccine contains the same swine-origin H1N1 strain as last year’s monovalent vaccine. That virus has not undergone sufficient antigenic drift to necessitate the formulation of a new vaccine. There are two main considerations* when deciding whether to be immunized yearly against influenza: the nature of the vaccine and age of the recipient. Last year’s seasonal influenza vaccine for the northern hemisphere contained the following strains: A/Brisbane/59/2007 (H1N1) A/Brisbane/10/2007 (H3N2) B/Brisbane/60/2008 ... virology blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4096785 Fri, 22 Oct 2010 21:59:55 +0100 4096785 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4097871&cid=t_93969_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Ffeel%2Fa-new-strain-swine-flu-horrible-or-hype%2F photo: Thinkstock Just when we thought we were safe, a new strain of swine flu is emerging. So break out your face masks and hand sanitizer, because authorities aren’t sure if the current vaccine will protect against this new mutation. Great — we’re really looking forward to having to get another flu shot. Are you worried about the swine flu? Or do you think the whole scare is just hype? Let us know in the comments. via Reuters Post from: BlissTree A New Strain of Swine Flu: Horrible or Hype? (Source: Healthbolt) Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4097871 Thu, 21 Oct 2010 20:13:01 +0100 4097871 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4076860&cid=t_93969_139_f&fid=38879&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia.rawvoice.com%2Fpmn_twiv%2Ftraffic.libsyn.com%2Ftwiv%2FTWiV103.mp3 Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Alan Dove, and LJ Tan On Episode 103 of the podcast This Week in Virology, Vincent and Alan discuss influenza vaccines with LJ Tan of the American Medical Association. Download TWiV #103 (56 MB .mp3, 77 minutes) Subscribe to TWiV (free) in iTunes , at the Zune Marketplace, by the RSS feed, or by email, or listen on your mobile device with Stitcher Radio. Links for this episode: The American Medical Association Prevent Influenza Now Vaccine injury claim reaches Supreme Court Supreme Court divided on vaccine case No narcolepsy link to flu vaccine Letters read on TWiV 103 Weekly Science Picks Alan – BioGene, an iApp Vincent – The Vertical Farm by Dickson Despommier Send your virology questions and comments (email or mp3 file) to twiv@twiv.tv or leave ... virology blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4076860 Sun, 17 Oct 2010 19:35:05 +0100 4076860 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4073997&cid=t_93969_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Ffeel%2Finfographic-just-wash-your-hands-people%2F Don’t you just love cold season? Not only do you have to worry about people hacking all over you on the sidewalks, but you also have to trust that everyone is washing their hands, all the time. And guess what? They’re not. Check out this infographic to see who’s walking around with bathroom hands. Click the graphic to enlarge. via Good Post from: BlissTree Infographic: Just Wash Your Hands, People (Source: Healthbolt) Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4073997 Fri, 15 Oct 2010 19:51:54 +0100 4073997 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4074068&cid=t_93969_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Funscientific-medicine-what%25e2%2580%2599s-the-harm%2F2010.10.14 Any promoter of science-based medicine often faces the question: “What’s the harm?” What is the harm if people try treatment modalities that are not based upon good science, that are anecdotal, or provide only a placebo benefit? There are generally two premises to this question. The first is that most “alternative” placebo interventions are directly harmless. The second is that direct harm is the only type worth considering. Both of these premises are wrong. The pages of Science Based Medicine (SBM) are filled with accounts of direct harm from unscientific treatments: Argyria from colloidal silver, death from chelation therapy, infection or other complications from acupuncture, burns from ear candleing, stroke from chiropractic neck manipulation — the list goes on. ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4074068 Thu, 14 Oct 2010 14:00:50 +0100 4074068 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4065001&cid=t_93969_139_f&fid=38879&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FVirologyBlog%2F%7E3%2FzmYU5OnEXyI%2F The need to re-formulate the influenza virus vaccine in response to viral antigenic drift and shift makes for complex logistics of vaccine production and administration. Surveillance programs must be conducted each year to identify strains that are likely to predominate and cause disease. Wouldn’t it be simpler if a single vaccine could be developed that would confer protection against a broad range of viral strains? Results from the past year suggest that such a vaccine might be closer than previously thought. The influenza viral HA protein consists of a globular head atop a stem that is embedded in the virion membrane (figure). Most protective antibodies are directed against the head of the HA molecule. Rare antibodies that block infection with a broad range of influenza virus strains ... virology blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4065001 Wed, 13 Oct 2010 14:35:54 +0100 4065001 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4060087&cid=t_93969_139_f&fid=38879&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia.rawvoice.com%2Fpmn_twiv%2Fwww.twiv.tv%2FTWiV102.flv Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Andrew Baker, Karl-Klaus Conzelmann, Peter Palese, and Katharina Eisenächer Episode #102 of the podcast This Week in Virology is a conversation about the RNA sensor RIG-I, adenovirus gene therapy, a universal influenza vaccine, and rabies virus, recorded in Munich, Germany at the SFB455 symposium ‘Viral offense and immune defense’. Download TWiV #102 (67 MB .mp3, 95 minutes) Subscribe to TWiV (free) in iTunes , at the Zune Marketplace, by the RSS feed, or by email, or listen on your mobile device with Stitcher Radio. Links for this episode: SFB455 Symposium scientific program Letters read on TWiV 102 Virologists having fun (YouTube video) Video of this episode – view below or download .mov (394 MB) or .wmv (506 MB) Weekly Science Picks... virology blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4060087 Mon, 11 Oct 2010 00:06:02 +0100 4060087 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4040541&cid=t_93969_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FZH8r8bIhiPo%2F Some 119 million doses of this year's vaccine, which protects against H1N1 and two other flu strains, had been distributed as of Sept. 24. (Source: WSJ.com: Health Blog) WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4040541 Thu, 07 Oct 2010 19:06:28 +0100 4040541 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4022925&cid=t_93969_97_f&fid=35602&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffastfoodpharmacy.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F09%2Fi-cant-contain-my-joy-over-flu-shots.html I had a busy summer, gearing up to the big announcement that now our pharmacists were going to give flu shots. The hype was crazy. Except, not at all, because people come in confused that we're offering them every day. I understand our big advertising push hasn't started yet, but our Muzak announces it every 5 minutes and all of our signage says something like "for the love of god, let us stick you!" Not to mention the big ugly button all of the pharmacy staff has to wear declaring "ask me about flu shots!" None of this is unusual, but let's just say I'm having issues with some of my coworkers. Most of them are really opposed to getting one and have no problem letting our customers know that. Me being me, I told one of our techs outright that she couldn't tell patients "I never get them, t... FAST FOOD Pharmacy blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4022925 Fri, 01 Oct 2010 03:33:00 +0100 4022925 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4018185&cid=t_93969_87_f&fid=39261&url=http%3A%2F%2Fvactruth.com%2F2010%2F09%2F30%2Ftall-tales-and-other-vaccine-myths%2F Catherine J. Frompovich Vactruth.com 09/30/2010 Autumn finally has arrived in the Northern Hemisphere in 2010 along with admonitions to get the annual flu vaccination to prevent contracting any of the various strains that now circumnavigate the globe, including one or two that may have resulted from scientific ‘tinkering’. Daily, if not hourly, prompts appear on radio and television about going to a local pharmacy or other health care facility to get immunized. The fear campaign has begun in earnest and, naturally, we need to wonder about the scientific facts associated with vaccine research and flu vaccines, in particular. So let’s examine some of the tall tales and other vaccine myths that also circumnavigate the globe as part of media flu hype and spin. Children Are parents aware ... vactruth.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4018185 Thu, 30 Sep 2010 14:19:11 +0100 4018185 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4013130&cid=t_93969_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FmNV1dJCxjPQ%2F Also: most Americans now probably immune to 2009 H1N1 strain; federally funded embryonic stem cell research can continue -- for now. (Source: WSJ.com: Health Blog) WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4013130 Wed, 29 Sep 2010 12:58:32 +0100 4013130 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4013119&cid=t_93969_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Ffeel%2F202121%2F Gargle With Saltwater: To stay healthy during flu season. (via New York Times Well Blog) Post from: BlissTree (Source: Healthbolt) Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4013119 Tue, 28 Sep 2010 13:54:53 +0100 4013119 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3998996&cid=t_93969_87_f&fid=39261&url=http%3A%2F%2Fvactruth.com%2F2010%2F09%2F24%2Fflu-vaccine-caused-over-1000-adverse-reactions%2F Christina England Vactruth.com 09/24/2010 Yesterday, the Sydney Herald reported an astounding 1000 plus reports of adverse reactions following the flu vaccine, Fluvax. These reports included 100 reports of febrile convulsions. In her report, journalist Carol Bennett stated: “It showed the CSL-produced Fluvax and Fluvax Junior may have caused two to three hospital admissions due to seizure for every admission from flu it prevented”. // Febrile convulsions are caused when a child’s body rapidly overheats resulting in a seizure. The NetDoctor website gives insight into what a child suffering from a febrile convulsion looks like: The attack often begins with the child losing consciousness, and shortly afterwards the body, legs and arms go stiff. The head is thrown backwards and t... vactruth.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3998996 Fri, 24 Sep 2010 19:05:03 +0100 3998996 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3993841&cid=t_93969_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Ffeel%2Fpoll-alert-will-you-get-a-flu-shot-this-year%2F photo: Thinkstock Every year around this time, a question (debate, really) emerges among the health-conscious: To get the flu shot, or not to get the flu shot? That is the question. Some vehemently swear that they stay healthy by avoiding the vaccine, while others get pricked with an annual flu shot no matter what. We know you’ve got an opinion about the flu vaccine, so take our poll and tell us what you think. #MicroPollDiv_277293 { width: 250px; margin: 0px auto; } Post from: BlissTree Poll Alert: Will You Get a Flu Shot This Year? (Source: Healthbolt) Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3993841 Tue, 21 Sep 2010 17:03:01 +0100 3993841 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3983290&cid=t_93969_139_f&fid=38879&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmwvideo.s3.amazonaws.com%2FICAAC-TWiV%2FTWiV99.wmv Host: Vincent Racaniello Vincent tours the 50th Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC) in Boston, speaking with exhibitors and visitors, including Professors Derek Smith, Michael Schmidt, Frederick Hayden, and Myra McClure. Many thanks to Chris Condayan and Ray Ortega of the American Society for Microbiology for recording and editing this episode. Download TWiV #99 (45 MB .mp3, 62 minutes) Subscribe to TWiV (free) in iTunes , at the Zune Marketplace, by the RSS feed, or by email, or listen on your mobile device with Stitcher Radio. Links for this episode: 50th ICAAC ICAAC daily press conference videos (including Prof. Myra McClure) Antigenic cartography Antimicrobial properties of copper Video of this episode – download .mp4 (1.99 GB) or .wmv (935 MB... virology blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3983290 Mon, 20 Sep 2010 02:58:30 +0100 3983290 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3980899&cid=t_93969_113_f&fid=38130&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tempdev.net%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D1049 In 2008, we released our Flu Shot Clinic Package for NextGen for free. The package was met with resounding success, allowing flu shots to be documented in just two clicks – including pulling up the patient’s chart! We have just released an updated version of the Flu Shot Clinic Package for 2010. This year, the changes include support for KBM 7.8 and EHR 5.6. If you would like a copy of the 2010 Flu Shot Clinic Package, please complete our  online form. Also, we will be releasing a new free template package for UGM in November! Watch for an announcement soon! Related Posts September 9, 2010 — 2010 Free Flu Shot Clinic Coming Next Week September 6, 2010 — New EPSDT Template Suite September 3, 2009 — NextGen Continues to Do Well in CHC Market (Source: Implement... Implementing EMRs blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3980899 Fri, 17 Sep 2010 12:15:24 +0100 3980899 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3976502&cid=t_93969_87_f&fid=39261&url=http%3A%2F%2Fvactruth.com%2F2010%2F09%2F14%2Fvaccine-acceptance-statistics-for-2009%2F Catherine Frompovich Vactruth.com 09/14/2010 There’s an adage that goes something like this: You can fool some of the people some of the time, but you can’t fool all the people all the time. Well, there just may be a report that bears out that contention, in my opinion. Recently I came across The Rand Corporation’s November 2009 report Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Use by Adults in the U.S., which I’d like to parse. First and foremost, I found it interesting that the Rand survey was “conducted under contract with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK).” On the front page of that report this statement appears: The RAND Corporation is a nonprofit research organization providing objective analysis and effective solutions that address the challenges facing the public and private sectors around the wor... vactruth.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3976502 Tue, 14 Sep 2010 06:30:50 +0100 3976502 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3961796&cid=t_93969_86_f&fid=34445&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwomenshealthnews.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F09%2F12%2Fwhen-flu-shots-go-wrong%2F I want to be very clear about this: I get flu shots. I think flu shots (and other vaccines) are a good thing. I will get them every year, especially as long as I work at a medical center. I really appreciate getting them for free, and the effort that goes into making that happen. I do not want my experience to in any way discourage anyone else from getting a flu shot, because what I experienced was completely unusual and probably the result of a new person having a bad day. I was not substantially harmed in any way, and got a good story to tell in the process. In the same manner, I have documented my blood drive mishaps here before, and I continue to donate blood and to encourage others to do so. Clear enough? With that out of the way, I got my annual flu shot last Tuesday. After register... Women's Health News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3961796 Sun, 12 Sep 2010 16:14:28 +0100 3961796 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3954327&cid=t_93969_113_f&fid=38130&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tempdev.net%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D1046 The 2010 version of our popular flu shot clinic template suite is due out next week. And yes, its still free! The changes for this year include: Removing the H1N1 vaccine checkboxes. Support for NextGen 5.6. Support for KBM 7.8 and 7.9. If you’d like to sign up now for a copy, just fill out this online form and we will send you the files once they’re released. Related Posts November 7, 2008 — Announcing NextGen Flu Clinic September 6, 2010 — New EPSDT Template Suite September 9, 2009 — Free Flu Shot Package Updated for H1N1 (Source: Implementing EMRs) Implementing EMRs blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3954327 Thu, 09 Sep 2010 15:34:46 +0100 3954327 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3933071&cid=t_93969_87_f&fid=36069&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffrankiespeakingfrankly.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F09%2Fvaccine-zombie.html This text will be replaced by the playervar so=new SWFObject('http://naturalnews.tv/player-licensed.swf','mpl','425','344','9');so.addParam('allowscriptaccess','always');so.addParam('allowfullscreen','true');so.addParam('flashvars','config=http://naturalnews.tv/v-flashvars.asp?v=6D05173308E7F4169D7259EB85CDF522');so.write('player6D05173308E7F4169D7259EB85CDF522');This video is just brilliant! Whether you agree with the lyrics or not, you surely have to admit this is a great production. I came across it via MedWorm, as its release is currently the second most read item via MedWorm this week, although I am sure by the end of the week it will be the first. (You can view the most read items on MedWorm here). In fact, the NaturalNews source is one of the most popular sources on MedWorm also, al... Frankie Speaking Frankly blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3933071 Fri, 03 Sep 2010 11:28:00 +0100 3933071 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3929168&cid=t_93969_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F09%2Finformation-2010-flu-season-vaccine%2F Some tips on the getting the flu vaccine this year and getting covered for H1N1. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3929168 Fri, 03 Sep 2010 03:23:40 +0100 3929168 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3920793&cid=t_93969_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Ffeel%2Fflu-shots-will-you-get-one-this-season%2F photo: Thinkstock Another year, another flu season — and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is encouraging everyone (except infants under 6 months) to get vaccinated this year. After last year’s flu pandemic, it’s become clear that the flu isn’t just dangerous to babies and the elderly — perfectly healthy children and adults also can be at risk for dangerous complications. This year’s shot will include protection against swine flu and two other strains. So where do you stand on the flu shot issue? Let us know by taking our poll: #MicroPollDiv_273566 { width: 250px; margin: 0px auto; } via Yahoo! News Post from: BlissTree Flu Shots: Will You Get One This Season? (Source: Healthbolt) Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3920793 Tue, 31 Aug 2010 17:19:02 +0100 3920793 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3911865&cid=t_93969_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FGyZBezQzMNo%2F The controversy over a GlaxoSmithKline pandemic vaccine is now prompting the European Medicines Agency to conduct a review after a “limited number” of cases of narcolepsy were reported following vaccination. Since last September, at least 30.8 million Europeans were vaccinated with Pandemrix, although most reports were filed in Sweden and Finland. In a statement, the EMA says it’s not clear whether vaccine caused the reaction, but the agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) will look examine data to determine whether there is evidence for a causal association. At its meeting next month, the CHMP will consider whether there are any “provisional measures” that need to be taken. The narcolepsy reaction has caused a stir in Finland, where ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3911865 Fri, 27 Aug 2010 14:48:07 +0100 3911865 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3911870&cid=t_93969_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F9LaUeTSAVOI%2F And so another work week will soon draw to a close. Not a moment too soon, yes? After all those meetings and deadlines, a respite is in order. We plan on spending time with two of our short people, catching up on sundry chores and maybe a nice drive somewhere with the radio turned up. What about you? Perhaps a day at the beach or a night at the movies? Whatever you do, go safely. See you soon and please do stay in touch… FDA Rejects Roche Breast Cancer Drug (Dow Jones) Genzyme To Increase Shipments Of Rationed Drugs (Boston Globe) Stallergenes Looks For US Marketing Partner (Bloomberg News) Montana Governor Has New Plan For Cheaper Drugs (Associated Press) FDA To Review Boehringer Ingelheim Blood Thinner Next Month (Reuters) Clinical Trial Patients To Get Routine Care Covered (MSNBC)... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3911870 Fri, 27 Aug 2010 11:59:09 +0100 3911870 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3895841&cid=t_93969_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Ffeel%2F196462%2F Sleepy Swine Flu: The H1N1 vaccine could be linked to narcolepsy. (via Mercola Blog) Post from: BlissTree (Source: Healthbolt) Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3895841 Mon, 23 Aug 2010 15:40:18 +0100 3895841 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3868624&cid=t_93969_139_f&fid=38879&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia.rawvoice.com%2Fpmn_twiv%2Fwww.twiv.tv%2FTWiV095.mp3 Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dickson Despommier, Alan Dove, and Rich Condit On episode #95 of the podcast This Week in Virology, Vincent, Dickson, Alan, and Rich consider the end of the influenza H1N1 pandemic, dengue in Florida, vaccinia virus infection in Brazilian monkeys, and viruses in the faecal microbiota. Download TWiV #95 (68 MB .mp3, 94 minutes) Subscribe to TWiV (free) in iTunes , at the Zune Marketplace, by the RSS feed, or by email, or listen on your mobile device with Stitcher Radio. Links for this episode: WHO declares end of influenza H1N1 pandemic CDC’s FluView WHO global monitoring of influenza Locally acquired dengue in Key West, Florida (MMWR) CDC page on dengue Vaccinia virus infection in monkeys of the Brazilian Amazon Dam site where animals were collected for... virology blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3868624 Sun, 15 Aug 2010 23:40:44 +0100 3868624 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3946228&cid=t_93969_139_f&fid=38879&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FVirologyBlog%2F%7E3%2F9paMFrwUPHQ%2F The World Health Organization has declared the end of the pandemic caused by H1N1 influenza virus. According to Director-General Margaret Chan, The world is no longer in phase 6 of influenza pandemic alert. We are now moving into the post-pandemic period. The new H1N1 virus has largely run its course. As we enter the post-pandemic period, this does not mean that the H1N1 virus has gone away. Based on experience with past pandemics, we expect the H1N1 virus to take on the behaviour of a seasonal influenza virus and continue to circulate for some years to come. According to the Director-General, levels and patterns of H1N1 transmission are now different from those observed during the pandemic. Out-of-season outbreaks are no longer being reported, and their intensity is similar to that seen ... virology blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3946228 Thu, 12 Aug 2010 19:08:38 +0100 3946228 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3858147&cid=t_93969_87_f&fid=38113&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.consumerreports.org%2Fhealth%2F2010%2F08%2Fa-pandemic-ends-but-there-may-be-an-h1n1-encore.html The H1N1 (swine) flu virus that emerged in Mexico and California in 2009 and quickly spread across the globe was downgraded from a pandemic by the World Health Organization this week. “The public health emergency of international concern, recommended following the emergence of the H1N1 (2009) virus, should be considered over,” says the WHO after looking at international epidemiological data. The 2009 H1N1 flu is still active around the world, but is behaving more like a seasonal form of influenza, according to WHO scientists.In June of last year, the WHO declared H1N1 a phase six pandemic flu because most people had little or no immunity, and it had reached sustained person-to-person transmission in multiple parts of the world. Today, according to statement by WHO director-general Marg... Consumer Reports Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3858147 Wed, 11 Aug 2010 20:55:03 +0100 3858147 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3858382&cid=t_93969_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F80EA963DpmU%2F Now that the World Health Organization has officially declared that the swine flu pandemic is over (see this), the agency has finally released the names of the scientific advisors who helped with pandemic decisions and their declared conflicts of interest, such as paid work for drugmakers. The move comes four months after the WHO denied the pharmaceutical industry had undue influence over its decisions about the extent of the pandemic and two months after the Council of Europe issued a report harshly criticizing the agency’s lack of transparency around the handling of the swine flu pandemic (back story here and here). For its part, the WHO called the accusations “conspiracy theories,” but refused to release the conflict of interest forms filed by the 16 members of its eme... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3858382 Wed, 11 Aug 2010 11:45:32 +0100 3858382 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3854498&cid=t_93969_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2F193914%2F H1N1 Pandemic is Over: The head of World Health Organization said that the H1N1 outbreak was much less severe than was predicted, and that the pandemic is over. (via Reuters) Post from: BlissTree (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3854498 Tue, 10 Aug 2010 16:53:06 +0100 3854498 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3854504&cid=t_93969_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FyN9K0tiEdu4%2F A more flexible way to evaluate the threat of pandemics would help WHO in the future, the director-general said. (Source: WSJ.com: Health Blog) WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3854504 Tue, 10 Aug 2010 14:45:21 +0100 3854504 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3831561&cid=t_93969_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FxXce5vGUKuo%2F And so another work week will soon draw to a close. And not a moment too soon. There is much tidying up to do around the Pharmalot corporate campus. Moreover, we look forward to a respite in order to catch up on some reading and tend to the shortest of short people. What about you? Any special plans? Gearing up for vacation, perhaps? Whatever you do, enjoy. And see you soon… Cypress Bioscience Rejects Ramius Buyout Offer (Reuters) Glaxo Signs Dry Powder Deal With Vecture (PharmaTimes) Teva Version Of Lovenox Due Shortly (Reuters) ACIP Says CSL Flu Shot For Kids To Be Avoided (Associated Press) (Source: Pharmalot) Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3831561 Fri, 06 Aug 2010 12:07:31 +0100 3831561 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3823156&cid=t_93969_150_f&fid=34889&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmamkting.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F08%2Funsafe-drugs-is-it-counterfeiters-or.html At the recent 6th Annual Public Relations & Communications Summit at Pfizer Headquarters in NYC, Chris Loder, Pfizer's Head of US Media Relations, cited World Health Organization data that says 1% of worldwide sales of Rx drugs are counterfeit. Loder claimed that number is between 10 and 50 percent in "developing" nations. Pfizer defines counterfeit as "products deliberately and fraudulently produced and/or mislabeled with respect to identity and/or source to make it appear to be a genuine product."Loder spoke of Pfizer's all out campaign to bring attention to the counterfeit drug problem, which obviously hurts sales, especially of Pfizer's flagship drug, Viagra. He focused on the PR effort, including the "dead rat" movie Pfizer distributed in the UK in movie theatres and on television... Pharma Marketing Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3823156 Wed, 04 Aug 2010 12:39:00 +0100 3823156 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3805802&cid=t_93969_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2Fx0TFYAqhTo4%2F Different brands and types of vaccines are approved for different age groups. (Source: WSJ.com: Health Blog) WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3805802 Fri, 30 Jul 2010 19:50:03 +0100 3805802 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3794756&cid=t_93969_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FAGdZLCJKZC8%2F Next year the vaccinations against seasonal flu and H1N1 will be combined. (Source: WSJ.com: Health Blog) WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3794756 Tue, 27 Jul 2010 17:47:13 +0100 3794756 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3790925&cid=t_93969_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FFPKkiqBmLug%2F Hello, everyone, and welcome back. We hope your weekend was relaxing. Now, of course, the routine returns as meetings and deadlines loom. At least the heat wave has broken, as measured by a rare, cool breeze now wafting through the Pharmalot corporate campus. So please join us for the mandatory cup of stimulation as we prepare for another day. One note: we will be speaking later on an industry panel, so please excuse the interruption in our usual schedule. Meanwhile, have a good one and stay in touch…. Onyx Posts Positive Results For Cancer Drug (Associated Press) Sanofi Cuts Forecast After FDA Approves Generic Lovenox (Bloomberg News) The Brilinta Guessing Game As FDA Panel Nears (Reuters) Eisai Gets Boost From FDA OK For Higher-Dose Aricept (PharmaTimes) Genzyme Is Seen As More Att... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3790925 Mon, 26 Jul 2010 12:00:41 +0100 3790925 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3772218&cid=t_93969_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FrZoVSPhjKKU%2F Also: hospitals using Tasers; cautious optimism over a possible HIV preventive; end of the line for swine flu pandemic? (Source: WSJ.com: Health Blog) WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3772218 Tue, 20 Jul 2010 12:16:27 +0100 3772218 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3772469&cid=t_93969_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FjPagjNQJtdw%2F Top of the morning to you. A relatively balmy day here on the Pharmalot corporate campus, where we are preparing for some important events. What about you? Are significant meetings on the horizon? And what about those deadlines? As always, a cup of stimulation is brewing. So please join us in surveying a few interesting tidbits. Have a great day and stay in touch… Advil Ad Account Is Shopped Around (AdWeek) WHO May Declare End To Swine Flu Pandemic (Bloomberg News) Reglan Lawsuits, Generics And Preemption (New Orleans City Business) Pfizer Halts Another Tanezumab Study (Associated Press) Ireland Plans Global Pharma Center Of Excellence (Irish Examiner) People Receiving HIV Treatment Rose 30 Percent In 2009 (Bloomberg News) Paxil Lawsuit Over Heart Birth Defect Is Settled (Associated ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3772469 Tue, 20 Jul 2010 11:35:42 +0100 3772469 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3767014&cid=t_93969_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F07%2Fdr-mark-prausnitz-working%2F Dr. Mark Prausnitz of Georgia Tech and colleagues are working on patch that can deliver the seasonal flu vaccine to replace the need to stick people with needles in the arm to administer it. The patches, which are at least five years away from market, would deliver the flu vaccine via microneedles that pierce through the skin after being placed for about ten minutes. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3767014 Mon, 19 Jul 2010 23:33:22 +0100 3767014 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3724382&cid=t_93969_139_f&fid=38879&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia.rawvoice.com%2Fpmn_twiv%2Fwww.twiv.tv%2FTWiV089.mp3 Hosts: Vincent Racaniello and Alan Dove On episode #89 of the podcast This Week in Virology, Vincent and Alan review recent findings on the association of the retrovirus XMRV with ME/CFS, reassortment of 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza virus in swine, and where influenza viruses travel in the off-season. Download TWiV #89 (56 MB .mp3, 78 minutes) Subscribe to TWiV (free) in iTunes , at the Zune Marketplace, by the RSS feed, or by email, or listen on your mobile device with Stitcher Radio. Links for this episode: Conflicting XMRV papers on hold Leak of PNAS paper CDC study on XMRV in CFS patients (Retrovirology) and Science update Where influenza viruses travel in the off season (EurekaAlert! and PLoS Pathogens) NPR article on Ebola siRNA treatment (thanks, Andreas!) Priming mechanism for re... virology blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3724382 Sun, 04 Jul 2010 17:03:57 +0100 3724382 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3721750&cid=t_93969_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2F7hqo-_bcawE%2F Also: legal battles over health-care overhaul begin; AstraZeneca gets fined by an E.U. court; excess swine flu vaccine stocks headed for the trash. (Source: WSJ.com: Health Blog) WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3721750 Fri, 02 Jul 2010 12:36:40 +0100 3721750 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3710798&cid=t_93969_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FPlw3NtaReH4%2F Top of the morning to you. Another balmy day here on the Pharmalot corporate campus, where an usual quiet has set in now that the short people are busy with their summer activities. We are keeping busy, of course, sifting through documents. And you? Projects and meetings beckon, no doubt. To cope, please join us for a cup of stimulation and a peek at a few interesting items. Have a nice day, everyone… Bayer Drops One Patent Infringement Case Over Yaz (Reuters) Novartis Can’t Force Alcon Merger (PharmaTimes) Teva Gets FDA OK For Generic Effexor XR (Reuters) UK’s NICE Reverses Decision On Rheumatoid Arthritis Meds (PharmaTimes) Speeding Clinical Trial Recruitment With E-records (Outsourcing Pharm) Abbott Puts Solvay Flu Biz Up For Sale (The Wall Street Journal) Taro Pharma ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3710798 Tue, 29 Jun 2010 11:45:35 +0100 3710798 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3706993&cid=t_93969_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FNJj_HyWGF4o%2F In what may be a new get-tough program at the FDA, the agency issued a so-called untitled letter to CSL, a big maker of flu vaccines based in Australia, for flunking an April inspection that found several manufacturing deficiencies. And in addition to demanding a summary of corrective actions that must be taken, FDA officials want to meet with CSL senior execs to review their plan. The move comes less than a month after CSL recalled its seasonal shot for children in Australia after investigations failed to explain a nine-fold increase in fever and convulsions. However, the FDA also issued a Q&A in which the agency says the manufacting issues are unrelated to the problems that spurred the recall (background here and here). The FDA cited CSL for “a number of significant objectio... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3706993 Mon, 28 Jun 2010 20:42:34 +0100 3706993 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3676899&cid=t_93969_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FZRxrE7wS55A%2F Good morning, everyone. How are you today? The weekend is just around the corner, of course, and that means looking ahead to…. what? We expect to frolic with some industry types at a soiree and, otherwise, lounge around the Pharmalot corporate campus to catch up on some reading. As for you, we hope your plans are exciting. Meanwhile, here are a few news items of the world. Have a great time and, by the way, do remember to call Dad… Sanofi-Aventis Prostate Cancer Drugs Wins FDA Approval (Reuters) UK’s NICE Approves Amgen’s Prolia (Bloomberg News) Walgreens Launches Mobile Prescription Reminders (EWeek) Malaysia Forecast To Lead Generics Growth In Asia (PharmaTimes) Pharma Urged To Develop More Orphan Drugs (Bloomberg News) Pfizer Biotech Drug Tops Placebo In Knee Pai... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3676899 Fri, 18 Jun 2010 11:48:30 +0100 3676899 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3672052&cid=t_93969_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fsex-prevents-colds-and-flu-2%2F Sex Can Boost The Immune System It’s official: sex is good for you, at least in moderation. Psychologists in Pennsylvania have shown that people who have sex once or twice a week get a boost to their immune systems. Scientists can evaluate how robust our immune systems are by measuring levels of immunoglobulin found in saliva and mucous linings. "This is the first line of defence against colds and flu," says Carl Charnetski of Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre. Immunoglobulin binds to pathogens at all the points of entry to the body, then calls on the immune system to destroy them. To find out if sex can alter immunoglobulin levels, Charnetski and his colleague Frank Brennan asked 111 Wilkes undergraduates, aged 16 to 23, how frequently they’d had sex over the prev... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3672052 Thu, 17 Jun 2010 15:51:00 +0100 3672052 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3671695&cid=t_93969_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fwho-and-h1n1-conflict-of-interest%2F2010.06.17 On June 11, 2009, Dr. Margaret Chan, the director general of the World Health Organization (WHO), declared that the H1N1 flu that was then spreading around the world was an official pandemic. This triggered a series of built-in responses in many countries, including stockpiling anti-viral medications and preparing for a mass H1N1 vaccination program. At the time the flu was still in its “first wave” and the fear was that subsequent waves, as the virus swept around the world, would become more virulent and/or contagious –- similar to what happened in the 1918 pandemic. This did not happen. At least our worst fears were not realized. The H1N1 pandemic, while serious, simmered through the winter of 2009-2010, producing a less than average flu season, although with some worrisome differe... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3671695 Thu, 17 Jun 2010 14:00:41 +0100 3671695 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3666225&cid=t_93969_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FPxIkfIQXUvo%2F Good morning, everyone. Nice to see you again. Another shiny day here on the Pharmalot corporate campus, where we are recovering from the latest installment in our ‘Let’s See Them Before They Die‘ concert series. Accordingly, we are brewing multiple cups of stimulation. Meanwhile, here are a few items to help you get started yourselves. Hope your day goes well and catch you later… Sanofi-Aventis To Cut More Costs, Sales Force (Bloomberg News) Abbott And Neurocrine Sign Deal For Endometriosis Drug (Reuters) Cipla Signs Chinese Partner To Make Biosimilars (Bloomberg News) Sanofi-Aventis Buys Canderm Pharma (Montreal Gazette) The New World Order In R&D (InPharm) USDA Approves Vaccine For Dog Flu (Los Angeles Times) Amylin Stock Hit On Bydureon Data (Reuters) Pfize... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3666225 Wed, 16 Jun 2010 12:03:56 +0100 3666225 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3652393&cid=t_93969_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2FPEF22JDVVvk%2F WHO and its defenders respond to criticism of the organization's handling of the H1N1 pandemic. (Source: WSJ.com: Health Blog) WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3652393 Thu, 10 Jun 2010 17:24:26 +0100 3652393 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3633444&cid=t_93969_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fh1n1-and-japanese-dried-plums%2F2010.06.06 Japanese dried plums may suppress H1N1 influenza viruses, report researchers. In Japan, umeboshi (literally, “dried plum”) is thought to convey good digestion and cure hangovers. It’s the Japanese version of “an apple a day.” Recently, Wakayama Medical University researchers added umeboshi extracts to cells infected with the H1N1 virus and found it inhibited viral growth by 90 percent after seven hours. Researchers think that a polyphenol in the food may suppress H1N1. By the way, Wakayama prefecture is the heart of Japan’s plum-growing region. (Hindustan Times, Wikipedia) *This blog post was originally published at ACP Internist* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3633444 Sun, 06 Jun 2010 14:58:34 +0100 3633444 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3629866&cid=t_93969_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FaPuErsvrxto%2F The World Health Organization denied that the pharmaceutical industry influenced its planning for a flu pandemic, but new documents suggest that several key scientists who advised the agency had done paid work for the drugmakers - Roche and GlaxoSmithKline - that stood to profit from their guidance, BMJ reports. And while the WHO’s decisions led numerous governments to stockpile billions of dollars of antivirals, the agency failed to provide any details about conflict of interests involving the experts who were consulted and if any action was taken “despite repeated requests.” 
 The disclosure come just as a report was released today by the Council of Europe, which harshly criticized the lack of transparency around the handling of the swine flu pandemic. The WHO’s act... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3629866 Fri, 04 Jun 2010 15:49:47 +0100 3629866 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3618090&cid=t_93969_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FN9tgr5BITH0%2F Here’s an interesting aftermath to Pfizer’s $68 billion purchase of Wyeth. To win approval in China, the big drugmaker has agreed to sell an animal vaccine for a reported $50 million to Harbin Pharmaceuticals, which is mostly owned by a provincial government and Citic Capital, a state-affiliated Chinese investment group. If not for the sale, Chinese antitrust officials argued that Pfizer would now control half of the domestic market for mycoplasma hyopneumoniae vaccines, which are used to inoculate pigs, The Financial Times points out, adding that experts believe the sale is likely to be the first of many more transfers of intellectual property to Chinese groups arising from antitrust rulings. The vaccine is made in Nebraska and Pfizer retains the IP rights to RespiSure outside... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3618090 Tue, 01 Jun 2010 12:36:11 +0100 3618090 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3618092&cid=t_93969_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FVcXlT15h6x4%2F Welcome back. We hope you had a nice weekend. It was a long one here in the states. Now, of course, the routine has returned and that means a to-do list complete with meetings and deadlines. So grab that cup of stimulation and get ready for another day. To help you along, here are a few items of interest. Have a good one and stay in touch… Glaxo Settles More Avandia Lawsuits (Reuters) AstraZeneca Gets Complete Response Letter For Axanum (Bloomberg News) EMA Urges Cooperation On Overseas Trials (Outsourcing Pharma) UK’s NICE Rejects Novartis’ Xolair For Children (Reuters) CSL Recalls Flu As Side Effects Rise (Bloomberg News) Singapore Considers Mandatory HPV Vaccination (AsiaOne) Elan Optimistic On Sale Of Drug Delivery Unit (InPharmaTechnologist) (Source: Pharmalot) Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3618092 Tue, 01 Jun 2010 12:03:14 +0100 3618092 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3595645&cid=t_93969_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F05%2F25%2Fproof-positive-chicken-little-goes-to-resilience-therapy%2F “Today is a new day!” — Chicken Little Ms. Little released the following transcript with permission. Therapist: Let me make sure I understand this. So you initially believed the sky was falling? Chicken Little: I know it seems ridiculous now, but I was convinced it was happening. T: What made you think so? CL: I was hit on the head. T: By the sky? CL: Well, yes, I thought it was. T: What made you think it was the sky? CL: Well, it came from above my head, and I thought it was the end of the world. T: But you started to think there might be other explanations. CL: Yes, but I always think the worst. If I sneeze, I have swine flu. If I call my boyfriend and he doesn’t answer, I think he is with some other chick. T: Literally? CL: Yes, there are a lot of good-looking chicks in ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3595645 Tue, 25 May 2010 15:54:22 +0100 3595645 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3595562&cid=t_93969_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2Fbq9auxQu_7w%2F A study out today reports what happened to 18 pregnant women with H1N1 who ended up in two New York hospitals – and it shows things can get pretty bad. (Source: WSJ.com: Health Blog) WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3595562 Mon, 24 May 2010 20:23:20 +0100 3595562 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3581585&cid=t_93969_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2Fqbzh2CX-Xu8%2F In a flu pandemic, public health officials have to convince people that the illness is a serious health threat, and that the vaccine is safe. (Source: WSJ.com: Health Blog) WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3581585 Wed, 19 May 2010 21:48:35 +0100 3581585 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3577622&cid=t_93969_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FN2Mz6xyOy2c%2F A panel investigating the World Health Organization’s response to last year’s swine flu outbreak wants to see confidential exchanges between the agency and drugmakers. The 29-member panel wants WHO records and correspondence from before and after the H1N1 strain was declared a pandemic in June, the Associated Press reports. “We will want to have access to certain confidential documents that may be in place here at WHO or elsewhere,” committee chair Harvey Fineberg, who is also president of the Institute of Medicine in Washington, told reporters in Geneva, adding that documents include “contractual or letters of understanding” between the WHO and drugmakers. Some agreements have been considered confidential, but so far all requests have been met. The pane... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3577622 Wed, 19 May 2010 15:45:07 +0100 3577622 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3577106&cid=t_93969_139_f&fid=38879&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FVirologyBlog%2F%7E3%2FNFRSkuXeW-w%2F Google Flu Trends uses analysis of large numbers of search queries to track influenza-like illness in a population. The idea is that the frequency of certain queries correlates with the percentage of physician visits in which a patient presents with influenza-like symptoms. Google claims that it can accurately estimate the level of weekly influenza activity in each region of the United States. But a recent study shows that Google Flu Trends is not as accurate at estimating rates of laboratory-confirmed influenza as surveillance carried out by the CDC. Google Flu Trends and CDC surveillance results were compared for the period of  2003 – 2008. As reported at the 2010 American Thoracic Society Conference, the greatest deviation of Google Flu Trends from CDC surveillance occurred durin... virology blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3577106 Tue, 18 May 2010 17:28:44 +0100 3577106 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3570060&cid=t_93969_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FeNQ5UJZLh9c%2F A controversy appears to be emerging in Australia over payments made to parents who have enrolled children as young as six months old in H1N1 flu vaccine trials sponsored by GlaxoSmithKline. In some instances, parents were enrolling three children at a time and receiving $900, according to The Herald Sun, which notes the payments may breach national ethical guidelines. Parents of healthy children up to 10 years old are receiving $300 for each child to participate in the trial, which involves two needles, two blood tests and medical monitoring for each child. A spokeswoman for AusTrials, which runs the trials for Glaxo, confirmed to the paper that the payments were made and that, so far, 110 children participated. However, an anonymous critic complained to the Sun that parents were, effecti... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3570060 Mon, 17 May 2010 15:40:16 +0100 3570060 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3504930&cid=t_93969_99_f&fid=34593&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fscienceblogs%2FAyaJ%2F%7E3%2FySwTGEYEC6s%2Fcoping_with_swine_flu_down_und.php What are we to make of the swine flu pandemic? The only thing I feel confident about is that it will be some time before we really know. A great deal of data and experience was gained in the year since the pandemic H1N1 took everyone by surprise but it will be a while before we can harvest all of it. Meanwhile I can say things were better than we thought they might be and certainly better than everyone's worst fears, but how much better -- better, how bad -- they were we just don't know. It was a very good year for people in my age category (over 65) as for reasons now becoming a bit clearer we were least susceptible. In ordinary flu years we are the most susceptible and we die in large numbers. This last year it was the young most at risk. The numbers of flu deaths overall don't tell the ... Effect Measure blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3504930 Mon, 26 Apr 2010 11:07:42 +0100 3504930 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3499311&cid=t_93969_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FgAQqzpPFA-Q%2F And so another work week is about to draw to a close. What are you planning for the weekend? Mowing the lawn? Riding a bike? A walk in the park? We look forward to spending time with our short and not-so-short people and running with the official Pharmalot mascot. While you ponder your own choices, here are a few items to help you round out the day. Have a nice time, whatever you do and see you soon… Australia Tells Docs To Stop Kids’ Flu Shot (Bloomberg News) J&J Shareholders Reject Say-On-Pay Proposal (Associated Press) EU Sees Genzyme Drug Shortage Through September (Reuters) Pfizer Ends Trial Of Sutent In Liver Cancer (Associated Press) EMA Backs Nycomed COPD Drug (Reuters) EU Approves Diovan For Children (Associated Press) Roche Files For New Herceptin Use In US (Reut... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3499311 Fri, 23 Apr 2010 11:43:46 +0100 3499311 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3494320&cid=t_93969_99_f&fid=34593&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fscienceblogs%2FAyaJ%2F%7E3%2Fpz8i-YyH0cM%2Fa_year_ago_on_the_blog.php It was a year ago today we put up our first post about swine flu: "The California swine flu cases." I think we were the first blog to notice it, and it began this way: Read the rest of this post... | Read the comments on this post... (Source: Effect Measure) Effect Measure blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3494320 Thu, 22 Apr 2010 11:25:02 +0100 3494320 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3487371&cid=t_93969_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FOyT2YYMmp-E%2F Rise and shine. Another day beckons. And this is a special one here on the Pharmalot corporate campus as one of the short people celebrates a birthday. An especially large cup of stimulation is in order…among other things. While we fuss, please enjoy these items and, of course, have a nice day… Acura Pharma Has FDA Panel Meeting (TheStreet) Biogen Profit Falls, Tysabri Sales Rise (Reuters) Boehringer-Ingelheim Considers More Takeovers (Bloomberg News) J&J Drug Sales Slump (Reuters) Novartis Profit Rises On Flu Vaccines (Bloomberg News) Roche Arthritis Drug Meets Goal, Safety Issues Linger (Reuters) Raloxifene And Tamoxifen Both Guard Against Breast Cancer (HealthDay) Array Signs $467M Deal With Novartis (Reuters) (Source: Pharmalot) Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3487371 Tue, 20 Apr 2010 11:58:36 +0100 3487371 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3479641&cid=t_93969_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Ffeel%2Fdavid-duchovny-and-demi-moore-sickened-by-a-smooch%2F David Duchovny and Demi Moore (photo: WENN.com/FayesVision) Word at Starpulse is that David Duchovny initially refused to kiss Demi Moore while filming their new movie The Joneses, because the actress had what he calls a “raging cold.” Duchovny eventually relented and locked lips with Moore to keep the filming schedule on track. The former X-Files leading man claims that he did get sick from the smooch, and he doesn’t seem happy about it. With a cold season this year that never seems to end, we’re wondering, how far do you go to avoid germs? If it were your job to tongue someone with the sniffles, would you do it? Do you steer clear of your loved ones when they’re sick? Drop us a note in the comments section, below, and let us know. Post from: BlissTree D... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3479641 Fri, 16 Apr 2010 20:14:36 +0100 3479641 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3472044&cid=t_93969_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FF27q-IJVyI0%2F The experts involved in the World Health Organization decision to declare a flu pandemic rejected accusations of undue influence from drugmakers, and insisted that “meticulous care” was taken to avoid conflicts of interest and to keep a distance from industry as much as possible, Agence France-Presse writes. David Salisbury, of the WHO’s standing Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on immunization and a director of immunization at the UK’s Department of Health, said candidates for the advisory body were vetted before they joined and those with conflicts of interest were excluded. “There has been no declaration of conflict from any SAGE member in our proceeding on A (H1N1) vaccine,” he told a probe investigating the international response to the pa... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3472044 Thu, 15 Apr 2010 11:59:57 +0100 3472044 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3463571&cid=t_93969_87_f&fid=36224&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.wsjonline.com%2F%7Er%2Fwsj%2Fhealth%2Ffeed%2F%7E3%2F_ej3QmM0x-Y%2F It’s been almost a year since the headlines about the latest bout of H1N1 swine flu first began to appear — so now it’s time for the why-wasn’t-the-flu-as-bad-as-it-could-have-been and could-it-have-been-handled-better probes to begin. WHO Director General Margaret Chan today opened the first meeting of 29 experts looking into the response to what became the first pandemic of the 21th century. “We want to know what can be done better and ideally how,” she said. One speaker at today’s session said that international preparations for the swine flu were aided by the outbreaks of the more deadly bird flu in recent years, but then what turned out to be the relative mildness of the H1N1 pandemic worked against it. “It wasn’t that mild when yo... WSJ.com: Health Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3463571 Mon, 12 Apr 2010 17:56:39 +0100 3463571