Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is an infectious disease of birds and mammals caused by an RNA virus of the family Orthomyxoviridae, the influenza viruses. In people, common symptoms of influenza are fever, sore throat, muscle pains, severe headache, coughing, and weakness and fatigue.
Perceived age as clinically useful biomarker of ageing — People who look young for their age live longer – People with youthful faces are more likely to live to a longer life than those who look more than their years, revealed by Danish researchers in a new study.
H1N1 flu toll rose to 92 in Pune, 707 in India – H1N1 swine flu toll in the Pune city of Maharashtra state in India rose to 92 after a nearly 6 month pregnant woman succumbed to the H1N1 flu infection in a hospital last night.
Studies quantify radiation doses, cancer risks from CT scans — Variable doses of radiation raise safety concerns for CT procedures. – Radiation doses from common CT procedures vary widely and are higher than generally thought, raising concerns about increased risk for cancer, according to a new study led by UCSF imaging specialists.
State Public Health Director Announces Expansion of H1N1 Flu Vaccine Availability to all Illinoisans — High-risk individuals encouraged to be vaccinated before expansion next week. – Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Damon T. Arnold announced that beginning Tuesday, December_15, 2009, all Illinoisans will be eligible to receive an H1N1 flu vaccination.
177 new cases of H1N1 flu in New Delhi and 4 schools are shut in Delhi till next week. – H1N1 flu or swine flu cases are continued to rise in New Delhi, capital of India. 177 people were tested positive for the H1N1 virus.
FDA Approves Kalbitor for Treating Potentially Life-Threatening Attacks of Hereditary Angioedema – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Kalbitor (ecallantide) to treat sudden and potentially life-threatening fluid buildup that can occur in people with a rare genetic condition known as hereditary angioedema (HAE).
Breastfeeding a child may protect women from metabolic syndrome, a condition linked to diabetes and heart disease in women – Breastfeeding a child may lower a woman’s risk of developing Metabolic Syndrome, a condition linked to heart disease and diabetes in women, according to a Kaiser Permanente study.
Study shows pine bark improves circulation, swelling and visual acuity in early diabetic retinopathy — Research reveals Pycnogenol is effective in visual improvement in subjects – Pycnogenol (pic-noj-en-all), an antioxidant plant extract from the bark of the French maritime pine tree, can improve microcirculation, retinal edema and visual acuity in the early stages of diabetic retinopathy.
Investigators identify successful weight control strategies for adolescents — New study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association – Adolescent obesity is a major public health problem that impacts one out of every three children, resulting in 4-5 million overweight youth in the United States.
Hormone ghrelin can boost resistance to Parkinson’s disease – Stomach hormone – Ghrelin – may be used to boost resistance to, or slow, the development of Parkinson’s disease, Yale School of Medicine researchers report in a study published in the Journal of Neuroscience.
FDA Approves Agriflu Seasonal Influenza Vaccine — Another option to prevent illnesses caused by subtypes A and B influenza virus – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Agriflu for people ages 18 years and older to prevent disease caused by influenza virus subtypes A and B.
Novartis inaugurates large-scale US based cell-culture influenza vaccine manufacturing facility – Novartis inaugurated the US’s first ever large-scale flu cell culture vaccine and adjuvant manufacturing facility in Holly Springs, North Carolina.
