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.
Cataract Surgery Does Not Appear Associated With Worsening of Age-Related Macular Degeneration – Age related macular degeneration does not appear to progress at a higher rate among individuals who have had surgery to treat cataract, revealed by researchers.
Scientists uncover new key to the puzzle of hormone therapy and breast cancer – The decreased use of postmenopausal hormone therapy has played a key role in the declining rate of atypical ductal hyperplasia, a known risk factor for breast cancer, revealed by researchers.
FDA-approved drugs fulvestrant and raloxifene eliminate, prevent cervical cancer in mice. – Researchers eliminated cervical cancer in mice with two FDA-approved drugs currently used to treat breast cancer and osteoporosis. The study is published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Many parents, high-priority adults who tried to get H1N1 vaccine unable to get it — Most who tried and didn’t get it say they will try again. – In US, majority of adults who tried to get the H1N1 vaccine for themselves or their children have been unable to do so, revealed in a poll from Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH).
Report on H1N1 cases in California shows hospitalization can occur at all ages, with many severe – In contrast with some common perceptions regarding 2009 influenza A(H1N1) infections, an examination of cases in California indicates that hospitalization and death can occur at all ages. About 30 percent of hospitalized cases have been severe enough to require treatment in an intensive care unit.
The Global Coalition Against Child Pneumonia and the World Pneumonia Day coalition was established in April 2009. It seeks to bring focus on pneumonia as a public health issue and to prevent the millions of avoidable deaths from pneumonia that occur each year. – Nearly 100 leading global health organizations from around the world joined forces to recognize the first-annual World Pneumonia Day on November 2 and urge governments to take steps to fight pneumonia, the world’s leading killer of young children.
H1N1 flu vaccination begins for school children in US — shortfall in the supply of swine flu vaccine. – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported in the 2009 H1N1 press conference that H1N1 2009 vaccine levels are increasing but are still short of expected levels.
Experts advise WHO on pandemic vaccine policies and strategies — Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 briefing note – The Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on Immunization, which advises WHO on policies and strategies for vaccines and immunization, devoted a session of its 27?29 October meeting to pandemic influenza vaccines.
Stem cell therapy may offer hope for acute lung injury – Adult stem cells from bone marrow can prevent acute lung injury in a mouse model of the disease, revealed by researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine.
Pitt/NIH team find way to protect healthy cells from radiation damage – Researchers have found a way to not only protect healthy tissue from the toxic effects of radiation treatment, but also increase tumor death. The findings appear today in Science Translational Medicine.
Lessons learned from H1N1 virus pandemic — A comprehensive study has revealed, for the first time, the impact of swine flu on the health of the general public in Australia and New Zealand. – Australia and New Zealand sharing the lessons learned in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) across these two countries on the impact of the H1N1 (swine flu) virus. The information being shared with countries in the Northern Hemisphere to help them prepare for their upcoming flu season.
Unnatural selection: Birth control pills may alter choice of partners – There is no doubt that modern contraception has enabled women to have unprecedented control over their own fertility. However, is it possible that the use of oral contraceptives is interfering with a woman’s ability to choose, compete for and retain her preferred mate?
