Many new drugs did not have comparative effectiveness information

Many New Drugs Did Not Have Comparative Effectiveness Information Available at Time of FDA Approval – Only about half of new drugs approved in the last decade had comparative effectiveness data available at the time of their approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and approximately two-thirds of new drugs had this information available when alternative treatment options existed,.

Genes identified causing antimalarial drug resistance

Researchers identify genes causing antimalarial drug resistance – Using a pair of powerful genome-search techniques, researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH), Harvard University, and the Broad Institute have identified several genes that may be implicated in the malaria parasite’s notorious ability to rapidly evade drug treatments.

Immigrant screening misses majority of imported latent TB

Immigrant screening misses majority of imported latent TB, finds study – Current UK procedures to screen new immigrants for tuberculosis (TB) fail to detect more than 70 per cent of cases of latent infection, according to a new study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.

Omalizumab relieves seasonal asthma attacks in youth

NIH study finds omalizumab relieves seasonal asthma attacks in youth — Symptoms reduced in children and young people with moderate to severe disease – A drug that targets the antibody immunoglobulin E (IgE), a key player in asthma, nearly eliminated seasonal increases in asthma attacks and decreased asthma symptoms among young people living in inner city environments, a clinical trial sponsored by the National Institutes of Health has found.

HIV infected at higher risk for bone fractures

Research suggests HIV-infected patients at higher risk for bone fractures — Study compared fracture rates among HIV patients with general US population – Low bone mineral density in HIV-infected patients is common and raises concerns about increased risks of fracture, revealed by researchers.

New treatment for severe 2009 H1N1 infection

Study suggests possible new treatment for severe 2009 H1N1 infection – Convalescent plasma therapy-using plasma from patients who have recovered from an infection to treat those with the same infection-has been used to treat multiple diseases.

Preventing future bird flu epidemics – GM chickens

GM chickens that don’t transmit bird flu developed – Breakthrough could prevent future bird flu epidemics – Chickens genetically modified to prevent them spreading bird flu have been produced by researchers at the Universities of Cambridge and Edinburgh. They developed a new gene coding that controls bird flu virus progress.

Low vitamin D in newborns may increase respiratory infections

Newborns with low vitamin D levels at increased risk for respiratory infections – The vitamin D levels of newborn babies appear to predict their risk of respiratory infections during infancy and the occurrence of wheezing during early childhood, but not the risk of developing asthma.

Eating healthier diet means living longer

Eating healthier means living longer — According to new study in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association – The leading causes of death have shifted from infectious diseases to chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and cancer. These illnesses may be affected by diet.

Health Newstrack