Pneumonia is an infection of the lung, and can be caused by nearly any class of organism known to cause human infections. These include bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites.
Institute for Aging Research study says dementia is a terminal illness — Understanding clinical course of disease leads to better end-of-life care. – Patients with advanced dementia experience distressing symptoms similar to patients dying of more commonly recognized terminal conditions, such as cancer, revealed by researchers.
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.
Osteoporosis drug may save lives by strengthening immune system – An osteoporosis drug zoledronic acid (Reclast) proven to save lives after hip fractures may do so by strengthening the body’s immune system, revealed by geriatrics researchers at Duke University Medical Center.
World now at the start of 2009 influenza pandemic, says WHO. – On the basis of available evidence and expert assessments of the evidence, the scientific criteria for an influenza pandemic have been met. The Director-General of WHO has therefore decided to raise the level of influenza pandemic alert from phase 5 to phase 6.
Acid-suppressive medication use was associated with 30% increased odds of hospital-acquired pneumonia. – Hospitalized patients who receive acid-suppressive medications such as a proton-pump inhibitor have a 30 percent increased odds of developing pneumonia while in the hospital, according to a study in the May 27 issue of JAMA.
AIDS patients with serious complications benefit from early retroviral use, Stanford study shows – HIV-positive patients who don’t seek medical attention until they have a serious AIDS-related condition can reduce their risk of death or other complications by half if they get antiretroviral treatment early on, according to a new multicenter trial led by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine.
Keep swine flu leaflets safe – McGimpsey – Over 800,000 leaflets giving the public important information about swine flu will begin dropping through letter-boxes across Northern Ireland today.
Post-surgical and other complications in patients who have obesity surgery, also known as bariatric surgery, declined 21 percent. – A new study by the Department of Health & Human Services’ (HHS) Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) found that the average rate of post-surgical and other complications in patients who have obesity surgery, also known as bariatric surgery, declined 21 percent between 2002 and 2006.
World Health Organization is assessing the situation of Swine influenza in Mexico and the United States of America. – In response to cases of swine influenza A(H1N1), reported in Mexico and the United States of America, the Director-General convened a meeting of the Emergency Committee to assess the situation and advise her on appropriate responses.
A new study finds that long-term exposure to ozone is linked to a higher risk of death from respiratory causes. – Long-term exposure to ground-level ozone, a major component of smog, is associated with an increased risk of death from respiratory ailments, according to a new nationwide study led by a researcher at the University of California, Berkeley.
Results published in New England Journal of Medicine resolve questions about pediatric vaccine’s efficacy in preventing spread of the pneumococcal meningitis disease to adults. – A standard pediatric vaccine used to prevent several common types of life-threatening infections also effectively reduced the rates of another disease, pneumococcal meningitis, in children and adults, according to a multi-center study led by the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.
Chinese agriculture officials have issued an alert against bird flu after a 19-year-old woman died of the disease in Beijing. – New human cases of H5N1 avian influenza, involving a 19-year-old Chinese woman who died of her infection and an 8-year-old Vietnamese girl who is recovering, reported by public health officials in two countries – China and Vietnam.
