http://www.rxpgnews.com/ Medical News and Information Tue, 05 Feb 2008 11:27:58 PST en-us http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/T-cell-immunity-enhanced-by-timing-of-interleukin-7-therapy_86734.shtml Latest Research MADISON -- That the cell nurturing growth factor interleukin-7 can help ramp up the ability of the immune system to remember the pathogenic villains it encounters is well known. Tue, 05 Feb 2008 08:25:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/T-cell-immunity-enhanced-by-timing-of-interleukin-7-therapy_86734.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Drug-aimed-at-2-bioterror-agents-blocks-live-viral-infection-Weill-Cornell-team-reports_79371.shtml Latest Research NEW YORK (Dec. 19, 2007) -- Two deadly and highly infectious viruses -- both potential bioterror threats -- may have met their match in a new drug developed by scientists at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City. Wed, 19 Dec 2007 05:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Drug-aimed-at-2-bioterror-agents-blocks-live-viral-infection-Weill-Cornell-team-reports_79371.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Poxvirus-ability-to-hide-from-the-immune-system-may-aid-vaccine-design_73180.shtml Latest Research The cowpox virus, a much milder cousin of the deadly smallpox virus, can keep infected host cells from warning the immune system that they have been compromised, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have found. The scientists also showed that more virulent poxviruses, such as the strains of monkeypox prevalent in Central Africa, likely have the same ability. Thu, 15 Nov 2007 05:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Poxvirus-ability-to-hide-from-the-immune-system-may-aid-vaccine-design_73180.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Mice-help-researchers-understand-chlamydia_71700.shtml Latest Research Genetically engineered mice may hold the key to helping scientists from Queensland University of Technology and Harvard hasten the development of a vaccine to protect adolescent girls against the most common sexually transmitted disease, Chlamydia. Mon, 29 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Mice-help-researchers-understand-chlamydia_71700.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/southafrica/XDR-TB-in-South-Africa-traced-to-lack-of-drug-susceptibility-testing_70482.shtml South Africa In South Africa, the 2001 implementation of the World Health Organizationďż˝s anti-tuberculosis program may have inadvertently helped to create a new strain of extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR TB). In a new study published in the December 1 issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases, currently available online, researchers tracked the developing drug resistance of one particular strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis over 12 years. They found that at the time of the 2001 adoption of the DOT+ strategy for multi-drug resistant strains, the strain was already resistant to one or more of the drugs mandated by that strategy, thus allowing the strain to survive and develop resistance to additional drugs. Mon, 22 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/southafrica/XDR-TB-in-South-Africa-traced-to-lack-of-drug-susceptibility-testing_70482.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Influenza-Insights-into-cell-specificity-of-human-vs.-avian-viruses_68203.shtml Latest Research Rotterdam, The Netherlands — Researchers have identified which sites and cell types within the respiratory tract are targeted by human versus avian influenza viruses, providing valuable insights into the pathogenesis of these divergent diseases. The report by van Riel et al, “Human and avian influenza viruses target different cells in the lower respiratory tract of humans and other mammals,” appears in the October issue of The American Journal of Pathology and is accompanied by a commentary and highlighted on the cover. Tue, 09 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Influenza-Insights-into-cell-specificity-of-human-vs.-avian-viruses_68203.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Patients-with-pneumonia-who-received-pneumococcal-vaccine-have-lower-rate-of-death-ICU-admission_68014.shtml Latest Research Among patients hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia, those who had previously received the pneumococcal vaccine had a lower risk of death and admission to the intensive care unit than patients who were not vaccinated, according to a report in the Oct. 8 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. Mon, 08 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Patients-with-pneumonia-who-received-pneumococcal-vaccine-have-lower-rate-of-death-ICU-admission_68014.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/NIH-grant-supports-UCSF-research-exploring-early-HIV-infection_68040.shtml Latest Research A team led by researchers at the UCSF Positive Health Program has been named to receive $15 million over five years to expand understanding of the complex interactions between HIV and the immune systems of newly infected patients following HIV transmission. Mon, 08 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/NIH-grant-supports-UCSF-research-exploring-early-HIV-infection_68040.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Scripps-research-scientists-develop-innovative-dual-action-anthrax-vaccine-antitoxin-combination_67347.shtml Latest Research The immune response generated in rats by the new agent protects against lethal toxin exposure after only one injection, and is faster and stronger than any currently available vaccine. Thu, 04 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Scripps-research-scientists-develop-innovative-dual-action-anthrax-vaccine-antitoxin-combination_67347.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Flu-vaccine-in-painless-skin-patches-under-development-at-Emory-Georgia-Tech-with-NIH-grants_67049.shtml Latest Research Flu vaccine delivered through painless microneedles in patches applied to the skin could soon be an alternative to delivery through hypodermic needles, according to researchers at Emory University and the Georgia Institute of Technology. Using new grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) totaling approximately $11.5 million over five years, researchers from the two institutions plan to develop a new vaccine product using the microscopic needles. Wed, 03 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Flu-vaccine-in-painless-skin-patches-under-development-at-Emory-Georgia-Tech-with-NIH-grants_67049.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Second-pathway-behind-HIV-associated-immune-system-dysfunction-identified_66419.shtml Latest Research Researchers at the Partners AIDS Research Center at Massachusetts General Hospital (PARC-MGH) may have discovered a second molecular “switch” responsible for turning off the immune system’s response against HIV. Last year members of the same team identified a molecule called PD-1 that suppresses the activity of HIV-specific CD8 T cells that should destroy virus-infected cells. Now the researchers describe how a regulatory protein called CTLA-4 inhibits the action of HIV-specific CD4 T cells that control the overall response against the virus. The report will appear in the journal Nature Immunology and is receiving early online release. Sun, 30 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Second-pathway-behind-HIV-associated-immune-system-dysfunction-identified_66419.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Chronic-infection-persists-by-targeting-stromal-cell-network-in-lymphoid-organs_64027.shtml Latest Research One of the biggest challenges to treating infectious diseases and developing preventive vaccines is the ability of many chronic infections to suppress the immune T-cell response over time. An Emory-led team of scientists has discovered one important way in which chronic viral infections are able to evade the immune response. The research is reported this week online in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Tue, 18 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Chronic-infection-persists-by-targeting-stromal-cell-network-in-lymphoid-organs_64027.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/New-nanoparticle-vaccine-is-more-effective-but-less-expensive_63658.shtml Latest Research Good news for public health: Bioengineering researchers from the EPFL in Lausanne, Switzerland, have developed and patented a nanoparticle that can deliver vaccines more effectively, with fewer side effects, and at a fraction of the cost of current vaccine technologies. Sun, 16 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/New-nanoparticle-vaccine-is-more-effective-but-less-expensive_63658.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Novel-HIV-vaccine-created-at-The-Wistar-Institute-funded-for-clinical-development_60812.shtml Latest Research (PHILADELPHIA) – A promising new HIV vaccine created at The Wistar Institute has received funding for clinical development aimed at moving the vaccine into human clinical trials as soon as possible. Fri, 31 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Novel-HIV-vaccine-created-at-The-Wistar-Institute-funded-for-clinical-development_60812.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Binghamton-University-researchers-investigate-evolving-malaria-resistance_60558.shtml Latest Research Funded by a $1.5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health, scientists at Binghamton University, State University of New York, hope to understand how the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum evolved resistance to the once-effective medication chloroquine. Thu, 30 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Binghamton-University-researchers-investigate-evolving-malaria-resistance_60558.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/IAVI-CDC-and-USMHRP-release-new-data-redefining-laboratory-reference-ranges-in-Africa_58984.shtml Latest Research (SEATTLE, August 21, 2007) Leading researchers from the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Military HIV Research Program (USMHRP) presented final results today from a collection of independent studies reexamining the medical criteria for including African volunteers in AIDS vaccine trials. The findings, presented at the AIDS Vaccine 2007 Conference in Seattle, suggest that many healthy Southern and East Africans have, in the past, been excluded from participating in trials based on laboratory reference ranges that were developed for Western populations and may not be appropriate locally. Implementation of the results of the studies should improve participation of African volunteers in clinical trials for new drugs and vaccines against emerging infectious diseases currently ravaging Africa, including AIDS, TB and malaria, and enable clinicians to better monitor and define adverse events in trials. Tue, 21 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/IAVI-CDC-and-USMHRP-release-new-data-redefining-laboratory-reference-ranges-in-Africa_58984.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Tumors-use-enzyme-to-recruit-regulatory-T-cells-and-suppress-immune-response_58138.shtml Latest Research One way tumors fly under the radar of the immune system is by using IDO, an enzyme used by fetuses to help avoid rejection, to recruit powerful regulatory T cells that turn down the immune response, researchers say. Thu, 16 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Tumors-use-enzyme-to-recruit-regulatory-T-cells-and-suppress-immune-response_58138.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Anthrax-vaccine-produces-immunity-with-nanoparticles-not-needles_58063.shtml Latest Research ANN ARBOR, Mich. — A vaccine against anthrax that is more effective and easier to administer than the present vaccine has proved highly effective in tests in mice and guinea pigs, report University of Michigan Medical School scientists in the August issue of Infection and Immunity. Wed, 15 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Anthrax-vaccine-produces-immunity-with-nanoparticles-not-needles_58063.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/HPV-vaccine-does-not-appear-to-be-effective-for-treating-pre-existing-HPV-infection_57738.shtml Latest Research For women with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, use of the HPV-16/18 vaccine will not accelerate reduction of the virus and should not be used to treat the infection, according to a study in the August 15 issue of JAMA. Tue, 14 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/HPV-vaccine-does-not-appear-to-be-effective-for-treating-pre-existing-HPV-infection_57738.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/DNA-vaccine-against-multiple-sclerosis-appears-safe-potentially-beneficial_57504.shtml Latest Research A newly developed DNA vaccine appears safe and may produce beneficial changes in the brains and immune systems of individuals with multiple sclerosis, according to an article posted online today that will appear in the October 2007 print issue of Archives of Neurology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. Mon, 13 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/DNA-vaccine-against-multiple-sclerosis-appears-safe-potentially-beneficial_57504.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Study-reveals-gaps-in-vaccine-financing-for-underinsured-children_56477.shtml Latest Research A national survey of state immunization program managers reveals gaps in coverage for the current vaccine financing system, suggesting that many underinsured children may not receive recommended vaccinations, such as for pneumonia and meningitis, according to a report in the August 8 issue of JAMA. Tue, 07 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Study-reveals-gaps-in-vaccine-financing-for-underinsured-children_56477.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Study-suggests-nonpharmaceutical-interventions-may-be-helpful-in-severe-influenza-outbreaks_56478.shtml Latest Research An analysis of non-pharmaceutical interventions used in the U.S. during the 1918-1919 influenza pandemic, such as closing schools and banning public gatherings, found an association between these interventions and reduced death rates, suggesting that non-pharmaceutical interventions may play a role in planning for future influenza pandemics, according to a study in the August 8 issue of JAMA. Tue, 07 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Study-suggests-nonpharmaceutical-interventions-may-be-helpful-in-severe-influenza-outbreaks_56478.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Immune-mechanism-could-help-explain-transient-immune-suppression-often-seen-in-acute-infections_55620.shtml Latest Research Scientists have discovered that at the same time the immune system is vigorously attacking invading viruses or bacteria, it is unexpectedly reducing its production of a particular type of factor that directs the movement of immune cells. The new finding, which could help explain the transient immune suppression often seen during acute infections, shows that the immune system is even more complex than previously believed. Thu, 02 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Immune-mechanism-could-help-explain-transient-immune-suppression-often-seen-in-acute-infections_55620.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Phase-II-study-of-therapeutic-vaccine-shows-efficacy-in-patients-with-metastatic-colorectal-cancer_55426.shtml Latest Research PHILADELPHIA – A therapeutic cancer vaccine has shown effectiveness when given alongside chemotherapy to patients with metastatic colorectal cancer in a phase II trial, according to researchers at Oxford BioMedica (UK) Ltd. The study found that six of the 17 metastatic colorectal cancer patients in the study showed tumor shrinkage, classified as complete or partial responses following independent expert review. Wed, 01 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Phase-II-study-of-therapeutic-vaccine-shows-efficacy-in-patients-with-metastatic-colorectal-cancer_55426.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/New-target-for-HIV%2FAIDS-drugs-and-vaccine-discovered_54295.shtml Latest Research Researchers from Rome, Italy, describe a finding in the August 2007 print issue of The FASEB Journal that could lead to new drugs to fight the HIV/AIDS virus, as well as new vaccines to prevent infection. It has been known that HIV proteins disable the antibody-forming part of the immune system (the “homeland defense” or acquired immune system). In this report, researchers demonstrate for the first time how the HIV-1 Nef viral protein delivers a one-two punch to the bodyÂ’s innate immune system (our “early warning system” composed of dendritic and natural killer cells). First, Nef hijacks dendritic cells (DCs) to upset the function of natural killer (NK) cells. Second, after blocking this first line of defense against the immune system, Nef uses DCs and NK cells to create a microenvironment that actually makes it easier for HIV/AIDS to replicate. Thu, 26 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/New-target-for-HIV%2FAIDS-drugs-and-vaccine-discovered_54295.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Measles-vaccinations-need-to-be-repeated-to-protect-HIV-infected-children_52611.shtml Latest Research HIV-infected children may require repeat measles vaccination for protection, according to new research from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and other institutions. The researchers found that only half of the HIV-infected children who survived without antiretroviral therapy maintained protective antibody levels 27 months after receiving measles vaccine. By comparison, 89 percent of children without HIV maintained their immunity, as did 92 percent of the HIV-infected children who were revaccinated in a mass measles immunization campaign during the 27 months of follow-up. The study results were published online June 19, 2007, by The Journal of Infectious Diseases, and will be included in the August 1, 2007, printed issue of the journal. Tue, 17 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Measles-vaccinations-need-to-be-repeated-to-protect-HIV-infected-children_52611.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Vaccine-trials-inject-hope-into-koalas-future_52301.shtml Latest Research The first Australian trials of a vaccine developed by Queensland University of Technology that could save Australia's iconic koala from contracting chlamydia are planned to begin later this year. Mon, 16 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Vaccine-trials-inject-hope-into-koalas-future_52301.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Immune-system-escape-hatch-gives-cancer-cells-traction_52343.shtml Latest Research Scientists at Johns Hopkins and elsewhere say they have mapped out an escape route that cancers use to evade the bodyÂ’s immune system, allowing the disease to spread unchecked. Mon, 16 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Immune-system-escape-hatch-gives-cancer-cells-traction_52343.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Japans-DNAVEC-and-IAVI-partner-on-novel-AIDS-vaccine-strategy_51030.shtml Latest Research Tsukuba City, Japan and New York, July 9, 2007—The New York-based International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) and DNAVEC Corporation today announced a collaboration to jointly develop an AIDS vaccine using DNAVEC's Sendai virus (SeV) vector technology. The candidate will be designed to be administered intra-nasally to stimulate immune responses in both the blood and mucosal tissues, the initial point of entry for HIV. Mon, 09 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Japans-DNAVEC-and-IAVI-partner-on-novel-AIDS-vaccine-strategy_51030.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Novel-genetics-research-advances-possibility-of-HIV-vaccine_50437.shtml Latest Research A pioneering collaborative study has discovered how the HIV virus evades the human bodyÂ’s immune system. Thu, 05 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Novel-genetics-research-advances-possibility-of-HIV-vaccine_50437.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Researchers-discover-method-for-identifying-how-cancer-evades-the-immune-system_48324.shtml Latest Research One of the fundamental traits of a tumor – how it avoids the immune system – might become its greatest vulnerability, according to researchers from the University of Southern California. Their findings, demonstrated in human breast and colorectal cancers, indicate that a technique for determining a tumorÂ’s “immune signature,” could be useful for diagnosing and treating specific cancers. Mon, 02 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Researchers-discover-method-for-identifying-how-cancer-evades-the-immune-system_48324.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Human-antibodies-that-block-human-and-animal-SARS-viruses-identified_48353.shtml Latest Research An international team of investigators has identified the first human antibodies that can neutralize different strains of the virus responsible for outbreaks of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). The researchers used a mouse model and in vitro assays (lab tests) to test the neutralizing activity of the antibodies. The research team was led by scientists from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), both parts of the National Institutes of Health, and included collaborators from the U.S. Army (USAMRIID), academic institutions in the United States, Switzerland, and Australia. The research findings appear after the July 2, 2007, early online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Mon, 02 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Human-antibodies-that-block-human-and-animal-SARS-viruses-identified_48353.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/LSUHSC-grants-fund-infectious-diseases-research-and-clinical-trials_48025.shtml Latest Research Chancellor Larry Hollier, MD, announced today that the Louisiana Board of Regents voted to award LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans a $3.3 million grant and an equal share of a $5.9 million grant from their Research Commercialization and Education Enhancement Program. “We are grateful to the Louisiana Board of Regents, Commissioner of Higher Education Dr. Joseph Savoie, and the Louisiana Recovery Authority, which was instrumental in obtaining these funds, for investing in our educational and research enterprises,” said Dr. Hollier. “These programs will help us stabilize the supply of health care professionals in New Orleans and promote economic recovery by enhancing our efforts to recruit and, as importantly, retain current faculty.” Thu, 28 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/LSUHSC-grants-fund-infectious-diseases-research-and-clinical-trials_48025.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/New-vaccine-prevents-CMV-infection-and-disease-in-mice_40327.shtml Latest Research Researchers at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences have patented a strategy for developing a human vaccine to prevent against Human Cytomegalovirus (hCMV) infection and disease. Fri, 22 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/New-vaccine-prevents-CMV-infection-and-disease-in-mice_40327.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Fever-after-smallpox-vaccination-tied-to-individual-genetic-variations_39793.shtml Latest Research St. Louis researchers have identified common DNA variations that underlie susceptibility to fever after smallpox vaccination. Their finding is the first to link individual differences written into the genetic code with a vaccine-related complication - albeit a mild one. Mon, 18 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Fever-after-smallpox-vaccination-tied-to-individual-genetic-variations_39793.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/How-memory-T-cells-curb-the-spread-of-viruses-throughout-the-body_39880.shtml Latest Research A scientific discovery by Fox Chase Cancer Center researchers helps explain how “memory” T cells protect the body from viral diseases. The research published today in Proceedings of the National Academy of Science Online Early Edition shows lymph nodes are not just organs where immune cells reside and proliferate, but also are the sites where a major fight against the spread of an invading virus occurs. Mon, 18 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/How-memory-T-cells-curb-the-spread-of-viruses-throughout-the-body_39880.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Damon-Runyon-renews-its-%242.25-million-investment-to-support-young-clinical-cancer-investigators_39664.shtml Latest Research New York, NY -- The Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation named 5 new Damon Runyon Clinical Investigators at its May 2007 Clinical Investigator Award Committee review. The recipients of this prestigious, three-year award are outstanding early career physician-scientists conducting patient-oriented cancer research at major research centers under the mentorship of the nationÂ’s leading scientists and clinicians. Each will receive $450,000 to support the development of his or her cancer research program. The Clinical Investigator Award program is specifically intended to help address the worrisome shortage of physicians capable of translating scientific discovery into new breakthroughs for cancer patients. In partnerships with founding sponsor Eli Lilly and Company, and with Siemens Medical Solutions, Novartis and Genentech, the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation has committed more than $30 million to support the careers of 39 physician-scientists across the United States since 2000. Fri, 15 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Damon-Runyon-renews-its-%242.25-million-investment-to-support-young-clinical-cancer-investigators_39664.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/American-College-of-Preventive-Medicine-applauds-IOM-report-on-training-public-health-physicians_39409.shtml Latest Research Washington, D.C. – The American College of Preventive Medicine (ACPM) today applauded the recent release of the Institute of Medicine report, “Training Physicians for Public Health Careers,” praising the report as a major milestone for preventive medicine and public health from one of the most prestigious voices in medicine. The report calls on Congress to stem the tide of AmericaÂ’s eroding preventive medicine and public health workforce. Wed, 13 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/American-College-of-Preventive-Medicine-applauds-IOM-report-on-training-public-health-physicians_39409.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Meningitis-effectiveness-of-preventive-vaccination-demonstrated_38371.shtml Latest Research Meningitis epidemics caused by the pathogen Nesseiria meningitis (or meningococcus) provoke high mortality in children and young people under 20 years of age in sub-Saharan Africa. They rage during periods of drought from January to April, in the area known as the “Meningitis Belt” (see Map) Tue, 05 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Meningitis-effectiveness-of-preventive-vaccination-demonstrated_38371.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Brain-inflammation-may-be-friend-not-foe-for-Alzheimers-patients_37701.shtml Latest Research Inflammation in the brain may not be so bad after all when it comes to AlzheimerÂ’s disease. Fri, 01 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Brain-inflammation-may-be-friend-not-foe-for-Alzheimers-patients_37701.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Vaxfectin-formulated-measles-DNA-vaccine-elicits-long-term-protection-in-nonhuman-primates_37337.shtml Latest Research Vical Incorporated (Nasdaq:VICL) today announced that a measles DNA vaccine formulated with the company's Vaxfectin? adjuvant elicited protective levels of neutralizing antibodies in juvenile (1 ? 2 year old) nonhuman primates confirmed by complete protection following challenge more than one year after vaccination, and sterilizing immunity as evidenced by no clinical signs of disease and no detectable virus after challenge. In a separate study, the same vaccine elicited protective levels of neutralizing antibodies in infant (6 ? 10 weeks old) nonhuman primates with no vaccine-related adverse events. The studies were conducted in collaboration with Diane E. Griffin, M.D., Ph.D., Alfred and Jill Sommer Professor and Chair of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, under a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Thu, 31 May 2007 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Vaxfectin-formulated-measles-DNA-vaccine-elicits-long-term-protection-in-nonhuman-primates_37337.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/International-studies-show-high-efficacy-for-HPV-vaccine_43571.shtml Latest Research A new vaccine aimed at preventing cervical cancer is nearly 100 percent effective against the two types of the human papillomavirus (HPV) responsible for most cases of cervical cancerĂ‘strains 16 and 18. Results of an international meta-analysis study of the vaccine are published in the June 1 issue of the journal Lancet. Thu, 31 May 2007 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/International-studies-show-high-efficacy-for-HPV-vaccine_43571.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Human-antibodies-protect-mice-from-avian-flu_36970.shtml Latest Research An international team of scientists, including researchers from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, report using antibodies derived from immune cells from recent human survivors of H5N1 avian influenza to successfully treat H5N1-infected mice as well as protect them from an otherwise lethal dose of the virus. Mon, 28 May 2007 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Human-antibodies-protect-mice-from-avian-flu_36970.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Vaccine-hope-for-malaria_34593.shtml Latest Research One person dies of it every 30 seconds, it rivals HIV and tuberculosis as the worldÂ’s most deadly infection and the vast majority of its victims are under five years old. Now, just over 100 years since BritainÂ’s Sir Ronald Ross was awarded the Nobel Prize for finally proving that malaria is transmitted by mosquitoes, researchers at The University of Nottingham believe they have made a significant breakthrough in the search for an effective vaccine. Wed, 23 May 2007 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Vaccine-hope-for-malaria_34593.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Landmark-study-details-demographic-ecological-and-genetic-spread-of-rabies-in-raccoon-outbreak_30672.shtml Latest Research Analyzing 30 years of data detailing a large rabies virus outbreak among North American raccoons, researchers at Emory University have revealed how initial demographic, ecological and genetic processes simultaneously shaped the virus's geographic spread over time. The study appears online in the Proceedings of The National Academy of Sciences. Thu, 17 May 2007 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Landmark-study-details-demographic-ecological-and-genetic-spread-of-rabies-in-raccoon-outbreak_30672.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/The-quest-for-an-effective-HIV-vaccine-presents-new-possibilities-challenges_30224.shtml Latest Research A vaccine that prevents HIV infection remains an important goal in the fight against AIDS, but the current top HIV vaccine candidates may not work in this way, say scientists at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Rather, the first successful preventive HIV vaccines, if administered prior to HIV infection, may reduce HIV levels in the body, thereby delaying the progression to AIDS and the need to start antiretroviral drugs. These vaccines may also reduce the chance that a person infected with HIV would pass the virus on to other people, according to NIAID Director Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., and Margaret I. Johnston, Ph.D., director of NIAIDÂ’s Vaccine Research Program in the Division of AIDS. Wed, 16 May 2007 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/The-quest-for-an-effective-HIV-vaccine-presents-new-possibilities-challenges_30224.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Study-finds-no-link-between-autism-and-thimerosal-in-vaccines_30265.shtml Latest Research COLUMBIA, Mo. -- The increase in the number of diagnosed cases of autism in recent years has sparked concern that environmental toxins may cause this complex disorder. However, a new University of Missouri-Columbia study concludes that exposure to Rh immune globulin preserved with mercury-containing thimerosal before birth was no higher for children with autism. Wed, 16 May 2007 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Study-finds-no-link-between-autism-and-thimerosal-in-vaccines_30265.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Herpes-infection-may-be-symbiotic-help-beat-back-some-bacteria_31322.shtml Latest Research Mice with chronic herpes virus infections can better resist the bacterium that causes plague and a bacterium that causes one kind of food poisoning, researchers report in this week's Nature. Wed, 16 May 2007 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Herpes-infection-may-be-symbiotic-help-beat-back-some-bacteria_31322.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Getting-to-the-core-of-an-emergent-public-health-threat_31018.shtml Latest Research The outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2002 was a loud wake-up call for researchers studying infectious diseases. SARS infected over 8,000 people, killed 10 percent of those infected, and weakened most with pneumonia. Tue, 15 May 2007 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Getting-to-the-core-of-an-emergent-public-health-threat_31018.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Students-devise-oral-quick-dissolve-strips-for-rotavirus-vaccine_31077.shtml Latest Research A thin strip that dissolves in the mouth like a popular breath-freshener could someday provide life-saving rotavirus vaccine to infants in impoverished areas. The innovative drug-delivery system was developed by Johns Hopkins undergraduate biomedical engineering students. Mon, 14 May 2007 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Students-devise-oral-quick-dissolve-strips-for-rotavirus-vaccine_31077.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Dealing-deadly-cancers-a-knockout-punch_30227.shtml Latest Research New scientific evidence is helping to build a compelling case for oncolytic viruses as a first-line and adjunctive treatment for many cancers. Thu, 10 May 2007 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Dealing-deadly-cancers-a-knockout-punch_30227.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Study-shows-continued-success-for-new-HPV-vaccine-against-virus-responsible-for-cervical-cancer_31087.shtml Latest Research A new vaccine aimed at preventing cervical cancer is nearly 100 percent effective against the two types of the human papillomavirus (HPV) responsible for most cases of cervical cancer. Results of a nationwide study of the vaccine will be published in the May 9 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. Wed, 09 May 2007 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Study-shows-continued-success-for-new-HPV-vaccine-against-virus-responsible-for-cervical-cancer_31087.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Health-officials-renew-Indo-US-Vaccine-Action-Program_30053.shtml Latest Research U.S. and Indian health officials have renewed the Indo-U.S. Vaccine Action Program (VAP), a 20-year-old bilateral collaboration supporting research on vaccines, immunology and related biomedical issues. The VAP aims to reduce the burden of vaccine-preventable diseases of public health significance in India, the United States and other parts of the world, and to promote vaccines as one of the most cost-effective health technologies. Tue, 08 May 2007 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Health-officials-renew-Indo-US-Vaccine-Action-Program_30053.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Smallpox-outbreak-How-long-would-it-take-for-vaccines-to-protect-people-Would-it-work_31706.shtml Latest Research ST. LOUIS -- In the event of a smallpox outbreak in the United States, how long would it take for a vaccinSLU scientist leads national studye to start protecting Americans by stimulating an immune response? Mon, 30 Apr 2007 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Smallpox-outbreak-How-long-would-it-take-for-vaccines-to-protect-people-Would-it-work_31706.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Increase-seen-in-pneumococcal-infections-not-covered-by-childhood-vaccine_32666.shtml Latest Research Alaska Native children are experiencing increased rates of serious infections caused by strains of pneumococcal bacteria that are not covered by the current childhood pneumococcal vaccine, indicating the importance of ongoing surveillance of vaccine effectiveness, according to a study in the April 25 issue of JAMA. Tue, 24 Apr 2007 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Increase-seen-in-pneumococcal-infections-not-covered-by-childhood-vaccine_32666.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/New-research-shows-that-flu-is-a-trigger-of-heart-attacks_31749.shtml Latest Research Doctors need to take concerted action to ensure that people who are at risk of heart disease receive the influenza vaccine every autumn, according to the authors of a new report published today (Wednesday 18 April) in the European Heart Journal. Their research shows that influenza epidemics are associated with a rise in deaths from heart disease and that flu can actually trigger the heart attacks that result in death. Tue, 17 Apr 2007 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/New-research-shows-that-flu-is-a-trigger-of-heart-attacks_31749.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/avianinfluenza/Promising_Flu_Vaccine_from_Insects_23792.shtml Avian Influenza An influenza vaccine produced with the use of insect cells appeared safe and produced an immunogenic response in healthy adults, suggesting promise as an alternative to using embryonated eggs for the development of influenza vaccine, according to a preliminary study in the April 11 issue of JAMA. Sat, 14 Apr 2007 11:39:57 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/avianinfluenza/Promising_Flu_Vaccine_from_Insects_23792.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/LSU-professors-monkey-around-with-the-Rhesus-Macaque-genome_32538.shtml Latest Research BATON ROUGE -- Since the 2001 launch of the Human Genome Project, which released a first draft of the entire sequence of human DNA, many researchers have dedicated themselves to creating a library of comprehensive, species-specific genetic sequence maps available for study. Scientists at LSU recently took part in the International Rhesus Macaque Sequence and Analysis Consortium, which successfully detailed the full DNA sequence of the rhesus macaque, the third primate – including humans – to undergo sequencing. The results will be published in the journal Science on Friday, April 13. Thu, 12 Apr 2007 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/LSU-professors-monkey-around-with-the-Rhesus-Macaque-genome_32538.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Experimental-flu-vaccine-appears-promising-in-early-tests_32511.shtml Latest Research An influenza vaccine produced with the use of insect cells appeared safe and produced an immunogenic response in healthy adults, suggesting promise as an alternative to using embryonated eggs for the development of influenza vaccine, according to a preliminary study in the April 11 issue of JAMA. Tue, 10 Apr 2007 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Experimental-flu-vaccine-appears-promising-in-early-tests_32511.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/St.-Jude-named-a-Center-of-Excellence-in-flu-research_32143.shtml Latest Research St. Jude Children's Research Hospital has been designated one of six Centers of Excellence for Influenza Research and Surveillance funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), a part of the National Institutes of Health. Mon, 02 Apr 2007 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/St.-Jude-named-a-Center-of-Excellence-in-flu-research_32143.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Immune-response-to-cancer-stem-cells-may-dictate-cancers-course_32182.shtml Latest Research Although stem cells hold incredible promise in the fight against certain diseases, in cancer they're anything but helpful. In fact, mounting evidence is showing that a tumor's growth and spread may depend on cancer stem cells, which comprise only a very small subset of the tumor. Now, a new study by Rockefeller University scientists shows that immunity to cancer stem cells may help protect people with a precancerous condition from developing the full-blown disease, and that these cells could be an important target for cancer vaccines. Mon, 26 Mar 2007 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Immune-response-to-cancer-stem-cells-may-dictate-cancers-course_32182.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/New-test-for-most-virulent-HPV-strains-under-study_36361.shtml Latest Research A test for the two strains of human papillomavirus responsible for most cervical cancers is under study. Mon, 19 Feb 2007 05:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/New-test-for-most-virulent-HPV-strains-under-study_36361.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Scientists-unveil-piece-of-HIV-protein-that-may-be-key-to-AIDS-vaccine-development_36527.shtml Latest Research In a finding that could have profound implications for AIDS vaccine design, researchers led by a team at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), have generated an atomic-level picture of a key portion of an HIV surface protein as it looks when bound to an infection-fighting antibody. Unlike much of the constantly mutating virus, this protein component is stable and—more importantly, say the researchers—appears vulnerable to attack from this specific antibody, known as b12, that can broadly neutralize HIV. Wed, 14 Feb 2007 05:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Scientists-unveil-piece-of-HIV-protein-that-may-be-key-to-AIDS-vaccine-development_36527.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Peptide-vaccine-fights-off-breast-tumors-with-aid-of-bacteria-mimicking-agents_34610.shtml Latest Research PHILADELPHIA -- With the help of immune system-stimulating molecules that mimic bacterial components, researchers have used a type of cancer vaccine to both delay and prevent breast tumors in mice. The strategy, they say, holds promise for the future use of peptide vaccines in women who are at high risk for developing breast cancer. Thu, 01 Feb 2007 05:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Peptide-vaccine-fights-off-breast-tumors-with-aid-of-bacteria-mimicking-agents_34610.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Flu-experts-call-for-mandatory-shots-for-health-care-workers_35900.shtml Latest Research ALEXANDRIA, VA -- The top professional society of infectious diseases experts is insisting that all physicians, nurses, and other health workers caring for patients be vaccinated against influenza each year or decline in writing. It is the strongest call yet to plug a critical weakness in the nation's flu preparations. Thu, 25 Jan 2007 05:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Flu-experts-call-for-mandatory-shots-for-health-care-workers_35900.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Billions-of-dollars-saved-in-US-by-polio-vaccination_35854.shtml Latest Research Boston, MA -- A new study by researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) finds that polio vaccination in the United States has resulted in a net savings of over $180 billion, even without including the large, intangible benefits associated with avoided fear and suffering. This first study to retrospectively demonstrate the enormous benefits of polio vaccination appears as part of a special issue on polio in the December 2006 issue of Risk Analysis. Fri, 19 Jan 2007 05:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Billions-of-dollars-saved-in-US-by-polio-vaccination_35854.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/NIAID-DNA-vaccine-for-H5N1-avian-influenza-enters-human-trial_36519.shtml Latest Research The first human trial of a DNA vaccine designed to prevent H5N1 avian influenza infection began on December 21, 2006, when the vaccine was administered to the first volunteer at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Center in Bethesda, MD. Scientists from the Vaccine Research Center (VRC) at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), one of the NIH Institutes, designed the vaccine. The vaccine does not contain any infectious material from the influenza virus. Wed, 03 Jan 2007 05:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/NIAID-DNA-vaccine-for-H5N1-avian-influenza-enters-human-trial_36519.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/New-details-on-how-the-immune-system-recognizes-influenza_36518.shtml Latest Research Drawing upon a massive database established with funds from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), one of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), scientists have completed the most comprehensive analysis to date of published influenza A virus epitopes--the critical sites on the virus that are recognized by the immune system. The findings, reported by researchers at the La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology (LIAI), are being published online this week by the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Mon, 01 Jan 2007 05:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/New-details-on-how-the-immune-system-recognizes-influenza_36518.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/publichealth/Arrest-deters-kerb-crawlers-from-further-prostitution-activity_9770.shtml Public Health New research indicates that men arrested for buying sex from prostitutes are much less likely to continue their prostitution activity than clients of prostitutes not arrested for such behavior. Sun, 24 Dec 2006 19:24:38 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/publichealth/Arrest-deters-kerb-crawlers-from-further-prostitution-activity_9770.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Cellular-pathway-yields-potential-new-weapon-in-vaccine-arsenal_30251.shtml Latest Research When a cell has to destroy any of its organelles or protein aggregates, it envelops them in a membrane, forming an autophagosome, and then moves them to another compartment, the lysosome, for digestion. Two years ago, Rockefeller University assistant professor Christian MĂĽnz showed that this process, called autophagy, sensitizes cells for recognition by the immune system's helper T cells. But he didn't know how often this pathway is used or how efficient it is. Now, a new study published online today in the journal Immunity goes a long way toward addressing these questions and shows that the pathway is so common that it could be a valuable new way of boosting vaccine efficacy. Fri, 22 Dec 2006 05:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Cellular-pathway-yields-potential-new-weapon-in-vaccine-arsenal_30251.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Effective-HIV-control-may-depend-on-viral-protein-targeted-by-immune-cells_31205.shtml Latest Research An effective response of the immune systemÂ’s ‘killerÂ’ T cells against infection with HIV may depend on exactly which viral protein is targeted, according to an international group of researchers. A new study finds that HIV-infected individuals in whom virus-specific CD8 T cells are targeted against the Gag protein have lower viral levels than do those with CD8 responses directed against other viral proteins. The report from the Partners AIDS Research Center at Massachusetts General Hospital (PARC-MGH), the University of Oxford and University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa is receiving early online release in Nature Medicine. Sun, 17 Dec 2006 05:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Effective-HIV-control-may-depend-on-viral-protein-targeted-by-immune-cells_31205.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Quality-not-quantity-important-for-immune-response-to-HIV_31211.shtml Latest Research When it comes to an immune response against HIV, research funded by the Wellcome Trust in the UK and the National Institutes of Health in the US has found that bigger is not necessarily better, contrary to conventional medical wisdom. The research may have a profound impact on the development of a vaccine against the disease. Sun, 17 Dec 2006 05:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Quality-not-quantity-important-for-immune-response-to-HIV_31211.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Could-the-ability-to-expel-worms-lead-to-a-future-asthma-treatment_30526.shtml Latest Research Based on experiments with worms similar to those that infest millions of children in the tropics, researchers see potential for a new way to treat asthma. Parasitic infections and asthma may cause the human immune system to react in some of the same ways, and may one day be cured by manipulating some of the same proteins, according to research published today in the journal Science. Thu, 14 Dec 2006 05:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Could-the-ability-to-expel-worms-lead-to-a-future-asthma-treatment_30526.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Flu-shot-effective-against-drifted-influenza-nasal-spray-vaccine-less-so_31485.shtml Latest Research ANN ARBOR, Mich.--- During a year in which the circulating strains of influenza showed genetic differences from the strains in vaccines, the traditional killed-virus flu shot was found to be effective in preventing influenza in healthy adults. The live attenuated-virus nasal spray vaccine also prevented illnesses but was less effective. Wed, 13 Dec 2006 05:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Flu-shot-effective-against-drifted-influenza-nasal-spray-vaccine-less-so_31485.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Cancer-immunoresistance-linked-to-loss-of-tumor-suppressor-gene_31396.shtml Latest Research Cancer immunoresistance may be partially due to loss of a well-known tumor suppressor gene, according to new research led by Andrew T. Parsa, MD, PhD, assistant professor of neurological surgery at the University of California, San Francisco. Sun, 10 Dec 2006 05:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Cancer-immunoresistance-linked-to-loss-of-tumor-suppressor-gene_31396.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/New-approach-to-BSE-successful-in-lab_31411.shtml Latest Research A new method of treatment can appreciably slow down the progress of the fatal brain disease scrapie in mice. This has been established by researchers from the Universities of Munich and Bonn together with their colleagues at the Max Planck Institute in Martinsried. To do this they used an effect discovered by the US researchers Craig Mello and Andrew Fire, for which they were awarded this yearÂ’s Nobel Prize for Medicine. Scrapie is a variant of the cattle disease BSE and the human equivalent Creutzfeld-Jakob disease. However, it will take years for the method to be introduced to medicine, the researchers warn. Their findings are published in the next issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation (Vol. 116, No. 12, December 2006). Fri, 01 Dec 2006 05:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/New-approach-to-BSE-successful-in-lab_31411.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/vaccination/Painkillers-may-reduce-effectiveness-of-vaccines_6585.shtml Vaccination New York, Nov 30 - The intake of painkillers at the time of vaccination may reduce the effectiveness of the vaccine, suggests a new study. Thu, 30 Nov 2006 14:38:46 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/vaccination/Painkillers-may-reduce-effectiveness-of-vaccines_6585.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/New-vaccine-stimulates-colorectal-cancer-patients-immune-systems-to-fight-cancerous-cells_40440.shtml Latest Research British researchers have developed a vaccine that stimulates colorectal cancer patients' immune systems to fight cancerous cells. Wed, 15 Nov 2006 05:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/New-vaccine-stimulates-colorectal-cancer-patients-immune-systems-to-fight-cancerous-cells_40440.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/U-of-S-Vaccine-and-Infectious-Disease-Organization-team-discovers-key-step-in-flu-virus-replication_42141.shtml Latest Research As public health officials around the world keep a nervous eye on the spread of avian influenza, the University of Saskatchewan's Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO) has uncovered a key step in how the influenza virus causes infection. Wed, 15 Nov 2006 05:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/U-of-S-Vaccine-and-Infectious-Disease-Organization-team-discovers-key-step-in-flu-virus-replication_42141.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/RAND-study-finds-vaccination-of-nursing-home-staff-residents-key-to-reducing-flu-outbreak_47376.shtml Latest Research Potentially deadly influenza outbreaks in nursing homes are less likely to occur when large numbers of staff and residents get flu shots, according to a study issued today by the RAND Corporation. Wed, 15 Nov 2006 05:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/RAND-study-finds-vaccination-of-nursing-home-staff-residents-key-to-reducing-flu-outbreak_47376.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Flu-vaccine-associated-with-slight-increase-in-risk-of-hospitalization-for-neurological-disorder_44454.shtml Latest Research Influenza vaccine is associated with a small but increased risk for hospitalization with the potentially debilitating neurological disorder known as Guillain-BarrĂ© syndrome, although the absolute risk associated with the vaccine is very low, according to a report in the November 13 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. Mon, 13 Nov 2006 05:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Flu-vaccine-associated-with-slight-increase-in-risk-of-hospitalization-for-neurological-disorder_44454.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Progress-made-in-HIV-vaccine-development_44130.shtml Latest Research Researchers have successfully tested two candidate vaccines that may eventually be used together to confer immunity against HIV infection. Their findings are published in the December 15 issue of The Journal of Infectious Diseases, now available online. Fri, 10 Nov 2006 05:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Progress-made-in-HIV-vaccine-development_44130.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Vaccination-with-embryonic-stem-cells-prevents-lung-cancer-in-mice_43196.shtml Latest Research Prague, Czech Republic: Researchers in America have discovered that vaccinating mice with embryonic stem cells prevented lung cancer in those animals that had had cancer cells transplanted into them after the vaccination or that had been exposed to cancer-causing chemicals. Wed, 08 Nov 2006 05:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Vaccination-with-embryonic-stem-cells-prevents-lung-cancer-in-mice_43196.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Hospital-costs-for-children-with-flu-may-be-higher-than-thought_42061.shtml Latest Research Going into another flu season, a new study reports that hospitalizing children for influenza may cost up to three or four times the previously accepted estimates. Pediatric researchers from The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia say their finding strengthens the economic justification for broadly vaccinating children against flu. Mon, 06 Nov 2006 05:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Hospital-costs-for-children-with-flu-may-be-higher-than-thought_42061.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Boston-Celtics-fund-first-teen-vaccination-delivery-program-in-the-country_45009.shtml Latest Research Providence, RI – Reflecting a long-standing commitment to the youth in New England, The Miriam Hospital and Boston Celtics have teamed up to develop the Boston Celtics Team Vaccinates Teens program – the first program in the country that will test and explore vaccine delivery strategies to adolescents. Mon, 06 Nov 2006 05:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Boston-Celtics-fund-first-teen-vaccination-delivery-program-in-the-country_45009.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Targeted-irradiation-A-new-weapon-against-HIV_46802.shtml Latest Research Antiretroviral therapy can keep HIV infection in check and delay and ameliorate the symptoms of HIV/AIDS. However, the drugs do not manage to eradicate the virus completely; individuals have to stay on the drugs permanently. Preclinical studies in mice by Ekatarina Dadachova and colleagues (Albert Einstein College of Medicine) published in the international open-access journal PLoS Medicine now suggest a new strategy to locate and kill many if not all HIV-infected cells in the body. Mon, 06 Nov 2006 05:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Targeted-irradiation-A-new-weapon-against-HIV_46802.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Early-stage-immune-system-control-of-HIV-may-depend-on-inherited-factors_45492.shtml Latest Research How well an individual's immune system controls HIV during the earliest phases of infection appears to depend on both the specific versions of key immune-system molecules called HLA Class I that have been inherited, as well as on the fragments of viral protein those molecules display to the T lymphocytes that usually destroy infected cells. In a report in the November issue of PLOS Medicine, researchers from the Partners AIDS Research Center at Massachusetts General Hospital (PARC/MGH) report that specific HLA Class I/HIV viral fragment combinations are associated with a more powerful antiviral response, findings that may help develop vaccines against HIV. Fri, 03 Nov 2006 05:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Early-stage-immune-system-control-of-HIV-may-depend-on-inherited-factors_45492.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Flu-vaccines-provided-to-older-adults-on-election-day-through-Vote-and-Vax-initiative_41308.shtml Latest Research Princeton, NJ – Older voters in select cities and towns on Election Day will have the chance to cast their ballots and fight the flu at the same time. Flu vaccine clinics will be stationed next to polling sites in 26 communities across the nation on November 7 as part of the Vote and Vax initiative, a public health program designed to make it easier for those 50 years and older to protect themselves during the flu season. Tue, 31 Oct 2006 05:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Flu-vaccines-provided-to-older-adults-on-election-day-through-Vote-and-Vax-initiative_41308.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Staph-vaccine-shows-promise-in-mouse-study_45822.shtml Latest Research By combining four proteins of Staphylococcus aureus that individually generated the strongest immune response in mice, scientists have created a vaccine that significantly protects the animals from diverse strains of the bacterium that cause disease in humans. A report describing the University of Chicago study, funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) of the National Institutes of Health, appears online this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Mon, 30 Oct 2006 05:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Staph-vaccine-shows-promise-in-mouse-study_45822.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Flu-vaccine-appears-safe-for-young-children_44453.shtml Latest Research Use of the influenza vaccine in children 6 to 23 months is not associated with an increased risk for a medical visit for any serious conditions, according to a study in the October 25 issue of JAMA. Tue, 24 Oct 2006 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Flu-vaccine-appears-safe-for-young-children_44453.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Vaccine-against-early-stage-malaria-shows-real-potential-review-finds_42012.shtml Latest Research An experimental vaccine that attacks the malaria parasite in its early stages prevents a significant number of malaria cases, and should move closer to licensing and widespread use, according to a new review of recent studies. Tue, 17 Oct 2006 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Vaccine-against-early-stage-malaria-shows-real-potential-review-finds_42012.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Experimental-vaccine-protects-mice-against-deadly-1918-flu-virus_45785.shtml Latest Research Federal scientists have developed a vaccine that protects mice against the killer 1918 influenza virus. They also have created a technique for identifying antibodies that neutralize this virus, a tool that could help contain future pandemic flu strains. These findings are important, the researchers say, to understanding and preventing the recurrence of the H1N1 influenza virus that caused the 1918 pandemic and to protecting against virulent flu strains in the future, including the H5N1 avian flu virus. Details of the research are available online this week in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Tue, 17 Oct 2006 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Experimental-vaccine-protects-mice-against-deadly-1918-flu-virus_45785.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Mass-vaccination-unnecessary-in-the-event-of-a-large-bioterrorist-US-smallpox-attack_43616.shtml Latest Research SEATTLE – Mass vaccination would not be necessary in the event of a large-scale smallpox bioterrorist attack in the United States, according to a study led by researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center that appears online in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases. Mon, 16 Oct 2006 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Mass-vaccination-unnecessary-in-the-event-of-a-large-bioterrorist-US-smallpox-attack_43616.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Research-holds-promise-for-herpes-vaccine_45640.shtml Latest Research A study by a Montana State University researcher suggests a new avenue for developing a vaccine against genital herpes and other diseases caused by herpes simplex viruses. Fri, 13 Oct 2006 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Research-holds-promise-for-herpes-vaccine_45640.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/States-that-easily-grant-immunization-exemptions-have-higher-incidence-of-whooping-cough_44619.shtml Latest Research States that have personal belief exemptions for school immunization requirements, and exemptions that are easily obtained, have higher rates of new cases of pertussis (whooping cough) than states in which obtaining immunization exemptions is more difficult, according to a study in the October 11 issue of JAMA. Tue, 10 Oct 2006 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/States-that-easily-grant-immunization-exemptions-have-higher-incidence-of-whooping-cough_44619.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/HIV-gets-a-makeover_47601.shtml Latest Research The slow pace of AIDS research can be pinned, in no small part, on something akin to the square-peg-round-hole conundrum. The HIV-1 virus won't replicate in monkey cells, so researchers use a monkey virus -- known as SIVmac, or the macaque version of simian immunodeficiency virus -- to test potential therapies and vaccines in animals. But therapies and vaccines that are effective on SIV don't necessarily translate into human success. Now, using a combination of genetic engineering and forced adaptation, researchers at Rockefeller and the Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center have created a version of the AIDS virus that replicates vigorously in both human and monkey cells -- an advance that has the potential to revolutionize vaccine research. Tue, 10 Oct 2006 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/HIV-gets-a-makeover_47601.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/New-allergy-vaccine-provides-long-lasting-hay-fever-relief-after-just-6-weeks-of-shots_44742.shtml Latest Research Researchers at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine have successfully used an experimental DNA-based vaccine to protect against ragweed allergies, commonly known as hay fever, after just six injections. Patients receiving the vaccine showed an average 60 percent reduction in allergy symptoms compared to those receiving a placebo. Wed, 04 Oct 2006 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/New-allergy-vaccine-provides-long-lasting-hay-fever-relief-after-just-6-weeks-of-shots_44742.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Live-H5N1-avian-flu-virus-vaccines-show-protection-in-animal-studies_36513.shtml Latest Research When tested in mice and ferrets, experimental vaccines based on live, weakened versions of different strains of the H5N1 avian influenza virus were well-tolerated and protected the animals from a deadly infection with naturally occurring H5N1 flu viruses. The findings, which appear in the September 12 issue of PLoS Medicine, are also encouraging, the researchers say, because they demonstrate the ability to create a vaccine based on one particular strain of the H5N1 flu virus that could potentially protect against different emerging H5N1 flu strains. Mon, 11 Sep 2006 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Live-H5N1-avian-flu-virus-vaccines-show-protection-in-animal-studies_36513.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Protein-splicing-upsets-the-DNA-colinearity-paradigm_36242.shtml Latest Research September 8, Brussels and New York -- Understanding medical research problems often relies on the direct, linear relationship between the sequence of a protein and the DNA encoding that protein. In fact, colinearity of DNA and protein sequences is thought to be a fundamental feature of the universal genetic code. However, a paper published today in Science by a team from the Brussels Branch of the global Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research (LICR) and the Seattle-based Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (FHCRC), shows that a protein can be rearranged so that it is no longer colinear with its encoding DNA. Thu, 07 Sep 2006 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Protein-splicing-upsets-the-DNA-colinearity-paradigm_36242.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Early-trial-shows-H5N1-influenza-vaccine-safe-and-effective-in-humans-at-low-doses_36229.shtml Latest Research A vaccine in development against the H5N1 influenza virus can produce a safe immune response in healthy people at low doses, according to an Online/Article published today (Thursday September 7, 2006) by The Lancet. Vaccines that are effective at low doses are needed because they would allow more people to be immunised in the event of a pandemic. Wed, 06 Sep 2006 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/research/Early-trial-shows-H5N1-influenza-vaccine-safe-and-effective-in-humans-at-low-doses_36229.shtml