February 18, 2004                    

►February 18, 2004 - New BSE form identified - Evidence of disease in 'healthy' cows points to the discovery of a novel prion strain - The Scientist

►January 2004 - THE POLITICAL ECONOMY OF AIDS - The Central Villain Is Not A Virus. It Is Poverty. And The Critical Cure Is Not Medicine. It is Justice. (free for a time) - by Brian K Murphy - www.redflagsdaily.com - "This warning is at the heart of the issue. Root-Bernstein noted that 'AIDS may continue to plague modern society, just as other preventable infections...plagued our forebears, because of the closemindedness of the very physicians whose job it is to diagnose, treat and prevent these diseases. A century ago, they let patients die by denying that germs had anything to do with diseases. Today they may be letting them die by insisting that the germ is everything.'"

►February 17, 2004 - The link between funding and the disclosure of clinical trial results - www.vidyya.com - "There have been several conflicting reports in the medical literature about whether industry funding influences research findings and conclusions...In this week's issue of CMAJ, Bhandari and colleagues reveal the results of a study of 332 randomized trials published between January 1999 and June 2001 that show that industry-funded trials were more likely to be associated with statistically significant pro-industry findings. They state this conclusion is not limited to trials of medical treatments -- it applies to trials of new surgical interventions as well."

►February 17, 2004 - Lead linked to schizophrenia - Study hints that prenatal toxins can trigger psychiatric disease. - journal article (Nature)

►February 17, 2004 - AtheroGenics to Webcast Presentation at BIO CEO & Investor Conference 2004 on ►February 24, 2004 - PRNewswire-FirstCall via http://interestalert.com

►February 17, 2004 - Discovery Laboratories Announces Conference Call and Webcast - Company to Address Secondary Endpoints for RDS and Provide Update on Other Key Programs - http://interestalert.com

►February 17, 2004 - A Critical Piece of the CF Puzzle - Newsday - "More than 50 years after cystic fibrosis was first identified as a disease, Harvard scientists have found a key puzzle piece - an imbalance of fatty acids - that may lead someday to a novel treatment for the lethal disease...Dr. Steven Freedman, an associate professor of medicine at the Harvard Medical School, discovered cystic fibrosis patients have much higher levels of arachidonic acid and depletions of docosahexaenoic acid. AA and DHA at normal levels keep cell membranes healthy. The study appeared recently in the New England Journal of Medicine."

►February 17, 2004 - CWD spreading, but not to feedgrounds, yet - Casper Star Tribune

►February 17, 2004 - Low Antibody Levels Tied to Virus in Elderly - Reuters Heath via Yahoo! - "Frail elderly individuals with low antibody levels to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are at heightened risk for severe RSV disease, new research suggests. An RSV vaccine might therefore benefit the elderly population."

►February 17, 2004 - Health Highlights - Bird Flu Hits Pets in Japan - New Strain of Mad Cow Found in Italy - Breast Cancer Linked to Antibiotic Use - Anger, Nicotine Addiction May Go Hand in Hand - Concern Grows Over Lead in Computer Monitors - Gene Therapy Could Produce Super Athletes - ScoutNews, LLC via www.hon.ch

►February 17, 2004 - NetImpact Secures Option for New MDS200 License: Identify Infected Sheep and Goats, Protect Against Spread of Chronic Waste Disease - PRNewswire-FirstCall via http://interestalert.com

►February 17, 2004 - National Campaign to Get Kids Physically Active is Working; Survey Findings Prove VERB Campaign is Motivating Youth to Get Active - Health Reporter via U.S. Newswire

►February 16, 2004 - Looking to the East for health - Scripps Howard News Service via www.polkonline.com - "Chu, a specialist in rehabilitative medicine, knows Western science has not measured chi, a Chinese concept that translates roughly as "energy," or even demonstrated that it exists. Still, he is so certain of the health benefits from practicing tai chi that he gives virtually free weekly classes in his Roseville, Calif. office."

►February 16, 2004 - JCI table of contents - Journal of Clinical Investigation via www.eurekalert.org

►February 16, 2004 - Possible mechanism for link between diabetes and Alzheimer's disease discovered -  Joslin Diabetes Center via www.eurekalert.org

►February 17, 2004 - Food-borne pathogen traced to lettuce - Infectious Diseases Society of American via www.eurekalert.org - "For the first time, scientists have identified fresh produce as the source of an outbreak of human Yersinia pseudotuberculosis infections, according to an article published in the March 1 issue of The Journal of Infectious Diseases, now available online. The outbreak was identified in Finland and traced epidemiologically to farms producing lettuce...Y. pseudotuberculosis, first identified in 1883, causes infections characterized by fever and abdominal pain that are often confused with acute appendicitis. The microbe is well known in veterinary medicine as the cause of illnesses in hares, deer, and sheep, among other animals. Y. pseudotuberculosis infections in humans are relatively rare, and while foodborne transmission has long been suspected, attempts to trace the pathogen to a concrete source of contamination in the past have been unsuccessful."

►February 18, 2004 - Backing for health chief - The Standard, China - "Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food Yeoh Eng-kiong was not trying to downplay the significance of Sars when he told a press conference last March that there was no outbreak of the disease in the community, it was claimed yesterday...Nor was he trying to placate members of the public, according to Deputy Director of Health Leung Pak-yin."

►February 17, 2004 - CDC granted $250 million appropriation to improve aging labs - AP via Ledger-Enquirer - "The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been granted $250 million from Congress to improve its aging buildings and labs, it was announced Tuesday...'We are extremely proud of what we have been able to accomplish thus far at CDC, but ... our work is not done,' said Phil Jacobs, co-chairman of the Friends of the CDC and president of Georgia operations for BellSouth. 'We will not rest until we see the full $1.4 billion program completely funded.'"

►February 17, 2004 - Personalized Medicine, Financial Sessions on Tap at BIO's CEO & Investor Conference in New York - PRNewswire via http://interestalert.com

►February 17, 2004 - VaxGen Announces Preliminary Financial Results for the Fourth Quarter and Year - PRNewswire-FirstCall via http://interestalert.com

►February 23, 2004 - Cuddle with Care - Forget about bird flu or SARS -- you're much more likely to get sick from a pet - TIME Magazine

►February 16, 2004 - For the Love of a Child - www.the-signal.com - "Emily Iland said her son was not diagnosed with any condition until the age of 13.  She said they both cried every day for years because no one knew how to help him."

►February 16, 2004 - How did we get so cynical? - Cynicism seems to have become the defining attitude of our time. This week the BBC News Online Magazine is asking where it comes from, who's damaged by it, and what next for a cynical society? First though - what made us into the cynical people we have become? - BBC

►February 18, 2004 - Latching On to a Horror - Scientists fear a pandemic if the deadly avian flu virus, which hooks into victims' cells, mutates and spreads between humans. (requires registration) - The Los Angeles Times

►February 18, 2004 - First viral pneumonia patient discharged from hospital - Vietnam News Agency

►February 18, 2004 - Board drops health cards - The Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer

►February 18, 2004 - Bird flu found in Japan among pet birds, officials say - Local health chiefs order family to undergo tests to make sure they are not infected by virus - AP via www.etaiwannews.com

►February 18, 2004 - Avian flu confirmed as killer of roosters in Oita - IHT via The Asahi Shimbun

►February 18, 2004 - Flu Vaccine to Change Next Year (requires registration or subscription) - The New York Times - "Next season's vaccines for the United States are expected to include the Fujian strain that has caused most of this season's flu cases here and in Europe. The Fujian strain will replace the strain known as A/Moscow...Next season's vaccine will also substitute the B/Shanghai strain for the B/Hong Kong strain. The new vaccine will still include the A/New Caledonia strain."

►February 17, 2004 - Stirling-Rawdon - Rotary to host Foundation Walk for polio - Community Press

►February 18, 2004 - Pregnant hepatitis C carriers hold 10% risk of infecting baby - IHT via The Asahi Shimbun

►February 17, 2004 - Court upholds mercury switch law - AP via MaineToday.com

►February 17, 2004 - DoD reports complications in smallpox shot program - Center for Infectious Disease Research & Policy

►February 17, 2004 - Chickenpox Vaccine Less Effective After First Year - Reuters Health via Yahoo! - "The effectiveness of the vaccine against chickenpox, or varicella, decreases significantly after the first year, new research indicates. Moreover, the vaccine is less effective in the first year in children younger than 15 months old than in older children. However, cases of breakthrough infection are usually mild."

►February 17, 2004 - Effectiveness of chickenpox vaccine decreases after one year - JAMA and Archives Journals Website via www.eurekalert.org

►February 17, 2004 - Chicken Pox Vaccine Still Works After All These Years - HealthDay via www.14wfie.com - "The chicken pox vaccine still provides protection after eight years, although immunity to the disease is strongest during the first year, new research shows."

►February 17, 2004 - Study Finds Chicken Pox Vaccine Effective Overall - Reuters

Comment: Note the wildly divergent headlines between the first three articles on chickenpox and the next two.

►February 17, 2004 - Clinical trial of new TB vaccine begins - New vaccine may prove more potent than 100-year-old current vaccine - Aeras Global TB Vaccine Foundation via www.eurekalert.org

►February 18, 2004 - Cell fusion to repair organs and deliver cancer vaccines - Mayo Clinic via Medical News Today

Frequently asked Meningitis Questions - Centers For Disease Control And Prevention via www.nbc4.com

►February 17, 2004 - Chiron names chief scientific officer - East Bay Business Times

►February 17, 2004 - Delaware Finds No New Bird Flu Cases - Reuters

►February 18, 2004 - Top-level panel set up to keep out bird flu - It will oversee Govt's response to scenarios that may arise from disease - The Straits Times

►February 17, 2004 - Campaign Helps Kids Get Active: Survey - Reuters Health via Yahoo!

►February 17, 2004 - AU Student Diagnosed With Meningitis - School Says Student Is Recovering - www.nbc4.com

►February 17, 2004 - Hepatitis Drug May Help Anthrax Victims - Study - Reuters

►February 17, 2004 - Postal facility is cleared of anthrax - AP via www.ktre.com

►February 17, 2004 - Illinois EPA Collects Hazardous Materials From Schools - Suntimes News

►February 17, 2004 - Flu Vaccine 2004-2005 Strains To Be Discussed At Feb. 18-19 Meeting - FDA Advisory Committee

►February 17, 2004 - AAEP 2003: Comparative Efficacy of Vaccines - www.thehorse.com - "Very little scientific research has been done in the way of comparing the effectiveness of equine vaccines. However, several researchers have been hard at work over the past few years trying to determine if any particular U.S.-registered equine vaccines had advantages over others. It turns out that the serologic responses to--and protection given by--these vaccines varies significantly."

►February 17, 2004 - AAEP 2003: Lyme Disease - www.thehorse.com

►February 16, 2004 - Parents must get more information to counter immunization fears - press release - Health Behavior News Service via Center for the Advancement of Health - "Parents’ concerns about side effects and dangers of immunizations must be countered by clear communication about the true risks and benefits, said a scientist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention...'Parents of one child opting out of immunization may be a rational decision on one level, but if many opt out, risks grow both for their unvaccinated children and also for those who have been immunized,' said CDC scientist Deborah Gust, Ph.D. Much of the value of immunization comes from vaccinating large numbers of people so a disease won’t spread even if a population is exposed to it."

Comment: For another perspective on so-called "herd immunity" go to Scandals: Is the theory of "herd immunity" flawed?

►February 17, 2004 - HealthPartners Issues Health Tips for International Travel - Tips Include How to Avoid the Most Common Travel Illness - press release - Tips Include How to Avoid the Most Common Travel Illness via PRNewswire via Yahoo!

►February 17, 2004 - Breast-Feeding At Work - ADHS Promotes And Practices Policy - Arizona Capitol Times - "As a site supervisor and nutritionist with the Maricopa County Department of Public Health, Ms. Ogden is determined to erase the stigma associated with breast-feeding in the workplace. She’s not alone...The Arizona Department of Health Services has initiated a breast-feeding program to address issues and increase the practice though education, awareness and policy change. The program promotes breast-feeding as the superior method of feeding infants and young children in order to build their immunity to disease and help form strong, straight teeth."

Comment: Kudos the Ms. Ogden and the Arizona Department of Health!

►February 18, 2004 - Big rise in whooping cough cases - Six times the number of cases of whooping cough have been reported in the Auckland region in January compared to the same time last year. - www.stuff.co.nz

►February 17, 2004 - Martin seeks immunity for civil servants - CTV News

►February 17, 2004 - No meningitis answer could block course sign-up - Binghamton University Pipe Dream

►February 17, 2004 - Anthrax threat targets probation department - Officials: No substance found - Poughkeepsie Journal

►February 17, 2004 - Bird flu: China culls 23,000 chickens - Sify News

►February 18, 2004 - Tests to confirm bird flu death - AFP via The Australian

►February 17, 2004 - WHO optimistic on flu - Avian bug not 'major concern' for humans - AFP via International Herald Tribune

►February 17, 2004 - UN: Eradication of Bird Flu Virus May Be Impossible - Reuters - "The United Nations food agency's director of animal health said Tuesday it may be impossible to eradicate the spiraling bird flu virus that has ravaged the Asian poultry sector and killed 20 people...Samuel Jutzi, director of the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) animal health department, said some 80 million birds had been culled or died from the disease and that experts were still not sure of the source of the epidemic."

►February 17, 2004 - UAE takes drastic action amid bird flu fears - AFP via www.iol.co.za

►February 17, 2004 - Pay more attention to food allergies, local expert urges - Kalamazoo Gazette via www.mlive.com - "Dr. James Breneman, a retired Galesburg allergist and an internationally recognized authority on food allergies, is one of a number of physicians who think food allergies are more common and less easy to define than most doctors think."

►February 17, 2004 - Duke Study: Stem Cells Can Be Used To Fight Heart Damage - LocalTechWire.com

►February 18, 2004 - Parents told to immunise as whooping cough cases rise - New Zealand Herald

►February 17, 2004 - EPA Failing to Protect Americans from Chlorine Plant Mercury Emissions - Groups sue over Clean Air Act violations - press release - Earthjustice via Environmental Media Services

►February 17, 2004 - Scientists to start testing Aids vaccine on humans - Ananova

►February 17, 2004 - AIDS vaccine developed by Children's Hospital team to begin testing - American City Business Journals Inc.via Columbus Business First

►February 17, 2004 - Canadian says vaccine-autism study is overblown - U.S. research linking preservative to brain disorders called wild over-extrapolation (requires registration) - The Medical Posting

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