Posted November 7, 2008

►November 10, 2008 - Epilepsy is under-treated, CDC study finds - An expert says specialized treatment by neurologists can help patients control seizures. But cost and transportation are major hurdles. (requires registration) - Los Angeles Times

►November 8, 2008 - Examine the Cancer Vaccines: Market Forecasts, New Developments and Pipeline Analysis - Reportlinker.com via Business Wire via PR-Inside.com

* ►November 8, 2008 - Govt rethink on polio oral vaccine - The Telegraph, India - "The government has been relying on an oral polio vaccine (OPV) to combat polio, but several studies, the earliest conducted more than 30 years ago, have questioned its efficacy. The ministry said yesterday that at least 315 children (64 per cent) among 499 paralysed by the wild polio virus from January through October this year had already received 10 or more doses of OPV."

►November 8, 2008 - Awareness drive against polio virus stepped up - The News International, Pakistan

►November 8, 2008 - Medivir: Phase IIa Data on TMC435350 in Patients with Hepatitis C Now Presented at the Ongoing AASLD - Business Wire via PR-Inside.com

►November 8, 2008 - Rs 2.3 billion anti-hepatitis programme launched in Sindh - The News International, Pakistan

►November 8, 2008 - Second round of girls' immunisation - Fiji Times

►November 8, 2008 - McDaid against U-turn on girls' cancer vaccine - Irish Times

* ►November 8, 2008 - Lower India price tag may help drug MNCs - Business Standard, India - "The recent trend among global pharmaceutical companies to launch patented medicines with India-specific price tags that are less than international prices may help the companies in the long run....The Indian subsidiary of US-based Merck recently announced the launch of its cervical cancer vaccine, Gardasil, at less than half the price it charges its US consumers."

* ►November 7, 2008 - Parents will pay more for axed cancer jab -- Harney - Irish Independent

►November 7, 2008 - Call for stories regarding the new HPV vaccination mandate - VivirLatino - "Do you know a young woman or family member that has been affected?
In July 2008, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) added five new vaccinations to the list of required immunizations for immigrants seeking legal permanent residency in the U.S. or people applying for immigrant visas."

* ►November 7, 2008 - Dr. Nancy Snyderman's Big Lie About Vaccines By J.B. Handley - Age of Autism

* ►November 7, 2008 - A Father Warrior's Autism Message: "Yes We Can." By John Ruch - Age of Autism

* ►November 7, 2008 - Does Your Child Suffer from GLS? - What if Treatment for Other Medical Conditions Was Like Treatment for Autism? a fictional story from a parallel universe. (To which Kim adds, parallel universe...or CHOP.) By Twyla Ramos - Age of Autism

* ►November 7, 2008 - Parents of Autism Harbor Hope, Fear - Autism in America: Prospects Hazy for Future Diagnosis, Treatment - ABC News

* ►November 7, 2008 - Does rain cause autism? - Uncertainty over what causes the syndrome has become a trigger for wild speculation, says Mark Henderson - The Times, UK

►November 7, 2008 - Autism remains lightening rod - NewsTimes.com

►November 7, 2008 - Autism Signs Seen by First Birthday - MedPage Today

►November 7, 2008 - Anything to help a child - editorial - The Ottawa Citizen via Canada.com

►November 7, 2008 - Child Warrior: Dade - Age of Autism

* ►November 7, 2008 - The FDA's risky prescription (requires registration) - Boston Globe

* ►November 7, 2008 - Protecting pharmaceuticals - Our view: Consumers must be able to challenge manufacturers of dangerous drugs in court - editorial (requires registration) - Baltimore Sun

* ►November 7, 2008 - Surprise Loser in Tuesday's Elections? Fluoride - Ballot initiatives in midwest ban addition of anti-cavity supplement to drinking water - NBC Chicago

* ►November 7, 2008 - Woodcock Gains Support From Drugmakers for U.S. FDA's Top Job - Bloomberg

►November 7, 2008 - Baltimore's Sharfstein mentioned as possible FDA commissioner - AP via Baltimore Sun

►November 7, 2008 - Speculation swirls about Obama's EPA and FDA heads - Scientific American

►November 7, 2008 - Biotech Mailbag: Who Will Run FDA? - TheStreet.com

* ►November 7, 2008 - China closes herbal drug firm linked to deaths - Reuters

* ►November 7, 2008 - Ag department warns of contaminated biscuits - Minneapolis Star Tribune - "The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is advising consumers to throw out a brand of biscuits that are contaminated with melamine. The biscuits are under the Wonderfarm brand 'Successful.' Lab tests found the biscuits have more melamine than allowed under Food and Drug Administration standards."

* ►November 7, 2008 - State drops two free vaccines - School Program: 15 others will still be offered but these were too costly. (requires registration) - Anchorage Daily News - "For the first time in more than 30 years, the State of Alaska will no longer offer all vaccinations free to all Alaska schoolchildren, the state Division of Epidemiology reported this week."

* ►November 7, 2008 - Alaska to cut back on 2 free vaccines to schoolchildren - AP via Fairbanks Daily News-Miner - "Laurel Wood, manager of the Alaska Immunization Program, says federal funding for the state's universal immunization program has failed to keep pace with the costs and rising numbers of recommended vaccines. Wood says for that reason, the state will cut back on the two vaccines, which are part of more than a dozen the state currently distributes at no cost to Alaska health care providers."

►November 7, 2008 - State will cut back on immunizations for school children - KTUU.com - "The vaccines that will no longer be provided free to all children are Gardasil, which prevents some forms of cervical cancer, and Menactra, which prevents bacterial meningitis."

* ►November 7, 2008 - To vaccinate, or not to vaccinate - CTV Calgary - "The Calgary Health Region offers two types of flu vaccines. One has 50 micrograms of thimersoal and the other has 2 micrograms. The lower dose is recommended for children and pregnant women. There is a flu vaccine that does not have thimerosal in it, but it is not yet approved for use in children. It can be purchased from most pharmacies in Calgary but is only licensed for use in people 18 and over."

* ►November 7, 2008 - Drive-Thru Flu Shots Now on The Menu at Many Hospitals - NaturalNews.com - "Not so fast, says Dr. Edward Group, in an article on his website. What Dr. Group finds most incredible is that flu vaccines are being pushed on pregnant women. He explains, 'Think about it, the vaccination cannot be given to children under the age of 6 months, yet the vaccine pushers are encouraging pregnant women to get the shot while carrying a developing fetus.' Are the risks of flu vaccines being appropriately explained to pregnant women who show up at vaccine drive-thru facilities?"

* ►November 7, 2008 - Comment: Flu shots save fewer lives than thought (free preview) - New Scientist

* ►November 7, 2008 - New Warning Over Bird Flu Vaccine - University Of Leicester Professor Calls For Vaccination Programme - University of Leicester via Medical News Today

►November 7, 2008 - Mayor Receives Flu Shot (includes video) - NY1

►November 7, 2008 - The best time to get flu shot? Now. - Dayton Daily News

►November 7, 2008 - Tip/Expertise on this year's influenza vaccine - Every year, public health officials work to determine which strain of influenza will lead to the most effective vaccine for the coming flu season. This year's influenza vaccine in the United States contains three strains of the influenza virus. Last March, experts at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization chose those strains based on the varieties of flu virus that were present at the end of North America's flu season. - Media-Newswire.com

►November 7, 2008 - Boxers back flu jab campaign - Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News, UK

►November 7, 2008 - Get your flu jab while you shop - Boston Standard, UK

►November 7, 2008 - Teenage girl bird flu suspect dies in Indonesia - Xinhua via China View

►November 7, 2008 - School system to offer flu vaccine for students - 2theadvocate.com

►November 7, 2008 - ISU College of Pharmacy students provide 2,500 flu shots this season - Idaho State University

►November 7, 2008 - Seasonal stomach flu strikes New York City - Newsday

►November 7, 2008 - Another Year, Another Bout of Stomach Flu - New York Times City Room Blog

* ►November 7, 2008 - EPA: Mercury Not Needed in Many Consumer Products - LiveScience.com - "The U.S. EPA has concluded that mercury is not a necessary ingredient in a number of consumer products, and subsequently developed a searchable database of products that contain mercury and possible non-mercury alternatives."

* ►November 7, 2008 - Breakthrough jab to halt Alzheimer's disease is tested on patients - Daily Mail, UK - "Scientists hope the vaccine could be used to immunise those with a family history of the disease. A mass vaccination of people in late middle-age could even be possible."

►November 7, 2008 - Widespread vaccination held at Noney - The Sangai Express via E-Pao.net

►November 7, 2008 - Benefit of Vaccines for Adults (includes video) - NewsChannel5.com

* ►November 7, 2008 - DOD advisors outline biodefense priorities for next president - CIDRAP News

►November 7, 2008 - Vaccine may combat deadly Hendra virus - AAP via The Age

►November 7, 2008 - DNA Vaccine Company Inovio Biomedical Reports Third Quarter 2008 Financial Results - press release - Inovio Biomedical Corporation via Business Wire via StreetInsider.com

►November 7, 2008 - ZymoGenetics Presents Positive Interim Phase 1b Results in Hepatitis C - Business Wire via PR-Inside.com

►November 7, 2008 - DOR BioPharma to Present at the Biotech 2008 Conference - Regional Conference to Highlight Innovative Biotech Companies - International Business Times

►November 7, 2008 - Rodman & Renshaw Annual Global Investment Conference Presenter Profiles - Business Wire via TMCNet.com

►November 7, 2008 - Dendreon At The Mercy Of Provenge - Forbes

►November 7, 2008 - A Doctor, a Mutation and a Potential Cure for AIDS - A Bone Marrow Transplant to Treat - Wall Street Journal

►November 7, 2008 - PCT and council in measles warning to Brent parents - Harrow Times, UK

* ►November 7, 2008 - Measles Outbreak Hits Gibraltar - Most of the cases were in children 5 to 19 years old. All either lacked vaccinations completely or were only partly immunised. - Janvo - "During the three months between August 1 and October 31, the British territory bordering Spain has seen about 276 diagnosed cases of measles out of 28,000 residents, a report published in the journal Eurosurveillance found."

►November 7, 2008 - Students on red alert after mumps outbreak - This is Gloucestershire, UK

►November 7, 2008 - NICD strives to fight communicable diseases - BuaNews Online

►November 7, 2008 - 38 Cases of Whooping Cough Reported in Winnebago County - WKOW 27

►November 7, 2008 - Lamivudine-Resistant Mutation Among Treatment-Naïve Hepatitis B Patients May Be Associated With Treatment Failure: Presented at AASLD - Doctor's Guide

►November 7, 2008 - Long-Term Entecavir May Reverse Liver Damage in Patients With Chronic Hepatitis B Infection: Presented at AASLD - Doctor's Guide

►November 7, 2008 - Herpes drug inhibits HIV replication - Times of India

►November 7, 2008 - Uganda to get Obama HIV/AIDS funding - New Vision, Uganda

►November 7, 2008 - Health Insurance Plans That Hide Their Data - More than 100 health plans couldn't be ranked—they refused to release information - U.S. News & World Report

►November 7, 2008 - Google.org: Tech industry can help save the world - The technology industry can play a major role in tackling global disease and battling climate change, according to the executive director of Google.org, Dr Larry Brilliant. - ZDNet.co.uk

►November 7, 2008 - Eleventh Hour: Staying Safe From Scary Germs - Discover Magazine

►November 7, 2008 - A Chicago summit on children's oral health (requires registration) - Chicago Tribune

►November 7, 2008 - Environmental Pollutants In Human Milk - EHP via Medical News Today

* ►November 6, 2008 - Why Doctors Want Boys To Get Gardasil Shot (includes video) - WBZtv.com - "Like any vaccine, Gardasil comes with some risk. After Shannon Nelson was vaccinated, she suffered debilitating muscle weakness. 'I was in the hospital for 23 days,' she said. Doctors can't be sure it was the Gardasil, but Shannon and her parents are convinced."

* ►November 6, 2008 - Police take part in homeland security exercise - All of the Oakland Police Department's 1,200 employees are participating in an immunization and homeland security drill this week in preparation for a potential bio-terrorism attack, police spokesman Jeff Thomason said today. - KGO ABC 7

* ►November 6, 2008 - Vitamin D, A Gene-Regulating Super Nutrient - NaturalNews.com

* ►November 6, 2008 - The Supreme Court Betrays the Public on Medtronic Preemption Case (transcript) - NaturalNews.com

* ►November 6, 2008 - On RFK, Jr. - Thoughts from Kansas via ScienceBlogs

* ►November 6, 2008 - No one wants to pay for autism treatments - Getting a diagnosis of autism is the first step in what can be a very stressful and frustrating process and many families quickly learn when it comes to treatment for their children, their health insurance won't be helping. Here is a closer look at covering the cost of treatments and who really pays. (includes video) - KGO ABC 7

* ►November 6, 2008 - Woman fights Kaiser on autism policy - Many families with children who have autism face an ongoing struggle of how to get treatment for their kids once they are diagnosed. Behavioral therapy at the earliest possible age is widely accepted as the best course of treatment, but many insurance plans argue it is not medically necessary. Here is the story of a Fremont mother who took on the policy at Kaiser. (includes video) - KGO ABC 7

►November 6, 2008 - Lecture Explores Robots, Autism - BYU Newsnet

►November 6, 2008 - Microsoft Takes Computer Science Into Fight Against HIV - IDG News Service via PC World

►November 6, 2008 - Group vaccinations help prevent pneumonia - Johns Hopkins News-Letter

►November 6, 2008 - Expanded flu shot criteria hasn’t resulted in expanded numbers - Lethbridge Herald

►November 6, 2008 - Get a flu shot - opinion - Hunterdon Review

* ►November 6, 2008 - Mad cow case in B.C. likely result of bad feed, says CFIA - Canadian Press via CBC

* ►November 5, 2008 - Supreme Court Appears Torn Over Drug Labeling Case - Alliance for Human Research Protection

* ►November 5, 2008 - The Safety Gap: FDA "a fundamentally broken agency" - Alliance for Human Research Protection

►November 5, 2008 - Flu vaccines for all may be cost-effective - Reuters via OnMedica

* ►November 5, 2008 - ABC 4 Investigation: Does autism therapy heal children? - ABC4.com - "Four-year-old Colton Smith loves to play with his big sister, Briton but it hasn't always been that way. Colton has been on a dark journey that took him away from his family. 'He would just be off, said Colton’s Mother, Shawnee Smith, 'like he didn't know I was his mom holding him.' The smiths say Colton was a happy baby, always smiling, started talking at nine months, and didn't bother to crawl on his way to walking. At 18 months, however, they say everything changed after he received immunization shots. 'About three weeks after, I started noticing not responding to me calling him,' said Shawnee."

►November 2008 - Autism Research Institute Newsletter - www.autism.com

►Autism Speaks Appoints Program Director for its Autism Tissue Program - Autism Speaks

►EPA's Database on Mercury-Containing Products and Alternatives - EPA.gov

* ►December 1, 2008 - Mumps Outbreaks in Vaccinated Populations: Are Available Mumps Vaccines Effective Enough to Prevent Outbreaks? - journal article (Clinical Infectious Diseases) - "Our findings indicate the need for more-effective mumps vaccines and/or for review of current vaccination policies to prevent future outbreaks."

* ►December 1, 2008 - Emergence of Streptococcus pneumoniae Serotypes 19A, 6C, and 22F and Serogroup 15 in Cleveland, Ohio, in Relation to Introduction of the Protein-Conjugated Pneumococcal Vaccine - journal article (Clinical Infectious Diseases)

* ►December 1, 2008 - Using Internet Searches for Influenza Surveillance - journal article (Clinical Infectious Diseases)

►December 1, 2008 - Unique Considerations in the Evaluation of Antibacterials in Clinical Trials for Pediatric Community-Acquired Pneumonia - journal article (Clinical Infectious Diseases)

* ►December 1, 2008 - Efficacy as an Important Facet of “Safety” in Clinical Trials: How Can We Do Our Best for Our Patients? - journal article (Clinical Infectious Diseases)

►December 1, 2008 - Placebo-Controlled Trials of Treatments for Community-Acquired Pneumonia: Review of the Literature and Discussion of Feasibility and Potential Value - journal article (Clinical Infectious Diseases)

►December 1, 2008 - Is It Possible to Blind a Trial for Community-Acquired Pneumonia? - journal article (Clinical Infectious Diseases)

* ►December 1, 2008 - Clinical Trial Design and Selected Drug Safety Issues for Antibiotics Used to Treat Community-Acquired Pneumonia - journal article (Clinical Infectious Diseases)

►December 1, 2008 - Issues in Noninferiority Trials: The Evidence in Community-Acquired Pneumonia - journal article (Clinical Infectious Diseases)

►December 1, 2008 - Scenario 1: A Patient with Mild Community-Acquired Pneumonia—Introduction to Clinical Trial Design Issues - journal article (Clinical Infectious Diseases)

►December 1, 2008 - Molecular Diagnostics for Detection of Bacterial and Viral Pathogens in Community-Acquired Pneumonia - journal article (Clinical Infectious Diseases)

* ►November 15, 2008 - Mechanisms of Immunity in Hydatid Disease: Implications for Vaccine Development - journal article (The Journal of Immunology)

►November 7, 2007 - Paediatric infectious diseases moot from 9th - The News, Pakistan

* ►November 7, 2008 - Coughing causes local childcare centre closure - Bega District News - "Parents are reporting that even though their children were immunised they were exhibiting symptoms of whooping cough."

* ►November 7, 2008 - Whooping cough cases in Eden - Magnet, Australia - "Several were babies, like little Haylee, whose mother Corrine said the initial symptoms were similar to those of a common cold. ... Haylee had been immunised at two and four months, but still needs the 12 month booster for her body to be fully immune."

* ►November 7, 2008 - On HIV crusade, Gates takes in city - Expressindia

►November 7, 2008 - Probe into deadly herbal jabs 'ongoing' - China Daily

►November 7, 2008 - ‘Immunisation saves three million lives every year’ - The News International, Pakistan

►November 7, 2008 - CM pledges vigorous campaign against polio - Says disease resurfaced because vaccine purchased from private companies instead of UNICEF | Constitutes committee to check irregularities in campaign | Asks WHO to extend full cooperation | WHO agrees to monitor special campaign of polio - The Post

►November 7, 2008 - ‘Campaign to save children from polio’ - Daily Times, Pakistan

* ►November 7, 2008 - Harney says cervical screening is best choice - Irish Times - "Cervical cancer screening rather than a vaccination programme made the best "clinical choice" without additional resources, Minister for Health Mary Harney insisted as she defended the decision to delay the introduction of the vaccination programme for girls."

►November 7, 2008 - Recommendations for Partner Services Programs for HIV Infection, Syphilis, Gonorrhea, and Chlamydial Infection - MMWR/CDC

►November 7, 2008 - Notice to Readers: National Epilepsy Awareness Month --- November 2008 - MMWR/CDC

►November 7, 2008 - QuickStats: Death Rate* Among Teens Aged 15--19 Years, by Sex --- National Vital Statistics System, United States, 1985--2005 - MMWR/CDC

►November 7, 2008 - Self-Reported Prediabetes and Risk-Reduction Activities --- United States, 2006 - MMWR/CDC

►November 7, 2008 - Update: Recall of Dry Dog and Cat Food Products Associated with Human Salmonella Schwarzengrund Infections --- United States, 2008 - MMWR/CDC

►November 7, 2008 - Hazardous Chemical Incidents in Schools --- United States, 2002--2007 - MMWR/CDC

►November 7, 2008 - Notifiable Diseases/Deaths in Selected Cities Weekly Information - MMWR/CDC

* ►November 6, 2008 - Mandating Gardasil for School Aged Girls (includes video) - KATV.com - "Jesalee Parsons was 13 when her mother signed off on her to get the Gardasil vaccine at school.  Now nearly two years later she says she is still in pain.  Jesalee says she was diagnosed with Acute Pancreatitis and since getting one only dose of Gardasil has spent close to 100 days in the hospital, and had two surgeries to remove Pseudocysts. While doctors cannot explain why she has had health problems she and her mother are convinced the vaccine is to blame. The Parsons have filed a petition for vaccine compensation seeking damages from the government."

* ►November 6, 2008 - SFDA: Vaccine cleared in east China infant death - Xinhua via China View - "China's drug safety authority on Thursday cleared a pneumonia and meningitis vaccine of causing the death of a 4-month-old baby last month. The baby was vaccinated against Haemophilus influenza type B, or Hib, on Oct. 19 at the Chinese Medicine Hospital in Liaocheng City, Shandong Province, and died the next day. 'This was an occasional clinical case,' Yan Jiangying, spokeswoman of the State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA), saidat a press conference.  ... 'More than 90 percent of these adverse reactions have nothing to do with the quality of the vaccines,' she said. 'It might be due to individual differences.'"

* ►November 6, 2008 - Dear President Obama: Autism Suggestions By Allison Chapman - Age of Autism

* ►November 6, 2008 - Autism’s Biggest Drama Queens: Paul Offit and Nancy Snyderman By Katie Wright - Age of Autism

* ►November 6, 2008 - Obama's Autism Influences, Correcting Arthur Allen - Adventures in Autism

* ►November 6, 2008 - Say It Ain’t So, President-Elect O - The Washington Independent - "Some science bloggers are alarmed by predictions in the news that President-elect Barack Obama intends to appoint Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as head of the Environmental Protection Agency."

►November 6, 2008 - Say it ain't so, Barack! Say you ain't seriously considering Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to run the EPA! - Respectful Insolence via ScienceBlogs

►November 6, 2008 - Autism Debate Turns Ugly: Vaccine Expert Gets Death Threats - Reality Base Blog via Discover Magazine

►November 6, 2008 - Autism Speaks Sends A Message to Community? - Age of Autism

* ►November 6, 2008 - New FDA Leaders Could Be Tougher on Drug Makers - Wall Street Journal

* ►November 6, 2008 - Drugmakers Lobby for Obama to Name Woodcock as FDA's Chief - Bloomberg

►November 6, 2008 - Obama expected to bolster FDA oversight of imports - AP via Google

►November 6, 2008 - Joshua Sharfstein: Another Contender for FDA Commissioner - Wall Street Journal Blog

►November 6, 2008 - The high costs of brain injury - Modern warfare is having a lasting impact at home - Chico News & Review - "Terry McGowan is an intelligent, capable man with the vocabulary of a college professor. Listening to him talk, you’d never know he has dealt with traumatic brain injury (TBI) since he was 9 months old. That’s when he was dropped from a two-story apartment. His TBI was further complicated by an adverse reaction to the smallpox vaccine at 18 months."

►November 6, 2008 - Independence Blue Cross Honored for Immunization Program - AHIP Acknowledges Success of the Innovative Program Targeting Adolescents - Independence Blue Cross via PRNewswire via Comtex via MarketWatch

* ►November 6, 2008 - Oxford Meningococcus Vaccine Licensed To Novartis Vaccines And Diagnostics - Isis Innovation via Medical News Today - "Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics has received a worldwide exclusive licence to the Isis-owned patent on the vaccine - which targets lipopolyaccharide (LPS) a macromolecule present in large amounts on the surface of meningococci during disease. Preclinical proof of concept studies have illustrated that the LPS molecules are 'recognised' by the immune system and have potential as vaccine candidates."

* ►November 6, 2008 - U.S. Navy and U.S. Army to Develop Dengue DNA Vaccine Formulated With Vical's Vaxfectin(R) Adjuvant - Vical via PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX via MarketWatch

►November 6, 2008 - Merck starts work on vax R&D center - FiercePharma

* ►November 6, 2008 - View of Disease Threats Unbalanced, Study Finds - Public Library of Science One via Global Security Newswire - "When a certain disease receives repeated coverage in the press, people tend to focus on it and perceive it as a real threat," said Meredith Young, head author of the study conducted at McMasters University in Ontario. “This raises concerns regarding how people view their own health, how they truly understand disease, and how they treat themselves.”

* ►November 6, 2008 - Delaware Division Of Public Health Re-Issues Declarations Of Shortage For Mercury-Free Vaccines - Delaware Health and Social Services via Medical News Today - "Today's declarations allow health care providers to administer three vaccines which contain thimerosal to pregnant women and children younger than 8 years old when medically indicated."

* ►November 6, 2008 - Harney urged to reverse vaccine decision - Irish Times - "Minister for Health Mary Harney has been urged to reverse her decision to drop a vaccination programme in primary schools to protect young girls against a virus that causes cervical cancer."

* ►November 6, 2008 - HSE wanted cancer vaccine for 2010 - RTE.ie

* ►November 6, 2008 - Older women cannot have cancer vaccine, doctors told - Women who want the cervical cancer vaccine but fall outside the age group targeted by Government are being turned away in an attempt to cut costs. - The Telegraph, UK

* ►November 6, 2008 - Church has no place in vaccinations - By denying access to the human papillomavirus vaccination, the institution is putting females at risk (requires registration or subscription) - The Globe and Mail

* ►November 6, 2008 - New vaccines to be introduced - Sapa via Independent Online, South Africa - "Three new vaccines will be introduced into government's expanded programme on immunisation (EPI) at a cost of R1,1-billion, government spokesperson Themba Maseko said on Thursday. The three vaccines were Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV), a vaccine for rotavirus, and a pentavalent, he told a media briefing following Cabinet's Wednesday meeting."

* ►November 6, 2008 - 9th Session of National CME Series- Immunization saves 3 million lives every year: Dr Ghaffar Billo - Associated Press of Pakistan

* ►November 6, 2008 - South Bay tests mass vaccination clinic - For the first time in San Jose, a senior center became a mass vaccination clinic. The Santa Clara County Public Health Department offered free flu shots as a way to test years of planning for a real-life medical emergency. (includes video) - KGO ABC 7

* ►November 6, 2008 - Region 8 Pulls Up for Drive Thorough Flu Shots (includes video) - KAIT8.com - "This specific event started last year aimed at preparing health professionals and the public on what could be necessary during a pandemic or other emergency and Howell said the drive through method is the most effective way to quickly inoculate a lot of people."

►November 6, 2008 - Flu clinic provides for disaster preparedness - Mid-Hudson News

►November 6, 2008 - Drive-thru flu clinic a big success for county - Pawhuska Journal Capital

* ►November 6, 2008 - The Dangers of Autism - Autism in America: A Perilous Diagnosis - ABC News

* ►November 6, 2008 - Unusual use of toys in infancy a clue to later autism - 'Atypical object exploration' seen at 12 months in children later diagnosed with autism - University of California - Davis via Health System via EurekAlert!

►November 6, 2008 - New hope for Alzheimer's and autism - WWAY NewsChannel 3 - "Mice with Alzheimer’s disease showed improvement in a recent UC-Irvine study, after they were given high doses of an over-the-counter form of vitamin B-3."

►November 6, 2008 - New Assessment Highlights Effective Mercury-Free Alternatives - press release - U.S. EPA

* ►November 6, 2008 - Aluminum in Vaccines (part 1) - Exploring Vaccines

* ►November 6, 2008 - Shot Boycott - letter - Santa Barbara Independent

* ►November 6, 2008 - North Essex: Parents help MMR vaccine inquiry - The Gazette

* ►November 6, 2008 - Kid vaccines okay for kids at risk for allergies - Allergy via Reuters UK

* ►November 6, 2008 - US Experts Still Unsure of Allergy Relief by Mouth - Medicines in droplet or pill form aren't yet ready to replace injections, physicians say - HealthDay via U.S. News & World Report - "'Sublingual immunotherapy has gained wide acceptance in the treatment of allergic disease throughout Europe and South America, but the research studies in the United States have yet to show results that will convince the FDA to approve a product,' Finegold said."

►November 6, 2008 - Efficacy, Dosage Concerns Unresolved on Sublingual Immunotherapy - American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) via Newswise

* ►November 6, 2008 - FDA Requires Side Effects Statement on Labeling - Pharmaceutical Technology

►November 6, 2008 - Celldex Presents Results from Phase 1 Studies of CDX-1307 with GM-CSF--CDX-1307 well tolerated with good immune responses observed - Celldex Therapeutics via Business Wire via ITBusiness.net

* ►November 6, 2008 - Earnings soar at Emergent BioSolutions - Washington Business Journal - "Emergent BioSolutions Inc.’s third-quarter income skyrocketed 265 percent, thanks to booming sales of its anthrax vaccine."

►November 6, 2008 - Emergent BioSolutions Reports Financial Results for Third Quarter and First Nine Months of 2008 - 3Q and nine month 2008 total revenues increased 30 and 53 percent, respectively, over comparable prior year periods - Emergent BioSolutions Inc. via Business Wire via MarketWatch

►November 6, 2008 - GenVec Reports Third Quarter 2008 Financial Results - press release - GenVec, Inc. via Business Wire via MarketWatch

* ►November 6, 2008 - GSK initiates major seasonal influenza vaccine efficacy trial - GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) announced today that it has started a worldwide clinical efficacy trial to evaluate an innovative vaccine for the prevention of seasonal influenza. - News-Medical.net - "'This new seasonal vaccine contains an adjuvant similar to the one pioneered for the only influenza pre-pandemic vaccine approved in Europe, Prepandrix, and the pandemic vaccine Pandemrix,' said Jean Stéphenne, President and General Manager GSK Biologicals."

►November 6, 2008 - Receiving Flu Vaccination Protects Others as Well - BYU Newsnet

►November 6, 2008 - Maine CDC recommends flu shots - Portsmouth Herald News via Seacoastonline.com

►November 6, 2008 - Pickering girl finds flu tablet in Halloween treat - CTV Toronto

►November 6, 2008 - Smokers can get vaccine for one disease (includes video) - WRAL.com - "Cigarette smokers can get vaccinated for at least one potentially fatal disease for which their habit puts them at risk, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that they do so immediately."

►November 6, 2008 - Pig disease in swine workers - Effect Measure via ScienceBlogs

►November 6, 2008 - Runners take on Hell up North event in aid of Chester woman - A team completed a gruelling 11-mile 'hellrunner' race to raise vital funds for a young Chester woman to buy a new wheelchair. - Chester Evening Leader - "Her dad Tim, who organised and took part in the fundraising event, said: 'She was a student co-ordinator for volunteers and she was organising students to get the MMR jab. 'She had had the jab herself but we don't know if she contracted the virus through the jab or through mumps.'"

►November 6, 2008 - Vaccination program planned to combat mumps resurgence - Northern Daily News

►November 6, 2008 - Cases of whooping cough up in South Dakota - Sioux Falls Argus Leader

►November 6, 2008 - Another Meningitis Case, Residents Want Answers - NewsChannel10.com

►November 6, 2008 - Ferris Takes fight Against Polio to India - Soonews.ca

►November 6, 2008 - Rotarians working worldwide to wipe out polio - Pacifica Tribune

►November 6, 2008 - Polio Hall of Fame ceremony set - Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

►November 6, 2008 - Liberia-WHO-Polio WHO certifies Liberia as polio-free country - African Press Agency

►November 6, 2008 - Namibia Polio-free - New Era

►November 6, 2008 - Measles Outbreaks Highlight Regime’s Irresponsibility - The Irrawaddy News Magazine

►November 6, 2008 - WHO Warns of Cholera and Measles Epidemics in DRC - The World Health Organization warns of the risk of outbreaks of cholera and measles in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo's war-torn North Kivu Province. The World Health Organization has drawn up an emergency plan to try to contain the spread of disease. Lisa Schlein reports for VOA from WHO headquarters in Geneva. - Voice of America

►November 6, 2008 - A Virus-Infecting Virus: Researchers Use the 454 Sequencing System to Identify a Novel Small Virus Parasitic to Another Virus - press release - Roche Diagnostics  via Business Wire via MarketWatch

►November 6, 2008 - Several Diagnosed With Hepatitis In York County - Most Members Of Same Family - WMTW Portland - "Kennebunk, Maine -- About 260 faculty and students at Consolidated School in Kennebunk are receiving the hepatitis vaccine Thursday."

* ►November 6, 2008 - 170 students receive hepatitis A vaccine - Seacoastonline.com

►November 6, 2008 - Long-Term Efficacy Shown With Entecavir for Patients With Chronic Hepatitis B: Presented at AASLD - Doctor's Guide

►November 6, 2008 - Telbivudine Efficacy Maintained for 3 Years in Patients With Chronic Hepatitis B: Presented at AASLD - Doctor's Guide

►November 6, 2008 - SciClone's Phase III hepatitis trial fails endpoint - Datamonitor via Comtex via Trading Markets

►November 6, 2008 - Hepatitis C transmission not reduced by C-sections - Planned cesarean sections do not help to reduce the chances of a pregnant mother with Hepatitis C (HCV) transmitting the infection to her unborn baby, according to new scientific findings by the National Maternity Hospital in Dublin and University College Dublin. - innovations report

►November 6, 2008 - Bavarian touts smallpox vax safety data - FierceBiotech

►November 6, 2008 - Smallpox Vaccine Safe for HIV Carriers, Firm Says - Global Security Newswire

►November 6, 2008 - Immunise Yourself Against High Travel Vaccination Costs with Airport Parking and Hotels - Airport Parking and Hotels (www.aph.com), the long stay airport parking and travel extras specialist, has updated its research on the cost of travel vaccinations on its website, comparing the prices of the most common vaccines. Travellers can log onto http://www.aph.com/news/vaccines.pdf to find a latest comparison table outlining the cost of vaccinations, malaria tablets and consultation fees. The information is continuation of the 'Know Before You Go' pages on the website aimed at giving savvy travellers all the information they need at the click of a button. - press release - PRWeb

* ►November 6, 2008 - Medical mix-ups - Similar drug names account for 25 percent of errors - The Courier-Journal

* ►November 6, 2008 - FDA Siezes Contaminated Heparin From Cincinnati Company - Dow Jones via  CNNMoney.com

►November 6, 2008 - Harris wins contract to support federal health-statistics center - Orlando Sentinel

►November 6, 2008 - Virogen, Inc. Receives Purchase Orders Totaling $400,000 - Virogen, Inc. via Market Wire via Comtex via MarketWatch - "Paul Hogan, CEO of Virogen, Inc. notes that, 'Every production bird in the world is required to be vaccinated, and since Virogen's vaccine is breakthrough technology and the most effective Innovo patent-protected product on the market, the company anticipates it will capture this exclusive market for several years.'"

►November 6, 2008 - Mars Petcare US Chow Factory's Toll of Human Salmonella Hits 79 - Bloomberg

►November 6, 2008 - Life After Andy: Searching For FDA Leadership - Pharmalot

►November 6, 2008 - Proteomics provides clues to how tuberculosis thwarts the immune system - A link between the immune system and the self-cleaning system by which biological cells rid themselves of obsolete or toxic parts may one day yield new weapons in the fight against tuberculosis and other deadly infectious diseases. - News-Medical.Net

►November 6, 2008 - FDA Seizes Contaminated Heparin from a Cincinnati Manufacturer - FDA

* ►November 6, 2008 - Genetically Engineered Sugarcane Next Step for Monsanto - State Journal Register, St. Louis Post Dispatch via Beyond Pesticides

►November 6, 2008 - AASLD 2008: High Coffee Consumption May Slow Hepatitis C Progression CME (requires registration) - Medscape Medical News

►November 6, 2008 - Big Pharma’s Loss May Be Little Pharma’s Gain - Pharmalot

►November 6, 2008 - The Threat To A Big Seller: Merck, Teva & Singulair - Pharmalot

►November 6, 2008 - Analyst: Singulair might draw at-risk copy - FiercePharma

* ►November 5, 2008 - ADHD affects the motor skills of boys more than girls - New research published in the November 4, 2008 issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, found that ADHD affects the motor skills of boys more than girls. By examining age-related improvement of motor skills in children with and without ADHD, researchers from the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, Md. found that girls with ADHD and their typically developing peers were more likely to be able to control their movements compared to boys with ADHD. - Kennedy Krieger Institute via News-Medical.Net

►November 5, 2008 - FDA Reports Nationwide Recall of Mislabeled ReliOn Insulin Syringes - FDA

►November 5, 2008 - Weighing In on Statin Use in Children - The main effect of the updated 2008 guidelines likely will be an increase in lipid screening in children with unknown family histories or additional risk factors. - journal article (Journal Watch Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine)

►November 5, 2008 - Mayo cuts clinical trial services biz - Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal

►November 5, 2008 - Safey Reviews Inadequate for Pesticides Widely Found in Waterways - Federal Registrar, Inside EPA via Beyond Pesticides

►November 5, 2008 - EU proposes great ape research ban (requires registration) - The Scientist

►November 5, 2008 - How to win the war against cancer (requires registration) - The power of massive, integrated programs must be brought to bear - The Scientist

* ►November 5, 2008 - Rigged Trials: Drug Studies Favor The Manufacturer - press release - Orthomolecular Medicine News Service

►November 5, 2008 - New reminder system for parents - Regina Leader Post via Canada.com - "Parents can take their best shot at remembering, but small children receive so many immunizations at different stages that the Regina Qu'Appelle Health Region has set up ImmuTrax to keep families on track. 'One of the pharmaceutical companies has one of these going and we saw it and said, 'Hey, let's see if we can get this up and running for RQHR,' ' said Morag Granger, the region's manager of public health nursing."

►November 5, 2008 - Older dads have higher risk of children with autism? - Seattle Post-Intelligencer Blog

►November 5, 2008 - Hepatitis C Virus Infection May Be a Risk Factor for Renal Cancer - Reuters Health via Cancerpage.com

►November 5, 2008 - Vical Reports Third Quarter 2008 Financial Results and Continued Progress in Product Development Programs - press release - Vical Incorporated via PRNewswire-FirstCall via Comtex via MarketWatch

►November 5, 2008 - Celldex Reports Third Quarter and Nine Month Financial Results
- Conference Call Wednesday, November 5, at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time - press release - Celldex Therapeutics, Inc. via Business Wire

►November 5, 2008 - Gilead Sees Encouraging Data from Two Phase III Hepatitis B Trials - FDAnews

►November 5, 2008 - New drug shows promise for hepatitis C - Reuters India - "The investigational drug boceprevir (Schering-Plough) appears to be a useful treatment for chronic infection with hepatitis C virus, new research suggests."

►November 5, 2008 - 90 per cent of girls take cervical jab - New Wales

►November 5, 2008 - Immigrants’ advocates decry Gardasil requirement - Westside Gazette

►November 5, 2008 - Demand for cervical cancer vaccine soars, docs say - The Zonie Report

* ►November 5, 2008 - Exclusive: PCTs pressure GPs to limit HPV jabs - Half of PCTs attempt to restrict access to HPV vaccine in a bid to save cash. - Healthcare Republic

* ►November 5, 2008 - Soap star in cancer campaign - Leigh Journal, UK - "HOLLYOAKS’ actress Carley Stenson, who plays ‘Steph Cunningham’ in the Channel 4 soap, is helping NHS Ashton, Leigh and Wigan in its borough wide bid to help protect school girls against cervical cancer with the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine....Upon receiving the third jab in May 2009, girls will be handed a competition entry card from their school nurse, which once signed by a parent or guardian can be deposited in a designated drop box in school. Carley will then pick three lucky girls – one from Ashton, one from Leigh and one from Wigan to be the poster girls for next year’s local campaign. The three lucky winners will win a VIP makeover and photo shoot with Carley and a fantastic girly goodie bag."

* ►November 5, 2008 - Scientists Decode Set of Cancer Genes (requires registration) - The New York Times - "For the first time, researchers have decoded all the genes of a person with cancer and found a set of mutations that may have caused the disease or aided its progression."

* ►November 5, 2008 - FDA Recalls Syringes Sold at Wal-Mart, Sam's Club - FOX 9 News

►November 5, 2008 - Vote And Vax inoculates 454 against flu on Election Day - Greensboro News-Record

►November 5, 2008 - Flu Shot Works, Even If Vaccine Doesn't Match Strain - CityNews.ca

►November 5, 2008 - Major Blow for Patients Fearful of Hepatitis C - KLAS-TV Las Vegas Now - "A judge has ruled that a class action lawsuit will not go forward against clinics involved in the hepatitis C outbreak. The ruling affects patients who were not infected with hepatitis C, but still had to go through days and months of anxiety. Now if they want justice, they'll have to file a lawsuit on their own."

►November 5, 2008 - Only Relevant News Outlets Have Anthrax Scares - Which means there must be hope for our nation’s newspapers. - Seattle Weekly

►November 5, 2008 - Winnipeg scientists offer explanation for sporadic nature of Ebola outbreaks - Canadian Press via Metro

►November 5, 2008 - Comment: Flu shots save far fewer lives than thought (free preview) - New Scientist

* ►November 5, 2008 - Bavarian Nordic A/S (CPH:BAVA) Bavarian Nordic Reports Successful Safety Data From Phase II Study With IMVAMUNE® - press release - Bavarian Nordic A/S via ABN Newswire - "In support of using IMVAMUNE® as a smallpox vaccine in individuals otherwise contraindicated to receive conventional vaccinia vaccines, Bavarian Nordic has performed a large Phase II study in HIV infected subjects with CD4 counts between 200 and 750 cells/µl to compare the safety to healthy subjects."

►November 4, 2008 - Examine the Cancer Vaccines: Market Forecasts, New Developments and Pipeline Analysis - press release - ReportLinker via MarketWatch

►November 4, 2008 - Cancer Vaccine - Study Analyzed At Southern Research Institute Shows Human Antibodies Generated By Canopus's Peptides Have Anti-Cancer Properties - Canopus BioPharma, Inc. via Medical News Today

►November 4, 2008 - Working with U.S. Department of Defense, Canopus BioPharma Announces Phase II Human Clinical Trial for Innovative Hepatitis C Drug, CB5300 - New Treatment Shows Greater Therapeutic Efficacy Than Interferon Alpha - press release - Canopus BioPharma, Inc. via Business Wire via MarketWatch

►November 4, 2008 - Progenics Selects Small-Molecule Hepatitis C Drug Candidate for Clinical Development - Progenics Pharmaceuticals, Inc. via Business Wire via Trading Markets

►November 4, 2008 - The Baby Expo joins Pampers and UNICEF Initiative aimed at saving millions of babies' lives - In a new global initiative aimed at saving millions of babies' lives, Pampers and UNICEF South Africa have come together to help eliminate tetanus, a silent killer of mothers and infants on the African continent. - The Baby Expo via BizCommunity.com

►November 4, 2008 - The War on Dengue Fever (requires registration) - The New York Times

►November 4, 2008 - Two die in flu outbreak at aged care home - The Australian

►November 4, 2008 - 100 Mississippi West Nile Virus Cases, Fourth Death; Environmental Factors Can Reduce Risk - All Headline News

►November 4, 2008 - GAVI Alliance 3.4 Million Deaths Averted Through GAVI-Funded Immunisation Programmes; New Figues To Be Presented At Board Meeting In Geneva: 04/11/2008 - MaximsNews Network

►November 4, 2008 - Call to explore broader use of human papillomavirus vaccines - A call to explore a broader use of HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccines and the validation of a simple oral screening test for HPV-caused oral cancers are reported in two studies by a Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center investigator. - News-Medical.net

►November 3, 2008 - Protein-printing Technique Gives Snapshots of Immune System Defense - Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research via Scientific Frontline

►November 3, 2008 - Akorn Reports Record Third Quarter 2008 Revenues of $31.9 million; Earnings per Share of $0.03 - Business Wire via Trading Markets - "The results of our third quarter demonstrate the importance of vaccines to our business strategy. The incremental revenues and gross profit from vaccines are the current catalysts for generating net income and positive cash flow for us. As our vaccine business model continues to mature, we expect to generate continued market share gains for both our Td and Flu vaccine products."

►November 3, 2008 - Fighting Global Avian Flu (includes audio) - Voice of America

* ►November 2008 - Influenza Vaccine: Awareness and Barriers to Immunization in Families of Children with Chronic Medical Conditions Other than Asthma. - journal article (Southern Medical Journal) - "Of the children who did not receive the vaccine, 61% of their parents believed that the vaccine itself could give influenza, 54% cited other safety concerns, and 30% thought it did not work."

* ►October/November 2008 - Clinical implications of mitochondrial disease - journal article (Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews)

►October/November 2008 - The mitochondrial cocktail: Rationale for combined nutraceutical therapy in mitochondrial cytopathies - journal article (Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews)

►October/November 2008 - Mitochondrial drug delivery systems for macromolecule and their therapeutic application to mitochondrial diseases - journal article (Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews)

►October/November 2008 - Mitochondrial-mediated suppression of ROS production upon exposure of neurons to lethal stress: Mitochondrial targeted preconditioning - journal article (Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews)

►October/November 2008 - Mitochondrial trifunctional protein defects: Clinical implications and therapeutic approaches - journal article (Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews)

►October/November 2008 - Role of dichloroacetate in the treatment of genetic mitochondrial diseases - journal article (Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews)

►October/November 2008 - Estrogen regulation of glucose metabolism and mitochondrial function: Therapeutic implications for prevention of Alzheimer's disease - journal article (Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews)

►October/November 2008 - Lipoic acid as an anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective treatment for Alzheimer's disease - journal article (Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews)

* ►October/November 2008 - Mitochondrial nitric oxide synthase, mitochondrial brain dysfunction in aging, and mitochondria-targeted antioxidants - journal article (Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews)

►October/November 2008 - Pro-oxidant shift in glutathione redox state during aging - journal article (Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews)

* ►September/October 2008 - Influenza vaccine recommendations for children and youth for the 2008-2009 season - journal article (The Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases & Medical Microbiology)

* ►September 8, 2008 - Doug Bremner: No Redemption for Preemption - The Huffington Post - "Preemption isn't good for anyone except for the drug companies. And they are unable to come up with a coherent reason to be in favor of it, other than it will provide more money to develop "life saving drugs," and we've heard that malarkey before. If you are tired of the erosion of your rights as a US citizen, take action."

* ►FDA Preemption = Bad Medicine - iPetitions.com

* ►Tedd Koren to speak in Little Falls, New Jersey - The New Jersey Coalition For Vaccination Choice via Vaccination News - "THE NEW JERSEY COALITION FOR VACCINATION CHOICE presents: TEDD KOREN, D.C., and A Vaccine Seminar, "CHILDHOOD VACCINATION----INFORMATION PARENTS SHOULD KNOW" (including additional information on the newly mandated flu shot) Thursday, NOVEMBER 13, 2008----7:00-9:30 PM"

►Foundation for Health Choice - Choice, Information, Safety and Redress - website

►November 6, 2008 - X-ray structure of NS1 from a highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza virus - journal article (Nature)

►November 6, 2008 - A human natural killer cell subset provides an innate source of IL-22 for mucosal immunity - journal article (Nature)

►November 6, 2008 - Drug Development for Neglected Diseases — The Trouble with FDA Review Vouchers (free full text) - journal article (NEJM)

* ►November 6, 2008 - The Genetics of Speech and Language Impairments (free full text) - journal article (NEJM)

* ►November 6, 2008 - A Functional Genetic Link between Distinct Developmental Language Disorders (free full text) - journal article (NEJM)

►November 6, 2008 - Voters and Health Reform in the 2008 Presidential Election (free full text) - journal article (NEJM)

►November 6, 2008 - Virus Infection, Asthma, and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease - journal article (NEJM)

►November 6, 2008 - Saying No Isn't NICE — The Travails of Britain's National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence - journal article (NEJM)

►November 6, 2008 - The Medicalization of Cyberspace (book review) - journal article (NEJM)

►November 6, 2008 - Trick or Treatment: The Undeniable Facts about Alternative Medicine (book review) - journal article (NEJM)

* ►November 6, 2008 - US Army wages war on dengue - In the US Army’s largest overseas medical research laboratory, in Bangkok, military scientists are offering hope for a vaccine against dengue fever - Taipei Times

* ►November 6, 2008 - Pharmaceutical Industry Hustlers – Part I by Evelyn Pringle - Scoop.co.nz 

►November 6, 2008 - Probiotics 'may stop pneumonia'  - Mechanical ventilation increases the risk of pneumonia - Probiotics could be used to protect critically ill patients from developing pneumonia, according to scientists. - BBC

►November 6, 2008 - Why animal testing offers the best chance for answers - Irish Times

* ►November 5, 2008 - Obama May Choose Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to head EPA (includes videos) - Adventures in Autism

* ►November 5, 2008 - RFK Jr. to Head EPA? By J.B. Handley - Age of Autism

* ►November 5, 2008 - Horse Race Begins for New Leaders at FDA and HHS - Wall Street Journal Health Blog

►November 5, 2008 - Autism: UKAF congratulates President Elect Obama - Blogger News Network

* ►November 5, 2008 - The News From India: Mercury Means Autism. - Age of Autism

* ►November 5, 2008 - Trying to Solve Autism's Mysteries - Autism in America: Seeking Solutions to Autism's Elusive Questions - ABC News

►November 5, 2008 - No room for guilt in autism - letter (requires registration or subscription) - The Globe and Mail

►November 5, 2008 - Barbara Fischkin "First Autism Conversation with the New President - Age of Autism

►November 5, 2008 - ACON Director: Bills could bring end to autism discrimination - KRNV.com

►November 5, 2008 - Autism gene linked to childhood language disorder - Reuters

* ►November 5, 2008 - Genetic Link Found Between Autistic and Nonautistic Language Impairments - NEJM via MedPage Today

* ►November 5, 2008 - Can Obama's Win Lead to Meaningful Health Care Reform? 13 Urgent Suggestions for a Healthy USA - NaturalNews.com

►November 5, 2008 - For High Court, High Stakes Case on Preemption - OMB Watch

* ►November 5, 2008 - Industry, critics seek strong FDA leader - Reuters - "Drugmakers and consumer advocates alike are looking for U.S. President-elect Barack Obama to appoint a strong leader who can restore confidence in the battered Food and Drug Administration."

►November 5, 2008 - FDA stamp is no safety guarantee - letter (requires registration) - The Boston Globe

►November 5, 2008 - Drug Firms Target Newly Rich Abroad (free preview) - The Wall Street Journal - "Companies recognize that they may need to make exceptions to the strategy of pricing drugs based on what the most affluent patients can pay. For instance, in order to broadly immunize China's population, Wyeth says it will be 'flexible' in pricing its pediatric pneumococcal vaccine Prevnar, which was recently approved for use in that country."

►November 5, 2008 - Glaxo to Cut 1,800 Sales Jobs - (free preview) - The Wall Street Journal - "Some of these were vacant and some sales representatives will shifted from the pharmaceutical to the vaccine unit, so the net sales force reduction will be about 1,000 employees, to about 7,500 by the end of the year, spokeswoman Mary Anne Rhyne said.

* ►November 5, 2008 - Glaxo Joins Merck, Pfizer, Wyeth Chopping Sales Jobs - Bloomberg

►November 5, 2008 - Pfizer and Sanofi Join Merck in Abandoning Obesity Drugs - BNET

►November 5, 2008 - Pfizer Halts Obesity Drug on Risk of US Rejection - Bloomberg

►November 5, 2008 - Military makes progress on dengue jab - FierceVaccines

►November 5, 2008 - New Vaccines for Adults: Which do you Need? From Harvard Medical School - Most adults are not up to date on their vaccinations, says a new report from Harvard Medical School. The report, Viruses and Infectious Diseases, describes how fast-adapting viruses pose an advancing threat to human health and urges adults to seek out new vaccines and renew their old ones. - press release - Harvard Health Publications via eMediaWire.com

* ►November 5, 2008 - Vaccines: Separating fact from fiction - Parenting.com via CNN

* ►November 5, 2008 - Earlier Vaccination Saves Babies’ Lives - Ivanhoe interview with Timothy R. Peters, M.D.; Pediatrics via Ivanhoe

►November 5, 2008 - New vaccine hope for children - Wyeth via Nursing in Practice - "Data from a pivotal trial and three other Phase 3 studies indicate that Wyeth’s investigational 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) may offer broader protection against pneumococcal disease (PD) in infants and young children compared to Pneumococcal 7-valent conjugate vaccine (PCV7)."

* ►November 5, 2008 - Mother Load: Analyzing the great child-vaccination debate - The Record via NorthJersey.com - "Ten years ago, I rarely got questions from parents about vaccines," said Dr. Lawrence Rosen, a pediatrician who spoke at a childhood vaccination forum last month at Hackensack University Medical Center. "Now I hear them from the majority of parents I see." Most parents' questions are about the additives contained in vaccines, and about the safety of grouping vaccines together so that infants sometimes get up to seven at a time, said Rosen, who opened a practice in Oradell this year. He calls for doctors to be more flexible about the timing of vaccinations."

* ►November 5, 2008 - Lag In Flu Vaccination Rates For At-Risk Adolescents - Harvard Medical School via Medical News Today

►November 5, 2008 - Influenza Virus Vaccine 2008-2009 Season - 2008/2009 Season Lot Release Status (as of November 5, 2008) - FDA/CBER

►November 5, 2008 - Protein 'tubules' free avian flu virus from immune recognition - Baylor College of Medicine via EurekAlert!

* ►November 5, 2008 - Woman blames drug company for contributing to heart attack - The Record - "The 38-year-old Elmira woman took the drug to relieve the uncomfortable symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. Today, she believes the drug, Zelnorm, contributed to the massive heart attack she suffered two years ago at age 36. "I could have died," Metzger said yesterday. The mother of five is the representative plaintiff in a $125-million class-action lawsuit against Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc., the Quebec-based manufacturer of the drug."

* ►November 5, 2008 - Do All Drugmakers Cap Payments To Docs? - Pharmalot

►November 5, 2008 - European Pharma Stocks Slip After Obama Victory - The Wall Street Journal Health Journal

* ►November 5, 2008 - Superbug MRSA cases hit record level in Ontario - The Globe And Mail

►November 5, 2008 - The FDA Mismanages Employee Pay And Benefits - Pharmalot

* ►November 5, 2008 - Scientists are after 'good bugs' that can cure specific diseases - Scientists are trying to design ''good bugs'' in the laboratory to prevent or cure specific diseases. - Miami Herald

* ►November 5, 2008 - Clinical Trials: Animal Testing: Progress or Pain? - Cedars-Sinai Medical Center via Ivanhoe - "Successful vaccinations, MRI, CT scans and antibiotics were all developed as a result of animal testing."

* ►November 5, 2008 - Glaxo Laying Off 1,000 Sales Reps, Shifts US HQ - Pharmalot

* ►November 5, 2008 - President Obama, Pharma And Pricing Pressures - Pharmalot

* ►November 5, 2008 - Merck racks up time in court - FiercePharma

►November 5, 2008 - Malaria experts meeting in Nairobi hope for an Obama action against Malaria - US President-elect, Barack Obama’s must seize the momentum created from his campaigns and ultimate victory for US Presidency not to relent on the war against diseases that ravage Africa, with malaria taking the centre stage. - Africa Science News

►November 5, 2008 - Social skills training to be discussed - News Transcript

►November 5, 2008 - Parasites exploit biochemical loophole to trick immune system - Nature Immunology via Cordis News

* ►November 5, 2008 - The poorer educated risk an early grave, experts warn - Independent, IE

* ►November 5, 2008 - Meningitis jab developed in city - Manchester Online - "Dr Borrow, who works at laboratories at the Manchester Royal Infirmary, said: 'Meningococcal group C disease has virtually been eliminated in the UK since the vaccine against it was introduced in 1999. This new conjugate vaccine for group A meningitis has the potential to be equally effective in a number of African countries that are bedevilled by meningococcal epidemics."

►November 5, 2008 - Aggressive vaccine effort could cut cervical cancer - Westside Gazette

►November 5, 2008 - University’s health center to offer free Gardasil vaccine clinic - Joplin Globe

►November 5, 2008 - Huron-Superior CDSB to revisit HPV decision at November Board meeting - Tomorrows Trust

►November 5, 2008 - Kenny says vaccine move 'short-sighted' - RTE.ie - "Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny has criticised the Government's decision to row back on the promise to provide free cervical cancer vaccines to girls between 10 and 12 years old."

►November 5, 2008 - Women's group slams shelving of HPV vaccination plan - Belfast Telegraph

* ►November 5, 2008 - Build resistance, get a flu shot this year - Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

* ►November 5, 2008 - Campaign Encourages Pregnant Women To Get Flu Vaccine (includes video) - NY1

►November 5, 2008 - UR researcher says high-dose flu shots are safe - Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

►November 5, 2008 - A warning shot about flu season - New York Daily News

►November 5, 2008 - How avian flu dupes our immune system: study - AFP via Google

►November 5, 2008 - Cruise passengers in quarantine after vomiting bug outbreak - British holiday makers were among up to 60 passengers confined to their cabins on a cruise ship when it docked in Shanghai after an outbreak of a virulent vomiting bug. - The Telegraph, UK

* ►November 5, 2008 - Teen struck down by meningitis raises cash - GetSurrey.co.uk - "All money donated will support the charity’s Search 4 a Vaccine Campaign, which aims to raise £7 million to fund vital research into developing a vaccine against Meningitis B - the most common form of meningitis in the UK. This accounts for almost 90 per cent of all cases in the UK and there is still no vaccine."

►November 5, 2008 - Oklahoma meningitis cases spur questions - Experts examine whether two infections in Keyes are related - NewsOK.com

►November 5, 2008 - Bill Gates confident India can eradicate polio - AP via BusinessWeek

* ►November 5, 2008 - Bill Gates to help India introduce polio injections - IANS via Thaindian.com

* ►November 5, 2008 - IPV to be introduced in high-risk regions: Gates - Sahara Samay

►November 5, 2008 - Obama will help improve healthcare in India: Bill Gates - Sindh Today

►November 5, 2008 - Town is likely to escape measles epidemic, says expert - This Is Lancashire

►November 5, 2008 - Anthrax vaccine manufacturer salvages contest portfolios - Toledo Blade

►November 5, 2008 - Hand-Held Anthrax Sensor Sells Briskly in US - Global Security Newswire

►November 5, 2008 - Vaccination Exercise Scheduled in Calif. County - Global Security Newswire

►November 5, 2008 - Whooping cough often misdiagnosed - Dr. Paul Donohue: Your health via The Detroit News

►November 5, 2008 - More whooping cough cases confirmed - Bellevue Leader

►November 5, 2008 - Using Nanoparticles to Treat Viral Hepatitis - AZoNano.com

►November 5, 2008 - Fresno Man, and Hurricane Katrina Survivor, Dies From West Nile Virus - KMPH Fox 26

►November 5, 2008 - Painful bacterial illness on rise - The Muskegon Chronicle via MLive.com - "Eight cases of shigella have been confirmed in Muskegon County, said county health department director Ken Kraus. He said Kent and Ottawa counties also have confirmed several cases of shigella."

►November 5, 2008 - CDC expert discusses Chagas' disease - SmartBrief

* ►November 5, 2008 - HIV vaccine failure explained? - Failed vaccine makes immune cells easier to infect in culture. - Nature News via www.nature.com

►November 5, 2008 - New York City Celebrates Opening of the First Laboratory Solely Devoted to the Development of an AIDS Vaccine - The International Aids Vaccine Initiative Opens State-of-the-Art AIDS Vaccine Lab at Historic Brooklyn Army Terminal - press release - The International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) via MarketWatch

►November 5, 2008 - Turning On Virus Power - Forbes

►November 5, 2008 - Response to reader - Vaccinations, leg cramps during pregnancy - Jamaica Gleaner

►November 5, 2008 - Environmental Pollutants in Human Milk - Environmental Health Perspectives (NIEHS) via Newswise - "An overview of studies on environmental pollutants in human milk has found that not breastfeeding an infant typically poses more of a threat than does exposure to any of the chemical agents measured in human milk, as reported in the 11th Annual Children’s Health Issue of Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP)."

►November 5, 2008 - Firearms Industry Statement on Results of CDC Blood Lead Levels in Hunters Study - press release - National Shooting Sports Foundation via PRNewswire-USNewswire via Comtex via MarketWatch

* ►November 4, 2008 - First Autism Conversation With New President: Don't Waste Our Precious Time - mom.notcalm via Spectrum Publications

* ►November 4, 2008 - Could Preemption Hurt Drug Companies? - Forbes

►November 4, 2008 - World Gene Therapy Market to Reach $484 Million by 2015, According to New Report by Global Industry Analysts, Inc. - Gene therapy promises to be one of the most important frontiers in medicine. Although no significant achievements for curing disease have been achieved, the future seems to hold significant potential in terms of developing such approaches. By the year 2015, global market for gene therapy is projected to reach $484 million. - press release - Global Industry Analysts, Inc. via PRWeb

►November 4, 2008 - Schering-Plough reports positive interim results from Phase II hepatitis study - Datamonitor via Comtex via Trading Markets

►November 4, 2008 - Anadys reports encouraging results from Phase I hepatitis study - Datamonitor via Comtex via Trading Markets

►November 4, 2008 - Bird flu outbreak occurs in Laos - Xinhua via China View

►November 4, 2008 - Health system drills don't fake flu shots - Springfield News-Leader

►November 4, 2008 - BC residents rolling up their sleeves - Trail Rossland News

►November 4, 2008 - Nearly Two Dozen Treated for Meningitis Exposure - Officials say student's death shows value of vaccine. - KTRH.com - "Officials are still working to identify whether Cortez suffered from viral meningitis-or the much more dangerous bacterial version of the illness."

►November 4, 2008 - Whooping cough reaches western Nebraska - AP via NTV

►November 4, 2008 - Parents fail on rotavirus impact, poll finds - The Standard, Hong Kong

* ►November 4, 2008 - DMS discovers possible cancer vaccine - The Dartmouth - “Your immune system is taught to never respond to self,” Noelle said. “But that’s only sort of true. We make very low responses to self. So to concoct a vaccine, the thing that stimulates the vaccine needs to be extremely strong to overcome the low response to self.” Cancer vaccines work by heightening the body’s natural response to irregular cell growth. While many of the cancer vaccines currently in clinical trials focus on only one immune system, Noelle’s experimental vaccine triggers both. The research team has found that this approach provides far more effective results than vaccines that trigger a single system."

* ►November 4, 2008 - FDA Urges Vaccination Programs for Healthcare Personnel (requires registration) - Medscape Medical News

* ►November 4, 2008 - An Experiment: Ban All DTC Broadcast Advertising for One Year - Pharma Marketing Blog - "It appears that PhRMA's members are likely to agree on a DTC advertising moratorium for newly approved drugs. O'Neil said there was a debate about the exact length of the moratorium -- whether it should be 6 months, one year, or longer. Bob Erhlich, chairperson, commented that most DTC campaigns do not begin until 6 months after launch anyway and a 6-month moratorium, therefore, would not be a change from current practices. Most people, therefore, expect PhRMA to recommend a 1-year moratorium."

* ►November 4, 2008 - Birds of a Feather: Commercial Producers Play Chicken with Avian Flu - Narrowing the gene pool to enhance meat and egg production in chickens could provoke some unintended consequences - Scientific American

►November 4, 2008 - The destruction of the NHS begins - NHS Blog  Doctor

* ►November 4, 2008 - ADHD Appears To Affect Movement In Boys More Than Girls, New Study - American Academy of Neurology via Medical News Today

►November 4, 2008 - Prescription drug help is available - Muskogee Phoenix

►November 4, 2008 - Pa. Judge Denies Another Breast Cancer-HRT Claim - Law.com

►November 4, 2008 - Alnylam and Collaborators Publish New Pre-clinical Research on Therapeutic Silencing of Key Gene Implicated in Parkinson's Disease - New Findings Published in the Journal Molecular Neurodegeneration Demonstrate Durable Silencing of Alpha-Synuclein with RNAi Therapeutics - Alnylam via Business Wire via MarketWatch

►November 4, 2008 - AHF to President Barack Obama: AIDS Is a Crisis in America - US' Largest AIDS Group Calls on Government to Spend $200M for 10 Million HIV Tests - AIDS Healthcare Foundation via Business Wire via MarketWatch

* ►November 4, 2008 - Drive-through flu shots get good reviews - Randolph Leader - "'It's a Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) exercise where mass amounts of materials would have to be dispensed in response to some type or some kind of biological assault and there would be a mass outbreak of disease,' Coughran said. Two examples would be smallpox or measles."

* ►November 4, 2008 - Does UP cradle polio virus? - Times of India - "According to the national polio surveillance project report, 78 per cent of polio cases in UP belong to the ‘highly immunised’ category. The corresponding figures for India stand at a whopping 83 per cent. The trend was almost reverse in 1998 when the programme started. The percentage of highly immunised children in UP then was just four."

* ►November 3, 2008 - Focus shifts to injectable vaccine with OPV - Express New Service via Express Buzz - "The Community on Immunisation of IAP (IAPCOI) has stressed the need to offer inactivated polio virus vaccine (IPV) in addition to OPV. The doses to be given at six, 10 and 14 weeks and booster at 15-18 months. ‘Only a combination of OPV and IPV can ensure best protection and enable the Government to achieve the goal of complete eradication, which OPV has not been able to provide in India,’ says Nitin K. Shah, co-chairperson of IAP Polio Eradication Committee."

►November 3, 2008 - Bill Gates kicks off anti-polio drive in India on Nov 5 - Press Trust of India

►November 3, 2008 - Spatial and temporal clustering of dengue virus transmission in Thai villages - Public Library of Science via EurekAlert!

►November 3, 2008 - Deadly New Virus Thought to Be Contained (requires registration) - The New York Times

►November 3, 2008 - ZymoGenetics says drug helps combat hepatitis C virus - ZymoGenetics said an early clinical trial of an anti-viral compound is showing "meaningful reduction" in Hepatitis C virus in relapsed patients - Seattle Times

►November 3, 2008 - Tibotec presents positive interim findings from Phase IIa hepatitis study - Tibotec, a pharmaceutical R&D company, has presented positive interim data from Phase IIa hepatitis study which demonstrated the antiviral activity of TMC435, an investigational protease inhibitor being developed by the company for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus infection. - Pharmaceutical Business Review

►November 3, 2008 - Ask Dr. H: Hair loss among combat soldiers - Rhogam no longer contains thimerosal - Philadelphia Inquirer

►November 3, 2008 - Can rain + TV watching = autism? - The Oregonian via OregonLive.com

►November 3, 2008 - Progress Made Towards Elimination of Rubella - Comprehensive strategy still needed to meet 2010 goal for elimination of rubella - HealthDay via Modern Medicine

►November 3, 2008 - Health fears mount over Mersey measles epidemic - Liverpool Daily Post - "The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has reported eight current cases within the city, three of which have been confirmed by laboratory testing and five are probable cases, with further test results pending."

►November 3, 2008 - Calls for rotavirus vaccine introduction - Irish Medical News

►November 3, 2008 - Bird flu likely kills one more in Indonesia - Xinhua via China View

* ►November 3, 2008 - Cervical cancer vaccination to go ahead - DutchNews.nl - "The health minister is to go ahead with plans to make vaccines against cervical cancer available to all girls over 12 years old from next September, despite confirmation that there were ‘connections’ between the healthcare council which recommended the policy and the drugs industry, reports the NRC. A tv programme recently revealed that the healthcare council received research funds from the drugs industry and this was later confirmed by the council’s professor Van Noordaa, says the paper."

►November 3, 2008 - Bluetongue vaccine cost concerns - Scottish farmers have raised concerns over a compulsory vaccination programme for bluetongue disease. - BBC

►November 3, 2008 - Foot and mouth vaccine to save stock, trade - Stock & Land

►November 3, 2008 - Season's flu vaccine rooted in Valhalla - Lower Hudson Journal News - "For the fifth year in a row, researchers at New York Medical College grew part of the flu virus to make the 400 million doses of influenza vaccine for the world."

►November 3, 2008 - Justices Weigh Effect of F.D.A. Approval of Drug Labels on Suits in State Courts (requires registration) - The New York Times

* ►November 3, 2008 - In N.J. and elsewhere, scientists take on autism - The Record via NorthJersey.com - "Which genes, what environmental factors and what combinations of the two cause autism? Is a child born with a "susceptibility" to autism that is triggered by a virus or a certain chemical? Can steps be taken to identify at-risk children and protect them?"

►November 3, 2008 - State Wants All Children To Get Free Flu Shots - WMUR 9 Manchester

* ►November 3, 2008 - CDC Releases First Estimate of Human Papillomavirus-Associated Cancer Data - CDC

►November 3, 2008 - Biologists hunt for bird flu in Florida ducks - Florida Today

►November 3, 2008 - Maternal caffeine intake during pregnancy and risk of fetal growth restriction: a large prospective observational study - journal article (BMJ)

* ►November 2008 - Autism Prevalence and Precipitation Rates in California, Oregon, and Washington Counties - journal article (Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine)

* ►November 2008 - Precipitation and Autism - Do These Results Warrant Publication? - journal article (Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine)

* ►November 2008 - Additional Visit Burden for Universal Influenza Vaccination of US School-Aged Children and Adolescents - journal article (Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine)

►November 2008 - Long-term Health Status in Childhood Survivors of Meningococcal Septic Shock - journal article (Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine)

►November 2008 - Strong Design and Comprehensive Analysis of the Child-Parent Center Study - journal article (Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine)

►November 2008 - Strong Design and Comprehensive Analysis of the Child-Parent Center Study—Reply - journal article (Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine)

►November 2008 - Strong Design and Comprehensive Analysis of the Child-Parent Center Study—Reply - journal article (Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine)

►November 2008 - Strong Design and Comprehensive Analysis of the Child-Parent Center Study—Reply - journal article (Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine)

►November 2008 - Parents' Concern About Their Own and Their Children's Genetic Disease Risk - journal article (Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine)

►November 2008 - Pharmacologic aspects of new antiretroviral drugs. - journal article (Current Infectious Disease Reports)

►November 2008 - Effectiveness of Oral vs Rectal Acetaminophen - journal article (Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine)

►November 2008 - A dietary survey to determine if patients with coeliac disease are meeting current healthy eating guidelines and how their diet compares to that of the British general population - journal article (European Journal of Clinical Nutrition)

►October 31, 2008 - FDA and CBP Announce Final Rule and Compliance Policy Guide - FDA

►October 31, 2008 - New Research: Early Peanut Consumption May Prevent Allergy - American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology via Medical News Today

►October 31, 2008 - The Change Election for PhRMA - PhRMA is touting its R&D prowess in battleground states as Election Day nears. A change in Administration is coming; is an image change for Big Pharma going to follow? - The RPM Report

►October 31, 2008 - Current Clostridium Difficile Tests Not Accurate Enough, 2-Stage Process Needed - The Lancet Infectious Diseases via Doctor's Guide

* ►October 31, 2008 - Uncontrolled Growth - Cancer to Dominate the Global Vaccine Market by 2012 - Driven by a strong demand and a number of new product launches, the global market for cancer vaccines is expected to grow robustly in next five years. - RNCOS E-Services Pvt. Ltd. via PRMinds

►October 31, 2008 - Don't forget your flu shot - letter (requires registration or subscription) - Toronto Star

►October 31, 2008 - Arenavirus ‘no longer a threat’ - Cause of cleaner’s death unknown - The Times, South Africa

* ►October 30, 2008 - Modeling the effects of drug resistant influenza virus in a pandemic (pdf) - journal article (Virology Journal)

►October 29, 2008 - Eosinophilic gastroenteritis: a review. - journal article (Journal of Gastroenterology)

►October 29, 2008 - Medical Officer of Health writes - Flu shots versus homeopathic treatment - YourStittsville.com

* ►October 28, 2008 - New Intranasal Influenza Vaccine Triggers Robust Immunity with Significantly Less Antigen - Data presented at the 2008 ICAAC/IDSA meeting in Washington, DC - MedThink Communications via Biocompare

►October 23, 2008 - Emerging Concepts in the Immunopathogenesis of AIDS. - journal article (Annual Review of Medicine)

►October 6, 2008 - Cow's milk allergic children can present sensitisation to probiotics. - journal article (Acta Paediatrica)