Health News
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Common Cold Remedy May Not be Best
Zinc is commonly sold as a remedy for the common cold, but whether its effective is controversial. A recent review of research shed some light on this debated treatment.
More Meningitis Protection on the Way
The tricky thing about protecting people against bacterial meningitis is that so many different strains exist and the current vaccines protects against only a couple.
A couple vaccines exist for specific strains of meningococcal serogroup B, which causes bacterial meningitis, but a vaccine that protects against this whole class of strains is not yet available.
The conclusion of a recent trial for a vaccine that would protect people against a wide range of bacterial meningitis strains showed both good levels of effectiveness and a good safety record.
Be sure you're up to date on...
Pfizer Stops Phase 3 Trial Of Lyrica
Pfizer Inc. announced that it has stopped a Phase 3 clinical trial of Lyrica ( pregabalin ) in patients with neuropathic pain associated with HIV neuropathy, a form of nerve damage characterized by burning pain usually beginning in the feet.
High Infection Risk in Kids with RA
For many children with rheumatoid arthritis, drug treatment is one of the few ways to stop the pain. Some of these medications, however, may be raising patients' risk of infection.
Faster Water Quality Test Coming Soon
Summertime is just around the corner, and dog days at the beach may be part of many families' vacation plans. But parents may be wondering about how clean the water is.
Water-testing technology so far has been inadequate in testing for bacteria because it's not accessible enough to check all swimming spots or it can't keep up with quickly changing conditions at some sites.
Now a new, faster method for testing may be available from researchers whose paper strip method can detect E. coli in minutes.
Check for safe and clear beaches ahead of time.
Lead author John Brennan, a ch...
Levaquin Approved for Treatment of the Plague
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today approved Levaquin ( levofloxacin ) to treat patients with plague, a rare and potentially deadly bacterial infection.
Poverty Blocks Progress Against HIV
There's been a lot of good news for HIV patients in the past few years, with progress towards better drugs and treatment. But the good news hasn't yet reached America's urban poor.
Victrelis and HIV Drug Interactions
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is notifying the public that co-administration of Victrelis ( boceprevir ), a hepatitis C virus ( HCV ) protease inhibitor, along with certain ritonavir-boosted human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) protease inhibitors, is not recommended at this time.
Because of the possibility of reducing the effectiveness of the medicines, permitting the amount of HCV or HIV virus in the blood (viral load) to increase. Ritonavir-boosted HIV protease inhibitors include ritonavir-boosted Reyataz ( atazanavir ), ritonavir-boosted Prezista ( darunavir ), and Kal...
Texting While Vaccinating is Approved
Making sure that your child is protected from seasonal flu is important. Text message reminders may give parents that extra push to get their child vaccinated.
Wash Your Hands! Cover Your Mouth!
Want a cheap and easy way to reduce the likelihood that you or your children might catch - or pass on - at least one strain of the flu? Cover your mouth and use hand sanitizer.