Toll-like receptors are the guard dogs of the immune system, sniffing out bacteria and viruses then activating the body's immune system for an attack on these invaders.
Because of their ability to quickly activate the body's defenses, toll-like receptors have recently become a darling of drug makers. One of the proteins in this class, toll-like receptor 9 or TLR9, can pick up a very specific scent -- a snippet of DNA common in bacteria and viruses.
The idea for drug makers is to create DNA-based drugs containing these snippets, called CpG DNA. The drugs would get the guard dogs howling, which, in turn, would trip a fast immune response, causing the body to attack cancerous tumors or, if used as an ingredient in vaccines, bolster the assault on infectious diseases such as hepatitis B and C. CpG DNA could even be used to treat immune system disorders such as asthma and allergies.read more
Monday, August 6, 2007
Back-to-school seasons signals vaccination rush
This year’s vaccinations have a few additional requirements, and children who don’t meet the criteria can be banned from school this fall.
First off, sixth graders 11-years-old or older who received their last tetanus shot five years ago are required to get three doses of TDAP, a new formula to include the Pertussis Booster, better known as Whooping Cough.
“We fine tune our immunizations, and we continue to do that,” John McCarthy of Med Group Health said. “This particular vaccination is limiting the amount of whooping cough or pertussis that we’re seeing.”
Potentially fatal, Whooping Cough is also a highly contagious disease
read more
Hepatitis A cases are on the rise
.jpg)
The number of cases of Hepatitis in Kern County California is increasing at an alarming rate. According to new statistics released by the Kern County Department of Public Health, Hepatitis A cases have increased 10-fold from six this time last year to 64 this year. Hepatitis A is most commonly transmitted due to bad hygiene.read more
Light Therapy: An Emerging Alternative for Hepatitis C
With nearly 180 million Hepatitis C infections worldwide, researchers continually strive to develop treatments and therapies for the virus. Learn about a new method of light therapy discovered in July 2007 that may prove effective in treating blood-borne viral diseases, including Hepatitis C.
The purpose of light goes beyond warming the earth’s surface or illuminating a room. Referred to by scientists as electromagnetic radiation, light has wavelengths both visible and invisible to the human eye. Various attempts to help people fight Hepatitis C have included electromagnetic radiation, with reports of success spanning both visible and invisible light.read more
The purpose of light goes beyond warming the earth’s surface or illuminating a room. Referred to by scientists as electromagnetic radiation, light has wavelengths both visible and invisible to the human eye. Various attempts to help people fight Hepatitis C have included electromagnetic radiation, with reports of success spanning both visible and invisible light.read more
Boston Blotter: Weymouth Child Killed by Her Cousin
--The 7-year-old allegedly kidnapped and killed by her 20-year-old first cousin has been identified as Joanna Mullin of Weymouth.
The cousin, Ryan Bois, has been described by various sources as addicted to drugs and homeless. But no one thought he would be capable of killing a child. His own mother said, "The drugs and the drinking just ruined him."
Bois allegedly took Mullin from her grandmother's house, and police found a ladder leaning against the window of the bedroom where the child was sleeping. The Herald reports that Bois "begged" the police to kill him before they found Mullin's body. Her body also showed "signs of sexual abuse."
When police hauled Bois into court this morning, he spat at reporters, and one of the reporters hit by the spit had to go to the hospital because Bois has Hepatitis C. All charges alleged and so forth, but given the nature of his alleged crimes, Bois is on the fast track to becoming the most-hated man in New England.
read more
TWINRIX, manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline, is a combined hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccine
TWINRIX, manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline, is a combined hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccine licensed for persons >18 years of age, containing 720 EL.U. of hepatitis A antigen (50% of the HAVRIX adult dose) and 20 g of recombinant hepatitis B surface antigen protein (the same as the ENGERIX-B adult dose) (Table 4-6). Primary immunization consists of three doses, given on a 0-, 1-, and 6-month schedule, the same schedule as that commonly used for monovalent hepatitis B vaccine. TWINRIX contains aluminum phosphate and aluminum hydroxide as adjuvant and 2-phenoxyethanol as a preservative.
read more
read more
Doctor sentenced to 11 years for health fraud
The sentencing of a Houston physician for health fraud took an interesting twist Monday with revelations of a murder-for-hire plot targeting a federal prosecutor and FBI agent.
Klein, a gastroenterologist who was awarded four patents for drugs used to treat the liver disease Hepatitis C, was convicted last year in a scheme that bilked millions from insurance companies.
In the course of deciding to send Dr. Ira Klein to federal prison for 11 years, U.S. District David Hittner had to determine if the physician obstructed justice last year during jail house discussions in which he allegedly orchestrated killings.
Hittner decided Klein had committed obstruction of justice, but gave him the same amount of time recommended by federal probation officials.
read more
Klein, a gastroenterologist who was awarded four patents for drugs used to treat the liver disease Hepatitis C, was convicted last year in a scheme that bilked millions from insurance companies.
In the course of deciding to send Dr. Ira Klein to federal prison for 11 years, U.S. District David Hittner had to determine if the physician obstructed justice last year during jail house discussions in which he allegedly orchestrated killings.
Hittner decided Klein had committed obstruction of justice, but gave him the same amount of time recommended by federal probation officials.
read more
Uganda: Reducing Hepatisis B Risk - Health Workers Get Vaccine
GLAXOSMITHKLINE, the largest pharmaceutical company in the world, has donated 3,450 doses of Engenix B, a type of Hepatitis B vaccine worth $63,000 (about sh104m) to healthcare workers.
Speaking during the vaccination exercise at Mulago Referral Hospital recently, the Glaxosmithkline country manager, Nathan Wasolo, said over 1,150 workers in seven hospitals countrywide will receive the vaccine. It will be administered in three phases.
"Hepatitis B infection is a contagious liver infection caused by the Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) and is easily spread through contact with the blood or body fluids of an infected person.
read more
Speaking during the vaccination exercise at Mulago Referral Hospital recently, the Glaxosmithkline country manager, Nathan Wasolo, said over 1,150 workers in seven hospitals countrywide will receive the vaccine. It will be administered in three phases.
"Hepatitis B infection is a contagious liver infection caused by the Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) and is easily spread through contact with the blood or body fluids of an infected person.
read more
Hepatitis B Vaccine Protection May Not Be Long-Lasting
"If immunity engendered by hepatitis B vaccine wanes in older adolescents and young adults who began their vaccine series as neonates, then HBV infections could occur in older adolescence and adulthood," wrote Taraz Samandar, M.D., Ph.D., of the CDC, and colleagues from the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium in Anchorage.
Most studies of HBV vaccine in children have been conducted in children who had maternal HBV exposure or household exposure. By contrast this study was conducted in participants whose mothers were HBV negative and who had no environmental exposure.
Those characteristics, Dr. Samandar pointed out, make these participants "similar to most children who received hepatitis B vaccination as part of their routine infant vaccination schedule."
Most studies of HBV vaccine in children have been conducted in children who had maternal HBV exposure or household exposure. By contrast this study was conducted in participants whose mothers were HBV negative and who had no environmental exposure.
Those characteristics, Dr. Samandar pointed out, make these participants "similar to most children who received hepatitis B vaccination as part of their routine infant vaccination schedule."
New Hepatitis A vaccine launched
Dr Christian Herzog, director of medical services, Berna Biotech, Switzerland — the brain child behind the technology — told media persons that the virosome uses a biodegradable delivery system and is the most natural way of presenting antigens to the immune system of the body. They elicit high immune response keeping jaundice at bay and score well over conventional vaccines on pain parameters, he said. Currently, the vaccine is available in more than 40 countries.
The Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is quite active during rainy seasons and spreads fast in comparison to other viruses. It spreads easily in areas where there are poor sanitary conditions or where personal hygiene is not observed. The transmission is generally through the gastrointestinal route. “The first step to prevent the disease is to vaccinate the child during the second year of age,” informs Dr Herzog.
The new vaccine is being marketed in India by Chiron Panacea Vaccines, a joint venture of Novartis Vaccines (formerly Chiron) and Panacea Biotec.
read more
The Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is quite active during rainy seasons and spreads fast in comparison to other viruses. It spreads easily in areas where there are poor sanitary conditions or where personal hygiene is not observed. The transmission is generally through the gastrointestinal route. “The first step to prevent the disease is to vaccinate the child during the second year of age,” informs Dr Herzog.
The new vaccine is being marketed in India by Chiron Panacea Vaccines, a joint venture of Novartis Vaccines (formerly Chiron) and Panacea Biotec.
read more
Machine to diagnose hepatitis installed at NMC
NAWABSHAH: An ultra-modern machine that can diagnose Hepatitis-B and C has been installed at the Nawabshah Medical College, the college administration announced this on Sunday.
The machine working on Poly Rays Chromogin Reaction (CPCR) system is able to diagnose Hepatitis-B and C and can also tell if one is suffering from tuberculosis or even malaria, the medical college sources said.
Pathologist Dr Qaiser Naqvi said this type of a modern machine was not present in any other government or private hospital in the province, including Karachi, except for the one installed in a large Karachi-based private hospital but that was also not comparable to the machine installed in the NMC. He said that CPRC System machine would provide the latest test results as compared to collection points?results.read more
The machine working on Poly Rays Chromogin Reaction (CPCR) system is able to diagnose Hepatitis-B and C and can also tell if one is suffering from tuberculosis or even malaria, the medical college sources said.
Pathologist Dr Qaiser Naqvi said this type of a modern machine was not present in any other government or private hospital in the province, including Karachi, except for the one installed in a large Karachi-based private hospital but that was also not comparable to the machine installed in the NMC. He said that CPRC System machine would provide the latest test results as compared to collection points?results.read more
Vaccinations Not Just for Kids
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, tetanus causes “a painful tightening of the muscles all over the body.” It also can cause a person’s jaw to lock. Diptheria, according to the CDC, causes “a thick covering in the back of the throat.” It can lead to respiratory problems, heart failure and death. Pertussis, or whooping cough, causes severe coughing, disturbed sleep and vomiting.
According to the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, “Vaccinations have eradicated smallpox, eliminated naturally occurring polio in the United States and significantly reduced the number of cases of measles, diptheria, rubella, pertussis and other diseases. But despite these efforts, today tens of thousands of people in the U.S. still die from these and other vaccine-preventable diseases.” read more
According to the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, “Vaccinations have eradicated smallpox, eliminated naturally occurring polio in the United States and significantly reduced the number of cases of measles, diptheria, rubella, pertussis and other diseases. But despite these efforts, today tens of thousands of people in the U.S. still die from these and other vaccine-preventable diseases.” read more
EDUCATION NOTES
TWU to offer new doctoral program: Texas Woman's University's College of Nursing recently received approval from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to offer a new degree, the doctor of nursing practice. TWU's program will begin in summer 2008 and be based at the TWU Institute of Health Sciences-Dallas Center. Admission requirements are posted on the College of Nursing Web site at www.twu.edu/nursing. For information, contact Peggy Mancuso, director of the new TWU program, at pmancuso@twu.edu or call 214-689-6552.
read more
Britain could face cirrhosis epidemic unless drinking habits change, doctors warn
Britain's propensity toward binge drinking, driven by a pub culture in which a good night out means packing in as many pints as possible before the traditional 11 p.m. closing time, could lead to a liver disease epidemic within two decades unless Britons learn to drink more responsibly, experts warn
In England and Wales, 17.5 deaths of every 100,000 men were due to cirrhosis in 2002, up from 8.3 in 1987. And in Scotland, the increase was even more dramatic: cirrhosis deaths among men went from 16.9 per every 100,000 in 1987 to 45.2 per 100,000 in 2002.
"Deaths from cirrhosis (in Britain) are increasing out of proportion with anywhere else in the world," said Dr. Rajiv Jalan, a consultant hepatologist at London's University College Hospital.
read more
In England and Wales, 17.5 deaths of every 100,000 men were due to cirrhosis in 2002, up from 8.3 in 1987. And in Scotland, the increase was even more dramatic: cirrhosis deaths among men went from 16.9 per every 100,000 in 1987 to 45.2 per 100,000 in 2002.
"Deaths from cirrhosis (in Britain) are increasing out of proportion with anywhere else in the world," said Dr. Rajiv Jalan, a consultant hepatologist at London's University College Hospital.
read more
NanoViricides, Inc. Presents at the BARDA Industry Day
“The strong preclinical success of our nanoviricides pandemic influenza drug candidates, FluCide-HP ™ and AviFluCide ™ has generated significant interest,” reports Dr. Anil R. Diwan, President of the Company, adding further, “The broad-spectrum antivirals including FluCide-I ™ that we are developing now, as well as our novel Flexible Biosecurity 'Just-In-Time Accurate Drug' platform technology will be extremely valuable to overall national biosecurity.”
Approximately fifteen companies presented in the Therapeutics section. NanoViricides, Inc. was the only nanomedicine-based antiviral therapeutics company at the Industry Day.
“Our leadership position in nanomedicine against viral diseases, and the potential to create the equivalent of penicillin-like broad-spectrum drugs against viruses is now well recognized,” said Dr. Eugene Seymour, MD, MPH, CEO, NanoViricides, Inc.
read more
Approximately fifteen companies presented in the Therapeutics section. NanoViricides, Inc. was the only nanomedicine-based antiviral therapeutics company at the Industry Day.
“Our leadership position in nanomedicine against viral diseases, and the potential to create the equivalent of penicillin-like broad-spectrum drugs against viruses is now well recognized,” said Dr. Eugene Seymour, MD, MPH, CEO, NanoViricides, Inc.
read more
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)