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ook Description:
Blood substitutes are solutions designed for use in patients who need blood transfusions, but for whom whole blood is not available, or is not safe. This interest has intensified in the wake of the AIDS and hepatitis C epidemics. Blood Substitutes describes the rationale, current approaches, clinical efficacy, and design issues for all blood substitutes now in clinical trials. The many summary diagrams and tables help make the book accessible to readers such as surgeons and blood bankers, who have less technical expertise than the biochemists and hematologists who are designing and testing blood substitutes.
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America’s Most Polluted Beaches

According to sciencedaily.com, many beaches in the United States are unfit for swimming, and can cause sickness. Swimming in contaminated water can cause infections, skin rashes, respiratory illness and even hepatitis. Elderly and children, and those with poor immune systems are the most at risk. A major cause of water pollution is sewage runoff and storm water. Heavy rains will flood the sewage system, washing contaminants into the ocean. According to the article, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Rhode Island, and Minnesota have the worst beaches.read more

Study shows THC increases risk of KS, but other scientists question results

Hepatitis C (HCV) is a common co-infection with HIV among injection drug users, but historically it has not appeared to be readily transmitted sexually, and so is relatively rare among gay men.
A new study by researchers at Harvard Medical School suggests that THC, the major active ingredient in marijuana, makes cells more vulnerable to infection with the Kaposi抯 sarcoma herpes virus.

The study was published in the Aug. 1 issue of Cancer Research.read more

Premier Educates Continuum of Care Market on Preventing Needlestick and Sharps Injuries

CHARLOTTE, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As part of its commitment to improve worker and patient safety, the Premier Safety Institute this week mailed its new Prevent Needlestick Injuries brochure to Premier members across the continuum of healthcare delivery sites, including surgery centers, home healthcare facilities, imaging centers, clinical laboratories, physician offices, and long term care facilities. Within its Continuum of Care Program, Premier serves more than 47,000 members who provide healthcare services outside the hospital setting.
“Worker safety is paramount in today’s complex and fast-paced healthcare environment,” said Gina Pugliese, R.N., M.S., Premier Safety Institute Vice President. “Injuries from needlesticks and other “sharps,” such as scalpels, pose a risk in developing a serious occupational infection such as Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C or HIV. Caregivers owe it to themselves, their families, and their patients to reduce risk of infection from needlesticks.”
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Get blood tests, Oshawa tattoo shop's clients told

Public health officials in Durham Region are trying to contact as many as 2,000 people they fear may have been exposed to unsanitary equipment at an Oshawa tattoo parlour.

They are asking clients of the recently closed Longhorn Custom Body Art parlour to get tested for hepatitis B and C, as well as HIV.read more

Durham investigating possible health hazard at body art shop

A health department spokesperson said use of non-sterile equipment could lead to transmission of diseases such as Hepatitis B, C and HIV.

The business has been closed by Durham's health department. About 1,500 to 2,000 people visited the establishment in the close to nine-month period.While there is a low risk of infection, the health department recommended anyone that received service from the body art shop to avoid sharing clippers, razors, toothbrushes and other personal items.read more

Hepatitis C Threat Through Sex Seen

Hepatitis C, a virus that attacks the liver, is known to be transmitted through needle-sharing by drug injectors. AIDS groups have generally said that the risk of sexual transmission is low, but some recent European studies have documented sexual transmission among groups of gay men who do not inject drugs.
Most of the hepatitis C infections found in those studies are among gay men who are also infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, but some research suggests that sexual transmission of hepatitis C is happening among gay men who are not HIV-positiveread more

New immunization laws in effect

Instead of pencils and pens, local health departments say the number one back-to-school need this year should be vaccines. Sixth and tenth graders are now required to be vaccinated for pertussis (whooping cough) and kindergarten students will need two chicken pox shots this year instead of one.The law also changes the way chicken pox cases are reported. Lab tests or a doctor note are now needed as proof that a child has had the illness.

The health department are also strongly recommending vaccinations for Meningitis and Hepatitis B for college students, particularly those who will be living in dormitories.
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Scientists Turns Mouse Into Factory For Human Liver Cells

Science Daily — Oregon Health & Science University researchers have figured out how to turn a mouse into a factory for human liver cells that can be used to test how pharmaceuticals are metabolized.The technique, published in the journal Nature Biotechnology, could soon become the gold standard not only for examining drug metabolism in the liver, which helps scientists determine a drug's toxicity. But it also can be used as a platform for testing new therapies against infectious diseases that attack the liver, such as hepatitis C and malaria.read more

National Immunization Awareness Month

That message is what officials at the Mercer County Health Department are trying to get across the area residents.

August is National Immunization Awareness month
The goal is to increase awareness about immunizations across the life span, from infants to the elderly.

Judy Bolton with the Mercer County Health Department says there are many new immunizations that people don't know about but should get.
Vaccines offer safe and effective protection from infectious diseases.
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Pharmasset 3Q Loss Widens

PRINCETON, N.J. - Drug developer Pharmasset Inc. said Thursday its fiscal 2007 third-quarter loss widened on higher expenses.

The company lost $7.1 million, or 40 cents per share, compared with a loss of $4.4 million, or 42 cents per share. Revenue fell to $464,291 from $513,784
Expenses rose to $7.1 million from $5 million, primarily from clinical trial expenses for the company's hepatitis B treatment candidate clevudine, which is in a Phase III clinical trial.read more