Medical
U.S. flu season arrives early, driven by an unexpected virus
The Centers for Disease Control ( CDC ) yesterday said the second phase of government-funded flu vaccinations is to begin today for people 65 years or older and preschool children. "The more time we have for flu to circulate, the more likely we are going to have a heavier season". Influenza A viruses are also in circulation with the dominant flu virus varying by region and age of patient, accord... [Full Article...]
Experts split sharply over experimental Alzheimer's drug
Biogen reiterated its plans to file for USA approval of the drug early next year, as experts tried to decipher the data - pretty much universally described as complex and hard-to-interpret. Dr James Pickett, head of research at Alzheimer's Society, said after the presentation that from the results presented at CTAD "it's not possible to be sure whether people in the early stages of Alzheimer's di... [Full Article...]
Ebola vaccine doses to be stockpiled for emergency outbreak use
The ICG mechanism already exists to manage emergency stockpiles of meningitis, cholera and yellow fever vaccines. Dr Seth Berkley, chief executive of Gavi, said that on current estimates it is likely that around 10 per cent of health workers in countries that could face an Ebola outbreak would be vaccinated in advance. [Full Article...]
Black Tar Heroin May Be Causing Deadly 'Flesh-Eating' Infections in San Diego
Between Oct. 2 and November 24, nine people who injected black tar heroin were admitted to hospitals in San Diego County with severe myonecrosis, a bacterial infection that destroys muscle and damages soft tissue. Black tar heroin is also produced faster and is cheaper than white powder, which is typically more pure, according to the report. Agencies are trying to figure out the source of the he... [Full Article...]
Tufts University Cuts Ties With Family Behind OxyContin
Tufts University announced Thursday that it was removing all mentions of the Sackler family from school buildings and programs because of the " human toll of the opioid epidemic " sparked by OxyContin - manufactured by their family business, Purdue Pharma. [Full Article...]
Cell phone injuries over 20 years analyzed
According to a study published Thursday in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the rates of cellphone-related head and neck injuries in the United States have been rising steadily over a 20-year period. Over 90% of cases were largely treated and released or released without treatment. "With respect to the head, the NEISS Coding Manual requires the most severe diagnosis to be coded". [Full Article...]
Drug Reduces Delusions in Dementia Patients
Jeffrey Cummings of the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in a statement. The drugmaker's late-stage trial testing Nuplazid , stopped in September after positive results, enrolled 392 patients aged 74.5 years on average. [Full Article...]
Sanders Takes Lead in Calif.; Warren Falls — LA Times Poll
Harris voters would mostly be reallocated to the top four candidates, based on their responses. "The race is really unusually fluid", said Mark DiCamillo, director of the Berkeley IGS poll. According to several recent polls, Buttigieg is now leading the Democratic field in the Granite State and Iowa. Biden is now on an eight-day tour of Iowa. [Full Article...]