►February 13, 2008 - Viral diseases in children on the rise - The Nation, Pakistan

►February 13, 2008 - Sex-virus campaign may target girls aged 11 - New Zealand Herald - "The Government is yet to state if it will fund the vaccine but offering it from next February is a high priority for the Ministry of Health."

* ►February 12, 2008 - Infant's death after taking polio vaccine is coincidence, says HHD - PunjabNewsline.com - "While disclosing this an official spokesman said that, the infant did not die due to polio vaccine as the vaccine is fully safe and has no side effects of any kind even  if  administered to seriously ill children. In a statement issued here on Tuesday,a spokesman of the Health Department said, in fact, the eight months old infant was born pre-mature, had been suffering from severe pneumonia for the last two weeks and was under treatment from a private practitioner."

* ►February 12, 2008 - National Immunization Program Out of Control - Road to Nowhere: The National Immunization Program is out of control: who will restore sanity? by J.B. Handley - Age of Autism

* ►February 12, 2008 - Age of Autism: Our Story So Far by Dan Olmsted - Age of Autism

* ►February 12, 2008 - Dr Wakefield responds to Viscera - Irish Medical Times - "Dr Andrew Wakefield, whose 1998 research on the effects of MMR and its possible links to autism sparked a massive controversy, has responded to a recent study that claims to dismiss the link. Here's his response, sent by email to Irish Medical Times, in full:"

* ►February 12, 2008 - MU Joins International Effort to Search for Autism Causes - $1.6 million grant to MU's Thompson Center to gather DNA data for autism research - Research at MU - "A $1.6 million grant from The Simmons Foundation makes the Thompson Center one of 12 university-based clinics to be part of the Simmons Simplex Collection project -- the largest effort at gathering DNA samples from patients with autism and their families."

* ►February 12, 2008 - Devoted dad gets meeting with health minister - Belleville Intelligencer - "His story is becoming all too common, said Liberal Senator Jim Munson, who greeted Marinoiu as he arrived on the steps of Parliament Hill. 'From my perspective, we're in a crisis,' said Munson. 'Governments have a moral and ethical obligation to pay attention.' A recent Senate report indicated one in 166 Canadians - approximately 48,000 children aged 0-19, and 144,000 adults - are being diagnosed with autism. After meeting with Clement, Marinoiu said the minister passed the buck to the provinces."

►February 12, 2008 - Scrap autism suit, lawyer says - Crown counsel argues `confusing' $1.2B claim against province rehashes families' old complaints (requires registration or subscription) - Toronto Star

►February 12, 2008 - Some Cases Of Autism May Be Traced To The Immune System Of Mothers During Pregnancy - University of California - Davis - Health System via ScienceDaily

►February 12, 2008 - Autism Speaks receives $25,000 pledge from Hager Cos. - St. Louis Business Journal

►February 12, 2008 - Autism program may be jeopardy, parents and teachers say (includes video) - KVOA.com

►February 12, 2008 - Immunization link to autism refuted again - Great Falls Tribune

* ►February 12, 2008 - Crucell to stop West Nile vaccine, shares drop - Reuters via The Guardian, UK - "Crucell Chief Executive Ronald Brus said the market for the vaccine was drying up. 'When we started the programme in 2003 about 10,000 people in the United State were infected with the West Nile virus. Last year there were only 3,000,' Brus told reporters."

* ►February 12, 2008 - Senator Grassley goes after Schering Plough and Merck with new letter, based on BrandweekNRX information - BrandweekNRX

* ►February 12, 2008 - Congress probes Vytorin insider info on CafePharma, first revealed by BrandweekNRX - BrandweekNRX

* ►February 12, 2008 - FDA Agent Faults Sanofi-Aventis for Ketek Trial Troubles - Wall Street Journal Health Blog

* ►February 12, 2008 - Editorial: Stop CDC from concealing study findings - Superior Telegram

* ►February 12, 2008 - GSK To Update FDA On HPV Vaccine Cervarix Later This Year, CEO Says - Daily Women's Health Policy Report via Medical News Today

* ►February 12, 2008 - UM study: HPV vaccination should be comprehensive - Researchers say exposure too common for a risk-based strategy - The Ann Arbor News via www.mlive.com - "The American Cancer Society advocates vaccinating all females younger than 18, and selectively vaccinating women ages 19 to 26 based on an informed discussion between the woman and her doctor about her sexual history. But the Centers for Disease Control and the Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunizations Practices recommends universal vaccination for all women ages 11 to 26, regardless of sexual experience. Dempsey said her study agrees with that recommendation."

►February 12, 2008 - HPV Vaccine for Women Aged 19-26? - Study Backs HPV Vaccination for Young Adult Women, Regardless of Risk Factors - WebMD

►February 12, 2008 - 59% of Grade 8 girls getting HPV vaccine - Belleville Intelligencer

►February 12, 2008 - Unsound objection to HPV vaccine - letter - Daily Press

* ►February 12, 2008 - Iomai Study Shows Self-Applied Travelers' Diarrhea Vaccine Patch Comparable to Clinician-Applied Vaccine Patch - press release - Iomai Corporation via PRNewswire-FirstCall

* ►February 12, 2008 - Crucell sees 'substantial' rise in Quinvaxem demand in next 2 yrs - AFX via Forbes - "The number of doses sold soared to 21 mln last year from 6.3 mln in 2006 - the launch year of the vaccine which protects children against five different diseases."

* ►February 12, 2008 - Vaccine Could Cut Bouts With Stomach Flu (requires registration) - PLoS Medicine via HealthDay via Washington Post - "It may be possible to develop a vaccine to control noroviruses -- a common cause of stomach flu -- but it's likely a such a vaccine would have to be changed every year because the viruses evolve quickly to avoid attacks by the immune system, new research suggests."

* ►February 12, 2008 - Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System - NeuroTalk Communities - "Because of a recent posting on a study concerning aluminum hydroxide I started looking at some information I had found previously. I found the following statement which was released by the FDA and can be found in its entirety here - Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis - Two comments to the docket reported amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) following administration of AVA. This brings to a total of three patient reports to VAERS of a diagnosis of ALS following administration of AVA. The reports involved 1 female and 2 males, ages 27, 44, or 50 years old."

* ►February 12, 2008 - Baby Exposes Airline Passengers To Measles - Other Children Exposed At Various Schools County Wide (includes video) - NBCSandiego.com - "A San Diego baby has been quarantined in Hawaii after being diagnosed with the measles. Now health officials, both locally and abroad, are trying to contact passengers who may have been exposed to the disease on the infant's plane."

* ►February 12, 2008 - Measles outbreak may have expanded - Six more children could have disease - San Diego Union-Tribune

►February 12, 2008 - Measles –3 million children to be vaccinated in Niger - The government of Niger, in cooperation with the WHO and UNICEF, has launched a mass vaccination campaign against measles. It involves around 3 million children between the ages of 9 months and 5 years. The aim ? To give every child the best possible start in life, says Akhil Iyer, UNICEF representative in Niger. - Afriqu'Echos Magazine

* ►February 12, 2008 - Needles may be headed for the scrapheap - Some vaccinations such as those being tested for HIV may no longer require the use of a needle, say Swiss and European scientists. - Swissinfo - "But would it be totally safe? Kraehenbuhl says that is unlikely. "You always have a risk," he told swissinfo. "You have to measure the cost-benefit relationship. If you vaccinate 100,000 people, you might have an accident. But is that going to prevent you from using a vaccine? We will have do safety studies in humans anyway."

* ►February 12, 2008 - Flu Rampant This Year, as Flu Shots Offer Little Protection - NewsInferno

* ►February 12, 2008 - Merck & Co takes number one spot in vaccines - VacZine Analytics via PharmiWeb - "Merck & Co’s success is mainly due to Gardasil again demonstrating that a single blockbuster product can change the fortunes of a vaccine company in a relatively short-space of time. Gardasil passed the $1 billion mark faster than Wyeth’s Prevnar, which took around 4 years from its launch in 2000. It is noteworthy that demand for Prevnar exceeded manufacturing supply soon after launch restricting sales, undoubtedly a valuable lesson for Merck & Co during their pre-launch demand planning. Merck openly state that if they can fully execute their life-cycle plan for Gardasil their target market for the product could reach 374 million individuals which includes females 9-45 yrs and males 9-24 yrs (2). Although now it does not seem that GSK’s Cervarix will be a significant threat to Gardasil, Merck will still need to work hard in convincing international governments to fund Gardasil beyond its core indication."

* ►February 12, 2008 - Crucell Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2007 Results - Total revenue and other operating income grew by more than 50% to - Crucell via CNN Money - "Sanofi pasteur enters into Phase II clinical trial with their seasonal flu vaccine. This vaccine is being developed using Crucell's PER.C6® cell line technology."

* ►February 12, 2008 - American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists and North American Menopause Society Fail to Disclose Financial Ties to Wyeth Pharmaceuticals - PRNewswire via COMTEX - "The International Academy of Compounding Pharmacists (IACP) today called on the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) and the North American Menopause Society (NAMS) to fully disclose their financial ties to Wyeth when dispensing advice to patients and practitioners that directly benefits the pharmaceutical giant. In recent weeks, AACE, NAMS and other supposedly independent women's health organizations have voiced public support for Wyeth's campaign to restrict women's access to compounded, bio-identical hormones. Unfortunately, these organizations consistently fail to disclose their financial ties to the drug maker when voicing their support."

* ►February 12, 2008 - Prions Link Cholesterol To Neurodegeneration - Prion infection of neurons increases the free cholesterol content in cell membranes. A new study suggests that disturbances in membrane cholesterol may be the mechanism by which prions cause neurodegeneration and could point to a role for cholesterol in other neurodegenerative diseases. - BioMed Central/BMC Biology, via EurekAlert! via ScienceDaily

* ►February 12, 2008 - Childhood Influenza Immunization Coalition Responds to Recent Influenza Outbreaks - press release - Childhood Influenza Immunization Coalition via PRNewswire-USNewswire - "The Childhood Influenza Immunization Coalition was established by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases to protect infants, children and adolescents from influenza by communicating with 'one strong voice' the need to make influenza immunization a national health priority. The Coalition seeks to address and improve the low influenza immunization rates among children. Members represent 25 of the nation's leading public health, medical, patient and parent groups committed to protecting children's health and encouraging wellness. The Coalition is made possible through an unrestricted educational grant to NFID from sanofi pasteur."

►February 12, 2008 - Union Fights Hospital's Plan to Make Flu Shots Mandatory - http://hr.blr.com

►February 12, 2008 - iJET Unveils 2007 Year-in-Review Report on Avian Influenza and Pandemic Planning - press release - iJET Intelligent Risk Systems via PRNewswire via EarthTimes.org

►February 12, 2008 - Flu flummoxes Western Pennsylvania - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

►February 12, 2008 - Influenza spreading across USM campus - The Student Printz

* ►February 12, 2008 - Chicken pox outbreak spurs call for vaccinations - The Wichita Eagle via Kansas.com

* ►February 12, 2008 - Meningitis Research Foundation of Canada launches new Public Service Announcement to raise awareness about Meningitis in Canada - The Portrait draws from personal stories of five mothers devastated by meningitis - press release - Meningitis Research Foundation of Canada via CNW Group

►February 12, 2008 - Student at Aiken County School Contracts Bacterial Meningitis - www.wltx.com

►February 12, 2008 - Meningitis confirmed in Cody student - AP via The Powell Tribune via www.montanasnewsstation.com

►February 12, 2008 - Media Advisory - Canadian and European Experts Join Forces to Discuss Infectious Diseases in Upcoming National Conference - Vancouver Set to Host AMMI Canada - CACMID Annual Conference 2008 - press release - AMMI Canada via CNW Group

►February 12, 2008 - Bill to phase out mercury products - Ironwood Daily Globe

►February 12, 2008 - Isis Announces Approximately $2.8 Million in Government Grants and Contracts Awarded to its Ibis Subsidiary to Advance Ibis' Pathogen Identification Technology - FOX Business

* ►February 12, 2008 - Support French Scientist Telling the Truth About GMOs - Institute of Science in Society

►February 12, 2008 - CDC Board Taps Ross School Professor - Richard Bagozzi is chosen to serve on board for the CDC's National Center for Health Marketing. - Ross School of Business, University of Michigan

►February 12, 2008 - Hormone Group Protests Crackdown - Ad Campaign Calls Scrutiny of Custom Menopause Drugs Excessive (requires registration or subscription) - Washington Post

►February 12, 2008 - Making the most of your vaccines - Independent.ie

►February 12, 2008 - Autism Waiver: Draft - Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare

►February 12, 2008 - £15m boost for medical research - Up to 100 jobs will be created by the projects Funding of almost £15.5m has been announced for medical research which may create up to 100 jobs in Scotland. - BBC News

►February 12, 2008 - Natural Hormone Group Protests FDA Crackdown - Pharmalot

►February 12, 2008 - In Alabama, AstraZeneca Fights Medicaid Lawsuit - Pharmalot - "AstraZeneca is one of more than 70 drugmakers that Alabama Attorney General Troy King filed suit against in 2005 over prices. This is the first case to go trial; the state has settled with Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America and Dey, which collectively agreed to pay $6.75 million."

►February 12, 2008 - Flu outbreak hits campus - DiamondBack The University of Maryland's Independent Daily Student Newspaper

►February 12, 2008 - Reminder: Ketek Clinical Fraud Hearing Today - Pharmalot

►February 12, 2008 - Have you heard these ear infection facts? -  McClatchy Newspapers via Ohio.com

* ►February 11, 2008 - GSK needs to Respond re Paxil Suicide Data: The Glenmullen Report - Alliance for Human Research Protection - "The New Scientist reports (below) that unsealed court documents--including an expert report by Harvard psychiatrist, Joseph Glenmullen, MD--reveal that GlaxoSmithKline knew as early as 1989 that there was an 8-fold increased risk of suicide for patients taking Paxil. Yet, the company did not acknowledge the risk to the public until 2006."

* ►February 11, 2008 - Charges Dismissed in Randolph County Shaken Baby Case - Jeffrey Galford had faced a charge of death of a child by a parent or guardian. - WBOY-TV - "The state's former medical examiner, Dr. James Frost, was set to testify that the baby's death was a homicide, but he said that after talking to the defense's expert witness on Shaken Baby Syndrome, he no longer can testify that the baby's death was a homicide. Frost said he did not look at the evidence or the baby's medical records before determining the cause of death."

* ►February 11, 2008 - Parents Contest Mandatory Vaccinations (includes video) - WAPT Jackson - "Six-year-old Tyler has Asperger's syndrome, a highly functioning form of autism. At 2 years old, Tyler made eye contact and talked quite a bit. Tyler's father, Chris Holzinger, said, 'After his 2-year-old vaccinations, he became less verbal; eye contact ceased. He started swaying, head-butting, doing a lot of these autistic characteristics.' Tyler's parents and 200 others are active in an online support group backing a bill giving Mississippi parents the choice to not have all vaccines."

* ►February 11, 2008 - Baby is fifth child with measles in San Diego County - San Diego Union-Tribune - "The case may be related to an outbreak of measles among four children last week. The infant, who is expected to be released from the hospital Tuesday, was taken to the same doctor's office as the first child reported with measles, officials from the county's Health and Human Services Agency said Monday."

* ►February 11, 2008 - Baby May Be 5th Measles Case - NBCSandiego.com - "Public health officials informed parents at the baby's day care, Baldwin Academy, on Monday and are working with the Murray Callan Swim School, both in Pacific Beach, to figure out how many other children may be at risk. Sixteen students are now on home quarantine for two weeks. Three had not been immunized because their parents chose to opt out of vaccinating them. Thirteen students are younger than one year old."

* ►February 11, 2008 - GSK needs to Respond re Paxil Suicide Data: The Glenmullen Report - Alliance for Human Research Protection - "The New Scientist reports (below) that unsealed court documents--including an expert report by Harvard psychiatrist, Joseph Glenmullen, MD--reveal that GlaxoSmithKline knew as early as 1989 that there was an 8-fold increased risk of suicide for patients taking Paxil. Yet, the company did not acknowledge the risk to the public until 2006."

►February 11, 2008 - Popular Anti-Wrinkle Drug Botox Gets FDA Warning - Planet Chiropractic

►February 11, 2008 - Indiana County senator controls fate of autism proposal - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

►February 11, 2008 - An Autism "Valentine" on Larry King - http://autism.about.com

►February 11, 2008 - Red Flag For Autism - www.wqad.com

►February 11, 2008 - "A center of excellence" - PensacolaNewsJournal.com - "For Aisha and Shanti Byrd, their son's autism diagnosis about a year ago wasn't the heartbreaker. Rather, it was the long time it took to settle on the diagnosis and then to get help for now 3-year-old Aishan."

►February 11, 2008 - Cops learn about autism to help prevent tragedy - Hillsboro department joins education, awareness program - Courier News Online

►February 11, 2008 - Pulse Polio: over 80 p.c. of targeted children covered - The Hindu

►February 11, 2008 - Nigeria: EU Provides N3.4 Billion Toward Polio Eradication - Daily Trust (Abuja) via http://allafrica.com
 
►February 11, 2008 - Scientists identify possible target for prevention and treatment of pneumonia - Science Centric

►February 11, 2008 - Researchers Peel Back Another HIV Mystery - Wall Street Journal Health Blog

►February 11, 2008 - UCLA stem cell scientists reprogram human skin cells into embryonic stem cells - University of California - Los Angeles via www.eurekalert.org
 
►February 11, 2008 - Gene therapy protocol at UCSD activates immune system in patients with leukemia - University of California - San Diego via www.eurekalert.org
 
►February 11, 2008 - UCSD research team identifies novel anticancer drug from the sea - University of California - San Diego via www.eurekalert.org
 
►February 11, 2008 - Drug doesn't help prevent migraine after all - American Academy of Neurology via www.eurekalert.org

* ►February 11, 2008 - How Safe Are Childhood Vaccinations? - KXAN.com, Austin - "The vaccines can lead to symptoms that develop within a few hours while other reactions, such as muscle weakness and brain swelling, can develop over a period of time and result in death. Confirmed vaccine-related injuries have resulted in an average of $1 million per claim since the program started."

* ►February 11, 2008 - Update: Hepatitis Scare Could Force Vaccinations for Thousands of Western New Yorkers - WIVB TV, Western New York

* ►February 11, 2008 - WHO to sponsor free distribution of HPV vaccine in India - Pharmabiz

* ►February 11, 2008 - Elemental mercury exposure: an evidence-based consensus guideline for out-of-hospital management. - Clinical Toxicology via www.guideline.gov

* ►February 11, 2008 - MMR Vaccine Not Linked to Autism in Virologic Case Control Study CME/CE (requires registration) - Archives of Diseases in Childhood via Medscape

* ►February 11, 2008 - If It’s Friday Afternoon, Must Be Big FDA News - Pharmalot - "Over the past few years, the FDA has sometimes issued important news - including health advisories - on Friday afternoons. Why does this matter? For one, releasing anything late in the day means the news is more likely to get lost as the media face looming deadlines. This may matter less as more people get their news from the Internet, but the public may also be paying less attention as their day draws to a close. This is especially true on a Friday afternoon, when people are finishing the work week and focusing on other things."

* ►February 11, 2008 - Congress To Probe Vytorin Chatter On CafePharma - Pharmalot - "The drugmakers have repeatedly argued its execs knew nothing of the results until early last month, going so far as to release a chronology, but skepticism remains that the results were rumbling around months ago among untold numbers of people in and out of the drugmakers’ buildings. In fact, all sorts of interesting remarks appeared months ago on Cafe Pharma, the site where detailers love to dish (look here for the examples)."

* ►February 11, 2008 - TV ads oversell drugs, skimp on risks (requires registration or subscription) - As efforts to rein in TV ads for drugs have stumbled, experts worry that too many of them go unchecked. - Los Angeles Times

* ►February 11, 2008 - Merck Whistleblower: ‘I’ll Probably Buy Merck Stock’ - Pharmalot

* ►February 11, 2008 - Guest Column: The Whooping Cough Party - Swampscott Reporter

* ►February 11, 2008 - Smoked: One Man’s Brain While On Chantix - Pharmalot - "For all the puzzling or disturbing stories about the Pfizer smoking-cessation drug, the details have usually been restricted to dry recitation of scientific data and specific, but brief descriptions of strange side effects, predominantly hallucination. However, Derek De Koff, a contributor to New York magazine, writes a lengthy first-person account of what it was like to take the controversial med. And the tale he tells is troubling, especially given that the FDA recently upgraded warnings about suicidal behavior amid reports of 34 suicides. Here are a few excerpts…"

* ►February 11, 2008 - Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor poisoning: an evidence-based consensus guideline for out-of-hospital management. - Clinical Toxicology via www.guideline.gov

* ►February 11, 2008 - Atypical antipsychotic medication poisoning: an evidence-based consensus guideline for out-of-hospital management. - Clinical Toxicology via www.guideline.gov

* ►February 11, 2008 - Cognitive Legacy of Early Institutionalization: A Closer Look - Do cognitive abilities differ between children raised in institutions and those raised in foster care? - journal article (Journal Watch Psychiatry)

►February 11, 2008 - Ex-NIEHS director speaks out (requires registration) - The Scientist

►February 11, 2008 - Meet Mike, Your Generic Biologics Lobbyist (includes video) - Pharmalot

►February 11, 2008 - Sloan-Kettering Booted CME To Be ‘Squeaky Clean’ - Pharmalot

►February 11, 2008 - Researchers hunt down fake drug - Unprecedented pursuit of drug counterfeiters nabs distributors of fake malaria drugs. - news (Nature)

►February 11, 2008 - Judge opts against dismissing Wyeth lawsuit - The Journal News

►February 11, 2008 - Some cases of autism may be traced to the immune system of mothers during pregnancy - Science Codex

►February 11, 2008 - Autoimmune Diseases: When the Body's Defenses Become Attackers (includes audio) - Voice of American

►February 11, 2008 - Managing asthma long term in children 0-4 years of age and 5-11 years of age: Expert panel report 3: guidelines for the diagnosis and management of asthma. - National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute via www.guideline.gov

►February 11, 2008 - Managing asthma long term in youths >12 years of age and Adults: Expert panel report 3: guidelines for the diagnosis and management of asthma. - National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute via www.guideline.gov

►February 11, 2008 - Medications: Expert panel report 3: guidelines for the diagnosis and management of asthma. - National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute via www.guideline.gov

►February 11, 2008 - Dextromethorphan poisoning: an evidence-based consensus guideline for out-of-hospital management. - Clinical Toxicology via www.guideline.gov

►February 11, 2008 - Baxter's Multiple-dose Vial Heparin Linked to Severe Allergic Reactions - FDA advises health care practitioners to switch suppliers and limit use of drug until problem identified - FDA

►February 11, 2008 - Scientists, police lift lid on fake malaria drugs - Reuters

►February 11, 2008 - Fast Plaques in a Slow Disease - In the Pipeline

►February 11, 2008 - Drug boosts stamina in mice - Unprecedented pursuit of drug counterfeiters nabs distributors of fake malaria drugs. - news (Nature)

►February 11, 2008 - UCSD Research Team Identifies Novel Anticancer Drug from the Sea - University of California - San Diego via Biocompare

►February 10, 2008 - Study reveals why certain ovarian cancers develop resistance to platinum-based chemotherapy - Mechanism of cisplatin resistance 'unlike any previously identified' - Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center via www.eurekalert.org     

* ►February 10, 2008 - Blizzards no match for man on 450K walk for autism - Canwest News Service via Canada.com - "Unplanned, and out of exasperation, Marinoiu left his Toronto home Jan. 31 embarking on a 450 kilometre walk to 'plead with the politicians' that it is time for a national autism strategy. 'Having an autistic child is like having a present and not being able to unwrap it,' Marinoiu said. 'I have been silent for 15 years. All the stress, all the pain, no resources, I said I gotta do something and I just walked out the door.'"

* ►February 10, 2008 - Funds ready for Bioniche expansion - Belleville Intelligencer - "Bioniche will be pouring $25 million into its Dundas Street East site over the next two years and hiring another 100 employees to scale up production of its E. coli 0157:H7 vaccine for worldwide markets.  In a cell phone interview returning from Montreal, McRae said the Belleville facility will have the capacity to produce at least 40 million doses of the vaccine each year starting sometime in 2010."

►February 8, 2008 - Canada finds more cases of Tamiflu-resistant viruses - The Canadian Press via CTV

►February 7, 2008 - Researchers Decode Genetics of Rare Photosynthetic Bacterium - Arizona State University - Arizona State University via Biocompare

►February 6, 2008 - Gene Plays 'Jekyll and Hyde' in Brain Cancer - Harvard Medical School via Biocompare

* ►February 6, 2008 - Vaccines & Infant Death (SBS) - Vaccine Awakening

►February 5, 2008 - Chemical Chaperone Could Open Door to Treatment of Neurological Disorder - Washington University School of Medicine via Biocompare

►February 4, 2008 - Baby lotions, powders and shampoos linked to higher levels of phthalates in infants -  Phthalates are widely used chemicals that recent studies suggest may have toxic effects on the developing endocrine and reproductive systems. A new study found evidence that infants may be absorbing these chemicals through commonly used baby products. - www.news-medical.net

►February 2008 - Comparison of oral prednisone and topical fluticasone in the treatment of eosinophilic esophagitis: a randomized trial in children. - journal article (Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology)

* ►January 29, 2008 - Get your flu shot – first local cases of influenza reported - LondonTopic.ca - "Comments: I refuse to get another flu shot after I received my first one about four years ago. About 15-20 seconds after getting the shot the room began spinning around at a high rate of speed and I had to sit down for more than 15 minutes and recover. It would seem that I am allergic to 'thimersol' which is an ingredient in the flu shot or at least was back then. Additionally, I was not impressed with the security at the MLHU when I got the shot. The day I received the flu shot the vaccine was located in a small unlocked room with the door open near the lineup of people that were wanting the shot. The general public should never be able to access the vaccine so easily."

* ►January 2008 - Methylmercury activates ASK1/JNK signaling pathways, leading to apoptosis due to both mitochondria- and endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-generated processes in myogenic cell lines (full text) - journal article (NeuroToxicology) - "In conclusion, early oxidative stress induced by MeHg exposure plays a central role in MeHg cytotoxicity. Failure to protect cells from early oxidative stress results in the sustained activation of the ASK1/JNK signaling pathways and ER stress, followed by apoptosis. Therefore, combined treatment with inhibitors of oxidative and ER stresses are necessary, especially at the later stage, to protect cells against MeHg cytotoxicity."

* ►January 2008 - How environmental and genetic factors combine to cause autism: A redox/methylation hypothesis (full text) - journal article (NeuroToxicology)

* ►Are We Poisoning Our Kids In The Name Of Protecting Their Health? (pdf) - Generation Rescue

* ►US Troops Refuse Deadly Mandatory Anthrax Vaccine - YouTube

* ►February 18, 2008 - News in brief: Health & Science - TV drama draws public health ire - ALLHAT findings on diuretics - Sedentary lives lead to quicker aging - Most childhood cough, cold medicine overdoses linked to unsupervised use - Severe asthma may need new approach  - www.ama-assn.org - "The premier episode of the new ABC lawyer drama "Eli Stone" aired Jan. 31 despite the concerns of major physician organizations. In separate letters sent before the TV show's debut, the American Medical Association, American Academy of Pediatrics and other health and physician groups called on ABC to pull the program from its lineup. At issue was a story line in which the title character argued in court that a vaccine containing mercury caused autism. While the show included statements acknowledging that science has refuted any link between autism and vaccines, the groups felt the episode's conclusion delivered a contrary impression. Specifically, a fictional jury awarded $5.2 million to the mother of an autistic child who sued a vaccine maker, leaving audiences with the idea that vaccines do cause autism."

* ►February 18, 2008 - Study focuses on publication bias in journals - Requirements that clinical trials be registered in databases may give physicians a clearer picture of a drug's efficacy, but some argue that more action is needed. - www.ama-assn.org

* ►February 18, 2008 - IOM panel seeks program to evaluate research, guidelines - The report says creating one such reliable source could help physicians choose diagnostic and treatment options and keep pace with vast amounts of medical data. - www.ama-assn.org

►February 18, 2008 - Doctors take another look at safety of hormone therapy - Data analysis suggests the treatment is safer in the decade after menopause than later on. Also, the FDA acts to rein in bioidentical hormones. - www.ama-assn.org

►February 18, 2008 - Study questions impact of quality report cards - As hard-to-understand public reports proliferate, there is a danger that patients will experience information overload. - www.ama-assn.org

►February 18, 2008 - Wellness programs cannot discriminate based on health - Employers offering incentives for healthy living must give alternatives to workers unable to qualify because of a health condition. - www.ama-assn.org

►February 18, 2008 - Beyond the baby blues: A spectrum of postdelivery conditions - Asking the right questions is central to diagnosing and treating postpartum disorder. - www.ama-assn.org

►February 18, 2008 - Bush budget cuts hospital funding but silent on Medicare doctor pay - The president is expected soon to unveil a proposal addressing Medicare's long-term fiscal solvency. - www.ama-assn.org

►February 18, 2008 - Path to better relations between medical staffs and hospitals - AMA principles can help prevent further deterioration between hospital governing bodies and their physician staffs. - www.ama-assn.org

►February 18, 2008 - Carrying the torch for physicians and patients: What are the key ingredients of leadership? - AMA principles can help prevent further deterioration between hospital governing bodies and their physician staffs. - www.ama-assn.org

►February 18, 2008 - Health system reform stumbles in California - The setback means the federal government might have to take a larger role on the issue, policy experts said. - www.ama-assn.org

►February 18, 2008 - OIG approves hospital plans to share cost savings with doctors - Gainsharing can help improve quality and lower costs, but it still holds legal risks, experts say. - www.ama-assn.org

►February 18, 2008 - Senate to act on Indian Health Service funding - The bill focuses on physician retention and recruitment, expansion of services, and American Indian enrollment in other federal programs. - www.ama-assn.org

►February 18, 2008 - UnitedHealth faces stiff fines in California - State regulators have issued a $3.5 million fine against the company over claims payment and other violations -- and the penalties could get significantly larger. - www.ama-assn.org

►February 18, 2008 - Picking the right process: Deciding the best way to submit claims - Getting a claim paid can be a maddening experience. Making it smoother takes the right technology, but also requires monitoring how your practice works with its claims processor and health plans.- www.ama-assn.org

►February 18, 2008 - Letters to the Editor - Consumer-directed health care just the latest risk-shifting scheme - Set health costs apart by use of dedicated credit card - www.ama-assn.org

►February 18, 2008 - News in brief: Government & Medicine - Senators: Medicare quality reporting program should continue in 2009 - Pa. Medicaid to stop reimbursing for hospital-acquired conditions - www.ama-assn.org

►February 18, 2008 - News in brief: Professional Issues - New office-based surgery rules take effect in Arizona - Number of New York physicians rises - www.ama-assn.org

►February 12, 2008 - €2bn: Cost of bird flu outbreak - The Irish economy faces a €2 billion productivity loss if the country is hit by a bird flu pandemic, a study reveals. - IrishExaminer.com

* ►February 12, 2008 - Time To End Profit Driven Mandatory Vaccination Racket by Evelyn Pringle via www.scoop.co.nz - "The push to keep adding more vaccines to the mandatory schedules comes directly from a purely profit motivated industry and a recent investor report estimates that the world-wide market will quadruple from about $4.3 billion in 2006 to more than $16 billion in 2016, with the biggest boost coming from kids in the US."

* ►February 12, 2008 - Dr. Andrew Wakefield's Response to Baird G. et al - Age of Autism - "Thank you to Dr. Andrew Wakefield, of Thoughtful House Center for Children for sending us this important piece: Response to Baird G. et al. Measles vaccination and antibody response in autism spectrum disorders. Archives of Disease in Childhood. Published 5th February 2008."

* ►February 11, 2008 - Scandals: The Power of Fear by Sandy Gottstein - www.vaccinationnews.org - "We’re simply exhausted.  That seems to be the name of the game in these crazy, busy times.  We want instant answers, instant solutions, instant everything.  And we just don’t have the time or energy to do it ourselves.  So we pop a pill, take a vaccine, jump on the latest miracle-cure bandwagon and wish for the best.  We’ll do almost anything that doesn’t require hardly anything of us."

* ►February 11, 2008 - CDC = "C-ancer D-oesn't C-ount?" - Age of Autism

* ►February 11, 2008 - Are Childhood Immunizations Safe? (includes video) - KXAN-TV - "The federally funded Vaccine Injury Compensation Program compensates families if their children have a violent reaction to a vaccine. Twelve vaccines are covered under the program, including those for diphtheria, tetanus, influenza and MMR."

* ►February 11, 2008 - BGU head warns about inadequate vaccinations for children - Jerusalem Post - "The two-day conference is slated to include a special session on vaccines against childhood illnesses, including addressing the refusal of a growing number of parents to allow their children to get the shots."

* ►February 11, 2008 - Activists push for mercury free flu shots - AP via The Des Moines Register via KGAN CBS 2

* ►February 11, 2008 - Some cases of autism may be traced to the immune system of mothers during pregnancy - UC-Davis discovery could lead to prenatal identification and prevention - University of California - Davis - Health System via www.eurekalert.org

►February 11, 2008 - Autism Spectrum Disorders: Earlier Screening for Early Intervention - Nurse.com

►February 11, 2008 - Autism families' legal fight continues - `Make or break' moment in court challenge to allow therapists into classrooms to sit with autistic kids (requires registration or subscription) - Toronto Star

* ►February 11, 2008 - Official: Get flu shots, even though vaccine may not target all strains - The Capital Times via www.madison.com

* ►February 11, 2008 - NIH Funds Vaccine Research for Needle-free and Self-Administered Protection Against Pandemic Influenza - press release - Rocky Mountain Biosystems, Inc. via WebWire - "RMBI’s technology has the potential to improve vaccine effectiveness to protect against a range of agents, including potential bioterror agents, by delivering therapeutics directly through the skin without needles, thus reducing required dosage and extending vaccine supplies....The SAVE device design is a lightweight, wristwatch-size vaccination system that delivers the vaccine in minutes, at pennies per application. 'With RMBI’s SAVE technology, we believe we can deliver vaccine protection to nearly all of the U.S. population within days of an outbreak."

* ►February 11, 2008 - Pandemic flu vaccine provides 100% protection in mice at low doses - Laboratory Products News - "Biotechnology company Medicago says that, in a preclinical study, low doses of its H5N1 avian influenza virus-like particle (VLP) vaccine provided 100% protection in mice against a lethal challenge of live H5N1 viruses. In addition, the study demonstrated that Medicago's vaccine has the ability to recognize and kill an H5N1 strain that is different from the one used to design the vaccine."

* ►February 11, 2008 - This year's flu shot offering good protection - CTV - "Alberta is the one exception, with the province seeing a lot of influenza B activity. About half of the viruses Alberta has submitted so far to the NML lab for testing have been B viruses -- a much higher proportion than elsewhere in the country. But while the predominant circulating influenza B virus isn't in this year's vaccine, it has been a component of the flu shot in the recent past, and may still offer protection to those who regularly get the shot."

►February 11, 2008 - Product Claims to Trap Flu Virus - www.wtok.com

►February 11, 2008 - 13 local companies to manufacture anti H5N1 vaccine in Pakistan - Unique Pakistan - "13 local pharmaceutical companies have shown interest in manufacturing of generic version of Oseltamivir (Tamiflu), a drug used to treat infections caused by H5N1 influenza virus."

* ►February 11, 2008 - NVIC Vaccine E-Newsletter
 
NJ and MD Parents Take Action on Vaccine Laws by Barbara Loe Fisher

Parents in New Jersey and Maryland are organizing to educate legislators about the need for informed consent and safety protections in state laws.

NEW JERSEY NEWS:

Sue Collins, co-founder of New Jersey Alliance for Informed Choice in Vaccination (NJAICV) reports that NJAICV is sponsoring an on-line petition to endorse support for the insertion of a conscientious belief exemption to vaccination in NJ vaccine laws. She encourages New Jersey residents to sign the petition, which lists the signer's name, town, state, comments and date signed, but anyone living in any state can sign the petition. Go to http://www.gopetition.com/online/16754.html.

With the recent addition of 9 doses of 4 new vaccines (pneumococcal, influenza, meningococcal, Tdap) to daycare and school mandates, New Jersey became the state with the most vaccine requirements in the nation: 35 doses of 13 vaccines. The new vaccine mandates were rammed through by state health department employees last year under rule making authority and legislators did not vote on the new vaccine mandates. New Jersey has a religious and medical exemption but both exemptions are almost impossible to obtain due to opposition by state education and public health employees seeking a 100 percent vaccination rate among children.

Tonight, Monday, Feb. 11 from 7 to 9 p.m., NJ Govenor Corzine is holding a Financial Restructuring and Debit Reduction Town Hall Meeting in Glassboro, NJ. The meeting will be held at Gloucester, Glassboro Rowan University, Evon Ballroom, Student Center, 201 Mollica Hill Rd., Glassboro, NJ, 08028-1701. NJ citizens, who would like to ask Gov. Corzine a question at the Town Hall Meeting, must register to attend. To RSVP, call 609-777-2509 or go to http://www.nj.gov/townhallmeetings/rsvp/index.html

MARYLAND NEWS:

After four years of hard work, parents in Maryland are educating MD legislators about the need to pass the "Lead and Mercury Reduction Act" (HB586 and SB304) supported by Maryland Delegates Sue Kullen and Nic Kipke and Maryland Senator Thomas "Mac" Middleton and others. Activist father, Mike Dow, who has been coordinating the effort, urges all Maryland residents to contact their own legislators as well as contact members of the Maryland House Health and Government Operations Committee and the Maryland Senate Education, Health and Environmental Matters Committee.

For a list of legislators and Committees in the Maryland General Assembly and status of bills, go to http://mlis.state.md.us/

Mike reports that a Feb. 19, 2008 hearing has been scheduled at 1 p.m. and testimony is needed from experts and parents. For more information, contact Mike at mikewdow@msn.com

The "Lead and Mercury Reduction Act" would prohibit "certain persons from administering vaccines that contain more than a certain amount of mercury per dose; prohibiting the sale, offer for sale, or distribution in the State of certain drugs that contain mercury; prohibiting the sale, offer for sale, or distribution in the State of cosmetics that contain lead or mercury; providing for a delayed effective date; and generally relating to prohibitions against the administering of vaccines with specified levels of mercury and the sale of cosmetics and specified drugs that contain mercury."

* ►February 11, 2008 - Therapeutic vaccine approach for Parkinson's disease (includes video) - NTV - "Scientists at UNMC and Columbia University Medical Center in New York have discovered a new vaccine approach that successfully prevents the death of brain cells in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease."

* ►February 11, 2008 - Vaccination programme improves children’s health - The expanded programme of immunisation (EPI), which has covered up to 95 percent of the nation’s under-five children, has contributed greatly to reducing by half the infant and under-five mortality rates. - VietNamNet Bridge

* ►February 11, 2008 - IAC Express Issue 711 - Immunization Action Coalition - "The American Council on Science and Health has developed a new resource about celebrity-touted health myths and science. Their publication, 'Celebrities Vs. Science,' includes a section where Paul Offit, MD, responds to claims about vaccination by Jenny McCarthy and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. This 8-page document can be printed by going to http://www.acsh.org/publications/pubID.1668/pub_detail.asp and following the instructions for downloading."

►February 11, 2008 - HPV Vaccine Bill in Frankfort - www.wbko.com

►February 11, 2008 - Senate panel keeps HPV requirement in place - Capital News Service via Fairfax County Times

* ►February 11, 2008 - Texas Governor Views HPV Vaccine As 'Pro-Life' Issue - CNSNews.com

* ►February 11, 2008 - Sexual History Shouldn’t Guide HPV Vaccination - University of Michigan Health System via Newswise - "A new study from U-M C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital finds that using risk factors – including a woman’s sexual history - to target specific populations for HPV vaccination is not effective, and would exclude as many as 80 percent of women who could benefit the most from the vaccine."

►February 11, 2008 - Meningitis epidemic threatens 1 million people in the Central African Republic - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs via ReliefWeb

►February 11, 2008 - Emergency Response to mass immunization of Hepatitis A is successful (includes video) - WKBW Buffalo

►February 11, 2008 - ‘No room for complacency in fight against polio’ - The Hindu

* ►February 11, 2008 - Plague Confirmed Cause in Arizona Death - Nurse.com

►February 11, 2008 - Passengers on Merritt-Calgary bus trip exposed to TB - Vancouver Province via Canada.com

►February 11, 2008 - New Studies Give Parents Something Else to Worry About - GNIF Brain Blogger

►February 11, 2008 - Scientists Find New Receptor for HIV (requires registration) - The New York Times

►February 11, 2008 - Merck's ISENTRESS® Tablets In Combination With Other Anti HIV Medicines Maintained Reductions In HIV 1 Viral Load And Increased CD4 Cell Counts - Medical News Today

►February 11, 2008 - Pixantrone Shows Activity in a Preclinical Study of Experimental Autoimmune Myasthenia Gravis (EAMG) - Results reported in The Journal of Immunology - press release - Cell Therapeutics, Inc. via PRNewswire-FirstCall

* ►February 11, 2008 - Support Michaud's call for hearings on Provenge FDA's denial of prostate cancer treatment under cloud of conflict-of-interest allegations - Morning Sentinel via MaineToday.com - "Rep. Mike Michaud, D-2nd District, and two House colleagues, Rep. Dan Burton, R-Ind., and Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, have called for congressional hearings on the drug Provenge, a prospective prostate cancer treatment. They are calling for an investigation of two members of the Food and Drug Administration who voted against the drug's approval, saying the academic medical oncologists may have conflicts of interest that interfered with their ability to make an unbiased decision on Provenge."

►February 11, 2008 - Capitol Hill Watch | Lawmakers Launch Probe Into Whether CDC Withheld Information About Long-Term Cancer Risks of FEMA Trailers - www.kaisernetwork.org

►February 11, 2008 - Baxter halts Heparin production after reports of allergic reactions - Federal government warns health facilities of potential shortages of the blood thinner (requires registration or subscription) - Chicago Tribune

* ►February 11, 2008 - Vytoringate Redux: Congress Fires Off More Letters - Wall Street Journal Health Blog

►February 11, 2008 - National Pharma Audioconference: Lessons from Merck's $671 Million Medicaid Drug Pricing Settlement - PharmaLive via MedAdNews

►February 11, 2008 - Cops: Merck scientist ingested chemicals before death - The Star-Ledger via www.nj.com

►February 11, 2008 - Where Does Your Doctor Go Online? Psst, Merck - Wall Street Journal Health Blog

►February 11, 2008 - Saccharine Making Us Fat? Aw, Rats! - Rodent Study May Not Be the Last Word on Artificial Sweeteners - ABC News

* ►February 11, 2008 - New syringe packaging leads to faulty inoculation at Givatayim school - Haaretz, Israel News - "The children's unusual reaction, along with the substance being unfamiliar and of an abnormal color, should have set off warning bells," the report said. "The nurses indeed noticed that something was not right, and sought consultation, but did not provide the information regarding the vaccine's different color. A reasonable registered nurse is expected to exercise judgment and act more carefully." APHS has suspended the nurses from administering vaccinations until they have taken a course and test on the subject. As for the packaging, it was different from the previous packages familiar to nurses who deal with vaccination. APHS and the nurses were not notified in advance of the change, as required. The vaccine was not accompanied by a pamphlet in Hebrew and Arabic, and the shipment did not comply with the regulations of the Pharmacists Law."

* ►February 11, 2008 - Mercury compound makes for safer jabs (requires subscription) - New Scientist

* ►February 11, 2008 - Whooping cough cases rise despite vaccinations - El Paso Times

* ►February 11, 2008 - Measles warning issued in Sydney - The West Australian

* ►February 11, 2008 - School Pesticide Poisonings Spur State to Consider Legislation - Beyond Pesticides

* ►February 11, 2008 - Bill to force fluoridation spurs debate - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

* ►February 11, 2008 - Saccharin may lead to weight gain (requires registration or subscription) - Researchers think the sweetener blunted lab rats' ability to burn off calories from their regular food portions. - The Los Angeles Times

►February 11, 2008 - Drug-resistant E. Coli And Klebsiella Bacteria Found In Hospital Samples And Elsewhere In US - A research team from The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, examining bacterial isolates obtained in hospital and non-hospital clinical settings between 2000 and 2006, has identified drug-resistant strains of E. coli and Klebsiella bacteria in more than 50 blood, urine and respiratory samples. These resistant strains, which resemble bacteria reported in Latin America, Asia and Europe, were thought to be rare in the U.S. - Newswise  via ScienceDaily

►February 11, 2008 - E. Coli Found In County's Drinking Water - WKMG Orlando

►February 11, 2008 - Hospital hit by super bug outbreak - An antibiotic-resistant super bug is keeping vital beds at Queensland's largest hospital closed. - Herald Sun, AU

►February 11, 2008 - Lasker winner Frank Dixon dies - The Scientist - "Dixon was best known for his work showing that immunologic responses can cause harm, including kidney and cardiovascular diseases, among others. That research earned him the 1975 Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research."

►February 11, 2008 - Guidance for Industry Validation of Growth-Based Rapid Microbiological Methods for Sterility Testing of Cellular and Gene Therapy Products - FDA/CBER

►February 11, 2008 - Discovery may help AIDS fight - The New York Times via The Seattle Times

* ►February 10, 2008 - A New Beginning, or the Beginning of the End - Progressive U - "Our medications now are only proving to hurt our children. Vaccinations and immunizations that are being given to our children are greatly helpful, whiping some diseases off the face of the earth. But now, so many of our children who could've been raised completely healthy are growing up with autism because of being overly medicated. 1 in 66 children is now diagnosed with autism. In our search to take of the world, to make things easier, more convenient for mankind, we're destroying anything and everything that gets in our way."

* ►February 10, 2008 - Tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth: What really happened with Provenge?? - by Chuck Bennett, M.D., CDR, USN (Ret) - OpEdNews - "Provenge is not a “me- too” drug for which numerous alternatives exist such as for cholesterol, diabetes or hypertension. These men are dying with very little hope, many refusing chemotherapy because of the severe side effects coupled with a poor survival benefit. Why did the FDA not extend the same compassion to dying patients as they extend to patients living with chronic diseases?"

* ►February 10, 2008 - Making Sense of the Great Suicide Debate (requires registration) - The New York Times - "After a years-long debate about whether antidepressant drugs like Prozac and Paxil increase the risk of suicide in some people, the Food and Drug Administration in recent days reported that other drugs, including medications used to treat epilepsy, also appear to increase the remote risk of suicide. The agency has been evaluating suicide risk in a variety of medicines, and more such reports — and more headlines — are expected."

* ►February 10, 2008 - Just How Smart is Your Body? - The Huffington Post - "Despite well-documented and official reports," Saine argued, "the results obtained by homeopathy have been almost completely ignored... as if they had occurred in a void of time and space." "When scientists ignore or reject healing successes outside of their paradigm, the spirit of scientific inquiry is undermined," claims a leader in the Connecticut debate, Professor Rustum Roy, who among his credentials is Professor of the Solid State Emeritus at the Pennsylvania State University as well as Visiting Professor of Medicine at the University of Arizona."

* ►February 10, 2008 - New Evidence on Infection as Chronic Disease Trigger Published, Debated by World-Class Scientists - Nanobac Pharmaceuticals

►February 10, 2008 - Hot jobs are found in drugstores, classrooms - The Record via NorthJersey.com - "It's not just your local drugstore pharmacist, there are pharmacists involved in hospital practice, they are employed within the pharmaceutical industry, they are in regulatory positions," Hermes-DeSantis said. One of the reasons more pharmacists will be needed is that aging baby boomers are taking increasing numbers of medications."

►February 10, 2008 - Injection drug users carrying superbug: report - The Canadian Press via CTV

►February 10, 2008 - Doctor leading fight against infectious diseases - Quincy Herald Whig

►February 10, 2008 - A precious child's different journey - Bloomfield Enterprise

* ►February 10, 2008 - For this year, flu vaccine experts guessed wrong (requires registration or subscription) - Washington Post via Chicago Tribune - "At the same time, a strain of influenza B called 'Yamagata,' which is significantly different from the "Victoria" B strain in the vaccine, was taking off. About 16 percent of all flu samples this winter are influenza B, and of them 93 percent are Yamagata. Together, the Brisbane and Yamagata trains are accounting for 48 percent of all flu samples this winter -- and neither is in the vaccine."

* ►February 10, 2008 - BMJ Advertising Watch : 09 February 2008 (a difficult balance) - Scientific Misconduct Blog

►February 10, 2008 - China Vaccine 2008 Provides an in Depth Analysis of the Human Use Vaccine Industry and Market in China. - press release - Research and Markets via Business Wire

►February 10, 2008 - Manipur on verge of polio eradication with no fresh cases - The Imphal Free Press via KanglaOnline

►February 10, 2008 - Letter: Needle exchange programs - The Lufkin Daily News

* ►February 9, 2008 - Numbers of controversy - State imposes fewer pesticide penalties for area growers after removing inspector who critics say was too strict - The Wenatchee World Online

* ►February 9, 2008 - New drug rules pose grave risks: critics - The Globe And Mail - "A new regulatory system, outlined in a broad package of changes to consumer product and food regulations announced last December, would allow certain drugs to be quickly approved for sale without the safety evidence that is normally required."

* ►February 9, 2008 - Waxman Subpoenas EPA on Calif Waiver - AP

►February 9, 2008 - Frigid weather boosts infectious disease - Anchorage Daily News

►February 9, 2008 - French GM ban infuriates farmers, delights environmentalists - AFP via Terra Daily

* ►February 8, 2008 - Depression in Young Doctors Tied to Medication Errors - HealthDay News via The Washington Post

* ►February 8, 2008 - Vaccination Debate 1: Shelly Walker... An Inspiration - http://blog.spokanetogo.com - "Shelly Walker doesn't have to imagine it. She lived through it. She found her four month old son Vance unconscious in his crib last September. Vance died of SIDS two days after getting his four month vaccinations. While the government says the vaccinations did not kill Vance, Shelly is fighting to make sure parents know about the downside of vaccines."

►February 8, 2008 - Inmate dies in jail flu outbreak - Doctors are trying to work out if a flu outbreak, which has affected more than 90 inmates at a jail, played a part in a prisoner's death. - BBC

* ►February 7, 2008 - EPA Awards Grants For Environmental Health Education - US EPA NewsRoom via Beyond Pesticides

* ►February 7, 2008 - EPA Calls for Cancellation of Deadly Insecticide - Beyond Pesticides

►February 4, 2008 - Nigeria: Measles Outbreak Kills 7 in Sokoto - This Day (Lagos) via http://allafrica.com

►February 4, 2008 - Virus in rodents: Hope for common cold cure in humans - PTI via The Hindu

►February 2008 - Hospital-based study of viridans streptococcal bacteraemia in children and adults - journal article (Journal of Infection)

►February 2008 - Inflammasome activator - The Scientist

►February 2008 - Separate and Unequal -  Successful immunity requires an array of cell fates, which lymphocytes accomplish through asymmetric cell division. - The Scientist

* ►January 31, 2008 - Hazardous Pesticides Found in Children Who Eat Chemically-Treated Foods - Environmental Health Perspectives via Beyond Pesticides

* ►January 31, 2008 - Impact of low-level exposure to organophosphates on human reproduction and survival. - journal article (Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene)

* ►January 5, 2008 - Risperidone, haloperidol, and placebo in the treatment of aggressive challenging behaviour in patients with intellectual disability: a randomised controlled trial. - journal article (The Lancet) - "INTERPRETATION: Antipsychotic drugs should no longer be regarded as an acceptable routine treatment for aggressive challenging behaviour in people with intellectual disability."

* ►January 2008 - Celebrities Vs. Science - American Council on Science and Health - "THIS PUBLICATION CAN BE DOWNLOADED FOR FREE -- AT THE RIGHT MARGIN."

* ►February 11, 2008 - New packaging led to faulty inoculation at Givatayim school - Ha'aretz

►February 11, 2008 - Biota Holdings Limited (ASX:BTA) Announce Completion of Enrolment In Phase II Clinical Study For Antiviral Influenza Treatment In Japan - press release - Biota Holdings Limited via ABN Newswire

►February 11, 2008 - ‘We need to engineer the immunity system’ - Financial Express

* ►February 10, 2008 - Vaccine Bill Proposed - KSFY.com - "Currently in South Dakota, flu shots are free. But representative Dan Ahlers says with the amount of mercury they hold, they could come with a cost you don't know about....Representative Dan Ahlers has introduced a bill that if passed, would bring the mercury levels in vaccinations for children and pregnant women down to the FDA recommended level. The FDA recommendation for mercury in vaccinations is .5 micrograms per.5 milliliter dose. Alhers says the state's influenza vaccination is five times that. 'Every group says more studies need to be done. So if we're in doubt about the effects of mercury in these vaccinations, then we need to keep it out,' stated Ahlers. Despite his conviction, Ahlers believes the bill won't the pass in the legislature because of the cost. Mercury reduced shots would cost $3.10 more a piece."

* ►February 10, 2008 - Autism foes want mercury out of flu shots - Des Moines Register - "Anti-autism activists, who successfully pushed Iowa to ban a mercury-based preservative from most childhood vaccines in 2004, now want the state to order the ingredient removed from flu shots....Ban proponents plan to present researchers who side with them, but they know they face an uphill battle in the Legislature. "The health department is fighting this tooth and nail, and we don't know why," said Meg Oberreuter, an anti-mercury activist from Cedar Rapids whose son has autism. The Iowa Department of Public Health's top expert, Dr. Patricia Quinlisk, agrees with Oberreuter that there will be a fight. That's about all they agree on."

* ►February 10, 2008 - Anti-smoking drug is linked to 37 suicides - Daily Mail, UK - "But updated figures now suggest that 11 people taking Champix in the UK have died. And reports of suspected adverse reactions to the drug to the Government's medicines watchdog, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, have risen by 35 per cent to 1,811 in just the past seven weeks. The FDA began investigating Champix in November after a number of patients reported possible side-effects ranging from depression and agitation to headaches and nausea. On top of the 37 suicides, it has recorded more than 400 cases of suicidal behaviour."

►February 10, 2008 - It’s Time to Reform the FDA - letters (requires registration) - The New York Times

* ►February 10, 2008 - Actually Dr. Orr, Parents Have Big Worries by Anne Dachel - Age of Autism

* ►February 10, 2008 - Superbowl Sunday Winners by Kent Heckenlively, Esq. - Age of Autism

* ►February 10, 2008 - Words Win Wars - by Ed Arranga - Age of Autism

* ►February 10, 2008 - Ont. families hope for autism therapies in public schools before Appeal Court - Canadian Press via Google - "Parents fighting to have their autistic children receive specialized therapies within the public education system go before Ontario's highest court on Monday in an emotionally fraught case that has huge financial stakes for both the families and taxpayers."

►February 10, 2008 - Court to decide on lawsuit on behalf of autistic children seeking treatment - Canwest News Service via National Post via Canada.com - "The Ontario Court of Appeal is being asked to decide if a class-action lawsuit can go ahead on behalf of autistic children seeking treatment within the public school system in the province."

►February 10, 2008 - Professor, author to speak at conference on autism - Chicago Daily Herald - "Temple Grandin will be featured as keynote speaker at a full-day workshop, 'The Dynamic Child,' March 1 at Kaneland High School in Maple Park. "

►February 10, 2008 - Autism research makes slow and steady progress - Foster's Daily Democrat

►February 10, 2008 - California University steps up autism focus with two programs - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

►February 10, 2008 - Lake program nominated by Indiana Autism Center as model site - Munster Times

►February 10, 2008 - The types of autism - Daily Press

►February 10, 2008 - What you should know about autism - Daily Press

* ►February 10, 2008 - How can we have confidence in drugs giants? - This is Money, UK - "Along with millions of other parents of teenage girls, I have been thrown into doubt by the spat over claims for cervical cancer vaccinations between GlaxoSmithKline and Merck." 

►February 10, 2008 - Man dies at Merck plant in Rahway - The Star-Ledger via www.nj.com

* ►February 10, 2008 - Health officials want more women to get Gardasil - Few asking to get shots that protect against cervical cancer - Salt Lake Tribune

►February 10, 2008 - Camden County 12-Year-Old Dies From Meningitis - CBS 3

* ►February 10, 2008 - Student dies from meningitis - A 12-year-old Camden County girl's life was stolen away by meningitis. (includes video) - WPVI ABC 6

►February 10, 2008 - Hepatitis-A Vaccine Clinic Extended - WBEN 930

►February 10, 2008 - Flu shot might not help - Strains not targeted by vaccine emerge - Augusta Chronicle

* ►February 10, 2008 - This Season's Flu Strains Are Not a Good Match for Vaccine (requires registration) - Washington Post

►February 10, 2008 - Rs.700-crore package for bird flu-hit families - The Hindu

►February 10, 2008 - Bird flu spreads to another Bangladesh district - Reuters

►February 10, 2008 - Despite flu stories, doctors say there's little to worry about - Courier News Online

►February 10, 2008 - Influenza virus can be serious illness - www.kpcnews.com

►February 10, 2008 - Respiratory virus hits Helena kids - Independent Record

►February 10, 2008 - Virus hits Ridge Meadows Hospital - The Vancouver Province via Canada.com

►February 10, 2008 - Escaping frigid weather leads more to influenza - Viruses: Staying indoors exposes people to each other's germs. (requires registration) - AP via Anchorage Daily News

►February 10, 2008 - UAE Red Crescent Society to provide polio vaccines for Gaza children - Al-Bawaba

►February 10, 2008 - Another round of pulse polio - The Hindu

►February 10, 2008 - 2nd Phase Pulse Polio Immunization Campaign launched by Himachal - myHimachal

►February 10, 2008 - 2nd phase of pulse polio campaign launched in T. Nadu - PTI via The Hindu

►February 10, 2008 - States failing on immunisation targets report polio cases - As per WHO guidelines, the polio virus will be considered eradicated only if no case is reported for three years after achieving the status of zero level. Thus no polio case should be reported till 2011 after achieving the zero level status for India. - RxPG NEWS

►February 10, 2008 - CRI Kasauli not a lost cause - HimVani

* ►February 10, 2008 - OHSU spinoff awarded grant to develop tests for smallpox, monkeypox - AP via KTVZ.com - "Najít Technologies, an Oregon Health & Science University spinoff company, has been awarded a $1.65 million grant from the National Institutes of Health."

►February 10, 2008 - The call for a cure - Lilly's MS drug partnership boosts its pipeline, could lead to new treatment for debilitating disease - Indianapolis Star

►February 10, 2008 - Lead in toys a peril to pets - And unlike in toys for children, it's a situation that no agency regulates. - St. Petersburg Times

►February 10, 2008 - Dar gets mercury contamination warning - The East African

►February 10, 2008 - Bacteria found in yoghurt can fight HIV - Sify News

►February 10, 2008 - NIAID scientists identify new cellular receptor for HIV - NIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases via www.eurekalert.org

►February 10, 2008 - LASG to distribute sterilizing units to battle HIV - Nigerian Tribune

►February 10, 2008 - Dr. Frank Dixon, 87; molecular biology pioneer founded Scripps Research Institute - obituary (requires registration or subscription) - Los Angeles Times

* ►February 10, 2008 - Cloned meat could soon be for dinner, if you're not paying attention - Products don't require labels, facing backlash - Dallas Morning News

►February 10, 2008 - Dogs adopted at Puppy Bowl come down with virus - Indianapolis Star

* ►February 9, 2008 - ’Chicken pox’ girl dies of pneumonia - Liverpool Echo, UK - "A four-year-old girl died of pneumonia two days after Alder Hey doctors allegedly said she had chicken pox."

* ►February 9, 2008 - A very real increase in autism - letter - Berkshire Eagle

►February 9, 2008 - Man walks from Toronto to Ottawa for autism awareness - Ottawa Sun - "It’s not exactly like Mr. Smith’s journey to Washington, but it’s close. On the afternoon of Jan. 31, Stefan Marinoiu left his family home in Scarborough and started walking. His destination: The capital of Canada. His goal: To raise awareness of the struggles faced by families living with autism."

* ►February 9, 2008 - Dentists filtering out mercury - But nearly one-fifth miss MMSD deadline - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - "Dentists throughout Wisconsin are being told they must end routine flushing of mercury to sewage treatment plants, where the toxic metal is released to the environment....Feb. 1 was the final day for dental offices in the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District's four-county service area and in the Racine sewerage district to comply with local separator mandates. Though they were notified of the deadline four years ago, nearly one-fifth of 313 dental offices handling mercury amalgam in MMSD's service area had not complied by Friday, Nowicki said."

* ►February 9, 2008 - Merck to Pay $650 Million in Medicaid Settlement --- Big Deal - Alliance for Human Research Protection - "News reports announced that Merck agreed to pay more than $650 million to settle charges of overbilling the government. So what else is new? Cheating Medicaid / Medicare is the "norm and practice" among Big Pharma companies."

* ►February 9, 2008 - 54 Mysterious Deaths Halt Diabetes Experiment - Alliance for Human Research Protection

* ►February 9, 2008 - FDA links anti-wrinkle drugs to deaths - Thomson Financial delivered by Newstex via CNNMoney - "The popular anti-wrinkle drug Botox and a competitor have been linked to dangerous botulism symptoms in some users, cases so bad that a few children given the drugs for muscle spasms have died, the government warned Friday."

* ►February 9, 2008 - Genetic modification turns plant virus into delivery vehicle for insecticide - www.kpcnews.com - "A plant-destroying virus farmers call one of their worst enemies may soon be an ally in the fight against crop pests and mosquitoes, according to this article from Tom Nordlie. University of Florida scientists genetically modified tobacco mosaic virus so that it produces a natural, environmentally friendly insecticide, turning the pathogen into a microscopic chemical factory, said Dov Borovsky, an entomologist with UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. The modified virus is almost completely harmless to plants and simply produces the insecticide."

* ►February 9, 2008 - Bee Virus Could Wipe Out Mankind, Warn Scientists - Glasgow Daily Record - "Ian Craig, of the Scottish Beekeepers Association, warned: 'If bees disappear, mankind will not have much time left.'"

►February 9, 2008 - The FDA needs help - opinion - The Register-Guard

►February 9, 2008 - First Nation, U.S. National Park Service to battle Great Lakes virus that’s deadly to fish - Chronicle-Journal

►February 9, 2008 - Thailand rules out suspected bird-flu case - Xinhua via China View

►February 9, 2008 - Flu vaccine match sub-optimal in US but better so far in Canada - The Canadian Press via Google

►February 9, 2008 - Flu bug creeps into county - BlueRidgeNow.com

►February 9, 2008 - Flu season hits - The Daily Citizen

►February 9, 2008 - Residents of Azerbaijani Village Demand Compensation for Annihilation of Pigs - Trend Capital

* ►February 9, 2008 - Cancer vaccine to be given free - The vaccine, yet to be introduced, to provide 99.9% protection against disease - The Hindu - "A new vaccine that protects against the infection caused by human papilloma virus (HPV), stated to be chiefly responsible for cervical cancer, is likely to be supplied free of cost in the country by the World Health Organisation shortly."

* ►February 8, 2008 - No Link Between Autism and Vaccines? Readers Aren't Convinced - Parental Guidance Blog via The Star-Ledger via www.nj.com - "Posted by md1stnoharm on 02/08/08 at 4:25PM - I propose a challenge. Let's invite all the un-vaccinated, autistic children to one stadium and all the vaccinated, autistic children to another stadium. Which will look more like superbowl Sunday??? I, personally, do not know any autistic children who have never been vaccinated. All the autistic children I know, and there are too many of them--have all been vaccinated. You do the math!! Maureen Drummond Founder/Spokeswoman Network Organization for Vaccine Awareness and Choice"

►February 8, 2008 - Melatonin well-tolerated sleep aid in children with autism - Vanderbilt University News

* ►February 8, 2008 - Washington County warns parents about student vaccination rules - Washington County health officials have told hundreds of families across the region that their children could be excluded from school in late February without proper vaccinations. - Sherwood Gazette

►February 8, 2008 - GlaxoSmithKline: sales drop increases shareholder concern - GlaxoSmithKline has reported a 2.2% decline in full year revenues. Europe's largest pharmaceutical manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline has reported that its full year total revenues have declined 2.2% year-on-year to stand at $45,473m. A downturn in sales of Avandia, the company's diabetes therapy, heavily underscored this trend. GSK's performance in the next few months will be crucial if it is to turn around its revenue crunch and boost shareholder confidence. - Pharmaceutical Business Review

►February 8, 2008 - Flu hospitalizes 22 here in January - Colorado Springs Gazette

►February 8, 2008 - Central African Republic: Meningitis in Kaga Bandoro - The International Federation's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) is a source of un-earmarked money created by the Federation in 1985 to ensure that immediate financial support is available for Red Cross and Red Crescent response to emergencies. The DREF is a vital part of the International Federation's disaster response system and increases the ability of national societies to respond to disasters. - International Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies via ReliefWeb

►February 8, 2008 - UN secretary-general meets with Rotary leaders - Rotary International News

►February 8, 2008 - CDC to open Hawaii office - Pacific Business News

►February 7, 2008 - Chickenpox vaccine to be given at school - Inoculations offered Friday at Charleston Catholic - Charleston Gazette - "Gateley said the department's preliminary investigation found that many Charleston Catholic students may not have received a second "booster" shot. Some vaccinated children lose their protective immunity in as little as five to eight years."

* ►February 7, 2008 - Senate inquiry rebukes FDA: 'scientific process ... compromised' - AP via International Herald Tribune - "The Food and Drug Administration revealed flaws in its scientific objectivity when it reassigned an agency veterinarian over unfounded accusations by a drug company, a senator charged in a report on his committee's investigation into the case....Dr. Victoria Hampshire, the veterinarian who was accused, said Thursday that the agency was 'so gullible, and they bent so far ... to appease this company.' Although she has now been vindicated, she said other agency staff, having seen how she was treated, may still hesitate to challenge a powerful drug company, wondering, 'What would happen to me?'"

►February 7, 2008 - FDA releases warning letter on ciguatera - The Galveston County Daily News

►February 7, 2008 - Bioniche Receives $5 Million Capital Financing Support to Scale-up E. coli O157:H7 Vaccine Production - Farms.com

►February 7, 2008 - Backyard Bacteria Has Vets Talking Dog Vaccination - cbs4denver.com

►February 6, 2008 - Researchers Blame Seasonal Migration for Measles in Niger - Researchers say measles, which has been successfully controlled in most countries thanks to vaccination, remains a killer disease in Niger, in part because of migration triggered by the rainy season.  VOA's Jessica Berman reports from Washington health workers are calling for better surveillance and cooperation between public health workers and the government to control measles outbreaks. - Voice of America

►February 4, 2008 - Abu Dhabi to vaccinate girls against cancer - Gulf News

►February 4, 2008 - Mansoor Ahmed: healing with herbs - The News - International - Pakistan

* ►Jan-Feb 2005 - Genetic influences on the retention of inorganic mercury. - journal article (Archives of Environmental and Occupational Health)

*  ►Larry King Live - CNN.com - "Thursday: Autism Show - The heartbreak ...and hope of autism. Jason 'J-Mac' McElwain inspired the world with his incredible shot-making at a high school basketball game. Larry talks to the teen and others about the disorder. Holly Robinson Peete, Doug Flutie and Toni Braxton join the discussion to bust myths and present breakthroughs. It's an uplifting hour with those who know!"

►March 2008 - Can persistent organic pollutants explain the association between serum γ-glutamyltransferase and type 2 diabetes? - journal article (Diabetologia)

►February 17, 2008 - Central Research Institute at Kasauli - Prey to Conspiracy? - Organiser - "One more thing, sources said, very interesting has come to surface that the building constructed to expand DPT vaccine department had prior approval of DCGI. This was completed in 2004 with a cost of Rs. 14 crore occurred on it. But during an inspection by DCGI team, this building was not found as per the GMP rules. Now the officials on the campus smell some conspiracy in it and blame the ministry for it. It is said that eighty per cent demand of DPT vaccine is met by this department only and now private players were happy."

►February 11, 2008 - Setback, hope in AIDS research (requires registration or subscription) - Los Angeles Times

* ►February 11, 2008 - Recent FDA Advisory Puts More Pressure On Cold Meds Sector - Investor's Business Daily delivered by Newstex via CNN Money - "The FDA's next step is to figure out what's best for kids 2 to 12. Investors can expect an announcement in the spring. What the agency will decide is anyone's guess, analysts say. If its decision is ultimately based on what doctor groups urge, the FDA might have a greater financial impact on drug makers than it's had so far. Companies with a stake include Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) JNJ, maker of Tylenol and PediaCare infant drops; Prestige Brands PBH, which makes the Little Remedies brand; Novartis (NYSE:NVS) NVS, maker of Triaminic; and Wyeth (NYSE:WYE PR) (NYSE:WYE) WYE, maker of Robitussin and Dimetapp."

* ►February 10, 2008 - Healing a Troubled Mind Takes More Than a Pill (requires registration) - Washington Post - "In 2006, an astonishing 227 million prescriptions for antidepressants were dispensed in the United States -- up 30 million from 2002. Altogether the United States accounts for about two-thirds of the global market for antidepressants. Other proven and practical approaches to managing milder forms of depression, such as diet changes, exercise or cognitive behavioral therapy, haven't gotten the attention they deserve in our high-tech zeal for the drugs."

►February 20, 2008 - Link between migratory birds, avian influenza unsubstantiated - The News - International - Pakistan

►February 10, 2008 - Coming soon, new strains of influenza - The Yomiuri Shimbun

►February 10, 2008 - Influenza spreading rapidly in Franklin County - The State Journal

►February 10, 2008 - Wrong HIV diagnosis: Woman sues Orissa for Rs 10L - Times of India

►February 10, 2008 - SA men ‘not snipped properly’ - The Times, South Africa - "UP TO half of circumcised South African men did not undergo the procedure 'properly', leaving them more at risk of contracting HIV than men who went under the scalpel in a clinical setting. This was one of several findings presented to an international conference in the US this week, attended by the world’s top HIV/Aids researchers."

* ►February 9, 2008 - 2 to sue doc over syringes - Newsday - "Jean Jones-Lockridge, 42, received a flu shot from Dr. E. Jacob Simhaee last fall and was one of 36 patients to get letters from the obstetrician-gynecologist in January urging tests for hepatitis B and C and HIV, said her attorney Joseph Stroble of Sayville. A state Department of Health investigation found Simhaee used a single syringe, holding up to six doses of vaccine, on multiple patients. Infection-control procedures require a new syringe be used for each patient, health authorities said."

* ►February 9, 2008 - CDC under investigation over Katrina cancer risk - Congressional committee also looks into whether agency retaliated against scientist (requires registration or subscription) - Atlanta Journal-Constitution - "At issue is whether the agency intentionally delayed or avoided examining the long-term cancer threat posed by formaldehyde fumes in trailers purchased by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to house victims of the August 2005 hurricane....The committee also is investigating whether CDC abruptly stopped publication of another report involving De Rosa, detailing 'disturbing potential health issues' in the Great Lakes region of the U.S., the letter said."

►February 9, 2008 - Toxic Trailers: Did CDC Blacklist Whistle Blower? - Atlanta Journal-Constitution via Daily Green

* ►February 9, 2008 - Physicians Become More Efficient by Barbie Hines - Age of Autism

* ►February 9, 2008 - Editorial: Vaccinations and autism - No link exists - Philadelphia Inquirer

►February 9, 2008 - Another Round of Family Service Grants from Autism Speaks: Share Your Visions and Ideas - http://autism.about.com

►February 9, 2008 - Health Scan: Virtual reality program helps autistic children cross the road - Jerusalem Post

►February 9, 2008 - Autism: Unlocking The Potential - WFRV Green Bay

* ►February 9, 2008 - Deadly new superbug emerges in Minnesota - Two cases of drug-resistant meningococcal disease found; one in North Dakota - Pioneer Press via TwinCities.com

* ►February 9, 2008 - Appellate Panel Rejects E.P.A. Emission Limits (requires registration) - The New York Times - "A three-judge federal appeals panel in Washington struck down on Friday the Environmental Protection Agency limits on mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants. The panel said the agency had ignored its legal obligation to require the strictest possible controls on the toxic metal or to justify an alternative approach.The ruling against a signature environmental policy of the Bush administration is the latest to reverse agency actions as inconsistent with environmental laws."

* ►February 9, 2008 - Outlook brightens for reducing mercury in air - The via www.northjersey.com "The rejected rules would have let plants swap the right to pollute, with those that cut emissions selling "credits" to plants that wanted to emit more. The agency called it an efficient, market-driven way of reducing pollution. Critics said it would create toxic "hot spots" around plants that bought the credits. The agency defended its policies Friday, noting that they represented the first nationwide attempt to control mercury. "Keep in mind, the U.S. now has no national mercury emissions regulation for these plants," spokesman Jonathan Shradar said. The agency, he added, would consider resurrecting the trading program in a different form."

* ►February 9, 2008 - Growing Up to Prozac: Drug makes new neurons mature faster - Journal of Neuroscience via Science News

►February 9, 2008 - Court: EPA ignored law regarding mercury pollution reduction rules - AP via www.mlive.com

►February 9, 2008 - Court rejects Bush's mercury emissions trading plan - EPA's 'cap-and-trade' approach -- letting coal- or oil-fired power plants to buy credits from cleaner facilities -- broke the Clean Air Act, the judges said. (requires registration or subscription) -  Los Angeles Times

►February 9, 2008 - New anti-bacteria vaccine on the anvil - Times of India

►February 9, 2008 - Survey Finds Older Americans Skipping Flu Vaccinations - AARP via HealthNewsDigest.com - "NFID experts stress that seeking vaccination throughout the entire influenza season--not just in October and November--is the best way to protect against the virus, since influenza peaks in late winter."

►February 9, 2008 - Family calls meningitis victim active, happy kid - Newsday - "Rubio, 41, of Medford, gave the following account of the hours before the boy's death: Ernesto went to bed, and at around 9:30 p.m. his mother checked in on him. The boy told her he was feverish and that he wasn't feeling well. She gave him some over-the-counter fever-reducer and the fever subsided. But by Thursday morning the fever was back and he had black-and-blue rashes on his neck and wrist. His mother, Maria, took him to Brookhaven Memorial Hospital, arriving around 10 a.m. There, nurses gave Ernesto antibiotics and the doctors talked about transferring him to Stony Brook University Medical Center. The family signed a release for Ernesto to be taken to Stony Brook, Rubio said. The boy died at about 1:45 p.m., before he could be transferred."

►February 9, 2008 - 98 lakh children to be administered - Central Chronicle

* ►February 9, 2008 - Nigeria: Bauchi - Polio Immunization Suffers Setback - Daily Trust (Abuja) via http://allafrica.com - "Dr. Lawal said the resistance was so pronounced in such areas because, according to him, some religious and opinion leaders were against administering vaccines. According to him, various meetings were held with these highly respected men to educate and sensitise them about the importance of the immunization to eradicate polio, but all to no avail."

►February 9, 2008 - Erie County setting up vaccination clinics for Hepatitis A - AP via Newsday

►February 9, 2008 - Virus Genome Sequencing Technology Quickly, Accurately Identifies Infectious Diseases - All Headline News

►February 9, 2008 - Mix-up possibly exposed baby to HIV - United Press International - "A baby is facing a series of HIV tests after a mix-up at a British hospital allowed the newborn to be breastfed by the wrong new mother."

►February 9, 2008 - Fighting cervical cancer - Buffalo News - "“I’m always a little leery about new vaccines,” said Mary Wachowiak of Kenmore. But following her mother’s online research, Lauren received the three required doses of Gardasil, which is said to prevent the human papilloma virus — or HPV — that causes cervical cancer."

* ►February 9, 2008 - The Case of the Poisoned Pet Food - editorial (requires registration) - The New York Times

* ►February 9, 2008 - Hard to stomach - Our food supply watchdogs, the USDA and the FDA, are falling down on the job. - opinion (requires registration or subscription) - Los Angeles Times

►February 9, 2008 - Vitamin Supplementation Prevents Anorexia - press release - Orthomolecular Medicine News Service

►February 9, 2008 - High Commission warns health risk - The Fiji Times - "The British High Commission is warning travellers to Fiji that outbreaks of typhoid, leptospirosis and dengue fever can occur in Fiji for which there is no vaccination or immunisation."

►February 9, 2008 - FDA's Assault of Bioidentical Hormones - American Chronicle

►February 9, 2008 - Pneumonia-Diseases - American Chronicle

►February 9, 2008 - Faulty Fountains of Youth - Adult stem cells may contribute to aging - Science News

►February 9, 2008 - Wish List: FY '09 budget proposal ups physical sciences - Science News

►February 9, 2008 - From the February 5, 1938, issue - Science News

* ►February 8, 2008 - How Vaccines Can Damage Your Brain - Vaccines, Depression and Neurodegeneration After Age 50: Another Reason to Avoid the Recommended Vaccines. By Russell L. Blaylock, M.D., CCN - Mercola.com Blog

* ►February 8, 2008 - Childhood Vaccinations Hoax - Not Effective and at Worst, Harmful - NaturalNews.com

* ►February 8, 2008 - Family Hopes Stem Cells Will Help Autistic Son (includes video) - WESH.com - "The Faiellas sought out many different therapies including a $20,000 hyperbolic chamber that allows Matthew to breathe in pure oxygen that his parents believe stimulates his brain cells and accounts for his improved mental skills. The Faiellas refuse to believe that there's no cure for autism, and in their latest attempt to get help for Matthew they'll be traveling to Costa Rica later this month for some adult stem cell treatments....They hope in the months that follow their son will come a little more out of his world, and a little more into theirs. To read the Faiellas' blog, please click here."

* ►February 8, 2008 - The ongoing story of Wyeth, the FDA and Dr. Hampshire - Scientific Misconduct Blog - "Last Wednesday, Senator Charles Grassley sent a letter to the HHS Secretary and FDA Commissioner detailing how Wyeth Pharmaceuticals engaged in a smear campaign aimed at discrediting an FDA safety officer (and GAP client) assigned to review one of Wyeth's animal care products. After Wyeth met with FDA officials and presented false and misleading information, the FDA wrongfully removed GAP client Dr. Victoria Hampshire from her position as the drug's reviewer."

* ►February 8, 2008 - Fight Back Against the FDA and Big Pharma (All Jacked Up) (video) - NaturalNews.com

* ►February 8, 2008 - Big Pharma Spin Doctors Gather to Plot New Public Relations Strategies for Influencing the FDA, Popular Press - NaturalNews.com

* ►February 8, 2008 - Governor Schwarzenegger Backed Immoral Sex Pheromone Spraying Continues... - NaturalNews.com - "The chemicals, known by their trade names as Checkmate OLR-F and Checkmate LBAM-F, have been sprayed via state owned airplanes in September and October in Monterey County California. These same aerial chemicals, despite their known health risks, were sprayed on two nights (11-8, 11-9) over the people of Santa Cruz County. The purpose of this spray is to control the mating/reproductive habits of the light brown apple moth (LBAM)."

* ►February 8, 2008 - Natural News Update: Mercury in Vaccines, MRSA and Vegetative Pork Plant Workers (satire) - NaturalNews.com - "Mercury declared safe! Yes, indeed, the medical sleuths of the world are hard at work yet again, attempting to find clever ways to give a toxic heavy metal a clean bill of health. The candidate this time? Mercury in vaccines, of course. Recent news headlines declared that 'mercury in vaccines is safe because it only stays in the body for 3.7 days.' (No joke. I'm not making this up.)"

* ►February 8, 2008 - P.L.E.A.S.E. gives a shot without the needle - Coolest Gadgets - "My source does not reveal to me what P.L.E.A.S.E stands for, but the device delivers a painless laser epidermal system to administer drugs, medications and other vaccinations without the pain of a needle. So, about that acronym, maybe it stands for Painless Laser Epidermal Administering System, Easy? But what is important is not what P.L.E.A.S.E. stands for, but how it works. It can somehow “create an aqueous micropore in the skin to deliver the high molecular weight of medication”. So, your children receive their vaccinations, without the sting."

* ►February 8, 2008 - Double standards with HPV vaccine - Manassas Journal Messenger - "The government has no business forcing people to do what government thinks is best for them. [...] Parents can decide about vaccination in consultation with their doctors, not on orders from the government." The Virginia Department of Health currently requires vaccinations against 11 diseases that equally affect men and women, including measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox and polio. My inner Libertarian would carry Mr. Reichley's position to the logical conclusion that parents should be able to decide on any or no vaccinations for their children. Yet Mr. Reichley only opposes mandatory HPV immunization. Why?"

* ►February 8, 2008 - Pa., N.J. announce what they'll get in Merck settlement - Philadelphia Business Journal

* ►February 8, 2008 - NIH Environmental Institute Chief Resigns - ScienceNOW - "Schwartz, a pulmonary disease researcher, drew controversy soon after he left Duke University in 2005 to head the nearby NIEHS in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. Environmentalists, scientists, and some lawmakers protested when he wanted to privatize the institute's journal and shift funds from disease prevention to clinical studies. But the real trouble began when an inquiry by Congress revealed that Schwartz was consulting for law firms and had built up a large personal lab despite concerns from NIH ethics officials."

►February 8, 2008 - Schering-Plough Tinkers With Research Unit - Pharmalot

►February 8, 2008 - Bug Guts Map Brings Scientists Closer To Understanding Different Bugs' Role In The Body - Scientists have made a major step towards understanding precisely which bugs in the gut are involved in which processes in the body, by mapping the different species of bugs living in seven members of the same Chinese family. - Imperial College London via ScienceDaily

►February 8, 2008 - 'Love hormone' may help mental disorders - University of California, San Diego School of Medicine via UPI via News Advantage

►February 8, 2008 - PPIs Are Associated with Risk for Bacterial Gastroenteritis - PPI therapy, but not H2RA therapy, led to higher risk for campylobacter- or salmonella-associated GE. - journal article (Journal Watch Gastroenterology)

►February 8, 2008 - Most Flu Bugs Don't Match Flu Vaccine - Vaccination Still Beneficial, Although Protection May Not Be Optimal, Flu Expert Says - WebMD

* ►February 8, 2008 - Illness Hitting the Workplace (includes video) - KAUZ  News Channel 6 - "Dr. Christopher Duhan says, 'Our office has been very busy and there's a lot of reason for that. It could be allergy trouble, there's a lot of common cold virus going around, and a late flu virus season.' The late flu season is keeping many people out of the office, even though some of them got their flu shot. 'If you get your flu shot early, like in early October and you're still having positive flu symptom now, it's because the vaccine wore off and you're still susceptible,' says Duhan."

►February 8, 2008 - Drug-resistant meningitis strain prompts alert - The strain, which struck three people in the Fargo-Moorhead area, one fatally, is impervious to the usual antibiotic treatment - Minneapolis Star Tribune

►February 8, 2008 - "Polio Will Be History, Like Smallpox" Says UN General-Secretary Ban - Total Eradication Is Within Sight - All Headline News

►February 8, 2008 - South Africa: Minister Breaks Bad News About Aids Prevention - Business Day (Johannesburg) via http://allafrica.com - "The study presented at the conference was carried out in Uganda and funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. It compared the annual HIV incidence in the wives of men who had been circumcised to wives of men who had not. According to media reports and a video recording of the presentation, the annual HIV rate in the wives of the men who had been circumcised was 14,4% over two years, compared to 9,1% among the women whose husbands had not been circumcised."

►February 8, 2008 - FDA still underfunded, say lawmakers - GovernmentExecutive.com

►February 8, 2008 - Asthma, allergy kids need meds in school - United Press International

►February 7, 2008 - Medical Mystery - After years of debate and controversy, the CDC is finally looking into the mysteries of Morgellons, an unexplained and debilitating skin condition that many doctors don't believe exists. - Newsweek

►February 7, 2008 - Childhood vaccines seen as key to health - NewsOK

* ►February 7, 2008 - Flu Vaccines Found Useless for Seniors; Benefits Greatly Exaggerated, say Researchers - NaturalNews.com

* ►February 7, 2008 - Questions of science and conscience (letters) - The Guardian, UK - Comment: "Scientists and mere mortals need to be supported in looking wherever they feel necessary. Scientific research should be broadened to all vaccinations and look at the consequences and effects of the neurotoxin components - carriers, preservatives and attenuators such as aluminium, formaldehyde and mercury. Most important is a large comparison of non-vaccinated with vaccinated, looking not just at autism but a range of conditions from allergy to eye problems and long-term general health."

* ►February 7, 2008 - The Adverse Event Reporting System (AERS) Latest Quarterly Data Files - FDA/CDER

►February 7, 2008 - Doctors Say Kids With ADHD May Actually Have Sleep Apnea - Live 5 News

►February 7, 2008 - Additive In Chicken Feed Could Harm Humans - CBS4.com

* ►February 6, 2008 - Notice: Memorandum of Understanding Between the Food and Drug Administration and the National Institutes of Health - Food and Drug Administration, HHS via www.pharmcast.com

* ►February 6, 2008 - Wis. woman freed in shaken baby case - Seattle Post-Intelligencer - "A former child care provider sent to prison more than a decade ago in the fatal shaking of a baby was freed Wednesday, six days after an appeals court ruled the latest research into shaken baby syndrome might prove her innocence. Audrey Edmunds, 46, walked out of a minimum security prison in Waupun....In 1997, Edmunds was sentenced to 18 years in prison."

►February 5, 2008 - Officials to assess chicken pox outbreak - Charleston Daily Mail

* ►February 5, 2008 - Local Family Fights and Wins Son’s Vaccine-induced Autism - The Pioneer - "Jason was given a massive dose of at least 5 vaccines all at one time.  Kristin says, “If there’s one day in my life that I could relive, that would be the day.”  Within three weeks, it was obvious that their normal toddler had drastically changed.  He had raging temper tantrums, his speech regressed and pretty much stopped all together, he didn’t respond to his name, no longer looked at anyone and was sick all the time.  Kristin said his constant screaming was so bad that she had to wear earplugs when taking him anywhere in the car so she could concentrate on her driving.  The doctor said this was not normal and sent them to Phoenix Children’s Hospital.  After many tests, the doctors told them they didn’t know the cause of his problems, nothing could be done and recommended speech therapy."

* ►February 5, 2008 - Notice: Agency Information Collection Activities; Announcement of Office of Management and Budget Approval; Information Program on Clinical Trials for Serious and Life-Threatening Diseases: Maintaining a Databank - Food and Drug Administration, HHS via www.pharmcast.com

* ►February 5, 2008 - Compulsory Water Fluoridation is Dangerous and Immoral - Green Party - Natural Matters

* ►February 5, 2008 - Students discover high toxic levels - High school students testing for environmental toxins uncovered what they say are exceptionally high levels of lead in their West Oakland school. They're asking for help and more sophisticated equipment to uncover the source of the lead contamination, which is, for now, a mystery. - abc7news.com

* ►February 5, 2008 - Chamber upset over EPA's 'accidental' release of confidential memo - The Bay City Times via mlive.com

►February 5, 2008 - 10 Myths About Canadian Health Care, Busted - We must get past a pile of disinformation. - AlertNet

* ►February 4, 2008 - Fluoride to be added to all Britain's tap water to tackle tooth decay - Daily Mail, UK

►February 2008 - Vascular endothelial growth factor as a marker of disease activity in neurotuberculosis - journal article (Journal of Infection)

►February 2008 - Neonatal Adrenoleukodystrophy Presenting With Seizure at Birth: A Case Report and Review of the Literature - journal article (Pediatric Neurology)

►February 2008 - Give rotavirus vaccine to all infants: experts - Emergency physicians eager to reduce disease's burden on FPs, ER staff - National Review of Medicine

* ►January 28, 2008 - BT Allergy in North India Crying Out for Attention - Dr. Sudhir Kumar Kaura’s impassioned plea - Institute of Science in Society - "I am really afraid for the future of India and our farmers. Sooner or later, the effects of transgenic pollution will be more pronounced and will affect people who do not live in cotton fields or villages next to cotton fields. Why do we still allow Bt cotton to be grown in India? Isn’t the death of thousands of sheep enough for us to wake up and speak and support the truth?"

* ►January 24, 2008 - Avian influenza: genetic evolution under vaccination pressure - journal article (Virology Journal)

* ►January 22, 2008 - Title: Rodent hepatitis B virus core proteins as vaccine platforms and methods of use thereof (patent) - Vaccine Research Institute of San Diego (San Diego, CA) via www.pharmcast.com

* ►January 3, 2008 - FOX News Whistle blowers. UNBELIEVABLE!!! - YouTube

* ►March 1, 2008 - Protein D of Haemophilus influenzae: A Protective Nontypeable H. influenzae Antigen and a Carrier for Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccines - journal article (Clinical Infectious Diseases)

* ►March 1, 2008 - Use of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors by Pediatricians: Comparing Attitudes of Primary Care Pediatricians and Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists - journal article (Clinical Pediatrics)

* ►March 1, 2008 - Serum Zinc Levels in Children With Simple Febrile Seizure - journal article (Clinical Pediatrics) - "The mean serum zinc levels in cases and controls were 32.17 and 87.6 µg/dL, respectively. This difference was statistically significant ( P < .001). We conclude that Indian children with febrile seizure had low serum zinc levels, and zinc supplementation to reduce the incidence of febrile seizure should be investigated."

►March 1, 2008 - A Prospective, Comparative Study of the Immune Response to Inactivated Influenza Vaccine in Pediatric Liver Transplant Recipients and Their Healthy Siblings - journal article (Clinical Infectious Diseases)

►March 1, 2008 - Emotional Expression in Children Treated With ADHD Medication - journal article (Journal of Attention Disorders)

►March 1, 2008 - Anxiety, Methylphenidate Response, and Working Memory in Children With ADHD - journal article (Journal of Attention Disorders)

►March 1, 2008 - Emotional Symptoms in Inattentive Primary School Children - journal article (Journal of Attention Disorders)

►March 1, 2008 - How Important Is the Environment in the Emergence of Nosocomial Antimicrobial-Resistant Bacteria? - journal article (Clinical Infectious Diseases)

►March 1, 2008 - Prior Environmental Contamination Increases the Risk of Acquisition of Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci - journal article (Clinical Infectious Diseases)

►March 1, 2008 - Vancomycin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in the United States, 2002–2006 (full text) - journal article (Clinical Infectious Diseases)

►March 1, 2008 - Vancomycin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus: A Perfect but Geographically Limited Storm? (full text) - journal article (Clinical Infectious Diseases)

►March 1, 2008 - Colonization, Fomites, and Virulence: Rethinking the Pathogenesis of Community-Associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Infection (full text) - journal article (Clinical Infectious Diseases)

* ►March 2008 - Impact of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome and the Perceived Avian Influenza Epidemic on the Increased Rate of Influenza Vaccination Among Nurses in Hong Kong - journal article (Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology) - "The overall influenza vaccination rate for nurses in Hong Kong was about 50%. It was affected by the perceived threat of an impending outbreak. The attitudes of nurses toward the effectiveness of and rationale for vaccination were a major barrier to increasing the rate of vaccination."

►March 2008 - Molecular and Descriptive Epidemiology of Multidrug-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae in Hospitalized Infants - journal article (Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology)

►March 2008 - Is Surgery a Risk Factor for Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease? Outcome Variation by Control Choice and Exposure Assessments - journal article (Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology)

►March 2008 - Ingested matter affects intestinal lesions in Crohn's disease - journal article (Inflammatory Bowel Diseases)

►March 2008 - Variability in Rates of Use of Antibacterials Among 130 US Hospitals and Risk-Adjustment Models for Interhospital Comparison - journal article (Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology)

►March 2008 - Assessment of Clostridium difficile–Associated Disease Surveillance Definitions, North Carolina, 2005 - journal article (Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology)

►March 2008 - Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci in Canada: Results from the Canadian Nosocomial Infection Surveillance Program, 1999‐2005 - journal article (Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology)

►February/March 2008 - The HLA gene complex in thyroid autoimmunity: From epidemiology to etiology - journal article (Journal of Autoimmunity)

* ►February 15, 2008 - The Magnitude of the Antibody and Memory B Cell Responses during Priming with a Protein-Polysaccharide Conjugate Vaccine in Human Infants Is Associated with the Persistence of Antibody and the Intensity of Booster Response - journal article (The Journal of Immunology)

►February 15, 2008 - CXCR3 Mediates Region-Specific Antiviral T Cell Trafficking within the Central Nervous System during West Nile Virus Encephalitis - journal article (The Journal of Immunology)

►February 15, 2008 - Ozone, Oxidant Defense Genes, and Risk of Asthma during Adolescence - journal article (Critical Care Medicine)

►February 9, 2008 - Is curative care the cure in developing countries? - Economic Times

* ►February 9, 2008 - No doubt: the MMR vaccine does not cause autism - The Times, UK

* ►February 9, 2008 - Bureaucrats ban peanut butter over deadly smell - Peanut butter sandwiches have been banned from a Government building because of concerns the smell could trigger a deadly allergic reaction. - The Daily Telegraph via www.news.com.au

* ►February 9, 2008 - Eco friendly lightbulbs, Lupus and me - Eco-friendly light bulbs may be a good thing for the planet – but not for the sufferers of lupus, an autoimmune disorder. Celia Dodd reports - The Times, UK

* ►February 9, 2008 - Court vetoes Bush rules on mercury - AP via Providence Journal

* ►February 8, 2008 - Bacteria as vaccine carriers? - Nobel laureate Barry J. Marshall says any vaccine can be carried into the human body on top of Helicobacter - The Hindu - "'We have a molecular biologist cloning these vaccines into Helicobacter which is now expressing them. And the beauty of that is if you could make a vaccine like that, you could make millions of doses in a bacterial culture system', he said. Likening it to 'home brewing', he said the bacteria could be quickly multiplied to make millions of doses. It would be very useful to protect the community against an epidemic. Research was also on to control Helicobacter’s ability to cause ulcers and cancers."

* ►February 8, 2008 - Group says feds are hiding data on Great Lakes health concerns - Duluth News Tribune - "A nonprofit public interest group says a report that charts human health problems near Great Lakes toxic sites has been hidden by the U.S. government for seven months because the findings might be too controversial. The Center for Public Integrity obtained the 400-page report conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and released parts of the draft on Thursday....U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon, D-Tenn., chairman of the House Committee on Science and Technology, this week complained to the CDC that the agency was interfering with the work of scientists. 'I cannot understand how an agency charged with protecting the public’s health is attempting to muzzle one of its own scientists for bringing forth critical issues that impact the health and safety of the public,' Gordon said in a statement released Thursday."

* ►February 8, 2008 - Biodefense watchdog goes dark - The Scientist - "The Sunshine Project, a Texas-based group that has monitored safety and oversight issues in research on bioterror agents, suspended operations on February 1, according to the group's Web site. Ed Hammond, who heads the non-profit operation and whom I've spoken with a handful of times, has gained a reputation as something of a pitbull tearing on the pantleg of the US's growing biodefense research program....Hammond wasn't immediately available when I phoned and Emailed him for more details, but the reason for the group's closing is lack of funds, the Chronicle of Higher Education reports."

* ►February 8, 2008 - Merck to Pay $650 Million In Medicaid Settlement (requires registration) - Washington Post - "H. Dean Steinke, a district sales manager for Merck, set off the investigation after he noticed his company was using questionable sales tactics. Steinke complained to his supervisors, who brushed him off, so he turned to federal authorities. Steinke, a 51-year-old Michigan native, will receive about $68 million from the settlement as a whistleblower reward. He said he was prompted to go to authorities after his direct supervisor told him: 'I don't care how you do it, but get the damn business,' when he questioned the sales practices. 'There comes a time when you just dig in your heels and say, 'You know what? They're not going to get away with it,' ' Steinke said."

* ►February 8, 2008 - Company donates $3.8m for unit to develop vaccines - Focus on moms-to-be and unborn babies - Halifax, The Daily News - "It may not appeal to those who shy away from their flu shots, but pregnant mothers and their unborn babies stand to benefit from a new multimillion-dollar donation to the IWK announced yesterday. A vaccine company, sanofi pasteur, announced a donation of $3.8 million toward the construction of a unit to study new vaccines, and a program to immunize expecting mothers to prevent infant infections. The centre will test new vaccines on volunteers after they are exposed to a particular infection, Scott Halperin, a member of the IWK's immunology research team, said yesterday."

* ►February 8, 2008 - Glaxo Children's Booster Vaccine Delayed by US Regulators - Bloomberg - "London-based Glaxo received a complete response letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for Kinrix to immunize children against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough and polio, Glaxo spokeswoman Alice Hunt said today in a telephone interview. A complete response letter is issued when the FDA reviews a product and wants more information, agency spokeswoman Karen Riley said."

* ►February 8, 2008 - While Minshew Shrieks, Autism Squeaks by J.B. Handley - Age of Autism

* ►February 8, 2008 - ABC threw the wrong stone - guest column - Times-News via BlueRidgeNow.com - "'If you go on blogs and the Web, there are a lot of anti-vaccines sites. They continue to tout data that is showing an association, even if it is flawed. People don't know what is correct and (the belief in a link of vaccines to the cause of autism) is continually reinvigorated,' said Dr. Marie C. McCormick, a pediatrician and professor at Harvard Medical School."

►February 8, 2008 - Sioux City father pushes autism training for teachers - Sioux City Journal

►February 8, 2008 - Specialisterne finds a place in workforce for people with autism - A Danish IT consultancy is using the special skills of people with autism to improve the quality of its software testing. - ComputerWeekly.com

►February 8, 2008 - Editorial: State should OK autism bill - Wausau Daily Herald

►February 8, 2008 - Upside Down Shoes and Autism - MedPage Today Blog

►February 8, 2008 - Understanding and detecting Autism in children - Ivanhoe News Service via News 8 Austin

►February 8, 2008 - Health dept. disputes TV show's autism link - The Flint Journal via www.mlive.com

►February 8, 2008 - More evidence dismisses link betwen MMR and autism - Irish Medical Times

* ►February 8, 2008 - EPA must rewrite utility mercury rule: U.S. court - Reuters - "The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled that the EPA violated the Clean Air Act in 2005 when it exempted coal plants from the strictest emission controls for mercury and other toxic substances like arsenic, lead and nickel."

►February 8, 2008 - Effects of mercury emission ruling on proposed power plant debated - South Carolina Now

►February 8, 2008 - Maine wins mercury suit - MaineToday.com

* ►February 8, 2008 - STATEMENT: American Red Cross Receives Adverse Determination Letter, Fines, From U.S. Food And Drug Administration - American Red Cross via Medical News Today

* ►February 8, 2008 - CDC says influenza B strain doesn't match vaccine - CIDRAP News - "The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said today that most circulating influenza B viruses tested so far this season don't match this year's vaccine, signaling that two of the three vaccine components are off-target."

* ►February 8, 2008 - Mesa County boy, 4, dies of influenza - The Daily Sentinel via Rocky Mountain News

* ►February 8, 2008 - US expresses concern about vaccine as flu cases up - Reuters - The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said slightly more than half of the influenza virus strains reported to its surveillance system are not good matches against the strains included in this flu season's vaccine."

►February 8, 2008 - Montgomery Medicine: Flu cases picking up in Montgomery County - The Paper of Montgomery County

* ►February 8, 2008 - Cancer vaccine to get House vote - Panel OKs it after limiting public input - Louisville Courier-Journal - "The bill would allow parents to opt out by signing a "refusal to vaccinate" statement showing they understand the link between cervical cancer and human papillomavirus, two strains of which cause 70 percent of all cervical cancer cases. 'This is a miracle vaccine and I don't understand why anyone would not have their child immunized,' said Rep. David Watkins, D-Henderson, a physician and lead sponsor of the bill. 'We ought to require parents to be parents.'"

* ►February 8, 2008 - Caution on HPV shot - letter - Daily Press - "This year the General Assembly has a bill to extend until 2010 to require the vaccine to be given. This bill, HB 188, just passed the House. It is now in the Senate Committee on Education and Health. Let's at least wait to make sure it is really safe and then really think about whether we really want to require this."

* ►February 8, 2008 - Vaccine Provides up to 100% Protection Against HPV-Related Precancerous Cervical Lesions and Adenocarcinoma: Presented at ICACT - Doctor's Guide - "The HPV vaccine was administered to 8,493 patients and placebo to 8,464 patients. All patients were healthy women aged 16 to 26 years who had no previous exposure to HPV types 16 and/or 18. Patients were given three doses of either the vaccine or placebo (day 1, months 2, and month 6) and were followed for 4 years after the first dose."

►February 8, 2008 - Mandate Update (free content) - commentary - Wall Street Journal

* ►February 8, 2008 - Aussie Virologists In $2 Million Search For Hepatitis C Vaccine - All Headline News

* ►February 8, 2008 - Meningitis vaccine study gets £200,000 boost - It can kill in four hours and more than 300 people in the UK die from it every year — and hundreds more are left with permanent disabilities. Now researchers will work on a potential vaccine for meningitis B, thanks to a £200,000 grant from the medical charity Meningitis UK. - innovations report

* ►February 8, 2008 - Officials Find Drug-Resistant Meningitis In MN - AP via http://wcco.com - "The Minnesota Health Department said there was one such drug-resistant case in eastern North Dakota and two cases in northwestern Minnesota from January 2007 to January 2008."

* ►February 8, 2008 - Health officials find drug-resistant meningitis in Minn., N.D. - The Dickinson Press - "North Dakota who had country's first known case of the drug-resistant case of meningitis has recovered, North Dakota's epidemiologist says. Epidemiologist Kirby Kruger would not identify the child's name, gender or address. Officials became aware of the case in January 2007, he said. 'That would have been the first case ever in the United States,' he said."

* ►February 8, 2008 - Boy's death is NYC area's 3rd meningitis fatality in 3 weeks - AP via Newsday - "Suffolk County health officials say the latest victim was a Brookhaven Elementary School third-grader, whose identity was not released. The boy started complaining of neck and arm pain Wednesday night. He was taken to a hospital with a 106-degree fever Thursday morning and died within hours."
 
►February 8, 2008 - Medford family grieves son killed by meningitis - Newsday

►February 8, 2008 - Sudan: Meningitis DREF Bulletin No. MDRSD003 - Final Report - International Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies via ReliefWeb

►February 8, 2008 - Woman who worked in Parsippany dies from meningitis - The Star-Ledger via www.nj.com

* ►February 8, 2008 - US military switching to new smallpox vaccine - CIDRAP News - "Air Force Maj. Gen. Thomas J. Loftus announced the change in a Jan 31 memo. 'All Dryvax vials will expire on 29 February 2008 and logistics personnel will be required to destroy all unused vaccine,' he wrote. A Feb 1 e-mail announcement from the DoD vaccines program said staff training on the new vaccine would begin 'as soon as possible.'"

►February 8, 2008 - Vaccination fest to 'spark' anti-pneumonia campaign - Philippine Information Agency

►February 8, 2008 - Niger: Vaccination, Surveillance Needed for 'Erratic' Measles - Nature via SciDev.Net (London) via http://allafrica.com

►February 8, 2008 - Stomach virus spreading in OKC area - Tulsa World - "Emergency Medical Services Authority spokeswoman Lara O'Leary said the ambulance service's former record for pickups was about 200. EMSA has passed that number of pickups three times this season, with a one-day high of 213 on Monday."

►February 8, 2008 - Polio immunisation from Feb. 10 to 13 - The Hindu

►February 8, 2008 - Polio eradication within reach – Ban Ki-moon - UN News Centre

►February 8, 2008 - Local Rotarians are trekking to India to fight polio - Thousand Oaks woman will help to immunize children - Ventura County Star

►February 8, 2008 - 'Good Bacteria' In Women Give Clues For Slowing HIV Transmission -  University of Rochester Medical Center, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS via ScienceDaily

* ►February 8, 2008 - Speaker presents evidence for AIDS conspiracy - Northern Star Online - "Dr. Boyd Graves, an HIV/AIDS research expert, gave a controversial speech regarding the origin of the AIDS virus Thursday night. In his speech, 'Exploring the Myths and Realities of AIDS,' delivered in the Holmes Student Center’s Regency Room, Graves presented evidence to support his theory that AIDS was developed by the U.S. government as an ethnic weapon. Graves contested that in 1977, a secret federal virus program produced 15,000 gallons of AIDS in an effort to administer the virus to blacks and thin their population."

►February 8, 2008 - Idenix says drug shows promise as HIV treatment - Boston Business Journal

►February 8, 2008 - Medical Edge: Accurate diagnosis relies on second test - DEAR MAYO CLINIC: My grandson is 20 months and has been diagnosed with APS. Pediatric specialists have called colleagues, done blood work and performed an MRI. It's as though they know all the things it isn't, but don't know exactly what it is. He is regressing in his leg muscle strength, so he can't even stand as he did last year. Is there some other diagnostic test? - Tribune Media Services via Post-Bulletin

►February 8, 2008 - Our area a hotspot for blastomycosis in humans - Timberjay Newspapers

►February 8, 2008 - Food allergies on the rise worldwide - The Free Press of Mankato via Post-Bulletin

►February 8, 2008 - What's with Food Allergies? - San Francisco Chronicle

* ►February 8, 2008 - ‘Bird flu hype a conspiracy to make money’ - PPA blames Rumsfeld’s ‘commercial enterprise’ for bird flu fears - The News, Pakistan

* ►February 8, 2008 - Sewickley Township boy allergic to the world - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review - "It was two weeks after Cole's first set of immunizations that Lisa Boytim noticed a rash on his body."

* ►February 8, 2008 - Merck to Pay Over $650 Million To Settle Pricing Suits (free content) - The Wall Street Journal - "The major issue involved a practice known as "nominal pricing" in a lawsuit filed by a former Merck employee and joined by the Justice Department and all states except Arizona. The settlement allocates $218 million to the federal government and $181 million to 49 states and the District of Columbia."

* ►February 8, 2008 - Novartis Lobbied on Prescription Drugs - Novartis Paid Ricchetti $240,000 in 2007 to Lobby on Issues Related to Prescription Drugs - AP via CNN Money

* ►February 8, 2008 - Early Communication about an Ongoing Safety Review Botox and Botox Cosmetic (Botulinum toxin Type A) and Myobloc (Botulinum toxin Type B) - FDA/CDER

►February 8, 2008 - Revisions to the Requirements Applicable to Blood, Blood Components and Source Plasma; Confirmation of Effective Date and Technical Amendment - FDA/CBER

►February 8, 2008 - Pregnant Women Should Be Checked for Low Thyroid Levels – Due to Dangers to Mother and Unborn Child First Rapid Thyroid Point-of-Care Screening Test ThyroChek® Offered by Healthcare Providers Direct, Inc. Can Detect Low Thyroid Levels in 10 Minutes - dBusinessNews Newark

►February 8, 2008 - Fatal Copper Disorder Can Now Be Detected At Birth - A test developed by NIH scientists could greatly extend the survival of infants with Menkes disease, a rare, otherwise fatal disorder of copper metabolism. The test allows for early diagnosis of the condition, when the chance for successful treatment is greatest. - NIH/National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, via EurekAlert! via ScienceDaily

►February 8, 2008 - Research Links Farms, Population To Intersex Fish - AP via www.wjz.com

►February 8, 2008 - France to Formally Request GMO Ban at EU Level - France will file a request with the European Union to formally ban the commercial use of the only genetically modified (GMO) crop grown in the country this Friday, Environment Minister Jean-Louis Borloo said. - Planet Ark

►February 8, 2008 - Glaxo Expects Earnings to Fall in 2008 (free content) - The Wall Street Journal

►February 8, 2008 - Indoor pollution just as damaging - Daily Herald

►February 8, 2008 - Novel Molecules Developed at UB Can Boost Vaccine Potency - University at Buffalo
 
►February 7, 2008 - Genome-wide survey nets key melanoma gene - Howard Hughes Medical Institute via www.eurekalert.org
 
►February 7, 2008 - HIV drugs, Abacavir and Didanosine, increase the risk of heart attack - University of Copenhagen, Denmark
 
►February 7, 2008 - Natural secretion marks difference between mole and melanoma - Cell Press via www.eurekalert.org
 
►February 7, 2008 - Sleep Duration May Play Important Role in Childhood Obesity - Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
 
►February 7, 2007 - Biologists link locust comas with human migraine - Queen's University

* ►February 7, 2008 - Sanofi Exec: Glaxo’s Cervarix Study Is A ‘Gimmick’ - Pharmalot - "Sanofi-Pasteur is criticizing Glaxo’s new Cervarix in an attempt to bolster its lead in the burgeoning market for HPV vaccines, The Financial Times writes. The vaccine maker, which sells Merck’s Gardasil in Europe, has been wooing investors this week with presentations claiming greater proven health benefits from Gardasil in preventing human papilloma virus infections, which is the leading cause of cervical cancer."

* ►February 7, 2008 - Potent DNA Vaccines May Be Viable, Thanks to the Humble Tattoo Gun - Genetic Vaccines and Therapy via Wired - "Using a modified tattoo gun, Müller tattooed mice with DNA programmed to create human papillomavirus proteins, which generated high levels of antibodies and white blood cells tuned to those antigens. But the technique comes at a cost -- pain -- that could limit its application. And there's no easy way around it because the injury associated with tattooing, Mülller said, is likely a key ingredient in generating an effective immune response. The trauma is probably required, he said, because the disturbance to the skin naturally draws extra immune system cells to the area. The increased number of cells encountering the viral proteins provokes a more potent immune system response."

* ►February 7, 2008 - Austria: More Trial Data Back Merck's Cervical Cancer Shot - 19th International Congress on Anti- Cancer Treatment via Reuters via www.aegis.org

* ►February 7, 2008 - Bob Jarvik Doesn’t Prescribe, And He Can’t Row - Pharmalot - "Bob Jarvik has no right to sing ‘Row, Row, Row Your Boat.’ As a congressional committee gears up to investigate DTC advertising and, in particular, Pfizer’s Lipitor pitchman, we now learn that the celebrated doc never goes rowing. Never mind that he’s depicted as an avid rower in a Lipitor ad (try this). The drugmaker’s ad agency, it so happens, hired a stunt double for the scene, The New York Times writes. “He’s about as much an outdoorsman as Woody Allen,” a longtime collaborator, O.H. Frazier of the Texas Heart Institute, tells the paper. “He can’t row.”

* ►February 7, 2008 - Should Pfizer Dump Dr. Jarvik? Tell Us - Pharmalot - "Pfizer is worried about squeezing as much as it can out of Lipitor, of course, because its pipeline is nearly dry and the cholesterol med loses patent protection in a couple of years. So it’s not surprising that splashy ad campaigns are front and center. But he’s reportedly getting paid $1.35 million, enough to take rowing lessons. Pfizer, however, could invest that in research."

* ►February 7, 2008 - Russian research center testing human bird flu vaccine - RIA Novosti, Russia

* ►February 7, 2008 - Physicians For Provenge? A New Lobbying Tactic - Pharmalot

* ►February 7, 2008 - Big pharmaceuticals face bitter pill on downturn - On life support, in intensive care, in accident and emergency or in outpatients - it is not easy to know where the trolley carrying the UK and global pharmaceutical sector is being wheeled to next. - Telegraph, UK

* ►February 7, 2008 - Rates of medication errors among depressed and burnt out residents: prospective cohort study - journal article (BMJ)

* ►February 7, 2008 - Nurses Are ‘Soft Targets’ For Pharma Promotion - Pharmalot

* ►February 7, 2008 - MedImmune Strengthens Key Leadership Functions to Further Support Recently Expanded, Rapidly Advancing Product Portfolio - MedImmune via The Healthcare Sales & Marketing Network - "MedImmune today announced that it has strengthened its leadership in research, human resources (HR) and regulatory affairs with three key promotions and has also hired a new head of vaccine manufacturing. Peter A. Kiener, D. Phil. has been appointed to executive vice president, research; Katy Strei to vice president, people and organization development, HR; and Eileen Valenta to vice president, operations and compliance, regulatory affairs. In addition, Shou-Bai Chao, Ph.D. has recently joined the company as vice president of vaccine manufacturing."

* ►February 7, 2008 - So Far, So Good for Omrix - The Motley Fool - "Product sales in the fourth quarter were up 11.5% versus the year-ago quarter. That's not a mind-blowing number, but the company didn't have any Vaccinia Immunoglobulin (VIG) sales this year. Sales of VIG, which treats the side effects of smallpox vaccinations, tend to be lumpy and are basically at the whim of government biodefense contracts. Excluding the VIG sales from the year-ago quarter, sales were up a whopping 80%."

* ►February 7, 2008 - Drug Money: Pharma Bets On Obama, So Far - Pharmalot

* ►February 7, 2008 - St. Jude Medical Announces Clinical Study of Deep Brain Stimulation for Depression - Research to focus on the Brodmann Area 25 region of the brain - The Healthcare Sales & Marketing Network - "St. Jude Medical owns the intellectual property rights and has various patents pending for the use of neurostimulation at Brodmann Area 25. The Libra® Deep Brain Stimulation System, which is being evaluated in this study, is designed to deliver mild electrical pulses from a device implanted near the collarbone and connected to small electrical leads placed at specific targets in the brain."

* ►February 7, 2008 - Biogen May Have A New Tysabri Problem - Pharmalot

* ►February 7, 2008 - Part of a Major Diabetes Study Is Halted (free content) - The Wall Street Journal

►February 7, 2008 - Go for vaccine, not culling, say officials - Newindpress.com

►February 7, 2008 - No health threat from Hib case in Dinwiddie - inrich.com

►February 7, 2008 - Older Antiviral Drugs Limited in Preventing, Treating Flu in Children - Health Behavior News Service

►February 7, 2008 - Flu epidemic widespread in KY - 14 WFIE

►February 7, 2008 - US researchers identify killer Melbourne disease - United States researchers say their examination of tissue from three Australian women who died from a previously unknown virus led them to a new technique to identify the bug. - NEJM via Australian Broadcasting Corporation

►February 7, 2008 - Judge denies request for new trial in breast cancer suits - Reno Gazette-Journal

►February 7, 2008 - Stem cell breakthrough for screening new drugs - The Scotsman

►February 7, 2008 - Dingell seeks workable biogenerics path - Reuters via Yahoo!

►February 7, 2008 - FDA Issues Draft Guidances, Sets March Public Meeting, - FDA

►February 7, 2008 - New direction for gene therapy - The Scientist

►February 7, 2008 - Where to find omega-3s - Reuters

►February 7, 2008 - Merck Resolves Federal and State Investigations Related to Certain Past Pricing And Certain Past Sales and Marketing Activities - Settlements Covered by Previously Announced Fourth-Quarter 2007 Charge - press release - Merck & Co., Inc. via Business Wire

* ►February 7, 2008 - New York gets a flu wakeup call as spreading bug kills kids - New York Daily News - "A 7-month-old and an asthmatic 7-year-old from upstate have died in the past two weeks - the first pediatric deaths from flu this season, state health officials said. Babies, the elderly and people with chronic diseases, including asthma, are at increased risk of complications from the flu."

►February 7, 2008 - Flu kills infant in Monroe County - Rochester Democrat and Chronicle - "Local and state health officials are renewing their push to get children vaccinated against the flu after a 7-month-old died last month. The death of the infant, who tested positive for influenza A, was reported this week, along with the death of a 7-year-old from Orange County who tested positive for influenza B."

* ►February 7, 2008 - When Mixing Medications Can Be Deadly (free content) - Wall Street Journal - "Nearly 600,000 emergency-room visits in 2005 involved nonmedical use of prescription or over-the-counter pharmaceuticals or supplements, according to SAMHSA, and the majority of those involved patients taking more than one drug."

* ►February 7, 2008 - Eli Lilly Lawyer Accidentally Leaks Settlement Talks on Zyprexa - Alliance for Human Research Protection

►February 7, 2008 - Ann Busche: The benefits of different vaccines - Duluth Budgeteer News

►February 7, 2008 - Possible new FMD vaccine created - 2001 outbreak affected nearly 4 million animals, cost U.K. $16 billion - Journal-Advocate

* ►February 7, 2008 - Families sue to get autism therapists into school - The Mississauga News

►February 7, 2008 - 'Quietly Changing Worrisome World:' Questions for Peyton Goddard - voiceofsandiego.org

►February 7, 2008 - Vaccinations and mercury - letter - Salt Lake Tribune

►February 7, 2008 - Call to pay GPs for HPV catch-up programme - GPs will need to be incentivised to carry out the HPV catch-up programme if uptake targets are to be met, leading sexual health experts have warned. - Healthcare Republic

* ►February 7, 2008 - Babysitter not guilty - Shaken Baby Syndrome claim not accepted - The Daily Citizen

* ►February 7, 2008 - Bootlegged Federal Report Spells Trouble for 8 States - U.S. News & World Report

►February 7, 2008 - CDC Initiates Study Of Disease Afflicting San Antonio Man - Mountain Mail via Small Town Papers

►February 7, 2008 - Mercury spill leads to lawsuit - United Press International

* ►February 6, 2008 - Senator’s Investigation Details Wyeth, FDA Wrongdoing - Grassley Calls Out Pharmaceutical Company and FDA in Letter, Two-Year Investigation Details Retaliation, Unwarranted Private Investigation, and Smear Campaign Enacted against Drug Whistleblower - Common Dreams

* ►February 6, 2008 - How The New York Times picks reporters (requires registration) - The Scientist - "The episode reminded me of one involving another Times reporter who reportedly got emails not intended for him because of his name. That time, the emails came from within the Times. In 2001, Fox News' Roger Friedman reported that Maureen Dowd had sent Andrew Ross Sorkin, a Times business reporter, emails intended for ''West Wing'' creator Aaron Sorkin. Oops.I think this is a great newsgathering strategy. If you're a reporter named Obama or McCain, we have a job opening for you."

►February 6, 2008 - Genetic-mapping unveiled to test infectious diseases - USA Today

►February 6, 2008 - State Leaders Recognize Oklahoma’s Improvement in Immunization Rankings - PRNewswire-USNewswire via Yahoo!

►February 6, 2008 - Test Detects Sensitivity to HIV Drug - HealthDay News via Forbes

►February 6, 2008 - DEA Readies Proposed Rule for E-Rx - Health Data Management

►February 6, 2008 - Letters to the editor: This woman's place is not in the House (letters) - The State Hornet - "Jordan Guinn writes "non-illnesses like ... chronic fatigue syndrome already plague doctor's offices nationwide." Clearly, Guinn is unaware of the mountains of research (5000+ studies worldwide by Dr. Meirlier's count) demonstrating that Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is a very real, severe viral/neurological illness with much in common with polio. He is equally unaware of the findings of Danish researchers that CFS patients are merely "modest" users of the health care system; there is no treatment, no cure, so why should we waste our money on innumerable visits to the doctor?"

►February 6, 2008 - Scientists confirm new virus responsible for deaths of transplant recipients in Australia - Establishes high throughput genetic sequencing as powerful tool for pathogen discovery; technology enables improvements in screening for transplant safety - Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health via www.eurekalert.org
 
►February 6, 2008 - Henry Ford Hospital expands research on gene and radiation therapy for prostate cancer - Henry Ford Health System via www.eurekalert.org
 
►February 6, 2008 - Transparent fish to make human biology clearer - Researchers can watch cancer spread and bone marrow engraft - Children's Hospital Boston via www.eurekalert.org
 
►February 6, 2008 - Researchers discover new battleground for viruses and immune cells - Finding should aid those developing anti-virus vaccines - NIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases via www.eurekalert.org
 
►February 5, 2008 - Researchers find less invasive, highly accurate methods - Mayo Clinic via www.eurekalert.org
 
►February 5, 2008 - Cannabis indicated as possible risk for gum disease in young people - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill via www.eurekalert.org

►February 5, 2008 - A 10-Year-Old Girl With Mild Elevation of Liver Transaminases (requires registration) (full text) - Cases in Pediatric Gastroenterology from The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia via The Medscape Journal of Medicine

►February 5, 2008 - Belief in a Just World: A Case Study in Public Health Ethics (requires registration) (full text) - The Hastings Center Report via Medscape

►February 5, 2008 - Obesity May Be Wired in the Brain, Rat Study Suggests - Cell Press via Biocompare

►February 5, 2008 - MMR 'does not trigger reaction' - Children with autism do not react differently to other youngsters to the MMR jab, a study shows. - BBC

* ►February 4, 2008 - Global Consensus on Mercury: Scientists Defend Science Journalists - press release - Mercury Policy Project via EarthTimes.org - "Rather than following the selective science approach, and chasing down one or two studies that support a particular viewpoint, we recommend anyone who is truly interested should benefit from the full weight of the evidence by reading the scientific consensus in the Conference Declaration which is available here:
http://www.mercury2006.org/portals/31/Mercury2006_conferencedeclaration.pdf"

►February 4, 2008 - Preventing Mercury Exposure - KOMU.com

►February 4, 2008 - Gene Protects Adults Abused As Children From Depression - Emory University via Biocompare

►February 4, 2008 - For Treating Advanced Parkinson's, New Research Points To Serotonin - Rockefeller University via Biocompare

* ►February 2, 2008 - Top-secret Livermore anti-germ lab opens - San Francisco Chronicle - "A high-security laboratory where deadly microbes are being grown by scientists seeking defenses against terrorist attacks began operating in Livermore last week without public announcement, and opponents said Friday that they will go to federal court in an effort to close the facility down."

* ►February 1, 2008 - AIDS Research Foundation Wants New Congressional Probe Into AIDS Origin - Targeted News Service via http://boydgraves.blogspot.com - " A public interest group is asking for a new congressional investigation into the origin of AIDS. Dr. Boyd Ed Graves, AIDS director for the Common Cause Medical Research Foundation, has written to Rep. John P. Murtha, D-Pa., chairman of the House Appropriations subcommittee on defense, asking for a probe of possible involvement by the Pentagon in creating the special virus that is now involved in AIDS."

* ►February 2008 - DNA-vaccination via tattooing induces stronger humoral and cellular immune responses than intramuscular delivery supported by molecular adjuvants (pdf) - journal article (Genetic Vaccines and Therapy)

* ►February 2008 - Treatment of selective mutism: focus on selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. - journal article (Pharmacotherapy) - "Selective mutism is a pediatric psychiatric disorder that occurs when a child consistently fails to speak in specific situations in which speaking is expected, such as at school and social gatherings, but speaks appropriately in other settings. Selective mutism often is diagnosed when a child starts school and does not talk to teachers or peers, but talks to family members at home; the condition is frequently accompanied by anxiety and shyness."

►February 2008 - Influenza vaccination does not result in an increase in relapses in patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis - journal article (Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation)

►February 2008 - Targeting of antigen to the herpesvirus entry mediator augments primary adaptive immune responses - journal article (Nature Medicine)

►February 2008 - Mouse models of rhinovirus-induced disease and exacerbation of allergic airway inflammation - journal article (Nature Medicine)

►February 2008 - Seafood Allergy and Radiocontrast Media: Are Physicians Propagating a Myth? - journal article (The American Journal of Medicine)

►February 2008 - Sensitive detection of cereal fractions that are toxic to celiac disease patients by using monoclonal antibodies to a main immunogenic wheat peptide - journal article (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition)

►February 2008 - Restless legs syndrome induced by escitalopram: case report and review of the literature. - journal article (Pharmacotherapy)

►February 2008 - Errors in EEG Interpretation and Misdiagnosis of Epilepsy - journal article (European Neurology)

►February 2008 - Current utilization and performance status of endoscopic ultrasound in a community hospital - journal article (Journal of Digestive Diseases)

* ►January 22, 2008 - Glutathione-S-transferase P1 polymorphism and risk for essential tremor. - journal article (European Journal of Neurology) - "Mutated allelic variants were significantly more frequent in patients with ET exposed to pesticides versus those non-exposed. GSTP1 polymorphism was unrelated with the age of onset of ET. GSTP1 genotypes and allelic variants were not related with the risk for ET with the possible exception of those patients exposed to pesticides."

* ►January 21, 2008 - A DNA vaccine against tuberculosis based on the 65 kDa heat-shock protein differentially activates human macrophages and dendritic cells (pdf) - journal article (Genetic Vaccines and Therapy)

* ►January 7, 2008 - DeltaRR vaccination protects from KA-induced seizures and neuronal loss through ICP10PK-mediated modulation of the neuronal-microglial axis (pdf) - journal article (Genetic Vaccines and Therapy)

* ►December 19, 2007 - An HIV/AIDS Prophylactic vaccine is possible (pdf) - journal article (Journal of Immune Based Therapies and Vaccines)

* ►December 1, 2006 - General Recommendations on Immunization (pdf) - Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) - CDC/MMWR - "DTaP Precautions: Temperature of <104°F (<40.5°C), fussiness, or mild drowsiness after a previous dose of diphtheria toxoid-tetanus toxoid-pertussis vaccine (DTP/DTaP). Family history of seizures. Family history of sudden infant death syndrome. Family history of an adverse event after DTP or DTaP administration Stable neurologic conditions (e.g., cerebral palsy, well-controlled seizure disorder, developmental delay)"

* ►Great Lakes Danger Zones? - Here’s the report that top officials of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention thought was too hot for the public to handle—and the story behind it. - The Center for Public Integrity - "For more than seven months, the nation’s top public health agency has blocked the publication of an exhaustive federal study of environmental hazards in the eight Great Lakes states, reportedly because it contains such potentially 'alarming information' as evidence of elevated infant mortality and cancer rates."

►4th Annual Parent & Professional Networking Conference Saturday, February 23, 2008 Rolling Meadows, Illinois - The Parent & Professional Networking Conference provides opportunities to network with parents, family members, and professionals from across the state and visit exhibits that will provide information about autism spectrum disorders, support groups, service providers, and organizations. -  The Autism Society of Illinois and National Autism Association Chicago Metro Chapter

►February 11, 2008 - Happiness: Enough Already - The push for ever-greater well-being is facing a backlash, fueled by research on the value of sadness. - Newsweek

* ►February 8, 2008 - Time for honest assessment of MMR vaccine's risks - letter - The Scotsman - "Another weak scientific research paper is paraded as definitive proof that no link exists between the controversial MMR vaccine, bowel disease and autism....This latest paper is nothing but another layer of deceit in a litany of dissimulation. The wrong children have been tested, the wrong tests carried out, the wrong hypothesis explored and the wrong conclusion reached....It is time for someone with integrity and compassion in politics or public health to take action to bring this shameful episode to an end."

* ►February 8, 2008 - Douglas has the Spirit to win - Australia's premier harness driver Daryl Douglas is battling shoulder soreness to be fit to drive Inter Dominion hopeful Sequoiahs Spirit in tomorrow night's Terang Cup. - Melbourne Herald Sun - "Sequoiahs Spirit has also had problems and Douglas suspects the classy sit-sprinter had an adverse reaction to his second dose of equine influenza vaccine. 'Maybe it was just a coincidence, but he went off a bit a couple of days after it,' Douglas said. 'His legs blew up a bit with fluid and they said he had a bacterial infection.'"

* ►February 8, 2008 - Notice to Readers: Guidance for Presentation of Economic Studies to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices - MMWR/CDC

* ►February 8, 2008 - Notice to Readers: Sixth International Conference on Emerging Infectious Diseases - MMWR/CDC - "The sixth International Conference on Emerging Infectious Diseases will be held March 16--19, 2008, at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia....Topics will include antimicrobial resistance, bioterrorism and preparedness, foodborne and waterborne illnesses, global health, molecular diagnostics and epidemiology, nosocomial infections, respiratory and vaccine-preventable diseases, socioeconomic and political factors, vectorborne diseases, and zoonotic diseases."

►February 8, 2008 - State Medicaid Coverage for Tobacco-Dependence Treatments --- United States, 2006 - MMWR/CDC

►February 8, 2008 - Adverse Health Conditions and Health Risk Behaviors Associated with Intimate Partner Violence --- United States, 2005 - MMWR/CDC

►February 8, 2008 - Investigation of Progressive Inflammatory Neuropathy Among Swine Slaughterhouse Workers --- Minnesota, 2007--2008 - MMWR/CDC

►February 8, 2008 - Acute Allergic-Type Reactions Among Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis --- Multiple States, 2007--2008 - MMWR/CDC

►February 8, 2008 - QuickStats: Percentage of Women* Who Gained >40 Pounds During Pregnancy, by Race/Ethnicity of Mother --- United States, 1990, 2000, and 2005 - MMWR/CDC

►February 8, 2008 - Dhaka blames India for bird flu spread - Times of India

►February 8, 2008 - Climate change may be causing more dengue cases - Philippine Daily Inquirer

►February 8, 2008 - Current grant in addition to $3 million awarded in 2007 - Awareness campaigns planned for Uttar Pradesh and Bihar - The Hindu

►February 8, 2008 - Diabetes Health Goes Beyond Blood Sugar (requires registration or subscription) - The New York Times

* ►February 7, 2008 - Merck to Pay More than $650 Million Fine, Whistleblower gets $68 million. - BrandweekNRX - "Merck & Company has agreed to pay more than $650 million to resolve allegations that the pharmaceutical manufacturer failed to pay proper rebates to Medicaid and other government health care programs and paid illegal remuneration to health care providers to induce them to prescribe the company’s products, the Justice Department announced today."

* ►February 7, 2008 - Merck Whistleblower Wins $68M Award - The Associated Press via Google

►February 7, 2008 - Merck Settles With Govt Over Rebates - AP via Google

►February 7, 2008 - Whistleblowing Merck Sales Rep Makes More than CEO - Wall Street Journal Blog

* ►February 7, 2008 - Major diabetes, heart disease study halted after deaths - Seattle Times

* ►February 7, 2008 - Mum's fury at MMR jab claim - Wigan Evening Post via Wigan Today, UK - "Jackie Fletcher, founder of Jabs support group for vaccine-damaged children, says the results of the latest study are misleading. The mum-of-three from Golborne, said: 'It's appalling how the Department of Health (DoH) has sprung to its conclusions. They have not compared like-with-like which proves nothing.'"

* ►February 7, 2008 - MMR and the Simple Truth About Autism by Dan Olmsted - Age of Autism - "Does the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine cause autism? I vote yes."

* ►February 7, 2008 - Dr. Minshew: Today's Autism is Yesterday's Schizophrenia by Kim Stagliano - Age of Autism

* ►February 7, 2008 - Michael Wagnitz: Don't rule out mercury as a factor in autism - letter - The Capital Times via www.madison.com - "The studies I read are saying that mercury is a neurotoxin and causes/exacerbates neuroinflammatory disease. There are now 11 published papers that define the underlying medical condition of autism as neuroinflammatory disease. The most in-depth paper, 'Neuroglial activation and neuroinflammation in the brain of patients with autism,' was done at Johns Hopkins University. It was done by analyzing brain tissue of deceased autistic patients."

* ►February 7, 2008 - Letter: Your View - Autism Scandal - Glasgow Daily Record, UK - "One child in 100 in the UK has now been diagnosed with autism. It is high time parents were told what causes autism, not what doesn't. Arrogant government propaganda like this only makes people more distrustful."

* ►February 7, 2008 - No Link Found Between MMR Vaccine and Autism Spectrum Disorders - Archives of Disease in Childhood via MedPage Today

* ►February 7, 2008 - New Timeline Chronicles Pivotal Events That Shaped the Modern View of Autism - This historic timeline on autism covers more than a half century of key events that helped shaped the modern view of autism -- just in time for national Autism Awareness month this April. Jayne Lytel, author of Act Early Against Autism, which debuts March 4, 2008 (A Perigee Trade Paperback Original), developed the timeline. - press release - Act Early Against Autism via PRWeb via eMediaWire - "Go back to 1911 to see who first introduced the term autism and how experts disproved theories over its cause in this interactive timeline on Autism's Origins at http://www.autismtimeline.com"

* ►February 7, 2008 - Brain Signal Linked to Autism - Imaging the brain during social interaction reveals a deficit that may be tied to a sense of self. - MIT Technology Review

* ►February 7, 2008 - Letters for Thursday (requires registration or subscription) - Dallas Morning News - "I am astounded by your complicity in minimizing the danger of the current vaccine schedule, while failing to investigate the issue thoroughly. You state correctly that 'a little bit of knowledge can be a dangerous thing,' yet utterly fail to inform readers that there is absolutely no scientific research demonstrating the safety of vaccines individually or, more importantly, the synergistic effects of administering multiple vaccines at the same time. Why are we not discussing this startling void?"

* ►February 7, 2008 - Paper Outlines Approach To Genetic Diagnosis In Autism - American College of Medical Genetics via Medical News Today

* ►February 7, 2008 - A benefit for Aidan Doyle, age 6 - Southtown Star - "In 2005, the Illinois State Board of Education reported 286,619 children with disabilities and 2.4 percent (7,055) of those had autism. That was up from 2.16 percent in 2004 and 1.87 percent in 2003. 'What are you going to do with these kids when they're adults?' Doyle wondered, addressing the need to educate them now. 'They aren't going to be able to care for themselves if you don't help them now.'"

* ►February 7, 2008 - Stopping Autism Is Possible: Newly Released Book Discloses the Cause, Prevention, and Potential Cure for These Disorders - "'Resolving the mystery that is…Autism Spectrum Disorder' is the title of a revealing new book by Dr. Rongey, Ph.D. that directly links the recent increase in autism, to major dietary changes which have gained popularity over the past 15-20 years. Stopping Autism dead in its tracks is the goal of his new book. - press release - R/B Publishers, LLC via PRWeb

►February 7, 2008 - Scalera Bill To Promote Autism Awareness Among First Responders Clears Full Assembly - Bill Would Establish Autism Awareness Program For Emergency Medical Technicians, Police, Firefighters - news release - Assembly Democrats via www.politickernj.com

►February 7, 2008 - Can't hide from invisible plight - Evening News via The Scotsman - "It will take a long time for the doubts to subside. No matter the empirical evidence, when that red and white envelope comes through the letterbox summoning your child for an MMR vaccination, there will be a moment of hesitancy in the back of the mind about its safety."

►February 7, 2008 - High Mercury Content in Bluefin Tuna Not Only Reason to Pass on the Sushi - Overfishing and poor oceans management are leading bluefin tuna to the brink of extinction - press release - Earthjustice via Common Dreams

►February 7, 2008 - Funding may hinder regulation of mercury - Capital News Service via Traverse City Record-Eagle - "The Department of Environmental Quality wants to eliminate the use and release of mercury in Michigan, if it has the money."

►February 7, 2008 - Mercury levels low at Carson High after spill - But clothing kept as precaution - Nevada Appeal

►February 7, 2008 - K-Fuel® Test Burn Lowers Mercury Emissions by Almost 82 Percent at Western Pennsylvania Power Plant - press release - Evergreen Energy Inc. via Business Wire

►February 7, 2008 - Eden Prairie / Lawsuit claims principal lied about mercury storage - Teacher says he was fired in retaliation for blowing whistle on administration -  Pioneer Press via TwinCities.com

* ►February 7, 2008 - Merck and Schering-Plough Relieved Public Is Forgetting Vytorin Scandal - OpEdNews

* ►February 7, 2008 - Tattoos may be tomorrow's vaccines - Reuters via Yahoo! - "German scientists said on Thursday that work on mice showed that tattooing was a more effective way to deliver a new generation of experimental DNA vaccines than standard injections into muscle."

►February 7, 2008 - Potent DNA Vaccines May Be Viable, Thanks to the Humble Tattoo Gun - Wired

►February 7, 2008 - Tattooing Best Way to Deliver DNA Vaccines (requires registration) - Washington Post

* ►February 7, 2008 - At-risk teens to have TB jabs - Bolton News, UK

* ►February 7, 2008 - School vaccine plan feared unable to stem outbreaks - Ha'aretz - "The doctors say some of the system's malfunctions led to this week's incident at Givatayim's Borochov elementary school, where two registered nurses erroneously injected 70 pupils with sterile water instead of a vaccination for measles, rubella and mumps. The nurses continued to administer the shots even when they noticed that the pupils were crying excessively. The mistake was discovered later at the Public Association's logistic center in Tel Aviv, after the injecting process had been completed."

* ►February 7, 2008 - House panel backs cervical cancer vaccine bill - Louisville Courier-Journal - "A House committee today approved legislation to require girls to be vaccinated against a sexually transmitted virus that causes most cervical cancer. House Bill 396, sponsored by Rep. David Watkins, D-Henderson, would allow parents to opt out on behalf of their daughters by signing a 'refusal to vaccinate' statement."

►February 7, 2008 - HPV vaccine mandate? Not yet - Minnesota is hesitating to make vaccination compulsory. - Minnesota Daily

* ►February 7, 2008 - Sustained High Efficacy of Gardasil Against Precancerous Cervical Lesions Confirmed in Longest Follow-up of Large Phase III Studies - Results further substantiate strong evidence for long-lasting protection - Studies ended to vaccinate women in the placebo group for ethical reasons - Sanofi Pasteur MSD via PharmaLive via MedAdNews

* ►February 7, 2008 - More trial data backs Merck's cervical cancer shot - Reuters

►February 7, 2008 - Sanofi-pasteur MSD: New Gardasil data shows 98%-100% efficacy - MarketWatch

* ►February 7, 2008 - Sanofi dismisses GSK cancer vaccine as inferior - Financial Times - "The fight between Gardasil and Cervarix reflects the importance of a fast-expanding market for pharmaceutical companies for high-priced vaccines estimated to be worth billions of dollars in annual sales. Both products sell for about €330 (£247) for a course of three injections."

►February 7, 2008 - Glaxo CEO says will update FDA on Cervarix by Q3 - Reuters

►February 7, 2008 - Combating Canada’s most threatening infectious diseases - Medical researchers target C. difficile and HPV - Laval News

* ►February 7, 2008 - Paraguay seeks global help with yellow fever outbreak - AP via USA Today - "Paraguay asked international health authorities on Thursday to supply 600,000 doses of vaccine for yellow fever after the first cases were detected in the country in 34 years."

►February 7, 2008 - Organ donor had new deadly virus, scientists find - American scientists have been able to solve the mystery of what killed three Australian transplant patients, who all received organs from the same donor. - www.abc.net.au

►February 7, 2008 - Dealing with Polio scourge in Nigeria - The reported resurgence of the Wild Polio Virus in the country is making nonsense of collective global efforts to arrest its spread over the years. - Business Day

►February 7, 2008 - Mumps threatening to make a comeback in Finland - Helsingin Sanomat

►February 7, 2008 - Mali: 29 cases of meningitis found in Mali - Afrique en ligne

►February 7, 2008 - New Allegheny County immunization regulations approved - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review - "The new regulations, which go into effect Sept. 1, require a second dose of vaccine for chicken pox, or varicella, and mumps for all grade levels, said health department spokesman Guillermo Cole. The new regulations are pending final approval from County Council and the county chief executive."

* ►February 7, 2008 - District moves ahead with plan for school nurses - Madison County Journal - "As state officials announced the death of two Mississippi children from the flu this week Madison County schools plan to beef up the front line of defense next fall by adding a nurse to the staff of every elementary and middle school in the district."

* ►February 7, 2008 - The Flu Shot Vaccine Scam (Sweet Remedy clip) (video) - NaturalNews.com

* ►February 7, 2008 - Europe reports further increase in Tamiflu resistance - CIDRAP News

* ►February 7, 2008 - An Outbreak of Flu Outbreaks - U.S. News & World Report - "As of January 30, Central Michigan University was diagnosing up to 15 cases a day and expecting a vaccine-resistant strain to 'spread like crazy in the next couple of weeks.'"

►February 7, 2008 - Rising number of flu cases spurs free vaccination offer - Columbia Missourian

►February 7, 2008 - Flu widespread; county health urges vaccination - Herkimer Telegram

►February 7, 2008 - Flu keeps moms, pharmacies busy - The State

►February 7, 2008 - City puts hold on stockpiling pandemic vaccines - Help from province sought to cover $27-million plan - insideTORONTO.com - "If approved by council, it would see the city set up a warehouse to store massive amounts of antiviral medication - Tamiflu and Relenza - to help the city continue functioning in the event Toronto was to be struck by an outbreak of avian influenza or something similar."

►February 7, 2008 - Fourth child with measles is third at same school - San Diego Union-Tribune

►February 7, 2008 - OneWorld Health Appoints Dr. Rajshankar Ghosh as India Country Director - Reflects Commitment to Helping Bring New Tools to Combat Infectious Diseases - press release - The Institute for OneWorld Health (iOWH) via Business Wire

►February 7, 2008 - Human Genome Sciences and Xencor Announce Antibody Collaboration - Human Genome Sciences, Inc. and Xencor, Inc. via PRNewswire-FirstCall via CNNMoney

* ►February 7, 2008 - New bid for hepatitis C vaccine - The Age - "Adelaide scientists will lead a $2 million research project to develop new vaccines to treat hepatitis C. The program hopes to identify antiviral proteins that can be used to fight the disease."

* ►February 7, 2008 - GeoVax Labs, Inc.'s Promising HIV/AIDS Vaccine Trial Data Presented at Retrovirus Conference - Planning for Phase 2 is Underway - GeoVax Labs, Inc. via PRNewswire-FirstCall via CNNMoney

* ►February 7, 2008 - AIDS conference ends with promising news - San Francisco Chronicle

* ►February 7, 2008 - Zeroing In on An HIV Vaccine - The Harvard Crimson

►February 7, 2008 - US needle policy hurts AIDS sufferers - San Francisco Chronicle

* ►February 7, 2008 - E coli cattle vaccine nearing US approval - CIDRAP News

►February 7, 2008 - Local student learns at Centers for Disease Control - Storm Lake Pilot Tribune

►February 7, 2008 - Are Bio-identical Hormones Safe? - Why the FDA is cracking down on these `natural' menopausal therapies. - Newsweek

►February 7, 2008 - Wal-Mart Will Expand In-Store Medical Clinics (requires registration or subscription) - The New York Times

* ►February 7, 2008 - Agency criticized for withholding Great Lakes health risk report - AP via www.mlive.com - "The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has drawn criticism from members of Congress, scientists and a U.S.-Canadian agency for withholding the report, which had been scheduled for release last summer."

►February 7, 2008 - WHO Seeks to Strengthen Fight Against Tobacco Around World (free content) - Wall Street Journal

►February 7, 2008 - CDC, NIH Release New Resource for Preventing Diabetes in African-Americans - Occupational Health & Safety

►February 7, 2008 - Errant e-mail likely cinched Lilly story - Indianapolis Star

* ►February 6, 2008 - FDA fines Red Cross another $4.6 million - AP via Yahoo! - "The Food and Drug Administration has fined the Red Cross an additional $4.6 million for the distribution of 'unsuitable blood products,' bringing penalties against the organization to more than $19 million in recent years. The FDA issued a letter Wednesday stating that it reviewed 113 recalls of blood products by the Red Cross from April 2003 to April 2006. The recalls involved the release of an estimated 4,094 unsuitable blood components."

* ►February 6, 2008 - The Shaming of the Minshew - Studies raise questions about increase in autism cases by Kim Stagliano - Age of Autism

* ►February 6, 2008 - Murray family raising six children with autism - ABC 4 News - "But how is it that six siblings all have some form of the disorder? 'The current feeling is, it's a combination of genetic risk and some environmental influence that either determines whether the child has autism or how severe autism is,' says Dr. Gary Goldstein of the Kennedy Krieger Institute. The average cost of caring for one autistic child is $500 a month....Because the family's circumstance is so rare, the Kirton's are involved in a genetic study at the University of Utah. They have also stated a cyber-support group: www.autismBites.com."

* ►February 6, 2008 - Tattooing Improves Response To DNA Vaccine - BioMed Central, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS via ScienceDaily

* ►February 6, 2008 - FDA says 23 deaths linked to unapproved drug - Reuters - "U.S. regulators said on Wednesday they would crack down on marketing of an unapproved injectable anti-gout drug which has been linked to 23 deaths."

* ►February 6, 2008 - Deaths partially halt diabetes study - AP via Yahoo!

* ►February 6, 2008 - Britney Drugged? - Alliance for Human Research Protection - "MTV reports that the parents of Britney Spears have filed a petition to the Los Angeles Superior Court alleging that her manager was drugging the singer to control her with drugs prescribed by a psychiatrist."

►February 6, 2008 - Happy already? - Alliance for Human Research Protection

►February 6, 2008 - Scientific insights from England - 3 CEOs who Became Violent, Manic - Alliance for Human Research Protection

* ►February 6, 2008 - US seeing flu strain not matched by vaccine - CIDRAP News

►February 6, 2008 - Influenza widespread in Bay State - BostonNOW

* ►February 6, 2008 - Meningitis Death Leads to Lawsuit - InjuryBoard.com

►February 6, 2008 - Measles, Mumps, And Rubella Vaccine Is Not Linked To Autism Spectrum Disorders - Archives of Disease in Childhood via Medical News Today

* ►February 6, 2008 - Congress: Science for Sale? - Congress Launches Probe Into Firm's Work on Chemical Used to Make Many Plastic Bottles - ABC News

* ►February 6, 2008 - Dust Storms Overseas Carry Contaminants to U.S. - Scientists Study Whether Diseases Are Also Transported (requires registration) - Washington Post - "Researchers have also found that the dust clouds contain not only harmful minerals and industrial pollutants, but also living organisms: bacteria, fungus and viruses that may transmit diseases to humans."

►February 6, 2008 - 22 students and teacher allowed to leave quarantine after mercury found at CHS - Nevada Appeal

►February 6, 2008 - Anti-Herpes Drug Does Not Reduce Risk of HIV Infection in People with Genital Herpes Virus, Study Finds - NIH

►February 6, 2008 - Bullying harms kids' mental health: study - Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine via Reuters Health via Yahoo!

►February 6, 2008 - Problems plague Manitoba's medical laboratories: inspections - Reports for private labs not available to public - CBC Manitoba

* ►February 6, 2008 - Defense claims no child abuse - Doctors say baby was injured by a fall - The Daily Citizen

* ►February 5, 2008 - State fines care center after autistic boy's death - Facility violated rules, investigators say - The Charlotte Observer via News & Observer

* ►February 4, 2008 - One reason drugs may be used for years before risks become evident is that we have no active drug surveillance system-Mark McClellan, FDA Commissioner - Anthrax Vaccine Blog

►February 4, 2008 - Autism Part 2: Learn More This Month - The Ledger

►February 4, 2008 - Judge rules that disabled youth not competent to stand trial - The Athens News

* ►Defeat Autism Now 2008 Spring Conference - April 3rd to April 7th at the Cherry Hill Crowne Plaza Hotel Cherry Hill, New Jersey - www.defeatautismnow.com

* ►Defeat Autism Now Chicago Clinicians Seminar May 22nd, 2008 - www.defeatautismnow.com - "Defeat Autism Now! is delighted to team up with Autism One to provide a one day Clinician Seminar on Thursday, May 22, prior to the Autism One conference. Clinicians attending the Clinician Seminar will be provided two five-day complimentary passes (Wednesday, May 21 - Sunday, May 25) to Autism One."

►March 2008 - Neutrophil but not eosinophil inflammation is related to the severity of a first acute epidemic bronchiolitis in young infants - journal article (Pediatric Allergy and Immunology)

►March 2008 - Time trends of the prevalence of asthma and allergic disease in Austrian children - journal article (Pediatric Allergy and Immunology)

►February/March 2008 - The emergence of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) in rheumatic diseases (full text) - journal article (Journal of Autoimmunity)

* ►February 7, 2008 - Engineering attenuated virus vaccines by controlling replication fidelity - journal article (Nature) - "Here we describe a rational approach for engineering stably attenuated viruses that can serve as safe and effective vaccines. Our approach exploits the observation that restricting viral population diversity by increasing replication fidelity greatly reduces viral tissue tropism and pathogenicity. We show that poliovirus variants with reduced genetic diversity elicit a protective immune response in an animal model of infection. Indeed, these novel vaccine candidates are comparable in efficacy to the currently available Sabin type 1 vaccine strain, but have the added advantage of being more stable, as their increased replication fidelity prevents reversion to the pathogenic wild-type phenotype."

* ►February 7, 2008 - TANK-binding kinase-1 delineates innate and adaptive immune responses to DNA vaccines - journal article (Nature)

* ►February 7, 2008 - Pharmacogenomic Biomarkers for Prediction of Severe Adverse Drug Reactions (free full text) - journal article (NEJM)

►February 7, 2008 - Breast milk–mediated transfer of an antigen induces tolerance and protection from allergic asthma - journal article (Nature)

►February 7, 2008 - The dynamics of measles in sub-Saharan Africa - journal article (Nature)

►February 7, 2008 - Human Papillomavirus DNA versus Papanicolaou Screening Tests for Cervical Cancer (free full text) - journal article (NEJM)

►February 7, 2008 - Market-Based Failure — A Second Opinion on U.S. Health Care Costs (free full text) - journal article (NEJM)

►February 7, 2008 - Electroconvulsive Therapy for Depression - journal article (NEJM)

►February 7, 2008 - Rapid appearance and local toxicity of amyloid- plaques in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease - journal article (Nature)

►February 7, 2008 - Legal Aspects of HIV/AIDS: A Guide for Policy and Law Reform (book review) - journal article (NEJM)

* ►February 7, 2008 - Teenagers offered implants to stop pregnancy for years - This is London

* ►February 7, 2008 - Giving Mice A Cold Virus Offers Hope Of New Asthma Treatments - Imperial College London via ScienceDaily

►February 7, 2008 - New vaccine for children - Gulf Daily News - "Parents in Bahrain will now be able to protect their children against five major diseases with one vaccination, approved by the Health Ministry yesterday. The vaccine will protect children from tetanus, diphtheria, polio, whooping cough and haemophilus influenza infections such as meningitis and pneumonia, said Public Health Directorate Communicable Diseases Section head Dr Muna Al Mousawi."

►February 7, 2008 - Anthrax vaccination: User fee waived off - Newindpress

►February 7, 2008 - 2 vaccines vs rotavirus available in March - Saipan Tribune

►February 7, 2008 - Eli Lilly in Shareholder Cross Hairs - FDAnews

►February 7, 2008 - Not the right strategy - Business Standard - "In view of all this, the 'ring vaccination' that involves immunisation of all birds in the specified belt in order to create the buffer zone, seems a better option to killing birds."

* ►February 6, 2008 - Hepatitis-B vaccination racket surfaces in Kashmir - The latest medical scandal to hit North India, after the recent kidneygate scandal, is one regarding the vaccines provided by a reputed company for a vaccination programme in 2000–2001, in Jammu, at prices much higher than the market price. - Merinews

* ►February 6, 2008 - Ron Paul on Immunization and Vaccines (includes video) - Planet Chiropractic - "Dr. Paul states that in a Free Society it would be assumed that the individual makes up their own mind. He explains that if you didn't take a vaccine for polio, you're not a danger to him, you're a danger to yourself. He stated that he doesn't like the idea of the use of force and he thinks we've gone way overboard, and 'there's a lot of people that have suffered severe consequences from overdoing these immunizations.'"

* ►February 6, 2008 - The Gong Show: Gene Gene and Autism by Harry Hofherr - Age of Autism

* ►February 6, 2008 - Pig Brains, Autism and the Disparity In Treatment by Kim Stagliano - Age of Autism

* ►February 6, 2008 - MMR & Autism: No Link! What About The Other 9 Shots - Age of Autism

* ►February 6, 2008 - Time to lay this MMR vaccine voodoo to rest - The Times, UK

* ►February 6, 2008 - Studies raise questions about increase in autism cases - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

* ►February 6, 2008 - Poor recognition of 'self' found in high functioning people with autism - Contrary to popular notions, people at the high end of the autism spectrum disorder continuum suffer most from an inability to model “self” rather than impaired ability to respond to others, said Baylor College of Medicine researchers in a report that appear in the journal Neuron. - Baylor College of Medicine via Physorg.com

* ►February 6, 2008 - Brain study suggests way to measure, treat autism - Cell Press via www.eurekalert.org

►February 6, 2008 - Which Symptoms of Autism Should Be Treated? - http://autism.about.com

►February 6, 2008 - Don't try this at home - The dangerous message coming from your TV - editorial - SMU Daily Campus - "Vaccines cause autism. Specifically the chemical thimerosal in vaccines does. In fact, because of thimerosal, anyone who has been vaccinated in the last decade now has some form of autism. And while that might be hard for America swallow, there's a reason: It isn't true."

►February 6, 2008 - Vaccine said not linked to autism - Canwest News Service via Regina Leader-Post via Canada.com - "The research was led by researchers with the Newcomen Centre for Child Development in England and published Tuesday in the journal, Archives of Disease in Childhood. It also confirms what the Canadian Pediatric Society has been saying for some time, a spokesman said."

►February 6, 2008 - Autism experts to speak at Monterey conference - Santa Cruz Sentinel - "Richard Solomon, a Michigan physician who developed a therapeutic intervention strategy for children with autism, will be the keynote speaker at the Easter Seals Annual Autism Symposium Feb. 13-14 in Monterey."

►February 6, 2008 - Autism lecture rescheduled - Belfast Telegraph - "We offer our sincere apologies to anyone who attended the recent Autism and the Environment lecture in Belfast (Write Back, January 19). Unfortunately, due to inclement weather, the presenter, Paul Shattock, was unable to obtain a flight from his local airport to Belfast and the event had to be cancelled."

►February 16, 2008 - Autism Conference Presents Latest Treatments, Strategies for Changing Behavior at Home, School - Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is one of the most scientifically backed methods available for the treatment of autism. The Association for Behavior Analysis International will present 10 distinguished speakers at its Second Annual Autism Conference in Atlanta on February 8 through February 10 to discuss the latest developments in the treatment of autism. The focus will be on home- and community-based interventions as well as curriculum and instruction in the classroom. - press release - Association for Behavior Analysis International via PRWeb

* ►February 6, 2008 - Father makes trek to shed light on autism - Belleville Intelligencer - "Marinoiu has a 15-year-old son who was diagnosed with autism when he was a child. Marinoiu and his wife have struggled to provide proper support while their son's condition has deteriorated with age. He has now become aggressive, a common symptom in autistic children, and Marinoiu is afraid the Children's Aid Society may take him away, fearing he could hurt their younger six-year-old child."

* ►February 6, 2008 - 22 students and teacher in quarantine after mercury found at high school - Nevada Appeal

* ►February 6, 2008 - Cuban Specialists Promote Asthma Vaccine - Invasor.cu - "A national seminar to promote the use of the Cuban asthma vaccine ‘Valergem’ takes place on Wednesday in the province of Habana. The event, that has a scientific-educational nature, takes place at the National Center of Bio-Preparations (BIOCEN) and it aims at promoting the use of the first therapeutic vaccine developed on the island to treat asthma, a very common health problem among people."

* ►February 6, 2008 - Intercell says hepatitis study shows more progress - Reuters - "Austrian vaccine maker Intercell ... said on Wednesday data from an ongoing Phase II study for a hepatitis C vaccine showed significant viral load reduction and favourable safety profile."

* ►February 6, 2008 - VIR201 Phase IIa Trial Results Now Published in Peer Reviewed Scientific Journal – Human Vaccines - Virax Holdings Limited via PharmaLive - "VIR201 which utilises Virax’s proprietary Co-X-Gene™ Technology and fowlpox virus technology is being developed as a therapeutic vaccine for the treatment of HIV/AIDS."

* ►February 6, 2008 - Prostate cancer vaccine '5 years away' - Sydney Morning Herald - "'We know a patient's immune system has failed if they have got cancer but we also know now that we can take components of the immune system out and then educate the immune system to go back and fight the cancer. 'We have genuine world-first technology to do that from our research program which educate the cells by instructing them as to the targets on the prostate cancer to focus on. 'The cells are then injected back into the patient.'"

* ►February 6, 2008 - Yellow Fever: Vaccine Deaths and Outbreaks in South America - Gadling - "Savvy travelers may have heard news of a few vaccine associated deaths recently, in Peru. The vaccines in question were manufactured in Brazil, by Bio-Manguinos. All deaths are still under investigation and believed to be associated with the same lot numbers. The vaccines used in North America are from a seperate manufacturer, Sanofi-pasteur. All vaccines from the batch in question, and several from related lots, have been removed."

►February 6, 2008 - African Scientists discuss progress on development of malaria vaccines - Ghana Broadcasting Corporation

* ►February 6, 2008 - 'Parents should be pressed to have their kids vaccinated' - Jerusalem Post - "An urgent discussion must be held on how to get those parents who refuse to allow their children to be vaccinated against serious childhood diseases to change their minds, Dr. Yitzhak Kadman, head of the National Council for the Child, told The Jerusalem Post in an interview on Wednesday."

* ►February 6, 2008 - Heath Ledger Cause of Death Confirmed: Prescription Drug Toxicity - NaturalNews.com - "The drugs found in Ledger's system were OxyContin (a painkiller), Valium, Xanax (an antidepressant), Restoril, Unisom and Vicodin. This toxicology report ends any speculation that Ledger might have been killed by taking recreational drugs. The cause of death is now clearly FDA-approved pharmaceuticals."

* ►February 6, 2008 - State Leaders Recognize Oklahoma's Improvement in Immunization Rankings - Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oklahoma via PRNewswire-USNewswire via StreetInsider.com

►February 6, 2008 - Early childhood immunization rates improve in Oklahoma - AP via www.kten.com

►February 6, 2008 - Akpabio Issues Order On Immunization - Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria

* ►February 6, 2008 - Student immunization requirements change for 2008-09 - Sauk Prairie Eagle - "Immunizations are nothing new to parents or their school-aged children, but new regulations approved by the Wisconsin State Legislature will require many students to visit a doctor before the 2008-09 school year....The new regulations require students entering sixth, ninth and 12th grades to receive one dose of tetanus, diptheria and acellular pertussis vaccine. Students entering kindergarten, sixth and 12th grades must receive two doses of varicella vaccine to ward against chicken pox."

* ►February 6, 2008 - Indianapolis Firm Partners With CDC - Indianapolis-based Sentry Logistic Solutions has announced an agreement with The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention to provide storage and distribution of its national strategic reserve of the influenza virus vaccine. The contract calls for Sentry to warehouse and distribute more than 500,000 vaccine doses from its pharmaceutical cold chain logistics center. - press release - Sentry Logistic Solutions via Inside INdiana Business

►February 6, 2008 - Flu vaccine will be stored by Indy firm - Indianapolis Star - "Serious business - According to estimates, hundred of thousands of vaccine doses are wasted each year because of poor storage methods."

►February 6, 2008 - Indianapolis company to store flu vaccine reserves - AP via www.wthitv.com - "A national strategic flu vaccine reserve will be stored and distributed by an Indianapolis company under an agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sentry Logistic Solutions will store and ship more than 500,000 doses from its 53,000-square-foot warehouse."

* ►February 6, 2008 - Vaccine Maker Spent $2.6M in Lobbying - Emergent BioSolutions Spent $2.6M Lobbying in 2007 on Federal Research and Development - AP via CNNMoney

* ►February 6, 2008 - US panel: Lilly drug effective for schizophrenia - Reuters - "The advisers to the Food and Drug Administration voted unanimously that the experimental formulation called Zyprexa Adhera worked for treating stable patients as well as those suffering acute symptom flare-ups. The panel was set to vote later Wednesday on whether the injectable drug offered acceptable safety given that about 1 percent of patients in studies experienced excessive sedation."

* ►February 6, 2008 - Zyprexa targeted again in St. Clair County - Madison St. Clair Record - "Thirty-six plaintiffs from across the country have joined in a St. Clair County lawsuit against Eli Lilly and Co. claiming they were diagnosed with diabetes or related illness while taking the anti-psychotic drug Zyprexa."

►February 6, 2008 - Toxic Fish Advisory - FDA Warns of Illness Caused by Consuming Poisoned Fish - The Daily Green - "The US Food and Drug Administration issued a warning to seafood processors about recent illnesses linked to fish carrying the ciguatera toxin, the Wall Street Journal reported. People who consumed tainted fish developed cases of ciguatera fish poisoning (CFP)."

►February 6, 2008 - New tests find deadly new virus that killed three - Reuters

►February 6, 2008 - Virus theory in Louie's death - The Star, UK

►February 6, 2008 - MRSA, whooping cough found in Solanco - Lancaster Newspapers

►February 6, 2008 - Vaccine promotes 'free love' mentality in young girls - guest opinion - Press & Sun-Bulletin

* ►February 6, 2008 - Whine Line - Metro Spirit - "My daughter is 24 and has had the series of shots for HPV. She has experienced dizziness, and fainted a couple of times. She is now a teacher and I’m not sure what to do about her symptoms. They go away for awhile, then they come back every now and then. - Regarding Gardasil, I ask what’s wrong with this picture? What’s wrong is that we have no idea how many and what kinds of adverse reactions this vaccine is wreaking on our populace. Physicians have no incentive to report problems — on the contrary. Their education runs completely contrary to even admitting that there are faults with vaccines."

* ►February 6, 2008 - HPV vaccine, dental plan no go says Singh - The Western Gazette, University of Western Ontario - "The HPV vaccine would likely have a huge financial burden, Singh explained. His advisors projected the cost, based on the student age demographic and current usage rates for other sex-related drugs, could add between $40 and $85 to the health plan, which currently costs $96 per student."

* ►February 6, 2008 - Hall Health to subsidize HPV vaccine for students - The Daily of the University of Washington - "Starting next month, the UW will begin to offer free human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccinations for students with UW health insurance plans."

►February 6, 2008 - Cervical cancer and HPV awareness - Hudson Valley Press - "For those who need help affording their prescription medicines, including the HPV vaccine, there are programs that can help."

►February 6, 2008 - Should we be vaccinating our teenage girls with the HPV vaccine? - Sault This Week

* ►February 6, 2008 - Coroner: Viral pneumonia killed 14-year-old Rochester girl - WSBT South Bend - "A Rochester Middle School eighth-grader, she was found by her parents, Tom and Patricia Parker of Rochester, in her bed after being allowed to stay home from school Wednesday."

* ►February 6, 2008 - State urging flu vaccination for children (includes video) - News 10 Now - "The New York State Health Department is urging parents to get flu shots for their kids after two upstate deaths have been linked to the flu. A seven-month-old from Monroe County and a seven-year-old child from Orange County have died from the virus. Both tested positive for influenza A and influenza B."

►February 6, 2008 - Campaign uses humor to highlight seriousness of influenza - Branson Daily News

►February 6, 2008 - Influenza more severe at KU this year - Those who are ill urged to stay home - Lawrence Journal-World

►February 6, 2008 - Avian flu can turn into human contagion, say experts - Indo-Asian News Service via Hindustan Times

* ►February 6, 2008 - India culls 3.4m birds but fails to contain avian flu outbreak - Financial Times

►February 6, 2008 - CFIA lifts quarantine on Sask. chicken farm - Regina Leader-Post via StarPhoenix via Canada.com

►February 6, 2008 - WHO Studies Tamiflu Resistance After New Report - Medscape via RM Global Health

►February 6, 2008 - Bird flu spreads to urban Bangladesh, officials say - Reuters

►February 6, 2008 - Assam gears up to stop avian flu spread - News on AIR, All India Radio

►February 6, 2008 - Spread of bird flu in Pakistan fully under control - Xinhua via China View

►February 6, 2008 - Bulgaria vulnerable to bird flu outbreaks - Reuters

►February 6, 2008 - Ethiopia: Meningitis Cases Reported in SNNPR - The Daily Monitor (Addis Ababa) via http://allafrica.com

►February 6, 2008 - Second pupil is diagnosed with meningitis - icLanarkshire

►February 6, 2008 - Tears flow for tragic East Kilbride meningitis victim - icLanarkshire

►February 6, 2008 - Student diagnosed with viral meningitis released from hospital - Times-West Virginian

►February 6, 2008 - Meningitis case prompts free tests - NewsOK.com

* ►February 6, 2008 - Dry season brings on measles in sub-Saharan Africa - Penn State via www.eurekalert.org - "'The mortality rate from measles, which usually runs its course without being fatal in industrialized countries, is very high in a lot of these developing countries,' said Nita Bharti, co-author and graduate student at Penn State. 'Some of these kids are already suffering from malnutrition, lack of medical attention, and an immune system suppressed from other infections such as HIV.'"

* ►February 6, 2008 - Fourth case of measles reported at Linda Vista school - San Diego Union-Tribune

►February 6, 2008 - For post-polio patients, the suffering lives on - Evansville Courier Press

►February 6, 2008 - Rotary International works to eradicate polio locally, internationally - Newport News-Times

►February 6, 2008 - Rotary Donates $5.65 Mn To Fight Polio In India - NEWSPost India

* ►February 6, 2008 - Bill Gates gave us a fortune: Elland Rotary man tells him 'thanks for £50m grant' - Halifax Evening Courier

►February 6, 2008 - Anthrax kills five in Orissa, five cases in Andhra - IANS via KalingaTimes

►February 6, 2008 - Anthrax death inquiry to be held - A fatal accident inquiry is to be held into the death of a man from anthrax. - BBC - "Christopher "Pascal" Norris, of Stobs, near Hawick in the Scottish Borders, died from the disease in July 2006."

* ►February 6, 2008 - Plant used for cigarettes may yield West Nile virus treatment - ASU Web Devil - "By injecting the antibody genes into tobacco plant DNA, Chen said tobacco cells produce the antibody, along with tobacco proteins. 'We use the tobacco plants as a factory to produce these antibody drugs,' Chen said. The process is cheap and simple, Chen said, requiring only 10 days to harvest the antibodies from tobacco leaves."

►February 6, 2008 - Migenix Amends Protocol in Hepatitis C Study - FDAnews

►February 6, 2008 - Innogenetics secures key hepatits B testing patent - Reuters - "'This is the first granted US patent covering a critical mutation leading to hepatitis B viral drug resistance,' Innogenetics said in a statement."

►February 6, 2008 - Hep B Bill Moves to Senate - AsianWeek - "Ma’s Hepatitis B Bill, AB 158, requires the Department of Health Care Services to establish a hepatitis B prevention and management program within its Office of Multicultural Health."

►February 6, 2008 - Idera Pharmaceuticals Announces Hart-Scott-Rodino Clearance for Collaboration Agreement with Merck KGaA - press release - Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. via Business Wire

►February 6, 2008 - Pfizer Presents New Data from HIV/AIDS Portfolio at Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections - Welt Online

►February 6, 2008 - Human Rights Watch: arrests, trials of HIV-positive men in Egypt reflect ignorance, injustice - AP via International Herald Tribune

* ►February 6, 2008 - Moms passed AIDS virus by pre-chewing food - HIV was spread to babies through bleeding gums, doctors say - AP via MSNBC

►February 6, 2008 - IDX899 Demonstrates Rapid and Profound Inhibition of HIV Replication in a Phase I/II Clinical Trial in Treatment-Naive HIV-Infected Patients - press release - Idenix Pharmaceuticals, Inc. via PRNewswire-FirstCall via CNNMoney

►February 6, 2008 - Bristol-Myers:78% Of Reyataz HIV Patients Met Primary Endpoint - Dow Jones Newswires via CNNMoney

►February 6, 2008 - Test Detects Sensitivity to HIV Drug - Could be first step toward personalized medicine, experts say - HealthDay via U.S. News & World Report

►February 6, 2008 - Merck Says Isentress Tablets In Combination With Other Anti-HIV Medicines Maintained Reductions In HIV-1 Viral Load - Quick Facts - Trading Markets

►February 6, 2008 - CROI: Sustained response to hepatitis C treatment lowers liver complications and death in HIV/HCV coinfected people - Aidsmap

►February 6, 2008 - Bioniche shares soar on hopes for cattle vaccine (requires registration or subscription) - The Globe and Mail

* ►February 6, 2008 - Uganda: Meningitis Vaccination Begins - New Vision (Kampala) via www.allafrica.com

* ►February 6, 2008 - Scientific Obstacles to Effective HIV Vaccine Frustrate Researchers (requires registration) - 15th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections via Medscape Medical News

* ►February 6, 2008 - Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and Community Resiliency - journal article (JAMA)

* ►February 6, 2008 - Provenge Activists Accuse FDA Of Violating FOIA - Pharmalot - "As a congressional committee moves closer to deciding on whether to hold hearings into the controversy over the Dendreon’s Provenge prostate-cancer vaccine, a non-profit group and the FDA are locked in a battle over documents that may shed light on why approval was delayed. So far, though, the FDA has turned over only a few documents, and so the non-profit group, Care To Live, has filed a new complaint charging the agency with violating the Freedom of Information Act."

* ►February 6, 2008 - French officials face trial for mad-cow disease deaths - Borneo Bulletin - "French health officials charged with involuntary homicide in the death of more than 100 children infected with a human variant of mad-cow disease will stand trial today, 16 years after the first victim of their alleged negligence died. The seven doctors and administrators are accused of ignoring warning signs, and obscuring the dangers of administering growth hormones - collected from the pituitary glands of human cadavers - potentially infected with the disease."

* ►February 6, 2008 - Antibiotic resistance: A global phenomenon - Scientists have discovered antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the Arctic, suggesting that drug-resistance has spread into the farthest reaches of nature - an alarming prospect for future healthcare. - Laboratory News, UK

* ►February 6, 2008 - Alzheimer Disease Trigger - journal article (JAMA) - "A new study indicates that primates exposed to lead as infants show Alzheimer disease–like pathology later"

►February 6, 2008 - ISU immunization rules don't keep up with needs - Students urged to get meningitis, flu, HPV vaccines - Iowa State University

►February 6, 2008 - From Waste to Value in Health Care - journal article (JAMA)

►February 6, 2008 - 'Mysterious' bird flu baffles Indonesian scientists - AFP

►February 6, 2008 - Anthrax kills cows even as West Bengal battles bird flu - Zee News

►February 6, 2008 - Anthrax and Cancer - journal article (JAMA)

►February 6, 2008 - Amgen & Enbrel Marketing: Crossing Another Line? - Pharmalot

►February 6, 2008 - Groups Push Physicians and Patients to Embrace Electronic Health Records - journal article (JAMA)

►February 6, 2008 - FDA Warns Claims for Pharmacy-Made "Bio-identical" Hormones Are Misleading - journal article (JAMA)

►February 6, 2008 - Determining Whether Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Is Associated With Health Care - journal article (JAMA)

►February 6, 2008 - Theme Issue on Health of the Nation - journal article (JAMA)

►February 6, 2008 - Pharmaceutical Innovation: Incentives, Competition, and Cost-Benefit Analysis in International Perspective (book review) - journal article (JAMA)

►February 6, 2008 - Health Care Reform Now: A Prescription for Change (book review) - journal article (JAMA)

►February 6, 2008 - The Vitamin Hoax: Big Pharma Speaks Through Reader's Digest Magazine - American Chronicle

►February 6, 2008 - The Chikungunya Question - What Effect Does Climate Change Have on the Spread of Disease - Slate Magazine

►February 6, 2008 - HIV infections on the rise in Sweden, say officials - Gulf Times

►February 6, 2008 - Both our beautiful boys have autism - How we have coped since discovering that ... - Independent.ie

►February 6, 2008 - Novartis India Wins Award for Corporate Social Responsibility - CSR Wire

►February 6, 2008 - Periodontal Disease - journal article (JAMA)

►February 6, 2008 - Relaxing drink helps immune system, mind - Kansas State Collegian

* ►February 5, 2008 - Defense Department Stocks Shelves with Newest Smallpox Vaccine - American Forces Press Service via GlobalSecurity.org - "The Defense Department has begun its transition to the next generation of smallpox vaccine. The new ACAM2000 vaccine first hit the shelves at the Pentagon’s DiLorenzo Clinic last week from the Centers for Disease Control Strategic National Stockpile."

* ►February 5, 2008 - Tainted Pills Hit U.S. Mainland - The Washington Post - "An AP review of 100 pages of Food and Drug Administration reports shows even modern drug plants here under the watch of U.S. regulators have failed to keep laboratories sterile and have exported tainted pills. "People would be shocked to find this whole variety of contamination," said Dr. Sidney Wolfe of the Washington watchdog group Public Citizen. "The common denominator of all these is there's really poor quality control."

* ►February 5, 2008 - Pakistan poultry workers being tested for bird flu - Reuters

* ►February 5, 2008 - Do You Have Motivational Deficiency Disorder? - Pharmalot - "Weak government regulation and inadequate industry codes mean that drug companies are using irresponsible marketing to push their pills on doctors, the public and patients,” according to CI, which wants “an overhaul of the rules governing drug marketing. Governments must take their responsibilities seriously. And drug companies must do much more to improve their conduct and make their industry codes more effective."

* ►February 5, 2008 - Lilly Lawyer Accidentally Leaks Settlement Talks - Pharmalot - "Talk about comical. The news last week that the drugmaker is negotiating with federal and state prosecutors over improper marketing of Zyprexa was the result of an accident, according to Portfolio. But it was a big accident."

* ►February 5, 2008 - Wyeth Discrimination Lawsuits Go On Trial - Pharmalot

* ►February 5, 2008 - Lilly Loses Court Bid To Stop Internet Sales - Pharmalot

* ►February 5, 2008 - Will Vytorin Results Be Published Soon? - Pharmalot

* ►February 5, 2008 - White House Takes Sides On Patent Reform Bill - Pharmalot

* ►February 5, 2008 - UK To Pharma: Update Antidepressant Warnings - Pharmalot

►February 5, 2008 - New AIDS Drugs May Fail After Inaccurate Test - Pharmalot

►February 5, 2008 - Drug development partnerships, outsourcing, inevitable in future - Boston Business Journal

►February 5, 2008 - 'I can't lose another child to XLP' - A bone marrow transplant couldn't save Tamara Lord's son Dylan. Now, his brother must battle the same rare genetic disorder - The Independent, UK

►February 5, 2008 - Oxfam Gets A Cold Shoulder From Drugmakers - Pharmalot

►February 5, 2008 - Codex Alimentarius: Food Safety Regulation or Health Control? - Progressive U

►February 5. 2008 - Enterovirus tops infectious disease list in schools - The China Post

►February 5, 2008 - Weight Control Hormone Also Regulates Immune System - Michigan State University via WLNS TV 6

►February 5, 2008 - Scientists create three-parent embryo - Reuters via Yahoo!

►February 5, 2008 - D-Dimer and Inflammatory Markers Are Associated with Short-Term Mortality - journal article (Journal Watch)

►February 5, 2008 - How Dirt Can Protect You Against Disease - Daily Mail,UK via RedOrbit

►February 5, 2008 - Fighting a Cold, the Old Way - The Washington Post

* ►February 5, 2008 - Iatrogenic Events Common, Often Serious, in Neonates (requires registration) - Lancet via Medscape

* ►February 5, 2008 - Lawmakers say budget underfunds FDA - FCW.com - "In a letter sent Feb. 4, the Democratic lawmakers said they were concerned that the budget is “grossly inadequate” to meet the challenges that the advisory board identified. The letter was signed by Reps. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), chairman of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee; John Dingell (D-Mich.), chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee; Frank Pallone Jr. (D-N.J.), chairman of the committee’s Health Subcommittee; and Bart Stupak (D-Mich.), chairman of the committee’s Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee."

* ►February 5, 2008 - The FDA's higher bar on new drugs - Experts disagree as to whether regulators have gotten tougher on new drug approvals as the industry faces massive generic pressure. - CNNMoney

* ►February 5, 2008 - AP IMPACT: FDA Faults Drug Plants - Houston Chronicle - "The first warning sign came when a sharp-eyed worker sorting pills noticed that the odd blue flecks dotting the finished drug capsules matched the paint on the factory doors. After the flecks were spotted again on the capsules, a blood-pressure medication called diltiazem, the plant began placing covers over drugs in carts in its manufacturing areas."

►February 5, 2008 - FDA chief urges generic biologic path - Reuters

* ►February 5, 2008 - Students at Kelley face drug testing - Tulsa World - "All students at Bishop Kelley High School will be tested for drug use beginning in the 2008-09 school year. The school's advisory council and administration recently approved the new policy, which will use hair testing to detect illegal drug use by students."

* ►February 5, 2008 - No Autism Link to Common Child Vaccine - AOL News

►February 5, 2008 - Learning how to deal with autism gives Vail family eye-opening experience - Vail Sun

* ►February 5, 2008 - Mumps epidemic sweeps Moldova - UNICEF and WHO support Moldovan government’s appeal for 600,000 doses of vaccines for young people in the country - UNICEF

►February 5, 2008 - State says influenza outbreak at widespread level - Today's News-Herald - "And Lake Havasu City residents will have the opportunity to get a free flu shot as part of the Lake Havasu Area Chamber of Commerce’s Winterfest. County Bio Defense and Emergency Response Coordinator Bruce Leeming said the shots are part of a mass vaccination exercise. 'We will conduct this exercise just as if an emergency had taken place and we need to vaccinate a large population quickly. We have 2,500 flu vaccines that we hope to administer within a four-hour period,' Leeming said when the exercise was announced."

►February 5, 2008 - Proposed Vaccination in Abkhazia - RMGH Global Health

* ►February 5, 2008 - Bangladesh refuses to share flu details - Times of India - "Bangladesh has refused to share the genetic details of its H5N1 bird flu virus with India. In a blow to India's efforts to find the origin of the highly pathogenic avian influenza strain that is presently wreaking havoc in West Bengal, Bangladesh has informed the external affairs ministry that they are 'yet to genetically sequence the H5N1 virus strain circulating there'."

* ►February 5, 2008 - Failure to find AIDS vaccine has researchers seeking new directions - San Francisco Chronicle - "Earlier in the day, the highly regarded federal AIDS scientist listened quietly as Harvard researcher Ronald Desrosiers, director of the New England Primate Research Center, told an audience of 3,000 conference attendees that the National Institutes of Health has 'lost its way,' and that current vaccine research trials were essentially futile. 'There is no rational basis for believing that any of the products in the pipeline have any reasonable hope of being effective,' said Desrosiers, a leading expert in vaccine studies using primates such as rhesus monkeys. The only value of current or planned human vaccine trials, he added, would be to prove that the products don't work."

►February 5, 2008 - Experts: AIDS Vaccine Research Has "Lost Its Way" - ScienceNOW Science Magazine

►February 5, 2008 - Shots, sorry to say, aren't just for tots - Baker City Herald

►February 5, 2008 - Grapefruit compound may stave off hepatitis C infection, study finds - CBC

►February 5, 2008 - Asmanex Approved for Asthmatic Children - Inhaler may now be used by kids as young as 4 years - HealthDay via U. S. News & World Report

►February 5, 2008 - Checking Your Pediatrician's Credentials - The E.W. Scripps Co. via WCPO Cincinnati

►February 4, 2008 - HPV Vaccine for Boys? - MedHeadlines

►February 4, 2008 - Merck Plans Expansion of HPV Vaccine to Boys - Dakota Voice

* ►February 4, 2008 - Another Study Finds No Link Between MMR Vaccine and Autism - HealthDay via Austin American-Statesman - "'I think it's fabulous that they have scientifically, God willing, put this issue to rest, although parents will not agree with it and those people who are proponents of measles as the cause [of autism] will find a problem with the paper,' said Dr. Pauline A. Filipek, an associate professor of pediatrics and neurology at the University of California, Irvine."

* ►February 4, 2008 - New policy from American Academy of Pediatrics - Principles for the development and use of quality measures - The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is committed to improving the health care system to provide the highest quality and safest health care for children. - www.news-medical.net

* ►February 4, 2008 - Researchers Discover New Battleground for Viruses and Immune Cells - Finding Should Aid Those Developing Anti-Virus Vaccines - Nature Immunology via National Institutes of Health

►February 4, 2008 - Poxvirus discovery breakthrough - eLab via Scientist Live

►February 4, 2008 - Chemicals in baby shampoo: What to do now - Leading pediatricians answer msnbc.com readers’ questions and concerns - MSNBC

* ►February 4, 2008 - Anti-cancer jab 'could be available in a few years' - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences via Telegraph, UK - "A protective anti-cancer jab that can guard against recurrence of lung cancer after surgery has shown to be long lasting in tests and could be available within a few years."

* ►February 4, 2008 - Three siblings diagnosed with measles - San Diego Union-Tribune - "They said one of the three children traveled to Switzerland with his or her family and was the first to become ill. That child likely transmitted the virus to the two siblings, said Dr. Wilma Wooten, the county's public health officer. Officials from the county health department met Monday with parents of the non-vaccinated children at Cooperative charter school, and four agreed to have their kids inoculated. Students not vaccinated will be barred from attending the school until Feb. 21 – after the infection period for the current outbreak has passed."

* ►February 4, 2008 - Severe stress in pregnancy may be tied to kids’ schizophrenia - Archives of General Psychiatry via World Science

►February 4, 2008 - Nigeria: Zaria Measles Epidemic - Daily Trust (Abuja) via www.allafrica.com

►February 4, 2008 - St. Jude Finds Risk Factors for Severe RSV Infection in Immunocompromised Children - Children receiving treatment for cancer who are under  2 years and those with very low levels of immune system cells called lymphocytes are at higher risk for severe respiratory syncytial virus related disease - PRNewswire-USNewswire via RT Magazine

►February 4, 2008 - MedImmune Submits Biologics License Application to FDA for Motavizumab - PRNewswire via RT Magazine

►February 4, 2008 - FDA Budget: Biosimilars & Generic User Fees - Pharmalot

►February 4, 2008 - Lilly’s New Zyprexa: Lullabye, And Good Night - Pharmalot

►February 4, 2008 - Hospital Diarrhea Germ Costs $1.3 Billion in U.S. (Update1) - Bloomberg

►February 4, 2008 - PTC Therapeutics Announces Publication of Preclinical Data in PNAS - PRNewswire via RT Magazine

►February 4, 2008 - Interview-US CDC head feels budget bite; predicts worse - Reuters

►February 4, 2008 - GlaxoSmithKline agrees to $425M drug deal - Triangle Business Journal

►February 4, 2008 - Delivering Drugs by Inhalation Becoming Attractive for Central Nervous System Therapeutics - Greystone Associates via PharmiWeb

* ►February 1, 2008 - Mercury Levels in Newborns and Infants After Receipt of Thimerosal-Containing Vaccines (full text) - journal article (Pediatrics)

* ►February 1, 2008 - Analgesic Properties of Oral Sucrose During Routine Immunizations at 2 and 4 Months of Age (full text) - journal article (Pediatrics)

* ►February 1, 2008 - Hospital-Based Influenza Vaccination of Children: An Opportunity to Prevent Subsequent Hospitalization - journal article (Pediatrics)

* ►February 1, 2008 - A Large Vaccine-Derived Poliovirus Outbreak on Madura Island—Indonesia, 2005 - journal article (The Journal of Infectious Diseases)

* ►February 1, 2008 - Baby Care Products: Possible Sources of Infant Phthalate Exposure (full text) - journal article (Pediatrics)

►February 1, 2008 - The Demise and Rebirth of Polio—A Modern Phoenix? - journal article (The Journal of Infectious Diseases)

►February 1, 2008 - Variation in HLA Class I Antigen‐Processing Genes and Susceptibility to Human Papillomavirus Type 16–Associated Cervical Cancer - journal article (The Journal of Infectious Diseases)

►February 1, 2008 - Infectious Disease Hospitalizations Among Infants in the United States - journal article (Pediatrics)

►February 1, 2008 - Further Delineation of Deletion 1p36 Syndrome in 60 Patients: A Recognizable Phenotype and Common Cause of Developmental Delay and Mental Retardation - journal article (Pediatrics)

►February 1, 2008 - Improving Child and Parent Mental Health in Primary Care: A Cluster-Randomized Trial of Communication Skills Training - journal article (Pediatrics)

►February 1, 2008 - Why Do Adolescents Say They Are Less Healthy Than Their Parents Think They Are? The Importance of Mental Health Varies by Social Class in a Nationally Representative Sample (full text) - journal article (Pediatrics)

►February 1, 2008 - Burden and Economic Cost of Group A Streptococcal Pharyngitis - journal article (Pediatrics)

►February 1, 2008 - Atomoxetine for the Treatment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Oppositional Defiant Disorder (full text) - journal article (Pediatrics)

►February 1, 2008 - Etiologic Classification of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder - journal article (Pediatrics)

►February 1, 2008 - Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Medical and Dental Health, Access to Care, and Use of Services in US Children (full text) - journal article (Pediatrics)

►February 1, 2008 - Barriers to Palliative Care for Children: Perceptions of Pediatric Health Care Providers - journal article (Pediatrics)

►February 1, 2008 - Influence of Multiple Social Risks on Children's Health - journal article (Pediatrics)

►February 1, 2008 - A Meta-analysis of the Effects of Oral Zinc in the Treatment of Acute and Persistent Diarrhea - journal article (Pediatrics)

►February 1, 2008 - Rhinovirus Transmission within Families with Children: Incidence of Symptomatic and Asymptomatic Infections - journal article (The Journal of Infectious Diseases)

►February 1, 2008 - Doctor, Why Is My Herpes So Bad? The Search Continues - journal article (The Journal of Infectious Diseases)

►February 1, 2008 - Trends in Acute Otitis Media-Related Health Care Utilization by Privately Insured Young Children in the United States, 1997–2004 - journal article (Pediatrics)

►February 1, 2008 - Current CD4 Cell Count and the Short‐Term Risk of AIDS and Death before the Availability of Effective Antiretroviral Therapy in HIV‐Infected Children and Adults - journal article (The Journal of Infectious Diseases)

►February 1, 2008 - Many Pediatric Residents Seek and Obtain Part-time Positions - journal article (Pediatrics)

►February 1, 2008 - Pediatric Care as Part of the US Army Medical Mission in the Global War on Terrorism in Afghanistan and Iraq, December 2001 to December 2004 - journal article (Pediatrics)

►February 1, 2008 - No Meningitis Outbreak At UCF - Central Florida News 13

►February 1, 2008 - Vaccination should be made compulsory - letter - Farmers Guardian

►February 1, 2008 - Poxvirus Potency Uncovered in New Atomic Map - University of Alabama at Birmingham via Newswise

►February 1, 2008 - Polio alert: Migrants under scanner - Expressindia

* ►February 2008 - Is it Safe to Give the MMR Booster Vaccine to Children with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis? - journal article (AAP Grand Rounds)

* ►February 2008 - Medication, Allergy, and Adverse Drug Event Discrepancies in Ambulatory Care - journal article (Family Medicine Journal)

* ►February 2008 - Paying for Patients (requires registration) - How much should researchers pay clinical trial subjects? - The Scientist - "The anticoagulant trial wasn't Farsin's first. About two-and-a-half years ago, a friend convinced him to enroll in a trial for West Coast Clinical Trials, a contract research organization (CRO) that recruits patients for industry-funded studies. Since then, the company has called him many times with offers to participate in other studies, and he's earned $5,000 to $6,000. "It's easy to have it become your profession, because they keep up with you," he says. In early January, he received a call inviting him to enroll in a 12-day trial, for which he'd be paid $2,500. The money is tempting, he says, but whether or not he signs on will depend on the schedule at a city college where he works as a tutor."

* ►February 2008 - Higher Risk of Offspring Schizophrenia Following Antenatal Maternal Exposure to Severe Adverse Life Events - journal article (Archives of General Psychiatry)

►February 2008 - Seroprevalence and Risk Factors for Human Papillomavirus in Taiwan - journal article (Journal of Tropical Pediatrics)

►February 2008 - Being Bullied as an Environmentally Mediated Contributing Factor to Children's Internalizing Problems - A Study of Twins Discordant for Victimization - journal article (Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine)

►February 2008 - Impact of Conjoined Exposure to the World Trade Center Attacks and to Other Traumatic Events on the Behavioral Problems of Preschool Children - journal article (Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine)

►February 2008 - How not to be seen: immune-evasion strategies in gene therapy - journal article (Gene Therapy)

►February 2008 - A Replicated Molecular Genetic Basis for Subtyping Antisocial Behavior in Children With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder - journal article (Archives of General Psychiatry)

►February 2008 - Variations in Heritability of Cortisol Reactivity to Stress as a Function of Early Familial Adversity Among 19-Month-Old Twins - journal article (Archives of General Psychiatry)

►February 2008 - Effect of dietary intervention with different pre- and probiotics on intestinal bacterial enzyme activities - journal article (European Journal of Clinical Nutrition)

►February 2008 - Prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea by a fermented probiotic milk drink - journal article (European Journal of Clinical Nutrition)

►February 2008 - Lipid profile of term infants on exclusive breastfeeding and mixed feeding: a comparative study - journal article (European Journal of Clinical Nutrition)

►February 2008 - Coffee consumption, serum -glutamyltransferase and risk of type II diabetes - journal article (European Journal of Clinical Nutrition)

►January 31, 2008 - A common ancestor for all blue-eyed people - Human Genetics via World Science

►January 31, 2008 - Pair volunteers to fight polio - Nigeria trip to immunize impoverished children part of strategy to eradicate disease - The Powell River Peak

►January 31, 2008 - Attacking Alzheimer's - The latest news on treatment and diagnosis - U.S. News & World Report

►January 31, 2008 - Genesis of adult leukaemia mapped - Swedish Research Council via Science Centric

►January 30, 2008 - FAQs about HPV - What you need to know - The Daily Evergreen

►January 30, 2008 - A Taxing Issue: How Human T-Lymphotropic Virus - BioMed Central via Biocompare

►January 29, 2008 - Researchers Identify a Mechanism for Cervical Cancer Progression - PLoS Medicine via Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News

* ►January 28, 2008 - HiFi DNA Tech Questions FDA in Lawsuit - 'Why HPV DNA PCR Is Acceptable For Gardasil® Approval, But Not Acceptable For Safe Vaccination?' - press release - HiFi DNA Tech, LLC via Business Wire - "Accurate HPV genotyping is especially valuable when determining whether to vaccinate a sexually active woman. Vaccinating a woman infected with vaccine-relevant types of HPV with Gardasil® may enhance the risk of developing precancerous cervical lesions by 44.6%, as detailed in the study supporting Gardasil® approval. With that risk, the FDA's statement that "FDA has not to date approved any HPV genotyping test for diagnostic use" may leave many women wondering whether to risk vaccination with Gardasil®."

* ►January 28, 2008 - Cost Remains High for New HPV Vaccine - The Cornell Daily Sun - "To help Cornell women gain a better understanding of HPV, Theresa Schwanke ’09 co-founded the Society for HPV Education and Prevention last spring. SHEP is planning a daytime spa event where there will be arts and crafts, manicures, hand massages, and other activities that girls can participate in while learning facts about HPV. 'The main purpose of SHEP is to help raise awareness around campus and make sure women on campus know what HPV is and how it is transmitted,' said Schwanke."

►January 28, 2008 - Q&A with Rebecca Langford on HPV awareness - SU The Daily Orange

►January 28, 2008 - EMEA Sees No Current Link Between Deaths, Gardasil - The European Medicines Agency (EMEA) has decided that the sudden, unexpected deaths of two young women who had received Sanofi Pasteur’s human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine Gardasil were not caused by the vaccine, so the agency is not taking any action for now. (requires subscription) - FDAnews

►January 28, 2008 - Orissa launches mass immunisation drive to check birdflu - Economic Times

►January 24, 2008 - Severe combined immunodeficiency: A national surveillance study. - journal article (Pediatric Allergy and Immunology)

►January 24, 2008 - Gardsil's effectiveness, safety, marketing debated - The Gazette, University of Western Ontario

►January 23, 2008 - 2.9 million future deaths prevented by GAVI immunisation programmes since 2000, new data show - Through an alliance of public and private partners, GAVI is finding new and innovative ways to work together to bring more and better support to improve the health of millions of children and adults in the poorest countries - GAVI

►January 16, 2008 - Long-term allergen-specific immunotherapy correlates with long-term allergen-specific immunological tolerance. - journal article (Advances in Therapy)

►January 15, 2008 - Membrane interaction and structure of the transmembrane domain of influenza hemagglutinin and its fusion peptide complex (open access) - journal article (BMC Biology)

* ►January 2008 - Baculovirus vector for gene delivery and vaccine development - journal article (Future Virology)

* ►January 2008 - The GILL study: Glycerin-induced local reactions in immunotherapy (full text) - journal article (Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology)

* ►January 2008 - Protect E-Mail to Minimize Medicolegal Liability - Pediatric News

* ►January 2008 - M&M Cases & Commentaries - How Do Providers Recover from Errors? Contaminated or Not? Guidelines for Interpretation of Positive Blood Cultures, Chemotherapy Extravasation - AHRQ

* ►December 21, 2007 - Yellow Fever Vaccine Adverse Events in Peru - This information is current as of today, February 06, 2008 at 13:41 - CDC - "Four deaths in Peru temporally related to receipt of one lot of 17-DD yellow fever vaccine manufactured in Brazil are under investigation by Peruvian health authorities with the assistance of CDC, the Pan American Health Organization and the World Health Organization."

* ►October 2007 - Victimization of Children With Disabilities - journal article (American Journal of Orthopsychiatry)

* ►Autism One 2008 Overview - RECOVERY RISING - Chicago, May 21-25, 2008 - AutismOne - "We are extremely pleased to announce the strongest lineup of presenters and programs ever assembled at Autism One. Introducing Autism One 2008: Recovery Rising."

* ►February 6, 2008 - Uganda: Nakasongola Priest to Consider Immunisation Before Baptism - The Monitor (Kampala) via http://allafrica.com - "The announcement was made by Canon Steven Byansi, the Archdeacon of Nakasongola archdeaconry during a church service at Sasira on Sunday. The service preceded the baptism of 10 children. Canon Byansi asked parents to present immunisation cards for each of the children. Those who did not have them were warned against being reluctant to have their children immunised."

* ►February 6, 2008 - Say Hello To My Little Vaccine Friend..... by Kim Stagliano - Age of Autism

►February 6, 2008 - Expert to speak on Autism ‘cure’ - Sun.Star, Philippines - "Defeat Autism Now! (DAN) protocol—first practiced in the United States—to Cebu Autism stakeholders, a center is bringing an expert to conduct a free lecture on Feb. 10."

►February 6, 2008 - Advice on tuna, and other fish, with mercury - Newsday

* ►February 6, 2008 - Personal Thought: What has caused bird flu? - opinion - Central Chronicle

* ►February 6, 2008 - Pittsburgh Innovates - Pitt researchers develop novel vaccine to combat deadly avian flu, hiring - Pop City - "The CVR vaccine was also engineered to encode genes for three influenza viral proteins, offering greater protection against possible new strains of the virus that may develop over time, Larsen said."

►February 6, 2008 - The global impacts of bird flu - opinion - Jakarta Post

* ►February 6, 2008 - Alarm bells after anthrax deaths - The Telegraph, India - "Three women and a man in Sunabeda and Simliguda died in Koraput prompting the district administration to send messages asking local residents not to eat beef from unhealthy animals."

►February 6, 2008 - A threat once more - Tuberculosis, the most common infectious disease worldwide and the number one killer, is on the rise. - Malaysia Star

* ►February 5, 2008 - NVIC Vaccine E-Newsletter  Vaccines & Infant Death (SBS): Pediatrician Speaks Out on NVIC's The Doctor's Corner by Barbara Loe Fisher

The Doctor's Corner, sponsored by the National Vaccine Information Center, is a new internet forum at www.NVIC.org for pediatricians to publish referenced articles and analyses evaluating vaccine risks. Today, F. Edward Yazbak, M.D., FAAP, has published an analysis, "Multiple Vaccinations and Shaken Baby Syndrome," that reviews the relationship between administration of multiple vaccines to infants who develop serious adverse events or die and parents being subsequently charged with "Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS).

Dr. Yazbak provides a review of death reports of infants 6 months of age or younger to the federal Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS). He describes individual case histories and the history of vaccine deaths, which are misdiagnosed as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), and discusses vaccine deaths which may be misdiagnosed as Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS).

When an infant dies after vaccination, pediatricians are often reluctant to consider the possibility that the vaccine(s) recently given to keep the child well have killed the child. In our 1985 book, DPT: A Shot in the Dark, Harris Coulter and I described the misdiagnosis of infant deaths, which have occurred within 24 to 72 hours after DPT vaccination, as SIDS. The fact that coroners often misdiagnose vaccine deaths as SIDS is further evidenced by compensation awards made in the U.S. Court of Claims to parents, whose babies died within hours of DPT vaccination, but the coroner initially diagnosed the death as "SIDS."

Dr. Yazbak's article about the misdiagnosis of vaccine deaths and injuries as "Shaken Baby Syndrome" and the subsequent persecution and imprisonment of innocent parents is an important one.

We are all obviously unanimous in our condemnation of any form of child abuse and our conviction that any abuser should be punished to the full extent of the law.

It is well known that vaccines can cause brain inflammation and catastrophic brain damage in some children. Until all of the biological mechanisms for vaccine injury and death are fully understood and described in the scientific literature, parents should be given the benefit of the doubt when babies die after vaccination.

The Doctor's Corner is a public service of the National Vaccine Information Center which provides a place for enlightened pediatricians to discuss how and why vaccines cause reactions, injuries and death; why some children may be at higher risk than others for suffering a vaccine reaction; and how vaccine risks can be reduced.

Pediatricians will also examine the relationship between infectious disease, vaccination and how early childhood experiences with both can influence immune function.

The National Vaccine Information Center has long supported the forging of a more enlightened partnership between pediatricians and parents when it comes to making vaccination decisions for children. Parents in the 21st century are becoming educated about vaccination and want something more from pediatricians than inflexible administration of one-size- fits-all vaccine policies that fail to respect bio-diversity or the informed consent ethic.

NVIC's The Doctor's Corner is a place for intelligent, open-minded, compassionate and courageous pediatricians to demonstrate that they understand and are prepared to respond in a different way to parental concerns about vaccination.  To read Dr. Yazbak's article, click here

* ►February 5, 2008 - Multiple Vaccinations And the Shaken Baby Syndrome by F. Edward Yazbak, MD, FAAP - Child abuse is a terrible crime and the failure to recognize it is unforgivable. An erroneous diagnosis of inflicted head trauma is just as tragic and the resulting destruction of a family is one of the gravest injustices of modern times. Many have recently questioned the existence of the so-called “Shaken Baby Syndrome” and the concept that the last caretaker must have been guilty. Careful reviews often uncover relevant findings that were missed or ignored. Recent pediatric vaccinations have been suspected as precipitating factors. A recent combination of seven antigens is the focus of this investigation. - The Doctor's Corner, National Vaccine Information Center

* ►February 5, 2008 - Measles vaccination and antibody response in autism spectrum disorders - journal article (Archives of Diseases in Childhood)

* ►February 5, 2008 - MMR plea as study backs jab - Western Mail via icWales - "Dr Meirion Evans, regional epidemiologist at the communicable disease surveillance centre of the National Public Health Service for Wales, said, 'This study provides more strong evidence that MMR does not cause autism and should help reassure parents that the MMR vaccine is entirely safe.'"

* ►February 5, 2008 - Measles Vaccine Is Not Linked to Autism, Largest Study Finds - Bloomberg - "MMR vaccines include MMR II by U.S. drugmaker Merck & Co., Priorix by London-based GlaxoSmithKline Plc, and Trimovax by Sanofi-Aventis SA's Sanofi-Pasteur unit. Glaxo spokesman Joss Mathieson declined to comment, while spokespeople at Sanofi- Pasteur and Merck did not immediately return calls seeking comment."

* ►February 5, 2008 - Viewpoint: Truth about MMR jab - Belfast Telegraph - "Parents should now be clear on this issue: it is entirely safe for children to have the MMR jab, and not receiving it exposes them to far more risk from the very real dangers from measles and mumps."

* ►February 5, 2008 - MMR vaccine doesn't cause autism, says study - The Telegraph, UK - "The measles, mumps and rubella vaccine is safe and does not cause autism, the most comprehensive study carried out on the jab has concluded. Ten years after the MMR jab was first linked to autism in a paper by Dr Andrew Wakefield in The Lancet, research out today has rejected his findings."

►February 5, 2008 - Study: MMR Vaccine Not Cause of Autism - The controversial MMR jab does not cause autism, according to the largest ever study published on the issue. - Sky News via FOX News

►February 5, 2008 - The MMR Vaccine and Autism - The Business, UK

►February 5, 2008 - Immunisation chief: Parents should be reassured - Parents should be reassured that there is no evidence to suggest giving their child the MMR vaccine will increase their risk of autism, the UK's director of immunisation has said. - InTheNews.co.uk - "Commenting on the study, director of immunisation at the Department of Health Professor David Salisbury said: 'It's natural for parents to worry about the health and wellbeing of their children and I hope that this study will reassure them that there is no evidence linking the MMR vaccine to autism.'"

►February 5, 2008 - Sense Wins Out - opinion - The Daily Record, UK - "Targets are still not being met. But thankfully more and more parents have seen through the alarmist nonsense. They should now feel confident in allowing their children to have the triple vaccine."

►February 5, 2008 - MMR Jab Safe, Biggest Survey Finds - The Daily Record, UK - "A Scottish government spokeswoman said: 'Nine out of 10 parents accept the vaccination but we believe children would be safer if this were nearer 100 per cent.'"

►February 5, 2008 - MMR Autism Link Dismissed - Again - A new British study has failed to find any link between the MMR vaccine and autism - backing the conclusions of other research. - StaffNurse.com

►February 5, 2008 - UK study finds no link between MMR and autism - Belfast Telegraph

►February 5, 2008 - MMR jab not linked to child autism, study finds - This is London

 ►February 5, 2008 - Top study clears MMR jab - Manchester Evening News

►February 5, 2008 - MMR and autism not linked - study - Irish Health

►February 5, 2008 - New Study Of MMR Vaccine Finds No Link To Autism, UK - Medical News Today

►February 5, 2008 - Largest Study: MMR Vaccine Does Not Cause Autism - CBS 4 Denver

►February 5, 2008 - Background questions and answers that every parent should consider before making their decision - Western Mail via icWales

* ►February 5, 2008 - Dr. Nancy Minshew & Me: Who's Crazy? by J.B. Handley - Age of Autism

* ►February 5, 2008 - Holland Shmolland Mars by Cyndi Kershner - Age of Autism

►February 5, 2008 - Don't let the 'Eli Stone' show determine vaccine decisions - editorial - Corpus Christi Caller Times

* ►February 5, 2008 - TV show wrong on vaccines, autism - letter - Chicago Daily Herald

* ►February 5, 2008 - University of Washington pioneers autism-prevention study: Puget Sound infants needed for presymptomatic evaluation - Journal Newspapers via Zwire - "Researchers at the University of Washington were recently granted $11.3 million to work on the prevention of autism. Their work will be the first study done with a pre-symptomatic population who are thought to be at risk for autism because they have an autistic sibling."

►February 5, 2008 - State bill would expand coverage of autism - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

►February 5, 2008 - Performance Pay - Baltimore students will get cash to learn. - editorial (requires registration) - Washington Post

►February 5, 2008 - Local sushi not too high in mercury -- restaurateur - Flint Journal via www.mlive.com

►February 5, 2008 - Dr. Mike M Deldar: Amalgam (silver) fillings contain mercury - Noblesville Daily Times

►February 5, 2008 - DEP Recommends Mercury-Infested Day Care Be Demolished - NBC10.com - "Kiddie College, a South Jersey day care center, was shut down for exposing children to high levels of mercury. Kiddie College was opened on the site of a thermometer factory."

►February 5, 2008 - Mercury spill evacuates Williamson Art Gallery - Liverpool Echo

►February 5, 2008 - The Case for CFLs - Compact fluorescent light bulbs are safe, and they look great, too. - I'm constantly being told that the simplest way to improve my green cred is to start using compact fluorescent lights. Yet some naysayers - like one of your Slate colleagues - argue that the environmental benefits of CFLs are negated by their mercury content. Who's right? - Slate

* ►February 5, 2008 - County sees first measles "cluster" in 17 years - After San Diego outbreak, health officials remind parents to get kids vaccinated - North County Times

* ►February 5, 2008 - Two Die of Measles in Sokoto - Daily Trust (Abuja) via http://allafrica.com

* ►February 5, 2008 - Dealing with a case of pneumonia - The Times of Trenton via www.nj.com - "In fact, doctors have seen fewer cases of pneumonia in the past several years. That's partly because doctors started giving babies a pneumonia vaccine at two, four and six months and at about a year or a year and a half after 2000. But the vaccine doesn't protect against all of the many strains of bacterial pneumonia and older children may either have not gotten the vaccine at all or not gotten a full course. Will, for example, had two pneumonia vaccines but they obviously didn't prevent the illness."

* ►February 5, 2008 - Seven deaths spark pneumonia fear in Afghanistan - Reuters AlertNet - "Pneumonia kills more children in the developing world than any other disease."

* ►February 5, 2008 - Lilly's $1 Billion E-Mailstrom - A secret memo meant for a colleague lands in a Times reporter's in-box. - Conde Nast Portfolio.com

* ►February 5, 2008 - UK court rejects Lilly bid to stop drug shipments - Indianapolis Star - "A bid by Indianapolis-based Eli Lilly and Co. to stop a British pharmacy buying supplies of its drugs in Turkey and selling them on to Internet pharmacies in Canada has been thrown out by London's High Court."

►February 5, 2008 - FDA concerned about sedation caused by Eli Lilly & Co's Zyprexa - Pravda.ru via Huliq

* ►February 5, 2008 - FDA's Assault of Bioidentical Hormones Demonstrates Pro-Pharma Loyalties, Disregard for Consumer Choice - NaturalNews.com

* ►February 5, 2008 - FDA Bans Hormone Produced by Human Body as "Unapproved" Drug - NaturalNews.com - "The FDA has told women and their doctors: stop using bioidentical hormones. Your choice and your doctor's prescription don't matter. Heart and cancer questions raised in 2002 about FDA "approved" synthetic women's hormones don't matter. Act now to defend your right to bio-identical hormones!"

* ►February 5, 2008 - Hearing set tonight on biodefense lab - News & Observer - "North Carolina is among five states being considered for the $450 million lab, known as the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility. It would study pathogens that could be biological threats against the United States. The federal government also is considering sites in Georgia, Texas, Kansas and Mississippi. The project has stirred local opposition. Political leaders in Granville County have withdrawn their support, citing a potential safety risk."

* ►February 5, 2008 - Pediatrician writes 'Vaccine Book' - Orange County Register via Lexington Herald-Leader via www.kentucky.com - "Dr. Robert Sears, an Orange County, Calif. pediatrician, has written The Vaccine Book (Little, Brown and Co., $13.99), covering a potentially baffling topic for new parents. He also has a Web site, www.thevaccinebook.com, that has online forums for parents."

►February 5, 2008 - IAC Express Issue number 710 - Immunization Action Coalition

►February 5, 2008 - CDC Vaccine Price List - Prices last reviewed/updated: February 5, 2008 - CDC

►February 5, 2008 - Daily News: Biosurveillance Systems Not Compatible - Nurse.com - "Twelve states do not have a disease surveillance system that is compatible with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) national system, according to a report released by the nonprofit Trust for America's Health (TFAH) organization."

►February 5, 2008 - DSI Signs National Contract with Medco - Dispensing Solutions, Inc. via Business Wire via FOX Business - "Under the terms of the contract DSI, through its POC Management Group Physician Network, will offer its eDispense...Vaccine Manager, a web-based solution for the submission and adjudication of claims for physician-administered vaccines now covered by Medicare Part D.

►February 5, 2008 - Sanofi JV sees no Gardasil slowdown in Europe - The Guardian, UK

* ►February 5, 2008 - Assembly can't kill HPV vaccine - Local schools in "holding pattern" - http://c-ville.com - "Last year, Virginia joined Texas as the only states to require sixth-grade girls to be vaccinated for the human papillomavirus (HPV), a move that outraged social conservatives in both places. Now Texas has backed out of its requirement, and in Virginia, legislators are trying to push back requirement's start date, or kill it altogether....The required HPV vaccination's term in legislative purgatory has left local schools in a wait-and-see mode. Beth Baptist, the director of special education and student services for Charlottesville City Schools, says that the school system is holding off on giving parents vaccine information until a date is set for its requirement."

* ►February 5, 2008 - Uganda: Country for Cancer Vaccine Trial - The Monitor (Kampala) via http://allafrica.com - "UGANDA is among a few developing countries lined to benefit from the first cervical cancer vaccine trial project. The project to be implemented by the Programme for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH), a non governmental organisation, hopes to come up with a cervical cancer vaccine by 2010."

* ►February 5, 2008 - Tests show HPV vaccine effective and necessary - letter - Western News, The University of Western Ontario Gazette

* ►February 5, 2008 - A question of women's health - The Huntsville Times via www.al.com - "As soon as Chrissie Bannister heard about the cervical cancer vaccine Gardasil, she didn't give her daughters an option. 'Of course they were going to get it,' said Bannister, the mother of 18-year-old Elizabeth and 14-year-old Emily. 'As a parent, my job is to raise and to protect my children and if there is a vaccine to protect them, they will get it just like they do any other vaccine. You don't ask them if they want it. You just tell them they will have it.'"

►February 5, 2008 - Montefiore fighting cervical cancer - New York Daily News

►February 5, 2008 - FDA Approves CytoCore's SoftPAP(TM) Cervical Cell Collector - CytoCore Inc. via Business Wire via FOXBusiness

* ►February 5, 2008 - Chickenpox breaks out at Charleston Catholic High - The Charleston Gazette

►February 5, 2008 - Mysterious skin disease leaves biochemist baffled - Newsday via Contra Costa Times

►February 5, 2008 - Lakeview notifies state concerning virus - Marshall Independent

►February 5, 2008 - Sudan: Whooping Cough Outbreak in West Darfur - UN Integrated Regional Information Networks via http://allafrica.com

►February 5, 2008 - Meningitis vaccination begins - The New Vision, Uganda - "The Government is carrying out vaccinations for meningitis A and C, which recently hit Arua and Nebbi districts in northern Uganda."

►February 5, 2008 - Second schoolboy in meningitis scare - Evening Times, UK

►February 5, 2008 - OU student tests positive for bacterial meningitis - NewsOK

►February 5, 2008 - University of Oklahoma student tests positive for meningitis - AP via Dallas Morning News - "'A lot of times why college students and adolescents are more prone is because they're burning the candle at both ends, studying, away from home, not taking care of themselves like Mom and Dad did,' Lee said. 'Plus they're coming from different locations and haven't been exposed to bacteria in their area.'"

* ►February 5, 2008 - India's risky bird flu offensive - Hundreds of curious people watch the culling of poultry at Hatpur village in the Indian state of West Bengal with no protective clothing - not even a towel around their noses. - BBC

►February 5, 2008 - After flu, anthrax stalks animals - Cow deaths reported from Cooch Behar as Bengal gears up to get rid of hidden poultry - The Telegraph, India

►February 5, 2008 - Culling team member reports fever - Times of India

►February 5, 2008 - India says bird flu outbreak in east contained - Reuters UK

►February 5, 2008 - New bird flu outbreak hits Turkey: agency - AFP via Google

►February 5, 2008 - Flu bug swarms university - ASU The Appalachian Online

►February 5, 2008 - Expert: Flu pandemic looks likely - Summit set for March - Gainesville Times - "The likelihood of an influenza pandemic within the next five to 10 years is 'very high,' according to an expert with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention."

►February 5, 2008 - Azerbaijan Takes All Measures to Prevent Spread of African Plague: Minister - Trend Capital

►February 5, 2008 - Families' legal win over Hepatitis C deaths - Evening Times, UK - "The families of two people killed by the Hepatitis C virus after they had blood transfusions have a won a legal challenge against a decision not to hold a full public inquiry."

* ►February 5, 2008 - New way to kill viruses: Shake them to death - Experiments with laser pulses may lead to treatment of infected people - LiveScience via MSNBC - "Recent experimental evidence has shown that laser pulses tuned to the right frequency can kill certain viruses."

* ►February 5, 2008 - Novel malaria vaccine is tested at Oxford - United Press International - "The vaccine being researched uses a genetically modified chimpanzee adenovirus to produce the malaria antigen and to stimulate a response to the vaccine. But because human adenoviruses -- including the common cold and gastroenteritis -- are widespread, most people have developed some immunity toward them, Hill said. Using a chimpanzee adenovirus ensures a recipient is unlikely to have resistance to that component of the vaccine."

►February 5, 2008 - Adults need vaccines, too - Tahlequah Daily Press

►February 5, 2008 - House calls: Adolescent vaccinations - Wareham Courier

►February 5, 2008 - Marshfield Clinic seeks volunteers for shingles vaccine - Wausau Daily Herald

* ►February 5, 2008 - Getting shingles vaccine can be a shot in the dark - Personal Pulse: Health experts recommend that seniors get vaccinated, but try finding someone who carries it. - The Orange County Register

* ►February 5, 2008 - Borgess aids in world study of potential Alzheimer's vaccine - Kalamazoo Gazette via www.mlive.com - "The vaccine -- Bapineuzumab, also known as AAB-001 -- is to be tested on patients with mild to moderate symptoms of Alzheimer's, because early intervention is critical to the treatment and arrest of the disease, said Dr. Phillip Green, the Borgess researcher involved in the study. The Phase 3 drug trial is expected to begin at Borgess in mid-February. Ultimately, the trial will involve 350 worldwide sites.

* ►February 5, 2008 - Novel Molecules Developed at UB Can Boost Vaccine Potency - UB NewsCenter, University of Buffalo - "'Basically, LT-IIa and LT-IIb are molecules you can add to any vaccine candidate to augment the immune response to that protein, whatever it may be,' Connell stated. The one problem researchers may encounter and on which they are working currently is to ensure that their vaccine booster doesn't travel to the brain via the olfactory nerve, or if the booster does traffic to the brain, that it doesn't have harmful properties. Connell said some of the mutant LT-IIa and LT-IIb adjuvants they have developed appear to exhibit no toxicity in cells, and thus have the potential to exert no harmful effects on neuronal cells. His molecules may be ready for human trials in a year, he said."

* ►February 5, 2008 - Center for Vaccines Launches in India - The Emory Wheel - "With the opening of the Joint ICGEB-Emory Vaccine Center, Emory made its mark in New Delhi, India on Jan. 14. The center, a partnership between EVC and the International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), will conduct vaccine research on diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis."

* ►February 5, 2008 - Vaccine Booster Gives Persistent Immune Response To Resist Lung Cancer Recurrence - Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research via Medical News Today

* ►February 5, 2008 - Clinical Trial Of Brain Cancer Vaccine Begins At New York University's Department Of Neurology And Neurosurgery - New York University Medical Center via Medical News Today

* ►February 5, 2008 - Eden Biodesign recruited for novel twin hepatitis vaccine project - Britain's Eden Biodesign has been recruited by iQur to assist with the process development of a project to develop a novel two-in-one hepatitis vaccine. - OutSourcing-Pharma.com

* ►February 5, 2008 - More Support for Multi-Dose Syringe Ban - Newsinferno.com

►February 5, 2008 - China to crack down on fake drugs amid snow-havoc relief efforts - Xinhua via China View

►February 5, 2008 - Merck & Co., Inc. Vice President of Corporate Responsibility Appointed New Chairman of the Board of the Corporate Council On Africa - press release - The Corporate Council on Africa via CSR News

►February 5, 2008 - Omrix Biopharmaceuticals Provides Corporate Update, Including Preliminary Fourth Quarter 2007 Results and 2008 Product Sales Guidance - Trading Markets - "Fourth quarter 2006 product sales include $6.0 million from a contract with the UK government for the purchase of Vaccinia Immunoglobulin, or VIG."

►February 5, 2008 - Merck's Fosamax gets the ax - Another day, another blockbuster falls off the cliff, as Merck bids farewell to the Fosamax patent and $3 billion in annual sales. - CNNMoney

►February 5, 2008 - Drop of blood can predict future diseases - Pravda.Ru

►February 5, 2008 - Study Finds Anti-AIDS Drugs May Prevent HIV Infection - A new study involving monkeys suggests that antiretroviral drugs used to treat HIV could also protect people from getting infected with the virus. The development is being hailed by AIDS researchers. VOA's Jessica Berman reports. - Voice of America

►February 5, 2008 - Pfizer, Schering-Plough HIV Drugs Fail on Test Glitch - Bloomberg

►February 5, 2008 - With HIV, growing older faster - Many gained years of life through drug 'cocktails,' but the ailments of aging are showing up earlier. (requires registration or subscription) - Los Angeles Times

►February 5, 2008 - Longer Drug Regimen Found to Help Babies Avoid HIV (requires registration or subscription) - The New York Times

►February 5, 2008 - Drug Shown to Cut HIV Risk in Breastfed Babies - Voice of America

►February 5, 2008 - Circumcision Of HIV Positive Men Does Not Stop Spread Of Virus - Medical News Today

►February 5, 2008 - Experts Claim HIV Patients Made Non-Infectious - Slashdot

►February 5, 2008 - Anticipated 'slam dunk' AIDS treatment fails - San Francisco Chronicle

►February 5, 2008 - Scientists: herpes infection triples risk of contracting HIV - Pravda

* ►February 5, 2008 - Pre-birth schizophrenia risk fear - Women who endure severe stress early in pregnancy may be more likely to have children that go on to develop schizophrenia, research suggests. - BBC - "Researcher Professor Philip Baker, an obstetrician at St Mary's Hospital Manchester, said: "Increasingly we are learning that the environment a baby is exposed to inside the womb is determining long-term health.' However, he added: 'We don't want to over-worry people because the absolute risks are small.'"

►February 5, 2008 - Sing for your health - GateHouse News Service via Daily News Transcript

* ►February 5, 2008 - Cholesterol skeptics have their day - For decades, renegade scientists have said that cholesterol-lowering drugs are ineffective for most users. Now, they say, a Big Pharma-sponsored study vindicates their claims. - FORTUNE via CNNMoney

►February 5, 2008 - Children May Have Cholesterol Problems, Too - High levels increase risk for early heart disease, other serious conditions - press release - The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia via PRNewswire-USNewswire

►February 5, 2008 - Obesogens: Can common chemicals make us fat? - The StarPhoenix via Canada.com

►February 5, 2008 - Obesity and immunity linked - United Press International

►February 5, 2008 - Fat people cheaper to treat, study says - AP via Denver Post

►February 5, 2008 - Does Preventing Obesity Lead to Reduced Health-Care Costs (full text) - journal article (PLoS Medicine)

►February 5, 2008 - Lifetime Medical Costs of Obesity: Prevention No Cure for Increasing Health Expenditure (full text) - journal article (PLoS Medicine)

* ►February 5, 2008 - Soft Targets: Nurses and the Pharmaceutical Industry (full text) - journal article (PLoS Medicine)

* ►February 5, 2008 - USDA Agrees to Grant Conditional License to Bioniche for its E. coli O157:H7 Cattle Vaccine - press release - Bioniche Life Sciences Inc. via PRNewswire-FirstCall

* ►February 5, 2008 - E. Coli Outbreak and Ethanol By-Product - Is There a Link? - NaturalNews.com

►February 5, 2008 - Pet Owners Urged To Get Distemper Vaccination - www.wltx.com

* ►February 4, 2008 - Medicaid: "Pharmacy Claims Do Not Require a Diagnosis" - Alliance for Human Research Protection - "Psychiatrist Dr. Mark Olfson of Columbia University, had expressed astonishment at the findings of two studies that he had conducted (2006, 2007): one, showed a 40-fold increase in children diagnosed as 'bipolar disorder.' His study found that 'psychiatrists made almost 90% of the diagnoses, and two-thirds of the young patients were boys.'"

* ►February 4, 2008 - No Link Between Measles, Mumps, Rubella Shot And Autism Spectrum Disorders - BMJ-British Medical Journal, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS via ScienceDaily

* ►February 4, 2008 - When your child goes to the pediatrician - Gather.com - "Shots can happen at any visit. No more promises that, 'Next time there won't be any shots.' Immunization schedules change, and some shots can be given over a range of ages instead of at one particular age. The AAP doesn't want doctors to miss an opportunity to update a child's immunizations. Even if your child is ill with a mild illness, immunizations may be given. So a review of the schedule to see if an immunization is due is recommended every time a child has a checkup."

* ►February 4, 2008 - HHS budget proposal cuts state preparedness, boosts food safety - CIDRAP News - "The budget contains $507 million for the next phase of the administration's influenza pandemic preparedness plan, including funds to expand egg-based vaccine capacity and buy medical countermeasures and supplies for HHS employees and patients, according to HHS. In addition, $313 million is proposed for ongoing pandemic preparedness efforts at the CDC, FDA, NIH, and the Office of the HHS Secretary."

►February 4, 2008 - Seaside Therapeutics Awards $4.5 Million Collaborative Research Contract to Vanderbilt University Medical Center - Funding supports development of novel therapeutics for fragile X syndrome - press release - Seaside Therapeutics via Business Wire

►February 4, 2008 - Families organize for autism coverage - Ahwatukee Foothills - "The Autism Insurance Bill, Senate Bill 1263, would require insurance companies to cover autism treatments such as speech therapy, physical therapy and the like."

►February 4, 2008 - Pfizer employees in court over 1996 drug trial - AFP via Google

* ►February 4, 2008 - Testimony to begin in Durham lawsuit - The Daily Citizen - "'Shaken Baby Syndrome is not based on science,' Bennett said. 'It's an allegation that doctors make based on symptoms. All the science out there today does not support the allegation in general and specifically in this case.'"

* ►February 4, 2008 - GSK files Synflorix in the EU - let the battle commence - press release - VacZine Analytics via PharmiWeb - "Synflorix is indicated for the prevention of invasive pnuemococcal disease (IPD) observed in childhood meningitis, otitis media and pneumonia. By virtue of a novel carrier protein (protein D) the vaccine also brings enhanced protection against non-typable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) a pathogen also common to these indications. The vaccine, formerly known as Streptorix, entered clinical development in 1998. From the outset the program was technically complex pushing forward new untested vaccine technologies. It has also been saddled with the enormous challenge of following Wyeth's formidable Prevnar (PCV-7), which has since surpassed $2.4 billion in annual sales (1)."

►February 4, 2008 - Samaritan Licenses Exclusive Rights to Infectious Disease Compounds From Georgetown University - press release - Samaritan Pharmaceuticals, Inc. via freepressreleases

►February 4, 2008 - Flu watch in East Tennessee - WVLT VolunteerTV.com

►February 4, 2008 - Docs oppose Aetna plan on colonoscopies - AP via Denver Post - "A group of doctors from New Jersey is opposing a plan by Aetna Inc. to drop coverage of a type of anesthesia used during colonoscopies."

►February 4, 2008 -  1 in 3 Hit Songs Mentions Substance Abuse, Smoking - HealthDay via Yahoo!

►February 4, 2008 - Rat epidemic threatens to plague Britain - United Press International - "Brown rats are known to spread numerous diseases, including Weil's, salmonella, tuberculosis, E.Coli and foot-and-mouth."

►February 4, 2008 - Lifetime medical costs of obesity; nurses as 'soft targets' of drug company promotion - Public Library of Science via www.eurekalert.org

►February 4, 2008 - St. Jude finds risk factors for severe RSV infection in immunocompromised children - Children receiving treatment for cancer who are under2 years and those with very low levels of immune system cells called lymphocytes are at higher risk for severe respiratory syncytial virus related disease - St. Jude Children's Research Hospital via www.eurekalert.org
 
►February 4, 2008 - New hospital standards needed for pediatric flu vaccines - Study findings support CDC recommendations for hospital vaccinations - Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center of Seattle via www.eurekalert.org
 
►February 4, 2008 - Microneedles enhance drug administration through skin - University of Kentucky via www.eurekalert.org
 
►February 4, 2008 - Lower transmission increases dengue deaths - Epidemiological model solves apparent paradox in Thai data - Duke University via www.eurekalert.org
 
►February 3, 2008 - Rodent study shows that chronic drinking can lead to severe pneumonia after surgery - Loyola University Medical Center via www.eurekalert.org
 
►February 3, 2008 - Eye blinks may help to identify children prenatally exposed to alcohol - Case Western Reserve University via www.eurekalert.org
 
►February 3, 2008 - Parental drinking and parenting practices influence adolescent drinking - Emory University via www.eurekalert.org

►February 3, 2008 - Area Schools Set To Lose Millions Under Medicaid Policy Changes (requires registration) - Washington Post

►February 2, 2008 - New strategy helps reduce errors in obstetrical care - Yale University via www.eurekalert.org

►February 2, 2008 – Gene linked to preterm birth among Hispanic women - Yale University via www.eurekalert.org

►January 31, 2008 - Study finds widespread vitamin and mineral use among cancer survivors - Benefits of such use remain unclear - Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center via www.eurekalert.org

* ►January 28, 2008 - More Evidence of Vaccination Harm - Saying No to Vaccines - "Evidence of serious health consequences was recently confirmed in the Journal of Pediatrics in which CRP levels were measured after vaccination. CRP, short for C-reactive protein, is a blood marker indicating a heightened state of inflammation throughout the body."

* ►January 20, 2008 - Positive Association between pertussis vaccination and allergies - Pediatric Allergy and Immunology via Saying No to Vaccines

►2008 - Identification of Research Needs Relating to Potential Biological or Adverse Health Effects of Wireless Communication - Committee on Identification of Research Needs Relating to Potential Biological or Adverse Health Effects of Wireless Communications Devices, National Research Council - www.nap.edu

* ►2005 - Annual Flu Deaths: The Big Lie By Neil Z. Miller - Thinktwice!

* ►March 2008 - Nutritional problems related to food allergy in childhood - journal article (Pediatric Allergy and Immunology)

* ►February 11, 2008 - Adults proving a tough target for shingles shot - Attempts to reach adults with a new vaccine provide a case study on the difficulties of immunization beyond the childhood schedule. - www.ama-assn.org

* ►February 11, 2008 - New plan would require D.C. drug detailers to be licensed - Some states may follow the district's lead in directly regulating pharmaceutical sales representatives. - www.ama-assn.org

* ►February 11, 2008 - Bulletproof bylaws: Maintaining the right to protect doctors -- and patients - Physician-hospital conflicts over quality of care continue to push medical staff bylaw issues into the courts. Here's how to keep them out. - www.ama-assn.org

►February 11, 2008 - Targeting infection seen as prevention, treatment for schizophrenia - As research mounts that the root of this mental illness could be infectious in nature, scientists want to use this knowledge to treat and prevent it. - www.ama-assn.org

►February 11, 2008 - Quick clinics and health kiosks are taking off at airports - Convenience clinics are landing in air terminals across the country as operators bank on attracting business from passengers with time on their hands. - www.ama-assn.org

►February 11, 2008 - Massachusetts society evaluates health plans' doctor-rating programs - Its report is the latest effort by physicians to analyze how health insurers are analyzing them. - www.ama-assn.org

►February 11, 2008 - Can the Massachusetts Blues revive capitation? New twist includes quality bonus - The new contract is designed for large physician groups and hospitals. If doctors leave fee for service, experts say, other insurers might look closer at this model. - www.ama-assn.org

►February 11, 2008 - Massachusetts health system reform feeling the pinch - Leaders are trying to limit premium increases in light of high enrollment in state-subsidized plans. Physician pay cuts could be on the table. - www.ama-assn.org

►February 11, 2008 - AMA campaigns for the uninsured - The AMA Voice for the Uninsured initiative has gone nationwide in its effort to encourage political candidates and voters to focus on the issue. - www.ama-assn.org

►February 11, 2008 - California appeals court rules against insurer's rescission practices - Meanwhile, doctors, patients and insurance regulators are challenging other health plans. - www.ama-assn.org

►February 11, 2008 - Making room for faith: Handling religious expression at the office - Legal knowledge, administrative common sense and sensitivity can help balance the rights of believers to proclaim their beliefs and of nonbelievers to be left alone. - www.ama-assn.org

►February 11, 2008 - Letters to the Editor - It's understandable that a practice would drop a litigious patient - Lawmakers should read doctor's letter on being forced from practice  - www.ama-assn.org

►February 11, 2008 - News in brief: Health & Science - 10 most expensive medical problems - Heart disease and stroke deaths decline, but risk factors common - Drug cuts diabetes, heart risk - Cigarettes and alcohol no effect on ovarian cancer risk - www.ama-assn.org

►February 11, 2008 - News in brief: Government & Medicine - SCHIP veto challenge fails again - Florida physician will leave Congress - Blues outlines health reform goals - Judge throws out antitrust case against Illinois medical groups  - www.ama-assn.org

►February 11, 2008 - News in brief: Professional Issues - Vt. hospitals won't bill for some "never events" - Study shows that EMRs lower medical liability risk - FDA: Device fragments can harm patients - www.ama-assn.org

* ►February 5, 2008 - Warning over popular fungal treatment Lamisil - Three people have died and several others have suffered serious reactions after taking a popular tablet to treat fungal infections, the drug regulator says. - www.news.com.au

* ►February 5, 2008 - A Medical Mystery Unfolds in Minnesota (requires registration) - The New York Times - "As a result, Dr. Lynfield said the investigators had begun leaning toward a seemingly bizarre theory: that exposure to the hog brain itself might have touched off an intense reaction by the immune system, something akin to a giant, out-of-control allergic reaction. Some people might be more susceptible than others, perhaps because of their genetic makeup or their past exposures to animal tissue. The aerosolized brain matter might have been inhaled or swallowed, or might have entered through the eyes, the mucous membranes of the nose or mouth, or breaks in the skin....'Clearly, all the answers aren’t in yet,' Dr. Osterholm said. 'But it makes biologic sense that what you have here is an inhalation of brain material from these pigs that is eliciting an immunologic reaction.' What may be happening, he said, is 'immune mimicry,' meaning that the immune system makes antibodies to fight a foreign substance — something in the hog brains — but the antibodies also attack the person’s nerve tissue because it is so similar to some molecule in hog brains."

* ►February 5, 2008 - The research that 'disproves MMR jab link to autism' - Daily Mail, UK - "Dr David Brown, from the HPA, added: 'This adds to the overwhelming body of evidence from around the world supporting the use of MMR.' But vaccine expert Dr Richard Halvorsen, a London GP, said he was 'outraged' because the study was based on the wrong investigations. He said: 'None of the children had symptoms of bowel disease, which is where the problem lies for those parents who believe their children were badly affected by MMR.' Jackie Fletcher also said the study had not selected the right children. She said: "It did not look at children whose parents believed they had been damaged by MMR, where they regressed and suffered bowel problems. 'They would like to pretend these children don't exist, yet some parents have been awarded vaccine damage payments."

* ►February 5, 2008 - How a crisis in confidence in MMR led to the return of a disease doctors hoped was a thing of the past - Claimed link to autism led to slump in vaccinations - Britain rejoins countries with indigenous measles - The Guardian, UK

* ►February 5, 2008 - Autism link to MMR vaccine dismissed - The Scotsman - "No evidence exists to link the controversial MMR vaccine and autism, researchers said yesterday. In a study which experts hope will draw a line under the debate surrounding the safety of the combined measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) jab, almost 250 children had blood tests to discover if the vaccine could be responsible for the onset of autism. The researchers found no differences in circulating measles virus or increased antibody levels between children with autism, those with special educational needs and children developing normally. Dr Gillian Baird, from Guy's Hospital in London, said she hoped the study would give parents the confidence to make sure their children received the MMR jab."

►February 5, 2008 - MMR and autism link is dismissed - The Times, UK

* ►February 4, 2008 - Dan Olmstead: "Attacking" My Amish Coverage - With enemies like this, who needs friends? - Age of Autism

* ►February 4, 2008 - Is The AAP Losing Credibility With Parents and Peds? - Dedicated to the Health of All Children... Is the American Academy of Pediatrics losing credibility with parents and pediatricians? (Note, this piece was originally run in Mothering Magazine. The author allowed us to reprint it given the timely nature of the topic of AAP and our children.) by Bobbie Manning - Age of Autism

* ►February 4, 2008 - Triple Threat by Cathy Jameson - Age of Autism

* ►February 4, 2008 - Mercury-autism debate rages on - UK Chemist not swayed by report - Lexington Herald-Leader via www.kentucky.com - "The California Department of Public Health reported that rates of autism have continued to rise in California, even though the mercury-based preservative thimerosal ostensibly was removed from most child vaccines by about 2001. Some scientists and medical groups are citing the report as disproving the theory that mercury in vaccines causes autism. But UK's Boyd Haley, a mercury researcher and leading proponent of the mercury-autism connection, maintains that the California study proves nothing because it is based on a 'false premise' that children in California haven't been getting any mercury from vaccines over the past several years. 'They say that mercury was totally out of vaccines in 2001 ... and that's absolutely false,' Haley declared."

* ►February 4, 2008 - Group sues FDA to seek removal of mercury fillings from market - Charles G. Brown, National Counsel, Consumers for Dental Choice via http://foodconsumer.org

* ►February 4, 2008 - Oceana Report: Hold the Mercury - Oceana - "Oceana has published a new report on mercury levels in popular fish and sushi.  Hold the Mercury includes the results of mercury tests on 94 fish samples collected by Oceana staff and volunteers from sushi bars and grocery stores from cities across the country.  The high mercury levels found in fresh tuna and sushi as well as swordfish demonstrate the need to post the Food and Drug Administration's advice about mercury in seafood at grocery stores."

* ►February 4, 2008 - Global Consensus on Mercury: Scientists Defend Science Journalists - Mercury Policy Project via PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX via FOXBusiness

* ►February 4, 2008 - Madison 'Consensus' on Mercury in Fish is Obsolete, Wrong-Headed - Newer Studies Reinforce Healthfulness of Seafood Despite Traces of Mercury - press release - Center for Consumer Freedom (CCF) via PRNewswire-USNewswire

* ►February 4, 2008 - Your Opinion Requested: What Parents Want to Know About Vaccines and Autism - http://autism.about.com

►February 4, 2008 - Reducing pain could lead to increased immunization rates - Studies have shown that some parents are reluctant to have their children immunized because they fear their children will experience significant pain during and after the injections. - www.news-medical.net

* ►February 4, 2008 - Sugar Soothes Kids' Immunization Pain - Study Shows Sugar Solution for Infants Relieves Pain of Vaccination Shots - WebMD - "'Reluctance to adhere to the recommended immunization schedule may be partially explained by parental perception that their children endure a substantial amount of pain during routine immunizations: almost twice the amount they hypothesize an adult undergoing a similar injection would experience,' write Linda A. Hatfield, PhD, CNNP, of the Pennsylvania State University School of Medicine and colleagues."

* ►February 4, 2008 - Interview-US CDC head feels budget bite; predicts worse - Reuters AlertNet - "The $3 trillion budget released by U.S. President George W. Bush on Monday includes $8.8 billion for the CDC, $412.1 million less than the agency got last year. CDC Director Dr. Julie Gerberding says this means focusing on the most urgent needs, such as better quarantine stations at airports and stockpiles of drugs and vaccines, at the expense of other programs, including combating emerging infectious diseases and promoting public wellness."

* ►February 4, 2008 - Will Nigeria request extradition of three US-based Pfizer employees? - BrandweekNRX

* ►February 4, 2008 - IAC Express Issue number 709 - Immunization Action Coalition

* ►February 4, 2008 - Novartis warned as facility fails inspection - Novartis has been given a warning by US regulators detailing significant failures in its investigation into tracking down the source of contamination in some of its vaccines. - in-Pharmatechnologist.com

►February 4, 2008 - No Link Between MMR Jab And Autism, Says Study - Glasgow Daily Record

►February 4, 2008 - MMR debate - GMTV

►February 4, 2008 - Autism families finding relief - The News-Herald

* ►February 4, 2008 - Pill Push Rage - Pol Wants Probe - New York Post - "A key New York state senator demanded yesterday that top health and mental-health officials explain why the Medicaid program has been paying for tens of thousands of children to receive psychiatric drugs that have not been FDA-approved for kids. Thomas Morahan (R-Rockland), chairman of the senate's Committee on Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities, said he was stunned by a Sunday Post report that the state Medicaid program spent $82.8 million on powerful antipsychotics, anticonvulsants and antidepressants for children under 18 in 2006 - a sum up nearly $15 million since 2004."

* ►February 4, 2008 - SpotLight: Babies die for want of vaccine - Seoul: Another disease that can be prevented. Yet, it rears its ugly head all around the world, killing 1.6 million adults and children every year. - The New Straits Times

* ►February 4, 2008 - Congressman Wants Probe Into Med Guides - Pharmalot - "The new two-page guide offers a more generalized alert for children, teenagers and young adults - the populations for which Black Box warnings were issued. But some specifics in the earlier guide are missing or condensed, and the emphasis that was initially placed on children is no longer there. (Old and new guides). The differences drew a sharp response from Mike Ferguson, a Republican congressman from New Jersey, who accused the agency of taking a step “backwards” and putting children at risk. So he sent a letter to the FDA and demanded the agency scrap the new guide and ensure the older version is distributed. Last week, Ferguson received a reply - and he’s not pleased. That’s because the FDA isn’t budging. “There is always a tension between presenting very extensive information and focusing on the most critical points,” writes Steve Mason, an acting assistant FDA commissioner for legislation."

* ►February 4, 2008 - Bird flu panic in Ctg as dead crows test positive - The Daly Commercial Times via Independent Bangladesh

* ►February 4, 2008 - The New Plagues - Why 'superbugs,' TB, leprosy and other pestilences are invading U.S. - WorldNetDaily

* ►February 4, 2008 - Mercury fears stall planned crematorium - The Denver Post

* ►February 4, 2008 - Peter Rost Vs. Pfizer: The Evidence Comes In - Pharmalot - "In his filing, Rost cites approximately 200 instances in Indiana which Genotropin, a human growth hormone, was marketed by Pharmacia (which was bought by Pfizer) for unapproved uses, such as combating aging in adults and treating short stature in children."

* ►February 4, 2008 - Deirdre Imus helps schools go green - USA Today

* ►February 4, 2008 - Lilly's Monthly Zyprexa Causes Sleepiness, FDA Says - Bloomberg

►February 4, 2008 - FDA Raises Concerns About Experimental Form of Eli Lilly Drug - Inside INdiana Business - "The Food and Drug Administration says an injectable form of Zyprexa helps treat schizophrenia, but can cause severe drowsiness in some patients. A federal hearing will be held this week to discuss whether the long-acting version of the drug from Indianapolis-based Eli Lilly is safe."

* ►February 4, 2008 - 'Hollywood On the Hill' - A Red Carpet Event on Capitol Hill Raises Awareness for Cervical Cancer Prevention and HPV-Related Technologies - press release - National Council of Women's Organizations (NCWO) via PRNewswire

►February 4, 2008 - Penn doctor works to stop global threats one disease at a time - Harvey Rubin helped develop International Compact for Infectious Diseases with ISTAR - The Daily Pennsylvanian

►February 4, 2008 - Japanese encephalitis? No thanks - Steamboat Pilot & Today

►February 4, 2008 - Pfizer gives $1 million to B.C. researchers - Investment will launch fund to get newly discovered drugs from the lab bench to the patient's bedside faster - The Vancouver Sun

►February 4, 2008 - Drug makers worry over compulsory licensing - The pressure by Indian peers in the absence of a national emergency is questioned by global pharma companies - livemint The Wall Street Journal

►February 4, 2008 - Schering says its drug subdues AIDS virus - The Boston Globe

►February 4, 2008 - President's FY 2009 Budget Advances Food and Medical Product Safety, and the Safety of FDA-Regulated Imports - FDA

►February 4, 2008 - Saudi giants to invest in energy, steel and pharmaceutical sectors - Business Recorder, Pakistan

►February 4, 2008 - Mobile phones, coffee get cancer all-clear - Perth West Australian

►February 4, 2008 - What's Behind the Organic Milk Label? - Many people now choose organic milk, but there are some problems with the USDA organic certification. - The Environmental Report

►February 4, 2008 - Immune system vital ally in cancer battle - The London Free Press

►February 4, 2008 - The Miracle Mouse That Could Cure Our Sniffles - Evening Standard via This is London

►February 4, 2008 - Cold sores have genetic link, study says - The Daily Utah Chronicle

* ►February 4, 2008 - Potentially Harmful Chemical in Baby Products - Phthalates May Be Common in Baby Products; Some Health Experts Worried - ABC News

* ►February 4, 2008 - Conflict of Interest in American Academy of Pediatrics Report - Dr. Sheela Sathyanarayana Fails to Disclose Political Activism - press release - Center for Individual Freedom via PRNewswire-USNewswire - "While there are numerous questions about the methodology and the assumptions made in Dr. Sathyanarayana's study, CFIF is most concerned about her failure to disclose her leadership role in an organization working to ban the use of phthalates."

* ►February 3, 2008 - When Drug Trials Go Wrong - No Recourse for Mrs Davenport - Alliance for Human Research Protection - "The WSJ reports that before Suzanne Davenport, aged 71, entered a clinical trial testing a drug for Parkinson's disease, she could drive, cook and care for herself. Within months, she was wheelchair-bound and living in a nursing home."

* ►February 3, 2008 - ECT - "Penicillin of Psychiatry" - Review of Shorter and Healy - Alliance for Human Research Protection

* ►February 3, 2008 - Informed consent for ECT - Testimony of Professor Peter Sterling - Alliance for Human Research Protection

►February 3, 2008 - Internet gene tests provoke alarm - Biotechnology checks for bipolar depression and schizophrenia will soon be sold over the web, despite warnings from leading psychologists - The Observer via The Guardian, UK

►February 3, 2008 - New rule for new light bulbs - Union Leader

* ►February 3, 2008 - Doctors fail to report a fifth of infectious diseases - The Post, Ireland

* ►February 3, 2008 - Vitamin D: If You Can't Get It From Sun, Take The Pill - The Huffington Post

* ►February 3, 2008 - Ministers back fluoride in water - Health Secretary Alan Johnson is to call this week for fluoride to be added to Britain's water supplies. - BBC

* ►February 3, 2008 - Think again on ADHD - experts - Stimulant drugs can no longer be considered the mainstay of treatment for hyperactivity disorders, warns an Australian psychiatrist who is urging doctors to review their patients' need for the controversial medications. - The Daily Telegraph, AU

►February 3, 2008 - Deadly infections are racing ahead of antibiotics - San Francisco Chronicle via StiNews

►February 3, 2008 - Report: U.S. falling short on TB battle - A new report said the United States is falling short of its benchmark goal of eliminating tuberculosis as a public health problem by 2010. - Physorg

►February 3, 2008 - Bug slime's surprising effect on disease - New Scientist

►February 3, 2008 - Element in lotions may enter babies' skin - Researchers suggest avoiding use of products - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

►February 3, 2008 - Are FEMA homes sickening residents? - A local couple's experience raises questions about health risks in mobile homes and trailers provided by the federal agency. - Star Tribune

►February 3, 2008 - Floating rubbish dump in Pacific Ocean 'bigger than US' - It has been described as the world's largest rubbish dump, or the Pacific plastic soup, and it is starting to alarm scientists. It is a vast area of floating plastic debris. - Courier Mail

►February 3, 2008 - BiolineRX drug produces good results in clinical trial - The treatment did not display significant side effects that are associated with other schizophrenia drugs. - Globes Online

►February 3, 2008 - Nose to brain is a promising path in Alzheimer's fight - The Pioneer Press

►February 3, 2008 - Putting clocks forward has ‘enormous impact’ on health - The Sunday Herald

* ►February 2, 2008 - Glaxo Wins Paxil Suicide Case Due To Preemption - Pharmalot

►February 2, 2008 - Essential Pieces helps parents of autistic kids handle stress - The Winchester Star

►February 2, 2008 - MRI predicts development delay - New techniques mean tailored treatments for premature babies. Andrea Krieger's son Angus faced tough odds when he was was born 15 weeks early five years ago. Sophisticated medical interventions over the past two decades have dramatically increased survival rates for very premature babies. - The Australian

►February 2, 2008 - Is autoimmunity like cancer? (requires registration)- The Scientist

* ►February 2, 2008 - Baby Care Products: Possible Sources of Infant Phthalate Exposure - journal article (Pediatrics)

►February 1, 2008 - French Judges Probe Firms Over Vaccinations: Source (requires registration) - Reuters via Medscape

* ►February 1, 2008 - Vaccine seizure exposes racket - The Telegraph, India

* ►February 1, 2008 - Chantix And Suicide: The Latest Numbers - Pharmalot

►February 1, 2008 - Do Viruses Cause Inner Ear Disturbances? - journal article (Journal for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology and Its Related Specialties)

* ►February 2008 - Serotype-Specific and Age-Dependent Generation of Pneumococcal Polysaccharide-Specific Memory B-Cell and Antibody Responses to Immunization with a Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine - journal article (Clinical and Vaccine Immunology)

* ►February 2008 - 4. Gastrointestinal mucosal immunity - journal article (Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology)

* ►January 31, 2008 - Vical Expands Portfolio of CMV Vaccine Technologies Through License Agreement With the Wistar Institute Vaccines - Vical via Hoovers

►January 31, 2008 - Wyeth Profit Gains; Generics Dim Outlook, Force Cuts (Update2) - Bloomberg - `Wyeth's solid net revenue growth is driven by Enbrel and Prevnar,'' said Barbara Ryan, an analyst with Deutsche Bank in Greenwich, Connecticut, in a note to clients. ``But over the longer term, growth will moderate given the modest commercial prospects for most of Wyeth's late-stage drug pipeline.''

►January 31, 2008 - Environmental Epigenetics Has Potential for Preventing and Treating Disease - Blackwell Publishing Ltd. via Biocompare

►January 31, 2008 - ABC'S Autism Outrage - New York Post

* ►January 30, 2008 - 60,000 Students Receive Voluntary Flu Vaccination - KITV Honolulu - "The state sponsored more than 600 school-based clinics. Students were given the option of the painless flu mist or the traditional flu shot."

►January 30, 2008 - Taking hormones out of the water - US researchers have developed a method of treating waste water that is effective in stripping out hormonal compounds thought to arise from the use and manufacturing of contraceptives and other pharmaceutical and industrial products. - in-Pharmatechnologist.com

►January 29, 2008 - A Young Valley Boy Dies of Meningitis (includes video) - ABC 30

►January 29, 2008 - Statement of Andrew C. von Eschenbach, M.D. Commissioner of Food and Drugs Food and Drug Administration - Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations U.S. House of Representatives - FDA

►January 28, 2008 - Prescription Drug Habit Hard To Kick - The Peoples Pharmacy

►January 2008 - Long-term Efficacy of ADHD Pharmacotherapy in Children - journal article (Psychiatric Annals)

►January 2008 - Safety and Efficacy of Psychosocial Interventions Used to Treat Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder - journal article (Psychiatric Annals)

►January 2008 - Now Is the Time for Pharmacy Performance Incentives - We’ve made strides in increasing the transparency of pricing in the pharmacy supply chain, and now we need to change dispensing behavior - Managed Care Magazine

* ►TOXIC CHILDREN, TOXIC LIES RALLY - Moms Against Mercury - "Please join Moms Against Mercury with the support of TACA Chicago Chapter and NAA Chicago Chapter, at the “Toxic Children, Toxic Lies Rally” at the American Academy of Pediatrics Headquarters in Chicago, Illinois.  Who: Moms Against Mercury along with many supporting organizations. Please see complete list below. What: Rally in front of the National AAP office. Where: 141 NW Point Blvd., Elk Grove Village, Illinois (suburb of Chicago) When: Wednesday, February 20th at 7:00 a.m. We will gather at the Sheraton Hotel lobby next door to the AAP building at 7:00 a.m. and then walk over to the AAP building at 7:15 a.m."

* ►February 4, 2008 - Adults not receiving enough vaccines, CDC says - Nurse from health services says students need more immunizations, discusses options - N.C. State University Technician Online

►February 4, 2008 - Exchequer to cough up an extra Rs500m - The News - International - Pakistan - "The government will pay an additional Rs500 million out of the taxpayers’ money this year to buy preventive vaccines for children under its Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI), which is mandated to provide free vaccination against seven deadly childhood diseases."

* ►February 4, 2008 - GSK's US vaccine launch in doubt - Financial Times - "Investors will seek guidance from Mr Garnier, who will retire in May, on how quickly GSK can answer questions from the US Food & Drug Administration on Cervarix, its potential blockbuster vaccine to protect against cervical cancer."

* ►February 4, 2008 - Good Health Is Bad for Business - When Consumers Don't Sneeze, K-C and Other Tissue, Medicine Manufacturers Catch Cold (Sales) - Advertising Age - "'Unfortunately, people have not been getting sick at a rate we would all like yet,' P&G Chairman-CEO A.G. Lafley joked on the company's Jan. 31 conference call with analysts."

►February 4, 2008 - Bird flu virus can’t survive traditional cooking: doctors - The News - International - Pakistan

►February 4, 2008 - Culling teams back sans Tamiflu dosage - Expressindia

►February 4, 2008 - Differences in flu protocols hamper Gai - Champion trainer Gai Waterhouse has savaged government authorities over the protocols put in place to facilitate the transfer of horses between NSW and Victoria following last year's equine influenza outbreak, which will grossly limit her participation at Victoria's autumn festival. - The Australian

►February 4, 2008 - ANU, China team up to fight bird flu - Australian National University researchers are joining forces with scientists in China to find treatments for avian influenza. - www.abc.net.au

►February 4, 2008 - Government weighs flu compensation - Times of India

* ►February 3, 2008 - Parents question ruling on vaccines - Today's Sunbeam via www.nj.com - "If they (parents) refuse, we counsel the parent. The refusal of vaccinations is a red flag for improper parenting and if it is determined there is bad parenting we will call DYFS."

* ►February 3, 2008 - Blood pressure vaccine maybe on way - USA Today - "Vaccinating someone against a chronic illness, rather than an infectious disease like measles, isn't as farfetched as it sounds. Many researchers at Cytos and elsewhere view vaccines as potential low-cost treatments for a variety of ailments, ranging from arthritis to cancer, from smoking to psoriasis, from asthma to Alzheimer's disease. How would it work? The 'trick,' says Martin Bachmann, Cytos' chief scientific officer, is to pick a likely target for vaccination — usually a protein that plays a key role in causing the disease — and 'make it look like a virus.'"

* ►February 3, 2008 - Autism, Serious Scientists and the Wackosphere by Mark Blaxill - Age of Autism

* ►February 3, 2008 - Another Look At How IP and Wong Went Wrong by Mark Blaxill - Age of Autism

* ►February 3, 2008 - Confronting the rise in autism cases - letter - Berkshire Eagle

* ►February 3, 2008 - Concord, other schools have dealt with mercury - WVU, MU, Tech, more have removed contaminant from science buildings - Charleston Gazette - "Earlier this month, the school in Athens, Mercer County, contracted with Clean Harbor, an environmental and hazardous waste management company based in Norwell, Mass., to dispose of the mercury, Rowe said. 'It's mostly low levels, but it's detectable. When you detect it, you have to clean it,' he said. 'The levels we are finding are about one microgram or less ... [the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health] recommends that the residential cleanup level be one microgram or less.'"

* ►February 3, 2008 - Jenny McCarthy Honored For Efforts Towards Autism - Access Hollywood

* ►February 3, 2008 - Autism hits home - As sextuplets achieve milestones, mom notices one boy lags behind - Akron Beacon Journal via www.ohio.com

►February 3, 2008 - This is your brain on a new track - book reviews (requires registration) - Boston Globe

►February 3, 2008 - Anglers’ mercury levels not bad - Cumberland Times-News

* ►February 3, 2008 - FDA caution, 'research drought' cuts drug approvals - USA Today

* ►February 3, 2008 - Condition critical at the FDA - editorial (requires registration) - Boston Globe

* ►February 3, 2008 - Pitting science, security - UT Southwestern has never had breach with ricin research, but some calling for more safeguards (requires registration or subscription) - The Dallas Morning News

►February 3, 2008 - Island rotarian meets Bill Gates - Dorset Echo

►February 3, 2008 - Museum tackles diseases, climate change and much more - The Washington Post via Salt Lake Tribune - "Other parts of the exhibit illustrate the importance of vaccinations for once-common childhood diseases such as measles and polio, and interactive demonstrations of the effects of lagging vaccination rates. It is a timely reminder at a time when some parents are eschewing recommended childhood immunizations on the grounds that they are 'unnatural' or based on the unproven belief, widely circulated on the Internet, that they trigger autism."

* ►February 3, 2008 - New Flu Strain Not Covered By Vaccine (includes video) - WRIC Richmond

* ►February 3, 2008 - Flu Season Turns Up the Misery in Region, Doctors Say (requires registration) - Washington Post - "This season, health officials are tracking a small but surprising rise in the resistance of this winter's main flu virus to the medication most commonly prescribed to prevent influenza from spreading. The CDC found 6.7 percent of HN1 viruses resistant to oseltamivir, brand name Tamiflu, which is approved for everyone more than a year old. (Several European countries have detected the same problem, with Norway reporting resistant strains in 75 percent of influenza A viruses analyzed.)"

►February 3, 2008 - New mutant flu strain is showing resistance to drug - The Province via Canada.com

►February 3, 2008 - Bird flu scare in Assam, 85,000 poultry being culled - Indo-Asian News Service via Hindustan Times

►February 3, 2008 - Bird flu scare: 50,000 birds to be culled in Kokrajhar, Assam - PTI via Times of India

►February 3, 2008 - Influenza Virus In Norway Resistant Against Oseltamivir (Tamiflu(R)) - Medical News Today

►February 3, 2008 - New bird flu case detected in chickens in Turkish village - AP via International Herald Tribune

►February 3, 2008 - Control of Equine Influenza Requires Diligence - TheHorse.com

►February 3, 2008 - Bird flu virus sends Bangladesh on high alert - The Ministry of Health in Bangladesh after a bird flu case was confirmed in Karachi. - NewsOXY

►February 3, 2008 - Dominican officials detect second batch of avian flu cases - AP via The Hindu

►February 3, 2008 - Turkey detects bird flu virus in poultry - Reuters

►February 3, 2008 - Thailand to closely monitor bird flu for another 3 months - Xinhua via China View

►February 3, 2008 - Travel health: Clinics short on yellow-fever vaccine - Seattle Times

►February 3, 2008 - More details on who should get shingles vaccine - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

►February 3, 2008 - McFarland teen battles Meningitis - KGET 17

►February 3, 2008 - Keeping it clean, safe for patients - Nurse credited for new system that prevents bloodstream infections (requires registration) - Sacramento Bee

►February 3, 2008 - Outside expert will review Shands' internal fungal investigation - Gainesville Sun - "An outside expert in pediatric infectious disease has been chosen to review the findings of an investigation into a cluster of fungal infections that developed in a group of young cancer patients being treated last summer and fall at Shands AGH."

►February 3, 2008 - Medical mystery - Morgellons dismissed as mental; sufferers claim itching, fatigue - Washington Post via The Journal Gazette

►February 3, 2008 - Anthrax symptoms found in sheep - Newindpress

►February 3, 2008 - Four persons die of suspected anthrax in Orissa - Times of India

►February 3, 2008 - Timing Is Everything When Using IL-7 To Boost Antiviral Immunity - Journal of Clinical Investigation, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS via ScienceDaily

►February 3, 2008 - Herbal drug Silymarin does not affect hepatitis C virus, ALT levels - Thaindian News

►February 3, 2008 - Marigold therapy shows promise to treat foot problems in HIV patients - ANI via Thaindian News

►February 3, 2008 - Circumcising Men Slows Herpes Spread, May Reduce HIV Risk - Bloomberg

►February 3, 2008 - Zambia: Depo Provera Does Not Contain HIV - Chituwo - The Times of Zambia (Ndola) via http://allafrica.com

►February 3, 2008 - Live vaccine to help control Newcastle Disease in poultry - FarmersWeekly, UK

* ►February 3, 2008 - Nonprofit finds big problems in kids' products - Oakland Tribune via Inside Bay Area

* ►February 2, 2008 - Study doesn't show mercury-laced vaccines are safe - http://foodconsumer.org

* ►February 2, 2008 - Lilly - Settlement Talks With U.S - But what about the death toll? - Alliance for Human Research Protection

* ►February 2, 2008 - Aachoo! Flu season is upon us - The Muskegon Chronicle via www.mlive.com - "Dr. Douglas Hoch, medical director for the Muskegon County Health Department, said there are signs this season's influenza vaccine is not very effective against one of three strains of influenza that are prevalent this year. That strain of influenza, H3N1, tends to cause more severe symptoms, he said. 'The real story this year is the flu vaccine -- it turned out to be a pretty bad match for (preventing) the H3N1 strain,' Hoch said. 'In terms of H3N1, people are on their own.'"

►February 2, 2008 - Mapping the future - Ring vaccination, zoning, compartmentalisation - experts point at ways to stop the bird flu from spreading - Financial Express

►February 2, 2008 - Flu cases increasing across the state - Jacksonville Daily Progress

►February 2, 2008 - Cracking The Code Of Bird Flu Time Bomb - Griffith University via ScienceDaily

* ►February 2, 2008 - Influenza hits senior citizen residences - Windsor Star via Canada.com - "'We are pleased to say that most of the long-term care facilities have a rate of over 90 per cent of residents who've been immunized against the flu,' she said. However, 'even if the individual has been immunized -- and we see it in the elderly -- sometimes the vaccine isn't as effective.  But the flu may not be as severe.'"

►February 2, 2008 - Disease low on Canuck fears: Survey - Winnipeg Sun - "Fewer than half of Canadians think a pandemic disease outbreak is likely in the next five years, and only one in 10 has drawn up any sort of emergency plan for how their family would cope if one occurred."

►February 2, 2008 - Care center recognized for immunization work - Huntington Herald-Dispatch - "The Lincoln Primary Care Center was recently recognized for its efforts to increase immunization rates."

►February 2, 2008 - Study shows few adults get recommended vaccines - San Bernardino Sun

►February 2, 2008 - With regards to health care - Denver YourHub.com

►February 2, 2008 - Possible measles outbreak for Sydney - AAP via The Age

►February 2, 2008 - BMJ Advertising Watch : 02 February 2008 - Scientific Misconduct Blog

►February 2, 2008 - The autism void: Too little knowledge can be a dangerous thing - editorial (requires registration or subscription) - Dallas Morning News

►February 2, 2008 - How can it be that health insurance doesn't cover autism? - letter - Arizona Republic

►February 2, 2008 - Taylor Crowe to speak on autism at SEMO - Southeast Missourian

* ►February 1, 2008 - King & Spalding Earns Victory in Products Liability Case for GlaxoSmithKline - California District Court Case Dismissed on Preemption Grounds - press release - King & Spalding via Business Wire - "King & Spalding, a leading international law firm, has earned a significant victory for client GlaxoSmithKline (“GSK”) in a products liability case. On January 30, a federal district judge granted summary judgment in O’Neal v. SmithKline Beecham d/b/a GlaxoSmithKline and dismissed, with prejudice, all claims made by the plaintiff in a case involving the 1997 suicide of a 13 year-old. This is the fourth major win in a series of victories over the past several months regarding suits filed against the drug manufacturer of the antidepressant drug Paxil."

* ►February 1, 2008 - Our view on your health: Drugmakers' foot-dragging keeps key data under wraps - USA Today via Yahoo! - "Four years ago, the handling of two studies of a popular antidepressant opened a window on a dirty little secret in the drug industry. Sometimes, the industry buries the results of trials that might hurt profits."

* ►February 1, 2008 - Opposing view: 'We acted in good faith' - opinion - USA Today via Yahoo! - "With respect to Zetia and Vytorin, and the results of a much-publicized study called ENHANCE, we believe we have met those tests. Merck and Schering-Plough acted with integrity and good faith in the conduct of the ENHANCE trial."

►February 1, 2008 - HIV therapy does not eliminate transmission risk-WHO - Reuters South Africa

►February 1, 2008 - UVa Influenza Outbreak- Are You Protected? (includes video) - www.charlottesvillenewsplex.tv

►January 31, 2008 - Thimerosal Vaccine Proved Safe - eNews 2.0

►January 31, 2008 - Activists angry judge wanted HIV witness to don mask - Global National via Canwest News Service via Canada.com

* ►January 28, 2008 - Buying a Cure - What business know-how can do for disease. - The New Yorker

►January 22, 2008 - Most vaccines are safe, effective and necessary - Asbury Park Press

►January 22, 2008 - First defense - Handwashing should be as often and thorough as a surgeon scrubbing in for an operation - Home News Tribune

* ►January 2008 - Ethylmercury and breastfeeding as confounders in outcomes of functional programming: Where are they? (full text) - journal article (Reproductive Toxicology)

* ►January 2008 - Methylmercury toxicity and functional programming (full text) - journal article (Reproductive Toxicology)

►January 2008 - Effect of vitamins C and E on spermatogenesis in mice exposed to cadmium - journal article (Reproductive Toxicology)

►January 2008 - Reproductive disorders among male and female greenhouse workers (full text) (pdf) - journal article (Reproductive Toxicology)

►January 2008 - Iodide concentrations in matched maternal serum, cord serum, and amniotic fluid from preterm and term human pregnancies (full text) (pdf) - journal article (Reproductive Toxicology)

* ►January 2008 - Science in the Courtroom - Examining Standards for Litigation-Based Research - Environmental Health Perspectives

►January 2008 - Preface: Science for Regulation and Litigation - Environmental Health Perspectives

►January 2008 - Litigation-Generated Science: Why Should We Care? - Environmental Health Perspectives

►January 2008 - Representation and Re-Presentation in Litigation Science - Environmental Health Perspectives

►January 2008 - Conflicting Views on Chemical Carcinogenesis Arising from the Design and Evaluation of Rodent Carcinogenicity Studies - Environmental Health Perspectives

* ►March 2008 - Medication safety messages for patients via the web portal: The MedCheck intervention - journal article (International Journal of Medical Informatics)

►March 2008 - Review of the Literature: Integrating Psychoneuroimmunology into Pediatric Chronic Illness Interventions - journal article (Journal of Pediatric Psychology)

►March 2008 - Associations among central nervous, endocrine, and immune activities when positive emotions are elicited by looking at a favorite person - journal article (Brain, Behavior, and Immunity)

►March 2008 - The Role of Parental Coping in Children with Asthma's Psychological Well-being and Asthma-related Quality of Life - journal article (Journal of Pediatric Psychology)

►February/March 2008 - Pathogenesis of the antiphospholipid syndrome: An additional example of the mosaic of autoimmunity (full text) - journal article (Journal of Autoimmunity)

►February/March 2008 - The curiously suspicious: Infectious disease may ameliorate an ongoing autoimmune destruction in systemic lupus erythematosus patients (full text) - journal article (Journal of Autoimmunity)

* ►February 13, 2008 - Serum IgG antibody response to the protective antigen (PA) of Bacillus anthracis induced by anthrax vaccine adsorbed (AVA) among U.S. military personnel - journal article (Vaccine)

* ►February 13, 2008 - Development and characterization of a live attenuated influenza B virus vaccine candidate - journal article (Vaccine)

* ►February 13, 2008 - Immune responses to the smallpox vaccine given in combination with ST-246, a small-molecule inhibitor of poxvirus dissemination - journal article (Vaccine)

* ►February 13, 2008 - CpG motif-based adjuvant as a replacement for Freund's complete adjuvant in a recombinant LHRH vaccine - journal article (Vaccine)

►February 13, 2008 - Evaluation of the Langat/dengue 4 chimeric virus as a live attenuated tick-borne encephalitis vaccine for safety and immunogenicity in healthy adult volunteers - journal article (Vaccine)

►February 11, 2008 - Delaying Diabetes - Can doctors do better than just treat childhood diabetes? Can they prevent it? - Forbes

* ►February 4, 2008 - Drugs, danger walk a thin line (requires registration or subscription) - A wrong combination of prescription pills, over-the-counter aids, supplements or drink can harm or be lethal. - Los Angeles Times

* ►February 3, 2008 - The FDA in Crisis: It Needs More Money and Talent - editorial (requires registration) - The New York Times

* ►February 3, 2008 - The FDA in Crisis: Another Danger Made in China - editorial -(requires registration) - New York Times - "The contamination of a drug used to treat Chinese leukemia patients should also raise alarms at multinational pharmaceutical companies that plan to outsource manufacturing to China. There is no sign that the leukemia drug was exported to the United States. So far, some 200 people in China appear to have been paralyzed or otherwise harmed. Given the manufacturer’s expanding role in the export of drugs and active ingredients around the world, the lax practices revealed could sooner or later harm patients virtually anywhere."

* ►February 2, 2008 - Cervix-cancer virus leaps across genders - Journal of Clinical Oncology via AP via The Arizona Daily Star - "Experts say a primary reason for male vaccinations would be to prevent men from spreading the virus and help reduce the nearly 12,000 cases of cervical cancer diagnosed in U.S. women each year. But the new study should add to the argument that there may be a direct benefit for men, too."

* ►February 2, 2008 - U.S. Flu Outbreak Plan Criticized - It Does Not Anticipate Strain on Hospitals, Local Health Officials Say - The Washington Post

* ►February 2, 2008 - Flu takes it easy on county's public school students - www.islandpacket.com - "Flu season can last until as late as April. Flu vaccinations still are available through June at doctors' offices and DHEC."

* ►February 2, 2008 - Day Eighteen Autism Omnibus Proceeding - Day of the Doctors – Day Eighteen of the Autism Omnibus Proceeding – Snyder v. the Secretary of Health and Human Services by Kent Heckenlively, Esq. - Age of Autism

* ►February 2, 2008 - Controversy over vaccine-autism link endures - CTV

* ►February 2, 2008 - Eli Stone’s Overleap of Faith (requires registration) - The New York Times - "The American Academy of Pediatrics tried unsuccessfully to get the episode canceled, fearing that it could deter parents from getting their children vaccinated, exposing them to far greater dangers from disease.  Let’s hope that any parents who watched don’t make that mistake. And let’s hope that in future episodes, Eli Stone and ABC show better judgment in picking causes."

►February 2, 2008 - ‘When 10 ml Hepatitis B-Vaccine was sold at Rs 1000 in Kashmir’ - Crime Branch registers cases against Health Department - GreaterKashmir.com

►February 2, 2008 - No human case of avian influenza reported - Associated Press of Pakistan

►February 2, 2008 - Pakistan confirms bird flu at Karachi farms - Sify News

►February 2, 2008 - Indian state says bird flu under control, Bangladesh reports spread - AFP via Google

►February 2, 2008 - Indian Officials Wrap up Efforts to Bring Bird Flu Under Control - Voice of America

►February 2, 2008 - UCF student with meningitis out of hospital - Orlando Sentinel

* ►February 2, 2008 - Sports team immunized after teen contracts hepatitis A - Kamloops Daily News via Vancouver Sun via Canada.com

* ►February 2, 2008 - Parents weigh in on their opinions of the HPV vaccine - Appleton Post-Crescent

►February 2, 2008 - Males May Also Benefit From HPV Vaccination - Journal of Clinical Oncology via Virginian-Pilot via RedOrbit

►February 2, 2008 - Genesis Of Adult Leukemia Being Mapped - Medical News Today

►February 2, 2008 - FDA says ‘Send in the Clones' - Bismarck Farm & Ranch Guide

* ►February 2, 2008 - Radiation fear on mobiles - Western Mail via icWales - "Fresh fears about the safety of mobile phones have surfaced after France warned children not to use them to make long calls. In the first explicit advice of its kind in the Western world, the French government said children should not spend more than six minutes talking on a mobile phone. An accompanying television broadcast demonstrated how far radiation from the phones is able to penetrate into the brain."

►February 2, 2008 - Proposed Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Program Philosophy and Mission - RM Global Health

►February 2, 2008 - Zyprexa called on for more - Lilly expecting FDA approval of long-acting version of drug - Indianapolis Business Journal

►February 2, 2008 - Web Special: Diabetes drug and conflicts of interest - Science News

►February 2, 2008 - Is Our Fear of Germs Bad for Our Health? - The chemical industry has helped fortify our homes against microbial invasion. But is our fear of germs making us even sicker? - AlterNet

►February 2, 2008 - Medicine or make-believe? - Wisconsin State Journal

►February 2, 2008 - 110th birthday a celebration of pediatrician's healthy habits - To live that long, doctor says take care of yourself - OnlineAthens

►February 2, 2008 - Getting Old, Faster and Faster - The world population is aging fast, but is still younger than we tend to think - Science News

►February 2, 2008 - From the January 29, 1938, issue - Science News

* ►February 1, 2008 - Two drug firms charged in France over hepatitis vaccine - AFP via Google - "Lawyer Bernard Fau representing Desainquentin's family and other victims expressed satisfaction with the decision to press charges, saying 'this supports our theory that the recommended use of the vaccination was not in line with the real risks'....A total of 29 victims have filed suit including five who claim the vaccine caused the death of a family member."

* ►February 1, 2008 - Influenza Vaccine in Pregnancy Part 2 - Sponsored by: St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto www.clinicaltrials.gov - "Pregnant women have limited knowledge regarding influenza, its implications during pregnancy, and recommendations for vaccination during pregnancy. The researchers plan to distribute an information pamphlet to women in a prenatal clinic, offer the vaccine during prenatal visits, and then give a questionnaire on the postpartum floor assessing knowledge."

* ►February 1, 2008 - Phase I Safety and Immunogenicity Study of VAX102 [Flagellin.HuM2e] Influenza Vaccine in Healthy Adults - Sponsors and Collaborators: VaxInnate Corporation Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation  www.clinicaltrials.gov

* ►February 1, 2008 - Immunogenicity and Safety of Fractional Doses of IPV Intradermally vs Full Doses Intramuscularly - Sponsored by: Sanofi-Aventis www.clinicaltrials.gov

* ►February 1, 2008 - Safety and Tolerability of a Cell-Derived Influenza Vaccine in Healthy Adults Aged ≥18 Years and ≤ 49 Years. - Sponsored by: Solvay Pharmaceuticals www.clinicaltrials.gov

* ►February 1, 2008 - Intussusception and Lower Respiratory Tract-Related Infant Mortality Surveillance After Rotarix Introduction in Mexico - Sponsored by: GlaxoSmithKline www.clinicaltrials.gov

* ►February 1, 2008 - Study to Show That the Combined Hepatitis A and B Vaccine is Non-Inferior to Monovalent Vaccines in Adults - Sponsored by: GlaxoSmithKline www.clinicaltrials.gov

* ►February 1, 2008 - Year 2 Extension for Efficacy Follow-up in Subjects Vaccinated in Study Rota-037 - Sponsors and Collaborators: GlaxoSmithKline World Health Organization www.clinicaltrials.gov

* ►February 1, 2008 - Evaluation of Meningococcal ACWY Immune Response in Children Aged 40 and 60 Months - Sponsors and Collaborators: Novartis Vaccines www.clinicaltrials.gov

* ►February 1, 2008 - Cross-protection by MF59™-adjuvanted influenza vaccine: Neutralizing and haemagglutination-inhibiting antibody activity against A(H3N2) drifted influenza viruses - journal article (Vaccine)

* ►February 1, 2008 - The future of best investing in vaccines: The Health Technology Assessment approach - journal article (Vaccine)

* ►February 1, 2008 - Antibody and Safety Study of 5 Doses of NicVAX in Smokers - Sponsored by: Nabi Biopharmaceuticals www.clinicaltrials.gov

* ►February 1, 2008 - Safety of and Immune Response to the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine in HIV Infected Women - Sponsors and Collaborators: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) www.clinicaltrials.gov

* ►February 1, 2008 - A Phase I Study to Evaluate the Safety and Immunogenicity of an Ebola DNA Plasmid Vaccine, VRC-EBODNA023-00-VP, and a Marburg DNA Plasmid Vaccine, VRC-MARDNA025-00-VP, in Healthy Adults - Sponsored by: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) www.clinicaltrials.gov

* ►February 1, 2008 - Phase II Study of Immunization With a Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Antigen Peptide Vaccine - Sponsored by: Intercell AG www.clinicaltrials.gov

* ►February 1, 2008 - Canadian Manufactured Tetanus and Diphtheria Toxoids Adsorbed (Td) Vaccine Compared With U.S. Manufactured Td - Sponsored by: Sanofi-Aventis www.clinicaltrials.gov

* ►February 1, 2008 - Immunizing shots coming to schools - The Chatham Daily News - "This March, registered nurses from the Chatham-Kent Public Health will visit all the high schools in Chatham-Kent giving shots to eligible students. The two vaccines that will be mainly used are Adacel and NeisVac-C."

* ►February 1, 2008 - Big Pharma, With Me, has Friends in Washington: Ann Woolner - Bloomberg - "So the FDA is proposing a regulation that says companies must wait for the FDA to re-do the label. The proposal ``will serve only to deprive American consumers of critically important and timely information about the safety of their drugs and medical devices,'' the chairmen of eight congressional committees wrote FDA Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach last week. It took 14 months for the FDA to work out a new label for Vioxx, during which time patients continued to take it, unaware of the risk of heart attacks."

* ►February 1, 2008 - Wise Parents Make Sure Their Children Have Their Vaccinations - And Response (3) - Chattanoogan.com - "No one at the CDC or FDA verifies that thimerosal is actually been reduced in all vaccines; we are just supposed to take the vaccine makers' word for it. In addition, the flu shot is now recommended for babies as young as six months and for pregnant women at all stages of pregnancy. Ninety percent of the flu vaccine available contains a horrendous level of mercury."

* ►February 1, 2008 - Opening of controversial biolab delayed - Boston Herald

* ►February 1, 2008 - Thailand May Face Sanctions As Pharma Lobbies - Pharmalot

* ►February 1, 2008 - CDC Pins Name on Slaughterhouse Illness - AP - "The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a report Thursday summarizing the investigation so far that gives the condition a name — progressive inflammatory neuropathy."

* ►February 1, 2008 - Carrington Settles Lawsuit, Sets Sights On Future - Carrington Laboratories via PRNewswire-FirstCall via CNN Money - "This is a very exciting time for us," Dr. Turner said. "Last month DelSite announced the successful completion and results of preclinical toxicology studies of the GelVac(TM) nasal powder influenza vaccine under FDA-reviewed protocols. This clears our path to proceed to a Phase I clinical trial in humans later this year. We are, in fact, awaiting arrival of the H5N1 antigen and are fully prepared to manufacture the vaccine for clinical testing upon its arrival. This vaccin