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Study backs flu vaccinations for elderly

Study backs flu vaccinations for elderly

A new study of the records of millions of nursing home residents affirms the value of influenza vaccination among the elderly. The Brown University analysis found that between 2000 and 2009, the better matched the vaccine was for the influenza strain going around, the fewer nursing home residents died or were hospitalized. Although flu vaccination […]

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School vacations and humidity linked to multiple waves of influenza in Mexico during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic

School vacations and humidity linked to multiple waves of influenza in Mexico during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic

Scientists studying the 2009 A/H1N1 influenza pandemic have found that the inconsistent regional timing of pandemic waves in Mexico was the result of interactions between school breaks and regional variations in humidity. The research published in PLOS Computational Biology, led by Dr. James Tamerius at the University of Iowa and Dr. Gerardo Chowell at Georgia […]

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The global cost of unsafe abortion

The global cost of unsafe abortion

Seven million women a year in the developing world are treated in healthcare facilities for complications following unsafe abortion, finds a study published today (19 August) in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology (BJOG). Every day, approximately 800 women die from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth. Unsafe abortion accounts for 8 […]

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Single interrupted pregnancy may impact later deliveries, new research finds

Single interrupted pregnancy may impact later deliveries, new research finds

Tel Aviv University researchers say only one incident of abortion or miscarriage can have repercussions for subsequent pregnancies It has been well established that women who have had several abortions or miscarriages are likely to face a slightly higher risk of complications in subsequent pregnancies. They may experience vaginal bleeding during early pregnancy, preterm birth, […]

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Flexible future of point-of-care disease diagnostic

Flexible future of point-of-care disease diagnostic

The world-wide deployment of biomedical devices for health monitoring, point-of-care diagnostics and environmental sensing is hampered by their high cost that is not readily affordable for e.g. developing countries. The primary task is therefore to reduce the price of the devices and allow for their high-volume delivery in a cost efficient manner, e.g. container transportation. […]

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Adjuvants improve immune response to H7N9 flu vaccine

Adjuvants improve immune response to H7N9 flu vaccine

In a phase 2 trial that included nearly 1,000 adults, the AS03 and MF59 adjuvants (a component that improves immune response of inactivated influenza vaccines) increased the immune responses to two doses of an inactivated H7N9 influenza vaccine, with AS03-adjuvanted formulations inducing the highest amount of antibody response, according to a study in JAMA. In […]

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Virus-like particle vaccine protects mice from many flu strains

Virus-like particle vaccine protects mice from many flu strains

NIAID research could aid development of universal flu vaccine A vaccine that protects against a wide variety of influenza viruses (a so-called universal flu vaccine) is a critical public health goal given the significant rates of illness and death caused by seasonal influenza and the potentially devastating effects of a pandemic influenza strain. Now, researchers […]

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Abortion: 95% of women do not regret procedure

Abortion: 95% of women do not regret procedure

“Postabortion trauma syndrome” is described by anti-abortion campaigners as a common mental health problem experienced by women who choose to terminate their pregnancies. However, the results of a new study published in PLOS ONE suggest there is no evidence for this syndrome. In the study, 95% of women who had abortions said that it had […]

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Avian flu confirmed in UK

Avian flu confirmed in UK

A case of H7N7 avian flu has now been confirmed in Lancashire. A temporary control zone imposed on Friday at the affected farm has now been replaced by a 10 kilometre surveillance zone and an inner 3 kilometre protection zone. Restrictions remain in place and the humane culling of all birds at the farm is […]