Medical Letter on the CDC and FDA

HIV/AIDS Therapy - Novel HIV viremia model may aid evaluation of drug efficacy

HIV/AIDS Vaccine - Multiple gene and clade HIV-1 DNA vaccines broaden immune response

Healthcare Access - WHO: Battle against AIDS will founder without boost to basic healthcare

Helicobacter Pylori - Company announces new rapid test for stomach ulcers

Hernia Repair - FDA issues alert on counterfeit polypropylene mesh used in surgery

Hypertension - Standardized blood pressure measurement could improve hypertension care

Immunoglobulin Production - Common variable immunodeficiency may be treatable with B lymphocyte stimulator

Immunology - Company submits new drug application for Riquent

Infection Control - CDC releases new guidelines for hygiene in dental care settings

Virology - Bat lyssaviruses from Central Asia categorized

Influenza - CDC: Flu activity widespread in 45 states

Influenza - Catholic archdiocese asks parishioners with cold or flu to forgo communion

Influenza - Experts: Antiquated flu vaccine system needs updating

Influenza - FDA investigating reports of unlicensed influenza vaccine

Influenza - Flu seems to be hitting kids very hard

Influenza - Plan expands coverage to nasal flu vaccine

Injury Prevention - Data show little change in DUI rates

Injury Prevention - Urban TV surveillance does not prevent street violence, but reduces severity of injuries

Insulin Resistance - FDA grants orphan drug designation for rhIGF-I/rhIGFBP-3, SomatoKine

Insulin-Like Growth Factor - IIp45 antagonizes IGFBP-2 stimulation of glioma cell invasion

AIDS Monitoring - FDA 510(k) clearance granted for the CellTracks Analyzer for HIV/AIDS

Joint Replacement - FDA clears Palacos G antibiotic-loaded bone cement

Kala-Azar - Thousands threatened by epidemic in southern Africa

Legg-Perthes Disease - Beta fibrinogen G-455-A polymorphism is risk factor for Legg-Perthes disease

Leishmaniasis - Control measures of Lutzomyia longipalpis s.l. in Venezuela outlined

Lower Extremity Injuries - Treatment of lower extremity injuries due to land mines examined

Lyme Disease - Diagnostic kit gets FDA approval

Macular Degeneration - Company launches expansion of its R&D program in ophthalmology

Malaria Vaccine -  Plasmodium berghei circumsporozoite protein protect against malaria

Malignant Pleural Effusion - FDA grants approval of Sterile Talc Powder

Meningitis - CDC: Vaccine shortage likely

AIDS Testing - Company files additional data with FDA on new Reveal Rapid HIV-1 Antibody Test

Meningococcal Vaccine - Vaccine reduces meningococcal risk in patients with immune deficiency

Multiple Myeloma - Committee recommends early end to confirmatory phase III Velcade trial

Obesity Management - FDA approves labeling for use of Xenical in adolescent patients

Parkinson Disease - DJ-1 gene polymorphism not linked to Parkinson disease

Pharmacokinetics - Time profile of L-dopa metabolites in nonhuman primates determined

Polio - U.N.: Spread of polio in West Africa threatens global eradication drive

Poliovirus - Strand-specific RNA synthesis defects found in mutated poliovirus

Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder - New drug application submitted to FDA for lower-dose Yasmin

Prostate Cancer - Valera submits NDA for Vantas, an LHRH implant for treating prostate cancer

Public Health Practice - Filariasis prevention programs are adequate for excluding pregnant women

Acne Vulgaris - FDA grants clearance for light unit assembly acne vulgaris treatment

Regulatory Issues - Study: Reduced FDA resources cause of decline in drug approval times

Regulatory Issues - U.S. officials say it's too costly to legalize drug imports

Respiratory Syncytial Virus - Epidemiology of severe respiratory syncytial virus infection reviewed

Rotavirus - Cytokines act as mediators for or effectors against rotavirus disease

Rubella - Use of vaccine is growing worldwide, but more work remains

SARS - Hong Kong scientists work on vaccine

Salmonella - Small children at risk from reptile exposure

Smallpox Vaccine - Long-term B cell memory found in humans after smallpox vaccination

Streptococcus - Opsonophagocytosis assay effective for Streptococcus pneumoniae antibodies

Substance Abuse - Teen drug abuse declines across wide front