Medical Letter on the CDC and FDA

HIV/AIDS Treatment - Washington decides not to intervene and force AIDS drug price down

Healthcare Costs - Drug costs tied to adherence, but prices still climbing, says Internet pharmacy

Heart Failure - Expanded user labeling recommended for resynchronization therapy defibrillators

Heart Pump - FDA approves reliability label revision for Novacor LVAS

Hematology - Oxygen binding of hemoglobin conjugated to carboxylate dextran reported

Hepatitis C Vaccine - Antigen and CpG with liposomes enhance hepatitis C virus immune responses

Hepatitis Risk - Georgia inmates get hepatitis B in prison, but cash not available for vaccine

Hypercholesterolemia - FDA approves VYTORIN for LDL cholesterol reduction

Hyperparathyroidism - New Drug Application submitted to U.S. FDA for Zemplar (Paricalcitol)

Hypertension - FDA approval granted for Atenolol tablets

Imaging - Modern heart devices can be safely used during MRIs

Immunization - Infant immunization reaches record high in Hawaii

Immunology - FDA accepts NDA for Xibrom

Influenza Vaccine - Chemiluminescent neuraminidase assay monitors drug susceptibility

Influenza Vaccine - Influenza definition influences economic analyses of vaccine efficacy

Influenza Vaccine - Monovalent influenza whole virus vaccine developed for pandemic use

Keratoconus Eye Disease - Intacs corneal rings receive FDA approval for keratoconus eye disease

Legal Issues - CEO of sued company responds to Thermage patent infringement lawsuit

Lung Cancer - Positive endorsement granted by FDA panel for Alimta for lung cancer

Malaria - Real-time PCR assay quantifies Plasmodium infection in mosquitoes

Malaria Vaccine - Merozoite surface protein antibodies protect against malaria infection

Malaria Vaccine - Targeting Plasmodium proteins blocks malaria transmission

Medical Devices - Medical device maker announces IDE approval, first implant of heart-pacing lead

Medical Marijuana - Medical marijuana initiative sparks debate

Melanoma - Abstract presented on the use of peptide vaccine for melanoma

Mental Health Epidemiology - Substance use and mood and anxiety disorders common in the U.S.

Multiple Sclerosis - FDA accepts BLA for ANTEGREN

Nocardia - Sequence-based identification of aerobic actinomycetes reported

Norovirus - Kits to detect antigenically diverse noroviruses in stool evaluated

Ophthalmology - Supplemental NDA submitted for Vitrase for use as a spreading agent

Peptic Ulcer Disease - FDA issues 510(k) clearance for POCone infrared spectrophotometer

Peptides - Company announces the launch of Human Secretin for Injection

Peripheral Vascular Disease - Clinical trial initiated for a drug-eluting non-coronary stent

Personality Disorders - Survey reports on the prevalence of personality disorders in the United States

Pertussis Vaccine - Acellular pertussis vaccines safer than whole-cell pertussis vaccines

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - High rates of mental health symptoms reported in Afghanistan

Prescription Drugs - Group alleges delayed reports of Crestor side effects

Prion Disease - Prions found in skeletal muscle cells and papillae in the tongue

Product Licensing - Biotech company granted U.S. Patent for manufacture of multiferon

Pulmonary Hypertension - Diagnosis of pulmonary arterial hypertension discussed

Pulmonary Medicine - Adenovirus vectors cause severe pulmonary pathology in cirrhotic rats

Respiratory Syncytial Virus - FDA approves liquid formulation of Synagis

SARS Vaccine - Antigenic determinant in SARS coronavirus glycoprotein elicits antibodies

Scabies - Genetic epidemiology of Sarcoptes scabiei in Australia reported

Sexually Transmitted Diseases - Pilot study of a free home test kit for STDs under way

Smallpox Vaccine - Modified vaccinia ankara shows potential as alternative smallpox vaccine

Smallpox Vaccine - Vaccinia and variola viruses epitope protects against lethal vaccinia virus

Spinal Fusion Procedures - Hydrosorb Spine System receives FDA clearance for spinal fusion procedures

Stem Cell Research - Human embryonic stem cell lines bear unique gene sets

Syphilis - Pathophysiology and treatment of maternal syphilis reviewed

Syphilis - Prevention and management of congenital syphilis reviewed

Trichinella - Mucosal mast cell precursors exit bone marrow after infection

Tuberculosis - In vitro assays accurate for TB diagnosis in non-human primates

Tuberculosis - Markers of T cell activation after Mycobacterium stimulation identified

Tuberculosis Vaccine -  M. tuberculosis H37Rv:Delta RD1 more virulent than M. bovis BCG

Tuberculosis Vaccine - Epitopes that improve specificity of M. tuberculosis assay identified

Tuberculosis Vaccine - Vaccines prepared from macrophages infected with live bacteria

Tumorigenesis - Suppressed Bcl-X-L blocks the tumorigenic potential of oncogenic enzyme

Urinary Retention - Four FDA approvals granted for Bethanechol Chloride Tablets

Vaccine Development - Reassortment and evolution of current human influenza viruses reviewed

Vaccine Development - Use of CpG oligodeoxynucleotides as immunoprotective agents reviewed

Vaccinia Virus - Vaccinia virus protein essential for morphogenesis of virions

Violence Prevention - Gun safe storage laws may help reduce some teen suicide rates

Water-Borne Illness - CDC pushing for cleaner swimming pools