Medical Letter on the CDC and FDA

Food Poisoning - U.S. FDA issues guidance to help prevent introduction of allergens or toxins into food and feed

Newborn Screening - Use of residual dried blood spots from newborn screening programs is examined

Pneumonia Risk Factors - Severe pneumonia due to Staphylococcus aureus was linked to methicillin-resistance

Proteomics - Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen 2 induces Fc-receptor homolog 5 expression through CBF1 protein

Public Health - Violence against women is more likely during pregnancy than after delivery

Addiction Medicine - Assessment method affects dosage estimate in recreational ecstasy users

Addiction Medicine - New drug application submitted for studies of subdermal implant for treating opioid addiction

Anthrax Vaccine - Antibiotic prophylaxis plus vaccine protects against anthrax

Anthrax Vaccine - Topical E. coli-vectored vaccine elicits protective immunity

Arthritis Therapy - Sports activity increases after ankle replacement in arthritis patients

Avian Infectious Bronchitis Coronavirus - Genetically diverse avian infectious bronchitis coronavirus strains are circulating in China

Avian Influenza Vaccine - Newcastle disease virus expressing H5 hemagglutinin protects against bird flu

Avian Influenza Vaccine - Viral vaccine constructs have been engineered against bird flu and Newcastle disease

Bacterial Conjunctivitis - InSite Vision announces submission of AzaSite new drug application for conjunctivitis

Biomedical Engineering - Orthovita receives U.S. FDA approval to market Vitagel surgical hemostat

Burns -  Haemophilus influenzae contributes to morbidity but not mortality in burn patients

Business Update - B. Braun Medical launches Duplex for use with Cefoxitin

Business Update - Endo receives FDA approval for extended- and immediate-release Opana for pain control

Business Update - Escalon and PointCare Technologies Inc. sign manufacturing, distribution and co-marketing agreement

Business Update - Hollis-Eden updates status of Neumune RFP for acute radiation syndrome

Business Update - Stryker submits application to U.S. FDA for human protein compound for lumbar spine fusion

Cancer Therapy - Researchers develop novel anti-cancer drugs to treat solid tumors

Carcinogenesis - Oncogenic potential of galactic cosmic rays reviewed

Cardiac Medical Devices - Enrollment complete in safety trial of Medtronic's drug-eluting coronary stent system

Cardiac Medical Devices - U.S. FDA approves Abiomed's IDE for IMPELLA 5.0 minimally invasive cardiac support systems

Cardiac Medical Devices - U.S. FDA approves embolic debris removal device for vein graft, stent placement procedures

Cardiology - Enrollment exceeded in sterol, carotid intima media thickness relationship study

Cholera Therapy - Single-dose azithromycin was effective for treatment of cholera in adults

Cholera Vaccine - Oral cholera vaccines are not recommended for travelers' diarrhea

Chronic Myeloid Leukemia - U.S. FDA approves Sprycel (dasatinib) with two indications

Classic Kaposi Sarcoma - Classic Kaposi sarcoma risk associated with IL8RB and IL13 diplotypes in seropositive Italians

Cochlear Implants - Cochlear receives U.S. FDA approval for next generation of Nucleus Freedom cochlear implant system

Colitis Pathogenesis - Specific amino acids increase mucin synthesis and microbiota in dextran sulfate-treated rats

Critical Care Medicine - Glutamine regulates heat shock protein expression

DNA Plasmid Vaccine - DNA plasmid vaccines against HIV-1, Ebola, SARS and West Nile virus have similar safety profiles

Diabetes Therapy - Gene transfer strategies for beta cell cytoprotection are focus of review

Drug Abuse - Training opportunities in substance abuse are needed for social workers

Drug Development - New gem diether nucleoside with anti-orthopoxvirus activity has been developed

Drug Resistance - Drug-resistant tuberculosis prevalence decreased in New York City from 1991-2003

Drug Safety - Aluminum contamination of parenteral nutrition products is focus of review

Drug Safety - PGXL Laboratories provides DNA testing for Warfarin patients

Drug Safety - Prescribing practices at public health facilities in Laos are described

Epiglottitis Epidemiology - Hib conjugate vaccines change epidemiology of epiglottitis in England

Finance - Health centers trying to rebuild after Katrina get a boost from tax credits

Finance - Lifeblood Medical raises $1.2 million in series B round of funding

Generic Drugs - U.S. FDA approves first generic simvastatin

Generic Drugs - Warner Chilcott receives certification notice on filing of ANDA for oral contraceptive

Glaucoma - Allergan reports U.S. FDA approval of Lumigan for elevated eye pressure

Government Policy - Pharmavite applauds Senate introduction of serious adverse event reporting bill

HIV Testing - U.S. FDA approves fully automated human immunodeficiency test

HIV/AIDS Epidemiology - U.S. HIV prevention spending correlates with HIV testing and awareness

HIV/AIDS Therapy - U.S. FDA approves boosted protease inhibitor that enables HIV drug combination with Fuzeon

HIV/AIDS Therapy - U.S. FDA approves new HIV treatment for patients who do not respond to existing drugs

Healthcare Costs - Cost for antiretroviral drugs determined for low and middle-income developing countries

Healthcare Coverage - Medical care needs were commonly unmet among cancer survivors, particularly uninsured survivors

Heart Failure - Mortality risk score for heart failure admission is validated

Heart Failure - Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics announces U.S. FDA clearance of VITROS NT-proBNP assay

Hepatitis C Virus - Recovery from hepatitis C involves virus-specific memory T cells

Hypertension - U.S. FDA grants approval to Lupin Pharmaceuticals for generic hypertension tablets

Immunology - Maternal immunization can help prevent infections in children

Immunotherapy - Understanding CD8+ cell differentiation needed to develop effective immunotherapies

Macular Degeneration - Macular degeneration drug receives U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval

Malaria Therapy - Suicide was linked with mefloquine use

Medical Devices - Celsion files process change supplement with U.S. FDA for Prolieve Thermodilatation

Medicare - Medicare Part D driving changes in where seniors shop, says study.

Meningitis Epidemiology - Epidemiology of bacterial meningitis is changing among adults in U.K.