The U.S. Food and Drug Administration yesterday expanded the use of the flu vaccine FluMist to include children as young as 2.
FluMist is the only nasal spray vaccine for influenza prevention and relies on a mixture of live, but weakened viruses. The viruses are not infectious, but the body's immune system can recognize surface proteins on the pathogens to mount a response against them.
Health & Wellness
Seven years ago, Elizabeth Miller was a volunteer physician in a community-based clinic in Boston, Mass., which offered confidential services to teens. She is still haunted by the memory of a 15-year old girl who asked her for a pregnancy test. It was negative, but two weeks later the girl was treated for a severe head injury in a nearby emergency room. The girl's boyfriend had pushed her down a flight of stairs.
"I assumed all she needed was to be educated about her contraceptive options," Miller recalled. "Later, I wondered what I had missed. Could I have asked a question that would have identified that she was in an abusive relationship""
That nagging question inspired Miller, now a pediatrician with UC Davis Children's Hospital, to dedicate her career to trying to understand the unique characteristics of adolescent partner violence.
"I assumed all she needed was to be educated about her contraceptive options," Miller recalled. "Later, I wondered what I had missed. Could I have asked a question that would have identified that she was in an abusive relationship""
That nagging question inspired Miller, now a pediatrician with UC Davis Children's Hospital, to dedicate her career to trying to understand the unique characteristics of adolescent partner violence.
An unprecedented number of additive-free food and drinks are hitting shop shelves, market research shows.
One in every four products launched this year claims to be free of additives and preservatives. This compares with just 8 per cent of new food and drinks in 2004, according to figures from Mintel's global new products database.
One in every four products launched this year claims to be free of additives and preservatives. This compares with just 8 per cent of new food and drinks in 2004, according to figures from Mintel's global new products database.
A drug resistance gene that allows bacteria to repel certain antibiotics has started to appear in microorganisms taken from Midwestern U.S. patients.
Less than a decade ago, scientists first noticed the BlaKPC gene in bacteria taken from East Coast patients. They found bacteria with an active copy of the gene could defeat carbapenems, a relatively young family of antibiotics that is generally reserved for use in the most critically ill patients.
Less than a decade ago, scientists first noticed the BlaKPC gene in bacteria taken from East Coast patients. They found bacteria with an active copy of the gene could defeat carbapenems, a relatively young family of antibiotics that is generally reserved for use in the most critically ill patients.
The brains of people with seasonal depression may be too efficient at bundling away a key chemical, a new study suggests.
The finding in people with (SAD) backs the prevailing theory about the biochemical causes of depression, and could give clues into new ways to treat the condition.
The prevailing theory of depression is that affected people do not have enough of certain neurotransmitters called monoamines - serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine - in the spaces between neurons. Most modern antidepressants work by blocking the absorption of these neurotransmitters back into the cell.
The finding in people with (SAD) backs the prevailing theory about the biochemical causes of depression, and could give clues into new ways to treat the condition.
The prevailing theory of depression is that affected people do not have enough of certain neurotransmitters called monoamines - serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine - in the spaces between neurons. Most modern antidepressants work by blocking the absorption of these neurotransmitters back into the cell.
Vaccinating our children is a routine part of protecting them from illness in childhood - but a new book queries whether it is worth the risk.Dr Andrew Wakefield, who challenged the safety of the MMR vaccine because of fears over a possible link to autism, is currently fighting to save his career, meanwhile the Government insists vaccines are essential and save millions of lives.
The result is that many parents are anxious and confused about the best course of action.
And now another doctor, Dr Richard Halvorsen, raises his concerns - warning that the Government "misleads us about vaccines".
The result is that many parents are anxious and confused about the best course of action.
And now another doctor, Dr Richard Halvorsen, raises his concerns - warning that the Government "misleads us about vaccines".
She's no Andrew Wakefield, but it will be interesting to see what happens to measles, mumps and rubella vaccination rates in the U.S. now that actress Jenny McCarthy has suggested the MMR vaccine--which does not contain the mercury preservative thimerosal--may have caused her son Evan's regressive autism.
Take Action! Two Unrelated Government Databases Show Same Downward Trend in Autism Cases
Click Here [pdf]to Read the study/see below to TAKE ACTION:
Thimerosal-Containing Study Shows Decline in Neurodevelopmental Disorders After Removal of Thimerosal-Containing Vaccines
New study published today (3/1/06) shows that the rate of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDs) in children has decreased following removal of thimerosal, a preservative containing the neurotoxin mercury, from American childhood vaccines.
Click Here [pdf]to Read the study/see below to TAKE ACTION:
Thimerosal-Containing Study Shows Decline in Neurodevelopmental Disorders After Removal of Thimerosal-Containing Vaccines
New study published today (3/1/06) shows that the rate of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDs) in children has decreased following removal of thimerosal, a preservative containing the neurotoxin mercury, from American childhood vaccines.
The Urabe MMR vaccine has been linked to cases of encephalitis
New York state and New York City have jointly sued Merck & Co. for allegedly concealing safety information about Vioxx, joining a half-dozen states that have sued the drug maker since it withdrew the painkiller three years ago amid concerns about dangerous side effects.
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