Popular Articles

Fighting TB Might Be A Matter Of 'Flipping A Switch" In Immune Response
Scientists are focusing on a new concept in fighting airborne pathogens by manipulating what is called the "switching time," the point at which a highly regulated immune response gives way to powerful cells that specialize in fighting a specific invading bug.

NIST Researchers 'All Aglow' Over New Test Of Toxin Strength
A new National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) assay using a "glow or no glow" technique may soon help the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) defend the nation against a spectrum of biological weapons that could be used in a terrorist attack. One very dangerous toxin on the list is ricin, a protein derived from castor beans that is lethal in doses as small as 500 micrograms - about the size of a grain of salt.
News of the day
New System Reveals Whether School Wellness Policies 'Make The Grade'
In an effort to help families and school administrators fight the epidemic of obesity among children, a Yale-led team of researchers has developed a practical coding system to evaluate school wellness policies, which are required of all schools participating in the National School Lunch Program. This coding system was introduced in the July 2009 issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.
Medical Devices

FDA Adds Strong Warnings To Anti-Smoking Drug Labels

"The Food and Drug Administration announced (Wednesday) that it is requiring the smoking-cessation drugs Chantix and Zyban to carry the strongest type of safety warning possible to alert patients that the medications can cause serious mental health problems, including depression and suicide," the Washington Post reports (Stein, 7/1). "About 100 suicides in patients taking Chantix have been reported to the FDA since 2006, said Curtis Rosebraugh, an FDA official. By comparison, there have been 14 reports of suicide in patients taking Zyban," the Wall Street Journal reports. "Both companies say there is no evidence that their drugs actually cause suicides or mood swings. And along with the FDA, they both note that smokers trying to quit often experience depression, anger and other psychiatric side effects." The FDA also stressed that the warnings aren"t meant to advise smokers not to use the drugs (Mundy and Favole, 7/2). This information was reprinted from kaiserhealthnews.org with kind permission from the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives and sign up for email delivery at kaiserhealthnews.org. © Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.


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