SAN DIEGO COUNTY–The H1N1 vaccine has been receiving a lot of attention these days. While it’s important that everyone gets vaccinated against this new flu virus, it’s imperative for parents to make sure their children also have the other recommended vaccines to protect them from diseases that could endanger their health. January 17-23 is Preteen [...]

(Newswise)–Medicare recipients with diabetes who have a gap in their Part D prescription drug benefits—known as the “doughnut hole” — have higher out-of-pocket drug costs and are less likely to stick to their medications than those who have supplemental drug benefits, a new study confirms. Surprisingly, generic-only drug plans to cover the gap only modestly [...]

(Newswise)–Children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) process sound and language a fraction of a second slower than children without ASDs, and measuring magnetic signals that mark this delay may become a standardized way to diagnose autism. Researchers at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia report their findings in an online article in the journal Autism Research, [...]

(Newswise)–Investigators at Burnham Institute for Medical Research (Burnham), Mount Sinai School of Medicine (Mount Sinai), the Salk Institute for Biological Studies (Salk) and the Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation (GNF) have identified 295 human cell factors that influenza A strains must harness to infect a cell, including the currently circulating swine-origin H1N1. The [...]

(Newswise)–Cleaning hands with either soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizers can effectively prevent the spread of bacterial or viral infections. The December issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter offers information and tips to help ensure clean hands. For killing germs on unsoiled hands, hand sanitizers are more effective than washing. The sanitizer gel should [...]

(NAPSI)-Following a few simple tips can help protect travelers from a common and often dangerous condition. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is the formation of a blood clot within a deep vein. It commonly occurs in the thigh or calf and can develop after any major surgery, but people who have surgery on the legs and [...]

(Newswise)–The tragic death of actress Natasha Richardson this past March put a spotlight on the potential risks inherent to skiing, as well as the deadly consequences that can result from head trauma. Richardson died two days after suffering an epidural hematoma and slipping into a coma. What at first appeared to be a minor bump [...]

(PRNewswire)–Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of the sanofi-aventis Group announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the company’s supplemental biologics license application (sBLA) for licensure of Fluzone® High-Dose (Influenza Virus Vaccine). The new vaccine, for adults 65 years of age and older, will be available to health-care providers for immunizations [...]