The swine flu seems to be a dominant issue in the news as the vaccine is being distributed around the world and the flu season looms near.
http://www.hcplive.com/pediatrics/blogs/Pediatric_Points/0909/H1N1_Vaccine
http://www.hcplive.com/media/pdf/Oct09_06Numbers.pdf
Credits: 0.25
Fee: None
Expires: November 3, 2010
Multimedia: Audio/Video
Featuring a brief news clip featuring Janice Louie, MD, MPH, California Department of Public Health, Richmond, CA, this news story-based activity reviews the findings of California researchers who have said that although H1N1 ?tends to strike younger people, it can be life-threatening when older people are infected.? Participants should be able to explain to patients that the four-month, detailed look at H1N1 suggests that those who are age 50 and older are more likely to die from infection (18-20% case fatality rate in the study) than younger victims (11%).
http://www.medpagetoday.com/InfectiousDisease/URItheFlu/16786
A new study has resulted in the finding that a naturally occurring human protein can help prevent infection not only by H1N1, but by other viruses like West Nile and dengue.
http://www.hcplive.com/hospital-medicine/articles/protein_H1N1
This video podcast for your patients and their families features Dr. Joe Bresse of the CDC Influenza Division, who describes the signs and symptoms, means of transmittal, treatment, and prevention of swine flu, as well as what people should do when infected.
http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/player.asp?f=11226
Strong opinions appear on blogs and discussion boards.
http://www.hcplive.com/oncology-nursing/blogs/Nurses_Blogs/1009/H1N1_online_controversy
Journal: Canadian Medial Association Journal (November 19, 2009)
Authors: O?Riordan S, Barton M, Yau Y, et al.
Purpose: To gain a better understanding of the disease characteristics of children with H1N1 infection who required hospitalization.
Results: Severity of disease wasn?t increased with pandemic H1N1 influenza in study participants than with seasonal influenza A. Although asthma does appear to be a significant risk factor for severe disease, no clear relation was seen to asthma severity. The authors feel their findings ?should influence strategies for vaccination and pre-emptive anti viral therapy.?
http://www.cmaj.ca/cgi/content/abstract/cmaj.091724v1?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&fullt...
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) has added information on the H1N1 (swine flu) virus to its clinical practice guidelines on the Prevention and Treatment of Cancer-Related Infections.
http://www.hcplive.com/oncology/articles/nccn_h1n1
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention recently issued an alert that scammers are using bogus e-mails referring to a non-existent CDC-sponsored vaccination program to gain access to a consumer's personal information.
http://www.hcplive.com/finance/articles/H1N1_phishing_email_fraud
http://www.hcplive.com/general/medical-news/8131
I finally broke down and made an appointment to have my daughter vaccinated against H1N1 at our pediatrician’s office. I’d straddled the fence for a while – not because of safety concerns, but because I wasn’t convinced it was necessary. You see, I’ve never had a flu vaccination and my spouse gets one every year. We both typically get the flu during the winter months and, for better or for worse, this only functions to make me more secure in my choice.
http://www.hcplive.com/pediatrics/blogs/Pediatric_Points/1009/Riding_the_Vaccination_Wave
http://www.hcplive.com/general/medical-news/9397
The government estimated 94 million individual shots were needed, thinking that everyone would need two jabs for immunity against the illness. Doctors now say a single vaccination is sufficient.
http://www.hcplive.com/finance/articles/france_cancels_flu_shot_orders
My daughter's school has a cool e-communication system, which they love; they post everything on it, from the monthly calendar to grades. The problem is that the school didn't bother to clue in the freshman (or their parents) about this fancy system; early in the year, many important events and announcements were missed, such as back-to-school night, H1N1 clinics, and due dates of forms. There was an orientation and a huge packet sent home, and the kids all have a homeroom, so one would think that somewhere in one of these venues, this system would have been highlighted. They even could have gone old school and sent home a newsletter.
http://www.hcplive.com/primary-care/publications/mdng-primarycare/2010/Feb2010/PC0210social_media_notebook
Jeffrey Borenstein wrote an interesting article published this month in IEEE Spectrum musing on our attempts to trump the pill as a drug delivery system. He introduces an implantable drug delivery device designed to hold up to a year's worth of medication, after which the patient could go through minor surgery to refill the reservoir.
http://www.hcplive.com/pediatrics/blogs/Pediatric_Points/1109/Implantable_Drug_Delivery
The National Cancer Institute, in collaboration with the CDC and the American Cancer Society, recently reported that fewer men and women are dying from cancer each year in the United States.
http://www.hcplive.com/oncology/publications/obtn/2009/dec2009/Editors_Note
http://www.hcplive.com/general/medical-news/9028
As with most of bogus deals, thieves play on headline stories to paint believable pictures of their offers. As a result, many scams that made the list are just old rip-offs in modern dress.
http://www.hcplive.com/finance/articles/better_business_bureau_top_scams
http://www.hcplive.com/general/medical-news/8313
A researcher at McMaster University, in collaboration with a team of international scientists, has proposed that a “paradigm shift” needs to occur in disease control that focuses more on the impact that human travel can have on the moving of drug-resistant infectious diseases around the world.
http://www.hcplive.com/hospital-medicine/articles/Paradigm_Shift_Needed
