Animal studies suggest that cross-protection against H5N1 influenza virus infection is afforded by intranasal inoculation with seasonal trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine, according to Japanese and US researchers. Reuters Health Information
Researchers have decoded the genome of a strain of extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis and said on Tuesday their work has identified mutations that may help develop better treatments. Reuters Health Information
Countries must prepare for a human influenza pandemic and share samples linked to the H5N1 bird flu virus, the director-general of the World Health Organisation said on Tuesday. Reuters Health Information
A study shows that greater baseline body mass index is independently associated with higher prostate cancer-specific mortality in men with locally advanced prostate cancer. Medscape Medical News
The first US study to look at the associations of socioeconomic position with inflammatory markers in a diverse population has found that low-income, less-well-educated people have higher levels of interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein than their richer, better-educated counterparts. Heartwire
A retrospective study of children diagnosed with T-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (TCP ALL) concludes, based on PCR studies of stored neonatal blood spots, that most cases of the disease develop after birth, not in utero. Reuters Health Information
In pediatric patients with refractory or recurrent leukemia, temozolomide resistance is associated with activity of the DNA repair protein O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT), researchers report in the November 1st issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Reuters Health Information
Identifying lung cancer biomarkers can not only lead to an earlier diagnosis of the disease, but might also have applications for therapeutic intervention, even reversing the progression of premalignancy to cancer. Medscape Medical News
A real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay is speedy and accurate in detecting mumps virus in various types of clinical specimens, UK and Chinese researchers report in the November issue of the Journal of Medical virology. Reuters Health Information
When applying local anesthesia to prevent pain during office biopsy of the prostate, both the blockade site and biopsy target influence the pain experienced. Mid and apical biopsies are more painful than base biopsies, investigators report in the October 15th issue of Cancer. Reuters Health Information
