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Nç©ovacs To Expand Clinical Testing Of Its TNF-alpha Kinoid Lead Product Candidate Following Positive Preliminary Findings From A Phase I/II Study
Neovacs, a biotechnology company developing proprietary immunotherapeutics for autoimmune and chronic diseases, announced that subject to regulatory consent, it plans to initiate a Phase II study of its TNF-alpha Kinoid later this year in rheumatoid arthritis patients who have failed treatment with at least one TNF-alpha inhibitor. The decision to proceed with the trial was based on an initial review of encouraging data from the company"s Phase I/II study in Crohn"s disease.
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Test For Strep Bacteria In Pregnant Women Misses More Cases Than Expected, Study Shows
A federal recommendation that all pregnant women undergo testing for Group B strep bacteria has helped increase the number of screenings but also has produced a high level of false negatives, according to a study published Thursday in the New England Journal of Medicine, the AP/Newark Star-Ledger reports. Group B strep is a common bacteria in the intestines or lower genital tract. Although it poses no harm to most adults, during delivery it can be spread to infants, who can develop blood infections, pneumonia, meningitis, mental retardation, hearing and vision loss, or death. Problems occur in fewer than one in 3,000 births, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2002 issued a recommendation that all pregnant women be tested because of the potential for serious complications. The study is the first research to examine the screening program. The researchers examined data on Group B strep cases in 10 states, finding that 250 infants out of nearly 7,700 were born with the infection. They compared the results with a similar study that was conducted before the CDC recommendations were in place, finding that the screening rate rose from 48% to 85% of pregnant women. The study also found that infant infections from Group B strep declined by 27%.Researchers predicted there would be between 44 and 86 false negatives in full-term infants, based on data from previous studies. However, their results showed about 60% of infected infants -- 116 cases -- were born to women who had tested negative for Group B strep. Researchers noted that the timing of a Group B test might play a role because the infection can come quickly, and tests could have been performed before the bacteria appeared. CDC recommends that pregnant women be screened between 35 and 37 weeks" gestation. CDC researcher Stephanie Schrag, who co-authored the study, said, "Maybe it was a true negative test, and the mother later became colonized" with the bacteria before delivery (Stobbe, AP/Newark Star-Ledger, 6/17).
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Call For Primary Care Reform From AAFP, ACP And AOA
Leaders of three national organizations representing nearly a third of a million physicians recently visited Capitol Hill offices to express their continued concern for America"s patients who do not have access to primary care physicians. The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), the American College of Physicians (ACP) and the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) represent the majority of physicians who care for Medicare patients. The leaders noted that only 17 percent of U.S. medical school graduates in 2008 expressed a preference for a primary care specialty - an all-time low - at a time when demand for primary care is rapidly increasing.
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New Summer Safety Warning To Children In Scotland About Construction Sites Dangers, UK

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has issued a new warning urging parents in Scotland to keep their children away from construction sites so they stay safe. Dozens of children are seriously injured on construction sites every year, and HSE is concerned that there may be an increased danger this year with more sites being mothballed during the economic downturn. Companies are being reminded that, even if no work is taking place, regular checks should be carried out to make sure people are not able to get onto sites and they are in a safe condition. John Blackburn, HM Principal Inspector of Construction, said: "We want children to enjoy playing outside during the summer holidays but it"s vital they stay safe. Construction sites often appeal to young people as they look like giant adventure playgrounds, but they can be extremely dangerous. "The recession has led to some sites shutting down in Scotland, which means there aren"t workers on duty to make sure children stay away. There should be good security fencing around construction sites, but children can often find their way onto them if they try hard enough. "Scaffolding, excavations, fragile surfaces, electricity cables and stacked up building materials are all potential dangers on building sites. We"re asking companies to ensure building sites are properly secured to make it harder for members of the public to get onto them. "If sites are being shut down, construction workers should remove anything that might make it easier for children to explore the site, like ladders and even scaffolding. They should also regularly revisit sites to check the fencing is still secure. "I hope parents will remind their children of the risks of construction sites and encourage them to stay away during the holidays. If anyone does have any concerns about a site"s security, they should contact us as soon as possible." The construction sector is one of the most dangerous industries in the UK, with 11deaths and 1,597 serious injuries in Scotland in 2007/8. In the past two years, there have been nearly 60 serious injuries to children on UK construction sites, including one death. HSE is advising construction managers to stop work immediately if they see children trying to get onto a site. They should also make sure equipment and materials are locked away safely at the end of each day. Members of the public concerned about the security or safety of a construction site should call HSE"s InfoLine on 0845 345 0055. Information is also available at http://www.hse.gov.uk[1]. Notes 1. In 2006/7, 30 children aged 15 and under were seriously injured in the construction sector, and one died. In 2007/8, 28 children were seriously injured. HSE


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