Thursday, January 8, 2009

CDC lanches SNAPS: Snap Shots of State Population Data

http://emergency.cdc.gov/snaps/

SNAPS provides local-level community profile information nationwide. It can be browsed by county and state and searched by zip code. SNAPS serves as a valuable tool when responding to public health emergency events at the state, Tribal, and local levels. It provides a "snap shot" of key variables for consideration in guiding and tailoring health education and communication efforts to ensure diverse audiences receive critical public health messages that are accessible, understandable, and timely.

SNAPS data is derived from the 2000 US Census and several 2003 CDC databases. For more information, see Credits.

Saturday, January 3, 2009

FDA Alert: Innohep (12/31/08)

Celgene has issued a Dear Healthcare Professional letter describing a controlled clinical study suggesting that Innohep may increase the risk for death, compared to unfractionated heparin when used to treat elderly patients with renal insufficiency. It recommended consideration of alternatives to Innohep when treating these patients for deep vein thrombosis with or without pulmonary embolism.

Read the complete MedWatch 2008 Safety summary, including a link to the Dear Healthcare Professional letter and the December 2 FDA Ongoing Safety Review, at: http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/safety/2008/safety08.htm#Innohep