Swiss drug maker Novartis AG was asked to provide additional information to the Food and Drug Administration about its respiratory drug designed to help smoker’s cough.

The European counterpart to the United States’ FDA has already recommended the drug for approval, and in Europe it will be called Onbrez Breezhaler, according to a Wall Street Journal report.

The drug includes an inhaler to administer the medicine, and it treats chronic obtrusive pulmonary disease (COPD) - the medical name of smoker’s cough. This drug is the first of its kind that only requires one dose daily.

Novartis is willing to work with the FDA to provide any additional information needed to pass the drug for approval in the United States.

Executives for the drug company believe this smoker’s cough treatment will eventually bring in more than $1 billion per year, the Wall Street Journal reported.

The FDA now just has to determine if any more clinical trials need to be completed before approval.To help prevent the occurrence of dangerous or defective drugs, the FDA’s approval process can take longer than companies or consumers might like.

Past testing has proved that the drug noticeably improved lung functions in patients with COPD.

According WebMD’s breaking news released today, H1N1 flu vaccines will be available in all states starting this week.

The vaccines for swine flu are prepared and administered the same way as regular seasonal flu shots, and upon testing have not shown to produce any unusual side effects.

The vaccine is not required for non-military U.S. citizens, but is highly recommended for women who are pregnant, children and the elderly, according to WebMD.

Any employees in the health care industry may also be required by their employer or by the state to receive the vaccine.

According to a New York Times article, almost 10 percent of babies born across the globe are born prematurely - and as a result, close to a million infants die every year.

The March of Dimes, in collaboration with the World Health Organization, released a report this week stating that the majority of premature births (nearly 13 million) occur in poor countries in Africa and Asia.

The factors that contribute to premature births in poor countries are different from the factors affecting birth in wealthier nations, the New York Times reported.

In countries like the United States with highly evolved medical practices, the survival rate for premature babies is higher - but that doesn’t take into account long-term problems those children may have as a result, like blindness or cerebral palsy, the report stated.

An infant is considered to be premature if born before the 37th week of pregnancy. In the United States, a small percentage of babies are born before 32 weeks - making them at a very high risk of death or lifelong health issues, the March of Dines reported.

Few of these fatalities among premature babies lead to medical malpractice lawsuits - in most cases of premature birth there is nothing that medicine can do to prevent potential long-term health issues in early-birth babies, the New York Times reported.

Almost everyone flies at some point these days, and in our modern, fast-paced society, travelers wish to arrive at destinations the quickest way possible.

Some may have fears about planes crashing - but even the experience of a bumpy ride can be disconcerting.

According to a Washington Post report, in the past year, there have been eight incidents in which passengers suffered serious injuries from turbulence, and 42 incidents where minor injuries have occurred from rough rides in the air.

The Federal Aviation Association (FAA) reports that turbulence is the leading cause of injuries to both passengers and airline staff. For some it has caused severe injuries and there are even reports of death.

One Florida woman found out the dangers of turbulence on her flight back to Tampa, Fla. Jeanne Holton Carufel was using the restroom on a United Airlines flight when she heard the announcement to stay in your seats and to buckle the seat belts as the flight was experiencing turbulence. But unfortunately she did not arrive to her seat in time and suffered injuries to her head and back.

According to the Washington Post Holten Carufel said she “couldn’t’ get back to her seat fast enough. The plane took a big dive and she hit the roof of the plane and fell back to the ground.”

The paramedics arrived at the airport at 9:30 p.m. when the plane landed, and Holten Carufel was taken to the Reston Hospital Center where she was treated for her head and back injuries. She was never actually admitted to the hospital for these injuries, and was set to fly home a couple days after the incident.

The New York Times reports that most turbulence-related injuries occur when people are not seated with their seatbelts securely fastened. In most cases flight attendants advise fliers to remain seated during the flight especially if turbulence occurs, but they do not force anyone to take a seat.

United Airlines did confirm there was turbulence but will not release any other information about the flight. There is no information as to whether any personal injury lawsuits have been filed or even if they could be - since sufficient warnings are issued by the airlines when turbulence occurs.

According to Life Mojo, bicycling injuries account for 75 percent of all transportation related injuries, but only seven percent of those injuries involve another vehicle.

Here are some of the most common bicycle injuries:

• Back and Neck Injuries - Soreness in the back or neck can be caused by improper bicycle fit, or by a fall or collision.
• Knee Injuries - Very common in cyclists, because the knee joints are overused when riding your bike frequently.
• Hand Injuries - Can be detected by tingling or numbness in your hands.
• Shoulder Injuries - Usually occur on long bike rides, caused by putting too much weight on your hands while riding.
• Sprains and Contusions - Normally occur when there is a fall or collision with another bike/vehicle/stationary object.
• Fractures - Occur in a fall or collision. Collar bone fractures can be common in cyclists.
• Abrasions - General scrapes and cuts that come from falling off your bike or being involved in an accident.

If you are injured in a bicycle accident that does involve another vehicle, talk to an injury lawyer to explore your options.

Geron Corp.’s drug tests in animals for an experimental cell therapy that is designed to help spinal injuries cause cysts, according to a Reuters report.

The cysts were microscopic, and they did not turn into tumors, which is good - but tests are still being done to see if the treatment is usable on people.

The procedure involves embryonic stem cells, which do have the potential to grow uncontrollably and turn into tumors, researchers said. But it seems unlikely, and a spokesperson for Geron said she thinks investors are relieved that tumors - the worst case scenario for the test - did not occur.

The company has submitted data to the FDA in hopes of moving forward. Geron is at the forefront of stem cell research in medicine.

According to research from the University of Wisconsin Extension program, more than one million kids aged five and under die of poisoning each year.

There are many factors in every household that contribute to home safety - and when you have young children or elderly adults in the house, being extra cautious is even more important.

Below are some steps that can be taken to avoid personal injury and make sure your home is as safe as possible:

1. Keep toxic cleaning supplies in locked cupboards or closets - or up high so children cannot reach them
2. When very young kids are in your house, use electric socket blockers to prevent electrocution
3. Don’t leave plastic bags in places available to children to avoid suffocation
4. Put potentially hazardous plants on shelves or windowsills instead of on the ground
5. Install a smoke alarm in each room for fire safety
6. Store matches and lighters in a secure, fire-retardant location

For more suggestions about home safety, view this Home Safety brochure.

A recent L.A. Times article touts the benefits of manning your own summer fun risk management team - don’t let technology do it for you.

Apparently there are several gadgets and gizmos that can help you stay safe in the summer and potentially help you avoid what the L.A. Times calls “the common banes of summer.” The newspaper also advises not to depend too strongly on these devices.

Common summer ailments:

• Bug bites
• Sunburns
• Heat stroke
• Sports-related injuries

Some gadgets that claim to help:

• Off! insect repellent clip-on
• Oregon Scientific Portable UV Monitor

The Off! clip-on sprayer is meant to surround the user with bug protection - when tested, the user said it wasn’t so great. The UV monitor told one user that she could safely stay in the sun for almost 40 hours - she didn’t try it, probably with good reason.

According to the L.A. Times article, several exercise equipment products have recently been recalled because of potential defects and injury.

It seems like it might be best to stick to the family-friendly non-aerosol bug spray and the old-fashioned sun screen lotion. Get your exercise outdoors to avoid any exercise equipment risks, and you should be good to go!

According to state laws in four states and the District of Columbia, if you play any role in your own personal injury, you cannot collect compensation from a personal injury lawsuit against other parties involved.

One of these states is North Carolina, and for the first time after repeated attempts, a bill to change this law has passed the State House of Representatives and is in the State Senate.

According to the Winston-Salem Journal, N.C. resident Lisa Vogel will never receive compensation for her son’s death - because he knowingly got in a car with his friend’s roommate, who was convicted on charges of involuntary manslaughter and DWI.

The driver was able to defend himself because he was able to prove that Vogel’s son was negligent in getting in the car in the first place. Even an injury lawyer can’t help that case.

Fortunately for victims of personal injury and injury lawyers, a change is in process. The Winston-Salem Journal reported that the bill in the Senate would also make a major change to the current state law by taknig away a rule that says that if a plaintiff wins a lawsuit against several defendants, each defendant can be held responsible both for paying their share of the damages and the shares of the other defendants.

Check out the full article at the Winston-Salem Journal.

America’s Watchdog - a national organization that serves as an advocate for consumer rights - has branched out into a new genre for its services.

The Nursing Home Complaint Center is a new organization under the America’s Watchdog parent company designed to help people who have suffered, or have relatives who have suffered, from elder abuse or nursing home neglect.

The goal of the organization is to pair with personal injury lawyers across the country to help get justice for elderly abuse victims and their families.

With this system, victims, families, nursing home employees and the American taxpayer will all be protected. Some things the organization plans to focus on include:

• Medicare over-billing
• Improperly compensated employees
• Neglectful or inadequate/unprofessional care

Patients or family members who believe they or their loved one is a victim of nursing home abuse should not hesitate to talk to a personal injury attorney to help find out what options are available.

Nursing home abuse and improper care are not new problems in the world of personal injury - and it can be difficult to prove the offenses and take action against elder care organizations. It’s great that America’s Watchdog has recognized the problem and is taking measures to help everyone potentially involved.