Disease/Infection News

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$360,000 boost for HIV/AIDS patients in Pima County

The University of Arizona has been awarded $360,000 from the federal Ryan White CARE Act to expand its patient care services for HIV/AIDS patients in Pima County. Ryan White Early Intervention Services Clinics now are held at the University of Arizona Health Sciences Center and at Kino Hospital.

16 Apr 2004

Possible new treatment strategy for Alzheimer's disease

A new study in mice identifies one of the missing steps in how Alzheimer's develops and suggests a possible new treatment strategy, according to researchers at Columbia University Medical Center and Weill Cornell Medical College and their colleagues.

16 Apr 2004

Scientists discover gene for Parkinson's disease

UCL scientists have discovered a new gene implicated in the early development of Parkinson's disease. In a study of families with early onset disease, Professor Nick Wood and colleagues at University College London's Institute of Neurology identified a novel gene which produces a malfunctioning protein that could pave the way for new treatments for Parkinson sufferers.

16 Apr 2004

Beer increases risk of gout

The first large epidemiological study to assess the age-old belief that alcohol consumption increases the risk of gout is published in the April 2004 issue of THE LANCET. A prospective study of nearly 50,000 men showed that beer drinking was more likely to be associated with gout than spirits; whereas moderate wine consumption was not linked to a risk of the disease.

16 Apr 2004

Liptor helps Alzheimer’s disease

In a small clinical trial enrolling 63 individuals with Alzheimer’s disease, half of those who received atorvastatin (Lipitor) stabilized or improved after one year of treatment, the trial’s principal investigator D. Larry Sparks, Ph.D., reported today at a professional meeting on Alzheimer therapy.

15 Apr 2004

A case of paralytic poliomyelitis (Polio) has been reported in Botswana

A case of paralytic poliomyelitis due to an imported type 1 poliovirus has been reported in Botswana, a country which had been polio-free since 1991. The virus has been closely linked genetically to poliovirus endemic to northern Nigeria. The case - a seven year old boy from the Ngami district of north-western Botswana - had onset of paralysis on 8 February 2004.

14 Apr 2004

Protecting against West Nile virus

What's that buzzing noise? Believe it or not, mosquito season is already here again. Why do we even need mosquitoes? What purpose do these pesky insects serve? In the grand scheme of biology, mosquitoes are an important food source for other insects and birds, and fish eat their larvae.

14 Apr 2004

The Howard Hughes Medical Institute commits $30 million to beat infectious diseases

The Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) is stepping up its commitment to fostering international biomedical research with two new competitions for more than $30 million in research grants to biomedical scientists outside the United States. Both competitions are aimed at promising researchers whose careers are still developing and who are the most likely targets of enticing job offers in more economically privileged countries.

13 Apr 2004

Bird flu in humans highlights vulnerability of people to emerging diseases

The occurrence of avian influenza in humans is a reminder of the vulnerability of people to an emerging pandemic, Mayo Clinic researchers warn in the current issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings.

13 Apr 2004

New research into Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) and Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer is the second-most prevalent cancer in women and, despite encouraging improvements in screening leading to earlier detection, cervical cancer still kills many women every year. The risk of cervical cancer is increased by infection with certain types of human papilloma virus (HPV).

12 Apr 2004

Study shows link between cardiovascular disease and diabetes

Studies are showing that the link between cardiovascular disease and type 1 (juvenile) diabetes – particularly among women – has been significantly underestimated, according to an article in the latest edition of Countdown, the quarterly journal of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).

12 Apr 2004

Diabetic retinopathy population will quadruple by 2012

Decision Resources, Inc., one of the world's leading research and advisory firms focusing on pharmaceutical and health care issues, finds that the drug-treated diabetic retinopathy population will quadruple by 2012.

12 Apr 2004

CDC provides new guide to protect against Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome

Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) is a deadly disease transmitted by infected rodents through urine, droppings, or saliva.

12 Apr 2004

Researchers isolate gene responsible for Chron's disease

Crohn's disease is an inflammatory bowel disease and its prevalence is increasing in industrialized nations. Existing treatments are considered unsatisfactory, often requiring recurring hospitalization and surgeries.

12 Apr 2004

Measles found on children travelling from China

Public Health officials have reported a laboratory-confirmed case of measles in a recently adopted child from China. Public health authorities in Washington state notified CDC, which collaborated with health officials in other states to locate other recently adopted children from China and contact their adoptive families.

12 Apr 2004

China steps up fight against AIDS

China will increase medical aid and offer free education to hundreds of children orphaned by AIDS in a central province ravaged by the deadly disease.

11 Apr 2004

Meningitis vaccination campaign in northeast Chad to fight epidemic

This weekend Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) will be launching a meningitis vaccination campaign to fight an epidemic of meningitis A that has broken out in northeast Chad. The vaccination effort, covering 200,000 people, will take place in the Iriba and Guéréda districts, already hosting tens of thousands of refugees who have fled the war-torn region of Darfur in Sudan.

9 Apr 2004

WHO update on Dengue fever in Indonesia

From 1 January to 4 April 2004 a total of 52,013, mainly hospitalized cases of dengue and 603 deaths have been registered with the Indonesian Ministry of Health. The overall case-fatality rate this year, particularly in Jakarta, has been lower than in previous years.

8 Apr 2004

WHO update on Meningococcal disease in Central African Republic

As of 31 March 2004, WHO has received reports of 43 cases and 7 deaths in the Central African Republic.

8 Apr 2004

Rare Burkina Faso strain of meningitis under control

A rare strain of meningitis, which re-emerged recently in Burkina Faso, would have left health authorities helpless just two years ago. Now, thanks to two years of work orchestrated by the World Health Organization (WHO), the strain (known as W135) has been rapidly identified and a mass action campaign is now controlling the outbreak.

8 Apr 2004