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Results-Based Financing for Health can get 20% more health care with same funds

Countries and major donors are changing the way they finance maternal and child, malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS health programs in low-income countries to increase their impact.

11 Dec 2013

Detectable blood viral load increases prevalence of heart disease

HIV causes structural heart disease according to research presented at EuroEcho-Imaging 2013 by Dr Nieves Montoro from Madrid, Spain. The findings support the introduction of cardiovascular screening in all HIV patients, particularly those with a positive blood viral load.

11 Dec 2013

Beta-carotene: An important and safe precursor for vitamin A

A Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine study in the November 22 issue of Journal of Biological Chemistry, explains how vitamin A is generated from beta carotene, its dietary precursors. The discovery sheds new light into how beta carotene’s enzymes are utilized differently contributing to the vitamin’s production. This insight will help guide solutions for vitamin A deficiency, a global public health problem affecting more than half of all countries, according to the World Health Organization.

11 Dec 2013

Simple and affordable hearing aids for children

Norwegian researchers are developing a simple and cheap hearing aid that can be adapted to compensate for a child's hearing loss without the need for specialists. The aim is to help more people in the third world.

11 Dec 2013

Study links vitamin B12 deficiency to acid-suppressing medications

Long-term use of commonly prescribed heartburn and ulcer medications is linked to a higher risk of vitamin B12 deficiency, according to a new study published online in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

10 Dec 2013

Study finds large degree of genetic variation amongst M. tuberculosis in humans in Zambia

In Zambia, the incidence of all forms of human tuberculosis is estimated to be 444 per 100,000. There is also a high incidence of HIV and AIDS in the country. In the Kafue area, a high incidence of Mycobacterium bovis in both cattle and the Kafue lechwe antilope has been detected. This bacterium can infect humans and has been found in humans in the studied region of Namwala. Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which is the main cause of human tuberculosis, has also been detected in cattle in this region.

10 Dec 2013

IBN and IBM discover new medical application for converted PET bottles

Researchers at Singapore's Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (IBN) and California's IBM Research - Almaden (IBM) have discovered a new, potentially life-saving application for polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which is widely used to make plastic bottles.

10 Dec 2013

Janssen announces first-of-its-kind pediatric HIV treatment donation program

Janssen, the pharmaceutical companies of Johnson & Johnson, today announced a first-of-its-kind pediatric HIV treatment donation program to improve access to the company's approved HIV medicines for children and adolescents failing HIV treatment in sub-Saharan Africa.

9 Dec 2013

IDSA released new guideline for vaccination of immunocompromised hosts

A new guideline released Thursday by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) notes that most people with compromised immune systems are especially vulnerable to illness and should receive the flu shot and other vaccinations.

5 Dec 2013

Viewpoints: Why can't health website be like Amazon?; debunking GOP's resistance to Medicaid

For an "Amazon-like" experience, it isn't enough to have a website that functions on the front end, the back end and in between. ... You also need an Amazon-like culture, which is the product of other Amazon-like realities.

5 Dec 2013

AAAS Honors Two Tufts University faculty members as Fellows

Two faculty members at Tufts University have been elected Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), an honor bestowed upon AAAS members by their peers. John M. Coffin and planetary scientist Samuel P. Kounaves are among 388 new Fellows recognized by AAAS based on their distinguished efforts to advance science or its applications.

4 Dec 2013

Antiretroviral therapy for HIV treatment saves 2.8 million years of life in South Africa

Antiretroviral therapy for the treatment of HIV infection has saved 2.8 million years of life in South Africa since 2004 and is projected to save an additional 15.1 million years of life by 2030, according to a new study published online in The Journal of Infectious Diseases. The analysis suggests these dramatic benefits could be even greater if more aggressive HIV testing and treatment strategies are implemented.

4 Dec 2013

AHF commends donors for rallying to pledge financial support for Global Fund

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest global AIDS organization, today heartily praised donor countries for rallying to pledge financial support for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria.

4 Dec 2013

EU pledges over $500 million to fight AIDS, TB and malaria

The European Union today announced at the Global Fund's Replenishment Conference in Washington, DC, new support of over US $500 million to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria for the 2014-2016 period. The conference takes place just one day after World AIDS Day.

3 Dec 2013

Computer models of neuronal sound processing in brain lead to cochlear implant improvements

Intact hearing is a prerequisite for learning to speak. This is why children who are born deaf are fitted with so-called cochlear implants as early as possible. Cochlear implants consist of a speech processor and a transmitter coil worn behind the ear, together with the actual implant, an encapsulated microprocessor placed under the skin to directly stimulate the auditory nerve via an electrode with up to 22 contacts.

3 Dec 2013

Researchers offer promise of strategy for curing HIV infection

Researchers have used radioimmunotherapy (RIT) to destroy remaining human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected cells in the blood samples of patients treated with antiretroviral therapy, offering the promise of a strategy for curing HIV infection. Results of the study were presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

3 Dec 2013

Viewpoints: Where's Obama's 'Mission Accomplished' banner?; health law critics overlooking those denied affordable care in the past

Great news: The White House says that Healthcare.gov and the 36 federally run insurance exchanges are finally good to go. The only thing missing from Sunday's relentlessly upbeat progress report was President Obama in front of a "Mission Accomplished" banner. Sunday's eight-page report was intended to meet Mr. Obama's deadline for fixing the site after its October 1 debut was a calamity. But the more important goal was political -- namely, claiming enough progress to prevent Democrats on Capitol Hill from joining the GOP demand for delaying the individual mandate to buy insurance or even the entire program (12/1).

3 Dec 2013

U.S. Administration to provide $5 billion to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria

In an address recognizing World AIDS Day, President Barack Obama announced today that the U.S. Administration will commit up to $5 billion to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria over the next three years. Specifically, he said the United States will contribute $1 for every $2 provided by other donors worldwide through 2016, up to $5 billion.

3 Dec 2013

Newly identified protein could prove promising new drug target for AIDS

Researchers have identified a protein that causes loss of function in immune cells combatting HIV. The scientists report in a paper appearing online Dec. 2 in the Journal of Clinical Investigation that the protein, Sprouty-2, is a promising target for future HIV drug development, since disabling it could help restore the cells' ability to combat the virus that causes AIDS.

2 Dec 2013

GFF launches education campaign to stop violence against women in DRC, prevent HIV/AIDS in military

The Gertler Family Foundation, in partnership with the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, marked World AIDS Day by launching an aggressive new education campaign to stop violence against women in the DRC and prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS in the military.

2 Dec 2013