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New research discovers link between HIV-related cognitive deficits and Alzheimer's-related dementia

More than half of HIV patients experience memory problems and other cognitive impairments as they age, and doctors know little about the underlying causes. New research from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis suggests HIV-related cognitive deficits share a common link with Alzheimer's-related dementia: low levels of the protein amyloid beta in the spinal fluid.

8 Dec 2009

Also in global health news: Clean water in India; cholera in Kenya; Zuma, Gates discuss HIV/AIDS; MDR-TB in Marshall Islands; sanitation in Jakarta

India's Tata Group on Monday "unveiled a new low-cost water purifier, which it hopes will provide safe drinking water for millions and cut the toll of deadly diseases," Agence France-Presse/mysinchew.com reports.

8 Dec 2009

New York Times examines cash transfer, other aid to Malawian children

The New York Times looks at how aid is distributed to children who have lost parents in Malawi and other parts of sub-Saharan Africa and examines differing views on orphanages.

8 Dec 2009

States struggle with budget cuts and Medicaid funding issues

News outlets report on a variety of health issues at the state level especially budget cuts and Medicaid funding issues.

7 Dec 2009

Regular sexual activity can help improve the overall health in men

Boston Medical Group, a national physician network specializing in the treatment of erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation, today released the top ten reasons regular sexual activity can help improve men’s overall health. From decreased blood pressure to more restful sleep, sexual activity is essential for maintaining bodily functions as well as overall health and well-being.

7 Dec 2009

Football for Hope Centre opened in Khayelitsha

The first Football for Hope Centre in Khayelitsha in the outskirts of Cape Town opened its doors today (5 December 2009). FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter was joined by Western Cape Premier Helen Zille, 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee South Africa (OC) CEO Danny Jordaan, South African Football Association President Kirsten Nematandani and Executive Mayor of the City of Cape Town Dan Plato at the celebration of the latest milestone of 20 Centres for 2010, the Official Campaign of the 2010 FIFA World Cup(TM).

7 Dec 2009

AHF hosts free rapid HIV testing in conjunction with Faithful Central Bible Church

In observation of World AIDS Day 2009, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest global AIDS group which currently provides more than 15,000 free HIV and STD tests annually in California via its community-based testing programs, is hosting a day of free rapid HIV testing in conjunction with Faithful Central Bible Church this Sunday December 6th starting at 6:00am going until 4:00pm at the congregation’s church in Inglewood (321 Eucalyptus Street, Inglewood, 90301).

7 Dec 2009

New approach to protein misfolding may lead to novel therapies for a number of diseases

In an encouraging new development, a team led by Scripps Research Institute scientists has restored partial function to lung cells collected from patients with cystic fibrosis. While there is still much work to be done before the therapy can be tested in humans, the discovery opens the door to a new class of therapies for this and a host of other chronic diseases.

7 Dec 2009

Norovirus-related illnesses linked to eating oysters, reveals report

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is advising consumers to avoid eating oysters harvested from the San Antonio Bay on or after Nov. 16 due to reports of norovirus-associated illnesses in some people who had consumed oysters harvested from this area, which is located on the Gulf of Texas.

7 Dec 2009

Join Sonic Foundry, Wisconsin Department of Health Services to host webinar on health information

When the spread of H1N1 flu accelerated this fall, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services needed to get more information to more people more quickly than ever before. Join Sonic Foundry, Inc. (Nasdaq: SOFO), the recognized market leader for rich media webcasting and knowledge management, for a live webinar in which Matt Duffy from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, will share how in-house webcasting relieved fiscal pressures and made it easier to present increasingly complex data.

5 Dec 2009

97 new drugs and vaccines in development for HIV/AIDS treatment, finds report

Chemistry World recently highlighted a new report published by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) that identifies 97 new drugs and vaccines in development for HIV/AIDS and related conditions.

5 Dec 2009

Biomagnetics Diagnostics discusses utilization of acquired Los Alamos National Security intellectual property

Biomagnetics Diagnostics Corp., a developer of revolutionary diagnostic systems and technology for HIV, hepatitis, tuberculosis and malaria detection provides the following recap of yesterday's investor conference call, which discussed the Company’s acquisition of intellectual property rights from Los Alamos National Security.

5 Dec 2009

Florida's top nonprofits receive awards for improving health care

Today, seven of Florida's top nonprofits received awards for their work in improving the health of Florida's uninsured and underserved at The Blue Foundation for a Healthy Florida's 2009 Sapphire Award ceremony.

5 Dec 2009

Comparative study on African monkeys may provide novel targets for AIDS therapy

Two studies published this month in the Journal of Clinical Investigation provide a significant advance in understanding how some species of monkeys such as sooty mangabeys and African green monkeys avoid AIDS when infected with SIV, the simian equivalent of HIV.

5 Dec 2009

Number of new active TB cases increases from 2007 to 2008, WHO says

The WHO's Stop TB Department released data on Thursday at the 40th Union World Conference on Lung Health indicating that the number of new active TB cases worldwide rose from 9.27 million in 2007 to 9.4 million in 2008, Reuters reports. Experts, who were gathered for the conference in Cancun, Mexico, "called for more research funding to develop better diagnostic tests, vaccines and drugs for tuberculosis, which killed 1.8 million people around the world last year," according to the news service.

4 Dec 2009

Foreign Policy examines 'philanthrocapitalism' trend

Foreign Policy examines "a revolutionary idea for how to remake charity in the 21st century [that] is taking off: philanthrocapitalism." The magazine writes: "Unlike their colleagues in government bureaucracies and tried-and-true NGOs, the philanthrocapitalists are a nimble, business-minded stock."

4 Dec 2009

New York Times examines HIV testing program in China

The New York Times examines an HIV prevention program in China aimed at promoting blood screening that has led "more than 110,000 people" to be tested so far: "On any given night, in 14 cities around the country, hundreds of people flock to makeshift blood collection centers in bars, bathhouses and apartments where workers test for syphilis and HIV, the virus that causes AIDS."

4 Dec 2009

Recent releases in Global Health

Ahead of the U.N. Climate Change conference in Copenhagen next week, a Lancet comment examines the health consequences associated with climate change and the case for linking climate and health goals. "The issue now is not whether climate change is occurring, but how we can respond most effectively. ... Responding to climate change is not a distraction from the business of protecting health: it is part of the same agenda," the author writes (Chan, 12/5).

4 Dec 2009

Campaign for legislation to protect adult film industry performers

On Friday, a broad coalition of health groups will unveil a campaign to press for California legislation to protect adult film industry performers. The legislative push will be formally announced in conjunction with a strategy symposium for the effort being held Friday, December 4th at UCLA (Public Affairs Building, North Campus).

4 Dec 2009

Researchers discover new strategy against invasive parasite

Researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University have discovered a possible strategy against an invasive parasite that infects more than a quarter of the world's population, including 50 million Americans.

4 Dec 2009