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Parasites that live inside cells use loophole to thwart immune system

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital scientists have discovered a mechanism by which intracellular pathogens can shut down one of the body's key chemical weapons against them: nitric oxide. The researchers found that the microbes block nitric oxide production by subverting the biochemical machinery used by immune cells called macrophages to produce the chemical.

3 Nov 2008

Malaria falls significantly in the Gambia in last 5 years - raises possibility of elimination in other parts of Africa

The incidence of malaria has fallen significantly in The Gambia in the last 5 years, according to a study carried out by experts there with support from scientists based in London.

31 Oct 2008

Protect yourself from flu by wearing a mask and washing your hands

In what has been termed a landmark new study, it is suggested that wearing masks and washing hands prevents the spread of flu-like symptoms.

28 Oct 2008

Ontario Hospital Association campaign highlights importance of effective hand hygiene

The Ontario Hospital Association (OHA) launched the "Clean Hands Protect Lives" program - a program specifically designed to educate Ontario health care patients about the importance of effective hand hygiene. This campaign is sponsored by Ontario's Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.

23 Oct 2008

Bird flu appears again in Hong Kong

Bird flu is in the news again following the revelation that a dead crow found recently at a local community in Hong Kong was confirmed to be H5N1 positive.

21 Oct 2008

People lacking essential antioxidants and sunlight more likely to develop advanced macular degeneration

People who lack essential antioxidants, and who have high levels of sunlight exposure, have a higher risk of developing advanced macular degeneration (AMD), according to a study published today in the journal Archives of Ophthalmology. AMD is the leading cause of poor vision in the UK.

20 Oct 2008

Contact lenses are home to pathogenic amoebae

Contact lenses increase the risk of infection with pathogenic protozoa that can cause blindness. New research, published in the November issue of the Journal of Medical Microbiology, shows that a high percentage of contact lens cases in Tenerife are contaminated with Acanthamoeba that cannot be killed by normal contact lens solution.

20 Oct 2008

Hand, foot and mouth disease in China kills 3 children and sickens over 100 others

In the latest health scare in China three children have died from hand, foot and mouth disease and another 110 are sick - this is China's second outbreak of the virus this year in young children.

20 Oct 2008

Chance of dying from cancer before the age of 84 is falling

The chance of dying from cancer before the age of 84 is becoming much smaller for most types of cancer and should continue falling over the next 20 years according to a new study from Cancer Research UK.

19 Oct 2008

Study reveals too many people have faecal bacteria on their hands

According to a preliminary study conducted by the research team, the further north you go in Britain, the more likely you are to have faecal bacteria on your hands, and men were the worse offenders.

14 Oct 2008

Combo of sunlight and low antioxidant levels leave seniors at risk of eye disease

European research has revealed that blue light exposure from the sun combined with low plasma levels of antioxidants may contribute to certain forms of the eye disease age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

14 Oct 2008

People lacking vital antioxidants and exposed to sunlight more likely to develop eye disease later in life

13 Oct 2008

Birth size a marker of susceptibility to breast cancer later in life

The findings from a study by a team based at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) are published in PLoS Medicine.

2 Oct 2008

7 million pregnant women in sub-Saharan Africa infected with hookworms

A study published by PLoS reveals that between a quarter and a third of pregnant women in sub-Saharan Africa, or almost 7 million, are infected with hookworms, putting them at risk of anaemia.

2 Oct 2008

Birth size a marker for breast cancer later in life

A new study by researchers at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine has found that birth size is a marker of susceptibility to breast cancer later in life - they say birth size, and in particular birth length, is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer in adulthood.

30 Sep 2008

New York City blacks more likely than other races to have high blood pressure, report finds

New York City blacks have the highest rate of high blood pressure of any racial or ethnic group in the city, according to a report released on Wednesday by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the Staten Island Advance reports.

29 Sep 2008

WHO updates on Guinea Bissau cholera outbreak

Since the beginning of May 2008, Guinea-Bissau has been facing a large cholera outbreak. As of 21 September, 7 166 cases had been reported throughout the country, among whom 133 people had died. The overall case-fatality rate stands at 1.9%, and decreases below 1% for hospitalized cases.

24 Sep 2008

Exposure to bacteria might prevent type I diabetes

Researchers from Yale University and the University of Chicago have found a startling illustration of the potential for microbes to prevent disease - they found that mice exposed to common stomach bacteria were protected against the development of type I diabetes.

22 Sep 2008

New York City report finds reduced HIV/AIDS-related deaths, increased condom distribution in FY 2008

New York City has made significant progress in reducing the number of HIV/AIDS-related deaths, increasing voluntary HIV testing rates and distributing no-cost condoms during the fiscal year that ended June 30, according to the Mayor's Management Report, the New York Daily News reports.

22 Sep 2008

30 years on from Alma-Ata and the pendulum is swinging back to primary health care

Thirty years on from the signing of the historic Alma-Ata declaration, the famous rallying call to the global health community, the concept of Primary Health Care, which lay at its heart, is back on the global agenda.

15 Sep 2008

Hygiene News and Research

Parasites that live inside cells use loophole to thwart immune system

Malaria falls significantly in the Gambia in last 5 years - raises possibility of elimination in other parts of Africa

Protect yourself from flu by wearing a mask and washing your hands

Ontario Hospital Association campaign highlights importance of effective hand hygiene

Bird flu appears again in Hong Kong

People lacking essential antioxidants and sunlight more likely to develop advanced macular degeneration

Contact lenses are home to pathogenic amoebae

Hand, foot and mouth disease in China kills 3 children and sickens over 100 others

Chance of dying from cancer before the age of 84 is falling

Study reveals too many people have faecal bacteria on their hands

Combo of sunlight and low antioxidant levels leave seniors at risk of eye disease

People lacking vital antioxidants and exposed to sunlight more likely to develop eye disease later in life

Birth size a marker of susceptibility to breast cancer later in life

7 million pregnant women in sub-Saharan Africa infected with hookworms

Birth size a marker for breast cancer later in life

New York City blacks more likely than other races to have high blood pressure, report finds

WHO updates on Guinea Bissau cholera outbreak

Exposure to bacteria might prevent type I diabetes

New York City report finds reduced HIV/AIDS-related deaths, increased condom distribution in FY 2008

30 years on from Alma-Ata and the pendulum is swinging back to primary health care

Achieving and maintaining ISO 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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