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Access to, use of sanitation systems cuts odds of worm infection in half, study review shows

When sanitation systems are available and used, the odds of contracting one of a group of diseases, known as soil-transmitted helminths (STH), is cut in half, according to a systemic review and meta-analysis published this week in PLoS Medicine, Examiner.com reports (Herriman, 1/25).

30 Jan 2012

Nanotechnology firm to develop test for handheld biosensors to detect deadly pathogens

A new company formed around Michigan State University nanotechnology promises to move speedy detection of deadly pathogens and toxins from the laboratory directly to the field.

30 Jan 2012

Two initiatives launched at WEF with aim of ending new HIV infections among children by 2015

"Two groundbreaking initiatives, aimed at realistically achieving the once-unthinkable goal of ending new HIV infections among children by the end of 2015, were launched simultaneously at the World Economic Forum's Annual Conference in Davos" on Friday, according to a Business Leadership Council press release.

30 Jan 2012

Researchers study new strategies to treat patients with influenza

Influenza virus can rapidly evolve from one form to another, complicating the effectiveness of vaccines and anti-viral drugs used to treat it. By first understanding the complex host cell pathways that the flu uses for replication, University of Georgia researchers are finding new strategies for therapies and vaccines, according to a study published in the January issue of the Journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology.

30 Jan 2012

Addressing TB prevention, treatment among migrant populations

In this post on USAID's "IMPACTblog," Christina Lau, USAID health officer for Central Asia, discusses tackling tuberculosis in migrant populations, writing, "Most migrants are unable to access the health care system because they are undocumented laborers, who lack proper identification documents required for health care treatment, and who fear deportation if their documentation status becomes known."

30 Jan 2012

HPV transmission via oral sex practices suggests research

A new study suggested that an estimated 7% of American teens and adults carry the human papillomavirus in their mouths. This may help health experts finally understand why rates of mouth and throat cancer have been climbing for nearly 25 years. The evidence additionally makes it clear that oral sex practices play a key role in transmission.

29 Jan 2012

DNA sequencing for difficult diagnoses of mitochondrial diseases may hit clinics soon

Identifying complete DNA sequences could identify difficult-to-diagnose diseases in humans. This concept is being used for the first time in a clinic. MitoExome sequencing uses new technologies known as next-generation sequencing (NGS) to decode all of the genes associated with mitochondria. Mitochondria are a capsule shaped organelle present within the cell. It is the powerhouse of the cell and its genes are inherited completely from the mother.

29 Jan 2012

Prevalence of oral HPV infection more common among men: Study

Oral HPV infection is more common among men than women, explaining why men are more prone than women to develop an HPV related head and neck cancer, according to a study presented at the Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancer Symposium, sponsored by AHNS, ASCO, ASTRO and SNM.

27 Jan 2012

Watching transformation of the Global Fund on its 10th anniversary

"Are we watching the rebirth of the troubled Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria, perhaps in a new, more U.S.-flavored guise?" Guardian health editor Sarah Boseley asks in her "Global Health Blog."

27 Jan 2012

Study explores links between antiretroviral prophylaxis, cleft lip and palate

HIV-positive mothers have been able to guard against transmitting the disease to their babies by taking antiretroviral drugs during pregnancy. Although the drugs prevent children from being born with HIV, they could cause birth defects, such as cleft lip and palate. A new study explores any links between antiretroviral prophylaxis and cleft lip and palate.

27 Jan 2012

More than 40% of world's population at risk of dengue, WHO fact sheet states

"The incidence of dengue has grown dramatically around the world in recent decades," the WHO writes in an updated fact sheet about dengue and severe dengue published on the organization's website. According to the fact sheet, "Over 2.5 billion people -- over 40 percent of the world's population -- are now at risk from dengue," and "WHO currently estimates there may be 50-100 million dengue infections worldwide every year."

27 Jan 2012

DWH signs collaboration agreement with CPDD

Developing World Health (DWH), a leading medical charity based in Stirlingshire, Scotland and committed to developing effective treatments for neglected tropical diseases, has signed a collaboration agreement with the internationally respected Consortium for Parasitic Drug Development (CPDD), based at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

27 Jan 2012

Bird flu investigator says continuation of research remains 'urgent' despite moratorium

Research into transmissible bird flu strains remains "urgent" despite flu investigators' recent declaration of a "60-day moratorium on avian flu transmission because of the current controversy," Yoshihiro Kawaoka of Tokyo University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, "a lead researcher on one of two recent studies showing how H5N1 can be transmitted through airborne droplets" among ferrets, writes in a commentary published Wednesday in the journal Nature, Reuters reports.

27 Jan 2012

Responding to emergence of drug-resistant tuberculosis

This post in the Center for Strategic and International Studies' "Smart Global Health" blog examines drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB), stating, "[S]ince the recent outbreak of the so-called totally drug-resistant tuberculosis (TDR-TB) in India, TB has a new face."

27 Jan 2012

Reflecting on Global Fund's decade of accomplishment, looking forward to challenges ahead

"This week marks the 10th anniversary of the creation of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria -- the world's most powerful tool for improving health -- at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland," Natasha Bilimoria, president of Friends of the Global Fight Against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, writes in this post in the AlertNet "Insight" blog.

27 Jan 2012

Gates pledges $750 million to Global Fund

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday, Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, pledged $750 million on behalf of the foundation to the Geneva-based Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the Associated Press reports.

27 Jan 2012

Mass. Eye and Ear cornea specialist wins RPB Senior Scientific Investigator Award

Research to Prevent Blindness (RPB) has granted Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary cornea specialist James Chodosh, M.D., M.P.H., a $150,000 Senior Scientific Investigator Award. RPB Senior Scientific Investigator Awards support nationally recognized scientists conducting eye research at medical institutions in the United States.

27 Jan 2012

MSF warns about lack of access to antiretroviral treatment in DRC, urges government, donor action

"Eighty-six percent of HIV-positive people in the Democratic Republic of Congo [DRC] have no access to antiretrovirals, medical charity Doctors Without Borders said Wednesday," calling the "conditions of access to care for people living with HIV/AIDS ... catastrophic," Agence France-Presse reports.

27 Jan 2012

New technique to overcome genetic oddity of P. falciparum

The parasite that causes malaria is a genetic outlier, which has prevented scientists from discovering the functions of most of its genes. Researchers at National Jewish Health and Yale University School of Medicine have devised a technique to overcome the genetic oddity of Plasmodium falciparum, the major cause of human malaria.

27 Jan 2012

Gates urges governments, wealthy donors not to cut aid to poor countries; Annual letter sets foundation's priorities

In a speech to the European Parliament on Tuesday, Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, "told European lawmakers in Brussels not to cut aid to poor countries despite the economic and budgetary problems facing" European Union (E.U.) countries, Agence France-Presse reports.

27 Jan 2012

Disease/Infection News

Access to, use of sanitation systems cuts odds of worm infection in half, study review shows

Nanotechnology firm to develop test for handheld biosensors to detect deadly pathogens

Two initiatives launched at WEF with aim of ending new HIV infections among children by 2015

Researchers study new strategies to treat patients with influenza

Addressing TB prevention, treatment among migrant populations

HPV transmission via oral sex practices suggests research

DNA sequencing for difficult diagnoses of mitochondrial diseases may hit clinics soon

Prevalence of oral HPV infection more common among men: Study

Watching transformation of the Global Fund on its 10th anniversary

Study explores links between antiretroviral prophylaxis, cleft lip and palate

More than 40% of world's population at risk of dengue, WHO fact sheet states

DWH signs collaboration agreement with CPDD

Bird flu investigator says continuation of research remains 'urgent' despite moratorium

Responding to emergence of drug-resistant tuberculosis

Reflecting on Global Fund's decade of accomplishment, looking forward to challenges ahead

Gates pledges $750 million to Global Fund

Mass. Eye and Ear cornea specialist wins RPB Senior Scientific Investigator Award

MSF warns about lack of access to antiretroviral treatment in DRC, urges government, donor action

New technique to overcome genetic oddity of P. falciparum

Gates urges governments, wealthy donors not to cut aid to poor countries; Annual letter sets foundation's priorities

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