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Study finds multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in 48% of infected patient rooms

Multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (MDR-AB) was found in the environment of 48 percent of the rooms of patients colonized or infected with the pathogen, according to a new study published in the November issue of the American Journal of Infection Control, the official publication of APIC - the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology.

2 Nov 2011

Elevated body temperature helps certain types of immune cells to work better

With cold and flu season almost here, the next time you're sick, think twice before taking something for your fever. That's because scientists have found more evidence that elevated body temperature helps certain types of immune cells to work better.

2 Nov 2011

Science Speaks reports results of Zambia-South Africa TB and AIDS Reduction program study

This post in the Center for Global Health Policy's "Science Speaks" blog reports the results of a Zambia-South Africa TB and AIDS Reduction (ZAMSTAR) program study, released Monday, which "demonstrate that household counseling -- defined as the unpacking of concerns about TB and HIV within households and facilitating prompt diagnosis and treatment -- significantly reduced tuberculosis (TB) prevalence."

2 Nov 2011

Exclusion of family planning, HIV prevention from Pink Ribbon Red Ribbon partnership is 'counter-intuitive'

In this Huffington Post opinion piece, Serra Sippel, president of the Center for Health and Gender Equity, examines the Pink Ribbon Red Ribbon partnership, which was launched last month by PEPFAR in conjunction with the George W. Bush Institute, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, and UNAIDS with the aim of "integrating cervical and breast cancer education, screening, and treatment with HIV services."

2 Nov 2011

Innovative mobile-technology strategy to prevent HIV/AIDS in Uganda

1 million people in Uganda live with HIV/AIDS, where long distances and expensive travel costs significantly limit access to treatment. By employing an innovative mobile-technology strategy, Dr. Femida Gwadry-Sridhar, Director of I-THINK Research at Lawson Health Research Institute, hopes to provide a much-needed solution.

2 Nov 2011

First study to show how H. pylori toxin can spur apoptosis

Researchers report they have figured out how the cancer-causing bacterium Helicobacter pylori attacks a cell's energy infrastructure, sparking a series of events in the cell that ultimately lead it to self-destruct.

2 Nov 2011

Lack of resources, leadership hindering male circumcision campaign in Uganda, PlusNews reports

"Ugandan men have been seeking medical male circumcision in droves since the government launched a national policy in 2010, but the health system is not equipped to handle the caseload, slowing down the potential HIV prevention benefits of the campaign," PlusNews reports.

2 Nov 2011

New protein microarray technology could eradicate malaria

A new research technology is revealing how humans develop immunity to malaria, and could assist programs aimed at eradicating this parasitic disease.

2 Nov 2011

GSK, Alnylam collaborate to apply VaxiRNA technology for influenza vaccine production

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leading RNAi therapeutics company, announced today it has formed a collaboration with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) focused on Alnylam's VaxiRNATM technology for certain GSK vaccine products, including influenza. VaxiRNA is a new RNAi technology for the enhanced production of viruses used in the manufacture of vaccine products. GSK, a leading vaccine manufacturer, is the first company to form a collaboration accessing this new platform.

2 Nov 2011

GM mosquitoes show promise in tackling insect-borne diseases, study shows; some concerned over possible unintended consequences

"Genetically modified mosquitoes could prove effective in tackling dengue fever and other insect-borne diseases," according to the results of a study by a U.K.-based scientific team published in the journal Nature Biotechnology on Sunday, BBC News reports.

2 Nov 2011

ProPhase Labs introduces new Cold-EEZE Oral Spray

ProPhase Labs, makers of Cold-EEZE, a leader in over-the-counter (OTC) homeopathic cold remedies, continues to pioneer the category as they launch their first-ever Cold-EEZE Oral Spray. The new Oral Spray is formulated with zinc gluconate, the same effective active ingredient found in the best-selling, clinically proven and #1 pharmacist recommended Cold-EEZE lozenges.

1 Nov 2011

Countries need vigilance, informed media coverage to achieve polio eradication

In this SciDev.Net editorial, T.V. Padma, regional coordinator for South Asia for the news service, recaps findings from the latest report of the Independent Monitoring Board of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), released last week, and writes, "Polio control in developing countries has received massive international support and funding, including free supplies of vaccines. Yet transmission of the virus remains. Clearly, there are problems other than funds."

1 Nov 2011

Pharmasset initiates PSI-7977 Phase 3 program for HCV

Pharmasset, Inc. today announced the initiation of a Phase 3 program with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) nucleotide analog, PSI-7977. This pivotal program will evaluate a 12-week, all-oral, interferon-free regimen of PSI-7977 and ribavirin in patients with HCV, independent of viral genotype or their ability to take interferon therapy.

1 Nov 2011

USAID has technical capacity to lead GHI if given authority

In a post in the Center for Global Development's "Rethinking U.S. Foreign Assistance Blog," Nandini Oomman, director of the HIV/AIDS Monitor at the center, and Rachel Silverman, a research assistant at the center, examine the question of Global Health Initiative (GHI) leadership, citing the State Department's Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review (QDDR), released last December, which states that "USAID would assume leadership of the GHI by September 2012, contingent upon fulfilling a set of 10 benchmarks to demonstrate its capacity."

1 Nov 2011

PlusNews interviews Stop TB Director Mario Raviglione

At the recent International Lung Health Conference in Lille, France, IRIN/PlusNews spoke with Stop TB Director Mario Raviglione about the threat of drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB), its treatment and "the precarious TB funding gap," the news service writes.

1 Nov 2011

Studies on effectiveness of new HCV therapies presented at 76th ACG meeting

Studies reporting on the effectiveness of new therapies for chronic Hepatitis C virus are among the clinical science presented at the American College of Gastroenterology's 76th Annual Scientific Meeting, where investigators also presented findings from an age-based risk assessment and screening intervention for Hepatitis C among Baby Boomers, patients aged 50-65, who saw a gastroenterologist for routine colon cancer screening.

1 Nov 2011

GPEI must 'take seriously' recommendations in Independent Monitoring Board report

In this post in the "Health Affairs Blog," diplomacy and global health consultant Judith Kaufmann writes about the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) Independent Monitoring Board quarterly report released last week, stating, "What is really new about this report ... is that it does not, as so many GPEI reports have in the past, point the finger at lack of funding, although there is an obvious concern about the funding gap. Rather, the report looks squarely at changes needed in the management of the global program itself."

1 Nov 2011

Commonwealth government leaders pledge millions of additional funds to fight polio

"Commonwealth government leaders meeting in Australia agreed Saturday to step up efforts to eradicate polio worldwide, despite the Afghanistan war setting back vaccination efforts there and in neighboring Pakistan," the Associated Press reports.

1 Nov 2011

Vampire-like bacteria has potential to serve as living antibiotic

A vampire-like bacteria that leeches onto specific other bacteria - including certain human pathogens - has the potential to serve as a living antibiotic for a range of infectious diseases, a new study indicates.

1 Nov 2011

Light-cell interaction and Born approximation rule can help detect misshapen red blood cells

Misshapen red blood cells are a sign of serious illnesses, such as malaria and sickle cell anemia. Until recently, the only way to assess whether a person's RBCs were the correct shape was to look at them individually under a microscope - a time-consuming process for pathologists.

1 Nov 2011

Disease/Infection News

Study finds multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in 48% of infected patient rooms

Elevated body temperature helps certain types of immune cells to work better

Science Speaks reports results of Zambia-South Africa TB and AIDS Reduction program study

Exclusion of family planning, HIV prevention from Pink Ribbon Red Ribbon partnership is 'counter-intuitive'

Innovative mobile-technology strategy to prevent HIV/AIDS in Uganda

First study to show how H. pylori toxin can spur apoptosis

Lack of resources, leadership hindering male circumcision campaign in Uganda, PlusNews reports

New protein microarray technology could eradicate malaria

GSK, Alnylam collaborate to apply VaxiRNA technology for influenza vaccine production

GM mosquitoes show promise in tackling insect-borne diseases, study shows; some concerned over possible unintended consequences

ProPhase Labs introduces new Cold-EEZE Oral Spray

Countries need vigilance, informed media coverage to achieve polio eradication

Pharmasset initiates PSI-7977 Phase 3 program for HCV

USAID has technical capacity to lead GHI if given authority

PlusNews interviews Stop TB Director Mario Raviglione

Studies on effectiveness of new HCV therapies presented at 76th ACG meeting

GPEI must 'take seriously' recommendations in Independent Monitoring Board report

Commonwealth government leaders pledge millions of additional funds to fight polio

Vampire-like bacteria has potential to serve as living antibiotic

Light-cell interaction and Born approximation rule can help detect misshapen red blood cells

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