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25May
2005
Data presented today demonstrates that men taking dapoxetine hydrochloride for the treatment of premature ejaculation (PE) experienced significant improvements in sexual function, including ejaculatory control, satisfaction with sexual intercourse for men and their partners, and increases in intravaginal ejaculatory latency time (IELT)*. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is currently reviewing a New Drug Application for dapoxetine, which if approved, would be the first prescription product indicated for the treatment of PE. These data were presented at the 100th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Urological Association. According to the American Urological Association, premature ejaculation may be the most common male sexual disorder. It is estimated that PE may affect 27 percent to 34 percent of men across all age ranges**, in contrast to erectile dysfunction, which is estimated to affect 10 percent to 12 percent of all men, who are usually older in age. PE can be a lifelong condition experienced from the beginning of sexual activity or can develop after years of satisfactory sexual activity. “The impact premature ejaculation can have on men and their partners can be devastating for a relationship and, currently, there are no truly optimal therapies for PE,” says Jon L. Pryor, M.D., chairman […]
8September
2006
Dapoxetine, a new antidepressant, has been found to be safe and effective for the treatment of premature ejaculation, according to two major clinical trials. Dapoxetin is a short-acting selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). It is not uncommon for SSRIs to be used off-label for premature ejaculation. Experts doubt it will be approved by the FDA shortly because SSRIs come with undesirable side-effects after long-term use, such as psychiatric problems, dermatological reactions, increase in body weight, lower sex-drive, nausea, headache, upset stomach and weakness. Dr. Jon Pryor, head researcher, University of Minnesota, said that Dapoxetine lengthened ejaculation time and also gave patients more control over ejaculation. You can read about this in the journal The Lancet. The research team examined the results of two trials, totalling 2,614 men. All the men had from moderate to severe premature ejaculation – on average, the men were ejaculating within one minute of penetration. Half of them were randomly selected to receive Dapoxetine while the other half received a placebo. Both groups had to take their medication from 1 to 3 hours before sexual intercourse. After three months, the men taking a 30-milligram dose of dapoxetine took an average 2.78 minutes to ejaculate after penetration, […]
31October
2009
Watering eye, epiphora or tearing, is a condition in which there is an overflow of tears onto the face, often without a clear explanation. There is insufficient tear film drainage from the eye or eyes. Instead of the tears draining through the nasolacrimal system, they overflow onto the face. Tears are needed to keep the front surface of the eye healthy and maintain clear vision, but too many tears can make it difficult to see. This can make driving difficult or dangerous. Epiphora can develop at any age, but it is more common in those aged under 12 months or over 60 years. It may affect one or both eyes. Watering eye can usually be treated effectively. Causes The two main causes of watering eyes are blocked tear ducts and excessive production of tears. Blocked tear ducts Blocked ducts are the most common cause of watering eyes in adults. Some people are born with underdeveloped tear ducts. Newborns often have watery eyes that clear up within a few weeks, as the ducts develop. The most common cause of watering eyes among adults and older children is blocked ducts or ducts that are too narrow. Narrowed tear ducts usually become so […]
12November
2009
Dry eyes can happen when tears evaporate too quickly, or if the eyes produce too few tears. It is common in humans and in some animals. It can affect one or both eyes, and it can lead to inflammation. One study found that 17 percent of 2,127 patients visiting a hospital in Japan were diagnosed with dry eye, while 14.6 percent in a group of 2,520 older individuals reported symptoms of dry eyes. Dry eye syndrome can occur at any age, and in people who are otherwise healthy. It is more common with older age, when the individual produces fewer tears. It is also more common in women than in men. It is more common in places where malnutrition results in a vitamin A deficiency. Causes Dry eyes can become red and irritated. The eyes produce tears all the time, not only when we yawn or experience emotion. Healthy eyes are constantly covered with a fluid, known as a tear film. It is designed to remain stable between each blink. This prevents the eyes from becoming dry and enables clear vision. If the tear glands produce fewer tears, the tear film can become unstable. It can break down quickly, creating […]
12May
2010
Premature ejaculation is a form of sexual dysfunction that can adversely affect the quality of a man’s sex life. It is when an orgasm or “climax” occurs sooner than wanted. There may occasionally be complication with reproduction, but premature ejaculation (PE) can also adversely affect sexual satisfaction, both for men and their partners. In recent years, the recognition and understanding of male sexual dysfunction has improved, and there is a better understanding of the problems that can result from it. The information here aims to demystify the causes of PE and outline effective treatment options. Fast facts on premature ejaculation Here are some key points about premature ejaculation. In the majority of cases, an inability to control ejaculation is rarely due to a medical condition, although doctors will need to rule this out. PE can lead to secondary symptoms such as distress, embarrassment, anxiety, and depression. Treatment options range from reassurance from a doctor that the problem might improve in time, through to home methods of “training” the timing of ejaculation. Treatment Premature ejaculation can cause significant distress. In most cases, there is a psychological cause, and the prognosis is good. If the problem occurs at the beginning of a […]
8October
2014
In a new study, Chen-Yu Zhang’s group at Nanjing University present an extremely novel finding that a plant microRNA, MIR2911, which is enriched in honeysuckle, directly targets influenza A viruses (IAV) including H1N1, H5N1 and H7N9. Drinking of honeysuckle soup can prevent IAV infection and reduce H5N1-induced mice death. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of 19-24 nucleotide non-coding RNAs that do not encode for proteins. MiRNAs bind to target messenger RNAs to inhibit protein translation. In previous studies, the same group has demonstrated that stable miRNAs in mammalian serum and plasma are actively secreted from tissues and cells and can serve as a novel class of biomarkers for disease and act as signaling molecules in intercellular communication. They have also reported that plant miRNAs can enter into the host blood and tissues via the route of food-intake. More importantly, once inside the host, the food-derived exogenous miRNAs can regulate host physiology by regulating host “target” genes. Here, they report a surprising finding that MIR2911 from a Chinese herb honeysuckle can suppress IAV infection. Firstly, MIR2911 was found to be selectively retained in the boiled decoction of honeysuckle, and to be delivered into mouse plasma and lung tissue after drinking honeysuckle […]
21November
2014
Certain subtypes of avian influenza viruses have the potential to cause more severe disease in humans than other avian influenza subtypes and should be monitored carefully to prevent spread of disease, according to a study published this week in mBio®, the online open-access journal of the American Society for Microbiology. The work, directed by researchers at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in Bethesda, Md., found that flu viruses expressing the low pathogenicity avian H1, H6, H7, H10 or H15 hemagglutinins (genes that encode the major surface protein for the virus) led to fatal infections in mice and caused more cell damage in normal human lung cells grown in culture as compared to avian influenza viruses with other subtypes. The 1918 H1 subtype hemagglutinin has been already identified as a key virulence factor in the pandemic influenza virus of 1918. That virus, which caused the so-called “Spanish flu,” spread rapidly around the world, resulting in approximately 50 million deaths. “Viruses with these avian hemagglutinins have some type of inherent virulence motif to them, in that they induce a marked inflammatory response in mammals including human cells in culture,” said senior study author Jeffery K. Taubenberger, MD, PhD, chief […]
14January
2015
Washington State University Spokane scientists have found a brain protein that boosts the healing power of sleep and speeds an animal’s recovery from the flu. Research by WSU Regents Professor James M. Krueger has determined that a brain-specific protein is uniquely involved in sleep responses triggered by the influenza virus in mice. Without the protein, animals develop more severe symptoms of infection and die at higher rates than regular or control mice. Krueger said the discovery could lead to alternative treatments for influenza and other infectious diseases, possibly by using intranasal sprays to stimulate the production of the brain protein, called AcPb. Previous research indicates that sleep is necessary for a healthy immune system and plays a critical role in the body’s response to bacterial and viral infections. Krueger showed this recovery involves AcPb and an immune system signaling chemical called interleukin-1. AcPb links up with interleukin-1 to help regulate sleep in healthy animals. It also prompts infected animals to spend more time sleeping during an illness. In the study, mice who lacked the gene for AcPb slept less after being infected with influenza virus. They also became chilled, grew sluggish, lost their normal circadian rhythms and ultimately died in […]
5February
2015
Study looked at 2009 swine flu vaccine use in United States A new study suggests that confidence in government may play a key role in the public’s willingness to get at least some vaccines. The study re-analyzed national survey data from 2009 that examined Americans’ views on a then-new vaccine for the H1N1 virus – commonly known as swine flu. Results showed that Republicans and independents were significantly less likely than Democrats to say they would get the vaccine. But it wasn’t their political affiliation itself that was driving Republican and independent views, said Kent Schwirian, professor of sociology at The Ohio State University. “It’s not that Republicans reject vaccination because of their conservative views or exposure to certain media,” Schwirian said. “It was their lack of confidence in the government to deal with the swine flu crisis that was driving their anti-vaccination views.” The study found that people trusting the government’s ability to deal with the epidemic were almost three times more likely to take the vaccine than were others. Schwirian conducted the study with Gustavo Mesch, a Ph.D. graduate of Ohio State who is now a professor of sociology and Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at […]
18February
2015
Individuals receiving the annual vaccine for regular seasonal flu strains also develop protection against the more dangerous bird flu strain known as H7N9 that emerged in China 2 years ago, medical scientists in Chicago and New York have found. The seasonal flu vaccine may protect against bird flu. The researchers, from the University of Chicago Medicine and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, found antibodies – the immune system’s protective proteins – for H7N9 in people who had had the injection for seasonal flu. They have published their findings online in the Journal of Clinical Investigation. Bird or avian flu virus emerged in China in 2013 and, as the researchers point out, shows a high death rate among people who become infected – H7N9 has killed a third of hospitalized patients. While no pandemic has yet been seen, the threat of wider global spread is a worrying one, so the scientists – led by co-senior author Patrick Wilson, PhD, associate professor of medicine at the University of Chicago – looked to the regular seasonal vaccine, which produces antibodies against the flu virus, proteins that bind to the invading pathogen and neutralize it. Dr. Wilson concludes […]
7March
2015
Since 2003, the H5N1 influenza virus, more commonly known as the bird flu, has been responsible for the deaths of millions of chickens and ducks and has infected more than 650 people, leading to a 60 percent mortality rate for the latter. Luckily, this virus has yet to achieve human-to-human transmission, but a small number of mutations could change that, resulting in a pandemic. Now a team of investigators from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Stanford University Medical Center, and MacroGenics have developed an antibody which has proven 100 percent protective against the virus in two species of animal models. The research is published ahead of print February 11, in the Journal of Virology, a publication of the American Society for Microbiology. This is a colorized transmission electron micrograph of Avian influenza A H5N1 viruses.Credit: Wikipedia Antivirals have been potential sources of protection, but they are hampered by the propensity of viruses to rapidly mutate, which often results in resistance. “We have seen this in H5N1 viruses,” said corresponding author Richard Webby, PhD, a Member in the Infectious Diseases Department at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, and Director of the World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Center for Studies […]
14March
2015
Scientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have analyzed a key protein from two influenza strains that recently began causing sporadic infections among people in China and Taiwan. A new analysis suggest that two deadly flu viruses, variants of subtypes H10N8 and H6N1, have not acquired changes that would allow them to infect people easily.Credit: Image courtesy of The Scripps Research Institute. The analyses suggest that the flu viruses, variants of subtypes H10N8 and H6N1, have not acquired changes that would allow them to infect people easily and cause a much-feared pandemic. Yet the studies also highlight the versatility that bird flu viruses apparently have in attaching to host cells. “These bird flu viruses seem able to bind to receptors on host cells in different ways and thus can probably mutate in different ways to jump to humans–so we shouldn’t be complacent about our ability to predict the viral changes required to get a pandemic,” said Ian A. Wilson, Hansen Professor of Structural Biology and chair of TSRI’s Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology. The new research, from Wilson’s laboratory and the laboratory of James C. Paulson, acting president and CEO of TSRI, is reported in two papers in […]
8April
2015
Viral changes make current situation more complex Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5 viruses of Eurasian origin continue to circulate and evolve in North American wild birds. The U.S. Geological Survey and U.S. Department of Agriculture published the genetic analysis of a mixed-origin HPAI H5N1 avian flu virus in the journal Genome Announcements. This novel virus was discovered in a green-winged teal in Washington State that was sampled at the end of 2014. It is a mixed-origin virus containing genes from the Eurasian HPAI H5N8 and genes from North American low pathogenic avian influenza from wild birds. This H5N1 virus is different from the well-known Asian H5N1 HPAI virus that emerged in 1996. This new publication follows a recent article describing the introduction of Eurasian HPAI H5N8 into North America at the end of 2014 and the detection of a different mixed-origin virus (HPAI H5N2) in wild birds. In March 2015, the HPAI H5N2 virus was detected in commercial turkey flocks in Minnesota, Missouri and Arkansas, in a backyard flock of mixed poultry in Kansas and in a wild bird in Wyoming. “Such findings are not unexpected and might continue as the Eurasian lineage H5 circulates in the United States,” […]
14April
2015
A simple and effective portable tool to predict avian flu outbreaks on farms has been created by University of Guelph researchers. U of G researchers devised a real-time way to analyze chickens and other farm birds for avian flu. The tool uses a small blood sample and relies on a simple chemical colour change to see not only whether a chicken has avian flu but also what viral strain is involved. Current tests require samples to be sent to a lab, where it can take eight hours to a couple of days to yield results. That’s too long, said Prof. Suresh Neethirajan, School of Engineering. “Treatment, especially when dealing with humans who have been infected, needs to start as soon as possible,” he said. “This test only needs two to three minutes to incubate, and then you get the results immediately. Not only that, but it is more cost-effective. Conventional techniques are time-consuming and labour-intensive, and require special facilities and expensive laboratory instruments.” A study about the device will appear in an upcoming issue of the scientific journal Sensors, published by Molecular Diversity Preservation International (MDPI). Canadian officials have placed eight farms in southern Ontario under quarantine after an avian […]
24April
2015
The Arizona Department of Agriculture is working with large and small poultry farmers in the state concerning the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). Since the first discovery in North America in December, the department has published information on the State Veterinarian’s blog as well as the agriculture.az.gov website. With this week’s announcement of the USDA confirming Highly Pathogenic subtype H5N2 in several different types of poultry flocks in Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota, Wisconsin and Iowa, the state is increasing its surveillance. “There are currently no cases of HPAI in Arizona,” said Arizona’s State Veterinarian, Dr. Perry Durham. “However, as long as the HPAI virus continues to spread in the U.S., the risk of infection remains. Arizona has a robust surveillance program actively looking for the disease in domestic poultry and wild birds.” Avian Influenza is a highly contagious viral disease of chickens, turkeys, pheasants, ducks, quail, geese and many wild birds. HPAI can be carried by wild waterfowl without symptoms. Direct contact with infected birds, contaminated objects/equipment, and droplets in air (short distances) can spread the virus which is found in feces, saliva and respiratory secretions. Signs of HPAI infection include; lack of energy or appetite, birds huddling together, […]
20May
2015
In 2013, an elderly man in China fell ill after catching a virus from a live chicken his wife had asked him to buy at a local market. He was patient zero in the first outbreak of a new strain of avian flu called A (H7N9) that killed over 30% of humans infected and hospitalized 99% of survivors. Researchers are working on developing a flu jab that is effective for life. Since the first cases were reported in March 2013, 640 people have become infected and 224 have died from A (H7N9) globally through March 2015 – most from the mainland of China. The virus passes from infected birds to humans. As that first outbreak ensued, Australian and Chinese scientists teamed up to investigate why some people died while others survived, and why some survivors recovered more quickly than others. The researchers found the clue lay in the way a certain group of white blood cells – called CD8+ T cells – responded to the new virus. They believe their discovery could advance flu vaccine technology and bring closer the day when people just have one flu jab that protects them for life. One of the investigators, Katherine Kedzierska, an […]
25May
2015
A recent study with Kansas State University researchers details vaccine development for two new strains of avian influenza that can be transmitted from poultry to humans. The strains have led to the culling of millions of commercial chickens and turkeys as well as the death of hundreds of people. The new vaccine development method is expected to help researchers make vaccines for emerging strains of avian influenza more quickly. This could reduce the number and intensity of large-scale outbreaks at poultry farms as well as curb human transmission. It also may lead to new influenza vaccines for pigs, and novel vaccines for sheep and other livestock, said Jürgen Richt, Regents distinguished professor of veterinary medicine and director of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Center of Excellence for Emerging and Zoonotic Animal Diseases. Richt and his colleagues focused on the avian influenza virus subtype H5N1, a new strain most active in Indonesia, Egypt and other Southeast Asian and North African countries. H5N1 also has been documented in wild birds in the U.S., though in fewer numbers. “H5N1 is a zoonotic pathogen, which means that it is transmitted from chickens to humans,” Richt said. “So far it has infected more than […]
9June
2015
The global movement patterns of all four seasonal influenza viruses are illustrated in research published June 8 in the journal Nature, providing a detailed account of country-to-country virus spread over the last decade and revealing unexpected differences in circulation patterns between viruses. In the study, an international team of researchers led by the University of Cambridge and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, and including all five World Health Organization (WHO) Influenza Collaborating Centres, report surprising differences between the various types of seasonal flu virus, which they show to be due to the rate at which the different viruses evolve. There are four types of influenza viruses that cause seasonal flu in humans: two influenza A viruses (H3N2 and H1N1) and two influenza B viruses (Yamagata and Victoria). While H3N2 viruses are the most common of the seasonal influenza viruses, H1N1 and B viruses also cause epidemics worldwide each year, hence the WHO selects representative strains of all four A and B viruses for inclusion in the seasonal influenza vaccine each year. Importantly, all four of the viruses cause indistinguishable symptoms and evolve by similar mechanisms to escape immunity induced by prior infections and vaccinations. This ‘antigenic’ evolution is part […]
9June
2015
Official figures released by the Department of Health show that medical abortion – a non-surgical method, where women take pills to end the pregnancy – accounted for more than half (51%) of all terminations in England and Wales for the first year ever. In total 184,571 abortions were performed in 2014 across England and Wales, a slight fall on the previous year. Genevieve Edwards, Director of Policy, Marie Stopes UK said: “Looking at these statistics, it is heartening that not only is the total number of abortions in England and Wales gradually declining, but eight out of 10 are performed at under 10 weeks compared to just six out of 10 a decade ago. “It is encouraging that women are increasingly able to get rapid access to abortion, with access to medical abortion playing an important role. However if we want to see a significant drop in numbers we must ensure all women can also access the full range of contraception, especially the longer acting, more reliable methodsi. “While the pill and condoms are in ready supply at most GP surgeries if you want anything else, it can be harder to come by. With last week’s announcement of £200m of […]
18June
2015
A new study conducted by researchers from the University of California, San Francisco, in association with the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, found that, over the course of a year, the number of unintended pregnancies was reduced “dramatically” by training health care workers to counsel young women on the benefits of intrauterine devices and contraceptive implants. Intrauterine devices and contraceptive implants – also known as long-acting reversible contraceptives – are known to be more effective than condoms or the pill. Forty Planned Parenthood centers across the US and 1,500 women between the ages of 18 and 25 took part in the study, published in The Lancet. The authors say that the study is the first randomized trial of a clinic-based intervention to tackle the issue of unintended pregnancies, which account for about half of all pregnancies in the country. Though intrauterine devices (IUDs) and contraceptive implants – also known as long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) – are known to be more effective than condoms or the pill, health care providers do not routinely include them in contraceptive counseling. This is despite the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommending since 2009 that LARC methods should be used as first-line contraceptives for […]
28June
2015
A new study published in the Journal of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care finds women in developed countries face significant difficulties when it comes to getting an abortion in early pregnancy, despite developed countries having fewer legal barriers to abortion. Negative attitudes toward abortion from health care providers are one of the main factors restricting access to the procedure, according to the researchers. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 1 in 5 pregnancies around the globe end in abortion – defined as the termination of pregnancy so it does not result in the birth of a baby. In the US, a medical abortion procedure is an option in the early weeks of the first trimester, in which a woman receives a drug called methotrexate either orally or by injection, followed by oral or vaginal administration of a drug called misoprostol 3-7 days later. In the second and third trimesters, only surgical abortion procedures – such as dilation and curettage or dilation and extraction – may be performed. While surgical abortion procedures are very safe when performed legally under sufficient regulation, WHO estimate that for every 100 live births globally, around four unsafe abortions are performed – defined as […]
2July
2015
An international team of researchers has found some of the first solid evidence that narcolepsy may be a so-called “hit-and-run” autoimmune disease. The researchers sought to determine why, of two different flu vaccines widely deployed during the 2009 swine flu pandemic, only one was associated with a spike in the incidence of narcolepsy, a rare sleep disorder. A paper describing their findings was published July 1 in Science Translational Medicine. Lawrence Steinman, MD, a professor of pediatrics and of neurology and neurological sciences, is the senior author. The first author is Sohail Ahmed, MD, who was global head of clinical sciences at Novartis Vaccines at the time of the study. Autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis, are well-known for taking decades to ravage the nervous system, joints or other organ systems. But since the late 1990s, researchers have hypothesized a different kind of autoimmune disease, one that may incur rapid, pinpoint damage and leave virtually no trace of its work. Narcolepsy is suspected of being one of these hit-and-run diseases. Gene variants increase susceptibility Narcolepsy is a chronic, incurable and lifelong brain disorder that interferes with normal sleep-wake cycles and causes an array of symptoms, including overwhelming […]
13July
2015
A case of H7N7 avian flu has now been confirmed in Lancashire. A temporary control zone imposed on Friday at the affected farm has now been replaced by a 10 kilometre surveillance zone and an inner 3 kilometre protection zone. Restrictions remain in place and the humane culling of all birds at the farm is continuing. Public Health England has confirmed that the risk to public health from this strain is very low. The Food Standards Agency has said there is no food safety risk for consumers. The restrictions mean that all poultry farms within the 10 kilometre control zone around the infected premises are not allowed to move poultry, captive birds or other mammals except under licence. Chief Veterinary Officer, Nigel Gibbens said: Final tests results have confirmed a case of avian flu at a farm in Lancashire. Restrictions put in place last week will continue and the humane culling of all birds at the site is progressing. These actions are part of our tried and tested approach to dealing with previous outbreaks. Public Health England has confirmed that the risk to public health from this strain is very low. The Food Standards Agency has said there is no […]
14July
2015
“Postabortion trauma syndrome” is described by anti-abortion campaigners as a common mental health problem experienced by women who choose to terminate their pregnancies. However, the results of a new study published in PLOS ONE suggest there is no evidence for this syndrome. In the study, 95% of women who had abortions said that it had been the right decision for them. Among women who had abortions, relief outweighed any negative emotions, even after 3 years.Image credit: ANSIRH The results of the new study are part of the large, ongoing Turnaway study, conducted by a research group and think tank at the University of California, San Francisco, known as Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health (ANSIRH). A total of 30 abortion clinics across several states were involved in the study, and the researchers spoke to almost 1,000 women who attended these clinics between January 2008 and December 2010. Of these women, 667 women – who had abortions either within the first trimester or within 2 weeks under the clinics’ gestational age limits – were followed for 3 years, completing semiannual phone surveys on their thoughts and feelings about their abortions. The average age of the participants at the start of the […]
22July
2015
NIAID research could aid development of universal flu vaccine A vaccine that protects against a wide variety of influenza viruses (a so-called universal flu vaccine) is a critical public health goal given the significant rates of illness and death caused by seasonal influenza and the potentially devastating effects of a pandemic influenza strain. Now, researchers from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, have devised a way to induce protective immunity in mice against a wide array of influenza viruses. Instead of trying to predict which influenza virus strains are likely to cause human disease and then make a vaccine to match those specific strains, Jeffery Taubenberger, M.D., Ph.D., and his colleagues created a vaccine cocktail incorporating four of the 16 different subtypes of an influenza virus protein called hemagglutinin (H). Two, H1 and H3, are typically found in human seasonal influenza viruses, and two, H5 and H7, are from avian influenza viruses that can also infect people. The experimental vaccine is made from non-infectious virus-like particles (VLPs) that stimulate an immune response, but that cannot replicate or cause disease. VLP vaccines already approved for use in people include those to […]
22July
2015
In a phase 2 trial that included nearly 1,000 adults, the AS03 and MF59 adjuvants (a component that improves immune response of inactivated influenza vaccines) increased the immune responses to two doses of an inactivated H7N9 influenza vaccine, with AS03-adjuvanted formulations inducing the highest amount of antibody response, according to a study in JAMA. In March 2013 the first human infections with the avian influenza A(H7N9) virus were reported in China, and since that time hundreds of cases have been documented. While most infections are believed to result from exposure to infected poultry, the potential for viral adaptation that would facilitate person-to-person transmission is a major concern. Previous experience with an inactivated H7N7 influenza vaccine indicated that hemagglutinin (a substance on the outer coat of the influenza virus) H7 is poorly immunogenic, necessitating evaluation of adjuvanted H7N9 vaccines, according to background information in the article. Lisa A. Jackson, M.D., M.P.H., of Group Health Research Institute, Seattle, and colleagues randomly assigned 980 adults (19 through 64 years or age) to receive the H7N9 vaccine on days 0 and 21 at doses of 3.75 µg, 7.5 µg, 15 µg, and 45 µg of hemagglutinin with or without AS03 or MF59 adjuvant. The […]
29July
2015
The world-wide deployment of biomedical devices for health monitoring, point-of-care diagnostics and environmental sensing is hampered by their high cost that is not readily affordable for e.g. developing countries. The primary task is therefore to reduce the price of the devices and allow for their high-volume delivery in a cost efficient manner, e.g. container transportation. For the latter, a crucial aspect is to reduce the weight of the device. Within the Silicon Nanowire Research Path (SiNW) of TU Dresden’s Cluster of Excellence ‘Center for Advancing Electronics Dresden’ (cfaed), the scientists realized a light weight and mechanically flexible diagnostic platform based on cost-effective highly sensitive Si nanowire field effect transistors fabricated on flexible polymeric foils, which are only 100 µm thick. The devices reveal a remarkable limit of detection for subtype H1N1 Avian Influenza Virus, which is considered as a global major risk for human health, exemplified by the declaration as pandemic to the 2009 swine-origin one. The devices on polymeric support are about 10 times lighter compared to their rigid counterparts realized on conventional Si wafers which make them cost efficient for high-volume delivery to medical institutions worldwide. The researchers envision that the realization of the sensitive diagnostic platform will […]
12August
2015
Tel Aviv University researchers say only one incident of abortion or miscarriage can have repercussions for subsequent pregnancies It has been well established that women who have had several abortions or miscarriages are likely to face a slightly higher risk of complications in subsequent pregnancies. They may experience vaginal bleeding during early pregnancy, preterm birth, low fetal birth weight, and placenta-related complications. Women with a medical history of several interrupted pregnancies are usually advised to take extra precautions to ensure healthy full-term pregnancies later in life. New Tel Aviv University research published in the Journal of Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine finds that a single incidence of abortion or miscarriage alone has the potential to impact subsequent pregnancies in a woman’s life. The study suggests that women who have experienced a single pregnancy loss are about 30 percent more likely to suffer complications in subsequent pregnancies than women who have never miscarried or had a single abortion. According to the research, women who have experienced a single first-trimester interruption at one point in their medical history run a higher risk of requiring labor inductions and caesarean sections and of experiencing retained placentas. The study was led by Dr. Liran Hiersch and […]
12August
2015
Nearly all abortions in Norway today are performed with the abortion pill Mifepristone. This has resulted in shorter waiting time, earlier abortions, and the possibility to have abortions at home. “It’s a success story,” says Mette Løkeland, who has done research on medical abortion in Norway between 1998 and 2013. In 1998, the waiting time for abortion was just over eleven days. Today the waiting time has decreased to just over seven days. According to Løkeland, this is the result of the abortion pill. The opportunity of taking pills instead of surgery has also resulted in earlier abortions. In 1998, less than half of the abortions were performed by the end of week nine of the pregnancy, whereas in 2013 the figures had increased to almost eighty per cent. “For women who wants to have the abortion as early as possible this is more easily accessible today. This is also in line with the preliminary work related to the Termination of Pregnancy Act, which states that it is both desirable and beneficial to have the abortion as early as possible,” says Løkeland. More than ninety per cent of her interviewees have told Løkeland that they are satisfied with the medical […]
19August
2015
Seven million women a year in the developing world are treated in healthcare facilities for complications following unsafe abortion, finds a study published today (19 August) in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology (BJOG). Every day, approximately 800 women die from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth. Unsafe abortion accounts for 8 – 15% of maternal deaths and remains one of the leading causes of maternal mortality worldwide.1 However, these figures do not take into account the number of women who are surviving but need hospital treatment. This study, conducted by the Guttmacher Institute in the US, used data from official health statistics and scientific studies from 26 countries in the developing world to calculate the number of women attending hospital for treatment following an unsafe abortion. Data were adjusted to take into account women receiving treatment in the private sector and to exclude those who needed treatment after miscarriage. Results found that the highest rate of treatment after unsafe abortion was in Pakistan, with rates of 14.6 per 1000 women aged between 15 and 44. The lowest treatment rate was found in Brazil with 2.4 per 1000 women. The results indicate that the regional rate is […]
21August
2015
Scientists studying the 2009 A/H1N1 influenza pandemic have found that the inconsistent regional timing of pandemic waves in Mexico was the result of interactions between school breaks and regional variations in humidity. The research published in PLOS Computational Biology, led by Dr. James Tamerius at the University of Iowa and Dr. Gerardo Chowell at Georgia State University, applied mathematical models to understand the social and environmental processes that generated two distinct pandemic outbreaks (“waves”) in Mexico during the summer and fall of 2009. The summer wave occurred in the tropical southeastern states of Mexico, whereas the larger fall wave occurred in the central and northern states. The models suggest that high levels of humidity favored the rapid spread of influenza in the tropical states that led to the early summer wave. On the other hand, moderate levels of humidity slowed transmission in the central and northern states precluding a pandemic wave prior to summer break. The summer break reduced the transmission rate by an estimated 14% thereby delaying the pandemic wave in the central and northern states until students returned to school in August. These processes can explain the two major and distinct pandemic waves that affected the different regions. […]
25August
2015
A new study of the records of millions of nursing home residents affirms the value of influenza vaccination among the elderly. The Brown University analysis found that between 2000 and 2009, the better matched the vaccine was for the influenza strain going around, the fewer nursing home residents died or were hospitalized. Although flu vaccination is a standard of care and a measure of quality in nursing homes, some public health experts question the evidence of whether they do any good, said Vincent Mor, corresponding author of the study and the Florence Pirce Grant Professor in the Brown University School of Public Health. Clinical trials that would withhold vaccination for a control group are not ethical, and observational studies that track differences among those who are vaccinated and those who are not have been suspected of bias (i.e., people left unvaccinated may be too frail compared to the vaccinated general population). In the new research, published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, Brown public health and infectious disease experts took a different approach to assess whether vaccination helps. Year-to-year the ability of the vaccine to fight the flu can vary widely. Sometimes vaccine makers produce a great match […]
25August
2015
Scientists in the Center for Infection and Immunity at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health have discovered a new virus in seals that is the closest known relative of the human hepatitis A virus. The finding provides new clues on the emergence of hepatitis A. The research appears in the July/August issue of mBio, the online open-access journal of the American Society for Microbiology. “Until now, we didn’t know that hepatitis A had any close relatives, and we thought that only humans and other primates could be infected by such viruses,” said lead author Simon Anthony, assistant professor of Epidemiology. “Our findings show that these so-called ‘hepatoviruses’ are not in fact restricted to primates, and suggest that many more may also exist in other wildlife species.” Hepatitis A viral infection, which impacts 1.4 million people worldwide annually, can cause mild to severe illness. It is a highly contagious disease that is usually transmitted by the fecal-oral route, either through person-to-person contact or through consumption of food or water. “Our data suggest that hepatitis A and this new virus share a common ancestor, which means that a spillover event must have occurred at some point in the past,” said Anthony. […]
31August
2015
A new international study shows that 5,000 foetuses in Europe annually are affected by spina bifida and other severe defects on the central nervous system. Seventy per cent of these pregnancies are terminated, while increased mortality and serious diseases affect the children who are born. At least half of the cases can be avoided by adding folic acid to staple foods as is already being done in seventy non-European countries. A lack of folic acid enrichment in Europe is the cause of several thousand cases of foaetal abnormalities e.g. spina bifida. These congenital diseases lead to an open spinal cord or brain malformation due to deformed vertebrae. The best-case scenario for the newborn baby is to undergo some correcting surgeries, though this case is also associated with various degrees of disabilities. In the worst cases, the baby will not survive. Today, two out of three foetuses with spina bifida are terminated by an abortion after diagnosis in the beginning of the pregnancy. Half of the 5,000 annual cases could be avoided by enriching foods with the vitamin folic acid, which is known to play an important role in the formation of the vertebrae in prenatal life. In Europe, it is […]
20September
2015
Nearly a quarter of teenagers in England and Wales who have had an abortion have been pregnant before, according to new research from the University of East Anglia (UEA). Drawing on more than 20 years’ worth of data the study shows, for the first time, the number of young women aged 15-19 undergoing an abortion who had experienced at least one previous pregnancy, resulting in either a birth – live or stillbirth – or abortion. The researchers analysed national abortion figures for England and Wales from 1992 to 2013, published by the Office of National Statistics and the Department of Health. They aimed to more precisely estimate the number of teenagers having an abortion who have had one or more previous pregnancies. Earlier studies have reported the number of previous pregnancies or abortions, but have not been able to account for the proportion of young women who experienced both. In 2013, approximately 23 per cent of teenage women having an abortion had been pregnant before. A minority, less than five per cent, had two or more previous pregnancies, though this number almost doubled between 1992 (937) and 2002 (1823). During the period studied, the number of teenagers having an abortion […]
24September
2015
The avian influenza A (H7N9) virus has been a major concern since the first outbreak in China in 2013. Due to its high rate of lethality and pandemic potential, H7N9 vaccine development has become a priority for public health officials. However, candidate vaccines have failed to elicit the strong immune responses necessary to protect from infection. A study published in Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics has revealed that it may be due to immune camouflage. One of the ways by which the immune system detects infection is by presenting short peptides derived from the pathogen to T-cells, which distinguish between foreign and self antigens. The study shows that the H7N9 hemagglutinin (HA) surface protein has evolved a set of mutations that make it similar to human proteins, and the presented peptides thus resemble self antigens. The H7N9 influenza strain appears to effectively camouflage itself from the immune system. The immune-camouflage hypothesis was tested by challenging peripheral blood mononuclear cells from naïve donors with H7N9-derived peptides. Remarkably, the more the peptide resembled a self antigen, the less it was able to elicit a T-cell response. In addition, the predicted human-like antigens expanded and activated regulatory T-cells that are responsible for immune suppression […]
25September
2015
Influenza pandemics are potentially the most serious natural catastrophes that affect the human population. New findings published in PLOS Computational Biology suggest that with both timely and accurate data and sophisticated numerical models, the likely impact of a new pandemic can be assessed quickly, and key decisions made about potential mitigation strategies. Novel strains of influenza emerge periodically and can pose major challenges for health planners. The 1918 Spanish flu, for example, was responsible for the deaths of some 50 million people. A recent 2015 report by the UK’s Cabinet Office, National Risk Register of Civil Emergencies, identified Pandemic Influenza as the highest priority natural hazards risk. When faced with a new emerging strain of virus, policy makers would like to know: (1) how many people are going to be affected? (2) how severe will it be? And (3) what successful mitigation strategies can be implemented? In a new study by a team of international researchers representing commercial, academic, and government institutions, these questions have been addressed through the study of a unique set of data from active duty personnel of the U.S. military and the development of a sophisticated mathematical model. The team focused on the 2009 pandemic (known […]
1October
2015
Recent developments in surveillance technology could enable a swifter, more effective response to potentially deadly outbreaks of disease, a study has found. The Ebola crisis has highlighted a need to bolster global surveillance and enhance the capability to react appropriately to further outbreaks, experts say. This should include making use of modern technologies for detecting disease, sharing information in real time and analysing data. A team of infectious disease experts from the University of Edinburgh and the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute reviewed the global response to recent outbreaks, including Ebola, swine flu and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). They found that shortcomings in the response to Ebola highlight the need to adopt state-of-the-art techniques to detect and monitor potential infectious disease outbreaks anywhere in the world. Technological advances such as rapid testing of patients and fast genetic analysis of viruses could help experts deal more effectively with emergency situations as they unfold, thereby saving lives. Researchers say such tools are already available, and should be brought into public health planning around the world in order to help combat future disease outbreaks. Their work, published in Science Translational Medicine, was supported by the Wellcome Trust and the EU Horizon 2020 programme […]
8October
2015
When women’s health clinics close because of government funding cuts aimed at abortion providers, fewer women seek lifesaving preventive care that can identify health threats such as cancer, research from the University of Kansas shows. David Slusky, assistant professor of economics at KU, and Yao Lu of the Analysis Group in Boston found that when the closure of a women’s health clinic resulted in a 100-mile increase in driving distance to the next nearest clinic, the annual rate of women receiving preventive screenings dropped by 11 percent for breast exams, 18 percent for mammograms and 14 percent for Pap tests. The findings also suggest that a clinic’s closure affected less-educated women the most. “These organizations are providing services that we as a country generally care about and think are a good investment,” Slusky said. The research will be published in the article “The Impact of Women’s Health Clinic Closures on Preventive Care,” which has been accepted by the American Economic Journal: Applied Economics. The research was partially supported through fellowships from the National Science Foundation and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. In the first study to quantify how the closure of women’s health clinics affects the number of […]
9October
2015
Influenza is known as an infectious respiratory disease, but a study published on October 8th in PLOS Pathogens suggests that infected cells in breast tissues could play a role in virus transmission from mothers to breast-feeding infants and vice versa using a ferret model. Alyson Kelvin, from the University Health Network, Toronto, Canada, and colleagues developed a novel infant-mother ferret influenza model utilizing nursing mother ferrets and their 4-week-old infants to investigate the host-pathogen interactions of influenza virus infection between mothers and breast-feeding infants. Ferrets are known to be infected by human flu viruses, and can transmit the virus from ferret-to-ferret in a fashion that is believed to mimic the human situation. Initially, the researchers infected either mothers or infants through nasal inoculation with the 2009 H1N1 strain of influenza virus and closely followed the health of both animals. When the infants were exposed, both they and–a few days later–their mothers developed influenza with symptoms in both upper and lower respiratory tracts. Similarly, when mothers were exposed to the virus, first they and subsequently their nursing young became ill with influenza, again involving upper and lower respiratory tracts. As mammary glands are a significant point of contact between mothers and […]
9October
2015
A major new national report into the use of antiviral drugs (neuraminidase inhibitors) to treat and prevent influenza has drawn heavily on two pieces of research undertaken at The University of Nottingham. The landmark report, published by the Academy of Medical Sciences and the Wellcome Trust, concludes that anti-viral drugs called neuraminidase inhibitors (NAIs) were successful in reducing deaths in hospitalised patients. And that prophylactic use of the same drugs in households prevents flu infection. It directly cites evidence from the Post-Pandemic Review of the anti-Influenza Drug Effectiveness (PRIDE), and a World Health Organization sponsored review of neuraminidase for rapid containment of influenza, both of which were led by Professor Jonathan Van Tam and his colleagues in the Health Protection and Influenza Research Group in the University’s School of Medicine. Professor Van Tam said: “This report was much needed to deal with, and settle, recent controversies about when these drugs work, and when they don’t; which claims about the absence of effectiveness have been over-exaggerated, and where the evidence exists and is valid. The report deals with all of the issue in an authoritative, evidence-based, and well-balanced way.” The report, Use of Neuraminidase Inhibitors in Influenza, examines recent reviews of […]
20October
2015
Findings aid antiviral drug discovery Many viral infections, such as the common cold, cause mild illnesses that the body’s immune system eventually defeats. But when viruses cause severe disease, doctors have few options for effective treatment. Studying mice with a variety of viral infections, scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have demonstrated a way to dial up the body’s innate immune defenses while simultaneously attacking a protein that many viruses rely on to replicate.Infected with encephalomyocarditis virus, human cells dial up immune defenses, especially the interferon system. Many of this system’s components, including some newly discovered by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, converge in cells that harbor the virus and work to interfere with viral replication.Credit: Y. Zhang, X. Jin Studying mice with a variety of viral infections, scientists at Washington University School of Medicine? in St. Louis have demonstrated a way to dial up the body’s innate immune defenses while simultaneously attacking a protein that many viruses rely on to replicate. The findings, published Oct. 19 in Nature Immunology, reveal previously unknown weapons in the body’s antiviral immune arsenal and provide guidelines for designing drugs that could be effective against […]
25October
2015
Developments in the detection of fetal abnormalities have outstripped Australia’s patchworked abortion laws, creating barriers to access for women, according to the authors of an editorial published online by the Medical Journal of Australia. “Medicare-funded diagnosis of fetal abnormality is now routinely offered to all pregnant Australian women – with the implication that a woman may choose to terminate the pregnancy if a serious abnormality is detected”, Professor Caroline de Costa, from James Cook University, and Professor Heather Douglas, from the University of Queensland, wrote. “Abortion laws, however, have not kept pace with these developments.” In 2002, the Australian Capital Territory removed all criminal sanctions for abortion, in 2008 it was decriminalized in Victoria (where a doctor can now terminate a pregnancy with the woman’s consent at up to 24 weeks, and after 24 weeks with the agreement of a second doctor); Tasmania followed suit in 2013 (with the timeframe restricted to 16 weeks). “Fetal abnormality is specifically discussed in the legislation in Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory, and covered by the decriminalisation of abortion in Victoria and the ACT; in practice, however, late abortion is restricted by health regulations in WA, SA and the NT”, […]
12November
2015
New research led by Dr Nibedita S Ray-Bennett at the University of Leicester will look into the sexual and reproductive health issues in disaster-prone areas during times of humanitarian crisis. The project, supported by the International Planned Parenthood Federation’s (IPPF) Innovation Programme, will explore the opportunities and challenges around reproductive health during disasters and emergencies in Bangladesh and Pakistan. The two year project will look at whether the pre-positioning of Reproductive Health Kit-8 prior to disasters such as flooding or cyclones has the potential to provide Post-abortion care (PAC) services to help reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with complications of unsafe abortions. The research is a joint venture with Dr Fauzia Akhter Huda from the icddrb, Bangladesh; Ms Rehana Salam from the Agha Khan University in Pakistan, International Planned Parenthood Federation’s South Asia Region (IPPF-SAR), IPPF’s SPRINT Initiative (Sexual and Reproductive Health Programme in Crisis and Post Crisis Situations) and IPPF SAR Member Associations in Pakistan and Bangladesh. The team will look specifically at Reproductive Health Kit 8 supplied by the United Nations Population Fund (UNPFA), which is used to treat the complications arising from miscarriage (spontaneous abortion) and from unsafe induced abortion, including sepsis, incomplete evacuation and bleeding. […]
25November
2015
A group of people with fatal H1N1 flu died after their viral infections triggered a deadly hyperinflammatory disorder in susceptible individuals with gene mutations linked to the overactive immune response, according to a study in The Journal of Infectious Diseases. Researchers at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, the University of Alabama Birmingham (UAB) and Children’s of Alabama led the study, posted online Nov. 23. They suggest people with other types of infections and identical gene mutations also may be prone to the disorder, known as reactive HLH (rHLH), or hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. HLH causes the immune system to essentially overwhelm the body with inflammation that attacks vital organs, often leading to death. Study authors raise the possibility of screening children for HLH genes to identify those who may be at risk during a viral infection. “Viruses that cause robust immune responses may be more likely to trigger rHLH in genetically susceptible people,” said Randy Cron, MD, PhD, a senior investigator on the study and physician in Pediatric Rheumatology at UAB and Children’s of Alabama. “Prenatal screening for mutations in common HLH-associated genes may find as much as 10 percent of the general population who are at risk for HLH when an […]
27November
2015
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is creating a stockpile of avian influenza vaccines, but an expert suggests careful consideration of the strategy and cautions that the strain of the next outbreak is unknown. Wild birds are typically the source of the introduction of the virus to backyard and commercial poultry flocks, which makes it very difficult to know the strain and understand the nature of the incoming virus until after the outbreak has occurred in poultry populations, said Suresh Mittal, a professor of comparative pathobiology in Purdue University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. In 2015, 15 U.S. states had bird flu outbreaks at poultry farms, which led to the loss of more than 48 million birds and $3 billion in revenue, as well as a pricier Thanksgiving dinner. The virus can infect chickens, turkeys, ducks, pheasants, quail, geese and guinea fowl, as well as wild birds, according to the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and testimony at a special hearing of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry. The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued a second request on Nov. 20 for proposals from manufacturers as it works to create an emergency stockpile of avian influenza vaccines. Mittal said […]
10December
2015
In clinical trials, several candidate H7N9 pandemic influenza vaccines made from inactivated viruses have been shown to be safe and to generate an immune response. However, scientists believe for practical use, these potential vaccines would require multiple doses or the addition of adjuvants, which enhance the immune response. With hopes of making one dose of an inactivated H7N9 vaccine fully protective, scientists from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) successfully tested a prime-boost concept in a small clinical trial. The ‘primer’ pandemic influenza vaccine — made from live but weakened virus — introduces the immune system to H7N9 influenza virus, and subsequent vaccination with the ‘booster’ inactivated virus vaccine recalls a more robust immune response. H7N9 influenza emerged in spring 2013 in China, primarily affecting people who have close contact with poultry. Through Nov. 13, 2015, the World Health Organization has reported 681 confirmed cases with at least 275 deaths. H7N9 influenza has not been found in the United States. The study, which appears in The Journal of Infectious Diseases, included 65 volunteers, 48 aged 18-49 years and 17 aged 50-70 years. Studies of live pandemic influenza vaccines in the older group had not been done before […]
7January
2016
When we are ill with a virus infection, it is because the virus has entered cells in our body and taken over their machinery to make copies of itself. Finding ways to disrupt this process is important for antiviral drug development. Now, a new study reveals how the flu virus relies on a protein in the host cell to help it complete its mission. The researchers found that a host protein called ANP32A allows the flu virus to replicate in cells. The study team – led by researchers at Imperial College London in the UK – reports the findings in the journal Nature and suggests they may lead to improvements in how we treat pandemic and seasonal flu, which infects over 800 million people worldwide every year. Flu pandemics occur when an influenza or flu virus that has been circulating in bird populations undergoes a change that allows it to infect mammal cells. Otherwise, an avian flu virus cannot usually infect mammals. Senior author Wendy Barclay, a professor at Imperial who specializes in influenza virology, says: “All human flu viruses in the world originally came from birds. However, luckily for us, viruses don’t often jump from birds to people because […]
15January
2016
High Court will hear arguments on Whole Woman’s Health v. Cole in March; Decision expected in late June. Nearly 60 leaders in the field of public health submitted an amicus brief to the Supreme Court last week arguing that two Texas laws restricting abortion clinics creates a ‘grave risk to public health.’ The Supreme Court is set to hear opening arguments March 2 on this landmark case, which is known as Whole Woman’s Health v. Cole. The public health brief filed Jan. 4, 2016 by the American Public Health Association (APHA), deans of schools of public health, and other public health leaders from across the nation argues that the laws would effectively shutter many clinics that now provide abortions in Texas and make it hard, if not impossible, for many women to obtain necessary and constitutionally protected health care, thereby violating the ‘undue burden’ test established by the Court in 1992 in Planned Parenthood v. Casey. “If the High Court upholds the Texas laws women there will be forced to travel very long distances for abortion care or will lose access to this service altogether,” says Susan F. Wood, PhD, Executive Director of the Jacobs Institute of Women’s Health at […]
20January
2016
According to the World Health Organization, influenza causes serious illness among millions of people each year, resulting in 250,000 to 500,000 deaths. Those most at risk include infants younger than six months, because they cannot be vaccinated against the disease. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri School of Medicine have identified a naturally occurring protein that, when added to the flu vaccine, may offer protection to babies during their first months of life. “Influenza vaccine works by stimulating a person’s immune system to make antibodies that attack the flu virus,” said Michael Sherman, M.D., professor emeritus in the Department of Child Health at the MU School of Medicine and lead author of the study. “However, infants younger than six months do not make antibodies when given flu vaccine. This is because the immune systems of these very young babies do not respond to the adjuvant, or additive, within the vaccine that boosts the body’s immune response when confronted with a virus.” The adjuvant used in most vaccines is aluminum hydroxide, or ALUM. ALUM is an additive that essentially acts as an irritant to attract white blood cells called neutrophils to the vaccination site. Neutrophils secrete the protein lactoferrin, which […]
26January
2016
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital scientists have identified a molecular property of the hemagglutinin protein that contributed to the emergence of the 2009 H1N1 pandemic influenza virus. The findings may help officials recognize and control flu viruses that pose the greatest risk to humans. The study appears in the online, early edition of the scientific journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). Hemagglutinin is carried on the surface of the flu virus. The virus needs the protein for binding to and infecting host cells. The researchers showed that hemagglutinin became more stable in an acidic environment as the H1N1 virus shifted from swine to humans. The adaptation increased the protein’s stability in the acidic conditions of the human respiratory tract and lowered the pH at which hemagglutinin was activated. Activation triggers an irreversible change in the protein’s molecular shape that fuses the virus and target cell. Investigators demonstrated in the laboratory that the hemagglutinin adaption was essential for airborne viral transmission in ferrets, the animal model of the human disease. Mutating hemagglutinin to reduce the protein’s stability in acid, and increase the pH of activation, blocked the virus’ ability to spread through airborne particles. “We have identified hemagglutinin […]
1March
2016
Women considering abortions are getting medically inaccurate information nearly a third of the time in states that require doctors to provide informed consent materials to their patients, according to a Rutgers study. The study, “Informed or Misinformed Consent? Abortion Policy in the United States,” analyzed statements about embryological and fetal development from information booklets produced by 23 states that require informed consent. The study found 31 percent of the information to be medically inaccurate, and that the highest percentages of inaccuracies are found in the first trimester of pregnancy, when 90 percent of women have abortions. “Given that most abortions are performed in the first trimester, these levels of inaccuracies are deeply concerning,” said political science professor Cynthia Daniels, the lead author and head of The Informed Consent Project at Rutgers University-New Brunswick. “Patients should be confident their doctor is providing them with accurate information. Misinformation is a threat to the integrity of the doctor-patient relationship and to the medical system as a whole, especially in decisions about pregnancy.” Since 2010, the United States has witnessed a dramatic expansion of state-based restrictions on abortion. The most common of these are informed consent statutes, which require that a woman seeking an […]
24March
2016
Researchers have used modeling to estimate the true impact of infectious diseases, such as swine flu, when underreporting can mean the surveillance from time of the pandemic can miss the vast majority of infections that occur in the population. New research published in PLOS Computational Biology by Mikhail Shubin et al from the National Institute for Health and Welfare uses simulations to estimate the effect of the swine flu pandemic in Finland. This research offers a platform to assess the severity of flu seasons at various levels of the healthcare system, when previously the number of infected individuals has been uncertain. The researchers built a low-scale simulation model of Finland that simulates the spread of influenza in the population. The model accounts for the transmission of influenza in the population, the impact of vaccination, outcomes of varying severity and imperfect detection of flu. The study shows that the impact on Finland was minor, as less than 10% of the population was infected with swine flu during the first two seasons in 2009-2011, with the highest incidences of the disease initially occurring in younger people. Shubin et al’s research also measures the impact of the vaccination campaign in which approximately half […]
30March
2016
Researchers at the University of Georgia and Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of Sanofi, have announced the development of a vaccine that protects against multiple strains of both seasonal and pandemic H1N1 influenza in mouse models. They published their findings recently in the Journal of Virology. Researchers from UGA and Sanofi Pasteur, which has a research and development collaboration agreement with UGA, will present their data tomorrow, March 30, at the World Vaccine Congress US 2016 in Washington, D.C. “One of the problems with current influenza vaccines is that we have to make predictions about which virus strains will be most prevalent every year and build our vaccines around those predictions,” said Ted Ross, director of UGA’s Center for Vaccines and Immunology and Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar in Infectious Diseases in the College of Veterinary Medicine. “What we have developed is a vaccine that protects against multiple different strains of H1N1 virus at once, so we might be able to one day replace the current standard of care with this more broadly cross-protective vaccine.” The H1N1 influenza virus caused a worldwide pandemic in 2009. When it was first detected, it was called swine flu because the virus was similar […]
11April
2016
More boys than expected are born to Indian-born women living in Ontario, Canada, who already have two daughters, according to a large study in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal). The likelihood of male births increases if women had had an induced abortion before the male birth. The natural odds of having a boy are in the range of 103 to 107 boys for every 100 girls. Researchers looked at data on more than 1.2 million births in women with having a third child in Ontario between Apr. 1, 1993, and Mar. 31, 2012. Of the total group, 153 829 (12.6%) were immigrant women from Asia. Data came from the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES) and the Citizenship and Immigration Canada permanent resident database regarding maternal birthplace. Among women born in India who already had two girls, the ratio of male to female babies for the third birth was almost double the average, with 196 boys born for every 100 girls. If an Indian-born mother with two daughters had had an abortion before the third child, the sex ratio increased to 326 boys for every 100 girls and to 409 boys if the mother had had multiple abortions. If a […]
15April
2016
A multi-institutional research team has estimated for the first time the number of children born with Down syndrome each year in Massachusetts over the past century, along with the numbers of pregnancies of a child with Down syndrome lost to either termination or miscarriage. Their report receiving advance online publication in the journal Genetics in Medicine is a follow-up to a 2015 paper describing such estimates on a nationwide level. Estimated numbers of fetuses with Down syndrome (DS) at 10 weeks gestational age (DA) in Massachusetts from 1974-2010 with estimated outcomes of live births (dark blue), elective terminations (orange) and losses to miscarriage (light blue).Credit: (G. de Graaf, F. Buckley, and B. Skotko) “With recent rapid advancements in prenatal testing, the public has been debating the ethical dimensions of testing. And as more expectant couples learn they may have a child with Down syndrome, the need for services like genetic counseling and family support will increase,” says Brian Skotko, MD, MPP, of MassGeneral Hospital for Children, co-director of the Massachusetts General Hospital Down Syndrome Program and senior author of both studies. “Without quality data, we can’t have informed discussions as a society or plan for future needs. These papers provide […]
26April
2016
The wide diversity of flu in pigs across multiple continents, mostly introduced from humans, highlights the significant potential of new swine flu strains emerging, according to a study to be published in eLife. While swine flu viruses have long been considered a risk for human pandemics, and were the source of the 2009 pandemic H1N1 virus, attention has recently turned to the transmission of flu viruses from humans to pigs. “Once in pigs, flu viruses from humans continue to evolve their surface proteins, generically referred to as antigens, resulting in a tremendous diversity of novel flu viruses that can be transmitted to other pigs and also to humans,” explains first author Nicola Lewis from the University of Cambridge. “These flu viruses pose a serious threat to public health because they are no longer similar enough to the current human flu strains for our immune systems to recognise them and mount an effective defence. Understanding the dynamics and consequences of this two-way transmission is important for designing effective strategies to detect and respond to new strains of flu.” Humans and pigs both experience regular outbreaks of influenza A viruses, most commonly from H1 and H3 subtypes. Their genetic diversity is well […]
3May
2016
New research shows that human-derived flu viruses can evolve rapidly in pig populations and could pose a serious threat to public health because they are no longer similar to the current human flu strains. The researchers say their findings emphasize the need for stronger surveillance in areas with high density of pig populations and where pigs and humans are in close contact. This was the conclusion of a new international study published in the journal eLife. While swine flu viruses have long been considered a risk for human pandemics – they were the source of the 2009 pandemic H1N1 virus – researchers are starting to look at the problem from the other side: what happens to flu viruses that travel from humans to pigs. A virus cannot replicate without a host cell. In the case of the influenza A virus, the host cell can be that of a pig or a human, and both our populations experience regular outbreaks of influenza A, mostly from H1 and H3 subtypes. We rely on our immune system recognizing a virus and releasing an appropriate response to protect us from infection. The way the immune system does this is by identifying surface proteins on […]
12May
2016
Abortion rates have declined significantly over the last 25 years in developed countries and are at a historic low. But in developing countries, where many abortions are unsafe, rates have remained level, highlighting the urgent need for better access to modern contraception (eg, hormonal pill, implants, IUDs) to reduce unwanted pregnancies and abortions. The new global and regional estimates of abortion incidence from the Guttmacher Institute and WHO, published in The Lancet, also suggest that restrictive abortion laws do not limit the number of abortions. Indeed, in countries where abortion is strongly legally restricted 1, and often performed under unsafe conditions, the incidence of abortion is estimated to be as high as the incidence in countries where it is legal. “In developed countries, the continued fall in abortion rates is largely due to increased use of modern contraception that has given women greater control over the timing and number of children they want”, explains lead author Dr Gilda Sedgh at the Guttmacher Institute, New York, USA. “In developing countries, however, family planning services do not seem to be keeping up with the increasing desire for smaller families. More than 80% of unintended pregnancies are experienced by women with an unmet […]
23June
2016
Health warnings about complications related to Zika virus significantly increased demand for abortions in Latin American countries, according to a new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. However, in many of these countries, abortion is either illegal or highly restricted, leaving pregnant women with few options and potentially driving women to use unsafe methods, access abortion drugs without medical supervision or visit underground providers. On 17 November 2015, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) issued an alert about the Zika virus in Latin America. Although the virus, spread by mosquitos, causes only mild symptoms, it can have serious complications for unborn children, ranging from eye and hearing defects through to microcephaly (abnormally small heads) and other severe fetal brain defects. Following the PAHO alert, several countries issued health advisory warnings, including urging women to avoid pregnancy. For several years, one option for women seeking an abortion in Latin America has been Women on Web, a non-profit organisation that provides medical abortion outside the formal healthcare setting through online telemedicine, in countries where safe abortion is not universally available. A team of researchers from the US and UK analysed data on requests for abortion through the website between […]
13July
2016
Drug regulators in the United States have approved Xiidra, which is lifitegrast ophthalmic solution 5 percent, to treat dry eye disease. Xiidra is the first prescription eye drop approved to treat both the signs and symptoms of dry eye – a group of conditions where the tear fluid produced by the eyes is either insufficient to lubricate the eyes properly, or of the wrong consistency. Share on PinterestEstimates suggest around 16 million people in the U.S. are diagnosed with dry eye disease, which is more common in women than in men. In their announcement on July 12th, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) explain that Xiidra “is the first medication in a new class of drugs, called lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1 (LFA-1) antagonist.” The drug binds to a cell surface protein found on white blood cells. Shire US Inc., of Lexington, MA, who make Xiidra, say the twice-daily eye drop solution will be launched during the third quarter of 2016. If left untreated, severe forms of dry eye disease can cause pain and lead to ulcers or scars on the cornea, the clear tissue at the front of the eye. “Normal tear production is needed for clear vision and eye […]
15July
2016
The genes of some chickens make them almost completely resistant to a serious strain of bird flu, new research has revealed. The findings, which are published in the journal Scientific Reports, show that genetics play a key part in whether the birds are susceptible or resistant to the potentially deadly virus. Until now, scientists around the world have paid little attention to the role the genetics of birds play in the transmission of flu, focusing instead on how the virus itself evolves and infects. Led by Dr Colin Butter from the School of Life Sciences at the University of Lincoln, UK, this new research, which was carried out at The Pirbright Institute, could prove valuable in developing our understanding of the mechanisms of influenza transmission within and between birds. Dr Butter is one of the UK’s leading authorities on avian flu with expertise in animal science, virology and immunology. Influenza virus is the cause of influenza, or ‘flu’ – the contagious respiratory viral disease common in many birds and mammals. The viruses circulating in wild birds and domesticated poultry are of particular interest to scientists because they may mutate into forms that are capable of infecting humans, and represent an […]
28August
2016
Baby simulator programs are designed to help prevent teenage pregnancy, but a new study published in The Lancet suggests they may have the opposite effect. Researchers found teenage girls who participated in a pregnancy prevention program were actually more likely to become pregnant or have an abortion. Researchers found teenage girls who participated in the Virtual Infant Parenting (VIP) program – Australia’s baby simulator program – were more likely to become pregnant than those who did not take part. The findings come from an analysis of more than 2,800 teenage girls from 57 schools across Western Australia, of whom more than 1,200 took part in the VIP program. The VIP program consists of educational sessions – delivered in schools over a 6-day period – on a number of subjects, including sexual health, contraception, the effects of alcohol and drug use in pregnancy, and the financial costs of having a baby. Teenagers who take part in the program are also required to care for a baby simulator over one weekend. This is a robotic doll that cries when it needs to be fed, changed, burped, or rocked, and it contains a tracker that measures and reports whether all these requirements have […]
31August
2016
Women who had medication abortions were more likely to require additional interventions following implementation of an Ohio law that required abortion providers to adhere to an outdated protocol, according to a study published by Ushma Upadhyay from the University of California, San Francisco, US, and colleagues in PLOS Medicine. In February 2011, an Ohio law took effect mandating use of the protocol that was approved at that time by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for mifepristone, which is used with misoprostol for medication abortion. This protocol required different dosages of both medications from those supported by several international guidelines and used by most abortion providers throughout the US. The researchers collected medical record data from 2,783 women who obtained a medication abortion between 2010 and 2014 from four clinics in Ohio, and compared those who had abortions before and after the law took effect. They observed that women who had medication abortions in the post-law period were 3 three times as likely to need additional interventions to complete their abortion compared to women in the pre-law period. Furthermore, side effects such as nausea and vomiting were significantly more likely and costs were higher for women after the law […]
20September
2016
Researchers could not completely rule out an increased risk for specific defects. The H1N1 influenza vaccine, Pandemrix, administered in pregnant women in the first 14 weeks of pregnancy does not seem to be associated with an increased risk for overall birth defects when genetic and environmental factors are considered. However, risk increases for specific birth defects could not be ruled out completely. The findings are published in Annals of Internal Medicine. Pregnant women are a high-risk group for severe H1N1 influenza and the World Health Organization recommends vaccination for them. Research has shown conflicting risk estimates for birth defects in pregnant women receiving Pandemrix in the first trimester. Although several studies have attempted to adjust for confounding factors, none has studied siblings discordant for vaccination exposure, which, by design, would control for familial confounding (genetic and shared early environmental factors). Researchers examined the risk for any birth defects, and specifically congenital heart disease, oral cleft, and limb deficiency, in a large population-based cohort that included more than 40,000 children of mothers exposed to Pandemrix. To minimize the influence of intrafamilial confounding, siblings were also used as comparators. The researchers found that vaccination during pregnancy did not seem to be associated […]
25September
2016
Emotional side effects are not uncommon after an abortion, or pregnancy termination, whether it was planned or not. In some cases, depression can occur. However, the link between pregnancy termination and depression remains unclear. The decision to terminate a pregnancy is rarely an easy one, and it is not always the individual’s preferred choice. Whether they choose a termination freely or not, they can have mixed feelings after the procedure. In the United States, around half of all pregnancies are unplanned. This is one reason for choosing a termination. However, the reasons for not wanting to continue a pregnancy are varied. Reasons include, but are by no means limited to, social, financial, or relationship pressures and physical or mental health problems in the parent or unborn child. Regardless of the reason, the emotional response to a termination can range from relief, calm, and happiness to sadness, grief, loss, and regret, depending on the individual’ situation. If negative feelings are severe and persistent, they could be a sign of depression. The issue of planned termination is a controversial one, and so is the question of mental health following a termination. The important thing to remember is that each person’s experience and […]
14October
2016
Monitoring the migration routes of wild birds could help to provide early warning of potential bird flu outbreaks, experts say. The recommendation follows new research that shows migrating birds can help to spread deadly strains of avian flu around the world. Some strains of bird flu viruses are highly lethal in birds they infect and pose a major threat to poultry farms worldwide. In rare cases, the viruses can also infect people and cause life-threatening illness. Researchers investigated how a subtype of bird flu called H5N8 spread around the world following outbreaks in South Korea that began in early 2014. The virus spread to Japan, North America and Europe, causing outbreaks in birds there between autumn 2014 and spring 2015. Scientists analysed migration patterns of wild birds that were found to be infected with the H5N8 virus. The team then compared the genetic code of viruses isolated from infected birds collected from 16 different countries. Their findings reveal that H5N8 was most likely carried by long-distance flights of infected migrating wild birds from Asia to Europe and North America via their breeding grounds in the Arctic. The researchers say their findings reinforce the importance of maintaining strict exclusion areas around […]
31October
2016
Bats sighted this Halloween may not be quite as boo-tiful as they look. Bats have long been associated with haunted houses, spooky caves, and vampires. However, their nexus with the bloodcurdling and bone-chilling is not the only reason the masses fear them; they are also reservoirs for infectious disease. Now, researchers have been successful in isolating infectious influenza viruses from bats for the first time. New research suggests that potential infection in humans with influenza A-like viruses from bats cannot be ruled out.Image source: Albert Ludwigs Universität Freiburg It is widely accepted that all known influenza A viruses originate from aquatic birds that serve as virus reservoirs in nature and can infect domestic poultry and other birds and animal species. While avian influenza A viruses usually do not infect humans, rare cares of human infection with these viruses have been reported. Human infections with avian influenza viruses occur through eye, nose, or mouth contact with or inhalation of infected bird saliva, mucus, or feces. The resulting Illness in humans has ranged from mild to severe. Avian influenza A viruses have been isolated from more than 100 different species of wild birds. While it is unknown whether additional animal reservoirs of […]
3January
2017
The law is now widely seen as not fit for purpose. Abortion care in the UK is “heading towards a crisis” and reform of the law is just one of the many obstacles that needs to be overcome, argues an expert in the Journal of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care. Among the challenges women seeking abortion face include inequitable access, a lack of trained staff, stigmatisation, and a culture of exceptionalism, explains Dr Sandy Goldbeck-Wood, editor in chief of the journal, and clinical lead for abortion services at Cambridge University Hospitals. She argues that “problems of access and stigma, familiar worldwide, are compounded in the UK by an abortion law that is now widely seen as not fit for purpose” which is considered to be “out of step with technical advances in safe medical abortion and current UK social values.” Most women believe they have a right to make their own decision about abortion, but British law still requires the identification of serious physical or mental health risk by two doctors not necessarily qualified, and who may not know the woman personally. The law is, therefore, widely seen by clinicians as “hypocritical and anachronistic,” explains Dr Goldbeck-Wood. Another problem […]
17January
2017
Dry eye syndrome occurs when the tears glands in the eyes do not produce enough fluid, or if the tears vanish too quickly. Researchers are exploring the possibilities of using dietary measures or vitamin supplements to treat dry eye. Research is in its early days but may highlight options for symptom relief that can reduce discomfort and improve quality of life. It is best to obtain vitamins from the diet alone, but supplements are available to top up amounts for people who may not consume enough or who have a natural deficiency. Read on to find out more about the link between eye health and vitamins and learn about some other treatment tips Vitamins for dry eye syndrome There is limited scientific evidence that vitamin supplementation helps treat dry eyes and insufficient evidence to recommend the routine use of commercially available supplements in dry eye syndrome. However, some observational studies show the possible importance of diet helping with dry eyes. People should remain skeptical about any vitamin, mineral, and herbal supplements that claim to treat dry eye syndrome. The following vitamins might make a difference to dry eyes, but research is on-going. People should consult a doctor before attempting to […]
23January
2017
New research from Vanderbilt eavesdrops on gene expression in human immune system cells before and after vaccination against bird flu. Reported in the journal PLOS One, the study exposes cellular responses associated with a vaccine constituent called AS03, short for adjuvant system 03. Using massive computation, the investigators pursue a systems biology approach, providing a new wealth of detail about vaccine responses and data for the generation of new hypotheses. “This study signifies a new and different way to study vaccines. We’ve established that it can be done; it’s complex but it’s feasible. I think in the future this is the way vaccines will be studied,” said one of the authors, Leigh Howard, M.D., MPH, assistant professor of Pediatrics. The type of bird flu the team studied, subtype H5N1, is far more lethal in humans than seasonal flu. AS03 is known to markedly boost the protection afforded by pandemic flu vaccines, including those for swine flu and bird flu, but its molecular mechanisms aren’t understood. Howard, immunologist Kristen Hoek, Ph.D., and colleagues report gene expression signals arising as early as the first day after vaccination that strongly predict the eventual generation of protective antibodies against H5N1. They also find that […]
28January
2017
King’s College London researchers have discovered that core bulimia nervosa symptoms such as binge eating and restricting food intake are reduced by delivering noninvasive electrical stimulation to certain areas of the brain. This therapy may prove beneficial for the 1-2 percent of women in the United States who experience bulimia during their lifetime. King’s College London researcher, Maria Kekic, delivering transcranial direct current stimulation.Image credit: King’s College London Bulimia nervosa, or simply bulimia, is both an eating disorder and mental health condition. Bulimia is characterized by behaviors such as controlling weight by severely restricting the amount of food consumed, followed by binge eating and, lastly, forced vomiting to remove the food from the body. This vicious behavior cycle becomes compulsive over time and is similar to that of addiction. Eating disorders are usually connected with an abnormal attitude toward food or body image and can be triggered by hunger, stress, or emotional anxiety. Around 30 million people in the U.S. are affected by an eating disorder. Bulimia typically develops in adolescence and is more common in women. The condition causes many complications, and it can lead to medical problems including anxiety and depression, kidney and heart failure, and it can […]
6February
2017
In a recent study, female fashion models reported high levels of pressure to lose weight, which was associated with higher odds of engaging in unhealthy behaviors to control weight. The study is the largest to date to explore disordered eating among professional models, and in particular to examine rates of specific unhealthy weight control behaviors. When considering potential policy approaches aiming to improve working conditions, models rated approaches that increased worker protections as most feasible. In contrast, imposing restrictions on a minimum body mass index, as has been suggested by some regulators, was rated as the least impactful. “The American fashion industry has the opportunity now to join France, Israel, Milan, Madrid, and others, where governments have taken important steps to protect the health of models. Our study findings help to shine a light on the working conditions these young models are facing and offer insights for how we can do better,” said Dr. Rachel Rodgers, lead author of the International Journal of Eating Disorders study. “Every model deserves a guarantee of safe and healthy working conditions and these are reflected in the images that young people see. It’s a healthier environment for everyone.” Article: Results of a strategic science […]
17February
2017
Dry eyes are a very common eye affliction. The condition can be caused by many different factors. Dry eyes can be part of the aging process or a symptom of another disease. They can be caused by an overly dry environment or be a side effect of medication such as antihistamines. Eye drops are often the preferred method of treating dry eyes. There is a variety of prescription and over-the-counter eye drops that a doctor may recommend. Types Eye drops are the preferred method of treating dry eyes but some other medications may be used depending on the cause. There are a number of potential eye drops to consider when treating symptoms of dry eyes. These include: Artificial tears are the most common treatment method and are often available over the counter or online. There are a variety of brand options and it may take some trial and error for people to find the artificial teardrops that work best for them. Cyclosporine is a prescription eye drop designed to help treat certain infections that cause dry eyes. This medication helps the eyes to produce more tears. Typically, it is applied two times a day. Lifitegrast is a small molecule integrin […]
17February
2017
Dry eye describes a condition when the eye is unable to produce tears properly or produce tears of a suitable consistency. People with dry eye may experience a stinging or burning sensation in their eye, or feel as if something is caught in their eye. The affected eye may be red and painful or emit a stringy discharge. People with dry eye also sometimes experience blurred vision or their eyes may get tired easily, especially when reading or using a computer. There are a number of home remedies and lifestyle changes that can reduce symptoms of dry eye and prevent the condition. This article will look at both, along with medical treatments for when home remedies do not help. Home remedies and prevention A bedside humidifier can add moisture back into the air, which may help to reduce the symptoms of dry eye. Applying warm compresses to the eyes and then gently washing the eyelids using baby shampoo can help release the oil in the tear glands. This improves the quality of tears. In cold weather, using a bedside humidifier at night and adding a humidifier to a furnace can help to introduce some moisture back into the dry air. […]
19February
2017
Chronic dry eye is a common condition that affects millions of contact lens wearers. It can be so severe that it becomes uncomfortable or difficult for a person to wear their lenses. In addition to pain or discomfort, dry eye can cause dryness, burning, stinging, redness, or blurry vision. Eye doctors have traditionally considered that people with dry eyes may not be good candidates for wearing contact lenses. Due to changing technology, however, this may no longer be the case. Contact lens options Soft lenses may be recommended for people with dry eyes as they allow oxygen to pass through. There are a number of lifestyle changes that may help some people with dry eyes. If these changes don’t improve dry eyes, people may want to discuss changing their prescription or contact lenses. People should consider different types of contact lenses, depending on the cause of dry eye. Options to look at include: Soft lenses. Soft contacts are significantly better for people with chronic dry eye. The materials used in soft contacts are made to hold water and allow oxygen to pass through the lens to let the eyes breathe. Someone using hard contacts may benefit from switching to a […]
22February
2017
New research conducted in adolescent rodents provides insights on the mechanisms behind anorexia nervosa and points to a potential treatment strategy. In experiments involving food restriction and/or exercise, investigators found that the extent to which certain receptors are expressed in neurons in a particular region of the brain can influence whether an adolescent female rat develops anorexia nervosa-like behavior, such as to exercise, rather than eat, in spite of being hungry. The findings suggest that a risk factor for anorexia may be under-expression of these receptors, α4βδ-GABAA called receptors, following stress. Therefore, boosting the activity of these receptors may be a promising treatment strategy. “Anorexia nervosa has the highest mortality rate of any mental illness, surpassing even that of depression, and currently, there are no accepted pharmacological treatments,” said Dr. Chiye Aoki, lead author of the Journal of Neuroscience Research article. “This makes the pursuit of effective medications particularly important. Rodent models enable scientists to separate cultural influences from the neurobiological basis of behaviors that are present in the illness.” Article: α4βδ-GABAA receptors in dorsal hippocampal CA1 of adolescent female rats traffic to the plasma membrane of dendritic spines following voluntary exercise and contribute to protection of animals from activity-based […]
23February
2017
Doctors use the Schirmer’s test to work out if a person’s eyes make enough tears to keep the eyes moist. If the eyes don’t produce enough moisture, a doctor may choose to treat the patient for dry eye. This article will look at exactly what the test entails and when people can expect it to be used. Alternative options to the Schirmer’s test will also be examined. What is the Schirmer’s test? A Schirmer’s test has been used for around 100 years and measures tears, which keep the eye healthy and moist.Image credit: Jmarchn, December 2014. A Schirmer’s test determines whether a person’s eye produces enough tears to keep their eye moist and healthy. To conduct a Schirmer’s test, a doctor places a piece of filter paper inside the lower eyelid of both eyes and the person closes their eyes. After 5 minutes, the doctor removes the filter paper. The doctor then assesses how far the tears have travelled on the paper. In general, the smaller the amount of moisture on the paper, the fewer tears that person has produced. The test is mainly performed on people experiencing symptoms of dry eye. The test is noninvasive and has been used […]
24February
2017
Anorexia can cause severe health issues, and the illness can sometimes be fatal. New research suggests a surgical technique can stimulate the patient’s brain into improving their mental health and overall well-being. New research suggests a brain technique called ‘deep brain stimulation’ may prove effective in treating anorexia. Anorexia is an eating disorder that makes people lose more weight than what is considered healthy. According to the The National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD), eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of all mental health disorders. Eating disorders affect 24 million adults in the United States and approximately 70 million people worldwide. The vast majority of these individuals are female, with 90 percent of people with eating disorders being women aged between 12 and 25. Anorexia affects little under 1 percent of the entire female population in the U.S. The disorder can lead to serious health issues over time because of malnutrition, such as the weakening of bones and the immune system, heart problems because of the lack of potassium in the blood, as well as overall insufficient levels of proteins, vitamins, and nutrients. Additionally, anorexia is often accompanied by other mental health issues, such as depression, […]
3March
2017
Even after weeks of treatment and considerable weight gain, the brains of adolescent patients with anorexia nervosa remain altered, putting them at risk for possible relapse, according to researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. The study, published in the American Journal of Psychiatry, examined 21 female adolescents before and after treatment for anorexia and found that their brains still had an elevated reward system compared to 21 participants without the eating disorder. “That means they are not cured,” said Guido Frank, MD, senior author of the study and associate professor of psychiatry and neuroscience at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. “This disease fundamentally changes the brain response to stimuli in our environment. The brain has to normalize and that takes time.” Brain scans of anorexia nervosa patients have implicated central reward circuits that govern appetite and food intake in the disease. This study showed that the reward system was elevated when the patients were underweight and remained so once weight was restored. The neurotransmitter dopamine might be the key, researchers said. Dopamine mediates reward learning and is suspected of playing a major role in the pathology of anorexia nervosa. Animal studies have shown that food […]
3March
2017
The US political war on women has reached an all-time apex, and women´s health physicians must speak out loudly on their behalf. Donald Trump’s sexual and reproductive health policy changes threaten women in the USA and across the world, warns an expert in the Journal of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care. “Much progress has been made in the use of more effective contraception and in the reduction of unintended pregnancies”, explains Professor Daniel Grossman from the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences at the University of California, San Francisco. However, he warns that “Trump’s policies could roll back progress on women’s health.” A concerning development is Trump’s re-imposition of the Mexico City Policy, also known as the Global Gag Rule, which prevents US-funded organisations from providing, informing about, or advocating for abortion care in their countries. “If reducing abortion were the aim of this policy,” Grossman says, “it is not at all clear that this is effective,” as data suggests the policy was associated with an increase in abortion in sub-Saharan African countries. This is possibly because affected organisations lost funding for contraceptive supplies. Furthermore, Trump has made statements in support of reversing the Roe v. Wade 1973 […]
4March
2017
Red eyes can be the sign of a minor irritation or a serious medical condition, such as an infection. Bloodshot or red eyes occur when small blood vessels that are present on the surface of the eye become enlarged and congested with blood. This happens due to an insufficient amount of oxygen being supplied to the cornea or the tissues covering the eye. Bloodshot eyes by themselves are generally not a reason to be overly concerned, but when coupled with eye pain, abnormal drainage, or impaired vision this can indicate a serious medical problem. Conjunctivitis Conjunctivitis is also known as pink eye and is mostly caused by viruses, which may be spread by the hands. Conjunctivitis, commonly known as pinkeye, is an infection that includes swelling and irritation of the conjunctiva. The conjunctiva is a thin transparent membrane that lines the eyelid and loops back to cover the the white part of the eye. An infection of the conjunctiva irritates the blood vessels causing them to swell up. It is this inflammation that makes the whites of the eyes appear reddish or even a bit pink. Viruses cause up to 80 percent of all cases of conjunctivitis. Pink eye is […]
16March
2017
An international research team, led by scientists at University of California San Diego School of Medicine, has created the first cellular model of anorexia nervosa (AN), reprogramming induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) derived from adolescent females with the eating disorder. Writing in Translational Psychiatry, the scientists said the resulting AN neurons – the disease in a dish – revealed a novel gene that appears to contribute to AN pathophysiology, buttressing the idea that AN has a strong genetic factor. The proof-of-concept approach, they said, provides a new tool to investigate the elusive and largely unknown molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the disease. “Anorexia is a very complicated, multifactorial neurodevelopmental disorder,” said Alysson Muotri, PhD, professor in the UC San Diego School of Medicine departments of Pediatrics and Cellular and Molecular Medicine, director of the UC San Diego Stem Cell Program and a member of the Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine. “It has proved to be a very difficult disease to study, let alone treat. We don’t actually have good experimental models for eating disorders. In fact, there are no treatments to reverse AN symptoms.” Primarily affecting young female adolescents between ages 15 and 19, AN is characterized by distorted body […]
30March
2017
Scientists from Tomsk Polytechnic University together with their colleagues from St. Petersburg and London have elaborated a new approach to deliver anti-viral RNAi to target cells against H1N1 influenza virus infection. Drug encapsulating via a combination of layer-by-layer technique and sol-gel chemistry allows beating swine flu at the gene level. The first test showed an 80% drop in virus protein synthesis. A research was conducted by scientists from the Novel Dosage Laboratory, RASA Center at TPU, Pavlov First Saint Petersburg State Medical University, Research Institute of Influenza of Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation and Queen Mary University of London School of Engineering and Materials Science. Scientists from Gorbacheva Research Institute of Pediatric Hematology and Transplantation also took an active part in the research. A new method to fight influenza A (H1N1) virus is focused on training our body to produce interferons (proteins that make our body immune to the virus) faster. The obtained results can be applied to a new delivery system of antiviral drugs to fight with various influenza types. The article Hybrid inorganic-organic capsules for efficient intracellular delivery of novel siRNAs against influenza A (H1N1) virus infection was published in Scientific Reports. TPU scientists suggest activating […]
30March
2017
For good reason, there is a great deal of interest in the transmission of diseases from animals to humans. Recently, however, medical researchers have started to ask the opposite question: can we make animals sick? The transmission of diseases from humans to animals is a growing area of concern. Swine and bird flu are two of the most recent and startling examples of animals passing diseases to humans. Other unpleasant pet-to-human medical problems include ringworm, roundworm, and hookworm, as well as beaver fever, toxoplasmosis, and rabies. Although these animal-to-human transmissions are relatively well described, pathogenic traffic in the opposite direction is much less well understood. In this Spotlight feature, we will investigate whether pathogens can travel from humans to animals in a process referred to as reverse zoonosis, or anthroponosis. A review of current literature on this topic, published in PLOS One in 2014, identified a wealth of examples. They found cases of bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi jumping from human hosts to animal-kind to occur across 56 countries on every continent with the exception of Antarctica. The importance of reverse zoonoses Reverse zoonosis is not just an interesting concept; it is an important global issue. Animals bred for food […]
10April
2017
Celiac disease is a rare digestive disorder and anorexia nervosa is a chronic eating disorder. These conditions have similar symptoms, and both are particularly common among adolescents. New research examines the link between the diagnoses for these two conditions in young women. New research suggests that receiving a diagnosis of celiac disease may drastically increase the odds of developing anorexia. Celiac disease (CD) is an inflammatory gastrointestinal disorder that harms the small intestine and is triggered by gluten-containing foods. The disorder affects around 1 in 141 people in the United States, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, and it tends to be more prevalent in women. Eating disorders affect at least 30 million U.S. individuals. Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a serious eating disorder affecting the health and well-being of almost 1 percent of U.S. women. People with AN may perceive themselves as overweight when, in fact, they may be the opposite. Although the disorder affects both genders, anorexia is 2.5 times more prevalent in women. Both of these conditions tend to affect adolescents and young adults in particular, so a team of researchers set out to examine the link between the two conditions in […]
12April
2017
Researchers in Germany have developed a transgenic mouse that could help scientists identify new influenza virus strains with the potential to cause a global pandemic. The mouse is described in a study, “In vivo evasion of MxA by avian influenza viruses requires human signature in the viral nucleoprotein,” that has been published in The Journal of Experimental Medicine. Influenza A viruses can cause devastating pandemics when they are transmitted to humans from pigs, birds, or other animal species. To cross the species barrier and establish themselves in the human population, influenza strains must acquire mutations that allow them to evade components of the human immune system, including, perhaps, the innate immune protein MxA. This protein can protect cultured human cells from avian influenza viruses but is ineffective against strains that have acquired the ability to infect humans. To investigate whether MxA provides a similar barrier to cross-species infection in vivo, Peter Staeheli and colleagues at the Institute of Virology, Medical Center University of Freiburg, created transgenic mice that express human, rather than mouse, MxA. Similar to the results obtained with cultured human cells, the transgenic mice were resistant to avian influenza viruses but susceptible to flu viruses of human origin. […]
17April
2017
Religiosity has been associated with various forms of fasting and self-starvation for thousands of years. Many believe that extreme religiosity can be a risk factor of anorexia nervosa. However, a recent population study conducted in Finland showed that religiosity does not increase the risk of anorexia nervosa. “Many medieval saints fasted themselves to death. The most famous of them was St Catherine of Siena,” says Associate Professor Anna Keski-Rahkonen from the University of Helsinki, Finland, who led the recent study. “But nobody has looked into this issue in any systematic way. We wanted to examine whether religiosity is associated with a higher risk of anorexia nervosa in modern women.” This is the first study to examine the potential connection between religiosity and anorexia nervosa in a nationwide setting. Researchers at the University of Helsinki followed almost 3000 women from the Finnish Twin Cohorts from the age 16 until their mid-twenties. “We found that religiosity does not appear to be a central factor in the development of anorexia nervosa in Finland, a highly secularized Christian country,” said Dr Pyry Sipilä who analyzed the data and authored the article. “Being raised in a highly religious family is also not associated with an […]
19April
2017
Erectile dysfunction, also called impotence, is not being able to get and maintain an erection for long enough to have sexual intercourse. There are many causes of erectile dysfunction (ED) which can be physical, psychological, or both. One of the most common causes of ED is diabetes. Studies suggest that 35-75 percent of men with diabetes will go on to develop ED. They will also tend to develop ED some 10-15 years earlier than men without diabetes. Diabetes and erectile dysfunction Diabetes can cause ED because it can damage the blood supply to the penis and the nerves that control an erection. Poorly managed diabetes can lead to erectile dysfunction due to its effects on the bloodstream. When a man becomes sexually aroused, a chemical called nitric oxide is released into his bloodstream. This nitric oxide tells the arteries and the muscles in the penis to relax, which allows more blood to flow into the penis. This gives the man an erection. Men with diabetes struggle with blood sugar level swings, especially if their condition isn’t managed poorly. When their blood sugar levels get too high, less nitric oxide is produced. This can mean that there is not enough blood […]
24April
2017
Erectile dysfunction is a male sexual dysfunction that is more common as men get older. Medications to treat this condition were previously available on prescription only, but options are now available over the counter. It is important to determine if these over-the-counter (OTC) options work and if they are safe for long-term use. There are also several OTC dietary supplements claiming to be natural erectile dysfunction (ED) medications. This article will take a look at some of these options and see what evidence exists for their use. OTC treatments and supplements There are several over-the-counter remedies available which can help manage the symptoms of ED. Here are four OTC treatments that are available and may help with the management of ED. DHEA Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a hormone that is made in the brain and produced by the adrenal gland. It is involved in the production of male and female sex hormones. Levels in the body begin to decrease naturally after age 30. Some men have lower levels of DHEA than others, and DHEA has become a common OTC supplement. Although it may be helpful to some men, there is not enough evidence to say for certain that it helps with […]
25April
2017
Erectile dysfunction refers to an inability to have and maintain an erection firm enough for sex. A variety of medical and mental health conditions can trigger erectile dysfunction (ED), as can certain lifestyle choices, including the use of some recreational drugs. The medical community has not found conclusive evidence that using cannabis, or marijuana, leads to ED. However, specific effects of the drug may result in ED, and a person who smokes a mixture of marijuana and tobacco may have an increased risk. Marijuana overview People use cannabis for recreational and medicinal purposes. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), in the United States, more than 11 million people between the ages of 18 and 25 used marijuana in 2014. People in the U.S. are more likely to use marijuana than any other recreational drug. Marijuana consists of the dried leaves, flowers, seeds, and stems from the hemp plant, Cannabis sativa. The plant contains a variety of chemicals, including a group called cannabinoids. The best-known of these chemicals is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). THC has a psychoactive effect, which means that it affects a person’s thinking. The chemical may also have other effects, and some prescription drugs with approval from […]
25April
2017
Erectile dysfunction (ED) occurs when a man cannot achieve an erection or sustain one long enough during sexual activity. It is one of the most common sexual challenges men face and can be very distressing. Some people, particularly those who have religious or moral qualms about pornography, argue that porn use can cause erectile dysfunction. The research on porn-induced erectile dysfunction is mixed, with some studies supporting this connection and others arguing that pornography might actually help with ED. ED is a complex health issue that has physical and mental health components. This article aims to break down the topic and present the evidence. How does it happen? People sometimes link pornography to erectile dysfunction, but it is a complex condition with a range of causes. Relationships, body image, and similar factors can also play a role in causing erectile dysfunction. For many men, ED does not have a single, identifiable cause. Porn-induced erectile dysfunction is a controversial theory for explaining sexual problems. Some proponents of the notion, such as this highly subjective blog from anti-pornography advocacy group Fight the New Drug, believe that pornography is immoral. This potentially makes their research more biased than a laboratory study from a […]
12May
2017
Eating disorders affect millions of people in the United States, and anorexia nervosa is considered to have the highest mortality rate of all psychiatric conditions. For the first time, new research identifies a genetic location that helps to shed more light on the causes of this illness. New research sheds some light on the genetic basis of this serious eating disorder. Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder that affects both genders. However, the disorder is two and a half times more likely to occur among women, with almost 1 percent of U.S. women being affected. Moreover, anorexia – along with other eating disorders – is reported to hit the transgender community relatively hard; around 16 percent of transgender college students reportedly have an eating disorder. Eating disorders are a serious mental health issue caused by a variety of complex factors, from psychosocial to genetic and biological issues. Anorexia can be a deadly disease. Of all mental health disorders, anorexia is linked with the highest mortality rate. Death can be a consequence of not receiving treatment, but 1 in 5 anorexia-related deaths are a result of suicide. New research identifies, for the first time, a significant genetic location that underpins anorexia. […]
15June
2017
Impairment of a particular gene raises increases susceptibility to opioid addiction liability as well as vulnerability to binge eating according to a new study. Dysfunction of the gene, casein kinase1-epsilon (CSNK1E), increases opioid’s euphoric response and produces a marked increase in sensitivity to binge eating in a female experimental model but not in the male. Similar to opioid addiction, very little is known regarding the genetic basis of binge eating. These combined findings provide further support indicating that shared genetic factors may underlie behavioral traits associated with the addictions and eating disorders. Furthermore, they also provide an important clue that the genetic basis of binge eating and eating disorders in women versus men is likely to differ. The findings appear online in the journal Genes, Brain and Behavior. Addiction is a multi-stage process that begins with drug exposure and the initial pleasurable experience and progresses toward tolerance, dependence, physiological and emotional withdrawal upon cessation of use, protracted withdrawal that can last years, and finally, relapse to drug taking. The genes associated with risk for opioid addiction could potentially affect one or more of these stages. “Because increasing evidence points toward an association between CSNK1E and opioid addiction in humans, our […]
15June
2017
An international team of scientists has identified several genetic mutations that, should they arise, could potentially allow the avian influenza strain H7N9 to spread between humans. The findings are published in PLOS Pathogens. H7N9 is a strain of flu virus that normally infects birds but has spread to at least 779 humans in a number of outbreaks related to poultry markets. The virus is not currently capable of spreading sustainably from human to human, but scientists are concerned that it could potentially mutate into a form that can. To investigate this possibility, James Paulson of The Scripps Research Institute, California, and colleagues analyzed mutations that could occur in H7N9’s genome. They focused on a gene that codes for the H7 hemagglutanin, a protein found on the surface of flu viruses. This protein allows flu viruses to latch onto host cells. Flu strains that circulate in avian viruses have different subtypes of hemagglutanin, called H1-H16. So far only three subtypes have been found in human flu viruses (H1, H2 and H3). Like other avian flu viruses, H7N9 has is specific for receptors on bird cells, but not receptors on human cells. However, a transition to human specificity could enable H7N9 to […]
7July
2017
Listening to something while looking in a different direction can slow down reaction times while the brain works harder to suppress distractions, finds a new UCL study. In a study published in Scientific Reports, UCL researchers found that a misalignment between the direction of the eyes and the focus of auditory attention leads to slower reactions and increased listening effort. “We frequently listen away from where our eyes are directed, such as when driving, or eavesdropping to a conversation at a party. So in this study we asked a simple question: How does the mere direction of gaze, even in the absence of visual information, affect listening?” said the study’s first author, Dr Ulrich Pomper (UCL Ear Institute). “We found that gazing away from what we are listening to is mentally taxing, and has detrimental consequences to performance.” The study design aimed to re-create a simple everyday listening situation – attempting to follow a single sound from a mixture of several – but within a controlled lab environment. The 19 study participants each sat facing three loudspeakers arranged in front of them in a darkened, soundproof room. They were instructed to follow sounds from one of the loudspeakers while ignoring […]
10July
2017
By studying the brain scans of women with and without bulimia, researchers have discovered that their brains react differently to food cues. They found that, in women with bulimia, there is less blood flow in a part of the brain that is linked to self-thinking. Researchers have come to the conclusion that the brains of women with bulimia respond to and process food cues in different ways than women without the eating disorder. Writing in the Journal of Abnormal Psychology, lead author Brittany Collins, Ph.D., of the Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C., and colleagues suggest that their findings support the idea that binge eating serves as an escape from negative self-thoughts at times of acute stress. People with bulimia nervosa, or simply bulimia, experience repeated and frequent bouts of binge eating that they feel they cannot control. During these episodes, they consume unusually large quantities of food, which they try to compensate for by forced vomiting, fasting, over-exercising, or using laxatives. Over time, bulimia can take its toll on health. It can lead to a chronically inflamed sore throat, erosion of tooth enamel, stomach disorders, severe dehydration, and bowel problems. It can also result in electrolyte imbalances that […]
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