Research on containing and managing disease. Covers critical-illness theory, zoonotic disease, immunotherapy trials, and historical epidemics.
A recent study highlights the significant impact of poverty on chronic disease in Asian countries, resulting in over 8 million avoidable deaths annually. Practical interventions such as tobacco-smoking cessation programs and regional partnerships between governments and institutions are proposed to mitigate these effects.
The World Health Organization has launched a global patient safety challenge to combat healthcare-associated infection in developing countries. The initiative aims to improve hand hygiene practices and reduce morbidity and mortality due to healthcare-associated infection.
A recent study found that methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections are more common than previously thought, affecting certain populations disproportionately. The study estimated that 94,360 invasive MRSA infections occurred in the US in 2005, resulting in 18,650 deaths.
The study identified specific parts of PfEMP1 that are likely to bond more strongly with receptors in blood vessels, producing a stronger adhesive effect. These protein parts are common in parasites causing severe malaria, and their identification could lead to the development of a vaccine to prevent the disease.
The study reveals that Clostridium difficile spores can thrive on asymptomatic patients and their surroundings, posing a significant transmission risk. This finding has dramatic implications for healthcare workers and recommends extending contact precautions to discharged patients with a previous history of CDAD.
A 2004 outbreak of Norwalk virus at The Johns Hopkins Hospital resulted in estimated $650,000 in total hospital costs. Strict precautions taken to control the outbreak included isolating infected units, implementing strict hand hygiene and thorough cleaning protocols.
In a first systematic analysis, researchers confirm the limited human-to-human spread of avian-flu virus in Indonesia. Biostatistician Ira M. Longini Jr. found the virus spread within a small family, with the new software providing real-time analysis.
Scientists have identified Marburg virus RNA genome and antibodies in African fruit bats (Rousettus aegyptiacus), providing new insight into a deadly disease that has long baffled epidemiologists. The discovery, published in PLoS ONE, offers potential for understanding transmission and development of a vaccine or drug therapy.
Research links exhaust fumes to increased asthma risk in genetically susceptible children, particularly those with high microsomal epoxide hydrolase activity and GSTP1 genetic variants. Children exposed to road traffic pollution are also at greater risk of developing asthma.
John P. Donoghue, a Brown University brain scientist, has been awarded the K.J. Zülch Prize for his groundbreaking research on translating thoughts into action, enabling people with paralysis to control devices using brain signals.
A study suggests that measuring anemia can be a useful indicator of the burden and control of neglected tropical diseases. Pharmacogenomics, however, still faces limitations in its application for individualized drug dosing based on hereditary factors, according to a review.
Penn researchers identified how regulatory protein Bcl-3 regulates inflammation by blocking ubiquitination, a critical biochemical process. This discovery opens new avenues for developing therapies to treat infectious or inflammatory diseases such as sepsis and rheumatoid arthritis.
A new study reveals that 23% of hospital-based physicians in China are smokers, significantly higher than the global average. The study prompts China CDC to initiate an antismoking campaign aimed at physicians and medical students.
University of Florida researchers are creating a brain chip to decode signals and stimulate neurons, aiming to treat conditions like paralysis and epilepsy. The technology has the potential to revolutionize medicine, allowing patients to control prosthetic devices with their thoughts.
A recent study suggests that adult male circumcision could help prevent HIV transmission in the US, particularly among heterosexual couples. However, the effectiveness of circumcision in reducing HIV risk among men who have sex with men (MSM) is uncertain due to limited data and potential biases.
People with writer's cramp have reduced grey matter in specific brain regions, including the cerebellum and sensorimotor cortex. The study suggests that these changes may be a result of sustained repetitive movement, or an adaptation to the condition.
Researchers at Virginia Tech have successfully expressed a foreign gene exclusively in the female mosquito germline, paving the way for genetic control strategies. The discovery enables all progeny of lab and wild mosquitoes to have the gene that blocks virus replication.
Researchers found that elevated pepsin levels, a marker for gastric aspiration, are associated with acute rejection of lung transplants. Prolonged exposure to stomach fluids may contribute to lung injury and increase the risk of rejection.
A study found that drug resistance in the Onchocerca volvulus parasite, which causes river blindness, is emerging and could lead to a resurgence of the disease. Despite ivermectin treatment clearing most microfilariae, four communities showed significant repopulation of skin with microfilariae, allowing transmission of the disease.
A review of eight population-based studies found that none met criteria for accurate SIDS diagnosis, leading to inflated risk estimates. Families with initial investigation and no major risk factors can be advised that the risk of a second death is very small.
University of Manchester researchers have identified evidence of several new genes behind rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a chronic inflammatory disease that affects nearly all joints. The study, part of the largest ever genetics study, has provided insights into what leads people to develop RA and offers new avenues for treatments.
A £9 million study of 17,000 people has identified over 10 genes that predispose to common diseases, including type 1 and type 2 diabetes, as well as Crohn's disease. The findings have significant implications for understanding the genetic basis of disease and developing personalized treatments.
A survey of over 500 US healthcare centers found that VA hospitals more frequently adopted recommendations for preventing central venous catheter infections, including maximal sterile barrier precautions and chlorhexidine gluconate use. This may be attributed to centralized purchasing and communication within the VA.
A survey of 1,812 patients with moderate-to-severe asthma found that the disease was not controlled in 55 percent, despite regular health care visits. Uncontrolled asthmatics were more likely to experience severe symptoms and hospitalizations.
A new survey reveals that chronic hepatitis B patients often misunderstand the nature of their disease and its treatment. Despite being aware of the long-term consequences of the virus, many patients do not comply with their medication regimens, highlighting the need for improved patient education. The study suggests that enhanced pati...
A study found that soldiers in Iraq contracted multi-drug resistant Acinetobacter infections primarily from environmental contamination of field hospitals. ABC bacteria were also detected on skin samples but not soil, suggesting transmission occurred within healthcare facilities. The authors conclude maintaining infection control is es...
Two CDC studies will be presented at ATS 2007 on TB epidemiology, focusing on foreign-born persons and African Americans in the southeastern US. The studies aim to improve outreach and control efforts, targeting enhanced prevention and control among high-risk populations.
The completed Aedes aegypti genome sequence reveals over 1,000 transposable elements occupying approximately 50% of the genome. These elements may be developed as tools to study mosquito-virus interactions and potentially lead to controls on disease transmission.
Researchers have developed fully human antibodies that effectively control malaria in mice, providing a potential therapeutic strategy for the disease. The study's findings suggest that these novel reagents could be used as a test for therapeutic antibody efficacy and an important tool in malaria vaccine development.
Researchers found no evidence of drug-resistant bacteria Acinetobacter calcoaceticus-baumannii complex on the skin of uninjured US soldiers in Iraq. The study suggests that nosocomial transmission is the likely cause of infections, refuting prior assumptions about the source of the outbreak.
A comment in The Lancet raises concerns about the World Bank's new 10-year health policy, which prioritizes private market approaches and may undermine global health initiatives. The comment calls for a coherent long-term plan to repair fragmented and inequitable health systems in poor countries.
A UC Irvine study found that certain antibiotics reduce bacteria in ticks, leading to retarded growth and reduced reproduction. The discovery could lead to safer and more effective ways to control ticks and the diseases they transmit.
The study found a significant increase in arthritis prevalence from 36.8 million to 46.1 million adults between 1997 and 2003. Medical expenditures for prescription drugs almost doubled during this period, while inpatient expenditures declined, resulting in stable total medical care spending for individuals with arthritis.
A UK collaboration of scientists has identified three new genes that predispose individuals to develop type 2 diabetes. The study confirms the link between two previously-identified genes and brings the total number of genes known to be involved in the disease to nine.
A model predicting the probability of infection from one farm to another has been developed by Gert-Jan Boender and colleagues, highlighting two poultry-dense areas in the Netherlands where epidemic spread is possible. The authors conclude that local control measures are unlikely to halt an unfolding epidemic in these regions.
A recent analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study (GBDS) and subsequent Global Burden of Disease Initiative (GBDI) reveals that childhood deafness is overlooked in disease control priorities. An estimated 718,000 infants worldwide suffer from permanent bilateral hearing impairment annually.
Researchers at UCSD School of Medicine have identified two variants of the natural tumor suppressor enzyme PHLPP, which control three different disease pathways. The findings suggest that therapies targeting PHLPP1 could improve insulin regulation in diabetes, while therapies targeting PHLPP2 could enhance cell survival in heart and ne...
Scientists at MIT have developed a way to reversibly silence brain cells using pulses of yellow light, potentially leading to the development of optical brain prosthetics. The method could enable specific treatments with few or no side effects, offering new hope for neurological and psychiatric diseases.
A randomized controlled trial in Senegal found that training health-care personnel, communication with patients, and considering local context improved treatment adherence by 20%. The action strategy also reduced defaulting rates by two-thirds. This approach aims to restrict disease spread and prevent resistant strains.
A large trial in eastern Zimbabwe showed that a community-based program with integrated peer education, condom distribution, and STI management did not decrease the overall incidence of HIV-1. In contrast, male participants benefited from the program with a decrease in HIV-1 incidence, unprotected sex reporting, and STI symptoms.
A review article argues that migratory birds are not the primary source of H5N1 virus dispersal. Human commercial activities, particularly poultry trade, are the major factors behind the global spread of the virus. The study suggests that strict health control and better animal welfare measures can help prevent disease transmission.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have identified a small RNA molecule that regulates the contractility of the heart under stress. The study found that blocking this molecule might become a way to prevent or treat heart damage.
The article highlights the importance of healthcare workers in encouraging lifestyle changes to control heart disease risk factors such as smoking, high cholesterol, and obesity. The journal's mission is to address both medical and lifestyle aspects of disease management.
Researchers debate the validity of published research findings, exploring the role of replication in confirming hypotheses. New models suggest that probabilities for accepting false research findings depend on benefits and harms, sparking discussion on acceptable levels of error.
Researchers estimate malaria transmission to be much higher than previously thought, ranging from 1-3,000, with serious implications for disease control. The study suggests that targeting the most frequently bitten individuals could lead to local elimination of malaria.
A stable social structure in badgers can help control the spread of bovine tuberculosis (TB), ecologists have found. The study found that movement of individuals between groups is instrumental in driving disease dynamics at the population level.
Researchers have identified a set of genes controlled by Foxp3 that lie at the core of autoimmune disease. The discovery provides an initial map of regulatory T cell circuitry and may help develop new methods for manipulating immune system activity.
The American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine is exploring how lifestyle choices impact heart disease. The journal focuses on recognizing and addressing the impact that lifestyle decisions have on health, emphasizing traditional therapies and lifestyle modalities to achieve superior outcomes in disease treatment.
Current guidelines only target US-born residents for TB testing; new changes aim to address the burden of latent TB infection in foreign-born populations, particularly those from high-risk countries. Eliminating TB will require a comprehensive strategy involving varying approaches for immigrant populations.
The University of Colorado has licensed its influenza chip technology to Quidel Corp for use in diagnostic tests. This collaboration enables the development of faster flu strain detection, critical for tracking emerging strains and combating epidemics.
Acromegaly, a condition caused by pituitary gland disorders, has seen improvements in diagnosis and treatment due to advances in medical technology and medication. Effective control of the disorder is now possible for many patients, reducing negative implications such as tissue damage and hormone imbalance.
Researchers at MGH found that individuals infected with both HIV and HCV who maintain low viral levels have stronger immune responses. Early antiretroviral treatment before CD4 levels drop may be crucial to preserve HCV control in co-infected patients. The study suggests a potential strategy for improving treatment outcomes.
A new study by Johns Hopkins Medicine reveals that only 20% of inner-city children with chronic asthma receive the recommended daily controller medication to control flare-ups. This leads to over-reliance on fast-acting rescue drugs, increasing complications and risk of death.
New research by Brown University biologists debunks the notion of separate genes controlling sexual behavior and physical body differences. Doublesex gene plays a crucial role in regulating both male and female courtship behaviors, acting together with fruitless to establish wing-shaking come-ons and flirtatious flights.
Researchers have compiled genetic information on over 1,000 patients and controls in the largest-scale search for genes underlying sporadic ALS. The study aims to clarify the role of genes or lack thereof in the disease, with potential implications for therapies and a cure.
Four adults received highly concentrated, unlicensed botulinum preparation for cosmetic injections, resulting in toxin levels up to 40 times the estimated human lethal dose. Botulism can cause respiratory failure and death if left untreated.
A new comprehensive study by Saint Louis University researchers has identified the top 10 features of activity-friendly communities, which can help improve public health. The study's findings emphasize the importance of designing communities that encourage physical activity, such as mixed-use development, sidewalks, and bike lanes.
A novel home-based approach to AIDS care has been shown to improve adherence and response to antiretroviral therapy in rural Uganda. The study, published in The Lancet, found that good adherence was associated with sustained suppression of HIV during the first year of treatment.
Sexual and reproductive tract infections like HPV, syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhoea have severe consequences such as cervical cancer, stillbirth, and tubal infertility. Effective measures like screening programs can prevent thousands of deaths and cases annually
A research team has identified a key molecular signaling switch involved in allergic disease, which could lead to the development of new strategies and target therapies. The discovery centers around ADAM10, an enzyme that releases a major allergy regulatory protein from cell surfaces, promoting a stronger allergic response.