Study: Benefit to women not enough to sway men to get HPV vaccine – Informing men that a new vaccine to prevent human papillomavirus (HPV) would also help protect their female partners against developing cervical cancer from the sexually transmitted infection did not increase their interest in getting the vaccine, according to a new Florida State University study.
Australian scientists develop a new low-cost, point-of-care HIV monitoring treatment – Scientists at the Burnet Institute, Australia’s leading medical research and public health institute focused on infectious diseases, have developed a prototype low-cost HIV monitoring test designed for field use in remote settings.
Two more positive cases of influenza A [H1N1] as on 1st June, 2009, India – The samples of two patients [34 year old female and 5 year old boy (mother and child)] who are admitted in the identified isolation facility at Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu have tested positive for Novel Influenza A [H1N1].
Combined stem cell-gene therapy approach cures human genetic disease in vitro – A study led by researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, has catapulted the field of regenerative medicine significantly forward, proving in principle that a human genetic disease can be cured using a combination of gene therapy and induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell technology.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Approves Besivance to Treat Bacterial Conjunctivitis – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Besivance (besifloxacin ophthalmic suspension 0.6 percent) for the treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis (non-viral), a contagious condition marked by irritation of the eyes and a discharge from the mucous membranes.
Study finds unexpected bacterial diversity on human skin – Genomic research lays groundwork for new approaches for treating, preventing skin diseases. – The health of our skin – one of the body’s first lines of defense against illness and injury – depends upon the delicate balance between our own cells and the millions of bacteria and other one-celled microbes that live on its surface.
Low levels of vitamin D linked to common vaginal infection in pregnant women – Findings may explain higher rates of infection among African-Americans. – Pregnant women with low levels of vitamin D may be more likely to suffer from bacterial vaginosis (BV) ? a common vaginal infection that increases a woman’s risk for preterm delivery, according to a University of Pittsburgh study.
How superbugs control their lethal weapons – It appears that some superbugs have evolved to develop the ability to manipulate the immune system to everyone’s advantage.
Update on influenza A (H1N1) as on 27th May 2009 – Swine flu monitoring is continuing at Indian airports. – World Health Organization has reported 12,954 laboratory confirmed cases of influenza A/H1N1 infection from 46 countries as on 26th May 2009. There have been 92 deaths.
The Indian skeleton represents both the earliest archaeological evidence for human infection with Mycobacterium leprae in the world and the first evidence for the disease in prehistoric India. – A biological anthropologist from Appalachian State University working with an undergraduate student from Appalachian, an evolutionary biologist from UNC Greensboro, and a team of archaeologists from Deccan College (Pune, India) recently reported analysis of a 4000-year-old skeleton from India bearing evidence of leprosy.
Prescribing sunshine for multiple sclerosis? — Encouraging patients with multiple sclerosis to spend more time in the sun – might be a cheap and easy treatment. – Could a holiday in the sun reduce the risk of developing multiple sclerosis? In a recent review for F1000 Medicine Reports, Bridget Bagert and Dennis Bourdette highlight recent advances in potential treatments.
AIDS Action Statement on HIV Vaccine Awareness Day: Reason to Hope. – Every nine and a half minutes someone in the United States is infected with HIV. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that approximately 56,300 individuals became infected with HIV in 2006 alone.
