Disease: disease

Showing posts with label disease. Show all posts

Saturday, July 7, 2007

Champaign County Residents To Become More Educated About Effects Of Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis

Recent federal isolation of a U.S. citizen by The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention has draw attention to a disease which is responsible for over 2 million deaths a year, worldwide.

According to the CDC:

• One-third of the world's population is infected with tuberculosis (TB)

• 9 million people become ill with TB each year

• TB is the leading cause of death among HIV infected individuals

The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) is committed to the worldwide effort to eradicate tuberculosis. CUPHD is working to reduce the incidence of tuberculosis in Champaign County. TB testing is offered every week at 710 North Neil in Champaign, and CUPHD works in conjunction with local healthcare agencies to provide follow-up testing and care for clients with active TB. CUPHD nurses also perform TB testing in three local homeless shelters.

CUPHD sees a few active cases of tuberculosis per year. In 2006, CUPHD performed over 1,000 TB tests. Of those, 30 tested positive. Additional testing revealed that 2 of those individuals had active (contagious) TB. CUPHD diligently monitors all clients with active TB to minimize transmission of the disease to others. Left untreated, one person with active TB can infect 10-15 people per year!

According to the Centers for Disease Control, TB disproportionately affects racial and ethnic minorities. In 2005, 82% of all reported TB cases in the United States occurred in minorities. Foreign-born individuals account for 55% of TB cases in the U.S. In 2006 in Champaign County, that percentage was greater, with 100% of reported cases being foreign-born. This high percentage is an unusual increase from last year's 66%.

Symptoms of pulmonary TB include a persistent, phlegm-producing cough that lasts more than three weeks, chest pain, and coughing up blood. Other symptoms include fever, chills, night sweats, loss of appetite, and weight loss.

There has been a global emergence of Extensively Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis (XDR TB). XDR TB is resistant to almost all drugs currently used to treat TB. Over 1/2 million world wide cases of Multi Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR TB), with only 19% of those cases being XDR, were reported in 2004. In 2006, there were 14,097 cases of TB reported in the United States – only 15 of those cases were XDR TB. There have been no reported cases of XDR TB in Champaign County.

Only through the vigilance of health authorities everywhere can the disease be checked and, it is hoped, eliminated throughout the world.

sourcE:www.emaxhealth.com

Prevent Bite Of Disease-Carrying Insects

Disease-Carrying Insects

Frederick Health Department reminds you, as summer approaches and you are spending more time outdoors, that mosquitoes and ticks carry diseases.

"The incidence of West Nile Virus (WNV) and Lyme Disease (LD) increase during the summer months as people spend more time outdoors. You can prevent exposure to disease-carrying mosquitoes and tics by taking some simple precautions," states Health Officer, Dr. Barbara Brookmyer.

LD is caused by a bacterium that is spread by the bite of a deer tick. You cannot catch LD from another person. The tick must be attached to the body for at least 24 hours in order for the LD bacterium to be passed on to a person. Not every tick bite causes Lyme disease, but a person can get LD more than once.

About 70-80% of those infected with LD will develop a rash where they are bitten. The rash starts as a small red round area, which usually expands to two or more inches across. The center of the rash may be clear giving the rash a "bull's eye" appearance. Other symptoms include fever, headache, tiredness, stiff neck, joint pain, and swollen lymph nodes. Without treatment, the heart, nervous system, or joints may be affected weeks to years later; the rash may also spread to other parts of the body.

Blood tests done in the early stage of LD illness can be negative, so early diagnosis is usually based on symptoms and exposure risks. Symptoms can appear between 3 to 32 days after a tick bite. Most cases of LD can be cured with antibiotics, especially if treatment is begun early in the course of illness. A vaccine to prevent LD was previously available but is no longer produced.

You can prevent LD by taking the following precautions:

• Avoid tick-infested areas such as wooded, brushy, or grassy places.

• Use tick repellent according to the directions on the product label.

• Wear light colored clothes to help spot ticks.

• Wear protective clothing including long pants and long-sleeved shirts – tuck pant legs into socks – when in areas where you may have frequent or prolonged exposure to ticks.

• Inspect your entire body – head to toes – after being outdoors.

• Inspect both your children and pets for ticks after they have been outdoors.

• Remove an attached tick by grasping the tick close to the skin surface and pulling straight back with steady force; use pointed tweezers to grasp the tick. Do not squeeze the tick's body or use petroleum jelly, lighted cigarettes or matches, or alcohol.

• Clean the bite site after removing a tick and then wash your hands.

• Mark your calendar when a tick is taken off your body – this information will be useful to your doctor.

• Keep the grass in your yard cut; remove leaves and leaf litter; clear brush from the yard.

WNV was first detected in the United States in 1999. It is a virus that is spread to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito. In rare instances, WNV may be transmitted from human to human through organ donation, blood transfusion, breastfeeding, or from pregnant mother to fetus. WNV is not spread by casual contact such as kissing or touching a person infected with the virus.

Approximately 80 percent of people infected with WNV will show no symptoms. People who do develop illness may experience mild symptoms such as fever, headache, and body aches; occasionally a skin rash and swollen lymph glands may be noticed. These symptoms typically appear 3 to 15 days after someone is bitten by an infected mosquito. Less than 1% of persons infected with the virus will develop serious illness with those 50 years of age and older and those who are immunocompromised having the highest risk.

To decrease your risk of exposure to WNV take the following precautions:

• Stay indoors at dawn or early in the evening.

• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants when going outdoors.

• Spray clothing with repellents containing permethrin or DEET (an effective repellent should contain 30% DEET) since mosquitoes may bite through thin clothing.

• Apply repellents sparingly to exposed skin and always follow package instructions.

• Ensure all window screens in your home or business are intact and do not contain holes. Repair any damaged screens.

• Remove all items that contain stagnant water such as tires, tin cans, plastic containers, ceramic pots or similar water-holding containers.

• Drain water from pool covers and change water in birdbaths at least once a week.

• Turn over plastic wading pools and wheelbarrows when not in use.

• Be sure water does not collect in garbage cans or recycle bins.

• Eliminate standing water that collects on your property.

If you believe you may be infected with either of these diseases or have questions regarding a mosquito or tick bite, contact your health care provider.

source:Disease-Carrying Insects

Vaccination Recommended For Aduls At High Risk For Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B

Frederick Health Department has increased its capacity to administer hepatitis B and combined hepatitis A and B vaccine to adults who are most at risk for exposure to the hepatitis B virus (HBV).

Funding for this project has been made possible through The Center for Immunization of the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH).

Darlene Armacost, Communicable Disease Program Manager states, "We are very pleased to extend this opportunity to the community and to raise awareness about hepatitis B. Hepatitis B vaccination is the most effective measure to prevent HBV infection and its consequences."

The hepatitis B vaccine is being offered for free until supplies are exhausted to adults who meet one of the high risk criteria described below. For those adults who do not qualify, hepatitis B vaccine will continue to be available on a fee for service basis. Those interested may call 301-600-3342 for more information and to schedule an appointment.

Those who are at high risk for hepatitis B include:

• Intravenous drug users who share needles

• Men who have sex with other men

• Anyone who has unprotected sex with a man or woman who has the hepatitis B virus

• People who live with a hepatitis B carrier

• Anyone who has multiple sex partners

• People who live or work in institutions for the developmentally disabled

• People who have hemophilia or who are on kidney dialysis

• People born in Asia, the Caribbean, South America, Africa, the Pacific Islands and their children, as well as Alaskan natives With the successful integration of hepatitis B vaccine into the childhood immunization schedule and the subsequent decline in acute hepatitis B in children, the incidence of acute hepatitis B is now highest among adults. In 2005, adults accounted for approximately 95% of an estimated 51,000 new HBV infections in the United States. HBV transmission occurs primarily among unvaccinated adults, with sexual and drug-related behavioral risk factors accounting for approximately 80% of new cases. However, vaccination coverage among adults with behavioral risks for HBV remains low.

According to the Hepatitis C Support Project, about one in twenty Americans have been infected with HBV and among those infected, approximately one in four may experience serious liver damage. Hepatitis B is found in the blood and body fluids of infected people.

The virus can be spread during sex, by sharing needles, by getting stuck with a hepatitis B contaminated needle, or by getting blood or other infected body fluids in the mouth or eyes, or onto broken skin. The virus can also be passed from mother to baby, usually at the time of birth. The virus is not spread by shaking hands, hugging, or sharing food or drink.

source:www.emaxhealth.com

FDA Approves Orphan Drug For Treatment Of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Letairis (ambrisentan) for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension, a rare, life-threatening condition characterized by continuous high blood pressure within the arteries of the lungs.

"Letairis represents a valuable addition to the treatment alternatives for this orphan disease," said John Jenkins, M.D., director of FDA's Office of New Drugs. "Letairis is similar to an existing drug, but offers the potential for fewer drug interactions."

In pulmonary arterial hypertension, the small arteries in the lungs become narrowed or blocked, and the heart must work harder to pump the blood through them. Over time, the overworked heart muscle may become weak and lose its ability to pump enough blood through the lungs. Symptoms include shortness of breath, fatigue, chest pain, dizzy spells and fainting. About 100,000 people in the United States have pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Letairis, a new drug not previously approved in the United States, was granted a priority review by FDA. A priority review designation is intended for those products that address unmet medical needs. For priority drug applications, FDA sets a target date of six months after the date of receipt for the agency to complete all aspects of a review and to take action.

The safety and effectiveness of Letairis were demonstrated in two international clinical trials involving 393 patients. Letairis significantly improved physical activity capacity compared with a placebo, as shown by a six-minute walk, a standard test. Letairis also delayed the worsening of the pulmonary hypertension.

The most common side effects in patients using Letairis included swelling of legs and ankles, nasal congestion, sinusitis, and getting red in the face (flushing).

Letairis should not be used by women who are pregnant or may become pregnant because the drug may cause birth defects. Patients taking Letairis must have monthly blood tests to check for potential liver injury.

Letairis will be available in five-milligram and 10-milligram once-daily tablets.

Letairis was granted orphan drug status by FDA because it treats a rare disease and meets other criteria. Orphan designation qualifies the drug's sponsor for a tax credit and marketing incentives.

source:www.emaxhealth.com

Thursday, July 5, 2007

Illinois Health Director Warns Of Salmonella Contamination When Handling Birds

Illinois public health director is warning the public about handling birds, such as baby chicks and ducks, and the risk of disease.

Two Illinois Salmonella ser. Montevideo cases from separate households in Madison County match a multi-state outbreak pattern linked to contact with birds (ducklings and chicks). Both cases have reported contact with birds purchased from the same local chain feed store and both have onset of illness in May 2007. It is not yet known how many locations across Illinois have received infected birds so anyone purchasing animals needs to be cautious.

"A person can contract salmonellosis through contact with animals, such as handling birds, cleaning cages, feeding and touching them," said Dr. Whitaker. "You should always wash your hands with soap and water after any type of contact with animals."

Salmonella bacteria can be found in the feces of animals, including birds. Animals can become infected and can then infect humans in contact with the animal's fecal material. The animal may show no signs of illness.

Symptoms of salmonellosis in people can last several days to a week and include diarrhea and fever. Symptoms usually appear six to 72 hours after exposure to the organism.

If persons have symptoms of diarrhea and fever following contact with baby chicks or ducklings they should seek attention from a health care provider and call their local health department.(3)

Champaign County Residents To Become More Educated About Effects Of Tuberculosis

Prevent Bite Of Disease-Carrying Insects

Vaccination Recommended For Aduls At High Risk For Hepatitis B Virus

FDA Approves Orphan Drug For Treatment Of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Environment Has Potential To Prevent Disease

A new WHO report points to real potential for disease prevention through action on the environment.

Country profiles of the environmental burden of disease presents the latest evidence on environmental threats to health. Based on this study, the first ever country-by-country data for all WHO Member States, including the 53 countries in the WHO European Region, will be presented to representatives from ministries of health and the environment as they gather in Vienna, Austria, on 13–15 June 2007.

The new assessment identifies the disease burden that is preventable by improvements to selected environmental causes (such as air pollution, occupational factors, ultraviolet radiation and the built environment) of many of the diseases, including diarrhoea, respiratory infections, vectorborne diseases, cancers, neurodevelopmental disorders, cardiovascular diseases, asthma and injuries, that lead to disability and death. The report indicates that well-tested environmental health interventions could reduce total deaths in the countries of the WHO European Region by almost 20%.

The report ranks countries by the size of the portion of death and disability due to the environment. (See link to table above.) The range of disability-adjusted years of life lost (DALYs) varies up to fourfold across the WHO European Region. The lowest levels of risk are found in northern and western European countries, while high risk levels are reported for some countries of eastern Europe. This may be due to a combination of traditional (such as water) and modern (such as air pollution and chemicals) environmental risk factors.

"The significant variations in the burden of disease between countries point to the potential preventable nature of many of these threats and offer us hope and a challenge for the future", says Dr Marc Danzon, WHO Regional Director for Europe. "The meeting in Vienna is an important step in taking on this challenge. It confirms how important action by health systems, in partnership with the environmental and other sectors, is for the health of all of Europe's people, but mainly the younger generation."

The disease burden attributable to the environment falls especially heavily on children. As one of the most vulnerable parts of our society, children are particularly sensitive to environmental threats. The proportion of deaths from environmental exposure increases to 34% in children and adolescents under 19 years of age. This is why children and their future is the theme for environment and health action in Europe

For the first time, in Vienna, countries have chosen to analyse their experiences and share the lessons learned in the last three years in the area of health and environment. During the meeting, environmental health experts will check on the progress countries have made towards fulfilling their pledges on safe water, injuries and physical activity, as well as ensuring clean air and chemical-free environments for their children.

Reported measures countries have taken, which will be discussed in Vienna, range from ensuring that all child-care institutions and schools are provided with adequate safe water and basic sanitation (Romania); reducing car traffic around schools and motivating students to walk and cycle to school (Austria); and establishing pollen filters in homes, kindergartens and schools for children with asthma and allergies (Denmark); to improving the control and surveillance of the production and use of children's toys and games (Russian Federation).

A satellite forum, led by nongovernmental organizations, will be organized to share innovative and concrete activities that have made a difference in improving children's environmental health across the European Region. Best practice awards for outstanding action in children's environment and health will be announced. A parallel youth conference will involve young delegates from the 53 European countries. They will present their ideas to the official delegates and propose ways of sustaining youth participation in the decision-making processes related to children's health and environment.

The WHO Regional Office for Europe is organizing the meeting in collaboration with the host country, Austria, while the European Environment and Health Committee – a coalition of governments, the European Commission, intergovernmental organizations and nongovernmental organizations – served as the steering committee.

source:www.emaxhealth.com

New European Heart Health Charter Launched

Heart Health Charter

WHO and European Union join with the European Heart Network and European Society of Cardiology in launching the European Heart Health Charter.

The ceremony takes place at the European Parliament in Brussels. The Charter will be signed on behalf of 14 European professional and public health organizations that have joined in this collective effort to combat Europe's biggest killer.

The event takes place in the presence of representatives of Member States and of national cardiac societies and heart foundations. Similar events are taking place across Europe today and in the coming months to bring together the key players for promoting heart health within countries.

The aim of the European Heart Health Charter is to substantially reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease in the European Union and the WHO European Region and to reduce inequities and inequalities in disease burden within and between countries. The Charter highlights the importance of governmental action, in partnership with nongovernmental and public health organizations, to create supportive policies and environments that help people adopt healthy types of behaviour. An estimated 80% of heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes could be avoided if major risk factors were eliminated, but concerted action is needed to reduce the numbers of smokers and reverse obesity trends in countries, as well as to implement best practice in cardiovascular care.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is responsible for over half (52%) of deaths in the WHO European Region and almost a quarter (23%) of its disease burden (measured in DALYs). Heart disease and stroke are leading causes of death in all WHO European Member States, but there are widening gaps between the eastern and western parts of the Region. While CVD mortality rates have been falling in western Europe in recent decades, a rise can be seen in the more easterly parts of the Region, with an almost ten-fold difference in premature CVD mortality (deaths in people under 65 years of age) emerging between countries. CVD mortality is a major contributor to the almost 20-year difference in healthy life expectancy between the countries of the WHO European Region.

Where countries have achieved significant reductions in coronary heart disease mortality in recent decades, this can be largely explained by a decline in the major risk factors such as mean cholesterol levels, smoking prevalence and blood pressure levels. Public health policies aimed to curb the use of tobacco, promote healthy diets and increase physical activity can have a significant impact on cardiovascular health. In conjunction with this initiative on cardiovascular health, the WHO Regional Office for Europe has been advocating strong measures to control tobacco and to counteract the challenge of obesity.

source:www.emaxhealth.com

WHO Regulations To Prevent Spread Of Infectious Diseases

Infectious Diseases

Under IHR all Member States are expected to report to WHO within 24 hours of assessment any novel infectious disease or event of public health emergency of international concerns.

International Health Regulations IHR come into force, within the two years target set by the 58th World Health Assembly that met in Geneva in May 2005. These regulations are relevant to keep pace with the changing health scenario of global health security. They are a contemporary, updated version of the International Health Regulations (IHR1969) which will afford maximum security against the international spread of diseases and public health events while ensuring minimum interference with international travel and trade.

"The new IHR heralds an era of sharing information in real time among Member States. Thus, the global community will be alerted in a timely manner to mount a coordinated and effective response” said Dr Samlee Plianbangchang, Regional Director, WHO South-East Asia Region.

To comply with the timely notification provision, Member States have pledged specific obligations ranging from the nomination of a national IHR focal point who can liaise on all matters pertaining to IHR with the respective sectors of the national government and respond to the WHO's process of notification and verification. Under IHR 2005, Member States must respond to WHO's request for verification of information, irrespective of source or origins. "The initiative is welcome in view of the rapidly evolving situation relating to emerging infectious diseases such as SARS and avian influenza which continue to challenge public health and international health security", said Dr Jai Narain, Director, Department of Communicable Diseases, WHO South-East Asia Region.

Member States are required to immediately assess the core capabilities at all three levels of their health system. The relevant parts of the health system must be subsequently strengthened so they can detect, diagnose, notify and take appropriate control and prevention measures. In addition, they are expected to initiate the designation of airports, sea ports and ground crossings where diseases can enter or leave the country.

Under the new IHR, Member States are assured of a transparent method of assessing the risk posed by any novel agents or events of global consequence, thus minimizing the risk of excessive restriction on trade and travel for any Member State. Any dispute may eventually be resolved by the WHO Secretariat, if it cannot be settled by negotiation, mediation, conciliation and arbitration between the concerned parties.

IHR 2005 stems directly from IHR 1969 which was revised through a consultative process with Member States and WHO. The previous version of IHR had a narrow focus on limited diseases but was found to be inadequate to protect global health security during outbreaks of infectious disease like SARS and nuclear disasters like the one in Chernobyl.

The new IHR, which provides an opportunity for strengthening the national health system and human resources, also carries obligations to be fulfilled by Member States. Overall, it will ensure global health security by a collective response to local problems.

source:www.emaxhealth.com

WHO Regulations To Prevent Spread Of Infectious Diseases

Fever after smallpox vaccination tied to individual genetic variations

St. Louis researchers have identified common DNA variations that underlie susceptibility to fever after smallpox vaccination. Their finding is the first to link individual differences written into the genetic code with a vaccine-related complication – albeit a mild one.

Most of the eight genetic alterations the scientists identified increased the likelihood of fever after smallpox vaccination. A few, however, reduced fever risk. The research, led by scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, will be published in the July 15 issue of The Journal of Infectious Diseases and is now available online.

The study's results raise the possibility the same genetic variations linked to fever following smallpox vaccination may also influence fever risk after other live-virus vaccines, including the one for measles, mumps and rubella. This so-called MMR vaccine is routinely administered to small children, and fever is a bothersome and common side effect.

Eventually, the authors say, it may be possible to develop a test that predicts which patients are at risk for vaccine-related fevers. Such a test also may help doctors anticipate and prevent more serious complications linked to the vaccines.

"Vaccines are extraordinarily safe and effective, but that doesn't mean we can't try to make them even more acceptable by discovering ways to further reduce the chance of adverse events, including minor ones like fever," says the study's lead author, Samuel Stanley Jr., M.D., vice chancellor of research at Washington University and a professor of medicine and microbiology. The research was funded by the National Institutes of Health through a grant to the Midwest Regional Center of Excellence for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases Research (MRCE), which Stanley directs.

Routine smallpox vaccinations in the United States were halted in 1972, when the disease was considered eradicated in this country, but the U.S. military and other high-risk groups, including some healthcare workers, continue to get the vaccine. It is made with a live but weakened vaccinia virus that provides immunity against smallpox but which can cause complications ranging from fever and fatigue to more serious illness. About 15 percent of those being vaccinated for smallpox for the first time develop a fever over 99 degrees.

Fevers related to vaccines are not considered a serious medical issue, but in rare cases they can lead to more severe complications. Individuals who get a fever after the smallpox vaccine occasionally develop myopericarditis, a potentially life-threatening inflammation of the heart muscle or sac surrounding the heart. And a small percentage of children who get fevers after the MMR vaccine will develop seizures.

"We don't know whether the same genetic variations we identified in our study are also linked to more serious vaccine complications, but our study raises that possibility," Stanley says. "I think this study will point us in that direction in terms of looking for genetic alterations that predict more serious complications."

The Washington University scientists, working in collaboration with MRCE colleagues Robert Belshe, M.D., and Sharon Frey, M.D., at St. Louis University, studied the occurrence of fever in 346 individuals who had participated in previous smallpox vaccination clinical trials evaluating Dryvax®, the vaccine given to U.S. military personnel. About 95 percent of study participants were white.

Records showed that 94 developed fever after vaccination – 61 who received the vaccine for the first time and 33 who had been vaccinated before. The 252 individuals who did not develop fevers after vaccination served as the control group.

Using blood samples donated by study participants, the scientists analyzed SNPs, sites of common genetic variation, in 19 genes linked to immune response, viral replication or inflammation. They found eight alterations associated with fever in four of the genes.

Not surprisingly, those who received the vaccine for the first time were more likely to develop fever, but Stanley says, "We were able to identify specific genetic alterations that contribute to fever even in people who had already received the vaccine before."

The research team found that variations in the IL-1 gene complex on chromosome 2 were most closely linked to an increased risk of fever. This complex of genes produces a molecule that stimulates fever and is involved in inflammation. Additionally, several variations in the IL-18 gene on chromosome 11 increased fever risk, while one decreased the likelihood of fever. That gene is involved in revving up the immune system. One variation in IL-4, a gene that dampens down the inflammatory response, also reduced fever risk.

Interestingly, studies in mice have shown that immune system molecules produced by the IL-1 and IL-18 genes are linked to tissue damage in viral myocarditis, raising the question of whether a more severe complication of smallpox vaccination might be associated with variations in these genes. Although none of the study participants developed this rare complication, it has been documented in 59 of the more than 492,000 military personnel who were vaccinated between December 2002 and September 2003.

Stanley hopes further studies will delineate whether genetic alterations linked to fever also play a role in more serious vaccine complications. About 12 percent of children who receive the MMR vaccine develop fevers over 103 degrees, and about 4 percent of them go on to develop seizures in the weeks that follow vaccination.

"There might be a real benefit if we could use this kind of screening to identify children who may be more susceptible to febrile seizures after MMR," Stanley says. "If we can find ways to identify people at risk and medicate them to reduce the possibility of fever, we might be able to reduce the incidence of seizures."

source:www.emaxhealth.com

Scientists Aim To Protect Public From 'Silent Killers'

Researchers are combining basic science with hospital-based infection control efforts to develop electronic methods of monitoring diseases contracted by patients and applying those findings to more targeted infection prevention.

Bringing the two branches of science together is just one effort of the recently established Center for Microbial Interface Biology, a multidisciplinary program dedicated to understanding how infectious agents and human bodies interact – with the goal of preventing the most damaging interactions from occurring in the first place.

With 24-hour news cycles and Weblogs sharing news nonstop about the potential for humans to be harmed by antibiotic-resistant infections (including XDR tuberculosis) and even pet food additives, the center's more than 50 members are focused on keeping up with those dangers. They're conducting research that emphasizes protecting the public from a range of airborne and food-borne illnesses, biological weapons and even everyday viral infections.

"We host a number of cutting-edge programs related to protecting the public from the silent killers that cause infection," said Dr. Larry Schlesinger, director of the division of infectious diseases at Ohio State's Medical Center and director of the new center. "There are research programs in tuberculosis, typhoid fever, viral infections, a variety of upper and lower airway infections, parasitic infection, staph and strep infections, and many others. We're performing science that is leading the way to new diagnostic tests, new therapies and new vaccines."

The hospital-based infection control effort is just one example of how the center's existence will foster partnerships between basic science researchers and clinical epidemiology, said Dr. Kurt Stevenson, associate medical director of clinical epidemiology at Ohio State's Medical Center. Stevenson will speak on the Ohio State campus Saturday (6/15) about a current effort to use electronic health data to enhance hospital infection surveillance systems, and to describe how bench science about infectious agents can contribute to clinical settings.

"One of our efforts is to translate basic science research on infectious agents into direct applications in the clinical setting," Stevenson said.

His presentation will be part of the center's first research retreat, featuring a number of presentations and posters demonstrating the range of expertise at the center. Faculty and research scientists will present on issues ranging from susceptibility to inhalation anthrax to gene therapy for cystic fibrosis.

Center researchers currently emphasize respiratory infections; highly adapted human microorganisms that exploit their hosts to aid in their reproduction; and specific types of chronic inflammation. These areas connect closely to the clinical mission of the university's medical center – especially those patients whose immune systems are compromised – and relate to many of the targeted infectious disease agents of bioterrorism, Schlesinger said.

sourcE:www.emaxhealth.com

Fat fish put obesity on the hook

Research published in the FASEB Journal should facilitate new obesity treatments

Everyone knows that eating lean fish helps slim waistlines, but researchers from the Center for the Study of Weight Regulation and Associated Disorders at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, OR, have found a new way fish can help eliminate obesity. In a study to be published in the July 2007 print issue of The FASEB Journal, researchers describe the first genetic model of obesity in a fish. Having this model should greatly accelerate the development of new drugs to help people lose weight and keep it off.

According to corresponding author Roger Cone, "Being able to model human disorders like obesity in zebrafish allows scientists to understand the molecular basis of disease. This may ultimately increase the efficiency and power of the drug discovery process, thus bringing new medicines to the market faster and cheaper."

In the study, researchers caused obesity in zebrafish by introducing the same type of genetic mutation that causes severe obesity in humans. The genetic change blocks the activity of a receptor, the melanocortin-4 receptor, which is at the heart of a "device" in our brains called the "adipostat." The adipostat regulates body weight homeostatically, like the thermostat in a house, and works to keep long-term energy stores—a.k.a. body fat—constant. The adipostat is what makes it difficult for people to lose weight and keep it off.

"Americans - even children - are getting fat at an alarming rate," said Gerald Weissmann, MD, Editor-in-Chief of The FASEB Journal, "and with this model, we are a step closer to temporarily turning off or diminishing the fat-storing mechanisms that were once crucial to the survival of our species. The zebrafish has become a model animal for the study of many diseases because it has a backbone and because its genetics have been well described. This is one more example of how basic experimental biology – zoology physiology and genetics in this case – can be brought to bear on human problems."

According the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the prevalence of overweight and obesity have risen steadily over the past 30 years. Among adults aged 20–74 years the prevalence of obesity increased from 15.0% (1976–1980) to 32.9% (2003–2004). For children aged 2–5 years, the prevalence of overweight increased from 5.0% to 13.9%; for those aged 6–11 years, prevalence increased from 6.5% to 18.8%; and for those aged 12–19 years, prevalence increased from 5.0% to 17.4%. Being overweight or obese increases the risk of many diseases and health conditions, including, but not limited to: hypertension, dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea and respiratory problems, and some types of cancer.

source:www.emaxhealth.com

Bariatric surgery appears to be safe for carefully selected older, Medicare patients

Complications after bariatric surgery appear similar between patients younger and older than age 60 and also between Medicare recipients and non-recipients, according to a study in the June issue of Archives of Surgery, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

"Obesity has become the leading cause of preventable death in the United States," according to background information in the article. "Rates of obesity have continued to climb in the last decade across all age groups. Surgery for morbid obesity is currently the most effective treatment." The success of bariatric surgery has expanded the treatment of morbid (severe) obesity and its conditions for patient populations that had not previously been served. Medicare has recently begun covering bariatric surgery although significant death rates have been reported in Medicare patients undergoing surgery.

Peter T. Hallowell, M.D., and colleagues of University Hospitals Case Medical Center and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, reviewed the cases of 892 patients who had gastric bypass surgery from 1998 to 2006. The patients were divided into four groups. Group one, 46 patients age 60 to 66 years was compared with group two, 846 patients age 18 to 59 years. Group three, 31 Medicare recipients (age 31 to 66), was compared with group four, 861 non-Medicare recipients (age 18 to 64). The age, sex and body mass index of each patient were documented as well as time spent in the operating room, length of stay, other illnesses and complications (including death).

When comparing older and younger patients, male-female ratios and BMIs were similar and length of stay was a half-day longer for group one. The older group spent an average of 17 minutes less in the operating room than the younger group. There was no statistically significant difference found between the two groups for any postoperative complication or death. "No mortality was seen in the older group (group one) at 30 days, 90 days or one year. Three deaths occurred within 30 days in the younger group (group two) with one additional death within one year," the authors note.

When comparing Medicare and non-Medicare patients, group three (Medicare patients) had a greater average BMI of 56 and spent an average of 14 minutes longer in the operating room. Medicare patients also spent an average of a day-and-a-half longer in the hospital. There was no significant difference between the two groups for any complication or death after surgery. No Medicare patients died at 30 days, 90 days or one year. Three non-Medicare patients died within 30 days and one additional patient died within one year.

"Bariatric surgery can be performed in carefully selected Medicare recipients and patients 60 years or older with acceptable morbidity and mortality," the authors conclude. "We believe that these results reflect careful patient selection, intensive preoperative education and expert operative and perioperative management. Our results indicate that bariatric surgery should not be denied solely based on age or Medicare status."

source:www.emaxhealth.com

Researcher Determines Link Between Foie Gras And Disease

A research team that discovered a link between foie gras prepared from goose or duck liver and the type of amyloid found in rheumatoid arthritis or tuberculosis.

Their experimental data, appearing in this week's edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, has provided the first evidence that a food product can hasten amyloid development.

Amyloidosis is a disease process involving the deposit of normal or mutated proteins that have become misfolded. In this unstable state, such proteins form hair-like fibers, or fibrils, that are deposited into vital organs like the heart, kidneys, liver, pancreas and brain. This process leads to organ failure and, eventually, death. There are many types of amyloid- related diseases in addition to rheumatoid arthritis, such as Alzheimer's disease, adult-onset (type-2) diabetes and an illness related to multiple myeloma called primary or AL amyloidosis, an illness that has been a particular focus of study in the Solomon laboratory.

Foie gras is a culinary delicacy derived from massively enlarged fatty livers of ducks and geese. It is produced by gorging the fowl over several weeks. Solomon and his research team analyzed commercially sold foie gras from the U.S. and France and found that it contained a type of amyloid called AA. Amyloid deposits are commonly found in waterfowl, but this condition is noticeably increased in force-fed birds. In their study, mice prone to develop AA amyloidosis were injected or fed amyloid extracted fromfoie gras. Within eight weeks, a majority of the animals developed extensive amyloid deposits in the liver, spleen, intestine and other organs.

Based on the findings of the study, Solomon and his team concluded that this and perhaps other forms of amyloidosis might be transmissible, like "mad cow" and other related diseases. Until now, no other infectious sources of food products have been found.

"It is not known if there is an increase of Alzheimer's disease, diabetes or other amyloid-related disease in people who have eaten foie gras," cautioned Solomon. "Our study looked at the existence of amyloid fibrils in foie gras and showed that it could accelerate the development of AA amyloidosis in susceptible mice. Perhaps people with a family history of Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis or other amyloid-associated diseases should avoid consuming foie gras and other foods that may be contaminated with fibrils." Other investigators have reported that meat derived from sheep and seemingly healthy cattle may represent other dietary sources of this material, he said.

People develop diseases for many reasons. "Eating foie gras probably won't cause a disease in someone who isn't genetically predisposed to it," Solomon explained. "More critical is determining what causes these diseases in the first place and, most important, developing new means of diagnosis and treatment designed to rid the body of harmful amyloid deposits or preventing them from occurring or progressing. Indeed, this is the very focus of the work of my team at the University of Tennessee, and we are all deeply committed to achieving this goal. I am hopeful that our research efforts and those of other scientists throughout the world will help those afflicted with these diseases, which exert such a devastating toll on patients and family members alike."

The research study was funded through research grants from the National Institutes of Health, Aslan Foundation, Swedish Research Council and Torsten and Ragnar Soderberg's Foundations.

source:www.emaxhealth.com

Albertans Advised To Take Precautions Against Lyme Disease

Lyme Disease

With the recent identification of ticks carrying Lyme disease in the Edmonton area, Albertans advised that there is a possibility the ticks that carry Lyme disease are now established in Alberta and to take precautions to avoid tick bites.

Previous surveillance has not provided evidence in Alberta of the particular species of tick (Ixodes pacificus) known to carry Lyme disease. Recently, 10 specimens collected from dogs by veterinarians have been identified as I. pacificus, and two of those were infected with the bacterium which causes Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi). No human cases have been identified in Alberta in 2007.

Lyme disease can be treated effectively with antibiotics. A full recovery is more likely when treatment begins in the early stages of the disease. Undiagnosed Lyme disease may develop into chronic illness that can be difficult to treat.

The first sign of infection is often a circular rash. This rash occurs in about 70-80 per cent of infected people and begins at the site of the tick bite after a delay of three days to one month. Additional symptoms may include fatigue, chills, fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, and swollen lymph nodes. If untreated, the disease progresses into more serious symptoms which can last several months - including migraines, weakness, multiple skin rashes, painful or stiff joints, abnormal heartbeat and extreme fatigue. If the disease continues to progress, symptoms such as chronic arthritis and neurological symptoms, including headaches, dizziness, numbness, and paralysis can result. Lyme disease is rarely fatal. However, if contracted during pregnancy, Lyme disease can pose serious health risks to the baby, including stillbirth.

The greatest chance for people to become infected is when they walk through brush and tall grass in spring and summer when ticks are most active. Here are some precautions you can take:

* Don't walk bare-legged in tall grass, brush, or woods where ticks might be found;

* If you do go into such areas, cover up as much as possible. Wear light-coloured long-sleeved shirts, pants and a hat. The light colours will help you see whether there are any ticks on you. Tuck your shirt into your pants, and pull socks up over your pant legs. This will help keep ticks away from your bare skin;

* Wear shoes that cover your entire foot, rather than sandals or open shoes;

* Spray clothing and exposed skin with an insect repellent that contains DEET. Read and follow the manufacturer's directions for safe use.

* After finishing your outdoor activity, check your clothing and your entire body for any attached ticks. Some ticks are quite small - the size of a freckle; and,

* Check children and pets after they have been outside.

If you find a tick attached to your skin:

* Use tweezers to remove it. Grasp the tick's head and mouth parts as close to your skin as possible, and pull slowly until the tick is removed. Be careful not to twist, rotate or crush the tick during removal;

* After removing the tick, use soap and water to wash the spot where you were bitten. You may also disinfect the bite area with alcohol or antiseptic;

* Try to save the tick in an empty pill vial or a doubled zip-lock bag. If you develop any symptoms of Lyme disease, the tick can be sent to a laboratory for identification, and this may help diagnose your illness. It may also help public health workers identify areas of higher risk for Lyme disease;

* Seek the advice of a health professional right away if you develop a rash or any other symptoms of Lyme disease after being bitten by a tick.

There have been 19 cases of Lyme disease in Alberta since 1992, all with a history of travel to areas outside Alberta known to have the disease.

The Provincial Health Office will be working with Agriculture and Food and Sustainable Resource Development to determine whether the species of tick known to carry Lyme disease is now established in Alberta.

source:www.emaxhealth.com

New Drug Resistance Found In River Blindness

River Blindness

A 20-year effort to control the spread of onchocerciasis, or river blindness, in African communities is threatened by the development of drug resistance in the parasite that causes the disease.

"We've found the first evidence of resistance, where the adult parasites continue to reproduce and transmit the disease, and in some communities it seems to be getting worse," said Dr. Roger Prichard, James McGill Professor in the University's Institute of Parasitology, whose findings appear in the June 16 edition of The Lancet.

River blindness, which is the second-leading infectious cause of blindness worldwide after trachoma, is caused by the filarial nematode parasite, a worm transmitted by black fly bite. It leads to visual impairment, blindness, and, in some cases, pathological changes in the skin. Adult worms can survive as long as 10 to 15 years in a human host, releasing millions of tiny worms (microfilariae) each year. An estimated 37 million people are infected worldwide, primarily in Sub-Saharan Africa but also in parts of Central and South America and, to a lesser extent, the Middle East.

"This finding has important implications for this disease re-emerging and becoming a serious scourge," said Dr. Prichard, warning that health organizations need to begin closely monitoring for the spread of drug resistance and new drugs need to be developed.

Dr. Prichard and his colleagues studied 2,501 infected people from 20 communities in Ghana, West Africa. Of those communities, 19 had been receiving annual doses of ivermectin, the only widely available drug used to treat onchocerciasis.

Although ivermectin wiped out the microfilarial stage of the parasite in 99 per cent of those treated, four communities experienced significant repopulation and in two communities, the prevalence of the parasite had doubled between 2000 and 2005, the researchers found. Two McGill graduate students, Mike Y Osei-Atweneboana and Jeff K.L. Eng, conducted the bulk of the research in collaboration with research institutions and health authorities in Ghana.

source:www.emaxhealth.com

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