10/14/2013 Weekly Health News: Malaria, HIV, C, Diff., Meningitis, MRSA, Cancer, Plague, Fox Hair

Like some fox hair with that? China digests latest food scandals

Stomach-churning cases range from ring selling cooking oil made from discarded animal parts to gang selling meat products from animal waste Continue Reading

Reusable Produce Containers Often Contaminated

Up to 64% of reusable plastic containers used to ship fruit and vegetables are unsanitary, according to research.Continue Reading

Microscopic 'Bacterial Zoos' Built out of Jelly

A "bacterial zoo" with microscopic cages built out of jelly has been constructed by US scientists. Their findings, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, could transform understanding of how bacteria behave in communities. Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/

Mutant Protein Blocks HIV Infection

Scientists from the University of Cambridge in the UK have discovered a mutant form of an immune protein is able to block infection and spread of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in immune cells. Their findings could lead to new ways to fight HIV by offering a new target for drug developers. Source: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/

Scientists Find New Treatment for Clostridium difficile

Transplanting fecal matter has been one of the best remedies at treating a tough bacterial infection known as Clostridium difficile (C. diff). Scientists are now saying they can give all the benefits of poop in a tiny pill. This new pill method is a less yucky way to do "fecal transplants." And, Canadian researchers tried this method on 27 patients and cured them all after strong antibiotics failed to help. Half a million Americans get C diff. infections each year, and about 14,000 die.Source: http://www.cbsnews.com/

How Meningitis Bacteria 'Slip Under the Radar'

Scientists have discovered a natural temperature sensor in one of the bacteria that cause meningitis and blood poisoning, which allows them to evade the body's immune response leading to life-threatening infections. The study, found that increasing the temperature causes the bacteria to make more capsule - a protective layer that surrounds the bacterium like an 'invisibility cloak', helping it to evade detection by the immune system.                                 Source: http://preview.medicalnewstoday.com/

Gloves, Gowns Could Lower Rate of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Requiring health care workers to wear gloves and gowns for all contact with intensive care unit patients reduces the risk of one type of antibiotic-resistant infection, but not another, a new study shows. Researchers focused on two main types of antibiotic-resistant infections that affect patients in hospitals and other healthcare facilities: methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE). These measures did not reduce rates of VRE infection, but did reduce rates of MRSA infection, Source: http://health.usnews.com/

Old Home Remedy May Be New Cancer Drug

An old home remedy called ipecac syrup, once stocked in medicine cabinets in case of accidental poisoning, is showing promise as a new chemotherapy drug for bladder cancer. Source: http://www.laboratoryequipment.com/

Athenahealth to Monitor Flu Activity During Government Shutdown

During the government shutdown, health IT vendor athenahealth plans to monitor flu activity and issue updates accordingly. Such activity normally is conducted by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), which had to furlough nearly 9,000 workers during the budget fight in Washington. CDC normally issues a weekly flu report, and the media help announce disease outbreaks and launch public awareness campaigns. Without those reports, detection of flu trends could be delayed. Source: http://www.fiercehealthit.com/

UK Firm Seeks to Market World's First Malaria Vaccine

British drug maker GlaxoSmithKline is seeking regulatory approval for the world's first malaria vaccine after trial data showed that it had cut the number of cases in African children. Experts say that they are optimistic about the possibility of the world's first vaccine after the trial results. The vaccine known as RTS,S was found to have almost halved the number of malaria cases in young children in the trial and to have reduced by about 25% the number of malaria cases in infants. Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/

10 Inexpensive, Proven Systems Could Slash Death Toll of Mothers and Children by 1.2 Million

Right now the annual global death toll of mothers and children under 5 is 6.9 million. Between 2016-2020, these innovations have the potential to save the lives of nearly 7.5 million women and children. The ten, identified by international experts from hundreds of candidates, are ready to be deployed where they are needed most by the end of 2015,                                                   Source: http://preview.medicalnewstoday.com/

 

New High-Tech Laboratory in Kazakhstan to Fight Plague Outbreaks

In a dusty suburb near Almaty, Kazakhstan, where the Soviet-era buildings still hint at a different time, a slice of high-tech modernity has arrived—in the form of a $102 million biosecurity laboratory. The Central Reference Laboratory (CRL) will open in 2015 and offer high-security lab space for scientists to study dangerous diseases and provide early warning of potential outbreaks. Source: http://news.nationalgeographic.com