Scientists have discovered the basis for a noninvasive test to diagnose common infections in pregnant women that are a major cause of premature births and infant deaths. The University of Washington?s Michael G. Gravett and colleagues are reporting identification of protein biomarkers for these hard-to-diagnose infections of the amniotic fluid, which surrounds the fetus prior to birth.
An effective response of the immune system’s “killer” T cells against infection with HIV may depend on exactly which viral protein is targeted, according to an international group of researchers. A new study finds that HIV-infected individuals in whom virus-specific CD8 T cells are targeted against the Gag protein have lower viral levels than do those with CD8 responses directed against other viral proteins.
When it comes to an immune response against HIV, research funded by the Wellcome Trust in the UK and the National Institutes of Health in the US has found that bigger is not necessarily better, contrary to conventional medical wisdom. The research may have a profound impact on the development of a vaccine against the disease.
The joint project by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) and Office for National Statistics (ONS) to further understanding of mortality following MRSA infection, has reported on the progress made in establishing robust methods for both the linkage and investigation of deaths in its first year [1]. The two year project commenced in August 2005 with funding from the Department of Health [2].
Eight cases of Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) positive community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA) have been identified among individuals in a hospital and their close household contacts in the West Midlands. Four individuals developed an infection, two of whom died.
Between 1 January and 31 October 2006, 106 cases with evidence of chikungunya infection, have been reported by the HPA Special Pathogens Reference Unit (SPRU).
With six out of 10 Pittsburgh-area elementary school students testing positive for strep throat in previous studies and another strep season approaching, Children?s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC wants families to take steps to avoid the painful and potentially dangerous infection.
The number of people living with HIV in the Middle East and North Africa has risen to 460,000 and some 68,000 people were newly infected in 2006 alone. In a bid to curb the region?s growing epidemic, countries have been working with UNAIDS to secure additional funding to scale-up the AIDS response in the region.
The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS and its Cosponsors, WHO, UNFPA, UNICEF and the World Bank, note with considerable interest today?s announcement by the US National Institutes of Health that two trials assessing the impact of male circumcision on HIV risk are being stopped on the recommendation of the NIH Data Safety and Monitoring Board (DSMB).
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today approved Celebrex (celecoxib) for a new use ? the relief of the signs and symptoms of Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (JRA) in patients two years of age and older. Today’s approval follows the November 29 meeting of FDA’s Arthritis Advisory Committee, in which the committee voted 15 to 1 in favor of approval of this product.