Global Health Weekly News Round-Up

Politics and Policies

• The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has advised consumers not to purchase or use “Japan Weight Loss Blue”, for weight loss as it contains sibutramine which increases blood pressure and pulse in some patients. It may interact in life threatening ways with other medications (Source: http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/BuyingUsingMedicineSafely/MedicationHealthFraud/ucm292591.htm ).
• The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized that exposure to dioxins does not produce a significant health risk (Source: http://www.power-eng.com/articles/2012/02/epa-finalizes-dioxin-emissions-assessment.html ).
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officials plan to investigate whether inhalable caffeine sold in lipstick-sized canisters is safe for consumers and if its manufacturer was right to brand it as dietary supplement (Source: http://online.wsj.com/article/AP773d0f156fa74d008ded67c088784eb2.html ).
• India’s second free healthcare center for students inaugurated in the state of Tripura (Source: http://twocircles.net/2012feb19/tripura_gets_indias_second_free_healthcare_center_students.html )
• An international panel of health and flu experts assembled by the United Nations health agency have agreed for the full public press release of research showing how to create lethal mutant flu virus (Source: http://chronicle.com/article/UN-Panel-Pushes-for/130870/ ).
• Russia has blocked a U.S. plan designated to help stem the flow of drugs from Afghanistan through Central Asia in a sign of Moscow’s continued wariness about Washington’s intentions in a region often thought of as “Russia’s background” (Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/russia_reportedly_blocks_us_plan_central_asia_opium_drugs_narcotics_afghanistan/24488075.html ).

Programs

• In an effort to treat cancer patients throughout Africa and World on February 24^th, 2012, Nigeria will mark the launch of the first bone marrow registry (Source: http://ncdaction.org/profiles/blogs/nigeria-to-launch-its-first-bone-marrow-registry?xg_source=activity ).
• S.Korea to build $3.2 billion cancer center in Astana, Kazakhstan (Source: http://www.inform.kz/eng/article/2441204 ).

Research

• A study done by San Francisco VA Medical Center shows that tenofovir (anti HIV drug) used as a single pill combined with other drugs increases the risk of kidney infection in patients suffering from this deadly HIV infection (Source: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2012/02/18/MNAS1N8SHA.DTL ).
• An ongoing study by University of Montreal, on the HIV-resistant sex workers in Africa could pave the way for effective AIDS vaccine (Source: http://www.vancouversun.com/health/Study+resistant+workers+could+lead+better+AIDS+vaccine/6146767/story.html ).
• A new animal study suggests genetic mutation might make it easier to gain pounds on high-fat diets (Source; http://health.usnews.com/health-news/news/articles/2012/02/19/gene-might-boost-risk-for-obesity ). According to a study published in the Journal Nature, defects in a protein that functions as a dietary fat sensor may be a cause of obesity and liver disease (Source: http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-02-faulty-fat-sensor-implicated-obesity.html ).
•  Scientists at Kings College London and the National Diabetes Center (Sri Lanka) have found evidence of a high number of risk factors for type 2 diabetes among the young urban population of Sri Lanka. It has provided with evidence that the region is rapidly becoming a hotspot in the growing international diabetes epidemic (Source: http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-02-diabetes-factors-young-sri-lankans.html ).
• In a study, records of Medicare patients with prostate cancer show that those treated with a more precise form of radiation known as proton therapy had more bowel complications, than those who underwent the conventional technique (Source: http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Study-questions-prostate-cancer-therapy-3340528.php ).

Diseases and Disasters

• According to the report released by Save the Children Tanzania, Tackling Child Malnutrition, four out of ten children under the age of five years have stunted growth. About 17 % are severely stunted and nearly 130 children die in this country every day from malnutrition (Source: http://allafrica.com/stories/201202170198.html ).
• Bat disease expected this winter at most Western Pennsylvania sites (Source: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/pittsburgh/s_782368.html ).
• Poison alert on chemical (pesticide called Lasso) used in South America (Source: http://www.peherald.com/news/article/4878 ).
• Vietnam is grappling with a new strain of bird flu virus that has outsmarted vaccines that was used to protect poultry flocks. Recent human deaths in Asia and Egypt indicate that the H5N1 virus is still alive (Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/17/bird-flu-asia_n_1284038.html ).
• Rota virus outbreaks in North Malaysia have resulted in death of two children. About 3,000 children have been reported by the Health officials of Malaysia being ill due to this virus outbreak since late January (Source:  http://bikyamasr.com/57181/malaysia-battling-rotavirus-in-north-two-children-dead/ ).
• Brazilian Health Minister has warned that Rio de Janeiro could face the worst dengue epidemics in its history this year. He said the virus strain is prevalent but not fatal (Source: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gTVdQE35p6eaB5Z6PXVHhlA5HgLg?docId=CNG.8b32ad461489ab05113fc900b5f26049.9e1 ).
• Mystery epidemic devastates Central American region (Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46352358/ns/world_news-americas/t/mystery-epidemic-devastates-central-american-region/ ).