tenofovir – IH CONNECT

Global Health Weekly News Round-Up

February 19, 2012 by Vaani, posted in News

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/ ).

Global Health News Last Week

May 26, 2011August 13, 2015 by ihsection, posted in News

May 18 was HIV Vaccine Awareness Day.

POLITICS AND POLICY

Hundreds of Kenyan AIDS activists held a protest on 18 May in the capital, Nairobi to demand that the government meet its commitment to increase annual health and HIV funding.
In response to the mutual expulsion of diplomats, the UK’s DFID announced that it has frozen new aid to Malawi.
DDT has made a controversial re-appearance in Uganda.

PROGRAMS

A global health development partnership — Clinton Health Access initiative, UITAID and DFID — has secured price reductions on key AIDS drugs for HIV-positive patients in poorer countries.

RESEARCH

The World Health Organization has just launched a new web-based information resource tool that should be of interest to many in global health and development community, the Global Health Observatory.
According to the World Health Organization, the worldwide prevalence of obesity has more than doubled between 1980 and 2008.
New research has found that a variant in one gene can lead to a 30 percent lower risk of developing cerebral malaria.
A new study from Bangladesh concludes that most of the world’s pregnant women don’t need vitamin A supplements.
American scientists have tested a treatment regimen for tuberculosis which will reduce the amount of time it takes to complete the full treatment as compared to current plans.
A new report from the Guttmacher Institute finds that that 7 in 10 women in Sub Saharan Africa, south central Asia and south east Asia who want to avoid pregnancy, but are not using modern methods give reasons for non-use which suggest available methods do not fulfill their needs.
Average life expectancy across much of the world — except Iraq and South Africa — is steadily climbing and infant deaths dropped across the world during the first decade of the 21st century, according to figures released by the World Health Organization.
The Clinton Health Access Initiative and Gates Foundation have teamed up to support research into developing a cheaper version of the drug Tenofovir.

DISEASES AND DISASTERS

China has reduced its AIDS mortality by two-thirds since it began distributing free antiretroviral drugs in 2002; however, the improvements were seen largely in patients who acquired HIV through blood transfusion, rather than through sex or drug use. On a darker note, Chinese authorities ordered an AIDS activists’ web site shut down after it had published an open letter from a retired senior official concerning news restrictions placed on a 20th-century public health scandal.
Dr. Orin Levine looks at a disturbing global trend: Infectious killers that had been beaten back by aggressive immunization efforts are making a comeback in places long thought to be safe havens.

WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY

The assembly voted to postpone the decision to destroy official stockpiles of the the smallpox virus for another three years.
The WHO announced extensive reforms to “reinvent itself” as a health knowledge hub. Also, it apparently angered Taiwan by referring to it as a province of China.
Sixteen countries announced new commitments to dramatically reduce maternal, newborn and child mortality, as part of the Global Strategy for Women’s and Children’s Health.
OneWorldUK’s Chelsea Ricker asks, Where are the women in women’s and children’s health?
A number of civil society and non-profit organizations voiced their opinions during the Assembly, claiming that the World Health Organization is overly influenced by commercial and corporate interests.
WaterAid urged leaders at the Assembly to support the countries affected by dracunculiasis, caused by guinea worm, to improve access to safe drinking water and reach their most vulnerable populations to ensure the disease is eradicated.
Bill Gates addressed World Health Assembly where he called for global leaders to increase support for vaccinations.
The world is not ready to deal with a lengthy public health emergency, according to a panel of international experts, which based its conclusions on the 2009 H1N1, or swine flu, outbreak.

The IH Blog was featured in the “Buzzing in the Blogs” section of the Healthy Dose this week! Thanks to Tom Murphy for reading and tweeting us!

Global Health News Last Week (plus interest in a new working group!)

March 9, 2011August 13, 2015 by ihsection, posted in News

Attention IH Section Members: Dr. Kaja Abbas, MPH student at the University of Rochester, is gauging interest in forming a working group focused on using system science to improve global health, similar to the intitiaves being promoted by NIH. Her interests are in conducting system science research on global health policy by modeling population and disease dynamics and economic evaluation of public health interventions and systems, with a focus on HIV and TB. Dr. Malcolm Bryant, our section chair, has encouraged the expansion of our section’s activities in areas of technical expertise, and Dr. Abbas is enthusiastic about a working group within the section that promotes system science methodologies for global health solutions. She welcomes your thoughts and suggestions at kaja [dot] abbas [at] gmail [dot] com.

Global Health Delivery online’s HIV prevention community is hosting a “virtual expert panel” March 7-11 to continue the dialogue around PrEP as a novel approach to prevention. Panelists from Uganda, South Africa and the United States will lead the online discussion, highlighting various barriers and opportunities to implementing PrEP in clinical settings; how to encourage long-term adherence; and what additional research questions need to be answered. Panelists include (1) Douglas Krakower, MD, a fellow in Infectious Diseases at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/Harvard Medical School, (2)Andrew Mujugira, MBChB, MSc, the East Africa regional medical director for the Partners PrEP study, and (3) Vivek Naranbhai, PhD, who was involved in CAPRISA microbicide gel study. All GHDonline members can participate in this online discussion. You can sign up here if you are not currently a member.

POLICY

Paramount Chief Mpezeni of the Ngoni people in the Eastern Province of Zambia has urged his subjects to get circumcised in order to reduce the chances of spreading HIV/AIDS and other communicable diseases in his land.
Britain is threatening to pull out of the Food and Agriculture Organization due to “patchy” performance.
Due to uncertainty in past estimates, the Indian government has formed a 16-member expert group to determine the annual death rate caused by malaria in the country each year.
The breakdown of the air conditioning in the plenary hall of the Philippines’ House of Representatives stalled the heated debate of a controversial reproductive health bill. The bill is vehemently opposed by the Catholic Church and pro-life groups and has caused a stir in the largely Catholic country.
A massive demonstration rally was held in New Delhi to protest a free trade agreement between India and Europe, which many fear may threaten the production of low-cost generic drugs, particularly HIV medicines.

RESEARCH

US researchers believe that half of men in the general population may be infected with human papillomavirus or HPV, the human wart virus that causes cervical and other cancers, strengthening the case for vaccinating boys against HPV.
A recent study published in the WHO bulletin argues for the need to implement gender-specific tobacco control activites to curb the growing tobacco epidemic.
The World Economic Forum in Geneva, Switzerland, announced the launch of the Global Health Data Charter, a project designed to improve global health by leveraging the collection and management of data.
A new study by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation found that the poorest in Thailand have significantly more difficulty accessing diabetes care than the general population.
A research trial found that a microbicide gel with the ARV tenofovir, initially designed for vaginal use, may also be effective in stopping HIV transmission during anal sex.
A report released by UNICEF, “The State of the World’s Children 2011,” highlighted India’s poor child and maternal health conditions.

PROGRAMS

Dr. Bruce Aylward, head of the WHO’s Global Polio Eradication Initiative, discusses why it is so difficult to eradicate polio. Meanwhile, former US President Jimmy Carter is leading his own campaign to make guinea worm the second disease (after smallpox) to be eradicated.
Amanda Glassman writes about Bangladesh’s success story in drastically lowering its maternal mortality rate.
The International HIV/AIDS Alliance is expanding its project (which is funded by the UK’s Department for International Development) to reduce HIV-related maternal mortality in South Sudan.
Prompted by Burma’s (Myanmar’s) transition to “civilian rule” after last November’s elections, the Global Fund has returned and is providing grants for HIV/AIDS, malaria, and TB programs.

DISEASES

The WHO has declared Nepal polio-free after no infections were reported during a six-month period, while a new outbreak is spiking in the DRC.
The massive flow of refugees fleeing violence in Libya has created a humanitarian crisis, as organizations struggle to provide for the basic needs of nearly 175,000 people who have crossed the border into Tunisia, Egypt, and Niger.
After losing 4,500 lives to the cholera epidemic that raged through Haiti after the January 2009 earthquake, doctors in Port-au-Prince say they are bringing the disease under control. Unfortunately, health experts fear that the rainy season will cause a fresh outbreak in Nigeria.

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