Infectious Diseases
Laryngeal Papilloma
February 8, 2012 | 
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The snuff and alcohol have traditionally been the main triggers of tumors of the oral cavity (mouth, pharynx and larynx). However, in recent years, another ‘villain’ has been gaining ground in this area. It is the human papilloma virus, a sexually transmitted pathogen whose role in cervical cancer is well known.
In America, this virus is now considered the main cause of a type of oral carcinoma and its prevalence is striking from the experts. Above all, it is particularly high among men.
This is demonstrated by the results of the last work done on the subject, which looked at 5,579 men and women aged between 14 and 69 years. According to his data, published in the latest issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association ‘, oral infections of the virus affecting 10.1% of men compared to 3.6% of women, giving a prevalence overall about 7%.
These data underscore the researchers in the medical journal, call for greater public attention to the health implications that has the advancement of this virus. Especially if one considers that 16 of the pathogenic subtype-undoubtedly the most aggressive and more often associated with subsequent development of cancer, was the most common virus affected the sample.
A sexually transmitted infection
To carry out their work, these scientists led by Maura L. Gillison, University of Ohio (USA), each participant underwent a personal interview about their habits and their socioeconomic profile, and a laboratory test to test for oral papillomavirus.
Apart from the prevalence of the pathogen, one of the details were clearer in the research is that sexual behavior was closely linked with the likelihood of infection. Thus, sexually active people who had had more partners over their lives who most likely had to introduce the virus. On the other hand, apart from the inner life, smoking is also demonstrated as an important risk Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Infectious Diseases, Medical News, Oncology | 
Tags: cancer, Laryngeal Papilloma, tumors, virus | 
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Leptospirosis Cases
At a meeting organized by the Ministry of Health of the Nation, national and provincial health officials discussed, together with experts in infectious diseases and zoonoses, the prevention and control measures against the cases in different provinces.
“We must strengthen the epidemiological surveillance of cases across the country and especially in the provinces where leptospirosis is endemic,” he said Horacio Echenique, director of epidemiology at the National Health portfolio, who stressed the importance of knowing the situation consensus of the disease and the prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
Leptospirosis is a disease caused by bacteria that live in water and moist soil. The spread of this microbe is produced primarily by contact with rodent urine, although the disease can be purchased through the urine of dogs, cows, pigs and horses and other animals. Symptoms of infection include fever, muscle aches and headaches. There may also be jaundice (yellow skin), difficulty breathing, bleeding or kidney failure.
People who are at greater risk of contracting the disease are those who live in flood zones, fishermen, construction workers, garbage collectors and rural workers.
“The cases of leptospirosis rise and fall cyclically in the country according to the pattern of rainfall, heat and flooding. Compared with 2007, when there was a case record this year is not observed a significant increase in leptospirosis, “said Bibiana Vanasco, who coordinates the network of laboratories across the country leptospirosis at the National Institute of Respiratory Diseases (INER) Santa Fe “However Vanasco-added in 2010 are being recorded more Read the rest of this entry »
Antiretroviral Vaccines
A group of Spanish and French experts, composed of some of the leading researchers in the field of HIV, has a therapeutic vaccine, which is not curative (not preventive), with which to appease the effects of the AIDS virus. The trial is in its early stages and their results, positive so far, are published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases’.
The research involved 24 people with HIV, until then, had not been treated. The experts drew a series of blood samples which, in addition to know the profile of each vaccine manufactured ‘custom’.
Thus, immunizations are created from dendritic cells (defensive cells) and dose of HIV-heated to 56 degrees to switch it off without destroying it-, obtained from the patients themselves and then cultured.
“The virus, weakened, is as dendritic cells, which are responsible for carrying pathogens to the immune system,” said Felipe Garcia, a researcher at the Hospital Clínic of Barcelona and lead author of the work.
Cells not infected
Normally, HIV infects the above cells, which act as a ‘Trojan horse’, infecting the rest of the immune system, “but as the virus is inactive, dendritic cells can perform their work without infecting presentation” .
In fact, after receiving three doses of the vaccine, patients showed an increase in their defenses and a significant reduction in viral load (90% less in eight of 18 patients treated over one year).
However, as acknowledged by Josep Maria Gatell, Chief of Infectious Disease in the same Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Immunology, Infectious Diseases, Medical News | Tags: AIDS, AIDS virus, Antiretroviral, Antiretroviral Vaccines, dendritic cells, Infectious Diseases, Vaccines | No Comments »
Abuse of Antibiotics
The European Commission has presented a plan of action for Member States to take more efforts and promote cooperation in the next five years to improve responses against antibiotic resistance in humans and animals, a problem that Brussels estimates that each year costs the lives of 25,000 people and has an economic impact of 1,500 million euros across the EU.
The aim of these measures is to limit the spread of antibiotic resistance and invest in research to develop new treatments.
For this research are committed to encourage, promote cooperation between Member States and the pharmaceutical industry, but also fulfill an educational function to “educate” doctors, consumers and veterinary risk posed by the abuse of certain drugs.
“We must act quickly and decisively if we are to avoid antibiotic drugs needed to treat people and animals,” he warned at a press conference the Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection, John Dalli.
The commissioner stressed that the solution lies not only in developing new drugs, but to eliminate the bad practices that lead to overuse of medications.
Therefore, the EU executive wants to promote measures to “raise awareness about the appropriate use of antimicrobials”, set tougher standards and regular veterinary medicated feed, provide “unprecedented collaboration” to investigate new drugs, coordinate the research and strengthening the monitoring and administration of antibiotics.
Investment in research
The European Union has invested some 600 million euros in research to develop new antibiotics, as the commissioner stressed, however, has not provided figures on how many of these studies have had mixed results and many new drugs have reached the market.
“There are a lot of effort (…). I believe that together, also with industry, we will pool resources in a concerted effort to bring new drugs as soon as possible, “he confided at a news conference. Among the measures that Brussels is studying, for example, prevent the same antibiotics used in humans can be administered to animals.
For its part, the director of the Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Infectious Diseases, Medical News, Toxicology | Tags: Antibiotics, consumption, treat | No Comments »
HIV and Lipodystrophy
The medical definition of lipodystrophy appointed as a disorder linked to poor distribution of body fat, which tends to worsen progressively. However, nothing says you print marks on the human figure, which become telltale sign of evil in the background, AIDS. Prominent breasts and bellies, sunken cheeks, arms and legs and are consumed more obvious signs.
“For those with access to medication, AIDS went from being the illness of the 80′s, a chronic infection. The benefits of these techniques are indisputable, however, present new challenges, “says Marcela, patient and member of the Buenos Aires Network of People Living with HIV, created in 2000.
According tells the woman on the extensive list of cosmetic and personal problems that result from developing lipodystrophy, must be attached the absence of public policies and programs that take into account the problems, in order to reduce dropout rates of antiretroviral treatment on the one hand, as well as generate responses to new challenges posed by the epidemic, on the other.
“The issue is not even part of the agendas of NGOs and networks of people with HIV. And health care is proposed as a lesser evil, relativizing the patient complaints as a simple matter of vanity, “laments Marcela. Therefore, one of the major challenges of medicine in this matter, as raised, should be “stare there, where there was a diversion.”
Just looking to redirect the work of the scientific community towards this way, the agency conducted a photographic exhibition with dozens of images of patients, and hard evidence.
“With the facial lipodystrophy always look sick, but is well and my Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Adolescence, Infectious Diseases, Medical News | Tags: AIDS, chronic infection, HIV, illness, Lipodystrophy | No Comments »