Global Health News

Two new studies indicate that the incidence of non-melanoma skin cancer has increased steadily since the 1990s. Non-melanoma skin cancer is the most common form of cancer, and affects more people than all others combined. Study findings indicate that one in five 70-year-olds has been treated for either of the two types of non-melanoma skin cancer, basal cell or squamous cell.

University of Michigan Medical School research suggests that bananas contain chemicals that could prevent sexual transmission of the HIV/AIDS virus. Laboratory tests have shown that BanLec, the lectin that occurs in bananas, was as effective as two current anti-HIV medications. Using BanLec as a component in applied vaginal microbicides may be a less expensive alternative to existing treatments.

As deaths due to antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections continue to rise, the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) is pushing for a global commitment to develop 10 new antibiotics by 2020. Known as 10 x ’20, this initiative is aimed at addressing public health crises and protecting patients’ health. Recent studies indicate that few antibiotics that are currently in development are more beneficial that existing medications.

Antidepressants may help depressed patients with physical illness as well as psychological ailments. Approximately 10 percent of patients with physical diseases suffer from depression, physicians are less likely to prescribe antidepressants because they are unsure if the medications will work well. A systemic review found that the medications were more effective than placebos at treating depression in patients with physical illness, including stroke, HIV/AIDS, Parkinson’s disease, and some cancers.

The WHO reports that strains of tuberculosis that are resistant to standard drug treatments are spreading worldwide. In 2008, 440,000 people across the globe had multi-drug-resistant forms of the disease (MDR-TB) and one-third of them died. Extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) now accounts for 5.4 percent of all cases of drug-resistant tuberculosis in 40 nations able to submit data and to date, 58 countries have at least one confirmed case.

According to Dan Humphreys, sports specialist at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta, the Paralympics are “examples of the pinnacle of athletic achievement for people with physical disabilities.” CNN recently offered a look into the Paralympic Games and the athletes who participate in them. The competition is a set of elite sporting events for athletes with disabilities.

Experts warn that hepatitis B and C, and possibly even HIV are being transmitted via acupuncture. An editorial in the British Medical Journal indicated that acupuncture-related infections linked to contaminated needles, cotton swabs, and hot packs are just a small portion of the total worldwide. Patrick Woo, microbiology professor at the University of Hong Kong, suggested stricter control measures including the use of disposable needles and skin disinfection.

A targeted heat treatment has been found to help alleviate plantar warts, according to Chinese researchers. Plantar warts are skin growths on the soles of the feet caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), which can enter the skin through tiny breaks in the skin. A technique of using an infrared heat-producing device to heat warts to 111 degrees Fahrenheit without touching patients’ skin has provided at least some relief.

Findings of a University of Chicago study indicate that loneliness may adversely affect blood pressure in adults. A direct relation was found between loneliness and larger increases in blood pressure four years later. This link was independent of age and other factors that could impact blood pressure, including smoking and alcohol use. Questions about social relationships and other topics were asked of 229 participants aged 50 to 68.

Findings of a University of Chicago study indicate that loneliness may adversely affect blood pressure in adults. A direct relation was found between loneliness and larger increases in blood pressure four years later. This link was independent of age and other factors that could impact blood pressure, including smoking and alcohol use. Questions about social relationships and other topics were asked of 229 participants aged 50 to 68.

Precancerous polyps can be decreased in number and size through treatment with a specific type of omega-3 fatty acid. Researchers examined 55 individuals with high genetic risk of developing bowel cancer. Twenty-eight participants received six months of treatment with daily doses of highly purified omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, and others received a placebo. The number of polyps in patients receiving omega-3s decreased by 12 percent, polyp size also decreased.

A new study suggests that use of the supplement black cohosh does not help to increase bone density in postmenopausal women. Researchers studied 128 women for one year, and found that regular exercise generally helped to maintain bone density. Black cohosh extracts are marketed as a “natural” form of hormone replacement therapy, but these extracts were found to have no beneficial impact on bone density.

A 10-year-old British boy has become the first child to undergo a windpipe transplant surgery using an organ created from his own stem cells. Donor trachea was stripped to its collagen scaffolding and injected with stem cells from the boy’s bone marrow. By using the boy’s own tissue, doctors at the Great Ormond Street Hospital hoped to decrease the risk of rejection.

Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa will be among a dozen African nations to receive doses of the H1N1 vaccine. The World Health Organization will deliver millions of dozes in the coming weeks to combat the virus, which continues to spread throughout West Africa including Senegal and the Ivory Coast. A total of 95 countries lack access to H1N1 vaccines and have requested doses from the WHO.

A study of 28 Southeastern hospitals has indicated that infections from Clostridium difficile (C-diff) are surpassing MRSA infections. MRSA infections are due to bacteria that cannot be treated with common antibiotics, and are deadly if they enter the bloodstream. C-diff is also resistant to some antibiotics. It is commonly found in the colon and can cause diarrhea and a more serious intestinal condition known as colitis.