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Increased Fighting Makes Humanitarian Work, Health Situation More Difficult In Somalia, U.N. Says
Despite increasing danger posed by "al Qaeda-linked militants," U.N. Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes said Tuesday U.N. aid workers "were not backing away" from the country, Reuters reports. "Intense fighting is making it increasingly difficult to deliver aid in the Horn of Africa country, where U.N. agencies are trying to combat cholera outbreaks and maintain food supplies to 3.5 million hungry people," the news service writes (Nebehay, 7/21).
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Deworming Drug Could Help Reduce Spread Of HIV In Africa, Study Finds
Providing girls in rural Africa with a deworming drug could help reduce the spread of HIV, according to a study recently published in PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, the New York Times reports. The drug, called praziquantel, costs about 32 cents per pediatric dose and prevents schistosomiasis, a worm disease that starts as a urinary tract infection. If untreated, schistosomiasis can lead to female genital sores that can facilitate HIV infection. Because the drug can kill the worms but cannot cure genital sores, girls should be protected before they reach sexual maturity, according to the Times. "For this relatively small investment, the reproductive health of young women would be improved," the authors from the Sabin Vaccine Institute, Imperial College London and Oslo University wrote, adding that "there is a reasonable chance that HIV/AIDS transmission can be reduced." There are about 207 million schistosomiasis cases worldwide, 90% of which occur in Africa, where humans are exposed usually through snail-infested water. According to a pilot program conducted in Burkina Faso, all 70 million cases among young children in Africa could be treated for $22 million, and repeating universal treatment every two years for 10 years would cost $112 million (McNeil, New York Times, 5/26).
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Tibotec, TB Alliance Join To Expedite Development Of Promising TB Drug
The pharmaceutical company Tibotec said it will join with the non-profit Global Alliance for Tuberculosis Development (TB Alliance) to speed up the development of the experimental TB drug TMC207, Health-e/IOL reports (Thom, Health-e/IOL, 6/18). Tibotec, which is a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, announced the news on Wednesday at the Pacific Health Summit in Seattle (Doughton, Seattle Times, 6/18).
Diagnostics

Biotronics3D Collaborates With The Institute Of Cancer Research To Develop Oncology Software

Biotronics3D has worked with The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) to develop and launch new software to significantly improve the accuracy of MRI scan analysis. Called 3D Net Perfusion, the system extracts data from images of tumours and transforms it into usable information. A powerful analytical tool, 3D Net Perfusion enables clinicians to gain clearer comprehension of MRI scans, improving the accuracy of diagnosis and assessment of treatment efficacy. It is also an innovative way of visualising and measuring the blood supply to cancers - a crucial factor in tumour growth. The software is the result of pioneering trials at the ICR led by Professor Martin Leach, David Collins and James d"Arcy, and is currently used in 10 research centres. Scientists from the ICR continue to work with Biotronics3D software developers to further enhance the product. Paul Carnochan, Senior Business Development Manager at the ICR, believes the partnership could have broader implications and says: "London has an abundance of research capabilities and commercial expertise in the field of medical imaging and we believe that collaborations like this one can be the key to raising London"s profile as a major biotech hub." Harry Hatzakis, CEO of Biotronics 3D, says: "Innovation carries risks and in fast moving markets such as global diagnostics it is important to leverage skills that exist outside the company through partnerships such as ours with the ICR." The project has attracted significant investment from London-based venture specialist Longbow Capital LLP. Longbow"s co-founder Edward Rudd says: "Despite the potential gloom of 2008, now is the right time for investors to look to the future and support projects that exploit industry-academic collaborations with strong business plans for commercial markets." About The Institute of Cancer Research The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) is Europe"s leading cancer research centre with expert scientists working on cutting-edge research. In 2009, the ICR marks its 100 years of groundbreaking research into cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment. In December 2008, the ICR was ranked as the UK"s leading academic research centre by the Times Higher Education"s Table of Excellence, based on the results of the Higher Education Funding Council"s Research Assessment Exercise. The ICR is a charity that relies on voluntary income. It is one of the world"s most cost-effective major cancer research organisations with more than 95p in every ÷£ directly supporting research. For more information visit http://www.icr.ac.uk. Biotronics3D


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