Modern Health Observation

U.S. health representatives, the Reuters news agency reported that according to tests performed in the United States with the H1N1 influenza vaccine from Sanofi-Pasteur SA and CSL Ltd., only one dose is needed to protect people of the disease.

“I am pleased to tell you that the initial results of tests sponsored by the NIH (National Institutes of Health) corroborate and reinforce the findings of the companies,” said Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

In a press conference, Fauci said that the immune response was swift and that people seemed to be protected 8-10 days after being vaccinated.

Secretary of Health and Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius, said in the same conference that “it is more likely than Americans to get vaccinated against influenza A/H1N1, are immunized and protected against the virus more quickly than thought” . Read the rest of this entry »

Michigan scientists have discovered a bacteria capable of preventing the virus that causes dengue multiplies in the mosquito that spreads the disease. The organism, called Wolbachia, causes an abnormality that causes the death of the embryos of the mosquito Aedes aegypti.

The finding could be used to prevent the spread of dengue, a disease that causes about 100 million infections worldwide, says the study published in PLoS Pathogens.

Dengue is a disease that affects about one third of the world’s population-some 2,500 million people, mainly in developing countries. Although most infected people recover within two weeks, the infection can lead to complications and become a hemorrhagic fever that can be lethal. Read the rest of this entry »

Researchers at the University of Minnesota indicated that the compound called glycerol monolaurate, could be used to combat HIV infection in humans.

The compound has already been successfully tested in five monkeys and the scientists suggested that although his investigation is in preliminary stages, the ingredients may be added to lubricants than women used to fight HIV infection.

“It would be a different way to tackle the problem of prevention,” said Ashley Haase, head of the department of Microbiology at the University of Minnesota, in a conversation with reporters.

According to scientists, glycerol appears to prevent inflammation and protects cells that generally fall under the infection of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Read the rest of this entry »

They promise quick cures and easy solutions to all kinds of conditions, from obesity and cancer to AIDS and Alzheimer’s disease. They can range from herbal supplements to untested devices and health-related treatments.

But consumers who buy some of these products can only lose their money. These products can even cause serious damage to health, and many of them can be expensive for the patient because health insurance rarely covers expenses. Read the rest of this entry »

Eating large amounts of soy may reduce the risk of developing a breathing problem known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), researchers reported.

Smoking is the major risk factor for COPD, the team said Dr. Andy H. Lee, of the Curtin University of Technology in Perth, Australia, in his article published in the journal Respiratory Research.

“Other factors, such as diet and environmental exposures protect or contribute to the development of the disease,” added the experts.

The team studied 278 patients with COPD (244 men and 34 women) between 50 and 75 years, diagnosed in the last four years. The authors also recruited 340 people (272 men and 68 women) without the disease.

The control group consumed more soy per day (about 60 grams) than patients with COPD (about 45 grams). The risk of COPD was significantly reduced among those who ate more soy. Read the rest of this entry »