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Tropical Health Research: London Scientist Honored

admin — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 16:01:40 +0000

Brian Greenwood

Brian Greenwood, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Brian Greenwood has won the Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize for his numerous achievements in tropical disease research. He talked with Derek Thorne about his work, including the pivotal research proving that bed nets can help prevent malaria.

Risks From Stopping Cancer Trials Early!

admin — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 14:16:58 +0000

Giovanni Apolone

In this edition of Audio News, presented by Peter Goodwin, Giovanni Apolone (Mario Negri Institute, Milan) and Stuart Pocock (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine), talk about:

Risks From Stopping Cancer Trials Early!
- A report from Annals of Oncology, April 9th, 2008.

Stuart Pocock

A new publication highlights the danger of stopping cancer clinical trials early following interim analysis before originally planned sample-sizes have been reached.

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The Last Taboo: Opening The Door On The Global Sanitation Crisis

admin — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 15:24:28 +0000

Sandy Cairncross

In this edition of Audio News, presented by Peter Goodwin,
Sandy Cairncross (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine), Maggie Black (Earthscan), and Girish Menon (Water Aid) talk about:

The Last Taboo: Opening The Door On The Global Sanitation Crisis
- a book by Maggie Black and Ben Fawcett, published by Earthscan with UNICEF.

Maggie Black

A massive improvement in health and wealth in developing countries could be achieved by providing systems to dispose of human excreta safely. A new book: “The Last Taboo” was launched at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine by the Professor of Environmental Health, Sandy Cairncross.

Girish Menon

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Starting Antiretroviral Therapy Can Trigger Leprosy

admin — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 11:35:49 +0000

Diana Lockwood

REFERENCE:47th Annual Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC), Chicago, 2007
DIANA LOCKWOOD, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
ICAAC delegates heard that ‘hidden’ leprosy can be triggered in some patients who are receiving HIV antiretroviral therapy. So what might this mean for the countries that are rolling out this therapy to large numbers of people? Derek Thorne discussed the issue with Diana Lockwood of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

LSHTM Audio News Special: Global Mental Health

admin — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 14:04:50 +0000

Vikram Patel

Shekhar Saxena

Mental Health is a major part of the global disease burden, but more needs to be done to make sure support, treatments and policies are in place. That’s according to a series of articles, published in The Lancet, which have looked at this very topic. The audio news team went to meet some of the authors:
Graham Thornicroft, of Kings College London, who talked about the size of the problem;
Vikram Patel, of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, who discussed measures to take and choices that need to be made;
and Shekhar Saxena, from the World Health Organisation, who has calculated the costs involved.

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LSHTM Audio News Special: Energy and Health

admin — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 10:31:34 +0000

Paul Wilkinson

How does energy use lead to poor health?

REFERENCE: Lancet, September, 2007
PAUL WILKINSON, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Paul Wilkinson, of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, says there are many ways energy use impacts on health, and he explained the situation in the developing world.

John Powles

Reduced Meat Consumption means Reduced Climate Change and Better Health

REFERENCE: The Lancet Energy and Health 5
JOHN POWLES, Institute of Public Health, Cambridge
There is a need to reduce the global consumption of meat in order to reduce climate change and improve health according to the Energy and Health series published by the Lancet. An average global reduction in meat consumption of just 10% will stop the emission of green house gases associated with livestock production from rising as well as reduce health risks associated with consumption of red meat. Nicola Solomon spoke to John Powles.

James Woodcock

Car-Free Cities To Cut Early Mortality By One Third?

REFERENCE: Lancet, September, 2007
JAMES WOODCOCK, British Medical Journal Health Intelligence, London
Entire cities should become car free and as a result cut mortality in early middle age by around a third. That’s according to study results released by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and published in a series on the health impact of energy policies in the Lancet. Peter Goodwin questioned investigator James Woodcock about the findings.

Richard Horton

Energy Policy and Health: A Rôle for Doctors?

REFERENCE: Lancet, September, 2007
RICHARD HORTON, The Lancet, London
Richard Horton, Editor of the Lancet explained to Peter Goodwin how doctors and medical professionals can help by getting involved with energy policies.

Andy Haines

LSHTM Audio News Special: Energy and Health

REFERENCE: Lancet, September, 2007
ANDY HAINES, Director, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Andy Haines discusses on the policy changes being called for.

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London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Audio News Review, September 12th, 2007

admin — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 10:50:44 +0000

Jaime Miranda

Road-Side Tranexamic Acid Therapy to Reduce Mortality and Blood Transfusions after Trauma?

JAIME MIRANDA, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Peru
The multi-national CRASH trial investigates whether the antifibrinolytic agent, tranexamic acid normally used to reduce bleeding during surgery can also be used as a first-aid to cut mortality and the need of blood transfusion immediately after trauma. Jaime Miranda, based in Lima, Peru, described to Peter Goodwin how the trial could benefit the developing world in particular.

Steven Grinspoon

Judith Currier

Growth Hormones: Slimming Aid for Patients Receiving HAART?

REFERENCE: The Lancet 2007; 370:251-261
STEVEN GRINSPOON, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
COMMENT: JUDITH CURRIER, University of California, Los Angeles
Daily administration of the growth hormone releasing factor, TH9507, to patients with HIV receiving Highly Active Anti Retroviral Therapy (HAART) can help to reduce cardiovascular risk factors, according to Steven Grinspoon, who presented a paper on this at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, held in Los Angeles. He talked about his study with Dan Keller, who discussed the paper with Judith Currier.

Roy Steigbigel

John Mellors

Raltegravir Doubled Antiviral Response Rates in Treatment-Experienced HIV-Infected Patients

REFERENCE: The Lancet 2007; 370:251-261
ROY STEIGBIGEL, State University of New York at Stony Brook
COMMENT: JOHN W. MELLORS, University of Pittsburgh
The integrase inhibitor raltegravir (one of a new class of anti-retroviral agents) blocks enzymes that allow HIV’s nuclei acid to integrate into the DNA of host cells. The BENCHMRK study found that patients with HIV who are resistant to at least one drug in each of the nucleoside, non-nucleoside, and protease inhibitor classes, have doubled antiviral response rates and increased CD4 cells when taking raltegravir. Roy Steigbigel explained the study to Dan Keller in Los Angeles. John Mellors commented on the findings.

Anthony Fauci

Non-Perfect HIV Vaccine: Major Benefits

ANTHONY FAUCI, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda
There is good hope that a useful vaccine for HIV will be developed soon. Anthony Fauci wrote in the New England Journal Medicine (and explained to Derek Thorne for Audio News) that although a perfect vaccine may not emerge, a non-perfect vaccine will nevertheless be of great use, by slowing disease progression and also reducing the spread of disease.

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London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Audio News Review, August 31st, 2007

admin — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 17:00:45 +0000

Philippe Mayaud

Herpes Simplex Therapy Reduces HIV Activity in Co-Infected Patients

REFERENCE: N Engl J Med 2007; 356: 790-9
PHILIPPE MAYAUD, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
It is possible to reduce HIV activity in patients who are co-infected with HIV and herpes simplex type 2. Philippe Mayaud tells us about the study which showed reduced HIV concentration in the blood and vagina when co-infected patients underwent continuous treatment with anti-herpes agent valacyclovir.

Chloe Thio

Entecavir Helps Combat HIV but Also Selects Antiretroviral Resistant Mutation

REFERENCE: Abstract: 136LB, 14th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, Los Angeles February 25-28, 2007
CHLOE THIO, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Entecavir, used to treat HBV can lower levels of HIV in co-infected patients. In spite of entecavirs success, Chloe Thio reveals that the drug selects a mutation that makes HIV resistant to entecavir as well as antiretroviral drugs, and calls for a revision of guidelines that recommend its use for co-infected patients as.

Hoosen Coovadia

Breastfeeding Reduces Transmission Rates From Mothers with HIV

REFERENCE: Abstract 13, 14th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, Los Angeles February 25-28, 2007
HOOSEN COOVADIA, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban
While early cessation of breastfeeding reduces HIV transmission to the baby, studies show it increase morbidity and mortality in infants. Hoosen Coovadia found that exclusive breastfeeding (as opposed to ‘mixed’ breastfeeding with formula or supplements) for the first six months of life reduces transmission rates.

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London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Audio News Review, August 28th, 2007

admin — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 16:44:59 +0000

Pat Doyle

Increased Miscarriage Risk in Women with Low Body Mass Index

REFERENCE: BJOG 2007 114:170
PAT DOYLE, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Underweight women with a BMI below 18.5 have a 70 per cent increase in their risk of miscarriage according to a study published in the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Pat Doyle gave us the details.

Charlotte Watts

Microfinance Helps Cut Domestic Violence in Rural South Africa

REFERENCE: Lancet 2006; 368: 1973-83
CHARLOTTE WATTS, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
A large and groundbreaking study published in the Lancet has shown that microfinance, combined with a gender and HIV training scheme, can help reduce domestic violence among poor women living in rural South Africa. Charlotte Watts talks about the study and its findings.

Rodger MacArthur

“Three-Class” Anti-Retroviral Therapy Is Not Appropriate For HIV

REFERENCE: Lancet 2006; 368: 2125-35
RODGER MACARTHUR, Wayne State University, Detroit
It is not necessary to use so-called “three-class” antiretroviral therapy to treat patients with HIV according to an article in the Lancet. Rodger MacArthur talks about the study results.

Jane Durga

Folate Supplements Improve Cognitive Function

REFERENCE: Lancet 2007; 369:208
JANE DURGA, Nestlé Research Centre, Lausanne
Folic acid supplements improved cognitive function in older patients in a study from the Netherlands. Investigator Jane Durga wrote in The Lancet that supplementation was associated with better scores in a battery of cognitive tests measuring factors typically known to worsen with age.

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London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Audio News Review, August 25th, 2007

admin — Sat, 25 Aug 2007 14:04:30 +0000

David Moore

Seven-Day Low-Cost Tuberculosis Diagnosis

REFERENCE: N Engl J Med 355: 1539-50
DAVID MOORE, Imperial College, London and Lima
A new test for TB (reported in the New England Journal of Medicine) has proved more powerful, faster and yet cheaper than any alternative. David Moore explains how the Microscopic-Observation Drug-Susceptibility (MODS) Assay is highly sensitive and specific, and also yields drug susceptibility data.

Mishal Khan

Improved TB Detection in Women

REFERENCE: The Lancet 2007; 369:1955-1960
MISHAL KHAN, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Improving on notoriously low TB detection rates in resource-limited parts of the world may be easily achieved, according to Mishal Khan. The effectiveness of screening can be strengthened by giving comprehensive instructions to women before they produce sputum for testing.

Nicholas Grassly

Ultimate Eradication of Polio?

REFERENCE: Lancet 2007; 369:1356-62
NICHOLAS GRASSLY, Imperial College London
A monovalent vaccine for type 1 polio has been tested in India where the virus persists, Nicholas Grassly explains why he thinks the vaccine will be much more effective than the trivalent vaccine.

Lisa McNally

Pneumonia Treatment Guidelines Should Change!

REFERENCE: The Lancet 2007; 369:1440-1451
LISA McNALLY, Institute of Child Health, London, and University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban
With pneumonia the leading cause of child mortality, treatment needs to be flawless. But recent research reveals that current WHO guidelines need to be revised, according to investigator, Lisa McNally.

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