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John Kufuor Leads Effort To Fight Global Hunger Among Schoolchildren
The former Ghanaian president, John Kofi Agyekum Kufuor, has

In Vitro Antibody Production Enables HIV Infection Detection In Window Period -- Key To Safer Blood
Researchers in Israel and Kenya have shown that the contribution of variable degrees of immune suppression, either due to existing chronic infections such as parasitemias and/or nutrition, in different populations may influence and prolong the serological-diagnostic window period of HIV. However, the immunosuppression can be overcome, by in-vitro enhancement of antibody production (termed- Stimmunology). The results, which appear in the August 2009 issue of Experimental Biology and Medicine, show that pre-treating the whole blood sample in the SMARTube™ containing immune potentiating agents promoted the synthesis and release of antibodies against HIV-1 prior to their detection in corresponding plasma samples in a group of donors who would otherwise be classified as HIV-1 seronegative blood donors. The identification of techniques that can lead to detection of HIV infection during this window period is of obvious public health importance especially in re poor settings highlighting the importance of these findings. Overcoming the suppression, in-vitro, led to the production of detectable levels of anti-HIV antibodies in the whole blood sample and to the detection of potentially infectious blood units which were missed by regular HIV serology. Interestingly, the ratio of missed infections among the total HIV infected blood donors was higher among the younger (high-school) donors versus adult donors.
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Gene Predicts How Brain Responds To Fatigue, Human Study Shows
New imaging research in the June 24 issue of The Journal of Neuroscience helps explain why sleep deprivation affects some people more than others. After staying awake all night, those who are genetically vulnerable to sleep loss showed reduced brain activity, while those who are genetically resilient showed expanded brain activity, the study found. The findings help explain individual differences in the ability to compensate for lack of sleep.
Cardiovascular

Hosting Olympics Boosts Host Country's Medal Haul Before And Afterwards

[Why Great Britain"s success in Beijing could have been anticipated and why it should continue beyond 2012 Online First Br J Sports Med 2009; doi 10.1136/bjsm.2008.057174] Hosting the Olympic games boosts the host country"s medal haul, not only during the event, but also before and afterwards as well, reveals research published ahead of print in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. Great Britain will be no exception, when the Olympics come to London in 2012, confidently assert the study authors, who analysed each host country"s medals haul since 1948. In a bid to assess how the medal tally is affected, the authors looked at the performance of 16 countries, before, during, and after hosting the games. The overall tally of medals awarded rose consistently each year, from 411 in 1948 to 958 in 2008. Every single country increased the number of medals it won while hosting an Olympics compared with the years when it did not host the games, the figures showed. Averaging out the pattern of wins for all 16 countries showed that the haul was 28 when not hosting the games. This rose to 40 in the run-up to the Olympics, 60 while hosting, and 47 in the aftermath. Great Britain won 47 medals in Beijing, compared with the 28 it brought back from Sydney in 2000 and the 30 it won in Athens in 2004. Using a mathematical formula to predict Great Britain"s performance in 2012, the authors calculate that the haul should be in the region of 63 medals, assuming there are 1000 to win. China, which won 100 medals in 2008 when it hosted the games, stands to win 78 in 2012, the authors predict. Home advantage is well known for sports that have a subjective element of judging in them, such as boxing, gymnastics and team games, say the authors. But this advantage disappears for sports relying on objective judging, such as weightlifting and athletics. Investment is clearly a factor in a rising tally of medals, say the authors. The British government has significantly increased funding for sports since it came to power in 1997. The total investment up to 2012 now amounts to ÷£914 million. "There can be little doubt that such financial support has been influential in increasing the medals won by Great Britain even before hosting the Olympics," say the authors. Other countries investing heavily in sports have also done well. The legacy of hosting the Commonwealth Games in Manchester in 2002 also counted as a "post hosting" benefit, particularly for cycling. Amid the interminable debates about the benefits of hosting the Olympics, especially during a global financial crisis, Team GB is likely to enjoy ongoing sporting success as a direct result, say the authors. British Journal of Sports Medicine


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