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Patching Gaps In Global Pneumococcal Vaccination
Since 2000, U.S. infants have been routinely immunized against pneumococcal (Streptococcus pneumoniae) infection, but the existing vaccine"s expense puts it out of reach for most developing countries, where almost one million children die from pneumococcal infections each year. Richard Malley, MD, of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Children"s Hospital Boston, is at work on a pneumococcal vaccine that meets developing countries" needs it can be made cheaply, withstands high temperatures without refrigeration, and can be given without needles, avoiding the need for sterile procedures and medical professionals to administer it. Also, because it is a whole-cell vaccine, it should provide protection against virtually all of the 91 pneumococcal serotypes that infect people worldwide. (The U.S. vaccine covers only seven.)

AARP Endorses Bill To Help Americans Get Care In Their Own Homes
More than one million Americans are living in nursing homes, but many would prefer to receive the services they need in their own homes, where they would be more comfortable and potentially save the health care system money in the long run. Unfortunately, many Americans who want to be cared for at home can"t because of a costly institutional bias in Medicaid, which pays for nearly two-thirds of the country"s nursing home residents. While state Medicaid programs are required to provide nursing home care, home and community-based services that are often less expensive are optional, leaving them first in line to be cut in a poor economy.
News of the day
World Conference Shines Spotlight On Critical Importance Of Aquaculture
This is no fish story. When it comes to the importance of veterinarians helping prevent, control and eradicate aquatic animal diseases, there"s no need to exaggerate or boast.
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Proven Link Between Obesity And Diabetes

A Monash University study has proven a critical link between obesity and the onset of Type 2 diabetes, a discovery which could lead to the design of a drug to prevent the disease. The findings were published today in Cell Metabolism. The team, led by Associate Professor Matthew Watt, discovered that fat cells release a novel protein called PEDF (pigment epithelium-derived factor), which triggers a chain of events and interactions that lead to development of Type 2 diabetes. "When PEDF is released into the bloodstream, it causes the muscle and liver to become desensitised to insulin. The pancreas then produces more insulin to counteract these negative effects, " Associate Professor Watt said. This insulin release causes the pancreas to become overworked, eventually slowing or stopping insulin release from the pancreas, leading to Type 2 diabetes." "It appears that the more fat tissue a person has the less sensitive they become to insulin. Therefore a greater amount of insulin is required to maintain the body"s regulation of blood-glucose," Associate Professor Watt said. "Our research was able to show that increasing PEDF not only causes Type 2 diabetes like complications but that blocking PEDF reverses these effects. The body again returned to being insulin-sensitive and therefore did not need excess insulin to remain regulated." Associate Professor Watt said identifying the link is a significant breakthrough in explaining the reasons why obesity triggers the onset of Type 2 Diabetes. "Until now scientists knew there was a very clear pattern and had strong suspicions that a link existed between the two conditions, but our understanding of the chain of events that are caused by the release of PEDF shows a causal link," Associate Professor Watt said. "Type 2 diabetes patients will benefit knowing the two conditions are linked. We already know that weight-loss generally improves the management of blood glucose levels in diabetes patients. Researchers can now move forward knowing this link exists and we can begin to design new drugs to improve the treatment of Type 2 diabetes," Associate Professor Watt said. Samantha Blair Monash University


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