Endemics Blogs This is an RSS file. You can use it to subscribe to this data in your favourite RSS reader or to display this data on your own website or blog.

Rubella virus and birth defects
Amidst the fear surrounding Zika virus, remember that there are over 100,000 children born each year with birth defects caused by infection with rubella virus. The virus Rubella virus is a member of the Togaviridae family, which also includes chikungunya virus. The genome is a 9.7 kilobase, positive strand RNA enclosed in a capsid and surrounded by a membrane (illustrated; image from ViralZone). Transmission Humans are the only natural host and reservoir of rubella virus. The virus is transmitted from human to human by respiratory aerosols. Upon entry into the upper respiratory tract, the virus replicates in the ...
Source: virology blog - February 17, 2016 Category: Virology Authors: Vincent Racaniello Tags: Basic virology Information birth defects congenital rubella syndrome microcephaly mmr vaccine placenta viral virus viruses Zika zika virus Source Type: blogs

The Perfect Storm: Vaccination and Modern Malnutrition
We have the perfect storm for creating an environment that will continue to injure and destroy the health of our most precious gifts, our children. We live in America, which is the most highly vaccinated country on the planet. Vaccinations alone are responsible for tremendous health damage. We are also a country that consumes a highly processed, sugar-laden, vitamin-deficient diet, which adds its own set of health problems. Good nutrition is the cornerstone of a strong immune system capable of maintaining health and naturally fighting disease. The combination of vaccinations and poor diets contribute to our growing health ...
Source: vactruth.com - February 15, 2016 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Michelle Goldstein Tags: Logical Michelle Goldstein Top Stories Asthma autism autoimmune disorders Malnutrition official dietary recommendations vaccine schedule Weston Price Source Type: blogs

Health Affairs February Issue: Vaccines
The February issue of Health Affairs explores the current environment in which vaccines are discovered, produced, and delivered. The issue also contains several studies examining the economic benefits and value of sustainably financing vaccinations in the United States and globally. This month’s DataGraphic provides a pictorial view of key facts about vaccines, including data from several studies in this month’s issue. The February issue of Health Affairs is supported by Merck, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company, Ltd., PATH, and The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust. Benefits Of Childhood Immunization 16 To 44...
Source: Health Affairs Blog - February 8, 2016 Category: Health Management Authors: Chris Fleming Tags: Costs and Spending Elsewhere@ Health Affairs Featured Global Health Population Health Public Health Health Affairs journal vaccines Source Type: blogs

Can the Exchanges Be Saved?
By MICHAEL TURPIN “The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails.” —William Arthur Ward Looking confidently past the skeletons of drowned state and federal healthcare experiments, America’s health insurance exchanges set sail in January 2014. Disregarding the rough seas ahead, healthcare reform pundits and legislators applauded the Affordable Care Act’s signature public expansion vehicle as an impenetrable solution for achieving affordable coverage and competition. Less than two years later, the exchanges are taking on water. In November, United Healthcar...
Source: The Health Care Blog - February 7, 2016 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Simon Nath Tags: Featured THCB Michael Turpin Source Type: blogs

Adjusting the Sails | Leader’s Edge Magazine
By MICHAEL TURPIN “The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails.” —William Arthur Ward Looking confidently past the skeletons of drowned state and federal healthcare experiments, America’s health insurance exchanges set sail in January 2014. Disregarding the rough seas ahead, healthcare reform pundits and legislators applauded the Affordable Care Act’s signature public expansion vehicle as an impenetrable solution for achieving affordable coverage and competition. Less than two years later, the exchanges are taking on water. In November, United Healthcar...
Source: The Health Care Blog - February 3, 2016 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Simon Nath Tags: THCB Michael Turpin Source Type: blogs

TWiV 374: Discordance in B
On episode #374 of the science show This Week in Virology, the TWiVniks consider the role of a cell enzyme that removes a protein linked to the 5′-end of the picornavirus genome, and the connection between malaria, Epstein-Barr virus, and endemic Burkitt’s lymphoma. You can find TWiV #374 at microbe.tv/twiv. (Source: virology blog)
Source: virology blog - January 31, 2016 Category: Virology Authors: Vincent Racaniello Tags: This Week in Virology 5'-tyrosyl DNA phosphodiesterase activation-induced cytidine deaminase AID Burkitt Burkitt's lymphoma c-myc cancer coxsackievirus Epstein-Barr virus hypermutation malaria oncogene picornavirus Plasmodium f Source Type: blogs

Zika virus
The rapid spread of Zika virus through the Americas, together with the association of infection with microcephaly and Guillain-Barré syndrome, have propelled this previously ignored virus into the limelight. What is this virus and where did it come from? History Zika virus was first identified in 1947 in a sentinel monkey that was being used to monitor for the presence of yellow fever virus in the Zika Forest of Uganda. At this time cell lines were not available for studying viruses, so serum from the febrile monkey was inoculated intracerebrally into mice. All the mice became sick, and the virus isolated from their bra...
Source: virology blog - January 28, 2016 Category: Virology Authors: Vincent Racaniello Tags: Basic virology Information Brazil congenital defect Dengue flavivirus Guillain-Barré microcephaly mosquito vaccine viral viruses yellow fever virus Zika zika virus Source Type: blogs

A couple of thoughts about Zika virus
Epidemics are scary, and often the fear is exaggerated and leads to all sorts of irrational behavior. All we need is to recall the lunacy over Ebola virus in 2014, which was never a significant threat to the United States. (Of course it was awful where it was epidemic, and the lack of sympathy here in the U.S. for people in the affected regions was at least as appalling as the misguided panic.) The flu pandemic hoax of 2010 was another excellent example.However, the WHO's alarm over Zika virus does seem proportionate. But this is a complicated story. The virus, which is related to Dengue, has never particularly concerned a...
Source: Stayin' Alive - January 28, 2016 Category: American Health Source Type: blogs

Zika Virus
Nikos Vasilakis, Editor of the book Arboviruses: Molecular Biology, Evolution and Control was interviewed recently by The Guardian newspaper on the topic of Zika virus: "We're deeply concerned about the Zika starting a transmission cycle here in south Texas ... Not long ago, dengue and yellow fever were endemic in the area, [in] Houston, Galveston ... Both the climate conditions and human density exist to allow circulation of the virus." Further media coverage by Nikos Vasilakis includes: TRT World | NBC News | CBS News | Buzz Feed News | The Scientist | Scientific AmericanSuggested reading: Arboviruses: Molecular Biology...
Source: Microbiology Blog: The weblog for microbiologists. - January 26, 2016 Category: Microbiology Source Type: blogs

The dengue vaccine – an open letter to the MOH
(image credit: the MalayMail online) There’s no doubt about it – the statistics are grim. Dengue has seen a steep rise in 2014 and even higher numbers were seen in 2015. Early on in 2016, we have to brace ourselves for a spike due to the El Nino effect The Star reported the very grim data: According to the ministry, 336 people – an average of 28 a month – died from dengue last year compared to 215 in 2014, a rise of 56.3%. There was also an increase of 11.2% in the number of dengue cases throughout last year, up from 108,698 in 2014 to 120,836 cases. That’s 333 cases a month or 110 cases each day! The min...
Source: Malaysian Medical Resources - January 16, 2016 Category: Global & Universal Authors: palmdoc Tags: - Nation dengue Vaccine Source Type: blogs

The Importance of Sound Money and Banking: Lessons from China, 1905–1950
Conclusion China’s economic experiences during the first half of the 20th century reinforce fundamental principles about the importance of sound money and banking, fiscal rectitude and economic freedom for creating a harmonious society. It also suggests that the adoption of a rules-based monetary regime, which limits money creation and allows competing currencies, also deserves further attention. ____________ [1] This was the second time the Nationalist government resorted to wage and price controls; the first use was in December 1938. However, enforcement was difficult because as Chang (p. 343) notes, “The public … ...
Source: Cato-at-liberty - January 8, 2016 Category: American Health Authors: James A. Dorn Source Type: blogs

Some medical students could use lessons from kindergarten
I peruse the Student Doctor Network on occasion. I can honestly say, from the physician’s side of things, that many could have learned a thing or two in kindergarten. Hubris runs rampant, entitlement is endemic and many are Machiavellian and narcissistic. The trolls are always at the ready to descend on you if you ask for any kind of advice. Many on here are suspicious of you for asking simple questions. I had a question about getting back into a residency a couple of weeks back. In 2010, I had to pull out of a residency for personal reasons and remain good friends the program director (he recently wrote a letter of rec...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - December 24, 2015 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Christopher L. Aaron, MD Tags: Education Medical school Source Type: blogs

“A child’s shoe that was left near a popular border...
"A child's shoe that was left near a popular border crossing by the Rio Grande in Texas. The number of migrants crossing the #RioGrande illegally has risen sharply in recent weeks, replaying scenes from last year's influx of Central American children and families into South Texas. Many of the migrants crossing are women and children fleeing vicious gangs and endemic sexual violence in Central America. Rather than hiding from Border Patrol agents they often try to find them, to ask for protection and start the long legal battle to remain here. #regram from @ilanapl, who took this photo in November." By nytimes on Instagram....
Source: Kidney Notes - December 1, 2015 Category: Urology & Nephrology Authors: Joshua Schwimmer Source Type: blogs

Sexism in Science: Bias Beyond the Lab
CONCLUSION There’s no doubt that we’ve come far in this field and an improved concentration on exploring sex-based biology has resulted in a better understanding of sex differences–but we need to continue to such efforts in order to promote good health for all men and women. Clinical trials need to be designed to ensure not only the inclusion of, but also the recognition of their differences. Working toward inclusivity of medical research will benefit us all by increasing our understanding of what causes various illnesses and how to treat them. RESOURCES Primary Society for Women’s Health Research: History ...
Source: Disruptive Women in Health Care - November 19, 2015 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: dw at disruptivewomen.net Tags: Women's Health Source Type: blogs