March 1st 2008
This week in medicine
AIDS prevention The Chinese Ministry of Health has announced new policies designed to slow the spread of AIDS. In a welcome display of proactiveness, China is set to promote condom use and formulate policies to prevent and treat AIDS in men who have sex with men. Final details are yet to be released, but this is a commendable step forward for China.
Medical device legislation The US Supreme Court has waded into a debate about regulation of medical devices, such as artificial heart valves. The devices in question have undergone an FDA-supervised “premarket approval process”. The Supreme Court’s ruling now limits the authority of courts in individual US states to rule over harm to patients alleged to have been caused by this class of devices.
Black fever The Indian state of Guwahati is waiting for confirmation that a number of patients admitted to the Medical College Hospital have been infected by kala azar, or black fever. Black fever is transmitted by sand flies, is fatal if untreated, and was believed to be almost eradicated—these cases have sparked fears of an outbreak. The health department is sending field staff to the source area to monitor local people as a precautionary measure.
US cancer deaths A report from the American Cancer Society (ACS) showed that US cancer rates have dropped by more than 18·4% for men and 10·5% for women since the early 1990s, preventing an estimated 534 000 additional cancer deaths. However, the rate is now falling by only 1% and the ACS predicted about 1 437 000 new cancer cases and 565 000 cancer deaths in 2008.
New malaria envoy US philanthropist Ray Chambers has been appointed as UN Special Envoy for Malaria. Chambers—the founder of two charitable iniatives in the USA—will help the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon, to raise the issue of malaria on international political and development agendas.
Clear cut New surgical devices arriving in the UK’s NHS are making cataract surgery faster, safer, and more precise. Self-sealing 1·8 mm incisions on either side of the eye are now sufficient to allow a cataract to be emulsified and removed, and a replacement lens to be inserted.
Wealth vs health A comparison of child mortality with economic performance—the Wealth and Survival Index—indicates that some countries have not translated wealth into health improvements, according to a new study from Save the Children. Most notably, oil-rich Angola has almost three times the income of Sierra Leone, but only a slightly lower under-5 mortality rate. David Mepham, Director of Policy, describes a child’s chance of reaching its fifth birthday as a “lottery”.
Trust me, I’m a search engine Web giant Google is to test an online health records database using several thousand US volunteers. Users will be able to log histories, prescriptions, allergies, and more on their profiles, making these data easier to transfer. Password protection is promised, but some have expressed concern about how Google will use these personal details, and who might be able to gain access to them.
Free treatment The Taiwan Root Medical Peace Corps has recently provided free health care in the poverty-stricken area of Kaphunga, Swaziland. The Health and Social Welfare Minister, Njabulo Mabuza, said that many local residents would be too poor to ever go to hospital. This move further strengthens diplomatic ties between the two countries.
Cockfight ban The UN has urged the Dominican Republic to ban cock-fighting in a bid to curb bird flu in the Caribbean country. But whether the government will take action on what is a popular pastime for Dominicans, ahead of the country’s presidential elections in May, is uncertain.
Medicinal marijuana The American College of Physicians has endorsed the use of marijuana for medical purposes, and called for more research to assess its safety and efficacy. A dozen states already allow evidence-based use of marijuana for medical purposes, but the federal government has been accused of undermining those state laws.
Stick to nature The gecko lizard has provided inspiration for a waterproof and biodegradable bandage, according to a study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The bandage is made from a biorubber, with a microstructure that replicates the sticky substance on gecko feet, that allows them to climb vertical surfaces. This makes the bandage ideal for surgical wounds and internal injuries—a truly reptilian revelation.
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