The following will be published in the September 4 issue of The Lancet:

Stem cell shock Scientists in the USA, including National Institutes of Health director Francis Collins, are in shock after a federal district court issued an injunction on President Barack Obama’s rules on embryonic stem cell research. Obama had lifted restrictions placed on a previous amendment by former President George W Bush. Collins said the court decision “pours sand into the engine of discovery”.

Bolivia plague alert Bolivia has declared a health alert in La Paz after a 14-year-old boy died from bubonic plague. The disease has killed three people in neighbouring Peru in the past 2 months. Health controls and programmes for disease prevention have been intensified in the area in an attempt to prevent the disease from spreading.

Menu labelling The US Food and Drug Administration has released two documents to help chain restaurants comply with new federal requirements for nutrition labelling. Under the new law, food establishments with 20 or more locations will be required to provide calorie and nutritional information for menu items, food on display, and self-service food.

China relaxes death penalty China’s top legislature has, for the first time, dropped the death penalty for 13 non-violent economic crimes such as smuggling of cultural relics and faking of tax receipts, in the latest amendment to the Criminal Law. The revision would cut the 68 crimes at present punishable by death by about a fifth to 55.

Design for poverty Icelandic designer Stefán Einarsson has won the UN Ads Against Poverty competition, the aim of which was to raise awareness of the Millennium Development Goals in Europe. More than 2000 entries from 34 European countries were submitted since the start of the contest in May this year. Einarsson’s design, “We are still waiting”, calls on world leaders to live up to their promises of ending poverty by 2015. 

UK NHS inundated with complaints The number of written complaints about the UK National Health Service (NHS) has reached its highest rate in 12 years, according to a report by NHS Information Centre. 101 077 compl­aints were recorded in 2009–10, represent­ing a 13·4% increase from 2008–09. Almost 45% of complaints were about the medical profession.

Sexual health in Fiji The incidence of sexually transmitted infections in pregnant mothers has risen in Fiji over the past 14 years, according to the country’s Department of the Preven­tion of Parent to Child Transmission of HIV. Department head Litia Narube said that, of around 8000 women who deliver every year at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital in Suva, only 14 agree to have an HIV test.

Mumbai malaria Mumbai, India, is witnessing record rates of malaria, with 3800 cases in August alone, according to local health officials. More than 14 700 cases have been recorded so far this year—almost as many as the whole of 2009. Médecins Sans Frontières are helping to deal with the situation by providing treatment, diagnostic kits, and training.

Hypertension in pregnancy The UK’s National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has issued new guidance on the treatment of hypertension in pregnancy. The guidelines recom­mend that pregnant women at risk of hypertension should take 75 mg aspirin daily and avoid angiotensin modulators. Restriction of salt intake and use of dietary supplements such as antioxidants are not protective, the advice warns.

Strike “threatens health” A 2-week public-sector strike in South Africa, which has affected nurses and doctors in government-run institutions, could have threatened the lives of people living with HIV/AIDS, according to observers. The workers were de­manding an 8·6% salary increase and a R1000 (US$136) housing allowance.

World Water Week Sept 5–9 is World Water Week 2010. The event, which is presented by the Stockholm International Water Institute, will focus on several important issues including water and sanitation in Africa in view of the Millennium Development Goals, climate change, pollution, and biodiversity. There will also be awards, seminars, and training courses for participants.

Cuba cuts cigarette subsidy The Cuban Government will stop sub­sidising cigarettes from this month in a bid to reduce state spending. Individuals older than 55 years used to receive a 25% discount on four packets of cigarettes per month, but will now have to pay the full price of US$0·33 per pack. Cigarettes join peas and potatoes as withdrawn products from the subsidised ration list.

The following will be published in the Aug 28 issue of The Lancet:

Radiation risk Radiation exposure in medicine has risen substantially over the period 1997–2007, reports the UN Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation. In high-income countries, increased use of CT scanning and other procedures means that medical exposure to radiation is now similar in magnitude to that from environmental sources.

Drastic decision Insufficient fund­ing has forced the World Food Programme to make drastic cuts to its emergency food programme in Niger—only families with children younger than 2 years will now receive rations. In the absence of aid, and with almost 2 months to go before the next harvest, many will be left starving, according to Oxfam. Nearly double the food currently available would be required to support the 7·9 million affected.

Teen smoking Teenage smoking rates in England fell after the legal age for buying cigarettes rose from 16 to 18 years in 2007. The Cancer Research UK study of 1000 teenagers aged 16–17 years showed that, since the law changed, rates have decreased from 24% to about 17%. According to Jenny Fidler, who led the study, findings show that tobacco policies can make a difference.

No more nightcaps? Russian author­ities have extended the time during which the sale of drinks containing more than 16% alcohol is prohibited in Moscow. As of September, the public will be unable to purchase strong liquor between 2200 h and 1000 h as part of an ongoing campaign to reduce consumption and curb illegal alcohol production.

MDG progress A case study by Australian researchers shows that progress on the Millennium Develop­ment Goals (MDGs) can be made even in extremely volatile settings. In Afghanistan, infant and child mortality decreased between 2001 and 2006, and immunisation rates have vastly improved. The researchers suggest that a reframing of the MDGs so that they serve local development has been a key to this modest success.

Salmonella outbreak Half a billion eggs have been recalled from two farms in the state of Iowa, USA, after a salmonella outbreak. Both farms, which distribute eggs nationwide under many different names, have been linked to the same strain but the source of the outbreak remains unknown. Infections with Salmonella enteritidis have increased four-fold in the USA since May, 2010.

Year of Youth Aug 12 saw the launch of the International Year of Youth at UN headquarters in New York, USA. The year, whose theme is “dialogue and mutual understanding”, is aimed at increasing nations’ commitment to and investment in young people, and at improving the participation and inter­cultural understanding of young people themselves.

Smoking in China More than 300 million Chinese people currently smoke—53% of men and 2% of women—according to the Global Adult Tobacco Survey. More than 60% of adults are exposed to second-hand tobacco smoke in the workplace, yet less than a quarter are aware that exposure to tobacco smoke causes life-threatening illnesses.

Lamotrigine alert The US Food and Drug Administration has warned of an association between lamotrigine and aseptic meningitis. 40 cases were reported between 1994 and 2009. GlaxoSmithKline is updating its information for prescribers and patients, and clinicians are advised to consider discontinuing the drug if patients develop meningitis and no other cause can be identified.

Joint aid to Nepal Leading aid donors including the UK’s Department for International Development, the World Bank, GAVI, USAID, and UNICEF have signed a Joint Financing Arrangement to help fund Nepal’s new national health plan to reduce maternal and child mortality. The agreement will simplify aid management and reduce reporting requirements.

HIV on trial The trial of German singer Nadja Benaissa, accused of grievous bodily harm after allegedly neglecting to inform her sexual partners of her HIV-positive status, is expected to end this week. The proceedings have drawn criticism from the charity Deutsche AIDS-Hilfe, which warned of the “criminalisation of HIV transmission” and the “stigmatisation of HIV-positive people”.

Olympic awareness Over the past 2 weeks, UNAIDS has been partnering with the organising committee of the first ever Youth Olympic Games, in Singapore, to provide HIV prevention information and to raise awareness of HIV. UNAIDS head Michel Sidibé said young athletes were ”role models in their communities” who should be called on to “lead the preven­tion revolution”.

The following will be published in the Aug 21 issue of The Lancet:

Oil spill effects The US Institute of Medicine has published the summary of a public workshop on how the health effects of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill could be monitored. The June 22–23 workshop was requested by the US Department of Health and Human Services, and sought input from government officials, scientists, policy experts, health-care providers, and residents.

Plague hits Peru On July 30, 2010, the Ministry of Health in Peru confirmed a plague outbreak in the Ascope province of Department La Libertad. Of the 17 cases of plague confirmed by the ministry, four are pneumonic plague, 12 bubonic, and one septicaemic. Control measures being implemented include insect control in houses in high-risk regions, and improved disease surveillance.

Side-effect data The European Medi­cines Agency (EMA) has agreed to allow access to data it holds about drug side-effects. Having previously expressed concern about what trans­parency would mean for patients’ confidentiality, the EMA has now agreed to release the reports but with personal data omitted. The decision follows criticism about data secrecy from the European Ombudsman.

World Humanitarian Day Aug 19 marks World Humanitarian Day. The day is aimed to raise awareness of the jobs of humanitarian workers, and to pay tribute to those who have lost their lives in the cause of duty. The UN General Assembly established the day in 2008, and invites all countries, UN entities, and non-governmental organisations to observe it annually.

Pharma code The UK Prescription Medi­cines Code of Practice Authority has opened a public consultation on amendments to the Code of Practice for the drug in­dustry. Suggested changes relate to transparency and the use of pro­motional aids. The consultation will close on Sept 1, and the new Code, if approved, will come into effect next year.

Dengue vaccine trial The US National Institutes of Health has announced the start of a phase 1 clinical trial of a tetravalent dengue vaccine. The trial, which will assess the safety and immunogenicity of the vaccine in healthy volunteers, is the culmination of almost a decade of development work. There is currently no vaccine or specific drug treatment for dengue.

Drug legalisation Former Mexican President Vicente Fox has added his backing to a call for the legalisation of illicit drugs in the country. Fox, who was President from 2000 to 2006, argued that “radical prohibition strategies” had resulted in the rise of a powerful and violent drugs cartel. Current President Felipe Calderon has called for a debate on the issue, but personally opposes legalisation.

Milk powder concerns The Chinese Ministry of Health has launched an investigation into possible hormone contamination of infant milk powder after three baby girls in southern China were found to have signs of premature breast development. Their parents claimed that it was due to the same brand of formula milk they took. Samples of the milk powder are being tested by food safety officials.

End-of-life choices A report published in the UK by the National End of Life Care Intelligence Network reveals great variation in place of death according to region. The figures, which showed for example that 78% of deaths in the London borough of Waltham Forest occurred in hospital compared with just 45% in the southwestern town of Torbay, are set to challenge current planning for end-of-life care.

HIV counsellors Lay counsellors in South African HIV testing clinics are threatening to strike after months of non-payment. Contracted non-governmental organisations have failed to pay counsellors because of delayed transfers of government stipends. The Budget and Expenditure Monitoring Forum has declared that funds are insufficient to support ambitious government targets to test 15 million for HIV by April, 2011.

Jellyfish fright Hundreds of holidaymakers in eastern Spain have fallen foul of an army of tiny, stinging jellyfish. The nasty Cnidaria are virtually undetectable to swimmers, according to the local tourism department. Scientists suggest that such events could become more common owing to climate change and overfishing.

Dubious honour Phil Craig, who has spent his professional life studying disease-causing parasites in Tibet and western China, has been “rewarded” by having one named after him. Heligmosomoides craigi is transmitted from the gut of voles to humans via dogs and foxes, and is associated with a fatal disease that kills 95% of affected people within 10 years of diagnosis.

The following will be published in the Aug 14 issue of The Lancet:

Floodwater danger WHO is seriously concerned about the risk of waterborne diarrhoeal diseases in Pakistan, where the continuing monsoon floods affect nearly 14 million people. A disease outbreak early warning system has been activated, and efforts to distribute clean water have increased. WHO has provided 30 000 diarrhoea treatment kits.

Polio free UNICEF announced last week that the Horn of Africa is once more polio free. The eastern nations of Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda have reported no cases of wild poliovirus for more than 1 year. Although the achievement is an important step towards the eradication of the virus in Africa, UNICEF stressed that vaccination programmes must continue if gains are to be protected.

Pertussis epidemic A pertussis epidemic in California, USA, is showing no sign of abating, according to Mark Horton, director of the California Department of Public Health. 2174 cases of the disease have been identified this year, compared with 349 in the same months of 2009. An infant from San Diego County was the seventh victim to die from the disease this year.

Tuberculosis in Burma According to local news reports, tuberculosis could be an even bigger problem in Burma than previously thought. 130 000 new cases of tuberculosis were reported in the country in 2009, nearly 10% of which were associated with HIV infection. A previous WHO estimate put the figure for 2008 at 83 403.

Controlled drugs The UK’s Royal Colleges should develop guidelines on the use of controlled drugs, says the Care Quality Commission (CQC). In its third annual report on the adoption of regulations put in place after general practitioner Harold Shipman killed up to 200 patients with diamorphine, the CQC notes that progress has been made in monitoring, but that individual-level data are still lacking.

Brazil fights hepatitis B The Brazilian Government has announced a new strategy to combat hepatitis B virus infection. Minister of Health José Gomes Temporão said that the number of vaccines offered to the population will increase by 163% in 2011. The strategy is to widen the group of people getting vaccinated from the current 0–19 years old up to 29 years by 2012.

Billionaires’ pledge 38 US billionaires have already committed to The Giving Pledge, a philanthropic campaign started last month by Bill Gates and Warren Buffett. Even though the minimum threshold for pledges is 50% of the individual’s wealth, the organisation has revealed that many of its donors have promised to contribute substantially larger proportions.

Heatwave deaths The heatwave af­fect­ing central Russia has coincided with a doubling of the mortality rate in the capital, Moscow. Health chief Andrei Seltsovsky said that the daily death rate was now about 700, compared with the usual 360–380. However, he played down a direct link to ailments such as heat stroke and respiratory problems caused by smoke from wildfires.

Prison violence According to statistics released by the Howard League for Penal Reform, acts of violence in prisons in England and Wales increased by 60% between 2000 and 2009, particularly those against non-white and foreign nationals. The Director of the Howard League urges for reform to provide proper support to prisoners, especially those with addictions and mental health issues.

Illegal abortion Health authorities in Shanghai, China, are working to reduce the rate of teenage pregnancy and illegal abortion. Hospitals that engage in unlawful terminations, which are attractive to underage girls because they do not require parental notification, are being targeted and penalised accordingly. Improved sex education has also been identified as a key priority.

Sniff power A new communication and control device for paralysed patients has been developed. The device operates by measuring changes in air pressure within the nose when a patient sniffs, and takes advantage of the soft palate’s receipt of signals directly from the brain rather than the spinal column. Designer Noam Sobel hopes that the device could allow people to operate wheelchairs.

Arrivederci pizza? The Italian Health Ministry has issued new guidelines on school lunches. Health Minister Ferruccio Fazio said that 33% of Italian schoolchildren aged 8–12 years are now obese or overweight. Prepacked cakes and vending machines will be replaced with healthier, more Mediterranean options such as seasonal fruit, salami, pasta, and fish.

The following will be published in the August 7 issue of The Lancet:

Global warming A review by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Admini­stration confirms that the world is getting hotter. Data from ten key climate indicators provide evidence to support long-term warm­ing. “The temperature increase of one degree Fahrenheit over the past 50 years… has already altered our planet”, said report co-editor Deke Arndt.

Cholera in Cameroon An outbreak of cholera in northern Cameroon has killed 77 people since June. The government is concerned that the worst epidemic since 2004 might spread rapidly to neighbouring countries such as Chad and Nigeria. Cameroon Health Minister, Mama Fouda, has encouraged people to act vigilantly and hygienically, and to report cases quickly.

Fake finder Scientists in the UK and Sweden have been awarded £473 000 by the Wellcome Trust to produce a portable device for the detection of counterfeit drugs. The battery-powered instrument will use quadruple resonance spectroscopy to detect fake or substandard drugs without the need to remove them from their packaging. The device could be on the market in 2 years.

Respiratory disease alert A large increase in respiratory diseases such as pneumonia has been recorded in El Salvador in the past few weeks. Health Minister Eduardo Espinoza declared that, although they have enough medicines to treat patients, hospitals and clinics are seriously understaffed. 1·3 million cases of acute respiratory infections have been reported this year in the country.

Rio slum clearing Slums in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, are to be cleared ahead of the 2016 Olympic Games in a major rebuilding plan costing more than £2·9 billion and affecting over 260 000 households. 123 of the most “at-risk” slums are to be torn down and 13 000 families relocated. However, rebuilding will take 10 years and thus will not be finished before the Olympics.

Weight of motherhood The UK’s National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has issued new guidance on how to help women to achieve and maintain a healthy weight before, during, and after pregnancy. It is hoped that by increasing mothers’ awareness of the health risks, weight management practises will increase. 15–20% of UK women are currently overweight or obese during pregnancy.

Floods cause poisoning scare Severe floods in northeast China have caused 3000 barrels of chemicals from two storage facilities to be washed into the Songhua River, a major drinking-water supply for millions. Water supplies were briefly suspended owing to concerns about contamination. Water supplies have mostly been restored and water quality is being monitored.

New MRC head John Savill has been appointed the next Chief Executive of the UK’s Medical Research Council (MRC). Savill, who will succeed outgoing head Leszek Borysiewicz on Oct 1, is currently Vice-Principal of the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, University of Edinburgh, where he will retain a part-time research position.

Free hotel condoms In a bid to promote safe sex and control HIV/AIDS in Shanghai, China, the city’s health authorities have proposed the distribution of 500 000 free condoms in guest rooms at low-budget and Expo-designated hotels, and of 300 condom-vending machines in hotel lobbies and entertainment venues. Shanghai residents have said the programme should include all hotels.

Animal testing trend Use of genetic­ally modified animals in scientific procedures has overtaken that of “normal” animals for the first time, according to the UK Home Office report, Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals. As a consequence, it is deemed likely that animal-based experimentation will continue to grow, despite adoption of alternative procedures for drug testing.

Unequal measures The Latin Ameri­can and Caribbean region is the most unequal in the world, accord­ing to a UN report. Those at the bottom of the socioeconomic scale are disproportionately women, in­digenous populations, and people of African descent. Anti-poverty policies will not be successful if they do not address these deep-rooted social hierarchies, the report states.

Longest lifespan Japan is struggling to cope with the rising welfare costs of its rapidly ageing society, as Japanese women continue to hold the 25-year record for the longest lifespan: an average of 86·44 years. This record is attributed to improvements in the treatment of cardiac disorders, strokes, and cancer, three of the main causes of death in Japan.