This week in medicine
Tuesday, November 4th, 2008The following will appear in the Nov 8 issue of The Lancet:
US veterans The US Department of Veterans Affairs has reported that almost 15% of soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan who have sought medical care through the VA system say they experienced some form of “military sexual trauma”. Forms of trauma ranged from unwelcome advances to rape.
Uganda loses aid The Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has halted the release of US$12 million allocated to Uganda in 2003-04, because of poor management of funds. With an estimated 1 million Ugandans living with HIV/AIDS, the country will need to maintain donations from the Global Fund and other donors for its ambitious plan for HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention, predicted to cost $2 billion over 5 years.
Artificial heart A prosthetic heart, that is shaped like the human organ and pumps blood in the same rhythm, could be ready to implant into patients by 2011. The heart was developed by cardiac expert Alain Carpentier and engineers from the aerospace group EADS. It uses electronic sensors to control heart rate and blood flow, and includes chemically enhanced animal tissue to reduce the risk of rejection by the patient’s immune system.



