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Donors To Reevaluate Support For Myanmar's Fight Against HIV/AIDS
The AP/KTVZ.com examines how after years of strained relationships between the "military-run nation" of Myanmar and international donors that led to a large reduction in HIV/AIDS funding, donors are considering reinvesting in the country"s HIV/AIDS programs. According to AP/KTVZ.com, "Myanmar receives only about $3 per capita in aid, compared with $23 for Vietnam and $50 for Laos."
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Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation Awards Prestigious Fellowships To 17 Top Young Scientists
The Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation, a non-profit organization focused on supporting exceptional early career researchers and innovative cancer research, named 17 new Damon Runyon Fellows at its May 2009 Fellowship Award Committee review. The recipients of this prestigious, three-year award are outstanding postdoctoral scientists conducting basic and translational cancer research in the laboratories of leading senior investigators across the country. The Fellowship is specifically intended to encourage the nation"s most promising young scientists to pursue careers in cancer research by providing them with independent funding ($140,000 each) to work on innovative projects.
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Ohio Supreme Court Restricts Mifepristone Use In State To Scope Of FDA's Approval Letter
In answering two certified questions from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit, the Ohio State Supreme Court on July 1 declared that a state law regulating the use of mifepristone -- which is used in medication abortion -- bars physicians from prescribing it for off-label use, BNA reports. The court confirmed that doctors who use the drug to induce abortion must do so in compliance with the 49-day gestational limit included in FDA"s 2000 drug approval letter. Doctors also must prescribe the drug in accordance with the protocols and dosage indications included in its FDA-approved labeling.Interpretation of State Law in ContentionThe Ohio General Assembly in 2004 passed a law (Section 2919.123 (A)) that required any health care professional prescribing or dispensing mifepristone to comply with "all provisions of federal law that govern the use" of the drug. The law defines "federal law" as "any law, rule or regulation of the United States or any drug approval letter" from FDA "that governs or regulates the use of" mifepristone for inducing abortion. FDA"s approval letter states that the drug "is indicated for use in the termination of pregnancy (through 49 days" pregnancy) and has no other approved indication for use during pregnancy." In addition, the drug"s label states the recommended dosage and that its use requires three office visits by the patient. Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio Region challenged the law in district court, arguing that neither FDA"s approval letter nor any other federal provision bans the off-label use of mifespristone to induce abortion beyond 49 days" gestation. The group also argued that the state law was unconstitutionally vague because it did not notify abortion providers in advance regarding which FDA documents were included in the state"s criminal law. In addition, Planned Parenthood said that prohibiting the evidence-based use of the drug would infringe on the rights of women, requiring them to take higher-than-necessary dosages of the drug or to undergo surgical abortions when a noninvasive alternative is available. The district court ruled in favor of Planned Parenthood, saying that the law was void because of vagueness. The state appealed the decision to the 6th Circuit, which then submitted two questions to the state Supreme Court seeking its interpretation of the law.The state Supreme Court ruled that FDA"s drug approval letter is included in the definition of "federal law" and that the state law is not ambiguous, according to BNA. The court said that because the drug approval letter incorporated FDA"s labeling text, Ohio physicians cannot prescribe or provide mifepristone to induce abortion outside of the stipulations of the drug approval letter and approved label. According to BNA, product liability law experts say the ruling will not have an impact outside of mifepristone or the state of Ohio.Case Returns to Appeals CourtRoger Evans of Planned Parenthood Federation of America said that he is not sure if the court"s decision helps or hurts the group"s case. Evans said that the district court declared the law unconstitutional based on an interpretation that the statute operates in the same way the state Supreme Court ruled it does. He noted that there are other possible interpretations of the law that would have solved the constitutional issues at the center of the litigation. However, because those issues were not resolved, the case now returns to the 6th Circuit, which will decide if the statute is constitutional based on the state Supreme Court"s interpretation. If the circuit court agrees with the district court that the statute is unconstitutionally vague, the state of Ohio could seek a U.S. Supreme Court review. If the circuit court finds that the statute is constitutional, the case likely will be sent back to the district court for resolution of some other issues in the case, according to BNA (BNA, 7/6).
Public Health

What Is Cellulitis? What Causes Cellulitis?

Cellulitis and cellulite are two completely different things. Cellulitis is a bacterial infection of the dermis - the deep layer of skin - as well as the subcutaneous tissues (fat and soft tissue layer) that are under the skin. While cellulite is caused by fatty deposits under the skin that give it an orange peel or cottage cheese look. This article is about the bacterial infection - cellulitis. Bacteria are present on the skin and do not generally cause any harm. However, if they go deep into the skin they can cause infection. They generally get in through cuts, grazes or bites. People with eczema or psoriasis have a higher risk of bacteria getting into the skin. What causes cellulitis? Bacteria, most commonly streptococci or staphylococci groups, get under the skin and cause infection. Streptococci and staphylococci groups are commonly found on the surface of the skin and cause no harm - but if they get under the skin they can. For the bacteria to get in they need a route - a break in the skin caused by: *An ulcer *A burn *A bite *A graze *A cut *Some skin conditions, such as eczema, athlete"s foot, or psoriasis The bacteria may also enter by some other route, such as through the blood or lymphatic system. This is most likely if no potential entry route can be identified on the skin of the patient. Who are more susceptible to cellulitis? *Obese people - obese people are more likely to have swelling in their legs. This raises the chances of developing cellulitis. *People with a weakened immune system - such as patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy, those with AIDS/HIV, and very elderly people. *People with diabetes - if the diabetes is not properly treated or controlled the patient"s immune system will be weaker, he/she will have circulatory problems which can lead to skin ulcers. Poor control of blood glucose levels allows bacteria to grow faster in the affected tissue and facilitates rapid progression if the infection enters the bloodstream. *People with blood circulation problems - if a person has poor circulation he/she is more likely to develop skin infections because the blood supply is not ideal for fighting off infections. *People with chickenpox and shingles - chicken pox and shingles cause skin blisters. If the blisters break they become ideal routes for bacteria to get into the skin. *People with lymphodema - people with lymphodema tend to have swollen skin which is more likely to crack. Cracks in the skin may become perfect entry routes for bacteria. *People who have had cellulitis before - anybody who has had cellulitis has a higher risk of developing it again compared to others. *People who inject illegal drugs - drug addicts who do not have access to a regular supply of clean needles are more likely suffer from infections deep inside the skin. *Highly densely populated areas - there is a higher incidence of cellulitis among people who share common living quarters, such as military installations, school/college dormitories, and homeless shelters. What are the symptoms of cellulitis? Although symptoms may appear in any part of the body, the legs are most commonly affected. The affected area will become: *Warm *Tender, inflamed *Swollen *Red *Painful Some patients may have blisters. The infected person may also have a fever, chills, nausea, and he/she may shiver. Swollen lymph glands - these may become tender. If the cellulitis has affected the patient"s leg the lymph glands in the groin will be tender. How is cellulitis diagnosed? Diagnosis is usually fairly straightforward and does not generally require any complicated tests. A GP (general practitioner, primary care physician) can do this. The doctor will examine the patient and assess the symptoms. The number of cases where Lyme disease has been misdiagnosed as staph- or step-induced cellulitis is growing. It is important to discard the possibility that some other condition may have caused the symptoms, such as varicose eczema. The doctor may take a swab (sample) if there is an open wound. This will help him/her find out what type of bacteria it is. After treatment the patient needs to come back for a follow-up so that the doctor can confirm that the treatment has worked. What is the treatment for cellulitis? *Medication Cellulitis nearly always responds rapidly to antibiotics. Some patients experience a slight worsening of the reddening of the skin at the start of antibiotic treatment - this usually subsides within a couple of days. Anyone who experiences fever or vomiting after two days of antibiotic treatment should contact their doctor immediately. Most doctors in the UK prescribe flucloxacillin for cellulitis. For those who cannot take flucloxacillin, erythromycin is a good alternative. Treatment will generally last 7 days. If a patient"s infection was caused by contaminated water he/she may have to take two antibiotics simultaneously - usually doxycycline, or ciprofloxacin combined with flucloxacillin or erythromycin. Oral antibiotics will be given to patients whose infection has not spread to the bloodstream or lymph system, and if they do not have any medical problems. Otherwise the medication may be administered intravenously or by injection. *Things you can do yourself *Drink plenty of water *Keep the affected area elevated, this helps reduce swelling and pain *Take a pain killer if you need to (check with your doctor). If you have had stomach problems, such as a peptic ulcer, ask your doctor what painkiller you can take. If you have asthma, check with your doctor before taking a pain medication. Doctors do not recommend aspirin for cellulitis pain treatment. In some countries the pharmacist can be a useful of advice. Treatment in hospital Some patients with severe cellulitis may require hospital treatment, especially if the cellulitis is deteriorating, if the patient has a high fever, vomiting, fails to respond to treatment, or has recurrences of cellulitis. Most people who are treated in hospital will receive their antibiotic through a vein in their arm (intravenously, using a drip). What are the complications of cellulitis? In the vast majority of cases cellulitis treatment is effective and the patient will have no complications. A small percentage of patients may have serious complications. The risk of complications is higher if the cellulite is not treated. *Blood poisoning (septicemia) When the bacteria get into the bloodstream the patient has a higher risk of developing septicemia. A person with septicemia will have a fever, accelerated heart beat, rapid breathing, hypotension (low blood pressure), dizziness when standing up, diarrhea, reduced urine flow, sweaty and cold skin, and pale skin. It is not uncommon for patients to eventually lose consciousness. Anybody who suspects blood poisoning should call the emergency services (ambulance) immediately. *Infection goes elsewhere This is very unusual, but the bacteria that caused the cellulitis can spread to other parts of the body, including muscle, bone or the heart valves. If this happens the patient needs treatment immediately. *Permanent swelling People who do not have their cellulitis treated have a higher risk of eventually having a permanent swelling in the affected area. Is cellulitis preventable? Some cases of cellulitis are not preventable. There are things people can do to reduce their chances of developing it. However, there are no large studies confirm some of the suggestions below. *Treat your cuts and grazes If your skin is broken because of a cut, bite or graze, keep it clean and disinfected. Apply antiseptic cream after running tap water on the damaged area. Keep the cut covered with a plaster (band aid) or dressing. Keep the dressing clean and dry. *Reduce the likelihood of scratching and infecting your skin If your fingernails are short and you have itchy skin you are less likely to create an opening for the bacteria to get in when you scratch your skin. Make sure your fingernails are clean. *Don"t let your skin go dry Use moisturizers to prevent your skin from cracking if your skin is dry. If you have greasy skin you will not need to do this. *Lose weight if you are obese Obesity raises the risk of developing cellulitis. *Diet and lifestyle If you eat a well a well-balanced diet including plenty of fruits and vegetables, and do regular exercise, your immune system will benefit. Your immune system will have a better chance of fighting off any bacteria that penetrate through the skin. *Protect your skin If you are going to do some gardening there are things you can do to protect your skin from cuts and grazes; wear gloves, wear long sleeves if you are going to reach into prickly bushes, do not wear shorts if there is a likelihood of grazing the skin of your legs. Written by Christian Nordqvist Copyright: Medical News Today Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today


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