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Ensuring Adequate Care For Pregnant Women And Newborns During An Influenza Pandemic
Pregnant women and newborns are at greatest risk in a flu epidemic, but more planning must be done to ensure that they receive priority treatment should an outbreak occur, according to a University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) and University of Pittsburgh study. The findings, published online in Emerging Health Threats Journal, raise concerns about the ability of hospitals to adequately treat this vulnerable population, particularly in light of the current H1N1 flu outbreak.

Reprogrammed Mouse Fibroblasts Can Make A Whole Mouse
In a paper publishing online July 23 in Cell Stem Cell, a Cell Press journal, Dr. Shaorong Gao and colleagues from the National Institute of Biological Sciences in Beijing, China, report an important advance in the characterization of reprogrammed induced pluripotent stem cells, or iPSCs.
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New Taxes Could Help Pay For Reform, But Would Cost Political Capital
Two new taxes that could help pay for health care reform both carry political baggage. The first, a possible new tax on at least some employer-sponsored health benefits, has support from members of Congress on both sides of the aisle. But during last year"s presidential campaign, President Obama spoke out strongly against just such a plan when his opponent, Sen. John McCain suggested it, Roll Call reports. "Within weeks, Obama may find himself hawking around the country legislation that includes a provision he so ardently rejected during the campaign. Obama didn"t just oppose the exclusion. He all but drew a "read my lips" line in the sand ... "For the first time in American history, [McCain] wants to tax your health benefits," Obama said on the campaign trail. "Apparently, Sen. McCain doesn"t think it"s enough that your health premiums have doubled"" (Koffler, 6/4).
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Simple Measures May Prevent Transmission Of Stomach Ulcer Bacteria

The stomach ulcer bacterium Helicobacter pylori is not transmitted through drinking water as previously thought, but rather through vomit and possibly faeces. This is shown in a thesis at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden. It is therefore possible to prevent the spread of the bacterium in developing countries through some fairly simple measures. "Taking some cheap but powerful measures may prevent the spread of the bacterium. It could be enough to isolate vomiting patients especially from small children for a short period of time, since Helicobacter pylori is not able to survive for long outside the stomach. If isolation is not possible, it may suffice to pay extra attention to good hygiene", says doctoral student Anders Janzon. The research team analysed the drinking water, lake water and wastewater in an area in Dhaka in Bangladesh, where the bacterium Helicobacter pylori is very common. The results show that while the diarrhoea bacterium ETEC is often present in the drinking water, Helicobacter pylori is not. Other studies have shown that new cases of Helicobacter pylori tend to pop up in connection with various diarrhoea illnesses, and this pointed the research team in the right direction. "We analysed vomit and diarrhoea from cholera patients, and found large amounts of active Helicobacter pylori. We therefore conclude that vomit is a very likely of new infections", says Janzon. ABOUT HELICOBACTER PYLORI Helicobacter pylori is one of the most common disease-causing bacteria among humans. Nearly 90% of the populations in developing countries are infected. The bacterium produces an enzyme that turns urea into carbon dioxide and ammonia, which in turn neutralises the gastric acid in the stomach. The infection can cause ulcers on the lining of the stomach and of the duodenum if it is left untreated, and these conditions can be deadly. The bacterium is also the main cause of stomach cancer. University of Gothenburg


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