Multiple sclerosis more often transmitted by fathers

Yesterday, a group of scientists from the U.S. and Canada, headed by O.H. Kantarci from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, published an article in the professional journal Neurology on the transmission of multiple sclerosis (MS). The result of their studies is that the disease is transmitted to children more often when the father is the one having the disease.

In their studies, 441 children were examined whose fathers or mothers had MS, 45 of which were ill themselves. While only in 27 out of 323 cases, mothers transmitted the disease to their children - which makes 8,36 percent of the cases -, children of fathers with MS inherited it in 18 out of 117 cases - i.e. in 15,38 percent of the cases.

MS is an illness caused by the immune system destroying nerves between the brain and the spinal cord. Later disorders consist of paralysis, speech disorders, impaired visions and problems in motion. Researchers found that MS is not a classical hereditary disease, but is caused by a number of genetic and outer impacts. Also, it is likely that several genes (with complex interactions) have an influence on the development of the disease.

The actual reasons for people to suffer from MS are still unknown. But what is known is that it occurs approximately twice as much in women than in men. And this could be the reason for fathers transmitting the disease to their children more often than mothers. The group thinks that men who are actually ill are carrying more genetic material causing the illness than women with MS which leads to a higher probability for their children to also have MS. This is known as the "Carter effect" in medicine.


Multiple Sklerose: Väter vererben sie häufiger als Mütter

Rochester (Minnesota) (Vereinigte Staaten), 26.07.2006 – Multiple Sklerose (MS) wird von betroffenen Vätern häufiger auf die Kinder vererbt als von betroffenen Müttern. Das geht aus einer Studie einer Gruppe von Wissenschaftlern aus den USA und Kanada hervor, die am 25. Juli 2006 unter Federführung von O.H. Kantarci von der Mayo-Klinik in Rochester, Minnesota, in der Zeitschrift „Neurology“ veröffentlicht wurde.

Untersucht wurden in der Studie 441 Kinder, deren Väter oder Mütter an MS erkrankt waren. Von den Kindern waren 45 selbst erkrankt. Während die Väter in 18 von 117 Fällen die Krankheit übertragen hatten – das ergibt einen Anteil von 15,38 Prozent –, wurde die Krankheit von den Müttern in 27 von 323  Fällen vererbt, was nur 8,36 Prozent der Fälle ausmacht.

MS ist eine Krankheit, bei der Nerven zwischen Gehirn und Rückenmark durch das körpereigene Immunsystem zerstört werden. In der Folge kommt es zu Lähmungen, Sprach- und Sehstörungen sowie Bewegungsproblemen. Obwohl MS keine klassische Erbkrankheit ist, gehen die Forscher jedoch davon aus, dass eine Kombination aus genetischen und äußeren Faktoren die Wahrscheinlichkeit für eine Erkrankung erhöht. Auch sind vermutlich mehrere Gene (in einer komplexen Wechselwirkung) an der Entstehung der Krankheit beteiligt.

Wie bereits gesagt, sind die genauen Ursachen, die zu einer Erkrankung führen, noch nicht geklärt. Allerdings sind Frauen ungefähr doppelt so häufig betroffen wie Männer. Und genau das könnte auch der Grund dafür zu sein, weshalb Väter die Krankheit eher an ihre Kinder vererben als Mütter. Die Forscher vermuten, dass bei den Männern, die tatsächlich erkranken, die Anzahl der genetischen Faktoren, die zum Krankheitsausbruch beitragen, höher ist als bei erkrankten Frauen. Dadurch sei auch die Wahrscheinlichkeit für die Kinder von MS-kranken Vätern, selbst an MS zu erkranken, erhöht. In der Medizin wird das als „Carter-Effekt“ bezeichnet.


National Basketball Association suspends season due to COVID-19 concerns

On Wednesday, the United States' National Basketball Association (NBA) suspended its professional basketball season due to concerns regarding COVID-19. The NBA's decision followed a Utah Jazz player testing positive for the COVID-19 virus.

The NBA did not release the identity of the player in question in its announcement. They did say he was not present at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, where the Utah Jazz were to play against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

According to its press release, the NBA was "suspending game play following the conclusion of [Wednesday's] schedule of games until further notice." The Jazz's game was cancelled, as was another NBA game Wednesday between the Sacramento Kings and the New Orleans Pelicans. Other games scheduled for Wednesday were still held, according to NBC News.

The United States' other major basketball organization, the National Collegiate Athletic Association, which runs college basketball, has cancelled its own tournament, March Madness, for both men's and women's leagues.

According to Johns Hopkins University, as of Wednesday, there were at least 1,279 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United States. CNBC reported there were at least 118,381 cases worldwide.


Associação Nacional de Basquetebol suspende temporada devido o COVID-19

Na quarta-feira, a Associação Nacional de Basquete dos Estados Unidos (NBA) suspendeu sua temporada profissional de basquete devido a preocupações com o COVID-19. A decisão da NBA foi devido a um jogador do Utah Jazz testar positivo para o coronavírus.

A NBA não divulgou a identidade do jogador em questão em seu anúncio. Eles disseram que ele não estava presente na Chesapeake Energy Arena, em Oklahoma City, onde o Utah Jazz jogaria contra o Oklahoma City Thunder.

De acordo com seu comunicado de imprensa, a NBA estava "suspendendo o jogo após a conclusão do cronograma [de quarta-feira] de jogos até novo aviso". O jogo do Jazz foi cancelado, assim como outro jogo da NBA na quarta-feira entre o Sacramento Kings e o New Orleans Pelicans. Outros jogos agendados para quarta-feira ainda foram realizados, segundo a NBC News.

A outra grande organização de basquete dos Estados Unidos, a Associação Atlética Universitária Nacional, que administra o basquete universitário, cancelou seu próprio torneio, March Madness, para ligas masculinas e femininas.

Segundo a Universidade Johns Hopkins, na quarta-feira, havia pelo menos 1.279 casos confirmados de COVID-19 nos Estados Unidos. A CNBC informou que havia pelo menos 118.381 casos em todo o mundo.


Nelson Mandela hospitalised again with lung infection recurrence

The South African Government has said Nelson Mandela, formerly a President of the country, has been readmitted to hospital. Their press release states this is due to the return of a lung infection Mandela has experienced before.

Mandela was taken into hospital just prior to midnight local time (0200 UTC) last night. Current South African President Jacob Zuma made an "appeal to the people of South Africa and the world to pray for our beloved Madiba and his family and to keep them in their thoughts," he said, adding: "We have full confidence in the medical team and know that they will do everything possible to ensure [his] recovery". The statement did not disclose more detail than the request from President Zuma's office "once again for understanding and privacy in order to allow space to the doctors to do their work."

Mandela underwent an arranged medical check-up earlier this month; the former South African President has been hospitalised at least four times since the start of 2011, most-recently on December 8 last year, when he was treated for gallstones and a lung infection. He was discharged on December 26, after an eighteen day stay in hospital.


Nelson Mandela es hospitalizado de nuevo por infección pulmonar

El Gobierno Sudafricano ha dicho que el expresidente de ese país, Nelson Mandela, ha sido nuevamente hospitalizado. El comunicado de prensa afirma que se debe a una recaída en la infección pulmonar que lo aqueja.

Mandela fue llevado al hospital justo antes de la medianoche del 27 de marzo. El actual presidente,  Jacob Zuma, hizo un llamado "a la gente de Sudáfrica y del mundo para orar por nuestro querido Mandela y su familia. Tenemos plena confianza en el equipo médico y sabemos que van a hacer todo lo posible para garantizar su recuperación".

Mandela fue sometido a una revisión médica a principios de este mes. El ex presidente de Sudáfrica ha sido hospitalizado por lo menos cuatro veces desde el año 2011, más recientemente, el 8 de diciembre del año pasado, cuando recibió tratamiento por cálculos biliares y una infección pulmonar. Fue dado de alta el 26 de diciembre.


Nelson Mandela suffers collapsed lung

Nelson Mandela, the former South African president, is currently recovering from a collapsed lung in Johannesburg, according to the Reuters news agency. The 92-year-old was admitted to hospital on Wednesday for 'routine tests', having been airlifted from Cape Town, where he and his wife were having a holiday, to a hospital near his home in Johannesburg. He is thought to be recovering well.

The South African president Jacob Zuma stated that "President Mandela is comfortable and is well looked after by a good team of medical specialists", going on to say that "[he] urge[s] the media to afford him the dignity and respect that he is entitled to as the country's founding democratic president, as a national hero and also as a citizen of the republic" of South Africa.

Robert Gibbs, spokesperson for the White House, stated that "the [U.S.] president and the first lady, their thoughts are wi[th] Nelson Mandela".

Mandela spent twenty-seven years in a South African prison as a leader of the South African anti-apartheid movement, before being released in 1990 and becoming South Africa's first black president.


Ο Νέλσον Μαντέλα πάσχει από κατάρρευση πνεύμονα

Ο Νέλσον Μαντέλα, ο νυν Πρόεδρος της Νοτίου Αφρικής, προς το παρόν αναρρώνει από κατάρρευση πνεύμονα στο Γιοχάννεσμπουργκ, σύμφωνα με το πρακτορείο ειδήσεων Reuters. Ο 92χρονος εισήχθη στο νοσοκομείο τη Τετάρτη για 'καθημερινές δοκιμές', έχοντας μεταφερθεί αεροπορικώς από το Καπ Τάουν, όπου αυτός και η σύζυγος του ξεκουράζονταν, σε νοσοκομείο κοντά στο Γιοχάννεσμπουργκ. Πιθανώς να ανακάμψει πλήρως.

Ο Πρόεδρος της Νότιας Αφρικής Ζακόμπ Ζουμά δήλωσε ότι "ο Πρόεδρος Μαντέλα είναι άνετος και έχει τη κατάλληλη φροντίδα από μια καλή ομάδα ιατρών", πηγαίνοντας να πεί ότι "[αυτός] παροτρύνει τα ΜΜΕ να του παρέχουν την αξιοπρέπεια και να σέβονται που δικαιούται ως ιδρυτής δημοκρατικής χώρας, ως εθνικός ήρωας και επίσης ως πολίτης της χώρας" της Νοτίου Αφρικής.

Ο Ρόμπερτ Γκίμπς, Εκπρόσωπος Τύπου του Λευκού Οίκου, δήλωσε ότι "ο [ΗΠΑ] Πρόεδρος και η Πρώτη Κυρία, οι σκέψεις τους είναι μαζί με τον Νελσόν Μαντέλα".

Ο Μαντέλα πέρασε 27 χρόνια σε μια φυλακή της Νοτίου Αφρικής ως ηγέτης του κινήματος κατά του απαρτχάιντ της Νοτίου Αφρικής, πριν αφεθεί ελεύθερος το 1990 και έγινε ο πρώτος μαύρος Πρόεδρος της Νοτίου Αφρικής.

29 Ιανουαρίου 2011


New human HIV strain discovered in France

A woman in Paris, France has been found to be infected by a strain of the HIV virus with a lineage that is closer to the Simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) normally found in gorillas than that in chimpanzees.  The new strain, which has been designated as P by the University of Rouen and University of Manchester researchers, is the first confirmed human infection of an SIV from a non-Chimpanzee source.

"We have identified a new human immunodeficiency virus in a Cameroonian woman. It is closely related to gorilla simian immunodeficiency virus (SIVgor) and shows no evidence of recombination with other HIV-1 lineages. This new virus seems to be the prototype of a new HIV-1 lineage that is distinct from HIV-1 groups M, N and O. We propose to designate it HIV-1 group P," said the researchers.

The 62-year-old woman, originally from Cameroon in Africa and who emigrated to France five years ago, is healthy and shows no sign of AIDS. Her claims of no previous contact with gorillas or with bushmeat suggests human-to-human infection. The prevalence of the new strain is as yet unknown, and researchers are sifting through the woman's contacts for other possible sources of infection.

At the moment, the most likely pathway of infection is of gorilla-to-human, though it cannot be ruled out that this new strain began in chimpanzees before moving to gorillas and humans.


Descubren en Francia una nueva cepa del VIH

Investigadores de la Universidad de Rouen en Francia han descubierto una nueva variante del virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH) derivado de gorilas. Así, los científicos se han replanteado el papel de estos simios y de los chimpancés como focos de infección y han publicado sus resultados en la revista Nature Medicine.

El principal autor del estudio, Jean-Christophe Plantier, analizó en 2004 el caso de una mujer de 62 años seropositiva procedente de Camerún. Tras realizar diversas pruebas, los médicos comprobaron que se trataba una nueva variante del virus del sida a la que denominaron P. Junto a ella, existen otras tres más: M, N y O.

Esta nueva cepa, aunque presenta similitudes con la variante O, es mucho más parecida al virus de la inmunodeficiencia simia (VIS). Sin embargo, los investigadores han aclarado que de momento no se plantea la posibilidad de que el virus haya sido transmitido directamente de gorila a humano ya que la mujer afectada no ha tenido ningún contacto con estos animales.

Los científicos esperan que este nueva variante del VIH pueda ser tratada con los antivirales actuales. Según declaró David Robertson, de la Universidad de Manchester, quien hizo parte de la investigación, "No hay motivos para pensar que el virus presentará nuevos problemas que no afrontamos ya".

De momento, ella se encuentra en buen estado y su sistema inmunológico parece estable ya que no ha desarrollado la enfermedad. Además, confesó no haber comido carne de gorila, aunque luego de enviudar tuvo sexo con otras personas.


New outbreak of H5N1 Avian Flu virus reported in Poland

At least two new outbreaks of the H5N1 Avian Flu virus, also known as Bird Flu, have been found in Poland.

One of the outbreaks was on a farm in Saldowo which affected at least 40 chickens. The other outbreak was found in unnamed wild birds near Orneta.

"The new case was discovered in the village of Saldowo, near to Bieżuń, (central Poland) close to other recent cases. Just as in the previous cases all the chickens will be culled," said Poland's Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Marek Sawicki.

Officials have set up a zone of protection of at least a 30 kilometer radius of the farm.


Nuevo brote de gripe aviaria es reportado en Polonia

Por lo menos dos nuevos brotes del virus de gripe aviaria H5N1, también conocido como influenza aviar, han sido reportados en Polonia.

Uno de los brotes fue descubierto en una pequeña granja en la ciudad de Elbląg, en el norte de Polonia, el cual afectó a más de 40 gallinas. El segundo fue descubierto en el pueblo de Orneta, al noreste de Polonia. Este afectó a varias aves salvajes.

Marek Sawicki, el ministro de granjas de Polonia, dijo: "El nuevo caso fue descubierto en la aldea de Saldowo, [...] cerca de donde se han descubierto otros casos recientemente".

Malgorzata Ksiazyk, representante del ministerio de agricultura de Polonia, dijo: "Al igual que en todos los casos anteriores, todas las gallinas serán matadas".

Los oficiales han designado una zona de protección de por lo menos 30 kilómetros alrededor de la granja.


New study claims Stonehenge was a place of healing

Archaeologists Timothy Darvill of Bournemouth University and Geoff Wainwright, President of the Society of Antiquaries, claimed to have found evidence that Stonehenge was once a center of healing. In an excavation conducted at the site, a large number of human remains were found that display signs of physical injury or disease. Study of the teeth from the skeletons indicates that about half of them were from outside the area.

A large number of bluestone or spotted Preseli dolerite chips found during the excavation led the researchers to conclude the stones were venerated for their healing properties. It is believed that about 80 of such bluestone blocks were transported from the Preseli Hills in Pembrokeshire, Wales to the Salisbury plains. The inner circle of bluestones are the earliest stone structures found in this site. Later bluestones were encircled by the imposing  sandstone monoliths of sarsen stones. "It could be that people were flaking off pieces of bluestone, in order to create little bits to take away... as lucky amulets," said Professor Darvill.

Radiocarbon dating indicates that the original bluestone circle was built around 2300 BC. This date coincides with the burial of "Amesbury Archer", whose tomb was discovered near Stonehenge. The skeleton of this man reveals that he had serious knee injury and tooth problems. Researchers therefore conclude that the Archer came to Stonehenge to be healed.

Dating of charcoal fragments revealed that the site was inhabited as early as 7200 BC by groups of hunter-gatherers. This is more than 3500 years earlier than previously known.


Stonehenge, una Lourdes del terzo millennio avanti Cristo

Archeologi inglesi, dopo un approfondito studio, hanno concluso, in base ai reperti trovati, che le famose pietre preistoriche di Stonehenge, il sito neolitico che si trova vicino ad Amesbury nello Wiltshire (Inghilterra), erano il limite perimetrale di un luogo ritenuto, intorno al 2300 a.C. miracoloso, dove avvenivano inspiegabili guarigioni.

Resti umani, risalenti al terzo millennio a.C., con segni di malattie, ritrovati nei pressi dei megaliti, confermerebbero questa teoria. Quindi, secondo questi archeologi, questo luogo era un centro di pellegrinaggio. Questo però non esclude che sia stato anche un osservatorio astronomico.


New Zealand suicide rate decreases

A new report released by the New Zealand Ministry of Health titled "Suicide Trends" shows that the suicide rate in New Zealand has decreased 15% since its peak in the late 1990's, but the attempted suicide rate is increasing.

There were 12 deaths per 100,000 people between 1983-'85. 16.7 deaths per 100,000 people between 1996-'98. And 14.2 deaths per 100,000 people between 2001-'03. But there were 73.1 attempted suicides per 100,000 people between 1995-'97 compared to 82.5 in 2002-'04.

Jim Anderton, Associate Health Minister, said "It provides some comfort to see the long-term trend still appears to be heading in the right direction, with a continued decline or levelling off of self-inflicted deaths but there is no room for complacency."

The suicide report also shows that:

The New Zealand Government has put NZ$10.3 million  towards direct suicide prevention. New Zealand News agencies are banned by law from reporting suicide deaths.


Odsetek samobójstw w Nowej Zelandii spada

Nowy raport wydany przez nowozelandzkie Ministerstwo Zdrowia zatytułowany "Suicide Trends" ukazuje, że odsetek samobójstw w Nowej Zelandii spadł o 15% w porównaniu do końca lat 90., lecz jednocześnie wzrosła liczba prób samobójczych.

Na 100 tysięcy osób 12 osób umarło przez samobójstwo pomiędzy latami 1983-1985, 16,7 osób pomiędzy latami 1996-1998 i 14,2 pomiędzy 2001-2003. Liczba prób samobójczych wynosiła 73,1 na 100 000 w latach 1995-1997 w porównaniu do 82,5 pomiędzy 2002 a 2004.

Raport pokazał również, że:

Rząd Nowej Zelandii odłożył 10,3 milionów dolarów nowozelandzkich na przeciwdziałanie samobójstwom. Agencje informacyjne Nowej Zelandii, zgodnie z prawem Nowej Zelandii, nie mogą raportować o śmierciach spowodowanych przez samobójstwa.


North Korean leader Kim Jong-il 'has cancer'

The leader of North Korea, Kim Jong-il, is reported to have pancreatic cancer according to YTN, a South Korean news channel.  The unconfirmed reports state that Kim was diagnosed last year, at about the same time of a reported stroke.

YTN broke the news using unidentified sources within South Korea and China. However, the National Intelligence Service of South Korea could not confirm the illness, while a South Korean Ministry of Unification spokesperson also indicated he had no knowledge of the reported illness.

Kim made a rare public appearance on July 8 of this year to mark the 15th anniversary of his father’s death. According to reports, Kim was looking “gaunt” and walking with a limp. 67-year-old Kim has suffered from several severe health problems in the past few years and speculation about his health has come under doubt several times.

It is reported that Kim Jong-un, Kim Jong-il’s youngest son, is the chosen heir to North Korean leadership, but North Korea has yet to confirm this.

Kim Jong-il took over power in 1994 after his father’s death. He took over the National Defence Commission of North Korea and as leader of the Workers' Party of Korea but not the presidency. Kim's father, Kim Il-sung, was subsequently named Eternal President of the Republic.

Daniel Pinkston, a senior analyst at the International Crisis Group said that the illness would explain the "rapidness of some of [North Korea's] actions over the past eight months or so, with the attempted satellite launch, nuclear test and missile tests." Pinkston feels the recent actions are for appearances of normalcy and to shore up internal support for a transition of power to Kim Jong-un. "Now they are going through things as if they have a plan or schedule," added Pinkston.

Pancreatic cancer is often a life-threatening disease, with the National Cancer Institute estimating a five-year survival rate of 5.5%.


Corée du Nord : Kim Jong-il atteint d'un cancer du pancréas

« Le leader nord-coréen Kim Jong-il souffre d'un cancer du pancréas », a affirmé lundi la chaîne câblée sud-coréenne YTN.

Ce diagnostic date de l'année passée, lorsque les médias ont transmis l'information relative à une hémorragie cérébrale du numéro un nord-coréen.

Pour la première fois depuis longtemps, Kim Jong-il, visiblement très souffrant, a fait une apparition publique mercredi passé lors d'un service funèbre à la mémoire de son père Kim Il-sung, fondateur de l'État nord-coréen.

La santé du leader, 67 ans, est l'un des mystères les mieux gardés de la République populaire démocratique de Corée, aucune confirmation officielle n'ayant été faite sur son hémorragie cérébrale.

Les spéculations se sont toutefois multipliées dans les médias en raison de la longue absence du leader lors d'événements publics.

« Dans le même temps, le dirigeant nord-coréen concentre toujours l'ensemble du pouvoir », a déclaré fin février le directeur de la CIA Leon Panetta.


Kim Dzong Il ma raka trzustki

Chociaż stan zdrowia 67-letniego przywódcy Korei Północnej jest jedną z najbardziej strzeżonych tajemnic państwowych, udało się uzyskać informacje od służb wywiadowczych. Kim Dzong Il jest chory na raka trzustki, co zagraża jego życiu.

Obecny przywódca Korei Północnej objął władzę po śmierci swojego ojca w 1994 r. Od tego czasu państwowe media nazywały go „Drogim przywódcą”. Jednak Kim Dzong Il jest podejrzany o zlecenie dokonania zamachu bombowego w Birmie w 1983r., w którym zginęło 17 osób - ważnych osobistości południowokoreańskich oraz innego zamachu bombowego na samolot pasażerski linii "Korean Air", który kosztował życie 115 osób.

Kim Dzong Il jest także posądzany o handel narkotykami, fałszowanie obcych walut, czy opracowywanie planów porywania obywateli japońskich i wymiany ich za okup.

Prawdopodobnie problemy zdrowotne Kim Dzong Ila skłaniają go do postawienia pytania o sukcesję. Zdaniem południowokoreańskich ekspertów groźby zaatakowania Południa, mogą mieć na celu utorowanie drogi do władzy najmłodszemu synowi Kim Dzong Ila.

Rak trzustki jest złośliwym nowotworem części wewnątrzwydzielniczej trzustki. Obecnie na świecie obserwuje się tendencje  umieralności z powodu raka trzustki. Szczyt zachorowań przypada na 60.-80. rok życia. U 80% chorych z rakiem trzustki występuje cukrzyca.


Obama declares swine flu emergency in US

US president Barack Obama declared a swine flu emergency in the country on Saturday, according to a statement released by the White House.

Obama signed a declaration late on Friday, authorising health secretary Kathleen Sebelius to bypass some federal rules, in order to let health officials respond more efficiently to the outbreak of the H1N1 virus. The move is aimed at making it less difficult for people affected by the virus to seek treatment, and allow medical providers to give it immediately, bypassing potential hurdles such as health privacy regulations.

"As a nation, we have prepared at all levels of government, and as individuals and communities, taking unprecedented steps to counter the emerging pandemic," the president wrote in the declaration.

Swine flu has now been circulated in 46 of the 50 US states, and has resulted in at least 411 confirmed deaths since the end of August. Production of antiviral vaccines has been slower than initially predicted, and it is likely that the US government's targets for delivery won't be met by drug makers, according to Thomas Frieden, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.


Obama ogłasza stan zagrożenia świńską grypą w USA

Zgodnie z deklaracją Białego Domu w sobotę prezydent Stanów Zjednoczonych Barack Obama ogłosił stan zagrożenia świńską grypą.

W piątek po południu Obama podpisał oświadczenie upoważniające sekretarz ds. zdrowia Kathleen Sebelius do pominięcia niektórych przepisów stanowych, które mogłyby wstrzymywać przedstawicieli służby zdrowia przed efektywną walką z wybuchem epidemii wirusa A/H1N1. Ma to na celu ułatwienie dostępu do leczenia osobom zarażonym wirusem poprzez pominięcie zwykłych formalności, wynikających np. z przepisów dot. poufności służby zdrowia.

W swoim oświadczeniu prezydent Obama zaznaczył, że niezbędne kroki mające przeciwdziałać rozpowszechnianiu się pandemii zostały podjęte.

Świńska grypa została dotychczas odnotowana w 46 z 50 stanów i od końca sierpnia spowodowała przynajmniej 411 potwierdzonych przypadków śmierci. Przewodniczący Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Thomas Frieden stwierdził, że produkcja szczepionki przeciwwirusowej okazała się być wolniejsza niż wstępnie oczekiwano i istnieje prawdopodobieństwo, że firmy farmaceutyczne nie zdążą dostarczyć szczepionek do miejsc wyznaczonych przez rząd.


Obama signs healthcare bill for 9/11 emergency workers

Yesterday, United States President Barack Obama signed into law a five-year benefit package to provide healthcare treatment for emergency workers including police, firefighters, and rescue workers affected by illness and respiratory problems contracted while working at the site of the World Trade Center attacks in New York City on September 11, 2001.

The bill—the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, which is named after a police officer who died of a respiratory illness he got during a rescue operation at the World Trade Center — will provide $4.2 billion over the next five years. This money will be raised by increasing a levy on foreign companies that win procurement contracts from the United States government.

The new legislation also provides new funding for the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund, a federal program for victims of the attacks.

President Obama signed the bill in Kailua, Hawaii, where he is staying on vacation. In a statement, Obama said: "We will never forget the selfless courage demonstrated by the firefighters, police officers and first responders who risked their lives to save others. I believe this is a critical step for those who continue to bear the physical scars of those attacks."

The law was the only one that passed through Congress during the lame-duck session in December, with some Republican opposition. New York Senators and Congressmen have praised the passage of the measures.

"The heroes who rushed to Ground Zero in the hours and days after the attacks will not be forgotten. These first responders were like veterans, and this law keeps with a time-honored tradition of standing by our veterans when they get harmed answering the call." said Charles Schumer, Democratic Senator from New York. He also vowed to "begin work immediately to make sure this law gets renewed for another five years".

New York Republican congressman Peter T. King said that "Justice is finally being served", and that the passing of the law marked "A great day for America."

Democratic congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney said that "The Zadroga law will save lives and fulfills our moral obligation to care for those who rose to the defense of America in a time of war."


Ο Ομπάμα υπέγραψε νομοσχέδιο για υγειονομική περίθαλψη για τους εργαζομένους εκτάκτων αναγκών που δούλευαν στις 11 Σεπτεμβρίου 2001

Στις 2 Ιανουαρίου, ο Πρόεδρος των ΗΠΑ, Μπαράκ Ομπάμα υπέγραψε πενταετή ιατρική περίθαλψη για τους εργαζομένους εκτάκτων αναγκών που υπέστησαν βλάβες στην υγεία τους ενώ εργάζονταν στο χώρο του Παγκοσμίου Εμπορικού Κέντρου, στη Νέα Υόρκη, στις 11 Σεπτεμβρίου 2001.

Το νομοσχέδιο - James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, το οποίο έλαβε το όνομα ενός αστυνομικού, ο οποίος πέθανε από ασθένεια του  αναπνευστικού συστήματος, την οποία υπέστη κατά τη διάρκεια επιχείρησης διάσωσης στο Παγκόσμιο Κέντρο Εμπορίου - θα χορηγήσει 4.2 δισεκατομμύρια δολλάρια τα επόμενα πέντε (5) χρόνια. Αυτά τα χρήματα θα αυξηθούν με την αύξηση της εισφοράς για ξένες εταιρίες που θα συνάψουν συμβάσεις προμηθείων με  τη κυβέρνηση των ΗΠΑ.

Η νέα νομοθεσία προβλέπει νέα χρηματοδότηση για το Ταμείο Αποζημίωσης Θυμάτων της 11ης Σεπτεμβρίου, ένα ομοσπονδιακό πρόγραμμα για τα θύματα των επιθέσεων.

Ο Πρόεδρος Ομπάμα υπέγραψε το νομοσχέδιο στη Καϊλούα (Χαβάη), όπου βρίσκεται για διακοπές. Σε ανακοίνωση του, ο Ομπάμα είπε: "Δεν θα ξεχάσουμε ποτέ του κουράγιο των πυροσβεστών, των αστυνομικών και των πρώτων διασωστών που ρίσκαραν τη ζωή τους για να σώσουν άλλους. Πιστεύω είναι ένα σημαντικό βήμα για αυτούς που συνεχίζουν να φέρουν τα σημάδια μετά από αυτή την επίθεση."

Ο νόμος ήταν ο μόνος που πέρασε από το Κονγκρέσσο κατά τη διάρκεια της περιόδου συνόδων τον Δεκέμβριο, με κάποια αντίθεση των Ρεπουμπλικάνων. Οι Γερουσιαστές της Νέας Υόρκης και τα μέλη του Κονγκρέσσου επαίνεσαν αυτή τη κίνηση.

"Οι ήρωες που έσπευσαν στο Σημείο Μηδέν στις ώρες και μέρες μετά τις επιθέσεις δεν θα ξεχαστούν. Αυτοί οι πρώτοι διασώστες ήταν σαν βετεράνοι, και αυτός ο νόμος κρατά μια μακροχρόνια παράδοση της συμπαράστασης στους βετεράνους  μας όταν αυτοί ζημιώνονται  ανταποκρινόμενοι στην κλήση." είπε ο Τσαρλς Σούμερ, Γερουσιαστής των Δημοκρατικών στη Νέα Υόρκη. Επίσης υποσχέθηκε να "ξεκινήσει τη δουλειά αμέσως για να βεβαιωθεί ότι αυτός ο νόμος θα ανανεωθεί για άλλα πέντε χρόνια".

Ο Γερουσιαστής της Νέας Υόρκης Πέτερ Τ. Κίνγκ είπε ότι "αποκαταστάθηκε η δικαιοσύνη", και ότι η υπογραφή του νόμου είναι "Μια μεγάλη μέρα για την Αμερική."

Ο Γερουσιαστής των Δημοκρατικών Καρολίν Β. Μαλονέυ είπε ότι "Ο Νόμος Ζαντρόγκα (Zadroga) θα σώζει ζωές και θα πληρεί την ηθική υποχρέωση μας να φροντίζουμε αυτούς που υπερασπίζονται την Αμερική εν καιρό πολέμου."

6 Ιανουαρίου 2011


Obesity rates rise across most of the U.S.

According to the Trust for America's Health (TFAH) research group, obesity rates in 31 states in the United States continued to climb. Not one state showed a decline in obesity rates in the latest report released Monday.

The data presented in the Trust for America's Health's F as in Fat: How Obesity Policies are Failing in America, 2007 report is primarily sourced from CDC's Pediatric Nutrition Surveillance System (PedNSS) and Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) surveys.

Mississippi became the first state to have more than 30 percent of its residents considered to be obese. West Virginia and Alabama, however, edged very close to the 30 percent marker.

Meanwhile, Colorado continued to hold the title as the leanest state in the U.S., with less than 18 percent of its residents considered to be obese.

The report also examined childhood obesity rates for the first time. The District of Columbia came in at 22.8%, the highest, while Utah had the lowest ranking at 8.5%.

The TFAH's director Jeffrey Levi said the government needs to become more involved in preventing obesity. "It's one of those issues where everyone believes this is an epidemic, but it's not getting the level of political and policymaker attention that it ought to... As every candidate for president talks about health care reform and controlling health care cost costs, if we don't hone in on this issue, none of their proposals are going to be affordable."

However, Levi did acknowledge that many people believe obesity results from personal decision making and not societal policy. But Levi said the modern world can help promote good choices.


Le taux d'obésité augmente aux États-Unis

Selon le groupe de recherche Trust for America's Health (TFAH)[1], le taux d'obésité continue à croître dans 31 états des États-Unis d'Amérique. Pas un seul état n'a montré de baisse de ce taux dans le dernier rapport publié lundi.

Les chiffres présentés par le rapport TFAH « F as in Fat: How Obesity Policies are Failing in America, 2007 »[2] proviennent des études du Système de surveillance de la nutrition pédiatrique (PedNSS) et du Système de surveillance des facteurs de risques comportementaux (BRFSS) des Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[3].

Le Mississippi devient le premier état à avoir plus de 30 % de sa population considérée comme obèse. La Virginie-Occidentale et l'Alabama, cependant, sont très proches de cette barre symbolique. Dans le même temps, le Colorado conserve son titre de l'état le plus mince des États-Unis avec moins de 18 % de sa population considérée comme obèse.

Le rapport indique aussi les taux d'obésité infantile pour la première fois. Le District de Columbia est le plus touché avec un taux de 22,8 % alors que l'Utah est le moins touché avec un taux de 8,5 %.

Le directeur du TFAH, Jeffrey Levi, a déclaré que le Gouvernement devrait plus s'impliquer dans la prévention de l'obésité : « C'est l'un des problèmes qui est perçu par tout le monde comme épidémique, mais il n'obtient pas le niveau d'attention politique et législative qu'il devrait ... Comme tout les candidats à l'élection présidentielle évoquent la réforme du système de santé et du contrôle de ses coûts, si nous ne discutons pas de ce problème, aucune de leurs propositions ne sera tenable ».

Cependant, Jeffrey Levi a convenu que de nombreuses personnes croient que l'obésité résulte d'une décision personnelle et non d'une politique publique, mais a indiqué que le monde moderne pouvait aider à promouvoir les bons choix.


Outbreak of swine flu in Mexico kills at least twenty, infects 1,000

According to Mexican health officials, an epidemic of swine flu has killed at least 68 people and infected a further one thousand inside the country.

Mexican health minister José Ángel Córdova said that the casualty rate appeared to be slowing down, and that there would be no plans to block off Mexican borders. “We’re dealing with a new flu virus that constitutes a respiratory epidemic that so far is controllable,” Córdova stated. He said that the disease had mutated from pigs and was transferred to humans at some point.

Museums and schools for seven million students near Mexico's capital were closed down in an effort to curb the epidemic, and the government has encouraged people with symptoms of the disease to take leave from work.

The outbreak has spread north to the United States, and US health authorities have reported that eight people were diagnosed with swine flu in Texas and California. However, these people have recovered.

“We are worried. We don’t know if this will lead to the next pandemic, but we will be monitoring it and taking it seriously,”  said Dr. Richard Besser, the acting head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Dr. Besser suggested "containment is not very likely" in a telephone briefing on Friday.

Tests conducted by the World Health Organisation (WHO) found that the virus from a dozen patients was genetically similar to a new outbreak of swine flu, designated as H1N1.


L'epidemia di influenza suina in Messico causa almeno venti morti e il contagio di 1000 persone

Secondo quanto riferito da funzionari sanitari messicani, una epidemia di influenza suina ha causato la morte di sessanta persone e l'infezione di ulteriori mille all'interno del paese.

Il ministro della salute messicano Jose Angel Cordova ha dichiarato che il tasso di mortalità sembra rallentare e che non vi sarebbe alcuna intenzione di bloccare le frontiere messicane. «Siamo di fronte ad un nuovo virus, che costituisce una epidemia respiratoria che finora è controllabile», ha dichiarato Cordova. Secondo quanto riporta, il virus influenzale ha origine da una versione caratteristica dei suini che poi ad un certo momento è mutata in una variante in grado di infettare gli esseri umani.

Musei e scuole per sette milioni di studenti nelle vicinanze della capitale del Messico  sono stati chiusi in uno sforzo per contenere l'epidemia e il governo ha incoraggiato la gente con i sintomi della malattia a non recarsi al lavoro.

L'epidemia si è diffusa a nord fino agli Stati Uniti e le autorità sanitarie statunitensi hanno riferito che ad otto persone è stata diagnosticata l'influenza suina in Texas e in California. Tuttavia, queste persone hanno recuperato dal punto di vista del quadro clinico.

«Siamo preoccupati. Non sappiamo se questo porterà alla prossima pandemia mondiale, ma monitoreremo la situazione prendendola in seria considerazione», ha dichiarato il Dr. Richard Besser, il capo del Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), il  centro per il controllo delle malattie e la prevenzione dalle epidemie statunitense. Il Dr. Besser, in una intervista telefonica di venerdì, ha esposto la sua opinione secondo la quale «il contenimento dell'epidemia non è molto probabile».

Test condotti dalla Organizzazione mondiale della sanità (OMS) hanno fatto emergere che il virus isolato in una dozzina di pazienti è geneticamente simile a quello di un nuovo focolaio di influenza suina, designato come H1N1.

Per la cura sembrano essere efficaci i comuni antivirali come il Tamiflu. Il virus è stato isolato e si sta procedendo allo produzione di un vaccino.«Stiamo analizzando la sequenza nucleotidica e ci stiamo attivando per il vaccino», che si pensa non potrà essere disponibile prima di sei mesi, ha detto il direttore del Centro Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics di Siena.


Pfizer and Microsoft team up against Viagra spam

New York —"Buy cheap Viagra through us - no prescription required!" Anyone with an active email account will recognize lines like this one. According to some reports, unsolicited advertisements (spam) for Viagra and similar drugs account for one in four spam messages.

Ever since pharmaceutical giant Pfizer promised to cure erectile dysfunction once and for all with its blue pills containing the drug sildenafil citrate, spammers have tried to tap into male anxiety by offering prescription-free sales of unapproved "generic" Viagra and clones such as Cialis soft tabs. Legislation like the U.S. CAN-SPAM act has done little to stem the tide of email advertising the products.

Now Pfizer has entered a pledge with Microsoft Corporation, the world's largest software company, to address the problem. The joint effort will focus on lawsuits against spammers as well as the companies they advertise. "Pfizer is joining with Microsoft on these actions as part of our shared pledge to reduce the sale of these products and to fight the senders of unsolicited e-mail that overwhelms people's inboxes," said Jeff Kindler, executive vice president at Pfizer.

Microsoft has filed civil actions against spammers advertising the websites CanadianPharmacy and E-Pharmacy Direct. Pfizer has filed lawsuits against the two companies, and has taken actions against websites which use the word "Viagra" in their domain names. Sales of controlled drugs from Canadian pharmacies to the United States are illegal, but most drugs sold in Canada have nevertheless undergone testing by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. This is not the case for many of the Viagra clones sold by Internet companies and manufactured in countries like China and India. While it was not clear that CanadianPharmacy was actually shipping drugs from Canada, Pfizer's general counsel, Beth Levine, claimed that the company filled orders using a call center in Montreal, reported the Toronto Star.

For Microsoft's part, they allege that the joint effort with Pfizer is part of their "multi-pronged attack on the barrage of spam." As the creator of the popular email program Outlook, Microsoft has been criticized in the past for the product's spam filtering process. Recently, Microsoft added anti-spam measures to its popular Exchange server. Exchange 2003 now includes support for accessing so-called real-time block lists, or RTBLs. An RTBL is a list of the IP addresses maintained by a third party; the addresses on the list are those of mailservers thought to have sent spam recently. Exchange 2003 can query the list for each message it receives.

The first version of this story was written by Pingswept and Eloquence using MoonEdit, a free editor for real-time collaboration. As such, it is an experiment in collaborative writing.


Pfizer och Microsoft går samman mot Viagra-spam

New York –
"Buy cheap Viagra through us - no prescription required!" Alla som har ett mail-konto känner igen erbjudanden som detta. Enligt undersökningar som gjorts står den oönskade skräpposten, så kallad (spam), som vill sälja det potenshöjande medlet Viagra för vart fjärde mail.

Ända sedan läkemedelsjätten Pfizer först lovade att bota mäns erektionproblem en gång för alla genom de blå pillren med drogen sildenafil, har spammare försökt slå mynt om mäns oro genom att erbjuda receptfria kopior av viagra som Cialis soft tabs. Försök att komma åt skräpposten genom nya lagar har visat sig ofruktbara.

Nu har Pfizer gått samman med Microsoft för att komma till rätta med problemet. Tillsammans kommer de att väcka åtal mot spammarna och mot de företag som de gör reklam för. "Pfizer förenar sig med Microsoft i denna fråga som ett led i vår gemensamma önskan att begränsa försäljningen av dessa produkter och att bekämpa de som skickar ut den oönskade e-posten som fyller människors inlådor", sa Jeff Kindler vice styrelseordförande på Pfizer.

Microsoft har vidtagit rättsliga åtgärder mot spammare som gör reklam för webbsidor som CandianPharmacy och E-Pharmacy Direct. Pfizer å sin sida har åtalat två företag som använder ordet "viagra" i sina domännamn. Försäljning av läkemedel till USA från Kanada är inte laglig, trots att de läkemedel som säljs i grannlandet har testats i USA. Det förblir dock oklart om dessa internetföretag, som använder en adress i Montreal, verkligen säljer läkemedel från Kanada. Dessa kopior misstänks istället komma från länder som Kina och Indien.

Microsoft säger att samarbetet med Pfizer är ett led i en mer omfattande ansträngning att komma till rätta med störtfloden av spam-mail. Företaget har tidigare fått kritik för filterfunktionen i sitt mailprogram Outlook. Nyligen lade Microsoft in en så kallad Real-Time Block List-funktion (RTBL) till sin populära Exchange server 2003 genom vilken listor med IP-adresser från en extern leverantör kan användas för att filtrera bort den oönskade e-posten.

Den första, engelska versionen av denna artikel skrevs av Pingswept och Eloquence med hjälp av MoonEdit, en fri textredigerare som medger realtids samarbete mellan flera användare. Artikeln är alltså ett experiment i kollektivt författande.


Pioneer chemist Albert Hofmann dies at age 102

Albert Hofmann, a scientist who discovered and created the drug Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) in 1938, has died today at the age 102.

DRC Net reports that Hofmann's died of a heart attack in his house located in Basel, Switzerland.

After discovering LSD, he set it aside for five years, until April 16, 1943, when Hofmann decided to take another look at it. While re-synthesizing the LSD, he accidentally consumed a small sample and serendipitously discovered its powerful effects. Three days later, on April 19, Hofmann deliberately consumed 250 micrograms of LSD before his bicycle ride home.

He is now known as the first person to experience a 'trip' from taking it. Since then, LSD aficionados around the world unofficially proclaimed April 19, 1943 as Bicycle Day.

The drug was made illegal in the United States in 1966, and many other countries did the same, after heavy users were suffering permanent psychological damage.

Hofmann denounced the illegal use of the drug which became popular in the 1960s, but he was said to be disappointed that further research on theraputic uses was not conducted on it at the time.

Hofmann is also credited with the discovery of psilocybin, which is the main hallucinogenic found in Psilocybin mushrooms. He also discovered the make-up of Ololiuqui.

Hofmann was also on the Nobel Prize committee as well as a member of the American Society of Pharmacognosy and several other organizations.

Hofmann was born on January 11, 1906. He is survived by his brother Walter, 2 daughters, and 2 sons.


Décès d'Albert Hofmann, l'inventeur du LSD

Mardi, le chimiste suisse Albert Hofmann est décédé à l'âge de 102 ans d'une crise cardiaque à son domicile de Burg, dans le canton de Bâle-Campagne. Il est principalement connu pour avoir isolé le LSD en 1938, puis découvert par accident ses effets hallucinogènes, avant que la drogue ne devienne un symbole de la "génération hippie" aux États-Unis d'Amérique.

Albert Hofmann a travaillé pendant plus de 40 ans pour le groupe pharmaceutique Sandoz où il étudiait les alcaloïdes de l’ergot de seigle et synthétisa pour la première fois et par accident le LSD avant de le tester sur lui-même cinq ans plus tard et d'en découvrir les effets hallucinogènes. A la fin des années 50, son employeur produira du LSD sous forme de dragées et d'ampoules destinés aux hôpitaux ainsi qu'à l'armée américaine.

« J'ai produit cette substance comme médicament. Ce n'est pas de ma faute si les gens en ont abusé ». C'est par ces mots qu'Albert Hofmann désapprouva les excès liés à sa découverte pendant les années 60, lorsque Timothy Leary, un professeur de Harvard, devenu « gourou » des substances psychédéliques propulse le LSD  au rang de drogue-culte liée au plaisir et aux abus. Les effets délétères de la drogue amenèrent toutefois le gouvernement américain, suivi par d'autres pays, à l'interdire en 1966.


È morto Albert Hofmann, il padre dell'LSD

Si è spento questa notte a Burg per un infarto cardiaco, all'età di 102 anni, lo scienziato svizzero Albert Hofmann, l'uomo che sintetizzò e testò per primo l'LSD, la dietilamide dell'acido lisergico, noto per i suoi effetti psichedelici.

L'uomo, autore del libro "LSD - My Problem Child" (in Italia pubblicato da Apogeo con il titolo "LSD. Il mio bambino difficile. Riflessioni su droghe sacre, misticismo e scienza"), nell'ottobre 2007 era stato inserito al primo posto nella classifica redatta dal The Daily Telegraph dei migliori 100 geni viventi (pari merito con Tim Berners-Lee, inventore del Web).

L'LSD, oltre che droga anche simbolo di un'epoca, è stata per molti anni al centro di una cultura che ha visto tra gli esponenti anche artisti di prima grandezza. Per esempio i Doors, ma anche i Beatles, che (si suppose, ma ufficialmente non ve n'è conferma) le dedicarono una famosa canzone, Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, il cui titolo richiama il famoso allucinogeno.


Químico Albert Hofmann, criador do LSD, morre na Suíça

Albert Hofmann, que sintetizou pela primeira vez o alucinógeno conhecido como LSD (sigla para dietilamida do ácido lisérgico, em inglês), morreu nesta terça-feira (29), aos 102 anos, em Basiléia, Suíça.

Hofmman foi o primeiro a sintentizar o composto em 1938, mas não descobriu seus efeitos alucinógenos imediatamente. Somente em 1943, quando, acidentalmente engoliu a substância[1], tomou conhecimento dos resultados da droga, que tornou-se símbolo da contracultura na década de 1960.


PlayStation 3 will be used to help cure cancer and Alzheimer's

The upcoming Sony PlayStation 3 game console is going to assist scientists in finding cures for cancer and Alzheimer's disease using the Folding@home distributed computing program.

Folding@home is run by the Pande group of Stanford University (America) to research protein folding, this is the process whereby proteins build themselves inside the cells in the body. Analyisis of how proteins fold (specifically how the folding goes wrong) can give insights into how diseases form. The simulation processes used in the research take months just for a single protein so the data is split into small packets (called workunits by the community) and distributed to volunteers around the world. By downloading a program called a 'client' users can receive units and perform the simulations on them - results are then sent back to the Stanford servers.

Currently more than 150,000 computers run the folding 'client' worldwide. The new client can be downloaded to the users PlayStation 3 console and will then begin to calculate "work units" when users are not playing games. Since the PS3 has a 'Cell' processor with a total of 8 cores the calculations should be performed faster than on a PC. With this new program scientists aim to create a super computer faster than IBM's BlueGene/L System (which currently calculates more than 280.6 trillion bits of information per second). The new calculations are expected to process a thousand trillion bits of information across the whole project every second.

A statement on Folding@home's website explained further: "Using the Cell processor of the PS3, we should be able to do more folding than what one could do on a PC. Also, since the PS3 has a powerful GPU, the PS3 client will offer real time visualization for the first time."

The new program is part of an expansion of the project and the first of 2 new clients that have been developed. The second, scheduled for release later on, will utilise a computer's graphics card (supporting only ATI graphics cards at first) to perform folding calcualtions.

"We will release more details on all of this as the new software rolls out," said the statement, "We are beta testing the ATI GPU client software internally at the moment and will likely announce an open beta in four to five weeks (end of September)."

The Pande group noted their ultimate aim as being to create an even faster super computer, with the ability to process over a million trillion bits of data every second: "The PS3 client and GPU client are together part of our new broader goals to push Folding@Home to the next stage, reaching calculations on the petaflop to 10 petaflop scale."

The PS3 client is expected to be available at the end of September.


La PlayStation 3 s'utilitzarà per ajudar a curar el Càncer i l'Alzheimer

La propera consola de jocs de Sony, PlayStation 3, ajudarà als científics a descobrir cures per al Càncer i l'Alzheimer utilizant un programa informàtic distribuït anomenat Folding@home.


Possible first case of mad cow disease in Sweden

A suspected case of BSE, better known as mad cow disease, has been discovered in Sweden at a farm near Västerås some 80 kilometres west of Stockholm.

The affected farm has been quarantined and no ruminants from the farm are allowed to be sold or transported. The cow was destroyed earlier after symptoms of calving paralysis had been discovered, and the tests where carried out in accordance to rules set by the European Union (EU).

The Swedish Board of Agriculture (Jordbruksverket) analysed a specimen from the cow at the farm this weekend. The tests confirmed the presence of BSE and the specimen was sent for further analysis at a United Kingdom laboratory.

If the British analysis confirms BSE in the specimen, it will be the first case of BSE in Sweden. The affected farmer told the Swedish public service radio: "As my father said, if we have to make history it would be a pity to do it this way."

BSE isn't transmitted directly between animals, but rather from feedstuffs containing tainted tissues from infected ruminants to healthy animals. Such cattle feeds have been prohibited in Sweden for many years, but as the affected cow was born in 1994 she might have been given such food in her early life.

The disease has been declining in the EU after restrictions and regulations were put in place or tightened following an epidemic of the disease in humans in the UK. In that outbreak 150 people died.

Sweden has been considered a low-risk country. Ten previous tests have all proven to be false alarms.


Möjligt fall av galna ko-sjukan i Sverige

Jordbruksverkt analyserade under helgen prover från en äldre ko från en gård utanför Västerås. Proverna visade på förekomsten av BSE eller galna ko-sjukan och proverna har skickats till Storbritannien för ytterligare analys.

Gården har spärrats av och inga kor får slaktas eller lämna gården. Kon avlivades tidigare sedan hon visat symptom på kalvningsförlamning. Prover togs som en ren rutin åtgärd enligt normer fastställda av EU.

BSE kan inte spridas mellan djur utan sprids via foder som innehåller produkter av djur, till exempel kött- och benmjöl. Sådant foder är sedan långa förbjudet i sverige men kon som proverna togs på föddes 1994 och kan ha fått i sig sådant foder tidigt i livet.

BSE har minskat kraftigt inom EU sedan nya regler införts och Sverige räknas som ett lågriskland i sammanhanget. Tidigare har ett tiotal fall av BSE anmälts i Sverige som alla visat sig vara falska.

Om de brittiska analyserna bekräftas är detta första gången som BSE blivit bekräftat i Sverige.

Till Sveriges Radio säger bonden på den drabbade gården: "Som min far sa: Om vi ska gå till historien så vore det tråkigt om det skulle ske på det här viset".

Denna artikel är en kort telegramartikel. Vet du mer om ämnet den beskriver kan du hjälpa till med att utvidga den.

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• Galna ko-sjukan

Händelser 27 februari • februari • 2006 • kvartal 1 • vecka 9

Publiceringar 1 mars • mars • 2006 • kvartal 1 • vecka 9


Report into 2003/2004 New South Wales (Australia) hospital safety released

New South Wales — 452 serious incidents that occurred during 2003 and 2004 have been brought to light, by a report released today about the safety of patients in the hospital system in New South Wales, Australia. Many of the incidents highlighted by the report resulted in injury, or even death.

The report detailed 13 patients who had operations that they were not meant to have or who had the wrong part of the body operated upon. It also noted that another 22 were seriously injured in falls in wards and bathrooms.

Other statistics included four suicides in hospital, with another 128 occurring in community care. Another nine people retained surgical instruments or materials inside them after the operation. The rest of the serious incidents related to labour and delivery problems (26) and clinical management problems (157).


Ny sjukhusrapport: Säkerhetsbrister i New South Wales

New South Wales –
452 allvarliga incidenter som inträffat under 2003 och 2004 har uppdagats i en rapport om patientsäkerheten på sjukhus i New South Wales som släpptes idag. Många av de omnämnda incidenterna i rapporten resulterade i skador och till och med i flera dödsfall.

I rapporten beskrivs tretton fall då patienter genomgått operationer de aldrig behövt eller fått fel kroppsdelar opererade och 22 fall av allvarliga skador som uppstått i smaband med fall i salar och badrum.

Ytterligare statistik berättar om fyra självmord på delstatens sjukhus och ytterligare 128 då de genomgick vård i kommunal regi. Nio människor hade kirurgiska verktyg eller främmande objekt kvar i kroppen efter operationen. Av återstoden av de inrapporterade incidenterna relaterade sig 26 till arbets- och försörjningsproblem och 157 till bristande sanitet.


Researchers create rat kidneys in a laboratory

Researchers at the Massachusetts General Hospital have created laboratory-grown rat kidneys that function when transplanted into rats according to a study published online yesterday in the medical journal Nature Medicine.

The kidneys were capable of urine production and excretion without blood clots in both the laboratory and inside living rats. The researchers were able to create the functional kidneys by using a donor kidney and using a detergent to remove the rats' kidney cells, then used new cells to cause the kidney to grow around the remaining "scaffolding," the natural protein-based structure of the kidney that remained after washing the kidney.

These kidneys would also be of the patient's tissue avoiding issues of organ rejection and would increase the pool of kidneys available for human transplant.

The researchers incubated the kidneys in a specialized oven for 12 days to mimic the insides of a rat. The researchers reported that these kidneys produced urine at 23% of the normal levels of properly working kidneys.

The lead researcher of the study published in Nature Medicine, Dr. Harald C. Ott, says this partial functionality is enough, saying, "If you're on haemodialysis then kidney function of 10% to 15% would already make you independent of hemodialysis. It's not that we have to go all the way."

The techniques developed by Ott and the team of researchers still have to be further researched before it can be applied for use in humans. When it comes time for use in humans, Ott says that pigs' kidneys would be used as the templates for making human-usable kidneys.

Ott said, "You'd take a kidney matrix off the shelf. Then in an ideal world, you'd take cells from that patient and create a kidney on demand."

Roughly 100,000 patients in the United States need an immediate kidney transplant, with 500,000 more on dialysis.


Investigadores estadounidenses crean riñones de rata en un laboratorio

15 de abril de 2013Boston, Estados Unidos —

Investigadores del Hospital General de Massachusetts han creado riñones crecidos en laboratorio que son funcionales al trasplantarlos en ratas, según un estudio publicado ayer en línea en la revista médica Nature Medicine.

Los riñones fueron capaces de llevar a cabo la producción de orina tanto en el laboratorio como dentro de las ratas vivas, y fueron creados al usar una matriz originada a partir de un riñón extraído de otra rata y lavado con detergentes para remover las células renales de esta; para finalmente hacer crecer nuevas células alrededor del "andamiaje" resultante, la estructura natural conformada por proteínas que queda tras lavar el riñón original.

Puesto que estos riñones tienen tejidos conformados por células del paciente y no de otro individuo, se evitan los problemas de rechazo de órganos y se incrementarían los riñones disponibles para trasplantes en humanos.

El equipo de investigadores incubó los riñones en un horno especializado durante doce días para imitar el interior de una rata. Asimismo, señaló que producían orina al 23% de los niveles normales de los riñones que trabajan de manera adecuada.

El Dr. Harald C. Ott, investigador en líder del equipo, dijo que la funcionalidad parcial es suficiente, señalando que "si estás en hemodiálisis, entonces una funcionalidad renal de 10% a 15% te haría ya independiente de hemodiálisis. No es que tengamos que ir hasta el final".

Las técnicas que Ott y su equipo desarrollaron tienen que ser investigadas más a fondo antes de poder ser aplicadas en humanos. Cuando llegue el turno de los humanos, los riñones de cerdos podrían ser usados como plantillas para hacer riñones útiles a nosotros, según dijo Ott.

De acuerdo a sus declaraciones, "tomarías una matriz de riñón de la repisa. Entonces, en un mundo ideal, tomarías células del paciente y crearías un riñón a pedido".


ஆய்வுக்கூடத்தில் உருவாக்கப்பட்ட சிறுநீரகம் வெற்றிகரமாக எலிக்குப் பொருத்தப்பட்டது

ஆய்வுக்கூடத்தில் உருவாக்கப்பட்ட சிறுநீரகம் ஒன்றை அமெரிக்க அறிவியலாளர்கள் எலி ஒன்றுக்கு வெற்றிகரமாகப் பொருத்தியுள்ளார்கள். இச்சிறுநீரகம் எலியின் உடலில் இருந்து சிறுநீரை உற்பத்தி செய்வதாகவும் அவர்கள் கூறுகின்றனர்.

இவ்வாறு உருவாக்கப்பட்ட சிறுநீரகம் எலியின் உடலில் இருந்து சிறுநீரை உற்பத்தி செய்வதாகவும், ஆனால் இயற்கையான சிறுநீரகத்தை விட இவை செயற்திறன் குறைந்தவையாக உள்ளதாகவும் ஆய்வாளர்கள் தெரிவிக்கின்றனர். இது குறித்த ஆய்வுக் கட்டுரை ஒன்று நேச்சர் மெடிசின் என்ற ஆய்விதழில் வெளியிடப்பட்டுள்ளது. ஆனாலும், இவ்வாய்வு எதிர்காலத்தில் பெரும் வெற்றியடையும் என அவர்கள் நம்பிக்கை கொண்டுள்ளனர்.

உடம்பில் உள்ள குருதியில் சேரும் கழிவுகள், மற்றும் மேலதிக நீரை சிறுநீரகங்கள் வடிகட்டி வெளியேற்றுகின்றன.

அமெரிக்காவின் பொஸ்டனில் உள்ள மசாசூச்செட்சு பொது மருத்துவமனை ஆய்வுகூடத்தில் இவ்வாய்வுகள் மேற்கொள்ளப்பட்டன. இறந்த எலி ஒன்றின் சிறுநீரகத்தை அகற்றி அதில் இருந்த பழைய கலங்களைக் கழுவி வெளியேற்றினர். பின்னர் புதிதாகப் பிறந்த எலிகளின் சிறுநீரகம், மற்றும் குருதிக் கலன்களை பழைய சிறுநீரகத்தினுள் சேர்த்து 12 நாட்களுக்கு உறுப்புகள் வளர்ச்சியடைய விட்டனர். பின்னர் இச்சிறுநீரகத்தை வாழும் எலிக்குப் பொருத்தினர். இச்சிறுநீரகம் வெற்றிகரமாக எலியின் குருதியை வடிகட்டி சிறுநீரை வெளியேற்றியது. ஆனாலும் இதன் செயற்திறன் 5% ஆகவே இருந்தது.

இன்று சிறுநீரகங்களே மாற்றுறுப்புக்காக அதிகம் தேவைப்படும் உள்ளுறுப்பாகும்.

திங்கள், ஏப்ரல் 15, 2013


Researchers identify protein responsible for malaria transmission

Two groups of researchers have independently identified the the protein responsible for malaria transmission to mosquitoes in studies published in journal Nature on Sunday.

The scientists found a direct relationship between the protein AP2-G's with malaria gametocytes (male and female sexual forms) production, which is necessary for the transmission. Only the sexual forms infect mosquitoes and sexual reproduction occurs within the mosquito digestive tract.

Malaria is caused by Plasmodium parasites. The initially separate teams looked at different plasmodium species. One, an international group led by Manuel Llinás of Penn State University in the US, examined Plasmodium falciparum, which is responsible for the worst form of human malarial infections; the other, led by UK scientists Oliver Billker from the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute in England and Andy Waters from University of Glasgow in Scotland, looked at Plasmodium berghei, which infects rodents.

The P. falciparum group was kickstarted by research in Spain which found different organisms from the same strain with identical DNA had varying levels of AP2-G, with a strong correlation to their levels of sexual activity. The more AP2-G, the higher the rate of gametocyte formation.  Researchers in England, later also drawn into the international team, analyzed the genomes of two mutated strains of P. falciparum which were both unable to form gametocytes. They found that the gene responsible for producing the AP2-G protein was the only common non-functioning gene.

The international team found found the AP2-G protein catalyzes the transmission by activating a relevant gene set in the parasite.

Both teams confirmed the finding by gene therapy — both by adding the gene into a mutated strain and observing its ability to form gametocytes, and the other way round.

The parasites exist in a mosquito, then in a human, and require subsequent transmission for the parasite to spread. The transmission can only happen through gametocytes. The parasite triggers formation of the sexual gametocytes into the human's circulatory system every two days in small quantities — not wasting energy on the process at the dry time of year when few mosquitoes are available — but little was known about the mechanism.

Dr. Oliver Billker commented on the potential of getting the transmission of malaria under control, unlike the existing focus on addressing the phrase causing the clinical symptoms, "Current drugs treat patients by killing the sexless form of the parasite in their blood — this is the detrimental stage of the malaria lifecycle that causes illness. However, it is now widely accepted that to eliminate malaria from an entire region, it will be equally important to kill the sexual forms that transmit the disease."

The researchers hope to continue research toward drugs to prevent the transmission of the disease. The science was funded by groups including UK research councils, the Spanish government, the U.S. National Institutes of Health, and the European Commission.


Американские и великобританские учёные открыли белок, отвечающий за передачу малярии комарам


Robin Cook dead after collapsing

Robin Cook, the former British foreign secretary and current Member of Parliament, has died of a suspected heart attack after collapsing on a walk with his wife on Ben Stack hill, Scotland. Cook, aged 59, was flown to a hospital in Inverness by a rescue service helicopter half an hour after collapsing.

A spokesperson for NHS Highland said that Mr. Cook arrived at hospital 90 minutes after his collapse, and was reported dead five minutes later. A postmortem examination has concluded that he died from hypertensive heart disease.

Mr. Cook was buried on August 12 at St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh in a service attended by close family, friends and political figures from across the world. British Prime Minister Tony Blair however came under attack from Mr. Cooks friend and racing pundit John McCririck for his absence from the service.

Robin Cook served as Foreign Secretary under New Labour and was a critic of the war in Iraq. He  resigned as Leader of the House of Commons in 2003 in protest against Prime Minister Blair's foreign policies.


Ehemaliger britischer Außenminister Robin Cook bei Bergtour gestorben

London (Großbritannien), 06.08.2005 – Im Alter von 59 Jahren ist der ehemalige britische Außenminister Robin Cook gestorben.

Er erlitt bei einer Wanderung in den schottischen Bergen einen Kollaps. Ein Rettungshubschrauber flog ihn in ein Krankenhaus bei Inverness. Dort starb er später.

Cook war zwischen 1997 und 2001 Außenminister im Kabinett von Tony Blair. In diesem Amt wurde er 2001 von Jack Straw abgelöst und danach Fraktionsvorsitzender der Labour Party im britischen Unterhaus. Den britischen Militäreinsatz im Irak-Krieg lehnte er rigoros ab. Aus Protest gegen die Beteiligung Großbritanniens an diesem Krieg war er im März 2003 vom Fraktionsvorsitz zurückgetreten.


È morto a Londra l'ex ministro britannico Robin Cook

L'ex ministro britannico Robin Cook, colpito da un malore durante un viaggio in Scozia, è morto oggi a Londra. Aveva 59 anni.
Tra il 1997 e il 2001 è stato il responsabile della diplomazia britannica.
Fece parte del secondo governo Blair quale Ministro per i Rapporti con il Parlamento, carica da cui si dimise nel 2003 per protestare contro la guerra in Iraq.


Brytyjski polityk Robin Cook zmarł w wieku 59 lat

Były szef brytyjskiej dyplomacji, Robin Cook zmarł w wieku 59 lat w sobotę wieczorem w szpitalu w Iverness (Szkocja). Zgon nastąpił na wskutek zawału serca po omdleniu i upadku podczas wspinaczki górskiej wraz żoną Gaynor na Ben Stack w północnej Szkocji.

Helikopter medyczny przyleciał na miejsce zdarzenia półtorej godziny po incydencie. Poszkodowany zmarł pięć minut po przewiezieniu go do szpitala Rigmore w Iverness. Wiadomość o jego śmierci została potwierdzona przez policję o godzinie 18:50 czasu lokalnego.

Robin Cook urodził się 28 lutego 1946 roku w miejscowości Bellshill w Szkocji. Od 1974 roku należał do Partii Pracy. W latach 1997-2001 był szefem brytyjskiej dyplomacji podczas rządów premiera Tony'ego Blaira. W trakcie następnej kadencji był odpowiedzialny za kontakty z parlamentem.

W 2003 roku w ramach protestu przeciw udziałowi Wielkiej Brytanii w interwencji w Iraku zrezygnował z pełnionych funkcji.


Ross Edgley swims around Great Britain for first time in history

On Sunday, Ross Edgley, aged 33, completed his 157-day (five-month) staged swim around Great Britain mainland. He went ashore at Margate, Thanet, Kent, England at 8:40 a.m. local time. This was the first time a human swam the roughly 2,800 km (1750 miles) around the island.

The finish line was marked by a large air-filled construction at the beach, with the Red Bull brand on it. Upon reaching the shore, Ross Edgley was welcomed by a large crowd, several hundreds of people. People ordered three pizzas for Ross Edgley at local theme park Dreamland.

Ross Edgley said, "It feels a bit weird on land, [...] a bit too solid for my liking! I almost fell over when I started to jog into shore. [...] My feelings now are pride, tiredness and relief. It's been a team effort and it's thanks to the whole crew, the support I've received from the public."

Several hundred swimmers joined Ross Edgley on the last mile. Two Red Bull planes also accompanied the swimmer at the last mile.

Ross Edgley had been swimming for six hours twice each day when possible, in a wetsuit. He spent the remaining time eating or sleeping on his support boat, a catamaran named "Hectate".  Sailor Matthew Knight piloted the catamaran.

Ross Edgley shared photos and text about the adventure on Instagram. The photos and communication showed that he faced problems with jellyfish and large waves, while in other times the weather favoured his swim. He also sustained bruised feet as a result of the swimming. In the salt environment he also had "disintegrating tongue".

On August 14, the 74th day of the swim, Ross Edgley reportedly beat the world duration record for a staged sea swim, 73 days. Ross Edgley started the swim on June 1. Red Bull backed the swim.

In 2016 Ross Edgley climbed a height equivalent to Mount Everest's, on a rope in less than 24 hours.

Ross Edgley is from Lincolnshire.


Mies ui ympäri Ison-Britannian

Ross Edgley ui ympäri Ison-Britannian. Hän sai urakkansa päätökseen sunnuntaina 11. marraskuuta 2018.

Yhteensä aikaa meni 157 päivää ja kilometrejä kertyi noin 2800.

Ross Egley ui jopa päivässä 12 tuntia ja kaloreita hän menetti päivässä noin 10 000 – 15 000 kaloria.

Hän rikkoi myös maailmanennätyksen.

Brittilehden mukaan hänen kielensä alkoi hiljalleen hajota merivedelle, hän joutui Skotlannissa Corryvreckanin vesipyöreeseen ja joutui 37 kertaa meduusan polttamaksi.


Rupert Grint, Harry Potter's "Ron Weasley", recovers from H1N1 swine flu virus

Rupert Grint, best known for playing Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter films, has now recovered from the H1N1 swine flu virus after missing some days on the set for the latest installment of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

Unrelated to Grint's illness, the World Health Organisation (WHO) is currently investigating a strain of the flu virus which appears to be resisting the anti-viral drug Tamiflu. An unnamed 16-year-old traveling between San Francisco and Hong Kong was released from hospital after one week following her arrival in Hong Kong.  Officials are following up on her contacts to trace the source of contagion.

Danish and Japanese authorities have also identified two other people who have come down with H1N1 flu virus following anti-viral flu treatments.

Currently there are 5,254 reported cases of H1N1 flu across Australia with ten dying from the flu.  Officials say "those numbers are increasing, we think they're increasing much faster than that across New South Wales and indeed across the country"

Canada has had 33 H1N1 flu deaths and close to 7,900 reported cases.

New Zealand officials report close to 950 people who have contracted the H1N1 flu virus and confirmed its first death related to the virus.  The Chief Coroner feels the virus may have contributed to the deaths of two others as well.  The New Zealand director of public health said the "swine flu will be a mild illness but in some instances the infection can cause more severe illness and, in a few tragic instances, death."

Bulgaria's Minister of Health reported two young boys who are under quarantine after falling ill with H1N1 flu virus after traveling to the U.S., and Saudi Arabia respectively.  Bulgaria has now had ten H1N1 flu cases.

Altogether over 70,000 persons worldwide have come down with the H1N1 flu, as confirmed through testing, and there have been over 300 registered deaths attributable to the virus.

Margaret Chan, WHO spokesperson said, "As we see today, with well over 100 countries reporting cases, once a fully fit pandemic virus emerges, its further international spread is unstoppable."  This sentiment has been repeated by the United Nations health official.

The UK health secretary, Andy Burnham has forecast over 100,000 H1N1 flu virus cases per day before September 1.


Rupert Grint atteint de grippe A (H1N1)

Alors que Harry Potter et le Prince de sang-mêlé est sur le point de sortir en salle, et en plein tournage du prochain et dernier opus de la saga Harry Potter, Rupert Grint vient d'être atteint par la grippe porcine. L'acteur a donc quitté le tournage subitement.

Néanmoins, son médecin a déclaré « [qu'il] pourrait assister, étant en état de convalescence, à l'avant-première du Prince de sang-mêlé, et, de plus, [qu'il] pourrait reprendre le tournage très rapidement ».


Russia's Navalny airlifted to Germany

Today, Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was airlifted from the city of Omsk in Siberia to Berlin, Germany. Navalny has been suffering from a serious medical condition since Thursday. His associates have alleged Navalny was poisoned.

Alexei Navalny is an outspoken critic of Russian president Vladimir Putin. Navalny was transferred from the hospital in Omsk to Charité in Berlin via air ambulance. Cinema for Peace Foundation, a Berlin-based non-profit, provided for the medical evacuation.

On Thursday, Navalny was flying from Tomsk in Siberia headed for Moscow when he fell ill. The flight was redirected to Omsk, so he could be hospitalized. Associates of Navalny alleged he drank tea laced with poison. Hospital officials in Omsk said no traces of poison was found in his blood or urine. As of Friday, Navalny was in a medically induced coma.

Charité said in a statement, Navalny would be undergoing extensive medical diagnostics. His family would be consulted before any comment on his condition would be released. The hospital also asked for patience.


Алексея Навального доставили в Берлин

Самолет с Алексеем Навальным на борту приземлился в Берлине, где политика должны положить в клинику. Об этом пишет в твиттере пресс-секретарь Навального Кира Ярмыш.

Навальному стало плохо утром 20 августа в самолете, летевшем из Томска в Москву. Его высадили в Омске и доставили в местную больницу скорой помощи. Близкие и родственники уверены, что это отравление, однако врачи больницы заявили, что признаков отравления нет. С 20 августа он находится в коме. К нему не сразу пустили жену. По словам Ярмыш и соратников Навального, на территории больницы находились оперативники в штатском.

Отправке Навального в берлинскую клинику Charité предшествовал долгий процесс переговоров с участием специально прибывших в Омск 21 августа немецких врачей-реаниматологов. Поначалу врачи омской больницы вопреки требованиям родственников отказывались отпустить Навального в Германию, объясняя это тем, что у них есть все необходимые для его лечения условия. К немецким врачам никого не подпускали. Только к вечеру врачи заявили, что не возражают против транспортировки политика. Ранним утром 22 августа самолет, много часов ожидавший в омском аэропорту, вылетел в Берлин. Ярмыш отмечает, что брату Навального Олегу, ей и директору основанного Навальным Фонда борьбы с коррупцией Ивану Жданову обещали, что они поедут с Навальным в аэропорт в реанимобиле, однако Навального увезли в аэропорт, не предупредив их.

22 августа 2020 года


俄羅斯反對派領袖納瓦尼送往德國醫院急救

前天，俄羅斯反對派領袖亞歷塞依·納瓦尼從西伯利亞鄂木斯克市乘飛機到德國柏林。納瓦尼在上週四出現病症。他的同事稱他被人下毒。亞歷塞依·納瓦尼一直反對俄羅斯總統弗拉基米爾·普京。納瓦爾尼從鄂木斯克的醫院乘飛機轉到柏林的夏里特醫院。一家位於柏林的非營利組織「和平電影院基金會」為醫療後送提供了幫助。

之前，納瓦爾尼從托木斯克飛往莫斯科時出現中毒跡象。該航班被改道飛往鄂木斯克，以便他住院治療。他的同事稱他喝了摻有毒藥的茶。鄂木斯克的醫院官員說，在他的血液和尿液中沒有發現毒藥的痕跡。截至星期五，納瓦尼仍處於昏迷狀態。

夏里特醫院聲稱納瓦尼將接受廣泛的醫療診斷。在對他的病情發表評論之前，會先徵求他家人的意見。醫院還要求要耐心等待。


Salmonella outbreak sickens over one thousand in United States

Over 1000 cases of illness have now been identified in a foodborne salmonellosis outbreak that began in mid-April 2008 in the United States.

As of July 8, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported 1013 confirmed infections throughout the United States, along with four cases in Canada. 203 hospitalizations have been linked to the outbreak. It has caused at least one death, and it may have been a contributing factor in another. The pathogen responsible is the rare Saintpaul strain of Salmonella enterica.

Nearly half of the reported illnesses were in Texas and New Mexico. According to unnamed sources close to the investigation, most illness clusters in the outbreak involve Mexican restaurants. Illness clusters in the hard hit state of Illinois were publicly identified by local health departments as involving three Mexican restaurants.

The CDC is in the process of investigating the outbreak and trying to identify the contamination's point of origin. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) currently suspects that the contaminated food product is an ingredient in fresh salsa, such as fresh jalapeño pepper, fresh serrano pepper, fresh cilantro, or certain types of raw tomato.

Some produce industry insiders doubt that fresh produce is to blame for the outbreak. They point to the absence of Salmonella on all of the tested produce samples to date, as well as divergent results from produce tracebacks. They also say that the extended time frame of new sicknesses makes it unlikely that either raw tomatoes or fresh jalapeños, the government's two main suspects, could be responsible. Will Steele, President and CEO of Frontera Produce, said that "the outbreak is probably related to processed goods and they’re looking in the wrong closets."

Steele's Texas based company has been forced to hold shipments of fresh jalapeño peppers after loads of produce were repeatedly flagged by the FDA for testing. Although independent testing of both loads showed no sign of Salmonella, the peppers are still on hold until the FDA finishes its own testing of the second load flagged on July 1st. "There are still no results," Steele says. "The salability of that produce in two to three days is gone. We ceased harvesting. There is no sense in bringing in more product and having it rot."

Steele, like others in the produce industry, believes that the FDA should be focusing on processed produce instead of fresh produce. "Methodology is backward," he says. "FDA is reaching for answers. You can’t tie jalapeño pepper shipped on June 30 back to April 10."

Still, the FDA and the CDC consider testing of fresh jalapeños and other fresh produce a high priority. The CDC writes that "the accumulated data from all investigations indicate that jalapeño peppers caused some illnesses."

The FDA is cautioning that people who would be in the most danger if infected with Salmonella (infants, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems) should avoid eating the suspected types of produce listed on their website.


美國爆發沙門士菌千多人感染

美國自4月初發現第一宗沙門氏菌感染病例後，至今感染人數已超過1,000人，有41個州受疫情影響，當局懷疑患者是在生吃蕃茄和兩種辣椒之後染病的。

加拿大亦發現4宗沙門氏菌感染個案，其中3名患者懷疑是到美國旅遊時受感染。


Samoan government ends state of emergency over measles outbreak

On Sunday, the state of emergency begun on November 15 over a measles outbreak ended in Samoa. The island nation's cabinet unanimously voted to lift it on Saturday afternoon, and the National Emergency Operation Centre (NEOC) announced the decision that night. NEOC reported a 95% immunization rate on December 24, and the last measles-related death during the state of emergency on December 26.

Restrictions on public gathering and travel were to be lifted, and schools to reopen.  The Health Emergency Operation Center were to take over the relief efforts centralized under the National Emergency Operation Centre. The Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were tasked to produce a recovery plan within two weeks for consideration by the cabinet.

As of Sunday, the Disease Surveillance Team reported a total of 5667 cases during the outbreak. Out these, 1846 persons were hospitalized and 1720 had already been discharged, while 81 had lost their lives.  The December 6 National Measles Response and Recovery Appeal identified children under 5 years of age as having the highest mortality, corresponding with the relative shortfall of vaccination in the age group.

Tupua Tamasese Meaole Hospital returned to normal operation on Sunday, joining Faleolo District Hospital and Leulumoega District Hospital, which returned to normal on Friday. During the peak of the outbreak, Tupua Tamasese Meaole's Acute Primary Care Clinic and Leulumoega District hospital were made measles wards, and Leulumoega District Hospital was designated to deal with patients without measles, in an effort to quarantine infected individuals. The Australian medical mission's fifth rotation is to remain on the islands until January 4 to help facilitate the transition. On Sunday teams had already begun to disassemble the tents erected to deal with the large number of admissions.

The state of emergency was expected to end on December 15, but on December 14 it was extended by two weeks to allow the immunization campaign to continue. At the time, the prime minister called for a 100% immunization rate, and stated 92% had been reached.  As of Sunday, the rate had reached 95% according to NEOC data. Aid agencies say populations with sufficiently high vaccination rates have enough herd immunity to prevent any further infections from spreading out of control, meaning an infected person is not likely to come into contact with enough unvaccinated people to cause a chain reaction.

UNICEF reported they had delivered over 105 thousand doses of vaccine to Samoa by November 22. The national vaccination campaign started on November 20.  A government order made vaccination mandatory and free of charge for children between six months and 19 years of age and for women between 20 and 35, considered childbearing age. On December 5 and 6, the government of Samoa executed a planned shutdown of public services and the private sector to leave room for a nationwide door-to-door immunization drive. The government said 128 vaccination teams participated.

To curb the spread of disease, the government prohibited inter-island travel for those under 19, schools were closed, and authorities recommended residents avoid public gatherings and medical facilities unless they were in need of medical attention. Unvaccinated pregnant women were prohibited from going to their workplaces.

The outbreak was first confirmed by the government on October 16, after the Victorian Infectious Disease Reference Laboratory in Melbourne tested 7 out of 20 suspected cases positive for measles.

In 2019 in the Pacific region, outbreaks of measles were declared in parts of the Philippines first on February 6, Tonga on October 22, Fiji on November 7, and American Samoa on December 8.  The D8 strain, which caused a New Zealand outbreak, has been identified in Samoa and Fiji.  New Zealand serves as a travel hub for small Pacific nations.  According to data from the World Health Organisation, in 2018 there were approximately 10 million cases of measles and 140 thousand related deaths worldwide.


incubator:Wn/hu/Véget ért a kanyarójárvány miatt elrendelt szükségállapot Szamoán

Vasárnap véget ért a helyi kanyarójárvány miatt november 15-én elrendelt szükségállapot Szamoán. A kormány egyhangú szavazással döntött így szombat délután, amit a Nemzeti Vészhelyzeti Műveleti Központ (National Emergency Operation Center, NEOC) aznap este be is jelentett. A műveleti központ 95%-ot elérő oltottsági szintet először december 24-i közleményében jelentett, a legutóbbi kanyaró okozta halálesetet pedig december 26-án.

A gyülekezési és utazási korlátozásokat feloldották, az iskolákat pedig megnyitották. A NEOC feladatait az Egészségügyi Vészhelyzeti Műveleti Központ (Health Emergency Operation Center) vette át. Az egészségügyi, illetve a külügyi minisztériumoknak két héten belül a kormány elé kell terjeszteniük véleményezésre egy helyreállítási tervet.

A vasárnapi járványügyi jelentés szerint 5667 kanyarós beteget regisztráltak ‑ ebből 1846 került kórházba, közülük 1720-an már elhagyták kórházat, 81-en viszont meghaltak. A legtöbb haláleset az 5 év alattiak körében történt, azzal egybevágóan, hogy ebben a korosztályban a legkisebb a beoltottak aránya ‑ áll a kormány december 6-i kanyaróügyi segélyfelhívásában (National Measles Response and Recovery Appeal).

A Tupua Tamasese Meaole kórház normális működése vasárnap állt vissza, a Leulumoega és Faleolo kerületi kórházaké pénteken. Hogy a kanyarósokat a nem fertőzöttektől elkülönítsék, a járvány idején a Tupua Tamasese Meaole sürgősségi osztálya és a Leulumoega csak kanyarós betegeket fogadott, míg a Faleolo vette fel az egyéb eseteket. A szigetre érkezett ausztrál orvosi különítmény ötödik váltása január 4-ig Szamoán marad, hogy segítsen a normál kerékvágásba visszaállni. A sátrakat, amiket a nagyszámú beteg fogadására állítottak fel, vasárnap már bontották.

A szükségállapot eredetileg december 15-én ért volna véget, de december 14-én, hogy az oltókampány folytatódhassék, meghosszabbították azt két héttel. A miniszterelnök szerint ekkorra a lakosság 92%-a kapta meg az oltást, és célul tűzte ki, hogy mindenkinek beadják. A vasárnapi járványügyi jelentés szerint 95%-ot értek el. A segélyszervezetek szerint a kellően magas oltási arány esetén a betegek kisebb eséllyel érintkezhetnek a fertőzésre fogékonyakkal, ami visszafogja a betegség terjedését, úgynevezett nyájimmunitást eredményez.

November 22-ig 105 500 vakcina leszállítását jelentette az UNICEF Szamoára. Az oltási kampány november 20-án indult. Az oltást a 6 hónap és 19 év közötti gyerekeknek, és a 20 és 35 közötti (ideális gyerekvállalási korban levő) nőknek kötelezővé és ingyenessé tették. December 5-ére és 6-ára a kormány kétnapos kormányzati leállást és munkaszünetet rendelt el, hogy a medikusok ezalatt házról-házra járhassanak. Ebben a kormány szerint 128 csapat vett részt.

Hogy a járvány terjedését fékezzék, a kormány a 19 év alattiak utazását a szigetek közt megtiltotta, az iskolákat bezárta, illetve, hacsak orvosi eset nem indokolta, az egészségügyi intézmények és nyilvános rendezvények elkerülését javasolta. A be nem oltott terhes nőket eltiltották a munkába járástól.

A járványhelyzetet október 16-án hirdették ki, miután húsz mintából hetet pozitívnak tesztelt egy melbourne-i, fertőző betegségekkel foglalkozó labor, a Victorian Infectious Disease Reference Laboratory.

Óceániában 2019-ben több helyütt is felütötte a fejét a kanyaró: a Fülöp-szigetek egyes részein február 6-án, Tongán október 22-én, Fidzsin november 7-én, Amerikai Szamoán pedig december 8-án hirdettek járványhelyzetet. A D8 törzs, ami a 2019-es új-zélandi járványt is okozta, azonosították Fidzsin és Szamoán is. Új-Zéland a kis óceániai szigetállamok közlekedési csomópontja. Az Egészségügyi Világszervezet szerint 2018-ban világszerte nagyjából 10 millió kanyarós megbetegedés volt, amiből 140 ezer végződött halállal.


SARS-CoV-2 surpasses one million infections worldwide

On Thursday, the total number of cases of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus infections surpassed one million worldwide, Johns Hopkins University data indicated. At least 52 thousand deaths were linked to COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.

The milestone came the same day Malawi confirmed its first coronavirus infections and Zambia had its first coronavirus-related death. North Korea claimed, as of Thursday, it was one of the few countries remaining free of coronavirus infections.

By yesterday, the World Health Organization reported 1,051,635 confirmed cases, including 79,332 cases in the twenty four hours preceding 10 a.m. Central European Time (0800 UTC) on April 4. In the United States, over 244 thousand coronavirus cases were recorded, linking to at least 5,900 deaths. CBS News reported, citing Johns Hopkins University data, there were over 1,000 US deaths on Wednesday caused by coronavirus infections.

Around the world, countries announced stricter measures to inhibit the disease from spreading. On Thursday, Sergei Sobyanin, the mayor of Moscow, extended the city lockdown to May 1. Nationally, President Vladimir Putin declared Russians would continue to be paid without going to work until April 30. The parliament of Portugal voted to extend the national state of emergency by 15 days; the vote passed with 215 votes in favor, ten abstentions, and one vote against. Saudi Arabia extended curfews in the holy cities of Mecca and Medina to last the entire day; previously, the curfew was only in effect between 3 p.m. and 6 a.m. Thailand planned to implement a curfew between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m. The governor of Ohio, Mike DeWine, announced the state had extended its stay-at-home order until May 1.


Vahvistettujen koronavirustartuntojen määrä ylitti miljoonan

SARS-CoV-2-viruksen aiheuttaman COVID-19-taudin tartuntojen kumulatiivinen määrä on noussut tänään yli yhden miljoonan. Aktiivisiakin tapauksia on noin 739 300 kappaletta. Kaikista tartunnoista hieman yli 51 300 on johtanut kuolemaan. Taudista on parantunut kaikkiaan hieman yli 210 200 ihmistä. Päivittäisten uusien tartuntojen määrä on kasvanut melko tasaisesti koko koronaviruspandemian tapahtumahistorian ajan. Eniten uusia tartuntoja ja kuolemia on maailman valtioista tänään ja eilen vahvistettu Yhdysvalloissa, joka on kärkimaa myös aktiivisissa tapauksissa.


Coronavirus : plus d'un million de cas recensés dans le monde

Alors que la maladie à coronavirus 2019 n'est connue que depuis quelques mois, le nombre de personnes infectées dépasse désormais le million. Apparue en Chine dans la région de Wuhan en novembre 2019, le pays informe l'Organisation mondiale de la santé de la maladie le 30 décembre 2019 en la qualifiant de « pneumonie d'origine inconnue ».

L'expansion de la maladie est rapide : le 22 janvier, 500 cas sont confirmés dans le monde ; le 29 mars, la barre des 500 000 malades est franchie ; le 2 avril, soit moins d'une semaine après, le nombre de cas double pour atteindre plus d'un million.

Depuis sa sortie de Chine, l'épicentre de l'épidémie se trouve en Europe, mais l'explosion du nombre cas aux États-Unis (245 540 cas et 6 053 morts) est en train de déplacer l'épicentre vers le pays.

Pour l'instant, plus de 500 000 cas sont recensés en Europe. Les pays européens les plus concernés par l'épidémie en nombre de cas sont l'Italie (115 242 cas et 13 917 morts), l'Espagne (110 238 cas et 10 003 morts), l'Allemagne (73 522 cas et 872 morts), la France (59 105 cas et 4 503 morts) et le Royaume-Uni (33 718 cas et 2 921 morts).

Lire aussi : Coronavirus : le nombre de cas par pays

Ci-dessous le tableau de suivi des cas selon les chiffres du Centre européen de prévention et de contrôle des maladies au 3 avril.

Source : European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control

3 avril 2020

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Nu officieel meer dan 1 miljoen COVID-19-besmettingen wereldwijd

Het totale aantal officieel vastgestelde besmettingen wereldwijd met het coronavirus  SARS-CoV-2 bedroeg zondag 1,2 miljoen. De Johns Hopkins-universiteit, die de statistieken hierover bijhoudt, maakte donderdagavond bekend dat er  wereldwijd inmiddels een miljoen vastgestelde besmettingen waren, hetgeen een verdubbeling was in slechts een week tijd. Inmiddels zijn er wereldwijd meer dan 66.000 mensen overleden het virus, meldde John Hopkins CSSE op zondag.

Al deze getallen zeggen overigens niet echt veel. Het werkelijke aantal besmettingen met het virus ligt (veel) hoger, omdat veel mensen die het virus wel hebben maar bijv. slechts milde symptomen vertonen niet worden getest. Ook meten niet alle landen op dezelfde manier. Zo worden bijvoorbeeld in Nederland alleen de risicogroepen getest. In de VS is men pas sinds half maart op uitgebreide schaal gaan meten, nadat dit proces eerst door fouten vertraging opliep. Daarnaast rapporteert China volgens Amerikaanse inlichtingendiensten doelbewust een lager aantal besmettingen dan het werkelijke aantal.

In totaal is het virus, sinds het begin van de uitbraak afgelopen december in Wuhan, nu opgedoken in meer dan 180 landen. Van alle landen telt de VS momenteel de meeste besmettingen; het aantal is hier op zondag de 300.000 gepasseerd. De VS wordt gevolgd door Italië en Spanje met elk ca. 120.000 besmettingen. Ongeveer de helft van het totale aantal besmettingen is in Europa. Het virus heeft nu wereldwijd in totaal meer dan 53.000 levens geëist. Van alle landen zijn in Italië tot dusver de meeste doden gevallen.


Coronavírus: contaminações passam de 1 milhão em todo planeta

A cifra de casos de COVID-19 não para de subir e o mundo alcançou nos últimos dias a quantidade de 1 milhão de infectados, segundo a Universidade Johns Hopkins dos Estados Unidos, que acompanha os dados relativos à pandemia praticamente tempo real. Quanto aos casos fatais, eles já chegam a quase 55 mil, com a Itália liderando o ranking, com 14.681 mortes.

Nos Estados Unidos a situação é alarmante. O país que tem o maior número de infectados, 245.116, corre contra o tempo para preparar melhor seu sistema de saúde, tendo o governo despachado para a China, há três dias, 23 aviões para carregar materiais, como máscaras, luvas e até respiradores, comprados no país asiático. O presidente americano Donald Trump, que até a semana passada estava cético em relação à quarentena na tentativa de proteger a economia, mudou de tom dias atrás, ao considerar que a medida pode ser importante para a contenção da pandemia.

No entanto, Trump defende que cada governador americano tenha a liberdade de decretar quarentena, conforme necessidade. “Se o Alasca não tiver casos, não tem porque fazer quarentena”, disse. Além da quarentena, governadores também estudam a possibilidade de fechar as fronteiras de seus estados, principalmente para o trânsito aéreo de pessoas.

Os países com mais casos confirmados em 03 de abril, segundo a Universidade Jonh Hopkins


В мире больше миллиона заболевших COVID-19

В мире, по подсчётам университета Джонса Хопкинса, зафиксировано 1002859 заражённых коронавирусом SARS-CoV-2. 51485 скончались. 208949 выздоровели.

Лидеры по количеству инфицированных:

Больше всего умерло в Италии (14 тысяч) и Испании (10 тысяч), в США (5,6 тысяч), во Франции (4,5 тысяч) и Китае (3,3 тысяч).

2 апреля 2020 года


新冠病毒全球確診人數逾百萬

約翰·霍普金斯大學的數據顯示，全球新冠病毒感染病例總數超過一百萬，死亡人數有5200例。

同一天，馬拉維證實了其首例新冠病毒確診，而贊比亞也出現了首宗因新冠病毒引致的死亡。北韓聲稱國內無任何確診感染病例，她同時也是少數沒有受到新冠病毒影響的國家之一。

截至昨天，世界衛生組織報告了1,051,635例確診病例，包括4月4日中歐時間上午10點前二十四小時的79,332例病例。在美國，已記錄了超過24.4萬例新冠病毒病例，至少5,900人死亡。據美國CBS報導，引索約翰·霍普金斯大學的數據，週三有1000多名美國人死于新冠病毒感染。

全球各國宣布了更嚴格的措施來抑制疫情的傳播。週四，莫斯科市長謝爾蓋·謝苗諾維奇·蘇比雅寧將「封城令」延長至5月1日。在全國范圍內，俄羅斯總統普京宣布俄羅斯人將繼續放有薪假，直到4月30日為止。沙特阿拉伯將麥加和麥地那聖城的宵禁時間從下午三時延長至至整日。泰國計劃在早上6點至下午6點之間實施宵禁。美國俄亥俄州州長麥克·德文宣布，俄亥俄州的「居家令」延長至5月1日。

【2020年4月5日讯】


Science of champagne bubbles explained

A team of scientists from universities in France and Brazil have developed a theory that explains the patterns of fine bubbles that arise in a freshly poured glass of champagne.

The bubble patterns evolve as the amount of dissolved carbon dioxide changes in the glass. They start out as strings of bubbles that rise in pairs, then gradually transition to bubbles in groups of threes, and finally settle down in a clockwork pattern of regularly spaced individual bubbles.

The researchers observed the carbon dioxide bubbles in a champagne glass as they rise from nucleation points on the glass wall. The nucleation points are small defects in the glass that trap tiny vibrating pockets of carbon dioxide.  Dissolved gas in the champagne gradually collects in a vibrating bubble inside the defect, causing it to grow and soon expel gas from the defect, forming another bubble that sticks to the outside of the defect. That bubble, in turn, grows as more dissolved carbon dioxide collects inside it and it eventually breaks free of the defect to rise through the champagne. Then the process begins again with a new bubble expelled from the defect, forming rising strings of tiny bubbles.

The patterns are determined by the vibration rate of the gas trapped in the defect and the growth rate of the bubbles outside the defect, which are in turn determined by such things as the pressure of the atmosphere on the surface of the champagne, the champagne temperature, and the size of the nucleation defect in the glass, among other factors.

The work could be important in understanding bubbles formed of dissolved gasses in other situations, such as nitrogen bubbles that grow in the blood vessels of surfacing divers and can cause the bends,  and the explosive release of carbon dioxide gas from Cameroon's Lake Nyos that killed over 1800 people in 1986.


Gedrag champagnebubbels verklaard

Een team wetenschappers van universiteiten in Frankrijk en Brazilië hebben een theorie ontwikkeld die de patronen verklaart van fijne bubbels die naar de oppervlakte ontsnappen in een vers geschonken glas champagne.

De patronen evolueren naar gelang het gehalte aan opgeloste koolstofdioxide in het glas wijzigt. Ze beginnen als strengen bubbels die per twee stijgen, gaan dan geleidelijk aan over tot bubbels in groepen van drie, tot ze uiteindelijk in een uurwerkpatroon van gelijkmatig gespreide bubbels terechtkomen.

De onderzoekers observeerden de koolstofdioxidebubbels in een champagneglas terwijl ze stegen vanaf kernpunten op de glaswand. De kernpunten zijn kleine onregelmatigheden in het glas die kleine trillende hoeveelheden koolstofdioxide vasthouden. Het opgeloste gas in de champagne verzamelt zich geleidelijk aan in de trillende bubbel in de onregelmatigheid zelf, waardoor die groeit, gas begint vrij te geven en een andere bubbel vormt die aan de buitenkant van de onregelmatigheid hangt. Díe bubbel groeit telkens als er meer opgelost gas in verzamelt en maakt zich uitendelijk los van de onregelmatigheid, waarop hij stijgt doorheen de champagne. Het beschreven proces herhaalt zich en zorgt zo voor de strengen kleine bubbeltjes.

De patronen worden bepaald door de trilfrequentie van het gas, opgesloten in de onregelmatigheid, een de groeisnelheid van de bubbels buiten de onregelmatigheid, die op hun beurt onder meer beïnvloed worden door zaken als de atmosfeerdruk op het oppervlak van de champagne, de temperatuur van de champagne en de grootte van de onregelmatigheid in het glas.

Hun werk kan belangrijk in het doorgronden van bubbels gevormd door opgeloste gassen in andere situaties, zoals stikstofbubbels die groeien in de bloedvaten van stijgende duikers en de Caissonziekte kunnen veroorzaken, en de explosieve vrijlating van koolstofdioxidegas van Cameroens Nyosmeer die aan meer dan 1800 mensen het leven eiste in 1986.