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Tests
Find Bird Flu in Egypt, France
February
17, 2006
Tests
confirmed the deadly strain of bird flu in Egypt, as France reported a probable
first case Friday. Egypt's health ministry was preparing to declare a state of
emergency, the government said. The French agriculture ministry said Friday that
it found the nation's "probable" first case of H5N1 bird flu virus in
a dead wild duck. The ministry said tests confirmed that the duck found in the
southeast Ain region had H5 bird flu and that it was believed to be the deadly
N1 strain.
Source:
Abc news
New
Influenza Vaccine Takes Weeks to Mass Produce
February
18, 2006
Using
cell-based methods researchers have developed a commercially viable method for
mass producing effective vaccines against potential pandemic influenza
strains in weeks instead of the months required for traditional egg-based
vaccines. They report their results today at the 2006 ASM Biodefense Research.
The vaccine strategy pursued by Protein Sciences, known commercially as FluBlok,
uses a purified protein from the surface of the virus called hemagglutinin (the
H part of a virus' designation, like H5N1 for the current avian influenza) to
elicit an immune response to a specific strain of influenza.
Source:
Sciencedaily.com
Welcome
to The Jab'n'tuck Revolution
February
19, 2006
A
big rise in injectable treatments is being reported in cosmetic clinics around
the country. And with a clutch of new procedures on the way, invasive plastic
surgery could soon be a rarity. Patients who may have opted for a facelift or
nose-job before are now discovering a series of injections can produce similar
results by relaxing or stimulating muscle tissue.
Source:
Independent.co.uk
Gene
Linked to HIV Progression Among Chinese
February
20, 2006
Researchers
in China have identified a human gene that could explain why some Chinese HIV
patients develop full-blown AIDS more rapidly than others. While 95 per cent of
HIV-infected people develop AIDS within 8–10 years of being infected, the
remainder show no symptoms even after ten years. Research in Europe and the
United States has shown that a gene called HLA-Bw4 could be protecting these
people from developing AIDS.
Source:
Scidev.net
India
Investigates Claims of Bird Flu Cover-up
February
21, 2006
India
is investigating media reports that a major poultry producer suppressed evidence
of the nation's first bird flu outbreak by paying local people to bury dead
chickens. The claims, if true, would mean that India lost 12 days that could
have been used to contain the outbreak and raise awareness of the threat. In
addition, anyone burying dead birds risked being infected with the deadly H5N1
bird flu virus.
Source:
Scidev.net
DNA
'Could Predict Your Surname'
February
21, 2006
Forensic
scientists could use DNA retrieved from a crime scene to predict the surname of
the suspect, according to a new British study. The technique is based on work
comparing the Y chromosomes of men with the same surname. The Y chromosome is a
package of genetic material found normally only in males. It is passed down from
father to son, just like a surname.
Source:
BBC News
Male
Gene May Explain Higher Incidence of Parkinson's in Men
February
22, 2006
Scientists
at Prince Henry’s Institute, Melbourne, and the University of California, Los
Angeles, have discovered that SRY, the male protein that forms the testes is
also produced in the brain
region affected in Parkinson’s disease. This discovery may explain why men are
more likely than women to develop this degenerative disorder. SRY, the protein
that determines male gender, was discovered by British scientists in 1990. Dr
Harley joined the team and was the first to show functions of the SRY protein in
males. SRY is passed from father to son on the Y chromosome and is not present
in females.
Source:
Sciencedaily.com
Twins
More Likely for Older Mums
February
23, 2006
Twins
are more common for older mums because they are more prone to produce multiple
eggs in a cycle than younger women, a Dutch study has found.
Source:
BBC News
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