Showing posts with label Tuberculosis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tuberculosis. Show all posts

Monday, September 2, 2013

Study Of TB Genetic Origin Shows Human Beginnings, Importance Of How Humans And TB Co-Developed

TB Has Human, Not Animal, Origins--Says Study by Julie Gould.  BBC News.  September 2, 2013.

(1)  An importance of this study for human health is that if scientists can understand how TB and humans co-developed then that knowledge would help ________________________.

(2)  The researchers combined geographic and genetic data from _______ strains of TB to reconstruct its evolutionary history and compare it to the origins of humans in Africa.

(3)  The ability of TB to ___________ reactivate itself may explain how it survived in people for so long.

(4)  The hypothesis presented by this study is that TB developed in __________ and was transmitted to animals during the NDT or __________________.


Sunday, February 24, 2013

Unique Los Angeles TB Strain Spurs Search For Those Exposed

Feds Try To Curb Outbreak Of TB On Skid Row by Anna Gorman and Andrew Blankstein.  The Los Angeles Times.  February 22, 2013.

While the outbreak has largely been concentrated in the skid row of downtown Los Angeles, public health officials are concerned it may spread.  Nationally TB is spreading in the homeless even as it is declining in the broader population.  Fortunately, the Los Angeles TB strain can be treated by all anti-TB medication.

Monday, December 31, 2012

Estonia Shows the Way On TB Outbreak at Europe's Perimeter

At Europe's Doorstep, Fierce War Against TB by Gautam Naik.  The Wall Street Journal.  December 31, 2012.

Among the steps the article discusses in Estonia's efforts to limit the disease are isolation, banning the sale of TB drugs from pharmacies to prevent the spread of resistant strains, integrating drug treatment with TB screening efforts, and use of such equipment as GeneXpert to diagnosis if the strain of drug is regular or resistant.  The Journal has been at the forefront of coverage of TB around the world.

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Fingerprint Technology to Increase Adherence to Drug Regimes

Health-Care IT.  The Wall Street Journal.  October 16, 2012.

A finger print technology to deal with the tremendous problem of tuberculosis drug adherence in India was the winner in the Health-Care IT category of the WSJ Technology Innovation Award.  Combined with changes in drug accessibility and distribution, Operation ASHA, uses fingerprints to record the patients who picked up their medicines.  Counselors are notified when patients did not pick up their medicines.  Fingerprinting increased adherence to the complete drug program.