Featured
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Opinion |
Global health needs to fill the innovation gap
In recent years, the pharmaceutical industry has struggled to deliver new therapies, especially for diseases that affect the most vulnerable in developing countries. The global health community can fill this vacuum by catalyzing innovative partnerships across academia, government and the private sector, fostering a more rigorous environment for scientific decision making and creating the tools and infrastructure to conduct effective translational research.
- Trevor Mundel
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News & Views |
Horizontal gene transfer boosts MRSA spreading
Mechanisms triggering methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) epidemics are poorly understood. A recent study provides new evidence that horizontal gene transfer may be the culprit for the emergence of new resistant and virulent MRSA clones.
- André Kriegeskorte
- & Georg Peters
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Editorial |
The persistence of polio
Despite intense efforts to rid the world of poliovirus, it continues to persevere. Given the serious limitations of the existing vaccines, the feasibility of eradication must be reassessed.
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Opinion |
Smart resource allocation needed to study 'legal highs'
Ground-breaking science in the area of cannabinoid signaling holds great promise for new drug development, but an unintended consequence of this research has led to the emergence of an onslaught of deadly 'legal highs'. Providing public health scientists with access to laboratory resources designed to investigate emerging chemicals of concern is crucial for timely, sound evaluation of products that pose major threats to public health.
- Jeffery H. Moran
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Opinion |
Consistent clinical research standards benefit patients around the world
Although the globalization of clinical trials has provided benefits to host countries, critics have focused on the rare but egregious examples of unethical practices. But large, coordinated trials by the contract research industry can encourage best practice, particularly if local countries adopt more consistent standards and oversight.
- Joe Herring
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Brief Communication |
A pharmacological approach to first aid treatment for snakebite
Snakebite toxins need to be transported through the lymphatic system before gaining access to the blood. By interfering with lymphatic system function, Megan Saul et al. found that nitric oxide donors delay the fatal effects of snake venom in rats. By giving snakebite victims more time to obtain medical care, this approach may be useful for the first-aid treatment of snakebites.
- Megan E Saul
- , Paul A Thomas
- & Dirk F van Helden
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Commentary |
Enhancing ties between academia and industry to improve health
- S Claiborne Johnston
- , Stephen L Hauser
- & Susan Desmond-Hellmann
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Commentary |
Time to 'walk the walk' about industry ties to enhance health
- Thomas P Stossel
- & Lance K Stell
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Between Bedside and Bench |
Defying malaria: Fathoming severe Plasmodium vivax disease
The pathogen causing malaria, Plasmodium, is a perfect escapist that causes millions of infections and deaths—mostly in endemic areas plagued with poverty and lack of resources. Efforts in developing vaccines against the parasite focus on several immunological strategies, but they still fail to control it. In 'Bedside to Bench', Pedro Alonso and Quique Bassat examine recent observational studies where Plasmodium vivax was associated with severe malaria—usually linked to Plasmodium falciparum—in non-African endemic areas. Understanding what factors add to this morbidity and how this species severely sickens children and adults may help pave the way to eradicate malaria worldwide. In 'Bench to Bedside', Michael Good and Christian Engwerda discuss how a CD8+ T cell–mediated strategy may be useful in a vaccine to tackle the blood-stage parasite. Stimulation of these immune cells with the correct vaccination approach could open new doors to prevent disease in people infected with malaria.
- Quique Bassat
- & Pedro L Alonso
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News |
Progress on neglected disease is moot if we neglect to count
The recent global campaign launched against a select number of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) is a welcome development. But we should be as careful about measuring progress toward the control or elimination of these diseases as we are about choosing which ones to target.
- Donald R Hopkins
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Commentary |
The 2010 scientific strategic plan of the Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise
- Seth Berkley
- , Kenneth Bertram
- & Alan Bernstein
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News |
Straight talk with ... Peter Piot
Peter Piot, formerly executive director of UNAIDS, will become director of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine next month. Speaking with Asher Mullard, he discusses the changing nature of global health research.
- Asher Mullard
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News |
Counting counterfeits
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News |
Classifying counterfeits
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Editorial |
Lay down the law on fakes
Lax laws mean that drug counterfeiters often receive light punishments and companies can remain silent when they suspect bogus medicines in the supply chain. Winning the fight against fakes requires getting tough.
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Opinion |
Beef up international cooperation on counterfeits
Counterfeit drugs are a menacing and deadly problem worldwide. And incidents of such counterfeiting show no evidence of declining.
- Marv Shepherd
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News |
Straight talk with...Aline Plançon
Interpol has placed French police officer Aline Plançon at the helm of its dedicated Medical Products Counterfeiting and Pharmaceutical Crime (MPCPC) unit, which was created in January. Working closely with the World Health Organization, Plançon is tasked with supporting and coordinating enforcement activities around the world. Asher Mullard spoke with Plançon about her role.
- Asher Mullard
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