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Sex Workers In Pakistan Give Recommendations On HIV Prevention To Health Officials
Although the recorded HIV prevalence in Pakistan is relatively low, health officials are concerned that a concentrated epidemic of the virus among injection drug users could carry over to commercial sex workers and other high risk groups in the country, IRIN/PlusNews reports. To address the issue, the National AIDS Control Program and the United Nations Population Fund recently held a meeting, called the National Consultation on HIV and Sex Work, in an effort to improve HIV prevention efforts targeted at sex workers by consulting with workers in the field.Sex workers at the meeting made various recommendations, including HIV testing, referrals and increased efforts to decrease stigma. The Ministry of Health reports that from 2006 to 2007, female sex workers were at a high risk of HIV in 12 cities across Pakistan. A survey of 4,639 female sex workers found that less than 25% reported condom use; 10% had a partner that had used injection drugs during the past six months; and that illiterate sex workers were less likely to use condoms than those with a higher level of education. A female sex worker at the meeting said, "It is very hard for us to convince [partners] to put on a condom, but I feel that a female condom would put us in a position where we can protect ourselves against HIV and sexually transmitted infections." She added that female condoms are not widely available. Legalizing sex work would make it easier for sex workers to protect their rights, another female sex worker at the conference said. She added that often, outreach workers face barriers from police forces. Daniel Baker, UNFPA"s country representative for Pakistan, said that sex workers should have greater involvement in creating and implementing HIV programs. He added, "The female sex workers have to be in there as managers, workers and leaders to benefit in the long run." Safdar Kamal Pasha with UNFPA agreed that the recommendations from sex workers are critical points to address in future programming. "The female sex workers agreed that there should be vocational training and the means for alternative work opportunities for those who want to move out of sex work, as well as those who are past their prime and do not find sustainability in sex work," Pasha said (IRIN/PlusNews, 5/14).
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Immune Genes Adapt To Parasites
Thank parasites for making some of our immune proteins into the inflammatory defenders they are today, according to a population genetics study that will appear in the June 8 issue of the Journal of Experimental Medicine (online May 25). The study, conducted by a team of researchers in Italy, also suggests that you might blame parasites for sculpting some of those genes into risk factors for intestinal disorders.
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In Men, Insomnia With Objective Short Sleep Duration Is Associated With Increased Mortality
Men with insomnia and sleep duration of six or fewer hours of nightly sleep are at an increased risk for mortality, according to a research abstract presented on June 8, at SLEEP 2009, the 23rd Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies
Medical Devices

Charities Launch Groundbreaking Research Cancer Centre In Newcastle, England

The opening of a unique centre will put Newcastle at the forefront of cancer research and bring benefits to patients in the North East. The Newcastle Centre for Cancer Research based at Newcastle University will be jointly funded by three charities - Cancer Research UK, Leukaemia Research and the North of England Children"s Cancer Research Fund. The Centre will bring together leading UK researchers and help set the pace for national and international progress in diagnosing and treating the whole spectrum of different cancers including cancers of the blood in adults and children. It will concentrate on understanding the basic biology of how and why cancers develop so new drugs can be designed. A priority will also be personalised medicine where instead of a one-size-fits-all approach, treatments are tailored to individual cancer patient"s needs. This avoids unnecessary side effects and improves survival rates. Collaboration will be the key to the success of the Centre, which will make it easier for researchers to work alongside doctors treating patients on the ward. This enables patients to benefit as soon as possible from any breakthroughs in research. The Centre will be based at the Northern Institute for Cancer Research at Newcastle University. Cancer Research UK plans to launch up to 20 centres around the UK. Harpal Kumar, chief executive of Cancer Research UK, said: "Funding these centres of excellence is one of the charity"s priorities and will enable us to work towards the goals we have set to improve the treatment and survival of cancer patients across all types of cancer. We"re now committing ÷£5.5million every year towards research in the Newcastle centre. We continue to welcome the generous donations we receive from the public to ensure we can continue to build on what we have started today." Cathy Gilman, chief executive of Leukaemia Research, said: "Leukaemia Research has nearly ÷£4million invested in research here in Newcastle. Closer collaboration between scientists at the Newcastle Centre for Cancer Research will mean we can make quicker progress towards new drugs and more personalised treatments for patients with leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma in the North East and the rest of the UK." David Wood, chairman of the North of England Children"s Cancer Research Fund, said: "Newcastle hosts one of the leading research teams in Europe focussed on childhood leukaemia and cancer. Great strides have been made in recent years, and here in Newcastle we have the infrastructure to develop new and even better treatments for childhood cancer. The formation of this centre of excellence will help expand this work and take a step nearer to our overall goal of finding a cure for childhood cancer." Cancer Research UK


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