In endemic malaria areas, babies born premature and those born to primigravidas are at increased risk of congenital malaria, researchers from Nigeria report. Reuters Health Information
Influenza virus strains evolve in Asia and the tropics, and spread from there to other regions and temperate zones, according to two new studies. Reuters Health Information
In patients on methotrexate for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), concomitant treatment with isoniazid for latent or active TB appears to be well tolerated, researchers report in the April issue of the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. Reuters Health Information
External anogenital warts respond well to 5% imiquimod cream administered three times a week, with fewer severe skin reactions than with daily treatment, according to a report in the April issue of Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Reuters Health Information
Recent reports of five laboratory-acquired vaccinia virus (VACV) infections underscore "the need for proper vaccination, laboratory safety, infection-control practices, and rapid medical evaluation of exposures in the context of orthopoxvirus research," Dr. R. Melchreit, from the Connecticut Department of Public Health, and associates write in the April 18th issue of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Reuters Health Information
Doxycycline alone is more effective than the standard treatment against the most common type of filarial infection in Southeast Asia, according to a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study by Indonesian and other researchers reported in the May 1 issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases. Reuters Health Information
Increased production of interferon (IFN)-gamma in response to influenza infection is the reason why secondary bacterial pneumonia is so common, new research suggests. Reuters Health Information
Antitubercular therapy with rifampicin for HIV-infected children receiving lopinavir, commonly used in combination antiretroviral treatment, results in a dramatic reduction in plasma concentrations of lopinavir. Reuters Health Information
Mass screening for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR TB) of individuals attending South Africa healthcare clinics found a commercially available molecular rapid assay was a "highly accurate screening tool for MDR TB, which achieves a substantial reduction in diagnostic delay." Reuters Health Information
