The controversial vaccine for human papillomavirus (HPV) has lowered rates of infection, both in women who were vaccinated and in those who did not receive the vaccine, according to a new study published in the journal Pediatrics.

This phenomenon is dubbed 'herd immunity' - a term that suggests that once a critical number of people has received a vaccination, the larger community can be protected because there's a smaller chance of an outbreak.

In a study of young women ages 13 to 16, researchers at Cincinnati Children's Hospital compared the prevalence of HPV in two groups. In 2006 and 2007, they looked at the rate of HPV infections among 368 girls who had sexual contact but were not vaccinated. In 2009 and 2010, they analyzed the prevalence of HPV among 409 young women, more than half of whom had received at least one dose of the vaccine.
Looking at pre- and post-vaccination HPV rates, they found that the type of HPV prevented by the vaccine had decreased 58 percent overall. As expected, the decrease was highest among vaccinated young women at 69 percent, but they also saw a substantial decrease (49 percent) in the unvaccinated girls.

"Infection with the types of HPV targeted by the vaccine decreased in vaccinated young women by 69 percent," says Jessica Kahn, MD, MPH, a physician in the division of Adolescent Medicine at Cincinnati Children's and lead author of the study. "Two of these HPV types, HPV-16 and HPV-18, cause about 70 percent of cervical cancer. Thus, the results are promising in that they suggest that vaccine introduction could substantially reduce rates of cervical cancer in this community in the future."

Kahn said the decrease among vaccinated young women was "especially remarkable" because many were sexually experienced and exposed to HPV before vaccination, and many only underwent one dose of the vaccine when three are recommended for the most protection, according to CBS News.

The study is "good news that comes surprisingly soon," Dr. William Schaffner, chairman of the department of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University, told MyHealthNewsDaily. Schaffner said he would have expected a larger portion of the population needed to be vaccinated, including boys, to see herd immunity. The study is a reminder that "vaccination is not just about the individuals getting vaccinated...it's about everyone else in the community," Schaffner said.

A new drug SynriamTM, developed by a team of researchers and considered to be a breakthrough in dealing with cases of malaria, has been approved for treatment of adults in India.

Invented by a team of researchers at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), the medicine is considered to be a significant invention, especially in the wake of traditional drugs increasingly proving ineffective against the deadly malarial parasite.

Microbes found on seaweed could provide an unexpected weapon in the fight against tooth decay, scientists have said.

They used an enzyme isolated from the marine bacterium Bacillus licheniformis which they were originally researching for cleaning ships' hulls.

Newcastle University scientists claim that the enzyme can 'cut through' plaque on teeth and clean hard-to-reach areas.
Instead, the Newcastle University team will tell the Society for Applied Microbiology Summer Conference that it could have a range of medical applications, including teeth cleaning.

While toothpastes are effective, there are still hard-to-reach areas between teeth where the bacteria in plaque can erode enamel, causing cavities.

Dr Nicholas Jakubovics of Newcastle University's School of Dental Sciences believes better products offering more effective treatment can be made using the enzyme.

He said: 'Plaque on your teeth is made up of bacteria which join together to colonise an area in a bid to push out any potential competitors.

'Traditional toothpastes work by scrubbing off the plaque containing the bacteria - but that's not always effective - which is why people who religiously clean their teeth can still develop cavities.
'Work in a test tube has shown that this enzyme can cut through the plaque or layer of bacteria and we want to harness this power into a paste, mouthwash or denture cleaning solution.'

When threatened, bacteria shield themselves in a slimy protective barrier known as a biofilm.
It is made up of bacteria held together by a web of extracellular DNA which binds the bacteria to each other and to a solid surface - in this case in the plaque around the teeth and gums.

The biofilm protects the bacteria from attack by brushing, chemicals or even antibiotics.

But after studying Bacillus licheniformis, which is found on the surface of seaweed, Newcastle University scientists found that when the bacteria want to move on, they release an enzyme which breaks down the external DNA. That breaks up the biofilm and releases the bacteria from the web.

Professor Burgess, who led the research, said: 'It's an amazing phenomenon. The enzyme breaks up and removes the bacteria present in plaque and importantly, it can prevent the build up of plaque too.

'When I initially began researching how to break down these layers of bacteria, I was interested in how we could keep the hulls of ships clear but we soon realised that the mechanism we had discovered had much wider uses.

'If we can contain it within a toothpaste we would be creating a product which could prevent tooth decay.

'This is just one of the uses we are developing for the enzyme as it has huge potential such as in helping keep clean medical implants such as artificial hips and speech valves which also suffer from biofilm infection.'

The team will now look to collaborate with industry to carry out more tests and product development.

"In what would be a landmark increase in the Indian government's spending on public health, New Delhi is completing a proposal to provide hundreds of essential drugs free to patients in government-run hospitals and clinics at a cost of nearly $5 billion over five years, officials said Thursday," Vikas Bajaj wrote in The New York Times.

"The proposal, which could receive government approval next month, would try to fill a gaping hole in the provision of health care at state-owned hospitals, many of which require patients to buy their own drugs, including substances as basic as intravenous fluids," Mr. Bajaj wrote.

Specialists say "it could also be the first step toward a more comprehensive universal health care system in India," which, with 1.2 billion people, is the world's most populous country after China, he wrote.

Drugs account for more than 70 percent of out-of-pocket medical costs for Indians. Government hospitals and clinics provide free or low-cost care, but most of them struggle to keep up with demand, and the quality of care can be poor.

For Western drug makers, which have long chafed at India's comparatively weak protection of their patents, the government's plan could be another blow. Although they only have a tiny share of the Indian market, Western drug companies are looking at India and other emerging markets as a vital source of growth as sales flatten in the United States and Europe. Under the proposal, the government would only buy cheap generic versions of drugs, making it more difficult for brand-name drugs to be sold.

The policy move is part of India's stated goal of increasing spending on health care to about 2.5 percent of its gross domestic product from about 1.4 percent. By contrast, the Chinese government spent about 2.3 percent of its G.D.P. on health care in 2009 and Sri Lanka spent about 1.8 percent.

Diabetes causes several skin changes after its onset - but did you know your skin can reveal signs of the disease much before your blood sugar rises?

If you have been living in this region for some time, there is a high probability that either you or someone you know has been diagnosed with diabetes. The Gulf countries are at top of the list of countries with high diabetes prevalence. India, the country that contributes maximum expatriates to the region, is called the diabetic capital of the world with over 40 million diabetics. Much has been discussed about this growing menace and its possible causes and solutions. But did you know that your skin could give signs of this impending 'epidemic' much before your blood sugar rises? In fact, your skin could also give indications as to the level of diabetic control and the evolving complications.

It is widely accepted now that being overweight is a high risk factor for Type 2 diabetes. Many overweight people may have a blackish discoloration around the back of their neck. It can also extend to the underarms. This condition is often caused by rising levels of insulin in blood and could well be a harbinger of diabetes - though it can occur in healthy individuals too. So if you have this problem, it is time to start using your jogging outfit and cut back on that midday snack. This type of pigmentation does not generally improve much with whitening creams or cosmetic procedures.

How do you know whether you have crossed the line and become a diabetic? The skin of diabetics generally becomes thicker compared to non-diabetics. This is due to cross-linking of skin fibres or collagen. Skin and nails develop a yellow hue. Increased viscosity of the blood leads to redness of the face. You may develop itching without any apparent cause. You may also develop blisters or yellowish bumps under the skin on the hands or legs.

Uncontrolled diabetes can lead to several skin changes as well. Diabetes reduces your ability to fight disease, causing germs. Hence uncontrolled diabetes can lead to certain infections that can threaten life and, more often, limb! The commonest infection in diabetics of this region is yeast infection of the web spaces of the toes called intertrigo. This infection produces a soft, macerated, whitish patch (commonly between the fourth and fifth toes). It is important to keep your feet dry. Diabetics should periodically check their feet for signs of infection. Boils, infection of the nails and other fungal infections are also common in them.

If diabetes remains uncontrolled for a prolonged period, it can affect your nerves and blood vessels. Destruction of nerves reduces your pain sensation and the ability to avoid injury. Minor injuries accumulate leading to ulceration at the toe tips. These ulcers take a long time to heal. Infections can spread through these ulcers leading to further complications. Most diabetics complain of tingling and numbness too. Hence, it is important for them to use footwear that covers and protects the feet.

Have you noticed light brown, oval, scaly patches on the shins of your elderly diabetic relatives? Though the exact cause is not known, these patches are supposed to be due to damage to blood vessels and altered micro-circulation. Though there is no treatment for these patches, they may sometimes improve following good diabetic control. Although these patches are harmless, they could be forerunners of more sinister complications like eye and kidney damage.

Several medications are used for the treatment of diabetes. These drugs can produce allergies in some causing reddish rashes, mainly on the hands and feet. It may take two weeks or more for the rash to develop after starting the drug. It is important to promptly report any such allergies to your physician, so that he can change the incriminated drug.

Diabetes reduces the healing capability of your body. Most of the cosmetic procedures can produce minor skin injuries. It is important to bring your blood sugar under control before doing any aggressive cosmetic procedures. Always inform your doctor about your diabetic status before doing any cosmetic procedure.

The increased diabetic prevalence in the region is due to lack of physical activity and other lifestyle choices. Keeping your diabetes under control is the most important factor in preventing skin-related complications.

Follow your doctor's advice regarding nutrition, exercise and medication. Keep your blood glucose level within the range recommended by your doctor. Proper skin care can also help reduce your risk of skin problems.

Diabetes is a common ailment especially in this region and virtually everyone with diabetes will develop some skin change or the other. Careful observation of these skin changes would help the patients and physicians alike to have an idea about the present and past diabetic status.