Research On Genital Herpes Result Vaccines To Kill Germs

NIAID supports research on genital herpes and herpes simplex virus (HSV). Studies are underway to develop better treatments for the millions of people suffering from genital herpes. While some scientists are conducting clinical trials to find the best way to use existing drugs, others are studying the biology of HSV. NIAID scientists have identified certain genes and enzymes (proteins) that the virus needs to survive. They are hopeful that drugs aimed at interfering with these viral targets might lead to the design of more effective treatments.

Meanwhile, other researchers are devising methods to control the spread of the virus. Two important means of preventing HSV infection are vaccines and topical microbicides.
Vaccines

Development of a vaccine against genital herpes has been a challenge. Recently, an experimental vaccine designed to prevent genital herpes disease in women, although generally safe and well tolerated, has proved ineffective when tested in a phase III clinical trial called the Women's Herpevac test. NIAID is examing other options of the vaccine and the support of several vaccines in various stages of development
Topical microbicides

Topical microbicides, preparations containing compounds to kill germs, also are in various stages of development and testing. These include gels, creams or lotions that a woman can insert into the vagina before intercourse to prevent infection. NIAID Sexually Transmitted Infections Clinical Trials Group is conducting a Phase I study to evaluate the safety of a microbicide gel to prevent genital herpes.

A clinical trial support from NIAID shown that once daily suppressive therapy with valacyclovir significantly reduces the risk of transmitting genital herpes to an uninfected partner. This is the first time an antiviral medication reduces the risk of transmission of a sexually transmitted disease. This strategy can help prevent the spread of genital herpes.

Tips About Breastfeeding

Tips About BreastfeedingTips About Breastfeeding

From the first moment a child has been applied to the chest, it is absorbed when a certain plane. This is very necessary to make a baby, and an essential contribution to maintaining the health of parents, who thus made a good nurse, and his responsibilities at the same time be a pleasure.

This implies, however, an awareness on the part of the mother's own health and her child is essentially dependent. Healthy, nutritious and digestible milk can be purchased only from a healthy parent, and it is against common sense to think that if a mother on her health and digestion by improper diet, neglect of exercise, and impure air, but it may if a healthy and intact fluid for her child as if she were diligently attentive to these important points. Every instance of indisposition nurse could affect the baby.

And that leads me to observe that it is a common misconception that because a woman is a nurse, she should live fully and completely, and adding an allowance of wine, porter, or other fermented liquor, its diet. The only result of this plan is to cause a degree of fullness in the natural system, which places the nurse on the edge of the disease, which of itself often puts an end to the secretion of milk, instead of increasing it. The plan right approach is quite clear, and could not be paid to the ordinary laws of health, and the mother if she has a sound constitution, will make a better nurse than by any foolish deviation based on ignorance and caprice .

The following case demonstrates the correctness of this statement:

A young woman confined to her first child, she left the child in the bedroom end of third week, a good nurse, and perfectly healthy. He had some minor problems with her nipples, but this was soon overcome.

Intercom system was initiated, and a liter to a liter and a half of this beverage was taken in the clock. This was contested because there was no difference in milk supply, because it was plentiful and the baby growing in her, but because, having become a nurse, her said it was normal and necessary and that without her milk and strength could not survive.

After the plan had been followed for several days, the mother became drowsy and ready to sleep in the day, a headache, thirst, hot skin, in fact, came the fever, decreased milk quantity, and the first time, the stomach and intestines of the baby became a mess. The porter was ordered to stay out, corrective measures have been prescribed, and all symptoms in both parent and child, were dropped after a while, and restore health.

Having been accustomed, before becoming a mother for a glass of wine or two, and sometimes a glass of table beer, she was advised to follow precisely her former dietetic plan, but with the addition of half a pint of milk barley in the morning and afternoon. Parent and the child remains in excellent health for the rest of the head, and test the artificial food until the ninth month, the milk is all-sufficient for their needs.

No one can doubt that the porter was in this case, the source of evil. The patient had gone into the lying-in room in perfect health, had a good time and left the room (comparatively) as strong as it is entered. Its constitution had not been previously worn by repeated pregnancies and nursing, she had an ample supply of milk, and was perfectly able to perform the duties that now fell to her, without resorting to unusual or challenging support . Her previous habits were totally at odds with the plan that was adopted, the system became too full, the disease was produced, and the outcome is nothing more than what you might expect.

The plan, which followed the first six months. Until the milk is fully established, it can not be until the second or third day after birth (almost always so in the first birth), the child will need to add a little jelly 'thin, or when the third water and two thirds milk, sweetened with sugar, bread.

After this time, you must obtain your food within itself, and for a week or ten days the appetite of children must be the guide of the mother, the frequency of offering the breast. The stomach at birth is low, and yet unaccustomed to food needs, therefore, are easy to satisfy, but which are renewed frequently. An interval, however, is not enough to digest swallowed, is obtained before the appetite revived, and a new supply is needed.

At the end of a week or two, it is fundamentally necessary, and some children, this can be done safely from the first day of food, for the treatment of children at regular intervals of three or four hours, day and night. This allows enough time for each meal is digested, and tends to keep the bowels of children in order. Such regularity, moreover, will do much to prevent irritability and constant crying, which looks like it could be appeased only by constantly putting the child inside.Tips About Breastfeeding

Young mother very frequently runs into a serious error in this particular regard to each phrase a disagreement demonstrates the appetite, and whenever the baby cries, offering the breast, although ten minutes have passed since the last meal. It is a harmful and even dangerous, in practice, overloading the stomach, the food remains undigested, the child's bowels are always in the wrong order, becomes restless and feverish, and can now simply lost when participating in the above rules of nursing, the child would become healthy and strong.

For the same reason, children who sleep with their parents should not allow the nipple still in his mouth all night. If it is as suggested, is to awaken, as the hour draws to a meal, with great regularity. Referring to food at night, I suggest that breastfeeding as late as ten hours, and put it back until five the next morning. Many mothers have adopted this indication, with great advantage for their own health, and without any prejudice to the child. With the latter, which quickly becomes a habit of driving, however, must be learned early.

The previous plan, and without variation, must be continued for the sixth month.

After the sixth month of the weaning period, if the parents have a lot of good and nourishing milk, and baby is healthy and thriving on it of course no change in his diet should be done. If not, however (and this is going, but too often the case even before the sixth month) the child can be fed two times during the day and type of food chosen which, after a small sample is to agree the better.

Anthrax Disease And How To Prevent

* Anthrax [AN-thracks] is a bacterial disease that mainly affects animals. In rare cases, it can spread to people and cause life-threatening illness.
* Anthrax is most common in areas where people raise livestock and where public health programs are lax. Animals get anthrax by grazing on soils contaminated with anthrax spores. Anthrax in people is usually the result of a work-related exposure to infected animals or contaminated animal products.
* To prevent anthrax, avoid contact with livestock and animal products when in countries where anthrax is common. A vaccination is available for people at high risk for work-related exposures.

What is anthrax?

Anthrax is mainly a disease of animals. In rare cases, it can spread to people and cause life-threatening illness.



What is the infectious agent that causes anthrax?

Anthrax is caused by Bacillus anthracis, a bacterium that lives naturally in certain types of soil. The bacterium produces spores. Spores are hardy forms of the bacterium that can survive in soil or on contaminated objects for years.



Where is anthrax found?

Anthrax is found worldwide but is most common in areas where people raise livestock and where public health programs are lax. Materials contaminated with anthrax spores can reach any country in the world.



How do people get anthrax?

Animals get anthrax by grazing on soils contaminated with anthrax spores. People get anthrax by touching infected animals or animal products, such as wool, hides, leather, or hair products (especially goat hair). The bacteria get into the body through a break in the skin. In rare cases, people can get anthrax by breathing in anthrax spores from contaminated soil or animal products or by eating undercooked meat from infected animals.



What are the signs and symptoms of anthrax?

In the body, anthrax spores produce a powerful toxin (poison) that causes the signs and symptoms of illness. The signs and symptoms vary depending on how a person was infected.

Infection by skin contact: Most cases occur by skin contact. Skin infection begins as a raised itchy bump that looks like an insect bite. Within 1-2 days, it develops into a boil-like sore and then a painless ulcer with a characteristic dark (dying) area in the center. The infection can also cause swelling of the lymph glands near the site. About 20% of untreated cases will result in death. With proper treatment, deaths from this type of anthrax are rare.

Infection by inhalation: People who get anthrax by breathing in spores have symptoms that are like a common cold. After several days, the symptoms can progress to severe breathing problems and shock. This type of anthrax usually results in death in 1-2 days after the start of severe symptoms.

Infection by ingestion: Intestinal infections from eating contaminated meat are rare. The infection causes severe inflammation of the intestinal tract. The first signs are nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting, and fever, followed by abdominal pain, vomiting of blood, and severe diarrhea. Intestinal anthrax results in death in 25% to 60% of cases.



How soon after exposure do symptoms appear?

Symptoms usually appear within 7 days.



How is anthrax diagnosed?

Anthrax is usually diagnosed by isolating the bacterium from the blood, skin lesions, or respiratory discharges.



Who is at risk for anthrax?

When anthrax affects humans, it is usually due to a work-related exposure to infected animals or their products. Workers who are exposed to dead animals and animal products from countries where anthrax is common can become infected.

There is little risk to most U.S. travelers to other countries. The greatest risk comes from handling rugs and handicrafts made from goat skin or goat hair. Spores can live indefinitely in wool, blankets, and other animal products.



What is the treatment for anthrax?

People with anthrax should be treated promptly with antibiotics. To be effective, treatment should be started early. If left untreated, the disease can be fatal.



How common is anthrax?

Anthrax is most common in animals in agricultural regions of the world. Anthrax is rare in humans. An estimated 20,000 to 100,000 cases occur yearly worldwide, mostly in developing countries. Anthrax is very rare in the United States and in other countries where animals are inspected before and after slaughter. Anthrax is also rare in U.S. travelers, although certain handicrafts might be contaminated and should be avoided.



Is anthrax a new or emerging infectious disease?

Because of the wide use of animal anthrax vaccines, anthrax is only a minor health problem around the world. However, lapses in local control programs can have serious consequences. Almost 10,000 cases were reported in an outbreak in Zimbabwe in the late 1970s. Hundreds of cases occur each year in several African countries.



How can anthrax be prevented?

When traveling to countries where anthrax is common and vaccination levels of animal herds are low, avoid contact with livestock and animal products. Avoid eating meat that has not been properly slaughtered and cooked. Do not buy items made of goat hair or goat skin.

An anthrax vaccine has been licensed for use in humans. The vaccine is reported to be 93% effective in protecting against anthrax infection from skin contact. The vaccine is currently approved only for healthy men and women ages 18-65 years. Pregnant women should not be vaccinated.



Vaccination is recommended for:

* Persons whose work can expose them to imported animal hides, furs, bonemeal, wool, animal hair (especially goat hair), and bristles
* Persons whose work in diagnosing or investigating anthrax cases might bring them into contact with anthrax spores

Note: Because anthrax is considered to be a potential agent for use in biological warfare, the Department of Defense is implementing systematic anthrax vaccination of all U.S. military personnel beginning in Summer 1998. Military personnel should contact their chain of command with questions about the vaccine and its distribution.

Lorazepam

What is lorazepam?

Lorazepam is in a group of drugs called benzodiazepines. It affects chemicals in the brain that may become unbalanced and cause anxiety. This results in a reduction in nervous tension.

Lorazepam is used to treat anxiety or anxiety associated with symptoms of depression.

Lorazepam may also be used for purposes other than those listed here.
Important information about lorazepam

Do not use this medication if you are allergic to lorazepam or to other benzodiazepines, such as alprazolam (Xanax), chlordiazepoxide (Librium), clorazepate (Tranxene), diazepam (Valium), or oxazepam (Serax). This medication can cause birth defects in an unborn baby. Do not use lorazepam if you are pregnant.

Before taking lorazepam, tell your doctor if you have any breathing problems, glaucoma, kidney or liver disease, or a history of depression, suicidal thoughts, or addiction to drugs or alcohol.

Do not drink alcohol while taking lorazepam. This medication can increase the effects of alcohol.

Avoid using other medicines that make you sleepy. They can add to sleepiness caused by lorazepam.

Lorazepam may be habit-forming and should be used only by the person it was prescribed for. Lorazepam should never be shared with another person, especially someone who has a history of drug abuse or addiction. Keep the medication in a secure place where others cannot get to it.

It is dangerous to try and purchase this medicine on the Internet or from vendors outside of the United States. Medications distributed from Internet sales may contain dangerous ingredients, or may not be distributed by a licensed pharmacy. Samples of lorazepam purchased on the Internet have been found to contain haloperidol (Haldol), a potent antipsychotic drug with dangerous side effects.
Before taking lorazepam

Do not use lorazepam if you have narrow-angle glaucoma, or if you are allergic to lorazepam or to other benzodiazepines, such as alprazolam (Xanax), chlordiazepoxide (Librium), clorazepate (Tranxene), diazepam (Valium), or oxazepam (Serax).

Before taking lorazepam, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

*

glaucoma;
*

asthma, emphysema, bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), or other breathing problems;
*

kidney or liver disease;
*

a history of depression or suicidal thoughts or behavior; or
*

a history of drug or alcohol addiction.

If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take this medication.

FDA pregnancy category D. Lorazepam can cause birth defects in an unborn baby. Do not use lorazepam without your doctor's consent if you are pregnant. Tell your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment. Use an effective form of birth control while you are using this medication. It is not known whether lorazepam passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.