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Popular Articles

Figuring Out Who Will Benefit Most From A New Therapy For Multiple Sclerosis
In a recent phase II clinical trial, the drug alemtuzumab (Campath-1H) was found to be a highly effective treatment for individuals with early relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. However, a substantial proportion of the patients treated (30%) went on to develop another autoimmune disease, mostly thyroid autoimmunity. Now, Joanne Jones and colleagues, at the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom, have determined that individuals with higher levels of the soluble factor IL-21 in their blood prior to alemtuzumab treatment were those that went on to develop an autoimmune disease. Further analysis identified a mechanism by which IL-21 contributes to the development of autoimmunity and determined that in some patients the higher levels of IL-21 were genetically predetermined. The authors therefore suggest that measuring levels of IL-21 in the blood of individuals with early relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis might identify those that would be at greatest risk of developing autoimmunity if treated with alemtuzumab. Terri Laufer and Gregory Wu, at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, further discuss the importance of this in an accompanying commentary, noting that determining one reason why some patients succumb to autoimmune disease after alemtuzumab treatment, while others do not, is likely to increase enthusiasm for this new therapeutic.

Your Ex-Factor: Overcome Heartbreak And Build A Better Life After Divorce Or Break-up - New Book
Over two-thirds of American families are "blended," which means they are made up of remarried adults and often stepchildren. Although it"s good news that many divorced people remarry, the bad news is that too many of them carry the animosities and negative behavior patterns of their former heartbreaks into their new situation.
News of the day
AdvanDx Receives FDA 510(k) Clearance For GBS PNA FISH(R) For Rapid Detection Of Group B Strep From Lim Broths
AdvanDx announced it received FDA 510(k) clearance for GBS PNA FISH(R) for detection of Streptococcus agalactiae, aka Group B Strep, from turbid Lim Broths inoculated with vaginal and rectal swabs obtained from pregnant women between 35 and 37 weeks gestation. The 90 minute molecular diagnostic test enables rapid and highly sensitive detection of Group B Strep from Lim Broths to help detect colonization in pregnant women.
Public Health

Newly Launched! An Information Portal That Provides Free Online Educational Res For Maternity Health Care Professionals

Leading UK maternity charity, MIDIRS, has launched a new e-update facility designed to assist health care professionals and student midwives with their continuing professional development. Registration to the service is free and available NOW! A simple sign up procedure, available via http://www.midirs.org/register, allows users to specify key areas of interest and to request that related information is emailed to them at regular intervals. Adam McGahern, MIDIRS IT Manager, said "MIDIRS new alert facility aims to provide health care professionals with fast access to a multi-faceted portfolio of evidence-based information res, that will assist them with their professional development requirements. The beauty of the new sign-up process is that users will be able to specify individual areas of interest that they wish to be notified about, thus allowing MIDIRS to communicate on an individual basis with its customers. It also provides us with valuable information with which to further tailor and develop our services". During the coming months and as the facility is further developed, users can choose to receive updates from the following alert categories: Student alerts - an excellent re for student midwives and those nearing graduation. Alerts about new books and recommended midwifery titles aligned with university syllabuses are sent to users, all of which will be available through MIDIRS Shop. Updates on the latest government guidelines, current research and information related to the physical, psychological and social issues around maternal and infant health will also be included in the student alert service. Tutor alerts - specific information surrounding educational matters for midwifery tutors. Also includes the opportunity to request MIDIRS student information packs online and the facility to check on delivery status. MIDIRS Podcasts - a whole range of maternity-related information, including topics of interest and practical guidance that can be accessed at a time and location to suit the individual. Informed Choice - updates on the topics covered by the 25 Informed Choice leaflets, which relate to pre conception, pregnancy, childbirth, the postnatal period and beyond. Provides practitioners with the facility to assist those women in their care in making informed decisions. MIDIRS Essence - MIDIRS free monthly online newsletter designed to provide access to the latest news, features and reports on research and education, midwifery, pregnancy, labour and birth in a contemporary style and format that is easy to use. Natalie Byard, MIDIRS Co-ordinator of Student Services said "The new sign-up process will be of particular interest to midwifery tutors, who play a big part in recommending MIDIRS to their yearly intake of new students. They will now be able to request delivery of MIDIRS student information packs online and also track progress of their order at any time. This will make it a lot easier for tutors to order their packs and should create a more efficient service all round". MIDIRS delivers in the region of 3000 information packs to students commencing their midwifery training each year. This is achieved with the support of midwifery tutors and lecturers and is usually the first introduction a student has to MIDIRS services and how its res can support them throughout their training and the sometimes challenging transition from student to midwife. In the region of 60 universities in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland currently disseminate information about MIDIRS services to students. Notes 1. MIDIRS: is a Bristol based not-for-profit organisation offering a complete information service to all health professionals, non-statutory agencies or anyone involved in the care of women and their babies during and after pregnancy. Its organisational mission is "to be the leading international information re relating to childbirth and infancy, disseminating this information as widely as possible to assist in the improvement of maternity care". Over 32,870 customers worldwide trust MIDIRS services to support their education, practice and professional development. Through a continuing commitment to information access, MIDIRS aims to help health professionals provide mothers and babies with the best possible care. MIDIRS also supports a wide range of maternity related causes which share its mission, by adopting a policy of allocating 3% of net surplus income per annum to initiatives such as Worlds Aids Day, The Breastfeeding Manifesto, Breastfeeding Awareness Week, International Day of the Midwife, Baby Friendly Initiative and SafeHands for Mothers. MIDIRS


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