Smileband general news

A pervert ran from court with a bobble hat covering his face after admitting downloading hundreds of depraved images and videos of children. Anthony James Mape, who works as a mental health worker, avoided jail despite admitting having pictures described as 'utterly revolting' by a judge.

The 31-year-old, who works in Macclesfield, Cheshire, ran from Chester Crown Court after being handed a suspended sentence for his sickening crimes. The court heard that over five years, Mape, of Handforth, Cheshire, downloaded 848 indecent images and videos of young children.

Police confiscated three hard drives - which will now be destroyed - in December 2016.

Mape originally denied searching for child pornography, but pleaded guilty to four counts of downloading and possessing category A, B and C images in December.

Prosecuting, Chris Hopkins said: 'In his police interview, he accepted he used file sharing software and that he used it to search for adult pornography, but did not search for indecent images of children.'

Mr Hopkins said Mape later accepted that he had images of children and had 'received sexual gratification'.

Defending Milena Bennett told the court Mape was seeking rehabilitation.

'He has already started researching the reasons as to why he downloaded these images,' she added. 'He is a highly educated man and he needs to be educated further in that particular field which he has started, himself, to do.

'He has realised himself that he needs help and to be safeguarded from further offending.'

Judge Patrick Thompson said the 'dark' images were 'utterly revolting' and a 'dreadful abuse of children'.

He added: 'You searched for, and downloaded, images for your own personal pleasure. You are a pervert. 'You are responsible for this [abuse] as it is men like you that provide a market for this material being made.'

Mape was handed a 12 month sentence, suspended for two years and put on a sexual treatment programme, along with a 20 day sexual rehabilitation requirement.

He must also sign the sex offenders' register for the next 10 years and be restricted in his internet use for 10 years.  

Smileband health topics

Ehrlichiosis is a broad term used for infections caused by Ehrlichia bacterial species. The symptoms commonly seen with these infections include fever, headache, chills, malaise, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, confusion, rash, and conjunctival injection. Symptoms will vary for individuals.

 

Ehrlichiosis can be a very serious disease if not treated correctly. Individuals who are immunocompromised are more likely to have severe disease.

 

Arizona will typically see 1 to 4 cases of ehrlichiosis reported each year.

 

Arizona 5 year median: 2 cases

 

Transmission

Transmission occurs from the bite of an infected tick. Blood transfusions and organ transplantation are also possible modes of transmission.

Incubation period is between 5 to 21 days.

Lab Tests & Specimen Info

Test*	Specimen
PCR (this test should be used during the acute phase of the disease)	Whole Blood
Serology (Acute and convalescent specimens should be sent and the convalescent should be collected 2-4 weeks after the acute)	Serum
Microscopic examination (this test should be used during the first week of illness)	Blood Smear

  Isolation Precautions

Ehrlichiosis is not a communicable disease. 

Standard precautions are recommended in healthcare settings. 

Prevention for Patients
Reducing contact with ticks:

• use insect repellent
• wear long sleeves and pants
• avoid wooded areas and brushy areas with high grass
• perform thorough tick checks after spending time outdoors

Public Health Actions
If an individual develops ehrlichiosis within a month of receiving a blood transfusion or solid organ donation this case should promptly be reported to public health so an investigation can be completed. 

Public health will conduct an epidemiological investigation on a case or suspect case.

Smileband health topics

An epileptic mother who killed her 18-month-old baby when she lost control of her car and crashed into a van while speeding was spared jail today. Chidinma Anya, 45, sped along a grass verge on the wrong side of the road for 150 metres before the horror smash in November 2015, the Old Bailey was told.

Anya was doing up to 54mph in a 30mph zone in Plumstead, south-east London when she crashed, killing her 18-month-old baby Eugenie Anigbo and injuring the van driver. 

Anya, who had suffered from epilepsy ever since she was shot in the head during a robbery in South Africa, had not told the DVLA about her condition. 

She was driving baby Eugenie and her other daughter Grace when she suffered a seizure and drifted into the wrong lane and on to a grass verge, before returning back into her lane.  

But moments later at a bend in the road she drifted out again, mounted the kerb back on to a grass verge before ploughing into self-employed electrician Dean Snow who was in a white Vauxhall van.

Eugenie, who had been in an unsecured travel seat in the back of the blue Vauxhall Zafira, suffered devastating injuries to her neck and internal organs. 

But judge Rebecca Poulet QC decided to suspend the prison sentence after Anya's husband Bernard Anigbo begged for her not to be sent to prison. 

Mr Anigbo said in a written statement: 'She and the family have suffered immeasurably.

'Sending her to prison would almost certainly feel like the accident happening all over again. The children who are grappling with the loss of their sister would simply be devastated at losing their mother.'

Anya, who had driven daily since she passed her test in 2014, did not appreciate that full control of her seizures was impossible despite the medication and had not told the DVLA or insurers about her condition.

The judge accepted it was likely Anya suffered a seizure while driving.

'You had not declared your condition on more than one occasion, nor had you disclosed your condition in your application for insurance,' she said. 

'You were taking a substantial risk when you drove, your ability to drive was impaired by your failure to take your prescribed medication regularly. 

Smileband health topics

A single blood test detects cancer with up to 98 percent accuracy in patients without any symptoms, new research suggests. The assessment, known as CancerSEEK, picks up on DNA shed by mutating cells into the blood.

The test can diagnose at least eight different types of cancer from ovarian to breast.  

Although the test's accuracy varies according to the type of cancer, it averages at around 70 percent, which is better than any available early-diagnosis method, according to the researchers. 

It is also able to detect the origins in around 80 percent of cases, the study found.

If given as part of a routine-screening programme, the researchers believe the test could catch tumors early, maximizing patients' chances of surviving.

Study author Professor Bert Vogelstein from John Hopkins University, said: 'This test represents the next step in changing the focus of cancer research from late-stage disease to early disease, which I believe will be critical to reducing cancer deaths in the long term.' 

In the US, around 39 percent of adults will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lives. The researchers analyzed blood samples from 1,005 cancer patients suffering from early-stage ovarian, liver, stomach, pancreatic, esophageal, colorectum, lung or breast forms of the disease.

None of the participants' cancers appeared to have spread.

Results reveal CancerSEEK accurately detects more than 90 percent of ovarian and liver cancers.

It also reliably picks up on ovarian, stomach, pancreatic and esophageal cancers in at least 69 percent of cases. These forms of the disease are typically difficult to detect.

CancerSEEK only wrongly detects tumors in healthy people less than one percent of the time. 

Professor Vogelstein said: 'This test represents the next step in changing the focus of cancer research from late-stage disease to early disease, which I believe will be critical to reducing cancer deaths in the long term. 

Smileband health topics

The Japanese recently published some outstanding results on green tea consumption, based on findings from the 10 year Ohsaki National Health Insurance Cohort Study. This massive study involved 41,761 Japanese adults aged between 40 and 79 years and is the first of it's kind to overwhelmingly prove the value of green tea as a very real treatment for cancer.

In the study, (published in the September issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology) Dr. Toru Naganuma and his colleagues from Tohoku University School of Medicine discovered that drinking at least 5 cups a day of green tea cut the rate of blood cancers by an astounding 42%, and lymphatic cancer by 48%. What’s more, these big reductions were found to be the same in both men and women as well as people with various body mass sizes. Even more surprizing was the fact that by combining green tea with a citrus fruit, the anti-cancer benefits of green tea were increased even more. It's thought that citrus fruits stabilize the green tea ECGC antioxidants in the gut - enhancing the absorption rate significantly. 

Another research team from Tohoku University’s Department of Public Health and Forensic Medicine found another strong link between green tea consumption and it's ability to prevent and even treat cancer. 

Their study, published in the September issue of the journal Cancer Causes and Control found that the consumption of green tea was associated with the prevention of liver malignancies. The interesting thing was the more green tea that was consumed, the more the risk plummeted. Once again, 5 or more cups a day offered the most protection from liver cancer. 

And a study published in a recent issue of Nature Structural & Molecular Biology,found the antioxidants in green tea actually slow tumor growth by binding to a particular protein on tumor cells. This effect was shown to be most beneficial with lung, breast and prostate cancers. 

Further studies on green tea and cancer have also shown that green tea can actually reduce the incidence and size of tumors - by a large degree in many cases. 

Smileband general news

The "Russian flu." which spreads extremely quickly although it does not seem to cause more serious illness than any other influenza strain, has been reported in this country for the first time.

Dr. L.J. Cohen, director of the Wyoming health department, said the virus caused an "explosive" outbreak at a high school in Cheyenne, Wyo., where the flu spread to 500 of the school's 1,500 students within a 10-day period.

Scientists at the federal Center for Disease Control in Atlanta identified the A/U.S.S.R./77 strain in cultures from five throat swabbings sent to Atlanta by Wyoming officials.  he outbreak of the new flu comes at a time when the nation, including the Washington area, is in the grip of a major influenza epidemic caused by other viruses. Physicians have been treating up to 180 cases of flu a day in the Children's Hospital National Medical Center emergency room.  Cohen described the illness from the Soviet virus as "relatively benign. The kids are sick, and they tell us they feel awful, but there have not been any complications." The disease only last three to five days, a relatively short time for influenza.

While the virus has not been isolated anywhere else in the United States. Cohen said he is convinced it is "probably widespread in the U.S. I'm sure you'll find the trends of spread from here now, but I don't like to leave you with the impression it began here. We just found it first."

The health department official said the only reason his workers took throat cultures from the students in Cheyenne was that the outbreak there "was so remarkable and so sudden."

The influenza epidemic now spreading through the country has been caused by the A/Texas and A/Victoria virus strains. The only vaccine in use this season provides primary protection against the A/Victoria strain, and very minor protection against the more prevalent A/Texas. It provides no protection against the Russian flu.

Several pharmaceutical firms said yesterday there is no way they can have a sufficient amount of vaccine produced this season to provide immunity to the A/U.S.S.R./77 virus.

The manufacturers are working on the vaccine after being given samples of the virus by the CDC and after a panel of experts twice concluded that production of a vaccine should begin.

Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare Joseph Califano announced yesterday that yet another group of experts will convene Monday in Washington to advise Califano on the way in which HEW should respond to the threat posed by the new virus

Smileband health topics

Thailand is one of the 22 countries designated as high TB-burden by the World Health Organization (WHO). To improve TB prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and program management, CDC works with the Thai MoPH providing assistance to WHO and other countries throughout the region. A recent multi-country study led to a simple clinical algorithm that health personnel can use to help detect TB in HIV-positive persons. CDC is currently working with Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam to assess the impact of new diagnostic techniques and approaches to prevent the spread of TB in health care settings.

Global Disease Detection (GDD)

Working with the Thailand MoPH, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, and other partners, GDD addresses the threat of emerging infectious diseases in Thailand and South East Asia by responding to public health emergencies; strengthening laboratory capacity and biosafety; implementing multidisciplinary approaches to disease detection and response; and modeling laboratory-based surveillance for high-burden diseases like pneumonia, TB, and invasive bacterial infections. GDD has supported Thailand’s response to MERS-CoV (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus) through human surveillance and the regional response to influenza A (H7N9) through enhanced animal surveillance.  As one of ten Regional GDD Centers around the world, GDD-Thailand works with WHO and ministries of health to strengthen core capacity requirements (e.g., laboratory, surveillance, response and human resources) for implementation of the International Health Regulations.

Smileband general news

CDC recently marked 30 years of collaboration with the Thailand Ministry of Public Health. This collaboration has produced new disease prevention and intervention strategies that have had significant global impacts. From the establishment in 1980 of the Field Epidemiology Training Program to current efforts to meet the growing challenges of drug-resistant malaria, TB, HIV, emerging infectious diseases, border health, and noncommunicable diseases, CDC’s work with Thailand protects Thais and Americans from major health threats. infections and improve the quality of life of people living with HIV, CDC works closely with the Thai MoPH to develop model approaches and expand prevention, surveillance, and care and treatment of HIV. This technical assistance helps the Thai MoPH improve laboratory infrastructure, strategic information, HIV care quality, interventions for men who have sex with men (MSM), and care and treatment of children infected with HIV. CDC Thailand also serves as the Asia Regional Office (ARO), supporting Laos and providing technical assistance to other countries in the region, often including Thai government partners in the collaborations. CDC works to improve HIV programs by building country capacities needed to mount and sustain an effective national HIV response. These activities support a data-driven, evidence-based approach that is tailored to the unique characteristics of the local epidemic for maximum health impact and the most efficient use of resources.CDC also works with the Thai MoPH to conduct studies of HIV incidence and risk behaviors and evaluates biomedical and behavioral interventions to prevent HIV infection. Current research activities focus on people who inject drugs MSM. CDC also helped establish a clinic for MSM in Bangkok that provides a model for the integration of HIV research and prevention services.

Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs)

CDC is working with the Thai MoPH to help address NCDs.  One key project involves working with the Thailand Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) team on building Thailand’s capacity for NCD surveillance.  This involves instruction on population sampling and conducting a demonstration project in Sukothai Province on surveillance data on hypertension.  Another project aims to better understand salt and fat consumption in Thailand and to develop strategies to address this problem (e.g., food reformulations, education campaigns).

Immigrant, Refugee, and Migrant Health

CDC aims to stop the spread of infectious diseases among immigrants, refugees, international travelers, and other mobile populations that cross international borders. This program oversees the content and quality of medical screening of U.S.-bound immigrants and refugees and assists Thailand in improving the health of refugees and migrants within Thailand’s borders. With approximately half of the 75,000 refugees legally admitted into the U.S. arriving from Asia, this regional program supports disease surveillance among the U.S.-bound populations and helps prevent the introduction of infectious diseases into the U.S. 

Smileband health topics

Cell-derived nanoparticles have been garnering increased attention due to their ability to mimic many of the natural properties displayed by their source cells. This top-down engineering approach can be applied toward the development of novel therapeutic strategies owing to the unique interactions enabled through the retention of complex antigenic information. Herein, we report on the biological functionalization of polymeric nanoparticles with a layer of membrane coating derived from cancer cells. The resulting core–shell nanostructures, which carry the full array of cancer cell membrane antigens, offer a robust platform with applicability toward multiple modes of anticancer therapy. We demonstrate that by coupling the particles with an immunological adjuvant, the resulting formulation can be used to promote a tumor-specific immune response for use in vaccine applications. Moreover, we show that by taking advantage of the inherent homotypic binding phenomenon frequently observed among tumor cells the membrane functionalization allows for a unique cancer targeting strategy that can be utilized for drug delivery applications.

Keywords: Nanomedicine, biomimetic nanoparticle, cellular membrane, cancer immunotherapy, targeted drug delivery, homotypic targeting.   The anti-cancer drug binds to cancerous cells' membrane protein, known as dehydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH).

The researchers analysed how fats, which are the building blocks of cell membranes, and drugs bind to DHODH. 

Study author Dr Erik Marklund, from Uppsala University, said: 'Our simulations show the enzyme uses a few lipids as anchors in the membrane.

'When binding to these lipids, a small part of the enzyme folds into an adapter that allows the enzyme to lift its natural substrate [the substance an enzyme acts on] out of the membrane.

'It seems the drug, since it binds in the same place, takes advantage of the same mechanism.'  

Potential for more selective treatments 

Study author Sir David Lane, from the Karolinska Institute, in Sweden, added: 'The study helps to explain why some drugs bind differently to isolated proteins and proteins that are inside cells.

'By studying the native structures and mechanisms for cancer targets, it may become possible to exploit their most distinct features to design new, more selective therapeutics

Smileband health topics

Terminally ill Noel Conway has won the first stage of his Court of Appeal bid to challenge a ruling he says denies him a 'peaceful and dignified' death. The 68-year-old retired lecturer, from Shrewsbury, says he feels 'entombed' by motor neurone disease and wants medics to be able to help him die when he has just six months left to live.

He lost a High Court fight in October last year to allow him to bring about his death in the way he wishes.

But he was given the go-ahead for a full hearing at the Court of Appeal today by Sir Ernest Ryder and Lord Justice Underhill.

Sir Ernest said: 'Having given the matter the consideration that we have, we believe it appropriate to give permission.'

The judges made their decision based on documents submitted by Mr Conway's legal team, without hearing any oral representations.

Sir Ernest said the court will give reasons for its decision later today. He previously asked for a declaration that the Suicide Act 1961 is incompatible with Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which relates to respect for private and family life, and Article 14, which protects from discrimination.

But his case was rejected by High Court judges in October last year.

Reacting to today's ruling, Mr Conway said: 'I am pleased that my case will now proceed to the Court of Appeal.

'I brought this case not only for myself but on behalf of all terminally-ill people who believe they should have the right to die on their own terms.

'Our voices deserve to be heard.

'I have accepted that my illness will rob me of my life, but how it ends should be up to me.