public library of science

(Public Library of Science) In this week's PLoS Medicine, Johannes Bogaards of VU University, the Netherlands and colleagues use mathematical models to investigate whether vaccinating females only, males only, or both sexes is the best way to achieve the most effective reduction in the population prevalence of sexually-transmitted infections.

(Public Library of Science) Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) may be alleviated by the anti-cancer drug Rituximab, suggesting that the source of the disease could lie in the immune system, according to a new study published Oct. 19 in the online journal PLoS ONE.

(Public Library of Science) Despite being widely available for sale in low-and-middle income countries, commercial serological tests used to detect active tuberculosis (by identifying antibodies to the tuberculosis-causing bacterium in a blood sample) do not accurately diagnose TB and, furthermore, often test positive when the patient does not have TB (false positive) and test negative when the patient actually has TB (false negative).

In addition, as shown in India, the use of such tests is not cost effective as compared to other tests available for TB.

(Public Library of Science) There is a growing body of evidence revealing the connection between neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) and HIV/AIDS, prompting experts to call for greater integration of national NTD treatment programs with HIV/AIDS initiatives.

(Public Library of Science) Pandemic A (H1N1) 2009 mortality rates exhibited wide diversion between countries.

Based on data from a total of 30 European countries, a study published in the journal PLoS ONE (May 11, 2011) found that the greater the state financial "generosity" to health sector the lower the pandemic influenza mortality.

(Public Library of Science) A study in this week's PLoS Medicine suggests that AIDS patients with cryptococcal meningitis who start HIV therapy are predisposed to immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome -- an exaggerated inflammatory immune response that kills up to one-third of affected people -- if they have biomarkers (biochemicals) in their blood showing evidence of a damaged immune system that is not capable of clearing the fungal infection.

(Public Library of Science) With the financial crisis still hanging over many countries, this year's World Health Report from the World Health Organization, "Health Systems Financing: The Path to Universal Coverage" is timely and relevant to the question of how to ensure that all people have access to health care services, without suffering financial hardship.

(Public Library of Science) In this week's PLoS Medicine, Gabriel Leung from the government of the Hong Kong SAR and Angus Nicoll from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control offer their reflections on the international response to the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic, including what went well and what changes need to be made on the part of global and national authorities in anticipation of future flu pandemics.

(Public Library of Science) Rogier van Doorn and colleagues from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, present a Learning Forum article in this week's PLoS Medicine that describes three unusual cases of patients with listerial meningitis.

(Public Library of Science) Community-based lymphatic filariasis education in Orissa State, India, increased treatment compliance from around 50 percent to up to 90 percent, according to a study published June 29 in the open-access journal PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases.

In their study, researchers identified barriers to compliance with India's MDA program for LF, and suggest that timely educational and lymphedema management programs can reverse this trend.