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South American Health Ministers Gather In Argentina To Discuss H1N1 Preparedness
The health ministers of six South American countries gathered in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Wednesday to "coordinate defenses against" the H1N1 (swine flu) virus which has killed nearly 200 people in the region," the AFP/Google.com reports. Ministers from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay used the meeting to voice concern over the rapid spread of the H1N1 virus in their countries, which are now in the southern hemisphere"s winter months, and discuss ways to share supplies to help prevent the spread of the virus. The article includes the individual strategies being taken by some South American countries (7/15).
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Advances Highlight Progress Being Made In The Treatment And Research Of GastroIntestinal Disorders
Clinicians, researchers and scientists from around the world will gather for Digestive Disease Week® 2009 (DDW®), the largest and most prestigious gastroenterology meeting, from May 30 to June 4, 2009, at the McCormick Place Convention Center, Chicago, IL. DDW is the annual meeting of the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Institute, the largest and oldest GI society in the world. AGA Institute researchers will present exciting, cutting-edge data during the meeting that will help change the way physicians diagnose and treat GI disorders.
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Washington, D.C., Officials Urge 'Opt-Out' HIV Testing, Discuss Prevention
City council members and health officials in Washington, D.C., are asking "health care providers to make HIV testing part of routine patient treatment," the Washington Examiner reports. According to the Examiner, "Health officials want all medical providers in the city to implement an "opt-out" policy in which patients would be tested automatically for HIV unless they choose to refuse the test." Shannon Hader, director of the HIV/AIDS Administration, said 70 percent of district residents newly diagnosed with HIV had been to a medical provider in the previous 12 months and were not offered HIV testing. "Health officials also are working to improve condom access and distribution, one the most critical preventative measures in combating HIV," and "the city has asked for $4 million from [CDC] to support a campaign aimed at encouraging people to get tested and practice safe sex," the Examiner reports (7/9).
Medical Devices

Research: Improving Treatment Of Patients With Heart Attack

When faced with patients suffering a heart attack, doctors have two choices: inject them with medication to dissolve the blood clot (fibrinolytic therapy) or insert a small balloon to open the blocked artery (primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)). Guidelines for treating heart attacks are generally based on clinical trials that do not take "real-life" conditions into account. The latest study by Dr. Thao Huynh of the Research Institute of the MUHC analyses these gaps and provides potential solutions to improve treatment of heart attack. Her article was published in the June 23rd issue of Circulation. In this study, Dr. Huynh compares the results of 23 randomized controlled trials conducted under controlled experimental conditions, with the results of 32 observational studies reporting on the treatment of patients with heart attacks in routine clinical conditions. Both types of studies show the superiority of PCI over fibrinolytic therapy in reducing mortality and the risk of further episodes of cardiac arrest and stroke over the short term. However, the advantage of PCI is even more apparent in randomized controlled trials where delays in providing primary PCI are shorter than in routine clinical conditions. "This study indeed demonstrates that we have to work to reduce these delays if we are to maximize the effectiveness of PCI," explained Dr. Huynh. "When it comes to treating heart attack, reducing delays in providing treatment is the number one priority. It is also essential that patients with symptoms of heart attack seek prompt medical attention. Delays by patients to seek medical attention may further increase delays to treatment of heart attack. " Analysis of randomized controlled trials shows that primary PCI also reduces long-term mortality and repeat heart attack. However, this long-term benefit of primary PCI is not observed in observational studies where patients receive treatment within routine clinical conditions. "The benefit of primary PCI can be lost over the long term if patients are not receiving optimal medical therapy after discharge from hospital. These medications are essential to prevent repeat heart attack." warned Dr. Huynh. Dr. Thao Huynh Dr. Thao Huynh is a cardiologist at the MUHC and a researcher in the Cardiovascular Diseases and Critical Care Axis at the Research Institute of the MUHC. She is also an Associate Professor in Division of Cardiology at the McGill Health University Center. Funding This study was funded by the Agence d"çİvaluation des technologies et modes d"intervention du Quçİbec (AETMIS), Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Team Grant, and the Department of Medicine of McGill Health University Center. Partners This article was co-authored by Dr. Thao Huynh, Research Institute of the MUHC; Dr. Lawrence Joseph, McGill University; Dr. Stçİphane Perron, Dr. Jennifer O" Loughlin, and Dr. Pierre Thçİroux, Universitçİ de Montrçİal; Dr. Michel Labrecque, Universitçİ de Laval; and Dr. Jack V. Tu, University of Toronto. Isabelle Kling McGill University Health Centre


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