New research which involves genetically altering the HIV virus to prevent it from becoming active may, in the future, become a new treatment. The gene "tat" is known to be essential for the HIV virus to replicate. Researchers at the Children's Hospital in Philadelphia created a gene called "anti-tat" with genetic engineering technology. The anti-tat was then inserted into a mouse and entered the HIV-infected cells. The researchers found that anti-tat gene stopped the replication and activation of HIV. They also found that anti-tat prolonged the survival of T lymphocytes, cells of the immune system which are normally the primary target for the AIDS virus. Further studies are needed to determine whether such gene therapy could allow the HIV virus to remain dormant in infected humans. (Ivanhoe).
One in five childhood fears is so serious that it should be treated as an anxiety disorder, according to Dutch researchers at the University of Maastricht. Peter Muris and his colleagues asked 290 primary-school children about their fears and ranked them on a clinical scale. In 66 cases, the fear was so bad that it interfered with the child's daily life. "There seems to be a need for early intervention," says Muris. The most common fears include spiders, blood and getting lost. (New Scientist).
Two-thirds of men say they would use a male contraceptive pill if it were available, according to an international survey. More than 80 per cent of the women questioned said they would trust their partner to take it. The survey of just under 4,000 men and women was carried out in Edinburgh, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Cape Town. "The survey should dispel once and for all the myth that women would not trust their partners to use a male pill," says Dr Richard Anderson, clinical scientist at the MRC Reproductive Biology Unit in Edinburgh. Men did, however, see the expected three-month time lapse before the pill would become effective as a disadvantage. A male pill is expected to be available within the next 10 years. Some family planning experts still suggest that an implant or injection may be preferable for men rather than a "forgetable" daily tablet. (BBC Health News).
Learning has health benefits in older people, according to a survey by the Institute for Employment Studies in Britain. From a sample of more than 300 interviewees aged between 50 and 71, 74 per cent who said their health was excellent or very good were engaged in some form of learning. Eight out of 10 learners reported a positive impact of learning on either life enjoyment, self-confidence, self-esteem or their ability to cope. Nearly half linked continuing to study with an increased willingness to take responsibility for their lives. (BBC Health News).
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