Vital signs register

Scanadu Scout ‘Tricorder’ launches on indiegogo

May 23, 2013

Scanadu Scout (credit: Scanadu)

Scanadu has announced updates to its Scanadu Scout, the “first medical Tricorder,” a prototype device designed to measure vital signs; and the launch of an indiegogo campaign.

A first-edition Scout can be reserved on indiegogo and will be available in March 2014.

The Scout is sold as an exploratory tool. “By helping us collect data, we can file our application to the FDA for market approval as an over-the-counter consumer-grade diagnostic tool,” the company said./.../

Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan 2013-2020

From: Kelly ODonnell 

Dear colleagues,

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The Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan 2013-2020 was passed here in Geneva at the WHO World Health Assembly (11:50am, 24 May 2013). This is great news and we have good reason to all celebrate. (see pages 7-8 of the Action Plan for a quick overview)

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Earlier this week (Wednesday) about 45 member states (representing several regions explicitly and thus well-over 100 countries) made very supportive comments. Five civil society organisations made very supportive statements as well including WFMH, CBM, World Vision and two pharmaceutical coalitions. Suggestions for minor amendments were made and after further discussion and debate today some were included in the final version which was passed.

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Many thanks to the WHO Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse and the many organisations and colleagues in health and mental health who have helped to bring mental health into the world community’s health and development agendas. 

Please do take the time to review the Action Plan again. We are encouraging colleagues to refer to it often as health programs, plans, and projects are developed.  

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Warm greetings,

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Kelly O’Donnell

NGO Forum for Health, Geneva

NCD and Rheumatic Fever

Sent by Marianne Burle de Figueiredo

Update from the 66th World Health Assembly Side event on addressing inequalities in NCDs: a focus on rheumatic heart disease  Convened by the governments of New Zealand and South Africa and the World Heart Federation, health officials from New Zealand, South Africa, Australia, Fiji and Rwanda discussed the vital need for countries to integrate rheumatic fever (RF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) prevention and control into national action plans. The event was held on 22 May and was chaired by our president Dr K. Srinath Reddy and moderated by our incoming Vice-President, Dr Kingsley Akinroye. The World Health Organization was also represented through Dr Shanthi Mendis, Department of NCD Management, who emphasized that those countries where RHD is endemic need to ensure that their national disease action plans also include targets on RHD so that the many needless deaths that occur in children each year could be avoided.  Read the press release “Governments hold long-overdue meeting on reducing early death from rheumatic heart disease” NCD Alliance Post-2015 Report Launched at WHA Side Event On 20 May, the NCD Alliance convened global leaders from governments, the United Nations, civil society, and the private sector at an event entitled The World We Want: Health and NCDs in the Post-2015 Development Agenda. The event was very well attended, with an impressive number of government delegations, and provided the opportunity for a constructive discussion on the challenges and opportunities of integrating NCDs in the post-2015 agenda. Our President, Dr K. Srinath Reddy represented the World Heart Federation and the Public Health Foundation of India on the panelWatch the webcast The event also served as the launch of the new NCD Alliance report, Healthy Planet, Healthy People: The NCD Alliance Vision for Health in the Post-2015 Development Agenda. This report, informed by a task team of experts in NCD prevention and control, provides our recommendations on a framework for health in post-2015, including specific goals, targets and indicators. We encourage you to use this report in your advocacy on post-2015 and welcome your thoughts and feedback. Updates on agenda item 13: non-communicable diseases Around 45 Member States made statements, many reinforcing the importance of taking decisive action this week on the pillars of the global NCD architecture. A drafting group was established, co-chaired by USA and Pakistan and strongly represented by a member of the World Heart Federation network Dr Sania Nishtar, to discuss outstanding issues on the Global NCD Action Plan and negotiate the text of the draft omnibus resolution on NCDs. As previously stated, the NCD omnibus resolution looks to adopt the Global Monitoring Framework on NCDs (GMF), endorse theGlobal NCD Action Plan 2013-2020 (GAP), and agree in principle to establishing a global coordination mechanism (GCM). We hope to see successful passage of this ambitious resolution by the end of the day and we will keep you informed of progress.

Demographic Dividend

Harnessing the Demographic Dividend," a PRB ENGAGE Presentation

RELATED ENGAGE PresentationsAchieving a Demographic DividendThe Challenge of Attaining the Demographic Dividend

Download presentation in English (video format), with narration (MP4: 283MB) (Right-click and choose "save link as" to save to your computer) | Coming soon: French (video format), with narration
Coming soon: Presentation in English (Flash format), without narration | French (Flash format), without narration
Coming soon: Presentation Guide in English | French

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(May 2013) The ENGAGE Presentation, "Harnessing the Demographic Dividend" aims to improve understanding of the demographic dividend, what it takes to realize that dividend, and the potential for the countries of sub-Saharan Africa to achieve the demographic dividend and associated economic growth. The presentation is designed to promote policy dialogue on the critical role of declines in fertility; changes in population age structure; necessary investments in family planning, health, and education; favorable economic policies; and good governance practices for achieving sustainable economic and social development. Target audiences include government policymakers, civic and religious leaders, health sector leaders, program officials, family planning advocates, journalists, and others.

For the past five years, PRB has developed and delivered dynamic, multimedia presentations to engage global leaders and country-level policymakers in issues related to family planning and reproductive health. Under the USAID-funded Informing DEcisionmakers to Act (IDEA) project, PRB is developing a series of ENGAGE presentations that examine the relationship between family planning and the Millennium Development Goals.

For more information about "Harnessing the Demographic Dividend," please contact Marissa Yeakey, 202-939-5441, myeakey@prb.org.

The 7-minutes Workout

How to Do the 7-Minute Workout

Bacteriophage immune system extension

Bacteriophage adhering to mucus provide a non–host-derived immunity

1. Jeremy J. Barr^a,¹, 
2. Rita Auro^a, 
3. Mike Furlan^a, 
4. Katrine L. Whiteson^a, 
5. Marcella L. Erb^b, 
6. Joe Pogliano^b,
7. Aleksandr Stotland^a, 
8. Roland Wolkowicz^a, 
9. Andrew S. Cutting^a, 
10. Kelly S. Doran^a, 
11. Peter Salamon^c,
12. Merry Youle^d, and 
13. Forest Rohwer^a

http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-05-immune.html

1. Edited by Richard E. Lenski, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, and approved April 18, 2013 (received for review March 28, 2013)

Abstract

Mucosal surfaces are a main entry point for pathogens and the principal sites of defense against infection. Both bacteria and phage are associated with this mucus. Here we show that phage-to-bacteria ratios were increased, relative to the adjacent environment, on all mucosal surfaces sampled, ranging from cnidarians to humans. In vitro studies of tissue culture cells with and without surface mucus demonstrated that this increase in phage abundance is mucus dependent and protects the underlying epithelium from bacterial infection. Enrichment of phage in mucus occurs via binding interactions between mucin glycoproteins and Ig-like protein domains exposed on phage capsids. In particular, phage Ig-like domains bind variable glycan residues that coat the mucin glycoprotein component of mucus. Metagenomic analysis found these Ig-like proteins present in the phages sampled from many environments, particularly from locations adjacent to mucosal surfaces. Based on these observations, we present the bacteriophage adherence to mucus model that provides a ubiquitous, but non–host-derived, immunity applicable to mucosal surfaces. The model suggests that metazoan mucosal surfaces and phage coevolve to maintain phage adherence. This benefits the metazoan host by limiting mucosal bacteria, and benefits the phage through more frequent interactions with bacterial hosts. The relationships shown here suggest a symbiotic relationship between phage and metazoan hosts that provides a previously unrecognized antimicrobial defense that actively protects mucosal surfaces./.../

Medscape

Dr. Aloyzio Achutti, Invite your colleagues to sign up for a FREEMedscape account today so they too can benefit from our vast network of medical resources tailored for medical doctors worldwide. Membership is FREE. Please refer your colleagues by May 31, 2013.   Help us grow our Medscape community in Brazil. Refer a colleague to sign up at Medscape.com/mgm and use invitation code: MGM513     How do I refer a colleague? Simply forward this email or the link Medscape.com/mgm and tell your colleagues to join Medscape using the invitation code above at registration. Similar to your membership, they will have access to:   Breaking medical news and alerts in 30+ specialty areas – including expert perspectives and conference coverage across the world Disease & Condition Reference – review the latest information for over 7,350 diseases, conditions, and procedures including clinical presentation and diagnostic treatment options Free Access – to journal articles from leading publication and MEDLINE database Accessible content from any computer, tablet or smartphone – including our free app for iPhone®, iPad®, Android™ and Kindle Fire™       Your colleagues can register at Medscape.com/mgm › Medscape is the leading online medical resource most used by medical doctors worldwide to support clinical decision making.