Peer Reviewed

While the RRV-TV vaccine was safe and inmmunogenic within Bangladesh setting, its withdrawal by U.S. has impacted negatively the possible use of the vaccine in developing countries. Currently, only the HRV vaccine (RIX4414) is studied for safety and immunogenicity.

Rotavirus is a leading cause of severe diarrhoea in infants. Currently, no specific therapy is available, although oral rehydration solution (ORS) has substantially reduced mortality from dehydration. Therefore, the development of cheap anti-viral products for the prevention or treatment of the disease is urgently needed.

Based on screening data, 140 children from Avon would be expected to have coeliac disease. However, only 12 of these children have been diagnosed with coeliac disease. This suggests that 90% of children with possible coeliac disease may be being missed.

WHO teams in Iraq; New Zealanders well-informed risk; Bulgaria to supply Tamiflu; Indonesia's Confirmed Death Toll Increases to 16; WHO confirms Iraq bird flu death; Bird flu risk is high in Ukraine; Flu ruffles fear of chickens; Two More Children Released From Hospital; Getting ready for next pandemic; Disaster preparation just common sense

Maternal under-nutrition and low birth-weight are highly prevalent in developing countries. Many countries have nutritional supplementation programmes during pregnancy to improve the situation. However, the impact of prenatal supplementations on infants’ developmental outcome has not been adequately studied.

Breastfeeding practices have wide sociocultural connections and vary according to geographic regions. Published literature on breastfeeding initiation and exclusive breastfeeding is not available for urban population of western Nepal.

An estimated 42,000 children are blind in Bangladesh, and 32% of them are blind from preventable causes, such as vitamin A deficiency mostly following diarrhoea and measles.

Simple behavioural change interventions may reduce early hospital deaths among children admitted with severe malnutrition but do not reduce case fatality.

Endoscopic nodular antritis in children is described to have a high correlation with Helicobater pylori infection. The study was carried out to investigate the accuracy of using antral nodularity as a marker for H. pylori infection in children.

Increasing antibiotic resistance has emerged as a major challenge in the treatment of shigellosis as multi-drug-resistant Shigellae are being increasingly reported. 47% of patients either did not respond or responded partially to fluoroquinolones. Due to indiscriminate use they will soon be ineffective in the region for treating shigellosis.

The study has shown that the home-made complementary feeding preparation with high energy density is more effective in improving the weight gain of infants than conventional weaning foods.

The study was carried out to demonstrate the potential to improve zinc nutrition of children through a series of improvements to agricultural production, rice varieties, processing and cooking of rice, and improvements to water sources.

The study explored the magnitude of physical violence against pregnant women in Bangladesh and the factors associated with such violence.

THE NATURE RESEARCH JOURNALS PRESS RELEASE - For papers that will be published online on 5 February 2006

The purpose of licensing is to ensure that medicines are marketed only after having been examined for safety, efficacy, and quality. When a drug is prescribed outside these parameters, this support is lacking. Despite this, unlicensed and off label drug use in children is widespread.

Expecting the worst may not make you feel any better when faced with a disappointment, say psychology researchers who have tested the age-old advice.

Molecular techniques are being used to identify genetic variation within the belian population. This is important for the conservation on this endangered species as populations with little genetic variation are more vulnerable to the arrival of new pests, diseases, pollution, climate and habitat changes or other catastrophic events.

Summaries of newsworthy papers from Nature Vol.439 No.7076 Dated 2 February 2006

In the face of globalization, growing environment and food safety concern, and rising importance of intellectual property rights, the new millennium challenge is not only to connect the millions of poor small/marginal farmers to the international market, but also to provide safety nets for poor households struggling to avoid poverty and hunger.

Dry earwax is found frequently amongst East Asians, while wet earwax is frequent Amongst individuals with African and European ancestry.

NATURE AND THE NATURE RESEARCH JOURNALS PRESS RELEASE - For papers that will be published online on 29 January 2006

An ergonomically designed mechanical device that can help to increase the rate of union in the healing of open fractures of the tibia has been developed at Unimas. The device is presently being tested in local hospitals.

Mainlander killed; Experts bid to allay fears; China's 8th patient out of quarantine; Algeria denies report of human death; Egypt farmer dumps 10,000 chicks; Japan starts slaughter of 770,000 birds; US team satisfied with Turkey's efforts; US government delegation visits Armenia; International Pledging Conference; Science at the Forefront; H5N1 FAQ

A study published in this week's Nature takes a detailed look inside the influenza virus - and the view could help determine how the pathogen replicates inside cells.

Summaries of newsworthy papers from Nature, Vol.439 No.7075 Dated 26 January 2006

Austria seeks EU crisis stock of drugs; Database Helps Scientists Develop Vaccine; Biosecurity is the answer; Asian states slow to report; May Spread to Russia; Turkey Overcomes; AFGHANISTAN: UN warns of risk; LIVE FOWL TO OFFSET FALTERING SALES; Dutch farmers may reject vaccination; Nepal strengthening control of poultry; FDA Issues Statement

Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) in partnership with Venture Technologies Sdn Bhd (VT) and Bavarian Nordic (BN) have genetically engineered MVA (a modified vaccinia virus, known to be a safe smallpox vaccine) to contain genes from dengue virus.

WHO Says Possible Pandemic Not Exaggerated; China announces 10th case; Turkey culls 1.28 mln fowl; IMF: Turkish Economy not affected; Generex to meet with FDA; Europe spooked; US Delegation Praises Turkey; Poverty in ill-fated town; Mutations detected in Turkish sample; Situation in Indonesia; United States Pursues Criminal Charges in Drug Fraud

Algeria steps up measures; Free Chicken Meat Reduces Anxiety; France investigates possible human case; Bird flu hasn't slowed tourists; WHO - two more Indonesians dead; Bird flu may spread faster; Australian academic mocks 'over-reaction'; Hunting Bird Flu; Update from National Coordination Center; Firms at summit are urged to plan for the worst

In Asia, distance education using information and communication technologies is proving to be an efficient way of delivering high-quality education. And by making higher education affordable and accessible, it is helping to address equity issues.