bird flu research delayed

Bioterror fears have caused experts to delay the release of important bird flu research.

Two controversial research papers have shown that the H5N1 bird flu virus could easily mutate into a form which could spread quickly and easily among the human population.

The H5N1 virus currently kills about 60% of people it infects, but it currently doesn’t transmit from human to human easily. It is feared that the virus may naturally mutate, causing a pandemic.

However, the US government have already asked for some of the sensitive parts of the research to be redacted over fears that it could be abused by terrorists.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) have indicated that more talks were needed before the research could be fully published.

However, the scientists believe that understanding how the virus can mutate is key to making progress on the development of a vaccine. They have already circulated details of their research at various conferences and some critics have suggested that the delays were an infringement of academic freedom.

Some scientists point out that the research is needed to develop any potential vaccine for bird flu and withholding parts of the research would restrict their efforts.

Experts are to assess the information that is already available in the public domain and how it relates to the research that is awaiting publication. In the meantime, much of the research into a vaccine for the bird flu virus has been on hold for four months and will await a decision in the next few months.

Recent research has indicated that some immune system cells are able to repel attacks from the HIV virus by destroying their own raw materials before HIV can make use of them.

A virus needs to make use of other cells in order to replicate itself but some cells such as macrophages are more resistant to attack.

Recently a protein called SAMHD1 was linked to the resistance to virus attack. The protein breaks down DNA parts that cells use to make new copies of the DNA. Viruses can also hijack the DNA parts for use.

The researchers found that by removing the SAMHD1 protein, levels of the DNA parts increase, making those cells more susceptible for infection by the HIV virus. The researchers indicate that by increasing the SAMHD1 protein levels, the HIV virus was effectively starved of the DNA parts it needed to replicated itself.

Researcher Prof Baek Kim, said: “It makes sense that a mechanism like this is active in macrophages. Macrophages literally eat up dangerous organisms, and you don’t want those organisms to have available the cellular machinery needed to replicate and macrophages themselves don’t need it, because they don’t replicate.”

However, researchers warned that it was unclear how the protein could be used to treat HIV infection. Some cells need to use the broken down DNA in immune system response, and removing the supply would also hamper this operation.

HIV also attacks the body’s immune system, leaving it open to attack from other viruses. This can mean that an everyday infection has the potential to be fatal for sufferers of HIV.

The coalition government’s plans to reform the NHS have been defeated in the House of Lords.

The Health and Social Care bill has attracted controversy for some time and many doctors and nursing groups, including the British Medical Association and the Royal College of Nursing, oppose the plans.

The bill was one of the coalition government’s flagship proposals. It has already faced delays and some amendments were made before it was passed in the House of Commons. However, there has been growing opposition to the bill since it came to the House of Lords, prompting even more amendments.

The House of Lords have voted, with a majority of 4, to back a proposed amendment to the bill which would see mental health given a higher priority under the NHS. Further amendments are being discussed before the bill can progress further.

However, some point out that there have already been over 100 other concessions made to the bill and Labour are now calling for it to be scrapped altogether.

Many have indicated that the bill, which would see up to £65 million of NHS budget being controlled by GPs, is unlikely to be dropped. Some suggest that only the Prime Minister would be able to halt it.

However, despite criticism of the Health Secretary’s, handling of the bill, the Prime Minister has stood by him. He has previously indicated that the Health and Social Care Bill is needed to improve the NHS.

Recent research from Universities in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Manchester has indicated a growing gap in male suicide between Scotland and the rest of England and Wales.

The researchers looked at the suicide rates between 1960 and 2008 and found that whilst the rate of suicide was lower in Scotland in 1960, by the end of the 60s it had overtaken England and Wales and the gap has continued to grow.

The research shows that the biggest rise in suicide rates was in men between the age of 25 and 54. There rate also reflected a big increase in the number of suicides by hanging. At the same time, the suicide rate in Scottish women was relatively unchanged since 1960.

One researcher indicated that a public campaign could be a useful way of tackling the number of suicides by hanging seen in Scottish men.

The researchers indicate that the study adds to their understanding of the long term differences in suicide rates across the UK and have indicated that they are working to find explanations.

Professor Stephen Platt, from the Centre for Population Health Sciences at Edinburgh University and a lead researcher in the study, said: “This study adds to our understanding about patterns of suicide in Great Britain by producing sound evidence on divergences in long-term trends in Scotland compared to England and Wales. In a future companion paper we will suggest explanations for the persisting higher rate of suicide in Scotland.”

The General Medical Council (GMC) has launched its first guidance designed to help decide whether doctors should face disciplinary action if they have been alleged to have encouraged or assisted in a patient’s suicide.

The guidelines advise doctors to advise any patients who ask about assisted suicide that they cannot discuss it as it would be breaking the law.

The GMC guidance does point out the challenges faced by doctors when dealing with a patient who wants to end their life. It indicates that doctors should ensure any advice they give does not encourage or assist suicide, while at the same time ensuring that the patient doesn’t feel abandoned.

The guidance confirms that these difficulties should also be taken into account whether deciding to take disciplinary action. Other factors would include whether the alleged encouragement or assistance was persistent, active and instrumental, or minor and peripheral.

Mr Niall Dickson, from the GMC, was keen to stress that the main point of the guidance was to make it clear that ‘assisting suicide is illegal and doctors should have no part of it.’

Helping patients to travel to a place where assisted suicide was possible and providing any information on suicide methods and what they involve would call into question a doctors fitness to practice.

A previous court case forced the creation guidelines over who would face prosecution for assisting a suicide attempt. The guidelines are currently being challenged in court and the new GMC guidelines may also face a similar challenge in the future.