Gut worms protect against allergy

Hookworms have infected humans for thousands of years

Parasitic gut worms, such as hookworm, might aid the development of new treatments for asthma and other allergies, a study in Vietnam suggests.

Infection with hookworm and other parasitic worms is endemic in Vietnam, but rates of asthma and other allergies are low.

British and Vietnamese scientists gave local children treatment to clear their body of worms.

They found this led to an increase in dust mite allergy among the children.

The next step is to understand exactly how and when gut parasites programme the human immune system Dr Carsten Flohr University of Nottingham

Thanks to improved hygiene, practices parasitic worms have been mostly eradicated among human populations living in developed countries.

However, experts believe that over millions of years of co-evolution worms have found methods to dampen down host immune responses to prolong their own survival inside humans.

This relationship seems to have become so intertwined that without gut worms or other parasites, our immune system can become unbalanced, which, in turn, could contribute to the development of asthma and other allergies.

The latest study was conducted in a rural area of central Vietnam where two in every three children have hookworm and other gut parasite infections, and where allergies are extremely rare.

More than 1,500 schoolchildren aged six to 17 took part.

Regular tablets

Some of the children were given repeated tablet treatments to clear their body of gut worms.

The treatment did not produce any conclusive effect on rates of asthma or eczema.

However, those children who received the tablets did have a significantly increased risk of developing allergies to the house-dust mite.

Up to 80% of people with asthma also have allergies to house-dust mites and other environmental allergens.

The researchers said this strongly suggests that gut worms have the potential to tone down human immune responses.

Researcher Dr Carsten Flohr, of the University of Nottingham, said: "The next step is to understand exactly how and when gut parasites programme the human immune system in a way that protects against allergies, and for such studies, follow-up from birth will be essential."

The hope is that the work could aid the development of new treatments which work in the same way as gut parasites, by dampening down or rebalancing the immune system so that the body does not respond to allergens and trigger asthma attacks.

Dr Elaine Vickers, Research Relations Manager at the charity Asthma UK, which funded the research, said: "The prospects of further studies in this area are very exciting as we could see groundbreaking treatments for asthma and other allergies developed as a result."

Source

My own allergies were cured after I went on a trip to the middle east 5 years ago in 2004.

I was on flonase, clairiton, and zyrtec. Breathing wasn't really my issue, as was using my nose. My nose seemed to always be stuffy. I also had a serious allergy to dust. Since then though, after the trip, I haven't been on any of those medications and I'm perfectly fine.

Just goes to show how important germs, parasites, and bacteria are for a healthy immune system.

Twitter confirms major cash boost

There are an estimated 45 million users of Twitter

Social networking website Twitter has confirmed that it has closed a "significant round of funding".

Co-founder Evan Williams said in a blog post that the site had secured money from five investment firms.

However, he did not confirm earlier reports that suggested the firm had managed to secure $100 million (£62m), which would value the firm at $1bn.

The site, which allows users to write and share 140-character messages, has more than 45 million users worldwide.

The site had previously raised $35m in February in a deal that valued the business then at $255m.

"It was important to us that we find investment partners who share our vision for building a company of enduring value," wrote Mr Williams.

"Twitter's journey has just begun."

Industry watchers have pointed out that the firm still has no way of making money.

However, earlier this month the site revised its terms and conditions to allow advertising on its service.

"We leave the door open for advertising. We'd like to keep our options open," wrote co-founder Biz Stone in a blog.

The new funding has come from new investors Insight Venture Partners and T Rowe Price, as well as existing backers Institutional Venture Partners, Spark Capital and Benchmark Capital.

Source

US welcomes Iran inspection offer

Mrs Clinton is in New York for the annual UN General Assembly

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has given a cautious welcome to Iran's announcement that it will open a newly revealed nuclear plant to inspection.

Speaking in New York, Mrs Clinton said it was always welcome when Iran decided to comply with international rules.

The US, France and UK accused Tehran of deception after it admitted to the existence of the facility on Monday.

Iran says the uranium enrichment plant, near the city of Qom, is in line with UN regulations.

It maintains it wants atomic power only for the production of electricity.

But the revelations have raised tension ahead of next Thursday's talks in Geneva between Iran and six global powers negotiating over Tehran's atomic programme.

IRAN'S NUCLEAR SITES Iran insists nuclear facilities are for energy, not military purposes Bushehr: Nuclear power plant Isfahan: Uranium conversion plant Natanz: Uranium enrichment plant, 4,592 working centrifuges, with 3,716 more installed Qom: Second enrichment plant, not yet operational Arak: Heavy water plant Key nuclear sites in detail Q&A: Iran and the nuclear issue Strategy fuels fears

The Western powers are hoping to persuade Iran to freeze its uranium enrichment programme, but are threatening new sanctions if it fails to do so.

Russia has also indicated that it may support new sanctions.

Low-enriched uranium can be used as fuel for power plants while highly enriched uranium can be used to make nuclear bombs.

Earlier Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said the disclosure proved Iran wanted to equip itself with nuclear weapons" and that Israel wanted to see an "unequivocal" Western response to the development.

Iranian atomic energy chief Ali Akbar Salehi said on Saturday that inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) could visit the new site under Non-Proliferation Treaty rules.

'Very hopeful'

Mrs Clinton said after meeting foreign ministers from Gulf countries: "It is always welcome when Iran makes a decision to comply with the international rules and regulations, and particularly with respect to the IAEA.

"We are very hopeful that, in preparing for the meeting on October 1, Iran comes and shares with all of us what they are willing to do and give us a timetable on which they are willing to proceed."

Western powers have been urging Iran to allow access to the site

The secretary of state's remarks came hours after President Barack Obama said he remained open to "serious, meaningful dialogue" with Iran to resolve the issue.

Failure to comply with inspectors could lead to tough international sanctions, he said.

On Friday, President Obama, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown demanded that Iran allow UN inspectors into the second site.

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Friday that Tehran had conformed to IAEA rules, by informing the agency about the site a year earlier than it needed to.

But BBC world affairs correspondent Paul Reynolds says there is a dispute about the amount of notice that Iran is required to give the IAEA before a new nuclear facility becomes operational.

In 2003, Iran agreed on what is called a Subsidiary Arrangement, under which it is required to tell the IAEA at the preliminary design stage.

Iran later announced that it had repudiated this agreement, but the IAEA says that no unilateral repudiation is allowed.

On Saturday, the chief of staff for Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the second enrichment plant would "become operational soon".

Meanwhile Iranian media reported that the elite Revolutionary Guards would start missile defence exercises on Sunday, in a move which seems guaranteed to increase tensions further.

Source

Israel ex-PM's graft trial begins

Ehud Olmert resigned as Israeli Prime Minister following corruption allegations

The trial of the former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on corruption charges has begun in Jerusalem.

Mr Olmert stands accused of fraud, breach of trust, falsifying corporate records and failing to declare income. He denies the charges.

It all relates to the periods when Mr Olmert was mayor of Jerusalem and a cabinet minister, but before he became the Israeli prime minister in 2006.

As he arrived in court, Mr Olmert insisted he was not guilty.

"I came here as an innocent man and I believe I will leave here as an innocent man," he said.

Mr Olmert said he had been subjected to "an almost inhumane campaign of mudslinging and inquiries" for the past three years.

His lawyers have described the prosecution case as ridiculously weak.

Ehud Olmert was forced to resign last September over allegations that include taking hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash payments from an American businessman, Moshe Talanksy.

It is alleged the funds were used to fund Mr Olmert's election campaign when he was mayor of Jerusalem, but Mr Olmert insists he never took a penny for himself.

EHUD OLMERT'S POLITICAL LIFE 1993: Begins 10-year stint as mayor of Jerusalem 2005: Leaves right-wing Likud party with former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to form Kadima 2006: Takes over as leader when Ariel Sharon suffers a stroke 2007: Helps re-launch Israeli-Palestinian peace talks after seven-year hiatus 2008: Announces plans to resign March 2009: Replaced as PM by Benjamin Netanyahu Corruption allegations Olmert talks to BBC Profile: Ehud Olmert

The prosecution also alleges that Ehud Olmert defrauded a number of Israeli charities, including Yad Vashem, the Holocaust museum and memorial.

The prosecution will state Mr Olmert charged Israeli charities $92,000 (about £60,000) for business travel which had already been paid for by the government.

The money was allegedly kept in a secret account by the Rishon Tours travel agency and used to pay for the Olmert family's holidays, says the BBC's Paul Wood in Jerusalem.

He scoffed at suggestions he might go to prison.

Some reports estimate that the case may last as long as four years. If found guilty Mr Olmert faces a lengthy prison term.

Ehud Olmert became prime minister in May 2006, after serving a number of months as acting prime minister following the stroke and subsequent coma of then PM, Ariel Sharon.

Source

Trial HIV vaccine cuts infection

Developing an HIV vaccine has proved difficult

An experimental HIV vaccine has for the first time cut the risk of infection, researchers say.

The vaccine - a combination of two earlier experimental vaccines - was given to 16,000 people in Thailand, in the largest ever such vaccine trial.

Researchers found that it reduced by nearly a third the risk of contracting HIV, the virus that leads to Aids.

It has been hailed as a significant, scientific breakthrough, but a global vaccine is still some way off.

The study was carried out by the US army and the Thai government over seven years on volunteers - all HIV-negative men and women aged between 18 and 30 - in some of Thailand's most badly-affected regions.

The vaccine was a combination of two older vaccines that on their own had not cut infection rates.

Half of the volunteers were given the vaccine, while the other half were given a placebo - and all were given counselling on HIV/Aids prevention.

The results found that the chances of catching HIV were 31.2% less for those who had taken the vaccine.

"This result is tantalisingly encouraging. The numbers are small and the difference may have been due to chance, but this finding is the first positive news in the Aids vaccine field for a decade," said Dr Richard Horton, editor of the Lancet medical journal.

"We should be cautious, but hopeful. The discovery needs urgent replication and investigation."

The findings were hailed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/Aids (UN/Aids).

They said while the results were "characterised as modestly protective... [they] have instilled new hope in the HIV vaccine research field".

Some 33 million people around the world have HIV.

Research into a vaccine has been made difficult because HIV is very good at hitting the immune system, the BBC's health correspondent, Jane Dreaper, reports.

Source

Ten Big Companies That Are Veering Toward Bankruptcy

Posted Sep 18, 2009 12:21pm EDT by Vincent Fernando and Joe Weisenthal in Investing, Media, Products and Trends, Recession

Related: AMD, LVS, S, M, GT, MYL, HTZ

From The Business Insider, Sept. 18, 2009:

Despite a few green shoots in the economy and a rocketing stock market, many large companies are still struggling to avoid bankruptcy.

A new report by Audit Integrity identifies some high-profile names "that have the highest probability of declaring bankruptcy among publicly traded firms."

Which companies appear the worst off? We took the list and removed any company with a market cap under $3 billion. We then ranked the remaining names by a simple measure of the market's perceived bankruptcy risk - Market Cap (MC) divided by Enterprise Value (EV). The less MC vs. EV, the less residual shareholders' value (above what debt holders can claim) the market is pricing-in for the company. Thus a lower MC/EV means the market thinks the company is more likely to go bankrupt.

1. Hertz

When you have tons of debt financing your fleet of cars, falling rental demand really hurts.

While the company raised new capital in May for some breathing room, Fitch and Moody’s actually cut their ratings for the company in July.

Ignoring the downgrade, shares kept rallying and are now at over five times the March $2 low. Best of luck.

Market Cap (MC)/Enterprise Value (EV) = 32%

2. Textron

What a tough time to be selling business jets.

Textron wrote down $2.3 billion its backlog this year after it canceled a new jet design, and demand for its other aircraft-related offerings has plummeted.

Shareholders may be heartened by the company’s ability to push back some debt maturities lately, but deteriorating credit quality at the company’s leasing arm makes the outlook uncertain at best.

MC/EV=39%

3. Sprint Nextel

Sprint Nextel is bleeding customers, and could lose as many as 4.4 million net post-paid subscribers this year.

This is a huge problem when you have large amounts of maturing debt over the next few years.

A recent Deutsche Telekom acquisition rumor offered some hope, but that appears to have faded. Facing a difficult road ahead on its own, the company better keep its lawyers on speed-dial.

MC/EV=41%

4. Macy's

Does anyone even shop at department stores anymore?

Same store sales will likely keep falling at Macy’s right through 2009. With $2.4 billion of maturing debt over the next five years, the company is trying to cut costs, and has already reduced its dividend.

Hopefully the US consumer will bounce back soon, and actually want to shop at Macy's.

MC/EV=47%

5. Mylan

In a classic case of management empire building, Mylan overpaid big time when it bought Merck’s generic business back in 2007 and is now stuck with $5 billion of long-term debt as a result.

From 2007 – 2008, the company lost over $1.3 billion very much due to goodwill write-downs.

While the company could earn $300 million this year, they’ll have to earn far more than that in the future to make their debt manageable.

MC/EV=51%

6. Goodyear

Demand for Goodyear tires has sunk, and the company is saddled with massive debt and pension obligations.

It doesn’t help that The United Steelworkers union prevents the company from proper cost control by forcing factories to stay open.

Shareholders have to wonder how much value will be left of the company after bondholders and the union members have their way.

MC/EV=53%

7. CBS

Weak advertising and falling license fees have sent CBS's earnings off a cliff in 2009.

If they remain depressed for too long, the company could have trouble refinancing $3.2 billion of debt coming due over the next five years.

It will really come down to whether or not CBS’s earnings collapse is merely cyclical, or the result of structural trend whereby traditional TV is dying.

As a business blog, we can't help but feel partly guilty here.

MC/EV=55%

8. Advanced Micro Devices

When will AMD actually make money again? The question is becoming more important by the day since it carries over $5 billion in long-term debt.

After losing almost $3 billion from 2007 – 2008, analysts expect the company to lose more money in 2009 and 2010.

While the shares rallied from their February $2 low, they still appear stuck in a long-term down trend from $40 highs way back in 2006.

MC/EV=55%

9. Las Vegas Sands

Las Vegas Sands over-expanded and over-levered in the last few years and now has over $10 billion in debt to deal with.

Despite jumping 13 times from their March low, Las Vegas Sands shares still face an uphill battle.

Conditions in Las Vegas are horrible, Asian expansion isn’t enough, and if this lasts too long then LVS will end up in bankruptcy court looking like it bit off more than it can chew.

MC/EV=60%

10. Interpublic Group

As one of the largest advertising and marketing companies in the world, IPG was slammed by the global recession.

As the company’s CEO said during recent second quarter results, the downturn “is proving steeper and more lasting than expected”.

Revenues have fallen double digits and the company’s exposure to General Motors as its largest client hasn’t helped.

MC/EV=80%

Source

Taiwanese man 'too old' for jail

A Taiwanese jail has reportedly turned away a 96-year-old man, saying he would not be able to look after himself behind bars.

Sun Hsin-ming, a former railway worker, was sentenced to three months in jail for squatting.

He refused to pay a fine to stay out of prison, insisting that he was innocent of the charges against him.

But as soon as he turned up at the jail he was sent back to the prosecutor's office, according to local media.

'Illegal occupation'

White-haired and frail, stooping over his walking stick, Sun Hsin-ming seems an unlikely criminal.

But he became Taiwan's oldest convict when he was given a three-month sentence for illegally occupying the dormitory of his former employer, Taiwan's national railway administration - something he fiercely disputes.

"The court is in a mess and won't listen to reason. I am really angry. I haven't done anything wrong," he told reporters.

The Apple Daily newspaper said prosecutors now plan to send Mr Sun to a prison hospital ward in the central city of Taichung to serve his sentence.

Source

German fat cat turns to hot dogs

By Ray Furlong BBC News, Frankfurt

Thomas works in the shadow of the skyscraper where he was a trader

Thomas Brause used to earn a six-figure salary working as a trader in a gleaming Frankfurt tower. Now he sells sausages on the street outside.

"My friends and family said: 'You're crazy'," he said. "But they also said: 'Go for it!'"

His stand is a converted bus that he bought on eBay. In front of it, office workers and labourers from a building site opposite chat over Bratwurst and French fries on white cardboard trays.

When Thomas looks up, he sees the skyscraper where he worked until the world financial crash arrived.

"I was working for an American brokers with offices all around the globe," he said. "It ended on 10 December 2008 - a Wednesday. The Friday before we'd had our Christmas party. Our bosses had come out from London to celebrate with us.

"The Wednesday started normally, but then at 1100 an e-mail came round from human resources. By 1400 we were out the door."

At first, Thomas tried sending his CV to get similar jobs. But in a changed market, he was offered around half his previous salary. So he hit upon his radical change of direction.

"I'd first got the idea when I was working in the office," he said. "I'd think: hmm, lunch wasn't up to much this afternoon. I could really use a good German Currywurst with chips."

No less stress

But amidst the slick cafes of Frankfurt, no-one was selling grilled sausage smothered in ketchup and curry powder. Thomas spied a gap in the market.

So now there are long queues in front of his bus every lunchtime and Thomas hopes his business will soon be in the black. "If I can earn 60-70% of my former wage with my snack bar, I will be more happy than before," he said, presumably not including his former bonuses in the calculation.

He used to handle deals worth millions of dollars - via computer screens and the telephone. Now, he sells Bratwurst with mustard and brown bread for 2.40 euros (£2.15; $3.50), and French fries for 1.60 euros. "And my sister's home-made cakes," he added. "I mustn't forget to mention them.

If you're not happy with your job, it's bad for you Thomas Brause

"These are real things, not abstract things. You can touch them. I deliver something and I get something in return. It's more satisfying."

In a way, what he has done is a fantasy for many highly-paid people in demanding jobs.

"I've heard lots of people moaning about their jobs," said Mr Brause. "As soon as people get to management level they dream of this, and this was a dream of mine for a while because I was pretty fed up with my job too. The office politics was terrible."

But as the sausages sizzled on a hot plate, Thomas said quitting his high-powered job had not made life less stressful.

"I work 14-hour days," he said. "I get up at 0530. This is more stressful than before! I did my previous job for 24 years so I was very used to it. Now, I have to learn a lot of things and cope with circumstances I've never seen before.

"But I would say I'm happier. If you're not happy with your job, it's bad for you. I lost everything but it was an opportunity. So now I'm here - and I'll see where I am in a year's time."

Source

Developing world myths

Source

Remember what he says: Richer countries do worse trying to buy health care than Poorer country's who have it and try to find wealth.

Antibiotic resistance clue found

MRSA highlights the problem of antibiotic resistance

US scientists have uncovered a defence mechanism in bacteria that allows them to fend off the threat of antibiotics.

It is hoped the findings could help researchers boost the effectiveness of existing treatments.

The study published in Science found that nitric oxide produced by the bacteria eliminates some key effects of a wide range of antibiotics.

One UK expert said inhibiting nitric oxide synthesis could be an important advance for tackling tricky infections.

Antibiotic resistance, for example with MRSA, is a growing problem and experts have long warned of the need to develop new treatments.

Here, we have a short cut, where we don't have to invent new antibiotics Dr Evgeny Nudler, study leader

The latest research, done by a team at New York University, showed that in bacteria the production of nitric oxide - a small molecule made up of one nitrogen and one oxygen atom - increased their resistance to antibiotics.

They found the enzymes responsible for producing nitric oxide were activated specifically in response to the presence of the antibiotics.

They also showed that nitric oxide alleviates damage caused by the drugs as well as helping to neutralise many of the toxic compounds within the antibiotic.

The researchers then showed that eliminating nitric oxide production in the bacteria allowed the antibiotics to work at lower, less toxic doses.

More effective

Study leader, Dr Evgeny Nudler, said developing new medicines to fight antibiotic resistance, such as that seen with MRSA is a "huge hurdle".

"Here, we have a short cut, where we don't have to invent new antibiotics.

"Instead we can enhance the activity of well-established ones, making them more effective at lower doses.

Dr Matthew Dryden, consultant in microbiology and communicable disease at Royal Hampshire County Hospital and general secretary of the British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, said if the enzyme which creates nitric oxide could be inhibited, it could suppress the ability of the bacteria to counteract antibiotics.

"This would be a useful therapeutic advance, especially as we are running out of new classes of antibiotics and there is less antibiotic development in general."

Source