Podcasts about mdr tb

In this episode of MedPOD AFMC, Maj Harikrishnan steps in for our regular host, Brig Dr. J Muthukrishnan, to discuss a pressing public health challenge: multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). Joining the conversation is Lt Col (Dr) Hari Prasad, an infectious disease specialist and esteemed faculty member from the Department of Medicine at AFMC, Pune. Together, they delve into the fundamentals of MDR-TB, its prevalence, risk factors, advancements in diagnosis, and evolving treatment protocols under India's National TB Elimination Program.

Host Bob Traynor continues his conversation with Renee Lefrancois, Director of Audiology at Shoebox, on the vital role of ototoxicity monitoring. Renee explains the different types of ototoxicity, including cochleotoxicity, vestibulotoxicity, and neurotoxicity, and how early signs like hearing loss, tinnitus, and balance issues can indicate ototoxic damage. The conversation emphasizes the global need for ototoxicity monitoring, particularly in areas with limited access to audiology services, where diseases like tuberculosis and cystic fibrosis are prevalent. Renee shares real-world case studies, such as the use of Shoebox's technology for monitoring patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) and Meniere's disease. These examples highlight how accessible tools are making a difference for both patients and clinicians, especially in remote locations. With advancements like noise monitoring during hearing tests, remote audiometry has become more accurate and practical, breaking down barriers for patients unable to attend regular appointments. The conversation concludes by looking toward the future of ototoxicity monitoring, with technology playing a growing role in clinical practice and collaboration across healthcare professionals becoming increasingly essential. **Learn more about Shoebox here: https://www.shoebox.md Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for the latest episodes each week, and follow This Week in Hearing on LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter): https://www.linkedin.com/company/this-week-in-hearing/ https://twitter.com/WeekinHearing

Today we speak with Dr Guglielmetti about the END-TB trial which looks at new all oral regimens for MDR-TB.REFERENCES1) https://endtb.org/2) Nyang'wa, Bern-Thomas, et al. "A 24-week, all-oral regimen for rifampin-resistant tuberculosis." New England Journal of Medicine 387.25 (2022): 2331-2343.3) Conradie, Francesca, et al. "Treatment of highly drug-resistant pulmonary tuberculosis." New England Journal of Medicine 382.10 (2020): 893-902.4) Diacon, Andreas H., et al. "Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis and culture conversion with bedaquiline." New England Journal of Medicine 371.8 (2014): 723-732.5) Gler, Maria Tarcela, et al. "Delamanid for multidrug-resistant pulmonary tuberculosis." New England Journal of Medicine 366.23 (2012): 2151-2160.6) Ahmad, Nafees, et al. "Treatment correlates of successful outcomes in pulmonary multidrug-resistant tuberculosis: an individual patient data meta-analysis." The Lancet 392.10150 (2018): 821-834.7) Lan, Zhiyi, et al. "Drug-associated adverse events in the treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis: an individual patient data meta-analysis." The Lancet Respiratory Medicine 8.4 (2020): 383-394.APA | 

Tuberculosis is one of the most deadly infectious diseases that still causes significant burden of disease, particularly in the developing world.  The emergence of resistance to first line agents severely limits the therapeutic options and threaten the ability to control dissemination of this disease. Fortunately, new drugs and regimens are now emerging as important alternatives against these organisms.  Today, we will discuss this topic with outstanding experts in the field. Welcome to the editors in conversation. Topics discussed: The burden of multidrug-resistant TB. New drugs and regimens for MDR TB. The current and future pipeline for TB Guests: Kelly Dooley, MD Ph.D.  Professor and Addison B. Scoville, Jr., Chair in Medicine, Director, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Past Editor of AAC Sean Wasserman, MD Ph.D, Reader in Infectious Diseases at St Georges University of London and Associate Professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases and HIV Medicine at University of Cape Town, SA. Editor of AAC. This episode is brought to you by the Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy journal available at aac.asm.org. If you plan to publish in AAC, ASM Members get up to 50% off publishing fees. Visit asm.org/membership to sign up. Visit journals.asm.org/journal/aac to browse issues and/or submit a manuscript. Subscribe to Editors in Conversation (free) on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Android, Spotify, Email.

This podcast features Dr Nino Lomtadze, Head of Surveillance and Strategic Planning Department at Georgia's National TB Programme. Georgia was among the high MDR-TB burden countries till 2016 after which TB rates (including those of drug-resistant forms) have been dropping. TB decline has been 6-7% in recent years. TB surveillance and use of latest TB diagnostics and treatments have resulted in reduction in TB rates in Georgia.Listen to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, Spotify, TuneIn, Podtail, BluBrry, Himalaya, ListenNotes, American Podcasts, CastBox FM, Ivy FM, Player FM, and other podcast streaming platforms.ThanksCNS team

Consumption. The White Plague. Scrofula. Tuberculosis (TB) has been known by so many names over the ages, and those names reflect just how long it's been around and just how misunderstood it's been. It's killed kings and generals, playwrights, and poets.TB still sickens 10 million people every year and kills 1.5 million – even though it's easily prevented and can be treated. It's unusual because it needs to be treated even if the person infected has no symptoms at all.And even though it's an ancient disease, TB keeps evolving into new and ever more unpleasant forms. Now, multi-drug-resistant (MDR) TB infects half a million people around the world each year, according to the World Health Organization. A third of these MDR TB infections go undetected, and that means there are tens of millions of people who do not get the treatment they need and who can go on to infect others.Dr. Jeffrey Tornheim has been studying ways to test people to quickly and easily tell if they've got a drug-resistant form of TB infection and need special medications to treat it right away. Quick information can help stop the spread of these dangerous forms of the infection and can ensure that patients and health professionals don't waste time, money, and medicine with the wrong treatments. In this episode of One World One Health, Dr. Tornheim, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, as well as at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, chats with host Maggie Fox about why TB is so hard to fight and how genomics can make that fight a little easier.

In this episode we are celebrating World TB Day, this year's campaign is ‘YES! We Can End TB' and is all about solidarity and collective action. It centres on the increased engagement of those affected by TB, communities and civil society that are leading the movement towards ending this disease.This episode features the LIGHT consortium which aims to provide new evidence on the effectiveness of different gender-sensitive pathways and approaches to health for those with TB in urban, HIV-prevalent settings across Uganda, Nigeria, Malawi and Kenya. Our co-host Samara Barnes, who has lived experience of TB in the UK, speaks with researchers Toyosi Adekeye in Nigeria and Jasper Nidoi in Uganda from the LIGHT consortium about the ways they are enaging with affected communities in their work. Samara also shares her experience from the UK and the conversation reflects on the differences of TB across contexts. In this episode we are celebrating World TB Day, this year's campaign is ‘YES! We Can End TB' and is all about solidarity and collective action. It centres on the increased engagement of those affected by TB, communities and civil society that are leading the movement towards ending this disease.This episode features the LIGHT consortium which aims to provide new evidence on the effectiveness of different gender-sensitive pathways and approaches to health for those with TB in urban, HIV-prevalent settings across Uganda, Nigeria, Malawi and Kenya. Our co-host, Samara Barnes, who has lived experience of TB in the UK speaks with researchers Toyosi Adekeye in Nigeria and Jasper Nidoi in Uganda from the LIGHT consortium about the ways they are engaging with affected communities in their work. Samara also shares her experience from the UK and the conversation reflects on the differences of TB across contexts. This episode features:Samara Barnes Affected Community Co-Lead at the UK Academics and Professionals to End TB (UKAPTB)Samara is an Affected Community Co-Lead at the UK Academics and Professionals to End TB (UKAPTB). She was diagnosed with active pulmonary TB in late 2015 and it was discovered she was also drug resistant as her treatment went on. Until that point, Samara knew little about the illness apart from the fact that her Grandad had died of TB many years previously. Samara has raised money for TB Alert and has been part of their peer supporter programme too. She has also studied and written papers on the Global disparities in TB treatment. It is important for Samara to raise awareness of this illness, be an advocate for reducing the stigma surrounding it and to encourage decision makers in the UK to ensure they keep to their commitment of a year on year reduction of TB and contribute to the WHO's commitment to eliminate TB by 2035. Samara works for a national children's charity and is also a borough and county councilor.Dr Jasper Nidoi - Early Career Researcher, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, U.K and Makerere University Lung Institute, Uganda.Jasper Nidoi is a Ugandan medical doctor with specialist training in health economics and health systems and policy research from Karolinska Institutet, Sweden. For over 5 years, she has been involved in the design and implementation of clinical trials that have evaluated drugs for the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases in Uganda. She is a health economist on a clinical trial that is evaluating the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of standardized medication for MDR-TB. She was a co-investigator in a study that evaluated the impact of socio-economic factors on tuberculosis treatment outcomes in one of the poorest regions in Uganda. Her research interests are in the socio-economic determinants of health as they pertain to tuberculosis and the use of decision-analytic models to systematically synthesise data for the economic evaluation of...

Dr. Paul Farmer unexpectedly passed away on February 21, 2022.   He was 62.  Trained as physician and medical anthropologist, Dr. Farmer was known moreover for his healthcare work in Haiti that he more formally forwarded via Partners in Health (PIH), an organization he cofounded in 1987.   Over the subsequent years Dr. Farmer and PIH expanded their work around the world in Africa, Russia, South America and in the US.  Dr. Farmer and his colleagues were also widely known for their international efforts to address multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR TB).  Among other notable achievements, Dr. Farmer served as a University Professor and a department chair at Harvard, served in United Nations' positions, on numerous boards and as editor in chief of Health and Human Rights.  He authored over 100 articles and a dozen books.  His most recent was the 2020 work, “Fevers, Feuds and Diamonds: Ebola and the Ravages of History.”  Among numerous awards Dr. Farmer received a MacArthur fellowship, was elected to the National Academy of Sciences was the recipient of numerous honorary doctorate degrees and prizes.  (Listeners may recall I interviewed Dr. Reinhart on June 24, 2021 regarding mass incarceration, public health and structural racism during the COVID era.)During this 38-minute conversation, Dr. Reinhart begins by noting his relationship with Dr. Farmer.  He goes on to discuss or attempt to interpret Dr. Farmer's work, what informed his work or motivated him, how he pursued his work and what might his legacy be or should be.       Dr. Eric Reinhart is a political anthropologist, psychoanalyst, and physician.  His teaching and research addresses the anthropology of law, inequality, and public health; psychoanalysis, ethnography, and aesthetic politics; and medicine, policing, and logics of apartheid and abolition.  In addition, he conducts conduct policy-oriented public health research to address carceral-community epidemiology,  or how the health and welfare of incarcerated people are always intertwined with that of broader communities. The work examines systemic prejudice in healthcare and legal systems, the uses of confinement and punishment in the US and internationally, and large-scale decarceration policies in relation to public health and safety, pandemic preparedness, and biosecurity.  His research has been published in medical and legal journals including The New England Journal of Medicine, The Lancet, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Health Affairs, and Journal of Legal Studies – and in popular media venues, such as The New York Times, The Atlantic, TIME, Slate, The Nation, Boston Review, The New Republic, and USA TODAY.  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thehealthcarepolicypodcast.com

About Inventor Robert Sabin:I am 75 yrs. old with a number of patents. I have a couple of yrs. of college with no degree. 3 publications. I previously for many years worked in the precious metal field, melting and refining gold, silver, platinum and palladium. Inventing to me is a cure for anxiety and insomnia.My patented cold weather mask is a lightweight silicone mask covering the mouth and nose, and looks a bit like a N95 mask. There is a huge unmet need for inhalation of warm air in cooler climates and winter. The harmful affects of breathing cold air is well known in theArt. 25 million asthmatics can use this mask along with 100 million Americans who walk, taken together with the military, Athletics, outdoor workers, outdoor sports enthusiasts and more. It is powered by a lithium ion battery attached to the mask or on an armband. With an internal heating pad. Lightweight. 3 heat settings for different cold conditions.Working with company in China to manufacture. Patented. Prototype made.Second invention is a patented therapeutic heat mask powered by a heat gun, which is an upscale hair dryer, which is computer controlled for airflow and temperature. The proposed temperature mimics the Finnish sauna which has been used for 7000+yrs at temperatures of about 156F to 214F. To millions of people without toxicity.There is abundant published reports that these non-toxic temperatures kill the bacilli causing pulmonary TB at 176F for 20 minutes invitro or the virus causing COVID-19 at 136F for 15minutes. Tumor cells are proven to be especially sensitive to heat, and it is written in stone that heat denatures protein, and the second law of thermodynamics Proven, discloses that heat traffics from hot to cold.The upshot is that mycobacterium TBCausing TB,MDR-TB, XDR-TB, and The virus causing COVID-19, and all variants, and cancer cells will be killed extremely fast, TB text discloses that you can assess if a new therapeutic for TB works, can be see in a couple of days, similar assessment for the virus causing COVID-19, and cancer cells of certain types of cancer in the respiratory system/ Lung.A safe, non- toxic, non-invasive, 100%Natural, severely cost effective, portable, treatment is proposed.A one hour treatment period is proposed. Administered 180F to 190F heated air for one hour through the invention to myself numerous times without any toxicity. Robert was recently awarded patent on the treatment of Alzheimer's disease with a plant derived compound.Robert SabinTailwings@aol.com E mail516-669-1184 CellBrian FriedInvention Licensing Representation:Brian Friedbrian@inventorsmart.comwww.brianfried.com--------------------------------------------About Got Invention Show:Welcome to the Got Invention Show!Listen to inventors interviews sharing their invention story to the world!Are you patent pending?Do you have a prototype to show and demonstrate?Are you looking to earn royalties from your invention?Are you looking for a manufacturer?Do you want to raise money or find an investor?Do you want to sell your invention?Learn from other inventors or let's see and hear about your big invention idea! Show & tell us about your invention, have your very own video interview to be proud of!Your video can be used to:Post to your social mediaAdd on your websiteSend to bloggers & editorsPitch to licensees or investorsListen to inventor interviews or sign up: www.gotinventionshow.comYour Host of Got Invention Show, Brian Fried. Brian is the host of Got Invention Radio, with interviews of high profile guests including the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, Lori Greiner from ABC's Shark Tank, & over 150 individual interviews. www.gotinvention.comBrian connects and guides inventors to earn royalties from their inventions to licensees and brand properties looking for new ideas and intellectual property to expand existing or add to new product lines. Inventor Smart: www.inventorsmart.com Host Inventor Expert and Mentor Brian Fried: www.brianfried.com

Multidrug resistant tuberculosis is a public health crisis. In 2020, only 1 in 3 people with drug resistant TB accessed treatment. On this epsiode of Microbe Mail, Dr Sarah Stacey and I talk about treatment of MDR TB - why and how the regimens have changed, how to monitor patients on treatment and when to seek advice from an expert. https://sahivsoc.org/Files/management%20of%20rifampicin-resistant%20tb%20booklet%201219%20v6.pdf (South African Rifampicin Resistant TB Treatment Guidelines) About our Guest: Dr Sarah Stacey I am an infectious diseases specialist and I run a busy urban clinic at a tertiary site in Johannesburg and a busy infectious diseases ward – until a fire interrupted our services, that is… We are starting to get up and running again and hopefully will be back to capacity soon. The majority of our admissions to the infectious diseases ward are still HIV related and we still see advanced disease in patients never on or defaulting ART. I have a broad range of interests within the scope of infectious diseases. I have an interest in improving and simplifying diagnostic tests in TB, particularly in HIV-positive patients in whom TB diagnosis continues to be challenging. I also have a particular interest in advancing proper antimicrobial stewardship and the implementation of programmes to improve antibiotic prescribing. I founded the CMJAH Antimicrobial Stewardship Programme and I and my colleagues on the committee are in the process of expanding the programme at the hospital which can be at times both rewarding and thankless... but a worthwhile fight! instagram: sarahstacey15 twitter: @SarahLynnStace1 facebook: sarah.stacey.1297 Visit the Microbe Mail https://microbemail.captivate.fm/ (website) to sign up for updates E-mail: mail.microbe@gmail.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgaP3aUNkjrgOxR8Ei6UaEw (Microbe Mail) Instagram: https://instagram.com/https:/www.instagram.com/microbe_mail/ (Microbe_Mail)  Facebook: Microbe Mail Twitter: @microbemail

This Thursday, 24 March is World Tuberculosis Day. An estimated 9.9 million people fell ill with TB in 2020 and 1.5 million people died from the disease. TB continues to be a blight in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly in Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Kiribati and the Republic of the Marshall Islands. Papua New Guinea bears the largest burden of disease in the Pacific, including a heavy burden of multidrug-resistant TB. In 2020 almost 30,000 cases were notified there, including 600 cases of multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant TB.But TB is preventable and curable. So why is it still one of the most infectious and deadly diseases on the planet? On today's episode we are joined by three experts who are on the front line of trying to bring an end TB.Dr Mel Spigelman is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Global Alliance for TB Drug Development – the TB Alliance – and a Member of its Board of Directors. In his time at the TB Alliance, Dr Spiegelman has been a leader in developing a regimen-based paradigm of TB drug development and leading the TB drug research field.Dr Margaret Kal is the director of the PNG National TB Program (NTP). In this role, Dr Kal is responsible for the development of all national TB guidelines, policies, research, national program reviews and all other plans and policies for TB prevention and care in PNG. Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade supports the work of the NTP.And finally, Dr Philipp du Cros is an Infectious Diseases Specialist in TB Elimination and Implementation Science at the Burnet Institute. He has extensive experience in the management of TB/HIV programs and has worked with MDR TB programs across Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India, Myanmar, Uganda, Swaziland and Zimbabwe.The theme of World TB Day 2022 - ‘Invest to End TB. Save Lives.' We talk to all of our guests on this episode about practical ways the global community can invest to end TB and the urgent need to invest resources to ramp up the fight against TB.We hope you learn something from the conversation and join the fight to end TB @TBAlliance @CentreHealthSec

Nina Putnis talks to Rashidatu Kamara and Tom Wingfield about their new research on the social and health factors associated with adverse treatment outcomes among people with MDR-TB in Sierra Leone. Read the full article:Social and health factors associated with adverse treatment outcomes among people with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in Sierra Leone

A great discussion of the recent MDR TB Clinical Advice Service Annual Report, and a complex MDR TB case as a great demonstration of the intricacies of it's management. Dr Guy Hagan is our local TB lead and an encyclopaedia of TB treatments, and we talk about a tricky pericardial TB patient and his clinical journey. I learnt so much about the group A, B and C selection of medications for MDR TB, how to use the clinical advice service and look out for the rare side effects. Discussed link are below: https://www.brit-thoracic.org.uk/quality-improvement/lung-disease-registries/bts-mdr-tb-clinical-advice-service/https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240007048https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03086486Oelofse S, Esmail A, Diacon AH, Conradie F, Olayanju O, Ngubane N, Howell P, Everitt D, Crook AM, Mendel CM, Wills GH, Olugbosi M, Del Parigi A, Sun E, Calatroni A, Spigelman M, Dheda K. Pretomanid with bedaquiline and linezolid for drug-resistant TB: a comparison of prospective cohorts. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2021 Jun 1;25(6):453-460. doi: 10.5588/ijtld.21.0035. PMID: 34049607; PMCID: PMC8171246.Support the show

Philipp is the co-head of the Burnet Institute Tuberculosis Elimination and Implementation Science Group. He is an infectious diseases specialist with more than 15 years of extensive clinical and public health experience, and over 10 years' experience in the management of TB/HIV programs. He has worked as a TB/HIV advisor, and supported program implementation and research in a range of settings. He has worked with MDR TB programs across Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India, Myanmar, Uganda, Swaziland and Zimbabwe. A current project is the TB Practecal Study.The TB Practecal study is a phase two, phase three study that aims to improve the treatment of multidrug resistant tuberculosis by reducing the time and using shorter treatment and less toxic regiments. Trial sites have been established working in conjunction with national health ministry's and national TB programs in Uzbekistan, Belarus and South Africa. Using new drugs, bedaquiline, delamanid, and pretomamandid the treatment for TB lasts for 6 months and does not include injections. The Practecal study also carries out public outreach programs for tuberculosis and how the public can seek effective treatment. 

Dr. Paul Alexander joins us today to talk about Canada's crimes against humanity. Dr. Alexander worked for the government of Canada as an epidemiologist for 12 years, appointed as the Canadian in-field epidemiologist (2002-2004) as part of an international CIDA funded, Health Canada executed project on TB/HIV co-infection and MDR-TB control. Dr. Alexander is also a Covid-19 Consultant Researcher in Evidence Based Medicine. Show Resources All of my content is completely, 100%, viewer supported and funded. Thank you for your kindness to keep information like this coming.  Fear is the Virus t-shirts Donate at: www.lauralynn.tv Go Get Funding : https://bit.ly/2uZw7cD Patreon:  https://www.patreon.com/LauraLynnThompson E-Transfer to Email: lauralynnlive@gmail.com Twitter: @LauraLynnTT Facebook: Laura-Lynn Tyler Thompson Parler: @LauraLynnTT Bitchute Twitch Dlive Flote Rumble Mobcrush

In this episode, the once mild mannered Dr. Alexander exposes his true nature as a fierce lion and speaks his truth about what is happening with the global response to the wuhan flu. DO NOT MISS THIS! In today's program we continue our series on the conservation of humanity, examining the wuhan flu covid-19 scamdemic, and the tyrannical and nonsensical reaction by governments across the planet. Specifically we will be presenting a potential recovery plan, a pathway forward, to move beyond this pathetic chapter in human history. Dr. Paul E. Alexander, PhD, expertise and teaching of epidemiology (clinical epidemiology), evidence-based medicine, and research methodology (former Assistant Professor at McMaster University in evidence-based medicine); former COVID Pandemic advisor to WHO-PAHO Washington, DC (2020) and former senior advisor to COVID Pandemic policy in Health and Human Services (HHS) Washington, DC, US government; worked/appointed in 2008 at WHO as a regional specialist/epidemiologist in Europe's Regional office Denmark (nations involved in assigned WHO's project were Russia, Turkey, Ukraine, Poland), worked for the government of Canada as an epidemiologist for 12 years, appointed as the Canadian in-field epidemiologist (2002-2004) as part of an international CIDA funded, Health Canada executed project on TB/HIV co-infection and MDR-TB control (involving India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Afghanistan); employed from 2017 to 2019 at Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) Virginia USA as the evidence synthesis meta-analysis systematic review guideline development lead/trainer; education: graduate studies at University of Oxford England, University of Toronto Canada, McMaster University Canada, York University Canada; completed a short certificate program at Johns Hopkins Baltimore, USA, in bioterrorism (medical and public health aspects following the deployment of a biological weapon (weaponized pathogen such as small pox, plague, botulism, tularemia etc.) on a city such as Baltimore; also lectured and informed routinely by Dr. Donald Henderson who headed eradication of small-pox and developed expertise post the certificate program); awarded Governor General Medal of Canada for academics; doctoral studies and post doc completed under supervision of Dr. Gordon Guyatt, co-founder with Dr. Dave Sackett of the field of 'evidence-based medicine (EBM)'; currently independent academic scientist and consultant. Dr. Alexander appeared previously on the program in Episode #81, I encourage listeners to tune in to that excellent and informative episode if they have not already done so. I would like to dedicate this episode to Uncle Val Hogland, who recently passed away in Jamaica. He will be greatly missed by all his family and friends. Rest in peace Uncle Val, and God bless you. Dr. Alexander is a frequent contributor to the American Institute for Economic Research (www.aier.org) where many of his excellent detailed reports can be viewed. Some examples are as follows: https://www.aier.org/article/14-months-later-a-pathway-forward/ https://www.aier.org/article/lockdowns-are-no-substitute-for-focused-protection/ https://www.aier.org/article/the-dangers-of-masks/

In this second of 2 episodes, Shobha Swaminathan, MD, and Eric S. Daar, MD, review key data influencing their practice following the IAS 2021 Conference, including data on investigational antiretroviral agents, lenacapavir and islatravir, and alternative dosing of BPaL for MDR-TB.  This episode includes discussion of:An extension of FLAIR, demonstrating virologic efficacy and safety of long-acting CAB plus RPV at Week 124A Week 26 safety and efficacy analysis of CAPELLA, a study of lenacapavir in heavily treatment–experienced PWHCALIBRATE, a study of the safety and efficacy of lenacapavir in treatment-naive PWHA Week 96 safety analysis of Protocol 011, evaluating islatravir plus DOR in treatment-naive patientsA Week 24 safety and pharmacokinetic analysis of Protocol 016, evaluating oral islatravir once monthly for PrEPZeNix, a phase III trial of pretomanid, bedaquiline, and linezolid (BPaL) in patients with highly resistant TBPresenters:Eric S. Daar, MDChief, Division of HIV MedicineHarbor-UCLA Medical CenterProfessor of MedicineDavid Geffen School of Medicine at UCLALos Angeles, CaliforniaShobha Swaminathan, MDAssociate ProfessorDivision of Infectious Diseases  Department of MedicineRutgers New Jersey Medical SchoolNewark, New JerseyFollow along with the slides at:https://bit.ly/3hvRN5bContent based on an online CME program supported by an educational grant from ViiV Healthcare.

In today's program we continue our series on the conservation of humanity, continuing our exploration of the wuhan flu covid-19 scamdemic. We will be dissecting the pack of lies which have been peddled globally by public health agencies, governments, mainstream media, and the mainstream medical community. Joining us today is Dr. Paul Elias Alexander. Dr. Alexander received his bachelor's degree in epidemiology from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, a master's degree from Oxford University, and a PhD from McMaster University's Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact. Dr. Paul E. Alexander, PhD, expertise and teaching of epidemiology (clinical epidemiology), evidence-based medicine, and research methodology (former Assistant Professor at McMaster University in evidence-based medicine); former COVID Pandemic advisor to WHO-PAHO Washington, DC (2020) and former senior advisor to COVID Pandemic policy in Health and Human Services (HHS) Washington, DC, US government; worked/appointed in 2008 at WHO as a regional specialist/epidemiologist in Europe's Regional office Denmark (nations involved in assigned WHO's project were Russia, Turkey, Ukraine, Poland), worked for the government of Canada as an epidemiologist for 12 years, appointed as the Canadian in-field epidemiologist (2002-2004) as part of an international CIDA funded, Health Canada executed project on TB/HIV co-infection and MDR-TB control (involving India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Afghanistan); employed from 2017 to 2019 at Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) Virginia USA as the evidence synthesis meta-analysis systematic review guideline development lead/trainer; education: graduate studies at University of Oxford England, University of Toronto Canada, McMaster University Canada, York University Canada; completed a short certificate program at Johns Hopkins Baltimore, USA, in bioterrorism (medical and public health aspects following the deployment of a biological weapon (weaponized pathogen such as small pox, plague, botulism, tularemia etc.) on a city such as Baltimore; also lectured and informed routinely by Dr. Donald Henderson who headed eradication of small-pox and developed expertise post the certificate program); awarded Governor General Medal of Canada for academics; doctoral studies and post doc completed under supervision of Dr. Gordon Guyatt, co-founder with Dr. Dave Sackett of the field of 'evidence-based medicine (EBM)'; currently independent academic scientist and consultant. Dr. Alexander is a frequent contributor to the American Institute for Economic Research (www.aier.org) where many of his excellent detailed reports can be viewed. Some examples are as follows: https://www.aier.org/article/14-months-later-a-pathway-forward/ https://www.aier.org/article/lockdowns-are-no-substitute-for-focused-protection/ https://www.aier.org/article/the-dangers-of-masks/

In this episode, Babafemi Taiwo, MBBS, discusses new HIV data from IAS 2021, including:WHO Global Clinical Platform: COVID-19 outcomes in PWH2-drug regimen of DTG/3TC: efficacy, metabolic outcomes (TANGO)Investigational antiretroviral useCAB LA + RPV LA in treatment-naive PWH (FLAIR)Investigational antiretroviral agentsLEN (CAPELLA, CALIBRATE)ISL (P011, P016)Alternative BPaL dosing in treatment of drug-resistant TB (ZeNix)Babafemi Taiwo, MBBSGene Stollerman Professor of MedicineChief, Division of Infectious DiseasesNorthwestern University Feinberg School of MedicineChicago, IllinoisContent based on a CME program supported by educational grants from Gilead Sciences, Inc.; Janssen Therapeutics, Division of Janssen Products, LP.; Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp; and ViiV Healthcare.Follow along with an expanded slideset at: https://bit.ly/3syWD5TLink to full program: https://bit.ly/3z8SBnC

South Africa accounts for a third of all new HIV infections in southern Africa. HIV prevalence remains high, with 20.4% of people (one in five) living with HIV, however prevalence varies markedly between regions, ranging from 12.6% in Western Cape to 27% in KwaZulu-Natal. This episode features a man who has been living with the virus for 17 years, has been on drugs, abused alcohol which resulted to being infected with MDR-TB but still alive and making a positive contribution to the society.

South Africa has become the first country in the world to replace an inject-able drug with toxic side effects, with a new oral medicine in the standard multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis treatment. Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has applauded the department of health following the announcement, saying this is a positive step aimed at making MDR-TB treatment more tolerable. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Doctors Without Borders' Dr. Anja Reuter, a DR-TB doctor in Khayelitsha in the Western Cape

Ebola, MDR-TB, malaria. Infectious diseases will continue to threaten the health and well-being of people across our region and the world. The Australian government has announced a major regional health security fund. How can Australia best support countries to prevent and respond to infectious disease? What is a health security approach in any case? What should the balance be between research and operations? And should it all be left to DFAT or should we establish a medical ACIAR? Our expert panel debated the biggest new initiative in the aid program since the Coalition came to power. Panellists: Jo Chandler, Journalist (Chair) Brendan Crabb, Burnet Institute Blair Exell, DFAT Mary Moran, Policy Cures The 2018 Australasian Aid Conference was held at Crawford School of Public Policy, ANU, on 13-14 February, and was organised by the Development Policy Centre in partnership with The Asia Foundation.

See the full story with pictures at https://www.otsuka.co.jp/en/company/globalnews/detail.php?id=239&date=2017-03-24 On World TB Day, March 24th 2017, Otsuka Pharmaceutical in cooperation with South Africa’s Ministry of Health and a non-governmental organization called Right to Care, officially launched DCAP, a clinical access program for delamanid (DeltybaTM), a medicine developed by Otsuka for the treatment of pulmonary multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). The event, organized by South Africa’s Ministry of Health and the National TB Programme, took place at the Sizwe Hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa. About 150 government officials, healthcare workers, TB experts, civil society representatives, and other dignitaries gathered to mark this occasion. During the ceremony, the Japanese Ambassador to South Africa, Mr. Shigeyuki Hiroki, emphasized that delamanid is an example of Japanese contributions to strengthening public health in Africa, and presented a box of delamanid to Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi, South Africa’s Minister of Health. Dr. Motsoaledi, a global champion in the fight against TB, delivered the keynote address highlighting that delamanid will be initially made available to children (ages 12-18), HIV co-infected people, and TB patients with diabetes. “We are very happy because these are key populations suffering from TB. We thank Otsuka, as they are providing us this drug, and it will be given to patients in regions with the biggest TB burden in the country”, said Dr. Motsoaledi, adding, “This day marks an important milestone in South Africa’s response to the TB epidemic.” South Africa has one of the highest burdens of TB and HIV in the world. The two diseases are strongly interlinked, with 35% of deaths from HIV being caused by TB. Unlike HIV, TB is fully curable -- as long as there are effective medicines. However, many South Africans are infected with TB bacteria that are resistant to the first-line anti-TB therapies, which pose a grave public health emergency. In 2015, over 20,000 people were diagnosed with drug-resistant TB. Through this access programme, Otsuka aims to provide an additional treatment option for some of these difficult to treat patients. The experiences from this programme will help provide programmatic evidence on how delamanid can be effectively implemented within South Africa. Working with committed partners, Otsuka is balancing two priorities: the need for urgent access and for antimicrobial stewardship necessary to prevent the emergence of further drug resistance. In this way, Otsuka is delivering innovative solutions to address unmet medical needs.

A new Multi Drug Resistance TB treatment will soon be rolled out in four provinces. About 400 patients will take part in the research. The drug is produced by Japan and has been approved for treating MDR-TB in the European Union, Japan and the Republic of Korea. As the world celebrates World TB Day today, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has launched the Delamanid Clinical Access Programme for the treatment of MDR-TB. This is part of initiatives to manage and treat Tuberculosis in South Africa. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to Deputy Director - General for HIV/AIDS, TB and Maternal, Child and Womens Health in the National Department of Health Dr Yogan Pillay

Read the original article with photos at: https://www.otsuka.co.jp/en/company/globalnews/detail.php?id=227&date=2016-04-20 The Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology awarded Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. two commendations for Science and Technology in Tokyo, Japan. One of the prizes for Science and Technology, in the Development Category, was for the research and development of delamanid. It is an effective treatment for multi-drug resistant tuberculosis. The other prize was for the development of tolvaptan, an antagonist of the vasopressin V2 receptor. The commendations were presented in late spring in a ceremony held in the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology. Each year, 9.6 million people are newly infected by tuberculosis (TB). Of these cases, 480,000 patients develop multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). And in that group, 22% develop extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB). There have been no new anti-TB drugs developed since the introduction of rifampicin over forty years ago. Senior director of the Pharmaceutical Business Division, Mr. Makoto Matsumoto, Ph.D., said, “Delamanid was approved as a new drug for the first time in approximately 40 years. However, many besides those being awarded this time contributed their efforts and cooperation during the approval process, which took over 20 years.” He continued to thank, “all those who were involved from the discovery and development of delamanid to the approval of the drug. Otsuka will continue its efforts to increase the number of patients using the drug, and will continue contributing to tuberculosis treatment worldwide.” Delamanid was approved in Japan, Europe, and Korea in 2014. The commendation was awarded to delamanid for its contribution to the medical care of TB, by addressing the pressing need for new effective treatments to the increasing occurrence of MDR-TB. A doctor looking for a drug that helped his patients excrete only water unlike other diuretics inspired Otsuka Pharmaceutical to start researching for an agent to do just that. It was discovered that this vasopressin V2 receptor antagonist may hinder the proliferation and enlargement of the cysts in the hereditary disease Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD). Otsuka subsequently played a pivotal role in the clinical development of tolvaptan for ADPKD, and it is presently the only treatment option known to delay the long-term progression of ADPKD. “I heard that this award commemorates ‘people’ who make achievements, and I am deeply moved by the fact that my life’s work involving the discovery and development of tolvaptan, which I spent 30 years on, has been recognized,” said Mr. Yoshitaka Yamamura, senior director of the Pharmaceutical Business Division. “The ‘rugged’ drug discovery we started from scratch is now contributing to patients daily, and I am sincerely proud of that fact. I hope that new drug discoveries will be made for drugs that ‘originate in Tokushima and are the world’s first’.” The commendation was awarded to tolvaptan for its contribution to the medical fields of heart failure and liver cirrhosis, as an agent with a new mode of action of water diuresis, as well as the only treatment option known to delay the long-term progression of ADPKD.    

Read the full article with photos at  https://www.otsuka.co.jp/en/company/globalnews/detail.php?id=226&date=2016-04-19   Otsuka and the Stop TB Partnership’s Global Drug Facility (GDF) announced a worldwide access plan for delamanid, one of only two medications approved to treat multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in the last 40 years. The GDF is the largest supplier of quality assured TB treatments in the public sector, which gives it a unique position to catalyse uptake and expedite access to patients living in countries where TB medications are urgently needed. Launched in 2001 by the World Health Organization (WHO), the GDF was created out of a need to build an efficient system of procurement and distribution of high-quality TB drugs. Apart from procurement, the GDF provides a unique package of services, including technical assistance in TB treatment management and monitoring of TB drug use. This innovative partnership with Otsuka opens access to over 100 low- and middle-income countries that are eligible for financing through the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria and that follow WHO guidelines for the proper management of MDR-TB. As part of this partnership, GDF will also include delamanid in their Strategic Rotating Stockpile to ensure treatments get to people in need as quickly as possible. Apart from establishing a formalized partnership that ensures the supply of delamanid, Otsuka and GDF will work together to support communities with education, training, technical assistance, and TB advocacy activities. Access to a reliable supply of high quality drugs is of great importance, as patients can develop TB drug resistance as a result of poor quality drugs and unreliable supply channels. Widespread drug resistance complicates and lengthens treatment, and as the disease is airborne just like other types of TB, it poses a major public health risk. Nearly half a million people each year develop MDR-TB and of those diagnosed and enrolled in treatment, only 50% are successfully treated. This partnership is a key component of Otsuka’s wider strategy called the “FightTBack” initiative to scale up programmatic use of delamanid and fight TB through innovative R&D, ensuring responsible access to patients, optimizing patient management, and collaborative capacity building. In line with its philosophy of addressing unmet medical needs, Otsuka is currently testing the first-ever pediatric MDR-TB formulation. Otsuka is continuing its research into innovative ways to fight TB, including development of mobile health technology for patients to receive treatment reminders on their smart phones and involvement in multiple research partnerships looking at shorter, more efficient and more patient-friendly ways to fight MDR-TB.

Read the full story with photos at: https://www.otsuka.co.jp/en/company/globalnews/2015/0116_02.html Otsuka’s commitment to fight TB Infectious disease experts from around the world gathered in Okinawa, Japan in mid-January for the second Nikkei Asian Infectious Diseases conference. Otsuka signaled its ongoing commitment to the fight against TB by again co-sponsoring the conference. Game changers Asia, which accounts for more than two-thirds of the world’s TB burden, clearly must be at the center of the goal to defeat TB globally. The introduction of a new drug for multidrug-resistant TB, as well as1new technologies to diagnose TB and its drug-resistant strains, are perceived as potential “game changers” in the fight against TB in the region. However, one prominent specialist present noted that a badly designed MDR-TB program may actually cause more harm than having no program at all, citing the need for high-quality drug sensitivity testing and precise follow-up with patients. This mixture of new optimism and renewed concern about TB prompted the event organizers to select TB as a key theme of the conference. TB drug development needs to be simpler Hiroshi Ishikawa, Ph.D. (right) Fellow, Medicinal Chemistry at Otsuka, who was one of the key members of the Otsuka team that developed the drug delamanid, spoke with stirring passion at the conference about the scale of the challenge involved in creating a new TB drug. It included the study of over 14,000 compounds across two decades, something that a single chemist could not hope to accomplish in 100 years. With an eye toward the future he noted that TB drug development will need to be simpler to reduce costs and facilitate broader access by patients. Dr. Ishikawa also drew the attention of the audience to broader issues in the fight against TB. One is the need for improved diagnostics, especially kits that can rapidly measure TB bacilli susceptibility to drugs and biomarkers that can differentiate active from latent cases. Max Yoshitake (left), Leader, Global TB Team was called on by one of the session moderators for his insights on issues such as latent TB, which is present in over 30% of the world’s population. Mr. Yoshitake noted that one important challenge for Otsuka and others will be to shorten the duration of treatment to just a couple of months. Overall, a sense of cautious optimism filled the conference room. This was suggested by the nearly 45% decline in the TB mortality from 1990 to 2013, partly due to the DOTS (Directly Observed Treat Short Course) and Stop TB strategies. Looking forward, new diagnostics and drugs to treat the most difficult forms of the disease also hold promise. But no one was ready to say that the victory over TB, a disease as old as humanity itself, is near at hand.

Host: Matt Birnholz, MD Tuberculosis is an ancient disease that remains an important global cause of morbidity and mortality. In most cases, TB can be treated and cured by taking a combination of several drugs for 6 to 12 months. When inappropriate or incomplete treatment takes place, however, TB bacteria can develop multidrug resistance (MDR). Annually, there are approximately 500,000 cases of MDR TB, and 150,000 deaths. Although there are simple rapid tests that have improved the diagnosis of the disease, there is immense potential to increase the number of persons diagnosed with MDR TB, and to do so more quickly to initiate treatment sooner. This session of CDC′s Public Health Grand Rounds will explore how more patients can benefit from advances in diagnostic and treatment options, resulting in an overall reduction in morbidity from MDR TB. The role of CDC, WHO and other partners in combating this public health epidemic will also be discussed. To view the complete video recording of this and other CDC Public Health Grand Rounds sessions, visit http://www.cdc.gov/about/grand-rounds/

Read the full story with photos at: https://www.otsuka.co.jp/en/company/globalnews/2014/0320_01.html At the “Healthcare in Asia 2014”, leaders and numerous other senior officials from national governments and international agencies from Asian countries, including The Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, gave speeches to share their thoughts on how to move forward with healthcare for Asian countries. Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. was the lead sponsor for this annual event hosted by the Economist Conferences, publisher of the esteemed magazine The Economist. The event was held on March 20th and March 21st in Singapore. Patrizia Carlevaro, the Managing Director of Otsuka SA in Geneva, Switzerland, spoke during a session highlighting the issue of multidrug resistant tuberculosis in Asia. Ms. Carlevaro said after HIV/AIDS, TB remains the second greatest infectious disease killer in the world. In 2012, TB caused 8.6 million new illnesses and 1.3 million deaths. The disease is present in every country in the world and knows no borders. Nonetheless, Asia shares its disproportionate burden, with almost 60% of the incidences of all forms of TB. Ms. Carlevaro continued to explain that we have few tools to enable us to win with TB. Most current diagnostic tools and vaccines are largely ineffective, and treatment options are limited. Moreover, in the last 40 years only 2 new TB drugs have been approved. Government and donor intervention is necessary. Private industry cannot conquer TB alone. With almost 9 million people getting sick every year, clearly, TB control is in worldwide public interest and can be thought of as a public good. The private sector plays a significant role in the provision of TB care, hence it must be included in any public health approach to TB control. In Indonesia almost 40% of patients consult private practitioners in case of illness. In India about 80% of all the qualified doctors, 75% of the dispensaries, 60% of the hospitals, and 75% of the country’s health expenditure are all in the private sector. Apart from the need for political commitment, more funding and medical research is crucial along with involving all the health care providers—both public and private—into the debate. Especially in Asia, as a large proportion of patients consult private doctors, go to private hospitals, and buy from private pharmacists, TB cannot be controlled unless the private practitioners are involved. Not enough is done to overcome these obstacles. The political commitment to controlling TB in some governments remains low. And, since TB knows no borders, unless everyone joins, no one can fully win. As the lead sponsor of Healthcare in Asia, Otsuka had a booth where Otsuka staffs were on hand to explain facts about MDR-TB and the company’s long-standing commitment to TB research and development. Visitors to the booth also enjoyed refreshing rehydrating POCARI SWEAT and nutritional SOYJOY bars. Lead sponsor: Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Supporting sponsors: Cigna, Mundipharma International, Pfizer, Philips, Vifor Pharma

AIDS Seminar with Lisa Adams, MD & Elizabeth Talbot, MD

Read the full story with photos at: https://www.otsuka.co.jp/en/company/globalnews/2014/0214_01.html The Nikkei Asian Infectious Diseases Conference was held on February 14 and 15, 2014 in Nago City, Okinawa in order to discuss measures for preventing the spread of communicable diseases in Asia. The Okinawa prefectural government and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare provided support for the conference, and Otsuka Pharmaceutical participated as a cosponsor. Otsuka presented the panel discussion on tuberculosis, which was one of the important panel discussions at the conference. About the tuberculosis panel discussion: Tuberculosis is one of the three leading communicable diseases in the world, along with malaria and AIDS. Tuberculosis is said to infect one-third of the world’s population of 7 billion. Tuberculosis is a problem of the present, not the past, and not only is it a problem in developed countries, it is an even more serious problem in Asia and in developing countries. The discussion covered recent advances that have been made by Otsuka Pharmaceutical in response to the demand for new drugs, and what steps are needed to combat tuberculosis in the future. “Overcoming Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis Through Innovation” Dr. Hiroshi Ishikawa, Fellow, Otsuka Pharmaceutical The reason there have been no new tuberculosis drugs in 50 years is that Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a tough organism, and development is difficult and requires a tremendous amount of time and money. Why did Otsuka Pharmaceutical want to take on such a challenge? One reason is that for more than 40 years Otsuka Pharmaceutical’s corporate philosophy has been to improve the health of people around the world. A second reason is related to Otsuka’s global presence – Otsuka opened a plant in Thailand in 1973 and one in China in 1980, and now has approximately 30,000 employees around the world, 70% of whom are employed overseas. And 70% of these overseas workers are in Asia, and are therefore living, with their families, in high-burden tuberculosis countries. A third reason is that, since opening a research institute in 1971, Otsuka’s stated research mission has been to not conduct any imitative research, but to conduct research that is unique to Otsuka, research that, in fact, only Otsuka is capable of conducting, in order to discover first-in-class drugs. Moreover, Otsuka was able to forcefully pursue tuberculosis research because it was the idea of Akihiko Otsuka, Otsuka Pharmaceutical’s current Chairman. Research began in 1982 but efficacy was not met and the research failed. Because tuberculosis is a tough organism that grows slowly over 24 hours, Otsuka instead adopted an approach that involved searching for a drug that was not only potent, but also toxic, and then trying to ameliorate the toxicity later. This is the exact opposite of the conventional approach. Together with partner laboratories, Otsuka synthesized 14,000 types of compounds and, in 2002, discovered a promising novel compound; clinical studies were initiated in 2004. As a future research activity, Otsuka would like to try to establish a global regimen that includes new tuberculosis drugs in order to prevent the emergence of strains that are resistant to new drugs. Dr. Ishikawa said that Otsuka’s aim is to discover an anti-tuberculosis drug that can be used to treat latent tuberculosis infections and that can cure tuberculosis quickly, in 1 to 2 months, in order to prevent the emergence of multidrug-resistant strains. “Controlling TB and MDR-TB in Asia, and the Role of Japan” Dr. Tadao Shimao, Advisor, Japan Anti-Tuberculosis Association The emergence of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS and the movement of people from developing to developed countries (the moving of tuberculosis/communicable diseases) are major problems in Asia and Japan. Around the globe, 940,000 people die of tuberculosis, approximately 70% of them in Asia, and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis accounts for 187,000 deaths. Dr. Shimao said that Japan’s role should be to develop simple techniques that allow multidrug-resistant strains to be detected and new drugs to follow in the footsteps of Otsuka Pharmaceutical’s new anti-tuberculosis drug. “Forgotten But Far From Gone” Professor Lee Reichman, Executive Director, New Jersey Medical School Global Tuberculosis Institute Every year, there are 450,000 cases of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. Pandemic regions are Southeast Asia, which accounts for 40%, Africa, which accounts for 26%, and the Central and South America, which accounts for 19%. Overlapping infection with HIV or the presence of a multidrug-resistant strain results in a cure rate of no more than approximately 50%. In the absence of a cure, the death rate is 90%. New drugs that can effect a rapid cure and new drugs that can be used to treat multidrug-resistant tuberculosis and that have little hepatotoxicity and few drug interactions are needed. Even though tuberculosis is the world’s tenth most lethal disease, only 5 to 8 products are currently in development. Tuberculosis is a disease that must not be forgotten, as it is far from gone. About the Nikkei Asian Infectious Diseases Conference The conference was attended by researchers and governmental representatives from all over Asia, including Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia; there were 30 presenters, and 150 participants in all, from both Japan and abroad. Japan is closely connected to other countries in Asia through a web of economic, personal and other ties. Communicable diseases pose the biggest danger to health in Asia, and Japan needs to play a leading role in combating them. The official statement of the conference asserted the need for the creation of an Asian network for fighting communicable diseases.

Guest: Shelly Batra, MD Host: Maurice Pickard, MD Multidrug Resistant (MDR) Tuberculosis is a growing public health epidemic in India. Experts estimate there could easily be over 5 million cases of MDR TB at present, with each untreated patient capable of spreading the disease to 10-15 others per year. The non-profit organization Operation ASHA has expanded its role considerably over the past few years to stem this tide of TB transmission from the poorest to the most prosperous communities, bringing innovative treatment protocols right to the patients' doorsteps. Dr. Shelly Batra, president of Operation ASHA, discusses the progress being made in this increasingly global public health campaign. Hosted by Dr. Maurice Pickard.

Tuberculosis remains a global public health threat. This session will provide public health updates from the field on some new approaches to TB diagnosis and treatment in developing countries, as well as some recent advances on such topics as child TB, community-based TB, TB-HIV, and MDR-TB.

A high burden of tuberculosis (TB) occurs in sub-Saharan African countries and many cases of active TB and drug-resistant TB remain undiagnosed. Tertiary care hospitals provide an opportunity to study TB co-morbidity with non-communicable and other communicable diseases (NCDs/CDs). We evaluated the burden of undiagnosed pulmonary TB and multi-drug resistant TB in adult inpatients, regardless of their primary admission diagnosis, in a tertiary referral centre. In this prospective study, newly admitted adult inpatients able to produce sputum at the University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia, were screened for pulmonary TB using fluorescent smear microscopy and automated liquid culture. The burden of pulmonary TB, unsuspected TB, TB co-morbidity with NCDs and CDs was determined. Sputum was analysed from 900 inpatients (70.6% HIV infected) 277 (30.8%) non-TB suspects, 286 (31.8%) TB suspects and 337 (37.4%) were already receiving TB treatment. 202/900 (22.4%) of patients had culture confirmed TB. TB co-morbidity was detected in 20/275 (7.3%) NCD patients, significantly associated with diabetes (P = 0.006, OR 6.571, 95%CI: 1.706-25.3). 27/202 (13.4%) TB cases were unsuspected. There were 18 confirmed cases of MDR-TB, 5 of which were unsuspected. A large burden of unsuspected pulmonary TB co-morbidity exists in inpatients with NCDs and other CDs. Pro-active sputum screening of all inpatients in tertiary referral centres in high TB endemic countries is recommended. The scale of the problem of undiagnosed MDR-TB in inpatients requires further study.

In this episode, Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) has been recorded at the highest rate ever; and WHO and its partners ship vaccines to Paraguay in response to the yellow fever outbreak.