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HIV and drug
users
The spread of HIV through the sharing of
needles by injecting drug users came under the
spotlight at the recent AIDS 2010 congress in
Vienna, with calls for authorities to adopt a
new attitude to the ‘war on drugs’ and provide
drug users with appropriate medical treatments
with the aim of reducing drug use. The current
hard line taken against drug abuse, they say, is
exacerbating the spread of HIV. This appeal is
particularly pertinent for this region as the
number of injecting drug users escalates in
countries like Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan and
Syria, among others, which have easy access to and abundant supplies of
inexpensive heroin coming out of Afghanistan. Read more on this in our
comprehensive coverage of the AIDS 2010 congress.
In the September issue we usually focus on Complementary &
Alternative Medicine – and this year guest writer Sonica Krishnan, a
renowned Ayurvedic doctor, explains how age-old Ayurvedic medicine
can be used to treat modern lifestyle diseases like obesity and diabetes.
In the Saudi report we speak to Dr Adeel Chaudhary, the vice
director of the Jeddah-based Center of Excellence for Genomic
Medicine Research, about the groundbreaking work they are doing in
seeking genetic markers for diseases prevalent in the Saudi population.
See page 54.
Also in this issue, we bring you news of an experimental new way to
publish science papers. Called Liquid Publishing, researcher Fabio Casati advocates that scientists use the social Web to share and evaluate
science papers. Read this interesting report on page 32.
German orthopaedic physician Dr Michael Weber has moved his
practice from his home country to the UAE because of the high
demand in the region for his specialty – limb lengthening and reconstruction.
We speak to him about his field of expertise. See page 48.
As usual, you will also find comprehensive news coverage of the
latest medical research, regional and global medical developments and
new medical devices entering the market.
Remember to visit our website regularly where we keep the Calendar of
Medical Events in the region continually updated. We have also recently
started an online eNews blog to provide instant news updates for medical
professionals in region –
www.MiddleEastHealthMag.com/Wordpress
Good Health
Brian Wilkie
Publisher
wilkiexp@emirates.net.ae |
(Sep-Oct 2010)
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