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Tag Team: Two Viruses Team Up In West Nile Vaccine
U.S. government scientists have developed a hybrid vaccine that protects mice from West Nile virus
(WNV) infection, as reported in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The vaccine consists of a weakened,
or attenuated, combination of two viruses formed by removing key genes from dengue virus and replacing them with WNV
genes. Researchers will begin testing the vaccine in monkeys next month and hope to begin human trials in late 2002. more
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Aromatase Inhibitors Show Promise For Early Breast Cancer
A new class of drugs is challenging tamoxifen's status as the treatment of choice for advanced breast
cancer. The drugs, known as aromatase inhibitors (AIs), also show promise as adjuvant (additional) therapy for early breast
cancer, although it is still too early to say whether they are better than tamoxifen. more
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One Arm Of Herceptin Trial Suspended
On January 30, 2002, researchers announced that they had temporarily stopped enrolling patients in
one arm of a breast cancer clinical trial. The trial -- N9831 -- is testing the effectiveness of Herceptin (trastuzumab) against
early-stage breast cancer that has spread to the lymph nodes. Recruitment to the other two arms of the trial is continuing. Letters
detailing information about the suspension were sent to physicians and patients participating in the study. more
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CDC: Gonorrhea Rates Increased In Two-Thirds Of Hardest-Hit U.S. Cities
Nearly two-thirds of the U.S. cities hardest hit by gonorrhea experienced increases in gonorrhea rates
between 1999 and 2000, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). While the overall national
gonorrhea rate remained stable, 13 of 20 cities with the highest rates in 1999 had even higher rates in 2000, indicating ongoing
challenges in controlling the disease in some communities. more
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Information For Patients: Gonorrhea
Gonorrhea is caused by Neisseria gonorrheae, a bacterium that can grow and multiply easily in mucous
membranes of the body. Gonorrhea bacteria can grow in the warm, moist areas of the reproductive tract, including the cervix
(opening to the womb), uterus (womb), and fallopian tubes (egg canals) in women, and in the urethra (urine canal) in women
and men. The bacteria can also grow in the mouth, throat, and anus. more
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