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/ Health News / 2007 / October 2007 / October 18, 2007 Aussie sex gel coated on condoms may help prevent STIs |
How cancer prevention drives aging
For the first time, researchers have found how cellular senescence, the well-known mechanism for preventing cancer, can trigger aging and age-related disease by changing the local tissue environment. ANI
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In a study on fruit fly Drosophila, scientists at the Burnham Institute for Medical Research (Burnham) have found that genes involved in embryonic heart development are vital to adult heart function in both fruit flies and humans. ANI
Psychiatric disorders common among college-aged
A new study has revealed that psychiatric disorders appear to be common among 18- to 24-year-olds, with overall rates similar among those attending or not attending college. ANI
Australian researchers have developed a sex gel which when coated on a condom may help fight Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs).
Sydney, Oct 18 : Australian researchers have developed a sex gel which when coated on a condom may help fight Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs).
The experimental lubricant, VivaGel, which helps in blocking HIV and herpes infections, will be coated on condoms under an agreement between Melbourne-based Starpharma and the owner of condom company Durex.
The vaginal microbicide, which is still under clinical trials has been found to prevent HIV and genital herpes in animal and human, which works by preventing viruses from entering cells, avoiding infection.
The active ingredient in the microbicide is dendrimer, a molecule that binds itself to the viruses and prevents them from infecting healthy cells.
Also the gel was found to be a potent contraceptive, in early research stage.
Starpharma chief executive Dr Jackie Fairley said that microbicides were considered one of the most attractive new prevention options for STIs and also that it is a much-needed option for third world nations like sub-Saharan Africa where HIV and genital herpes rates were the highest in the world.
"We feel the health sector has focused on finding a cure or treatment to disease, whereas we believe very strongly that prevention is a preferable option in curbing the disturbing increase in STIs in both the developed and developing worlds," Dr Fairley said.
ANI
