Pre-eclampsia accounts for 15% of all premature deliveries in the UK.

This is because the only way to completely cure pre-eclampsia is to deliver the baby. Left untreated, the condition can lead to convulsions, kidney failure and serious liver problems.

The researchers from Harvard Medical School looked at proteins which may be involved in pre-eclampsia by affecting the level of oxygen delivered to the placenta.

They settled on COMT (catechol-O-methyltransferase), an enzyme involved in the development of new blood vessels and a protein it produces called 2-methoxyoestradiol (2-ME).

Mice without any COMT also failed to produce 2-ME, which normally increases during the last three months of human pregnancy.

They found when mice were given back the COMT it cured their pre-eclampsia. The researchers say this has important implications for a potential treatment.

Full article is here.

The Public Health Editor will be responsible for writing
weekly articles which cover the latest discussions and topics related
to public health and human rights in the developing world from citizen
media like blogs, podcasts, and video-blogs. S/he will work closely
with the rest of the Global Voices editorial staff(managing, regional
and language editors), and will also be expected to attend regular
online editorial meetings.

As GV is a virtual organization, the Public Health Editor will not be
expected to relocate. Regular access to high-speed internet
connectivity will, however, be a key factor in being able to carry out
this job.

The position involves:

• Surveying the current citizen media space to find blogs, podcasts, and
  vlogs focused on public health issues in the developing world.

• Introducing Global Voices readers to how health activists are using
  citizen media to spread awareness about public health issues.

• Interviewing and introducing the grantees of Rising Voices' latest
  health-focused grant competition.

• Liaising between public health bloggers and journalists looking for
  stories to report on.

This is a part-time position with modest compensation, for somebody
who is passionate about helping to amplify the voices of health
activists concerned with human rights from the developing world. It is
also a great opportunity to become involved with a global community of
bloggers who are working on the cutting edge of citizens' media.

The requirements:

Our ideal candidate has an international outlook and
solid experience both in citizen media and public health. Solid
English-language writing editing skills are a must, and a strong
familiarity with the current tools, web sites and trends in citizen
media worldwide is important. Familiarity with the regions of
Sub-Saharan Africa, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia is particularly
desirable. S/he has the ability to work independently and responsibly
with only remote supervision.

Ideally, s/he will have the ability to read and write well in at least
one language other than English and have a working knowledge of other
languages. Preference will be given to candidates from outside the
United States and Western Europe.

To apply, please send your CV and a letter of interest to
outreach@globalvoicesonline.org. The application deadline is Saturday
May 24, 2007.

Specifically, we need your responses to the following questions:

1. Is our basic premise correct from your perspective? In low income countries, as in rich countries, are sustained improvements in maternal and child health, to a degree, dependent on strong local relevant research and a productive local core group of scientists?
2. Is professional isolation (lack of access to scientist colleagues and to an environment of discussion, criticism and support) a serious deterrent to sustaining your research career?
3. Can effective low cost, secure electronic communications compensate for at least some aspects of the actual isolation experienced by many young aspiring scientists? Is our technology appropriate for that task and for your computer facility?

We need your responses to these questions and any other comments you may have on our website. It’s easy to post a weblog!

Los médicos debemos cambiar de actitud y lograr una comunicacion fluida con los padres, en primer lugar otorgando el tiempo necesario a la asistencia, adaptando nuestro lenguaje y logrando un diálogo que aporte confianza a la relación. De esta forma la información sobre el neonato es comprendida y valorada lo que ayuda a conductas favorables respecto a la lactancia materna, mejor cuidado del recién nacido, fomentar el apego materno y paterno estimulando la correcta asistencia sanitaria y la confianza en el equipo de salud. También favorece la autoeficacia en el rol de padres y permite comprender al neonato y como afirma el Profesor Brazelton lograr una comunicación con el niño.

El desafio en el equipo de salud pasa por un cambio de postura comprendiendo a la persona como una integridad biopsicosocial y reconociendo los aportes que raliza la medicina familiar en algo que es tan natural a la familia como el nacimiento de un hijo.

My name is Zelia and i am a Doula, as well as a baby massage instructor for IAIM. Also, for two years i have been working hard to spread the news for babywearing in my country. Finally this seems to be working, and I've been on TV and all the major magazines and babywearing has been spreading out in such a great way!
I have also been invited to make a conference last sunday, for many mothers in a big event, and also started in a hospital in lisbon, teaching the nurses. Yet, i really wanted to become a Kangaroo mothe care facilitator, but cannot leave my country to learn, since i have no money, and need to know how i can do this!

Any ideas will be more than welcome!

Zelia Evora

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO REGISTER FOR THIS WORKSHOP, YOU NEED TO FIRST BE LOGGED INTO YOUR ACCOUNT ON THE MOTHER-CHILD NETWORK WITH YOUR USERNAME AND PASSWORD. IF YOU DON'T HAVE AN ACCOUNT, YOU CAN CREATE ONE USING THE LOGIN / REGISTER LINK AT THE RIGHT. ONCE YOU ARE LOGGED IN, YOU CAN ACCESS THE APPLICATION FORM BY CLICKING HERE.

NOTE THAT WE WILL NOT RECEIVE ANY APPLICATIONS THAT ARE SUBMITTED BY USERS WHO ARE NOT LOGGED IN.

WORKSHOP I - September 15 - December 15, 2007

Objectives:

1.To assist each participant to prepare the best possible grant application based on a specific research project to be submitted to a funding agency.
2.To provide relevant teaching materials and, most important, experienced constructive one-on-one faculty-to-participant mentoring focused on the participant’s proposed submission.
3.To use the www.mother-child.org website with its weblog facility as a platform for the workshop, supplemented by direct e-mail as communication tools for this virtual workshop.
4.To continue to develop innovative practical communications technology which will effectively advance the educational aspirations of our network, thereby serving the needs of scientists, particularly those working in comparative isolation in low income environments.
5.Eventually we expect these strategies to augment research funding in the developing world and strengthen relevant health research capacity where it is needed most.

Format/Curriculum

We plan a simple format for this virtual workshop.

Registered students will receive access to a body of written materials outlining general principles and guidelines for grant applicants with appendices containing a summary of possible funding agencies, a paper on ethical issues in research, some guidelines on writing technique, and perhaps other topics..

Each student will be asked to submit a draft research grant application prepared by her/him. That draft will be the focus for an ongoing interaction between the participant and an experienced faculty member assigned to the participant for the duration of the workshop. If it becomes apparent that the participant would benefit from specialized help with the use of written language, an experienced scientific editor would be asked to become involved. An expert on ethics in research involving humans will also be available as a consultant.

Faculty

Mentors have been drawn from the Canadian academic medical community. Each has had consistent success in the competitive world of grant writing. Their professional expertise lies within the fields of maternal health, child health or both.

Among those committed to this project are:

• Professors Jose Menezes and Claude C. Roy, Université de Montréal
• Professors Richard Hamilton, Barry Pless, Charles Larson and Paul Goodyer, McGill University
• Professor Roger Pierson, University of Saskatchewan
• Professor Peter Durie, University of Toronto

Confidentiality

Communications between faculty mentor and student can be completely confidential if the student wishes them to be so. However, those students who wish to share their ideas and plans with other participants will be encouraged to do so.

Application Process

An application form is posted here (to be filled out by registered Mother-Child users). We expect to limit participation in this initial workshop to 12 - 15 students. Preference will be given to relatively junior scientists, those working in low income countries, and those with a specific research plan.

Applicants will be notified of acceptance on or about July 31st, 2007. They will receive course materials at that time and asked to prepare a draft application to an agency of their choice. This process will continue through July and August. From mid-September they will work with an experienced faculty member to revise and refine their draft application. This process will be completed by mid-December or before.

Language

Written materials and mentoring will be available in English or French.

Cost

This initial workshop will be provided free of charge.

Evaluation

Our main emphasis here will be on receiving an evaluation and suggestions for improvement from each participant at the end of the Workshop. Of course, we will be interested to learn if the application succeeded and what comments were provided by the granting agency.

In addition to their direct feedback on a specific draft application, mentors will provide general comments to individual participants on their strengths and weaknesses at the end of the workshop.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO REGISTER FOR THIS WORKSHOP, YOU NEED TO FIRST BE LOGGED INTO YOUR ACCOUNT ON THE MOTHER-CHILD NETWORK WITH YOUR USERNAME AND PASSWORD. IF YOU DON'T HAVE AN ACCOUNT, YOU CAN CREATE ONE USING THE LOGIN / REGISTER LINK AT THE RIGHT. ONCE YOU ARE LOGGED IN, YOU CAN ACCESS THE APPLICATION FORM BY CLICKING HERE.

NOTE THAT WE WILL NOT RECEIVE ANY APPLICATIONS THAT ARE SUBMITTED BY USERS WHO ARE NOT LOGGED IN.

1. 1. Hassan P et al. Obesity and Diabetes in the Developing World - A growing challenge. NEJM 356:213-215,2007
2. 2. Hassan W and James WP. Obesity. Lancet 366:1197-1209,2005