'Better' test for asbestos cancer

Asbestos exposure is linked to most cases of mesothelioma

Scientists claim they have developed a more sensitive test for the asbestos-related cancer mesothelioma.

The cancer develops long after exposure to asbestos but patients usually have a limited life expectancy.

The test developed by a team at Oxford University looks at levels of a protein closely linked to the cancer in fluid around the lungs.

A UK lung expert welcomed the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine study.

A simple test which can exclude the diagnosis without resort to more invasive methods would be welcomed Dr Paul Beckett, British Thoracic Society

Mesothelioma is an invariably fatal tumour found in the surface of the lung. While relatively rare, it is very difficult to treat because of its location and because it does not seem to respond well to chemotherapy.

The disease has been found in people with no history of exposure to asbestos, but inhaling the dust released by the mineral when it is broken up is known to be a key risk factor.

It has particularly affected tradesmen such as joiners, plumbers and electricians.

Because it can take many decades for the disease to develop, experts expect the number of cases in the UK to peak at around 2,200 by 2013.

Laws preventing occupational exposure to asbestos are in place in the developed world. There are no such restrictions in developing countries, however.

High levels

The researchers focused on ways of distinguishing mesothelioma as a cause of pleural effusion, the build-up of fluid in the pleural cavity surrounding the lungs.

There are many causes of this symptom, many of which are benign or linked to other types of cancer but over 90% of people with mesothelioma have the symptom.

At the moment, doctors carry out pleural fluid cytology - a lab test which looks for cancerous cells.

However the Oxford team say this is not a very sensitive test.

Team members used pleural fluid samples from over 200 patients who had been referred to a specialist respiratory clinic.

They then looked at levels of the protein meothelin - which is released in high quantities in the pleural fluid of most patients with mesothelioma.

It was found that levels of the protein were almost six times higher in patients with the cancer than in those with secondary lung cancers, and 10 times greater than those with benign conditions.

Rapid diagnosis

Dr Helen Davies, who worked on the research, said: "This study suggests a way for clinicians to more readily identify cases of mesothelioma from the start."

She added: "Because mesothelioma has a median survival time of 12 months, minimising the number of invasive procedures and tests patients require is crucial to reduce morbidity and the time they need to spend in hospital.

"An earlier diagnosis also allows speedier interventions to relieve symptoms as well as initiation of other treatments such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy if appropriate.

"Claims for worker's compensation may also be instigated once the diagnosis is confirmed."

Dr Paul Beckett of the British Thoracic Society said: "A simple test which can exclude the diagnosis without resort to more invasive methods would be welcomed, allowing a more streamlined diagnostic pathway both for those with and without the disease.

"Such a pathway would be expected to lead to more rapid diagnosis and therefore treatment and perhaps improve the outlook for this disease, as well as avoiding unnecessary tests in those who don't have mesothelioma."

Egypt 'Hezbollah cell' on trial

Lawyers for the men said the charges were "absolutely not true"

A group accused of plotting attacks in Egypt for the Lebanese Islamist group Hezbollah has gone on trial in Cairo.

The 22 defendants in court deny spying on ships in the Suez Canal and plotting attacks on holiday resorts popular with Israelis in Sinai.

At least one defendant said he had been tortured. Another four are on the run and being tried in their absence.

Hezbollah's leader has admitted one of the men was an agent for the movement but denied any plan to harm Egypt.

Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah said the Hezbollah member was tasked with smuggling weapons to Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip.

The 26 men - two Lebanese, five Palestinians and 19 Egyptians - are charged with spying for a foreign group and planning attacks against tourists and shipping in the Suez Canal.

They are also accused of sending operatives into the occupied Gaza Strip to help Palestinian militant groups there.

'Revenge'

As the charges were read out, several of the accused reportedly shouted: "We live and die as Egyptians. We will never betray our country."

At least one of the accused said he had been tortured while in Egyptian custody, Reuters news agency reported, adding that he had been referred for medical checks.

A lawyer for the men said the charges against them were "absolutely not true".

"There was never any question in this case of a plot for the assassination of figures inside Egypt," said the lawyer, Montaser al-Zaiat.

Hezbollah has said the charges are politically motivated and in revenge for the movement's stance on Egypt's support for the Israeli blockade of Gaza.

Hezbollah supports Hamas - the Islamic movement which controls the coastal enclave - and has strongly criticised Egypt for not opening its border with Gaza to relieve the Israeli-imposed blockade on the territory.

The trial has been adjourned until October.

Indonesia thieves loot tiger body

Sumatran tigers are on the brink of extinction

Thieves have killed an endangered Sumatran tiger in an Indonesian zoo and stolen most of its body, officials say.

Only the intestines of the female tiger were left, staff at Taman Rimba Zoo said. Police believe the thieves intend to sell the animal's fur and bones.

The World Wildlife Fund estimates that fewer than 400 Sumatran tigers remain in the wild.

Despite laws against the sale of tiger parts, wildlife groups say they are sold openly in several Sumatran towns.

A 2008 study by British-based wildlife trade monitoring network, Traffic, showed that tiger bones, claws, skins and whiskers were being sold openly in eight cities on the island.

Traffic says tigers are killed to supply parts for souvenirs, Chinese medicine and jewellery.

The Sumatran tiger is listed as critically endangered, the highest category of threat.

They are on the brink of extinction because of rapid deforestation, poaching, and conflict with humans.

Encephalitis kills 200 in India

By Ram Dutt Tripathi BBC Hindi, Lucknow

Children under 15 are particularly vulnerable to the disease

At least 200 children have died in an outbreak of Japanese encephalitis in northern India, health officials say.

So far, 900 affected children have been admitted to hospitals in Uttar Pradesh state. Some patients have come from neighbouring Bihar state and Nepal.

There is no specific cure for the mosquito-borne disease which has killed thousands in India since 1978.

Health experts complain that red tape has prevented development of an effective vaccination programme.

The disease occurs regularly during India's monsoon.

Doctors say children between the age of six months to 15 years are worst affected and most of the victims are poor people from rural areas.

Breeding ground

"The attack of the encephalitis virus is extremely ferocious this year," says Dr Rashmi Kumar, an expert on Japanese encephalitis at Lucknow Medical College hospital.

"Children are developing a serious condition within a day or two of getting infected," she says.

Health officials in the state capital, Lucknow, say cases of acute encephalitis are being reported mostly from 14 districts of eastern Uttar Pradesh in the foothills of the Himalayas.

The low-lying areas are prone to annual floods, and severe water-logging and a lack of sanitation provide a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

Doctors say Gorakhpur town is the epicentre of the disease.

Last year, the government said it would spend 60 million rupees ($1.24m) to upgrade facilities at Gorakhpur Medical College hospital.

But, doctors say, the hospital does not have adequate numbers of medical staff to deal with the large numbers of patients.

Doctors say the children who survive will have to face lifelong problems as the disease has a crippling effect.

'Preventable'

While there is no specific cure for the disease after it has been contracted, three vaccines are in use worldwide that have reportedly been successful in preventing the disease.

But India has so far failed to develop an effective vaccination programme.

After the disease killed 1,500 children in 2005, a public outcry forced the government to import vaccines from China and a mass vaccination project was started.

However, doctors say the vaccine coverage has not been satisfactory this year, with many parents of affected children saying no vaccination was done in their areas.

Japanese encephalitis, which causes high fever, vomiting and can leave patients comatose, usually hits Uttar Pradesh state in July-August.

The disease has recurred annually in eastern regions of the state since 1978.

35 militants arrested in NW Pakistan search operations

ISLAMABAD, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- As many as 35 militants arrested in ongoing search operations in northwest Pakistan during the last24 hours, an army statement said Monday.

Pakistani security forces continued search operations in various areas of Swat and Malakand in North West Frontier Province(NWFP). 35 militants were arrested and six militants voluntarily surrendered to security forces in Swat, according to Inter Services Public Relations.

Relief activities were continued, and 265,012 cash cards have been distributed amongst the internally displaced persons of Malakand.

Over 1,600 militants have been killed since Pakistani security forces launched the military operation against Taliban militants late April after militants in early April entered the Buner district from the neighboring Swat district and refused to vacate the area despite their pledge to do so.