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(CBS) An experimental herpes vaccine failed to protect young women from the disease in a new study, dashing hopes that a vaccine may soon be available to help prevent the sexually transmitted disease.

PICTURES: Bogus STD cures: are you taking one?

In a study of 8,300 women ages 18 to 30, the vaccine, developed by GlaxoSmithKline, partially protected against HSV-1, the strain of herpes which typically causes cold sores but can also cause genital herpes. The vaccine, however, did not protect against HSV-2, the strain that most commonly causes genital herpes.

“There is some very good news in our findings. We were partially successful against half of the equation – protecting women from genital disease caused by HSV-1,” study author Dr. Robert Belshe, director of the Saint Louis University Center for Vaccine Development, said in a written statement.

None of the women had any strain of herpes when the study began, and half of the women were given the experimental vaccine while the other half were given a hepatitis a vaccine. Doctors monitored the women for twenty months, and throughout the study, some women got herpes.  The experimental vaccine was 58 percent effective at preventing genital herpes from HSV-1, but did not show protection against HSV-2. The study was published in the Jan. 5 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

Belshe said in the statement he was surprised the vaccine protected against one type of vaccine and not the other, but thinks that finding could lead to more research to better understand the disease.

“This is not the final vaccine,” Belshe told WebMD. “This information will help us a lot.”

Some experts aren’t as optimistic.

“I was very disappointed there wasn’t more of a benefit,” Dr. Bruce Hirsch, an attending physician in infectious diseases at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, N.Y., who wasn’t involved in the study, told HealthDay. “I’m concerned if we’ll ever find a vaccine effective for HSV-2.”

“Enough vaccines have failed that companies are seeing herpes vaccines as a risky business,” added Dr. David Knipe, a virologist at Harvard Medical School in Boston. Knipe told Nature News he thinks the public sector might need to fund herpes vaccine research to further advance it.

More than 50 million U.S. adults have herpes, according to WebMD, with up to 1.6 new infections occurring each year. Abstinence is the only way to prevent the STD, and latex condoms can reduce the risk of transmission, but the disease still can spread with condom use. The CDC says persons with herpes should abstain from sexual activity with uninfected partners when lesions or other symptoms are present. But even without symptoms, herpes can still spread to a partner.

The CDC has more on genital herpes.

Today is World Tuberculosis Day. every year on March 24th, the Stop Tuberculosis Partnership (STP) has chosen this date to create awareness about tuberculosis (TB). Historically, this date was also the birthday of when Dr. Robert Koch discovered the bacteria, tuberculosis bacillus as the cause of this deadly disease in 1882.

With more than 100 years since the discovery of TB, it still remains an epidemic in much of the world today. Tuberculosis is the world’s seventh-leading cause of death. 1.8 million people died from tuberculosis last year, and it is estimated that three people died from TB every minute. it is one of three most deadly diseases that affect the underprivileged, with the other two being AIDS and malaria.

This year’s theme is “On the move against Tuberculosis” with the goal of eliminating tuberculosis by 2015. besides leveraging on more resources at all levels to accelerate the fight against tuberculosis, STP aims to promote this day as a day of inspiration for both individuals and companies to participate in their action plan.

to achieve their goal, they are seeking the public to help them:

• Find new and Better Tools to Fight Tuberculosis

  More resources must be allocated to turn scientific discoveries into new and better drugs, diagnostics and vaccines. it is also essential to increase the availability, accessibility and efficiency of tuberculosis services to the masses. according to the report, there were calls for commitment of US$ 1.1 billion for tuberculosis research in 2010, but there was a US$ 0.6 billion funding shortfall. With nearly two million people dying from tuberculosis annually, such research cannot be relegated to the backseat.

• Forge new and Stronger Partnerships to Reach the Global Targets

  With only 5 years to go before the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) to combat tuberculosis, it is important that innovative approaches are put in place in the most efficient manner. all stakeholders, such as drug manufacturers, donors, public health officials need to collaborate and accelerate in making these new medical breakthroughs a standard of care as quickly as possible in order to meet the MDG target to stop TB.

We are optimistic that the MDG goal of stopping tuberculosis can be realized by 2015, as long as individuals take the initiative to seek treatment upon suffering symptoms, and researchers continue to source for better treatments for patients worldwide.

Tuberculosis is a contagious respiratory disease. it is akin to the common cold as it spreads through the air when infectious people cough, sneeze, talk or spit. a person needs only to inhale a small amount of airborne germs to be infected. You don’t get TB through physical contact, such as touching the clothes or shaking the hands of someone who is infected. Instead, TB is spread primarily from person to person by breathing infected air during close contact.

Tuberculosis is generally classified as being either latent or active. Latent TB occurs when the bacteria are present in the body, but they are inactive. Hence, latent TB is not contagious. Infected people may not feel ill or show any symptoms if their immune system can keep the bacteria under control. their chest X-ray even looks normal, so the only way to diagnose is through skin test or tuberculosis blood test.

Fortunately, latent TB is curable and can significantly reduce the likelihood of developing active TB. Treatment with isoniazid, rifampicin and pyrazinamide for first two months, followed by isoniazid and rifampicin for four months has known to be successful.

In fact, being infected by latent TB is not uncommon. according to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 2 billion people in the world are currently infected with it. however, only about 5% – 10% will become sick with active TB at some time in their lives, usually within two years of the infection. People living with HIV are at a much higher risk. The vast majority of TB deaths are in the developing world, with majority of them happened in Asia as a third of new cases come from India and China.

Tuberculosis primarily affects the lungs, but it can also affect organs in the central nervous system, lymphatic system and circulatory system. When a person becomes infected with tuberculosis, the bacteria in the lungs would multiply and usually cause a local lung infection called pneumonia.

Common symptoms of pulmonary TB are

• a cough that lasts for more than two weeks
• blood stains when coughing
• feeling weak or fatigue
• fever
• loss of appetite
• pain in the chest
• sweating at night
• unexplained weight loss

if you have these symptoms, please seek medical attention immediately. an early stage of TB is curable. go to a local communicable disease centre (CDC) for tuberculosis testing now!

You can play a part to help prevent the spread of tuberculosis by:

• covering your mouth when you cough or sneeze
• not spitting on the ground
• seeking treatment if you suspect you have tuberculosis symptoms
• ventilating your houses, offices or other enclosed areas by allowing the movement of fresh air
• washing your hands frequently especially when you have been around people suffering from chronic coughs
• wearing a mask when you go to crowded public areas

Given the widespread of latent TB around the world, it is important to keep yourself fit and healthy knowing that the onset of active TB only triggers when your immune system is weak. You can keep yourself in the top condition by having a balanced diet daily, exercising regularly and abstaining from alcohol, drugs and smoking. For more tips on how you can have a healthy lifestyle, you can always refer to “How to start a Healthy Lifestyle?” article.

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By JOAN PATTERSON

Our backs are the workhorses of the body, a complex marriage of ligaments, muscles, joints and discs that let us do everything from compete in triathlons to dance the Texas Two-Step. in fact, when they work, they work beautifully. But when they do not, simply bending over to tie a shoe can seem insurmountable.

According to national statistics, back pain is one of the most common complaints patients have when they visit their doctors and about 80 percent of us will experience lower back pain at some point in our lives. of course, beyond all the statistics is how back pain can interfere with our quality of life.

There are, however, some very simple steps that can be taken to help prevent common back pain. We talked to three experts about the issue: Dr. Robert Kessler, a doctor of osteopathy and associate professor at Touro University Nevada in Henderson; Andrea Avruskin, a physical therapist and spokesperson for the Nevada Physical Therapy Assoc.; and Kathleen Grace Santor, director of the Stress Management Center of Nevada located in Henderson.

Together, they gave us their advice on keeping back pain at bay, everything from walking up flights of stairs to learning how to cope with the daily stressors in our lives.

AVOID SMOKING, CAFFEINE

One of the risk factors for back pain is smoking because it actually decreases the oxygen level in the body which means muscles cannot function as well, Kessler notes. Smoking also increases the load on the sympathetic nervous system which serves the body by increasing heart rate, for example, and constricting blood vessels.

Other risks factors include too much caffeine, the abuse of alcohol, lack of physical activity and obesity. according to Avruskin, every pound that a person is overweight puts 10 pounds of stress on the spine.

GET MOVING

The most common causes of back pain are stiffness in the spinal joints, weakness of the trunk muscles and overstretched ligaments, which are the fibrous bands of tissue that hold together the spine’s vertebrae and discs, Aruskin notes.

These can be the result of sitting or standing for long periods of time, particularly in a slouched position. Avruskin recommends consistently sitting and standing up straight, and getting up from a sitting position every 30 minutes to walk around. she also suggests bending the spine backward and side to side, and rotating it side to side.

When watching television use those commercial breaks to move around, and try to avoid the couch, she adds. Couches are the worst when it comes to supporting the back because their softness allows the sagging of the spine which overstretches the ligaments and can lead to bulging discs. Instead, use a supportive chair such as a dining room chair.

WORK IT OUT

To prevent back pain, doctors will usually tell their patients to exercise, no matter what age, because it strengthens the back muscles and keeps the joints moving. This does not mean running a marathon but taking steps to get the body moving in a helpful way.

Kessler recommends activities such as Tai Chi, yoga, water aerobics, swimming and walking which are all beneficial for the spine. in fact, it is a good idea to practice more than one type of exercise in order to use different muscles and, therefore, reap the most benefit. Just make sure they are activities you enjoy and will continue to do.

It is a good idea for those who are just starting an exercise regimen to begin slowly, such as going for short walks. those with health problems should always consult a doctor to determine what exercises will be the most helpful and pose no risks, he added.

TARGETING MUSCLE GROUPS

There are exercises to target key muscles such as the postural muscles on the back side of our bodies which keep us standing and sitting straight. they can include “rows, lat pulldowns, scapular squeezes, swimming-type motions while lying on your stomach on a mat, and lifting one arm and the opposite leg while on your hands and knees,” Aruskin says.

But, again, it is important to consult a physician or physical therapist to make sure these practices are right for you, and to ensure they are being done correctly.

Aruskin points out that if you already have back pain, exercises that work the joints are the most beneficial. There is a specific technique that physical therapists use called McKenzie MDT “which focuses on finding the spinal motion that will quickly relieve your pain.” once the right exercise is determined by a therapist, it can be taught to a patient who can then use it at home.

Those with simple back aches that came on after sitting too long, for example, or bending forward, might benefit from the book, “Treat Your Own back,” by Robin McKenzie which shows readers how to get rid of their own pain at home.

FIND THE TIME

Sometimes it seems impossible to fit exercise into the daily routine. among the top reasons clients at the Stress Management Center say they do not exercise is lack of time and feeling too tired at the end of the day, Santor notes.

All three experts agree, however, that it is vital to spend the time to exercise or at least get up and move around to prevent back pain, especially if you are sitting at a desk all day. It could mean walking the perimeter of a building on campus or at work, using stairs instead of elevators, even parking at the far end of a parking lot to increase the walking distance to the front door of a grocery store or restaurant, Kessler says.

MOM WAS RIGHT

Your parents may have had their own reasons for encouraging you to “sit up straight” but were actually teaching you a very important lesson about maintaining a healthy back. good posture is key in staving off back pain and can actually allow the spine to heal faster after an injury.

“The natural arch in the small of your back should be maintained whenever you are sitting or standing. when your low back or upper back is allowed to slouch, the muscles and ligaments get slowly overstretched which can cause them to be painful,” Aruskin says.

When sitting it is important to make sure the hips are all the way back, “jammed up” against the back of a chair, Aruskin says. she also provides this tip for keeping the natural curve of the back and, therefore, preventing or reducing pain: Roll up a towel to the thickness of your forearm, and place it between the small of the back and the chair, then lean back against it.

Kessler notes that while sitting at a desk, the knees should be bent at a 90-degree angle and computer monitors should be set up so that one’s eyes are looking straight ahead “at the middle to upper three-quarters of the screen.”

MAKE JOB BACK-FRIENDLY

There are thousands of Las Vegans with jobs that require them to be on their feet for long periods of time including dealers and cocktail servers. But there are ways to make it easier on the back.

Aruskin recommends standing up as straight as possible with the chest up and shoulders back. Dealers should be standing as close to the tables as possible to limit how far they have to reach, she added, and they need to periodically shift their weight from one foot to the other.

During breaks, it is a good idea to take a brisk walk to restore circulation in the legs and back, and to stretch and twist the back.

When lifting something, including a young child, get as close to it as possible, bend your knees rather than learning forward, hold the object or child close to your stomach, then rise by straightening the knees.

ADDRESS THE STRESS

When Kessler talks to a patient about back pain it usually means looking at their lives as a whole.

“One question that is predictive (of back pain), and it’s going to surprise you, is, ‘Do you like your job?’ being happy. Stress causes us to use our bodies differently,” Kessler notes.

Santor agrees. Stress such as that experienced on the job or at home can cause muscles to tense up and exacerbate problems in the lower back. The best way to deal with it is to regain some kind of control.

A gentle yoga class that includes breathing techniques and calming poses is one way to learn how to soothe an overtaxed nervous system. “The calming effect of a good yoga class is excellent because the parasympathetic part of your nervous system kicks in and now you get the benefit of rebuilding,” Santor says.

Relaxation tapes are also helpful and, in some cases, the advice of a counselor who can help you directly address the stressors in your life.

“It’s a good idea to approach (stress) from different directions,” Santor added.

WHEN TO GET HELP

Finally, there are certain red flags when it comes to back pain that can signify something more serious, according to Kessler. These include back pain that travels from the back to the legs; worsens while laying down at night; pulses or is accompanied by symptoms such as a cold temperature, loss of sensation, numbness or weakness; or is associated with the loss of control of the bladder or bowel, weight loss, diminishment of appetite, fever or abnormal uterine bleeding.

(NEWSCHANNEL 3) – Enlarged hearts are not uncommon in athletes, but experts say it’s rare when it affects someone the age of Wes Leonard, the 16-year-old who collapsed and died after a basketball game Thursday.

There are warning signs of the disease, but they’re subtle.

Newschannel 3 spoke to an sports medicine expert on Friday about the condition and how to detect it before it’s too late.

We spoke to a physician who works within the Western Michigan University sports programs. He says the condition listed by the forensic pathologist is not typical for young athletes, however there are some warning signs you may want to watch out for in your own children.

Reports say Wes Leonard died from cardiac arrest due to dilated cardiomyopathy. Dr. Robert Baker says the condition is unusual in someone so young.

“What they’re describing as dilated cardiomyopathy is not the usual cause of death for kids,” said Dr. Baker.

Dr. Baker says typically kids die from hypotrophic trouble, which means only certain areas of the heart are enlarged. the coroner’s report indicates that Leonard’s whole heart was in trouble.

“I would interpret the dilated cardiomyopathy as the entire heart enlarged,” said Dr. Baker.

Dr. Baker says further autopsy results will reveal more, but he says if Leonard was sick as reported leading up to Thursday’s game, it could have contributed.

“You could have an abnormality of the heart muscle related to infections and that’s certainly a possibility,” said Dr. Baker.

For those worried about their own children, there are some symptoms to watch for. they include; fainting, skipping heart beats, racing heart rates, blue lips or mouth or blue fingers.

“Any of those should prompt a visit to the physician for further examination,” said Dr. Baker.

Also if your child is into basketball, keep an eye on them. of the 100,000 deaths that are caused by cardiomyopathy, 45,000 of them are basketball players.

“Nobody really knows the reason for that,” said Dr. Baker, “possibly the level of cardiovascular involvement.”

If you want to be extremely thorough with your own kids, you can get them an EKG to look for anything abnormal in the heart. However Dr. Baker warns that sometimes even those tests can’t catch everything that’s going on in the body.