National and International News
New hope for cat allergy sufferers - Daily Mail 28/03/05
Scientists have made a breakthrough in efforts to prevent allergies caused by cats, it has emerged.
Cat allergies 'could be blocked' - BBC Health News 28/03/05
New Compound May Prevent Allergies, Study Finds - Reuters 27/03/05
Novel therapy tested in mice could chase away cat allergies - Medical News Today 28/03/05
Bail for chiefs in NHS price fix claim - The Guardian 28/03/05
The chief executive and chief operating officer of the Goldshield Group, the drug supplier, were arrested and interviewed by police last week as part of a long-running investigation into allegations that the prices of certain drugs for the NHS were being fixed.
More discussion needed - The Guardian 28/03/05
The right for parents seeking IVF treatment to choose the sex of their babies was only one of a list of controversial issues proposed by a committee of MPs last week. But it was the change that received most attention in the media and is a good entry point for a much-needed wider debate. There have been major technological, scientific and social changes in IVF since the current regulatory framework was put in place 15 years ago. The report comes at an apposite time, with a ministerial commitment to provide one free cycle of IVF treatment on the NHS coming into force next month. Currently, three-quarters of couples seeking treatment pay privately but 70% of this proportion is expected to shift to NHS-funded provision over the long term. The National Institute for Clinical Excellence, an advisory body, has recommended that couples should be allowed three free cycles of treatment on the NHS, which could almost double the 25,000 couples seeking help.
Cardinal attacked over abortion link to Nazi eugenics - The Telegraph 28/03/05
Church alarm over picking sex of babies - The Guardian 25/03/05
Infertile couples may be forced to go abroad - The Telegraph 28/03/05
Cardinal: Abortion as bad as Nazi eugenics - The Independent 28/03/05
On Easter Sunday, the world's most vulnerable lives hang in the balance - The Telegraph 27/03/05
Report: Let IVF Parents Choose Baby's Sex - Reuters 24/03/05
Flight's fall is a tribute to Labour [Leader] - The Observer 27/03/05
When Michael Howard so decisively sacked Howard Flight and forced him to resign as Tory candidate for Arundel, he gave unintended recognition to New Labour's transformation of the political agenda. What wins elections now is custodianship of high-quality public services rather than tax cuts. Flight's private statement that spending cuts would go further than the party was admitting fatally undermined the Tory party's carefully crafted position, which was to balance a commitment to public services with tax cuts. Flight had to go.
'Alarm bells are already ringing' - The Guardian 28/03/05
Flight to reality - The Guardian 26/03/05
Loose talk costs political life of colourful Tory - The Guardian 26/03/05
Howard sacks MP in spending row - The Guardian 25/03/05
Tory deputy chairman sacked for disclosing spending cuts - The Independent 26/03/05
Tory leader rocked by backlash over sacking - The Independent 27/03/05
Tories in secret cuts agenda - Reid - Daily Mail 26/03/05
Tories dismiss Reid's health 'lies' - The Telegraph 27/03/05
Howard cuts Tory adrift to limit damage - The Telegraph 26/03/05
Grim truth about race hate - The Observer 27/03/05
In 2001, Jay Rayner exposed the scale of racist attacks in Britain. Today, in an alarm call on the eve of a general election, he reveals how violence against asylum seekers and ethnic minorities is more widespread than ever
Doctors demand sealed wards for MRSA cases - The Observer 27/03/05
Hospitals may need to treat patients who carry the superbug MRSA in entirely 'sealed' units to protect other patients, a group of senior microbiologists has warned.
Bird flu could put Britain in quarantine, warns scientist - The Observer 27/03/05
Offices and schools across Britain could be closed to protect workers if bird flu arrives, the Ministry of Defence's chief scientist has warned.
Medical school bias revealed - The Observer 27/03/05
School-leavers are less likely to receive an offer of a place at medical school if they are male, over 18 and come from a non-white or lower socio-economic background.
'Life vest' will put a doctor in the house - The Observer 27/03/05
Vests that can detect heartbeat and activity rates are to be tested on patients to see if they can be monitored from home and so reduce hospital check-up visits.
GPs ignore 'sport not pills' advice for depression - The Observer 27/03/05
Britain's GPs are ignoring the Chief Medical Officer's advice that depressed patients should be prescribed exercise programmes rather than pills.
Blunder damages painstaking plan - The Guardian 26/03/05
While Tony Blair has joyfully stolen traditional Conservative vote-winning policies on crime, immigration and defence, the Tories know a commitment to cut taxes is the one area he will not dare to tread.
West Side story: a tale of unprotected sex which could be link to new HIV superbug - The Guardian 26/03/05
From street level it looks like the entrance to any other New York office block. But mount the stairs to the second floor and you suddenly find yourself standing in front of a glass booth from behind which an attendant is busy dispensing locker keys and towels to a line of eager young men. No Drugs or Poppers, reads a notice beside the fogged glass. No Sleeping in Public Areas.
Rachel Cusk: The water cure - The Guardian 26/03/05
Rachel Cusk was a happy, asthmatic eight-year-old when her parents decided living in Los Angeles was bad for the children's health. What they needed were the moist, green fields of Suffolk ...
Natural health therapist Emma Mitchell answers your questions - The Guardian 26/03/05
You recently answered a question on vestibulitis. I think your correspondent was asking about vulval vestibulitis, which I suffer from, rather than vestibulitis of the nose or ear canal. I would appreciate any advice on how to treat it naturally.
His greatest performance [Comment] - The Guardian 26/03/05
In his agony, the Pope invites us to share something truly instructive
Lessons on diet bear fruit in Healthville - The Guardian 26/03/05
Campaign to beat obesity among children gains ground in France
MRSA bug [Letter] - The Guardian 26/03/05
Our hospital has recently won awards for its cleanliness (that which is observable) and already has matrons. Yet we came second to bottom in the current hospital MRSA league tables (Superbug kills a baby, March 23). So the ranting by politicians and media for "cleaner hospitals" and "more matrons" shows a lack of understanding of the complex nature of the MRSA problem.
Warning for students as mumps cases soar - The Guardian 25/03/05
Nearly 15,500 cases of suspected mumps were reported in England and Wales last year as an outbreak of the disease among people in their late teens and early 20s accelerated alarmingly.
Cases of mumps continue to soar - The Telegraph 26/03/05
Vietnam sends team to flu area - The Guardian 25/03/05
Vietnamese health experts are investigating an outbreak in which scores of people reported flu-like symptoms in the same central region where a five-year-old boy was infected with bird flu nearly two weeks ago, officials said.
Help me, I'm a doctor, and I can't carry on - The Times 28/03/05
With 6,000 patients Vanessa Doel is Britain’s busiest GP, and a loved one, but her gruelling workload is taking a heavy toll
A disease called despair on the NHS front line - The Sunday Times 27/03/05
Childhood MRSA on rise in Labour years - The Guardian 25/03/05
At least nine pre-school children have died after contracting the "superbug" MRSA since Labour came to power, although there there were no deaths in the previous four years, official figures show.
Consuming concerns [Leader] - The Guardian 25/03/05
For those lucky enough to live in the world's wealthier nations, tuberculosis is an illness with an old-fashioned ring. The Victorians called it consumption, a wasting disease that was no respecter of class, responsible for one out of every four deaths in early 19th-century Britain. It probably carried off some of our greatest talents, from Emily Bronte to John Keats and DH Lawrence - and more recently Vivien Leigh. Its shadow has faded now, though TB is increasing again even here; 7,000 cases a year in Britain, half of them in London. Even so, thanks to antibiotics and mass immunisation, the hundreds of TB sanatoria that once dotted Europe are now historical curiosities.
The school dinners opt-out [Comment] - The Guardian 25/03/05
Fearing taunts of nanny statism, the government won't take responsibility for what children eat.
School meal rules set at Big Mac level - The Sunday Times 27/03/05
'You can only do so much with 40p' - The Telegaph 25/03/05
Letters to the Editor - The Observer 27/03/05
Teachers want ban on junk food - The Times 25/03/05
'Naked Chef' Puts Junk Food High on UK Election Menu - Reuters 21/03/05
Unease over plan to train nurses to do surgery - The Guardian 25/03/05
More nurses and other health workers could be carrying out simple surgical procedures under proposals being considered in a consultation launched yesterday.
New nurses to perform surgery - The Times 25/03/05
Surgeons' helpers could carry out minor operations - The Telegraph 25/03/05
More nurses to perform surgery - BBC Health News 24/03/05
Doctors leaders raise concerns over plans for surgical care practitioners, UK - Medical News Today 24/03/05
Watchdog backs FOI with a pat and a prod - The Guardian 25/03/05
Government departments have received at least 7,000 freedom of information requests since the act came into force three months ago, and are already disclosing a large number of documents, the watchdog responsible for policing the legislation said yesterday.
Poverty leads 10 million children to an early grave - The Guardian 25/03/05
About 10.6m children under five die each year, most from preventable causes, World Health Organisation advisers estimate.
Six main killers target infants - Daily Mail 24/03/05
Labour posters to attack Tory 'health charges' - The Guardian 25/03/05
Labour today unveils a set of posters accusing the Tories of planning to bring in health charges for the NHS - an allegation that has been repeatedly and heatedly rejected by the shadow health secretary, Andrew Lansley.
Diner finds a finger in her chili - The Guardian 25/03/05
A woman bit into a portion of a human finger while eating a bowl of chili at a Wendy's fast-food restaurant in California, health officials said yesterday.
The myth of dying [Comment] - The Guardian 25/03/05
In the cacophony of debate about insignificant things, the torture of unassisted death goes on unremarked
Ebola-like virus death toll rises - BBC Health News 28/03/05
The toll from the Ebola-like Marburg virus in Angola has risen to 122, after a baby died in the northern town of Uige, a government spokesman said.
Gene clue to deadly skin cancer - BBC Health News 28/03/05
Scientists have pinpointed genetic mutations which can cause a mole to become a deadly form of skin cancer.
The changing GP - The Times 28/03/05
MY INTRODUCTION to general practice was nearly 50 years ago in rural Norfolk. The practice looked after about 4,500 patients living in a group of villages spread over 60 square miles, the care of whom was shared with doctors from two neighbouring practices.
Howard offers cash for childcare - The Times 28/03/05
WORKING mothers could receive up to £169 per week in maternity pay and families will get up to £50 a week to help with informally provided childcare under Conservative plans to be announced today.
Tories unveil childcare plans amid Flight fight - The Telegraph 28/03/05
Howard offers cash for childcare - The Telegraph 27/03/05
Labour 'spending 1.5bn on extra NHS bureaucrats' - The Times 28/03/05
ALMOST £1.5 billion was spent last year on extra managers and bureaucrats brought in to support Labour’s policy of “micro-managing” the health service, the Tories said yesterday.
Super-surgery plan signals end for the family doctor - The Times 28/03/05
SMALL family doctors’ surgeries, a mainstay of the health service since its inception, would be scrapped under radical government plans to overhaul general practice.
Four in five smokers 'support ban' - Daily Mail 28/03/05
The vast majority of smokers believe the public smoking ban in Ireland was a good idea, a survey has found.
John Reid: we’ll do it, you wait and see - The Sunday Times 27/03/05
John Reid started the interview with an apology. “Sorry, I’ve just got to call my wife. Something important.” The health secretary picked up the telephone in his fourth-floor Whitehall office and rang Carine Adler. He married the Brazilian film-maker three years ago and gave up smoking his 60 cigarettes a day for her.
Dublin scientists develop drug that kills cancer cells - The Sunday Times 27/03/05
IRISH scientists are developing a new drug that would kill cancer cells while leaving healthy cells alone.
Poor NHS conditions can hold up recovery [Letter] - The Sunday Times 27/03/05
FOR the past 12 weeks my mother has been an inpatient at Ipswich hospital, which I note employs some 4,000 members of staff, only half on the clinical side (Inside the NHS, Focus, last week). Due to her complex condition she has been on several wards; all have afforded her the care she needs under extreme staffing pressure.
Hospital chiefs face threat of superbug death charges - The Sunday Times 27/03/05
JOHN REID is planning to charge hospital bosses with corporate manslaughter if poor hygiene standards result in patient deaths from MRSA.
Mad for votes - The Times 26/03/05
Politicians need their heads examined on mental health
Would this Mental Health Bill have stopped the killing? No - The Independent 27/03/05
Wards are overcrowded and filthy, drug-dealing and harassment are rife - The Independent 27/03/05
Need to know - The Times 26/03/05
A new mobile phone ring-tone gives you bigger breasts. This comes from Hideto Tomabechi, a psychiatric counsellor who also claimed to have cured brainwashed members of the doomsday cult that released Sarin gas on the Tokyo subway in 1995.
Analyse this: Mariah Carey's obsessions - The Times 26/03/05
Why does a star need red-carpet treatment?
Talking up a name - The Times 26/03/05
PARENTS can spend ages agonising over their babies’ names — and now there is a new reason to lavish time and thought on the matter.
Dr Copperfield: inside the mind of a GP - The Times 26/03/05
The only thing worse than expert patients — warts and all — is expert politicians
Junk medicine: living longer - The Times 26/03/05
Gains in life expectancy could be wiped out dramatically this century
Growth industry - The Times 26/03/05
They promise youth, but supplements of human growth hormone are a dangerous dream. Vivienne Parry reports
Hooked on words - The Times 26/03/05
Children’s author Geraldine McCaughrean tells Tim Teeman how writing a sequel to Peter Pan could be the best medicine for her depression
New smooth operators - The Times 26/03/05
This extract from a new book on sexual etiquette by Em & Lo gives top tips on how to pull
What's wrong with your . . . Easter egg? - The Times 26/03/05
Traditionally, Easter is the time to hunt out your inner egg — and squawk
Love thy neighbour - The Times 26/03/05
When Annette Shaw had to care for a friend with cancer she discovered new emotional depths
Bodylicious: hands-on treatment, from head to toes - The Times 26/03/05
HANDS-ON TREATMENT For those who still use a pen regularly enough to suffer from writing strain, the Yoropen can help. Winner of the Best and Most Innovative Writing Product of the Year 2005, the pen, from £3, is ergonomically designed with a finger support to improve posture and an adjustable grip that can be adapted to your preferred writing position. It feels strange at first, but as a left-hander I found it easier than normal to read my writing. It is particularly recommended for those who suffer from arthritis. Visit
www.colespenco.com for stockists.
Sex with Dr Thomas Stuttaford and Suzi Godson - The Times 26/03/05
I am a 25-year-old girl and I've just met a wonderful man. I would like to offer him oral sex because I know he likes it and I want to give him pleasure but it feels unnatural. Have you any tips for me?
Button up? It's way too scary - The Times 26/03/05
For the past year, my three- year-old daughter has had a phobia about buttons and poppers. She has screaming fits if I try to put her in clothes with them on and she refuses to cuddle anyone wearing buttons, including me. She can’t tell me why she is frightened. I have avoided buying things with buttons or poppers, but as she gets bigger this is becoming more difficult. Reward charts and bribery have failed! What can I do?
Lunchtime fix: Lipostabil - The Times 26/03/05
Want a chin like Naomi Watts but can’t face liposuction? Lipostabil could be the solution. Dr Patrick Bowler, the chairman of the British Association of Cosmetic Doctors, gives the lowdown.
At your table: salads and soups - The Times 26/03/05
It’s hard to beat the creaminess of avocados, so enjoy in salads and soups
How to cheat at eating: wholewheat crackers - The Times 26/03/05
Woulda . . . MCVITIE’S KRACKAWHEAT NUTRITIONAL Fat 1.9g per biscuit Fibre 0.4g Price 59p per 200g Verdict These are a generous size, with the result that you can fit a fair amount of cheese on the top, making it easy to pile on even more calories. They’re very crispy, too, but don’t fall apart after the first bite. However, they’re a little sweet and have a strange aftertaste. Unfortunately, the second main ingredient is hydrogenated vegetable oil. This means that these crackers contain trans fats, which research shows can be just as bad for heart health as saturates. Added to this, they’re really quite high in fat and calories. 38 calories Coulda . . . JACOB’S CHOICE GRAIN CRACKERS NUTRITIONAL Fat 1.1g per biscuit Fibre 0.5g Price 63p per 200g pack Verdict These are crumbly rather than crispy, but they hold their shape well after the first bite. They taste slightly saltier than the others, although they contain the same amount of salt. They also have a strong wholewheat taste, giving the impression that they’re quite healthy. But they’re very dry, with the result that you need a moist topping. Top marks to Jacob’s, though, for being the only cracker tested to be free from hydrogenated fats. A good alternative to standard cream crackers. 31 calories Shoulda . . . CARR’S MELTS NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION Fat 0.9g per biscuit Fibre 0.2g Price 73p per 150g pack Verdict These beat the others on fat and calories because they’re small and thin. However, when compared per 100g, they contain more fat and calories than the Jacob’s crackers, so that you still need to limit the amount you eat. The ingredients also include unhealthy hydrogenated fats. These are definitely the tastiest of the three, though, with a nutty wholewheat flavour. The best for slimmers, while still being classy enough for a dinner party. 20 calories
Taking the epicure - The Times 26/03/05
Dine or detox? Hannah Betts found she could do both at a luxurious Italian spa, with a Michelin-star chef
Rock 'n' roll shapes up - The Times 26/03/05
Strut your stuff at the gym with the latest trend — the rock-star workout. Lucy Broadbent gets down
How the fit and fabulous stay that way: Paul Nicholls - The Times 26/03/05
Actor Paul Nicholls, 25, has given up drink and taken on boxing - but he still smokes 40 a day
Confusion in NHS [Letter] - The Times 26/03/05
Dr Brian Scott (letter, March 24) makes his point well. If he, a consultant physician, is confused by a choice of up to 50 providers for his operation, how are we lay people to cope?
Procedure offers remarkable result but at a price - The Times 26/03/05
SURGERY is usually the last resort and is reserved for those with gross obesity who have a BMI — an international formula for measuring body mass involving the patient’s weight and height — of above 40.
Surgery threat for boy of 11 weighing 22 stone - The Times 26/03/05
Doctor's orders - The Times 25/03/05
Senior citizens should take regular exercise to protect their muscles. Research on retired racehorses, reported in the Journal of Applied Physiology, found that after 10 weeks of regular aerobic exercise, their muscles suffered less damage through exertion.
Beware the bunny bearing gifts - The Times 25/03/05
EASTER IS eagerly anticipated by greedy children aged from seven to 70. For weeks, the shops have been displaying mouth-watering pyramids of Easter eggs, chocolate bunnies and ducks, with sugary eggs in baskets woven in genuine willow or modelled in icing sugar. It is nursery heaven.
Why happiness is saying thanks - The Times 25/03/05
US research suggests that the key to true contentment is expressing gratitude to others. Trite as this may seem, being happy is good for our health
Reducing salt intake [Letter] - The Times 25/03/05
Dick Hanneman, president of the Salt Institute, said: “If salt reduction was a pill and not a policy it wouldn’t pass muster without regulatory authorities and it shouldn’t be promoted by your Government” (report, March 17).
One man in three is frightened of the GP - The Telegraph 28/03/05
The majority of men say they consider illness to be a "character weakness", but the truth is that many are just too scared to visit the doctor, a new study has revealed.
'Males afraid to consult doctor' - Daily Mail 27/03/05
Williams rails against 'disgust at growing old' - The Independent 28/03/05
The Archbishop of Canterbury used his Easter sermon yesterday to criticise modern society's obsession with youth and its preoccupation with trying to slow down ageing.
Terri Schiavo's parents give up their legal battle to keep her alive - The Independent 28/03/05
As throngs of protesters gathered outside the Florida hospice where the brain-damaged Terri Schiavo has been without food or water for 10 days, her distraught parents apparently accepted for the first time that they had run out of legal options to save her life.
Campaigners pray for miracle as Schiavo enters final hours - The Independent 26/03/05
Schiavo parents claim daughter has tried to tell of desire to live - The Independent 27/03/05
Appeal court rejects Schiavo plea - BBC Health News 27/03/05
Terri is telling us that she wants to live, say parents - The Telegraph 27/03/05
I might be in Terri's bed soon - The Telegraph 27/03/05
Latest Schiavo appeal refused - The Telegraph 25/03/05
Supreme court rejects Schiavo parents' appeal - The Telegraph 24/03/05
Schiavo is 'down to last hours' - BBC Health News 26/03/05
Further blow for Schiavo parents - BBC Health News 25/03/05
Top US court spurns Schiavo plea - BBC Health News 24/03/05
Schiavo Videotape Misleading, Experts Say - Reuters 23/03/05
Federal Judge Weighs Florida Right-To-Die Case - Reuters 21/03/05
Holding back the years: how the older generation fell for cosmetic surgery - The Independent 28/03/05
Men and women in their seventies and eighties are fuelling the boom in cosmetic surgery, according to the latest audit of "nip-and-tuck" procedures.
Robot surgery plan for soldiers - Daily Mail 28/03/05
The Pentagon is awarding £6.6 million in grants to develop an unmanned "trauma pod" designed to use robots to perform full scalpel-and-stitch surgeries on wounded soldiers in battlefield conditions.
Blackpool 'good for your health' - Daily Mail 28/03/05
Visiting Blackpool is good for your health - according to an old medical manual recently unearthed.
Focus: Here comes the sun... so should we run for cover? - The Independent 27/03/05
Yes, say experts, stay in the shade! No, say experts, get out there! What's a red-headed, fair-skinned girl to do? As a child Katy Guest's mother put her on sunbeds to toughen her up. Today she reaches for the Factor 15 and considers the latest evidence
Stem-cell breakthrough could allow women to grow their own breast implants - The Independent 27/03/05
A revolutionary technique using stem-cell research could soon allow women to choose breast enhancements made of living tissue instead of silicone.
Emergency services plan for 750,000 deaths in flu pandemic - The Independent 27/03/05
Mortuaries and emergency services are to be put on alert and told to prepare for up to three-quarters of a million deaths from a bird flu pandemic, The Independent on Sunday can reveal.
Weekend breaks answer to stress - Daily Mail 27/03/05
Cash-rich but time-poor travellers are increasingly turning to quick weekend breaks. These travellers have been dubbed SNAILS - Stressed and Need Additional Interim Leave - following a survey of 1,000 adults by Thistle Hotels.
Surgeons reattach boy's foot and hands - The Telegraph 27/03/05
Surgeons in Australia have successfully reattached a boy's foot and both his hands which were severed in a freak basketball accident.
Bird flu outbreak in North Korea - BBC Health News 27/03/05
North Korea says it has had a first outbreak of the deadly bird flu virus.
N.Korea Confirms Bird Flu Outbreak - Reuters 27/03/05
Superbugs' grip on developing world - Daily Mail 24/03/05
Superbugs are out of control in many children's hospitals in developing countries, researchers have revealed.
Developing world at superbug risk - BBC Health News 25/03/05
Hospital Acquired Infections Present Major Problem for Infants in Developing Countries - Medical News Today 25/03/05
GP reprimanded for hitting girl, 3 - Daily Mail 24/03/05
A doctor has been reprimanded for hitting a three-year-old girl while he tried to examine her.
Doctors hail child pneumonia jab - Daily Mail 25/03/05
A pneumonia vaccine for infants could save hundreds of thousands of lives each year in developing countries, it was revealed.
Pneumonia vaccine saves children - BBC Health News 25/03/05
Vaccine Against Childhood Pneumonia Shows Promise - Medical News Today 25/03/05
Doctor raps NHS `tick box` culture - Daily Mail 25/03/05
The tick box, target-driven culture of the NHS is neglecting the quality of patient care, a senior doctor has warned.
Family anger at NHS dental wait - Daily Mail 25/03/05
A teenager may have to have his jaw broken to fix his teeth after waiting more than two years for dental treatment, it has emerged.
Bird flu kills teenager - Daily Mail 25/03/05
A 17-year-old Vietnamese girl infected with bird flu has died, health officials said, raising the region's death toll to 48.
Vietnam Bird Flu Death Toll Rises to 35 - Reuters 25/03/05
Labour orders MP to keep quiet over Milburn scan deal - The Telegraph 27/03/05
The Labour Party has attempted to gag one of its own MPs who strongly criticised a £90 million deal between the NHS and a private health company linked to Alan Milburn, Labour's general election supremo.
You are too old to be mothers at 42, says fertility clinic - The Telegraph 27/03/05
Women in their early forties are being turned away by a private fertility clinic because they are considered too old for treatment.
Do parents overplay the Kid Card? - The Telegraph 25/03/05
The childfree are beginning to complain that people with children get a better deal. Mother of five Cassandra Jardine concedes they might have a point
Losing an hour could be bad for your health - The Telegraph 23/03/05
Putting the clocks forward disrupts the intricate workings of our circadian rhythms and exacerbates sleep deprivation, finds Bryony Gordon
Don't fob me off with an Easter egg, gimme a chocolate fountain - The Telegraph 24/03/05
With Easter in the air and the Bunny on his way, Judith Woods investigates the chocolate fountain phenomenon
Human Rights Act does more harm than good, says poll - The Telegraph 26/03/05
People's increasing insistence on "standing up for their rights" seems to be undermining public support for the very idea of rights, a YouGov survey for The Daily Telegraph suggests.
MPs call for abortion law review - The Telegraph 24/03/05
Abortion legislation should be overhauled by Parliament, a report by an influential committee of MPs says today.
Child support dodgers face losing passports - The Telegraph 25/03/05
Absent parents who persistently fail to make child support payments could lose their passports under Government plans to restore confidence in the Child Support Agency.
A quarter of girls aged 14 claim to have had sex with several partners - The Telegraph 24/03/05
Almost a quarter of 14-year-old girls claim to have had sex and say they have had an average of three partners, a survey reports today.
'One in five' girls has sex by 14 - BBC Health News 24/03/05
Babies fed on a bland diet 'develop taste for junk food' - The Telegraph 24/03/05
A study has shown why the television chef Jamie Oliver found it so hard to persuade children to shift their diet from chips and other junk foods to green and healthy fare.
Warning to heed lung cancer signs - BBC Health News 26/03/05
People could be dying of lung cancer because they fail to spot and act on early warning signs, a study suggests.
Thyroid gland breast cancer clue - BBC Health News 26/03/05
A thyroid problem could help doctors understand how to beat breast cancer.
Female staff agree to pay deal - BBC Health News 25/03/05
Hundreds of female hospital workers in Cumbria have agreed to a pay deal which unions say could see some receive up to £200,000 each in compensation.
Bad diet 'not down to price tags' - BBC Health News 25/03/05
Even when healthy foods are affordable and accessible people continue to eat unhealthily, experts have warned.
Weight gain teen has cyst removed - BBC Health News 24/03/05
A nursery nurse who gained weight for a year without knowing why has had a cyst the size of three footballs removed.
Hospital pays for paramedic's op - BBC Health News 24/03/05
A terminally-ill Shropshire man who raised more than £5,000 to pay for an operation to prolong his life has been told the NHS will pay for the surgery.
AIDS Virus Destroys Immune Cells Fast-Studies - Reuters 27/03/05
Within days of infection, the AIDS virus destroys more than half of the immune cells that might recognize and help fight it -- a finding that may force a re-evaluation of how to tackle the deadly infection, two teams of U.S. researchers reported Sunday.
US Advises Firms on Better Drug Safety Monitoring - Reuters 24/03/05
U.S. health officials gave drug companies suggestions on Thursday on ways to improve safety evaluations of medicines during early-stage development and after they are on the market.
Healthcare Workers Risk Getting Asthma on the Job - Reuters 24/03/05
Healthcare workers are at risk for occupational asthma, according to new data from four state-based surveillance systems that monitor work-related asthma cases. Latex and disinfectants are the main culprits.
Natural Serum Eyedrops Relieve Dry Eyes - Reuters 24/03/05
Eyedrops made from a person's own serum are superior to artificial tear preparations for relieving signs and symptoms of severe dry eye disease, according to results of a study.
Group Calls for Safer Asthma Drug Compounds - Reuters 24/03/05
U.S. regulators need to do more to protect asthma patients from inhaled medicines created by pharmacists from bulk ingredients, a consumer advocacy group said on Thursday.
Depression May Up Risk of Dementia in Men - Reuters 24/03/05
Men with a history of depression long before the onset of any memory or other cognitive problems have a substantially higher risk of developing dementia, especially Alzheimer's disease (AD), later in life, a study indicates. This risk is not observed in women.
U.S. Drug Trials Proposal Unethical, Critics Say - Reuters 24/03/05
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is flouting ethical practice by proposing that international guidelines protecting patients need not apply to clinical trials conducted abroad, critics said on Thursday.
Abbott Says Withdrawing Attention Deficit Drug - Reuters 24/03/05
Abbott Laboratories Inc. said Thursday it was halting sales of a 30-year-old attention deficit drug that a consumer group complained was too dangerous to stay on the market.
Six Diseases Cause 73 Percent of Child Deaths: WHO - Reuters 25/03/05
Six mainly preventable diseases account for 73 percent of child deaths each year, the World Health Organization said on Friday.
Roche, GSK Say FDA Okays Monthly Osteoporosis Drug - Reuters 24/03/05
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a monthly version of osteoporosis drug Boniva, Roche Holding AG and GlaxoSmithKline Plc said on Friday.
With the help of the Catholic Church, Australian researchers have successfully grown adult stem cells harvested from the human nose - Reuters 24/03/05
With the help of the Catholic Church, Australian researchers have successfully grown adult stem cells harvested from the human nose, avoiding the ethical and legal problems associated with embryonic stem cells.
Group Calls for Ban of Abbott's ADD Drug - Reuters 24/03/05
A 30-year-old Abbott Laboratories Inc. drug for attention deficit disorder poses an unacceptable risk of deadly liver damage and should be banned immediately, a U.S. consumer group said on Thursday.
Glaxo and AstraZeneca Clash on Asthma Drug Claims - Reuters 24/03/05
GlaxoSmithKline Plc said on Thursday its asthma drug Advair/Seretide beat AstraZeneca Plc's Symbicort in a 1-year clinical study, reviving rival claims about the two products.
Bird Flu Kills Cambodia Man, Vietnam Tests Suspect Cases - Reuters 24/03/05
Bird flu has killed a 28-year-old Cambodian man, officials said on Thursday as authorities in neighboring Vietnam tested dozens of people in a village where a 5-year-old boy was infected with the virus.
Schiavo Case Highlights Poor Care for Dying in US - Reuters 23/03/05
The debate over keeping Terri Schiavo alive should highlight how badly death is handled in the United States, end-of-life activists said this week.
Sleep Apnea Kills After Midnight, Study Finds - Reuters 23/03/05
Patients with sleep apnea are more likely to die from heart attacks at night, while sleeping, than in the day, which is the time when everyone else is most vulnerable, U.S. researchers reported on Wednesday.
What to Do About Menopause? Even Experts Confused - Reuters 23/03/05
Menopause does not usually cause severe symptoms apart from hot flashes, and little is known about alternatives to hormone replacement therapy with its risks of cancer and heart attack, experts said on Wednesday.
U.S. Starts Human Tests of Avian Flu Vaccine - Reuters 23/03/05
U.S. health officials said on Wednesday they have started human tests of a vaccine against avian flu, which experts believe could kill tens of millions of people if it becomes easily passed from person to person.
India's Lower House Passes Illegal Patent Drug Bill - Reuters 22/03/05
India's lower house of parliament passed a patents bill on Tuesday making it illegal to copy patented drugs, a practice that has made cheaper medicines available in India and abroad.
When It Comes to Chocolate, Order Dark, Not White - Reuters 22/03/05
Dark chocolate -- but not white chocolate - may help reduce blood pressure and boost the body's ability to metabolize sugar from food, according to the results of a small study.
Pushy Parents May Be Harmful for Kids' Health -Study - Reuters 22/03/05
Pushy parents could be doing more harm than good to their children's health, researchers said in a study released on Tuesday.
Pushy parents can be bad for their children's health - Archives of Disease in Childhood - Medical News Today 22/03/05
Limiting Carbs Results in Greater Weight Loss - Reuters 21/03/05
Obese women who follow low-carbohydrate diets, such as the Atkins diet, may lose more weight in a four-month period than those who go on low-fat diets, new study findings show. The reason for the greater weight loss, however, is not clear.
Caffeine Impairs Sugar Metabolism - Reuters 21/03/05
Caffeine intake makes insulin more resistant to changes in blood sugar levels, Canadian researchers report. This effect was observed both in patients with and those without diabetes and could not be reversed with regular exercise or weight.
Measles Outbreak Kills 76 in Northeastern Nigeria - Reuters 21/03/05
At least 76 people, most of them children, have died and hundreds been hospitalized following an outbreak of measles in the northeastern Nigerian state of Adamawa, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Monday.
Juvenile Arthritis Linked to Lower Bone Mass - Reuters 21/03/05
Children who have juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) experience smaller gains in bone mass than do healthy children, according to a report in the medical journal Arthritis and Rheumatism.
Control of Childhood Asthma Often Overestimated - Reuters 21/03/05
Children with asthma and their parents often overestimate the level of disease control and commonly restrict activities to control symptoms, according to the results of the 2004 Children and Asthma in America Survey, released here Saturday during the 61st annual meeting of the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology.
Biggest Study of GMO Finds Impact on Birds, Bees - Reuters 18/03/05
The world's biggest study to date on the impact of genetically modified (GMO) crops on wildlife found birds and bees are more likely to thrive in fields of natural rapeseed than GMO seed, scientists said.
Britain Off Course on Domestic CO2 Emissions Targets - Reuters 21/03/05
Britain will miss its own target on cutting carbon dioxide emissions but meet its Kyoto Protocol commitments, according to projections released on Monday by the government.
Moderate Drinking Appears to Cut Diabetes Risk - Reuters 18/03/05
Evidence continues to mount that moderate alcohol consumption may protect against the development of type 2 diabetes.
Maggots...coming to a Hospital Near You - Reuters 18/03/05
Phyllis Hulme's family and friends were aghast when she told them doctors planned to put maggots on her leg ulcer.
Sleep Breathing Problem Raises Heart Attack Risk - Reuters 18/03/05
People who suffer from an illness that disrupts their breathing while they sleep are more likely to suffer a fatal heart attack or stroke, Spanish researchers said on Friday.
Sunbed-Loving Europeans Face Cancer 'Epidemic' - WHO - Reuters 17/03/05
The World Health Organization (WHO), warned young Europeans Thursday that their taste for getting a tan even before they hit the beach could result in an "epidemic" of skin cancer within a decade.
FDA Nominee Vows Transformed Drug Safety System - Reuters 17/03/05
President Bush's nominee to run the Food and Drug Administration vowed on Thursday to lead a "transformation" of the agency now under fire for a series of drug safety problems.
AIDS Kills Zimbabwe Child Every 15 Minutes - UNICEF - Reuters 17/03/05
AIDS kills a Zimbabwean child every 15 minutes and global donors should open their purses to fight the epidemic there with the same intensity they have fought for democracy, UNICEF said on Thursday.
Mercury Pollution, Autism Link Found - U.S. Study - Reuters 17/03/05
Mercury released primarily from coal-fired power plants may be contributing to an increase in the number of cases of autism, a Texas researcher said on Wednesday.
Indonesia Reports Birdflu Outbreak in Chickens - Reuters 17/03/05
Bird flu has re-emerged in Indonesia's main island of Java and South Sulawesi province since the start of the year, prompting the government to slaughter affected fowl, the agriculture ministry said on Thursday.
FDA, Biogen Warn Over Multiple Sclerosis Drug - Reuters 14/03/05
Biogen Idec's multiple sclerosis drug Avonex can cause severe liver damage, U.S. regulatory officials and the company warned on Wednesday, the latest in a series of blows to MS patients.
Major Cause of Blindness Inherited -Study - Reuters 14/03/05
Age-related macular degeneration, a leading cause of blindness in older adults, is greatly influenced by a person's genes, according to a study of twins released Monday.
AIDS Virus Came to Britain Six Times, Study Shows - Reuters 14/03/05
The AIDS virus came to Britain at least six separate times in the early and mid-1980s, not once as has been widely believed, researchers reported on Monday.
FDA Staff: Glaxo, Sanofi Vaccines Effective - Reuters 15/03/05
Experimental vaccines made by GlaxoSmithKline Plc and Sanofi-Aventis appear effective at boosting immunity to diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis, U.S. Food and Drug Administration staff said in reports released on Monday.
Mountain Living Good for Heart and Health -Study - Reuters 15/03/05
If you want to live longer and lower the risk of heart disease, a move to the mountains may help.
EU Obesity Taskforce to Fight 'Expanding Waistline' - Reuters 15/03/05
EU regulators joined forces with Europe's advertisers and food industry Tuesday to tackle an alarming rise in obesity, particularly among children.
Mitsubishi Pharma Launches Two Injections for Internal Hemorrhoid Scleotherapy - Medical News Today 28/03/05
Mitsubishi Pharma announced on March 22 that it will begin shipping ZIONE INJECTION and ZION INJECTION/LIDOCAINE, two ethical drugs indicated for internal hemorrhoid, on March 23.
Protect Your Children - Medical News Today 28/03/05
As the temperatures warm and kids head outdoors to play, UAB optometrist Leo Semmes, O.D., said that when it comes to sun protection, "the younger, the better." Damaging effects to the eyes from exposure to sunlight is cumulative, and most of us have reached up to 50 percent exposure by the time we are 18. But by protecting eyes with sunglasses and brimmed hats, we can block much of the sun's damaging UV rays. How young, you ask? "As young as you can keep them on 'em," Semmes said. "I have friends who send me pictures of their infants wearing sunglasses and hats. 'See, we were listening to you,' they always tell me."
Multiple Sclerosis - Serono Announces Major Milestone in Identifying The Genes Involved - Medical News Today 28/03/05
Identification of 80 genes involved in the inflammatory and neuro-degenerative pathways of MS provide potential new drug targets - Serono (virt-x: SEO and NYSE: SRA), the world's third largest biotechnology company, announced today that researchers at the Serono Genetics Institute (SGI) have achieved a major milestone in identifying and creating a register of genes involved in multiple sclerosis (MS). For the first time in this disease area, researchers at the SGI have identified 80 genes involved in the inflammatory and neuro-degenerative pathways of MS, based on a 40% genome scan comparing the genetic profile of a total of 1,800 people with MS and healthy individuals in different populations.
Study Documents Progress in Quality Improvement Organization Hospital Work - Medical News Today 28/03/05
A study published March 21, 2005 in the bi-monthly journal Health Services Research presents a positive assessment of Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) work to improve care in hospitals.
Sudan Surveys Show High Rates of Death and Malnutrition Among Displaced Population - Medical News Today 28/03/05
An assessment of the people living in three communities in South Darfur, Sudan found a high number of deaths from violence and disease, according to a brief report in the March 23/30 issue of JAMA.
Factors Linked to Substance Use Disorder Relapse Among Health Care Professionals - Medical News Today 28/03/05
Having a coexisting psychiatric illness or family history of a substance use disorder or having used a major opioid are key factors that can increase the likelihood of a substance use disorder relapse among health care professionals, according to a study in the March 23/30 issue of JAMA.
Cancerous or Harmless? Three Genes Might Tell the Tale - Medical News Today 28/03/05
New research suggests that physicians can distinguish between a type of thyroid cancer and an identical-looking, non-cancerous thyroid condition by simply determining the activity of three genes.
Three-Year Cervical Cancer Screening Recommendations May Be Applicable For Certain Women With HIV - Medical News Today 28/03/05
Women with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) who have normal cervical cancer screening results and negative tests for human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted virus that is associated with cervical cancer, may be able to have Papanicolaou (Pap) smears every three years, the same interval as HIV-negative women, according to a study in the March 23/30 issue of JAMA.
Target Molecule for Anti-obesity and Antidiabetic Drug ,Yamanouchi Pharmaceutical, Keio University - Medical News Today 28/03/05
Yamanouchi Pharmaceutical (TSE: 4503) announced that it has discovered a promising target molecule for the development of anti-obesity and antidiabetic drug, in collaboration with Keio University.
Weight Loss After Spinal Cord Impairments (SCI) - Medical News Today 28/03/05
Weight loss is especially important for overweight individuals with spinal cord impairments (SCI). UAB has developed a weight management program for this population, which often has limited physical abilities and unique nutritional needs, said Yuying Chen, M.D., Ph.D., of the Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine.
Experts Emphasize Importance of Addressing EAGER for Millions of Americans Starting Springtime Exercise Programs - Medical News Today 28/03/05
Heartburn caused by physical activity − or EAGER (Exertion-Associated Gastro Esophageal Reflux) − is derailing many Americans' efforts to live active lifestyles, according to a recent online survey of 1,000 Baby Boomers. The survey reveals that nearly 40% of heartburn sufferers experience heartburn while exercising and that more than two out of every five weekly heartburn sufferers have stopped being physically active as a result of heartburn.
Family and Social Life Low Priority for Migraine Sufferers - Medical News Today 28/03/05
Only one in five migraine sufferers would take acute migraine treatment for a social engagement, according to data presented at Migraine Innovators V; the fifth annual international congress dedicated to improving the understanding of migraine and headache disorders.
Golden Rice Humanitarian Board Statement on Development of New Golden Rice Strain with Higher Levels of Beta-Carotene - Medical News Today 28/03/05
The Golden Rice Humanitarian Board welcomes the peer reviewed study published in the April issue of Nature Biotechnology detailing the development of a new variety of Golden Rice that contains approximately 23 times more beta-carotene or “pro-vitamin A” than the original Golden Rice variety.The human body converts beta-carotene to Vitamin A.
Haemophilia drug rFVIIa could soon change the way critical bleeding in blunt trauma is managed - Medical News Today 28/03/05
rFVIIa controls critical bleeding and reduces the risk of life-threatening complications following severe blunt trauma, the ‘disease of the young'
PTK/ZK Confirm 1 Study Shows Positive Drug Effects in Phase III Study in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer, Filing Now Anticipated for - Medical News Today 28/03/05
Pre-planned analysis of progression-free survival as assessed by investigators achieved statistical significance while analysis of primary endpoint of progression-free survival assessed by central review did not achieve statistical significance.
Ranbaxy HIV Update - Medical News Today 28/03/05
Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited (Ranbaxy) announced today that the Company has made two further fresh filings of its Anti-Retrovirals (ARVs) agents, to the World Health Organisation (WHO) for its approval, taking the total number of filings submitted with the WHO, to five.
T cell therapy for bronchial asthma - Medical News Today 27/03/05
In 1986, mouse helper T clones were discovered to be divided into two phenotypes, Th1 and Th2. Since then, human diseases are often classified into Th1- or Th2-dominant disease. Bronchial asthma, for example, is now known as a typical Th2-dominant disease.
US House Leadership Agrees To Allow Vote on Bill That Would Expand Federally Funded Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research - Medical News Today 27/03/05
The US House leadership has agreed to allow a floor vote within the next two to three months on a bill… (HR 810) that would expand federally funded human embryonic stem cell research, the Washington Post reports (Weiss, Washington Post, 3/25). A bipartisan group of U.S. Senate and House members last month introduced the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005, which would loosen federal funding restrictions on the research imposed by President Bush. Bush's embryonic stem cell policy -- which he announced on Aug. 9, 2001 -- limits federally funded embryonic stem cell research to stem cell lines created on or before that date. Critics of Bush's policy have said that the embryonic stem cell lines available for federal funding are not biologically diverse, are contaminated with nonhuman material and are useless for research into possible cures for degenerative diseases (Kaiser Daily Reproductive Health Report, 2/17).
Lung disease treatment may prevent heart attacks - Medical News Today 27/03/05
Inhaled corticosteroids, drugs used to treat asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), were found to be associated with a reduction in the risk of acute myocardial infarction, according to investigators at McGill University in Montreal led by Samy Suissa. Their findings, published in the April issue of the ERJ, show that low doses of these drugs used by patients with COPD may reduce the risk of acute myocardial infarction by 30%.
Lung function can predict death - Medical News Today 27/03/05
In a Norwegian study of 1,623 middle-aged men with follow-up over 26 years, the patients were recruited primarily from large public sector enterprises. In 1972-1975 the subjects underwent an extensive examination programme, including pulmonary function tests, blood tests, and a symptom-limited bicycle exercise test, and a physical examination. By 2000, 615 subjects died, close to 50% of whom from cardiovascular causes.
Asthma reduction in female babies by combined reduction of environmental exposure - Medical News Today 27/03/05
H Schönberger (Dept of General Practice, Research Institute CAPHRI, University Maastricht, the Netherlands) and his colleagues report the results of a study on prevention of asthma in high-risk children.
Air Travel and Lung Disease: Current Guidelines Are Inappropriate - Medical News Today 27/03/05
For the first time, patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), were studied during a commercial flight lasting almost six hours. Their blood oxygen content underwent a considerable reduction, more marked than could have been predicted using the currently accepted guidelines. However, the oxygen reduction was generally well tolerated by those subjects who, prior to departure, had a blood oxygen content equal to or greater than the recommended pre-flight value.
Indian Government Must Find Ways To Continue To Provide Generic Antiretrovirals Under New Patent Law, Opinion Piece Says - Medical News Today 26/03/05
Although India is "emerging as a global economic powerhouse," the country's reputation will be harmed if the government does not find ways to continue providing low-cost generic antiretroviral drugs to developing countries following the passage of a measure revising the country's patent laws, Robert Radtke, senior vice president for programs at the... Asia Society, writes in a Financial Times opinion piece (Radtke, Financial Times, 3/24). The measure, which was passed by both houses of parliament this week and is expected to be signed into law by President Abdul Kalam, would prohibit the domestic production of low-cost, generic versions of patented medicines, including antiretrovirals. Under India's current patent process, the country's generic drug industry has made less-expensive medications available worldwide for more than 30 years, making it possible for many people in developing countries to receive treatment for various diseases. However, the Indian government has said that bringing the country's laws in line with a World Trade Organization intellectual property agreement it signed in 1994 and recognizing product patents are necessary for the nation's drug industry to pursue additional drug research and development and attract foreign investors. Under the newly passed measure, drug makers that want to continue production of generic drugs must pay royalties to the manufacturers of the patented drugs (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 3/24). Although recognizing patents could encourage more drug research and development, the move could be "potentially catastrophic" to HIV-positive people in developing nations who depend on antiretroviral drugs produced in India, Radtke writes, concluding that India must continue to be a leader in Asia in fighting HIV/AIDS, "not only for its own sake but for the long-term health and stability of Asia, Africa and the world at large" (Financial Times, 3/24).
Indian Film Industry To Release Second Feature Addressing HIV/AIDS - Medical News Today 26/03/05
The Indian film industry has released its second "mainstream" Hindi-language film that addresses the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the country,... AFP/Yahoo! News reports. The film -- titled "My Brother Nikhil" and directed by Onirban, who only goes by one name -- is set in the southern Indian resort state of Goa and tells the story of a swimmer who is loved by everyone in his family until they learn that he is HIV-positive. When they discover his HIV status, his family, friends and colleagues abandon him, but his sister offers him "unwavering support," according to AFP/Yahoo! News. The film stars Indian actors Sanjay Suri as the HIV-positive swimmer and Juhi Chawla as his sister. "The basic message of the film is about love, acceptance and on the backdrop is HIV/AIDS," Onirban said. Chawla said the film is "simple and highlights the AIDS problem too," adding, "It is about accepting a person who is affected by HIV. We just hope it clicks at the box office" (AFP/Yahoo! News, 3/24). "Phir Milenge," the first mainstream Bollywood Hindi film to focus on HIV/AIDS in India, was released last year. The film, directed by Revathy Menon, tells the story of Tamanna, a female advertising executive who is fired after her employer discovers she is HIV-positive. Tamanna then files and eventually wins a discrimination lawsuit against her employer. The film examines the stigma, discrimination and ignorance associated with HIV/AIDS in the workplace, as well as how people can address HIV discrimination through the country's courts (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 8/24/04). However, "Phir Milenge" was not received well, according to AFP/Yahoo! News (AFP/Yahoo! News, 3/24).
Effective AIDS Vaccine Likely 15 Years Away Because of Funding Shortfalls, Disease Complexity, Scientists Say - Medical News Today 26/03/05
An effective HIV/AIDS vaccine likely will not be developed for another 15 years because of the disease's complexity and a lack of funding, scientists said on Thursday at the close of a four-day conference, titled... "A Time To Heal: Cracking Africa's Killer Diseases," in Nairobi, Kenya, Xinhuanet reports. In addition, vaccines for tuberculosis and malaria also are likely to take between five and 15 years to develop, according to scientists at the conference, which was sponsored by the Africa Genome Education Institute (Xinhuanet, 3/25). "HIV is an intractable virus, while tuberculosis and malaria pose formidable challenges," AGEI Interim Director Wilmot James said, adding, "Scientific drive continues, but deliveries are, as in the nature of fundamental research, uncertain" (Daily Nation, 3/25). James said that "major public commitments" are needed for research into TB, malaria and other tropical diseases. According to the World Health Organization, less than 1% of total public and private health research funds in recent years has been devoted to TB, malaria, diarrhea and pneumonia -- which account for more than 20% of the world's disease burden. "Governments, foundations and private companies can invest more in the training and development at university level of students in modern biology," AGEI said in a statement. However, many African governments have said that already are "struggling" to provide basic services, including health care, education and security, and do not have additional money available for research, according to Reuters Health (Reuters Health, 3/24).
Hopkins begins human trials with donor adult stem cells to repair muscle damaged from heart attack - Medical News Today 26/03/05
Randomized Phase I study limited to 48 patients to determine safety - Researchers at Johns Hopkins have begun what is believed to be the first clinical trial in the United States of adult mesenchymal stem cells to repair muscle damaged by heart attack, or myocardial infarct.
FDA Issues Guidelines for Pharmaceutical Companies for Warnings, Restrictions on Use of Prescription Drugs - Medical News Today 26/03/05
FDA on Thursday issued new guidelines detailing "when and how drug makers should go beyond label warnings and incorporate other restrictions on the use of a drug," the Wall Street Journal reports. The guidelines were issued along with two related guidances on how drug companies should monitor safety issues during clinical trials and after drugs reach the market. According to the Journal, many of the new guidelines "codify practices already in place" and show that FDA is taking "a cautious line" in approaching the "sensitive topic" of limiting prescriptions and marketing. FDA noted that drugs that will probably require special risk measures include those that are known to cause birth defects and addictive painkillers. FDA stated that some drugs could need restrictions because "safe and effective use call for specialized health care skills, training or facilities to manage" the side effects. The guidelines also reinforce the agency's current practice of reviewing a risk-minimization plan brought by a drug maker. According to the guidelines, the plan first would be reviewed by the FDA office that initially studied the drug for approval and then would work with other divisions in the agency such as the drug safety office. Some lawmakers have said such reviews should be handled by an independent safety board instead of FDA, which is "under congressional scrutiny in the wake of high-profile drug withdrawals," the Journal reports. Next Steps, Reaction
FDA Issues Final Risk Minimization Guidances - Medical News Today 26/03/05
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today issued three final guidance documents to help develop new ways and improve methods to assess and monitor the risks associated with drugs and biological products in clinical development and general use. The documents are part of FDA's ongoing and comprehensive efforts to minimize risks while preserving the benefits of medical products.
FDA Approves First-of-Kind Device to Treat Descending Thoracic Aneurysms - Medical News Today 26/03/05
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today approved a new device that is intended to prevent ruptures of descending thoracic aneurysms by making a new path for blood flow. The GORE TAG Endoprosthesis System is the first endovascular grafting system approved to treat aneurysms of the thoracic aorta, the main artery that carries blood in the body.
New study links colic, maternal depression to family problems - Medical News Today 26/03/05
Pediatricians urged to discuss parental well-being during infant check-ups - Providence, RI -Some families with new babies face excessive infant crying, or colic. And some new mothers go through maternal post-partum depression (PPD) following childbirth. Neither situation is considered healthy, but a recent study published in the Infant Mental Health Journal has found that the combined impact of colic and PPD can have a highly toxic outcome. Researchers have linked colicky babies and maternal depression to decrease in overall family functioning.
Researchers search for first sign of congestive heart failure - Medical News Today 25/03/05
As stress can make blood vessels constrict and blood pressure rise, it may also reduce the heart's ability to relax and fill with blood, researchers says.
Once-Monthly Boniva® for Osteoporosis Approved by FDA - Medical News Today 26/03/05
The FDA (USA) has approved once-monthly oral Boniva® (ibandronate sodium) 150 mg Tablets, the first and only once-a-month medicine for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis , Roche and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) announced.
The best way to get teens to learn - Medical News Today 26/03/05
Getting kids interested in what they're learning is an age-old problem that continues to plague teachers and parents. Now, researchers from the University of Leuven in Belgium report in the March/April issue of the journal Child Development, that when teenagers understand that learning helps them attain an intrinsic goal (e.g., self-development, personal health, etc.), they are more likely to become interested in the topic and grasp its conceptual aspects than if they are motivated to learn only to attain extrinsic goals (e.g., financial success, physical attractiveness, etc.).
UCSD researchers maintain stem cells without contaminated animal feeder layers - Medical News Today 26/03/05
The growth and maintenance of human embryonic stem cells in the absence of contaminated animal products has been demonstrated by University of California, San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine researchers in the Whittier Institute*, La Jolla, California.
Some Brain Cells "Change Channels" To Fine-Tune The Message - Medical News Today 26/03/05
Johns Hopkins researchers have identified the proteins that allow specific brain cells to "change channels," a rare ability that tweaks what can come into the cell. The findings, described in the March 24 issue of Neuron, might let researchers harness the process, perhaps one day using it to protect cells that die in Lou Gehrig's disease.
Scientists develop new color-coded test for protein folding - Medical News Today 26/03/05
Every protein - from albumin to testosterone--is folded into a unique, three-dimensional shape that allows it to function properly. Now Stanford University scientists have developed a simple test that instantly changes color when a protein molecule attached to a gold nanoparticle folds or unfolds. The new technique, which works on the same principle as ordinary pH tests that measure the acidity of water, is described in the March 2005 issue of the journal Chemistry and Biology.
Quality of mother's time, not quantity, most important in early infant development - Medical News Today 26/03/05
Working mothers in the United States can relax. Their kids might still get into Harvard. A study from researchers at the University of Texas at Austin found no differences in children's social and intellectual development during the first three years of life between those whose mothers spent a lot of time with them in infancy and those whose mothers spent less time because they worked outside the home. The results were published in the March/April 2005 issue of the journal Child Development.
Optical technique identifies vulnerable plaques in cardiac patients - Medical News Today 26/03/05
Imaging technology may someday guide therapy designed to prevent heart attacks - A catheter-based imaging technology called optical coherence tomography (OCT) can successfully identify the characteristics of coronary plaques in patients with various cardiac symptoms. The report from researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) will appear in the journal Circulation and has received early online release at
http://www.circulationaha.org.
New evaluation tool reliably predicts recovery from coma - Medical News Today 26/03/05
A Department of Veterans Affairs and Northwestern University researcher has developed the first reliable measure of neurobehavioral functioning that will help physicians predict the likelihood of a patient recovering consciousness during coma from severe brain injury within the first year of injury--with up to 86 percent certainty.
Hepatotoxicity and statins - Medical News Today 26/03/05
Statins appear to be safe for people with fatty liver disease who could benefit from their cholesterol-lowering capabilities, concludes a review paper published in the April 2005 issue of Hepatology, the official journal of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD). Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., the journal is available online via Wiley InterScience at
http://www.interscience.wiley.com/journal/hepatology.
Gene variant that appears to predict type 2 diabetes - UT Southwestern researchers - Medical News Today 26/03/05
A particular gene variant that could serve as a predictor for type 2 diabetes has been identified by researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center.
Hepatitis C and health-related quality of life - Medical News Today 26/03/05
Patients with Hepatitis C virus (HCV) have a significant decrease in their health-related quality-of-life (HRQOL), although treatment success can mitigate this negative effect. These are among the findings of a systematic review of relevant literature published in the April 2005 issue of Hepatology, the official journal of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD). Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., the journal is available online via Wiley InterScience at
interscience.wiley.com/journal/hepatology.
Pregnant Women Should Exercise to Keep Depression Away - Medical News Today 25/03/05
While much research focuses on healthy babies for pregnant mothers, little has been published about the physical and emotional health and changes that the mothers go through themselves. A study in a recent issue of the Journal of General Internal Medicine presents data that characterizes these changes and highlights exercise as an effective means for preventing decline in physical function and emotional health for pregnant women.
Study shows older patients often have suicidal thoughts - Medical News Today 25/03/05
The British Journal of General Practitioners (BJGP) has reported research showing that older patients may suffer from high levels of distress, including thoughts of suicide.
Researchers search for first sign of congestive heart failure - Medical News Today 25/03/05
As stress can make blood vessels constrict and blood pressure rise, it may also reduce the heart's ability to relax and fill with blood, researchers says.
Genetically modified natural killer immune cells attack, kill leukemia cells - Medical News Today 26/03/05
St Jude lab studies shows that new genetic modification and culture techniques produce NK cells with significantly enhanced ability to eradicate leukemia cells - Natural killer (NK) immune system cells can be genetically modified to brandish a powerful "on-switch" that prompts them to aggressively attack and kill leukemic cells. This finding, from researchers at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, suggests a way to improve the outcome of children who receive treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) or other blood cancers.
New Estimates for The Causes of Child Deaths Worldwide - Medical News Today 25/03/05
The most accurate estimates of the causes of child deaths to date, published in this week's issue of The Lancet, reveal that worldwide more than 70% of the 10•6 million child deaths that occur annually are attributable to six causes: pneumonia (19%), diarrhoea (18%), malaria (8%), neonatal sepsis or pneumonia (10%), preterm delivery (10%), and asphyxia at birth (8%).
Child Care May Affect Entire Community's Risks of Infection - Medical News Today 25/03/05
Any parent knows how quickly a cold or a cough can spread between children who play together. However, child care may also affect an entire community's carriage of potentially dangerous bacteria known as Streptococcus pneumoniae, according to an article in the April 1 issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases, now available online.
BMA comment on medical workforce numbers, UK - Medical News Today 25/03/05
New workforce statistics published today (22/03/2005) by the Department of Health, England, show that despite a welcome increase in the number of GPs, in whole time equivalent terms, the Government failed to meet its NHS Plan target of recruiting an extra 2000 family doctors between 1999 and 2004.
Recent Medication Safety Issues Benefited Some Drug Companies - Medical News Today 25/03/05
USA Today on Thursday examined how the recent "flood of safety warnings for some drugs" has "created potential for a change of fortunes" for rival drug manufacturers. After Merck withdrew the COX-2 inhibitor Vioxx from the market last September, the share of new arthritis medication prescriptions held by rival pain treatment Mobic -- co-marketed by Boehringer Ingelheim and Abbott Laboratories -- increased from 4.4% in early October 2004 to 8% in the week that ended March 11. U.S. sales of Mobic for Abbott reached $258 million in the fourth quarter, a 176% increase from a year earlier. In addition, sales of prescription ibuprofen also have increased since the Vioxx withdrawal. According to USA Today, the market for multiple sclerosis medications "may be the next to shift." Biogen Idec and FDA last week announced that the MS medication Avonex should include a stronger warning about potential risk for liver damage, but rival treatment Copaxone does not have the same risk. After the Avonex announcement, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, which manufactures Copaxone, "e-mailed journalists reminding them of the drugs' differences," USA Today reports (Schmit, USA Today, 3/24).
EUREKA supports EU summit conclusions - Medical News Today 25/03/05
Brussels: Following the European Council on 22-23 March 2005 EUREKA Network fully supports the Council's commitment to maintaining the objective of 3% investment in R&D. The EUREKA Network is looking forward to contribute to the new European schemes that should provide impetus to innovation throughout the European Union.
New England Journal of Medicine Article Calls for Higher Taxes, Legislation to Expand Health Coverage, USA - Medical News Today 25/03/05
Two executives from Partners HealthCare System, Massachusetts' "largest and most influential hospital and physician network," on Thursday "issued a public appeal" for higher taxes and laws that would require all employers to provide health insurance to workers, the Boston Globe reports. In an article in the New England Journal of Medicine, Partners CEO James Mongan and Thomas Lee, president of Partners' physician network, wrote that doctors should support mandatory employer-sponsored health coverage and higher taxes to fund expanded health care coverage. Although the article referred to possible reforms in Massachusetts, which is considering whether and how to expand health coverage to more than 460,000 uninsured state residents, the authors said the article was intended for a national audience.
Fish oil holds promise in Alzheimer's fight - Medical News Today 25/03/05
Even our grandmothers told us fish was "brain food"--and now scientists have evidence to back the claim.
International Community Should Demand Zimbabwe Improve Health, Economic Structures, Opinion Piece Says - Medical News Today 25/03/05
Although Zimbabwe's HIV/AIDS epidemic is not the "fault" of President Robert Mugabe, the "human consequences" of the "collapse" of the health system and economy under his leadership are "heartbreaking,.." New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof writes in a Times opinion piece. Hospitals and health clinics in the country lack medicines and doctors, as many as 33% of working-age Zimbabweans are HIV-positive and children in the country die "routinely for want of malaria medication that costs just a few dollars," Kristof says. Although Western nations often have "focused [their] outrage" at Mugabe's seizure of farms from white landowners, the "greatest suffering by far is among black Zimbabweans," Kristof writes. "When a white racist government was oppressing Zimbabwe" in the 1970s, "the international community united to demand change," Kristof says, concluding, "These days, a black racist government is harming the people of Zimbabwe more than ever, and the international community is letting Mr. Mugabe get away with it. Our hypocrisy is costing hundreds of Zimbabwean lives every day" (Kristof, New York Times, 3/23).
India's Upper House of Parliament Passes Bill That Would Prohibit Production of Generic Versions of Patented Drugs - Medical News Today 25/03/05
India's upper house of parliament on Wednesday passed a bill that would change the country's patent laws to prohibit the domestic production of low-cost, generic versions of patented medicines, including antiretroviral drugs, the... AP/Boston Globe reports (Mahapatra, AP/Boston Globe, 3/24). India's generic drug industry has made less-expensive medications available in India and abroad for more than 30 years, making it possible for many people in developing countries to receive treatment for various diseases (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 3/23). India since 1970 has granted "process patents" rather than the usual "product patents" that all Western countries grant, according to the New York Times. This allowed drug companies in India to produce generic versions of medications patented in other countries as long as they used a different manufacturing process. As a result, several companies often produced the same drug using different processes, creating a competitive market that kept drug prices low (McNeil, New York Times, 3/24). The bill would change India's laws to bring the country in line with a World Trade Organization agreement on intellectual property that it signed in 1994. The Indian government says that recognizing patents is a necessary precondition for the nation's drug industry to pursue additional drug research and development and attract foreign investors (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 3/23). The measure now goes to Indian President Abdul Kalam, who is expected to approve the changes, according to the Washington Post.
Highly adaptable genome in gut bacterium key to intestinal health - Medical News Today 25/03/05
A bacterium that lives in the human gut adaptively shifts more than a quarter of its genes into high gear when its host's diet changes from sugar to complex carbohydrates.
Research offers hope of new treatments for liver damage - Medical News Today 25/03/05
There is currently no cure for liver cirrhosis and a patient's only hope of survival is to receive a liver transplant.
Salk polio vaccine celebrates 50th anniversary - Medical News Today 25/03/05
Polio, one of the most dreaded epidemic diseases in history, went on its way to defeat 50 years ago with the announcement of the first safe and effective polio vaccine, developed by Dr. Jonas Salk and supported by the March of Dimes.
Researchers discover molecule that causes secondary stroke - Medical News Today 25/03/05
Scientists at the University of Cincinnati (UC) College of Medicine have discovered the cause of a deadly type of secondary stroke known as cerebral vasospasm.
Study Provides New Estimates of the Causes of Child Mortality Worldwide - Medical News Today 25/03/05
Seventy-three percent of the 10.6 million child deaths worldwide each year are the result of six causes: pneumonia, diarrhea, malaria, neonatal sepsis, preterm delivery and asphyxia at birth. Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the World Health Organization (WHO) have developed the most accurate estimates to date of the causes of death of children under age 5. The estimates, which are published in the March 26 edition of The Lancet, will help guide public health policies and programs that address child mortality worldwide.
TB Rates Decline Overall Worldwide; Disease Remains Primary Cause of Death Among HIV-Positive Africans, WHO Says - Medical News Today 25/03/05
Efforts to curb the spread of tuberculosis worldwide are making "gradual headway," but "serious problems" remain in combating the disease in Africa and among people living with HIV/AIDS, according to a.... World Heath Organization report released on Thursday in observance of World TB Day, AFP/Yahoo! News reports. In its annual report, titled "Global Tuberculosis Control -- Surveillance, Planning, Financing," WHO estimated that in 2003 -- the latest year for which data are available -- there were approximately 8.8 million new cases of TB worldwide. However, only 3.9 million of these cases were diagnosed through laboratory tests, and 674,000 of the cases occurred among HIV-positive people (AFP/Yahoo! News, 3/23). The global TB prevalence rate has declined by more than 20% since 1990, and TB incidence rates in 2003 were falling or stable in five of the six WHO regions of the world. However, as of 2003, the global TB incidence rate was growing by 1%, primarily because of increasing incidence in the African region. Since 1990, TB incidence rates in Africa have tripled in countries with high HIV prevalence and are increasing continent-wide at a rate of 3% to 4% annually, according to a WHO release (WHO release, 3/24).
US Attempting to Flout Ethical Practice for Patient Trials Abroad, The Lancet - Medical News Today 25/03/05
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has proposed that observing a widely accepted code of medical ethics that protects patients who take part in trials is not necessary for studies conducted abroad, states a comment in this week's issue of The Lancet.
Where's Waldo's DNA? New NIST SRM joins search - Medical News Today 25/03/05
A new reference standard from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) may help genetics labs develop improved methods of searching for a mutant needle in a DNA haystack.
Yeast finding links processes in heart disease and cancer - Medical News Today 25/03/05
By studying a little-known yeast too primitive to get diseases, Johns Hopkins researchers have uncovered a surprising link between two processes at play in heart disease and cancer in people.
Cancerous or Harmless? Three Genes Might Tell the Tale - Medical News Today 25/03/05
New research suggests that physicians can distinguish between a type of thyroid cancer and an identical-looking, non-cancerous thyroid condition by simply determining the activity of three genes.
New study will push forward understanding of post-natal illnesses - Medical News Today 25/03/05
Scientists at the University of Edinburgh are embarking on research to form a clearer understanding of the causes of post-natal illness. The three-year project aims to develop better treatments to help the one in ten women who suffer from anxiety and depression following the birth of their babies.
Trio of leukemias share a single mutation - Medical News Today 25/03/05
Internet aided in identifying large number of patients for study - Three leukemias that affect as many as 100,000 people in the United States are all caused by acquired mutations that alter a specific enzyme controlling blood cell proliferation, according to new studies by Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) researchers.
Health Protection Agency at the frontline of TB control, UK - Medical News Today 24/03/05
As World TB Day (24 March) focuses minds' on the central role of “ frontline TB care providers” in the fight against TB across the globe, the Health Protection Agency is highlighting the wide-ranging contribution it makes from an international through to a local level to the frontline control of the disease and TB care provision across the UK.
Funding for doctors' training faces being swallowed up by cuts, UK - Medical News Today 24/03/05
Funding announced today (23/3/05) for a new doctors' training programme - Modernising Medical Careers (MMC) - faces being swallowed up plugging reductions to planned training budgets, says the BMA.
FSAS publishes safety guide for farmers markets, Scotland - Medical News Today 24/03/05
The Food Standards Agency Scotland has published a guide to help keep food safe in farmers markets.
Economist Special Report Examines U.S. Prescription Drug Industry - Medical News Today 24/03/05
The Economist last week in a special report examined the US pharmaceutical industry, which it maintains has gone "horribly wrong for the dozen or so manufacturers that make up 'big pharma.'" According to the.. Economist, the "withdrawal of high-profile drugs, growing suspicion among consumers about drug companies' ethics and arguments with regulators and customers have all dented what until recently was one of the least-tarnished of industries." The report continues, "What happens in America is critical to the future of all the biggest drug firms" because of the large U.S. market share and higher prices paid for prescription drugs in the United States. The Economist examines many of the factors behind the current problems in the U.S. pharmaceutical industry and concludes that the "world's biggest drug firms are going to have to change in fundamental ways" (Economist, 3/19).
Asthma exacerbations reduced by over 45% with stable daily dosing - Medical News Today 24/03/05
Patients taking a stable daily dose of combination treatment experience substantially fewer symptoms and exacerbations than those who adjust their own treatment according to symptoms
Benefits of lung cancer screening with CT questioned - Medical News Today 24/03/05
Annual screening with helical computed tomography (CT) can help radiologists detect lung cancers at their earliest, most curable stage, but has not been shown to reduce mortality from the disease, according to a study published in the April issue of the journal Radiology.
Diabetes care improving two years on, UK - Medical News Today 24/03/05
Care for people with diabetes is showing good signs of improvement according to a report Improving Diabetes Services: The NSF Two Years On published today by Health Minister Rosie Winterton.
Demonstrating Cost and Clinical Benefits Critical to Expansion of European Seed Brachytherapy Markets - Medical News Today 21/03/05
Frost & Sullivan Analysis of U.S. and European Seed Brachytherapy Markets - The nascent European seed brachytherapy market has been grappling with issues of high procedural and investment costs and a lack of local clinical evidence. However, growing evidence of the overall clinical and cost benefits of seed brachytherapy coupled with rising patient awareness is set to boost market expansion.
Simple Question from your Doctor Can Help Identify Your Risk for Breast Cancer - Medical News Today 24/03/05
1 out of 7 Minority Women Lack Important Family History of Breast Cancer - Having your doctor ask you about your family breast health history can greatly increase the chances of identifying your risk for breast cancer. In a recent study published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, researchers found that only 26% out of 1700 women in the Greater Boston area had documentation of their family history of breast cancer. Further data showed that minority women were significantly less likely to have this information asked about or recorded than white women.
Student work in human subjects protection sought for FDA conference at UH - Medical News Today 24/03/05
Call for abstracts concentrates on showcasing fresh work by students across nation - From glucometers used by diabetics to stents used by cardiologists, new medical devices inevitably must be tested on human subjects. A national conference is seeking student work in the field of contemporary human subjects protection.
Shape Up For Summer The Healthy Way - Medical News Today 24/03/05
American Council on Exercise Says Fad Diets and Last Minute Gym Sessions May Ultimately Only Do Harm - Bathing suits and beaches - the allure of warmer months is right around the corner. For normally inactive people, rushing to the gym last minute to get in shape for summer could cause more harm than good to their bodies. The American Council on Exercise (ACE), America's nonprofit fitness authority, offers tips to help consumers avoid harmful eleventh-hour gym sessions and fad diets to shed extra pounds before the trip.
Some States Considering Legislation To Require Health Plans Cover Obesity Surgery When Recommended by Physician, USAv - Medical News Today 24/03/05
Lawmakers in Connecticut and other states are considering requiring health insurers to cover obesity surgery, the... AP/Virginian-Pilot reports. A proposal before the Connecticut Legislature would require insurers to cover obesity surgery for state residents with a body mass index of 30 or more if a doctor says the procedure is medically necessary. State lawmakers in Georgia are considering similar legislation, and 40 state employees in Louisiana last year received the surgery under the state's employee health plan. However, the proposals remain controversial, the AP/Virginian-Pilot reports. The Connecticut proposal has an uncertain future, as lawmakers work to define the medical conditions under which obesity surgery should be covered, according to state Sen. Joseph Crisco (D). Some lawmakers and health insurers also have expressed concern about the risks of obesity surgery; one in five patients experience complications from the procedure, and one to four patients for every 200 receiving the surgery die. Some health insurers -- including BlueCross BlueShield of Alabama and BCBS of Florida -- in recent months have stopped covering the surgery, which costs $20,000 to $35,000. Other insurers offer coverage in plans covering a large number of employees or limited coverage of the surgery. "What we're starting to see is an increase in what we would consider, at best, unnecessary, and, at worst, unsafe surgery," Keith Stover, a lobbyist for the Connecticut Association of Health Plans, said. He added, "Many plans decide the best course of action simply is to exclude coverage." However, many physicians say the long-term benefits of the weight loss achieved through obesity surgery outweigh the risks, the AP/Virginian-Pilot reports. The surgery also can reduce the long-term cost of medications to treat conditions related to obesity, such as hypertension and diabetes (Gillespie, AP/Virginian-Pilot, 3/22).
TB cases at alarming levels in Africa - Medical News Today 24/03/05
Rising TB rates contrast sharply with accelerated progress in other regions - In most areas of the world, the battle against tuberculosis is being successfully fought, but in Africa the disease has reached alarming proportions with a growing number of TB cases and deaths linked to HIV, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in a new report released today.
Tips for Addressing School Related Youth Violence, American Psychiatric Association - Medical News Today 24/03/05
The American Psychiatric Association (APA) expresses its deepest sympathies to the family and friends of the victims of the shocking school shooting tragedy in Minnesota. This appalling event is a vivid reminder that school violence by children and adolescents is an ongoing problem in our nation. We hope that this tragedy will compel parents, educators and school mental health professionals to work more closely to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Thousands of local people demand smokefree workplaces for Northern Ireland - Medical News Today 24/03/05
35,000 votes in favour of an end to smoking in enclosed public places and workplaces in Northern Ireland were delivered today, Thursday 24 March 2005, to NI Health Minister, Angela Smith MP.
UK Government response to NICE consultation on Alzheimer's drugs - Medical News Today 24/03/05
Health Secretary John Reid has today met with the Alzheimer's Society and discussed the Government's response to the NICE consultation on its draft appraisal of drugs for Alzheimer's Disease.
UT Southwestern researchers uncover gene variant that appears to predict type 2 diabetes - Medical News Today 24/03/05
A particular gene variant that could serve as a predictor for type 2 diabetes has been identified by researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center.
New generation contact lenses cut risk of severe eye infection - British Journal of Ophthalmology - Medical News Today 22/03/05
Sleeping in contact lenses carries a significant risk of severe eye infection (keratitis), but the new generation silicone hydrogel lenses cut that risk fivefold, finds research in the British Journal of Ophthalmology.
Depression linked to insomnia in HIV patients - Medical News Today 22/03/05
Depression appears to be a major cause of insomnia in people with HIV, according to a new systematic review of 29 studies on the topic.
Extreme exertion, emotion can spark repeat heart attacks - Medical News Today 22/03/05
Compelling evidence indicates that in people with a history of heart disease, physical exertion and emotional stress can trigger heart attacks, some of them fatal.
Newborn dies from MRSA infection, UK - Medical News Today 22/03/05
Luke Day died when he was just 36 hours old from the superbug MRSA at Ipswich Hospital, UK on 2nd February. His parents initially refused to sign his death certificate because it had no mention of MRSA. The coroner eventually did include (in the death certificate) MRSA infection as the cause of death.
Newspapers Examine Industry Response to Criticism of Direct-to-Consumer Prescription Drug Advertising - Medical News Today 22/03/05
Two newspapers recently published articles that examined reaction from the pharmaceutical industry to increased criticism of direct-to-consumer advertisements for prescription drugs.
Anticonvulsant drug poses greater birth-defect risk than suspected, study - Medical News Today 22/03/05
Risk with valproate four time greater than with alternative medications - Use of the anticonvulsant drug valproate during pregnancy may pose a significantly great risk of birth defects than does use of other antiseizure medications. In the March 22 issue of Neurology, researchers from the North American AED (Antiepileptic Drug) Pregnancy Registry at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) report that women taking valproate alone had a fourfold increased risk of having a child with a major malformation, compared with the risk among women taking other anticonvulsants.
Nurse gets first award, UK - Medical News Today 22/03/05
A heart nurse has become the first in Britain to win a new award for health professionals. Nick Mills has been honoured by the British Heart Foundation with the first of its new Excellence Awards.
Sock That Massages Your Feet With Every Step - Medical News Today 22/03/05
We all know how great exercise is for the health of our bodies but we sometimes forget about the stress that it puts on our feet until we feel our arches throb and ankles ache.
Non-invasive wearable heart care - Medical News Today 22/03/05
Linking continuous monitoring of ‘health behaviour' through non-invasive wearable sensors with decision support HEARTS offers support to healthy, ill, and high-risk people alike.
Wider choice of computer systems for UK family doctors - Medical News Today 24/03/05
Health Minister John Hutton today announced plans for GPs across England to be able to select a wider range of computer systems as part of the National Programme for IT.
RNA project to create language for scientists worldwide - Medical News Today 22/03/05
Research into ribonucleic acids (RNA)-the building blocks of life-is exploding as scientists worldwide discover the roles of RNA in genetics, health, disease and the development of organisms. The rapidly growing body of knowledge has created the need for researchers to develop a shared vocabulary and system for describing, cataloging and comparing their findings.
EMEA - Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC) - Meeting report, 27-28 January 2005 - Medical News Today 21/03/05
The Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products met for the third time at the EMEA offices on 27- 28 January 2005. The three drafting groups established by the Committee met in parallel on 27 January in the morning.
Acetaminophen, When Taken as Directed, is Safe for Patients with Liver Disease - Medical News Today 21/03/05
Contrary to common perception, clinical data demonstrate that acetaminophen is an appropriate pain relief choice for patients with chronic liver disease. According to a systematic literature review of the data, which is published in the current issue of the American Journal of Therapeutics, there is no evidence that acetaminophen at therapeutic doses aggravates liver disease.
Alternative to Private Medical Insurance Set to Turn Industry on Its Head, UK - Medical News Today 21/03/05
The provision of private health cover is a valued employee benefit. But for many companies private medical insurance (PMI) has become too expensive and the service too inflexible. YourHealth Plus has launched The Corporate Health Fund, which could change the face of private healthcare funding. Companies no longer have to pay for expensive PMI premiums from which they may never benefit. The Fund can save companies money and offers potential P11D tax benefits for employees.
New Self-Help Technology Set to Combat Eating Disorders - Medical News Today 21/03/05
A new interactive multi-media self-help package for people diagnosed with eating disorders developed by a medical researcher at the University of Glasgow is now set to be delivered over the internet to adolescent sufferers.
Medical Insurance Revolution, UK - Medical News Today 21/03/05
Healthcare is a major issue at the moment with politicians debating the matter extensively ahead of the general election and people like you and me just wanting reassurance that we'll get medical attention when we need it. Many of us are concerned that we are not receiving the best treatment for our families and ourselves.
Poll Shows Majority Back Howard on Abortion, UK - Medical News Today 21/03/05
Student LifeNet welcomes today's Daily Telegraph poll which shows that 43% of voters believe the abortion time limit should be changed as opposed to 29% who are opposed to any change in the law. 51% of women support a change in the law with 39% believing the time limit should be reduced to less than 20 weeks.
Reid Confirms £150m Savings From NHS Efficiency Drive, UK - Medical News Today 18/03/05
UK Health Secretary John Reid today confirmed that the Department of Health has made savings of more than £150m as part of the on-going review of its Arm's Length Bodies (ALBs) - exceeding the target set last year.
Virginity pledges do not reduce STD risk: May encourage high risk sexual behavior - Medical News Today 18/03/05
Young adults who take virginity pledges as adolescents are as likely to be infected with sexually transmitted diseases as those who do not take virginity pledges, Yale and Columbia University researchers report in the March 18 issue of Journal of Adolescent Health.
PillCam enables study of esophagus by swallowing a pill - Medical News Today 18/03/05
Diagnosing inflammation, pre-cancerous changes or dilated veins in the esophagus is now as easy as taking a pill - a pill housing miniature video cameras.
WHO recommends that no person under 18 should use a sunbed - Medical News Today 17/03/05
Today, the World Health Organization (WHO) is highlighting that sunbed use poses a risk of skin cancer, and that no person under 18 years of age should use a sunbed. It is known that young people who get burnt from exposure to UV will have a greater risk of developing melanoma later in life, and recent studies demonstrate the direct link between the use of sunbeds and cancer.
Discussion Paper on ethics of research in developing countries finds problems in practice - Medical News Today 17/03/05
Applying international guidance on healthcare-related research in developing countries in practice is often fraught with difficulty, according to a Discussion Paper published today by the Nuffield Council on Bioethics. The ethics of research related to healthcare in developing countries: a follow-up Discussion Paper reports that existing guidelines are often inconsistent and inappropriate for the developing country setting.
Sleeping Through the Night: Children's sleep expert advises parents - Medical News Today 15/03/05
How Infants, Toddlers and Their Parents Can Get a Good Night's Sleep - Sleep is essential, especially when it comes to children! According to a recent National Sleep Foundation poll, nearly 70 percent of infants and toddlers experience sleep problems and 75 percent of all parents want to change something about their child's sleep habits. Research shows that not getting the recommended hours of sleep affects a child's mood, attention, concentration, ability to learn, and daytime behavior. Thus, it is essential that children get the sleep they need. Getting a child to sleep through the night may seem like an impossible task, but it can be achieved.
Minorities, poor, uneducated bear the burden, USA - Medical News Today 15/03/05
Disparities in health care are pervasive in America. These disparities adversely impact the cardiovascular health of Americans, especially African Americans, Hispanics, poor and uneducated people, according to a report in a special disparities themed issue of Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.
To control germs, scientists deploy tiny agents provocateurs - Medical News Today 14/03/05
Aiming to thwart persistent bacterial infections and better control group behaviors of certain microorganisms, scientists are creating artificial chemicals that infiltrate and sabotage bacterial "mobs."
New factor affects fertility - protein called TAF4b - Medcal News Today 17/03/05
A protein called TAF4b that helps regulate gene expression in the testis apparently affects the ability of those organs to produce and maintain levels of sperm needed for fertility in mice, according to research done by investigators at Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) in Houston.
