National and International News
Focus: Harney's headache - The Sunday Times 17/04/05
Can the tanaiste give Irish hospitals the treatment they need? It will be a painful recovery, predict Dearbhail McDonald and Enda Leahy
Comment: Alan Ruddock: More money is not the right medicine for health service - The Sunday Times 17/04/05
When was the last time you heard somebody on radio or on television say that one of the problems preventing reform of the health service, and immediate improvement in the provision of accident and emergency services, was the Irish Nurses Organisation? What? The angels are a problem? But aren’t they the ones carrying the people’s protest about trolleys and overcrowding onto the streets? Aren’t they the ones with the placards and the ubiquitous spokesman banging on about more beds and more resources? Well, yes they are, but their protests, while wonderfully choreographed pieces of propaganda, are disingenuous.
Why little chefs make better eaters - The Sunday Times 17/04/05
Primary school cookery classes would reverse our unhealthy eating habits, writes Fiona Bird As a mother of six children, a self-taught cook and Masterchef finalist, I know healthy eating is essential if our children are to grow up intelligent, healthy and fit. I also know that rare is the child who knows how to cook.
Teen magazines blamed for rise in girls’ suicide - The Sunday Times 17/04/05
DEPRESSION and low self- esteem are fuelling a dramatic rise in suicides among teenage girls in Scotland, a government-funded study has revealed.
Dental chiefs in waiting list row - The Sunday Times 17/04/05
ONE of Scotland’s most senior dentists has accused health boards of squandering public money in a bid to manipulate hospital waiting lists.
Right hails Dworkin sex campaign - The Sunday Times 17/04/05
THE feminist writer Andrea Dworkin, who died last week aged 58, is being hailed by conservatives and supporters of family values in America for speaking out against casual sex and pornography.
Bird flu epidemic fears fading - The Sunday Times 17/04/05
THE first clue that something terrible was happening around the rice fields of the Red River delta came when Ngo Le Hung, a 31-year-old teacher, suddenly died, gasping for breath, a few days after his wedding.
Toll of babies aborted with chance of life hits 1,000 a year - The Sunday Times 17/04/05
SOME 1,000 healthy foetuses have been aborted in a single year at an age when they could have been born and lived, the government has disclosed.
Health secretary Reid admits ward bug killed his mother - The Sunday Times 17/04/05
JOHN REID, the health secretary, has disclosed that his mother died in a National Health Service ward as a result of a “hospital acquired” infection.
Hospitals feed children on Twizzlers - The Sunday Times 17/04/05
CHILDREN in Britain’s hospitals are being fed cheap processed food such as Turkey Twizzlers and other high-fat products in meals containing ingredients that cost as little as 45p.
Marathon runners test heart monitor - Daily Mail 17/04/05
Two runners in the London Marathon will be testing a mobile heart monitor which could be used across the NHS and even prove useful to members of the armed forces.
US sent banned corn to Europe for four years - The Independent 17/04/05
All imports of United States corn have been stopped at British ports following the discovery that the US has been illegally exporting a banned GM maize to Europe for the past four years.
EU law gives go ahead for health claims by food processing giants - The Independent 17/04/05
A new generation of foods and drinks designed to help reduce cancers and heart disease are set to appear on Britain's supermarket shelves.
This year's must-have cosmetic surgery: the Beyoncé nip and butt - The Independent 17/04/05
There is growing demand from British women for buttock implants. Jonathan Thompson reports
Focus: Asprin - The secret history of a wonder drug - The Independent 17/04/05
t cures headaches, prevents strokes and cuts down heart disease. Hardly a week goes by without yet more claims being made for the powers of this tiny pill derived from the willow tree, but can they really all be true? And what have Napoleon, Kafka and Rasputin got to do with it? David Randall tells the extraordinary tale of the world's best-known painkiller
Virgin for sale to pay mother's medical bills - The Observer 17/04/05
When Graciela Yataco scoured her home in Lima's poor San Diego area to see what she could sell to pay her mother's medical bills, she decided the only thing of any value was her own virginity.
Electric gadgets get the brushoff - The Observer 17/04/05
Lured by the prospect of a gleaming smile, consumers are happily paying more than £100 for electric toothbrushes. But some of them are no better at removing plaque and stains than the old-fashioned manual brush, according to the latest dental research.
This much I know: Ann McPherson, GP, 59, Oxford - The Observer 17/04/05
I worry that in the future everyone will be taking cholesterol-lowering drugs and use it as an excuse not to exercise or eat healthily.
Dr John Briffa: Gut reactions - The Observer 17/04/05
If you suffer from IBS, your doctor will probably tell you to eat more fibre. But, says Dr John Briffa, wheat could be the problem rather than the cure
Beauty salons fuel trade in aborted babies - The Observer 17/04/05
Racketeers pay Ukraine women to sell foetuses to quack clinics for 10,000 pounds courses of 'anti-ageing' jabs
The nation in numbers - The Observer 17/04/05
One in five women never has children, more people die because of hospital superbugs than road accidents, and 1 per cent of people share nearly a quarter of the wealth. Welcome to modern Britain, a nation almost unrecognisable from that of 50 years ago, according to a picture that emerges from a new book, Britain in Numbers by Simon Briscoe, published this week.
Nurses demand legal vice zones - The Observer 17/04/05
The main body representing Britain's nurses is to call for the decriminalisation of prostitution, arguing that this would allow healthcare workers to prevent the spread of diseases such as HIV.
Keep on running [Leader] - The Observer 17/04/05
Perils stalk the streets of London today, at least if the latest fit of nanny statism is to be believed. The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy has issued a stern 33-point warning to Flora London Marathon runners, including advice such as 'Don't wear trainers that are too small' and 'If you are running in flexion, for example as the back end of a horse, be sure to change over with your friend[s] to distribute the load or tension'.
Such dear little things - The Observer 17/04/05
Are kids just too expensive to afford? Parents have always joked about how their children are bleeding them dry, but the joke is frighteningly close to becoming reality.
Britain's transport plans are going nowhere fast - The Observer 17/04/05
Under pressure from costs and campaigners, the parties have swerved away from the issue, writes Nick Mathiason
Britain's transport plans are going nowhere fast - The Observer 17/04/05
Under pressure from costs and campaigners, the parties have swerved away from the issue, writes Nick Mathiason
Safety in danger at WTO - The Observer 17/04/05
Crucial health and environmental safeguards, established over many years, could be scrapped at world trade negotiations next week.
Pilots call for fume inquiry - The Observer 17/04/05
British pilots have called a summit in London this week to discuss fears that air quality inside aircraft cabins is dangerously poor. They are concerned that the polluted air has long-term effects on the health of crew and passengers, and that in some cases pilots are even being overcome by fumes.
The drugs do work [Letter] - The Observer 17/04/05
Good dementia care is not an alternative to a drug treatment (Oliver James, OM, last week). People with dementia need both. The Alzheimer's Society welcomes the growing recognition that care environments can make a huge difference to quality of life for people with dementia and is working with others to encourage the development and availability of interventions such as Specal. But any increase in support and services cannot be at the expense of the prescription of drugs. It is not an either/or scenario.
Letters to the Editor - The Observer 17/04/05
Your 'What's for Tea' article (OFM, last week), addressing potentially diet-related behaviour problems in children, fails to mention that consultation with a dietitian is provided free by the NHS.
The big choice facing Britain [Comment] - The Observer 17/04/05
As the campaign becomes more fascinating than most had anticipated, this election is a contest between two utterly different futures
Athletes bare their soles to beat injury - The Observer 17/04/05
Marathon runners and fashion-conscious joggers are turning to 'barefoot trainers' for safer racing
Smear results 'within 7 days' - Labour - Daily Mail 16/04/05
Labour has promised women will receive the results of cervical smear tests within seven days rather than seven weeks, if the the party is returned to power.
Miniscule microscope testing hope - BBC Health News 16/04/05
Scientists have developed a tiny microscope - the width of a human hair - which they say could "revolutionise" the examination of biological samples.
Treatment hope for child tumours - BBC Health 16/04/05
A discovery could lead to new ways to treat a particularly aggressive form of childhood brain cancer.
Widow's plight reignites living will controversy in America - The Telegraph 17/04/05
When Mae Magouirk drew up a living will, she believed that it would protect her in her twilight years and head off any family squabbling over medical care at the end of her life.
Why shaking the family tree can be bad for your health - The Telegraph 17/04/05
Genealogists want psychotherapy to be made available for people who stumble across unpleasant discoveries while researching their family history.
Officials deny MMR jabs scarcity - The Guardian 16/04/05
Department of Health says extra stocks of controversial vaccine arrived in time to avoid rationing
Mumps alert as GPs run out of MMR vaccine - Daily Mail 16/04/05
Vaccination campaigns suspended amid MMR shortage - The Independent 16/04/05
Shortage of MMR jabs threatens outbreak of mumps - The Times 16/04/05
Reid slams 'repulsive' health plans - Daily Mail 16/04/05
Labour and the Tories have clashed on health as John Reid condemned Conservative proposals to subsidise people going private as offensive, repellent and repulsive.
Campaigning curate takes on Reid over late abortions - Daily Mail 16/04/05
A curate who campaigned over the late abortion of a baby with a cleft palate is taking Health Secretary John Reid to court in a bid to make terminations illegal after 24 weeks.
Soil could hold superbug cure - The Independent 16/04/05
Garden soil could hold the key to the development of new drugs to treat super-bugs including MRSA, researchers believe.
Fighting superbugs 'with soil' - Daily Mail 15/04/05
Keep on running: Paula Radcliffe - The Telegraph 16/04/05
Concluding our series, Tarquin Cooper catches up with the stars of the 2005 Flora London Marathon
One boy, 18 pairs of glasses - The Telegraph 16/04/05
Spectacles and active children do not go well together, so is there an alternative to all the expense and inconvenience, asks Rachel Johnson
Bird flu outbreak leads to fears of pandemic - The Telegraph 16/04/05
The threat of a killer flu pandemic is greater than ever because of the spread of the bird flu virus in south-east Asia, the World Health Organisation said yesterday.
Jail for man who gave painkillers to toddler - The Telegraph 16/04/05
A man who fed a two-and-a-half-year-old girl up to 16 painkillers so that she was "within an hour of death" has been jailed for five years.
Shipman copyrighted letters and prison diary - The Telegraph 16/04/05
The serial killer Harold Shipman copyrighted his letters and prison diary to stop inmates stealing them and selling them to the press, an inquest heard yesterday.
Waiting lists 'will have to rise' while hospitals battle against superbugs - The Telegraph 16/04/05
Hospital waiting lists will have to rise if the NHS is to win the battle against the superbug MRSA, a specialist told a conference on clean hospitals yesterday.
Drinking increases the pleasure of smoking, say researchers - The Telegraph 16/04/05
Smokers experience greater cravings for cigarettes when they drink because the pleasurable effects are magnified by alcohol, according to research published yesterday.
Alcohol magnifies the rewarding effects of smoking, even for light smokers - Medical News Today 15/04/05
Jail officers tried to revive Shipman - The Telegraph 16/04/05
A prison officer told yesterday how he tried to revive the serial killer Harold Shipman, found hanging in his cell.
IT error gives staff 100-fold pay rise - The Telegraph 16/04/05
Five hundred staff at a hospital have been paid 100 times their weekly wage after a computer error meant that pennies showed as pounds
Unveiling the misery of 'hidden disability' - The Guardian 16/04/05
Too often, dyslexia goes unnoticed at work - causing untold suffering for the staff who can't cope with their jobs. Sandra Howard reports
The Insider - The Guardian 16/04/05
Our team of experts who have run campaigns from the inside analyse the latest moves and battle plans. Today Peter Hyman finds Labour winning the debate but still lacking passion
A clear choice - between lesser of two evils - The Guardian 16/04/05
The title of Labour's manifesto, Forward Not Back, perfectly encapsulates how Labour needs the election to be seen by the public - as a choice between it and the Conservatives. Come May 6, it is going to be one of the two in power. Hence Labour's perpetual use of the word "choice" and all those posters, juxtaposing Howard and Blair, Brown and Letwin, the devil and the deep blue sea.
NHS trusts condemn Howard scare tactics - The Guardian 16/04/05
NHS managers last night accused Michael Howard of whipping up public fears about the MRSA hospital superbug by publishing constituency statistics exaggerating its prevalence.
Legal counsel - The Guardian 16/04/05
I represent colleagues on a "work's committee" which meets quarterly with management. I have been asked to raise issues concerning work-related stress which is a very sensitive subject at our office. I want our managers to take the concerns seriously. What can I say to convince them to do so without stirring up trouble?
International news in brief - The Guardian 16/04/05
Health experts have destroyed two-thirds of the specimens of a killer influenza virus sent as part of routine test kits around the world, the UN health agency said yesterday. It said it still was trying to trace two shipments bound for Mexico and Lebanon.
Peers and MPs join furore over 'rushed' ban on magic mushrooms - The Guardian 16/04/05
Retailers to challenge class A classification amid claims that new law will drive trade underground
Ask Emma - The Guardian 16/04/05
I have torn a ligament in my groin – half my leg is dark red/black with bruising – and at night my leg throbs all over. I rub in arnica and witch hazel regularly. I am keen to avoid strong painkillers.
Games news - The Guardian 16/04/05
Morbidly-obese American kids are being bought PS2s in a bid to help them lose weight. But rather than plugging them into Metal Gear Solid 3 and letting the length of its cut scenes interrupt normal meal times, health officials have instead hit upon Konami's Dance Dance Revolution as a way of getting the little piglets to shed some bacon using its dance mat attachment. Supplying each with a pedometer, progress will be closely monitored over the project's opening three months to see how effective it is as a weight loss aid and at introducing regular exercise where previously there had only been super-sized hamburger meals and wall-to-wall TV viewership.
Sex with Dr Thomas Stuttaford and Suzi Godson - The Times 16/04/05
Just how gay am I? I’m 49 and I’ve been married for 23 years but I’ve recently begun having liaisons with other men. I had some homosexual feelings before I got married but they have increased recently as my desire for my wife has decreased. However, I’m still unsure about the extent of my “gayness”. What should I do?
Bad news bunnies - The Times 16/04/05
There’s a new Miffy book about death and Bambi is being remade to focus on coping with loss — but are cute cartoons really the right way to tell children about mortality, asks Emma Cook
The me-time party's at my place . . . naturally - The Times 16/04/05
Serena Mackesy and friends treat themselves to full-on pampering without leaving the house
The mother of invention - The Times 16/04/05
Sophie Okonedo is in a new film about IVF — has it made her want more kids, asks Rosie Millard
Cleaning up MRSA - The Times 16/04/05
Could patient-driven initiatives — such as this week’s summit on hospital hygiene — teach doctors a thing or two, asks Jerome Burne
Graphic: Pampered pet hates - The Times 16/04/05
Pet hates at the spa.
Spa in your eyes - The Times 16/04/05
HAVING chocolate smeared all over your body clearly isn’t your thing. A new survey of what we like and dislike about spas shows that far from attaining a Zen-like state of tranquillity, many of us get stressed out in them. Top of the hate-list is walking around starkers but we clearly don’t like being coated in chocolate sauce either.
Junk medicine: pros and cons of painkillers - The Times 16/04/05
A safety scare has banished beneficial drugs, leaving many patients worse off
Dr Copperfield: inside the mind of a GP - The Times 16/04/05
You say you want a second opinion? Why not let your GP give you a once-over first. He might even be able to help
Analyse this: men's intuition - The Times 16/04/05
FEMININE intuition? Not likely, according to new research unveiled by the psychologist Richard Wiseman at the Edinburgh International Science Festival this week.
We lose power at 30 - The Times 16/04/05
Breakthroughs, tips and trends OH DEAR, things really do start going to pot the moment you hit your thirties. Scientists have discovered that the DNA in our muscles’ energy centres starts deteriorating when we hit our third decade.
Needles must - The Times 16/04/05
Should parents heed new alarm bells about multiple jabs?
Is it all just made up? - The Times 16/04/05
What is the truth behind cosmetics companies' claims? In the first of a three part series, Simon Crompton takes an unprecedented look at the secret world of the research laboratories
Irma Kurtz: Moving on: breaking an engagement - The Times 16/04/05
My fiancé has had a stroke — how can I tell him now that I don’t want to marry him? When I met Tom six years ago he was 54 and had been divorced for 12 years. I was single and 42. We went out a few times but things fizzled out. Then we met again five years later and it was different. He was much keener to pursue the relationship. We had some good times and when Tom proposed, I accepted. Then I got cold feet. I wasn’t getting much out of the deal: my salary was three times his, and I’m not a high earner; he drove an old pick-up, I have a sports saloon. I kept putting off wedding plans. Then Tom had a serious stroke. He understands what is happening and can answer questions. But recovery is a long way off and perhaps will never be complete. I no longer want to marry him. We shared no youthful good times and face only the burdens of old age. He will never work again. I want to be married but time is running out. I visit him four times a week in hospital. He has family who visit daily. I like them but they will think I am breaking off the engagement because of his illness, which is not entirely true. I dread telling him but I want to get out of this. I dread his sister’s reaction and, even more, his mother’s.
Bodylicious: perchance to dream; man power; cool pants - The Times 16/04/05
Need a calming cuppa to help you drift away but bored of camomile and don’t like Horlicks? New Sleepy Tea could be the thing to send you off on a good night’s slumber. Made entirely from organic lemon balm, lime flower and lavender, this new blend from the Tea and Philosophy range has a soothing scent and a subtle, fresh taste that seems more natural than many herbal teas. If the tea doesn’t lull you to sleep with a smile on your face, the packet’s instructions to 'put your work and worries in a drawer' just might, although at 5 for 40g it is less good if those worries are financial. Visit www.todaywasfun.com for stockists.
Your problems solved: milk teeth and sweet dreams - The Times 16/04/05
My granddaughter, aged 3½, has tooth decay on her front teeth. She eats a healthy diet with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables but she was having a bottle of soya milk fortified with calcium and vitamins to take to bed. It seems the milk contains sugar which was said to be the cause. The family live in Australia and are coming to visit me soon. Is there anything I can do to help?
Lunchtime fix: thread veins - The Times 16/04/05
If unsightly thread veins are ruining the look of your legs, get those blood vessels zapped with lasers. Just make sure you follow these guidelines, says David Gault, a consultant at the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons and a laser practitioner.
Rethinking Alzheimer's - The Times 16/04/05
A musician and a scientist aim to revolutionise the way we treat dementia, says Jerome Burne
Legend in your own lunchbox - The Times 16/04/05
Making a packed lunch can be a drag but, when the alternative is a limp sarnie, it pays to put in the effort, finds Douglas McPherson
At your table: getting back into shape - The Times 16/04/05
Getting back into shape after giving birth doesn’t have to be hard labour
In a league of their own - The Times 16/04/05
A women’s fitness movement, 75 today, is very much alive and kicking, reports Siobhan Dolan
Not just anybody: Adrian Lester, 36 - The Times 16/04/05
Actor Adrian Lester, 36, keeps fit with tae kwon do, gets high dancing and adores ice-cold vodka
Too much junk food does clog the brain - Daily Mail 26/04/05
A diet full of junk food can affect children's brain power, scientists claimed yesterday.
BBC apology for 'lemons' dental tip - Daily Mail 15/04/05
The BBC has apologised for a programme which advised viewers to whiten their teeth by using lemons.
Binge-drink study to probe adverts - Daily Mail 15/04/05
Young drinkers are to be asked if consuming certain brands of alcoholic drink makes them believe they are "cool" due to the way they are advertised, it has been announced.
Cord blood banks could be lifesaver - Daily Mail 15/04/05
Blood from the umbilical cord should be stored to treat chemotherapy patients and could save thousands of lives a year, according to a new report.
Household soap link to chloroform - Daily Mail 15/04/05
A conservation charity has raised concerns over a common anti-bacterial agent used in soap, toothpaste, mouthwash and cosmetics which research suggests could be harmful to health.
Being too clean could be hazardous to your health - too much chloroform - Medical News Today 14/04/05
Health gain from weight loss drug - Daily Mail 15/04/05
A new anti-obesity drug may prove a powerful weapon against the type of weight gain that can lead to heart disease and diabetes, new research showed.
Wonder pill for slimmers 'on the NHS next year' - Daily Mail 15/04/05
Drug Can Reduce Bodyweight and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Obese People - Medical News Today 17/04/05
Curate targets Reid over abortions - Daily Mail 15/04/05
A curate who campaigned against the late abortion of a foetus with a cleft lip and palate will focus her legal challenge on the Health Secretary, she has announced.
Ill girl's parents beg PM for help - Daily Mail 15/04/05
A Welsh couple who fear their daughter will die if they are deported from the US have begged Prime Minister Tony Blair for help.
Nurse misconduct hearing adjourned - Daily Mail 15/04/05
The disciplinary hearing of a nurse accused of ordering staff at her residential home to tie down patients with a dog lead has been adjourned until next month.
Two virus shipments still missing - Daily Mail 15/04/05
Health experts have destroyed two-thirds of the specimens of a killer influenza virus sent as part of routine test kits around the world, the UN health agency has said.
Waistline test for diabetes - Daily Mail 15/04/05
People with a waistline of a metre or more are at a high risk of getting diabetes and heart disease, according to new research.
Steaming your way to good health - Daily Mail 15/04/05
Health-conscious Britons are ditching deep fat fryers as they opt instead to cook with lean grills and steamers, new figures show.
Growth in male allergy sufferers - Daily Mail 15/04/05
The number of men vulnerable to allergies grew by around 10 per cent over the last quarter of the 20th century but the reason why is still not known, research shows.
'Switch' that turns off breast cancer - Daily Mail 15/04/05
British scientists have identified a breast cancer "master switch" that appears to control the spread of the disease around the body.
Doctor plans to fight West seat - BBC Health News 15/04/05
A junior doctor is to stand for election in Cheltenham in protest over a shake-up in children's services.
Switch 'controls cancer spread' - BBC Health News 15/04/05
UK scientists say they have found a master switch that controls the spread of breast cancer around the body.
Patient data 'spots poor doctors' - BBC Health News 15/04/05
Poorly performing doctors could be picked up by looking at patient data kept by hospitals, researchers claim.
NHS anger over Tory MRSA claims - BBC Health News 15/04/05
Hospital bosses have rounded on Tory leader Michael Howard after he leafleted thousands of homes quoting misleading figures about MRSA rates.
Tories accused over MRSA 'scare' - BBC Health News 16/04/05
Anger over MRSA summit snub - BBC Health News 15/04/05
Doctors and NHS bosses have been attacked for snubbing a conference on hospital superbug MRSA.
Suicide 'link' between partners - BBC Health News 15/04/05
The partner of a person who has committed suicide is significantly more likely to take their own life, researchers have found.
Study Says Partner's Suicide Raises Person's Own Risk - Reuters 14/04/05
'Alarm clock' protein TB aid hope - BBC Health News 16/04/05
"Waking up" tuberculosis bacteria lying dormant in the body could help treat the disease faster and more effectively, researchers suggest.
GSK investors bring Paxil lawsuit - BBC Health News 14/04/05
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) is facing a class action lawsuit in the US from investors who allege it concealed problems with its anti-depressant drug Paxil.
Angola Priests, Healers Preach Marburg Awareness - Reuters 17/04/05
Angolan priests urged their congregations Sunday to abandon their fear of hospitals so that loved ones could receive treatment for the Marburg virus that has killed more than 200 people.
FDA Warns Pfizer, Bayer on Drug Ads - Reuters 15/04/05
U.S. regulators said on Friday they have issued warnings about misleading advertisements for Pfizer Inc.'s (PFE.N: Quote, Profile, Research) allergy drug Zyrtec and Bayer AG's (BAYG.DE: Quote, Profile, Research) impotence pill Levitra.
FDA Warns Pfizer, Bayer on Misleading Drug Ads - Reuters 15/04/05
High-Dose Ephedra Pills Still Illegal, FDA Says - Reuters 15/04/05
The ban on sales of weight-loss herb ephedra remains in place for higher doses despite a court ruling that regulators failed to meet the standard for outlawing low doses, the Food and Drug Administration said on Friday.
Constipation Common Among Infants and Toddlers - Reuters 15/04/05
Constipation is common among children up to 2 years old, according to the results of a recent study. However, dietary changes and laxatives usually resolve the problem.
Worm Eggs Improve Bowel Disorder - Reuters 15/04/05
Ingesting the eggs of Trichuris suis, an intestinal worm, appears to be a safe and effective treatment for active ulcerative colitis, new research shows.
Bush Administration May Ease 'Downer Cattle' Ban - Reuters 15/04/05
The Bush administration said on Friday it may allow some injured cattle to be slaughtered for human food, easing a regulation that the Agriculture Department adopted 15 months ago after the nation's first case of mad cow disease.
Dairy May Not Help Weight Loss Much After All - Reuters 15/04/05
Downing lots of dairy food appears to do little in the short term for young women's waistlines, despite earlier reports that eating dairy products can help people lose weight, new study findings show.
Weight Loss Reduces Risk for Gout - Reuters 15/04/05
Being obese, gaining weight since young adulthood, high blood pressure and taking a diuretic "water pill' are all linked to an increased likelihood of developing gout, according to a new study, but losing weight decreases the risk.
Clothes, Not Sunscreen, Deter Nevi on Kids' Skin - Reuters 15/04/05
Slathering sunscreen on children does not seem to keep them from developing moles, but putting a T-shirt on over their bathing suits may, a new study suggests.
Vigorous Activity May Lessen Arthritis Disability - Reuters 15/04/05
Older people with arthritis are more likely to hang on to good physical function if they exercise on a regular basis, a new study suggests.
Two-Thirds of Lethal Asian Flu Virus Destroyed - WHO - Reuters 15/04/05
Some two-thirds of the 3,700 laboratories worldwide that received samples of a killer flu virus in test kits have destroyed them as instructed, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday.
Scientists Rush to Destroy Killer Flu Virus - Reuters 13/04/05
Depression Increases Mortality Risk in Diabetics - Reuters 15/04/05
The results of a new study confirm that people with diabetes are prone to depression. The findings also show that depression significantly increases the likelihood that people with diabetes, but not those without diabetes, will die over a 10-year period.
Golfers' Yips May Be Movement Disorder: Study - Reuters 15/04/05
Yips, a condition that plagues professional and amateur golfers alike and leaves them unable to complete a stroke, may be a movement disorder similar to writer's cramp and musician's cramp, researchers reported this week.
Roche's Avastin Works in Third Type of Cancer - Reuters 15/04/05
Cancer drug Avastin also works in treating breast tumors, the third cancer in which the novel medicine has been found to show a benefit, its makers Genentech Inc and Roche Holding AG said on Friday.
Herbal Remedies for Arthritis Can Be Risky - Reuters 14/04/05
People with arthritis are more likely than others to be using herbal remedies, and this increases the chances of serious interactions with prescribed medications, a British study shows.
Psychological Therapy Can Help Maltreated Children - Reuters14/04/05
Psychological counseling does seem to help heal the scars of child abuse and neglect, though the extent to which family therapy prevents future abuse is unclear, according to a research review.
Fibroids More Likely with High Blood Pressure - Reuters 14/04/05
Women with elevated blood pressure are at increased risk of developing fibroids, a new study shows.
Variety of Activities May Lower Dementia Risk-Study - Reuters 14/04/05
A variety of activities like exercise, household chores and even dancing, can help people avoid Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia, U.S. researchers said on Thursday.
Entremed Drug Gets Orphan Status in Ovarian Cancer - Reuters 14/04/05
EntreMed Inc. said on Thursday that U.S. regulators will grant its experimental treatment for ovarian cancer a seven-year period of market exclusivity if it is approved.
Lethal injection execution 'cruel' - U.S. researchers - Reuters 14/04/05
American researchers have called for an halt to lethal injection, the most common method of capital punishment in the United States, because it is not always a humane and painless way to die.
Execution by Lethal Injection Is Not Humane or Painless - Medical News Today 17/04/05
WHO issues travel advice on Marburg-hit Angola - Reuters 14/04/05
Travelers to Angola, where Marburg disease has killed 210, should avoid close contact with ill people and countries may wish to screen returning visitors, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Thursday.
Antidepressants Don't Affect Post-Birth Weight Loss - Reuters 13/04/05
For women suffering from depression after delivering a baby, treatment with antidepressants does not interfere with losing the weight gained during pregnancy, according to researchers.
Surprise Rx for Mild Asthma - Don't Take the Pills - Reuters 13/04/05
Patients with mild asthma who ignore their doctor's advice to take steroids to prevent attacks, waiting instead to use an inhaler when they need it, are doing the right thing, researchers said on Wednesday.
U.S. Tracking Dangerous Flu Strain Sent to Labs - Reuters 13/04/05
A fierce strain of flu virus sent to many U.S. labs has not made anyone sick and authorities have detected no evidence of a health threat, officials said on Wednesday.
New Treatment Targets Inherited Breast Cancers - Reuters 13/04/05
British scientists said on Wednesday they have identified a potential new treatment for patients with certain types of hereditary breast cancer.
Kids Risk Head Injury on the Golf Course - Reuters13/04/05
As the ranks of young golfers grow, hospitals may start seeing more head injuries in children and teens caused by swinging clubs and careening golf carts, a new study suggests.
Mentor Wants Silicone Breast Implants - Reuters 13/04/05
Mentor Corp. (MNT.N: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Wednesday it had stronger evidence for the durability of its silicone breast implants than a rival that failed to win a U.S. advisory panel's backing on Tuesday.
Mentor to Present Long-Term Data Supporting Silicone Gel Breast Implants at FDA Panel Meeting - Medical News Today 13/04/05
Silicone implants for breast enlargement, FDA will approve one and turns down another - Medical News Today 16/04/05
World Health Chief Urges More Vaccines in Africa - Reuters 13/04/05
Africa needs more investment in research and manpower to boost vaccination rates that are less than half the global average, the director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO) said Wednesday.
GMO Rice Sold in Central China Markets -Greenpeace - Reuters 13/04/05
Genetically modified rice is being sold in markets in the central Chinese province of Hubei, even though the authorities have not yet approved its sale in China, Greenpeace charged Wednesday.
Statins May Cut Stroke Disability, Deaths - Reuters 12/04/05
The cholesterol-lowering drugs known as statins -- such as Lipitor (also known as simvastatin) or Zocor (simvastatin) -- have the potential to prevent long-term disability following a stroke, a new study shows.
Potassium, in Any Form, Lowers Blood Pressure - Reuters 12/04/05
Potassium citrate has similar blood pressure-lowering effects as the best-studied potassium compound, potassium chloride, according to a UK study
'Placebo Effect' Weak in Chronic Fatigue - Reuters 12/04/05
Despite assumptions to the contrary, people with chronic fatigue syndrome -- a mysterious illness for which there is no objective test or known cause -- seem less likely than patients with other illnesses to respond to dummy "placebo" treatments, according to a research review.
Older Hearts Benefit from Fish, Soy Oil - Reuters 12/04/05
In elderly people, omega-3 fatty acids contained in fish and soy oil increase a measure of heart-healthiness called heart rate variability, a small study indicates.
Meat, Milk from Clones Look Normal, Study Finds - Reuters 12/04/05
Meat and milk from cloned cattle are virtually identical to the same products from prize animals bred the old-fashioned way, researchers in Japan and the United States reported on Tuesday.
Angola Launches Marburg Campaign as Toll Tops 200 - Reuters 12/04/05
Angola launched a massive public information campaign on Tuesday in a bid to stamp out the killer Marburg virus as the toll from the worst ever outbreak topped 200.
Women Wary of Tamoxifen to Cut Breast Cancer Risk - Reuters 12/04/05
Among women at increased risk of breast cancer, fewer than 1 in 5 of those surveyed were prepared to take tamoxifen to reduce their risk, researchers report.
Inamed to U.S. Panel: Silicone Breast Implants Safe - Reuters 12/04/05
Inamed Corp. told U.S. health experts on Tuesday that its silicone breast implants are safe enough for regulators to lift a 13-year-old ban and allow widespread sales.
Glaxo, Research Group to Collaborate on VCJD Drug - Reuters 12/04/05
Drugs giant GlaxoSmithKline Plc will collaborate with Britain's Medical Research Council to try to find a drug to treat the human version of mad cow disease.
U.S. Wants More Easing of Japan Beef Test Rules -Kyodo - Reuters 12/04/05
The United States urged Japan on Tuesday to exclude beef cattle under the age of 30 months from testing for mad cow disease, the latest sign of U.S. pressure on Japan to ease its testing standards, Kyodo news agency said.
High Folate Intake Tied to Mental Drop in Elders - Reuters 11/04/05
Older adults with high intakes of the B vitamin folate may have a faster rate of mental decline than others their age, researchers reported Monday.
US Panel Hears of Breast Implant Woes, Benefits - Reuters 11/04/05
Numerous women said silicone breast implants restored their confidence after cancer surgery, but others told experts weighing whether to allow the devices to be sold widely again that leaking silicone and other complications made them sick.
Eritrea Launches Polio Vaccine Campaign by Camel - Reuters 11/04/05
Eritrea launched a campaign on Monday to inoculate 500,000 children against polio, using camels to deliver vaccines to more remote corners of the country.
UN Official Hopes New Pope Will Ease Condom Stance - Reuters 11/04/05
The U.N. population chief said on Monday she hoped the next pope would ease the Catholic church's opposition to contraception in order to fight the spread of AIDS.
Decline in Teen Birth Rate Over Past Decade Improved Child Well-Being, Avoided Increase in Child Poverty, Report Says - Medical News Today 17/04/05
The decline in the teen birth rate over the past 10 years has improved the overall well-being of children and helped avoid an increase in child poverty, according to a report released on Wednesday by the... National Campaign To Prevent Teen Pregnancy, the Washington Times reports. The report, titled "What If?," examined state data to predict what would have happened to seven indicators if the number of teen births had not declined between 1991 and 2002 and almost 1.2 million more births had occurred. The report shows that overall child poverty would have increased 8.3% (Wetzstein, Washington Times, 4/13). Of the approximately 1.2 million additional children, 460,000 would have been living in poverty and 700,000 would have lived in a single-parent household, according to the report (Connolly, Washington Post, 4/14). Nationwide, 14 states and Washington, D.C., would have experienced at least a 10% increase in child poverty rates had the births not been avoided, according to the report (Washington Times, 4/13). California had the highest rate of decline in teen births during the period studied at 44.3%, while Nebraska had the lowest at 12.7% (Altonn, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 4/13).
Drug May Help MS Patients with Laughing, Crying Spells - Medical News Today 17/04/05
A new drug may help people with multiple sclerosis (MS) who have a condition that leaves them unable to control their emotions, according to research presented at the American Academy of Neurology 57th Annual Meeting in Miami Beach, Fla., April 9 - 16, 2005.
Obesity Common Among Adults in China - Medical News Today 17/04/05
Around 18 million adults in China are obese, 137 million are overweight, and 64 million have metabolic syndrome-a condition where a number of risk factors for heart disease are present, suggests a study published in this week's issue of The Lancet.
Ibuprofen May Lower Risk of Parkinson's Disease - Medical News Today 17/04/05
Over-the-counter pain relievers may help to prevent or delay the onset of Parkinson's disease, according to research presented at the American Academy of Neurology 57th Annual Meeting in Miami Beach, Fla., April 9 - 16, 2005. Researchers caution that the results are preliminary and further study is needed.
Bright Arctic Light Can Lead to Migraine - Medical News Today 17/04/05
The bright light of summer in countries in the arctic area may lead to more headaches for people with migraine, according to research that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology 57th Annual Meeting in Miami Beach, Fla., April 9 - 16, 2005. The results were true only for people with migraine accompanied by an aura, or a warning sensation that occurs before the headache begins.
Obesity Linked to Risk of Severe Headaches - Medical News Today 17/04/05
Obesity is linked to a risk of severe headaches, according to research that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology 57th Annual Meeting in Miami Beach, Fla., April 9 - 16, 2005.
Hormone Aids Recovery in Rats with Hemorrhagic Stroke - Medical News Today 17/04/05
Erythropoietin, a glycoprotein hormone that stimulates bone marrow to produce red blood cells, has shown a therapeutic effect on rats who have suffered an intracerebral hemorrhage, according to research that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology 57th Annual Meeting in Miami Beach, Fla., April 9 - 16, 2005.
Health Concerns Associated with Disaster Victim Identification After a Tsunami,Thailand - Medical News Today 17/04/05
The number of persons confirmed dead from the Indian Ocean tsunami that struck on December 26, 2004, had exceeded 174,000 as of March 31, 2005; the majority of decedents were buried or cremated without being identified. In contrast, in Thailand, disaster victim identification (DVI) continues, with approximately 1,800 persons identified among the 5,395 persons confirmed dead; of the dead, approximately 50% were not citizens of Thailand. This large-scale, multinational effort faced immediate challenges, including establishment of four temporary morgues, implementation of safeguards against environmental and occupational health hazards, and coordination of forensic procedures and safety protocols among Thai and international forensic teams. Public health and other agencies performing large-scale DVI in temporary morgues might consider implementing the recommendations and procedures described in this report.
Essential Tremor Associated with Increased Risk of Dementia - Medical News Today 17/04/05
People with essential tremor, a movement disorder that causes shaking of the hands, head, voice, or body, are more likely to develop dementia, according to research presented at the American Academy of Neurology 57th Annual Meeting in Miami Beach, Fla., April 9 - 16, 2005.
Covering Obesity Surgery - Medical News Today 17/04/05
Some health insurers won't cover weight-loss surgery until patients have gone through medically supervised diet programs.
Avastin may be cancer wonder drug for pancreatic, renal, ovarian and prostate cancers - Medical News Today 17/04/05
Avastin is Being Studied in Phase III Trials in Pancreatic, Renal, Ovarian and Prostate Cancers - Genentech, Inc announced that an interim analysis of a Phase III study of Avastin™ (bevacizumab) plus paclitaxel chemotherapy in first-line metastatic breast cancer met its primary efficacy endpoint of showing an improvement in progression-free survival, compared to chemotherapy alone.
Alcohol Hinders College Academic Success - Medical News Today 17/04/05
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 25 percent of college students report having suffered academic consequences for their drinking habits. Other consequences of alcohol and drug consumption may include unintentional injury, physical or mental substance dependency, and death. One University of Missouri-Columbia senior conducted research to determine how college students perceive the risks associated with these personal alcohol and drug-use habits, and will present his findings to Congress on April 19.
New Synthetic Delta-9-THC Inhaler Offers Safe, Rapid Delivery, Phase I Study - Medical News Today 17/04/05
Solvay Pharmaceuticals, Inc announced the results of a Phase I study evaluating the safety and tolerability of pulmonary dronabinol administered in a one-time dose using a pressurized metered dose inhaler. Dronabinol is a synthetic version of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, which is one of more than 400 compounds found in the marijuana plant (Cannabis sativa L). The research was presented at the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Annual Meeting in Miami, Fla.
Childhood Cancer Diagnosis Lasts a Lifetime - Medical News Today 17/04/05
Andy Gegg was only a few weeks shy of his sixteenth birthday when he was diagnosed with Ewing's Sarcoma. After several surgeries, radiation therapy and chemotherapy; Andy successfully completed his cancer treatment.
Ovary Removal Elevates Risk for Parkinson's Disease and Parkinsonism - Medical News Today 17/04/05
Mayo Clinic researchers have found that surgical removal of both ovaries doubles a woman's risk of developing Parkinson's disease and parkinsonism many years later in life. They also discovered that the younger a woman is at the time of the surgery, the higher her risk.
Pessimism and Depression Increase Dementia Risk - Medical News Today 17/04/05
Individuals who do not have psychiatric problems but score very high on a personality test pessimism scale have a 30 percent increased risk of developing dementia several decades later. The same is true of individuals who score very high on the test's depression scale. The risk is even higher -- 40 percent more -- for individuals who score very high on both anxiety and pessimism scales.
Special Physical Therapy Technique Successful for Chronic Back Pain - Medical News Today 17/04/05
A physical therapy method is successful in treating people with severe back pain due to disc disease, according to research that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology 57th Annual Meeting in Miami Beach, Fla., April 9 - 16, 2005.
Top 10 Food Trends - Going Global - Medical News Today 17/04/05
Food trends once primed to focus on families are reshaping as Baby-boomers become empty-nesters, and health-related products are booming worldwide. This is according to this month's issue of Food Technology magazine and its cover story, Top 10 Global Food Trends. Food Technology is published monthly by the scientific society Institute of Food Technologists.
Women Not Given Same Tests for Stroke - Medical News Today 17/04/05
Women who have strokes are less likely to receive some standard tests to help diagnose the type of stroke and determine treatment, according to research that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology 57th Annual Meeting in Miami Beach, Fla., April 9 - 16, 2005.
New Hope To Older Patients With Vision Problems And An Alternative To Ocular Implant Surgery - Medical News Today 17/04/05
Hopkins researchers have found that patients experiencing vision problems following cataract removal and intraocular lens implantation (CE-IOL) may have better results from laser refractive surgery, which spares them potential complications of lens implant replacement and the inconvenience of glasses.
Novel Adhesive Found Effective for Sealing Corneal Incisions - Medical News Today 17/04/05
A liquid adhesive made from a protein found in human tissue is effective in sealing corneal wounds and may even be better than stitches, according to results of a Johns Hopkins study.
Strengthening Lazy Eye - Medical News Today 17/04/05
New research from a nationwide (USA) clinical trial shows that many children age 7-17 with lazy eye (amblyopia) may benefit from treatments more commonly used on younger children.
Steady Rise In Allergic Diseases Over Quarter Of A Century, Reason Unknown - Medical News Today 16/04/05
The rate of allergic diseases (atopy) in adults has steadily increased over the last quarter of the 20th century, but the reason for the increase is still unknown, according to a study published online by the BMJ today.
Nanomaterials: How do they cross membranes to allow for their interaction with cells - Medical News Today 16/04/05
A research team from Rice University and North Carolina State University have received $75,000 funding from the National Academies Keck Futures Initiative to study one of the critical questions in the biology of nanomaterials: how such particles cross membranes to allow for their interaction with cells.
Can Hospital Data Detect Poor Performing Doctors? - Medical News Today 16/04/05
Can routine hospital data be used to detect poor quality service delivery among surgeons?
Female-Controlled Microbicide To Prevent HIV Infection Could Be Available in Three to Four Years - Medical News Today 16/04/05
A female-controlled, vaginal microbicide to prevent HIV infection could be available in three to four years and offers more hope in the "foreseeable future" than an HIV/AIDS vaccine,... UNAIDS Executive Director Peter Piot said on Thursday, AFP/Yahoo! News reports (AFP/Yahoo! News [1], 4/14). Speaking to journalists in Geneva, Piot said that the development of a safe and effective HIV/AIDS vaccine is still not on the horizon, but a safe and effective microbicide is, "in the most optimistic scenario," three to four years away. "Conceptually, [microbicides are] straightforward, whereas with the vaccine we still don't know where to go," Piot said, adding, "We don't even know for an HIV/AIDS vaccine what are the elements in the immune response that protect us, what kind of antibodies should we try to stimulate" (Bulman, AP/Las Vegas Sun, 4/14). Microbicides include a range of products such as gels, films, sponges and other products that could help prevent the sexual transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. HIV is transmitted primarily through heterosexual intercourse in much of Africa and Asia, but no female-controlled HIV prevention method currently is widely available (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 4/7). According to Piot, there are about 15 microbicides being tested worldwide, including two human trials in Thailand and the United States. "Currently, we are dealing with trials that deal with thousands and thousands of women," Piot said (AP/Las Vegas Sun, 4/14). Microbicides are necessary because of the increasing feminization of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, with more than half of new infections worldwide occurring among women, Piot said (AFP/Yahoo! News [1], 4/14). He added, "Just as the contraceptive pill is really what made a difference in terms of contraception and family planning, a product like (a microbicide) ... could make a big difference for women's lives in the AIDS epidemic" (AP/Las Vegas Sun, 4/14).
S African Health Minister Defends Group Claiming Vitamins Can Prevent AIDS-Related Death - Medical News Today 16/04/05
South African Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang on Tuesday defended the Santa Clara, Calif.-based... Dr. Rath Health Foundation, which recently ran advertisements stating that vitamins and nutrition therapy alone could prevent AIDS-related deaths, South Africa's Business Day/AllAfrica.com reports. Tshabalala-Msimang -- speaking in Durban, where she is attending the World Health Organization meeting on nutrition and HIV/AIDS -- said the group supports the South African government's stance on the "importance of micronutrients in combating HIV/AIDS," according to Business Day/AllAfrica.com (Kahn, Business Day/AllAfrica.com, 4/13). WHO, UNICEF and UNAIDS in a recent statement condemned the foundation's advertisements -- which also called antiretroviral drugs "toxic" -- saying the ads are "dangerous and unhelpful" (Joint statement, 3/30). The Advertising Standards Authority of South Africa last month found that the advertisements, which were published in newspapers and on fliers, made false claims and ordered their withdrawal from circulation. Tshabalala-Msimang agreed that HIV-positive South Africans have been subject to "a confusing chorus of medical claims" from businesses selling nutritional supplements and vitamins, according to Business Day/AllAfrica.com. "If you eat properly, you can delay the onset of AIDS -- in some cases indefinitely," Tshabalala-Msimang said, adding, "As you know, once you start (taking antiretroviral medicines), you are on them for life. If you can delay starting, it's all the better in my view" (BusinessDay/AllAfrica.com, 4/13).
Resting CD4+ T Cells Have Protection Against HIV, Protection Fails When Cells Become Active, Study Shows - Medical News Today 16/04/05
Resting CD4+ T cells have a "powerful" protein shield that protects them from being invaded by HIV, but the cells lose that protection when they are activated to fight an infection, allowing HIV to enter the cells, according to a paper published on Wednesday in the online edition of the journal... Nature, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. CD4+ T cells play a central role in the immune system, and they are the primary type of cell that HIV attacks. However, HIV can invade CD4+ T cells only when they are active, posing an ongoing "paradox" to researchers who could not understand how HIV destroyed the immune system when about 95% of the cells are in a resting state (Russell, San Francisco Chronicle, 4/14). The shield is composed of the enzyme APOBEC3G -- A3G for short -- a small version of which is able to repel HIV and is found on resting cells. Dr. Warner Greene, senior author of the study and director of the Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology at the University of California-San Francisco, and colleagues found that A3G becomes a large molecule when the CD4+ T cells are activated and the shield becomes porous, allowing HIV to enter the cell (Chase, Wall Street Journal, 4/14). The scientists do not understand why the CD4+ T cells "abandon" this defense when they are activated or how the mechanics of the shield work, according to the Chronicle. The findings "open up exciting new possibilities for drug development" because scientists could design drugs that support the cells' natural defense or create similar shields in cells that are vulnerable to the virus if they understand the way the mechanism works, according to the Chronicle (San Francisco Chronicle, 4/14).
Ethiopia Could Have 1.8M AIDS-Related Deaths by 2008, Report Says - Medical News Today 16/04/05
The number of AIDS-related deaths in Ethiopia could reach 1.8 million by 2008 unless the country takes steps to reduce the current prevalence rate and provide treatment for those living with the disease, according to a report released on Wednesday,... AFP/Yahoo! News reports. The 38-page report, titled "Ethiopia HIV/AIDS Emergency Plan," was conducted under the direction of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief by health officials from the United Nations, the United States, and the Ethiopian AIDS secretariat and health ministry. It was released in advance of next month's meeting of the 15 PEPFAR focus countries covered under the five-year, $15 billion plan.
Adolescent Health Ill-Catered For In The NHS, UK - Medical News Today 16/04/05
The NHS must overhaul its approach to adolescent health if it is to meet the health needs of young people in the UK, says a paper in the BMJ this week.
About 20% of S African Farm Workers Will Die of AIDS-Related Causes by 2020, Researchers Say - Medical News Today 16/04/05
About 20% of Southern African agricultural workers are expected to die of AIDS-related causes by 2020, which could threaten food production and worsen food shortages, researchers said on Thursday at a... World Health Organization meeting on nutrition and HIV/AIDS in Durban, South Africa, Reuters reports. However, the region's high unemployment rate could mean that a reduction in the work force would not affect production. "It's not as simple as to say that there will be a one-fifth reduction of the crop," Smangaliso Hllengwa, an HIV/AIDS expert and adviser to the New Partnership for Africa's Development, said, adding, "But it's obviously going to have a significant impact." Farmers in South Africa -- which is the region's largest food producer -- say they have lost about 20% of their workers over the last five years, but production in the country has remained unchanged because work is "much sought after," according to Reuters. However, experts say that the the loss of income among families of agricultural workers who die could be "devastating," according to Reuters (Apps, Reuters, 4/14).
American Football most likely to cause neck injury - Medical News Today 16/04/05
According to new research published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, (American) football beats hockey and soccer for the dubious distinction of the sport most likely to cause neck injury. The study is the second in a series examining the risk of injury in community-based sports with a view to improving safety. The potential dangers of neck injury in football were highlighted last weekend by the death of Arena Football lineman Al Lucas from a presumed spinal cord injury sustained during a match.
The biggest family tree ever tracing genetic and migratory history of the human race - Medical News Today 16/04/05
Ever wondered where your family's ancestors roamed 60,000 years ago?
Study uncovers bacteria's worst enemy - Medical News Today 16/04/05
University of California scientists working at Los Alamos National Laboratory have found that the successful use of bacteria to remediate environmental contamination from nuclear waste and processing activities may depend more upon how resistant the bacteria are to chemicals than to how tolerant they are to radioactivity. The results of a recent Laboratory study may help make bacterial bioremediation a more widespread method for cleaning up sites contaminated with actinides and other radionuclides.
Improving End-of-Life Conferences - Medical News Today 16/04/05
A study in 4 intensive care units (ICUs) aimed at family conferences to discuss the withholding or withdrawing of life-sustaining therapy in critically ill patients showed that in 15 of 51 conferences physicians missed opportunities to provide either support or information to the family. All 51 family conferences were audio-taped with permission from the family. Along with family members, they involved 226 clinicians, including 36 physicians who led the conferences; 50 nurses; 25 social workers; and 12 chaplains, priests, or nuns. The conferences ranged in length from 7 to 74 minutes, with the average lasting about 32 minutes.
Project could lead to anthrax drugs - Medical News Today 16/04/05
A project launched at the University of Essex, UK, could lead to the development of drugs capable of reversing the effects of the anthrax bacteria.
Revealing How the Body's Immune Response Differs in SARS Patients - Medical News Today 16/04/05
Chinese investigators have revealed that the early presence of interferon-inducible protein 10 (IP-10), an immunoregulatory protein, is a prominent characteristic of the body's immune reaction to the coronavirus that causes severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). The disease itself differs from other non-SARS viral infections that cause no increase in IP-10. The researchers believe that levels of the protein could make a difference in both diagnosis and the development of an effective treatment for the disease.
The older we get, the fewer calories we need, but many do not change their eating habits - Medical News Today 16/04/05
As we age, our bodies need fewer calories to keep going, says Loren Lipson, MD, associate professor of medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of USC.
Some deadly flu samples gone missing - Medical News Today 16/04/05
Some of the deadly flu samples sent to 3,700 labs worldwide are unaccounted for, say UN officials.
Abnormal lung cancer screening results may help smokers quit - Medical News Today 16/03/05
According to a new study, smokers who receive multiple abnormal results using computed tomography (CT) to screen for lung cancer are more likely to quit, suggesting an opportunity for doctors to motivate smokers to quit smoking. The study appears in the May 15, 2005 issue of CANCER (http://www.interscience.wiley.com/cancer-newsroom), a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, and finds smokers who receive one or more abnormal results on the screening test are increasingly likely to quit and remain abstinent from smoking over three years.
Joining Hands to Solve a DNA Replication Puzzle - Medical News Today 16/03/05
Two heads and three tools are better than one. A Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) professor and a colleague who mentors HHMI-supported undergraduates in his structural biology lab are using the tools of molecular biology, biochemistry, and biophysics to solve a scientific puzzle.
Marburg haemorrhagic fever, Angola - 224 cases, 207 deaths - Medical News Today 16/04/05
Data on cases of Marburg haemorrhagic fever in Angola are being reclassified and no nation-wide data can be reported today.
Researchers find that chocolate compound stops cancer cell cycle in lab experiments - Medical News Today 16/04/05
Researchers from the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center at Georgetown University have shown how an ingredient found in chocolate seems to exert its anti-cancer properties -- findings that might be used one day to design novel cancer treatments. The study, published in the April issue of the journal Molecular Cancer Therapeutics, explains how pentameric procyanidin (pentamer), a natural compound found in cocoa, deactivates a number of proteins that likely work in concert to push a cancer cell to continually divide.
Scottish Health Minister launches major new clinical trials project to boost business and health - Medical News Today 16/04/05
Andy Kerr MSP, Minister For Health and Community Care is set to launch Glasgow Biomedicine, a groundbreaking initiative set to boost health and business in Scotland on 19 April 2005, Wolfson Medical School Building, University of Glasgow.
Research urgently needed to treat blood clots in children - Medical News Today 16/04/05
Potentially deadly blood clots are being missed in children, and more research and awareness is needed in the medical community, according to a study done in part at the University of Alberta.
Libya To Boycott Trade, Investment With Bulgaria Over Dispute Involving Nurses Who Allegedly Infected Children With HIV - Medical News Today 16/04/05
Libya will impose a trade and investment embargo on Bulgaria because of its government's refusal to pay compensation to families of more than 400 HIV-positive children allegedly infected by five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor, an unnamed Libyan government official said on Tuesday,... Reuters reports. The official also said that the boycott is a response to "the Bulgarian government's campaign to tarnish Libya's image," Reuters reports (Sarrar, Reuters, 4/13). The Libyan Supreme Court last month opened a hearing on the case of the health care workers, who in May 2004 were sentenced to death by firing squad for allegedly infecting the children through contaminated blood products. The workers, who have been detained in the country since 1999, also were ordered to pay a total of $1 million to the families of the HIV-positive children. Libyan Leader Moammar Kadafi has accused the health workers of taking orders from the CIA and the Israeli secret service to kill the children in order to destabilize the country. However, many observers believe the children were infected because of Libya's failure to screen blood products adequately and poor sterilization practices at the hospital where the children were infected. The Libyan government previously has said it would free the nurses if Bulgaria paid compensation equal to the amount Libya paid to relatives of the victims of the 1988 plane bombing over Lockerbie, Scotland, which reportedly was carried out by Libyan secret service agents. However, Bulgaria so far has declined to pay compensation (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 4/12). At least 40 of the 426 children who allegedly were infected at the hospital have died of AIDS-related illnesses, according to Reuters (Reuters, 4/13). Bulgarian officials at the country's embassy in Tripoli, Libya, on Wednesday sent a note to the Libyan Foreign Ministry asking for additional information on the official's statement, the Sofia News Agency reports (Sofia News Agency, 4/13).
Easing the Anxiety of Pregnancy After Miscarriage - Medical News Today 16/04/05
Pregnancy for most women means joyous anticipation of the birth of a baby, day-dreaming about the child, preparing the nursery, accepting congratulations from friends.
Shape-altering genes linked to ovarian cancer - Medical News Today 16/04/05
Frequently referred to as a silent killer, ovarian cancer offers few clues to its presence, often until it has spread beyond the ovary to other tissues. Early detection has been difficult because ovarian cancer is not a single disease, but appears in many forms, with each form behaving differently. Now researchers from The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center have explained how and why different forms of ovarian cancer evolve in a discovery that could lead to earlier detection and perhaps more personalized treatment for a disease that will claim an estimated 16,210 women's lives in the United States in 2005.
The evolution of phenotypic polymorphism - Medical News Today 16/04/05
Randomized strategies versus evolutionary branching - This new study, which will appear in the June 2005 issue of The American Naturalist, asserts that an individual could use his/her genotype as an informative cue when "deciding" which phenotype to develop. This is a new way of looking at certain kinds of genetic polymorphism.
Understanding the interaction of Fragile X mental retardation protein and kissing complex RNAs - Medical News Today 16/04/05
Fragile X syndrome is the most common inherited form of mental retardation, affecting approximately 1 in 3600 males and 1 in 4000-6000 females. Fragile X syndrome results from loss of expression of the Fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP), the product of the FMR1 gene. Now, Drs. Robert and Jennifer Darnell and colleagues, from The Rockefeller University, report the uncovering of a new interaction between FMRP and messenger RNAs (mRNAs) containing a tertiary RNA structure termed a "kissing complex".
Watching Microglia at Work - Medical News Today 16/04/05
Max Planck Researchers shed light on the immune defense behaviour of Microglial cells in the brain - Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Medical Research in Heidelberg and the Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine in Goettingen (Germany) have uncovered the behaviour of microglial cells in the brain. In the current online edition of Science (Science, Epub ahead of print, 14. April 2005) they report on the busy action of these immune defense cells in the normal brain and their rapid response to cerebral hemorrhage in the first few hours following injury. Their imaging approach is transferable to other models of disease, and monitoring microglia behaviour under such circumstances promises to substantially enhance our knowledge about brain pathologies.
Few women at risk for breast cancer willing to use tamoxifen - Medical News Today 15/04/05
Fewer than one in five women eligible to take tamoxifen were inclined to take the drug after being told of its risks and benefits, according to a new study. The study, from the May 15, 2005 issue of CANCER (http://www.interscience.wiley.com/cancer-newsroom), a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, reports that concerns over the drug's adverse effects were the primary reason for refusal.
Extending genetic associations with risk for alcohol dependence to a Russian population - Medical News Today 15/04/05
Gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA) is the most abundant inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain. Previous research had identified an association between genetic variations in the GABA a2 receptor subtype (GABRA2) and risk for alcohol dependence in a U.S. population. New research extends those findings to a Russian population.
College students may drink much more alcohol than they think they do - Medical News Today 15/04/05
Previous research has found that college students underestimate their alcohol consumption. Recent findings confirm that college students tend to overestimate volumes, over-pour drinks, and under-report levels of consumption. Educational feedback appears to improve understanding of actual consumption levels.
Childcare flaws force doctors out of NHS, UK - Medical News Today 15/04/05
Doctors are being forced out of the NHS because of a lack of suitable childcare facilities, says the BMA. It is calling for an urgent a rethink of the NHS childcare strategy.
BMA comments on election manifestos, UK - Medical News Today 15/04/05
BMA comment on Liberal Democrat election manifesto - Commenting on the Liberal Democrat election manifesto launched today (Thursday 14 April, 2005), Mr James Johnson, chairman of the British Medical Association, said:
Adolescent drinking - Examining the serotonin transporter gene and family function - Medical News Today 15/04/05
How their interactions may contribute to adolescent drinking - Alcohol researchers already know that genetic and environmental factors influence drinking. New research examines what impact a polymorphism of the serotonin transporter (5-HTT) gene and family relations may have on adolescent drinking. Both a variant of the 5-HTT gene and poor family relations, as well as interactions between these two variables, are significantly related to heavy alcohol consumption among adolescents.
Gates foundation gives $10M grant for Visceral Leishmaniasis research to OneWorld Health - Medical News Today 15/04/05
The Institute for OneWorld Health, the first nonprofit pharmaceutical company in the US, today announced that it has received a grant of nearly US$10 million from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to continue advancing its promising drug for Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL), paromomycin, through the approval and post-approval process. Specifically, the company will seek regulatory approval in India this year, execute a post-approval Phase IV study, and complete a clinical trial of shorter duration of administration to optimize the use of paromomycin. The grant will also support the company's work with partners to manufacture paromomycin at an affordable cost.
Investigation, Discipline for Physicians Needs Improvement, Editorial Says - Medical News Today 15/04/05
Washington Post series examining physician discipline "demonstrates that the methods used to investigate and discipline incompetent doctors are deeply flawed," a Post editorial states. According to the Post, there are "big variations in the operations of state medical boards," with those in Kentucky, Wyoming and North Dakota investigating and disciplining more than 10 out of 1,000 doctors, compared with three out of 1,000 for the boards in the District of Columbia and Maryland. Boards that fail to provide adequate oversight lack funding, are less independent from local doctors' organizations and experience other problems, the editorial says. According to the editorial, physicians and health insurers must "re-examine their legal structure and financing" and consider "naming more board members who are not doctors, funding more investigators and ensuring that they and their consumers have greater access to Internet information." The editorial adds, "Above all, states should make records of malpractice settlements and patient complaints available to other patients and insurance companies," concluding, "No one should die because a medical board is negligent" (Washington Post, 4/14).
Master Gene Controls Healing Of “Skin” In Fruit Flies And Mammals - Medical News Today 15/04/05
University of California, San Diego biologists and their colleagues have discovered that the genetic system controlling the development and repair of insect cuticle-the outer layer of the body surface in insects-also controls these processes in mammalian skin, a finding that could lead to new insights into the healing of wounds and treatment of cancer.
Molecular fossils uncover link between viruses and the immune system - Medical News Today 15/04/05
Researchers from the Viikki Biocenter, University of Helsinki, show that atomic structures can reveal evolutionary history of viruses in a similar fashion as fossils did for the dinosaurs and reptiles. Their article is published in the April 15 issue of Molecular Cell.
MR spectroscopy may be superior for determining prostate cancer prognosis - Medical News Today 15/04/05
A new way of evaluating prostate tumors may help physicians determine the best treatment strategy. Using magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy, which provides detailed information on the chemical composition of tissue samples, researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) have shown that chemical profiles of prostate tissue can determine a tumor's prognosis better than standard pathological studies do. The report appears in the April 15 issue of Cancer Research.
The promise of new medical uses for sodium nitrite for heart attack and organ damage - Medical News Today 15/04/05
Sodium nitrite, a naturally occurring chemical and common meat preservative, is only used medically to treat cyanide poisoning. But if the results of a new animal study hold up under further research in people, the chemical may one day be used to protect and preserve tissue and organ function after heart attack, high risk abdominal surgery, and organ transplantation.
Psychological reasoning begins earlier than had been thought, study shows - Medical News Today 15/04/05
According to conventional wisdom, babies don't begin to develop sophisticated psychological reasoning about people until they are about 4 years old. A study of 15-month-olds at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign proves otherwise.
New study explains process leading to many proteins from one gene - Medical News Today 15/04/05
New findings from researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center help explain how the 20,000 to 25,000 genes in the human genome can make the hundreds of thousands of different proteins in our bodies.
Rep. Hyde Suggests More Global AIDS Funding Be Shifted To Groups Promoting Abstinence - Medical News Today 15/04/05
Rep Henry Hyde (R-Ill) on Wednesday urged the Bush administration to direct more resources from the... President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief to groups promoting abstinence and away from those promoting condom use as an HIV/AIDS prevention method, VOA News reports (Robinson, VOA News, 4/13). Hyde made the suggestion during a House International Relations Committee hearing on PEPFAR -- a five-year, $15 billion program that directs funding for HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria to 15 focus countries (CQ HealthBeat, 4/13). The law (HR 1298) authorizing PEPFAR endorses the "ABC" HIV prevention model, which stands for abstinence, be faithful, use condoms. The measure also specifies that one-third of the bill's HIV/AIDS prevention funding should be used for abstinence programs (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 4/22/04). However, Hyde said during the hearing that groups "best suited to promote A and B programs, such as faith-based and indigenous organizations, are often not the ones implementing these programs. Instead, organizations long-associated with the social marketing of condoms are given much of the funding for AB programs. This must not continue" (VOA News, 4/13). Martin Ssempa, director of Uganda's Makerere Youth Ministry and a representative of the Ugandan First Lady's AIDS Task Force, at the hearing said that the U.S. Agency for International Development and CDC are undermining the country's ABC prevention program through "what he calls a tilt toward condom distribution," according to CQ HealthBeat. Ssempa said that the social marketing of condoms "encourages sexual promiscuity," CQ HealthBeat reports (CQ HealthBeat, 4/13). "I mince no words when I address my fellow Ugandans every day, and I mince no words with you. The reason why other Africans and Ugandans are dying is because of sexual promiscuity," Ssempa said, adding, "That is what is killing us."
Northwestern's cancer genetics program finds gene variants that greatly increase breast cancer risk - Medical News Today 15/04/05
Decreased activity within the Transforming Growth Factor Beta (TGF-beta) pathway is associated with increased breast cancer risk, according to a study published by researchers at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and Northwestern University's Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center in today's Cancer Research journal. This is the first study aimed at determining whether various combinations of two naturally-occurring variants of the TGF-beta pathway may predict breast cancer risk. It is also the first study assessing a cancer-related pathway by means of two functionally-relevant variants.
Prostate cancer therapy - study suggests new molecular screening theory - Medical News Today 15/04/05
Smad7 protein levels may predict therapy response - Levels of the Smad7 protein may predict therapeutic response in patients with prostate cancer according to research published today by investigators at the Uppsala Branch of the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research (LICR).
Viewing yourself as others do can help nudge you toward personal goals, studies at Cornell find - Medical News Today 15/04/05
Trying to lose weight, be less nervous when speaking publicly or improve in some other way? One strategy that can help is to switch your point of view from the first-person to a third-person perspective when reviewing your progress, according to a series of studies conducted at Cornell University.
Fat may affect electrical impulses in brain, heart - Medical News Today 15/04/05
Molecules attach to proteins that regulate bioelectricity - Fatty molecules may modulate the electrical characteristics of nerve and heart cells by regulating the properties of key cell pores, according to research conducted at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
Gay Community Must Address Self-Esteem, Depression Issues That Contribute to Crystal Meth Problem, Opinion Piece Says - Medical News Today 15/04/05
A "second revolution must occur within the gay community" in which men and women "'come out' concerning the issues of low self-esteem and depression that are prevalent" in the community and that contribute to crystal methamphetamine use among men who have sex with men, Allen Reese, CEO of... Desert AIDS Project, writes in a Palm Springs Desert Sun opinion piece. According to Perry Halkitis, a New York University psychologist, "isolation and low self-esteem" are "root cause[s]" of crystal meth use among many MSM, especially among those who are HIV-positive, Reese says. Mental health problems create a "really vicious cycle" of HIV/AIDS, crystal meth use and depression, according to Halkitis, Reese writes. In-depth studies of depression among gay men and women are needed, and the Desert AIDS Project is "committed" to addressing the issue "in the months and years ahead," according to Reese. If we do not "seek out the root causes of rampant substance abuse, there is little hope for us to have any impact on reducing the use of these drugs within a gay population that is highly vulnerable to acquiring HIV," Reese concludes (Reese, Palm Springs Desert Sun, 4/10).
Providing Funding To Fight HIV/AIDS in Africa Should Be Top Priority of USA, Editorial Says - Medical News Today 15/04/05
The United States should lead the world's efforts to "respond to the staggering numbers being cited about AIDS in Africa," a... Tennessean editorial says. According to a UNAIDS report released last month, titled "AIDS in Africa: Three Scenarios to 2025," while only about 10% of the world's population lives in sub-Saharan Africa, nearly two-thirds of all HIV-positive people live in the region, the editorial says (Tennessean, 4/12). The report estimates that almost $200 billion over the next 20 years would be needed to avert 16 million AIDS-related deaths and 43 million new HIV infections in Africa, although donors currently have pledged nowhere near that amount (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 3/4). However, "no matter what is done at this point, the number of people in Africa with HIV/AIDS is going to grow," the editorial says. The United States has pledged "millions of dollars" toward fighting the disease, the editorial says, adding that while "this country alone cannot conquer AIDS in Africa, ... it can certainly lead." The Tennessean concludes, "For all the goals this nation has set to improve conditions throughout the world, the enormous tragedy in Africa should rank as high as any in this nation's foreign policy" (Tennessean, 4/12).
Researchers discover how Ebola virus infects cells - Medical News Today 15/04/05
Finding could lead to treatments for viral hemorrhagic fevers - Ebola virus reproduction in laboratory-grown cells is severely hampered by enzyme-inhibiting chemicals, and these chemicals deserve further study as possible treatments for Ebola virus infections in humans, report scientists supported in part by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Surgical-site infection risk not greater if you are older, study - Medical News Today 15/04/05
Contrary to what you might think, advanced age does not increase the risk of surgical-site infections, according to a large long-term study reported in the April 1 issue of The Journal of Infectious Diseases, now available online. The study, which involved prospectively collected data on thousands of patients in multiple hospitals undergoing various surgical procedures, found that the infection risk increased by about 1 percent per year between the ages of 17 to 65 years but then decreased by about 1 percent per year after age 65; indeed, there were no surgical site infections in patients who were older than age 95.
NY Academy of Sciences reveals how scientists plan to combat bioterrorism & deadly pathogens - Medical News Today 15/04/05
Smallpox, anthrax, dengue, plague, hantaviruses, and lassa fever --diseases that many thought had been eliminated, or at least found only in certain parts of the world -- have the potential to re-emerge and spread. Some may even become weapons in the hands of terrorists.
Herbal remedies and arthritis drugs can be a potentially dangerous mix - Medical News Today 14/04/05
Herbal remedies and arthritis drugs can be a potentially dangerous mix, but it's not only patients who are ill informed about the risks, healthcare professionals are too, suggests a survey, reported in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.
JBC study shows that bigger isn't necessarily better for amyloid proteins - Medical News Today 14/04/05
Scientists at the University of Irvine have found evidence that disputes the popular belief that the long, insoluble amyloid fibrils found in amyloid-related diseases are what causes neurotoxicity. By comparing amyloid protein aggregates of different lengths, the researchers have shown that it is actually the smaller, soluble, oligomeric form of the proteins that interfere with cellular functioning.
Medical Journal Editors Condemn Ghostwriting - Medical News Today 14/04/05
Ghostwriting may be okay for tell-all celebrity books but the editors of a peer-reviewed medical journal draw the line when the veiled author is paid by a pharmaceutical company with a financial interest in an article's topic.
Out go low-fat diets, people must learn about good and bad fats - Medical News Today 14/04/05
The health conscious public needs to be given better information about healthy and unhealthy fats, according to a new report.
Women Who Combine Common Breast Cancer Drugs With Certain Hormones Can Preserve Fertility Without Health Risk, Study Says - Medical News Today 14/04/0
Women of reproductive age who have breast cancer can preserve their fertility without increasing their risk of cancer recurrence by taking cancer drugs together with fertility hormones and undergoing in vitro fertilization before chemotherapy, according to a study published on Monday in the online issue of the... Journal of Clinical Oncology, USA Today reports. Although most women with breast cancer require chemotherapy, the drugs often damage the ovaries and leave patients infertile. Hormones are sometimes needed to help women produce enough eggs to undergo IVF and successfully develop embryos, even though taking the hormones can stimulate tumor growth in many women. If IVF is successful, women can preserve the embryos before beginning drug therapy for cancer. Kutluk Oktay, an associate professor of reproductive medicine and obstetrics and gynecology at Weill Medical College of Cornell University in New York, and colleagues studied 60 women ages 24 to 43 who had been diagnosed with breast cancer. Each of the women were studied for an average of 18 months (Szabo, USA Today, 4/12). Of the 60 women, 29 decided to undergo IVF procedures before chemotherapy. The women scheduled to undergo IVF were divided into three treatment groups, based on patient selection and physician input. One group received only the cancer drug tamoxifen; another group received tamoxifen and a low-dose follicle-stimulating hormone, which causes a woman's ovaries to produce more eggs; and a third group received the cancer drug letrozole and a low-dose FSH. Both tamoxifen and letrozole are known to stimulate ovulation without promoting the growth of breast cancer cells, according to HealthDay/Forbes (Doheny, HealthDay/Forbes, 4/12)
Tamoxifen Can Reduce Breast Pain In Prostate Cancer Patients - Medical News Today 14/04/05
Tamoxifen is more effective than radiotherapy at preventing breast enlargement and breast pain in men with prostate cancer, concludes a randomised trial published online today by The Lancet Oncology.
Canada To Provide Almost $73M for Maternal, Child Health Initiatives in Developing Countries - Medical News Today 14/04/05
Canadian Minister of International Cooperation Aileen Carroll on Thursday announced that the Canadian International Development Agency will provide nearly $73 million for programs addressing maternal and child health in developing countries in observance of... World Health Day, the United News of Bangladesh reports. The funding includes approximately $40 million for child-health initiatives in Africa, including integrated tuberculosis, micronutrients, measles and polio programs (United News of Bangladesh, 4/10). The funding also will be used to reach the U.N. Millennium Development Goals of reducing poverty and diseases by 2015. "There is simply no good reason why, in the 21st century, thousands of women and children in developing countries should be dying during childbirth and the early years of life," Carroll said, adding, "CIDA-funded health programs and interventions have saved millions of lives and are achieving real, positive and measurable results. This is why, on World Health Day, I am pleased to announce new funding for such initiatives" (CIDA release, 4/7). CIDA also will provide about $32 million to Bangladesh and Nigeria to improve the countries' sexual and reproductive health initiatives and national health systems (United News of Bangladesh, 4/10).
'Nanoshells' simultaneously detect and destroy cancerous cells - Medical News Today 14/04/05
Researchers at Rice University in Texas have developed a new approach to fighting cancer, based on nanoscale particles that can both detect and destroy cancerous cells. The report appears in the April 13 issue of the American Chemical Society's journal Nano Letters. ACS is the world's largest scientific society.
Pathological gambling associated with brain impairments - Medical News Today 14/04/05
Pathological gamblers exhibit complex impairments in decision-making and executive function processes associated with the prefrontal cortex of the brain, according to research that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology 57th Annual Meeting in Miami Beach, Fla., April 9 - 16, 2005.
Multiple Myeloma Care - Studies of VELCADE(R) (bortezomib) for Injection Show Emerging Role - Medical News Today 13/04/05
Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc (Nasdaq: MLNM) today announced the presentation of positive clinical results for VELCADE in treating patients across the multiple myeloma (MM) treatment paradigm at the 10th Annual International Myeloma Workshop (IMW) in Sydney, Australia. Data regarding the use of VELCADE as a single agent and in combination with standard and emerging MM therapies were reported at the meeting. Data presented provided evidence for the potential of VELCADE to induce higher response rates in earlier lines of therapy. Front- line studies of VELCADE were the highlight of several scientific sessions and showed very high response rates in previously untreated MM patients with manageable toxicities. These studies were the basis for three large, multicenter, independent phase III studies. VELCADE is approved in the U.S. for the treatment of patients who have received at least one prior therapy.
Co-operation with Inquiries a Requirement In Updated Code of Ethics - Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain - Medical News Today 13/04/05
At its meeting on Wednesday 6 April 2005 the Council of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain agreed changes to the pharmacists' and pharmacy technicians' Codes of Ethics. It was agreed that a new section (A4 Co-operation with Inquiries into Fitness to Practise) will be inserted into Part 2A of both Codes. The new section will contain a requirement that pharmacists and registered pharmacy technicians co-operate with any investigation or inquiry into their or another health professional's fitness to practise.
A New Option to Take the Pain out of IBS, Buscopan® IBS Relief - Medical News Today 13/04/05
Buscopan® IBS Relief, a new GSL product clinically proven , to effectively relieve painful bowel cramps and spasms in medically confirmed irritable bowel syndrome, is now available. Manufactured by Boehringer Ingelheim Consumer Healthcare, Buscopan® IBS Relief can help to ease the abdominal pain experienced by almost three quarters of IBS sufferers.
Depressed, HIV-Positive Patients Who Take Antidepressants More Likely To Comply With AIDS Drug Regimens, Study Says - Medical News Today 13/04/05
Among clinically depressed, HIV-positive patients seen at public health clinics in Denver, those taking antidepressants were more likely than those not taking the drugs to comply with their antiretroviral drug regimens, according to a study published in the April 1 issue of the... Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, Reuters Health reports. Dr. Arthur Davidson, director of the Denver Center for Public Health Preparedness, and colleagues studied 1,713 HIV-positive patients ages 12 and older who were seen at clinics between 1997 and 2001. About 57% of the patients had been diagnosed with depression, and the researchers studied the medical and pharmacy records of the patients to determine their compliance with antiretroviral and antidepressant drug regimens. Of the patients who had been diagnosed as depressed, about half had refilled antidepressant prescriptions at least twice. According to the researchers, more than two-thirds of patients who took antidepressants regularly adhered to their antiretroviral drug regimens, compared with about 31% of depressed patients who did not take antidepressants regularly. Although the researchers said that patients' adherence to both antidepressant and antiretroviral regimens might "reflect certain individuals' natural tendency to closely follow their prescribed care," they said previous research has indicated that untreated depression is associated with medication nonadherence, Reuters Health reports. The researchers concluded, "Attention to diagnosis and treatment of depressive disorders in this population may improve antiretroviral adherence and ultimate survival." However, Davidson said more research is needed to confirm the study's results, Reuters Health reports (Norton, Reuters Health, 4/8).
Large U.S. Companies Pursuing Embryonic Stem Cell Research; Move May Increase Spending, Acceptance of Research - Medical News Today 13/04/05
Several large US companies -- including Johnson & Johnson, General Electric, BD, Invitrogen and the US-based research unit of Novartis -- have begun "stepping gingerly" into the "politically charged arena" of human embryonic stem cell research, the... Wall Street Journal reports. Although large companies previously had been "notably absent" from the debate over the scientific and moral implications of the research, their recent involvement indicates "how the scientific -- and commercial -- appeal" of the research is "luring some companies into at least exploratory work," according to the Journal. Their involvement -- ranging from using the cells to test new drugs to developing new transplant treatments -- also might "spur spending and help win wider acceptance" for the research, the Journal reports. However, some companies are attempting to keep a "low profile" over their involvement with embryonic stem cells, according to the Journal. A Journal survey of the 12 largest drug firms by sales showed several previously undisclosed research projects involving embryonic stem cells, although many firms denied involvement with stem cells and had policies against such research. President Bush's policy limiting federal funding for human embryonic stem cell research does not directly affect privately funded research, but some scientists have said that the policy has had a "chilling effect" on large companies, in part because of concerns about shareholder protests or consumer boycotts, the Journal reports . However, embryonic stem cell research advocates say there is a trend among large U.S. companies toward acceptance of the research, the Journal reports (Regalado, Wall Street Journal, 4/12). Bush's policy, which he announced on Aug. 9, 2001, limits federal funding to stem cell lines created on or before that date (Kaiser Daily Reproductive Health Report, 4/7).
Wholesale Prices for Brand-Name Prescription Drugs Rose Average of 7.1% Last Year, Largest Increase in Five Years, Report Says - Medical News Today 13/04/05
Wholesale prices for brand-name prescription drugs increased by 7.1% -- 2.5 times the general inflation rate of 2.7% -- between 2003 and 2004, according to a study released on Tuesday by AARP,... USA Today reports. For the study, researchers from the AARP Public Policy Institute and the PRIME Institute analyzed the wholesale prices for 195 brand-name and 75 generic medications commonly used by U.S. adults ages 50 and older. According to the study, between 2003 and 2004, the wholesale price for the anti-cholesterol medication Lipitor increased by 6.4%, compared with a 6.6% increase for the arthritis treatment Celebrex, a 4.2% increase for the hypertension medication Norvasc and a 7.9%. increase for the heart disease treatment Plavix. Wholesale prices for 153 prescription drugs have increased by an average of 35.1% since 1999, compared with the general inflation rate of 13.5%, the study found. Wholesale prices for generic medications increased by 0.5% between 2003 and 2004, according to the study. Researchers said that increases in wholesale prices are passed on to consumers who pay retail prices. AARP CEO Bill Novelli said that, based on the results of the study, pharmaceutical companies "have failed to keep their price increases in line with inflation, despite consumer appeals for them to hold the line," adding, "Much more needs to be done to slow down spiraling drug pricing." Ken Johnson, senior vice president of communications at the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, called the study "exaggerated and misleading." He said, "Price data clearly shows prescription drug prices have increased about 4% a year" (Welch, USA Today, 4/12).
Scientists develop new treatment for hereditary breast cancer - Medical News Today 13/04/05
Researchers at the University of Sheffield, funded by Yorkshire Cancer Research, have discovered a new way of treating and preventing hereditary breast cancer. The latest finding describes how the use of a chemical inhibitor can specifically kill tumour cells, which have a defect in the gene causing hereditary breast cancer. This new treatment targets only the tumour cells and is not likely to affect other healthy cells in the body. This discovery could also lead to a vaccine to prevent hereditary breast cancer.
Safety Risks of Reimportation Outweigh Benefits, Giuliani Partners Report Finds - Medical News Today 13/04/05
The safety and security risks of purchasing lower-cost prescription drugs from other countries "far outweigh any alleged benefits" for U.S. residents, according to a report released Monday by consulting firm... Giuliani Partners for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, CQ HealthBeat reports. According to the report, Internet pharmacies are not regulated and widening the range of sources through which U.S. residents can purchase prescription drugs would make it more difficult to guarantee the drugs' authenticity and to determine their chain of custody. The report also found that mechanisms to electronically track prescription drugs are not yet ready for systemwide implementation. According to the report, implementing a safe system to import medications would cost billions of dollars. Former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani (R), CEO and Chair of Giuliani Partners, in a PhRMA release said, "Several credible sources have identified links between counterfeit goods, including pharmaceuticals, and organized criminals and terrorist groups. It is not difficult to imagine a scenario in which terrorist groups could use this system to either finance operations or, worse, as a vehicle of attack." PhRMA President and CEO Billy Tauzin said that the report "underscores the dangers" of reimporting prescription drugs (CQ HealthBeat, 4/11).
New lasik research reveals unexpected finding: Key to better-than-20/20 vision is in the flap - Medical News Today 13/04/05
Surgeon's choice of laser or blade for corneal flap plays role in visual outcome of procedure - New scientific data being presented at this year's ASCRS meeting reveals the key to a better-than-20/20 outcome in LASIK surgery may depend on whether your doctor uses a blade or a laser to create the corneal flap in the first step of the procedure.
Wearable captioning system to make public venues accessible to people with hearing problems - Medical News Today 13/04/05
For people who are deaf or hard of hearing, the voices of actors, teachers, sports announcers and clergy are often silenced.
Technology helps Stanford shed new light on coronary bypass surgery - Medical News Today 13/04/05
On March 31, Joel Dyels celebrated his 72nd birthday by having coronary bypass surgery at Stanford Hospital. He also became the third patient at Stanford - and in the United States - to benefit from a new imaging system that lets doctors see the blood pathways they have created while the patient's chest is still open.
Study Seeks Most Effective Treatment for Epileptic Seizures - Medical News Today 12/04/05
Epilepsy experts at the Indiana University School of Medicine are joining colleagues around the country to determine whether medications or early surgery works best to treat and eliminate seizures.
Deep Brain Stimulation in Parkinson Disease Reduces Uncontrolled Movements - Medical News Today 12/04/05
Deep brain stimulation of two different areas of the brain appears to improve problems with uncontrolled movements (dyskinesia) in patients with Parkinson disease (PD), according to an article in the April issue of the Archives of Neurology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
Software recognizes the sounds of danger - Medical News Today 12/04/05
Breaking glass, a rattling chain-link fence--if you're a guard on watch at a military base, these sounds might get your adrenaline pumping as you look around for their source. Now, thanks to neuroscience research sponsored by the Office of Naval Research, suspicious noises put a new security system on alert so it can focus its cameras and sound the necessary alarms, helping human guards better protect their perimeter.
Cheaper, older diuretics drug of choice for both black and non-black patients for high blood pressure - Medical News Today 11/04/05
Three University of Texas School of Public Health at Houston faculty members are co-authors of an article in the April 6 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association - The article reports study results suggesting older, cheaper diuretics remain the drug of choice for both black and non-black patients in treating high blood pressure and reducing risk of heart disease.
U.S. Proposes Amendment Stating No Right to Abortion at U.N. Meeting To Reaffirm 1994 Cairo Program of Action - Medical News Today 11/04/05
Delegates from the United States on Wednesday at a weeklong meeting of the UN Commission on Population and Development in New York refused to reaffirm the... Programme of Action unanimously adopted at the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development in Cairo, Egypt, unless countries agree that "nothing therein creates a right to abortion," Inter Press Service reports (Deen, Inter Press Service, 4/6). The Cairo document states that "[i]n no case should abortion be promoted as a method of family planning," but it also uses the terms "reproductive rights" and "reproductive health," which some people view as indirect references to abortion rights (C-FAM/MichNews.com, 4/7). As of Wednesday, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Qatar and Egypt had voiced support for the U.S. amendment, according to several delegates (Inter Press Service, 4/6). A Nicaraguan delegate on Wednesday said, "[W]e recognize that there is no language in the (Cairo) documents that can be interpreted as promoting abortion" but added that the delegation has "reservations" about the use of phrases such as "sexual rights" and "sexual and reproductive health services" (C-FAM/MichNews.com, 4/7). The UNCPD meeting, which began on April 4, is expected to end on Friday, Inter Press Service reports (Inter Press Service, 4/6). As of Thursday, meeting attendees were continuing to discuss the U.S. amendment, C-FAM/MichNews.com reports (C-FAM/MichNews.com, 4/7).
Cheshire and Mersey News
New smoke ban moves - Liverpool Echo 15/04/05
MERSEYSIDE could introduce its own legislation to make the whole region a smoke-free zone.
Fond farewell to nurse Beryl - Maghull & Aintree Star 14/04/05
A MAGHULL nurse said a fond farewell to all her patients in the community after 30 years service.
Clean up your dog's mess - Maghull & Aintree Star 14/04/05
A MOLYNEUX councillor has started a campaign to make dog owners scoop up their animal's mess.
Psychiatric treatment for pub knife attacker - Ormskirk Advertiser 07/04/05
A KNIFEMAN who attacked regulars in the Golden Lion pub in Ormskirk says he cannot remember what happened.
Help for the hospice - Southport Visiter 15/04/05
EIGHT Southport residents are set to don their running shoes for this Sunday's Flora London Marathon to raise funds for Queenscourt Hospice.
Fag-breaks banned by councillors - Southport Visiter 15/04/05
FIVE-minute fag breaks will disappear in a puff of smoke for council workers from September.
Future of burns unit uncertain - Southport Visiter 15/04/05
MERSEYSIDE'S only specialist burns unit may be closed and transferred to Manchester.
Burns unit under threat of move - Formby Times 14/04/05
Tributes to health chief - Southport Visiter 15/04/05
LEADING health officials and colleagues have paid tribute to the greatly respected former director of Public Health, Dr Gordon Fletcher, who died on Monday, April 4.
Beware bogus care worker - Formby Times 14/04/05
A BOGUS careworker tried to con her way into a 94-year-old's home.
Bogus care worker on the prowl - Crosby Herald 14/04/05
Plans for surgery to receive go-ahead - Winsford Chronicle 13/04/05
PLANS to open a 5m state-ofthe-art health clinic in central Winsford are expected to be approved by councillors this week.
Delight as land is sold to build health centre - Nantwich Chronicle 13/04/05
WORK will start this year to create a multi-million pound health centre which will be home to all the doctors' surgeries in Nantwich.
Couples wait 35 months for IVF - Daily Post 14/04/05
A POSTCODE lottery in fertility treatment means some couples face a massive three-year wait while others are seen in just four months, the Daily Post can reveal.
Company's pioneer blood test may generate millions - Daily Post 11/04/05
BIOTECHNOLOGY firm Associates of Cape Cod (ACC) could stand to make millions of pounds with the launch of its diagnostic test designed to help extend the lives of patients with cancer, HIV and organ transplants.
Cumbria and Lancashire News
All I want is to be independent - Lancashire Evening Telegraph 15/04/05
AS a disabled person using a wheelchair outdoors, I wonder if anyone can tell me what I can "reasonably" expect from my local services, the sort of ìnormalî things enjoyed by my fellow citizens getting to Prestwich Village from Scholes Lane, Prestwich.
Next venue for healthy walk - Lancashire Evening Telegraph 15/04/05
THE next Active Living Team walk for health in the area leaves from the Strangeways pub car park, Liverpool Road, Hindley, on Wednesday, April 20, at 10am. The free one hour walk, no booking required, will be ideal for people not used to exercising or those returning to exercise.
Estate residents take a walk on the healthy side - Lancashire Evening Telegraph 15/04/05
ESTATE residents can now enjoy the healthy outdoor life right on their own doorstep.
Bogus officials warning - Lancashire Evening Telegraph 15/04/05
BOGUS officials tricked their way into a Hindley pensioner's home and attempted to steal her possessions.
Counselling service hits lottery jackpot - Lancashire Evening Telegraph 15/04/05
A COUNSELLING service for young people in Leigh and Wigan has won a 200,000 Big Lottery Fund jackpot.
Health Week is aimed at educating us all - Lancashire Evening Telegraph 15/04/05
THE first programme of the year, which takes place on Monday to Friday next week (April 18 and 22), includes displays, promotions, interactive public events, chronic disease self management courses and presentations.
Smoking ban should work [Letter] - Lancashire Evening Telegraph 15/04/05
THE motives behind Blackburn's market and shopping centre announcement of a smoking ban are laudable.
Greater Manchester News
Shipman death 'consistent with suicide' - Manchester Evening News 15/04/05
HAROLD Shipman's death was "entirely consistent with suicide", a forensic scientist told the inquest on the serial killer.
Obesity drug helps fight heart disease - Manchester Evening News 15/04/05
A NEW anti-obesity drug may prove a powerful weapon against heart disease and diabetes, new research showed today.
Shipman families' bid to reclaim gems - Manchester Evening News 16/04/05
TWENTY families have come forward to claim jewellery which they believe was taken from victims by serial killer Harold Shipman.
Friday is deadline day for Shipman jewels - Bolton Evening News 15/04/05
Support for docs in Christie storm - Manchester Evening News 16/04/05
MESSAGES of support have flooded in to the Christie Hospital after 60 doctors launched a protest to stop a shake-up of cancer services.
What crisis? ask social services bosses - Bury Times 15/04/05
SOCIAL services bosses have denied there is a crisis in care despite some families suffering large cuts in help they receive.
Hospital future worries Veritas man - Bolton Evening News 15/04/05
THE future of Fairfield Hospital and its special care baby unit was on the mind of Veritas candidate Ian Upton this week.
Sun bronzed but safe look - Bolton Evening News 15/04/05
WE all look and feel better when we have a tan. Health experts have been telling us for some time that too much sunbathing could lead to skin cancer. Yet a tan makes everyone look healthy so it is difficult to say no to golden brown arms and legs.
Disabled charity in North-west boost - Bolton Evening News 15/04/05
A NATIONAL disability charity has opened its first office in the North-west.
Help someone to live after your death [Letter] - Bolton Evening News 15/04/05
ON behalf of NHS UK Transplant, I'd like to say a huge thank you to all your readers who have pledged to help others to live after their death.
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