Sunday, June 26, 2005

National and International News



Nurses top league for days off sick - Daily Mail 26/06/05

Nurses take more days off sick than most other public sector workers, a report has shown.

Hospital nurses head public workers' sick list - The Observer 26/06/05


PM's health in 'dire straits', guru - Daily Mail 26/06/05

Lifestyle guru Carole Caplin spoke candidly about her friendship with Tony and Cherie Blair while setting up a business deal, it was reported.


Griddle me this - The Independent 26/06/05

What's the healthy, simple and weather-proof way to delicious summer food? Get grilling, says Mark Hix


Bird flu 'as grave a threat as terrorism' - The Independent 26/06/05

Bird flu is now as much of a danger to Britain as terrorism, ministers have been told by the Government's official emergency body.


MPs call for 20-week limit on abortions - The Independent 26/06/05

MPs are to press for new legislation to cut the time limit for abortions down to 20 weeks in the wake of an expected vote by doctors to change the law.


Stop the diet. Bin the Botox. If you want to look fab, just get fit - The Independent 26/06/05

Models are too skinny. Implants are too big. To attract a mate, experts say, you just need the right weight-to-height ratio.


Letters to the Editor - The Observer 26/06/05

Reading 'Smoking: Blair will push for total ban' and the leading article 'No ifs and butts ...' (last week) on the proposed ban on smoking in public places in England, I was disappointed that a half-hearted policy announced by the Westminster government can receive so many column inches without any acknowledgment of the road travelled by Scotland.


Elderly's health at risk from poor care - The Observer 26/06/05

The government is abandoning hundreds of thousands of elderly people to a care system that steals their dignity, denies them meaningful choice and risks endangering their health, according to a hard-hitting report out tomorrow.


Big food sets up safety watchdog - The Observer 26/06/05

Leading food groups are setting up a food safety watchdog in an industry-funded effort to keep contaminated and potentially harmful products off supermarket shelves.


Dr John Briffa: Empty promise - The Observer 26/06/05

Recent reports have poured cold water on detox diets, but cleaning out the system provides clear health benefits, argues Dr John Briffa


Baroness urges right to end life for elderly - The Observer 26/06/05

The House of Lords' leading expert on elderly care today calls for doctors to be allowed to help people end their lives.


Young, childless, anxious - The Observer 26/06/05

Young women used to be afraid of getting pregnant. Now they worry about the infertility timebomb. Rebecca Seal, 23, explains why


Junk diet 'will fuel surge in bowel cancer' - The Sunday Times 26/06/05

IRELAND faces a surge in bowel cancer within a generation as a result of the junk food diet of Irish schoolchildren, a leading expert has warned.


Life’s a beach, and then you go clubbing - The Sunday Times 26/06/05

IF you are a tourist from Brum sightseeing is likely to be the last thing on your mind. Young people from the West Midlands are among the most hedonistic in Britain when they go on holiday abroad, according to government research.

We’re all going on a sozzled holiday... - The Sunday Times 26/06/05


'Many ignorant' of organ donation' wishes - Daily Mail 26/06/05

More people know their partner's favourite TV programme than what their wishes are on organ donation, a survey reveals.


Health alert as fans wallow in mud - Daily Mail 26/06/05

Festival goers at Glastonbury have been given a health warning as they faced a nightmare of mud.


Paramedics aim for home treatment - Daily Mail 26/06/05

A new breed of paramedics focused on treating patients in their homes rather than taking people to hospital is to be proposed in a major review of the ambulance service.


GPs' cure for obesity? Move the clocks forward - Daily Mail 26/06/05

Doctors are recommending a bizarre 'cure' for child obesity - putting the clocks forward.


BUPA boss gets the healthiest salary for a woman executive - The Telegraph 26/06/05

Valerie Gooding, the chief executive of private healthcare group BUPA, has become the highest-paid female executive in Britain.


I puffed on a Gauloise as a teenager, says minister behind smoking ban - The Telegraph 26/06/05

As the champion of the Government's proposed smoking ban - and a word-perfect New Labour minister - Patricia Hewitt is not the sort to carry a sneaky packet of Benson & Hedges in her handbag.


'Super paramedics' to treat people at home - The Telegraph 26/06/05

A new breed of "super paramedics" will treat patients at home, drastically reducing the number of people sent to Accident and Emergency departments, the Health Secretary has revealed.

Home treatment paramedics planned - BBC Health News 26/06/05


Good looks are important - but a new home comes first when picking a boyfriend - The Telegraph 26/06/05

Forget the perfect man. Most young women are looking for the perfect mortgage.


HIV drugs block malaria in tests - BBC Health News 25/06/05

Powerful drugs used to treat HIV can also block malaria, researchers say they have shown for the first time.


Zebrafish give cancer spread clue - BBC Health News 25/06/05

A tiny tropical fish is giving scientists clues about how the most serious form of skin cancer develops.


Ask Emma - The Guardian 25/06/05

After several years of discomfort caused by an acid stomach, especially in the mornings, my GP prescribed lansoprazole. Six days later I can report no symptoms. It has been wonderful not to be woken by the acidy sensation. Is there a herbal equivalent?


Last orders for magic mushroom enthusiasts - The Guardian 25/06/05

Bad news for psychedelic fungi fans. There are just 24 more shopping days before magic mushrooms are declared illegal - and that's official.


When illness is ignored - The Guardian 25/06/05

People with mental health problems face discrimination from financial providers and retailers, and have no protection under the law. Vanessa Whitting reports on a problem affecting 7m Brits


Sex is China's latest boom industry - The Guardian 25/06/05

From vibrators to plastic vaginas, the country supplies 70% of all 'adult toys'


EU votes to continue ban on GM crops - The Guardian 25/06/05

The UK failed to persuade the rest of Europe to give in to American pressure and lift the ban on genetically modified crops and food yesterday.


Body strategy - The Guardian 25/06/05

Are there any exercises that target just hips and thighs? I am two stone over-weight but most of the weight is on my thighs (giving me 'saddle bags' - errrk!). I can't get trousers or skirts that fit, and my 'J-Lo' bottom is out of proportion with my tiny waist and B-cup bust. Please help, I feel even worse now I've typed this about my body.


Sex matters with Dr Thomas Stuttaford and Suzi Godson - The Times 25/06/05

Recently, aged 50, I was introduced to S&M practices and I loved it. My girlfriend is worried about my constant demands for stronger sensations but to me it is not pain but pleasure. Is this normal?


Chased by your dreams - The Times 25/06/05

We walk naked, fly, have sex and lose our teeth. Why? New studies unravel our reveries


Life guard for moles - The Times 25/06/05

In the fight against skin cancer a new scanning technique is proving quick and accurate


Moving on: that four-letter word - The Times 25/06/05

Before going back to your ex-boyfriend, first ask what each of you means by love My ex-boyfriend and I still see each other regularly and it is always wonderful. We split up a year ago and neither of us has met anyone serious yet. He was a tricky boyfriend with lots of “issues”, but he is calmer now and, without intending to, I seem to have fallen in love with him again. But I don’t know what to do. I feel loved by him and know that he has never had a more important relationship than with me. But he has always had problems with the word “love” and has unrealistic expectations of what it should be. Should I cut my losses — I’ve probably wasted enough time on him — or tell him how I feel?


Shades of pale - The Times 25/06/05

Michael Jackson has it, but little is known about a skin condition that causes unsightly patches and increases the risk of cancer


Spiritual mould - The Times 25/06/05

Dancer and choreographer Akram Khan tells how his mother taught him to have faith in himself and in the power of prayer


Junk medicine: IVF twins and triplets - The Times 25/06/05

A less-is-more policy for infertility treatment makes both medical and financial sense


Don't get sick, it's the weekend - The Times 25/06/05

Where's the staff? The scarcity of senior hospital doctors, especially on Sundays, endangers lives, says Simon Crompton


Straws save teeth - The Times 25/06/05

Breakthroughs, tips and trends WE ALL know that fizzy pop is bad for us and our teeth, but, hey, it’s summer. So if you or your kids can’t resist cooling off with sugary soft drinks, American dental experts have made a cavity-saving discovery: drinking deep with a straw can cut tooth decay.


Analyse this: ape art - The Times 25/06/05

Are we being chumps over the chimp? WE MIGHT be used to hearing tales of paintings being sold at auction for astronomical prices, but the auction sale of three works for a mere £17,000 had the art world aghast last week. While a Warhol failed to reach its reserve price, these paintings went for more than 14 times their estimate. The artist? A chimpanzee called Congo, celebrated for TV appearances on Desmond Morris’s 1950s Zoo Time.


Infertile ground - The Times 25/06/05

Would-be parents are easy prey for media health scares


Tanning: the golden rules laid bare- The Times 25/06/05

No matter how often we're told that the pale and interesting look is in, we still prefer bronzed skin


No need for a bumpy ride - The Times 25/06/05

We took our six-year-old daughter on a plane for the first time last year and she suffered from travel sickness. Would you advise that we give her medication to prevent sickness this time?


The bill of health [Comment ] - The Times 25/06/05

Hospital management is about life, death and value for money


Greater risk of dying for patients who are admitted at weekends - The Times 25/06/05

PEOPLE who get ill over the weekend run a significantly greater risk of dying in hospital because of a shortage of senior doctors and pressure on resources, research suggests.


CMS Announces Medicare Demonstration for Day Care Services under The Home Health Benefit - Medical News Today 25/06/05

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today announced plans for a demonstration project that will allow some Medicare beneficiaries to receive medical adult day care services under the home health benefit.


Home cures or bananas? - The Times 25/06/05

What do potatoes, vinegar and teabags have in common? They're all folk remedies from your larder


The future on a plate - The Times 25/06/05

Putting our food under the microscope is revealing hidden secrets of health. Meet the dedicated young scientists who know what we'll be tucking into in ten years' time


Strawberries: nutritional jewels of goodness - The Times 25/06/05

At your table with Jane Clarke, the Times nutritionist


High on the hills - The Times 25/06/05

Hilly Janes tries to keep her flock fit and well-fed on a farm-based alpine activity holiday


The sand stormer - The Times 25/06/05

It's one of Earth's toughest races: a six-day slog through the Sahara. Meet the City girl who went in search of her ultimate goal


Not just any body: Nick Bollettieri, 73 - The Times 25/06/05

Celebrity tennis coach Nick Bollettieri has a sure-fire formula for winning - you've got to love it


How bionic man's false hands can feel hot and cold - The Times 25/06/05

AN ELECTRICAL worker whose arms were incinerated by 7,400 volts can shave again thanks to "bionic" replacements that herald a revolution in harnessing brainpower.


Fear over men's 'birth blues' - The Telegraph 24/06/05

Post-natal depression in fathers can have a serious effect on children's future behaviour and emotional development and particularly affects sons, researchers say today.


Soaring sales and contact lenses at Tescos - The Telegraph 24/06/05

Tesco has underlined its dominance of the supermarket sector after it announced sales were running 14.6 per cent higher than a year ago.


Meadow 'underestimated' chances - Daily Mail 24/06/05

Professor Sir Roy Meadow hugely underestimated the likelihood that Sally Clark's two sons died a natural death, the General Medical Council heard.

Cot death numbers don't add up, says eminent statistician - The Times 25/06/05


NHS change may spark doctor exodus - Daily Mail 25/06/05
Rated 3 in National and International News on Jun 25, 2005 at 17:24:42 GMT.
Thousands of junior doctors could abandon the NHS because of an emerging "workforce planning disaster", medical leaders have warned.

BMA warns of job shortages threat - BBC Health News 25/06/05


Deadly superbug hits third hospital - Daily Mail 25/06/05

The deadly superbug Clostridium difficile has struck at a third hospital in Britain, it has been confirmed.

Third hospital is hit by new strain of superbug - The Independent 25/06/05


Psychiatrist suspended over therapy - Daily Mail 25/06/05

A psychiatrist has been suspended by the General Medical Council (GMC) after it heard how he used "masturbation therapy" on his secretary.


US 'under-prepared' for pandemic - Daily Mail 25/06/05

More than a half-million people could die and more than 2.3 million could be hospitalised if a moderately severe strain of pandemic flu virus hits the US, a research group has said.


'More patients dying at weekends' - Daily Mail 25/06/05

Hospital patients are at greater risk of dying at weekends, a report has claimed.


Doctors call for halt to unqualified 'surgeons' - Daily Mail 25/06/05

The Government's plans to allow more non-medically qualified staff to carry out minor operations should be put on hold, doctors' leaders warned today.


Brazil may break Aids drug patent - BBC Health News 25/06/05

Brazil has threatened to break the patent on an anti-Aids drug in order to make a cheaper generic version.

U.S. Should Support Brazil's Efforts To Produce Generic Antiretrovirals, Editorial Says - Medical News Today 25/06/05
Brazil's Efforts to Produce Generic AIDS Drugs Will Hamper Economic Growth, Health Standard Progress, Opinion Piece Says - Medical News Today 26/06/05


Public ignorant of smoking threat to kids - Daily Mail 22/06/05

Almost half of us do not realise that the children of smokers are more likely to start smoking themselves, research revealed today.


'I missed my eight heart attacks' - BBC Health News 25/06/05

Evelyn Dytche worked with the pioneering transplant surgeon Dr Christian Barnard - but she still missed the symptoms of the heart disease which almost killed her.


Test 'identifies new stroke risk' - BBC Health News 25/06/05

Doctors have developed a simple checklist to show if patients who have had a mini-stroke are at immediate risk of a more serious attack.


US approves first 'ethnic drug' - BBC Health News 24/06/05

US drugs regulators have approved a heart failure drug specifically for treating black patients.


Guidance 'exaggerates heart risk' - BBC Health News 24/06/05

Doctors say thresholds for "normal" blood pressure and cholesterol levels have been set so low healthy people might be put on unnecessary medication.


NHS failing to deal with complaints - BBC Health News 23/06/05

The NHS is not doing enough to resolve patient complaints at a local level, says the health service inspectorate.


$5.1 billion could save 6 million children - study - Reuters 24/06/05

Six million children who die each year from preventable diseases could be saved if richer nations gave another $5.1 billion a year, researchers said on Friday.


Australia outlaws using Internet to incite suicide - Reuters 24/06/05

People who use the Internet to incite others to commit suicide or teach them how to kill themselves face fines of up to A$550,000 ($430,000) under tough new laws passed in Australia on Friday.


Cock-eyed optimist? Hey, it can't hurt - Reuters 24/06/05

Having an optimistic outlook on life may not always guarantee a better reaction to stress, as measured by a person's immune status, according to a University of Kentucky psychologist. On the other hand, it doesn't seem to do any harm to have a sunny disposition.


Dark chocolate seen healthy for arteries - Reuters 24/06/05

Eating dark chocolate may have a protective effect on the cardiovascular system in healthy people, the results of a new study suggest.


Vegetarian women weigh less than meat-eaters - Reuters 24/06/05

Women who eat little or no meat are less likely to be overweight than their more carnivorous peers, according to a new study.


Heroin users show Alzheimer's-like brain changes - Reuters 24/06/05

Young people who abuse heroin may suffer brain damage similar to what's seen in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease, according to a new study.


More than three-quarters of docs believe in God - Reuters 24/06/05

The majority of doctors believe in God and attend religious services, and more than half say their religious beliefs affect how they practice medicine, according to new survey results.


Serve kids more food, and they'll eat it - Reuters 24/06/05

When it comes to food, kids tend to eat what's put in front of them even if it exceeds their calorie needs, according to new study findings.


U.S. job-based health care flawed, economists say - Reuters 24/06/05

The U.S. health-care system, which relies on insurance provided through employment, restrains productivity and leaves too many people without coverage, but ditching the system would be costly, economists say.


Antiepileptic drug increases birth defect risk - Reuters 24/06/05

The results of a Finnish population-based study confirm that pregnant women taking the antiepileptic drug valproate run the risk of having a child with birth defects.


More Funding, Commercial Incentives, Cooperation Needed for HIV Vaccine Development, Researchers Say - Medical News Today 26/06/05

An HIV/AIDS vaccine can be developed only with more funding, better commercial incentives and more cooperation among scientists, advocates and researchers said Thursday at a... Senate Committee on Foreign Relations hearing, CQ HealthBeat reports. NIH provides $607 million annually for AIDS vaccine research, and $700 million annually is spent on vaccine research and development worldwide. However, AIDS vaccine research needs $1.2 billion annually, Seth Berkley, president and CEO of the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, said. He urged Congress to pass incentives that would encourage the pharmaceutical industry to become more engaged in the search for a vaccine. "A legally binding agreement to pay a decent price to companies that successfully make an AIDS vaccine for use in the developing world would help overcome the substantial scientific and commercial risks they face," Berkley said. Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) condemned colleagues for last year eliminating funding for a provision that would have provided tax credits to the industry to develop a vaccine, CQ HealthBeat reports. "The Congress of the United States is culpable," Kerry said, adding, "The result is billions of more people are infected and millions more are going to die." Committee Chair Richard Lugar (R-Ind.) has introduced a resolution (SR42) that would support accelerated research on an AIDS vaccine. "We are continuing to work to identify legislative options that might help advance vaccine research," he said. Lugar also is urging the Group of Eight industrialized nations to increase their funding to the Global HIV/AIDS Vaccine Enterprise, which the group launched in June 2004. The G8 is scheduled to meet next month in Gleneagles, Scotland. Helene Gayle -- director for HIV, tuberculosis and reproductive health programs at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation -- said that the development of an effective vaccine will take time and "staying the course over the long haul is really what's key" (CQ HealthBeat [1], 6/23).


Myeloïd Leukaemia - Ipsogen SAS receives 2005 ‘Prize for Innovation'- Medical News Today 26/06/05

Ipsogen SAS today received the Siemens Innovation Trophy, in the medium-sized company category, for its M-bcr FusionQuant® diagnostic kit, indicated for the disease management of patients diagnosed with Chronic Myeloïd Leukaemia.


Mulitple stem cells appear to maintain human small intestines - Medical News Today 26/06/05

The adult small intestine is composed of millions of crypts and cells that constantly divide and die. The methylation patterns of cells in the small intestine suggest that the crypts within the small intestine contain multiple stem cells.


Nominations invited for award in inspirational training in General Practice, UK - Medical News Today 26/06/05

The Paul Freeling Award, for innovative and meritorious work in the field of vocational training in general practice enters its second year. The Award presented by the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) is open to GP course organisers and trainers.


GenoMed's West Nile Virus Treatment Abruptly Stopped, Patient Deteriorates - Medical News Today 26/06/05

GenoMed announced today that its first presumed West Nile virus encephalitis patient is doing poorly after GenoMed's treatment was abruptly stopped last week.


‘You can trust any generic drug as much as you trust its brand name equivalent' - Medical News Today 26/06/05

The white pill on the left will restore a person's health. The white pill on the right is advertised as being the same drug, but it costs half as much.


Psychiatric Illnesses Common in Children with Newly Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes - Medical News Today 26/06/05

As many as one in five children with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes may also have a neuropsychiatric disorder, according to a new study. The illnesses include depression, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism, developmental delay, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder. The research suggests that children with a neuropsychiatric disease may be at risk for type 2 diabetes, and vice versa. “Our findings may be important in screening practices for children with either of these conditions,” said the study's leader, pediatric endocrinologist Lorraine E. Levitt Katz, M.D., of The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. “Obese children with neuropsychiatric conditions should be screened for diabetes, and children with insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes should be screened for psychiatric conditions.” The researchers found that 46 (19 percent) of 237 children at Children's Hospital diagnosed with type 2 diabetes had previously been diagnosed with neuropsychiatric disease (NPD). The retrospective study, the first to report the frequency of NPD in a cohort of children with type 2 diabetes, appears in the June issue of Pediatric Diabetes. “Of the subset of children in our sample with neuropsychiatric disorders, a substantial number were treated with psychiatric medications reported to cause weight gain,” said Robert Berkowitz, M.D., chief of Psychiatry at Children's Hospital, and senior author of the study. “However, this is not the only factor at work, as not all of the medications cause weight gain. Depression, as well as other neuropsychiatric illnesses, may itself lead to a sedentary lifestyle, which places children at risk for type 2 diabetes.” While this study examined previously diagnosed neuropsychiatric disease, the true frequency of neuropsychiatric conditions in children with type 2 diabetes may be considerably higher, say the researchers. “For some children, diabetes may occur first, and help contribute to depression and other NPDs,” Dr. Berkowitz added. “Some researchers suspect that both depression and diabetes have a common basis in the neuroendocrine system, and one disease may help to stimulate the other.” Type 2 diabetes, formerly called adult-onset diabetes and still most common in adults, has been increasing sharply among children over the past decade, in parallel with growing numbers of overweight and obese children. Type 2 diabetes has especially been rising among African American adolescents, who comprised a majority of the patients in the current study. Although the most effective treatment for type 2 diabetes in children is not known, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia is participating in a national multicenter trial, comparing medication with the effects of lifestyle changes such as diet and increased exercise. “For most children, a diagnosis of diabetes demands dramatic lifestyle changes,” added Dr. Katz. “If the child has a neuropsychiatric disease as well, there are additional challenges, which physicians and caregivers need to factor into the child's treatment to achieve the best results.” In addition to Drs. Katz and Berkowitz, co-authors were Sanjeev Swami, M.D., Maire Abraham, Kathryn M. Murphy, Abbas F. Jawad, Ph.D., and Heather McKnight-Menci, all of The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. About The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia: The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia was founded in 1855 as the nation's first pediatric hospital. Through its long-standing commitment to providing exceptional patient care, training new generations of pediatric healthcare professionals and pioneering major research initiatives, Children's Hospital has fostered many discoveries that have benefited children worldwide. Its pediatric research program is among the largest in the country, ranking second in National Institutes of Health funding. In addition, its unique family-centered care and public service programs have brought the 430-bed hospital recognition as a leading advocate for children and adolescents. For more information, visit http://www.chop.edu. Children's Hospital of Philadelphia 34th & Civic Center Blvd. Philadelphia, PA 19104 United States http://www.chop.edu For more information on bipolar disorder click here. For more information on depression click here. For more information on diabetes click here. For more information on schizophrenia click here. Huge database of hospitals world wide . Save time! Get the latest medical news in your email every week with our newsletter. Contact Our Medical News Editors For any corrections of factual information, or to contact the editors please use our feedback form. Please send any medical news or health news press releases to: pressrelease@medicalnewstoday.com Back to top Back to health news List of All Medical Articles Privacy Policy Disclaimer © 2003-2005 Medical News Today Web design by Alastair Hazell, Sussex UK home XML News Feed view news categories Health Professionals Respiratory Breast Cancer GI Cardiovascular Psychiatry Prostate Cancer UK Learning Resources Medicines Interactive Patient Resources Migraine Heartburn Blood Pressure Asthma Other Links Latest Medical News News Archive Search About Us Advertising Medical Newsletter RSS/XML News Feed JavaScript News Feed Medical Toolbar Your Opinions Links Contact Us Tell a Friend Your Name: Your E-mail: Friend's Name: Friend's E-mail: click for details. 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Childhood Cancer Survivors Face Educational Challenges Years After Treatment - Medical News Today 26/06/05

Each year in the United States approximately 12,500 children and adolescents-the equivalent of two average size classrooms each school day-are diagnosed with cancer. About half of all children with cancer have a brain tumor or acute leukemia. These types of cancer and their treatment involve the Central Nervous System, often causing problems that will later affect learning.


Children Prone to Ear Infections Have High Rates of Disease Producing Bacteria - Medical News Today 26/06/05

Children who are prone to frequent ear infections may have a high number of potentially infectious bacteria and a relatively low number of protective bacteria in their noses, according to a study in the June issue of Archives of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.


Keyhole Surgery Is a Safe Option for Colon Cancer - Medical News Today 26/06/05

Keyhole surgery can be safely used for the removal of tumours from the colon, concludes a study published online today (Tuesday June 21, 2005) by The Lancet Oncology.


Restoring Flow to All Blocked Areas of the Heart Improves 5-Year Survival Rate - Medical News Today 26/06/05

Pointing out that not all coronary artery bypass operations are performed the same way or have equivalent outcomes, cardiothoracic surgeons at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center have found that patients who have blockages of multiple coronary arteries and undergo “complete revascularization” - grafting of arteries to restore blood flow to all affected territories of the heart - have consistently better long-term survival rates than those who have “incomplete revascularization.”


Early Detection of Thick Melanomas - Medical News Today 26/06/05

Despite campaigns promoting early detection and increased awareness of melanoma (skin cancer) the proportion of the most aggressive and deadly form of melanoma remains the same, according to an article in the June issue of Archives of Dermatology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.


Link Between Foxp2 Gene and Language Development - Medical News Today 26/06/05

The Foxp2 gene plays an essential role in the development of social communication, according to a study led by researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine.


ADMA May Be New Risk Factor for Progressive Kidney Disease - Medical News Today 26/06/05

For patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), a molecular marker of blood vessel damage may help to predict further loss of kidney function, suggest two studies in the August Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.


Endocarditis Infection Commonly Related to Health Care Factors - Medical News Today 26/06/05

An international study reveals that infective endocarditis, infection and inflammation involving the heart valves is commonly associated with health care factors and is increasingly due to staphylococcal infection, according to a study in the June 22/29 issue of JAMA.


Study Examines Characteristics of Cancers of the Esophagus - Medical News Today 26/06/05

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) may be associated with more cases of cancers than previously thought, according to a study in the June issue of Archives of Surgery, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.


Identifying People at High-Risk of Stroke After a ‘Mini-Stroke' - Medical News Today 26/06/05

UK researchers have derived a simple risk score to predict stroke in the 7 days after a person has had a transient ischaemic attack (TIA) or mini-stroke, reporting their results in a study published online today (Tuesday June 21, 2005) by The Lancet.


First Trimester Risk Assessment for Down Syndrome: Practical, Ethical Considerations - Medical News Today 26/06/05

Risk Assessment for trisomy 21, also known as Down Syndrome (a condition in which there are three copies of chromosome 21 instead of two), can give parents and healthcare providers the critical information needed to prepare for the birth of a special needs child or make an informed decision about whether to continue a pregnancy. As diagnostic methods have evolved, both the accuracy and the ability to diagnose earlier in the pregnancy have improved.


Cause of Bedsores and Other Chronic Wounds - Medical News Today 26/06/05

A study conducted by NYU School of Medicine researchers, in collaboration with the Wound Healing Program at Columbia University, sheds new light on the molecular mechanisms underlying the development of chronic wounds. The findings may help clinicians predict which wounds are likely to become chronic - a key bit of information, since the sooner treatment is started, the better the outcome. The research also raises the hope for new treatments for chronic wounds by identifying possible targets for intervention.


Know How to Avoid Lightning - Medical News Today 26/06/05

Public education efforts on avoiding lightning strike injuries may be paying off in the form of a 40 percent decrease from predicted fatalities and injuries, according to Dr. Mary Ann Cooper, director of the lightning injury research program and professor in the department of emergency medicine at the University of Illinois at Chicago.


Antibiotic Treatment Not Necessary for Most Children with Conjunctivitis - Medical News Today 26/06/05

Most children with infective conjunctivitis (pinkeye) do not need treatment with an antibiotic, suggests a study published online on Wednesday June 22, 2005 by The Lancet.


Researcher Puts Attention on ADHD Drug Treatment - Medical News Today 26/06/05

The use of drugs to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder has grown in the last decade, but it's those who live in the most affluent areas of the United States who are most likely to get medication for the disorder.


Stepping on a nail barefoot - Medical News Today 26/06/05

Going barefoot is a delight, but a puncture wound from stepping on a nail can cure one of such hedonistic pleasures. "Any nail puncture wound requires immediate cleansing with soap and water, followed by evaluation at the local emergency room," said UAB podiatrist James Thomas, D.P.M.


Restoring a More Normal Appearance to Children with Facial Deformities - Medical News Today 26/06/05

“I just want to stand in line in the grocery store and not have people stare at my child or ask me questions about what happened to him.” Mark M. Urata, M.D., D.D.S., director of the Cedars-Sinai Craniofacial Clinic, hears this often from parents of children with craniofacial problems (abnormalities of the head and neck). It's common, he says, for a parent to want other people to see their child the same way they do. But parents of children with craniofacial anomalies sometimes believe this is impossible because their child looks so different from others.


Ramelteon Helped Adults with Chronic Insomnia - Medical News Today 26/06/05

Ramelteon, a novel investigational compound under review with the FDA for the treatment of insomnia, reduced the time it took to fall asleep and increased total sleep time in adults with chronic insomnia, according to results from a Phase 3 study presented this week at the 19th Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies (APSS). Results of the study also showed no evidence of rebound insomnia, next-day impairments or withdrawal effects due to discontinuation.


Stem Cells Grown in Lab Mirror Normal Developmental Steps - Medical News Today 26/06/05

Johns Hopkins scientists have developed a way to study the earliest steps of human blood development using human embryonic stem cells grown in a lab dish instead of the embryos themselves.


UNICEF, Chinese Group Launch Campaign To End Discrimination Against AIDS Orphans in China - Medical News Today 26/06/05

UNICEF and the not-for-profit organization China Youth Concern Committee on Wednesday announced the launch of a public awareness campaign aimed at ending discrimination against Chinese children who have lost one or both parents to HIV/AIDS, the AP/Yahoo! News reports. The campaign -- the first of its kind in China -- includes a pop song sung by celebrity Vicky Zhao and a short cartoon about "a lonely child whose life is changed by making new friends," according to the AP/Yahoo! News. A Chinese law adopted last year prohibits discrimination angainst anyone with an infectious disease, including HIV/AIDS. However, according to Christian Voumard, UNICEF representative in China, many children who are HIV-positive or orphaned are frequently mistreated by classmates and teachers because of a lack of knowledge about the disease. "Despite the achievements made in China to address HIV/AIDS, the associated stigma and discrimination remains a challenge that is yet to be adequately addressed," Voumard said. Zhao said she wants her song "to tell everyone that we need to understand and help these kids and let them know that there can be a brighter tomorrow." According to the Chinese government, there are about 840,000 HIV-positive people and 80,000 people living with AIDS in the country (Olesen, AP/Yahoo! News, 6/22).


New Minimally Invasive Surgery Treats Early Lung Cancers - Medical News Today 25/06/05

A new surgical technique offered at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center is helping people with early stage lung cancer recover more quickly with less pain.


Mutliple Sclerosis - FTY720, a novel once-daily oral medication, shows promising results - Medical News Today 25/06/05

Phase II data presented today at the 15th European Neurological Society (ENS) meeting in Vienna showed that FTY720, a novel oral medication for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS), reduced the rate of clinical relapses by more than 50% and inflammatory disease activity as measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) by up to 80% over six months compared to placebo.


FDA approves new anti-HIV drug Aptivus® for use in combination therapy - Medical News Today 25/06/05

Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted accelerated approval of Aptivus (tipranavir) capsules. Accelerated approval is a regulatory process that expedites the approval of therapies for serious or life-threatening illnesses that provide meaningful benefit to patients over existing treatments. This approval is based on 24-week data from ongoing studies. Longer term data will be needed before FDA can consider traditional approval for Aptivus. There are no study results demonstrating the effect of Aptivus on clinical progression of HIV-1.


Robotic System for Laparoscopic Prostatectomy - Medical News Today 25/06/05

The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test was supposed to be a routine part of a routine physical exam. But the level was slightly elevated, leading to a biopsy and the eventual diagnosis of early-stage, moderately aggressive prostate cancer.


FDA grants priority review for Exjade® for the treatment of chronic iron overload due to blood transfusions - Medical News Today 25/06/05

Novartis announced today that its New Drug Application for Exjade® (deferasirox) has been granted priority review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a once-daily oral iron chelator for the treatment of chronic iron overload due to blood transfusions.


Using Botox for Migraine and Headache Treatment, Phase II Studies - Medical News Today 25/06/05

Allergan Inc has completed several exploratory Phase II clinical trials investigating the potential use of BOTOX® (botulinum toxin type A) to treat various forms of headache and levels of headache severity, in an effort to identify a responsive patient population, dose and efficacy endpoints to guide its Phase III program.


PEGASYS Plus Ribavirin COPEGUS, Combination Therapy for Hepatitis C, Trial Results - Medical News Today 25/06/05

Chugai Pharmaceutical (TSE: 4519) announced the results of its phase three clinical trial it had conducted in Japan on combination therapy that used PEGASYS, pegylated interferon alpha-2a (genetic recombination), plus ribavirin COPEGUS, at the 41st Annual Conference of the Japan Society of Hepatology held in Osaka on June 16 and 17.


Osaka Bioscience Institute Verifies Caffeine's Stimulant Effects at Molecular Level - Medical News Today 25/06/05

The National Agriculture and Bio-oriented Research Organization (NARO) announced on June 17 that a research group organized by the Osaka Bioscience Institute (OBI) has verified the mechanism of caffeine's stimulant effects at the molecular level. According to the group, the stimulant effects are regulated by the adenosine A2A receptor.


FDA Approves BiDil, First Racially Targeted Treatment - Medical News Today 25/06/05

FDA on Thursday approved BiDil, a heart failure medication developed by Massachusetts-based... NitroMed, for use in black patients, a "controversial step toward a new frontier of personalized medicine," the New York Times reports. BiDil marks the first medication approved by FDA for use in a specific racial group (Saul, New York Times, 6/24). In a recent study, BiDil reduced the risk of heart disease in black patients. In the study, which involved 1,050 black patients with moderate to advanced heart failure, half of participants received BiDil, a combination of the heart disease medications isosorbide dinitrate and hydralazine, and half received a placebo. After three years, 32 participants who received BiDil died, compared with 54 who received a placebo, the study found. In addition, the study found that the number of first hospital admissions for heart failure among participants who received BiDil was 33% less than the number among those who received a placebo (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Reports, 6/17). According to FDA spokesperson Suzanne Trevino, the BiDil label will state that the medication is effective in self-identified black patients but has not proven effective among other racial groups (Roylance, Baltimore Sun, 6/24). However, physicians likely will prescribe BiDil to patients in other racial groups as an off-label use, according to Flora Sam, who led a BiDil study at Boston Medical Center (Henderson, Boston Globe, 6/24). NitroMed has not announced the price of BiDil. NitroMed officials said that they will begin to market BiDil almost immediately and that sales representatives will focus on physicians who treat a large number of black heart failure patients (New York Times, 6/24).


Microbes Can Produce Miniature Electrical Wires - Medical News Today 25/06/05

Researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst have discovered a tiny biological structure that is highly electrically conductive. This breakthrough helps describe how microorganisms can clean up groundwater and produce electricity from renewable resources. It may also have applications in the emerging field of nanotechnology, which develops advanced materials and devices in extremely small dimensions.


Innovative ideas to protect drinking water - Medical News Today 25/06/05

National Geographic Germany and Bayer AG are committing a total of EUR 250,000 in funding to promote new research on drinking water protection. As part of the "National Geographic Global Exploration Fund", the two companies are supporting scientific projects aimed at researching the exploitation, distribution and responsible use of water around the world. The shortage of freshwater is viewed as the biggest problem facing the world's population today. More than one billion people currently have no access to clean drinking water, and this trend is accelerating. The fund set up by National Geographic and Bayer is aimed particularly at scientists in the German-speaking countries. A scientific committee made up of prominent members will decide which projects are eligible for support.


Protein synthesis can be controlled by light, opening way for new scientific, medical applications - Medical News Today 25/06/05

Proteins are the puzzle-pieces of life, involved in how organisms grow and flourish, but studying their complex biological processes in living systems has been extremely difficult. Now, a team of chemists and neurobiologists led by Timothy Dore at the University of Georgia and Erin M. Schuman at the California Institute of Technology has found a way to use light to regulate protein synthesis in specific locations.


Wrapping Radiation Around Spine to Provide Cancer Pain Relief, Jefferson Neurosurgeons, Radiation Oncologists - Medical News Today 25/06/05

Using the most advanced radiation technology currently available in the region, neurosurgeons and radiation oncologists at the Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience and Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia have for the first time wrapped beams of radiation around a patient's spine, relieving pain from several cancerous tumors there while avoiding the spinal cord.


Japanese doctors likelier to involve patients' families in decisions than US doctors - Medical News Today 25/06/05

Medical residents in Japan are more likely to involve patients' families in end-of-life decision making--and to favor informing family members over the patients first-- than their United States counterparts, who prefer dealing directly with the patient, according to a new study conducted by Dr. Bob Gabbay and colleagues.


Gene changes linked to deficient immune suppression in MS - Medical News Today 25/06/05

Oregon Health & Science University researchers have measured genetic changes reflecting a drop in the body's ability to suppress inflammatory cells that attack nerve fibers and promote progression of multiple sclerosis.


First human trials of anti-cancer drug that targets protein AKT, Moffitt-USF - Medical News Today 25/06/05

H Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, working in partnership with the University of South Florida (USF), has discovered a new use for an old, previously discredited anti-cancer drug that could add another weapon in the arsenal against several cancers, including tumors of the breast, ovary, colon, skin and prostate.


Enzyme's newly discovered role may make it target for arthritis treatment - Medical News Today 25/06/05

Scientists have found a new role for a previously identified enzyme that may make it a target for anti-inflammatory treatments.


New food allergy research consortium focuses on peanut allergy - Medical News Today 25/06/05

The only advice doctors can give to the 4 percent of Americans with potentially life-threatening food allergies is to avoid the culprit food, often nuts or shellfish. But that may change as researchers in a new Food Allergy Research Consortium, announced today, strive to develop therapies to treat and prevent food allergy.


Common drugs can calm essential tremor, new guidelines - Medical News Today 25/06/05

Imagine not being able to hold a glass, tie your shoelaces or write a check. For people with the common movement disorder known as essential tremor, simple tasks requiring fine motor coordination become increasingly difficult, sometimes even impossible. Three times more prevalent than Parkinson's disease, essential tremor involves uncontrollable shaking of the hands, arms, head or voice. The largely hereditary neurological condition can begin in early adulthood and worsen with age.


Condom Promotion Important Part of Responsible HIV/AIDS Prevention Models in Africa, Letter to Editor Says - Medical News Today 25/06/05

"It is both reasonable and necessary to challenge those who promote positions and policies that lead to greater suffering and death from AIDS,"... Catholics for a Free Choice President Frances Kissling writes in a Seattle Times letter to the editor in response to a June 17 Times opinion piece (Kissling, Seattle Times, 6/22). Kathryn Jean Lopez, editor of National Review Online, in a Times opinion piece said condom promotion has been ineffective in Africa but promoting abstinence and fidelity has shown promising results on the continent, especially in Uganda (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 6/20). However, a 2002 study by U.S. and Ugandan researchers showed that the greatest factor in reducing Uganda's HIV prevalence was premature death among HIV-positive people, and the second-most-important factor was condom use, according to Kissling. "It is a shame Lopez has chosen to trivialize the efforts of those working to stem the spread of AIDS in Africa" by showing "a willful disregard of epidemiological studies and a lack of understanding of the complexity of HIV/AIDS prevention work," Kissling says. "Responsible prevention models" in the fight against HIV/AIDS should include "compatible messages and evidence-based strategies that integrate the A, B and C approach (Abstain; Be faithful; use Condoms)," Kissling writes (Seattle Times, 6/22).


S. African Court Reserves Judgment on Treatment Action Campaign Case Against Vitamin Advocate - Medical News Today 25/06/05

A South African court on Tuesday reserved judgment in the South African HIV/AIDS treatment advocacy group... Treatment Action Campaign's defamation lawsuit against German vitamin advocate Matthias Rath, who has accused TAC of being a front for pharmaceutical companies, Reuters AlertNet reports. Judge Siraj Desai said the court will rule on the case within the "next few weeks" (Reuters AlertNet, 6/21). TAC has asked the Cape Town High Court to issue a temporary injunction to prevent Rath and the California-based Dr. Rath Health Foundation from making defamatory statements about TAC. In some of his advertisements, including full-page ads in the New York Times and the International Herald Tribune, Rath claims antiretroviral drugs are toxic and suggests that TAC has misled people to believe that "exorbitantly expensive and highly toxic drugs like AZT and nevirapine" can successfully treat HIV infection. TAC has encouraged the South African government to provide access to antiretroviral drugs for HIV-positive people in the country. Rath and his foundation have filed a response to TAC's request, saying that the foundation's claims about antiretrovirals are true and their criticism of TAC is allowed under the country's constitutional right to free expression (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 5/31). After the court's announcement, TAC Chair Zackie Achmat said his organization will push for Rath to be arrested, South Africa's Cape Times reports (Schroeder/Maclennan, Cape Times, 6/22). TAC has accused Rath's staff of involving township residents in "unauthorized, pseudo-medical experiments," the SAPA/Mail & Guardian reports. The Medicines Control Council is looking into Rath's activities (SAPA/Mail & Guardian, 6/21).


Stevens Approach Successfully Repairs Inverted Nipples and Preserves Milk Ducts - Medical News Today 25/06/05

A Southern California plastic surgeon renowned for his expertise on breast surgery has created an innovative technique for correcting inverted nipples. Approximately 2 percent of the female population suffers from inverted nipples and the deformity can aversely affect self-esteem, sexuality, and, in severe cases, the ability to breastfeed.


Cholera in Afghanistan, WHO - Medical News Today 25/06/05

From 25 May to 16 June, the Ministry of Health, Afghanistan reported a total of 3245 cases of acute watery diarrhoea in Kabul city. Out of these 777 were hospitalised for severe dehydration. Vibrio cholerae has been laboratory confirmed in 30 stool samples out of 44.


Fight Against AIDS in Developing Countries Faces Multibillion-Dollar Shortfall - Medical News Today 25/06/05

Global funding to fight HIV/AIDS in developing countries faces a multibillion-dollar shortfall over the next three years, according to a... UNAIDS report to be released at the end of this month, the AP/Las Vegas Sun reports. UNAIDS officials on Wednesday announced their projections that only $8.9 billion will be available in 2006, although $14.7 billion will be required, and only $10 billion will be available in 2007, despite the need for $17.8 billion that year. The officials did not provide projections on the likely amount of available funding in 2008, but UNAIDS estimates that nearly $22 billion will be needed that year (AP/Las Vegas Sun, 6/22). In 2004, funding from all sources totaled $6.1 billion, and about $8 billion is expected to be available this year (Reuters, 6/22). UNAIDS Executive Director Peter Piot said in a statement, "AIDS poses an exceptional threat to humanity, and the response needs to be equally exceptional, recognizing the urgency as well as the need for long-term planning and financing," adding, "We have come a long way in mobilizing extra funds for AIDS, moving from millions to billions, but we still fall short" (AFP/Yahoo! News, 6/22). If the funding necessary for 2006 through 2008 is provided, 75% of HIV-positive people in need of treatment would have access to antiretrovirals by 2008, more than 1,000 new health centers would be built by 2010, and 19,000 health centers and 800 hospitals could be renovated over the next three years. In addition, prevention efforts could be scaled up, support for AIDS orphans in sub-Saharan Africa could be improved and expanded, and the cost of efforts to recruit and train more physicians, nurses and health workers in low-income countries would be covered (UNAIDS release, 6/21). Roughly 38 million people worldwide -- 25 million of them in sub-Saharan Africa -- are living with HIV/AIDS. The World Health Organization estimates that only about 700,000 of the more than six million HIV-positive people who need antiretroviral treatment had access to antiretrovirals as of December 2004 (Reuters, 6/22).


How Do We Learn Our Way Around New Environments? - Medical News Today 25/06/05

How do we learn our way around new environments, such as when you move to a new city? Scientists have been asking this question for many years, and new findings from brain imaging studies are helping to answer it.


Six months after tsunami, UN agencies say hardest work lies ahead - Medical News Today 24/06/05

Six months after the tsunami ripped through communities across the Indian Ocean last December, the development agencies most involved in the recovery effort said the toughest challenges still lie ahead - including the complex issues of where to re-establish housing, how to quickly restore livelihoods, and what to prioritize now that the immediate relief phase is over.


KQED's 'Health Dialogues' To Examine HIV/AIDS Transmission, Prevention - Medical News Today 24/06/05

KQED's... "Health Dialogues," a live, monthly call-in program sponsored by the California Endowment to examine health care issues in the state, on Thursday will air a discussion about the transmission of HIV -- especially the increasing number of infections among blacks and men who have sex with men -- and efforts to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS. Guests scheduled to appear on the program include Harold Atkins, president of the board of Centerforce, an HIV prevention and education program at San Quentin State Prison; Cynthia Davis, director of HIV education and outreach programs at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science in Los Angeles; Juan Ruiz, chief of the HIV/AIDS epidemiology branch of the California Department of Health Services Office of AIDS; and Michael Siever, director of the Stonewall Project, a San Francisco program addressing safety issues among MSM and crystal methamphetamine users (Shafer, "Health Dialogues," KQED, 6/23). Check state radio stations for availability. Audio of the program will be available online in RealPlayer after the broadcast.


WHO programme to strengthen links between health research and practice - Medical News Today 24/06/05

The World Health Organization will this month launch an innovative programme to reduce the gap between health research and practice.


Researchers Investigating Male Circumcision as HIV/AIDS Prevention Tool in Uganda, 'The World' Reports - Medical News Today 24/06/05

In the absence of an HIV/AIDS vaccine, researchers have begun investigating whether male circumcision could help protect against contracting the virus,... "The World" -- a production of BBC World Service, PRI and WGBH Boston -- reported on Wednesday. Previous studies have shown that African men who are circumcised are less likely than uncircumcised men to be HIV-positive, but because most circumcised men in the region are Muslim, it is unclear if the protective effect is because of the circumcision itself or because Muslim men tend to have fewer extramarital sex partners. In order to evaluate whether circumcision protects against HIV infection, Maria Waver of Columbia University and colleagues have recruited about 3,000 HIV-negative men in Uganda to participate in a clinical trial, in which some men will be circumcised immediately and others will delay undergoing the surgical procedure. The researchers will follow both groups of men to see if there is a difference in HIV prevalence (Fink, "The World," PRI, 6/22). The complete segment is available online in Windows Media.


Stark inequalities for people with mental disorders, WHO - Medical News Today 24/06/05

The World Health Organization (WHO) is giving countries an important new legal tool to help address the often unacceptable conditions in which people with mental disabilities live.


Current GM foods can bring benefits but safety assessments must continue - Medical News Today 24/06/05

New, genetically modified (GM) foods can contribute to enhancing human health and development, the World Health Organization (WHO) concludes in a new report on GM foods, issued today. However the report also stresses the need for continued safety assessments on GM before they are marketed, to prevent risks to both human health and the environment.


FDA Approves Boehringer Ingelheim's Protease Inhibitor Aptivus To Treat Drug-Resistant HIV - Medical News Today 24/06/05

FDA on Wednesday approved Boehringer Ingelheim's protease inhibitor Aptivus to be used in combination with... Abbott Laboratories' Norvir for HIV/AIDS patients who have become resistant to other drugs, Reuters reports. Boehringer on Wednesday said Aptivus -- known generically as tipranavir -- will be available at pharmacies nationwide within two weeks (Reuters, 6/23). Protease inhibitors work by blocking the action of an enzyme that cuts HIV proteins into the shorter sections that the virus needs to replicate (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 5/4). Although FDA has approved eight other protease inhibitors, most HIV/AIDS patients develop resistance to the drugs at some time. Boehringer said it hopes to gain approval of Aptivus from E.U. regulators by the end of this year, according to Andres Barner, the company's head of research (Reuters, 6/23).


Cheshire and Mersey News


Make home a smokefree zone - Maghull & Aintree Star 23/06/05

SEFTON residents are urged to stump out the ciggy in your home and pack in smoking.


A shining light for cancer sufferers - Warrington Guardian 25/06/05

YOUNG women diagnosed with breast cancer can now access a new support network in memory of a truly inspirational figurehead.


Sterilising service to be farmed out? - Warrington Guardian 24/06/05

WARRINGTON Hospital has confirmed that its theatre services sterilising service could be farmed out to a private company in Wythenshawe.


Ward closure would be 'criminal' - family - Warrington Guardian 24/06/05

THE family of a patient on a Warrington Hospital ward threatened with closure say the idea is 'criminal'.


Rise in operations at hospital - Runcorn World 24/06/05

HALTON Hospital is taking on more and more complex operations, says North Cheshire Hospitals boss Ian Dalton.


Greater Manchester News


Home treatment plan for paramedics - Manchester Evening News 26/06/05

PLANS to send highly-trained paramedics to deal with most 999 calls on the spot rather than taking patients to hospital by ambulance have been criticised by union leaders.


Mum identifies gap in the market - Bury Times 25/06/05

A HEART stopping moment inspired Nadine Lewis to turn entrepreneur. The mother-of-three's panic when she lost one of her two toddler twins in a busy Trafford Centre spurred her to create a range of kiddie-tagging ID products that are now taking the country by storm.


Smoking is my religion [Letter] - Bolton Evening News 25/06/05

I HAVE just seen the light and promptly lit up my cigarette and drunk my coffee, a ritual I perform every morning.


Disillusionment in dental health and democracy [Letter] - Bolton Evening News 25/06/05

WHEN Bolton's dentists say they are prepared to fight anti-fluoride protesters through the courts, (Bolton Evening News, June 15), I think that they have a cheek to come out with a statement like that.


Fairfield doctors call on bosses to resign - Bury Times 24/06/05

SENIOR doctors at Fairfield Hospital are calling for their bosses to resign after an overwhelming majority passed a vote of no confidence in their management.


Pure fresh water on tap [Letter] - Bolton Evening News 24/06/05

ON the matter of fluoride in our water supply. I live in Horwich, and the water is undrinkable now due to too much chlorine.


Worsening state of our health [Letter] - Bolton Evening News 24/06/05

MANY thanks to Brian Derbyshire for his well constructed letter. I support his dental health message and the way that he has raised his children. It would be great if all parents were as well motivated.


Patients' plea for more special nurses - Bolton Evening News 24/06/05

PATIENTS suffering from a chronic disease are calling for more specialist nurses to help ease their symptoms.


Hundreds queue for dentist - Manchester Evening News 24/06/05

HUNDREDS of people queued in the pouring rain for up to four hours to register at an NHS dentists last night.


Healthy gardeners find the plot - Manchester Evening News 24/06/05

HEALTH-conscious young families are snapping up allotments across the north west, shaking off their old flat-cap image.


Soccer Mike's a man of vision - Manchester Evening News 24/06/05

MANCHESTER City legend Mike Summerbee was left completely in the dark during an awareness campaign.

Sunday, June 19, 2005

National and International News



Teeth loss in link to Alzheimer's - Daily Mail 19/06/05

Losing teeth at a young age could be an early warning of Alzheimer's in later life, new research suggests.


Doctors in conjoined twins decision - Daily Mail 19/06/05

Brazilian doctors were considering whether they can surgically separate a pair of recently born conjoined twin girls, hospital officials have said.


Cannabis 'leads to heroin use risk' - Daily Mail 19/06/05

Teenagers who smoke cannabis may be more likely to turn to drugs such as heroin, according to a new study.


30 Years Later, Epilepsy Surgery Shows Good Results - Medical News Today 19/06/05

A new study shows that the prognosis is good for people who have epilepsy surgery, even 30 years after the surgery. The study is published in the June 14 issue of Neurology, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology.


No ifs and butts ... - The Observer 19/06/05

Tomorrow, the government will announce its intention to bring in a ban on smoking in public places. There will be a full consultation, but the measures the government hopes to introduce go much further than the partial ban that was proposed last year, setting out a complete outlawing of smoking in workplaces, pubs, clubs and restaurants.


Chips face the chop as schools get healthy - The Observer 19/06/05

Chips should not be served to pupils more than once a week and salt must be banished from their tables, according to a report will set out stringent new guidelines for school meals this week.


Dear John - The Observer 19/06/05

I suffer from redness and scaliness on my face, especially on my forehead and the sides of my nose. A dermatologist has diagnosed the condition as seborrhoeic dermatitis. Is there a natural way to deal with this?


Police war on hard drugs falters - The Observer 19/06/05

The number of hard drug dealers arrested in London over the last four years has plummeted by nearly 20 per cent, despite assurances from senior police officers and government ministers that they would make the fight against heroin and cocaine a priority.


Smoking: Blair will push for total ban - The Observer 19/06/05

A blanket ban on smoking in public places, including all pubs and restaurants, will form the centrepiece of government health proposals to be launched tomorrow.


Revealed: the true scale of MRSA - The Observer 19/06/05

More than one in eight hospitals have under-reported the number of MRSA infections for as long as three and a half years, new documents reveal.


'Africa's fatal sexual culture spreads Aids' - The Observer 19/06/05

Black film-maker confronts the causes of the epidemic killing millions and admits: I lived the way these men are living


Disturbed inmates put jails 'on edge' - The Observer 19/06/05

Prison officers are being forced to deal with a 'toxic mix' of substance abuse and psychological disorders among an increasing number of seriously disturbed prisoners who should not be in jail in the first place.


Big Mother: meet the new reality TV line-up - The Observer 19/06/05

A new reality TV show which is to show expectant couples moving in to a Big Brother -style house just days before their babies are born has been condemned as a 'circus act' by health experts.


Hewitt scrubs up to track down the new NHS billions - The Observer 19/06/05

More is being spent on Britain's health than at any time before, but are the government's ambitious reforms working? Jo Revill reports


Blanket ban on smoking in public is denied - The Independent 19/06/05

Reports that the Government is set to introduce plans for a blanket ban on smoking in public were strongly denied last night.


U-turn on cannabis law by Clarke - The Independent 19/06/05

Charles Clarke, the Home Secretary, has given the clearest signal yet that he plans to reclassify cannabis as a class B drug.


Huge rise in public order offences blamed on drink - The Independent 19/06/05

Britain's growing binge-drinking culture has been blamed for a massive rise in the number of convictions for public disorder.


Was Traci Johnson driven to suicide by anti-depressants? That's a trade secret, say US officials - The Independent 19/06/05

Researchers trying to establish the truth about a new drug - now on sale in the UK - are being thwarted by a government agency whose job is to protect the public


Question: when is a pound lost a pound gained? Answer: on a diet - The Independent 19/06/05

Female weight-watchers can look forward to an unexpected bonus: pounds lost around the bottom equal pounds gained in the pocket, according to the first research into the financial benefits of dieting.


Keepsake scans 'put babies at risk' - The Telegraph 19/06/05

New technology has led to a surge in the number of private clinics offering high-resolution videos of babies within the womb smiling, yawning and sucking their thumb - for which thousands of expectant mothers pay up to £275 each.


Hygiene blamed for NHS's soaring allergy bill - The Telegraph 19/06/05

The number of people in Britain who have allergies is set to rise because houses are too "clean" for children's immune systems to develop properly, according to a health care expert.


Doctors prescribe Viagra for children with heart conditions - The Telegraph 19/06/05

Doctors are prescribing Viagra to a small number of children with a fatal, lung-heart condition. The drug, normally associated with middle-aged male impotency, enables children with pulmonary arterial hypertension to breathe more easily by expanding blood vessels in the heart and lungs.


Katie Grant: Okay kids, have sex — but no fags after - The Sunday Times 19/06/05

Isn’t banning attractive? I want to do it all the time. When my coat is singed, I want to ban smoking in the street. When I am deafened by rap music, I want to ban cars with open windows. When I sit on the remains of chocolate bars, I want to ban eating in my sitting room.


Argyll health plan ‘may cost lives’ - The Sunday Times 19/06/05

LIVES could be put at risk by the decision to scrap the debt-ridden Argyll & Clyde health board, a leaked report into the closure plan has revealed.


Child protection bosses may face jail for failures - The Sunday Times 19/06/05

CHIEF constables and social work directors could be jailed for failing to protect vulnerable children under a Scottish executive clampdown.


Hewitt ready to follow Scotland on smoking ban - The Sunday Times 19/06/05

ENGLAND is poised to follow Scotland’s lead and introduce a ban on smoking in all public places.


Parents may lose right to opt children out of sex education - The Sunday Times 19/06/05

PARENTS will lose the right to withdraw their children from sex education classes under plans being considered by Scotland’s largest local authority.


NHS ‘fund bias’ against men may cost 2,500 lives a year - The Sunday Times 19/06/05

DOCTORS have identified a “funding bias” against men within the National Health Service that they believe is costing at least 2,500 lives a year.


NHS ‘fund bias’ against men may cost 2,500 lives a year - The Sunday Times 19/06/05

DOCTORS have identified a “funding bias” against men within the National Health Service that they believe is costing at least 2,500 lives a year.


Hornby novel used to stop suicides - The Sunday Times 19/06/05

THE latest novel by Nick Hornby has been adopted by American suicide helplines as a message of hope to talk young people out of killing themselves.


NHS doctors see patients out of hours for 55 pounds - The Sunday Times 19/06/05

SOME National Health Service GPs who no longer look after their patients in the evenings or at weekends are charging 55 for private out-of-hours consultations.


Smoking ban ‘inevitable’ across UK - The Sunday Times 19/06/05

PATRICIA HEWITT, the health secretary, is prepared to introduce a blanket ban on smoking in all public places.


Moonwalk bra event attracts 15,000 - Daily Mail 19/06/05

A total of 15,000 people have pounded the streets of London dressed in decorated bras to raise millions for breast cancer research.


Nurses quit 'for property ladder' - Daily Mail 19/06/05

Nurses are being forced to quit the profession to take better paid jobs because they cannot get on the property ladder, nursing leaders have said.


Doctors demand right to die law - Daily Mail 19/06/05

Doctors are demanding the right to help terminally ill patients kill themselves in a move which could herald the legalisation of assisted suicide in Britain.


No blanket ban on smoking - Daily Mail 19/06/05

The Government has insisted it will not introduce a blanket ban on smoking in public.


The four contentious theories of child abuse - The Telegraph 19/06/05

Two or more unexpected infant deaths in the same family is "murder until proved otherwise". Paediatricians' suspicions that some at least of the infant deaths attributed to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) might be due to "unnatural causes" were confirmed by the covert filming of mothers in hospital showing them smothering or choking their babies.


Hewitt expected to support ban on smoking in all pubs - The Telegraph 19/06/05

Ministers are preparing a major U-turn which will lead to a total ban on smoking in restaurants, clubs and all pubs across the country.


French furious as rabies outbreak threatens border - TheTelegraph 19/06/05

Germany has been accused of negligence and incompetence by France for failing to tackle an outbreak of rabies that is threatening to spread across Europe.


Now happy hour ends with 'martial law' - The Telegraph 19/06/05

Ministers have ordered the Army on to the streets to join an all-out summer campaign against anti-social drunken and violent behaviour by yobs.


Happy, loving parents? They must be child abusers - TheTelegraph 19/06/05

History has a way of creeping up to surprise us with events whose significance will appear only too obvious to succeeding generations. So it is this week, when deliberations in two London courts will change for ever our attitude towards the two great liberal professions, medicine and the law.


Homophobia is rife, says Archbishop - TheTelegraph 19/06/05

The Archbishop of Canterbury has reopened the controversy over gay clergy, claiming that homophobia is rife in Christian circles.


Government denies smoking ban aim - BBC Health News 19/06/05

Reports that a ban on smoking in public is set to be proposed by ministers have been denied by the government.


Nurses 'quitting to buy houses' - BBC Health News 19/06/05

Nurses are being forced to quit the profession because they cannot afford to buy homes, the Royal College of Nursing has warned.


Scan hospital admits wait problem - BBC Health News 19/06/05

A hospital which told a patient she would have to wait 18 months for an MRI brain scan has admitted that is an unacceptably long time.


Sun 'cuts prostate cancer risk' - BBC Health News 19/06/05

Sunlight can reduce a man's risk of prostate cancer, a study suggests.


Children Born Prematurely at Risk for Poorer Vision - Medical News Today 19/06/05

Children who were born prematurely are more likely to have visual problems at 10 years of age than children who were born at full term, according to a study in the June issue of Archives of Ophthalmology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.


Morbid Obesity Increases Chance of Developing Diabetes and Foot Ulcers - Medical News Today 19/06/05

A study published in the April edition of Foot and Ankle International (FAI) shows morbidly obese patients are much more likely to develop diabetic foot ulcers than non-obese patients.


How Our Brains Allow Us to Do Two Things at Once - Medical News Today 19/06/05

It sometimes amazes parents that their teenagers can successfully study and listen to raucous music at the same time. How do our brains manage multiple sources of incoming information and allow us to divide our attention between them?


AstraZeneca Refutes EC's Findings In Losec Dominance Case and Appeals Decision - Medical News Today 19/06/05

AstraZeneca announced today that it does not accept the European Commission's decision that it infringed Article 82 EC during the marketing of Losec (omeprazole) in the 1990s, and will appeal the decision to fine the company 60 million Euros to the Courts.


Pfizer Official Clarifies Companies' Handling of Clinical Trial Data - Medical News Today 19/06/05

Pfizer is "committed to improving both the transparency and accessibility of clinical trial information," and... New England Journal of Medicine Editor in Chief Jeffrey Drazen was "mistaken" when he said that Pfizer and other pharmaceutical companies have sought to conceal trial data, John LaMattina, president of Pfizer Global Research and Development, writes in a letter to the editor of the Wall Street Journal (LaMattina, Wall Street Journal, 6/15). Last month, after a review of the data posted by 10 pharmaceutical companies on the NIH registry ClinicalTrials.gov, Drazen said that GlaxoSmithKline, Merck and Pfizer are "making a mockery" of efforts to make public more trial results. Drazen added that the three companies provided inadequate data on the number of patients involved in the trials and did not adequately outline the primary and secondary goals of the trials (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 5/24). In the letter, LaMattina writes that the data posted on the Web site by Pfizer meets all legal requirements and "inform[s] patients suffering from serious and life-threatening conditions about clinical trials for those conditions." He adds that Pfizer by fall plans to post on the Web site data for more than 100 late-stage trials. In addition, Pfizer plans to post on ClinicalStudyResults.org summary results of late-stage clinical trials conducted since October 2002 on medications sold in the United States, with results for more than 400 trials expected to appear by October, LaMattina writes. He concludes, "By these efforts, we hope to develop solutions that will satisfy the needs of patients, physicians and regulatory agencies around the world" (LaMattina, Wall Street Journal, 6/15).


Bristol-Myers Squibb Will Delay DTC Advertisements for New Products Until They Reach One-Year Mark - Medical News Today 19/06/05

New York-based Bristol-Myers Squibb on Tuesday announced a self-imposed ban on direct-to-consumer advertisements for 12 months after a new drug enters the market, ...USA Today reports. According to BMS spokesperson Brian Henry, the company will use the 12-month ad moratorium to educate doctors about new drugs (Schmit/Appleby, USA Today, 6/15). "We want to make sure that before we start mass media -- television, radio and print branded advertising -- that physicians have a level of comfort about the treatment and which patients are appropriate for it," Henry said (Saul, New York Times, 6/15). He added, "We believe a minimum of a year is the right amount of time to provide health care professionals with information to understand the correct use of our medicines" (Jordan/Todd, Newark Star-Ledger, 6/15). In addition, BMS said it would advertise drugs on television only to "appropriate audiences at appropriate times of the day" and would include information about a drug's risks and benefits in easy-to-understand language (USA Today, 6/15). Ads also will include information about programs to help low-income patients afford medicines, when appropriate, according to the Wall Street Journal (Wall Street Journal, 6/15). The company still will continue to promote new medications to physicians (USA Today, 6/15). Henry said "disease-awareness advertising" will allow the company to inform patients about afflictions treated by newly developed drugs and infomercials likely will replace DTC ads (Newark Star-Ledger, 6/15). Henry said the new policy is "[b]ased on feedback from patients and doctors," adding, "People have said there is too much consumer advertising and there isn't enough balance" (Agovino, AP/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 6/15).


How to Prevent and Treat At-Home Accidents - Medical News Today 19/06/05

Accidents at home rank among the leading causes of injury and death in the United States. The chance of dying because of an accident at home begins rising at age 65 and then jumps significantly-people age 75 and older are almost four times as likely to die in a home accident as people 65-74. Fortunately, it's possible to prevent most home accidents. A new special health report from Harvard Medical School explains the leading causes of home accidents and how to avoid them.


Bristol-Myers Squibb Will Delay DTC Advertisements for New Products Until They Reach One-Year Mark - Medical News Today 19/06/05

New York-based Bristol-Myers Squibb on Tuesday announced a self-imposed ban on direct-to-consumer advertisements for 12 months after a new drug enters the market, ...USA Today reports. According to BMS spokesperson Brian Henry, the company will use the 12-month ad moratorium to educate doctors about new drugs (Schmit/Appleby, USA Today, 6/15). "We want to make sure that before we start mass media -- television, radio and print branded advertising -- that physicians have a level of comfort about the treatment and which patients are appropriate for it," Henry said (Saul, New York Times, 6/15). He added, "We believe a minimum of a year is the right amount of time to provide health care professionals with information to understand the correct use of our medicines" (Jordan/Todd, Newark Star-Ledger, 6/15). In addition, BMS said it would advertise drugs on television only to "appropriate audiences at appropriate times of the day" and would include information about a drug's risks and benefits in easy-to-understand language (USA Today, 6/15). Ads also will include information about programs to help low-income patients afford medicines, when appropriate, according to the Wall Street Journal (Wall Street Journal, 6/15). The company still will continue to promote new medications to physicians (USA Today, 6/15). Henry said "disease-awareness advertising" will allow the company to inform patients about afflictions treated by newly developed drugs and infomercials likely will replace DTC ads (Newark Star-Ledger, 6/15). Henry said the new policy is "[b]ased on feedback from patients and doctors," adding, "People have said there is too much consumer advertising and there isn't enough balance" (Agovino, AP/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 6/15).


How to Prevent and Treat At-Home Accidents - Medical News Today 19/06/05

Accidents at home rank among the leading causes of injury and death in the United States. The chance of dying because of an accident at home begins rising at age 65 and then jumps significantly-people age 75 and older are almost four times as likely to die in a home accident as people 65-74. Fortunately, it's possible to prevent most home accidents. A new special health report from Harvard Medical School explains the leading causes of home accidents and how to avoid them.


Obese Women with Breast Cancer May Be Undertreated - Medical News Today 19/06/05

Overweight and obese women with breast cancer may receive reduced doses of chemotherapy drugs, which may put them at greater risk of cancer recurrence, according to a study in the June 13 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.


Scientists Develop New Way of Assessing Brain Damage in Premature Babies - Medical News Today 19/06/05

Babies born prematurely frequently have significant health problems, and may have damage to the brain. However, it has proved difficult to localize this damage.


Selective Target to Suppress Tumor Growth - Medical News Today 19/06/05

Survivin, a molecule highly expressed in malignant tumor cells and even some chronic autoimmune disorders, is known for promoting tumor cell growth. Researchers at Columbus Children's Research Institute (CCRI) on the campus of Columbus Children's Hospital have now developed a selective biological target that interferes with the expression of survivin, causing a reduction in tumor growth. Further, the preliminary research also shows this molecule has no adverse effects on normal cells, suggesting this type of treatment could mean fewer side effects for people suffering from cancer. The findings were recently published in the Journal of Medical Genetics.


Surgeons Are "Overly Optimistic" in Predicting Results of Back Surgery - Medical News Today 19/06/05

Surgeons predict at least moderate improvement for almost all patients undergoing back surgery, yet nearly 40 percent of patients have little or no improvement one year after their operation, reports a study in the June 15 issue of the journal Spine.


A Vaccine Approach to Treating Parkinson's Disease - Medical News Today 19/06/05

Researchers at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine working with scientists at Elan Pharmaceuticals, have reported promising results in mice of a vaccine approach to treating Parkinson's and similar diseases. These results appear in the June edition of the journal Neuron.


Study Identifies Why Diabetes Drug Causes Edema - Medical News Today 19/06/05

In related discoveries with far-reaching implications for treating diabetes and understanding hypertension, University of Utah researchers have learned why thiazolidinediones (TZDs), a major anti-diabetes drug, cause edema and also have found a new pathway critical to fluid metabolism. Identification of this pathway may help understand fundamental mechanisms of blood pressure control.


Protocol Used to Treat First Known Survivor of Rabies without Vaccination - Medical News Today 19/06/05

The protocol used to treat the first known survivor of rabies without prior vaccination is published in the June 16, 2005, issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. It is hoped that this approach can be replicated, tested, and provide a guide for treating this fatal condition, especially in parts of the world where the incidence of rabies is rampant.


Deadly Aortic Disease Difficult for Doctors to Detect - Medical News Today 19/06/05

Aortic disease kills nearly 15,000 people in the United States each year, but the rarity and complexity of this deadly disorder make accurately diagnosing it difficult for doctors in the health-care trenches, University of Florida researchers have found.


Preventing Shaken Baby Syndrome - Medical News Today 19/06/05

As part of a child abuse prevention program under way at UAB, volunteers are being trained to teach parents of newborns how to protect their children from shaken baby syndrome, one of the most severe forms of child abuse.


New Consumer Web Site Will Explain Clincial Trial Information - Medical News Today 18/06/05

The Wall Street Journal on Wednesday examined patientINFORM, a Web site that will offer free access to medical journal articles on cancer, heart disease and diabetes and "plain-language explanations" of the studies' implications for patients. The project is a collaboration by the American Cancer Society, the American Diabetes Association and the American Heart Association. Each month, the groups will review hundreds of published studies from more than two dozen journals, and experts will then translate the studies into lay language for consumers, including explanations of the studies' meaning, how they compare to current knowledge on the issue and how patients should use them in making treatment decisions. According to the Journal, the project comes as "pressure continues to mount" for medical journals to provide the public with better access to research. Christine Laine, senior deputy editor of the Annals of Internal Medicine, said, "We need to show how a particular study integrates into a greater body of evidence, and medical journals haven't done a very good job of doing that." The site, which currently is in a pilot phase, next month will begin posting content on studies (Landro, Wall Street Journal, 6/15).


Structural Brain Changes as Vocabulary Increases in Monolingual Adolescents - Medical News Today 18/06/05

Learning a language is a skill that begins early in childhood, but continues to be refined through adolescence. Indeed, adding words to our vocabulary is lifelong. Until recently little was known about how changes in the brain might underlie language acquisition. A group of researchers at the Wellcome Department of Imaging Neuroscience at University College London hashave been studying this question by measuring the grey matter density ofin different brain regions, using MRI scans, and comparing these measures to language ability.


G8 to launch international paedophile database - The Guardian 18/06/05

The world's wealthiest nations are to set up an international database to help police track down paedophiles and rescue their victims, it emerged today.


Smoking age 'should rise to 18' - BBC Health News 18/06/05

A group of almost 50 backbench MPs wants ministers to raise the minimum age at which people can buy cigarettes from 16 to 18.


Minister backing plans for carers - Daily Mail 18/06/05

Trade and Industry Secretary Alan Johnson today backed plans to give flexible working rights to people caring for elderly relatives and disabled people.


MPs bid to up cigarette-buying age - Daily Mail 18/06/05

A group of backbench MPs is calling on the Government to raise the age at which youngsters can buy cigarettes.


18 months for a brain scan (or 2 weeks private) - Daily Mail 18/06/05

A woman who was run over by a car was told she would have to wait a year and a half for a Health Service brain scan but could be seen in two weeks if she had it done privately.

Hospital suggested 'go private' - BBC Health News 18/06/05


Insects develop resistance to engineered crops - Medical News Today 18/06/05

Genetically modified crops containing two insecticidal proteins in a single plant efficiently kill insects. But when crops engineered with just one of those toxins grow nearby, insects may more rapidly develop resistance to all the insect-killing plants, report Cornell University researchers.


Bipolar disorder more prevalent and costly than believed; Lithium could curb suicide rate - Medical News Today 18/06/05

The incidence of bipolar disorder in the general population is considerably higher than earlier studies have indicated, resulting in significantly less productivity and more days lost from work compared to the better known major depressive disorder, according to preliminary findings from a national survey presented today at the Sixth International Conference on Bipolar Disorder.


New research evidence on anger in children and adults - Medical News Today 18/06/05

New research uses longitudinal evidence to help understand anger and distinguish between people for whom anger is an occasional experience - and therefore quite normal - and those for whom it is more persistent.


US Label Change For Cancer Drug Iressa (gefitinib) - Medical News Today 18/06/05

AstraZeneca announced that after discussions with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the company is making a labeling change to IRESSA® (gefitinib tablets). Based on the FDA's assessment of currently available data, including the lack of survival benefit in the Phase III Trial 709 (ISEL) comparing IRESSA to placebo in advanced recurrent non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and the availability of other treatment options in the United States that do prolong life, the revised label indicates that IRESSA is only to be used in patients who have previously taken IRESSA and are benefiting or have benefited from IRESSA. In addition, IRESSA will continue to be available for use in clinical trials approved by an Institutional Review Board (IRB) prior to June 17, 2005. Clinical trials approved by an IRB after June 17, 2005, must be conducted under an investigational new drug application (IND). To implement the new label, as of September 15, 2005, AstraZeneca will initiate the IRESSA Access Program to fill renewal prescriptions for IRESSA through a single mail order pharmacy for patients meeting the criteria set forth by the label. IRESSA will remain available in the United States, through the IRESSA Access Program, for patients who are currently benefiting or who have benefited, pending availability of new data that would support an additional revision to the label, or possible future withdrawal. Approximately 4,000 patients currently are taking IRESSA in the United States.


Bipolar disorder linked to specific brain regions; certain drugs alter brain metabolism - Medical News Today 18/06/05

Late-breaking research, including a study that identifies the specific regions of the brain that may be responsible for manic behaviors, will be presented in a special session at the Sixth International Conference on Bipolar Disorder, held June 16 to 18 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh.


Study sheds light on why diabetes drug causes edema - Medical News Today 18/06/05

In related discoveries with far-reaching implications for treating diabetes and understanding hypertension, University of Utah researchers have learned why thiazolidinediones (TZDs), a major anti-diabetes drug, cause edema and also have found a new pathway critical to fluid metabolism. Identification of this pathway may help understand fundamental mechanisms of blood pressure control.
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Suspected BSE Sample Sent to England for Further Testing, Statement by US Agriculture Secretary - Medical News Today 18/06/05

This is a statement by US Agriculture Secretary: "We find ourselves in a situation where we have two internationally accepted tests that have produced conflicting results. I believe in this situation we have an obligation to be thorough. We've consulted with our top scientists at USDA and with internationally recognized experts to determine our best course in this unique case. We have agreed upon a protocol that includes additional testing both here at USDA and at an international reference laboratory in Weybridge, England. When we have all of the final results we will share them very publicly.

Further Analysis of BSE Test Results in England, Statement By Dr. John Clifford, USA - Medical News Today 18/06/05


MPs bid to up cigarette-buying age - Daily Mail 18/06/05

A group of backbench MPs is calling on the Government to raise the age at which youngsters can buy cigarettes.


MRI scan? - pay up or wait 80 weeks - Daily Mail 18/06/05

A hospital told a road accident victim she would have to wait 18 months for a brain scan but could pay to have the procedure privately at the same unit in two weeks.


German GPs moonlighting in Britain leave a shortage back home - The Telegraph 18/06/05

Thousands of German doctors who commute regularly to Britain to cover for family GPs are leaving rural practices in their own country short of doctors.


Births do not rise during full moon: study - Reuters 17/06/05

Doctors and nurses who work in the delivery room should not fret during the next full moon: a new study has found no evidence to support the common belief that births and delivery complications spike during full moons.


Treatment Rate for Mental Illnesses Rising in USA, Study Shows - Medical News Today 18/06/05

The percentage of US residents with mental illnesses who are being treated for their condition has increased in the past 10 years, despite the fact that the number of U.S. residents diagnosed with a mental condition has remained the same, according to a "landmark study" in Thursday's... New England Journal of Medicine, the AP/Las Vegas Sun reports. Funded partly by NIH's National Institute of Mental Health, the study examined nationally representative samples of 5,388 U.S. residents in the early 1990s and 4,319 people from 2001 to 2003. Participants were all between ages 18 and 54. They found that one-third of people with a verified mental disorder are receiving treatment, up from one-fifth 10 years ago. The percentage of people treated for an emotional disorder increased from 12% in the early 1990s to 20% between 2001 and 2003, according to the study. The largest improvements in treatment rates took place in primary care, with more family doctors prescribing medications for depression and other mental disorders, the study found. The study also found that blacks and Latinos with a diagnosed mental disorder were half as likely to undergo treatment as whites during both study periods.


Street-level London air pollution warnings coming via mobile phones - Medical News Today 18/06/05

The air pollution in Central London and the London borough of Croydon is being forecast daily as part of a pioneering ESA-backed project.


ACP publishes 'Hypertension' - Medical News Today 18/06/05

More than half of people over age 60 have hypertension, and as the population ages, this "silent" disease will become a more frequent diagnosis for the primary care physician. The American College of Physicians (ACP), the national organization of doctors of internal medicine, has published "Hypertension," the latest book in the ACP Key Diseases Series, to provide a needed reference for the disease's causes and treatments.


Non-invasive MRI technique distinguishes between Alzheimer's and frontotemporal dementia - Medical News Today 18/06/05

A non-invasive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique called arterial spin labeling is just as accurate as invasive scanning techniques in distinguishing Alzheimer's disease from frontotemporal dementia (FTD) in the brains of elderly people, according to a new study at the San Francisco VA Medical Center (SFVAMC).


Newly Identified Inhibitor of Anthrax Toxin May Contribute to Safer Vaccine and Offer Postexposure Therapy - Medical News Today 18/06/05

A newly identified inhibitor of the anthrax toxin may be used to develop a safer and more effective vaccine and act as a therapeutic agent after exposure say researchers from Massachusetts and Germany. Their findings appear in the June 2005 issue of the journal Infection and Immunity.


Old Drug May Offer New Hope in Treating SARS, Cinanserin - Medical News Today 18/06/05

Cinanserin, a drug that underwent preliminary clinical testing on humans in the 1960's, may inhibit the SARS virus say researchers from Europe and China. Their findings appear in the June 2005 issue of the Journal of Virology.


One Vaccine May Protect Against Both Parainfluenza and Influenza Viruses - Medical News Today 18/06/05

Researchers from Wisconsin and Japan have developed a live vaccine that may protect against both the influenza and human parainfluenza viruses. They report their findings in the June 2005 issue of the Journal of Virology.


Chiron Announces It Will Produce Fewer Flu Shots Next Year - Medical News Today 18/06/05

California-based flu vaccine manufacturer Chiron on Wednesday said it plans to produce 18 million to 26 million doses of its Fluvirin vaccine for the 2005-2006 season, down from an April forecast of 25 million to 30 million doses, the... AP/Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports (Elias, AP/Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 6/16). A U.S. flu vaccine shortage developed in the most recent flu season after the British Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency in October 2004 suspended the manufacturing license for Chiron's facility in Liverpool, England, because of contamination issues. Prior to the regulatory action, Chiron was expected to produce about half of the United States' 100 million-dose flu vaccine supply for the 2004-2005 season. MHRA in late February lifted the suspension, allowing the company to manufacture flu vaccine for the U.S. market next season if FDA gives approval. British regulators approved changes made at the plant in March (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 3/23). Of the 61 million total doses of the flu vaccine available last year, about 57 million were used. CDC had set a goal to vaccinate 100 million U.S. residents (Gellene/Girion, Los Angeles Times, 6/16). No more than 83 million people have ever been vaccinated in the United States in a single year (Schmidt, USA Today, 6/16).


Big-Brained People Are Smarter, VCU Study - Medical News Today 18/06/05

People with bigger brains are smarter than their smaller-brained counterparts, according to a study conducted by a Virginia Commonwealth University researcher published in the journal "Intelligence."


New environmental chamber to investigate the body's response to stress - Medical News Today 18/06/05

A new research tool will allow University of Oregon scientists to replicate an extreme range of environmental conditions in their quest to test and understand the human body's response to everyday stresses.


Changing sexual behaviour in the UK - Medical News Today 18/06/05

The past half-century has seen distinct changes in our sexual behaviour, and these changes have been considerably more marked among women than men. Analysing data from the 1990 and 2000 National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles for ESRC's new report Seven Deadly Sins, Professor Kaye Wellings observes a series of significant trends in sexual activity:


Tight Glucose Control Lowers CVD by About 50 Percent in Diabetes - Medical News Today 18/06/05

A significantly lower risk of heart disease can now be added to the list of proven long-term benefits of tight glucose control in people with type 1 diabetes. Researchers announced this finding today at the annual scientific meeting of the American Diabetes Association after analyzing cardiovascular (CVD) events such as heart attack, stroke, and angina in patients who took part in the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) years ago.


Seroquel - effective treatment option for aggression in patients with schizophrenia - Medical News Today 18/06/05

A new study, published today in the journal Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental,1 shows that the atypical antipsychotic SEROQUEL (quetiapine), may be an effective treatment option for patients with schizophrenia who exhibit aggressive behaviour during psychotic episodes. In the study, patients who received SEROQUEL demonstrated significantly greater improvements in symptoms of aggression and hostility compared to patients receiving placebo (p<0.01>
Sex matters with Dr Thomas Stuttaford and Hannah Betts - The Times 18/06/05

I am a 22-year-old woman with divorced parents. I still live with my 53-year-old dad and last week I caught him having sex with my best friend. She wants the relationship to carry on but I think it's disgusting. What should I do?


On the lookout for monsters - The Times 18/06/05

Our two-year-old son is scared in his bedroom. He appears to talk to something and wakes in the night screaming, saying someone he calls "Like" is in his room. He is too frightened to get back to sleep. We are all exhausted. Can you help?


Lunchtime fix: porclain tooth veneers - The Times 18/06/05

If you want a set of gleaming gnashers like Ronan Keating, you might consider a porcelain veneer. Dr Peter Ziderman, an expert in cosmetic dentistry at the Cambridge Court Dental Centre, weighs up the pros and cons.


Healing properties - The Times 18/06/05

Architecture is proving to be a powerful new tool in the battle against cancer. Kirsty Wark tells John Naish why buildings that combine light and space with innovative design are so essential


Preservation society - The Times 18/06/05

Enjoy a taste of summer all year with preserves full of natural goodness - and pesticide-free. Nick Wyke goes jamming and celebrates the home-made produce available at local food festivals


How to cheat at eating ... vanilla ice cream - The Times 18/06/05

Woulda ... GREEN & BLACKS ORGANIC VANILLA ICE-CREAM Fat 10.1g per 100ml Price £3.79 per 500ml tub Verdict This looks like home-made ice-cream and has a pale colour with small flecks of vanilla. In fact, it's the closest to a home-made ice-cream in terms of the ingredients used, which are all organic; the only products you won't find in your cupboards are a few stabilisers. If you love creamy, full-fat dairy products, you'll love this variety, but your waistline won't thank you. 173 calories per 100ml

Fitness is a smash hit - The Times 18/06/05

You don't have to be exercise-phobic to get a blast out of tennis. Working up a sweat, even in a white party dress, can be worth a little chipped nail varnish


Sorted: choosing a new racket - The Times 18/06/05

No matter what your level you can be a tiger on court with the right racket. Ace magazine asked 25 club players to pick six of the best


Bodylicious: cool feet; soothe operation; cordially yours - The Times 18/06/05

Pretty summer shoes and sandals are only as sweet as the feet inside them and though walking around in Birkenstocks may be comfortable, it can leave your tootsies looking the worse for wear by the end of the day. For a mini pedicure in a flash, try The Sanctuary Spa's Exfoliating Foot Wipes. They look like regular cleansing wipes, but have rough threads that exfoliate the skin as you wipe. Your feet are left softer, refreshed and moisturised. They come in a lightweight pack which makes them ideal for cleaning the sand off your feet on the beach, or putting a twinkle on your toes before a night out. Available from Boots nationwide and The Sanctuary Spa (0870 7703350), £5.


Not just any body: Helen Baxendale, 36 - The Times 18/06/05

How the fit and fabulous stay that way. Actress Helen Baxendale, 36, has no time for alternative medicine but thrives on gardening


What's wrong with your ... wedding bells? - The Times 18/06/05

For happy ever after try to remember that actions speak louder than saying 'I do'


Teenagers in stitches - The Times 18/06/05

A new craze for knitting among US teens is having amazing health benefits


Allergies: pause for breath - The Times 18/06/05

Allergies are on the rise but why do young women seem to be more at risk from a potentially fatal form of asthma?


Dr Copperfield: inside the mind of a GP - The Times 18/06/05

It's sod's law for GPs that those who really need care never show up


Analyse this: Pink Floyd reunion - The Times 18/06/05

Breaking up is hard to do; making up is harder BOB GELDOF has done the impossible. Getting politicians to work together to reverse African debt is breathtaking enough, but he has even managed to persuade former band members to reunite for the Live 8 gigs. After rumours about the Spice Girls, we now learn that Pink Floyd will be playing Hyde Park


Bone up on safety - The Times 18/06/05

THE SECRET to women and children surviving car crashes could lie in their fingers, thanks to a new application of medical bone-scanners.


Junk medicine: the politics of genetics - The Times 18/06/05

Any research linking genetics and behaviour provokes some to hysteria


Science sees double - The Times 18/06/05

Twin research is illuminating the nature versus nurture debate


Daddy's here ... - The Times 18/06/05

Babies get a better start when fathers play a bigger role


Fitness expert Joanna Hall answers your questions - The Guardian 18/06/05

I'm female, mid-50s, 5ft 2in, and I weigh 14 stone. I am an apple shape, carrying excess weight around my stomach. My normal weight used to be nine stone, but I've never had a waist to speak of. I am planning a fitness campaign: I enjoy rowing and swimming at the gym.


Judy Rumbold: Mud slinging - The Guardian 18/06/05

The qualities that patients normally look for in their GPs aren't necessarily the same as those prized by the dedicated hypochondriac. While ordinary, genuinely ailing people value professionalism, diligence and a caring bedside manner, the neurotically not-quite-ill among us couldn't give a monkey's about all that nonsense. Our doctors could be mad-eyed, unqualified quacks in blood-smeared scrubs if we emerge from our appointments with the thing we crave above all else - a creative diagnosis.


Shroom fans can carry on tripping - The Guardian 18/06/05

It's good news for new age hippies but bad news for festival-goers fed up with the phrase "look at the groovy colours". After weeks of prevarication, the Home Office has said that a law reclassifying magic mushrooms as class A drugs will not be implemented before the end of July, meaning that psychedelic fungi can be legally consumed during the summer festival season which opens at Glastonbury next weekend.


Go private or wait 80 weeks, patient told -The Times 18/06/05

A HOSPITAL told a road accident victim that she would have to wait a year and a half for an NHS brain scan, but could have the procedure done privately at the same unit in two weeks, The Times has learnt.


How pigs could be launchpad for bird flu pandemic -The Guardian 18/06/05

The frustrating search to unravel the bird flu sweeping south-east Asia in the hope of estimating the likelihood of a human global pandemic took another twist yesterday.


Natural health therapist Emma Mitchell answers your questions -The Guardian 18/06/05

For the past six years, I have suffered recurrent bouts of pityriasis lichenoides chronica. I have had UVB treatment, which has been very effective, but it always comes back.


Rich nations told to stop poaching health staff -The Guardian 18/06/05

Doctors' and nurses' organisations yesterday called on the G8 leaders to stop the haemorrhage of healthcare staff from poor countries who are recruited to fill gaps in the developed world.


Don't panic, it's bad for blood pressure - The Times 18/06/05

HO HUM. Another day, another busy Freaked-Out Patients Clinic. This week, we've mostly been terrified by meat causing cancer, anti- inflammatories leading to heart attacks and superbugs rampaging through hospitals. You'd think GPs would be fed up with these scare stories. And you'd be dead right. It's one of the reasons general practice is not so much ER as oo-err.


Japan alarmed by increase in teenage sex - The Guardian 18/06/05

Once praised for their studiousness, Japan's teenagers are gaining a less wholesome reputation, for promiscuity.


Prime time: Margaret Hughes - The Guardian 18/06/05

Campaign raises awareness about key role of 6m people


Review by peers is vital to ensure accurate science - The Times 18/06/05

SCIENTIFIC research is big news. Gone are the genteel days when the wider community waited for the printed copy of Nature or The Lancet to bump through the letter box to learn of the latest discoveries in the laboratories. Now, it is a competitive world of press conferences, embargoed releases and exclusives negotiated long before journals go to print. This reflects a growing audience, hungry for reports of new discoveries, new risks, new cures. The pressures on the bigger scientific journals for brand recognition, readership and advertising have propelled them into this fast-paced, news-led environment.


Minister says NHS wasting billions - The Guardian 18/06/05

NHS managers are wasting billions of pounds and do not deserve any more cash, the health secretary, Patricia Hewitt, said yesterday.


'Scaremongering' Lancet accused of causing harm to health and wasting millions - The Times 18/06/05

Nobel prizewinners in the Royal Society attack on editor over publication of flawed research BRITAIN'S premier medical journal is endangering public health by publishing unfounded scare stories, 30 of the country's leading scientists say today.


Alcohol's sinners unchallenged - The Times 18/06/05

YOUNG binge drinkers may grab the headlines, but it is older drinkers who are most likely to succumb to alcohol- related deaths.


NHS negligence payouts top 8m - The Times 18/06/05

Scots demand more compensation for medical mishaps THE amount of compensation paid out by the NHS in Scotland as a result of claims of negligence has reached more than 8 million a year; double what it was eight years ago.


Age of consent 'confuses young' - The Times 18/06/05

SETTING the age of consent for sexual intercourse at 16 may be encouraging children to have sex before they really want to, according to an expert on teenage pregnancy.

Culture clash threatens Liverpool's capital year - The Independent 18/06/05

In the long and turbulent history of Liverpool, 4 June 2003 was an extraordinary day. It beat five other contenders to the title of Capital of Culture 2008, so opening the door to an estimated 14,000 jobs, 1.7 million extra visitors and around £1bn in investment. Life could not get much sweeter for the two beaming figures credited with securing the title, the Liberal Democrat city council leader Mike Storey and David Henshaw, the chief executive he had hired four years earlier.


Long-term use of cannabis 'leads to harder drugs' - The Telegraph 18/06/05

Teenagers and young adults who occasionally smoke cannabis over long periods are more likely to turn to more addictive drugs such as heroin, according to a study.


Women with sexual dysfunction are more likely to have decreased tactile sensation in the genital area, according to researchers - Reuters 17/06/05

Women with sexual dysfunction are more likely to have decreased tactile sensation in the genital area, according to researchers.


Hay fever not linked to kids' immunizations - Reuters 17/06/05

Routine childhood immunizations do not increase the likelihood that kids will develop hay fever, according to a UK study.


Consumer group wants warning label on potato chips - Reuters 17/06/05

A California consumer legal group is campaigning to require warning labels on potato chips, saying they contain a chemical known to cause cancer and state law requires the warnings.


AstraZeneca, FDA curb access to cancer drug Iressa - Reuters 17/06/05

AstraZeneca Plc said on Friday it severely limited access to its lung cancer drug, Iressa, after U.S. health officials agreed with studies showing it did not help patients live longer.


Doctors criticise 'lack of confidence in general practice', Scotland - Medical News Today 18/06/05

At a conference of GPs in London today (Thursday 16 June 2005), delegates called on the Health Departments to acknowledge the quality of work that GPs provide for their patients and apologise for their lack of confidence in general practice.


Lack of Resources, Personnel - Not Money - Can Hinder Startup of African Countries' Treatment Programs - Medical News Today 18/06/05

Some HIV/AIDS experts say that Botswana's national treatment program "serves as a cautionary tale about expectations" of spending new financial aid in Africa in light of resource and personnel shortfalls, the... Boston Globe reports. Although the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the pharmaceutical company Merck launched the five-year program in 2000 with $100 million, it had spent only $33.5 million by the end of 2004, about 37% of the $90 million earmarked for services, according to the Globe. Officials working with the program now believe it could take eight to nine years to spend the $100 million. Jeff Ramsey, a spokesperson for Botswana President Festus Mogae, said, "If people think they can throw $100 million at a problem and expect everything to work perfectly and quickly, well, it won't happen with AIDS." He added, "There are all kinds of organizational bottlenecks, training people and retraining them. ... It takes time. People can learn from our mistakes and our successes." In the past year, Botswana's program has grown substantially, and some experts say the program is one of the most extensive HIV/AIDS treatment programs on the continent. Other programs funded by the World Bank and the Global Fund To Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria have spent smaller percentages of their money than Botswana's program has spent, according to the Globe (Donnelly, Boston Globe, 6/12).


Dummy drugs 'can relieve anxiety' - BBC Health News 18/06/05

Scientists say they have found that the "placebo effect" of dummy drugs can relieve anxiety as well as pain.


'Digital plaster' monitors health - BBC Health News 17/06/05

A high-tech plaster could keep a constant check on your health, its makers have claimed.


Jamie's tips spark asparagus shortages - Daily Mail 17/06/05

When he emerged victorious from his campaign for healthier school meals, many thought Jamie Oliver had reached the peak of his powers.


'I've been there. I know what it's like' - The Telegraph 17/06/05

Two years ago, plastic surgeon Andrew Lyons had an arm nearly sliced off in a speedboat accident. He's now back at work, reports Elizabeth Grice


Home birth safe for low-risk pregnancies - Reuters 17/06/05

For expectant women at low risk for complications, planned home births for using certified professional midwives are just as safe as hospital births, according to a new report. Moreover, the good outcomes are achieved using fewer medical interventions.


ER advice helps crash victims ease off alcohol - Reuters 17/06/05

People taken to the emergency room after a car accident involving alcohol use are less likely to suffer additional alcohol-related injuries during the following year if they receive a brief counseling session in the ER, according to new study findings.


Shaken baby 'had no trauma signs' - BBC Health News 17/06/05

A four-month-old baby allegedly shaken to death showed "absolutely no evidence of trauma in the brain or other areas of the body", a court has been told.


AstraZeneca limits access to cancer drug Iressa - Reuters 17/06/05

AstraZeneca Plc's lung cancer drug Iressa will no longer be available to new patients after mid-September unless they enroll in a clinical trial, the company said on Friday.


U.S. approves new blood test to screen stroke - Reuters 17/06/05

A blood test already used to help screen for heart problems won U.S. approval to help predict a patient's risk for stroke, officials for the firm that makes it said on Friday.


NHS reform must go on - Hewitt - Daily Mail 17/06/05

Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt has stressed the need to continue reform of the NHS in a bid to offer taxpayers the best possible service.


Drugs 'lifesaver in terror attacks' - Daily Mail 17/06/05

The swift administering of antibiotics to the public is the key to saving lives in the event of a terrorist attack using a bacterial agent such as anthrax, health officials have said.


Researchers deconstruct the genome of a notorious yeast species - Medical News Today 17/06/05

Yeast infections are often just a minor inconvenience, but in 30% of severe cases, they can lead to death. Candida albicans, the species that causes superficial cases of thrush and vaginitis, is responsible for many of these deaths. Most susceptible are premature infants, people with HIV, cancer patients, and organ transplant patients.


Trial of cancer drug shows promise for breast, prostate, bowel, kidney, skin and ovarian cancers - Medical News Today 16/06/05

Promising results from the UK's first clinical trial of a prototype cancer drug have raised the prospect of an effective new treatment against a range of cancers, including breast, prostate, bowel, kidney, ovarian and skin cancer.


Disfiguring disease halted by pill - Medical News Today 17/06/05

Elephantiasis, a disfiguring tropical disease, can be prevented using a simple, cheap antibiotic, scientists have found.


NHS compensation pay-outs top 8m - Medical News Today 17/06/05

Reform of the health claims system is being demanded after more than 8m in compensation was paid out by the NHS in Scotland over the last year.


Foreign GP weekend cover concerns - BBC Health News 17/06/05

Doctors have voiced concern about the growing use of foreign GPs to cover weekend shifts.


Alemtuzumab effective in poor-genetic-risk chronic lymphocytic leukaemia - Medical News Today 17/06/05

Subcutaneous alemtuzumab (MabCampath) is as effective in the genetically hard-to-treat patients with refractory chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) as in all patients with refractory CLL.


Gene Mutation Responsible for Lung and Diaphragm Defects - Medical News Today 17/06/05

To breathe normally, people need more than just healthy lungs. A diaphragm-the large muscle that creates a vacuum to draw air into their lungs-is also crucial. Birth defects in the diaphragm, such as congenital diaphragmatic hernia (which are about as common as cystic fibrosis), are often fatal. "A lot of people haven't heard of this [disorder] because so many of the kids die early," said Kate Ackerman, Harvard Medical School researcher and lead author of the study in PLoS Genetics.


The Lancet Calls for Open Debate on Illegal Drug Use - Medical News Today 17/06/05

Open debate about illegal drug use is needed to gain accurate, impartial information about the true extent of usage and the acute and long-term health effects, states an editorial in this week's issue of The Lancet.


Helping those who oversee medicines trials - Medical News Today 17/06/05

A new and much expanded version of a booklet that gives guidance to those overseeing research involving humans, including that into new and innovative medicines, was published today.


Student designs home screening kit for MRSA super bug - Medical News Today 17/06/05

An innovative idea from a Northumbria University student could stop the deadly MRSA superbug in its tracks.


10-Year Survival After Minor Stroke Established - Medical News Today 17/06/05

People who have had a minor stroke have a 43% chance of another stroke or vascular event within 10-years, suggests a study in this week's issue of The Lancet.


Teen acne tied to better heart health in men - Reuters 17/06/05

The activity of male hormones, androgens, can give rise to acne during adolescence, but may also protect against coronary heart disease in adulthood, UK researchers report.


Cheshire and Mersey News


D-day in organs removal row - Manchester Evening News 18/06/05

THE case of a Dutch pathologist who secretly ordered the removal of organs from hundreds of dead children could conclude on Monday, the General Medical Council has said.


Culture clash threatens Liverpool's capital year - The Independent 18/06/05

In the long and turbulent history of Liverpool, 4 June 2003 was an extraordinary day. It beat five other contenders to the title of Capital of Culture 2008, so opening the door to an estimated 14,000 jobs, 1.7 million extra visitors and around £1bn in investment. Life could not get much sweeter for the two beaming figures credited with securing the title, the Liberal Democrat city council leader Mike Storey and David Henshaw, the chief executive he had hired four years earlier.


3m hope for tram project - Liverpool Echo 17/06/05

THE campaign to save the ailing Merseytram project was today given a 3m boost by Liverpool council.


Critically ill could be saved by volunteers - Chester Chronicle 18/06/05

VICTIMS of medical emergencies' lives could be saved, by trained volunteers, after Tattenhall is given its own resuscitation equipment.
Link http://iccheshireonline.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100regionalnews/tm_objectid=15642442%26 method=full%26siteid=50020%26headline=critically%2dill%2dcould%2dbe%2dsaved%2dby%2dvolunt eers-name_page.html


Cumbria and Lancashire News


East lancashire hospitals hit by rise in MRSA super virus - Lancashire Evening Telegraph 19/06/05

A "SERIOUS" rise in cases of the MRSA superbug in East Lancashire hospitals today prompted an action pledge from health bosses.


Greater Manchester News


Lifeline disabled centre is saved - Manchester Evening News 17/06/05

CAMPAIGNERS have won an eight-month battle to save a "lifeline" centre for disabled children and their families.


Russell pleads for a life-saving match - Manchester Evening News 17/06/05

A CANCER sufferer who needs a bone marrow transplant before Christmas is pleading with the African-Caribbean community to help save his life.


Patients swoop on NHS dentists - Manchester Evening News 18/06/05
Rated 3 in Greater Manchester on Jun 18, 2005 at 18:05:29 GMT.
A DENTAL practice due to open in Bury has been swamped by requests from patients outside the area asking for NHS treatment.


D-day in organs removal row - Manchester Evening News 18/06/05

THE case of a Dutch pathologist who secretly ordered the removal of organs from hundreds of dead children could conclude on Monday, the General Medical Council has said.


Alcohol crackdown cuts violent crime - Manchester Evening News 18/06/05

VIOLENT crime has fallen dramatically thanks to an anti-drink crackdown, police bosses say.


Keep toxins out of water - Bolton Evening News 17/06/05

RE: "Dentists sing fluoride praise" (Bolton Evening News, June 9). I am not impressed by their fancy titles or their idea that a toxic material should be added to our water supply, in the hope that it will improve the dental health of some children.


Poor Diet Leads to Poor Teeth - Bolton Evening News 17/06/05

FAT salaried (his words not mine) dentist, A Brooks, blames me, and others opposed to fluoridation, for the sorry state of children's teeth. He should be very careful in his accusations!


Superbug check on new patients - Bolton Evening News 17/06/05

PATIENTS are being screened before they are admitted to the Royal Bolton Hospital to halt the spread of the MRSA superbug.