Thursday, July 21, 2005

National and International News



Patients rewarded [Letter] - The Times 21/07/05

Sir, This week I received the following from my local hospital outpatients’ department...


Availability of costly drugs [Letter] - The Times 21/07/05

Sir, The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) has deferred its decision on whether certain drugs used to treat Alzheimer’s disease should be available on the NHS (report, July 20). Senior officials in NICE have chosen not to endorse its own committee’s view that the drugs, whilst being safe and effective, are not cost-effective. This view does not take into account the myriad symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and does not fully factor in the devastating effect of the disease on carers.


Invest for a better old age - The Times 21/07/05

OLDER people risk spending more of their later years in bad health unless the Government invests more on disease prevention and technologies that allow people to monitor their own wellbeing, a House of Lords committee says.



Children shun cycle helmets - The Times 21/07/05

Millions of children risk their lives because they think it is “uncool” to wear a cycle helmet, a report out today says. A survey of 8,000 primary pupils found that two out of three do not wear one because of peer pressure, although some said they were uncomfortable or too costly. Two thirds of the children, questioned by the fuel firm Jet, said they had been in an accident; 100,000 are hurt each year. Jet urged the Government to make the wearing of helmets compulsory for cyclists.


NHS buys 2m doses of vaccine to protect staff from bird flu - The Times 21/07/05

THE Government will buy two million doses of a bird flu vaccine as a first line of defence against a possible pandemic.


Breat cancer drug promise - The Times 21/07/05

Patricia Hewitt, the Health Secretary, promised yesterday to do all she could to help women with early breast cancer to get access to a new drug.


1950s superbug is back - The Times 21/07/05

A new form of the MRSA superbug is causing an increasing threat outside hospitals. The bacterium, which carries the genes to make a powerful toxin that can cause pneumonia, was last a threat in the 1950s, when it was responsible for serious infections of Staphylococcus aureus. Development of the antibiotic methicillin brought it under control, but a version resistant to methicillin has now emerged, Dr Mark Enright, of Imperial College, told MPs.


You may have vCJD, 110 blood donors are told - The Times 21/07/05

More than 100 people who donated blood to three patients who later developed the human form of "mad cow" disease are being contacted over carrier concerns


Viral infection was always the culprit - The Times 21/07/05

IT IS not surprising that differences in gene expression in a small proportion of the genes in a small survey have been found between those who have the symptoms described as ME or CFS and healthy controls.


'Yuppie flu' may not be all in the mind - it might be in the genes - The Times 21/07/05

IT has been dismissed as “yuppie flu”, and explained by sceptical doctors as a psychological condition that is all in the mind.


Indonesia to cull chickens in fight against bird flu - The Guardian 21/07/05

All chickens on Indonesian farms hit by bird flu will be slaughtered in an effort to halt the spread of the virus, the country's agriculture minister said today.


Young people face toxin threat - The Guardian 21/07/05

Young Britons face a potentially alarming threat from a toxin increasingly found in common bacteria, including some resistant to antibiotics, experts warned yesterday.


UK to stockpile bird flu vaccine - The Guardian 21/07/05

Britain is to buy 2m doses of bird flu vaccine to protect medical and emergency staff if the disease which is spreading through South-east Asia turns into a global pandemic.


Blood donors warned they may have vCJD - The Guardian 21/07/05

More than 100 people who donated blood to three patients who developed the human form of BSE are being warned they may have a greater chance than others of carrying the disease.


Shaken baby convictions overturned - The Guardian 21/07/05

Today's top story - Shaken baby convictions overturned Two people jailed for deliberately and violently shaking babies to death had their murder convictions quashed by the court of appeal today while a third saw his conviction reduced to manslaughter.


NHS trust 'rationing healthcare' - The Guardian 21/07/05

The NHS is introducing a new form of healthcare rationing by weeding out patients from hospital waiting lists who could be treated more cheaply by local GPs.


Volatile substance abuse deaths drop in the UK - Medical News Today 21/07/05

A report released today by the Division of Community Health Sciences at St George's, University of London, reveals that in 2003 there were 51 deaths in the UK associated with volatile substance abuse. This is the lowest annual total recorded since 1983. The report "Trends in Death Associated with Abuse of Volatile Substances 1971-2003", which was prepared for the Department of Health, describes trends in death associated with the abuse of gas fuels, aerosols, glues and other solvent based products.


FDA Warns Roche About Misleading Comments Made by Salesperson Regarding Antiretroviral Fuzeon - Medical News Today 21/07/05

A salesperson from the pharmaceutical company Roche made misleading claims at a November 2004 medical conference about the efficacy of the antiretroviral drug... Fuzeon, FDA said in a July 15 letter to the company, Reuters reports (Reuters, 7/18). The Roche sales representative at a Washington, D.C., conference on infectious diseases "misbranded" Fuzeon by suggesting that "100% of patients are susceptible" to the drug, according to the warning letter (Krauskopf, Bergen Record, 7/19). "This claim suggests that the product would be appropriate for a broader range of patients than those for whom it is actually approved," the letter said (Reuters, 7/18). Fuzeon is in a class of drugs called fusion inhibitors and is designed for HIV/AIDS patients who have failed to respond to other medications (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 6/14). In clinical studies, 46% of patients responded to the drug, according to the letter (Corbett Dooren, Dow Jones Newswires, 7/18). The letter also said that the salesperson's claim that Fuzeon, which is administered through injection, is better than oral HIV drugs and "misleadingly suggests that Fuzeon is an alternative to oral HIV drugs, when in fact it is approved in conjunction with such drugs" (Reuters, 7/18). FDA said Roche must stop distributing or using materials similar to the ones the salesperson might have used (Dow Jones Newswires, 7/18). Roche spokesperson Maureen Byrne said the company is "conducting a thorough review" of the claim and will respond to the letter by the July 29 deadline (Reuters, 7/18).


FDA Issues Health Advisory for Mifepristone Citing Four Sepsis-Related Deaths Among Users; Drug Labeling To Be Updated - Medical News Today 21/07/05

FDA on Tuesday issued a... public health advisory warning physicians to watch for any signs of sepsis or other infection among women who have taken Danco Laboratories' Mifeprex -- known generically as mifepristone -- which when taken with misoprostol can cause a medical abortion, the AP/Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports. The agency is investigating four sepsis-related deaths among women who took the drug, including two cases reported to FDA in April and June (Neergaard, AP/Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 7/20). Physicians have identified the bacterium Clostridium sordelli -- a common germ not usually associated with illness -- as the cause of two of the four deaths and suspect it as the cause of the other two deaths, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. Steven Galson, acting director of FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said it is not clear why the bacteria became fatal in the women (Barnum, San Francisco Chronicle, 7/20). Galson said the four deaths all occurred in women who did not follow FDA-approved instructions for using the drug. According to the directions, women should take both mifepristone and misoprostol orally, but some clinics instruct patients to insert misoprostol vaginally. Galson said it is unclear if such off-label use of the drug led to the deaths (AP/Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 7/20).


What do we know about treating malaria in pregnancy? Very little, it seems - Medical News Today 21/07/05

Few studies compare the effects of different drug regimes in pregnant women, and many of the best studies were conducted in Southeast Asia, where malaria transmission rates are low, says researcher Lois Orton of the University of York in England.


TV probe reveals hospital failures - Daily Mail 20/07/05

An undercover investigation is due to show a series of failures in hospital care for the elderly.


Bird flu vaccines stockpiled - Daily Mail 20/07/05

The Government is to stockpile two million doses of a bird flu vaccine.


New measures needed to tackle MRSA - Daily Mail 20/07/05

Greater resources, surveillance and access to new drugs are needed to tackle the growing problem of MRSA in Britain's hospitals, a panel of medical experts has said.


Compulsory insurance for dentists - Daily Mail 20/07/05

Insurance cover for dentists is to be made compulsory in efforts to protect patients, the Government has said.


Elderly at higher risk of illness - Daily Mail 21/07/05

Older people risk spending more of their later years in ill health, despite a rising life expectancy, an all party committee of peers has warned.


Children 'need more drug education' - Daily Mail 21/07/05

Schools must teach children more about the dangers of alcohol as "significant" numbers of teenagers risk their health through drink-fuelled sex, Ofsted has said.


Lapses 'kill 800 patients annually' - Daily Mail 21/07/05

More than 800 people die in England's hospitals each year due to lapses in patient safety, according to a new report.


Bird flu 'as serious a threat as terrorism' - Daily Mail 21/07/05

Any glance at the British media in recent months reveals a growing fear of a bird flu pandemic across the globe.


Modern life 'too stressful' - Daily Mail 21/07/05

Britons are becoming increasingly impatient as the time pressures of modern life leave people feeling stressed, research has claimed.


Blood donors warned of CJD risk - Daily Mail 21/07/05

More than 100 people who donated blood to three patients who went on to develop vCJD are to be told they may have a greater chance of carrying the agent compared to the general population, the Government has warned.


The fast-track lifesaver - Daily Mail 21/07/05

A life-saving breast cancer drug is to be fast-tracked into widespread use on the Health Service, it was revealed last night.


UK visitors to be screened for TB - Daily Mail 21/07/05

Thousands of visitors to the UK from six countries are to be screened for tuberculosis before they begin their journeys, ministers have revealed.


Fears for unborn babies over use of multivitamins - The Telegraph 21/07/05

Pregnant women who take multivitamins could harm their unborn babies because of inadequate labelling, campaigners said yesterday.


span style="font-weight: bold;">ME is in the genes not in the mind, say scientists - The Telegraph 21/07/05

The belief that chronic fatigue syndrome is "all in the mind" may finally have been laid to rest with the discovery that sufferers have biological abnormalities, researchers claim today.


Patients 'at hospital error risk' - BBC Health News 21/07/05

More than 500,000 errors are made in the treatment and care of NHS patients each year, a health watchdog says.


Spreading hope through hospices - The Telegraph 21/07/05

Britain has shown the world how to care for the dying, Cassandra Jardine finds The death of Dame Cicely Saunders last week has served as a reminder of how recently the hospice movement was created.


If this is 'liberation', count me out - The Telegraph 21/07/05

The contraceptive pill has revolutionised women's lives – but has it made them any better? Bryony Gordon looks at the downside


Get fit in five days - The Telegraph 21/07/05

Josh Salzmann, our new fitness expert, has helped Angelina Jolie and Scarlett Johansson look and feel their best - and he can do the same for you. Here he explains a simple regime of diet, exercise and rest that's guaranteed to bring results


Estrogen gene helps explain some infertility-study - Reuters 19/07/05

Babies who weigh only 2.2 pounds (1 kg) or less at birth are much more likely than those with normal weight to develop chronic physical and mental problems by age eight, researchers said Tuesday.


No entitlement to state support for toupees, - Reuters 20/07/05

Bald men in Germany have no entitlement to state support for toupees, a court ruled Wednesday.


Estrogen gene helps explain some infertility-study - Reuters 21/07/05

Scientists have discovered a molecular link between obesity and type 2 diabetes that could be a potential target for new drugs to treat the disease.


Estrogen gene helps explain some infertility-study - Reuters 21/07/05

Help may finally be at hand for sufferers of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) thanks to a group of British researchers who have found abnormalities in the white blood cells of the afflicted.


Wife influences husband's marijuana use - study - Reuters 21/07/05

A newlywed wife can help determine whether her husband smokes marijuana, U.S. researchers said on Wednesday.


FIVE LITTLE REASONS TO STOP AND COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS - The Mirror 21/07/05

We meet five children who each have a serious health condition. But it hasn't stopped them loving life. By Beth Gibson The tumour had burst through her chest bones


BEAT SUMMER SNIFFLES... IN 5 EASY STEPS - The Mirror 21/07/05

BEAT SUMMER SNIFFLES... IN 5 EASY STEPS If hay fever makes summer a misert, why not try our five-step plan to breeze through the sneezing season 1 RAID YOUR LOCAL CHEMIST


Chronic fatigue gene signs found - BBC Health News 21/07/05

Scientists believe they have pinpointed biological markers of chronic fatigue syndrome which could help develop a test and treatment for the condition.


OAP is awarded damages over MRSA - BBC Health News 21/07/05

A patient who contracted superbug MRSA in hospital after a hip replacement has been awarded "substantial damages".


Indonesia pledges bird flu action - BBC Health News 21/07/05
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Indonesia will begin mass poultry culling after three Indonesians died of bird flu, the government has said.


Patient fear over NHS trust debt - BBC Health News 21/07/05

An NHS trust in Leicestershire which is facing a possible £6m deficit could be forced to restrict the number of people admitted to hospital.


Associated Press Examines FDA Data on Blood Clot-Related Deaths Among Contraceptive Patch Users - Medical News Today 21/07/05

In 2004, women using the... Ortho Evra contraceptive patch were three times as likely as women using birth control pills to die or develop nonfatal blood clots, according to FDA reports obtained by the Associated Press under the Freedom of Information Act, the AP/Yahoo! News reports (Mendoza, AP/Yahoo! News, 7/17). The patch, which is manufactured by Johnson & Johnson's Ortho-McNeil and first became available in the U.S. in April 2002, is worn on the skin for one week at a time, delivering to the bloodstream progestin and estrogen, the same synthetic hormones used in birth control pills (Kaiser Daily Reproductive Health Report, 9/22/04). After receiving permission from FDA to access a database containing about 16,000 reports of adverse reactions to the patch, ranging from rashes to death, the Associated Press reports that about 12 of the estimated 800,000 patch users nationwide died of blood clot-related deaths in 2004 and dozens of other users experienced nonfatal blood clots or strokes last year. FDA and Ortho-McNeil said they are aware of a possible increased risk of blood clots among patch users but added that the patch is as safe as birth control pills, according to the AP/Yahoo! News. Doctors disagree about the importance of the Associated Press' findings and the potential dangers of the patch. Some physicians were alarmed by the number of fatalities and other serious complications from the patch and urged further investigations. Other doctors said some deaths are expected with any medication and no investigation is needed, adding that women should not overreact to the news and remove the patch because unintended pregnancy could be more risky (AP/Yahoo! News, 7/17).


Increased Efforts Needed To Train U.N. Peacekeeping Forces To Prevent HIV Transmission, Piot Says - Medical News Today 21/07/05

Although there has been some progress in training UN peacekeeping forces and national armies in HIV prevention strategies, increased efforts are needed to curb the spread of the disease among militaries worldwide,... UNAIDS Executive Director Peter Piot said on Monday, the AP/Las Vegas Sun reports (Wadhams, AP/Las Vegas Sun, 7/18). Piot was addressing the U.N. Security Council during the body's review of Resolution 1308, which was adopted by the council in 2000 to institute HIV/AIDS education and prevention programs among peacekeepers. As many as 105 countries, most of them low- and middle-income nations, provide uniformed troops to U.N. peacekeeping missions. The missions include more than 66,000 frequently rotated soldiers and more than 13,000 international and national civilians serving in 17 peacekeeping or related operations (Altman, New York Times, 7/19).


'Sub-Optimal' HIV Care Continues at Alabama Prison Despite Some Improvements - Medical News Today 21/07/05

"Sub-optimal" HIV treatment continues to occur at the... Limestone Correctional Facility in Harvest, Ala., according to a federal court-ordered monitor's report presented on Friday, the Birmingham News reports. The report -- which was conducted by prison medicine expert Joseph Bick after a visit to the prison in late May and filed on July 7 with Magistrate Judge John Ott -- says that Limestone has not provided an infectious disease specialist to treat the facility's more than 200 HIV-positive inmates for much of the past year despite an April 2004 federal court settlement in which the Alabama Department of Corrections promised to hire a specialist (Crowder, Birmingham News, 7/16). Under the settlement, which was reached in response to a 2002 federal lawsuit filed by HIV-positive inmates, the department is required to provide various improvements in living conditions and medical care for the inmates, including allowing a medical consultant to monitor the conditions of the HIV unit on a quarterly basis for two years and hiring a full-time nurse to coordinate infection control and medical care (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 5/3).


Injection Meth Use, Sex With Anonymous Partners Contribute to Increase in Number of HIV Cases in South Dakota - Medical News Today 21/07/05

The number of newly reported HIV cases in South Dakota increased to 26 during the first six months of this year, compared with 19 new cases reported in all of 2004 and 25 cases in 2003, according to data from the state... Department of Health, the Sioux Falls Argus Leader reports. Health officials attribute the rise in number of HIV cases to the injection use of methamphetamine and unprotected sexual intercourse with anonymous partners contacted over the Internet. In addition, complacency about HIV/AIDS in the state, which has the fourth-lowest HIV/AIDS rate nationwide, as well as the belief that the disease only affects men who have sex with men, are contributing to the increase, according to state epidemiologist Lon Kightlinger (Olson, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 7/16). According to the state health department's 2005 surveillance report, 285 people in the state are living with HIV/AIDS, and 37% of the cases reported since 2002 have been the result of heterosexual sexual contact. Kightlinger said the department is informing health care providers of the trends and developing education and prevention programs with the state's Methamphetamine Task Force. In addition, disease intervention staff are being provided with information about meth and the Internet as risk factors for HIV infection, and specific questions about those risks will be included in HIV/AIDS case investigation protocols (BlackHillsPortal.com, 7/16).


Roche, Trimeris Seek FDA Approval To Use Needle-Free Injection Device To Administer Antiretroviral Fuzeon - Medical News Today 21/07/05

Pharmaceutical companies... Roche and Trimeris on Monday announced they have filed for FDA approval to use a needle-free injection device to administer the antiretroviral drug Fuzeon, the AP/Forbes.com reports. The Biojector 2000 injection system, which is manufactured by Bioject Medical Technologies, uses power from a CO2 cartridge to spread liquid medication through the skin. The device has been available since 1996 and is used to administer subcutaneous and intramuscular medications. Fuzeon, which is a fusion inhibitor, currently is approved for use with a needle and syringe. The companies said they expect FDA to make a decision on the application later this year. Roche and Trimeris also announced plans to test patient acceptance of the device in a clinical trial, called the Fuzeon Wand study (AP/Forbes.com, 7/18).


The Secret to Healthcare Survival: Your Employees - Medical News Today 21/07/05

Increasingly, consumers are driving change in the healthcare industry. A recent survey by the Baptist Healthcare Leadership Institute reveals that patient satisfaction is the number one concern of healthcare administrators. This is in sharp contrast to a 2000 survey by Modern Healthcare in which 65% of administrators ranked declining Medicare/Medicaid reimbursements as their chief worry.


Recurrent Metastatic Melanoma - Phase 1 Trial Of Gene-Based IL-2 With Inovio Electroporation Technology - Medical News Today 21/07/05

Inovio Biomedical Corporation (AMEX: INO) and Vical Incorporated (Nasdaq:VICL) announced today the initiation of a human Phase 1 study of an investigational method of delivering interleukin-2 (IL-2), a potent immune system stimulant, for patients with recurrent metastatic melanoma. Intravenous delivery of IL-2 protein is approved as a treatment for metastatic melanoma, but frequently causes severe systemic toxicities. The novel treatment approach being studied in this trial involves direct injection into a tumor lesion of plasmid DNA (pDNA) encoding IL-2 followed by electroporation, the local application of electrical pulses designed to enhance the uptake of the pDNA into tumor cells. The pDNA is designed to cause cells within the tumor to produce high levels of IL-2 protein locally and stimulate the immune system to attack the tumor without the associated systemic toxicities.


Camera-guided colon surgery works best for most patients, study confirms - Medical News Today 21/07/05

Camera-guided surgery through small incisions works better than conventional surgery for colon cancer and related diseases, at least in the short term recovery, a new review of previous studies confirms. In the long term, researchers found no difference between the two


UNAIDS Briefs Security Council On Progress Of Historic AIDS And Security Resolution - Medical News Today 21/07/05

UNAIDS Executive Director Dr Peter Piot briefed the United Nations Security Council and encouraged stronger international cooperation to develop long-term strategies for HIV prevention, testing and counseling, and HIV treatment for personnel being deployed in international peacekeeping operations as well as national uniformed services. UNAIDS today also released a report entitled, On the Front Line, which outlines progress in this area.


Welcome Improvements But Concerns Over Inequalities And Patient Involvement, Says The King's Fund, UK - Medical News Today 21/07/05

Commenting on today's publication of the Healthcare Commission's State of Healthcare 2005 report, King's Fund Chief Executive Niall Dickson said:


Welsh Waiting Lists Still A Long Way To Go - Plaid Cymru - Medical News Today 21/07/05

Plaid Cymru's Shadow Health Minister Rhodri Glyn Thomas AM commenting on the report of the independent Healthcare Commission said there were still significant concerns regarding long waiting lists in Wales that the Labour Assembly Government still had not tackled.


UK Department of Health Announce Contract for New Ambulance Radio - Medical News Today 21/07/05

The Department of Health today signed a contract with the O2 Airwave network to provide a new digital radio and communications system for NHS ambulance trusts in England. The contract is worth 390m over the next 13 years.


Surgery is favored treatment for severe hemorrhoids - Medical News Today 21/07/05

Surgical removal of severe hemorrhoids is more effective in the long run than tying them off with rubber bands, a less invasive treatment alternative, according to a new review of studies.


'Hospital-at-home' concept does not save money or improve outcomes, study finds - Medical News Today 21/07/05

Although patients generally prefer to be home instead of the hospital to recover from serious illness, a new review of studies finds that "hospital-at-home" programs common in Europe and Australia do not save money and may not affect health outcomes very much.


Secretin should not be used to treat autism, researchers say - Medical News Today 21/07/05

The intestinal hormone secretin, considered by some to be a promising drug in the treatment of autism, does not improve the symptoms and should not be used to treat the disorder, according to a new review of studies.


Drawing with DNA: 'Bioart' illuminates genomics - Medical News Today 21/07/05

On any given day, tens of thousands of biologists around the globe run DNA sequences of unknown function through a lightning-fast online algorithm called BLAST - typically submitting 200 to 400 base pairs, or "letters" of genetic code, to be matched against the billions of letters for known genes. Searching for similarities that can shed light on functional or evolutionary relationships, scientists routinely use BLAST to churn through and produce vast amounts of data. Everyday applications include genetic medicine and pharmaceuticals. Yet this process and, more generally, genomics remain dimly understood by the public.


Study warns against global use of old asthma medicines for kids' coughs - Medical News Today 21/07/05

An asthma medicine widely used around the world to stop children's coughs has no provable benefit for that purpose and may cause harm, a new review of existing studies reports.

Hepatitis C responds best to combo of ribavirin and interferon, study concludes - Medical News Today 21/07/05

A combination of the drugs ribavirin and interferon is more effective in treating hepatitis C than using interferon alone, but it also increases the risk of side effects, according to a new systematic review of recent evidence.


Doctors should stop prescribing antibiotics for the common cold, review advises - Medical News Today 21/07/05

Antibiotics should not be prescribed to patients with the common cold because there is scant evidence they stop other infections, and the benefits do not outweigh the risks, according to a new systematic review of current evidence.


Doctors should stop prescribing antibiotics for the common cold, review advises - Medical News Today 21/07/05

Antibiotics should not be prescribed to patients with the common cold because there is scant evidence they stop other infections, and the benefits do not outweigh the risks, according to a new systematic review of current evidence.


All About Back Pain - Medical News Today 21/07/05

Back pain is one of the most common ailments people endure and is one of the most frequent reasons for visits to the chiropractor or orthopedic doctor. There are many factors that can contribute to back pain. Among the most frequent today are obesity and lack of exercise, each of which can be reversed.


CMO Calls for Tighter Controls on Tobacco Smuggling, UK - Medical News Today 21/07/05

UK Chief Medical Officer, Sir Liam Donaldson, today called for tighter controls on tobacco smuggling and cheap tobacco to further curb the massive toll of smoking-related illness and death.


New Guidance On Telecare For Local Authorities, UK - Medical News Today 21/07/05

A new guide on developing innovative telecare services that will help at least 160,000 vulnerable people live independently for longer was launched today by UK Care Services Minister Liam Byrne.


Excitement Leads To Memory Loss - Medical News Today 21/07/05

New research to be unveiled on 21st July has identified that a form of inhibition in the brain that influences cognitive processes is regulated by alcohol, sex hormones, and anaesthetics and is altered by conditions such as epilepsy.


60M Funding For NHS Learning Accounts And NVQS, UK - Medical News Today 21/07/05

Hewitt Praises Healthcare Assistants, the 'Unsung Heroes' of the NHS.


National Health Care Commission Visits Salt Lake City To Hold Hearing - Medical News Today 21/07/05

The Citizens' Health Care Working Group is holding its second regional hearing on health care July 22 at the Utah State Capitol to learn about advances in health care technology, health care quality issues, as well as employee and employer issues and initiatives to deal with them. The United States Comptroller General, David M. Walker, will testify at the hearing regarding how the crisis in health care is part of the financial challenges of the United States.


Microreactor efficiently regenerates cofactors for biocatalysis - Medical News Today 21/07/05

One of the longstanding challenges in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and food additives is the continuous regeneration of molecules called cofactors that permit the synthesis through inexpensive and environmentally friendly biocatalytic processes.


Prince Charles launches new website on health and social care - Medical News Today 21/07/05

A major new online resource for everyone interested in health and social care was launched today by the King's Fund. With hundreds of free publications, articles and briefings, and links to over 2000 related organisations, the new King's Fund website aims to be a vital source of information for policy makers, managers, professionals, media and the public.


Patient reminders boost immunization rates - Medical News Today 21/07/05

Patient reminders can help physicians improve immunization rates for their practice, according to a new review of studies.


Antidepressants should be first-line approach for nerve tissue pain - Medical News Today 21/07/05

New reviews of previous studies confirm that older-style antidepressants, as well as anticonvulsant drugs, can help ease the disabling pain caused by nerve tissue damage.


Calcium may prevent polyps, but effect on cancer still not known, study finds - Medical News Today 21/07/05

Although calcium supplements might prevent development of polyps that sometimes lead to colon cancer, there is not enough evidence that the mineral can prevent colorectal cancer itself, according to a new study.


Children born with extremely low-birth-weight have considerable health and educational needs - Medical News Today 21/07/05

Children born in the 1990s weighing less than 2.2 lbs. are at significantly increased risk of experiencing chronic health conditions and functional and educational limitations compared to normal-birth-weight children, according to a study in the July 20 issue of JAMA.


Study reveals trigger for insulin resistance in liver, potential drug targets - Medical News Today 21/07/05

In the July issue of Cell Metabolism, researchers report the discovery of a trigger for insulin resistance in the liver. Hepatic insulin resistance is a silent condition that increases the chances of developing diabetes and heart disease. The team's findings also identify a potential target for drugs to prevent or treat the condition, the researchers said.


Women with higher Protein Albumin in Urine More Likely to Have Premature Babies - Medical News Today 21/07/05

Women with albuminuria, a condition marked by abnormal levels of the protein albumin in the urine, are several times more likely to give birth prematurely. These findings suggest that a simple, inexpensive test for urinary albumin may help doctors target their efforts towards women most at risk of delivering early, according to a study released this month in the American Journal of Kidney Diseases, the official journal of the National Kidney Foundation.


Many healthcare professionals still not washing their hands - Medical News Today 21/07/05

Only 51 per cent of hospital staff followed hand washing guidelines before hygiene campaign Hand washing among healthcare staff working in a large urban hospital improved by an average of 32 per cent after a six-week hygiene programme, according to a paper in the latest Journal of Advanced Nursing.


Diabetes drug controls blood glucose, cardiac risk - Medical News Today 21/07/05

A new review of studies confirms that the drug metformin should be in the first line of defense against type 2 diabetes.


General Dental Council Gets More Teeth, UK - Medical News Today 21/07/05

New powers for the General Dental Council (GDC) to protect patients were today announced by Health Minister Rosie Winterton.


Single-dose antibiotics reduce appendectomy complications - Medical News Today 21/07/05

A single dose of antibiotics may be just as effective as multiple doses in preventing infections after an appendectomy, a new research review confirms.


Fun foods and exercise may reduce childhood obesity - Medical News Today 21/07/05

Children enrolled in kid-oriented diet and exercise programs are likely to adopt healthier eating and activity patterns, according to an updated systematic review. Although the youngsters did not experience significant weight loss during the studies, most of which lasted a year or less, the reviewers note promising trends.


Child Support Agency admits to making mistakes in 25% of cases - The Independent 21/07/05

The crisis-hit Child Support Agency has been making mistakes in one in four cases, its annual report has revealed. Staff numbers have fallen by 5` per cent and computer problems left 12,000 new cases being processed by hand.


Children at risk from fast-spreading superbug - The Independent 21/07/05

A virulent new strain of MRSA is spreading through the community and poses a particular threat to children and young adults, specialists have warned.


One million assaults as violent crime rises 8% - The Independent 21/07/05

One million assaults were recorded by police in England and Wales last year, setting a record for thuggery that overshadowed a drop in the overall crime rate


Union leaders bullied and harassed female workers - The Independent 21/07/05

A top official at one of Britain's biggest unions has been criticised for "systematic victimisation, bullying, harassment and sex discrimination" in a damning judgment by an employment tribunal.


Two cleared in 'shaken baby' appeals - The Independent 21/07/05

Two people jailed in so-called "shaken baby" cases were cleared by the Court of Appeal today and a third had his murder conviction reduced to manslaughter.


Letters: Israel and London - The Independent 16/07/05

Israelis feel for Londoners - now perhaps you, too, will feel for us Sir: The people of Israel are very sympathetic to the suffering of those killed and injured in the bombings in London, but this attitude has not been widely reciprocated.


Letters: Scapegoating Professor Meadow - The Independent 18/07/05

Dismay at the unjust scapegoating of Professor Roy Meadow Sir: Many of us working with child abuse will share a sense of astonishment and injustice that the GMC has struck Professor Roy Meadow off the medical register (report, 16 July). The GMC, which often protects its own, this time joins media and public scapegoating in a sweepingly inappropriate action against an expert witness. And one who had dedicated his professional career to trying to protect children.


Letters: Tackling the water shortage - The Independent 21/07/05

Tackling the water shortage with metering and recycling Sir: I congratulate The Independent on highlighting the problems of water shortages, particularly in south-east England ("Drought alert: the 2005 water crisis", 19 July). What your article failed to mention, however, is the role that water metering could play in making considerable reductions in water use.


Extreme weather in Europe - The Independent 19/07/05

FRANCE Of 96 regional départements, 51 have bans and limits. In the west, water levels are at their lowest since the drought of 1976, and in the south, swarms of locusts have attacked crops. President Jacques Chirac has appealed for water conservation. He asked businesses and farmers in particular to pay attention to the restrictions, and asked everybody to "make an effort to limit abusive and unnecessary use of water."


Mason indicted over murder of 'God's banker' - The Independent 20/07/05

Magistrates investigating the death of the Italian banker Roberto Calvi under Blackfriars Bridge in London in 1982 are focusing on Licio Gelli, the former "grand master" of the illegal P2 Masonic lodge that plotted against Italian democracy in the 1970s.


The creme de la creme? - The Independent 20/07/05

Oui! says John Lichfield French women work harder than most women in Europe, and produce more babies. They also cook brilliantly and, usually, look fantastic.


Russians turn their backs on Dostoevsky - The Independent 21/07/05

The Soviet Union prided itself on being "the best-read country in the world" with children able to recite large chunks of Alexander Pushkin's works by heart.


Breast cancer drug fast-tracked - BBC Health News 21/07/05

The health secretary has ordered a fast-track assessment of a drug which has shown great promise in treating the early stages of breast cancer.


Drugs education is 'improving' - BBC Health News 21/07/05

Schools in England are getting better at educating children about illegal drugs, a report from inspectors says.


'Shaken baby' convictions quashed - BBC Health News 21/07/05

Two people have had their convictions over "shaken baby" cases quashed and another has been reduced.


Stem cell clue to birth defects - BBC Health News 20/07/05

A discovery of how stem cells form the neck and shoulders could help babies born with birth defects, say international scientists.


Elderly face years of ill health - BBC Health News 20/07/05

Rising life expectancy could mean older people having to endure more years of ill health at the end of their lives, say peers.


Benign breast lumps cancer link - BBC Health News 20/07/05

Women who have certain types of benign breast disease have far a higher risk for breast cancer, say US researchers.


Dentist indemnity made compulsory - BBC Health News 20/07/05

All dentists will have to take out full indemnity cover before registration, ministers have announced.


Teenager wins child curfew zones court battle - The Independent 21/07/05

A 15-year-old today won a landmark legal victory against child curfew zones used to tackle anti-social behaviour.


Blood donors warned over vCJD - BBC Health News 20/07/05

About 100 UK blood donors are being warned they may have vCJD.


UK to buy bird flu vaccine stocks - BBC Health News 20/07/05

The UK government is to stockpile two million doses of vaccine to combat the H5N1 strain of bird flu currently circulating in Asia.


Baby joy for male cancer patients - Daily Mail 20/07/05

The majority of men who try to have a family after treatment for testicular cancer are able to father children, a report has revealed.


First bird flu deaths confirmed in Indonesia - Daily Mail 19/07/05

Indonesia recorded its first human death linked to bird flu today after tests confirmed that a man who died earlier this month had the virus, the health minister said.


Cheshire and Mersey News


Leukaemia site tests to start - Northwich Guardian 20/07/05

TESTS are to begin soon on land on a Leftwich estate where two toddlers died of a rare form of leukaemia.


No smoking Bill takes next step - Daily Post 21/07/05

LIVERPOOL'S bid to ban smoking in all pubs and restaurants will be tested in a "court of law", after the House of Lords cleared the way last night.


I had no symptoms whatsoever but my blood test showed cancer - Northwich Chronicle 20/07/05

A LACK of awareness is costing prostate cancer sufferers their lives.


Drink-drive crackdown - Runcorn Weekly News 21/07/05

POLICE constabularies have united in the biggest campaign yet against summer drink-drivers.


Shake-up planned for surgeries - Crewe Chronicle 20/07/05

A SUPER-SURGERY could be opened in Alsager as part of plans to merge two doctors' practices.


Ex-health chief slams ‘harmful’ changes in mental care facilities
- Macclesfield Express 20/07/05

THE FORMER chairman of the East Cheshire NHS Trust has slammed the proposed changes to mental health services in Macclesfield revealed in last week’s Express as "very, very harmful"


Cumbria and Lancashire News


Unfair press for spotless hospital [Letter] - Lancashire Evening Telegraph 20/07/05

WE are three ladies who recently spent a short stay in Blackburn Royal Infirmary. We have heard quite a lot of bad press about hospitals and would like to set some of them straight.


Stressed mother drugged her baby - Lancashire Evening Telegraph 20/07/05

A MOTHER left her baby brain-damaged after feeding him 30 times the recommended dose of painkillers to stop him waking every hour, a court was told.


'Momentary lapse' cost doctor his life - Lancashire Evening Telegraph 20/07/05

THE car crash which killed retired Accrington GP Dr Ian Gavin at a notorious junction on the A59 was caused by driver error, an inquest heard.


A lack of staff shuts health care unit - Carlisle News & Star 21/07/05

A MINOR injuries unit at a Cumbrian cottage hospital is to close temporarily because of a shortage of qualified staff.


Should the 24-week limit on abortions be reduced?
- Carlisle News & Star 21/07/05

Yes. With the new technology nowadays a premature baby is able to survive at a much earlier age


Greater Manchester News


Rabies kills holiday woman bitten by dog - Manchester Evening News 21/07/05

A WOMAN from Bury has died from rabies after being bitten by a dog while on holiday.


Three held in hospital swoop - Manchester Evening News 21/07/05

THREE Wythenshawe Hospital workers have been arrested on suspicion of obtaining employment using a false identity.


Blood donors warned over CJD threat - Manchester Evening News 21/07/05

MORE than 100 people who donated blood to three patients who then developed vCJD may have a greater chance of carrying the agent than the general population, the government said.


Bird-flu jabs are on order - Manchester Evening News 21/07/05

THE government is to stockpile two million doses of a bird flu vaccine.


Hospital sealed in chemical alert - Manchester Evening News 20/07/05

A MAN caused a four-hour chemical alert when he walked into a hospital's accident and emergency department carrying a tin containing white powder.


Herbs saved me from cancer - Manchester Evening News 21/07/05

Samantha Wilson a WOMAN who was diagnosed with terminal cancer as a child has told how she beat the killer disease - using herbal remedies.


Hospital sale could bring in 543,000 - Bolton Evening News 20/07/05

BOLTON'S health bosses are hoping the sale of the former Hulton Hospital will net them more than half-a-million pounds.

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