National and International News
Professor savages homeopathy - The Observer 18/12/05
'You might as well take a glass of water,' fumes complementary medicine expert in university funding battle
Children suffer in intensive care crisis - The Observer 18/12/05
Doctors are warning of an acute shortage of intensive care beds for children as staff spend hours ringing round to try to find places for those who are critically ill.
Putting a price on health care - The Observer 18/12/05
Your investigation into NHS finances (News, last week) highlighted the debt of 630 million-1 billion.
Raise your game - The Observer 18/12/05
Eight months after The Observer's Vote Sport campaign about the pitiful state of sports funding in Britain, Denis Campbell talks to sports minister Richard Caborn - and his critics - about what has happened since Labour's election victory in May
Simon Caulkin: Time for companies to ban the binge - The Observer 18/12/05
Shedding pointless red tape could transform the way businesses work, writes Simon Caulkin
Gays who shape our new Britain - The Observer 18/12/05
Denis Campbell on the record numbers of gay men and lesbians occupying key positions across British life.
Cover-up charge over 'cancer-risk' milk - The Observer 18/12/05
Food watchdog chief tells of pressure from government
Smoking gun - The Observer 18/12/05
When we return from the Christmas and New Year recess, Labour MPs will be asked by the whips to vote on two Bills related to public health and smoking in enclosed public places and workplaces. One of these will be to bring in a comprehensive ban in all pubs and membership clubs in Northern Ireland, as announced by Government on 17th October this year. This will be consistent with the legislation introduced in the Republic of Ireland eighteen months ago to protect people in the workplace, which has been a huge success.
MPs to relight cabinet row over partial smoking ban - The Independent 18/12/05
Smoking ban would shift risk to children at home - The Observer 18/12/05
MPs to challenge ministers' veto on total smoking ban - The Guardian 17/12/05
William Keegan: A degree of equality now, Gordon? - The Observer 18/12/05
A prophet is, as we have all been taught, not always honoured in his own country. Gordon Brown escaped last week from criticism of his stewardship, and headed for New York.
What price crime? - The Observer 18/12/05
Prevention is costly, but so is prison
Dr John Briffa: In a nutshell - The Observer 18/12/05
Eating a handful of walnuts a day can bring down your cholesterol level and protect against heart disease. Time to get cracking, says Dr John Briffa.
Grieving mothers risk surgery to give birth again - The Observer 18/12/05
Indian women pining for lost children are having operations to reverse sterilisation
How your gifts of learning save lives - The Observer 18/12/05
Malawi's doctors desperate to update their skills
South Africa's townships battle double trouble - The Guardian 17/12/05
MSF clinics are pioneering new treatments to tackle the deadly link between HIV and TB
A wee dram cuts obesity risk? It's not that simple - The Guardian 17/12/05
Christmas is a time for pedantic family disputes, and newspaper stories about how alcohol and chocolate are good for you. This week, the Daily Mail reported on a scientific study which reported an observation from survey data: that people who drink alcohol in moderation have lower levels of obesity than people who drink heavily. No surprise there. But the same study also found, more interestingly, that people who drink moderately have lower levels of obesity than people who don't drink at all.
'I can never know if I did the right thing' - The Guardian 17/12/05
When Gwyneth Lewis decided not to have children, she was unprepared for the grief that followed. But a deep sense of fulfilment later took its place
Stagger this way to drink-drive - The Guardian 17/12/05
Swedes indulging in a festive tipple can now do their bit for road safety at the same time. This week the progressive Swedish government gave the go ahead for Volvo Trucks to use tired and emotional drivers to test new technology. A dozen drivers, of varying degrees of drunkenness and fatigue, will be guinea pigs for Volvo Truck's "driver quality assurance" technology. Luckily for the rest of us, the tests will be conducted off public roads.
Emma Mitchell: Fungal fix - The Guardian 17/12/05
It's a year since some of the toenails on my right foot became warped and discoloured; at times, they're painful. My GP diagnosed a fungal infection and prescribed Loceryl, but it hasn't worked. What else can I try?
Do Christmas decorations really pose a danger in the workplace? - The Guardian 17/12/05
Depending on which side your fried fruit cake is buttered, Christmas decorations are either a bit of festive fun or tacky tat, typifying a pagan festival hijacked by Christians who were later muscled out by mammonists. But are tinsel and baubles really hazardous to our workplace well-being?
Hospital gets 'maximum risk' rating after 17.4m loss - The Guardian 17/12/05
A world-famous London teaching hospital has become the latest victim of a financial crisis in the NHS. University College hospital was given a maximum risk rating yesterday by Monitor, the foundation trust regulator, after posting a £17.4m loss over the first six months of the financial year.
Castro's 'miracle' cures the poor of blindness - The Independent 18/12/05
The rich tourists whose luxury yachts once crowded the idyllic Marina Hemingway complex on the outskirts of the Cuban capital are shocked to find all Havana's hotel rooms fully booked until mid-2006. More than a dozen hotels have been temporarily closed to tourists to make way for a different kind of visitor. Most of them arrive nearly blind; but all will be able to see perfectly before they leave.
You've got mail: how America is facing up to STDs - The Independent 18/12/05
You have an embarrassing problem. You have just been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease. Worse, you've been sleeping around, so other people are at risk and they need to be told.
Mothers and sons reunited as website finds lost families - The Independent 18/12/05
The agony of almost two million parents and children, legally "lost" to each other and kept apart by bureaucracy, is about to end. Britain's first "adoption reunion" website - aimed at helping to reunite adopted children with their birth parents, and vice versa - will be launched next week.
Do you find breastfeeding offensive? - The Independent 18/12/05
If you do, tough. New laws will make breastfeeding in public every mother's right. Marie Woolf reports
Sting leads campaign against Blair's plan to reclassify cannabis - The Independent 18/12/05
The singer Sting and the veteran actress Jean Simmons are on a list of prominent figures who have written to Tony Blair urging him to keep cannabis as a class C drug following last week's exclusive report in The Independent on Sunday that the Prime Minister was planning a U-turn to toughen up penalties for its use.
The effects of a month of binge drinking - The Independent 18/12/05
Downing 516 units of alcohol in 30 days for an experiment ruined her skin and made her look 10 years older
Badger culls 'undermine search for TB vaccine' - The Independent 17/12/05
The search for an effective vaccine to combat TB in badgers could be undermined if the Government goes ahead with proposals for widescale culls, ministers have been warned.
Fears of obesity epidemic bite into sales of chocolate and crisps - The Independent 17/12/05
Sales of sugary and fatty snacks are falling for the first time in years as the obesity epidemic encourages shoppers to choose healthier options.
Babies dying because of midwife shortage, says maternity report - The Sunday Times 18/12/05
BABIES are dying or suffering brain damage at birth through a shortage of midwives and consultants on NHS labour wards, according to a report on maternity care.
Consultant says don't be too posh to push - The Sunday Times 18/12/05
A senior gynaecologist has used the example of Victoria Beckham to attack the increasing tendency of women to have elective caesarians instead of giving birth naturally.
Don't defer to doctors - The Sunday Times 18/12/05
What sort of relationship do you have with your doctor? Mine is very straightforward. I swing by the surgery every three or four years to ask for a handwritten note that will allow me to buy the medication I know I need, but which the government thinks I am too stupid to request from the pharmacist without the intercession of a middle-class professional gentleman in spectacles.
Prohibition blues - The Sunday Times 18/12/05
The combination of the new Licensing Act and the imminent smoking ban in pubs that serve food seems to have really brought out the neo-prohibitionists (Three drinks and you’re out: the pub rationing plan, News, last week). One would be tempted to dismiss this kind of suggestion as the nonsense of the lunatic fringe if it didn’t come from people in such influential positions. Since the 1970s the amount of beer drunk in pubs and bars has dropped by a third. So, 40% of the beer, 78% of the spirits and a whopping 84% of the wine we drink, we drink at home. Any attempt to further reduce drinking in pubs, where it is controlled, would result in an increase in home drinking, where it is not.
Later-baby mothers earn 10% more - The Sunday Times 18/12/05
CAREER women will earn 10% more a year throughout their working lives if they delay having a baby by one year, according to new research.
Mobile hospitals to tackle binge drinkers - The Sunday Times 18/12/05
GIANT marquees housing field hospitals are set to be erected in city centres across Scotland to cope with binge drinkers and the victims of alcohol-fuelled violence.
Patients to be screened for new strains of superbug - The Sunday Times 18/12/05
EVERY hospital patient in Scotland is to be screened for MRSA under plans to prevent the spread of new strains of the superbug.
Women with heart disease get ‘second-class’ treatment - The Sunday Times 18/12/05
WOMEN suffering from heart disease may be dying unnecessarily because they are receiving inferior treatment to men, a new study has revealed.
Holyrood to vote on ban of alcohol sponsorship - The Sunday Times 18/12/05
THE Scottish parliament is to be asked to vote on proposals that would ban alcohol-brand sponsorship of sport Stewart Maxwell, the Scottish National party MSP whose private bill paved the way for a smoking ban in Scotland, is now turning his attention to links between the drinks industry and sport.
More doctors prescribed by Hanafin - The Sunday Times 18/12/05
THE Irish government is set to introduce graduate level entry into medical school, providing a second pathway to becoming a doctor for those who fail to get near-perfect Leaving Certificate scores. Mary Hanafin, the education minister, will go to cabinet in the new year with plans to more than double the numbers attending medical school by 2010.
Education: No more smoke screen - The Sunday Times 18/12/05
Should schools use shock tactics to scare children off getting hooked on cigarettes, asks Sian Griffiths
Smokers forfeit legal rights - The Times 17/12/05
SMOKERS are legally responsible for their own ill-health because of their negligence in failing to give up, the High Court ruled yesterday.
Health warning shifts blame to users - The Times 17/12/05
UK judge says smokers responsible for own health - Reuters 16/12/05
Women overtake men as smokers while number of obese doubles to 1 in 4 - The Times 17/12/05
FEMALE smokers now outnumber their male counterparts for the first time, despite the greater health risks associated with the habit in women, new figures show.
How much longer will it be before a health worker gets badly hurt? - The Times 17/12/05
‘After the attack I was told to have a cup of tea and then concentrate on paperwork’
The human guinea pigs - The Times 17/12/05
Could animal testing become redundant? Some scientists believe technology has the answer
The moral fibre - The Times 17/12/05
Don’t ditch the muesli: we may be wrong about cancer protection
Need to know - The Times 17/12/05
You don’t have to drink alcohol to display the apeish aggression of a drunk. You just have to think about it. Apparently.
Slim chance - The Times 17/12/05
THE old Father Christmas stereotype of jolly fat people may have some truth to it, according to a new study in the American Journal of Epidemiology. Scientists studied more than a million Swedish men for 31 years and found that those with a larger body-mass index were less likely to commit suicide. They don’t believe this is because people eat less when depressed. It’s more likely to be because thinner people have lower cholesterol levels, which can lead to less serotonin, a brain chemical associated with happiness.
A signal of stress - The Times 17/12/05
MOBILE phones do heat up the brain after all — not through radiation but because they make our blood boil, claims a sociologist who studied working couples.
Inconsistent gardener - The Times 17/12/05
Junk medicine: third world drug trials Stay for the credits of The Constant Gardener, which was nominated this week for the best picture Golden Globe, and you will read a short message from John le Carré. The author of the original novel, published in 2001, does not sit on the fence. His thriller about a pharmaceutical giant exploiting African HIV victims might be fictional, he says, but it is “as tame as a holiday postcard” when compared with the truth.
One for all . . . - The Times 17/12/05
A bloke goes to the barber, asks for a Beatles mop-top and gets a No 2 crew cut. “The Beatles don’t have their hair cut like this!” he protests. The barber replies: “They do when they come here.” Surgeons evolved from barbers and they, too, stick to their party pieces. Bassini perfected his hernia repair, Wertheim his hysterectomy.
There's no shame in this affliction - The Times 17/12/05
In Shameless, Jack Deam plays a man with Tourette's. Here he explains how seeing the funny side helped him to understand the syndrome
Tis the season to be jolly... careful - The Times 17/12/05
On the first day of Christmas, these two guys said to me - helpful advice on yuletide ailments, from holiday head to festive feet
Sex matters with Dr Thomas Stuttaford and Suzi Godson - The Times 17/12/05
I'm gay and I regularly have (safe) sex with men that I don't know, often in semi-public places. I seem to be doing this more and more. Am I a sex addict?
Get set for junior doctors - The Times 17/12/05
My granddaughter is 7 and has always said that she wants to be a doctor. Is there anything we can get her for Christmas that might encourage her in this?
Not so great communicator - The Times 17/12/05
Since Sam went to uni he hasn’t been home much, so when he does appear, it’s a big occasion. Mum has spent days preparing: she has defrosted the fatted calf and stocked up on chocolate milk. Sam stopped liking chocolate milk when he was 14, but she still hasn’t got the message.
To the limits of good sense - The Times 17/12/05
Do you trust your partner? Most of us could probably answer this question quickly, with a “yes” or a “no”.
Lunchtime fix: Aveda Revitalising Eye Treatment - The Times 17/12/05
Make-up masks a multitude of sins but it is harder to disguise tired eyes, particularly if you are prone to puffiness. Aveda’s Revitalising Eye Treatment claims to put the sparkle back into partied-out peepers by reducing swelling, smoothing fine lines and improving dark circles
Bodylicious: face savers - The Times 17/12/05
The beauty director of Cosmopolitan magazine chooses the best products to revive tired and dehydrated skin and to give yourself the night-before glow the morning after
Thrifty little Christmas - The Times 17/12/05
DIY festivities spread good tidings at home — my bank manager was happy too
Coming out of the closet - The Times 17/12/05
Is it OK to wear used or vintage fur?
Home remedies: saltwater gargle for sore throats - The Times 17/12/05
GPs love recommending gargles for sore throats, although they tend to favour soluble aspirin over salt water. But this advice is based on pragmatism rather than hard science. After all, it shifts the focus away from the great antibiotic debate. Also, it buys time, a useful ploy in sore throats, with 40 per cent settling in three days and 85 per cent in one week.
Get fresh: seasonal shopping list - The Times 17/12/05
A traditional Christmas lunch is a great showcase for the seasonal shopper. Home-grown potatoes, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots and parsnips are all in abundant supply and create an excellent setting for roast turkey or goose.
Jane's perfect day - The Times 17/12/05
A traditional Christmas dinner can be packed with goodness — if you know how to shop for the right ingredients
A hard act to swallow - The Times 17/12/05
Christmas is hell for people with eating disorders, but a new family workshop could help
Action-packing goodies - The Times 17/12/05
Christmas doesn't have to be the season of mindless indulgence. These gifts chosen by fitness instructor Alasdair Lane will help to keep sports enthusiasts motivated
Joining the dream team - The Times 17/12/05
Given that this is supposed to be an exercise class, there’s not much sweat being shed. Not much puffing and panting either. In fact, I’ll swear those are snores I’m hearing from my neighbour on the mat next to me.
Gets a kick out of life - The Times 17/12/05
Rugby player Charlie Hodgson, 25, is tough on the pitch but likes to chill at home with a pizza
The Year of the Asbo - The Telegraph 18/12/05
Last week the sleepy West Lothian community of Mid Calder made its mark by becoming the setting of a new type of policing. Sick of teenage gangs drunk on cheap wine making life hell for its residents, Mid Calder became the first place in Britain to issue a village-wide crackdown on anti-social behaviour, allowing police to disperse any young person found outdoors: if they refuse, the teens face the threat of an anti-social behaviour order and up to five years in jail.
Animal scanners to be used on fat patients - The Telegraph 18/12/05
Hospitals are requesting permission to use scanners meant for animals because patients are becoming so fat.
A quarter of adults are now classed as obese - The Telegraph 17/12/05
Obesity in men almost doubles in 10 years to 23.6% - The Guardian 17/12/05
Nursery owner in court after stopping toddler from hitting a baby - The Telegraph 18/12/05
A nursery owner has been charged with common assault after intervening to stop a toddler hitting a baby with a wooden brick.
Stem cell breakthrough promises arthritis 'cure' - The Telegraph 18/12/05
Scientists are predicting a "cure" for arthritis within the next decade after they successfully grew human cartilage from a patients' own stem cells for the first time.
Blair's return of EU rebate will force spending cuts at home - The Telegraph 18/12/05
Tony Blair's deal on the European Union budget has thrown the Government's future spending plans in Britain into jeopardy, it emerged last night.
Obesity linked to visible temptation - The Telegraph 18/12/05
Scientists have found that the more you see, the more you are likely to eat - and they have tempted women with chocolate to prove the point.
Dr Joshi's Q&A - The Telegraph 17/12/05
I've had acne since my late thirties (I'm now 42). I eat relatively healthily and have reduced my intake of carbohydrate, which helps, but I get painful outbreaks on my back and face.
Millions without medical cover risk 'hefty' hospital bills - The Telegraph 17/12/05
Travellers to Europe will have to pay for emergency medical care after December 31 unless they have the new European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).
Saga of shame - The Telegraph 17/12/05
Hoping for a new year's resolution - The Telegraph 17/12/05
Watchdog targets the scandal of means test injustice - The Telegraph 17/12/05
Bill aims to strengthen rights in care homes - The Telegraph 17/12/05
Daily Telegraph letters - The Telegraph 17/12/05
Surrey and Sussex NHS Trust has a large budget deficit. I don't know of any colleague locally who has been told not to operate (letter, December 15); it is done in more subtle ways. The management simply takes weekday theatre lists away from consultant surgeons, seeming to prefer to pay them for sitting at home.
The doctor who offered me organs from executed prisoners - The Telegraph 16/12/05
Transplants International closes its website after China correspondent Richard Spencer investigates a growing trade in livers and kidneys
Tragic secret the wedding guests kept from the bride - Daily Mail 17/12/05
Emma Alonso's wedding was one of the happiest days of her short life.
My fantastic four - Daily Mail 17/12/05
At 37, Julie Carles was beginning to fear she may never have children.
It's a boy...if you've been trying for a while - Daily Mail 16/12/05
Women who take longer to get pregnant are more likely to give birth to a boy, researchers have said.
It Is More Likely To Be A Boy The Longer You Take To Get Pregnant - Medical News Today 16/12/05
Wealthier areas boosted by more GPs - Daily Mail 16/12/05
Affluent parts of towns and cities are served by a larger number of GPs and patients are more likely to benefit from extra services than deprived areas, a study has found.
Love me slender - Daily Mail 16/12/05
While for most of us Christmas is a time of celebration and excess, it is also, for a minority of women, the most anxious time of the year.
Swiss hospital to allow suicide - BBC Health News 18/12/05
A hospital in Switzerland says it will allow assisted suicide on its premises for terminally ill patients.
Study heralds new heart treatment - BBC Health News 18/12/05
Scientists believe they may have discovered a promising new way to treat heart disease in the future.
Vitamin D 'key for healthy lungs' - BBC Health News 17/12/05
Vitamin D could play a role in keeping the lungs healthy, research suggests.
Survivor gene 'fights infection' - BBC Health News 17/12/05
A "survivor gene" has been identified that could double carriers' chances of surviving severe infections, according to a report.
Radiation 'key to cancer therapy' - BBC Health News 17/12/05
The breast cancer survival rate rises if a patient has radiotherapy after having a lump removed, a study says.
PFI hospital 'faces 100m debt' - BBC Health News 17/12/05
An NHS hospital which opened four years ago under the private finance initiative scheme, is technically bankrupt, it has emerged.
Deaths probe widens after GP case - BBC Health News 16/12/05
A coroner is to investigate the deaths of 12 patients of a retired GP cleared of murdering three men - and has said he may look into further cases.
Coroner may widen GP inquiry - The Times 17/12/05
Grieving family's drug trial plea - BBC Health News 16/12/05
The family of a woman who died after developing mental problems during the trial of a cannabis-based drug have called for the trials to be stopped.
Cannabis medication 'turned my mum into a stranger' - The Telegraph 18/12/05
Cannabis medicine is implicated in death of pensioner - The Times 17/12/05
Key gene 'controls skin colour' - BBC Health News 16/12/05
Scientists believe that studying the humble zebrafish may have helped solve the mystery of human skin colour.
Cancer vaccine has strong response in young girls - Reuters 17/12/05
Girls aged 10 to 14 who received GlaxoSmithKline Plc's vaccine to prevent infection with the virus that causes cervical cancer had immune responses twice as strong as women 15-25 years old given the vaccine, the company said on Saturday, describing results of a late-stage trial.
Clinic halts use of OraSure HIV test - Reuters 17/12/05
A California clinic halted use of OraSure Technologies Inc.'s rapid oral HIV test because of growing concerns about its reliability, sending the company's shares down 26 percent on Friday.
Fatigue fairly uncommon after breast cancer chemo - Reuters 17/12/05
About one in five women with breast cancer experience fatigue after treatment with adjuvant chemotherapy -- whether standard or high-dose -- according to a report in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Ibuprofen may curb risk of Parkinson's disease - Reuters 16/12/05
Regular use of the pain-relieving nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) may delay or prevent the onset of Parkinson's disease, according to data from roughly 147,000 U.S. men and women enrolled in the Cancer Prevention Study II Nutritional Cohort.
Eat more veggies, less red meat to keep BP in check - Reuters 16/12/05
Consumption of vegetables, fruits, and other plant foods seems to reduce the risk of elevated blood pressure, whereas intake of meat raises the risk, according to a report in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition for December.
Family alcoholism may make going decaf tough - Reuters 16/12/05
Women who are both hooked on caffeine and have a family history of alcoholism may have an especially tough time giving up their morning coffee during pregnancy, a small study has found.
Flu season arrives in U.S. - Reuters 16/12/05
The annual flu has arrived in the United States and has killed at least one child, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported on Thursday.
Help for people with seasonal depression - Reuters 16/12/05
During the fall and winter months, as days get shorter and sunlight scarce, some people "get the blues," and soon recover. But those suffering from seasonal affective disorder or "SAD" go though a much more dramatic experience, which is often difficult to overcome without help.
New Guide Will Help NHS Put NICE Guidance Into Practice, UK - Medical News Today 18/12/05
Launched at the NICE annual conference today, a new "how to" guide will support the NHS in implementing NICE guidance. The guide is packed with practical advice on how to put NICE guidance into practice and will be sent to all NHS organisations in England and Wales.
NHS Delivering Better Hospital Food And Cleanliness, UK - Medical News Today 18/12/05
Chief Nursing Officer, Christine Beasley, today welcomed the publication of the PEAT (Patient Environment Action Team) results for 2004/05 showing an overall improvement in the standard of cleanliness and food in the NHS.
Cephalosporins More Effective In Treating Strep Throat Than Penicillin, Amoxicillin - Medical News Today 18/12/05
Doctors today presented more evidence that it's time for long-time antibiotic stalwarts like penicillin and amoxicillin to step aside when it comes to the treatment of strep throat.
Nutriceutical, Pharmaceutical And Agrochemical Potential Of Milk - Medical News Today 18/12/05
Some of Australia's leading scientists believe that milk may produce valuable new products with nutriceutical, pharmaceutical and agrochemical potential.
Some People In China Having Two Or More Children Despite One-Child-Per-Family Policy - Medical News Today 18/12/05
Some people in China are "skirting" the government's one-child-per-family policy by paying the fines imposed for having two or more children or having children abroad, Xinhuanet reports (Xinhuanet, 12/14). The Chinese government instituted the policy in the 1970s to slow its population growth, but it has allowed local governments to decide how to apply the regulation (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 12/22/04). The country later amended the law to allow farmers who have a girl and ethnic minorities to have more than one child, but families who do not fall into these categories face fines of about $900 to $20,000, depending on the locale, if they have a second child. However, some "[b]usiness tycoons and show biz celebrities" are paying the fine or having another child abroad, Xinhuanet reports. China's population is 1.2 billion and is estimated to be 1.6 billion by 2050 (Xinhuanet, 12/14).
Can An Online Information System Can Help Multiple Sclerosis Patients Better Manage Their Disease? - Medical News Today 18/12/05
The Medical College of Georgia Center for Patient and Family Centered Care has received a $30,000 grant to determine whether an online information system can help multiple sclerosis patients better manage their disease.
Depression Causes Enormous Costs To European Society - Medical News Today 18/12/05
Not only does depression put a physical and emotional strain on the individuals, but it is also associated with enormous costs both to themselves as well as to society at large, a recent study suggests.
Xyrem® Is Launched In Germany For The Treatment Of Cataplexy In Adults With Narcolepsy - Medical News Today 18/12/05
UCB announced today that Xyrem® (sodium oxybate) oral solution is now available in Germany for the treatment of cataplexy in adult patients with narcolepsy. Launch in this first major European market follows the recent European Commission (EC) marketing approval of Xyrem® in this orphan indication, with pan-European commercialisation expected over 2006.
Psoriasis Cure Now Celebrates "Health Care Advocate Of The Year" Winners - Medical News Today 18/12/05
"Psoriasis Cure Now," a nonprofit patient group that works on behalf of the psoriasis community, today announced its 2005 "Health Care Advocates of the Year." The recipients are Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, and Rep. Ralph Regula of Ohio.
Christmas Holiday Depression - Medical News Today 18/12/05
While the holiday season brings sentiments of joy and celebration for some, for others it is a time of isolation and an increase in feelings of depression and negative thoughts. In fact, numerous studies as well as anecdotal evidence from distress centers and crisis workers confirm that there is an increase in both the numbers and severity of calls by depressed individuals during the holiday season.
New Nanotechnology Receives FDA Approval - New Era In Battle Against Hospital Related Infections - Medical News Today 18/12/05
AcryMed Inc today announced clearance from the Food And Drug Administration (FDA) for the first use of SilvaGard™, the company's breakthrough silver nanotechnology that can render existing medical devices impervious to infection-causing bacteria. Unlike any other infection control technology available today, SilvaGard can be used to treat virtually any medical device and its use does not alter the device's original properties. Due to these and other unique attributes, SilvaGard is expected to have a significant impact on the battle against hospital-related infections.
Blood Platelet Levels Significantly Increased With Eltrombopag, Global Study Shows - Medical News Today 18/12/05
Data from a Phase II study of eltrombopag, an oral investigational drug that increases the production of platelets, demonstrate that the compound was effective in increasing platelet counts in patients with chronic Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), a disorder characterized by episodes of frequent spontaneous bruising, mucosal bleeding, and in severe cases intracranial hemorrhage, and acute episodes of severe bleeding. The data were presented by James B. Bussel, M.D. -- director of the Platelet Disorders Center, Children's Blood Foundation Division at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center -- at the "Seventh Review of Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura: Current Issues in Pathogenesis, Diagnosis and Management." The annual symposium is held in connection with the 47th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH).
Hewitt Sets Out Next Steps For NHS Reform, UK - Medical News Today 18/12/05
UK Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt today set out the two-year programme for the next stages of NHS reform.
RCGP Presents Cambridgeshire Practice With A Quality Practice Award, UK - Medical News Today 18/12/05
The Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) is presenting a local GP practice with an award for outstanding general practice.
RCGP Presents Worcestershire Practice With A Quality Practice Award, UK - Medical News Today 18/12/05
Xenotransplantation Should Be Allowed To Develop In New Zealand, Bioethics Council - Medical News Today 18/12/05
Living Cell Technologies (ASX: LCT) welcomes the final recommendation by Toi te Taiao: the Bioethics Council, that xenotransplantation should be allowed to develop in New Zealand.
Lord Warner Publishes Proposals For Ambulance Trust Reorganisation, UK - Medical News Today 18/12/05
Ambulance trusts will have the infrastructure, capacity and capability to deliver improved, patient-centred care, under proposed organisational changes announced by UK Health Minister Lord Warner.
How E. Coli Bacterium Generates Simplicity From Complexity, Relies On Only A Handful Of Metabolic States - Medical News Today 18/12/05
The ubiquitous and usually harmless E. coli bacterium, which has one-seventh the number of genes as a human, has more than 1,000 of them involved in metabolism and metabolic regulation. Activation of random combinations of these genes would theoretically be capable of generating a huge variety of internal states; however, researchers at UCSD will report in the Dec. 27 issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) that Escherichia coli doesn't gamble with its metabolism. In a surprise about E. coli that may offer clues about how human cells operate, the PNAS paper reports that only a handful of dominant metabolic states are found in E. coli when it is "grown" in 15,580 different environments in computer simulations.
Food Additive, Dihydrocoumarin, Inhibits Longevity Enzyme In Yeast, Increases Cell Toxicity, New Study Finds - Medical News Today 18/12/05
A common additive found in food and cosmetics has been found to inhibit the activity of sirtuins, enzymes associated with lifespan control in yeast and other organisms, according to a new study led by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley.
What Can Change In The Brain? Electrical Synapses, Research Shows - Medical News Today 18/12/05
The brain's ability to reorganize itself - strengthening or weakening connections between neurons or adding or subtracting those connections - allows it to form memories, make transitions between sleep and waking, and focus attention on objects of interest.
Sweeping Recommendations To Support Pay-For-Performance System Made In American College Of Physicians Paper - Medical News Today 18/12/05
A paper setting forth sweeping recommendations to support a transparent and fair pay-for-performance (P4P) system was released today by the American College of Physicians (ACP). Entitled Linking Physician Payments to Quality Care, the 34-page document promotes continuously improving quality care across the health care delivery system.
Dementia "set To Quadruple" Says Lancet Report - Developing Countries Hardest Hit - Medical News Today 18/12/05
A new case of dementia arises every seven seconds with the number of people with dementia set to double every 20 years, says a report in the Lancet today. The report, produced for Alzheimer's Disease International (ADI), comes 100 years after the first description of Alzheimer's disease and estimates that 24.3 million people currently have dementia, with 4.6 million new cases annually. By 2040 the number will have risen to 81.1 million.
Easing Family Planning Rules Leads To Fewer Abortions And More Baby Girls, Chinese Province Finds - Medical News Today 18/12/05
The lifting of birth-spacing rules in Hainan Province, China, has led to fewer abortions and a more balanced sex ratio at birth, reports UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund.
Ensuring Chromosomes Of Sperm And Eggs Have Been Matched And Recombined Accurately During Meiosis - Learning About Sex From An Elegant Worm - Medical News Today 18/12/05
Most cells in the body contain two copies of every chromosome, one from each parent. Sex involves gently scrambling the genetic material of the chromosomes to produce variations within each species, creating individuals variously equipped to meet life's challenges. The secret of sex is meiosis, a specialized kind of cell division in which a cell replicates and then divides twice (not just once, as nonsex cells do), resulting in sperm or eggs with just one set of chromosomes each.
Household Cleaners Remove Lead-laden Dust As Effectively As High Phosphate Detergents And Lead-specific Cleaning Products - Medical News Today 18/12/05
All-purpose detergents remove lead-contaminated dust from household surfaces just as effectively as high phosphate detergents and lead-specific cleaning products, according to new research scheduled for publication in the Jan. 15 issue of the American Chemical Society's Environmental Science & Technology journal.
ESC To Publish First Cardiovascular Textbook - Medical News Today 18/12/05
Responding to a need among cardiologists for a practical textbook that brings together ESC Guidelines and best practice coupled with a strong clinical focus, the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) will publish its first textbook in cardiovascular medicine early next year. Entitled, The ESC Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine, the book will be published 13 January 2006 (1).
Visually Impaired People Prefer To Watch Television Enhanced With Special Processing - Medical News Today 18/12/05
A scientist at Schepens Eye Research Institute (SERI) found that increasing the contrast of details of certain sizes was of special importance in making television watching more enjoyable for the visually impaired. The study, published in the current (November/December) issue of Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics (OPO), provides information that will aid in the development of an electronic device to help millions suffering eye diseases. People who may benefit from such a device include those suffering from macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and other causes of low vision.
Alcohol Can Inhibit The Formation Of New Bone Cells Called Osteoblasts, Thereby Decreasing Bone Formation - Medical News Today 18/12/05
Chronic and heavy alcohol consumption is known to contribute to low bone mass, decreased bone formation, an increased incidence of fractures, and delays in fracture healing. A review of human, animal and cell-culture studies of alcohol's detrimental effects on bone has determined that osteoblast development and function are particularly at risk. The review is published in the December issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research.
Milk Thistle Extract Treatment For Liver Disease Is Found To Be Ineffective - Medical News Today 18/12/05
Results of high-quality randomized clinical trials have determined that milk thistle extract, a widely used alternative medication, may not have any significant influence on the course of patients with alcoholic liver disease or hepatitis B or C liver disease. These findings are published in The American Journal of Gastroenterology.
One Third Of Patients Hospitalized For Depression Also Has A Substance Abuse-related Mental Disorder, USA - Medical News Today 18/12/05
One third of the 713,000 Americans hospitalized for depression or other affective disorders in 2003 also had a secondary diagnosis of substance abuse, such as alcohol or cocaine, according to the federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
Technology For Successful Aging Shown At White House Conference - Medical News Today 18/12/05
Scientists with OHSU's ORCATECH will showcase technology for in-home monitoring of mobility, cognition.
Adding Radioimmunotherapy To Chemotherapy Reduces Relapse Risk In Mantle Cell Leukemia Patients - Medical News Today 17/12/05
A new cancer treatment that combines the power of radioactive monoclonal antibodies with high-dose chemotherapy and the patient's own blood stem cells is showing encouraging results in early studies, according to researchers at City of Hope Cancer Center. Results of the clinical trial, conducted on patients with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), a type of non-Hodgkins lymphoma, were announced today at the American Society of Hematology's 47th annual meeting.
BMA Comment On Healthcare Commission's Report - 'A Snapshot Of Hospital Cleanliness In England' - Medical News Today 17/12/05
British Medical Association (BMA) comment in response to the Healthcare Commission's report out on 15/12/05 - 'A Snapshot of Hospital Cleanliness in England'.
Department Of Health Response To Healthcare Commission Report, UK - Medical News Today 18/12/05
Anxious About Holiday Weight Gain? Don't Look To Others For Social Clues, Study Shows - Medical News Today 17/12/05
Socially informed perceptions of which foods are appropriate to eat, when they should be eaten and how much should be consumed have a greater impact on our food intake than feelings of hunger or fullness, says a University of Toronto review paper published in Physiology & Behavior.
Use Of Color-Coded Patient Wristbands Creates Unnecessary Risk - Medical News Today 17/12/05
A recent "near-miss" report submitted to the Patient Safety Authority emphasizes the need for caution by healthcare facilities.
Tamiflu Safety Information, European Medicines Agency Recommends No Changes - Medical News Today 17/12/05
A review by the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) of new safety data for Tamiflu has concluded that there is no new safety signal relating to psychiatric disorders while taking Tamiflu and therefore no change to the product safety information of Tamiflu is needed.
65% Of Ovarian Cancer Cells Sideline Body's Defences, Study - Medical News Today 17/12/05
Ovarian cancer tumour cells use two separate mechanisms to evade the body's defensive reaction - and in so doing also elude a newly discovered counteraction from the surrounding tissue. Details on these strategies, which have been observed in 65% of the cancer cells tested, are published today in Clinical Cancer Research by a group at the Medical University of Vienna led by Prof. Michael Krainer. The work, supported by the Austrian Science Fund FWF, may be a big help in optimising a new cancer therapy candidate.
Immunotherapy For Precancerous Changes Of The Cervix Under Study - Medical News Today 17/12/05
Whether young women with precancerous changes of the cervix can avoid surgery by using an agent that helps the immune system target the virus responsible is under study at the Medical College of Georgia.
Rapid Diagnosis Of Infections Linked To Heart Attacks - Medical News Today 17/12/05
The Oxoid range of diagnostic culture media and rapid identification kits includes a number of innovative products for the faster identification of common respiratory and urinary tract infections. Such infections have recently been associated with an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.
Funding For NHS Humanitarian Projects Doubled, England - Medical News Today 17/12/05
The amount of money available to English NHS teams carrying out humanitarian work overseas is to double to £40,000 next year, the British Medical Association, Royal College of Nursing and Department of Health announce (Friday 9 December, 2005).
Small Genetic Change Increases Risk Of Tuberculosis - Medical News Today 17/12/05
A study in the December 19 issue of The Journal of Experimental Medicine identifies a small genetic change that increases the odds of developing active tuberculosis (TB). Pedro Flores-Villanueva and his colleagues at the University of Texas Health Center (Tyler, TX) studied groups of patients in Mexico and Korea and found that individuals who carry this genetic change were more likely to develop disease when infected with TB-causing bacteria.
Herbal Supplement, N-Acetylcysteine (NAC), Helps Reduce Cocaine Cravings - Medical News Today 17/12/05
A new study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) suggests that a common over-the-counter herbal supplement can reduce the cravings associated with chronic cocaine use. This research, released at the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology's (ACNP) annual conference is among the first to identify N-acetylcysteine (NAC) as a potential agent to modulate the effects of cocaine addiction. There is also early evidence in animal models of addiction to suggest that this chemical works similarly in the treatment of heroin addiction, and possibly alcoholism.
22% Of General Practitioners Think Nicotine In Stop Smoking Products As Harmful As Cigarettes - Medical News Today 17/12/05
According to new data presented at the British Thoracic Society (BTS) Winter meeting, over one in five GPs hold misconceptions over the safety of nicotine in stop smoking products which impacts upon their likelihood to prescribe such products to their patients1.
Cheese Acceptance - How Accurate Are Experts Regarding Consumer Response To Certain Cheeses? - Medical News Today 17/12/05
A recent study comparing consumer acceptance of cheeses with quality scores given by expert dairy assessors revealed notable differences between how consumers responded to certain cheeses and how experts predicted they would respond. As a result, researchers highlight the importance of recognizing differences between these two groups, and particularly in giving more weight to the opinions of the consumer when determining food quality standards. This study is published in the Journal of Food Quality.
Chromosome Four Contains Genes That Affect Drinking Behaviors In Smokers - Medical News Today 17/12/05
Researchers firmly believe that alcoholism is a complex behavior that draws from both environmental and genetic factors. A recent examination of families selected for their smoking behavior has identified the same region of chromosome four that was identified by earlier studies as being linked to the initiation of alcohol consumption. Results are published in the December issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research.
Psoriasis Drug May Also Relieve Depression And Fatigue Linked To The Disease - Medical News Today 17/12/05
A drug used to treat the clinical symptoms of psoriasis may also relieve fatigue and depression associated with the disease, concludes a randomised trial published online, Thursday December 15, 2005 by The Lancet.
Researchers Uncover Remarkable Developmental Pathway - Medical News Today 17/12/05
Natural compensatory mechanism may affect stem cell applications
New Book "Coping With Depression: From Catch-22 To Hope", By Renowned Psychologist Offers Hope To Depressed Patients And Their Doctors - Medical News Today 17/12/05
"Coping With Depression: From Catch-22 to Hope", a new book on the symptoms and treatment of depression, is now available through the American Psychiatric Publishing Inc. (APPI), the world's premier publisher of books, journals, and multi-media on psychiatry. This important new release offers new and innovative perspectives to help mental health professionals and patients better understand and treat depression.
Bayer Diagnostics Launches Advia Centaur® CP Immunoassay System - Medical News Today 17/12/05
Bayer Diagnostics (a division of Bayer HealthCare) has launched its new ADVIA Centaur® CP Immunoassay System. The ADVIA Centaur CP, part of the ADVIA family of automated clinical laboratory solutions from Bayer Diagnostics, is a compact, benchtop, fully automated analytical system which enables hospital and reference laboratories to rapidly perform a wide variety of disease-specific tests which enhance the management of disease.
Novartis Committed To Making Zelnorm® Available For Women With Irritable Bowel Syndrome With Constipation In Europe - Medical News Today 17/12/05
Novartis will appeal an opinion from a European Medicines Agency (EMEA) committee recommending against European approval of Zelnorm® (tegaserod) for the treatment of women with irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C).
Mechanism For Recurrent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, Study - Medical News Today 17/12/05
Women who have a baby that dies of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) have an increased risk of preterm delivery and complications in subsequent pregnancies, concludes an article in this week's issue of The Lancet. As these complications are risk factors for SIDS this could explain why some women have recurrent SIDS in their family, state the authors.
Cot Death Mothers Have Complication Risks In Subsequent Pregnancies - Medical News Today 16/12/05
Sweet Taste Acts As An Analgesic In Children - Sweet Taste's Ability To Reduce Pain Is Related To Both Sweet Liking And Body Weight - Medical News Today 17/12/05
It's no secret that children like sweet-tasting foods and beverages. It's also known that sweet taste acts as an analgesic in children, reducing their perception of pain.
Probing Connection Between Regulatory DNA And Disease - Medical News Today 17/12/05
Through the Human Genome Project, the HapMap Project and other efforts, we are beginning to identify genes that are modified in some diseases. More difficult to measure and identify are the regulatory regions in DNA - the 'managers' of genes - that control gene activity and might be important in causing disease.
Honing In On Differentiation Of Heart Stem Cells, Gladstone Institute Of Cardiovascular Disease - Medical News Today 17/12/05
A team of scientists from the Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease (GICD) has identified a key factor in heart development that could help advance gene therapy for treating cardiac disorders.
Traditional Risk-factor Scoring Misses One-third Of Women Vulnerable To Coronary Heart Disease - Medical News Today 17/12/05
Cardiac CT scans recommended for some groups of women. Traditional risk-factor scoring fails to identify approximately one-third of women likely to develop coronary heart disease (CHD), the leading cause of death of women in the United States, according to a pair of reports from cardiologists at Johns Hopkins.
Conflicts Of Interest Between Providers, Drug, Device Makers The 'Norm,' Columnist Writes - Medical News Today 17/12/05
Conflicts of interest between health care providers and the makers of medical devices and prescription drugs "aren't the exception -- they're the norm," New York Times columnist Paul Krugman writes in an opinion piece. "[C]rucial scientific research and crucial medical decisions have to be considered suspect because of financial ties among medical companies, medical researchers and health care providers," he says. According to Krugman, there exists a "whole system of incentives" encouraging providers and researchers "to serve the interests of the medical industry." Under this system, Krugman states, "a vast medical-industrial complex" uses "deep financial links" to tie health care providers and research institutions to drug companies and device makers. He continues, "Economic trends gave rise to the medical-industrial complex, but only because those trends interacted with bad policies, which can be fixed." Krugman says that in future columns he will address "how serious health care can reduce the conflicts of interest that are tainting our current system" (Krugman, New York Times, 12/16).
NGO Medicos Do Mundo Provides First HIV Tests On West African Island Of Principe - Medical News Today 17/12/05
The international medical organization Medicos do Mundo on Thursday gave residents of the West African island of Principe -- part of the archipelago country Sao Tome and Principe -- their first opportunity to be tested for HIV, Reuters reports. Medicos do Mundo in 2003 was the first organization to provide HIV tests on the island of Sao Tome, which has a population of about 150,000. The group has recorded an HIV prevalence rate of about 2.4% from about 4,000 tests conducted on Sao Tome, but some officials said they think the prevalence rate is higher because most of the testing was done in urban areas where people are knowledgeable about HIV and might take steps to prevent the spread of the virus. Bruno Cardoso, Medicos do Mundo's country coordinator for the archipelago, said that although Principe is "a small and isolated island," its residents "should be given exactly the same chance as everyone in the bigger island of Sao Tome to receive information about HIV and get access to tests." The government provides antiretroviral drugs to all HIV-positive people who need them, but Cardoso said many challenges remain in fighting the epidemic in the country. "[T]he roads are bad and people don't have access to hospitals or health centers," he said, adding, "It can take two hours to walk to a place that has condoms so people often prefer not to use them. That's very dangerous" (Eisentein, Reuters, 12/15).
Federation Of Red Cross, Red Crescent Societies Appeals For $333M To Fund Programs, Including HIV/AIDS Relief - Medical News Today 17/12/05
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies on Thursday made an appeal for $333 million to fund its work through 2007, including health programs aimed at curbing the HIV/AIDS pandemic, the AP/Los Angeles Times reports. Markku Niskala -- secretary general of the federation, which normally issues appeals for 12 months of funding -- said, "We have come to the conclusion that, unless there is a fundamental change in emphasis from response to preparedness, global resources to respond adequately and in a timely manner to an increase in disaster-linked demands will be overstretched in the years to come" (AP/Los Angeles Times, 12/15). The federation in a statement said about 40% of the funding would go toward hunger relief programs in Africa, where famine is contributing to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The federation also has earmarked funding for health programs in Europe and Central Asia that address issues related to HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis (IFRCRCS release, 12/15). According to federation spokesperson Marie-Francoise Borel, the appeal was announced at a meeting with representatives from donor countries. The federation, which last year appealed for $180 million in funding for 2005, is the umbrella organization for 183 Red Cross and Red Crescent national societies (Reuters, 12/15).
Atlanta Journal-Constitution Examines Debate Over Drug Recycling Programs, Georgia's 'Underground Network' For HIV Patients - Medical News Today 17/12/05
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Thursday examined the renewed debate over nationwide drug recycling programs and how "with the cost of pharmaceuticals rising, more people are paying attention to the destruction" of unused prescription drugs. According to the Journal-Constitution, the disposal of unused drugs "occurs with numbing frequency" at hospices and long-term care facilities and in homes across the country, and the "amount of drugs wasted" is "potentially enormous." Some states have launched, "with varying degrees of success," programs to recycle prescription drugs still packaged in single-dose containers and properly marked with expiration dates, and other states give the medication to pharmacies in clinics that treat uninsured patients, the Journal-Constitution reports. Although a provision in the Georgia State Board of Pharmacy's regulations allows the return of some medications from nursing homes, state laws prohibit most drug recycling. However, HIV-positive people have built an underground network for recycling unused drugs, according to the state advocacy group AIDS Survival Project, the Journal-Constitution reports. "It helps people get access to medication who cannot afford them or get government assistance for them," Jeff Graham, senior director of advocacy for ASP, said, adding that antiretroviral drugs on average cost $12,000 annually per patient. Graham said he knows the process is illegal, adding, "It's a sign of the desperate measures people will go to, to get prescription medications." The Georgia Pharmacy Association said it has concerns about setting up a formal statewide drug recycling program. "We understand the economic impact and that it would help people, but we're concerned about the liability and about the danger to the patient," Buddy Harden, executive vice president of the association, said. FDA, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Drug Enforcement Administration currently are discussing alternatives to discarding unused pharmaceuticals (Miller, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 12/15).
Britain To Fund Study On Discordant Kenyan Couples Who Do Not Transmit HIV To Each Other - Medical News Today 17/12/05
Britain is providing almost $840,000 as part of an HIV/AIDS grant to Kenya to study 160,000 "discordant couples," or couples in which one person is HIV-positive and the other is HIV-negative, London's Daily Telegraph reports. The study will look at couples in Kenya's Nyanza province, which borders Lake Victoria. According to the Telegraph, HIV/AIDS prevalence rates along the lake's shores are some of the highest in the world -- most likely because of local customs, such as an "aversion to circumcision" and widow inheritance, in which widows are "inherited" by their brother-in-law after their husband's death. However, early surveys, show that up to 40% of HIV-positive people in the area have not transmitted the virus to their partners, despite "regularly engaging in unprotected sex over long periods of marriage," the Telegraph reports. "Essentially, there are still great gaps in what we know about discordant couples," James Gesami, Nyanza's chief provincial medical officer, said, adding, "But we have been able to make some guesses" about why transmission has not occurred. Some of these reasons might include less frequent sexual relations because of long travels for work, not having "rough" intercourse, or an inaccurate survey because of a "low point" in new infections, according to the Telegraph. Marilyn McDonagh, Kenya program director for health for Britain's Department for International Development, added, "Whatever the reason, we want to make sure we reach as many of these discordant couples and get them tested so that we can counsel them if one is still negative and keep them negative" (Pflanz, Daily Telegraph, 12/14).
Overactive Bladder Can Hamper An Employee's Productivity During Business Hours - Medical News Today 17/12/05
A recent study suggests that too many visits to the bathroom can hamper an employee's productivity during business hours. Researchers at Thomas Jefferson University found that working adults with overactive bladder (OAB) experience more job interruptions, physical limitations, difficulty concentrating, and less productivity at work than individuals who are considered healthy.
Rapid Diagnosis Of Infections Linked To Heart Attacks - Medical News Today 17/12/05
The Oxoid range of diagnostic culture media and rapid identification kits includes a number of innovative products for the faster identification of common respiratory and urinary tract infections. Such infections have recently been associated with an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.
Too Many Children In Lesotho Are Still Invisible And Excluded - Medical News Today 17/12/05
The Minister of Health and Social Welfare of Lesotho, Dr. Phooko, launched UNICEF's annual flagship report 'The State of the World's Children 2006: Excluded and Invisible' on 14 December 2005 in an event that embodied the spirit and highlighted the significance of this year's theme.
CyGenics And Rockeby Collaborate To Distribute H5N1 Bird Flu Kits In Asia - Medical News Today 17/12/05
CyGenics Ltd (ASX: CYN) announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Cell Sciences Pte Ltd, has signed an Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Rockeby Biomed (ASX: RBY) for logistics, sales, marketing and master distribution of the Avian (bird) and Human Flu Tests for the Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Myanmar, Cambodia, Philippines and Vietnam markets.
Immunotherapy For Precancerous Changes Of The Cervix Under Study - Medical News Today 17/12/05
Whether young women with precancerous changes of the cervix can avoid surgery by using an agent that helps the immune system target the virus responsible is under study at the Medical College of Georgia.
65% Of Ovarian Cancer Cells Sideline Body's Defences, Study - Medical News Today 17/12/05
Ovarian cancer tumour cells use two separate mechanisms to evade the body's defensive reaction - and in so doing also elude a newly discovered counteraction from the surrounding tissue. Details on these strategies, which have been observed in 65% of the cancer cells tested, are published today in Clinical Cancer Research by a group at the Medical University of Vienna led by Prof. Michael Krainer. The work, supported by the Austrian Science Fund FWF, may be a big help in optimising a new cancer therapy candidate.
Largest Ever Asthma Trial Highlights Safety Of Pulmicort Treatment During Pregnancy - Medical News Today 17/12/05
Five year results from the START trial (inhaled Steroid Treatment As Regular Therapy in early asthma), published today in Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, reveal that treating mild, persistent asthma during pregnancy with Pulmicort® (budesonide) results in similar number of healthy children delivered in comparison to treatment with placebo1.
EMEA Adopts Positive Opinion On Neupro (Parkinson's Disease) And Rotarix (Infant Gastro-Entiritis Prevention) And Others, Europe - Medical News Today 17/12/05
The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) adopted positive opinions on initial marketing authorisation applications for: -- Neupro (rotigotine), Schwarz Pharma Ltd. Neupro is indicated for the treatment of idiopathic Parkinson's disease. EMEA review began on 18 October 2004 with an active review time of 202 days. -- Rotarix (human rotavirus, live attenuated), GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals S.A. Rotarix is indicated for active immunisation of infants from the age of 6 weeks for prevention of gastro-enteritis due to rotavirus infection. EMEA review began on 20 December 2004 with an active review time of 175 days.
New Dementia Case Arises Every Seven Seconds - Medical News Today 16/12/05
The number of people that have dementia is set to double every 20 years, according to a report in this week's issue of The Lancet. The study reveals that 24 million people have dementia today, and this is set to rise to 42 million by 2020, and 81 million by 2040.
Warner Sets Out Framework To Improve Local Workforce Development And Improve NHS Efficiency And Patient Care, UK - Medical News Today 16/12/05
UK Health Minister Lord Warner today set out key steps that will enable local employers to deliver a high quality workforce that provides patient centred care.
New Data Highlight Tygacil (Tigecycline) In Vitro Activity Against Resistant Gram-Negative And Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase-Producing Bacteria - Medical News Today 16/12/05
Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, a division of Wyeth (NYSE:WYE), presented data today from multiple studies that indicate the in vitro activity of TYGACIL (tigecycline) against many resistant Gram-negative bacteria, including Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase (ESBL)-producing organisms. Nearly 99 percent of Acinetobacter isolates tested were susceptible to TYGACIL. These data were among 39 tigecycline abstracts and posters presented at the 45th Annual Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC) in Washington, D.C., U.S.A.
Is Job Stress Different In Small And Medium Sized Enterprises? Have Your Say - Medical News Today 16/12/05
Did you know that as an employer, and even as a self employed person, you are required to conduct to a risk assessment on the mental health hazards of your work? And did you know that much of the research that influences the key decision makers has not taken into account the needs of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs)? Cathy Paddock, a business coach and researcher, is doing research with the Manchester Business School that will hopefully redress this balance.
Canadian Medical Association Journal's Publisher Demands Deletion Of Section Of Report On Nonprescription Plan B Sales - Medical News Today 16/12/05
The Canadian Medical Association, which owns the CANADIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION JOURNAL, demanded the deletion of part of a news report that questioned the way pharmacists in Canada are handling sales of Barr Laboratories' emergency contraceptive Plan B, according to a CMAJ editorial published online on Tuesday, the CP/Globe and Mail reports (Branswell, CP/Globe and Mail, 12/13). Canada's national health agency, Health Canada, in April approved nonprescription sales of Plan B -- which can prevent pregnancy if taken within 72 hours of sexual intercourse (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 4/21). Staff at CMAJ asked women in each province and territory in the country to attempt to buy the drug and then describe their experiences. Some of the women said that pharmacists demanded personal information -- including name and address -- and entered the information into a database, which is not standard practice for nonprescription drugs, according to the CP/Globe and Mail. The CMAJ report originally was to include the women's experiences -- which news report authors said constituted investigative journalism -- but the Canadian Pharmacists Association heard about the upcoming report and complained to the CMA, according to the editorial. Publisher Graham Morris told CMAJ staff to remove the women's experiences or not run the report because it could be seen as unethical research, and the staff decided to publish an abridged version of the article in the Dec. 5 issue, CMAJ Editor John Hoey said.
PRB Report On Abortion In U.S., Worldwide - Medical News Today 16/12/05
"Abortion in the United States and the World," Population Reference Bureau: PRB Associate Editor Sandra Yin examines abortion figures and trends internationally. The analysis covers the decrease in abortion rates in the U.S., the reasons prompting U.S. women to obtain abortions and the rates of abortions in nations where the procedure is legally restricted (Yin, "Abortion in the United States and the World," 12/13).
Gene Test Detects Heart Transplant Rejection - Medical News Today 16/12/05
A simple blood test may detect whether a chronic heart transplant patient is rejecting their heart, and may reduce the need for invasive heart-muscle biopsies, according to the results of a multi-center study called CARGO (Cardiac Allograft Rejection Gene Expression Observational Study), led by NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and Columbia University Medical Center and to be published in the December 19 The American Journal of Transplantation. (The study is available online now.) The findings describe a new methodology that may impact the way heart transplant patients are treated.
European Medicines Agency Opens SME Office To Support Small And Medium-sized Enterprises - Medical News Today 16/12/05
The European Medicines Agency today launched an SME Office to provide administrative and procedural assistance to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) seeking to develop and market new medicines. The launch follows the adoption of a new Commission Regulation aimed at promoting innovation and the development of new medicinal products by SMEs.
UK Select Committee On Science And Technology Does Not Appropriately Scrutinize British Science - Medical News Today 16/12/05
The way in which the UK Select Committee on Science and Technology (CST) conducts inquiries is not an acceptable way to maintain standards in British science, states an editorial in this week's issue of The Lancet.
Pregnant Women Weighing More - May Mean More Pregnancy-Related Complications - Medical News Today 16/12/05
A growing number of women are overweight or obese when they become pregnant, a condition that is risky to both mother and baby, a new study conducted by researchers at the University at Buffalo has shown.
EU And G8 Countries Must Help Russia Tackle Its Health Crisis - Medical News Today 16/12/05
Countries in the EU and G8 must help Russia tackle its health crisis, says an editorial in this week's BMJ.
NHS Failing To Provide Health Care According To Need, UK - Medical News Today 16/12/05
The NHS needs to do more to provide health care according to need, argue researchers in this week's BMJ.
Denying Joint Replacements Based On Prejudice...and Is False Economy, UK - Medical News Today 16/12/05
Health Service Reforms Are Groundless, Say Healthcare Experts - Medical News Today 16/12/05
Researchers from Oxford to Ontario to Sydney have taken aim at the constant restructuring of health systems in Britain, Australia, Canada, the USA and New Zealand.
How Well You Age Depends On Your Attitude And Coping Style - Medical News Today 16/12/05
A new study released at the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology's (ACNP) Annual Meeting suggests that the seniors' perceptions of the aging process depend not on disease or physical disability, but rather on attitude and coping style. This research, conducted at and funded by the Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging at the University of California-San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine, is unusual in employing subjective reports as a measure of successful aging.
TRAF3 Protein Is A Key Part Of The Early Immune Response To Viruses - Medical News Today 16/12/05
Study using novel protein purification strategy shows that TRAF3 triggers interferon release while curbing inflammation, according to St. Jude.
Public Health Issues Surrounding Vitamin D - Medical News Today 16/12/05
The December issue of PHOTOCHEMISTRY AND PHOTOBIOLOGY, the official journal of the American Society for Photobiology, contains a symposium-in-print exploring public health issues that surround vitamin D.
Global Skin Cancer Research Consortium Wins 7m sterling - Medical News Today 16/12/05
Skin cancer studies around the world will be brought together to help people understand how at risk they from the disease thanks to a Leeds-led consortium which has been awarded over 7m of funding.
Researchers Identify Key Protein Involved In Neuropathic Pain - Medical News Today 16/12/05
A team of researchers led by Université Laval and The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) has discovered a protein that plays a major role in neuropathic pain. This discovery, published in the December 16 issue of Nature, paves the way for the development of new diagnostics and treatments for chronic pain.
VentrAssist, Left Ventricular Assist Device, Moves A Step Closer To Completing Enrolment In Its CE Mark Trial - Medical News Today 16/12/05
Ventracor Limited (ASX: VCR) moved a step closer to completing enrolment in its CE Mark Trial announcing the successful implant of its left ventricular assist device (LVAD), the VentrAssist, at Norway's Rikshopitalet University Hospital.
Cancer Scientists Call For A Large-scale Human Epigenome Project - Medical News Today 16/12/05
A vast code, invisible to the DNA sequencing effort that constituted the Human Genome Project, is rapidly being shown to play a direct role in human health. This "epigenome" - from the Greek epi, meaning "in addition to" - consists of chemical "amendments" that dangle like charms on a bracelet from the linear string of letters that spell out the genetic code.
Medications As Effective As Surgery For GERD, According To Study Mandated By Medicare Law - Medical News Today 16/12/05
Proton pump inhibitors are as effective as surgery at treating gastroesophageal reflux disease, according to a report by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the Scripps Howard/Sacramento Bee reports. For the report, AHRQ researchers conducted an eight-month review of major medical studies and found that for most people with uncomplicated GERD -- which occurs when stomach acid enters the esophagus and causes heartburn and other symptoms -- PPIs such as Nexium and Prilosec can be as effective at relieving symptoms and improving the quality of life as surgery. The surgery wraps part of the stomach around the esophagus to control acid (Bowman, Scripps Howard/Sacramento Bee, 12/14). Other GERD drugs called H2 receptor antagonists, such as Pepcid and Zantac, are not as effective as surgery but are less likely to cause side effects, the study finds. In addition, the study finds that, although surgery sometimes is performed to end the need to take medications, between 10% and 65% of patients who receive the surgery must resume taking the drugs.
Canadian Work Laws Endangering Health, Lives Of Commercial Sex Workers, Report Says - Medical News Today 16/12/05
Canadian laws that ban most commercial sex-related activities put the health and lives of sex workers at risk and should be rescinded, according to a report released on Tuesday by the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network, Toronto's Globe and Mail reports. Although being a commercial sex worker in Canada is not a crime, it is illegal to "communicate for the purposes of prostitution, to operate a bawdy house or to live on the avails of prostitution," according to the Globe and Mail. The laws are meant to prevent solicitation and allow law enforcement officials to arrest pimps (Blackwell, Globe and Mail, 12/13). However, the possibility of arrest under the laws often does not give sex workers time to assess their health risks with a particular client or negotiate safe sex, according to the report (Legal Network release, 12/13). Legal Network Senior Policy Analyst Glenn Betteridge, the report's lead author, said the laws also prevent commercial sex workers from obtaining legal and health protections available to other workers and "push the practice of prostitution into close proximity with other illegal markets like drug dealing and organized crime" (Globe and Mail, 12/13). The report recommends that the laws be repealed; that sex work be recognized under occupational health and safety provisions; and that sex workers be involved in reforming policies (Legal Network release, 12/13).
Religious Leaders Discussing HIV/AIDS With Residents In China Arrested For 'Illegal' Gathering - Medical News Today 16/12/05
Police on Monday arrested 29 religious leaders in China's Henan province for holding an "illegal religious gathering" that the U.S.-based China Aid Association said was meant to spur discussion about HIV/AIDS among local residents, the Associated Press reports. CAA on Wednesday in a news release said the religious leaders met to discuss assistance for HIV-positive residents who became infected through blood transfusions (Associated Press, 12/14). Hundreds of thousands of people in China in the early and mid-1990s contracted HIV through unsafe blood collection procedures. Although the country outlawed blood sales in 1998 and reduced the number of blood collection organizations operating in the country, about 350 such groups currently operate and allegedly remain motivated by profit. China's Ministry of Health last week announced new rules that will take effect in March and will "severely punish those responsible" for collecting and distributing untested blood that leads to people becoming infected with bloodborne diseases such as HIV (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 12/6). According to a police official who only provided his surname, Hu, the police received a report that "70 or 80 people were having an unauthorized [religious] gathering." He added, "Police went there and took some of them to the police station for questioning, but now they are all free" (Associated Press, 12/14). CAA on Wednesday confirmed that all of the leaders had been released on Tuesday "after intensive interrogations and heavy international media and U.S. government pressure" (BosNewsLife News, 12/14).
Creator Of AIDS Memorial Quilt, Names Project Foundation Reach Agreement Over Return Of Quilt Panels - Medical News Today 16/12/05
The Atlanta-based... Names Project Foundation -- which owns the AIDS Memorial Quilt -- and Cleve Jones -- who started the now 50-ton quilt in 1987 and served as its spokesperson for 15 years -- have reached an agreement over the return of a portion of the quilt to San Francisco, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. The two parties, who had been battling over the issue in court for two years, came close to reaching an agreement last month, but negotiations collapsed when both parties could not agree on a written settlement. Angela Alioto, Jones' attorney, filed a motion with the San Francisco Superior Court to make the transcript of the oral agreement between the two sides the legal, written settlement. The Names Foundation on Monday filed a statement of non-opposition to Alioto's motion. Under the agreement, Jones will receive 35 blocks of the quilt after he creates a San Francisco-based organization to oversee them. The settlement also entitles Jones to nominate four finalists for two positions on the foundation's board of directors. The parties also agreed to put a link to Jones' Web site on the foundation's site, and the foundation will return the first quilt panel to Jones, who made it to honor his best friend. The settlement is expected to become official after a hearing next week when a judge approves the two filings, the foundation's attorney, Charles Thompson, said (Buchanan, San Francisco Chronicle, 12/14).
U.K. To Advocate For Lower Antiretroviral Prices In Developing Countries, Assist In Compulsory Licenses, Minister Says - Medical News Today 16/12/05
UK Department for International Development Minister Gareth Thomas on Wednesday during a speech at a conference in London said the U.K. "will continue to push" the pharmaceutical industry to reduce the price of newer antiretroviral drugs in developing countries, London's Guardian reports. Thomas also pledged U.K. assistance to developing countries that wish to use a World Trade Organization waiver that allows countries to issue compulsory licenses to import generic drugs for diseases such as HIV/AIDS if a country confirms that it cannot manufacture them domestically (Boseley, Guardian, 12/14). The WTO general council last week agreed to extend the 2003 waiver allowing compulsory licenses. The measure, which must be ratified by Dec. 1, 2007, needs approval from two-thirds of the organization's 148 members to become permanent (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 12/7). Thomas said it is "inevitable" that HIV/AIDS patients will develop resistance to first-line antiretrovirals, which are now available at reduced prices. He added that newer, second-line antiretrovirals can cost more than 10 times as much as first-line drugs. The U.K. will promote the idea of "differential pricing for developing countries so that it is the norm for essential medicines to be cheaper in these countries," Thomas said (Guardian, 12/14).
WHO Adds Seven Antiretrovirals To List Of Prequalified HIV Drugs - Medical News Today 16/12/05
The World Health Organization on Wednesday added seven more drugs -- six produced by India's Aurobindo Pharma and one by South Africa's Aspen Pharmacare -- to its list of prequalified antiretroviral drugs, Reuters/Independent Online reports (Reuters/Independent Online, 12/14). All seven drugs have received approval or tentative approval from FDA, which assesses drugs in a similar way to WHO (Xinhua/People's Daily, 12/14). FDA in August agreed to begin sharing confidential information on its approvals of generic antiretroviral drugs with WHO in an effort to accelerate the distribution of low-cost medications worldwide (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 8/15). There are now 77 HIV/AIDS-related drugs that WHO recommends for use in developing countries (Reuters/Independent Online, 12/14). The addition of the FDA-approved drugs "adds value to the process by providing a wider selection of products of assured quality into a single comprehensive list," according to WHO (WHO release, 12/14).
Oral Contraceptives With Estrogen Do Not Worsen Symptoms Of Lupus, Two Studies Say - Medical News Today 16/12/05
Taking oral contraceptives with estrogen does not exacerbate lupus symptoms in women living with the disease, according to two studies published in the Dec. 15 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, the Wall Street Journal reports. Physicians have "long refrained" from prescribing birth control pills with estrogen to lupus patients because of previous studies that showed human patients and mice who took hormonal contraceptives had more "episodes of symptoms worsening" or "flares" of the disease, according to the Journal (Pagan Westphal, Wall Street Journal, 12/15). However, the previous human trial used oral contraceptives containing more estrogen than the contraceptive pills used today, according to Michelle Petri, director of the Lupus Center at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Petri and colleagues in their study examined women living with lupus at 14 sites in the U.S., randomly assigning 91 women to take estrogen-progestin oral contraceptives and 92 women to take a placebo. After one year of taking the pills, seven women in each group experienced a "severe lupus flare-up," and both groups had an average of about 1.4 mild or moderate flare-ups of lupus symptoms each year, the AP/Philadelphia Inquirer reports (Johnson, AP/Philadelphia Inquirer, 12/15). Each woman participating in the study also agreed to use an additional form of birth control throughout the study, and women who became pregnant were instructed to stop taking the study drug (Petri et al., NEJM, 12/15). In the other study, Jorge Sanchez-Guerrero of the Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Medicas y Nutricion Salvador Zubiran in Mexico City and colleagues from the institute and the World Health Organization administered to 162 women living with lupus either oral contraceptives containing estrogen, nonestrogen oral contraceptives or intrauterine devices. The study found that "there were no significant differences among the groups during the trial in global or maximum disease activity, incidence or probability of flares or medication use" (Sanchez-Guerrero et al., NEJM, 12/15). After one year, women in all three groups had similar "disease severity scores," the Journal reports (Wall Street Journal, 12/15). Reaction
1 comments:
My name is Jon Star and i would like to show you my personal experience with Nexium.
I am 34 years old. Great medicine. I only hope that I don't become dependant on it. But as my esphogus heals then maybe I'll be able to take an OTC PPI if my symtoms re-occur and I catch them ASAP! Can't wait for a generic. BLUE CROSS of MA won't pay for Nexium unless I start on generic Prilosec, then Protonix, then if both of those failed, they would pay for Nexium. I hate BLUE CROSS! My Dr. was great in giving me 7 weeks of samples when he heard this and Aztra-Zeneca gave me a 7-day coupon I re-deemed at my local pharmacy(with a written 7-day script from my Dr.)
No major side effect. Sometimes a feeling of indigestion/bloated, possibly due to low or no stomach acid as a result of a PPI. So, I am sure to chew my food well and not to eat large portions. I have introduced foods/drinks back into my diet, that before taking Nexium would otherwise bring-on reflux symtoms. Fruit juices and citric acid containing drinks still are bothersome. But, I've eaten Pizza, and am able to drink coffee/tea, both decaf(not to excess though.) A little at a time. I do not drink any alcohol! I still limit any food intake 3 hours before bedtime and try to sleep on my left side. Nexium has given me the greatest relief as compared to all OTC H2 and OTC PPI's. I'm on week 5 of an 8 week treatment.
I hope this information will be useful to others,
Jon Star
Post a Comment