National and International News
Swimming pools should be a policy battleground - The Guardian 02/01/06
If the government wants to persuade us that it understands quality-of-life issues, then sport is a good place to start
Watchdog to reveal death rates of individual heart surgeons - The Guardian 02/01/06
The health inspectorate plans to publish information about the death rates of individual heart surgeons in April, a year after a Guardian inquiry cast doubt on the reliability of some data collected by hospitals.
Counting the real costs of private finance in healthcare - The Guardian 02/01/06
The most recent headline costing for the PFI-funded Barts and Royal London hospital project is not 1bn, as stated in the Guardian (Report, December 28), but 1.89bn (full business case, June 2005), requiring annual (index-linked) payments totalling 115m, 67m of which would be rent for the PFI buildings. These payments over 35-40 years would amount to 5bn - more if inflation increases.
Stem cell breakthrough raises hope of new treatments - The Guardian 02/01/06
Scientists have created human stem cell cultures without using any animal cells for the first time. The breakthrough will bring possible treatments for diseases such as diabetes, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's a step closer.
Wisconsin Scientists Grow Two New Stem Cell Lines In Animal Cell-free Culture - Medical News Today 02/01/06
Cameron drops pledge on private operation costs for NHS patients - The Guardian 02/01/06
David Cameron, the Conservative leader, has ditched the party's commitment to subsidising the better-off by scrapping the promise to pay half the cost of private operations for those waiting for an NHS bed.
Cameron breaks with Thatcherite past in about-turn over health policy - The Times 02/01/06
Tories must offer real reform, not platitudes - The Telegraph 02/01/06
Cameron ditches health policy in high-risk manifesto - The Telegraph 01/01/06
Patients now have wider choice of hospital - The Guardian 02/01/06
Patients will from today have a choice of free treatment in up to four hospitals - including one in the private sector - in a change that the government hails as one of the most fundamental reforms since the NHS was created nearly 60 years ago.
NHS choice will spark advertising war - The Independent 02/01/06
Waiting times and cleanliness are key - The Times 02/01/06
Patients get choice of four hospitals for the first time - The Telegraph 02/01/06
Patients offered choice in health shake-up - Daily Mail 02/12/05
Many 'unaware' of new NHS choice - BBC Health News 02/01/06
Top surgeon: NHS reforms are Stalinist - The Observer 01/01/06
Patients get four-hospital choice - BBC Health News 01/01/05
My baby was stillborn. But was she really too tiny to live? - The Observer 01/01/06
A rollercoaster of shock and despair struck Charlotte Bevan as her child died minutes after the birth. The tragedy is unexplained ... but that must not mean it remains ignored
Dr John Briffa: Appetite for change - The Observer 01/01/06
In four years of fatty fads and scare stories, Dr John Briffa has taken every opportunity to take a bite out of dietary orthodoxy. But here, in his final column, he reveals the one basic rule of healthy eating
Insurers pile pounds on the overweight - The Observer 01/01/06
A new formula has pushed up premiums for fatter people, writes Lisa Bachelor
Obesity group founder quits in row over drug firms' cash - The Observer 01/01/06
Britain's leading anti-obesity campaigner has quit the pioneering organisation he founded, claiming it has become too dependent on drug company funding.
Neasa MacErlean: Extra 13.35 will mean survival of the unfittest - The Observer 01/01/06
To save money and improve your quality of life, keep healthy. It seems obvious but, actually, many people neglect their health. One in five people over the age of 65 cannot walk 200 metres without discomfort or stopping, according to a report by Age Concern
Doctor cleared of killing patients upsets relatives - The Guardian 31/12/05
The GP who was suspended after a jury cleared him of murdering three patients with morphine overdoses says he is "appalled" that he can no longer work.
Unmarried and same-sex couples get right to adopt - The Guardian 31/12/05
Unmarried and same-sex couples are allowed to adopt together under a new law that came into force yesterday. The Adoption and Children Act became law three years after it was passed by parliament.
Adoption laws 'recognise the reality' of modern family life -The Times 31/12/05
Three young boys glad to have found a loving home -The Times 31/12/05
Gay and lesbian couples given adoption rights - The Telegraph 31/12/05
NHS waiting figures fall closer to treatment target - The Guardian 31/12/05
The health minister Lord Warner yesterday claimed the government was on course to meet its target of no patient in England waiting over six months for hospital treatment.
A family affair - The Guardian 31/12/05
Peter Stratton, a family therapist for 25 years, is the first to admit that he is no Supernanny - with him, there's no advice, no naughty step, and definitely no quick fixes. But he gets results
Alexander Chancellor: Fatty new year - The Guardian 31/12/05
I have never much enjoyed New Year's Eve. My dislike of it started when I was a little boy staying for the holidays with my grandparents in Lanarkshire and was permitted as a special treat to see in the new year in Biggar, the nearest town. It was hardly a treat, though I naturally never told them that. Biggar was a genteel place compared with many Scottish towns, but it nevertheless succumbed to the bacchanalia with which Scots like to forget their winter sorrows. I was much frightened by the scenes of drunkenness.
Blair ushers in new year of 'critical decisions' - The Guardian 31/12/05
Tony Blair today delivers an uncompromising new year message describing 2006 as a year in which the correct critical decisions will have to be taken across public services, pensions, energy and his personal respect agenda.
What is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life? - The Guardian 31/12/05
Escaping the rat race, living a life of leisure or making a new start. Who hasn't dreamed of giving it all up for something better - but how many of us actually get around to doing it? Four families tell us how they made their dreams a reality
Paramedic to the planet - The Guardian 31/12/05
James Lovelock revolutionised environmentalism with Gaia, but upset Greens by supporting nuclear power. As for climate change, he believes disaster is inevitable but useful
2005: The year in food - The Guardian 31/12/05
Is any part of our lives safe from food attack these days? However little people may cook, food and drink have entered popular consciousness and are central to our present obsessions: there's food as health, food as politics, food as celebrity and food as business.
The jobless doctors from overseas who live in poverty - The Independent 02/10/06
Standing in the courtyard of the Sri Mahalakshmi Hindu temple in east London, a dozen jobless doctors are eating dhal, rice and potatoes off paper plates.
Be Healthier: Now... breathe in deeply - The Independent 01/10/06
Your body doesn't have to be a temple. But you could probably look after it a bit better. Tips by Peta Bee
Diet? Not when a gastric balloon will get weight off faster - The Independent 01/01/06
Radical ways to fight obesity are on the increase, as more people choose surgery instead of eating less
Rise in youth prison suicide - The Times 02/01/06
THE number of prisoners who killed themselves in jail last year fell by 18 per cent, but the figures for 2005 also show that deaths in prison among young people aged between 15 and 21 rose from six in 2004 to 12 last year, according to Home Office figures.
Cardinal attacks 'gay marriage' and easy divorce - The Times 02/01/06
The head of the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland yesterday attacked "gay weddings" and "quickie" divorces.
Cardinal in attack on 'gay weddings' - The Telegraph 02/01/06
Smokers huff and puff at ban on lighting up in public places - The Times 02/01/06
JESUS DE LA HERMOSA drew on his cigarette as the clock approached midnight, like a man about to go before a firing squad.
Spain's new law sends shivering smokers onto street - Reuters 01/01/06
Letters to the Editor - The Times 02/01/06
Public health campaigners have good reasons to be concerned about smoking in films and in the theatre (report, Dec 24). Smoking in films declined in frequency between the 1950s and early 1980s, reflecting the decline in smoking in society. Since then, the frequency of smoking scenes has returned to 1950s levels, although now, rather than featuring anonymous cigarettes, specific brands are clearly portrayed.
Letters to the Editor - The Times 02/01/06
I sometimes wonder if there is a more selfish group in our society than the young parents constantly whinging about nursery schools. Not only do they want somebody else to take over their parental responsibilities, they now want them to have university degrees, subsidised at 10,000 a time (report, Dec 30).
Letters to the Editor - The Times 02/01/06
The complaint by the Crown Prosecution Service (report, Dec 30) that drivers are not being punished for warning other drivers of an impending speed trap seems to contradict the avowed purpose of speed cameras and other devices which is to reduce speeds on the roads. Surely warnings between motorists will help to achieve this.
How do I reduce hypertension? - The Times 02/01/06
Changes to your diet and lifestyle can bring down blood pressure I’ve suffered from hypertension for several years and am taking ACE inhibitors. I’m about a stone or so overweight, but don’t smoke, and also exercise two to three times a week. I’m 34 and I feel I shouldn’t be suffering from high blood pressure at such a young age, although there is a history of it in my family. I would prefer a nutritional solution rather than a life of drugs. I probably consume around 25-30 units of alcohol a week (I know!) but try to eat as much much fresh food as possible and rarely add salt. Ideally I’d like to get down to at least 11½st (73kg) and reduce my blood pressure significantly.
Keep taking the didgeridoos - The Times 02/01/06
Wind instruments can help with both asthma and snoring
Urban worrier - The Times 02/01/06
I keep forgetting to go for my medical. Every two years the company’s health insurer offers this as a service and I was supposed to go a few months ago. Then I had to travel somewhere and cancelled and somehow I haven’t got round to booking a new appointment. This is simply a case of the task slipping my mind. Don’t be silly, of course I’m not avoiding the examination in case the doctor finds something terrifying. Blokes don’t behave like that.
Pill can leave a libido hangover - The Sunday Times 01/01/06
WOMEN who use oral contraceptives could suffer a long-term loss of sex drive after coming off the pill, according to new research.
HSE ‘pressure’ on hospital to withhold cancer drugs - The Sunday Times 01/01/06
ONE of Ireland’s leading hospitals says health authorities have suggested it withhold breakthrough cancer drugs from patients because of concerns over their cost.
'Dr Botch' is sued over face-lift death - The Sunday Times 01/01/06
THE family of an Irishwoman who died after a face-lift operation in New York last year has filed a legal suit against the plastic surgeon who carried it out.
Cancer survivors' hopes for children dashed by red tape -The Times 31/12/05
YOUNG British women with cancer are missing out on a chance to preserve their fertility because of European Union bureaucracy, according to senior doctors.
Fury grows over firm's failure to withdraw deadly pacemakers - The Telegraph 01/01/06
There is growing outrage that British heart patients were given pacemakers with a potentially deadly defect, long after the manufacturer became aware of the problem.
Smoking ban could extend to parks and school entrances - The Telegraph 02/01/06
The ban on smoking in enclosed public places in Scotland could be extended outdoors to cover parks, play areas and school entrances.
Scotland extends smoking ban to the great outdoors - The Sunday Times 01/01/06
'I still hope I might have my own child' -The Times 31/12/05
DEBBIE HOWELLS was 26 when ovarian cancer was diagnosed, requiring treatment that was guaranteed to leave her infertile: the removal of both ovaries and a hysterectomy.
Letters to the Editor -The Times 31/12/05
Having been brought up on a dairy farm with a diet including much fresh milk I can testify to Peter Elwood’s assertion (letter, Dec 28) that milk is not fattening and leads to strong bones.
What's in store -The Times 31/12/05
Neurodiversity, the NHS and nappies: Body&Soul peers into its big crystal ball and predicts the hottest health trends for 2006
Illness: the pathway to creative genius? -The Times 31/12/05
Disease, rather than being a barrier to greatness, may be its wellspring
Dr Copperfield: inside the mind of a GP -The Times 31/12/05
Like second marriages, new year’s resolutions are a triumph of hope over experience. Every year my patients make them, feel good about themselves for a while and then break them, plunging into the depths of despair. In fact, most of the so-called “healthy” resolutions are anything but. In the nick of time, here are Copperfield’s cop-outs — the top five new year ’s resolutions that you really need not bother with:
Where are my socks, dear? -The Times 31/12/05
Super-gran Jane Fearnley-Whittingstall on the helpless husband
Ah, those innocent days full of magic -The Times 31/12/05
Even though they would rather die than admit it Julie Myerson discovers that the festive season still holds certain charms for her teenage children
Change one thing: time to take control -The Times 31/12/05
Always up against the clock? This extract from The Mind Gym tells you how to get time on your side
On track to be a better you -The Times 31/12/05
Most of us vow to be healthier in the coming year — but few of us keep our resolutions. Now, help is at hand
Quiz: how motivated are you? -The Times 31/12/05
Phillip Hodson asks the questions that determine your drive to succeed
Viva la resolution! -The Times 31/12/05
Psychologists say that you should tell your friends and family about your new year’s resolutions because the fear of public failure can be a spur to success. But what about going one step further and sharing your resolutions with the readers of a newspaper? With the help of Boots Change One Thing experts, we asked four guinea pigs to do just that. And you can follow their pain, gain or shame over the next five weeks . . .
Jonny Wilkinson: every day is January 1 for me -The Times 31/12/05
Jonny Wilkinson wants to teach us ordinary mortals a thing or two about self-discipline. John Naish meets the rugby messiah
Looking for help? Just pop into a chat room -The Times 31/12/05
Jonathan Richards visits the world of cyber helpers
Spa: a splash of gay glamour -The Times 31/12/05
Homo away from home: Damian Barr tries one of the world’s first gay-only spas in Palm Springs
Sex matters with Dr Thomas Stuttaford and Suzi Godson -The Times 31/12/05
After a drunken party, my girlfriend told me that she found my feet a turn-on. I find this disturbing. Is there any way of diverting her attention further north?
Sorted: bathroom scales -The Times 31/12/05
These monitors measure body fat as well as your weight, but are they a little heavy going?
Bodylicious: hangover cures -The Times 31/12/05
If you celebrate the new year tonight, there is a good chance that you could be nursing a hangover tomorrow. Dr Keith Hopcroft picks the best products to pick you up.
Lunchtime fix: the power-plate workout -The Times 31/12/05
“The reason I never make it to the gym is because my hectic life doesn’t leave time for exercise, what with the demands of work . . . ” Sound familiar? Well, it’s no longer valid because the Power-Plate promises all the benefits of regular exercise in just ten minutes.
Foody friends who tried the e-diet -The Times 31/12/05
Gilly Smith and friends discovered that the daily updates of an e-mail diet support group were a great way to stay out of the biscuit tin
Gabby Logan's ten-minute toner: stomach -The Times 31/12/05
Put on a few pounds at Christmas? It’s time to fight the battle of the bulge Haven’t got time for the gym? In part three of her series, Gabby demonstrates three exercises that tackle a specific part of your body and that can be done together in just ten minutes. After eight months you will have a set of exercises that you can pick’n’mix to devise your own personal routine.
Not just anybody: Lloyd Scott -The Times 31/12/05
Lloyd Scott, 44, will go to any lengths, and depths, for a leukaemia charity — so far he’s raised 4m
Now science allows us all an extra 7lb of fat - at no extra risk - The Telegraph 02/01/06
For all those waking up today determined to shed some excess pounds this year, here is the good news: you are not as overweight as you thought.
Harp music 'eases pain in surgery' - The Telegraph 02/01/06
Hospitals are using harpists to calm patients on the operating table after research found that the instrument eased pain.
How to keep healthy in 2006 - The Telegraph 02/01/06
From 'functional foods' and ways of staving off mental decline, to stress in the workplace and avian flu... Christine Doyle looks at the health innovations that could improve our lives this year, and the threats that still need to be addressed
The fitterati set the tone for 2006 - The Telegraph 02/01/06
Still doing Pilates? It's so over. Now there are much more exciting ways to get fit, says Lucie Hoe
Simplify crime statistics, Mr Clarke - The Telegraph 02/01/06
There was a fascinating confrontation on Radio 4 over Christmas when David Blunkett was guest editor of the Today programme.
Burn, Britain, burn: then blame Vitamin D - The Telegraph 01/01/06
The news descended last week - through the thick, cold blanket of cloud in which our islands are presently enveloped - that the new wonder-substance with which to secure lasting health is vitamin D.
Traffickers face action to curb sex trade - The Telegraph 01/01/06
The Government will this week announce a crackdown on the sex trafficking gangs which bring thousands of young women to Britain and force them into prostitution.
New sandwich diet is a breadwinner - Daily Mail 02/01/06
As far as dieting fads go, it does't sound a bad one - simply eat sandwiches every three hours.
Hewitt slams NHS trust overspend - BBC Health News 02/01/06
The health secretary has criticised an NHS trust which has stopped offering patients the heart treatment procedure which Tony Blair underwent last year.
NHS trust scraps op that cured Blair - The Guardian 02/01/06
Fury as trust cancels Blair heart op - Daily Mail 02/01/06
Turkish boy's death not bird flu - BBC Health News 02/01/06
A 14-year-old Turkish boy who died at the weekend was not killed by bird flu, the country's health ministry says.
Farm boy's death raises fears of human bird flu in Turkey - The Guardian 02/01/06
Turkish 'bird flu test' boy dies - BBC Health News 01/01/06
IVF sperm 'contamination' concern - BBC Health News 02/01/06
Children conceived using a form of IVF could carry bacterial DNA in their chromosomes, scientists have said.
'Diagnosis before symptoms' hope - BBC Health News 02/01/06
Scientists are working on a method to enable doctors to identify disease even before symptoms appear.
Walking aid for stroke patients - BBC Health News 31/12/05
UK researchers are developing a walking frame which could make it easier for people to learn to walk again after a stroke.
Fertility chief is appointed Dame - BBC Health News 31/12/05
The head of the fertility regulator is among a number of health experts recognised in the New Year honours.
HIV boy loses China hospital case - BBC Health News 30/12/05
A nine-year-old Chinese boy has lost his lawsuit against a Beijing hospital and Red Cross blood centre alleged to have infected him with the HIV virus.
High protein diet 'under attack' - BBC Health News 30/12/05
The benefits of high-protein diets have again been questioned.
Nutrition Education And Weight Loss Among Low-Income Mothers - Medical News Today 02/01/06
Weight-management programs, especially for low-income women, need to include strong nutrition education components to "alleviate knowledge inequalities and promote more effective weight control," according to researchers at the University of Texas. In a study of 141 overweight or obese women - recruited from schools, Women, Infants and Children clinics and public health clinics - the researchers found "successful weight loss was associated with greater nutrition knowledge."
Factors Associated With Excess Weight In Adolescents - Medical News Today 02/12/05
Researchers at the University of Rochester reviewed data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to identify patterns that could prevent excess weight in children ages 12 to 16, particularly those with obese parents and those whose parents maintained a healthy weight.
Perception Of Remission From Depression - Patients And Researchers Differ - Medical News Today 02/12/05
A study from Rhode Island Hospital shows that patients and clinical researchers may have different criteria for defining remission from depression. Depressed patients measure remission based on how they feel; researchers analyze the number of depressive symptoms in order to gauge whether patients are better.
Suicide Risk Does Not Increase When Adults Start Using Antidepressants, Study Finds - Medical News Today 02/12/05
The risk of serious suicide attempts or death by suicide generally decreases in the weeks after patients start taking antidepressant medication, according to a new study led by Group Health Cooperative researchers and published in the January issue of The American Journal of Psychiatry. The study also found that the risk of suicidal behavior after starting 10 newer antidepressant medications is less than the risk posed by older medications.
Night Eating Syndrome Among People With Psychiatric Conditions - Medical News Today 02/12/05
According to a study that appears in the January 1 issue of The American Journal of Psychiatry, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and the University of Minnesota found that night eating syndrome is a common disorder among psychiatric outpatients and is associated with substance use and obesity.
Radiotherapy Advance Points Way To Noninvasive Brain Cancer Treatment - Medical News Today 02/01/06
With an equal rate of incidence and mortality-the number of those who get it, and the number of those who die from it-Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) is a brain cancer death sentence.
Lung Cancer Screening Encouraged For Smokers With A Strong Family History Of The Disease - Medical News Today 02/01/06
To detect invasive lung cancer in its early stages, researchers urge current and former smokers who have a strong family history of the disease to take a lung function test and undergo screening with spiral computed tomography. The test is especially important should the previously diagnosed relative be young (around 50).
Cystic Fibrosis Clinical Study Patients Show Less Lung Function Decline - Medical News Today 02/01/06
Although cystic fibrosis patients in clinical trials had more severe illness, worse lung function, a lower weight level and more respiratory infection than non-participants, their involvement in research studies resulted in less lung function decline over a 7-year period.
Talk To Your Children About The Dangers Of Illicit Drugs And Alcohol - Healthy Tips For Your Teens - Medical News Today 02/01/06
Drugs and alcohol are more available to teens than you may be aware. It can be difficult for your child to "just say no" to drugs and alcohol. Young people who don't know the facts about tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs are at greater risk of trying them. Your child may be interested in using drugs as a way to fit in or as a way to deal with the pressures of adolescence.
Encourage Injury Prevention - Healthy Tips For Your Teens - Medical News Today 02/01/06
Talk About Sex - Healthy Tips For Your Teens - Medical News Today 02/01/06
Be Aware Of Your Teen's Mental Health - Healthy Tips For Your Teens - Medical News Today 02/01/06
Know The 4 "W's" - Who, What, When, Where - Healthy Tips For Your Teens - Medical News Today 02/01/06
Teach Your Teen To Say No To Smoking -Healthy Tips For Your Teens - Medical News Today 02/01/06
Preventing Violence - Healthy Tips For Your Teens - Medical News Today 02/01/06
Promotion Of School Success/school Achievement - Healthy Tips For Your Teens - Medical News Today 02/01/06
Take Your Child To The Doctor And Dentist - Healthy Tips For Your Teens - Medical News Today 02/01/06
Teach The Importance Of Healthy Eating And Physical Activity - Healthy Tips For Your Teens - Medical News Today 02/01/06
Promote Safe Driving Habits - Healthy Tips For Your Teens - Medical News Today 02/01/06
Serious Adverse Reactions To Smallpox Vaccine Appear To Be Limited - Medical News Today 02/01/06
There was a low rate of life-threatening adverse reactions to the smallpox vaccine administered to potential first responders to a bioterrorism incident, possibly attributable to rigorous vaccine safety screening and educational programs, according to a study in the December 7 issue of JAMA.
Choosing The Best Kidney For Transplantation - Medical News Today 02/01/06
Organ transplantation is subject to the law of supply and demand - in which demand for organs far outweighs supply from both living and deceased donors.
Preparing To Protect Premature Infants Against Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) - Medical News Today 02/01/06
During virus season premature babies are at a higher risk of developing RSV. In New York, there are more than 18,000 premature births each year. As these numbers continue to rise, safeguarding preemies' lung health during virus season becomes crucial.
Solution For Newborns With “Small Jaw Syndrome” Superior To Traditional Therapy - Medical News Today 02/01/06
When Kieli Rauert was born last April she couldn't breathe or eat like other babies. Kieli is one of nearly 8,000 American infants born each year with a birth defect called Pierre Robin Syndrome.
Bipolar Disorder And The Miami Airport Incident - Medical News Today 02/01/06
The tragic shooting of Rigoberto Alpizar at the Miami International Airport by U.S. Marshals who thought he had a bomb offers an opportunity to discuss bipolar disorder and the need for law enforcement officials to understand mental illness.
STAR*D, A Landmark Depression Study Releases Results - Medical News Today 02/01/06
The results of the “Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression” (STAR*D) study are being released in the January 2006 edition of the American Journal Of Psychiatry (AJP), a monthly psychiatric journal of the American Psychiatric Association (APA).
FDA Warning On Antidepressants Challenged By Long-Term, Population-Based “Suicide Risk During Antidepressant Treatment” Study - Medical News Today 02/01/06
A 10-year population-based study in the January 2006 edition of the AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY (AJP), a monthly psychiatric journal of the American Psychiatric Association (APA), challenges the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warning that that suicidal behavior may emerge after treatment is begun with antidepressant medications.
FDA Approves Astellas' Vaprisol® For Treatment Of Euvolemic Hyponatremia - Medical News Today 02/01/06
Astellas Pharma US, Inc announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved VAPRISOL® (investigational name: YM087, generic name: conivaptan hydrochloride injection), an arginine vasopressin (AVP) antagonist for the intravenous treatment of euvolemic hyponatremia in hospitalized patients. VAPRISOL, discovered and developed by Astellas, is the first drug specifically indicated for the treatment of euvolemic hyponatremia, a potentially life-threatening condition that occurs when the body's blood sodium level falls significantly below normal. The FDA also issued an approvable letter for VAPRISOL as a treatment for hypervolemic hyponatremia. Astellas plans on working closely with the FDA to obtain an approval for VAPRISOL's use in patients with hypervolemic hyponatremia.
New Sleeping Pills Are Effective, But None Stands Out As The Best - Medical News Today 01/01/06
The spate of new sleeping pills on the market are effective treatments for insomnia, but they have different effects and no one drug stands out as the best, according to a new review of studies on drugs including Sonata, Ambien and Lunesta.
Sleep Apnea, Blood Pressure Linked - Medical News Today 01/01/06
Full-night sleep studies and echocardiography may need to be incorporated into routine assessments of patients with difficult-to-treat high blood pressure, suggests UAB researcher Monique Pratt-Ubunama, M.D.
Deal With Overly Protruding Ears - Medical News Today 01/01/06
Children born with overly protruding ears should have them corrected after age five, when the ears reach full size, as the condition can adversely affect self-image.
Strategy For Treatment Of Krabbe's Disease, A Fatal Nervous System Disorder - Medical News Today 01/01/06
Working with mice, University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers have developed the basis for a therapeutic strategy that could provide hope for children afflicted with Krabbe's disease, a fatal nervous system disorder.
Caregivers Of Patients In Institutions Report Higher Depession Than Patients Living At Home - Medical News Today 01/01/06
A new study shows that caregivers of patients residing in institutions suffer from depression more than caregivers of patients residing at home. Researchers from Case Western University, Cleveland, OH, followed 211 caregivers of patients who received more than three days of mechanical ventilation.
Shorter ICU Shifts Do Not Compromise Patient Care Continuity - Medical News Today 01/01/06
Shorter work shifts for hospital fellows and resident physicians do not compromise continuity of patient care, shows a new study.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids Can Improve Lung Function - Medical News Today 01/01/06
A diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as those found in fish, canola oil, and walnuts, can have anti-inflammatory effects and improve the exercise capacity for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Cancer Patients Benefit From One-hour Art Sessions - Northwestern Memorial Hospital - Medical News Today 01/01/06
A study published today in the JOURNAL OF PAIN AND SYMPTOM MANAGEMENT found that art therapy can reduce a broad spectrum of symptoms related to pain and anxiety in cancer patients. In the study done at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, cancer patients reported significant reductions in eight of nine symptoms measured by the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) after spending an hour working on art projects of their choice.
Scythe Balances Life And Death During Development Of Mammalian Embryo - Medical News Today 01/01/06
A protein called Scythe determines which cells live and which die during the growth and development of the mammalian embryo, according to investigators at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
Computer Use Does Not Cause Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - Medical News Today 01/01/06
A new Special Health Report from Harvard Medical School refutes the common assumption that computer use causes carpal tunnel syndrome. Instead, says this report edited by Harvard-based hand experts, carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by the compression of the median nerve in the wrist. This compression may occur because of heredity, body weight, fracture, or even pregnancy-but not computer use.
Potential Cause Of Breathing Problems For Rett Syndrome Found - Medical News Today 01/01/06
A multi-institutional team, led by University of Chicago researchers, has taken a crucial step toward understanding and treating Rett syndrome (RS), a rare and often-misdiagnosed neurodevelopmental disorder that affects 1 in 10,000 children, mostly females.
Opportunity In Image Analysis - Medical News Today 01/01/06
Fundamentally, objects within digitised images have a dimension that is greater then one so each point of the object has a position in space (and possibly time) that is different from all other points and an associated direction. In general the possible directions will correspond to a circle, sphere or hypersphere of the appropriate dimension.
You Don't Have To Put On Weight At End Of Year Festivities - Medical News Today 01/01/06
Despite the sudden appearance of sugar cookies, calorie-laden buffet dinners, eggnog lattés and other rich seasonal fare, Christmas and other end-of-the-year festivities do not have to mean inevitable weight gain for those watching their waistlines.
Healthy Holiday Eating - Medical News Today 01/01/06
Check Your Neck - January Is Thyroid Awareness Month - Medical News Today 01/01/06
Over 27 million Americans have overactive or underactive thyroid glands, but more than half remain undiagnosed. To recognize Thyroid Awareness Month 2006 in January, the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE), in cooperation with the American Thyroid Association (ATA), will highlight the importance of the TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) and Free T4 tests, simple blood tests that measures the appropriateness of the thyroid gland's hormone production. It is very important for patients with thyroid imbalance to know their TSH and Free T4 numbers. The optimal TSH range is 0.3 to 3.0 mIU/L. Patients should talk to their doctors about their Free T4 numbers since laboratory ranges can vary.
Erythropoietin Holds Promise In The Treatment Of Spinal Cord Injury - Medical News Today 01/01/06
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a two-step process. The primary injury is mechanical, resulting from impact, compression or some other insult to the spinal column. The secondary injury is biochemical, as cellular reactions cause tissue destruction. By interrupting this second process, it may be possible to speed healing and minimize permanent effects.
Feeling Blue? Don't Let The Season Get You Down - Medical News Today 01/01/06
Dr. Richard Brown, M.D., associate clinical professor of psychiatry at Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons and co-author of "Stop Depression Now," can suggest mood-boosting tips for the cold, dreary holiday season: "By engaging in physical activity such as yoga, avoiding unhealthy eating habits, and trying a natural supplement to lift low mood, one can maintain their spirits through the tough winter holiday season with a holistic approach."
Simman, Simbaby Enhance Nursing Education - Medical News Today 01/01/06
"Lifelike artificial humans are helping nursing students learn how to treat patients. SimMan and SimBaby are high-fidelity simulators with rubbery skin, pulse points, chests that swell with each breath and replaceable skin that allow students to practice IVs. During classroom scenarios, nursing students learn how to monitor SimMan and SimBaby, who will continually get worse and die if they receive no treatment. The devices allow the students to see firsthand the satisfaction of making right decisions and the consequences of making wrong ones."
Hospitals - Communication Plays A Crucial Role In Patient Safety- Medical News Today 31/12/05
Richard Fitzpatrick, CEO of The Language Access Network: "There are nearly 28,600 preventable deaths each year in U.S. health care facilities directly correlated to a lack of proper communication between patient and caregivers, and that issue increases as 18 percent of the U.S. population speaks a language other than English at home and 11 million Americans don't speak English at all. The need for a better, more effective system of communication in our health facilities has become critical. Communication plays a critical role, both in patient comfort and in patient safety. But it is not efficient for hospitals to have hundreds of interpreters on staff."
Is It A Skin Allergy Or Eczema? - Medical News Today 31/12/05
"Is it a skin allergy or eczema? Patch testing can tell the difference. The cause of a skin rash (dermatitis) can be tough to figure out -- even for dermatologists. Patch testing of the skin can tell us if a rash is being caused or exacerbated by an allergy, and can help us to distinguish a skin allergy from other skin conditions, such as eczema, irritant dermatitis or psoriasis."
Combating Obesity - Medical News Today 31/12/05
JOSEPH A. SKELTON, M.D., program director of the NEW Kids Program at CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF WISCONSIN, which is an innovative, multidisciplinary program for managing complications of childhood obesity: "We are seeing great success in treating overweight children and adolescents by focusing on the family, not just the child. I blame the toxic environment in which American children are immersed -- busy lifestyles and aggressive marketing of food products with little or no nutritional value -- as contributing to the obesity epidemic."
Face Transplants - Medical News Today 31/12/05
Doctors in France have performed the world's first partial face transplant, grafting a nose, lips and chin onto a 38-year-old woman disfigured by a dog bite. Following are experts who can discuss the medical and ethical implications of face transplants
IPod's Popular Earbuds: Hip Or Harmful? Turn ‘Em Down And Turn ‘Em Off, Says Expert - Medical News Today 31/12/05
Turn ‘em down and turn ‘em off. That's the advice of Dean Garstecki, a Northwestern University audiologist and professor, when it comes to using those ever-present earbuds favored by iPod and MP3 music listeners everywhere.
Building Bone Tissue - An Engineer, A Dentist And A Veterinarian - Medical News Today 31/12/05
Oral and pharyngeal cancers rank among the most prevalent worldwide, although they account for only about three percent of all cancers in the United States. Unfortunately, most oral cancers are detected at advanced stages when combinations of surgery and radiation are required, and the most recent studies show the five-year survival rate of 53 percent has not changed in the past 30 years.
Gene Variation Affects Tamoxifen's Benefit For Breast Cancer - Medical News Today 31/12/05
One of the most commonly prescribed drugs for breast cancer, tamoxifen, may not be as effective for women who inherit a common genetic variation, according to researchers at the University of Michigan and the Mayo Clinic. The genetic variation affects the level of a crucial enzyme that activates tamoxifen to fight breast cancer.
Bare Metal Stents Deliver Gene Therapy To Animal Heart Vessels - Medical News Today 31/12/05
Improved materials may allow stents, tiny metal scaffolds inserted into blood vessels, to better deliver beneficial genes to patients with heart disease, by reducing the risk of inflammation that often negates initial benefits. The new technique, using a compound that binds in an extremely thin layer to bare metal surfaces, may have potential uses in other areas of medicine that make use of metallic implants.
Grief And The Christmas Holidays - Medical News Today 31/12/05
The Christmas holidays are supposed to be a joyous time. But the first holiday season following the death of a loved one can be a time of great emotional stress and pain.
New Findings About Birth Defects - The Role Of Cilia - Medical News Today 31/12/05
New findings presented this past week by UAB researchers at the Cell Biology Conference in San Francisco challenge a widely held belief among scientists that cilia - small hair-like projections on the surface of cells - serve no purpose.
Progress Made In Rebuilding Indonesia's Health Care System After The Tsunami - Medical News Today 31/12/05
On December 26, 2004, a pregnant woman clung to a mango tree as a tsunami devastated Aceh, Indonesia, and took the lives of her husband and four children along with the lives of over 100,000 others. Less than 12 hours later, trained midwife Bidan Mutia delivered the woman's healthy baby in the only shelter available, a closet. Bidan Mutia, mother and child all survived to tell their story to Dr. Leslie Mancuso, president and CEO of JHPIEGO, during her visit in Indonesia less than a month after the tragedy.
Abortion - Breast Cancer Link Is Real, Recent Studies Flawed - Medical News Today 31/12/05
Joel Brind, Professor of Biology at Baruch College, disputes the prevailing view that no link exists between induced abortion and breast cancer. In this “critical review of recent studies,” Brind finds flawed methodologies marred the findings of data collected from China, France, Scotland, Sweden and elsewhere.
Poor Fitness Associated With Increase In Prevalence Of Cardiovascular Disease - Medical News Today 31/12/05
Approximately one-third of adolescents and 14 percent of adults (aged 20 to 49 years) in the U.S. have poor cardiorespiratory fitness, with an associated increased prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk factors such as higher total cholesterol and blood pressure levels, according to a study in the December 21 issue of JAMA.
Asthma And Obesity Genetic Link Found - Medical News Today 31/12/05
A study about the relationship between asthma and obesity, which uses a community-based twin registry from the University of Washington in Seattle, has found a strong genetic link between the two disorders, according to findings published in the December issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
China Confirms Additional Human Bird Flu Infection H5N1 - Medical News Today 31/12/05
Chinese authorities have confirmed that a woman, 41, died of bird flu infection (H5N1 strain) on December 21. She was from Fujian, South East China. On December 6th she developed a fever and pneumonia and was taken to hospital on December 8th.
‘Epigenetic' Changes Come Before Mutations In Cancer - Medical News Today 31/12/05
A Johns Hopkins researcher, with colleagues in Sweden and at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, suggests that the traditional view of cancer as a group of diseases with markedly different biological properties arising from a series of alterations within a cell's nuclear DNA may have to give way to a more complicated view. In the January issue of Nature Reviews Genetics, available online Dec. 21, he and his colleagues suggest that cancers instead begin with "epigenetic" alterations to stem cells.
Kidney Cancer Patients Unlikely To Respond To Potential Treatment Drug - Medical News Today 31/12/05
Mayo Clinic Cancer Center investigators report that imatinib mesylate (GleevecTM), the drug used to treat patients with gastrointestinal stromal cancers (GISTs), is not likely to be effective for patients with high grade renal cell carcinoma - the most aggressive kidney cancer. Results of the study are published in the January issue of The Journal of Urology.
Cleaning Out Your Medicine Cabinet Is A Good Idea - Medical News Today 31/12/05
Resolving to clean out your medicine cabinet this year is a good idea. Hanging onto unused medications can increase the chances of taking the wrong one, and old drugs can lose their potency, reports the Harvard Heart Letter. But have you ever thought about where the medicine will end up? Scientists are finding everything from aspirin to Zoloft in our streams, rivers, and lakes.
Client-Centered Therapy Under The Microscope - Medical News Today 31/12/05
Sixty years ago, psychologist Carl Rogers introduced a new approach to psychotherapy that ran contrary to the theories dominant at the time. His method, client-centered therapy, still offers a contrast to most approaches to therapy today, says the January issue of the Harvard Mental Health Letter.
One-Year Registry Data For Uterine Fibroid Embolization - Medical News Today 31/12/05
One-year data from the largest, multi-center, prospective voluntary registry on any procedure for benign uterine fibroids showed that over 85 percent of women had significant improvement in symptoms, with 82 percent satisfied with their level of improvement.
NHS Reform Delivers Shortest Ever Waits, UK - Medical News Today 31/12/05
Six month maximum wait target will be met: Lord Warner.
Top Five Women's Health And Research Stories Of 2005 - Medical News Today 31/12/05
The Society for Women's Health Research announced today the top five women's health stories of 2005, as selected by its scientific programs staff. From groundbreaking research on the X chromosome to regulatory decisions affecting health, the list highlights major trends and developments in research and health.
Physicians With Diabetic Patients Should Aim For Lower Blood Glucose Levels Than Current Guidelines Suggest - Medical News Today 31/12/05
A Pennington Biomedical Research Center researcher and diabetes expert believes that physicians with diabetic patients should aim for much lower levels of blood glucose than current guidelines suggest. He believes the current recommendations for blood-sugar levels are not low enough to avoid a major complication of diabetes: heart disease.
A Little Telomerase Isn't Enough - Medical News Today 31/12/05
With seed money from Johns Hopkins Institute of Cell Engineering, a Johns Hopkins geneticist and her team have discovered a critical link between the health of stem cells and the length of the chromosome ends within them.
Take Steps Now To Prevent High Blood Pressure - Medical News Today 31/12/05
Normal blood pressure now doesn't mean you won't have a problem later.
Tips On Consuming Fizzy Drinks To Minimize Tooth Decay - If You Can't Pass Them Up - Medical News Today 31/12/05
Drinking soda is bad for your teeth. Soft drinks can eat away the protective enamel on your teeth, causing tooth decay.
How Can Elders Can Maintain A Sense Of Independence - Medical News Today 31/12/05
Most elders value independence and quality of life more than longevity, says Paul Takahashi, M.D., a Mayo Clinic geriatrician. In the December issue of Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource, he offers perspective on how elders can maintain a sense of independence.
Helping Wounds Heal, Some Tips From Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource - Medical News Today 30/12/05
A slip with a kitchen knife, a spill off a bike or a fall on the sidewalk. It's not uncommon to have a mishap that breaks the skin. When a wound occurs, your body quickly begins regeneration and repair. You can facilitate healing with proper home care.
Gene Linked To Parkinson's Disease Can Keep Brain Cells Alive - Medical News Today 30/12/05
Researchers at the University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center's School of Medicine have uncovered how a gene linked to Parkinson's disease can keep brain cells alive. The results suggest the possibility for new drugs that might regulate the gene and protect Parkinson's patients from further cell damage. The findings will be published in the Dec. 30 issue of the Journal of Biological Chemistry.
Vertebroplasty Improves Back Pain, Activity Level, Mayo Clinic Study Reports - Medical News Today 30/12/05
A Mayo Clinic study has found patients report less back pain at rest and while active following vertebroplasty, a procedure in which medical cement is injected into painful compression fractures in the spinal vertebrae due to osteoporosis. Patients also reported improved function in their daily activities, such as walking, housework and getting dressed. The findings are published in the November/December issue of American Journal of Neuroradiology, www.ajnr.org.
MDCT Angiography For Cardiac Imaging: Reliable Tool, Less Invasive, Fewer Complications - Medical News Today 30/12/05
A new procedure for the imaging of coronary veins proves to be "less invasive, have less complications, and improves the quality of diagnosis and treatment " for individuals undergoing surgical procedures on the heart and particularly the coronary veins, a recent study found.
Bullying In Middle School May Lead To Increased Substance Abuse In High School - Medical News Today 30/12/05
Over the past decade, parents, educators and policy makers have become increasingly concerned about verbal and physical harassment in schools and the subsequent effects of peer victimization on teens. A recent study by Julie C. Rusby and colleagues from the Oregon Research Institute, published in the November 2005 issue of the Journal of Early Adolescence by SAGE Publications, found significant associations between peer harassment of students in middle school and a variety of problem behaviors, such as alcohol abuse, once these students reach high school.
Torn Between A Better Future In The USA And Leaving Their Families, Migrating Latino Men Suffer Mental Health Problems - Medical News Today 30/12/05
Men migrating to the United States from Mexico and Central America often face competing desires: wanting to remain with their families while realizing that migration offers the promise of a better future. These feelings of ambivalence may be associated with poor mental health, such as anxiety, according to new research by Wake Forest University School of Medicine.
Obesity Raises Risk Of Alzheimer's Disease - Medical News Today 30/12/05
If heart disease and diabetes aren't bad enough, now comes another reason to watch your weight. According to a study just released, packing on too many pounds can increase the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.
Genes That 'fine-tune' Muscle Development Process, Study - Medical News Today 30/12/05
Scientists at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have found two genes that are essential for the proper development of muscle.
New Method For Examining Cost-effectiveness Of New Drugs For Chronic Illnesses - Medical News Today 30/12/05
In a comprehensive analysis and mathematical model of the available scientific data, researchers at the University of York on behalf of the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) in the United Kingdom found that newer drugs used to treat the most common forms of epilepsy are more expensive than older drugs, but produce similar health benefits.
Reducing The Toxicity Of Vaccines Making Smaller Doses More Effective - Medical News Today 30/12/05
Researchers have demonstrated a technique that has the potential to reduce the toxicity of vaccines and to make smaller doses more effective, according to a study published in PLoS Pathogens.
Increased Use Of Folic Acid Could Cut Brain And Spinal Cord Birth Defects By As Much As 70 Percent - Medical News Today 30/12/05
January 9-15 is Folic Acid Awareness Week and the March of Dimes is reminding women capable of having a baby to add folic acid to their diet -- before starting a family.
9 Percent Of Adolescents Experienced A Major Depressive Episode In The Past Year, Survey, USA - Medical News Today 30/12/05
About 2.2 million adolescents ages 12 to 17 (9 percent) experienced at least one major depressive episode in the past year. These adolescents were more than twice as likely to have used illicit drugs in the past month than their peers who had not experienced a major depressive episode (21.2 percent compared with 9.6 percent). These findings were released today by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) from continued analysis of the 2004 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
New Year's Eve Poses Huge Challenge To Recovering Alcoholics, Drug Abusers - Medical News Today 30/12/05
For recovering alcohol and drug abusers, New Year's Eve is one of the most formidable challenges of the year.
Study links fatty myelin breakdown to Alzheimer's - Reuters 02/01/06
The breakdown of myelin, a sheet of fat that insulates nerves and helps speed messages through the brain, appears to be a key contributor to the onset of Alzheimer's disease, a study published on Monday said.
Alcohol ads boost drinking among young: study - Reuters 02/01/06
Young adults as well as teenagers drink more under the influence of advertising for alcoholic beverages, researchers said on Monday.
Electrical therapy may prevent early births - Reuters 02/01/06
Researchers report that application of a weak electrical current inhibits uterine contractions in pregnant rats and rabbits and therefore may serve as a new method of preventing preterm delivery.
Sibling with glaucoma means you're also at risk - Reuters 02/01/06
Brothers and sisters of patients with glaucoma have about a 20 percent chance of having developed the disease by the time they reach age 70, according to results of the Nottingham Family Glaucoma Screening Study.
Facemask ventilation may lessen need for intubation - Reuters 02/12/05
Noninvasive mechanical ventilation via a facemask reduces the need to insert a tube to aid breathing -- a procedure called intubation -- in a significant number of patients with acute respiratory failure, with the possible exception of those with pneumonia, according to results of a study.
Get moving for a longer life free of diabetes - Reuters 02/12/05
The results of a new study may motivate couch potatoes to get moving in the New Year. According to the study, people who are physically active live longer and spend more years free of diabetes than people who are inactive.
One-day antiviral treats recurrent genital herpes - Reuters 02/12/05
Patient-initiated, single-day treatment with the antiviral drug famciclovir is an effective and well-tolerated treatment for recurrent genital herpes, a new study shows.
Visualization may help some smokers quit - Reuters 02/12/05
Some smokers may be able to quit by seeing themselves do it in their minds, research findings suggest.
Crohn's disease ups risk of intestinal cancer - Reuters 02/12/05
Patients with Crohn's disease -- an inflammation of the digestive tract that affects a half million Americans, many age 15 to 35 years -- face a higher risk of intestinal cancer, according to a new report.
Nicotine substitutes may harm the fetus: study - Reuters 02/01/06
The use of nicotine substitutes (nicotine gum, patches or inhalers) during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy appears to slightly increase the risk of birth defects, according to a large study of pregnant women and their offspring.
US studies find antidepressants work for some - Reuters 01/01/05
Suicidal behavior among adults taking antidepressants drops almost as soon as they begin medication, researchers said on Sunday in findings that experts said confirm their effectiveness in older patients.
US to probe mercury risk in canned tuna: paper - Reuters 31/12/05
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration will investigate reports that some canned tuna sold in the United States may contain species with potentially dangerous levels of mercury, a top agency official told the Chicago Tribune in an article on Saturday.
Coaching women during childbirth has little impact - Reuters 30/12/05
Pregnant women coached through their first delivery do not fare much better than those who just do what feels natural, according to a study released on Friday.
A ‘Coach' During Labor Makes Little Difference On Duration - May Increase Subsequent Bladder Problems - Medical News Today 31/12/05
MRI tracks transplanted islets in mice - Reuters 30/12/05
Researchers at Harvard Medical School have developed a protocol in mice in which insulin-producing islet cells are labeled with a magnetic imaging probe that can be detected by MRI, thus representing a potential easy noninvasive way for doctors to follow islet cell transplantation in humans.
Children with asthma often miss school - Reuters 30/12/05
Children with asthma, especially young children, miss more days of school than those without asthma, according to a new report.
Keyhole surgery for cysts protects the ovaries - Reuters 30/12/05
The damage to "ovarian reserve" is quantitative rather than qualitative when ovarian cysts are excised using minimally invasive laparoscopy, Italian researchers report. Importantly, they say, this approach has a good chance of preserving a woman's fertility.
Counseling helps sex life after prostate cancer - Reuters 30/12/05
Rated 3 in Health; News; National and International News on Dec 31, 2005 at 08:10:20 GMT.
Even a few counseling sessions on sex after prostate cancer can help improve a couple's sex life, at least in the short term, research hints.
Untreated sinus allergies affect sexual function - Reuters 30/12/05
Symptoms of itchy, tearing eyes and nasal congestion due to seasonal allergies interfere with individuals' ability to enjoy sex, results of a study conducted in Turkey suggest. However, successful treatment with an antihistamine can help.
Two drugs better than one for RA: study - Reuters 30/12/05
For adults with early, aggressive rheumatoid arthritis (RA), treatment with a combination of Humira (adalimumab) and methotrexate appears to be more effective than treatment with either agent alone, according to results of the PREMIER study.
Antipsychotic meds may raise blood sugar - Reuters 30/12/05
High levels of sugar in the blood, also known as hyperglycemia, is a common finding in individuals taking atypical antipsychotics who are thought to have normal blood sugar levels.
Those hot summer nights raise elderly BP - Reuters 30/12/05
While daytime blood pressure (BP) tends to be lower during the hot days of summer than during cold weather, elderly patients treated with antihypertensive drugs have higher BP at night when weather is hot, a study shows. This suggests that their medication should not be reduced in the summer, even if BP measured in the doctor's office is normal.
Mobile clinic tries to fill health needs - Reuters 30/12/05
Around 46 million U.S. residents don't have health insurance; a small number regularly show up at a mobile clinic at Deerfield Elementary School outside Washington, D.C., every Monday morning.
Cheshire and Mersey News
200,000 grant to tackle homelessness - Chester Chronicle 30/12/05
THE city's homeless have new hope thanks to a New Year cash boost.
Hospice wing taking shape - Wirral Chronicle 30/12/05
THE Claire House Teenage Annexe based in Clatterbridge is set to open in a couple of months.
Hospitals inundated with victims of cold weather - Daily Post 30/12/05
HOSPITALS across the region have been inundated with patients suffering broken limbs, sprains and bruises since the start of the latest cold snap on Boxing Day.
Woman stole to fund IVF treatment - Southport Visiter 30/12/05
A CHILDLESS woman resorted to crime in her desire for private IVF treatment.
Baby boxes clever a day early - Southport Visiter 30/12/05
SOUTHPORT mum Monika Aldelime enjoyed the best Christmas present of all at Ormskirk Hospital ' s women and children's unit.
Jam, Jerusalem - and a WI visit to drugs rehab centre - Daily Post 30/12/05
THE paths of rehabilitating drug users and members of the Women's Institute do not frequently cross - but the two very different groups came together as part of a new Wirral drug campaign.
Addicts told: it's prison or detox - Daily Post 30/12/05
A CRIME busting scheme has spared Liverpool families more than £8m of misery.
Majority want ban on smoking in workplace - Daily Post 30/12/05
A BLANKET smoking ban in the workplace, such as that proposed for Liverpool, is backed by the majority of Britons according to a new opinion poll.
Health risk to pub staff - Warrington Guardian 30/12/05
EXTENDED licensing hours could lead to long and short term health worries for pub staff.
Cumbria and Lancashire News
Is the poverty gap getting wider? - Carlisle News & Star 30/12/05
Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy has warned of a “continuing widening of the gap between rich and poor”.
Hospital angels cheered Christmas - Lancashire Evening Telegraph 30/12/05
THE temporary occupants of Room 1, Ward B14 at Queens Park Hospital wish to thank all the theatre staff, consultants and nursing angels for their excellent care and attention and for making us all feel special.
MRSA victim loses leg - Lancashire Evening Telegraph 30/12/05
A FORMER hospital cleaning supervisor who had to have his leg amputated after catching MRSA today slammed East Lancashire's dirty hospitals.
Greater Manchester News
Honours for doctor and charity worker - Bolton Evening News 31/12/05
A BOLTON doctor who advises the Government on haematological issues, has been awarded an OBE for services to medicine in the Queen's New Year Honours List.
Patients to decide the time and place - Bolton Evening News 31/12/05
PATIENTS in Bolton will soon be able to choose when and where they are treated when hospital appointments are made.
Teenager dies after suffering epileptic fit in the bedroom - Bolton Evening News 30/12/05
A WHITEFIELD schoolboy has died after suffering an epileptic fit in the bath on Boxing Day.
'Support growing' for total ban in work pubs and club - Bolton Evening News 30/12/05
Plans for a partial ban on smoking in public places in England is fatally undermined by the results of a new opinion poll, campaigners said on Friday.
Extra help for New Year quitters - Bolton Evening News 30/12/05
EXTRA quit-smoking sessions are being held in Bolton as health bosses anticipate a surge in the number of people stubbing it out in the New Year.
Toys that make children fat - Bolton Evening News 30/12/05
CHRISTMAS presents are causing children to become fat.
'Prostitution will be driven underground' - Bolton Evening News 30/12/05
BOLTON MP Brian Iddon says the Government is "living in cloud cuckoo land" after it announced a national zero-tolerance crackdown on prostitution.
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