Monday, February 20, 2006

Contents

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National News

Whistleblower accuses staff of 'appalling' abuse at care home - The Observer 19/02/06

Family threatens legal action after claim that a resident was strapped to his wheelchair for hours, reports Antony Barnett

Now, don't tell me about your parents - The Observer 19/02/06

Freud's methods are slipping out of fashion as therapy booms. One in five Britons has had it - but now analysts want a practical approach. Lorna Martin and Edward Helmore report

UK baby shortage will cost 11 billion - The Observer 19/02/06

Britain is suffering a baby 'shortage' with potentially disastrous consequences as work pressures force young women to shelve plans for a family, according to dramatic new research urging an 11bn campaign to boost parenthood.

How the baby shortage threatens our future - The Observer 19/02/06
Fertility trap: The 500,000 question - should you gamble with your body clock - The Independent 19/02/06
Late mothers cause baby gap of 92,000 - The Sunday Times 19/02/06
Having a child early costs women hundreds of thousands of pounds - The Telegraph 19/02/06

Smokeless tobacco test on the way - The Observer 19/02/06

With the smoking ban now passed, cigarette firms plough cash into alternative nicotine hit

'Hit squads' aim to save community hospitals - The Observer 19/02/06

'Hit squads' are to be sent around the country to check that National Health Service trusts are not planning to close community hospitals.

Heroin girl, 11, out of hospital - The Observer 19/02/06

An 11-year-girl who collapsed at school after smoking heroin has left hospital, it has been reported.

70% of dentists 'might quit NHS' - The Guardian 18/02/06

Almost seven out of 10 dentists might quit the NHS when new Government reforms come into force, a survey claimed.

NHS to decide on breast cancer drug by August - The Guardian 18/02/06

Breast cancer patients hoping to benefit from Herceptin, the drug that many perceive as their best hope of conquering the disease, will have to wait until August before the NHS decides whether it gives value-for-money treatment for women with early stage disease.

Herceptin maker tries to fast-track NHS approval - The Times 18/02/06
Wider use of cancer drug will be 'too late for many women' - The Telegraph 18/02/06

Court clears Meadow to practise again - The Guardian 18/02/06

Doctors who give mistaken expert evidence in child abuse cases were granted immunity in law from disciplinary action yesterday in a groundbreaking high court ruling that cleared the controversial paediatrician Professor Sir Roy Meadow of serious professional misconduct.

Tireless voice vows to continue speaking out - The Guardian 18/02/06
Q&A: Sir Roy Meadow - The Guardian 18/02/06
Disgraced Meadow reinstated by judge - The Independent 18/02/06
Cot deaths doctor wins battle to be reinstated - The Times 18/02/06
Sir Roy Meadow, the flawed witness, wins GMC appeal - The Telegraph 18/02/06
Experts buoyed by Meadow ruling - BBC Health News 18/02/06

Welcome to the Jab'n'Tuck revolution - The Independent 19/02/06

The latest range of anti-ageing injections is eliminating the need for the cosmetic surgeon's knife

Phone firms targeting of under-fives is 'as bad as marketing junk food' say MPs - The Independent 19/02/06

Senior MPs are calling for an urgent government inquiry into the "targeting" of children with cartoon mobile phone merchandise, including Winnie the Pooh, dangly soft toys and Scooby-Doo mobile phone covers.

Bird flu: the species you should really fear - The Independent 19/02/06

As the danger of a pandemic grows, Britain is woefully ill-prepared, says Geoffrey Lean

UK 'not doing enough' on bird flu - BBC Health News 19/02/06
'No panic' over bird flu threat - BBC Health News 19/02/06

Smoking ban will lead to 1.1bn loss for Treasury - The Independent 18/02/06

The Chancellor, Gordon Brown, will lose a staggering 1.14bn in revenue as a result of the MPs' vote to ban smoking in all enclosed public places.

A 'pleasure' that's not worth dying for - The Telegraph 16/02/06
No smoke without willpower - The Telegraph 16/02/06

Scottish health targets 'useless' - The Sunday Times 19/02/06

MINISTERS are pursuing “meaningless and unambitious” health targets that will fail to rid Scotland of its reputation as the sick man of Europe, one of the country’s leading economists has warned, writes Jason Allardyce.

Smoke ban officers to follow offenders home - The Sunday Times 19/02/06

TEAMS of council enforcers are to be given the power to trail people who flaunt the ban on smoking in public places, including following them to their cars and homes.

NHS pays the price - The Sunday Times 19/02/06

PROFESSOR Rod Griffiths challenges us to acknowledge that the NHS cannot pay for all the new medicines “and have the courage to say they are not the best use of public cash” (News, last week).

Blunder left trail of lethal radiation - The Times 18/02/06

Safety cap left off toxic cargo as it travelled 130 miles across Britain

Lorry leaked radioactive beam for three hours - The Telegraph 18/02/06

GPs told to abandon private suppliers of oxygen - The Times 18/02/06

FAMILY doctors unable to obtain oxygen for their patients were advised last night to abandon the newly privatised supply service and revert to an old system to ensure that more lives were not put at risk.

Letters to the Editor - The Times 18/02/06
Second patient dies following oxygen switch - The Telegraph 18/02/06
Patients hit by oxygen shortage - BBC Health News 17/02/06

Child prisoners suffer cruelty by staff - The Times 18/02/06

CHILD prisoners are being subjected to treatment that would prompt child abuse investigations elsewhere, an independent inquiry said yesterday.

Cut back use of force on youths in jail, says peer - The Telegraph 18/02/06

High-street chemist prepares for H5N1 onslaught - The Times 18/02/06

HIGH STREET chemists are being trained to give advice to concerned members of the public about bird flu.

If you want local choice, you'll have to play the hated postcode lottery - The Times 18/02/06

POSTCODE LOTTERIES are back in the headlines, newly notorious as Ann Marie Rogers’s case for an NHS Herceptin prescription failed in the High Court this week. Few critics of the court judgment have failed to mention the “postcode lottery”. And spit. Post- code lotteries are bad — I think we’re all agreed on that.

Running for cover - The Times 18/02/06

Insurance scares over genetic-tests are a big fuss about nothing

Insurers drop plan for gene-test checks - The Telegraph 18/02/06

Who dares usually wins - The Times 18/02/06

Risk-takers will live longer, have more friends and are less likely to get Parkinson’s, Jerome Burne asserts boldly

Risk-takers 'escape Parkinson's' - BBC Health News 18/02/06

Damned lies and placebos - The Times 18/02/06

Doctors lie, sometimes quite deliberately. I’m going to lie to someone next Wednesday when he picks up his chest X-ray result. I already know it shows a huge tumour in his right lung. I suspect that it has already seeded secondary deposits throughout his body to account for his weight loss, liver enlargement and memory lapses.

Junk medicine: organ donation - The Times 18/02/06

More than 5,500 British patients are waiting for a new kidney. However, the shortage of organs is such that only 1,700 of these can expect a transplant each year. More than a quarter of the lucky ones have a friend or relative to thank for their new organs. Of the less fortunate, more than one a day will die on the waiting list.

Computer analysts - The Times 18/02/06

The NHS is set to approve online therapy for a range of emotional problems. Will it work, asks John Naish

The gender mender - The Times 18/02/06

The US cardiologist, scientist and bestselling author Marianne Legato has changed the face of women’s medicine. She tells Vivienne Parry why she is now turning from hearts to minds

Chill out at the snow spas - The Times 18/02/06

Winter breaks don't have to be all downhill: one Times writer finds peace in a 'pod', another unwinds with a deep massage

Happy families: the know-it-all brother-in-law - The Times 18/02/06

An expert is an asset to any family, or so you might think. But does any family really need this one: the know-it-all brother-in-law? The trouble is, he is an expert on everything. You may be thrilled with your new bookshelves: you had them made to measure by a local craftsman for what seemed a reasonable price. You show them, with pride, to your brother-in-law. “Oh,” he says, “If only I’d known. I could have told you that Ikea sell identical units; you’d never know the difference.”

Lunchtime fix: the Vacunaut - The Times 18/02/06

The Vacunaut is billed as a non-surgical tummy tuck, offering a sexy six-pack in six weeks, but, frankly, you’re not going to look all that sexy while you’re wearing the suit (see right). In fact, you’ll feel silly, sweaty and a little bit uncomfortable. Robbie Williams, apparently, is a huge Vacunaut fan and Anna Friel uses the female version — but then she’d look sexy in just about anything.

Agony and ecstasy: sex advice - The Times 18/02/06

I am 34 and my boyfriend wants to be more experimental in bed. I quite like the idea of eating food off him, perhaps chocolate or cream. Any tips?

How to treat a tummy bug - The Times 18/02/06

My daughter is 5 and there’s a tummy bug going around at her school. Several children in her class were sent home recently after being sick. How are these bugs transmitted? My daughter’s been lucky to escape so far but if she does catch it, at what point should I contact our GP?

What's up doc? Taking your blood pressure - The Times 18/02/06

Why bother? The doctor inflates a cuff on your arm, which temporarily cuts off the blood supply. Next, the cuff is deflated slowly while he uses his stethoscope to listen to the main arm artery. When the cuff pressure equals the pressure within the artery, blood pumps back into the arm. This is heard through the stethoscope as a rhythmic tapping. At this point, the mercury level in the blood pressure machine, the sphygmo- manometer (“sphyg”), gives the systolic pressure. After further deflation, the sounds become muffled; this is the diastolic pressure. These figures are recorded one over the other. Hence the “perfect” blood pressure of 120/80, although there’s a wide range of normal.

Open harp surgery - The Times 18/02/06

Cardiologists have a new way to pluck up your heart strings, says David Mattin

Eco-worrier: re-using rags - The Times 18/02/06

I rip up old clothes to use as rags and dusters but I wash them regularly. Is that any better than using disposable cloths?

Home remedies: colloidal silver for preventing infections - The Times 18/02/06

One of our Scottish readers swears by colloidal silver — silver particles in a liquid — for practically everything, from colds to cold sores. She and her partner have used it on the the dog, their friends’ budgie, the grandchildren, cattle and lambs.

Please Sir, we want more - The Times 18/02/06

A year after Jamie Oliver stirred up a big row over school meals, Simon Crompton asks if lessons have been learnt

At your table: pancakes - The Times 18/02/06

My kitchen ceiling, walls and cupboard doors may well be splattered with batter this year as I’ve decided that my daughter Maya, 3, is old enough, with the right supervision, to start flipping pancakes.

Breathing space: walking the dog: taking a healthy lead - The Times 18/02/06

A long walk with a dog is a great way of having a cardiovascular workout. And, according to a study published last month, older people who get out and about with a dog had lower stress levels than those who walked the same distance by themseles. If you don't have the time, or your own pooch, why not borrow one and do your bit for charity?

Not just anybody: Diana Rigg - The Times 18/02/06

How the fit and fabulous stay that way. Actress Diana Rigg, 67, thrives on hard work and her only concession to health is low-tar cigarettes

Alzheimer's drug rethink - The Telegraph 18/02/06

The Department of Health has asked its advisory body to think again about how drugs for Alzheimer's disease are prescribed following criticism of its proposals last month.

Acupressure 'best for back treatment' - Daily Mail 17/02/06

A form of Chinese massage may be more effective than conventional treatments in reducing lower back pain, researchers believe.

Acupressure 'good for back pain' - BBC Health News 17/02/06

Men 'dying needlessly from breast cancer' - Daily Mail 17/02/06

Men are dying unnecessarily from breast cancer because they are unaware of the symptoms or too embarrassed to seek help, a leading expert has claimed.

Bird flu: Will all poultry get jabs? - Daily Mail 17/02/06

Britain's entire poultry stock - 150million birds - may have to be vaccinated in a bid to stop bird flu.

UK Considering Vaccinating Whole Poultry Stock Against Bird Flu - Medical News Today 17/02/06

Would you have a DIY abortion? - Daily Mail 17/02/06

What do you think about home abortion? Join the debate in our reader comments below

Celebrity health - Gwyneth Lewis - BBC Health News 19/02/06

In a series on celebrities and their health the BBC News website talks to Wales' first national poet, Gwyneth Lewis, about her battle with depression.

Metals link to multiple sclerosis - BBC Health News 19/02/06

Multiple sclerosis could be linked to difficulty in processing iron and aluminium, a study has suggested.

NHS 'target effect' fears raised - BBC Health News 18/02/06

Extra controls are needed to make sure hospital bosses are not manipulating services to meet targets, a study says.

MPs petition for end to 'sex tax' - BBC Health News 17/02/06

MPs - including Lib Dem leadership contender Simon Hughes - are calling for the price of condoms to be reduced to prevent the spread of HIV.

Radiation overdose girl improving - BBC Health News 17/02/06

The doctor caring for a teenager who was given a massive overdose of radiation said she was improving after receiving specialist oxygen treatment.

Global Toll Of Glaucoma Set To Reach 80 Million By 2020 - Medical News Today 19/02/06

The global toll of the disabling eye disease glaucoma is set to reach 60 million by 2010, rising to almost 80 million by 2020, finds research in the British Journal of Ophthalmology.

Cancer % Private Medical Insurance - Industry Initiatives ‘an Important Step In The Right Direction' But Clarity For Consumers Still Lacking, UK - Medical News Today 19/02/06

Latest initiatives by the insurance industry to improve the clarity of consumer information on private medical insurance are an important step in the right direction but don't go far enough, says cancer information charity CancerBACUP.

CancerBACUP Response To High Court Decision On Herceptin, UK - Medical News Today 19/02/06

"This ruling has huge implications for cancer care. We believe the public will see this as postcode prescribing rather than local-decision making," says Joanne Rule, Chief Executive of CancerBACUP.

Pregnant Women With Heart Disease More Likely To Die During Pregnancy, Report Says - Medical News Today 19/02/06

Women with congenital heart disease are 100 times as likely to die during pregnancy as women who do not have the condition, according to a report published on Monday in BMJ, BBC News reports (BBC News, 2/13). The report -- which was written by Michael Gatzoulis, professor of cardiology and adult congenital heart disease at Royal Brompton Hospital in London, and colleagues -- estimates that more than 125,000 women in the United Kingdom have congenital heart disease (Moss, Independent, 2/13). The report says that heart disease is the second-leading cause of maternal death in the U.K., and the number of women with the condition is expected to increase. The report recommends that doctors provide adequate prepregnancy counseling, as well as prenatal care, to women with congenital heart disease. The report adds that doctors should discuss labor and delivery with such patients "well in advance," adding that the "postpartum period requires a multidisciplinary team approach with cardiologists, obstetricians and anaesthetists" (Gatzoulis et al., BMJ, 2/13). "Prolonged and difficult labor should be avoided, and detailed continuous monitoring of the mother and fetus is mandatory," Gatzoulis wrote. He added, "The principle is to manage the stress of labor in such a way that it does not exceed the woman's capacity to cope with it." According to BBC News, a group of experts at a conference in London this week are expected to call for improved awareness of the risks associated with congenital heart disease and pregnancy (BBC News, 2/13).

'High Efficiency' Vacuum Cleaners No More Effective Than Standard Models At Reducing Exposure To Dust-mites - Medical News Today 19/02/06

Researchers at the North West Lung Centre, run by The University of Manchester and based at Wythenshawe Hospital, have discovered that vacuum cleaners with 'high-efficiency particulate air' or HEPA filters are no more effective than standard models at reducing exposure to dust-mites.

U.K. Development, Pharmaceutical Company Officials To Discuss Pediatric HIV/AIDS Medicines - Medical News Today 18/02/06

Officials from the U.K. Department for International Development are organizing talks with pharmaceutical company representatives to address the low number of affordable and safe drugs designed to treat children living with HIV/AIDS in developing countries or prevent them from contracting the virus, the Financial Times reports. Drug makers for many years have been motivated to develop adult HIV/AIDS medications by the high prices they can charge in wealthy nations, according to the Times. However, they have little incentive to adapt the drugs for HIV-positive children, most of whom live in resource-poor countries, the Times reports. According to estimates from international organizations, 2.3 million children under the age of 15 are living with HIV/AIDS, and less than 5% of those in need of treatment are receiving it. Although there are several pediatric HIV/AIDS medications available as syrups, they often are difficult to administer, have a short shelf life and can cost several times the amount of adult formulations, according to the Times. Some HIV/AIDS specialists have called for the development of pediatric drugs in tablet form. DFID officials are expected to call on pharmaceutical companies to allocate increased funds for clinical trials of pediatric drugs and guarantee that they will be made available in developing countries at affordable prices (Jack, Financial Times, 2/11).

New Sensor To Provide Early Warning Of Oxygen Loss To Unborn Children - Medical News Today 17/02/06

Researchers at the University of Warwick, and the University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, have devised a new sensor which dramatically improves the amount of early warning doctors and midwives get of a dangerous situation in the birth process when the unborn child's brain is starved of oxygen - Fetal Hypoxia.

Oxygen Loss To Unborn Children Detected Earlier By New Sensor - Medical News Today 19/02/06

Breakthrough In The Design Of New Drugs - New Way Of Recognising DNA - Medical News Today 17/02/06

Scientists led by Mike Hannon at the University of Birmingham and Miquel Coll at the Spanish Research Council in Barcelona have discovered a new way that drugs can attach themselves to DNA, which is a crucial step forward for researchers who are developing drugs to combat cancer and other diseases.

Obese boys, girls more likely to be bullied - Reuters 17/02/06

Obese grade-school children are more likely to be the targets of bullying than their leaner peers are, a UK study suggests.

International News
Bird flu 'likely to reach Britain' - The Guardian 18/02/06

The Government has confirmed that bird flu was "likely" to reach UK shores following confirmation that a duck in France died of the disease.

France Confirms First H5N1 Infected Bird - Medical News Today 19/02/06
Cold snap may have driven birds - Telegraph 19/02/06
Government accepts bird flu virus may soon reach UK shores - The Independent 19/02/06
UK alert as bird flu death confirmed - The Observer 19/02/06
Bird flu 'to arrive in Britain this week' - The Telegraph 19/02/06
Bird flu strain is now within 400 miles of Britain's shores - The Times 18/02/06
Duck with bird flu found in France - The Telegraph 18/02/06
French duck is 'likely' flu case - BBC Health News 17/02/06
French bird flu sparks UK worries - BBC Health News 18/02/06
France detects its first case of bird flu - The Guardian 18/02/06

How to be beautifully, blissfully wrong about Tamiflu: just call it a bird flu vaccine - The Guardian 18/02/06

The interesting thing about the Tamiflu vaccine for bird flu that everybody keeps going on about, is this: it's not a vaccine. The manufacturers even spell that out in their factsheet. It's a drug, an antibiotic for viruses.

Drug reactions depend on age - The Guardian 18/02/06

Scientists have discovered striking differences in the way children and adults process drugs, explaining why some people may have a poor response to medical treatments whilst others do not.

How drugs for adults can harm children - The Times 18/02/06
Scaled down drugs 'risk to the young' - The Telegraph 18/02/06
New fears over safety of children's medicines - Daily Mail 18/01/06

Depriving children of loving environment damages intelligence - The Guardian 18/02/06

Depriving children of a loving family environment causes lasting damage to their intelligence, emotional wellbeing and even their physical stature, according to the most extensive study of social deprivation yet.

High price paid by unloved babies - The Times 18/02/06
Long-term care 'harms children' - BBC Health News 17/02/06
Orphanages stunt growth, foster care better-study - Reuters 17/02/06

Drink, smoke cancer deaths on the wane - The Sunday Times 19/02/06

DEATH rates associated with lifestyle cancers are falling, according to a 30-year study conducted by Ireland’s leading specialist.

Boys 'face double the burns risk' - BBC Health News 19/02/06

Boys are twice as likely to burn themselves as girls, a study suggests.

Involuntary Movements In Patients With Huntington's Disease Cut Down By Tetrabenazine, Study Finds - Medical News Today 19/02/06

The medication tetrabenazine cut down involuntary movement in patients with Huntington's disease on average by about 25 percent, with many patients experiencing a greater improvement, according to a study in the February 14 issue of the journal Neurology.

New Compound May Be Effective In Preventing Cancers With A Strong Link To Inflammation, Such As Liver, Colon, Prostate And Gastric Cancers - Medical News Today 19/02/06

Scientists have identified a new compound called CDDO-Im that protects against the development of liver cancer in laboratory animals. Experiments, led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, show CDDO-Im to be effective at doses 100 times lower than other compounds known to prevent cancer in people. Because of its makeup, the researchers believe CDDO-Im could be particularly effective in preventing cancers with a strong link to inflammation, such as liver, colon, prostate and gastric cancers. It could also play a role in preventing diseases such as neurodegeneration, asthma and emphysema. The findings are featured in the February 15, 2006, issue of the journal Cancer Research.

Bipolar Disorder In Children And Teens, Landmark Study Released - Medical News Today 19/02/06

Children and teen-agers with bipolar disorder suffer from the illness differently than adults do. Their symptoms last longer and swing more swiftly from hyperactivity and recklessness to lethargy and depression.

Human Brain Evolution And Eating Fish From Shoreline Environments - Medical News Today 19/02/06

Forget the textbook story about tool use and language sparking the dramatic evolutionary growth of the human brain. Instead, imagine ancient hominid children chasing frogs. Not for fun, but for food.

Rights To Commercialise World's First Contraceptive Spray Acquired By Acrux - Medical News Today 19/02/06

Acrux (ASX:ACR), the Australian company with patient-preferred technology for delivering drugs across the skin, today announced an agreement with the New York-based Population Council, Inc. The agreement enables Acrux to progress toward commercialisation of a unique contraceptive spray, containing the new-generation contraceptive drug Nestorone®.

Some Highlights From The February 15 JNCI - Medical News Today 19/02/06

Study Suggests Drug For Chemotherapy-Induced Anemia Can Be Effectively Administered Tri-Weekly

Detecting Recurrent Bladder Tumors - Study Assesses NMP22 In Combination With Cystoscopy - Medical News Today 19/02/06

The purpose of urinary bladder markers is ideally to minimize the need for cystoscopy in the detection of bladder cancer. In general, bladder markers do not have the sensitivity and specificity necessary to do this.

Over 30,000 Birds Probably Died Of Bird Flu In India - Medical News Today 19/02/06

Indian authorities have confirmed that H5N1 (bird flu) infected birds have been found in the west of the country. A massive cull is being organised in an attempt to stem the spread of the virus.

Cellular Changes That Occur In Sperm After Ejaculation - Medical News Today 19/02/06

A new paper in the February 15th issue of Genes & Development lends novel insight into the cellular changes that occur in sperm while they reside in the female reproductive tract providing a new understanding of the molecular genetics of successful fertilization.

'Noise' In Gene Expression Could Aid Bacterial Pathogenicity, Study Suggests - Medical News Today 19/02/06

An experiment designed to show how a usually innocuous bacterium regulates the expression of an unnecessary gene for green color has turned up a previously unrecognized phenomenon that could partially explain a feature of bacterial pathogenicity.

Asia Pacific Government, NGO Leaders Meet In Thailand To Discuss Universal Access To HIV/AIDS Treatment, Prevention - Medical News Today 19/02/06

Delegates from 22 countries in the Asia Pacific region on Tuesday began a three-day meeting in Pattaya, Thailand, aimed at creating regional plans for universal access to HIV/AIDS treatment, as well as prevention information, the Bangkok Post reports. UNAIDS Director of Country and Regional Support Michel Sidibe said delegates at the conference -- which includes representatives from governments, nongovernmental organizations and community and faith-based organizations working in public health -- highlighted where money is needed for long-term prevention and treatment so that funding proposals could be made for the region. "We will make sure that the universal access process makes a difference, both in advocacy and in practical actions to help countries overcome obstacles to scaling up," Sidibe said (Bangkok Post, 2/14). Prasada Rao, UNAIDS Asia Pacific regional director, said that to achieve universal access, every nation in the region must enhance their HIV-prevention efforts as well as their treatment programs (Xinhuanet, 2/15). The nearly 200 delegates also are scheduled to discuss funding for domestic and global HIV/AIDS programs, fighting the stigma related to the epidemic and providing equal care and services to HIV-positive people. Sidibe said each country will create its own objectives, as well as a list of "10 top actions" to curb the epidemic across the region (Associated Press, 2/14). "The fight against AIDS must be invigorated," Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, special UNAIDS representative on HIV and AIDS in the Pacific, said, adding, "We must change our attitudes and persuade others to change their attitudes towards AIDS and in particular towards those suffering from it" (PNS/Pacific Magazine, 2/13). Some HIV/AIDS advocates expressed reservations about what can be accomplished at such a large meeting. Mechai Viravaidya, a Thai senator and director of the Population and Community Development Association, said there is "not much the U.N. can do if there is no country commitment," adding that there must be progress on a local level. About 20% of the more than 40 million HIV-positive people in the world live in the region, according to the Post (Bangkok Post, 2/14).

Ovarian Cancer Responds To Aspirin Derivative To Make Recurrent Cancer Cells Less Resistant To The Chemotherapy - Medical News Today 19/02/06

A new study using ovarian cancer cell lines shows promise in treating the deadly disease by combining the chemotherapy drug cisplatin with an aspirin-like compound to make recurrent cancer cells less resistant to the chemotherapy.

Group Of HIV-Positive Libyan Children To Be Sent To Europe For Treatment - Medical News Today 19/02/06

A group of 30 HIV-positive Libyan children, who allegedly were infected with the virus by five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian physician, will be sent to Europe for treatment, Libyan officials said Monday, AFP/Yahoo! News reports (AFP/Yahoo! News, 2/13). Six health workers accused of infecting 400 Libyan children with HIV were sentenced to death by firing squad in May 2004. Libyan Supreme Court President Ali al-Alus on Dec. 25, 2005, overturned the convictions two days after Bulgaria, Libya, the U.S. and the European Union agreed to establish a fund to finance the children's care and treatment. The agreement did not mention the accused health workers, and Bulgarian officials said that the fund is part of an international effort to find an end to the situation (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 1/30). Saleh Abdel Salam, a director of the Kadhafi Foundation, said the first group of children will travel to France on Feb. 27 (AFP/Yahoo! News, 2/13). According to the Sofia News Agency, the children will be treated at five hospitals in Europe: three in Paris, one in Rome and one in Florence, Italy. The news was announced after a meeting in Tripoli, Libya, between the fund's governing board and a group representing the families of the children (Sofia News Agency, 2/13). According to Mark Pierini, E.U. ambassador to Libya, discussions concerning the fund are scheduled to resume on March 13. Pierini added that the meetings will last for several weeks (AFP/Yahoo! News, 2/13).

Levitra May Protect The Heart, VCU Study Shows - Medical News Today 19/02/06

The widely used erectile dysfunction drug Levitra is now the second drug in its class found to protect the heart against tissue damage following acute heart attack, according to a new study by Virginia Commonwealth University researchers.

People With Bleeding Disorders At Risk From New Infectious Agents, Jefferson Hematologist Says - Medical News Today 19/02/06

An international team of scientists, including a hematologist from Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, has concluded that people with bleeding disorders such as hemophilia remain at risk from emerging infectious agents in plasma and blood transfusions. For this reason, recombinant therapies, that is, those produced in the laboratory, must always be an option.

Australian First To Save Sight - Medical News Today 19/02/06

A new system of storing eye tissue, to be launched on Tuesday 14 February at the Lions Corneal Donation Service (LCDS), will help save the sight of hundreds of Victorians a year by extending the time between donation and needing to perform the transplant.

X Chromosome Dosage Compensation Does Occur In Germ Cells - Medical News Today 19/02/06

X chromosome dosage compensation does occur in germ cells. A study published today in the open access journal Journal of Biology reveals that expression of the genes on the X chromosome is doubled in Drosophila germ cells to compensate for the missing second X chromosome. The study shows that this also occurs in C. elegans and mice somatic cells. In human female somatic cells, one of the two X chromosomes is inactivated to equilibrate expression between the sexes, but this unbalances the expression of the X compared to the other chromosomes. This study is the first demonstration that the X chromosome is upregulated in germs cells, which brings the X chromosome and the other chromosomes back into balance. The study is also the first demonstration that upregulation of the X chromosome in somatic tissue is conserved across species.

Alzheimer's Disease Progresses In Highly Educated People More Rapidly - Medical News Today 19/02/06

High levels of education may help ward off Alzheimer's disease, but they also speed up its progression once developed, reveals research in the Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery and Psychiatry.

Results Of Two Epidemiological Studies Provide Important New Clinical Information About The Safety Of ORTHO EVRA(R) - Medical News Today 18/02/06

Ortho Women's Health & Urology, the maker of the ORTHO EVRA(R) (norelgestromin/ethinyl estradiol transdermal system) birth control patch, has received the first results from two separate ongoing epidemiologic studies that were designed to evaluate the risk of experiencing serious side effects when using this form of hormonal birth control therapy. With the support of the study investigators, Ortho Women's Health & Urology is making this information available and sharing the data with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other health authorities.

Single Intramuscular Dose Of Anthim Is More Effective Than Daily Dosing Of Antibiotics Against A Lethal Anthrax Spore Challenge - Medical News Today 19/02/06

Today, at the 4th Annual American Society of Microbiology Biodefense Research Conference in Washington DC, Elusys Therapeutics presented new efficacy data on its anthrax therapeutic, Anthim(TM).

Chikungunya In La Réunion Island (France) - Medical News Today 18/02/06

Between 28 March 2005 and 12 February 2006, 1 722 cases of chikungunya have been notified by physicians from a sentinel network in La Réunion, including 326 cases reported during the week 6 to 12 February. Estimations from a mathematical model indicate that 110 000 people may have been infected by chikungunya virus since March 2005 in La Réunion, including 22 000 persons during the week 6 to 12 February. During the first week of February, other countries in the south west Indian Ocean have reported cases: Mauritius (206 cases) and the Seychelles (1 255 cases).

Concern That Bird Flu May Spread In West Africa - Medical News Today 18/02/06

FAO today expressed growing concern that the bird flu virus H5N1 may spread to other countries in West Africa following the discovery of the virus in Nigeria last week. The effects on a region already facing severe malnutrition would be devastating, the UN agency warned.

Vaccine Maker Predicts A New Genetic Change In The H5N1 (Avian Flu) Virus - Medical News Today 18/02/06

Recombinomics is issuing a new prediction and warning of a likely alteration in the avian influenza H5N1 hemagglutinin gene. Like the warning/prediction issued on October 22nd, 2005, this new alteration will increase the virus' affinity for human receptors and lead to more efficient transmission of H5N1 to humans. The company has notified the WHO of its prediction and warning regarding the near term likelihood of this genetic alteration occurring.

69.4% Of Ischemic Stroke Patients Had Blood Flow Restored In Multicenter Trial - Medical News Today 18/02/06

Ischemic stroke patients treated in the Multi MERCI trial experienced blood flow restoration rates of 69.4%. Additionally, one out of three ischemic stroke patients was functionally independent at 90 days following this procedure. Interim results of the Multi MERCI (Part 1) trial were reported today at the International Stroke Conference, Kissimmee, FL, by Wade Smith, MD, PhD, Principal Investigator and Associate Professor of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco.

Severe Chronic Pain - Remoxy(TM) (ORADUR-based Oxycodone) Receives Special Protocol Assessment And Commences Pivotal Phase III - Medical News Today 18/02/06

Durect Corporation (Nasdaq: DRRX) reported today that Remoxy(TM), an abuse-resistant pain medicine under development based on DURECT's patented ORADUR(TM) technology incorporating the opioid oxycodone has successfully completed a Special Protocol Assessment with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and that a pivotal Phase III trial is being commenced on Remoxy in 400 patients with severe chronic pain. The events were announced on February 16 by King Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE: KG), the company which will be commercializing Remoxy, if approved, and Pain Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: PTIE), Durect 's licensee of the rights to Remoxy and other ORADUR-based products incorporating oxycodone and three other opioid compounds.

Treatments Used To Remove Abnormal Cervical Cells Increase Risk For Problems During Pregnancy, Study Says - Medical News Today 18/02/06

Treatments used to remove abnormal cervical cells increase a woman's risk for problems during pregnancy, according to a study published on Friday in the journal Lancet, Reuters reports. Maria Kyrgiou of Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Hospital in London and colleagues looked at 27 previous studies that examined treatments used to remove abnormal cells from the cervix (Reuters, 2/10). Researchers compared the different methods to remove tissue, including cold knife or laser conization, in which a conical sample of tissue is removed; laser ablation, in which a laser is used to remove the tissue; and a loop electrosurgical excision procedure, in which tissue is removed using a wire loop and a low-level electrical current. The study finds that women undergoing cold knife conization were two-and-a-half times as likely to deliver prematurely or deliver a low-birthweight infant and three times as likely to deliver by caesarean section as women who did not undergo cold knife conization, according to HealthDay News/Forbes. Women undergoing LEEP were between 70% and 80% more likely to deliver prematurely or deliver a low-birthweight infant and almost three times as likely to experience a rupture of the cervical membranes compared with women who did not undergo LEEP, HealthDay News/Forbes reports. Researchers also found that women undergoing laser ablation were not at an increased risk for complications compared with women who did not undergo laser ablation, according to HealthDay News/Forbes (HealthDay News/Forbes, 2/9). Kyrgiou said, "This information should be considered when counseling women before their consent to treatment and lends support to the philosophy of doctors not treating young women with mild abnormalities," adding that the findings "probably favor" beginning cervical screening after age 25 "with respect to long-term obstetric outcomes" (Reuters, 2/10).

Successful Completion Evaluation And Validation Of Human Neural Crest Stem Cell Line - Stem Cell Research Institute, Inc - Medical News Today 18/02/06

U.S. BioDefense (OTC Bulletin Board: UBDE) is pleased to announce today that it has successfully completed the evaluation and validation of its human neural crest stem cells as a part of its agreement with the University of British Columbia.

NIH GAIT Study Supports Use Of Glucosamine And Chondroitin For Osteoarthritis Treatment - Medical News Today 18/02/06

Arthritis experts and orthopaedic surgeons are discussing the results of the NIH study that shows a supplement to be as effective as the most expensive NSAIDs for moderate and severe pain from arthritis.

Plan To Manage Mass Casualties In Disasters To Be Created By CU - Medical News Today 18/02/06

Cornell University and Weill Cornell Medical College (WCMC) are partnering with Lockheed Martin to develop a computerized system to help hospitals nationwide plan for and deal with mass casualties from disasters such as hurricanes, a flu pandemic or bioterrorism. The system will aid in readiness planning, simulate a disaster situation for testing purposes and act as a decision support system in a real disaster.

CXCR4 Target Plays Central Role In Cancer Progression In More Than 75% Of Cancers - Medical News Today 18/02/06

Northwest Biotherapeutics (OTC Bulletin Board: NWBT.OB) today announced that the company will be presenting new preclinical data on a monoclonal antibody to CXCR4 at the Cambridge Healthtech Institute's 13th Annual Molecular Medicine Tri- Conference, February 21st-24th at the Moscone North Convention Center in San Francisco, California.

Number Of Twin Births Rising In China As Women Increase Use Of Fertility Drugs - Medical News Today 18/02/06

The number of twin births in China is increasing as more women in major Chinese cities use fertility drugs to avoid the country's strict family planning policies, Chinese state media said on Monday, AFP/Mail & Guardian reports (AFP/Mail & Guardian, 2/13). The Chinese government's one-child-per-family policy was instituted in the 1970s to slow the country's population growth (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 1/3). Women who live in rural regions and some wealthier urban families who want more children -- which is "impossible" under the country's one-child policy -- are the primary groups of women taking fertility drugs, according to the China Daily. China's Ministry of Health in January 2005 forbade healthy women from using fertility drugs, but there are reports of pharmacies saying that no prescription is necessary to acquire the drugs (Wu, China Daily, 2/13).

Cancer-killing Ability Of Chemotherapy May Be Improved By MRI Drug, Study Says - Medical News Today 18/02/06

A contrast agent currently used in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), called mangafodipir, may increase the cancer-killing ability of some chemotherapy drugs while protecting normal cells, according to a study in the February 15 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute .

Risk Of Prostate Cancer Not Reduced By Antioxidant Supplementation - Medical News 18/02/06

Intakes of dietary or supplemental antioxidants were not associated with a decreased risk of prostate cancer among men in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening Trial, according to a study in the February 15 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute . The study did find that vitamin E and beta-carotene supplementation may be associated with reduced prostate cancer risk in certain population subgroups.

FDA Approves Carboplatin Injection, 600 Mg - Initial Treatment Of Advanced Ovarian Carcinoma - Medical News Today 18/02/05

American Pharmaceutical Partners, Inc. (Nasdaq: APPX), today announced that it has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) for Carboplatin Injection (liquid form) in a 600 mg multi-dose vial. Carboplatin is the generic equivalent of Bristol-Myers Squibb Company's Paraplatin(R).

Lower Socioeconomic Status And Higher Rate Of Death Associated With Poor Physical Fitness - Medical News Today 18/02/06

Individuals who have abnormal findings on exercise stress testing are more likely to have lower than higher socioeconomic status, and these physiologic characteristics may help account for the correlation between low SES and a higher rate of death, according to a study in the February 15 issue of JAMA.

Mortality Of Older Americans Predicted With 81 Percent Accuracy By Simple System - Medical News Today 18/02/06

Researchers at the San Francisco VA Medical Center have created an index that is 81 percent accurate in predicting the likelihood of death within four years for people 50 and older.

Weight-loss Medication Shows Modest Benefit Also Improving HDL And Triglyceride Levels - Medical News Today 18/02/06

Use of the weight-loss medication rimonabant produced modest yet sustained weight loss after 2 years, and improved HDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels, according to a study in the February 15 issue of JAMA.

Novel Cancer Therapy Developed From Basic Research - Medical News Today 18/02/06

Cancer researcher Professor Axel Ullrich, a director at the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry in Martinsried, Germany, already showed at the beginning of the 1990s that blocking blood vessel development in a tumour slows down its growth, and shrinks its tissue. This fundamental principle led to the development of SUTENT®, whose active ingredient is Sunitinib. SUTENT® was recently approved for clinical use in the United States, and it is expected to be brought onto the German market this year.

Newborn Infants In Pain Can Be Effectively Treated With Morphine And Topical Tetracaine - Medical News Today 18/02/06

Intravenous morphine used alone or with topical tetracaine effectively reduced levels of pain in preterm newborn infants undergoing central line insertion procedures, according to a study in the February 15 issue of JAMA.

Swaziland Receives Inadequate Foreign Funding To Address HIV/AIDS Epidemic, King Mswati Says - Medical News Today 18/02/06

Swazi King Mswati III on Friday said that international donors are not providing enough funding to curb the country's HIV/AIDS epidemic or revitalize its failing economy, the Associated Press reports. In a speech opening the Swazi Parliament, Mswati said the country will allocate increased funding for HIV/AIDS-prevention programs and initiatives aimed at children who have lost one or both parents to HIV/AIDS. He also pledged funding for areas affected by drought in the country. In addition, Mswati called upon the country's residents to protect their families from HIV/AIDS. Swaziland has an estimated HIV prevalence rate of 38%, according to the Associated Press (Associated Press, 2/10).

A Bulging Midriff Roughly Doubles Women's Chances Of Gallstone Surgery - Medical News Today 18/02/06

A bulging midriff almost doubles a woman's chances of developing gallstones and the need for surgery to remove them, finds an extensive study published ahead of print in Gut.

Muscular Dystophy Genetics - Medical News Today 18/02/06

Various forms of human muscular dystrophy result from mutations in genes encoding proteins of the nuclear envelope. A new paper in the February 15th issue of G&D reveals how.

Pancreatic Cancer Combated By Broad-spectrum Cysteine Cathepsin Inhibitors - Medical News Today 18/02/06

In the March 1 issue, Drs. Johanna Joyce (MSKCC), Douglas Hanahan (UCSF) and colleagues lend new insight into how broad-spectrum cysteine cathepsin inhibitors combat pancreatic cancer, and provide new data to help refine the design of more precisely targeted anti-cathepsin therapies.

New Findings Indicate Improved Treatment, Prevention Strategies Needed For Heart Disease In Women - Medical News Today 18/02/06

Recent findings suggest that many women experience a different form of heart disease that is harder to detect and have led researchers to call for improved treatment and prevention strategies, the Wall Street Journal reports (Winslow, Wall Street Journal, 2/14). According to research released earlier this month by NIH, as many as three million women in the U.S. might have a cardiovascular condition called coronary microvascular syndrome that places them at higher risk of a heart attack but often goes undiagnosed because its symptoms do not appear on an angiogram. The condition causes plaque to accumulate evenly inside the major arteries and smaller blood vessels or the arteries to fail to expand correctly or go into spasm, the findings show. Other symptoms include fatigue, upset stomach and pain in the jaw or shoulders. However, because many women with symptoms do not show signs of blocked arteries on standard tests, doctors sometimes send them home without treatment or refer them to psychiatrists. The findings, which appear in a supplement to the Feb. 7 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, are the latest results released from the ongoing Women's Ischemia Syndrome Evaluation. The WISE study began in 1996 and tracked about 1,000 women with the goal of improving diagnosis and expanding understanding of heart disease in women (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 2/2).

Blood Pressure Improved By Pyridostigmine For Disorder Causing Postural Drops - Medical News Today 18/02/06

Use of a medication called pyridostigmine alone or in combination with low-dose midodrine appears to improve standing blood pressure in patients with orthostatic hypotension, a fall in blood pressure associated with postural changes and standing, according to a study posted online today that will appear in the April 2006 print issue of Archives of Neurology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

'Big Science': Top Funding For EU Lung Research Project PULMOTENSION - Medical News Today 18/02/06

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) describes a group of chronic, prolonged crippling and fatal vascular diseases. It is characterized by high blood pressure in the lung vessels leading to right heart failure. PH often affects young or middle-aged patients, who suffer from progressive loss of exercise capacity and dyspnoea. As a result, this serious lung disease represents a major burden on our healthcare systems.

Mad Cow Protein Might Be Necessary For Healthy Brain Function As It Aids Creation Of Brain Cells - Medical News Today 18/02/06

Few conditions are more detrimental to human brains than the one popularly referred to as mad cow disease. But now there's reason to suspect that the protein which, when malformed, causes bovine spongiform encephalopathy in cows and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in people, might also be necessary for healthy brain function. Researchers from Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research and Harvard Medical School/Massachusetts General Hospital have discovered that the normal form of this detrimental protein may actually help the brain create neurons, those electricity-conducting cells that make cognition possible.

Novel Drug-delivery System Created By Wrinkled Membranes - Medical News Today 18/02/06

A University of Illinois scientist studying how membranes wrinkle has discovered a novel system for on-demand drug delivery.

Bacteria's Mysterious Sugar Coat Unwrapped - Medical News Today 18/02/06

Scientists at The University of Texas at Austin have developed a quick and simple way to investigate the sugar coating that surrounds bacteria and plays a role in infection and immunity.

Regenerative Medicine Advanced By Use Of Adult Stem Cells For Replacement Bone - Medical News Today 18/02/06

In a significant advance for regenerative medicine, researchers at Rice University have discovered a new way to culture adult stem cells from bone marrow such that the cells themselves produce a growth matrix that is rich in important biochemical growth factors.

Chemical Detection Speeded Up By Reversible Microlenses - Medical News Today 18/02/06

Scientists at Georgia Tech have created technology capable of detecting trace amounts of biological or chemical agents in a matter of seconds, much faster than traditional methods, which can take hours or up to a day. The system uses reusable hydrogel microlenses so small that millions of them can fit on a one-inch-square plate. It could greatly enhance the ability of authorities responding to a biological or chemical weapons attack as well as increase the speed of medical testing. The research appears as an early view online for the chemistry journal Angawandte Chemie.

Addiction May Be Combatted By Single Treatment Strategy - Medical News Today 18/02/06

An international research team led by the University of Saskatchewan has discovered a signaling pathway in the brain involved in drug addiction, together with a method for blocking its action, that may point to a single treatment strategy for most addictions.

Estrogen HRT Might Lower Risk Of Heart Disease For Women In Their 50s, Study Says - Medical News Today 18/02/06

Women who take estrogen as a hormone replacement therapy from ages 50 to 59 might have a lower risk of developing heart disease, according to a study that is part of the NIH-funded Women's Health Initiative published in the Feb. 13 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine, the Washington Post reports (Stein, Washington Post, 2/14). In July 2002, NIH researchers ended a WHI study on combination HRT three years early because they determined that the treatment might increase the risk for heart disease, invasive breast cancer and other health problems (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 2/3). In that study, women took a combination of estrogen and progestin (Peres, Chicago Tribune, 2/14). For the most recent results, researchers examined 10,739 women enrolled in the WHI, ages 50 to 79, who had hysterectomies (Washington Post, 2/14). Half of the women were randomly assigned to receive Wyeth's estrogen pill Premarin and half were assigned to receive a placebo (Grady, New York Times, 2/14). Women with intact uteruses are not given estrogen alone because it increases the risk of developing uterine cancer, according to the Post (Washington Post, 2/14). Researchers in 2004 released preliminary results showing that women who received the estrogen had neither an increased nor decreased risk of heart disease compared with women taking the placebo. Researchers then followed up the results of the 3,310 women who were ages 50 to 59 when the study began to examine the prevalence of heart disease among the group about seven years after receiving the placebo or Premarin. Researchers found that 46 women who took Premarin died of a heart attack, had a heart attack or had symptoms of heart or cardiovascular disease, and 70 women who took the placebo experienced such symptoms -- a 34% lower risk for the Premarin group (Washington Post, 2/14). In addition, the study found that the Premarin group had a 45% lower risk of needing a bypass surgery or angioplasty compared with the placebo group.

Drug Aimed At Huntington's Eases Chorea, The Disease's Hallmark Feature - Medical News Today 18/02/06

A drug widely available in Europe and Canada - but not the United States - dramatically eases one of the most disabling symptoms of Huntington's disease, involuntary writhing movements known as chorea, according to a study in the Feb. 14 issue of the journal Neurology.

Hormone Linked To Good Hearing As We Age - Medical News Today 18/02/06

Researchers have linked a hormone known to adjust levels of key brain chemicals to the quality of our hearing as we age. The more of the hormone that older people have in their bloodstream, the better their hearing is, and the less of the hormone, the worse their hearing is.

Developing Rapid Diagnostic Test Chip For Human Respiratory Infections Including Test For Avian Flu Infection - Medical News Today 17/02/06

Sydney-based Ambri Limited (ASX: ABI) today released additional detail about its recently announced program to develop a rapid diagnostic test chip for human respiratory infections including a test for avian flu infection.

Biota Commences Phase 1 Clinical Trial Of Common Cold Drug Candidate - Medical News Today 17/02/06

Biota Holdings Limited (ASX:BTA) today announced the commencement of Phase I Human safety trials of its Human Rhinovirus (HRV) drug, BTA -798 for the prevention and treatment of one of the major causes of the common cold.

Benefits Of Estrogen Shouldn't Be Overlooked, USC Physician Says - Medical News Today 17/02/06

Results released this week from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) trial clarifies estrogen's role in protecting women from heart attacks. A USC medical researcher encourages women and doctors not to dismiss hormone therapy as the research continues to sort out mixed results from the last few years.

Rituximab Maintenance Therapy Dramatically Improves Survival For Patients With Lymphoma - Risk Of Death Can Be Halved - Medical News Today 17/02/06

Two years of maintenance therapy with rituximab dramatically improves the chances of survival for patients suffering from one of the most frequent forms of lymphoma, indolent non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL). The EORTC 20981 trial reveals that rituxibam maintenance treatment prologns progression free survival by about 2,5 years, irrespective of initial treatment. Moreover, the risk of death is halved for patients who receive rituximab maintenance therapy, compared to those who receive no maintenance treatment. The outcome of the clinical trial was presented at the 47th annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology in Atlanta, USA, late last year. The final report of the trial is about to be published shortly.

New Study Shows The Taxus Drug-Eluting Stent System Is A Better Choice For Patients And The Swedish Healthcare Budget - Medical News Today 17/02/06

A paper published today in the Scandinavian Cardiovascular Journal highlights that the TAXUS™ drug-eluting stent (DES) system is cost-effective compared to bare metal stents (BMS) in high-risk patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) treated in Sweden.1 For high-risk patients, when compared to BMS, the TAXUS stent system is cost-effective at 12 months and could lead to significant savings at 24 months despite the higher initial cost of the device. The authors also argue that if a cost-effectiveness measure of cost per revascularization avoided is used, the TAXUS stent system is cost-effective in average-risk patients at 12- and 24-months.

Iraq Confirms Second Human Case Of H5N1 Bird Flu Infection - Medical News Today 17/02/06

Iraqi authorities have confirmed a second human case of H5N1 bird flu virus strain infection. A 39-year-old man from Sulaimaniyah, northern Iraq, developed flu-like symptoms on January 18th and died on January 27th. His niece, a 15-year-old girl, had died of bird flu infection on January 17th.

SensorNet Prototype System For The Detection, Identification And Assessment Of Chemical, Biological, Radiological And Nuclear Threats - Medical News Today 17/02/06

Fort Bragg could be the model for the nation when it comes to protecting the public through a network that integrates a 911 dispatch system with sensors, alarms and video surveillance.

Diet study confusion will not change habits-analysts - Reuters 19/02/06

New studies indicating a low-fat diet does not reduce the risk of cancer and calcium supplements do little to prevent broken bones are unlikely to change consumers' habits and may only add to confusion about the link between diet and health.

Vioxx jury says Merck not liable in death - Reuters 18/02/06

A federal jury said on Friday that drugmaker Merck Co. Inc. was not liable in the 2001 death of a Florida man who used the recalled painkiller Vioxx.

FDA panel recommends flu vaccine changes for 2006/07 - Reuters 17/02/06

A U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory panel on Friday recommended changing two of the three virus strains used in this year's seasonal flu vaccine for the 2006/07 flu season.

Smoking not good with new inhaled insulin - Reuters 17/02/06

Smoking leads to major changes in the absorption of the newly approved inhaled insulin, Exubera, German and US researchers warn.

Anti-inflammatories may not help tendon injuries - Reuters 17/02/06

Anti-inflammatory painkillers like ibuprofen and naproxen may be ineffective in many cases of tendon injury, according to researchers.

Cortisol's role in obesity not clearcut - Reuters 17/02/06

It is simplistic to suggest that lowering cortisol levels will promote weight loss, as some television ads claim, according to researchers at the Oregon Health and Science University in Portland.

FDA: More study needed on birth control patch risk - Reuters 17/02/06

Early findings suggest Johnson & Johnson's contraceptive patch may cause more blood clots than birth control pills but more research is needed, U.S. health officials said on Friday.

World must invest in bird flu vaccine: WHO official - Reuters 17/02/06

The world has spent more than $3 billion to stockpile anti-virals against bird flu but is not investing enough to develop an influenza pandemic vaccine, a top official of the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday.

Cheshire and Merseyside News

Let battle recommence - Warrington Guardian 18/02/06

CONTROVERSIAL plans to build the UK's first health waste treatment plant in Warrington, thrown out last year, are to be debated again.


Fears over drug clinic - Southport Visiter 17/02/06

RESIDENTS have vowed to fight plans to establish a drugs clinic and syringe exchange service in Manchester Road.

A&E service reversal? - Southport Visiter 17/02/06

SOUTHPORT and Ormskirk Hospital says reports that emergency services shifted between its sites could be moved back as part of the controversial shake up of Mersey-side and Lancashire hospitals are premature.

Parents urged to follow Joy's lead - Southport Visiter 17/02/06

THE director of Public Health for Southport and Formby Primary Care Trust is reminding parents of the importance of keeping their child's vaccinations up to date.

Hospital chief looks forward to a little healthy competition - Chester Chronicle 17/02/06

It's a new era for the Countess of Chester, which has undertaken a massive building programme. As patients are given the right to choose where they are treated, DAVID HOLMES finds chief executive Peter Herring looking to the future with unflappable optimism.

Herceptin set for NHS fast track? - Daily Post 17/02/06

The makers of breast cancer drug Herceptin announced they had applied for an early-use licence, which could fast-track it for use across the NHS.

Warning on health target 'gaming' - Daily Post 17/02/06

Extra controls are needed to make sure health bosses are not manipulating services just to meet Government targets, researchers have said.

Smoking ban backed by Helen - Warrington Guardian 17/02/06

WARRINGTON South MP Helen Southworth has backed a total ban on smoking in public places.

Smoking ban: The great divide - Chester Chronicle 17/02/06
MP supports smoking ban - Ormskirk Advertiser 16/03/02
A breath of fresh air for shoppers in Wayfarers - Southport Visiter 17/02/06
Historic decision for public health - Southport Visiter 17/02/06

How will my family cope without me? - Runcorn World 17/02/06

That's the devastating dilemma facing young mums battling cancer, who know they may only have months to live.

CARE providers across Halton have teamed. - This up to encourage everyone to get the right treatment - Runcorn World 17/02/06

This follows a rise in people attending North Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust's accident and emergency department.

Heart disease can be prevented - Runcorn World 17/02/06

HEART disease which killed 1,388 people in Halton and Merseyside last year, can be prevented, say health chiefs.

Bashful women shy away from vital cancer scans - Daily Post 16/02/06

WOMEN in Merseyside are missing potentially life-saving cancer scans because they are embarrassed at undressing, according to research published last night.

Work plan for care residents - Liverpool Echo 16/02/06

DISABLED people could be put to work instead of attending day care centres in Liverpool.

A haven for child victims - Liverpool Echo 16/02/06

Last week the NSPCC secured a deal to build a centre of excellence in Liverpool, but exactly how will children who have suffered abuse benefit from it? Jessica Shaughnessy reports

Unit's minor use just not enough to justify it - MP - Ormskirk Advertiser 16/03/02

MORE people should be using Ormskirk Hospital's minor injuries unit.

Hospital assessed - Ormskirk Advertiser 16/03/02

SOUTHPORT & Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust is one of the safest in the country, an independent health watchdog has confirmed.

Early present for baby unit - Ormskirk Advertiser 16/03/02

CHRISTMAS has come extremely early for the special care baby unit at Ormskirk Hospital, after receiving a donation of 600 pounds.

Changes at hospital ensure bright future - Halton Weekly News 16/02/06

HEALTH chiefs claim Halton Hospital can look forward to a bright future.

Half the borough population is obese - report - Halton Weekly News 16/02/06

MORE than half the population of Halton is obese, a shock report has revealed.

Think: Do you really need to go to A&E? - Halton Weekly News 16/02/06

PATIENTS are being urged to make sure they get the correct treatment.

Cumbria and Lancashire News

Oxygen-wait death sparks national probe - Carlisle News & Star 18/02/06

A NATIONAL probe has been launched after the News & Star revealed how a Carlisle woman died while waiting for emergency oxygen.

Work to start on 1.4m 'Super Health Centre' - Carlisle News & Star 17/02/06

WORK on the 1.4 million health centre for Aspatria is to begin this month.

Maternity audit wait - Carlisle News & Star 17/02/06

HEALTH bosses say it will be at least May before any further information about west Cumbria’s threatened maternity service is revealed.

Dentists blame alcopops for bad teeth - Lancashire Evening Telegraph 17/02/06

DENTISTS are blaming sugary alcopop drinks for a generation of East Lancashire twenty-something drinkers with bad teeth.

Greater Manchester News
'High Efficiency' Vacuum Cleaners No More Effective Than Standard Models At Reducing Exposure To Dust-mites - Medical News Today 19/02/06

Researchers at the North West Lung Centre, run by The University of Manchester and based at Wythenshawe Hospital, have discovered that vacuum cleaners with 'high-efficiency particulate air' or HEPA filters are no more effective than standard models at reducing exposure to dust-mites.

Cancer victim Gemma is not giving up hope - Bolton Evening News 17/02/06

Cancer sufferer Gemma Feeney has been told she is terminally ill - but is refusing to give up hope.

Not clearing up litter is a health risk - Bolton Evening News 17/02/06

WRITERS A Lowther and Bill Perrigo should not be so pessimistic about the tsunami of litter that is enveloping Bolton.

Legal action to be taken over smoking 'breach of rights' - Bolton Evening News 17/02/06

A LANDLORD is to launch legal action against the Government after MPs voted to ban smoking in all pubs.

Nicky's fight with breast cancer at 26 - Bury Times 17/02/06

A WOMAN who was told by her GP that she was too young for breast cancer found herself fighting for her life aged 26.

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