Monday, February 27, 2006

Contents

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National News
Why things fell apart for joined-up thinking - The Observer 26/02/06

Whatever happended to joined-up government? One of New Labour's favourite mantras when it came to power, it dropped out of the lexicon in the second term. This is perhaps understandable, since there is precious little of it about. But that, too, is not surprising, because the management methods the government favours make joined-up anything almost impossible to achieve.

We need fewer babies in Britain, not more - The Observer 26/02/06

Some of us feel that the UK baby drought does not go far enough ('How the baby shortage threatens our future', News, last week). Worldwide, we have a threatened environment and it would surely be good if we in Britain could show an example and reduce our economic activities as well as our population size. More babies will mean even more older people - and it is people who have caused the problems that threaten our life-support systems. We are healthier now and capable of working longer.

Drugs giant promises data access - The Observer 26/02/06

A pharmaceutical giant has promised to give a full guarantee of independence to academic researchers whose work it funds in a move that follows widespread concern over the company's handling of a major UK drugs study.

How a plastic heart gave Claudia, aged one, a second chance to live - The Observer 26/02/06

A pioneering new plastic 'heart' is enabling doctors to keep alive critically ill children while they wait for heart transplants. Surgeons at Great Ormond Street Hospital have managed to stabilise three young children by using the 'Berlin Heart', a device which keeps the blood pumping around the body when the child's own organ is too weak to work properly. Until now there has been little doctors can do to support a child with severe heart failure once they deteriorate.

A life-saving piggyback: how baby was kept alive until new heart was found - The Independent 26/02/06
'Toy' hearts keep children alive - The Sunday Times 26/02/06

Four in 10 fines for antisocial crimes unpaid - The Observer 26/02/06

More than four out of 10 fines for litter, dog fouling and graffiti are not paid, despite government promises to crack down on antisocial behaviour.

What's in your bento box? - The Observer 26/02/06

Sushi has a healthy reputation although I'm a little dubious about its supposed merits due to the fact that its primary constituent - white rice - is generally unnutritious. In addition, refined rice tends to release its sugar quite quickly into the bloodstream which can stimulate, among other things, fat accumulation in the body.

How can I maintain my health into old age? - The Observer 26/02/06

We all know a little extra oil helps ease our joints as we enter our dotage. But what are the best alternatives if you find supplements hard to stomach? Our panel of experts offers advice

Ethical eating: how much do you swallow? - The Observer 26/02/06

Two years ago, there were just 150 Fairtrade products. Now there are over a thousand. So can a bunch of celebrities persuade us to buy more, asks Andrew Purvis

Massive rise in child porn sites - The Observer 26/02/06

The number of websites found to be offering child pornography to UK internet users increased by 75 per cent last year amid fears of an explosion in illegal images generated overseas.

A brave teenager shows the way on animal testing - The Observer 26/02/06

The success of yesterday's demonstration held in support of Oxford's animal research laboratory is to be warmly welcomed. If nothing else, it sends a clear message to the extremists who are attempting to block its construction through acts of intimidation and violence. These individuals have scant popular backing, it is now clear, a view supported by surveys which show that 75 per cent of the UK public back the use of experiments on animals, mainly rats and mice, in order to develop new medicines and treatments. If we want to conquer Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's and diabetes, research centres like Oxford's are going to be of vital importance, a point now accepted by tens of millions of Britons.

Death threat for teenage animal test supporter - The Observer 26/02/06
Scientists rally behind teenage Pro-Tester - The Independent 26/02/06

Bird flu: 'don't panic', UK told - The Observer 26/02/06

Experts seek to reassure the public after restaurant takes wild fowl off its menu and McDonald's admits 'contingency plan'

Toxic cockpit fumes that bring danger to the skies - The Observer 26/02/06

Dozens of pilots have flown while dizzy, nauseous and suffering double vision on crowded passenger flights. The cause is contaminated air and it can strike without warning - but the cases have been kept from the public. Antony Barnett reports

Revealed: toxic gas threat to air safety - The Observer 26/02/06
Poisonous fumes on British jets made aircrew 'dizzy and sick' - The Independent 26/02/06

NHS chiefs get 'high noon' deadline to cut huge deficit - The Guardian 25/02/06

Top officials at the Department of Health were in crisis talks yesterday about a further deterioration in NHS finances caused by the overspending of hospitals and primary care trusts in England.

Emma Mitchell: Is soya flour good for you? - The Guardian 25/02/06

My sister has told me I shouldn't be eating soya flour because it's harmful to the body. Do you agree? She points out that it's in everything nowadays, so how do you avoid it?

Nicholas Lezard: How Slack Dad learned to cope on his own - The Guardian 25/02/06

I am writing this while looking after three children whose mother, heretofore but not hereinafter referred to as Unslack Mum, spends nine days swanning around Bangkok and Phuket with a friend. Actually, I'm not writing this under such circumstances. When they obtained, I was too busy to write anything much more complex than "remember PIANO MUSIC" and "2 pts gold top, please, not banana milk like last time". That second addition to my oeuvre, incidentally, took me 45 minutes and three drafts to get right. The first note said "2 pts PIANO MUSIC not babana I mean bananana". The second draft ... well, you get the idea.

Family forum: Nursery care for the under-threes; too early, too much, too long? - The Guardian 25/02/06

Last week we published an extract from childcare guru Steve Biddulph's new book in which he delivered a broadside against nursery care for the under-threes. Here we publish a selection of reader responses.

Out with the old? - The Guardian 25/02/06

From October, new ageism rules will mean laying off older staff could cost firms dear. Get rid of them now and the penalties are lower. What's a boss to do? By Ian Wylie and Chris Ball

Whatever happened to ... the Sars pandemic? - The Guardian 25/02/06

It has all been bird flu this week, but it is not so long since the spectre of a Sars pandemic was hogging the headlines. Severe acute respiratory syndrome is a pneumonia-like coronavirus that first emerged in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong in November 2002. Eight months later, the international spread of Sars-CoV had resulted in 8,098 cases and 774 deaths in 26 countries.

Doctors can let girl, 2, die, says judge - The Guardian 25/02/06

Doctors treating a severely disabled two-year-old girl should be allowed to act against her parents' wishes and let her die if they feel it is best for her, a high court judge has ruled.

Chaos alleged over dentists' contracts - The Guardian 25/02/06

Negotiations between dentists and their NHS bosses over new contracts are in chaos and will force more surgeries to opt out of NHS treatment this spring, dentists' leaders warned yesterday.

Ministers order 3.5m doses of bird flu vaccine - The Guardian 25/02/06

Britain has ordered 3.5m doses of a vaccine against the H5N1 avian bird flu virus in the hope that immunising key workers will help protect them if a mutated pandemic strain arrives in this country.

Deadline For Joining GB Poultry Register (UK) - Medical News Today 25/02/06
Contract Award For Purchase Of H5N1 Vaccine, UK Department Of Health - Medical News Today 25/02/06
Poultry register short by 40m birds - The Telegraph 26/02/06

Jealous father gets life for torture and murder of son - The Guardian 25/02/06

A father who tortured and battered his three-month-old son to death because he was jealous of the attention the baby's mother showed him was jailed for life yesterday.

Decca Aitkenhead talks to a paedophile who 'never touched a child' and is trusted again - The Guardian 25/02/06

Angus realised at the age of 21 he was 'every parent's worst nightmare', a paedophile. Thirty years later, his partner trusts him with her young son. How did he change his life so completely?
The stress of marriage shortens your life by a year (if you're the wife) - The Independent 26/02/06

Wedding rings should come with a health warning - at least for women. New research reveals that while wedlock helps men to live longer, it shortens a woman's life by more than a year.

Food: We need it. We love it. So why do 11 million of us have trouble with it? - The Independent 26/02/06

Eating to feel better is now being recognised as a severe clinical problem in Britain. Which is why the Priory is treating chocoholics

Cheated at birth: The real gender gap - The Independent 26/02/06

Women are earning up to 1m less than men during their working life because of a "scandalous culture" of gender inequality in pay, The Independent on Sunday can reveal.

Women earn up to 1m less than men - The Independent 26/02/06
Chancellor's bid to boost women's pay - The Telegraph 26/02/06

The bird flu files: How Britain would fight a pandemic - The Independent 26/02/06

As bird flu crept closer to Britain's shores last night, with the discovery that a turkey farm in France was riddled with infection, top planners in Whitehall have begun to draw up emergency preparations for a pandemic that could, if the worst happens, kill hundreds of thousands of people in the UK. This news coincides with a report that says factory farming and the international poultry trade are largely responsible for the spread of bird flu, and wild birds are being unfairly blamed for the disease.

UK plc plans for bird flu epidemic - The Sunday Times 26/02/06
Avian flu may force McNuggets off menu - The Telegraph 26/02/06

Locked-up birds in flu outbreak will still be sold as free range - The Sunday Times 26/02/06

BRITAIN has stepped up preparations for an outbreak of avian flu with rules allowing free-range and organic poultry farmers to confine their flocks in sheds without losing their premium status.

NHS takes up Cherie's magic magnets cure - The Sunday Times 26/02/06

IT COULD be called the Cleopatra Effect. Magnetic therapy, which has held the rich and powerful in thrall from ancient Egypt to modern Downing Street, is about to be made available on the National Health Service.

Call to end NHS ‘lifestyle’ surgery - The Sunday Times 26/02/06

THOUSANDS of women are getting breast enlargements, tummy-tucks and nose jobs on the National Health Service, prompting calls for a review of the number of operations being carried out for cosmetic and lifestyle reasons.

Watchdog to reveal executive failure on doctors’ pay deal - The Sunday Times 26/02/06

MINISTERS failed to account for the huge cost of implementing a new contract for Scotland’s hospital consultants, leading to millions of pounds being diverted from frontline health services, the public spending watchdog is to reveal.

Trust me, the smoking ban is sexy - The Sunday Times 26/02/06

It’s called smirting, and it’s almost certainly coming to a smoking zone near you soon. Kathy Foley reports from Dublin on how the Irish ban has spiced up sex lives

Inside the mind of a brain expert - The Sunday Times 26/02/06

Baroness Susan Greenfield is taking science to the masses with her bestselling books and revolutionary research into how children learn. Now she brings her skills to Heriot-Watt University, writes Gillian Bowditch

Baby jabs fear over new NHS software - The Times 25/02/06

THE health of thousands of children in London has been put at risk by significant failures in the new 6 billion NHS computer system, The Times has learnt.

Thousands of children at risk after computer fault - The Observer 26/02/06

The hungry years? - The Times 25/02/06

Our battle with obesity is blinding us to malnutrition in the elderly

The nano state is here - The Times 25/02/06

Should we worry about the ill-effects of tiny matter? Vivienne Parry cuts nanotechnology down to size

Dr Copperfield: inside the mind of a GP - The Times 25/02/06

Ties and links with MRSA During an average consultation, it’s not unusual for the concentration of doctor or patient to wander and for eye contact to drift. With me, it happens around symptom seven of ten and it leads my gaze to a mark on the wall that usually proves more interesting than “ . . . a dizzy feeling when I break wind, doctor”. For the patient, it occurs whenever they catch sight of my tie.

Junk medicine: the species barrier - The Times 25/02/06

Human health and animal medicine There is nothing special about a human being as far as bacteria and viruses are concerned. The privileged ethical status of human life confers no protection against disease. To pathogens, a person is just another potential host, an organism that is worth infecting if it offers an attractive home.

So are you fit for the job? - The Times 25/02/06

Feeling a bit tired, overweight and sluggish? Watch out, your boss may have plans for your lifestyle. Roger Dobson on wellbeing at work

The joy of stress - The Times 25/02/06

Work is one of the main causes of stress. More than a third of the population find work their biggest worry, according to a recent BUPA survey. The Government-supported Health and Safety Executive points the finger at IT, saying it accounts for 30 per cent of our anxiety. Stress poses serious risks for our health. A study published in the BMJ last month suggested that men who experience stress a lot are twice as likely to suffer from heart disease and diabetes as those who are not exposed to stress. Meanwhile, high stress in female workers seems to carry five times the risk of heart disease and diabetes.

Sorted: chairs: are you getting the best support? - The Times 25/02/06

Paul Godfrey, a physiotherapist and physiologist, picks the best ergonomic chairs for correct posture - and they look good too

Dr Copperfield: inside the mind of a GP - The Times 25/02/06

Ties and links with MRSA During an average consultation, it’s not unusual for the concentration of doctor or patient to wander and for eye contact to drift. With me, it happens around symptom seven of ten and it leads my gaze to a mark on the wall that usually proves more interesting than “ . . . a dizzy feeling when I break wind, doctor”. For the patient, it occurs whenever they catch sight of my tie.

A pain in the neck - The Times 25/02/06

Years of slumping at her desk turned into a spine-chilling horror for Mary Gold. It was time to sit up — properly

Monkey business - The Times 25/02/06

Have you got what it takes to climb to the top of the tree? John Naish explains how you can win at the game of office primate psychology

Psychology of stripping - The Times 25/02/06

Top burlesque star Dita Von Teese takes her kit off for thousands of pounds — but she tells Hannah Betts that the only time she feels naked is when she’s not wearing her lipstick or heels

Spas: state of Grace - The Times 25/02/06

Grace Bradberry finds out how a luxury hotel woos the GI crowd

Relationships: The late-stayer - The Times 25/02/06

Every office has its late-stayer. He stays at his desk when his colleagues are putting their coats on to go home. “Coming to the pub, Steve?” they ask. “Maybe later,” Steve mumbles, eyes fixed on his computer screen. But he won’t show up later. He will carry on working.

Bodylicious: lip balms - The Times 25/02/06

Catherine Small, the acting editor of Cosmopolitan Hair & Beauty magazine, chooses the best products for chapped lips

Agony and ecstasy: sex advice - The Times 25/02/06

After a recent prostate operation at the age of 74, I can't ejaculate and my penis is not as engorged as before. Will I ever regain a normal erection?

Spread that eco-magic - The Times 25/02/06

Can’t see the wood for the trees in your office? Then call in the eco-expert, says Anna Shepard

What’s cooking in the canteen? - The Times 25/02/06

Can this tasty, colourful meal really be a worker’s lunch? Nick Wyke reports on a new appetite for better choices

Menu mentor: Jane Clarke's guide to delicious eating out - The Times 25/02/06

MARKS & SPENCER If I haven’t packed my own lunchbox, Marks & Spencer’s Food to Go is my most likely port of call. It’s where I feel the quality stands up best — even if the loose fruit can be astronomically expensive. And I approve of the way the products are labelled clearly. I have a certain weakness for M&S food, apart from its Count on Us range which, for me, smacks too much of being on a diet. There is a huge variety to choose from, but I would probably be tucking into the following for lunch.

At your table: lunchboxes: it's easy to pack a nutritious punch - The Times 25/02/06

With the days still cold and gloomy, lunchtime nourishment needs to be more than just a flabby, tasteless sandwich or a pre-packed salad that doesn’t touch the sides of your stomach

Going up the walls - The Times 25/02/06

Indoor climbing walls are a great way to get in shape. Novice Anna Shepard ropes up for a gripping lesson

Not just anybody: Jason Gardener - The Times 25/02/06

Champion sprinter Jason Gardener, 30, likes to slow down by chilling at home with his family
Childhood obesity time bomb explodes - The Telegraph 26/02/06

Soaring levels of obesity have sparked a crisis of "adult" diabetes in children, a new study has revealed.

'We will sue Whitehall for breaking race law' - The Telegraph 26/02/06

The chairman of the Commission for Racial Equality accused the Government yesterday of "deep institutional complacency" for failing to enforce its own laws to safeguard the rights of ethnic minorities.

We have let down the poor, says Blair - The Telegraph 25/02/06

Tony Blair conceded yesterday that Labour had let down many of the poorest in society by spending money unwisely and intervening to help them only when it was "too late".

Poverty of the spirit - The Telegraph 25/02/06

Father who killed baby was known to be a risk - The Telegraph 25/02/06

A father who battered and burned his infant son to death despite authorities knowing that he posed a risk to children was jailed for life yesterday.
Hope for better baby hearing test - BBC Health News 26/02/06

A brain test to detect which frequencies babies cannot hear could help design individualised hearing aids for them, a researcher suggests.

Temp work 'harms women's health' - BBC Health News 25/02/06

Women in temp jobs are more likely than men in similar posts to have their employment terminated if they are often off sick, a study has found.

New ruling as Charlotte worsens - BBC Health News 24/02/06

A judge has ruled that doctors treating toddler Charlotte Wyatt can decide not to resuscitate her if they feel it would not be in her best interests.

Confusion over drug trial rights - BBC Health News 24/02/06

Clinical trial patients may mistakenly believe they would be compensated for accidental harm because of badly worded contracts, a senior doctor warns.

MI6 payouts over secret LSD tests - BBC Health News 24/02/06

Three UK ex-servicemen have been given compensation after they were given LSD without their consent in the 1950s.
Changing Rules Of Engagement Between Government,industry And NHS To Provide Best Treatment For Patients, UK - Medical News Today 26/02/06

A fundamental change in the way Government, the pharmaceutical industry and health providers interact is essential if the best possible healthcare is to be provided to patients, delegates at a major London conference heard today.

NHS To Help Patients Help Themselves, UK - Medical News Today 25/02/06

NHS and social care organisations are being given extra support in helping millions of people with long term conditions manage their health better and stay out of hospital, in a new guide published today by the Department of Health.

Status Of Organic Birds Confined Indoors To Comply With Veterinary Requirements Introduced In Response To A Threat Of Avian Influenza, UK - Medical News Today 25/02/06

The UK Administrations recognise there is concern that the possible introduction of veterinary requirements to confine poultry indoors in response to the threat of, or an outbreak of, avian influenza could result in flocks, and thus eggs and poultry, losing their organic status.

Xenon Gas Safe In Surgery And Could Help Stop Nerve Damaging Illnesses - Medical News Today 25/02/06

Scientists have successfully conducted the first clinical trial giving xenon gas to patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting in order to safeguard against postoperative brain damage that can occur following this procedure.

Reduction In Teenage Conceptions Good News, Says Fpa, UK - Medical News Today 24/02/06

Toni Belfield, fpa (Family Planning Association) Director of Information, said: “We welcome the new conception data out today (23rd February 06), that shows a significant reduction in the rate of teenage pregnancy in both the under 18 and under 16 age groups in England.

International News
Factory farms blamed for spread of bird flu - The Independent 26/02/06

Dissident scientists accept that the flu began in wild birds, but say it developed in the cramped conditions of Asian factory farms. Research published in the official journal of the US National Academy of Sciences blames the poultry trade for the virus spreading from China to Vietnam.

Office smokers of Madrid are allowed in from the cold - The Independent 25/02/06

The temperatures in Madrid were hovering around freezing point this week, but this did not stop groups of shivering workers standing outside their office buildings puffing on their cigarettes.
'DNA target' to block HIV found - BBC Health News 26/02/06

American scientists have discovered how a molecule controls HIV's ability to hijack the genetic machinery of human cells.

France confirms bird flu strain - BBC Health News 25/02/06

France has confirmed the deadly bird flu virus H5N1 has been found on a turkey farm in the east of the country.

Bird flu fears intensify as France is forced to slaughter turkeys - The Independent 25/02/06
Deadly flu strain hits EU poultry - The Telegraph 25/02/06
Chirac urges calm over bird flu - BBC Health News 25/02/06

Hope for early Alzheimer's test - BBC Health News 24/02/06

Experts have developed a way to track the loss of key receptors in brain tissue caused by the earliest stages of Alzheimer's disease.

France holds human bird flu drill - BBC Health News 24/02/06

Authorities in France have staged an exercise to test the ability of the emergency services to cope with an outbreak of bird flu in humans.

'Pharmed' goat drug not approved - BBC Health News 24/02/06

An application to license the world's first medicine to be produced from a GM animal has been turned down.

Orthopaedic Surgeon Performs Innovative Microfracture Procedure On Arthritic Knees Avoiding Knee Replacement Surgery - Medical News Today 26/02/06

Kevin Plancher, M.D. a leading New York Orthopaedic Surgeon, has a national reputation for his expertise in performing the Microfracture procedure on patients with arthritic knees with worn away cartilage. The Microfracture procedure is spurred to generate its own new cartilage like surface, (the white fibrous cushion that keeps bone from rubbing against bone in joints), and it is far less invasive, simpler and easier on the patient than other treatments for bad knees.

Economic Impact Of Acute Ischemic Stroke - Medical News Today 26/02/06

Study results presented today at the International Stroke Congress (ISC) in Florida highlight the increasing financial burden caused by the outcomes of acute ischemic stroke and its impact on a variety of healthcare resources. The data show the effect of long-term disability caused by stroke on healthcare resources and emphasize the importance of wide economic assessment in evaluating the benefit of new stroke treatments.

Diagnosing Child Abuse, Criterion Not Always Accurate - Medical News Today 26/02/06

When it comes to looking for damage to the eyes to prove child abuse, new research shows that things aren't always as they seem, according to Patrick Lantz, M.D., a forensic pathologist from Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center.

AstraZeneca Files Notice Of Appeal For Patent Infringement On Toprol-XL® - Medical News Today 26/02/06

straZeneca announced today that is has filed a Notice with the US District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri of its appeal to the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit of the January 17, 2006 decision by Judge Rodney Sippel declaring US compound patent Number 5,081,154 and composition patent Number 5,001,161 covering TOPROL XL (metoprolol succinate) extended release tablets invalid and unenforceable.

Treatment For Prostate Cancer Helps Older Men Live Longer, Versus Observation - Medical News Today 26/02/06

A new study shows older men with early stage prostate cancer survive longer if they are treated versus not being treated in favor of the "watchful waiting" approach advocated by many physicians for older men with other health problems. In addition, the study revealed a survival benefit for men treated with radiation therapy making it the first study to demonstrate a survival advantage in an older population. The study was presented by Fox Chase Cancer Center medical oncologist Yu-Ning Wong, M.D., at the 2006 Prostate Cancer Symposium Feb. 25 in San Francisco.

Coping With Crisis On Campus: Conference Will Focus On College Mental Health Issues After Disasters - Medical News Today 26/02/06

In the past few years, college campuses across the country have been rocked by crisis, from regional disasters such as hurricanes and terrorist attacks to local incidents including accidents, fires and clusters of suicides.

Swaziland's First Children's HIV/AIDS Medical Center Opens; Building Treatment Capacity In The World's Hardest Hit Country - Medical News Today 26/02/

The first pediatric center dedicated to caring for HIV/AIDS-infected infants and children in Swaziland, the African country with the highest prevalence of AIDS in the world, officially opened today. Operated by Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, in partnership with the government, it is funded by Bristol-Myers Squibb's SECURE THE FUTURE® philanthropic initiative. It is the third center dedicated to treating HIV-infected children to open as a result of the Bristol-Myers Squibb-Baylor partnership in Africa, adding to a growing network of clinics addressing the terrible impact of HIV/AIDS on children in Africa and elsewhere in the developing world.

Androgen Deprivation Therapy Does Not Keep Localized Prostate Cancer From Spreading, New Study Says - Medical News Today 26/02/06

Oregon Health & Science University Cancer Institute researchers wanted to know if depriving men of testosterone actually keeps cancer from spreading beyond the prostate. What they found is that men who have localized prostate cancer with certain high-risk features and receive this treatment -- known as androgen deprivation therapy -- remain at risk of dying from prostate cancer.

French And Foreign Consumers Shun French Poultry - Medical News Today 26/02/06

The French poultry industry is starting to feel the devastating consequences of the psychological fear of bird flu as French and foreign consumers stop buying poultry products. According to various sources in France, chicken meat sales have dropped by 30%. Despite President Jacques Chirac's assurances that cooked chicken meat is perfectly safe to eat.

Hong Kong bans French poultry after bird flu find - Reuters 26/02/06

Prostate Cancer Treatment And Bone Loss - Common Osteoporosis Treatment May Help - Medical News Today 26/02/06

Men with prostate cancer who experience bone loss from cancer treatment could benefit from a weekly oral therapy commonly given to women with osteoporosis, according to a study presented by the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) at the American Society of Clinical Oncology Prostate Cancer Symposium, Feb. 24 to 26 at the San Francisco Marriott. The study, abstract number 139, will be featured in a press program at the meeting, 7:30 a.m., Sunday, Feb. 26.

Investigational Therapy Denosumab Increased Bone Mineral Density With Twice-Yearly Dosing; One Year Data Published In NEJM - Medical News Today 26/02/

Amgen (NASDAQ: AMGN), the world's largest biotechnology company, announced today the publication of Phase 2 data demonstrating twice-yearly injections of denosumab (previously referred to as AMG 162), a RANK Ligand inhibitor, significantly increased bone mineral density (BMD) in the total hip, lumbar spine, distal 1/3 radius and total body compared to placebo. The results of this one-year study appeared in the Feb. 23, 2006 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. Data results also included an open-label FOSAMAX(R) (alendronate)(a) arm of the same clinical trial.

Intelligently Designed Molecular Evolution At Berkeley - Medical News Today 26/02/06

Evolutionary paths to new therapeutic drugs, as well as a wide assortment of other enzyme products, have been created through, of all things, intelligent design. A team of researchers with the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) and the University of California at Berkeley have developed a technique in which the evolution of an important class of proteins is steered towards a desired outcome.

Relationship Between Oral And Cardiovascular Health Shown By Study - Medical News Today 26/02/06

New research is reinforcing the longstanding belief that a connection exists between periodontal disease, or severe gum inflammation, and cardiovascular disease. But according to Moise Desvarieux, MD, PhD, infectious disease epidemiologist in the Department of Epidemiology at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health, the nature of the relationship is still unclear and patients cannot rely only on good oral hygiene as a way to reduce their risk for heart disease--they must manage other risk factors for the disease as well.

Pain Medicine Scientific Research Highlights - Medical News Today 26/02/06

22nd Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Pain Medicine Pain medicine investigators presented preliminary research findings at poster sessions held during the 22nd annual meeting of the American Academy of Pain Medicine at the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego.

Growth In Transdermal Gels Driven By Demographic, Healthcare Trends- New Survey By Greystone Associates Examines Market Potential - Medical News Today

As the pace of drug discovery accelerates, the route of administration is increasingly being viewed as a critical component of therapeutic business strategies and an integral part of the drug development process. While oral administration remains the dominant method for delivering drugs systemically, a significant number of new therapeutic compounds will require delivery technologies that avoid or mitigate the metabolic processes associated with oral ingestion of medication.

Efficacy Of Glucosamine And Chondroitin Sulfate May Depend On Level Of Osteoarthritis Pain - Medical News Today 26/02/06

In a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine*, the popular dietary supplement combination of glucosamine plus chondroitin sulfate did not provide significant relief from osteoarthritis pain among all participants. However, a smaller subgroup of study participants with moderate-to-severe pain showed significant relief with the combined supplements. This research was funded by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) and the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), components of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Researchers led by rheumatologist Daniel O. Clegg, M.D., of the University of Utah, School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, conducted the 4-year study known as the Glucosamine/chondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial (GAIT) at 16 sites across the United States.

Teen Sexual Encounters Not Only A Result Of Unsupervised Afternoons - Medical News Today 26/02/06

Teen girls reported they were twice as likely to engage in sexual intercourse in the evenings as after school, according to research by Indiana University School of Medicine Adolescent Medicine researchers.

Response To Asthma Medications May Be Affected By Obesity - Medical News Today 26/02/06

As the nation's collective waistline has swelled in recent decades, rates of asthma diagnoses also have accelerated. Indeed, much research has affirmed a link between the two conditions.

Intelligently Designed Molecular Evolution At Berkeley - Medical News Today 26/02/06

Evolutionary paths to new therapeutic drugs, as well as a wide assortment of other enzyme products, have been created through, of all things, intelligent design. A team of researchers with the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) and the University of California at Berkeley have developed a technique in which the evolution of an important class of proteins is steered towards a desired outcome.

Proteins Are Key To Cell Death In Heart Disease, Stroke And Degenerative Conditions - Medical News Today 26/02/06

Researchers at Yale School of Medicine have gained deeper understanding of two members of a family of proteins called caspases that play a key role in promoting apoptosis, a process in which the cell responds to external signals by essentially committing suicide.

PSA Campaign About Risky Sexual Behaviors A Success, Says Brenner Children's Hospital Researcher - Medical News Today 26/02/06

Media campaigns that remind parents to talk with their children about sex are effective, according to a pediatric researcher at Brenner Children's Hospital and Wake Forest University School of Medicine. Robert H. DuRant, Ph.D., and his colleagues studied a public service announcement (PSA) campaign aired recently in North Carolina that conveyed the message, "Talk to your kids about sex. Everyone else is." The campaign, which ran for nine months and featured billboard, television and radio PSAs, focused on 20 North Carolina counties which have the highest teen pregnancy rates. A telephone survey of parents in the region showed that the campaign did influence them to talk with their children about sex. The results are published in the March issue of the Journal of Adolescent Health.

First Diagnostic Indicator For Amytrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Identified - Medical News Today 26/02/06

Claire Collier went to see her doctor shortly after she started experiencing cramping and other symptoms. This started a series of referrals and seemingly endless stream of tests. Finally, nine months later after test after test had come back negative, she received the diagnosis of ALS. Only then could she begin to receive the treatment needed to treat her symptoms.

Cholesterol Levels Discounted As A Biological Marker For Suicide Risk Among Alcoholics - Medical News Today 26/02/06

  • Alcoholism is a major risk factor for suicidal behavior.
  • Prior research has suggested that cholesterol may be a general biological marker for suicide risk.
  • New research discounts cholesterol levels as a biological marker for suicide attempt risk among alcoholics, but identifies a "profile" of patients at risk.

Cigarette Smoking Nearly Doubles Risk For Root Canal Treatment - Medical News Today 26/02/06

According to a new study appearing in the April issue of the Journal of Dental Research, cigarette smoking can lead to not only tooth discoloration and gum disease, but also a common dental procedure that helps to heal a diseased tooth--the root canal.

Genetic And Environmental Influences On Alcohol Consumption - Medical News Today 26/02/06

There is little doubt that alcohol-related disorders in humans are genetically based. The influence of environmental factors, however, remains unclear. Given that studies of humans are complicated by a multitude of cultural and day-to-day-living factors, researchers in the March issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research use rhesus monkeys to examine genetic and environmental influences on alcohol consumption. Results indicate that, just as with humans, both genetic and environmental factors contribute to variation in alcohol consumption among the non-human primates.

Alcoholism, Smoking And Genetics Among Plains American Indians - Medical News Today 26/02/06

Alcoholism and smoking have a high rate of co-occurrence in the general population. Yet little is known about the co-morbidity of alcoholism and smoking among American Indians. In the March issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research, researchers examine patterns of alcohol and tobacco use among Plains American Indians, as well as the influence that a catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) functional polymorphism called Val158Met may have on these behaviors.

NIH Grant To Support Research On New Treatment For Severe OCD - Medical News Today 26/02/06

As part of a five-year, $3.5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), researchers will look at whether a breakthrough therapy for Parkinson's disease can also treat the worst cases of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). A research team led out of the University of Rochester Medical Center will measure whether Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) can reduce the rampant anxiety that keeps some OCD patients homebound.


Moderate Drinkers Who Occasionally Drink Heavily Are More Likely To Suffer An Alcohol-related Injury Than Chronic Heavy Drinkers - Medical News Today 26/02/06

Moderate drinkers who occasionally drink heavily are more likely to suffer an alcohol-related injury than chronic heavy drinkers, a Swiss study has found, and the risk is greatest during a bout of binge drinking.

Early Diagnosis And Melanoma - Medical News Today 26/02/06

Melanoma is the most common cancer amongst us. It is the cutaneous tumour with the worst prognosis and its incidence is growing. Although possible overdiagnosis has been criticised, the reality is that, the death rate has gone up from 6,000 to 9,000 cases in ten years. In the USA, in concrete, it is the main cause of death amongst women between 19 and 50 years of age. According to specialists from the University Hospital of Navarra and from the USA, early diagnosis guarantees cure in 99% of patients with melanoma.

Antibody-interleukin Complexes Stimulate Immune Responses, New Study Shows - Medical News Today 26/02/06

The findings could also be significant for developing new ways to help patients with autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, or juvenile diabetes.

Preliminary Results From Largest Allergy Study Of Its Kind To Be Released Monday, February 27, 2006 - Medical News Today 25/02/06

The results, endorsed by the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, are in. 34,000 households were screened; 2,500 patients surveyed; 1,500 hours of interviews were completed for a scientific survey of allergy (allergic rhinitis) patients and physicians, titled: "Allergies in America: A Landmark Survey of Nasal Allergy Sufferers" to be released on Monday, February 27, 2006 at a Media Luncheon Panel Discussion to be held at 12 noon at the Central Park Zoo's Gallery in New York City.

Pilot Study Examines The Use Of The Tongue As An Alternate Donor Site For Graft Urethroplasty - Medical News Today 25/02/06

A wide variety of free extragenital graft tissues have been used for urethroplasty including ureter, saphenous vein, appendix, full-thickness skin, bladder mucosa and buccal mucosa. The current opinion is that the best site for harvest is probably the buccal mucosa but oral complications can occur and cause long-term problems such as peri-oral numbness, salivatory changes and difficulty opening the mouth. The mucosal covering of the lateral and under surface of the tongue is identical in structure with that lining the rest of the oral cavity. Therefore, like buccal mucosa, lingual mucosa has constant availability, easy harvesting, and favorable resistance to infection and tissue characteristics.

Ipsogen Presents Breast Cancer Biomarker Results At The Upcoming EBCC 5, The 5th European Breast Cancer Conference - Medical News Today 25/02/06

Ipsogen SAS, the French cancer diagnostics company, announced today that its latest breast cancer program results had been selected for presentation at the EBCC 5 congress, the 5th European Breast Cancer Conference, held in Nice, France, 21-25 March 2006.

Genetic Link Found Between Eating Disorders And Obsessive Compulsive Disorder - Medical News Today 25/02/06

Researchers at the University of Toronto have unravelled the genetic link between eating disorders and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) among women who experience both syndromes. Their study, published in European Neuropsychopharmacology, suggests how a particular gene influences OCD pathology in an eating disorder population.

Investigational Therapy Denosumab Increased Bone Mineral Density With Twice-yearly Dosing - Medical News Today 25/02/06

Amgen (NASDAQ: AMGN), the world's largest biotechnology company, announced today the publication of Phase 2 data demonstrating twice-yearly injections of denosumab (previously referred to as AMG 162), a RANK Ligand inhibitor, significantly increased bone mineral density (BMD) in the total hip, lumbar spine, distal 1/3 radius and total body compared to placebo. The results of this one-year study appeared in the Feb. 23, 2006 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. Data results also included an open-label FOSAMAX® (alendronate)* arm of the same clinical trial.

Tool Helps Doctors Tailor Infertility Treatments For Couples - Medical News Today 25/02/06

Physicians must consider a number of variables when treating couples who cannot naturally conceive because of factors involving both the woman and man. However, a new tool developed at the University of Iowa helps experts better predict outcomes and choose the treatment method that is most likely to help the couple achieve pregnancy.

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Among Children Living In Russian 'Baby Homes' - Medical News Today 25/02/06

Researchers have examined a sample of children living in Russian "Baby Homes" for features that are indicative of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD).

The Early Prostate Cancer Trial And Adjuvant Anti-androgen Therapy: Still Defining The Role - Medical News Today 25/02/06

The Early Prostate Cancer Trial (EPC) was the largest prostate cancer (CaP) study ever undertaken. It evaluated adjuvant bicalutamide in patients across the world that still had their standard care primary therapy: whether watchful-waiting, radiotherapy or radical prostatectomy.

Advent Of Prenatal Ultrasonography Has Led To Higher Discovery Of Ureteropelvic Junction Obstruction (UPJO) - Medical News Today 25/02/06

The advent of prenatal ultrasonography has led to a higher rate of diagnosis regarding pediatric hydronephrosis lending to a higher discovery of ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO). The gold standard of treatment for UPJO is open dismembered pyeloplasty. Pyeloplasty truly has an impact on future development and health of that renal moiety with systemic consequences such as hypertension. Piedrahita and Palmer developed a critical pathway to determine whether open pyeloplasty could be performed in preadolescent and adolescent children with UPJO and safely discharge them after a 1-day hospitalization.

Intensive Support Programmes Benefit Parents Of Children With Rare Diseases - Medical News Today 25/02/06

Intensive support programmes can help parents of children with rare diseases reduce their stress levels and improve their quality of life, according to research published in the latest Journal of Advanced Nursing.

One Source Of Human Salmonella Infection Is Associated With Pet Reptiles, With Snakes Poisoned At Birth - Medical News Today 25/02/06

Scientists in Germany have found that a significant route of transmission of Salmonella in non egg-laying snakes is from the mother to the offspring during pregnancy and birth.

Micro Robots, From Cell Manipulation To Micro Assembly - Medical News Today 25/02/06

From cell manipulation to micro assembly, micro robots devised by an international team of researchers offer a glimpse of the future.

Cell Growth And Cell Division Genes Identified - Medical News Today 25/02/06

A recent study shows that hundreds of genes contribute to cell growth and cell division. For the first time these genes, many of which are potential contributors to cancer, have been mapped in a single systematic study.

Ginkgo Biloba Extract: More Than Just For Memory? - Medical News Today 25/02/06

Researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center say they now have a clearer picture of how an extract from the leaves of the Ginkgo biloba tree reduces the risk of aggressive cancer in animal experiments.

Learning And Memory Stimulated By Gut Hormone - Medical News Today 25/02/06

Researchers at Yale School of Medicine have found evidence that a hormone produced in the stomach directly stimulates the higher brain functions of spatial learning and memory development, and further suggests that we may learn best on an empty stomach.

Senegal: Trial Of Intermittent Malaria Treatment In Children Leads To 86% Reduction In Cases - Medical News Today 25/02/06

A team of researchers from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, working in partnership with colleagues from Senegal, has found that intermittent preventive malaria treatment of children under five has a dramatic impact on malaria frequency.

More Targeted Way To Deliver Cancer Drugs Using Natural Biomolecules - Medical News Today 25/02/06

The future of drug design lies in finding ways to target a drug specifically to a diseased cell, or even a molecule within that cell, while leaving healthy cells and molecules unharmed.

Man-made Prostate Created By Women - Medical News Today 25/02/06

In a giant step towards understanding prostate disease, Melbourne scientists have grown a human prostate from embryonic stem cells.

Level Of Osteoarthritis Pain May Determine Efficacy Of Glucosamine, Chondroitin Sulfate - Medical News Today 25/02/06

The popular dietary supplements glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate proved no better than a placebo in relieving osteoarthritis knee pain in most participants of a major national trial. But the study, published in the Feb. 23 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, also showed a smaller subgroup of trial patients with moderate to severe osteoarthritis knee pain taking the combination of the two supplements experienced significant pain relief.

How BAT Lobbied To Kill Off Groundbreaking Tobacco Legislation In Uzbekistan, New Study - Medical News Today 25/02/06

A paper in the British Medical Journal reveals for the first time how British American Tobacco actively undermined and eventually overturned groundbreaking legislation that would have served to protect the health of the Uzbek population.

Providence Health System Shows Investigational Osteoporosis Therapy Increases Bone Mineral Density - Medical News Today 25/02/06

Providence Health System researchers announced today that an investigational therapy for bone loss, denosumab, demonstrated significant increases in bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. Many older adults experience bone loss that leads to low BMD and fractures. Bone mineral density is often used to gauge a person's risk of fracture. These research findings, which were published in the Feb. 23, 2006 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine, are significant especially in light of the recent Surgeon General's report on bone health. The report highlights the need for new, improved approaches to prevention and treatment of osteoporosis and other bone loss conditions.

Taste Gene May Play Role In Smoking - Medical News Today 24/02/06

Recent research on the genetics of smoking has focused on genes that are thought to be related to nicotine metabolism, personality traits, and regulation of emotions.

Children's Self-esteem Can Affect Their Response To Asthma - Medical News Today 25/02/06

While many urban children suffer from asthma, those who have high self-esteem and good problem-solving skills may be less likely to have their asthma symptoms interfere with school, a new study finds.

Learning To Love Bacteria: Stanford Scientist Highlights Bugs' Benefits - Medical News Today 25/02/06

Bacteria are bad. Mothers and doctors, not to mention the cleaning product industry, repeatedly warn of their dangers. But a Stanford University School of Medicine microbiologist is raising the intriguing idea that persistent bacterial and viral infections have benefits.

Genetic Test Accurate For Salt-related High Blood Pressure - Medical News Today 24/02/06

Researchers led by UVa Health System pathologist Robin Felder, Ph.D., have demonstrated that looking for several variations of genes that control blood pressure can predict the risk for high blood pressure caused by high levels of salt. Once it is fully developed, this effective diagnostic test will be the first of its kind, says Dr. Felder, whose work will be published in the Feb. 23 issue of the journal Clinical Chemistry. When a subject had three or more variations in these genes, the new genetic test correctly predicted risk for salt-induced high blood pressure in 94 percent of cases. Health is adversely affected by high salt intake in up to half of Americans.

New Study Says Heart Health And Lifestyle Are Associated With Maintaining Brain Health As We Age - Medical News Today 24/02/06

Heart health risk factors and lifestyle choices, such as exercise, learning new things and staying socially connected, are associated with maintaining brain health as we age according to a new report from a multi-Institute collaboration of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) published online today in Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association.

Cheshire and Merseyside News

Blair: hospital MRSA threat is exaggerated - Daily Post 24/02/06

TONY BLAIR last night told the Daily Post he believed that the risk to NHS patients from MRSA had been "exaggerated".

Premier answers the big questions - Daily Post 24/02/06

Thieves of ambulance satnav 'put lives at risk' - Liverpool Echo 24/02/06

THIEVES are putting lives at risk by stealing hi-tech satellite navigation systems from ambulances.

Our bird flu nightmare - Chester Chronicle 24/02/06

CHESHIRE poultry farmer Ian Lloyd says bird flu could 'devastate' his industry.

Threat of bird flu looms over Cheshire - Chester Chronicle 24/02/06
Don't panic call as bird flu hits European flocks - Ormskirk Advertiser 23/02/06

Docs put Ince in the dock - Chester Chronicle 24/02/06

A WEEK after the Government released a report on waste management ordering an increase of 22 incinerators in the UK. BARRY ELLAMS spoke to scientists and GPs to find out why incinerators like the proposed Ince Marsh plant are bad for our health.

Psychotherapist cleared of attack - Chester Chronicle 24/02/06

A PSYCHOTHERAPIST walked free from Chester Crown Court this week after being found not guilty on charges of assault and false imprisonment.

Save our services - Runcorn Weekly News 23/02/06

HUNDREDS of demonstrators braved the wind and rain on Tuesday evening to protest against controversial proposals to remove emergency services from Halton Hospital.

MP fights Alzheimer's drug cause - Ormskirk Advertiser 23/02/06

WEST LANCS MP Rosie Cooper has written to Patricia Hewitt to try and help sufferers of Alzheimer's who could have their NHS treatment withdrawn.

Figures boost - Ormskirk Advertiser 23/02/06

ORMSKIRK and Southport's hospital emergency teams are celebrating new figures which show that 99.4% of patients are admitted, discharged or transferred within four hours of arrival at the A&E and minor injuries unit.

No to maternity call - Ormskirk Advertiser 23/02/06

HEALTH chiefs have poured cold water on demands to re-open an axed midwifery unit.

GP signs up for big race - Southport Visiter 24/02/06

A SIX-year-old boy with leukaemia has inspired his local doctor to raise money for cancer sufferers.

Confusion over dentist contracts - Daily Post 25/02/06

The "shambolic" introduction of new contracts for dentists has left practices across England and Wales in confusion, the profession's national body has said.

Resuscitation guidelines concern - Daily Post 24/02/06

Care homes should be able to "opt out" of trying to save the lives of dying elderly patients, according to a group of medical experts.

Cumbria and Lancashire News

12 new dentsts recruited - News & Star 24/02/06

TWELVE new NHS dentists are coming to north and west Cumbria in a move that will almost wipe out the area’s mounting waiting list.

Greater Manchester News

Patient terror at dentist from hell - Manchester Evening News 26/02/06

A DENTIST from hell left patients cowering in the chair and begging him to stop drilling.

More NHS patients will see dentists - Bolton Evening News 25/02/06

MORE people in Bolton will be able to get NHS dental treatment from April 1 as a result of a national reorganisation.

Are we ready to stop bird flu? - Manchester Evening News 24/02/06

LIFE-SAVING bird flu drugs do not appear to have been stockpiled in the north west - despite assurances by health bosses that they are geared up to deal with a massive outbreak among humans.

MRSA ordeal for new mum - Manchester Evening News 24/02/06

THE plight of a mum who caught MRSA after giving birth at a Manchester hospital has emerged as shocking figures reveal the rise in deaths linked to the bug.

Have a say on health - Bury Times 25/02/06

PEOPLE wanting an input in the future of Bury's health services are invited to attend a special workshop to have their say.

Have your say on Christie Hospital - Bury Times 25/02/06

PEOPLE in Prestwich and Whitefield are being invited to have their say on how cancer services will be developed at Christie Hospital.

Have your say on hospital's future - Bolton Evening News 25/02/06

PEOPLE in Bolton are being invited to have their say on how cancer services develop at the Christie Hospital.

Plan to raise adult abuse awareness - Bolton Evening News 25/02/06

HOSPITAL staff are dealing with almost 100 adult victims of abuse every year.

Patient deaths surgeon to be a psychiatrist - Bolton Evening News 25/02/06

A FORMER surgeon who left two patients dead after a series of botched operations has been allowed back to work.

New contracts will improve NHS dentistry - Bury Times 24/02/06

CATHERINE Keen makes a number of points about NHS dentistry (Letters February 16). Each of them is inaccurate.

Posted by Kieran at 8:14 am

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