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National News
International News
Cheshire and Merseyside News
Cumbria and Lancashire News
Greater Manchester News

Airports 'exceeding noxious gas levels' - The Guardian 13/03/06

Levels of the noxious gas nitrogen dioxide are "dangerously high" at most airports in England, a report out today revealed.

Airports fail air pollution test - BBC Health News 13/03/06

Finances and patient care to be assessed separately - The Guardian 13/03/06

Hospitals and primary care trusts will be assessed separately on quality of care and on financial management, it was announced yesterday.

New finance rating for NHS trusts - BBC Health News 13/03/06
Healthcare Watchdog Announces Plans To Rate NHS Organisations On Quality And Finance, UK - Medical News Today 13/02/06

Rattle and hum - The Guardian 13/03/06

We start today with an exercise. It's a bit like a visualisation exercise, but it's actually an exercise in sound, so technically it should be an auralisation, but that just sounds wrong. So, find a comfy spot and close your eyes. You need to be in your office - did I mention that? No? Well, you should.

Bars and brewers unite against bingeing - The Guardian 13/03/06

The drinks industry's "responsible drinking" watchdog, the Portman Group, is to be downsized and largely replaced by a better-funded campaigning charity. Retailers and producers hope the new body, involving health, counselling and policing groups, will head off government proposals for a "binge drinking levy".

Widows fight on for asbestos payout - The Guardian 13/03/06

The widows of two men who died from the asbestos-related cancer mesothelioma will go to the House of Lords today to try to block moves which could deprive workers and their families of millions of pounds in compensation.

Law lords to rule on asbestos - The Telegraph 13/03/06

Prescription for trouble - The Guardian 13/03/06

The NHS is being hampered by the irrational way it is financed which threatens to turn doctors into accountants, says Alex Thomas, an NHS adviser and soon-to-be medical student

Woman, 94, 'given pacemaker despite death wish' - The Independent 13/03/06

An investigation is under way after a 94-year-old woman was fitted with a heart pacemaker despite previously saying she did not want to be resuscitated, it emerged today.

Pacemaker woman 'wanted to die' - BBC Health News 13/03/06

Scientists have 'moral duty' to help us live beyond 100 - The Times 13/03/06

HUMANITY has a “moral duty” to pursue scientific research that could enhance intelligence and allow people to live well beyond 100 years as a matter of routine, according to an expert on medical ethics.

Commonwealth gets a lesson in healthy eating from the Queen - The Times 13/03/06

HINTS on healthy living are the theme of the Queen’s annual Commonwealth Day speech this year, which will be broadcast in the organisation’s 53 member nations.

If Labour can't save the NHS, they're doomed, all doomed, I tell you - The Times 13/03/06

THE HISTORIAN Trevor Royle observes that late-17th century England saw: “An outpouring of Millennial visions and apocalyptic prophecies; the end of the world was forecast by various self-styled seers and prophets.” One of the most famous examples of this involved Thomas Beverley, who insisted that the Earth would expire in 1697. When he was pressed for an explanation in 1698 he explained that the cataclysmic event had, indeed, occurred but it had somehow passed unnoticed.

Letters to the Editor - The Times 13/03/06

Your informative feature on the NHS “Face up to failure” (Mar 9) lists all the organisations to whom government listens. Wise Royal Colleges, concerned trade unions, well-paid managers, and, of course, the BMA, all feature. Only one body is missing — the patients, us, the customers. In Peter Riddell’s report it appears that 29 per cent perceive the performance of the NHS to be bad.

Sentenced to hard labour? - The Times 13/03/06

A shortage of midwives means women are not receiving the care they want

Bottom line? The standard was terrible - The Times 13/03/06

My first pregnancy was a steep learning curve. Nothing can prepare you for the physical onslaught of making a whole new person from scratch. Still, at the advanced age of 35 I was lucky: no IVF, no false starts and no physical problems to speak of.

My friend won't eat and is very skinny - The Times 13/03/06

My friend doesn’t eat breakfast or lunch. If she eats dinner at all, it usually consists of an apple and a bottle of water. She calls food her enemy. I’m worried about her as she is getting far too skinny. She said she wanted to lose half a stone, then she just carried on. This started when her mum and dad split up. She says that she feels fat and worthless. Other friends have noticed her missing lunch but she told them that she has big breakfasts. I want to tell somebody else for her safety, but would I be betraying her trust? I confronted her but she said that she was still fat and had to carry on. She wears baggy clothing, so few people notice.

Urban worrier - The Times 13/03/06

One pie, and I went the way of all flesh

A depressing time of year - The Times 13/03/06

Suicides peak in spring but the risk can be reduced

Vaccines may save one in 10 cancer victims, say scientists - The Telegraph 13/03/06

Thousands of cancers will be prevented every year in Britain as specific vaccines are developed, scientists at the leading cancer charity predict today.

Vaccines 'could prevent cancer' - Daily Mail 13/03/06
Vaccines 'may block many cancers' - BBC Health News 13/03/06

Widow died after ambulance dropped her at wrong house - The Telegraph 13/03/06

Two NHS trusts have been found guilty of health and safety offences after the death of a 93-year-old widow who was dropped off at the wrong house by an ambulance.

Trusts guilty over widow's death - BBC Health News 13/03/06

Trust me, I'm a junior doctor: would-be parents exaggerate genes - The Telegraph 13/03/06

IVF is a perfectly valid solution for the childless, but it is not the only solution, says Max Pemberton

The shape I'm in: Adam Cooper - The Telegraph 13/03/06

The ballet dancer talks to Isobel Shirlaw about boxing, chocolate and why natural is beautiful

Lift-off for your new image - The Telegraph 13/03/06

How can weight-training reduce middle-aged spread? Lucie Hoe finds out

Me, my selves and I... - The Telegraph 13/03/06

Having 11 often violent persons inside you is shattering, Robert Oxnam tells Melissa Whitworth

Plastic fantastic? - Daily Mail 13/03/06

There has been a surge of women going under the cosmetic knife in recent years, with breast jobs and botox becoming commonplace. But what do men really think of plastic surgery and the women who have it?

Why jogging solo could be bad for your health - Daily Mail 13/03/06

It is news that will be welcomed by anyone who has ever planned an early-morning jog - and then failed to get up.

Operations delayed six months over debts - Daily Mail 13/03/06

Hospitals have been told to delay some operations until patients have been waiting for six months, because of the NHS cash crisis.

Call to protect vulnerable adults - BBC Health News 13/03/06

Vulnerable adults need legislation to guard them from abuse, in line with children and domestic violence victims, says charity Action on Elder Abuse.

Government 'lethargic over MRSA' - BBC Health News 13/03/06

Health officials have not decided which trusts are to be visited by MRSA "hit squads" a month after the move was announced, the BBC has learned.

Doctors training in sign language - BBC Health News 13/03/06

Junior doctors in Northern Ireland are being trained in sign language so they can communicate with the deaf.

Prescription charge to rise 15p - BBC Health News 13/03/06

The cost of an NHS prescription in England is to rise by 15p to 6.65 from the start of April.

Falling Blood Pressure Not Down To Drugs, Say Experts - Medical News Today 13/02/06

Blood pressure lowering drugs were not responsible for the population decline in blood pressure seen in many countries in the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s, concludes a study published online by the BMJ.

Warning Over 'poor Surgery' At UK Private Treatment Centres - Medical News Today 13/02/06

NHS surgeons are being left to "pick up the pieces" after poor surgery at private treatment centres, warns a senior doctor in this week's BMJ

Poor Clinical Handover Threatening Patient Care - Medical News Today 13/02/06

Poor clinical handover in hospitals is rendering the system prone to misses and near misses, warn doctors in a letter to this week's BMJ.

Minister To Set Up New 'Dignity Guardians' Group, UK - Medical News Today 13/02/06

Care Services Minister Liam Byrne is to create a new group of dignity guardians to help him toughen the regulation of social care. The council will include representatives from Help the Aged, Action on Elder Abuse and Which? consumer group.

New Tools In The Fight Against Pneumococci - Medical News Today 13/02/06

New tools in the fight against pneumococci 'the bugs targeted by vaccines recently announced by the Department of Health' are described by a team led by scientists from the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute. They have put together a complete description of the targets of the vaccine that will help monitor the disease and provide new tools for rapid diagnosis.

Four factors tied to need for cesarean delivery - Reuters 13/02/06

The likelihood that a pregnant woman will have to undergo an unplanned c-section delivery after starting labor can be predicted by four parameters, British researchers have shown.

International News

Death of a tyrant and a loser - The Guardian 13/03/06

When the Bosnian journalist Mirna Jancic went to The Hague to report on the trial of Slobodan Milosevic, she was repelled by the way in which the defendant, not infrequently, managed to turn the proceedings into a soap opera with himself as leading man. In the blandly modern courtroom, which reminded her of the command deck of Starship Enterprise, Milosevic, conducting his own defence, rudely questioned the veracity of prosecution witnesses who had lost family and friends in the wars that he had instigated. In spite of reproofs from the court, he rambled on in self-important fashion, quoted proverbs, cited supposed historical parallels, told jokes, and made, or at least began to make, political speeches. He insisted on calling a long list of witnesses who could offer no factual evidence but seemed to be there mainly to demonstrate that he, Milosevic, was a man with many connections. Yet, even so, Jancic wrote, "In my eyes the court represented victory over nihilism. Here was something that would not allow things to be forgotten or crimes to go unpunished."

Milosevic blood showed he took wrong drugs - The Telegraph 13/03/06
It is better to halt mass murder than to clean it up afterwards - The Guardian 13/03/06
Milosevic's blood 'bore traces of drug' - The Guardian 13/03/06
Day of conjecture ends as autopsy reveals heart attack was cause of Milosevic's death - The Independent 13/03/06

Hole-in-heart linked to migraine - BBC Health News 13/03/06

Some cases of severe migraine may be effectively treated by closing a hole in the heart, research suggests.

Euro-MPs debate mercury crackdown - BBC Health News 13/03/06

Tough measures to reduce the use of mercury in Europe are to be debated in the European parliament.

Burma reports first bird flu case - BBC Health News 13/03/06

Burma has reported what is believed to be its first case of H5N1 bird flu.

'Gene cause' of cocaine addiction - BBC Health News 13/03/06

The chances of becoming addicted to cocaine could depend on genes, the Institute of Psychiatry has found.

Light-based Device Probes For Early Cancer Signs - Medical News Today 13/03/06

A novel device that could use light to harmlessly and almost instantly probe for early signs of cancer has been developed by researchers at Duke's Pratt School of Engineering. The device would allow physicians to search for cancer in epithelial cells that line body surfaces, including the skin, lungs and digestive and reproductive tracts, by simply inserting a fiber optic probe.

Health Affairs Web Exclusive Features Interview With NIH Director Zerhouni - Medical News Today 13/03/06

"Extracting Knowledge From Science: A Conversation With Elias Zerhouni," Health Affairs: In a Health Affairs Web exclusive, Barbara Culliton, a Health Affairs deputy editor, talks with NIH Director Elias Zerhouni about the agency's medical research, its budget, academic and industry research, and other topics (Culliton, Health Affairs, 3/9).

UC Davis M.I.N.D. Institute Launches Largest Biomedical Assessment Of Children With Autism - Medical News Today 13/03/06

Multidisciplinary teams of physicians and scientists at the University of California, Davis, M.I.N.D. Institute have launched the nation's most comprehensive assessment of children with autism to detect the biological and behavioral patterns that define subtypes of the disorder.

Preparation Needed As Children Enter Schools Already Overweight - Medical News Today 13/03/06

A study published in the current issue of The Journal of School Health finds that nearly one quarter of children, ages three to five years, were entering school in Chicago overweight. For the authors, this is an urgent problem reflecting the nutritional status and health influence of the children's home and community. The results signify a need for schools, in and outside the Chicago area, to develop protocol and procedures to support the physical and mental health of overweight and at risk of overweight children. "Cities that lack data on the weight status of their young children can use the data from Chicagoâ€¦ to guide their planning until local data are available," the authors explain.

NMT Medical's Mist Study Indicates That Closing A PFO Has An Effect On Migraine - Medical News Today 13/02/06

NMT Medical, Inc., an advanced medical technology company that designs, develops, manufactures and markets proprietary implant technologies that allow interventional cardiologists to treat cardiac sources of migraine headaches, stroke and other potential brain attacks, today announced results of its MIST (Migraine Intervention with STARFlex® Technology) study at the American College of Cardiology's 55th Annual Scientific, Late-Breaking Clinical Trials Sessions.

Immobilisation Not The Only Trigger For DVT During Long-distance Air Travel - Medical News Today 13/02/06

The low pressure and low oxygen environment during air travel may contribute to the development of deep vein thrombosis in some susceptible individuals, suggests a paper published in this week's issue of The Lancet.

New Study Reveals Promising Osteoporosis Treatment - Medical News Today 13/02/06

A New York University College of Dentistry professor has developed a calcium phosphate-based supplement that, even at low concentrations, significantly improves bone strength and thickness without the side effects of many current drug treatments. Dr. Racquel Z. LeGeros, a Professor of Biomaterials and Biomimetics and of Implant Dentistry, presented her research on the supplement at the American Association for Dental Research annual meeting on March 9, 2006.

Cocaine Addiction Could Be All In Your Genes - Medical News Today 13/02/06

How likely you are to becoming a cocaine addict could well depend on your genetic make up, say researchers from the Institute of Psychiatry. Some people have a gene variation which stops the production of a protein that regulates dopamine in the brain.

'Hands Free' Isn't Mind Free: Performing Even Easy Tasks Impairs Driving - Medical News Today 13/02/06

Do you think using a hands-free device makes it okay to talk on a cell phone while driving? Despite the well-intended laws requiring the use of hands-free devices, a driver's performance is impaired when distracted by even the simplest tasks, whether or not both hands are on the steering wheel.

Steroid Can Restore Body Tissue In HIV-Positive People, Study Says - Medical News Today 13/02/06

The oral anabolic steroid oxandrolone is effective in restoring muscle and fat tissue that many HIV-positive people lose, according to a study published in the March issue of the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, Reuters Health reports (Norton, Reuters Health, 3/8). HIV-related wasting is a complication in which people lose a significant percentage of their normal weight, leaving them at risk for secondary infections. Carl Grunfeld of the University of California-San Francisco and colleagues gave 262 HIV-positive men who had experienced weight loss greater than or equal to 10% to 20% of their body mass index either oxandrolone -- in doses of 20 mg, 40 mg or 80 mg -- or a placebo daily for 12 weeks (Grunfeld et al., JAIDS, March 2006). The men who took the steroid in all dose levels had gained weight and muscle tissue, researchers found. The steroid also produced side effects, including an increase in LDL cholesterol, which is considered unhealthy cholesterol, and a decrease in HDL cholesterol, which is considered healthy cholesterol, the study finds. Some of the men also showed signs of liver toxicity, according to the study. Current therapies for tissue loss, including nutritional supplements and a drug called megestrol acetate, mostly increase body fat, and growth hormone therapies, which also can treat tissue wasting, increase muscle mass but decrease fat stores, Reuters Health reports. Anabolic steroids like oxandrolone restore both tissue and fat, Grunfeld said, adding that the benefits must be weighed against the side effects. Grunfeld also said that although oxandrolone is not specifically approved for HIV-related wasting, physicians may prescribe it to treat the condition (Reuters Health, 3/8).

What Caused Milosevic's Heart Attack? Perhaps He Took Wrong Drug - Medical News Today 13/02/06

Traces of drugs which may have neutralised Sloloban Milosevic's heart condition treatment had been found in his blood by Donald Uges, a toxicologist. Confirmation on this is still pending. The question still remains, “What brought on the heart attack that ended his life?”

Merck Bids To Buy Schering To Create German Pharma Giant - Medical News Today 13/02/06

Merck, a German multinational pharmaceutical company, has placed a cash bid of 14.6 billion Euros ($17.4 billion) for rival German pharmaceutical multinational, Schering. Merck has offered 77 Euros per share, 15% higher than Schering's share price last Friday. Schering views the offer as too low.

Aspirin Plus Plavix Disappoints In Heart Attack Prevention - Medical News Today 13/02/06

According to researchers at the American College of Cardiology's Annual Congress yesterday, aspirin may help people who have already had a heart attack. However, if you have never had a heart attack, aspirin may not be that useful in preventing one.

Diabetics Who Control Blood Sugar Today Are More Likely To Have Healthy Feet And Nerves Tomorrow - Medical News Today 13/02/06

People with diabetes who keep their blood sugar in check today will probably have a far lower chance of developing foot pain or other nerve damage tomorrow, according to new research results from a national study.

Bird Flu Spreads To Afghanistan, Myanmar And Cameroon - Medical News Today 13/02/06

Afghanistan, Myanmar and Cameroon have reported bird flu within their borders, evidence of an acceleration of the virus' spread this year.

Bird flu spreads to Myanmar, likely in Afghanistan - Reuters 13/03/06
Bird flu spreads to Cameroon, possibly Myanmar - Reuters 13/03/06

Worm Hormone Discovery May Aid Fight Against Parasitic Disease - Medical News Today 13/02/06

New research at UT Southwestern Medical Center shows that on a biochemical level, hormone-like molecules in tiny worms called nematodes work similarly to the way in which certain hormones work in humans â€“ findings that one day may help eradicate worm infections that afflict a third of the world's population.

Fat Rats Reveal Why Short-term Overeating Can Lead To Obesity And Diabetes - Medical News Today 13/02/06

Obesity is due to a mismatch between the number of calories we consume and the amount of physical activity we undertake. In the brain, a region called the hypothalamus controls our eating behavior through its metabolism of fat molecules called fatty acids. Interestingly, eating too much in the short-term can result in a severe drop in the ability of the body (and brain) to be satisfied by fat and to control blood sugar levels. In a study appearing online in advance of print publication in the April issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation, Luciano Rossetti and colleagues at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York report that inhibiting an enzyme in the liver called carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 (CPT1A), which is involved in metabolizing fatty acids, inhibits feeding.

Free Antiretroviral Therapy Key To Success Of AIDS Treatment In Developing Countries - Medical News Today 13/02/06

HIV-infected patients starting highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in developing countries have increased mortality rates in the first months on therapy compared with those in developed countries, according to a paper in this week's issue of The Lancet. The authors state that early diagnosis and assessment of treatment eligibility, coupled with free provision of HAART, might reduce this excess mortality.

Over 260 Doctors Call For Ban On Force-feeding And Restraint Chairs At Guantanamo - Medical News Today 13/02/06

263 doctors from 7 different countries (UK, USA, Ireland, Germany, Australia, Italy & the Netherlands) are calling for the US government to abandon forcefeeding and the use of restraint chairs in accordance with internationally agreed standards in this week's issue of The Lancet.

Taiwan Health Department To Expand Needle-Exchange Program - Medical News Today 13/02/06

Taiwan's Department of Health on Tuesday said it plans to expand a needle-exchange pilot program -- which aims to curb the spread of HIV among injection drug users -- to every city and county in Taiwan, Taiwan's Central News Agency reports. The health department in July 2005 allocated about $922,000 for the program -- which has distributed 15,625 sets of needles and syringes to 1,925 IDUs in Taipei City, Taipei County, Taoyuan County and Tainan County to date -- according to Yang Shih-yang, director of Taiwan's Center for Disease Control. The program also provides HIV testing and counseling and heroin substitutes such as methadone at no cost. Yang said the health department this year plans to provide 10 million sets of syringes with needles and establish 200 distribution points across Taiwan to provide methadone. According to health department data, about 80% of Taiwan's HIV cases are associated with injection drug use (Han, Central News Agency, 3/7).

Thalidomide Should Be Added To Treatment Combination For Multiple Myeloma - Medical News Today 13/02/06

Adding thalidomide to the standard combination of drugs used to treat multiple myeloma in elderly patients could improve event-free survival, according to a randomised trial in this week's issue of The Lancet.

WHO's VCJD Case Definition Should Be Revised - Medical News Today 13/02/06

The World Health Organization's (WHO) definition of patients with variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) should be revised to prevent cases being missed, according to the authors of a case report in this week's issue of The Lancet.

Concern Over Rapid Rise Of Chronic Kidney Disease - Medical News Today 13/02/06

Chronic kidney disease is rising rapidly worldwide and is becoming a global healthcare problem, warn experts in this week's BMJ.

Creation Of Antibiotic In Test Tube Holds Promise For Better Antibiotics - Medical News Today 13/02/06

Scientists have made nisin, a natural antibiotic used for more than 40 years to preserve food, in a test tube for the first time using nature's toolbox. They also identified the structure of the enzyme that makes nisin and gives it its unique biological power.

Gene Tests To Fine-tune Athletes - Medical News Today 13/02/06

Athletes could soon have their training program and diet optimised for peak performance and minimal injuries based on their individual genetics, says Professor Mark Hargreaves, from the Physiology Department at the University of Melbourne, Australia.

Bulgaria Dismisses Defense Lawyer For Health Workers Accused Of Infecting Children With HIV - Medical News Today 13/02/06

Bulgarian Justice Minister Georgi Petkanov on Tuesday told reporters that officials have dismissed Egyptian lawyer Emin ad Dib, who was part of a team defending health workers who were sentenced to death for allegedly infecting more than 400 Libyan children with HIV, the Bulgarian News Agency reports (Bulgarian News Agency, 3/7). The five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian physician were sentenced to death by firing squad in May 2004. The Libyan Supreme Court on Dec. 25, 2005, overturned the convictions and ordered a retrial in a lower court. The health workers say they are innocent of the charges, claiming they were forced to confess. Ad Dib on Sunday had said the case could not be assigned to a panel for reconsideration because Libyan attorney Osman Bizanti, who also is defending the health workers, failed to file an application. However, Bizanti said ad Dib was lying and is not familiar with Libyan criminal proceedings. Bulgaria's former Justice Minister Anton Stankov said there is no delay, adding that the disagreement between the lawyers is personal (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 3/7). Petkanov on Tuesday explained the dismissal, saying Bizanti contracted ad Dib to work with the defense on the Libyan Supreme Court trial, which has ended (Bulgarian News Agency, 3/7). Bulgaria Dismisses Defense Lawyer for Health Workers Accused of Infecting Children With HIV [Mar 09, 2006]

Joslin Researchers Reveal Mechanisms Behind A Class Of Oral Agents Used To Treat Type 2 Diabetes - Medical News Today 13/02/06

Thiazolidinediones (TZD's) are drugs commonly prescribed to patients with type 2 diabetes, the most common form of diabetes. Current U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved agents are known as Actos (pioglitazone) and Avandia (rosiglitazone). These oral agents improve blood glucose levels in people with diabetes by improving insulin action in the body. While it is known that these drugs work primarily by binding to a receptor in the nucleus of cells called Peroxisome Proliferator Activated Receptor-gamma (PPARg), all of the molecular signaling events important for the drugs to work are not completely understood.

LCT And The Bionic Ear Institute Announce Agreement To Improve Hearing Loss - Medical News Today 13/02/06

Living Cell Technologies Limited (ASX: LCT) has entered into a collaborative agreement with The Bionic Ear Institute, an internationally recognised not-for-profit biomedical research organisation, to improve the hearing outcomes for cochlear implant patients through rehabilitation of the auditory nerve.

Drug-eluting Stents Outperform Radiation Treatment For Coronary Restenosis In Bare Metal Stents - Medical News Today 13/02/06

In the first published trial of its kind, a multi-center clinical study has shown that drug-eluting stents outperform the current "gold standard" radiation treatment in managing coronary restenosis and in preventing further clogging of coronary arteries.

Drug-coated stents work where older stents failed - Reuters 13/03/06
Paclitaxel-releasing Stent More Effective Than Radiation Therapy For Preventing Restenosis - Medical News Today 13/02/06
Sirolimus-releasing Stents More Effective Than VBT For Treating Restenosis Within A Stent - Medical News Today 13/02/06

Genetic Discovery Explains 74% Cases Of Macular Degeneration - Medical News Today 13/02/06

A new study, led by researchers at Columbia University Medical Center, pinpoints the role that two genes - Factor H and Factor B - play in the development of nearly three out of four cases of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a devastating eye disease that affects more than 10 million people in the United States.

Expert Warns Of Overuse Of Over-the-Counter Pain Medication - Medical News Today 13/02/06

Acetaminophen is generally a safe and effective medication, one that is used by millions of people every day to treat minor aches and pains and to diminish fevers. It might surprise many people, then, that overdoses of Tylenol and other products containing acetaminophen account for a staggering 40 percent to 50 percent of all acute liver failure cases each year in the United States.

Probiotic Microbes Could Be A Key To Good Health - Medical News Today 13/02/06

Medical researchers are finding that one of the keys to good health could be living in our guts - specifically, in the world of microbes that live in our digestive tracks.

Restless Legs Sending Your Partner To The Other Room? - Medical News Today 13/02/06

Approximately 10 percent of Americans suffer from a common, yet under-diagnosed neurological disorder characterized by uncontrollable, often painful urges to kick and thrash the legs when trying to fall asleep.

Seminar Examines Biology Of Pain, Nerve Repair In Peripheral Nerve Disease - Medical News Today 13/02/06

The Jack Miller Center for Peripheral Neuropathy at the University of Chicago will present its second biennial scientific symposium on the “Frontiers of Peripheral Nerve Research,” from 9 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. on Friday, April 28, 2006, at the University of Chicago's Ida Noyes Hall, 1212 E. 59th Street, Chicago.

Byetta Treats Diabetes And Helps Patient Lose Weight Too - Medical News Today 13/02/06

Diabetics' use of Byetta (Amylin Pharmaceuticals) has boomed since the glucose-regulating prescription drug was introduced last year as the first in a class of medicines for type 2 diabetes called incretin mimetics.

The Everything-Else Doctors - Palliative Care - Medical News Today 13/02/06

They call themselves the Everything-Else Doctors. Palliative care physicians aren't the specialists trying to cure a patient's disease.

Fine Particle Air Pollution Associated With Respiratory And Cardiovascular Diseases - Medical News Today 13/02/06

Being exposed to fine particle matter air pollution increases a person's risk for hospital admission for cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, according to a study in the March 8 issue of JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association).

Ion Channel Interaction Sheds Light On Epilepsy, Other Neurological Disorders - Medical News Today 13/02/06

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have discovered the mechanism that facilitates how two ion channels collaborate in the control of electrical signals in the brain. The investigators showed that the channels were anchored by a third protein at key locations on the nerve cell surface, allowing them to work together to set the timing and pattern of nerve impulses. They also found that this channel partnership mechanism is present in all vertebrates, but is lacking in invertebrates, suggesting that the coupling of these channels may be essential for the higher abilities of vertebrate brains. The elucidation of this novel interaction should aid efforts to develop new treatments for epileptic seizures, pain, and abnormal muscle movements. They report their findings in the cover article of the March 8 issue of the Journal of Neuroscience.

Global Registry Demonstrates A Surprisingly High Risk Of Cardiovascular Events In Stable Patients With A History Of Atherothrombotic Disease - Medical News Today 13/03/06

Outpatients with stable atherothrombosis have a surprisingly high risk of death or major cardiovascular illness, according to new 1-year follow up data from the first outpatient registry to characterise the real-world burden of atherothrombotic disease worldwide (REACH). The study was presented today at the American College of Cardiology's 55th Scientific Session. Within a year, around one in eight patients, on average, will die, have a heart attack or stroke, or be hospitalized for a complication arising from atherothrombosis - clogged arteries in the heart, brain, or legs-and the risk is even greater for patients with widespread vascular disease.

Kids may get excess fluoride from beverages - Reuters 13/03/06

While fluoride protects against cavities, some children may be getting too much of it via fluoridated beverages, and have the telltale white streaks on their teeth to prove it.

Herpes risk higher for infants of young parents - Reuters 13/03/06

The chances of a baby being born with herpes are increased when the father is younger than 20 or whose age is unknown, and when the mother is younger than 25, Seattle researchers report.

Menstrual blood a good source of stem cells - Reuters 13/03/06

Japanese researchers have harvested stem cells from human menstrual blood. These stem cells could potentially be a source of specialized heart cells, which might be used to treat failing or damaged hearts.

AstraZeneca gains as drug reverses artery clogging - Reuters 13/03/06

AstraZeneca Plc shares gained on Monday as new data showed two years of treatment with its cholesterol fighter Crestor could reverse the build-up of plaque inside arteries that leads to heart attacks.

Lipitor improves kidney function in clinical trial - Reuters 13/03/06

Pfizer Inc. on Monday said its Lipitor cholesterol medicine improved kidney function in patients with heart disease in a large clinical study.

Statin drug shown to reverse plaque in arteries - Reuters 13/03/06

The cholesterol treatment Crestor has been shown to partially reverse the build-up of plaque in coronary arteries, the first time that a statin drug has proved effective in treating the condition, which can lead to a heart attack or stroke, researchers said on Monday.

Guidant warns doctors of device battery problems - Reuters 13/03/06

Guidant Corp., the heart device maker that has been plagued by a series of product recalls, on Monday said it is voluntarily notifying physicians of battery problems in some Contak Renewal 3 RF and Renewal 4 RF implantable cardiac defibrillators.

Panama's Indian albinos a revered elite - Reuters 13/03/06

When Kuna Indian medicine man Mandiuliguina Flores speaks, everyone listens. For his dark-skinned indigenous audience, the albino shaman's milky white skin gives him special powers.

India urges chicken-wary eaters to 'go for it' - Reuters 13/03/06

A chicken stands proud in an Indian government newspaper advertisement, a speech bubble coming from its beak: "Chicken! Egg! Here we come again on the dining table!"

UN fears measles outbreak in drought-hit E.Africa - Reuters 13/03/06

Millions of children in drought-hit East Africa are threatened by a "lethal cocktail" of measles and malnutrition and urgently need vaccinations against the highly infectious disease, a U.N. official said.

Lowering homocysteine doesn't protect heart-studies - Reuters 13/03/06

Levels of the amino acid homocysteine may be high in people destined for a heart attack or stroke, but lowering them with B vitamins and folic acid does not reduce the risk, two studies show.

AstraZeneca says new data a boost for Crestor - Reuters 13/03/06

AstraZeneca Plc said on Monday that new data showed two years treatment with its anti-cholesterol drug Crestor reversed plaque build-up in the arteries of patients with evidence of coronary artery disease.

Sanofi gene therapy reduces amputations: researchers - Reuters 13/03/06

Injections of a Sanofi-Aventis experimental gene therapy treatment cut the risk of amputations in patients with severely decreased blood flow to the legs, according to results reported on Sunday from a mid-stage trial.

Angiomax better than other blood thinners: study - Reuters 13/03/06

For patients who have had a heart attack or severe chest pain, the blood-thinning drug Angiomax, sold by the Medicines Co., works as well as rival drugs to open blocked coronary arteries, with a lower risk of serious bleeding, researchers said on Sunday.

Cheshire and Merseyside News

Mersey in lead over underage drink fines - Daily Post 13/03/06

MERSEYSIDE is among police forces leading the country in using new powers to stamp out underage drinking, new figures show.

Chiron gears up for bird flu fight - Daily Post 13/03/06

CHIRON'S Liverpool vaccine factory is gearing up to produce vaccine round the clock in the event of a UK bird flu pandemic, it was revealed last night.

Anger as fears grow on GPs' 'mini hospitals' shake-up - Liverpool Echo 13/03/06

PRIMARY Care Trusts in Wirral have been accused of "reinventing the wheel" as more plans come to light to merge GP practices into "supersurgeries".

Please let my daughter have her life back - Liverpool Echo 13/03/06

Adrian Butler talks to a mum whose young daughter suffers from the rare condition of water on the brain

Cumbria and Lancashire News

Dental practice to go private - Carlisle News & Star 13/03/06

ANOTHER Carlisle dental practice is going private. Taylor & Campbell Dental Surgeons on Portland Square will go private on April 1.

Greater Manchester News

Bottled water 'contains deadly poison' - Manchester Evening News 13/03/06

A DEADLY toxin is getting into mineral water from the plastic used to make the bottles, according to research.

Monday, March 13, 2006

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