Monday, March 13, 2006

Contents

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National News

NHS crisis forces waiting times up - The Observer 12/11/06

Patients will have to wait longer than they otherwise would have done for surgery to ease money problems in the NHS, the Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt admitted yesterday when she announced an independent inquiry would be held into the financial crisis.

The only cure for the NHS is full independence - The Observer 12/11/06
Ministers prepare to shut hospitals to save NHS cash - The Independent 12/03/06
Higher funds, more operations, but the NHS is still in decline - The Sunday Times 12/03/06
Labour isn't managing - The Telegraph 12/03/06
What can be done to aid the recovery of the system? - The Telegraph 12/03/06
It's the doctors' fault the NHS is in financial trouble, says Hewitt - The Telegraph 12/03/06
Botched operation - The Telegraph 12/03/06
Christopher Booker's notebook - The Telegraph 12/03/06
More doctors, but care isn't free for the French and Germans - The Telegraph 12/03/06

Lucy Siegle: How can we make sure we stay GM free? - The Observer 12/11/06

If you think the GM battle is over, think again, says Lucy Siegle. Beware, transgenic crops and Terminator Technology are back

Health panel: Is there a long-term cure for my dandruff? - The Observer 12/11/06

Having tried washing his hair with a variety of specialist shampoos and even vinegar, a long-term dandruff sufferer yearns for a better cure ... Three experts offer some suggestions

Alternative Health - The Observer 12/11/06

I suffer from frequent bouts of cystitis. This is really starting to ruin my life as I always feel that I am on the verge of suffering another attack, especially when I am tired and run down. I try to drink cranberry juice and plenty of water, particularly if I am drinking alcohol which seems to make it worse. I am giving up yeast but what else can I take or do?

Cocaine teens fuel big rise in Valium abuse - The Observer 12/11/06

Valium, the sleeping pill that gained notoriety 40 years ago as 'mother's little helper', is damaging a fresh generation of women who use it to relax and go to sleep after taking cocaine or amphetamines.

'Emily's Boards' to ease pain of disaster families - The Observer 12/11/06

A couple who lost their daughter in the London bombings last year have launched a campaign in her name to help find people who are missing after such disasters.

Must nature always take its course? - The Observer 12/11/06

Last week Health Editor Jo Revill sparked controversy when she argued for elective caesareans. Here Karen Luckhurst, who recalls the traumatic birth of her first baby by emergency caesarean, and other Observer readers join the debate

Women go private to get 'miracle' drug - The Observer 12/11/06

Victims of breast cancer may be able to claim for Herceptin on their health insurance, writes Jill Insley

Elderly suffer most abuse in their homes - The Observer 12/11/06

The full extent of the abuse of vulnerable elderly people taking place in their own homes and being inflicted by members of their own family will be revealed in a report published tomorrow.

Irresistibly drawn into debate - The Guardian 11/03/06

Last week, it was all about the magnetic ulcer bandages that were suddenly officially available on the NHS. They are made by Magnopulse, who also sell a magnet that will give you "softer skin, shiny hair and stronger nails", and a dog bowl magnet: "Given the choice, your pet will always choose to drink magnetic water." This absurdity didn't seem to worry the NHS Prescription Pricing Authority, although they were too shy to reveal the evidence they used to make this excellently amusing decision.

First class - The Guardian 11/03/06

Students at the University of Leeds are being invited to volunteer for a project to help them monitor their alcohol consumption. Two months after Southampton medical students sought to scare undergraduates with pictures of diseased livers, this interactive website will offer tailored feedback on how students can reduce their intake. The project will also advise on a sensible number of units to drink each week and compare consumption with that of fellow students. The website, e-Unical - built by the university's information systems services department - goes live this month. Organisers hope that it will be a "wakeup call" for students - for both health and financial reasons - and will reduce alcohol consumption among students by 10% over two years. So, union bar managers had better beware.

Their my taxes - The Guardian 11/03/06

Why are rising healthcare costs always viewed as failure (Why hospitals overspent - after being given record sums of cash, March 8)? In large part they reflect the success of new treatments that keep more people alive and in good health for longer, as well as being a credit to a health service that pursues the principle that treatments should be freely available to all.

Getting homeless people back into work - The Guardian 11/03/06

What's the most important factor in getting homeless people back into work? An address? Think again, says Matt Keating

Emma Mitchell: Black tongue - The Guardian 11/03/06

I am tired of people asking me if my tongue is pierced or looking in my mouth when I talk. I have a dark brown spot on the right side of my tongue (tip) and on the top left side farther back towards my throat. What can I do about it?

Seven DIY fitness tests - The Guardian 11/03/06

What kind of shape are you really in? Sam Murphy has some simple checks to help you work out the answer

Fertility: The frozen ones - The Independent 12/03/06

A bitter legal battle is being fought over the future of six embryos, but there are 100,000 more in freezers at clinics across the country. Welcome to the chilly world of the almost-people.

Dublin couple in court over who owns embryos - The Sunday Times 12/03/06

Calling all chocoholics... - The Independent 12/03/06

A US firm says it has created a chocolate bar that's good for you. Heart doctors have doubts

Budokon: the new craze - The Independent 12/03/06

Yoga. Meditation. Martial arts. Put them together with movie star endorsement for a US craze that is now being launched here

'Tanorexic' teenagers face sunbed ban - The Independent 12/03/06

Teenagers who want the golden glow of a year-round tan face being banned from using tanning salons because of increasing evidence that sunbeds cause cancer.

Doctors spit blood over plans to let nurses operate - The Sunday Times 12/03/06

DOCTORS fighting reforms giving National Health Service nurses the right to carry out routine operations have said nurses are as stupid as Beavis and Butt-head, the gormless adolescent cartoon characters.

Stomach stapling to tackle child obesity - The Sunday Times 12/03/06

Obese children will be given stomach-shrinking surgery on the NHS under new guidelines to be issued by the government’s health rationing body, writes Sarah-Kate Templeton.

Absent 200,000 claim benefits - The Sunday Times 12/03/06

THE government is paying benefits to 200,000 more single parents than its own figures show live in Britain, research shows.

'Phantom parents' claim 260m - The Telegraph 12/03/06

Call for register of drug addict parents - The Sunday Times 12/03/06

THE majority of Scotland’s councils have no record of how many children are born to parents who are drug addicts and sex offenders.

Ban train smoke? - The Sunday Times 12/03/06

I DO not like inhaling smoke, even in the open air, and may be expected to support the ban on smoking being extended to play parks (Comment, last week). I do think, however, that there is something irrational in the notices I have seen intimating that smoking will be banned in all parts of Glasgow Central.

Council will take children from smokers - The Sunday Times 12/03/06

ONE OF Scotland’s biggest local authorities is threatening to remove foster children from smokers.

Doctors may not treat child if judge backs life support - The Times 11/03/06

DOCTORS caring for a terminally ill boy have told his parents that they may refuse him as a patient if a court denies them the right to switch off his life support.

She has such an infectious laugh. She's improving - The Times 11/03/06
Inside story: spinal muscular atrophy - The Times 11/03/06

Medical students in jobs protest - The Times 11/03/06

A petition against changes to the way that medical students are allocated their first job has gained more than 500 signatures in less than a week.

Smoke clears . . . and their eyes meet - The Times 11/03/06

FROM the instant she saw him across the smoke-free bar, an eyebrow slightly raised and his dark eyes full of mystery, she felt her whole body quiver with desire.

Hewitt seeks 56,000 speechwriter as NHS debt soars over 800m - The Times 11/03/06

PATRICIA HEWITT, the Health Secretary, is to hire a personal speechwriter to overhaul the flagging reputation of government health policy as deficits in the NHS continue to soar.
Link http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,175-2080426,00.html

Ministers to waive excess pension payments to poor - The Times 11/03/06

MINISTERS are preparing to write off almost all the 130 million paid in error to some of the poorest pensioners.

Letters to the Editor - The Times 11/03/06

Your report on the health debts (Mar 9) lists 73,000 dental treatments delivered daily by the NHS. However, NHS general dental services are not delivered free at the point of delivery, as they were at the inception of the service. The NHS only funds about 20 per cent of the cost of dental care for the non-exempt; the patient pays the rest. Effectively this means the population is already paying off part of this huge NHS debt. The NHS contribution to the nation’s dental care is likely to become even less over the next few years as more and more dentists pull out of the NHS, as a result of the unworkable new NHS contract due to be foisted upon the profession next month.

Karma in traffic - The Times 11/03/06

“CALM, calm, calm . . . ” Chanting soothing mantras and affirmations to yourself really does help to beat stressy situations such as traffic jams — and can help you to exercise too, claim university researchers.

We're not supermen - The Times 11/03/06

Health advice is everywhere, so now we feel guilty for being ill. We’re wrong

Experimenting with change - The Times 11/03/06

Few women, let alone mothers, have ever won a Nobel prize for medical research. A new award could help

The 266 days that determine your future health - The Times 11/03/06

The time spent in the womb can influence whether we suffer, years later, from cancer, obesity or heart disease - and it may even affect our love life and ability to play football

Funny about my body - The Times 11/03/06

Comedian Arabella Weir talks about insecurity, promiscuity and cancer in the family

Just the seven of us . . . - The Times 11/03/06

How many people are in your relationship? Andrew G. Marshall exorcises the ghosts of partners past

Granny's home truths: the teen drama queen - The Times 11/03/06

Don't tell her it's a phase. She slams doors and sulks but can be lured back into family life

Junk medicine: scientific certainty - The Times 11/03/06

Science is often assumed and expected to deal in certainties. Most people accept and value the idea that some things are proven to be true, and are keen to incorporate this into daily life. When we visit the doctor, we want an unambiguous diagnosis and effective treatment. When we seek advice about diet or vaccination, we want a firm opinion on what is safe and effective.

Dr Copperfield: inside the mind of a GP - The Times 11/03/06

It sounds like a tragic irony waiting to happen. This week, an elderly male patient with no significant medical problem was finally evicted from a hospital bed after having, in effect, squatted there for three years. But now he’s been turfed out, imagine being his GP trying to get him re-admitted if he genuinely gets ill: “No, honestly, he really has got crushing chest pain ...”

Spas: Deutsche detoxing - The Times 11/03/06

Mini-trampolines, daily massages and early-morning enemas — Caroline Sylge survived an Ayurvedic break at a German spa

Lunchtime fix: moustache waxing - The Times 11/03/06

After DIY moustache removal ended in disaster — I removed all the skin from my top lip — I decided to head for the professionals at Bliss Spa in South Kensington, West London.

Bodylicious: facial washes for men - The Times 11/03/06

Lee Kynaston, grooming editor of Men’s Health, picks the best facial washes for men — from sensitive types to those who suffer from ingrowing hairs

Agony and ecstasy: sex advice - The Times 11/03/06

I have a good sex life with my wife of 14 years buyt, although I'm happy to give her oral sex, she refused to reciprocate. Should I withold my favours?

Burning off the boyish blubber - The Times 11/03/06

My grandson is 7, tall and already weighs over 6st (38kg). He is not active but sometimes cycles to school, and has a large appetitite. He has noticed that is larger than other boys his age and says he is "fat". How should his family tackle this? Is a diet advisable? Name and address supplied

He likes his steak green - The Times 11/03/06

Eco-gastronomy is hot. Meet a top chef who’s creating a planet-friendly restaurant

Home remedies: mother's milk, a panacea - The Times 11/03/06

“Mother’s milk is not just the ultimate in health food, it’s ideal for a baby’s exterior, too,” Alison Blenkinsop writes in. “It works wonders on a baby’s sticky eyes and the cord stump. It also clears snuffly noses.”

Got the right stuff? - The Times 11/03/06

Is cider vinegar the cure-all that fans such as Sir Ranulph Fiennes claim? Emma Mahony tried it

Eco-worrier: organic beer - The Times 11/03/06

My local has started selling organic beer. Should I bother buying it?

At your table: peanut butter - The Times 11/03/06

I used to hate it, though I’m not sure why but I confess that, these days, while I spread some on slices of warm toast for Maya, my daughter, the odd teaspoon of thick, crunchy Whole Earth peanut butter finds its way into my mouth

Get fit for free - The Times 11/03/06

Lean finances are the reason that many of us give for not getting fit, with some justification. Last year, the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy reported that some local authority gyms charge as much as 7 a session, while private health clubs can cost much more. There are ways to get fit for free, though — and we don’t just mean doing sit-ups in front of EastEnders. Follow our cheat’s guide to shaping up without shelling out and you’ll wonder why anyone bothers with expensive treadmills in the first place.

Pit stop for refuelling - The Times 11/03/06

After physical exercise, our bodies need to do two things: first rehydrate and secondly replace the carbohydrate that is stored in our muscles in the form of glycogen, which is used up during exercise.

The stars in her eyes - The Times 11/03/06

Not just anybody: former Hear’Say singer Myleene Klass, 27, loves coffee: it keeps her up while she studies astronomy

'My warning to parents is simple: one in five children put into nursery early will develop mental - The Telegraph 12/03/06

A paragon of bronzed Australian manhood, Steve Biddulph is not. He is tall, thin and toothy, with dark hair frosting at the temples, and a voice so soft you strain to hear it. Endearingly, when asked to describe himself, he says: "I'm awkward, anxious, gangling and uncoordinated, but it has proved…" He pauses. "No, it's too self-indulgent to talk about it." Oh, go on, I say. "No, I can't." I think he was going to say that it has proved to be an advantage - because, paradoxically, his mildness of manner gives weight and potency to his words.

I feel guilty but my daughter loves it - The Telegraph 12/03/06

Banned depression tablets are still being prescribed to thousands of children - The Telegraph 12/03/06

Banned antidepressants are being handed out to thousands of children by doctors because they face waits of up to 10 months to see a psychiatrist.

Council provides al fresco drinking for alcoholics - The Telegraph 12/03/06

In a secluded corner of parkland, a circle of benches provides a pleasant spot for a drink. The side tables are ideal for a can of strong cider. A bin has been provided for the empties.

Baffling NHS - The Daily Telegraph letters - The Telegraph 11/03/06

Doctors are generally smart people, but I've yet to meet one who understands the managerial culture of the NHS. It is self-perpetuating, self-congratulating, bloated and beyond reform. Here is an example.

School wouldn't put plaster on a cut finger - The Telegraph 11/03/06

Staff at a primary school would not put a plaster on a nine-year-old girl's bleeding finger for health and safety reasons.

The poison lurking in your plastic water bottle - Daily Mail 12/03/06

A Potentially deadly toxin is being absorbed into bottled mineral water from their plastic containers. And the longer the water is stored, the levels of poison increase, research reveals. As the sell-by date on many bottled waters is up to two years, scientists have now called for extensive further studies.

NHS repairs private surgery blunders - Daily Mail 10/03/06

NHS surgeons are being left to "pick up the pieces" after poor surgery by overseas doctors at private clinics, an expert has warned.

Fears over NHS-funded private ops - BBC Health News 10/03/06

Fury at 'traffic light' warning labels - Daily Mail 10/03/06

A scheme for 'traffic light' labels that will put red warnings on junk food has been given the backing of Government food watchdogs.

Charities demand ovarian cancer re-think - Daily Mail 10/03/06

Leading women's charities are demanding an overhall of ovarian cancer detection after a survey revealed 60 per cent of GPs are concerned they are missing cases.

Britain a nation of porridge lovers - Daily Mail 10/03/06

Porridge has found its way back onto the breakfast table, research shows.

Call to tackle Asian heart risk - BBC Health News 12/03/06

Urgent action is needed to tackle high rates of heart disease and diabetes among British Asians, say campaigners.

NHS '750m in the red' this year - BBC Health News 11/03/06

The NHS in England will be 750m in the red by the end of the financial year on 31 March, a BBC survey has found.

Double kidney transplants mooted - BBC Health News 11/03/06

Transplanting two kidneys of limited quality could be as good as giving one high-function organ, a study has found.

Blears attacked on NHS wait claim - BBC Health News 10/03/06

Minister Hazel Blears has been attacked for claiming nobody waits more than six months for anything on the NHS.

'Living will' proposals revealed - BBC Health News 10/03/06

Details of plans to allow people to make a "living will" to determine their medical care in advance of incapacity have been unveiled by the government.

Colour Coded Food Labelling To Help People Choose A Better Diet, UK - Medical News Today 12/03/06

The Food Standards Agency Board today agreed its recommendation for a consistent approach to front of pack labelling that will help make it easier for people to choose a healthier diet.

New Call To Londoners Exposed To 7/7 Bombings To Join Health Follow-up - Medical News Today 12/03/06

Londoners and visitors to the Capital exposed to the July bombings last year are being urged to support a public health follow-up.

Research Shows The Biggest Health Threat To Fat And Obese People Isn't The Fat Itself But The Fact That The Fat Fuels A Killer Inflammation Response - Medical News Today 12/03/06

New research by the University of Warwick's Warwick Medical School shows that the biggest health threat to fat and obese people isn't the fat itself but the fact that the fat fuels a killer inflammation response in people.

Complete Description Of Pneumococcal Vaccine Targets - Outsmarting The Smartie Bug - Medical News Today 12/03/06

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.

BMA Scotland Proposes ‘common Sense' Solutions To Consultant Shortages - Medical News Today 12/03/06

With around 300 consultant posts lying vacant and a target to create an additional 600 posts by September this year likely to be missed, the British Medical Association (BMA) today (Thursday 9 March 2006) proposed some practical solutions to help the Scottish Executive recruit and retain more consultants in Scotland's NHS.

Caretek Medical Announces Lead Drug Candidate For ImplaJect® Development - Medical News Today 12/03/06

Caretek Medical Ltd, an Oxford-based company developing an innovative needle-free drug delivery system known as ImplaJect®, today announced the selection of Sumatriptan Succinate as its lead drug compound at the Needle-Free and Auto Injector Conference in London. Sumatriptan is currently prescribed in tablet form to treat migraine, a common condition that affects around 12% of the UK population, and Caretek now plans to develop a solid form of the drug that will be suitable for patients to inject using the company's patented ImplaJect® device. The development should enable many thousands of migraine sufferers to enjoy fast, effective relief from their symptoms.

UK National Crisis In Pathology Highlighted By Liverpool Study - Medical News Today 11/03/06

A study of the UK's pathologists, carried out by a scientist at the University of Liverpool on behalf of the Department of Health and the Royal College of Pathologists, has sparked concern over the numbers leaving the profession - particularly in academia.

ABPI Code Of Practice: Informing Doctors, UK - Medical News Today 11/03/06

Nearly half of doctors are unaware of the Code of Practice that governs relationships between the pharmaceutical industry and its healthcare partners, according to a survey by the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) - and an updated booklet published today is the first step in a campaign to boost their knowledge.

European Court Of Human Rights Rules British Woman Cannot Use Frozen Embryos Without Former Fiance's Consent - Medical News Today 10/03/06

The European Court of Human Rights on Tuesday upheld a U.K. law, ruling that a British woman does not have the right to use frozen embryos for in vitro fertilization without the permission of the man with whom the embryos were created, the AP/Boston Globe reports (AP/Boston Globe, 3/7). The case involves Natallie Evans, who created six embryos with her former fiance, Howard Johnston, before undergoing cancer treatments that left her infertile. The relationship later ended, and Johnston withdrew his consent to allow the embryos to be used for IVF. In the legal challenge, Evans argued that the U.K.'s 1990 Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act preventing her from using the embryos violated her human rights. The law says that embryos created for IVF must be destroyed unless both parties who contributed genetic material consent to their storage and use. Evans said that if she had become pregnant naturally and the embryo were in her body, Johnston would not have had a say over whether she had a right to use the embryos. The U.K. High Court in 2003 ruled against Evans (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 10/2/03). The European Court of Human Rights in its ruling on Tuesday said, "The court, like the national courts, had great sympathy for the plight of the applicant who, if implantation did not take place, would be deprived of the ability to give birth to her own child." However, the court added that Evans' right to a family, as defined by the Council of Europe's Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, does not supersede Johnston's withdrawal of consent (BBC News, 3/7). The court also said that national laws define when the right to life begins, and British law says that an embryo does not have rights, according to the AP/Globe (AP/Boston Globe, 3/7). Evans said she plans to appeal the case to the Grand Jury of the European Court (BBC News, 3/7). The court asked the British government to ensure that the embryos are preserved until Evans' appeals are exhausted, the AP/Globe reports (AP/Boston Globe, 3/7).

International News

Exercise and a healthy diet do you good, Queen to tell Commonwealth - The Telegraph 12/03/06

The Queen will offer health tips tomorrow to 1.7 billion subjects and citizens of the Commonwealth.

UN chief praises our sex trafficking exposé - The Telegraph 12/03/06

The United Nations has praised a Sunday Telegraph investigation that prompted government action against sex traffickers.

Hope for Huntington's treatment - BBC Health News 12/03/06

A compound that interferes with the progress of Huntington's disease has been discovered by US researchers.


Wine 'can help treat gum disease' - BBC Health News 11/03/06

Chemicals in red wine can help prevent and treat gum disease, a study says.

Red wine's latest health property - it's the secret of a better smile - The Independent 11/03/06
Red wine may help you stay long in the tooth - The Telegraph 11/03/06

Bird flu kills Indonesia children - BBC Health News 10/03/06

Two Indonesian children have become the latest victims of bird flu, raising the country's death toll to 22.

Boy Of Four Dies Of Bird Flu In Indonesia - Medical News Today 11/03/06

Russia launches bird vaccinations - BBC Health News 10/03/06

Russia has begun the mass vaccination of poultry to try to stop the spread of the lethal H5N1 bird flu virus.

Russia Starts Mass Vaccination Of Poultry To Fight H5N1 - Medical News Today 10/03/06

Global measles deaths fall by 48% - BBC Health News 10/03/06

The number of people dying of measles across the world has fallen by almost half, the latest figures show.

Women Still Subjected To Widespread Violence And Discrimination, Despite Progress - Medical News Today 12/03/06

“Around the globe today, especially in developing countries, girls and women suffer in silence - out of range of the cameras and off society's radar,” Veneman said, giving the keynote address at the Annual International Women's Day Luncheon in Washington, D.C. “In too many nations and regions, women are still devalued and denied or treated as second-class citizens. They are the victims of gross inequity or all too often, much worse.”

Aspirin Unsurpassed In Prevention Of Heart Attack And Stroke In Wide Range Of Patients - Medical News Today 12/03/06

Data from a long-term study released today solidifies aspirin's role as the preeminent antiplatelet therapy in the prevention of heart attack and stroke. The results of the Clopidogrel for High Atherothrombotic Risk and Ischaemic Stabilization, Management, and Avoidance (CHARISMA) trial, which were presented today at the 55th Annual Scientific Session of the American College of Cardiology in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, and published online in an advance issue of the New England Journal of Medicine(1), highlight the primacy of aspirin among antiplatelet agents and add to the robust body of evidence supporting aspirin's role in cardioprevention.

Ultrafiltration's Immediate And Long-Term Benefits Demonstrated In Heart Failure Patients - Medical News Today 12/03/06

There is good news today for the approximately 1 million people hospitalized annually for heart failure in the United States.

Cleveland Clinic Research Explores Value Of Two Blood Thinners Versus Just One - Medical News Today 12/03/06

A Cleveland Clinic-led international study has found that long-term therapy with low-dose aspirin plus another antiplatelet agent, clopidogrel (Plavix(R)), is not more effective than aspirin alone in preventing heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular death in a broad patient population.

Use Of Combination Vaccines May Improve Immunization Coverage Rates In Infants: New Observational Study Suggests - Medical News Today 12/03/06

Results from a new observational study of administrative claims data from the Georgia State Medicaid program showed that infants who received a combination vaccine had higher immunization coverage rates in the first two years of life compared to infants given component vaccines. Results from the study were presented today at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's 40th National Immunization Conference (NIC) in Atlanta, GA, by Gary S. Marshall, M.D., Professor of Pediatrics at University of Louisville, Louisville, KY. The study was conducted by Dr. Marshall in collaboration with Applied Health Outcomes of Palm Harbor, Florida.

Newer Antidepressants Linked To Serious Lung Disorder In Newborns, Health Canada - Medical News Today 12/03/06

Health Canada is advising women who are taking antidepressants known as Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors (SSRI) and who are pregnant or intend to become pregnant to discuss the situation with their doctor due to potential risks to the baby.

Another Possible Case Of Mad Cow Disease In USA - Medical News Today 12/03/06

Last night US authorities received an inconclusive test result of a rapid test from animal samples as part of the country's enhanced BSE surveillance programme. John Clifford, US Chief Veterinarian, said an inconclusive result does not necessarily mean BSE, it just means there is a possibility.

H5N1 Bird Flu Detected In The Cameroons - Medical News Today 12/03/06

H5N1 Bird flu strain was detected in a duck in the Cameroons, making it now the fourth country in Africa to have bird flu within its borders. So far, Nigeria, Niger, Egypt and the Cameroons have bird flu reports. Samples from a farm in Maroua, Cameroons, were sent to a laboratory in Paris, where H5N1 was confirmed. The Cameroons' border with Nigeria is 1,800 kilometres long. So far, no human cases of bird flu have been reported in Africa. According to reports, the virus is starting to establish itself in Africa. With the coming of spring, Europeans watch with apprehension as birds will start migrating from Africa northwards. There is a good chance these birds will bring the H5N1 strain with them. A possible route for infection to reach north America is also from Africa. Some birds will migrate all the way to the Arctic and then move south into the American continent in the Autumn (Fall). Written by: Christian Nordqvist Editor: Medical News Today

Genetically Engineered Mosquitoes Show Resistance To Dengue Fever Virus - Medical News Today 12/03/06

Researchers have successfully created a genetically engineered mosquito that shows a high level of resistance against the most prevalent type of dengue fever virus, providing a powerful weapon against a disease that infects 50 million people each year.

Most Human-chimp Differences Due To Gene Regulation - Not Genes - Medical News Today 12/03/06

The vast differences between humans and chimpanzees are due more to changes in gene regulation than differences in individual genes themselves, researchers from Yale, the University of Chicago, and the Hall Institute in Parkville, Victoria, Australia, argue in the 9 March 2006 issue of the journal Nature.

Being Targeted By Stereotypes And Prejudice Affects Self-control And Academic Performance - Medical News Today 12/03/06

Controlling what you eat, how often you study or whether you engage in addictive or criminal behaviour might be harder if you belong to a group targeted by negative stereotypes or prejudice, according to a University of Toronto study, published in the March issue of Psychological Science, which has begun to explore this research area.

Formula Feeding, Early Introduction Of Infant Food May Not Contribute To Childhood Obesity - Medical News Today 12/03/06

Does breastfeeding or the age at which other foods are introduced to infants affect the risk of obesity in early childhood? Research on this question has produced mixed results, and a new study has found that a child's fatness at age five is not related to being breastfed or the age in infancy when other foods are introduced.

Effect Of Diabetes On Heart May Differ By Ethnicity, Study Finds - Medical News Today 12/03/06

Diabetes strongly increases the risk of heart failure in all ethnic groups, but early effects of diabetes on the heart may differ depending on whether the subjects are white, African-American, Hispanic or Chinese. These results emerged from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) when the investigators focused on heart mass - the weight of the heart muscle as measured by MRI, according to Alain Bertoni, M.D., M.P.H., at Wake Forest University School of Medicine.

Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center Receives Funding For Novel Breast Cancer And Obesity Studies - Medical News Today 12/03/06

A team of researchers at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center has been awarded $1.5 million from the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, to help fund two studies targeting women at high risk for developing breast cancer and look for molecular markers in the blood that could indicate increased risk for the disease.

Troubling Increase In Repeat Cesarean Delivery, Inadequate Explanations - Medical News Today 12/03/06

A survey conducted to determine the basis for the increased number of repeat cesarean births in the United States found that nearly 10 percent of women had undocumented reasons for the surgery. This study is published in the March issue of Birth: Issues in Perinatal Care.

Blood Levels Of Suspected Carcinogen Vary By Race, Ethnicity - Medical News Today 12/01/06

Whites have three times higher blood serum levels of perfluorochemicals (PFCs) than Hispanics and two times higher levels than blacks, according to a study scheduled for publication in the April 1 issue of the American Chemical Society's journal, Environmental Science & Technology. The study, by scientists at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, is the first to detect racial or ethnic differences in levels of PFCs among humans.

Tohoku University Confirm That Tomato Extract Helps Heal Atopic Dermatitis - Medical News Today 12/03/06

Kikkoman Corporation, in collaboration with Tohoku University, has discovered that the extract of tomato plays a role in healing atopic dermatitis.

Arkray Introduces Two Diabetes Testing Devices - Medical News Today 12/03/06

Arkray began marketing the SPOTOCHEM IM SI-3511 and ADAMS A1c HA-8170, two new analyzers for use in diabetes diagnosis, on March 9.

Genepharm's First Cancer Drugs Approved By TGA, Australia - Medical News Today 12/03/06

Generic medicines company Genepharm Australasia (ASX:GAA) has received marketing authorisation approval from the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) to sell the first two of its anti-cancer injectable drugs in Australia.

Combination Vaccines May Improve Immunization Coverage Rates In Infants, New Study Suggests - Medical News Today 12/03/06

Results from a new observational study of administrative claims data from the Georgia State Medicaid program showed that infants who received a combination vaccine had higher immunization coverage rates in the first two years of life compared to infants given component vaccines. Results from the study were presented today at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's 40th National Immunization Conference (NIC) in Atlanta, GA, by Gary S. Marshall, M.D., Professor of Pediatrics at University of Louisville, Louisville, KY. The study was conducted by Dr. Marshall in collaboration with Applied Health Outcomes of Palm Harbor, Florida.

Mymetics Announces NIH Plan To Test HIV-AIDS Vaccine Candidate In Non-Human Primate Model - Medical News Today 12/03/06

Mymetics Corporation (OTC: MYMX) announced today that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has agreed to initiate testing of the Company's proprietary HIV-AIDS mucosal prophylactic vaccine candidate. The preclinical study will test Mymetics' vaccine in a non-human primate model. This study will take place in parallel to Mymetics' ongoing preclinical trial in another primate model. Mymetics' study was recently initiated in collaboration with the Cochin Institute (Paris, France), the Institute of Laboratory Animal Science of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and the Faculty of Laboratory Animal Sciences of the Peking Union Medical College in Beijing (Republic of China).

Medwave's Technology Studied In Difficult Liver Transplant Cases Published In Anesthesia & Analgesia - Medical News Today 12/03/06

Medwave, Inc. (Nasdaq: MDWV), the innovator in sensor-based, non-invasive blood pressure measuring solutions, announced today that a study titled "Vasotrac Arterial Pressure and Direct Arterial Pressure Monitoring During Liver Transplantation" has been published in the March 2006 issue of Anesthesia & Analgesia. The study was conducted at The Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota by James Y. Findlay, FRCA, Bhargavi Gali, MD, Mark T. Keegan, MRCPI, Christopher M. Burke, MD, and David J. Plevak, MD.

FDA Initiative Helps Expedite Development Of Seasonal And Pandemic Flu Vaccines - Medical News Today 12/03/06

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today issued recommendations to aid manufacturers in developing seasonal and pandemic influenza vaccines. FDA's goal is to expedite the development and availability of safe and effective vaccines needed to protect against influenza.

FDA Warns Manufacturers About Illegal Steroid Products Sold As Dietary Supplements - Medical News Today 12/03/06

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today warned several manufacturers and distributors of unapproved drugs containing steroids that continued distribution and sale of these products without FDA approval could result in regulatory action including seizure and injunction. FDA is concerned that the use of these products, which are marketed as dietary supplements and promoted for building muscle and increasing strength, may cause serious long-term adverse health consequences in men, women, and children. These products claim to be anabolic and problems associated with anabolic steroids include: liver toxicity, testicular atrophy and male infertility, masculinization of women, breast enlargement in males, short stature in children, adverse effects on blood lipid levels, and a potential to increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Scientists Use PET Scans To Monitor Lung Inflammation Noninvasively - Medical News Today 12/03/06

A noninvasive approach for assessing lung inflammation should accelerate efforts to develop drugs for inflammatory lung conditions like cystic fibrosis and pneumonia, scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis report.

Learn The Signs And Symptoms Of Colorectal Cancer - March Is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month - Medical News Today 12/03/06

More than 148,000 people in the USA will learn that they have colorectal cancer this year, making it the third leading cancer in both men and women in the United States, according to the American Cancer Society. While a family history of colon cancer, a diet high in fat and red meat, and a history of polyps in the colon, ulcerative colitis or Crohn's Disease are major risk factors associated with colorectal cancer, the disease can be cured and often prevented if people are screened properly.

ReNeuron Announces Successful Completion Of Cell Banking With ReN001 Stem Cell Therapy For Stroke - Medical News Today 12/03/06

ReNeuron Group plc (LSE: RENE.L) today announces that it has successfully completed the scale-up and cell banking of its lead ReN001 stem cell product for stroke. Master and Working cell banks have been manufactured to full Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standard, having been fully tested for purity, sterility and stability. The banking and testing process took place at a contract manufacturer in the UK.

What Is Mal De Debarquement Syndrome (MdDS)? A Rocking Sensation After Exposure To Motion That Persists - Medical News Today 12/03/06

Mal de Debarquement Syndrome (MdDS) is an imbalance or rocking sensation that occurs after exposure to motion (most commonly after a sea cruise or a flight).

'Looking' At Eyeless From Two Directions - Medical News Today 12/03/06

When Dr. Rui Chen, assistant professor in the Baylor College of Medicine Human Genome Sequencing Center, sought to understand further the protein called Eyeless, he faced a dilemma.

MIT Research Holds Promise For Huntington's Treatment And Could Also Have Impact On Parkinson's Disease - Medical News Today 12/03/06

Researchers at MIT and Harvard Medical School have identified a compound that interferes with the pathogenic effects of Huntington's disease, a discovery that could lead to development of a new treatment for the disease.

Antibiotic Distribution Not Sufficient For Eye Infection In Ethiopian Communities - Medical News Today 12/03/06

Treating trachoma, an eye infection that can lead to blindness, with a single mass antibiotic distribution in Ethiopian communities with high prevalence of infection is not effective in eliminating the disease, according to a study in the March 8 issue of JAMA.

FIFA Sets New Definitions And Procedures For Injuries In Soccer - Medical News Today 12/03/06

Many studies have tried to calculate the rates of and risk factors for injuries in soccer players. However, variations in research methods and definitions have made it difficult to draw firm conclusions about the characteristics and frequency of soccer injuries and the best approaches to classifying, preventing, and treating them.

Stroke Therapy Follow-Up - Medical News Today 12/03/06

Constraint-Induced Movement therapy, a rehabilitation technique designed to improve the function of the weakened or affected arm of a stroke patient, has been shown to provide continued benefit for two years, according to a placebo-controlled follow-up study reported in this week's on-line issue of Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association.

Cost For Growth Hormone Therapy Doesn't Measure Up - Medical News Today 12/03/06

How much would you pay to be about 2 inches taller?

Hypertension Drug May Restore Cardiovascular Function In African Americans - Medical News Today 12/03/06

Nebivolol, a drug for treatment of high blood pressure available in Europe, may restore damaged cardiovascular functions in African Americans, according to a recent laboratory study at Ohio University.

Dentists In Research Network Do Not Discriminate, Study Finds - Medical News Today 12/03/06

Regardless of race, private practice dentists do not discriminate in services they provide their patients, according to a new study from Case Western Reserve University's School of Dental Medicine.

Mice With Glowing Hearts Shed Light On How Hearts Develop - Medical News Today 11/03/06

Cornell researchers have genetically engineered mice whose hearts glow with a green light every time they beat. The development gives researchers insights into how hearts develop in living mouse embryos and could improve our understanding of irregular heartbeats, known as arrhythmias, as well as open doors to observing cellular processes to better understand basic physiology and disease.

New Study Shows Benefit Of Early Therapy In HIV-infected Infants - Medical News Today 11/03/06

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) for infants born with HIV infection may be most effective when given in their first five months of life, according to a study published in the April 1 issue of The Journal of Infectious Diseases, now available online.

One In Three Adults Are Lonely, Especially People In Their Forties - Medical News Today 11/03/06

More than a third of adults are lonely, with people in their forties suffering the highest levels, according to a study published in the latest Journal of Clinical Nursing.

Cholesterol-lowering Foods Most Effective When Combined, U Of T Study - Medical News Today 11/03/06

Cholesterol-lowering foods such as soy protein, almonds, plant sterol enriched margarines, oats and barley may reduce cholesterol levels more effectively when eaten in combination, says a new University of Toronto study by Professor David Jenkins. The study, which appears in the current issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, also found that among the subjects who adhered to the diet (one third of test group), this combination of foods reduces low-density lipoprotein cholesterol ("bad" cholesterol) in similar ways as a first generation statin.

Gliadel® Wafer Demonstrates Long-term Survival Benefit For Patients With High-grade Malignant Glioma - Medical News Today 11/03/06

MGI PHARMA, INC. (Nasdaq: MOGN) today announced the publication of long-term (56 month) follow-up data showing that Gliadel® Wafer provides a durable long-term survival benefit for patients with high-grade malignant glioma.

Pollution Significantly Increases The Risk For Cardiovascular, Respiratory Disease In Elderly - Medical News Today 11/03/06

New data from a four-year study of 11.5 million Medicare enrollees show that short-term exposure to fine particle air pollution from such sources as motor vehicle exhaust and power plant emissions significantly increases the risk for cardiovascular and respiratory disease among people over 65 years of age. The study, funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, a component of the National Institutes of Health, is the largest ever conducted on the link between fine particle air pollution and hospital admissions for heart- and lung-related illnesses.

Corrective Cosmetics May Not Boost Quality Of Life For Women With Severe Facial Blemishes - Medical News Today 11/03/06

Using makeup to cover a severe facial blemish may not improve the quality of a woman's life, a new study suggests.

New Study Finds Dairy Is Not Associated With Weight Gain - Medical News Today 11/03/06

Calcium intake was not associated with weight gain in men over a 12-year period, according to a new study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition1. The study included more than 19,000 healthy men aged 40-75 years who were enrolled in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study. The researchers evaluated the relationship between total calcium intake from diet and supplements and changes in body weight based on self reported weight at the beginning and end of the 12-year study period. Study participants followed their normal diets, not calorie-restricted diets.

The First Clinical Test For Saliva-based Oral Cancer Detection: Ready Now! - Medical News Today 11/03/06

Oral cancer is the 6th most common cancer in men and the 14th most common cancer in women. In the US, oral cancer will be diagnosed in an estimated 30,000 Americans this year and will cause more than 8,000 deaths. The disease kills approximately one person every hour. Oral cancer can spread quickly. The majority of oral cancers are diagnosed in late stages, which accounts for the high death rates. Only half of those diagnosed with the disease will survive more than five years. However, if the cancer is detected early, there is an 80 to 90% chance for survival. It is therefore extremely important to detect oral cancer as early as possible, when it can be treated more successfully, thus enhancing the rate of survival.

For The First Time: Longevity Modulated Without Disrupting Life-sustaining Function - Medical News Today 11/03/06

Within a hormone-triggered cascade of molecular signals that plays a crucial for a wide range of physiological functions, researchers for the very first time have identified a protein that functions specifically to extend lifespan and youthfulness -- without disrupting fertility, immunity or the organism's response to stress.

Can Anger Attacks Be Recognized (and Prevented)? - Medical News Today 11/03/06

A study published in the 2006 March issue of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics by a group of Austrian investigators introduces a new simple method for detecting anger attacks.

BIO-E-GELTM Thwarts Postmenopausal Hot Flashes - Medical News Today 11/03/06

BIO-E GELTM is an effective and safe treatment for vasomotor symptoms in postmenopausal women, according to phase III data presented today at the annual meeting of the International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health (ISSWSH).

FDA Issues Guidance On Hospital Bed Design To Reduce Patient Entrapment - Medical News Today 11/03/06

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today published final guidance designed to reduce the occurrence of hospital bed entrapments. Entrapment can occur when part of a patient's body becomes caught between parts of the bed, such as in the space between the mattress and the side rail. This can cause strangulation and death. This guidance was prepared using input from both government and private sector groups.

FDA Approves First Head & Neck Cancer Treatment In 45 Years Data Shows Treatment With Erbitux Extends Survival - Medical News Today 11/03/06

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today announced the approval of Erbitux (cetuximab) for use in combination with radiation therapy to treat patients with squamous cell cancer of the head and neck (SCCHN) that can not be removed by surgery (unresectable SCCHN). This is the first drug approved for head and neck cancer that has shown a survival benefit in this population. Erbitux was also approved today for use alone (monotherapy) to treat patients whose head and neck cancer has spread (metastasized) despite the use of standard chemotherapy.

FDA Issues Draft Guidance For The Safe Production Of Fresh-Cut Fruits And Vegetables - Medical News Today 11/03/06

To minimize microbial food safety hazards common to the processing of most fresh-cut fruits and vegetables sold to consumers in a ready-to-eat form, The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today published a draft guidance document for producers of fresh-cut produce entitled "Guide to Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards of Fresh-cut Fruits and Vegetables."

People With Diabetes Want To Live Healthier But Face Challenges In Identifying Affordable Tools To Control The Condition - Medical News Today 11/03/06

According to a recent survey conducted by Kelton Research, an estimated nine out of 10 people with Type 2 diabetes know that weight loss would help them to better control their diabetes and recognize the importance of a personalized weight management plan, but more than half mention expenses more than any other factor as a challenge to their daily diabetes management.

The NEJM Reports BARACLUDE™ (entecavir) Demonstrated Benefits Over Lamivudine In Treating Chronically Infected Hepatitis B Patients At 48 Weeks - Medical News Today 11/03/06

BARACLUDE™ (entecavir) demonstrated greater benefit in treating nucleoside-naïve chronic hepatitis B patients compared to lamivudine, the most commonly used antiviral therapy for treatment of chronic hepatitis B worldwide, according to two studies published in The New England Journal of Medicine. BARACLUDE, discovered and developed by Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE: BMY), is a prescription medicine indicated for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in adults with evidence of active viral replication and either evidence of persistent elevations in serum aminotransferases (ALT or AST) or histologically active disease.

Plant Sterol Pills Significantly Lower LDL Cholesterol - Medical News Today 11/03/06

A pill containing plant substances called sterols can help lower cholesterol, according to researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

Clinical Trial Shows 96% Improvement In Pressure Ulcer Healing Among Nursing Home Residents - Medical News Today 11/03/06

Medical Nutrition USA, Inc., (MDNU) announced today the results of a clinical trial on its Pro-Stat(R) modular protein supplement. In the first clinical trial of its kind, investigators found that the use of Pro-Stat(R), improves the healing of pressure ulcers among long-term care residents by 96%.

(Dentonin) Phase 2 Study Of AC-100 Meets Goal Of Stimulating New Dentin Formation With Favorable Safety Profile In Novel Dental Application - Medical News Today 11/03/06

Acologix, Inc., a privately-held biopharmaceutical company, announced today that a Phase 2 clinical trial of AC-100 (Dentonin(R)), a novel synthetic peptide derived from an endogenous human protein produced by bone and dental cells, met its primary goal of stimulating the formation of new dentin (the hard tissue of teeth that protects the tooth pulp and supports the outer enamel) when applied directly to tooth defects (prepared cavities). AC-100 also demonstrated a favorable safety profile. The results were presented in the "Late Breaking News Session" at the 35th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Dental Research (AADR) in Orlando.

Marketing Application For Cervarix, GSK's Candidate Vaccine For Cervical Cancer, Submitted In The European Union - Medical News Today 11/03/06

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has submitted for review a marketing application for Cervarix™- the company's candidate vaccine for cervical cancer - to the European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products (EMEA).

Independent Panel To Evaluate Genistein Or Soy Formula Human Development, Reproduction Risks - Medical News Today 11/03/06

What: An independent panel of 14 scientists convened by the Center for the Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction (CERHR), of the NIEHS and National Toxicology Program, will review recent scientific data and reach conclusions regarding whether or not exposure to genistein or soy formula is hazardous to human development or reproduction. The 2.5 day meeting is open to members of the public and the media. A press availability period will immediately follow the meeting at approximately noon on Friday, March 17.

There's More Than Meets The Eye In Judging The Size Of An Object - Medical News Today 11/03/06

Neuroscientists from the University of Washington and the University of Minnesota have found that the first area in the cortex of the human brain that receives information from the eyes processes the perceived size, rather than the actual size, of an object.

Soy Sauce Bacteria Effective Against Allergies - Medical News Today 11/03/06

Kikkoman Corporation has discovered that lactic acid bacteria derived from soy sauce and other fermented foods are effective against allergies.

Massive Drop In Global Measles Deaths After Major Immunization Activities - Medical News Today 11/03/06

An ambitious global immunization drive has cut measles deaths by nearly half between 1999 and 2004, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) announced today.

10 People Monitored For Possible H5N1 Infection, Azerbaijian - Medical News Today 11/03/06

Since the beginning of March, the Ministry of Health in Azerbaijian has been investigating a cluster of 10 persons placed under observation for possible infection with the H5N1 avian influenza virus. All of these persons are from the Daikyand settlement in Salyan Rayon in the eastern part of the country.

How Are Depression And The Inability To Express Emotions Related? - Medical News Today 11/03/06

Previous research on alexithymia (the inability to express emotions)and depression has led to a controversy over whether alexithymia should be viewed as a state-dependent phenomenon or as a stable personality trait.

Laparoscopic Partial Nephrectomy For Centrally Located Renal Tumors: Results In The Hands Of The Experts - Medical News Today 11/03/06

In this article, the group from the Cleveland Clinic, who has arguably the largest experience with laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN) by a single surgeon (Dr. Gill), now presents their results using this technique for centrally located renal tumors, defined as those tumors with direct contact of the pelvicaliceal system and/or renal sinus on preoperative imaging.

'Stent-graft' Procedure Improves Outcomes Of Carotid Aneurysm Repair - Medical News Today 11/03/06

For patients with life-threatening aneurysms of the carotid artery in the neck, a minimally invasive stent-grafting technique can be just as effective as traditional open surgery, but with faster recovery and fewer complications, according to a study in the March Journal of Vascular Surgery.

Post-Operative Instillation Of Intravesical Mitomycin C Is Safe - Medical News Today 11/03/06

Recurrence rates following transurethral resection of bladder tumors (TURBT) are significant. This can be due to reseeding of tumor cells at the end of resection or the ability for new tumors to arise within the bladder.

U-M Researchers Take New Approach To Defeating Gram-negative Bugs - Medical News Today 11/03/06

Ronald Woodard's team set out looking for a way to kill a stubborn type of bacteria and they succeeded---but not in the way he expected.

'Shuttling' Protein Possibly Key To Resilience Of Cancer Cells - Medical News Today 10/03/06

Researchers at Purdue University have discovered a molecular mechanism that may play a crucial role in cancer's ability to resist chemotherapy and radiation treatment and that also may be involved in Alzheimer's and heart disease.

Declines In Exercise Capacity May Be Due To Lack Of Training, Not Just Age - Medical News Today 10/03/06

Older people generally have to work harder than younger people to walk as fast or do other exercise, but some of the difference may be due to reduced exercise efficiency, which can be reversed with training, according to a new study in the Mar. 7, 2006, issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Advocates On International Women's Day Highlight Abortion Rights, Need To Curb Sexual Violence, Discrimination - Medical News Today 10/03/06

Advocates worldwide on International Women's Day on Wednesday are planning marches and debates to highlight issues such as abortion rights, gender equality, sexual violence and discrimination, AFP/Yahoo! News reports (AFP/Yahoo! News, 3/8). U.N. data show that one woman dies every minute because of complications during pregnancy or delivery, and HIV-prevalence rates are increasing faster among women than among men. Some advocates say the U.N. Millennium Development Goals of reducing infant deaths, reducing poverty and increasing education standards will not be met unless action is taken to improve women's status, London's Independent reports. "The world is starting to grasp that there is no policy more effective in promoting development, health and education than the empowerment of women and girls," U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan said (Frith, Independent, 3/8).

Genetic Switch That Turns Off An Oxygen-poor Cell's Combustion Engine Discovered By Hopkins Researchers - Medical News Today 10/03/06

Johns Hopkins researchers have discovered a previously unrecognized role played by the gene HIF-1 as it helps cell survive when a lack of oxygen decreases production of an energy-rich molecule called ATP and increases production of toxic molecules. ATP supplies energy the cell needs to perform each of its many chemical reactions and tasks, and in this way acts as the "currency" for the cell's energy economy.

Will Breastfeeding Protect An Infant From Obesity? Apparently Not - Medical News Today 10/03/06

According to an article in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, breastfeeding will not protect an infant from childhood obesity - contradicting previous research.

Semen-based Test For Prostate Cancer To Be Developed By Proteome Systems Ltd And US-based Egenix Inc - Medical News Today 10/03/06

Proteome Systems Ltd (ASX: PXL) today announced the signing of an agreement with the New York-based biotechnology company, Egenix Inc to co-develop a semen-based diagnostic kit for prostate cancer based on the known proprietary Human Carcinoma Antigen (HCA).

US Birds Could Soon Have Bird Flu, Michael Chertoff Says - Medical News Today 10/03/06

According to Michael Chertoff, Homeland Security Secretary, the deadly H5N1 Bird Flu virus strain could hit the USA during the next few months as birds start migrating.

Prescription Drug Development Time Has Decreased Over 10 Years, Study Finds - Medical News Today 10/03/06

The time it takes to develop and receive approval for a medication has decreased over the last 10 years, according to a study published Tuesday in the journal Health Affairs, Bloomberg/Philadelphia Inquirer reports. For the study, researchers examined drug development times for 168 drugs approved in the U.S. between 1992 and 2002. The researchers found that drugs starting development in 1985 took on average more than 10 years to reach the market, compared with fewer than four years on average for those that began the process in 1995 or later. According to Bloomberg/Inquirer, the "finding ... might undercut [drug companies'] suggestions that higher prices are linked to rising research and development costs." Salomeh Keyhani, lead author of the study and health policy researcher at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, said, "One of the factors that has influenced development costs is time" in testing drugs, adding, "There's not much public data on the drug industry, but we found that drug development times are decreasing." She said that the study shows that the time and resources for drug development differ widely and that the best-selling drugs do not take any longer to develop than those with lower sales. She added that a lack of public information slows down research on the factors behind drug development and pricing. Joseph DiMasi, director of economic analysis for the Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development, said he noticed the same decline in development times from 1992 to 2002, but that since 2002, drug development times have increased. Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America spokesperson Jeff Trewhitt noted that many companies are testing medications in more people and are conducting more tests, which leads to higher costs. (Lauerman, Bloomberg/Philadelphia Inquirer, 3/8).

HIV-Positive Illicit Drug Users Have Increased Risk For Opportunistic Infections, Death, Study Says - Medical News Today 10/03/06

HIV-positive users of cocaine and heroine have an increased risk for opportunistic infections and death compared with HIV-positive nonusers, according to a study published in the January 4 on-line edition of the American Journal of Epidemiology, Reuters reports. Gregory Lucas of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and colleagues surveyed a total of 1,851 HIV-positive individuals every six months starting in 1998. Researchers grouped the participants into different categories: 1,028 "nonusers"; 588 "intermittent users," who had used illicit drugs an average of 14 days in the last six months; and 235 "persistent users," who had used illicit drugs an average of 27 days in the last six months. After three years, researchers found that the approximate survival rates were 87% for nonusers, 80% for intermittent users and 68% for persistent users. After adjusting for various factors -- including age, race, gender and CD4+ T-cell counts -- researchers found that the risk of death was almost double in intermittent users and almost triple in persistent users. During periods when users abstained from illicit drug use, the risk of opportunistic infections decreased to the level associated with nonusers, according to the study. The observed increase in risk might be attributed to the effect illicit drugs have on the immune system, as well as a lack of access to care or failure to adhere to antiretroviral therapy, the researchers said (Reuters, 3/6). "Effectively targeting and treating active substance abuse in HIV treatment settings may provide a mechanism to improve clinical outcomes," the study says (Lucas et al., American Journal of Epidemiology, 3/1).

Angiomax better than other blood thinners: study - Reuters 12/03/06

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.

Filter is better than diuretics for heart failure: study - Reuters 12/03/06

Filtering the blood works better than diuretic drugs to remove excess fluid in patients admitted to the hospital for heart failure, researchers said on Sunday.

Study: Procedure beats drugs for heart flutter - Reuters 12/03/06

Creating circles of scar tissue in the heart worked better than drugs for treating a type of abnormal heart beat that afflicts millions, Italian researchers reported on Sunday.

Study finds aspirin still the best for heart risk - Reuters 12/03/06

Adding the blood-thinning drug Plavix to a daily dose of aspirin does not lower the risk of death, heart attack or stroke in high-risk patients, researchers said on Sunday.

Lowering homocysteine doesn't protect heart: studies - Reuters 12/03/06

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.

Java running neck-and-neck with soft drinks in US--report - Reuters 11/03/06

More Americans are drinking a cup of coffee every day, putting Java virtually neck-and-neck with such soft drinks as cola, according to an industry report released on Saturday.

CRP may help predict lung cancer risk in smokers - Reuters 10/03/06

Measuring blood levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) -- a marker of inflammation -- may help identifying smokers with abnormal lesions in their airways that are likely to progress, new research suggests.

Understanding prostate cancer hormone therapy "syndrome" - Reuters 10/03/06

Men with prostate cancer may be put on hormone therapy, to block testosterone production in an effort to halt or slow tumor growth. While some health effects of so-called "androgen deprivation therapy" (ADT) for prostate cancer are clearcut -- for example sexual dysfunction -- there is this whole set of less specific, more vague symptoms, like changes in mood, memory, feeling unwell, being tired. A new study suggests that these symptoms are likely due to the fact that the patients are older, sicker and have more advanced disease.

Apparently normal hearts tied to sudden cardiac deaths - Reuters 10/03/06

Many people who suffer "non-ischemic" cardiac death -- a cardiac death that is not related to restricted blood flow to the coronary arteries -- appear to have structurally normal hearts, UK researchers have found.

Sleep: not enough, too much may up diabetes risk - Reuters 10/03/06

Research hints that not getting enough sleep each night, or getting too much sleep, may increase a person's risk of developing non-insulin dependent (type 2) diabetes, independent of other factors.

Healthy meniscus important in knee arthritis - Reuters 10/03/06

Damage to the meniscus -- a cartilage disk that cushions the knee joint -- increases the risk of cartilage loss in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee, according to a report.

Switch to diet soda may help teens shed pounds - Reuters 10/03/06

A new study shows that adolescents who regularly consume sugar-sweetened soda have no trouble switching to sugar-free soda if provided the opportunity -- and making the switch may lead to weight loss, especially among heavier teens.

Grass pollen therapy curbs seasonal allergic asthma - Reuters 10/03/06

Children with grass pollen allergy are prone to develop asthma. A new study shows that specific grass pollen immunotherapy appears to be a safe and effective treatment for children with seasonal allergic asthma who react to grass pollen, doctors report in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

Virus causes rare form of cervical cancer too - Reuters 10/03/06

The same genital wart virus that causes the common form of cervical cancer also leads to a more unusual type of the disease, new research confirms.

Immobility not only factor in DVT air risk: study - Reuters 10/03/06

Cramped conditions on aircraft can increase the odds of developing potentially fatal blood clots but researchers said on Friday, other factors may be at play too.

Cheshire and Merseyside News

Radio station is in rude health - Warrington Guardian 11/03/06

VOLUNTEERS at Warrington Hospital's radio station could have something to shout about after being shortlisted for a national award.

New ratings system for NHS trusts - Daily Post 12/03/06

The way NHS trusts are rated is to be changed by introducing a new assessment of financial management.


Hepatitis outbreak at school - Liverpool Echo 10/03/06

A HEPATITIS outbreak has struck down four children at a Merseyside school.

OAPs spending savings on care that should be free - Daily Post 10/03/06

THOUSANDS of Merseyside's most vulnerable pensioners are being forced to sell their homes to pay for nursing care they should be receiving free, it was claimed last night.

Night of laughter raises thousands for breast cancer centre - Liverpool Echo 10/03/06

A NIGHT of fun and laughter helped to raise thousands of pounds for breast cancer sufferers in Liverpool.

I haven't been out for dinner since 2001 (I just can't afford it) - Liverpool Echo 09/03/06

PHYLLIS Bretherton remembers the last time she went for a meal out. It was a birthday celebration, and her and a few friends went to a restaurant for a Chinese.

500 fine for street drinkers - Liverpool Echo 09/03/06

DRINKERS on the streets of Wirral could be fined up to £500 in a bid to reduce drunken violence.

20m in Mersey hospital pay-outs - Daily Post 08/03/06

COMPENSATION claims worth more than 20m were paid out to patients and staff by Merseyside hospitals last year, the Daily Post can reveal.

MP in move to raise awareness of rare cancer - Ellesmere Port Pioneer 08/03/06

BOROUGH MP Andrew Miller has shown his support for the British Lung Foundation's new initiative.

Model highlights smoking hazard - Ellesmere Port Pioneer 08/03/06

HEALTH workers had an unusual helper to put across their 'no smoking' message.

Visitors urged to join MRSA fight - Crewe Chronicle 08/03/06

HEALTH watchdogs are encouraging Leighton Hospital visitors to join them in the fight against MRSA.

Queen Beth - Chester Chronicle 10/03/06

When four-year-old Beth asks her mum why her legs don't work like other children's, Sandra Lawrence tells her everyone is different and her 'special thing' is cerebral palsy. This week the extraordinary single mum-of-four talks to Chronicle reporter Selena O'Donnell.

Authority seeks hospital promise - Runcorn Weekly News 09/03/06

COUNCILLORS have sent a motion to health chiefs calling for assurances that Halton Hospital will not be closed or stripped of vital services.

Axe hangs over ward - Crewe Chronicle 08/03/06

COMMUNITY leaders have labelled as 'disgraceful' proposals to axe inpatient services at Northwich's Victoria Infirmary.

Hospital aiming to balance the books - Crewe Chronicle 08/03/06

CASH strapped Leighton Hospital has unveiled a rescue plan to wipe out massive debts of more than 1m.

Health unit 'not used enough' - Ormskirk Advertiser 09/03/06

PATIENTS are being reminded that Ormskirk Hospital's Minor Injuries Unit can treat a variety of complaints without the trip to Southport A&E.

Gill Dolan on the Health Village - Southport Advertiser 10/03/06

"Residents will be aware that the Primary Care Trust had plans to develop the Southport General Infirmary site into a Health Village.

Health centre for town - Southport Advertiser 10/03/06

SOUTHPORT will welcome a new £ 5.4 million health centre on the corner of Hoghton Street.

Healthy change - Ormskirk Advertiser 09/03/06

A WARD closure at Ormskirk Hospital is not due to falling patient numbers, but improved treatment methods, says the trust.

Life-saving help is at hand for diabetics - Ormskirk Advertiser 09/03/06

HELP is on hand for the increasing number of people diagnosed with diabetes.

MP's anger at high cost of phone calls to hospital patients - Daily Post 09/03/06

A NORTH-WEST MP has condemned a 49p-per-minute charge to ring patients in Warrington Hospital as "exploitation".

Bird flu preparations - Warrington Guardian 10/03/06

BIRD flu precautions have led the council to ask hobby bird keepers and non-commercial poultry keepers to register with the environmental health team.

MP calls for apology in health row - Warrington Guardian 10/03/06

HELEN Jones MP has called on a regional boss to apologise in a row about the future of the health service.

Funding plea made to Health Minister - Crewe Guardian 10/03/06

HEALTH Secretary Patricia Hewitt is being urged to intervene in a funding crisis facing services for adults with learning disabilities in South Cheshire.

Cumbria and Lancashire News

Sickness bug problems ease - News & Star 11/03/06

A SICKNESS bug which forced the closure of wards in Carlisle’s Cumberland Infirmary and the West Cumberland Hospital in Whitehaven is beginning to ease off.

You've got it wrong - News & Star 11/03/06

A WEST Cumbrian GP says that keeping under-threat cottage hospital beds open will SAVE money, not waste it.


Mayor: Join hospital protest march today - Carlisle News & Star 10/03/06

COCKERMOUTH Mayor Alan Smith is calling on locals to show how much the cottage hospital means to them by joining today’s protest march.

NHS dentist shortage 'intolerable' council - Carlisle News & Star 10/03/06

THE NHS dentist shortage across west Cumbria has prompted Allerdale councillors to put pressure on the government.

Family centre morale 'at all time low' - Carlisle News & Star 10/03/06

STAFF at the threatened Howgill Family Centre in Whitehaven say they have no confidence in the management team after a £200,000 cut in funding and news that 10 jobs could be axed

Woman 86, died after amputation - Lancashire Evening Telegraph 10/03/06

An 86-year-old woman who had her leg amputated died two-and-a-half weeks later in Queen's Park Hospital.

Greater Manchester News

Motorists favour smoke-driving ban - Manchester Evening News 12/03/06

MOST motorists think driving and smoking should be outlawed, according to a poll out today.

Wards closing 'as cash goes private' - Manchester Evening News 11/03/06

HOSPITAL wards across Greater Manchester are closing because a private clinic is attracting funds from the NHS, says England's most senior surgeon.

MP highlights help for cancer sufferers - Bolton Evening News 11/03/06

BOLTON MP David Crausby is supporting a national campaign to help cancer sufferers.

Cash-hit hospital closes wards - Manchester Evening News 09/03/06

A HOSPITAL trust is to close two wards amid a growing funding crisis across the NHS.

Vaccine trials offer MS hope - Manchester Evening News 09/03/06

A NEW trial of a personalised vaccine against multiple sclerosis is to take place this month after the success of earlier trials.

The baby who can't be cuddled - Manchester Evening News 09/03/06

HE has beautiful big brown eyes - a truly gorgeous baby any parent would love to cuddle.

Kidney op first brings hope to others - Manchester Evening News 09/03/06

A PATIENT from Manchester has become the first in Britain to receive a new form of kidney transplant.

NHS 'left to repair poor private surgery' - Manchester Evening News 10/03/06

NHS surgeons are being left to "pick up the pieces" after poor surgery at private treatment centres, a senior doctor warned today.

Nurse-attack yob is sent to jail - Manchester Evening News 09/03/06

A DRUNKEN thug who punched a nurse after she helped to pick him up off a hospital floor has been jailed for four months.

Virus shuts third hospital ward - Bolton Evening News 10/03/06

A THIRD ward has been closed at the Royal Bolton Hospital as the outbreak of the winter vomiting virus continues to spread.

Hospital fundraisers see how cash is spent - Bolton Evening News 10/03/06

VOLUNTEERS who raise money for Christie's have paid a visit to the cancer hospital to see how their cash has been spent.

Posted by Kieran at 5:50 am

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