Saturday, March 18, 2006

Contents

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National News
Asymmetrical breasts linked to higher cancer risk - The Guardian 20/03/06

Women who have asymmetrical breasts are more likely to develop breast cancer, a study reveals today. The findings published in the journal Breast Cancer Research were based on the mammograms of 504 women taken 27 years ago. A study of the scans found that the odds of developing breast cancer grew by 1.5 with each 100ml increase in breast asymmetry.

Women with asymmetrical breasts may be more prone to cancer - The Independent 20/03/06
Uneven breasts linked to cancer - The Times 20/03/06
Uneven breasts linked to cancer - BBC Health News 19/03/06
Healthy Women Who Go On To Develop Breast Cancer Tend To Have Less Symmetrical Breasts - Medical News Today 20/03/06

British couples desperate for children travel to India in search of surrogates - The Guardian 20/03/06

Ethics under scrutiny as would-be parents are enticed by lower costs and relaxed laws

Asthma and eczema linked to mutant gene - The Guardian 20/03/06

Scientists are a step closer to understanding the causes of eczema and asthma after discovering a genetic mutation in the skin of people who have the conditions.

Gene hope for eczema sufferers - The Times 20/03/06
Gene find gives hope to eczema sufferers - The Telegraph 20/03/06
New eczema treatments on horizon - BBC Health News 20/03/06

WPM - The Guardian 20/03/06

Are you sitting comfortably? I sincerely hope not, because news has just reached OH Towers that comfort could spell death. I know it's unlike me to start an entirely unjustified health scare, but in this case I feel it is my duty to warn you that if you spend more than 40 hours a week at your desk, you might die. Or become quite unwell for a bit. Or at the very least get a little stiff. The root of the drama is a new kind of deep vein thrombosis the boffins are calling E-thrombosis. Happily, the kind lady from Zinopin Daily (yes, you guessed it, an anti-DVT pill) has some handy suggestions to prevent you from shuffling off your mortal coil, and I have to admit they all sound rather good. First, she recommends a proper tea break with a proper cup of tea (the caffeine and walk to the kitchen is a good thing, apparently). Next, she suggests lunching out, and finally, she advises we all sit at our desks legs apart. The upshot of all this is that you can say to your boss "Right then, I'm off to the cafe round the corner, or else I might DIE," and she'll have to believe you.

Doctors' concern over MS clinic - The Guardian 20/03/06

The anonymous first-floor waiting room overlooking Rotterdam's shopping streets looks an unlikely outpost for miracle cures. It could belong to a building society. Only the stairlift, the wheelchairs and the air of excitement offer clues to what is going on.

Has the war on smoking gone too far? - The Guardian 20/03/06

Come 2007, when embittered British smokers are huddling outside pubs and cradling their fags against the wind, they may well be wondering where the global war on smoking actually began. There is a clear answer: we can thank/blame California. In 1990, the town of San Luis Obispo became the first place in the world to ban smoking in all public buildings.

Health criteria strip old and infirm of free care - The Guardian 20/03/06

Thousands of elderly and disabled patients would lose their right to free long-term NHS care under draft proposals circulated by the Department of Health.

How we'll keep tags on the old folk - The Observer 19/03/06

Your widowed father is elderly. He is past the Saga cruise holidays and slow-motion games of golf and is often confused. You don't live around the corner and it's a worry. If he should slip, break his hip and be taken to hospital, will he be able to tell them his medical history or remember his GP's name?

Health panel: How can I stop my partner snoring? - The Observer 19/03/06

Disturbed, sleepless nights are leaving her tired and irritable, but he thinks she's exaggerating the problems caused by his noisy night-time breathing. Can our experts mediate?

A good week/ bad week for ... - The Observer 19/03/06

Prostitutes across Germany are being given the chance to retrain as geriatric nurses, with funding supplied by church groups and the European Union.

Who should pay for nursing at the end of life, the NHS or the patient? - The Observer 19/03/06

Following Panorama's exposure of a scandal in the NHS, Jon Robins looks at the heartache and financial burdens that families can suffer

Why I am quitting the NHS after 20 years - The Observer 19/03/06

Your editorial, 'The only cure for the NHS is full independence' (last week), offered the most concise and accurate description of the state of the NHS under this government that I have read.

Band of hope to stop errors by surgeons - The Observer 19/03/06

A British surgeon has invented a wristband that he believes will make it virtually impossible for doctors to remove the wrong organ during surgery.

Eleven goes into 10 with a bit left over - The Observer 19/03/06

Next week's Budget could be Gordon Brown's last before he takes over as Prime Minister - and despite an enviable record of stability, there is growing disquiet about the economic loose ends he may leave behind. Heather Stewart reports
Stripped of a pension - but battling on - The Guardian 18/03/06

Workers defiant despite government decision to deny compensation, writes Rupert Jones

Gentle detoxification - The Guardian 18/03/06

My GP suggests I'm neurotic, but I'm a hitherto well and energetic 62-year-old woman afflicted with a debilitating malaise that has built up over a couple of years. It began with a rash at the back of my throat, making for an uncomfortable mouth and throat, and has since caused exhaustion, weight loss and a cough. I've had blood tests and a thyroid check, and nothing is amiss.

Seven perfect daily moments - The Guardian 18/03/06

Body-clock experts believe that all our routine activities have an optimal time slot. So how do you plan a 24-hour schedule to benefit your health? By Peta Bee

Interest surges in trials despite patients' plight - The Guardian 18/03/06

Medical groups are being inundated with people wanting to sign up for drug trials despite the disastrous tests at Northwick Park hospital that left two men fighting for their lives and four others seriously ill.

Many are turning to plastic surgery to avoid age discrimination at work - The Independent 19/03/06

Middle-aged workers are turning to face-lifts to compete with younger colleagues in what experts say is an increasingly ageist workplace.

Britain's most obese children to be given surgery on the NHS - The Independent 19/03/06

Obese youngsters could be given stomach-stapling surgery on the National Health Service as child weight problems soar.

Thousands 'are at risk of vCJD from blood donations' - The Independent 19/03/06

Thousands of people could be infected with the human form of "mad cow" disease from blood transfusions each year because safeguards are inadequate, medical experts have warned.
Call for windfall tax on banks and oil firms to bail out NHS - The Independent 18/03/06

The Chancellor has been urged by Labour MPs to impose a windfall profits tax on banks and energy companies in next week's Budget to give him room to bail out the NHS hospitals facing deficits totalling more than 600m.

Have teeth, will travel - The Times 20/03/06

There's a boom in tooth tourism as Britons seek cheaper dental care

'I avoid mirrors . . . I’ve had perfectly good teeth vandalised' - The Times 20/03/06

Death of my best friend has made life unbearable - The Times 20/03/06

I have just lost my best friend and I don’t know how to deal with the bereavement. It’s unbearable and makes me feel suicidal. She was in a car crash and was on a life-support machine. I said goodbye, then the next day they turned off the machine and she died. I have only recently come out of a period of depression, owing to something that happened to me, and I am scared that I will go back to being depressed. I just don’t see it improving.

Arthritis drug that may help the worst cases - The Times 20/03/06

As usual, the Oscar presentations with their accompanying display of revealing evening dresses grabbed the headlines for a day or two. It must have evoked memories for Kathleen Turner of 1987, when she was an Oscar nominee.

Urban Worrier - The Times 20/03/06

The results are in. After a wait of more than two weeks, during which I sometimes managed not to think about them for a whole hour, the final tests from my medical, and the doctor’s conclusions, have finally arrived. Not altogether reassuring.
500,000 children set to lose NHS dental treatment - The Sunday Times 19/03/06

DENTISTS are expected to remove more than half a million children from lists entitling them to free NHS treatment when a new pay deal comes into effect next month.

Bid for new inquest in case of heroin girl - The Sunday Times 19/03/06

POLICE are seeking a new inquest into the death six years ago of Rachel Whitear, the 21-year-old heroin addict whose discoloured body was used to illustrate a government anti-drugs campaign.

Pain and little NHS gain - The Sunday Times 19/03/06

YOU report that financially strapped primary care trusts are finding ever more cunning ways of saving money (Higher funds, more operations, but the NHS is still in decline, News, last week). While all of this undoubtedly helps to reassure the number crunchers, it is merely pushing the hapless patient still further down the food chain.

Food label confusion - The Sunday Times 19/03/06

WE are not setting out to mislead or hoodwink consumers by using an alternative approach to the Food Standards Agency’s guidance on front-of-pack labelling (Editorial, last week). We strongly advocate, as does the FSA, the need for food labelling schemes to state clearly the amount of nutrients in a product. By using schemes based on guideline daily amounts we allow consumers to make their own decisions.

Racing pigeons ‘face bird flu cull’ - The Sunday Times 19/03/06

A SCIENTIST advising the government on measures to prevent the spread of avian flu in Britain has warned that pigeon fanciers may have to cull their prize birds if pandemic strikes.

Ministers ‘investing in cigarettes’ - The Sunday Times 19/03/06

MINISTERS responsible for introducing Scotland’s smoking ban have been accused of hypocrisy after it emerged they are paying into a pension firm that has £126m invested in the world’s biggest cigarette company.

Ecosse: The last gasp - The Sunday Times 19/03/06

Even the victorious non-smokers agree that when the smoking ban starts in Scotland next week an entire way of life will pass into oblivion. Allan Brown gave up cigarettes a while back, but still mourns its passing

Smoking: it's goodbye to a' that - The Sunday Times 19/03/06
'I worried about the risks, but I wanted to do my bit' - The Times 18/03/06

The Labour MP for Barking and Minister for Work tells about her ten-year trial for a breast cancer drug

Feathers fly over site of new egg farm - The Times 18/03/06

PLANS for a farm producing free-range eggs are being challenged by villagers who fear that it could heighten the risk of the avian flu virus in their community.

Women touting their bodies to sell dream of the perfect child - The Times 18/03/06

THE unnamed women post their photographs and vital statistics on the internet to sell their services.

Letters to the Editor - The Times 18/03/06

Regarding your editorial (“Precious and real”, Mar 16) on the Baby MB case, where did the idea come from that doctors should decide whose life is or is not worth living?

Like my new face? - The Times 18/03/06

Stories behind the news: Facelifts - on sale everywhere, just don’t ask for the guarantee

Open wide ... this new drill will hurt - The Times 18/03/06

New reforms are forcing dentists to leave the NHS and pushing patients into private practice

Honest look at the last taboo - The Times 18/03/06

Actor Tony Robinson saw his mother die from dementia. He tells John Naish how it spurred him into campaigning for the elderly

They all look the same to me - The Times 18/03/06

From blanking colleagues and acquaintances, Andrew Billen knew that his face-blindness was bad — then tests revealed just how bad

Inside story: repetitive strain injury - The Times 18/03/06

When her upper limbs stopped working Annie Taylor refused to be written off — and she changed her life for the better

Dr Copperfield: inside the mind of a GP - The Times 18/03/06

“Miracle heart pill! Unblocks furred-up arteries while you sleep!” Another week, another headline: Tuesday brought us news that high doses of the statin, Crestor, may turn out to do wonders for patients who already have heart problems, but what about the rest of us? Suppose there was a pill

Bath-time bonding - The Times 18/03/06

What better than a ‘warm chic womb’ for Helen Lederer and Hannah, 16, to share quality time?

She's wearing the trousers - The Times 18/03/06

She can do it all but should hold back before the worm turns, says Jane

Agony and ecstasy: sex advice - The Times 18/03/06

An abusive father put me off men and, for a while, I thought I was a lesbian. At 27, I know I'm not, but I have never kissed a man. Any tips?

Fly-by-night worry - The Times 18/03/06

I am taking my 18-month- old son to Australia to meet my family but am concerned about the flight. He will be on my lap the whole time. A friend suggested giving him Phenergan to “knock him out”. What do you think and how can I help him adjust to the new time zone when we’re there?

How I shed the blues - The Times 18/03/06

Digging your way out of depression may seem like you’re losing the plot but it worked for Robin Shelton. He got an allotment and started sowing the seeds of a happier life

Eco-worrier: dry-cleaning - The Times 18/03/06

The film company I work for gets through a huge amount of dry-cleaning. What can I do?

At your table: pears - The Times 18/03/06

I’m a Conference pear person, although Williams, Comice and Packhams also find their way into my fruit bowl. Sweet and moreish, pears are so versatile. Not only do they make a juicier alternative to apples as a snack, but the luscious fruity taste goes well with cheese, from crumbly Mrs Kirkhams Lancashire to runny brie.

Taking it in his stride - The Times 18/03/06

When Bruce Millar decided to commute on two legs, he had to learn to put his best foot forward

Hands up for kids in the kitchen - The Times 18/03/06

What's the recipe for healthy little eaters? Teach them to cook at school, says Hilly Janes

The French way is to let them eat cake - The Times 18/03/06

Adam Sage finds that the French are tackling childhood obesity by encouraging youngsters to enjoy their grub

Movement Maestro - The Times 18/03/06

When choreographer Richard Alston, 57, was told he had diabetes he went on the GI diet and got fit
Surgeons remove the wrong kidney - The Times 17/03/06

AN INQUIRY is under way at a Scottish hospital where surgeons removed a cancer patient’s healthy kidney by mistake.

Patient's healthy kidney removed - BBC Health News 16/03/06
Healthy kidney removed in botched op - Daily Mail 16/03/06

Hospital's 15m shortfall to bring 1,000 job losses - The Times 17/03/06

AS MANY as a thousand jobs are to be shed at a single hospital trust in an emergency measure designed to combat worsening deficits in the NHS.

Hospital 18m in debt plans 350m rebuild - Telegraph 17/03/06
Cash-hit hospital to lay off 1,000 workers - Telegraph 17/03/06
Cash crisis 'won't hit patients' - BBC Health News 17/03/06
Fear for jobs in NHS cash crisis - BBC Health News 17/03/06
Hospital to axe 1,000 staff to balance books - Daily Mail 17/03/06
Hewitt gets blame for hospital's slashing of 1,000 jobs - The Telegraph 18/03/06
Other trusts at risk - The Telegraph 18/03/06
Thousands more jobs may go as crisis hits NHS Direct - The Telegraph 18/03/06

Doctors seek international help in treating victims - The Times 17/03/06

INTERNATIONAL experts in immunology and toxicity are being consulted in an attempt to understand better the unique set of symptoms showing in the drug trial victims.
Chronic patients 'will be treated at home to cut costs' - The Telegraph 19/03/06

The Government hopes to ease the NHS's financial crisis by cutting the number of emergency hospital admissions for chronic illnesses, it has emerged.

NHS saves 400m with home care for chronically ill - The Times 20/03/06
Home care to help cut NHS deficit - Daily Mail 19/03/06
Home care 'to cut NHS deficits' - BBC Health News 19/03/06
Community care could cut NHS deficit, says Hewitt - The Guardian 20/03/06
Treat victims of asthma and angina at home, says Hewitt - The Telegraph 20/03/06

Care home pensioners trapped upstairs since Christmas - The Telegraph 19/03/06

A dozen pensioners have been trapped on the upper floors of a care home since Christmas Day because of a broken lift, it has emerged.

Elderly trapped in care home - The Times 20/03/06
No way to treat the aged - The Telegraph 20/03/06

Study vindicates doctor behind baby experiment - The Telegraph 19/03/06

A child health doctor, who ran a hospital experiment in which dozens of babies died and 15 were left with brain damage, has been vindicated by new research.

If avian flu doesn't get us, the political Numskulls will - The Telegraph 19/03/06

Think of the world as a human head. If that makes your own head hurt, then perhaps a little nostalgia on my part may help. When I was a boy, I was an avid reader of The Beezer (which was to The Beano what The Telegraph is to The Mail). My favourite cartoon strip was The Numskulls.

Traffic wardens target rich pickings of hospital visitors - The Telegraph 19/03/06

Traffic wardens have been accused of targeting motorists driving to NHS hospitals for treatment or to visit sick relatives.

'Doctors told us our daughter had to die, that no hospital would treat her. Two years on, she's still here' - The Telegraph 19/03/06

Jeremy Howat's recollection of the prognosis was both blunt and bleak. Doctors told him that his baby would die. They thought it was wrong to continue to resuscitate her if she stopped breathing. They wanted a court order that would allow her to die should it happen again.

Gold watch ends up on scrap heap - The Telegraph 18/03/06

Asking for two, three or five years' experience on a job specification or giving perks for long service could become illegal under new age-discrimination laws, it has emerged.

Lifelong vaccine will end booster jab ordeal - The Telegraph 18/03/06

Booster jabs could soon become obsolete following the discovery by a British scientist of the world's first effective way to control the speed at which vaccines are released in the body.

New slow-release vaccine heralded - BBC Health News 18/03/06

Mother-to-be: Community nurses provide a little cocoon of safety - The Telegraph 18/03/06

Natalie Wakefield is expecting her second child in six weeks' time and said she was appalled by the potential loss of 120 midwives.
Midwife: Women stand to lose a gold standard birth choice service - The Telegraph 18/03/06

Sue Brown has had a hectic morning. Everyone is upset and is putting questions to her, as the deputy head of midwifery and Royal College of Nursing representative, the answers to which she cannot yet provide.

Super foods: walnuts - The Telegraph 18/03/06

Judith Woods looks at the health-giving benefits of some of our most common foods. This week: walnuts

Get a life: find your talents - The Telegraph 18/03/06

Part three of self-help guru Nina Grunfeld’s eight-step guide to greater confidence

Stomach surgery for obese children - Daily Mail 17/03/06

Obese children could be offered drastic stomach surgery on the NHS.

Surgery option for obese children - BBC Health News 17/03/06

Deflector helps heated chefs keep their cool - Daily Mail 15/03/06

A heat-proof protector could be the answer to a kitchen nightmare highlighted by celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay - overheated testicles.

Hearing test for every baby in England - Daily Mail 16/03/06

All parents of newborns in England will be offered a test to see if their baby is deaf or has hearing problems.


Radiation overdose girl 'feeling better' - Daily Mail 17/03/06

A schoolgirl who was given a potentially deadly radiation overdose at a cancer unit says she is now rebuilding her life.
Total Welsh NHS debt 'tops 70m' - BBC Health News 20/03/06

Opposition parties have said the National Health Service in Wales is more than 70m in the red.

Two drug trial men still critical - BBC Health News 18/03/06

Investigations into how a drugs trial left six men seriously ill - two of them critical - are continuing.

Lesson of the drug trial tragedy - The Guardian 20/03/06
Two still critical after drugs trial as police question volunteers - The Independent 20/03/06
Drugs trial guinea-pigs taken off organ support - The Times 20/03/06
Trial drug affected animal glands - BBC Health News 20/03/06
Trial and Terror - The Observer 19/03/06
Drug chief defends tests on volunteers - The Observer 19/03/06
Special report: Drug trial fiasco - The Independent 19/03/06
We need the truth about new drugs, but can we swallow it? - The Independent 19/03/06
Earlier trials had shown that drug group was highly toxic - The Sunday Times 19/03/06
Drug-trial mishap 'may have been avoidable' - The Telegraph 19/03/06
Drug safety tests 'insufficient' - BBC Health News 19/03/06
Protein differences may explain drug reaction - Reuters 19/03/06
Stricken drug trial victims will take months to recover - The Times 18/03/06
Critical drug trial men show hopeful signs - The Telegraph 18/03/06
Drugs trial men 'are improving' - BBC Health News 18/03/06
Drug-trial victim's mother kept in the dark - Daily Mail 18/03/06
Drug trial victim 'in long-term coma' - The Guardian 17/03/06
Drug company 'followed correct procedures' - Daily Mail 17/03/06
Drug trial four 'are conscious' - BBC Health News 17/03/06
Drug victim faces a year in a coma - The Times 17/03/06
Doctors call for worldwide help in race to save lives of men who collapsed 'like dominoes' in drug trial - The Guardian 17/03/06
Help find a cure for my drug trial boyfriend - Telegraph 17/03/06
Drug testing firm insists it did everything right - Telegraph 17/03/06
Drug test victim in coma - The Telegraph 17/03/06
Drug trial staff 'acted properly' - BBC Health News 17/03/06
Human drug trials 'fundamental' - BBC Health News 16/03/06

Staffing crisis closes hospital - BBC Health News 17/03/06

A Highland hospital is to close temporarily because it does not have enough staff.

Low-carb diets can be unhealthy, doctors warn - Reuters 17/03/06

Low carbohydrate, high protein diets may help to shed weight quickly but researchers warned on Friday that they can be unhealthy.

Low carb diet health risk fears - BBC Health News 17/03/06

Following a low carb diet could cause serious health conditions, doctors in the US have warned.

Drug-related HIV rates 'soaring' - BBC Health News 17/03/06

The number of HIV-positive drug users who inject has reached its highest level for more than a decade.

Dead hen bird flu tests negative - BBC Health News 16/03/06

Preliminary tests taken after dozens of dead chickens were discovered on a farm in Orkney have proved negative for bird flu, it has been confirmed.

'Memory robber' Alzheimer's sign - BBC Health News 16/03/06

Clusters of "memory-robbing" proteins could be one of the earliest signs of degenerative brain disorder Alzheimer's, scientists have suggested.

Ambulance chief quits over merger - BBC Health News 16/03/06

The head of the Staffordshire Ambulance Service has resigned following a row over planned mergers.
Knowledge Of "movement Routes" Is The Key To Predicting The Pattern Of Spread Of Infectious Diseases - Medical News Today 19/03/06

Knowledge of "movement routes" is the key to predicting the pattern of spread of infectious diseases of humans, and similar data could be crucial to understand animal disease risks, says team from the University of Edinburgh.

Babylab To Work Out What Goes On In Babies' Minds - Medical News Today 19/03/06

Psychologists at the University of Manchester have set up a 'BabyLab' within the University, to try and learn more about how babies acquire knowledge.

Warning To Spa Pool Owners And Users About Risks Of Infections - Medical News Today 19/03/06

In new guidance issued today the Health Protection Agency (UK) is warning both commercial and domestic owners of spa pools about the risks of infections if they do not follow guidance on how to maintain them properly.

BMA Response To High Court Ruling On Baby MB Case - Medical News Today 19/03/06

The High Court today (Wednesday, 15 March 2006) ruled that life-prolonging treatment could not be withdrawn from ‘Baby MB'.

BOTOX® Makers Get UK Approval For VISTABEL For Cosmetic Use For The Treatment Of Glabellar Lines (Vertical ‘Frown' Lines) - Medical News Today 19/03/0

Allergan Ltd. today announced that VISTABEL® (botulinum toxin type A) has been granted a licence in the UK from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) for the temporary improvement in the appearance of moderate to severe glabellar lines (vertical ‘frown' lines between the brows) in adult women and men aged 65 and younger, when the severity of these lines has a psychological impact for the patient. With dosing specific to treat glabellar lines, BOTOX® for cosmetic use will be marketed in the UK under the brand name VISTABEL® and is the only brand of botulinum toxin type A licensed for cosmetic use in the UK.

Protein differences may explain drug reaction - Reuters 19/03/06

Differences between a cell signaling protein in humans and animals may explain the unexpectedly severe reaction in six young men given a new drug in a clinical trial in Britain, an expert said on Sunday.

Wound Monitor 'sniffs Out' Harmful Infections - Medical News Today 18/03/06

The University of Manchester has received 1m to develop a new device able to 'sniff out' harmful infections.

Multi-million Pound UK Biobank Project - Medical News Today 18/03/06

UK Biobank, a visionary medical project aimed at improving the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer, heart disease, diabetes and many other serious conditions is launched this week after several years of meticulous planning.

New Journal To Examine Medical Ethics In The UK - Medical News Today 18/03/06

The Royal Society of Medicine has today launched a new journal on medical ethics. Clinical Ethics examines ethical issues as they relate to health care delivery, research and policy. The journal provides a forum for cross-disciplinary research and debate on issues of contemporary relevance. It will have a particular emphasis on how ethics are, and should be, applied in clinical practice.

NHS Reconfiguration Must Benefit Local Communities, UK - Medical News Today 18/03/06

NHS organisations can be a powerful force for good in regenerating local communities, Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt said today. She urged them to take account of tackling deprivation when reconfiguring local services.

Small Birthweight And Premature Births Associated With Higher Risk Of Child Abuse - Medical News Today 17/03/06

Small birthweight and premature birth may be associated with a higher risk of child abuse and neglect, suggests research in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.

BMA Appoints New Scottish Secretary - Medical News Today 17/03/06

The British Medical Association (BMA) has appointed Martin Woodrow as its Scottish Secretary, spearheading the Association's activities in Scotland.

Q&A About Bird Flu Vaccine For Poultry - Medical News Today 17/03/06

As the UK Government takes precautionary measures and places an order for over 2 million doses of Nobilis Influenza, the vaccine licensed in the UK to protect birds against the H5N1 avian flu strain, Intervet UK sets out the argument for vaccines. General manager of Intervet UK, Jim Hungerford, answers some of the topical questions.

Research To Shed Light On Breast Cancer Detection - Medical News Today 17/03/06

Leading edge research being pioneered by Northumbria and Newcastle Universities could lead to a safer and more effective way of screening for breast cancer.

Childhood leukemia rates peak after flu epidemics - Reuters 16/03/06

From 1974 to 2000, peaks in the rate of the acute lymphoblastic type of leukemia (ALL) among children in the UK seem to have occurred immediately after influenza epidemics, new research shows -- suggesting a possible causal link.

International News
Charity urges donor action as Aids leaves 9m African children without mothers - The Guardian 20/03/06

Nine million children in Africa will spend Mother's Day this year with no one to cherish because they have lost their mothers to Aids, according to a British charity. The figure is equivalent to the total number of children in the United Kingdom under the age of 13.

Mothers sue over gender test that promised 99.9% accuracy - The Guardian 18/03/06

When a genetic testing kit promising to predict a baby's gender with 99.9% accuracy five weeks after conception was launched last year many pregnant women in America were delighted.

Hospital kept new-born baby over unpaid bill - The Guardian 17/03/06

Israel's justice ministry is deciding whether to prosecute a Jerusalem hospital that held a new-born baby for two months as collateral because its mother was unable to pay her bill.
Vatican hid Pope's Parkinson's disease diagnosis for 12 years - The Telegaph 19/03/06

The Vatican kept the late Pope John Paul II's Parkinson's disease a secret for 12 years, his personal physician has revealed.

Doctor's diary: a novel cure for a headache - The Telegraph 17/03/06

James LeFanu on side effects bad and good, and health workers who prove unhelpful

Atkins diet 'can risk your life' - Daily Mail 17/03/06

People who strictly follow the Atkins diet could develop a potentially fatal blood disorder, doctors say.

Why your waistline is a clue to heart disease - Daily Mail 17/03/06

A bulging belly is a better indicator of heart disease than overall body mass, according to scientists.

Hopes for natural anti-HIV drugs - BBC Health News 20/03/06

Scientists have discovered a previously unknown mechanism that cells use to fight off HIV.
New clues to remembering smells - BBC Health News 18/03/06

US scientists say they have more clues to the way the brain remembers smells.

Hope over diabetes wound healing - BBC Health News 18/03/06

Scientists have engineered a protein which may help speed up impaired wound healing in people with diabetes.

Sleep loss 'harms route memory' - BBC Health News 18/03/06

Losing sleep can interfere with the part of the brain responsible for finding your way round, a study says.

Scientists make 'bionic' muscles - BBC Health News 18/03/06

Scientists have developed artificial, super-strength muscles which are powered by alcohol and hydrogen.

Artificial muscles for superhuman soldiers - The Observer 19/03/06

FDA Grants Aurobindo Approval For Antiretroviral Therapy - Medical News Today 20/03/06

Indian drug manufacturer Aurobindo Pharma has received FDA approval to produce a combination antiretroviral drug, the company announced Thursday, Reuters/NDTVProfit.com reports (Reuters/NDTVProfit.com, 3/16). The approval is for lamivudine 150 mg and zidovudine 300 mg fixed dose tablets packaged with efavirenz 600 mg tablets (Dow Jones, 3/16). Aurobindo Pharma in January was granted tentative approval to produce an oral version of the antiretroviral drug nevirapine for pediatric use under the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 1/5). The Indian drug manufacturer also was granted tentative FDA approval in December 2005 to produce the generic antiretroviral drug stavudine for pediatric use (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 12/22/05).

Older People More Successful Than Younger In Quitting Smoking - Medical News Today 20/03/06

Older women appear to quit smoking and stay off cigarettes in higher numbers than men in their age group, and older men and women are more likely to quit if they have recently received a diagnosis of cancer, according to researchers at Duke University Medical Center.

Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center Researchers Find Ginseng May Improve Breast Cancer Outcomes - Medical News Today 20/03/06

Ginseng, one of the most widely used herbs in traditional Chinese medicine, may improve survival and quality of life after a diagnosis of breast cancer, according to a recent study by Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center researchers.

Smoking Interferes With Brain's Recovery From Alcoholism - Medical News Today 20/03/06

Smoking appears to interfere with the brain's ability to recover from the effects of chronic alcohol abuse, according to a study conducted by researchers at the San Francisco VA Medical Center.

Vaginal Rejuvenation, Pectoral Implants, Buttock Implants And Calf Augmentation Being Done Infrequently - Medical News Today 20/03/06

Vaginal rejuvenation, pectoral implants, buttock implants and calf augmentation have been touted in the media recently as the "hot" new procedures taking plastic surgery by storm. According to a statistics report released today in which the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) tracked these procedures for the first time, the reality is quite different from the hype. These unconventional procedures are being done infrequently, when compared to mainstream cosmetic plastic surgery procedures.

Zambia To Receive $150M In HIV/AIDS-Related Funding From U.S. In 2006, Ambassador Says - Medical News Today 20/03/06

The U.S. in fiscal year 2006 has allocated about $150 million to fight HIV/AIDS in Zambia, up from $135 million in FY 2005, U.S. Ambassador to Zambia Carmen Martinez said on Monday, the Times of Zambia/AllAfrica.com reports. Speaking at the opening of an HIV/AIDS comprehensive care center in Ndola, Zambia -- which was built at the Ndola Central Hospital using funds from the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief -- Martinez said the U.S. is proud to support the Zambian government to fight the country's HIV/AIDS epidemic (Times of Zambia/AllAfrica.com, 3/14). PEPFAR this year also has contributed $3.5 million to eight Zambian companies that are partnering with the U.S. for a program that aims to curb the spread of HIV/AIDS in the workplace (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 2/10). According to Xinhuanet, a recent report by the National AIDS Council of Zambia estimated the country's HIV prevalence rate at 12%. About 40,000 of the estimated 200,000 HIV-positive people in the country who need antiretroviral drugs are receiving them from the government (Xinhuanet, 3/14).

New 'stars' In Formation Of Nerve Cell Insulation - Medical News Today 20/03/06

The insulating myelin sheath enwrapping the cable-like axons of nerve cells is the major target of attack of the immune system in multiple sclerosis. Such attack causes neural short-circuits that give rise to the muscle weakness, loss of coordination, and speech and visual loss in the disease.

Neuroscientists Discover New Cell Type That May Help Brain Maintain Memories Of Smells And Lead To Better Understanding Of Alzheimer's Disease - Medical News Today 20/03/06

Neuroscientists at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine have discovered a new cell type in the part of the brain that processes our sense of smell. This new cell type, the Blanes cell, is a member of a group of previously unstudied brain cells described by the Spanish neuroanatomist Blanes (pronounced blones) in the late 1800s. Blanes cells have unusual properties which may help the brain maintain memories of smells and also opens a new approach to understanding the basis of memory impairments in Alzheimer's disease. Their paper appears in the March 16 issue of the journal Neuron.

Researchers Lift A Corner Of The Veil Of Depression - Medical News Today 20/03/06

About 1 in 10 Europeans has to contend with some form of depression during his or her life. But how people become depressed is still largely a mystery. With their recent research, scientists from the Flanders Interuniversity Institute for Biotechnology (VIB) connected to the University of Antwerp in collaboration with scientists of the University of Umeå in Sweden, are lifting a corner of the veil. Their studies indicate that the TPH2 protein is involved in the development of depression and manic depression.

Bone Cells Grow And Proliferate On A Scaffold Of Carbon Nanotubes, UCR Researchers Show - Medical News Today 20/03/06

Researchers at the University of California, Riverside have published findings that show, for the first time, that bone cells can grow and proliferate on a scaffold of carbon nanotubes.

Amgen's Phase 3 RED-HF(TM) Trial Will Evaluate The Clinical Effect Of Treating Anemia In Patients With Symptomatic Heart Failure - Medical News Today 20/03/06

Amgen announced results from a Phase 2 study that showed that treating anemia with Aranesp(R) (darbepoetin alfa) in patients with symptomatic heart failure was well-tolerated, effectively raised hemoglobin and improved patients' symptoms as measured by the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ). The results were presented today at the 2006 American College of Cardiology (ACC) Scientific Session.

Abbott Reports Positive Results From First Human Clinical Trial Featuring Zomaxx™ Drug-Eluting Coronary Stent - Medical News Today 20/03/06

Abbott today announced the first clinical results for its investigational ZoMaxx™ Drug-Eluting Coronary Stent System. Data from ZOMAXX IVUS, a 40-patient, single-arm, clinical, angiographic and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) trial sponsored by Abbott, demonstrated 100 percent procedural success, no major adverse cardiac events and minimal late lumen loss (vessel diameter loss) during the four-month follow-up period. The objective of the study was to evaluate the safety and performance of ZoMaxx for the treatment of coronary artery disease. These data were presented at the 2006 American College of Cardiology Scientific Session in Atlanta.

Abbott Receives FDA 510k Clearance To Market Freestyle® Freedom™ Blood Glucose Monitoring System - Medical News Today 20/03/06

Abbott Diabetes Care announced today it has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market its FreeStyle® Freedom™ blood glucose monitoring system for consumer use.

Rosemary Helps Prevent Brain Aging, Says Nagase - Medical News Today 20/03/06

Nagase, a Japanese trading company specializing in chemical products, recently announced its discovery, in collaboration with Kyoto University, that rosemary helps prevent brain aging.

Nagase, Others Find That Seaweed Polyphenol Detoxifies Intestines - Medical News Today 20/03/06

Nagase recently announced its discovery of a unique property of phlorotannin, a kind of polyphenol derived from seaweed, in joint research with Kyoto University, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, and Meiji Pharmaceutical University.

Taisho Pharmaceutical, Nissan Chemical Industries Announce Positive Results In Phase IIb Clinical Study For NM-702 - Medical News Today 20/03/06

Taisho Pharmaceutical and Nissan Chemical Industries jointly announced yesterday that the current phase IIb clinical study for NM-702 conducted in the US has demonstrated positive results.

Olympus Medical Systems Releases World's First Ventricular Videoscope System - Medical News Today 20/03/06

Olympus Medical Systems launched the VISERA Ventricular Videoscope OLYMPUS VEF TYPE V (VEF-V), its proprietary videoscope system for brain ventricles, on March 15.

Ginkgo Biomedical Research Institute, Carna Biosciences, CrystalGenomics To Collaborate In New Cancer Drug Development - Medical News Today 20/03/06

In a partnership initiated by Summit Pharmaceuticals International, Ginkgo Biomedical Research Institute, Carna Biosciences, and CrystalGenomics jointly announced on March 14 that they have agreed to collaborate in the development of an anti-cancer agent.

GlaxoSmithKline K.K. To Conduct Clinical Study Of HPV Vaccine, Japan - Medical News Today 20/03/06

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) K.K. announced on March 14 that it will undertake a clinical study of a preventive vaccine for human papillomavirus (HPV) infection starting in April.

Beckman Coulter To Market New Reagent For Metabolic Disease Screening - Medical News Today 20/03/06

Beckman Coulter recently announced that it will launch Access DHEA-S, a measuring reagent designed for its proprietary analyzers Access Immunoassay Analyzer and UniCel Dx1 800 Immunoassay System, on March 27.

Pointing The Way For Future Antibiotic Research - Medical News Today 20/03/06

Pathogens are becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics, causing problems for therapy. Doctors need to have antibiotics available that work in new kinds of ways. The last few years of research have, however, found few such ways. One major difficulty for developers of antibiotics is choosing the proper point of attack against bacteria. There are hundreds of possible points of attack, according to genome analysis and laboratory culture experiments – but validation in in vivo infection models is largely lacking.

Don't Let Colon Cancer Catch Up To You - Medical News Today 20/03/06

USMD Hospital at Arlington, located at Interstate 20 and Matlock Road, is hosting complimentary educational forums and screenings to inform the community about the symptoms, treatments and prevention of colon cancer. The event - “Don't Let Colon Cancer Catch Up To You” - will take place at the hospital on Saturday, March 25, 2006, from 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Technique Of Urethroplasty For Female Stricture Disease Described And Results Reported - Medical News Today 20/03/06

UroToday.com - The incidence of obstruction from any cause occurs in approximately 2.7% to 8% of women presenting with lower urinary tract symptoms. The most common cause is clearly the result of anti-incontinence procedures, but distal urethral stricture disease does occur usually as a result of prior urethral dilation, difficult catheterization with resultant fibrosis, urethral surgery, or trauma. In the past, it was common practice to perform urethral dilations on women who complained of lower urinary tract symptoms. There is no evidence to suggest that this intervention works and many cases of true urethral stricture are likely a result of these unnecessary dilations. The diagnosis is suggested by the presence of lower urinary tract symptoms and the diagnosis can be made with urethral calibration and the inability to place a catheter greater than 12 Fr. Videourodynamics may show an open bladder neck, a relaxed sphincter and a distal narrowed area in the urethra.

Survival Factor Protects Against Heart Failure - Medical News Today 20/03/06

Heart failure is the leading cause of mortality in the world, responsible for at least 20 per cent of all hospital admissions among people over 65 in the United States. What causes the loss of heart muscles cells associated with heart failure and ischemic heart disease has been unclear. Now, researchers and clinicians in Germany have demonstrated for the first time that heart failure is triggered by apoptosis, a programme which causes the heart muscle cells to commit suicide. They also showed that a survival factor, abbreviated ARC, is able to protect the heart. The findings of Dr. Stefan Donath, Dr. Peifing Li, Prof. Rainer Dietz, and Dr. Rüdiger von Harsdorf (now Toronto, Canada) from the Charité - Medical School of the University of Berlin and the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) Berlin-Buch have now been published in the journal Circulation (2006; 113:1203-1212).

Klearsen's Respiratory Inhalation Therapy Demonstrates Effectiveness Against Non-Tuberculous Mycobacteria (Hot-Tub Lung) - Medical News Today 20/03/06

Klearsen Corporation, a manufacturer of natural health care products, announced today that their KC-287 antimicrobial compound was shown to be more effective against non-tuberculous M. avium and M. abscessus than any antibiotic presently in use to treat these conditions.

New Agreement Expands Clinical Testing Of A Chinese Malaria Vaccine Candidate - Medical News Today 20/03/06

In a move that promises to expand the clinical testing of another promising malaria vaccine candidate, the US-based PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative (MVI) and the Chinese company Shanghai Wanxing Bio-Pharmaceuticals today announced an agreement that supports the development of a pediatric malaria vaccine against Plasmodium (P.) falciparum, the most deadly strain of malaria.

Headline Results From CHANT Safety And Tolerability Study In Intracerebral Hemorrhage (ICH) Show NXY-059 Achieved Key Endpoints - Medical News Today 20/03/06

AstraZeneca announced results from the phase IIb safety and tolerability trial for NXY-059 in acute intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) patients, CHANT (Cerebral Hemorrhagic And NXY-059 Treatment). Although AstraZeneca is developing NXY-059 for the treatment of Acute Ischemic Stroke (AIS), it was felt important to assess the safety and tolerability of NXY-059 in ICH, as treatment may be initiated prior to a neuroimaging confirmation of the diagnosis of AIS.

Imaging Single Molecules Opens New Way To Study Gene Expression, Protein Production - Medical News Today 19/03/06

A team led by NIH Director's Pioneer Award recipient X. Sunney Xie, Ph.D., of Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass., has developed new imaging methods to track gene expression and the production of individual protein molecules in single, living cells. This technical tour de force, published in papers in this week's issues of Science and Nature, opens the way to studying the expression of many important proteins, including those that exist in low numbers in the cell and therefore cannot be investigated using current techniques.
Molecule By Molecule, New Assay Shows Real-time Gene Activity - Medical News Today 19/03/06

Chemists at Harvard University have developed the first technique providing a real-time, molecule-by-molecule "movie" of protein production in live cells. Their direct observation of fluorescently tagged molecules in single cells -- providing striking real-time footage of the birth of individual new protein molecules inside -- greatly increases scientists' precision in probing genetic activity.

Vaccinated Adults Less Likely To Die From Pneumonia - Medical News Today 19/03/06

Adults hospitalized for pneumonia who have received the pneumococcal vaccine are at a lower risk of dying from the disease than those who haven't been vaccinated, according to an article in the April 15 issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases, now available online. Prior vaccination also reduces patients' risk of developing medical complications and decreases their length of stay in the hospital.

Growing Old Gracefully? 11 Percent Increase In Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Procedures In 2005 - Medical News Today 19/03/06

More than 10.2 million cosmetic plastic surgery procedures were performed in the United States in 2005, up 11 percent from 2004, according to statistics released today by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). In addition, more than 5.4 million reconstructive plastic surgery procedures were performed last year, reports the ASPS.

Reducing Soot Particles In The Air Is Associated With People Living Longer - Medical News Today 19/03/06

An eight-year follow up to the landmark Harvard Six Cities Study has found an association between people living longer and cities reducing the amount of fine particulate matter, or soot, in their air. The study has been published in the March issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

Symposium On Avian Influenza: Breaking News, Public Health And Surveillance Readiness - Medical News Today 19/03/06

The Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) and the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) cordially invite you to attend a symposium providing breaking news on the global spread of avian influenza and assessing public health and surveillance readiness.

Uncovering How Bone Marrow Stomal Cells Can Potentially Regenerate Brain Tissue - Medical News Today 19/03/06

Japanese researchers have found a piece of the "missing link" about how bone marrow stromal cells restore lost neurologic function when transplanted into animals exhibiting central nervous system disorders, according to a study in the March issue of the Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

Orthodontics Reduce Risk For Gum Disease, Tooth Decay, And Tooth Loss While Boosting Self-esteem - Medical News Today 19/03/06

Orthodontics are often necessary to help improve the stability, function, and health of an individual's teeth; otherwise, many people would be at higher risk for gum disease, tooth decay, and tooth loss because of improper teeth positioning in their mouth, according to an article in the January 2006 issue of AGD Impact, the newsmagazine of the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD).

Metabolites Of Pharmaceuticals Identified In Wastewater Can Significantly Increase Antibiotic Resistance - Medical News Today 19/03/06

University at Buffalo chemists have for the first time identified at wastewater treatment plants the metabolites of two antibiotics and a medical imaging agent.

Hazards Of Tongue Piercing - Medical News Today 19/03/06

Body piercing is popular today in the United States and other western societies. One common type of body piercing is tongue piercing, which involves placing a "barbell"-type stud through the tongue. But wearing a tongue stud puts people at risk for chipped teeth, recessed gums, and nerve damage, warns the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD).

Dentists Are Often The First To Diagnose And Treat Oral Reactions - Medical News Today 19/03/06

Dentists are often the first to diagnose and treat oral reactions, especially since many reactions occur with medications used in excess or in combinations with other drugs, such as vitamins and herbs, according to a report in the March-April 2006 issue of General Dentistry, the Academy of General Dentistry's (AGD) clinical, peer-reviewed journal.

Cardiovascular Flow Disturbances Study Aimed At Improving Diagnosis And Treatment - Medical News Today 19/03/06

Advancing the understanding of cardiovascular flows in order to improve the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease is the goal of Virginia Tech College of Engineering researcher Pavlos Vlachos, who has received a National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER) Award to support his study.

No-smoking Rules Not Common Enough For Asthmatic Children - Medical News Today 19/03/06

Urban children with persistent asthma living in homes with smokers are 10 times less likely to be protected by a smoking ban in the home and car than asthmatic children living with no smokers, according to a new study (embargoed until 6 a.m. March 16) by researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center.

Understanding Heat Flow At The Nanoscale Is The Goal Of Virginia Tech/NSF CAREER Project - Medical News Today 19/03/06

Understanding the mechanisms responsible for thermal transport, or heat flow, between dissimilar materials at the molecular level is the goal of Virginia Tech College of Engineering researcher Scott Huxtable, who has received a National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER) Award.

"Spirituality" Is Related To Depression Among Young Physicians - Medical News Today 19/03/06

Despite recent restrictions placed on work hours for resident physicians, the prevalence of significant depressive symptoms among those new physicians has not decreased.

Incidence Of Hypertension Reduced With Early Intervention, Study Finds - Medical News Today 19/03/06

Treating pre-hypertension with medication and lifestyle modifications reduces the risk of patients progressing to hypertension, a new study involving researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center has concluded.

News Tips From The Journal Of Neuroscience - Medical News Today 19/03/06

Bending the Rules for Glutamate Receptors Mark L. Mayer, Alokesh Ghosal, Nigel P. Dolman, and David E. Jane

Technologies Diagnose Coronary Disease In One Heartbeat - Medical News Today 19/03/06

As a growing number of Americans are diagnosed with heart conditions each year, it is becoming increasingly important that new heart-specific diagnostic technologies are developed that are easier and more effective than previous standards. Emerging technologies to diagnose heart disease and a more systematic way to predict the long-term success of cardiac procedures are among the topics of studies presented today at the American College of Cardiology's inaugural Innovation in Intervention: the i2 Summit 2006. Innovation in Intervention: i2 Summit is an annual meeting for practicing cardiovascular interventionalists sponsored by the American College of Cardiology in partnership with the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions.

Decreased Interest In Sex Or Impotence Can Be A Sign Of Sleep Apnea - Medical News Today 19/03/06

Patients with sleep apnea often complain of decreased libido and lose their interest in sex.

If You Need Two Or More Medicines To Control Your Blood Pressure, You May Have Obstructive Sleep Apnea - Medical News Today 19/03/06

Studies have shown that patients with difficult-to-control hypertension (defined as requiring two or more medications) have a higher prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea.

Having Trouble Sleeping After The Night Shirt? Try Wearing Dark Sunglasses -- In All Types Of Weather - On The Commute Home - Medical News Today 19/03

Our ability to stay awake and fall asleep is a function of two processes. First, there is a homeostatic switch that drives sleep that is located in the brain.

Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) Will Not Be Effective In Stopping HIV Epidemics - Medical News Today 19/03/06

Researchers believe antiretroviral therapy (ART) will not be effective in stopping HIV epidemics even if it is made universally available in poorer countries, and that widespread use could even lead to an increase in the numbers infected with HIV.

More Reliable Diagnosis Of Breast Cancer With New Radiology Method - Medical News Today 19/03/06

A new method to increase the efficiency of contrast radiology may open the way to earlier and more reliable diagnosis of, for example, breast cancer. With new integrated electronics and signal processing, the image quality can be improved sharply. This was demonstrated by Hans Bornefalk at the Royal Institute of Technology as he presented his doctoral thesis about the technology on March 10.

High Dose Vitamin C Is Safe For Cancer Patients - Medical News Today 19/03/06

Scientists from the RECNAC II project have published findings that verify the safety of high dose intravenous vitamin C. In this study, published in the Puerto Rico Health Sciences Journal, vol. 24 (4): 269-276, a phase one clinical trial with 24 terminal cancer patients receiving between ten and sixty grams of sodium ascorbate daily for eight weeks, adverse effects were reportedly minor. "The results presented in this manuscript should allay fears about the safety of 'mega-dose' vitamin C," said Dr. Joseph Casciari, co-author of the manuscript.

Stent Registry Safety Data Favors Taxus® Over Cypher® In The Most Complex Diabetic Patients - Medical News Today 19/03/06

Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX) today welcomed results from the independent, multi-center STENT registry, the largest prospective, comparative real world drug-eluting stent study ever reported. The study included follow-up on 5,566 patients at eight coronary centers in the United States who received either a TAXUS® Express2™ paclitaxel-eluting coronary stent system or a Cypher® Stent system, including 1,182 diabetic patients, nearly 500 of whom were insulin-treated diabetics. Among insulin-treated diabetics, the results demonstrated a numerical trend toward improved survival and lower overall Major Adverse Cardiac Events (MACE) rate for patients who received a TAXUS stent system versus those who received a Cypher stent system. The results were presented at the American College of Cardiology's (ACC) inaugural “Innovation in Intervention: the i2 Summit” in Atlanta.

TPH2 Protein Involved In Development Of Depression And Manic Depression - Medical News Today 19/03/06

About 1 in 10 Europeans has to contend with some form of depression during his or her life. But how people become depressed is still largely a mystery. With their recent research, scientists from the Flanders Interuniversity Institute for Biotechnology (VIB) connected to the University of Antwerp in collaboration with scientists of the University of Umeå in Sweden, are lifting a corner of the veil. Their studies indicate that the TPH2 protein is involved in the development of depression and manic depression.

Thrombocytosis: A Clinical Marker Of Tumor Aggressiveness In Renal Cell Carcinoma - Medical News Today 19/03/06

Molecular and serum markers of prognosis in renal cell carcinoma have remained elusive. In large part, tumor (TNM) stage, Fuhrman grade, and patient performance status have stood the test of time as the most valuable factors in predicting patient outcome following surgery. Several laboratory and molecular factors have been proposed as potential prognostic factors but rarely remain significant in multivariate analysis when compared to these clinical and pathologic tumor features. In this study by Bensalah and colleagues, preoperative platelet count is examined as a prognostic factor in patients with renal cell carcinoma.

Low PSA Score After Radiation Can Predict Prostate Cancer Return - Medical News Today 19/03/06

A consortium of prostate cancer experts have discovered, through a clinical investigation, that prostate cancer patients who have a lower prostate specific antigen (PSA) score after radiation therapy to treat their cancer are less likely to have their prostate cancer return or spread to other parts of their body than patients with a higher PSA score. The study was published in the March 15, 2006, issue of the International Journal of Radiation Oncology*Biology*Physics, the official journal of ASTRO, the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology.

Women With Osteoporosis Prefer One Tablet Per Month, Study Shows - Medical News Today 19/03/06

New US and European clinical data, presented for the first time at the Sixth European Congress on Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis and Osteoarthritis (ECCEO), reveal more than 70% of postmenopausal women with osteoporosis* preferred a once-monthly bisphosphonate, finding it more convenient than a once-weekly option.

Cells In Mucus From Lungs Of High-Risk Patients Can Predict Tumor Development - Medical News Today 19/03/06

In a group of high-risk patients, a test that examined DNA from cells expelled in sputum for evidence of “silenced” genes correctly identified the majority of patients who were later diagnosed with lung cancer, say researchers in a study published in the March 15 issue of Cancer Research.

Pepper Component, Capsaicin, Triggers Suicide In Prostate Cancer Cells - Medical News Today 19/03/06

Capsaicin, the stuff that turns up the heat in jalapeños, not only causes the tongue to burn, it also drives prostate cancer cells to kill themselves, according to studies published in the March 15 issue of Cancer Research.

Avian Influenza Confirmed In A Wild Bird In Denmark: Danish Authorities Applying Precautionary Measures - Medical News Today 19/03/06

The Danish authorities have informed the European Commission this morning of a confirmed case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5 in Denmark in a common buzzard (Buteo buteo) found dead during the weekend in an area called Svinø Strand in southern Zealand.

European Commission Strengthens Its Assistance To The Benghazi HIV-AIDS Sufferers - Medical News Today 19/03/06

he European Commission is providing an additional €1 million for urgent support to Libya in its fight against the AIDS/HIV epidemic in Benghazi. This money, that follows a first €1 million disbursement in July 2005, will be used to continue the ongoing technical and medical assistance to the Benghazi Centre for Infectious Diseases and Immunology (BCIDI), as well as to help in the social integration of the patients and of their families. The EU also is also helping the Libyan Authorities in designing a national AIDS programme. These projects are part of the longer-term “HIV Action Plan for Benghazi”. The Action Plan was launched by the EU in November 2004 and is being implemented by the Libyan authorities with support from the Commission and EU Member States.

Cooperation On Medicines Regulation Intensified, Europe - USA - Medical News Today 19/03/06

The EU-FDA confidentiality arrangement was reviewed at a meeting in Brussels on 13 March 2006 of the European Commission, the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The implementation plan for the arrangement was judged by all parties to have been a success.

Role Of Dual Antiplatelet Therapy In Prevention Of Atherothrombotic Events, Including Heart Attack, Stroke Or Cardiovascular Death In Broad Population - Medical News Today 19/03/06

Results from the CHARISMA (Clopidogrel for High Atherothrombotic Risk and Ischemic Stabilization, Management and Avoidance) trial showed that the combination of the antiplatelet agents clopidogrel and aspirin did not demonstrate a statistically significant reduction in the risk of heart attack, stroke or cardiovascular death compared to placebo and aspirin in a broad population of patients with either established atherothrombotic disease or multiple risk factors for atherothrombotic events. Analysis of the two main patient enrollment subgroups revealed different responses to clopidogrel and aspirin therapy.

How To Prevent And Overcome Mastitis - Healthy Breastfeeding Tips - Medical News Today 19/03/06

Having your baby can be one of the most emotionally fulfilling experiences. Life just takes a dramatic turn with the arrival of your little one. If you have a newborn, your first priority now is to feed your baby. If you have decided that bonding and providing essential nutrients from your bosom is for you, then you need to know how to prevent or rid yourself of mastitis. Nothing should get in the way of a mother's ability to breastfeed her baby.

Single Dose Of Azithromycin Prevents Recurrence Of Inturned Eyelashes - Medical News Today 19/03/06

A Johns Hopkins Medicine study finds that a single dose of the oral antibiotic azithromycin taken after trichiasis eye surgery can reduce the frequency with which eyelashes turn back in and abrade the eye. The oral antibiotic treatment is more effective than multiple days of treatment with the topical antibiotic ointment Tetracycline, the current method of treatment after trichiasis surgery.

A Balancing Act Between The Sexes: How Male And Female Cells Manage To Produce The Same Quantities Of Certain Proteins - Medical News Today 19/03/06

Recent research at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) reveals new insights into how cells achieve equality between the sexes. A new link discovered between the membrane surrounding the nucleus and the male X-chromosome in fruit flies may play a crucial role in determining how active certain genes are. The study, which appears in the current issue of the journal Molecular Cell, may help researchers understand how male and female cells manage to produce the same quantities of certain proteins.

New Data Show Carotid Artery Stenting In Clinical Practice Has Comparable Major Adverse Event Rate With Pivotal Sapphire Trial - Medical News Today 19/03/06

Cordis Endovascular, a division of Cordis Corporation, announced today that preliminary results of its CASES peri-approval study (CASES-PMS) showed that high surgical-risk patients treated with carotid artery stenting (CAS) had identical 30-day major adverse event (MAE) rates with that of patients treated with CAS in the pivotal SAPPHIRE study. The data, which were presented today at the American College of Cardiology Scientific Sessions, showed an MAE rate of 4.8 percent (62/1279) among patients treated with CAS in CASES-PMS compared with 4.8 percent (8/167) of CAS-treated patients in the randomized arm of the SAPPHIRE trial.

MiRNA Fingerprint Identified In Platelet Formation Which Could Lead To A New Class Of Targeted Therapies For Treating Leukemia And Other Diseases - Medical News Today 19/03/06

Scientists have identified a handful of microRNAs (miRNAs) that appear to play a significant role in the development of platelets – blood cells critical to the body's ability to form clots following an injury. They also say some of these same miRNAs, when acting abnormally, may contribute to certain forms of leukemia.

Cardiac Devices During Hospital Stays Linked To Better Outcomes - Medical News Today 19/03/06

Placement of devices that synchronize the pumping chambers of the heart in patients while they're hospitalized for a congestive heart failure episode appears to lower patients' risk of death or rehospitalization during at least the next two to three months, new research suggests.

Many High Risk Patients Do Not Receive Cholesterol-lowering Therapies - Medical News Today 19/03/06

New insights into medical treatment of high blood pressure, including a review of the extent of care for patients in need and the potential value of newer therapies, are among the topics of studies presented today at the American College of Cardiology's 55th Annual Scientific Session. ACC.06 is the premier cardiovascular medical meeting, bringing together over 30,000 cardiologists to further breakthroughs in cardiovascular medicine.

Refinements And Innovations In Cardiovascular Care Enhance Safety, Effectiveness - Medical News Today 19/03/06

Research presented today at the American College of Cardiology's 55th Annual Scientific Session offers new insight into the most effective therapies for acute coronary syndromes, atrial fibrillation and heart failure, and sheds light on simple ways to prevent the harmful effects of inflammation in patients who have cardiac surgery. ACC.06 is the premier cardiovascular medical meeting, bringing together more than 30,000 cardiologists to further breakthroughs in cardiovascular medicine.

Mayo Clinic Obesity Researchers Test 'classroom Of The Future' - Medical News Today 19/03/06

"Can you imagine a school without desks? A school where children are moving as part of their lessons? And most importantly, they are smiling and healthy?" asks Mayo Clinic obesity researcher James Levine, M.D., Ph.D. If so, you have imagined the latest anti-obesity concept-project from Mayo Clinic -- the classroom of the future.

Study To Test Drug's Potential To Preserve Insulin Production In Newly Diagnosed Type 1 Diabetics - Medical News Today 19/03/06

A drug used to treat lymphoma, rheumatoid arthritis and other immune disorders may enable newly-diagnosed type 1 diabetics to save some of their pancreas function and thereby reduce their susceptibility to long-term complications.

AstraZeneca, University Of Miami, And Humana Collaborate To Improve Consumer Health - Medical News Today 19/03/06

AstraZeneca, the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine and Humana Innovation Enterprises, Inc. have announced the creation of a multi-year research collaboration to improve consumer health by addressing the growing nationwide problem of patients not taking their prescribed medication or getting the treatment they need for chronic health problems.

Mailman School Of Public Health Researchers Develop Diagnostic Test For Pathogens - Medical News Today 19/03/06

Researchers at the Greene Infectious Disease Laboratory at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health led by Thomas Briese, PhD, associate professor of Epidemiology, have developed a rapid, comprehensive diagnostic test for viral hemorrhagic fevers caused by the Ebola and Marburg viruses, as well as others. The new diagnostic tool is addressed in a paper published in the April 2006 issue of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Emerging Infectious Diseases. (The paper can be found online at http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/eid/vol12no04/05-1515.htm)

Enoxaparin Beats Unfractionated Heparin As Adjunct Therapy For Heart Attacks - Medical News Today 18/03/06

A simple-to-use strategy that prevents blood clots in patients who have suffered a heart attack markedly reduces the risk of repeat heart attack or death when compared to an older, more widely used blood thinning strategy, according to a large international study presented today at the American College of Cardiology's 55th Annual Scientific Session and the inaugural Innovation in Intervention: The i2 Summit 2006 in Atlanta, Ga. ACC.06 is the premier cardiovascular medical meeting, bringing together more than 30,000 cardiologists to further breakthroughs in cardiovascular medicine. Innovation in Intervention: i2 Summit is an annual meeting for practicing cardiovascular interventionalists sponsored by the American College of Cardiology in partnership with the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions.

Study Highlighted At ACC Better Identifies Which Children And Teenagers Are At Risk For Sudden Cardiac Death - Medical News Today 18/03/06

Researchers have found a more accurate way to tell which children and teenagers are likely to be among the thousand or so who suddenly die each year in the United States from genetic heart conditions that cause arrhythmia, according to a study presented today at the American College of Cardiology annual meeting and selected for expedited publication in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC). Along with strengthening the safety net for children at highest risk from certain genetic disorders, the study also promises to change the way cardiologists determine who is most at risk of future death from major diseases like hypertension and atherosclerosis, according to the authors.

Test To Predict Cardiovascular Risk In Heart Attack Patients Not Yet Appropriately Used - Medical News Today 18/03/06

A new brain chemical test that predicts which patients with heart attack symptoms are at higher risk of dying is paradoxically not being used in younger, healthier patients who could benefit the most from the prognostic information provided by this test, according to a new analysis by cardiologists at the Duke Clinical Research Institute (DCRI).

Anti-thrombotic Medication Significantly Reduces Risk Of Death For Heart Attack Patients - Medical News Today 18/03/06

Heart attack patients who have a certain pattern on an electrocardiogram significantly reduced their risk of death and having another heart attack at 30 days with the medication fondaparinux, without an increased risk of bleeding and strokes, according to a study that will appear in the April 5 issue of JAMA. The study is being released early online to coincide with its presentation at the American College of Cardiology annual conference.

Landmark Trial Shows Carotid Stenting Beneficial For Patients With Disease But No Symptoms - Medical News Today 18/03/06

Results from the largest-ever multi-center U.S. registry on the efficacy of carotid stenting shows that the procedure is safe in patients who are at high risk for standard surgical therapy.

Alcohol Is A Terrible Sleep Aide - Medical News Today 18/03/06

Although alcohol will cause sleepiness and may help a patient to initially fall asleep, it actually causes significant sleep disruption later in the night.

Waking Up And Feeling Awake, But Being Unable To Move, May Be A Sign Of A Serious Sleep Disorder - Medical News Today 18/03/06

Sleep paralysis is sometimes also referred to as the "witch is riding your back."

Exercise Or Eating Within Three Hours Of Going To Bed Could Be The Reason You Are Having Trouble Falling Asleep - Medical News Today 18/03/06

While exercise will help you relax, in general, and usually helps consolidate sleep, exercising too close to bedtime will delay the time your body unwinds and is able to fall asleep.

Falling Asleep At Movies Or Watching TV Can Be A Sign Of Sleep Apnea - Medical News Today 18/03/06

Patients with sleep apnea have frequent arousals at night secondary to recurrent apneas (no airflow).

Value Of Satellites In Fighting Epidemic Outbreaks - Medical News Today 18/03/06

The amount of data acquired by satellites is increasing at an exponential rate, and researchers are learning about the value of this data in fighting epidemic outbreaks as a result of the ESA's Epidemio project.

Understanding Tumescent Liposuction - Medical News Today 18/03/06

Tumescent liposuction was developed by dermatologic surgeons in the mid 1980's and has become the more popular method of liposuction. It is considered a major advancement that has completely changed surgical fat removal. It is regarded as the "best" type of liposuction surgery to date.

Kids Toy Safety Tips - Medical News Today 18/03/06

Educational toys are an important part of a toddler's life. They teach a little boy or girl about colors, sounds, letters, motion, and friction. They can also inspire a child's creativity. Yet, it's also important that toys be safe so that children do not get hurt while playing.

Whiplash Injury Much More Severe When Head Is Turned - Medical News Today 18/03/06

Persons whose heads are turned at the time of a rear impact collision risk a much more serious whiplash injury with potentially chronic symptoms, and a current Yale School of Medicine study explains why.

Arixtra® (Fondaparinux Sodium) Reduced Risk Of Death Or Recurrent Heart Attack In Patients With Acute Coronary Syndromes - Medical News Today 18/03/06

GlaxoSmithKline plc [LSE and NYSE: GSK] announced today late-breaking clinical trial results of the OASIS 6 trial that compared its antithrombotic product ARIXTRA(fondaparinux sodium) to standard therapy in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients with ST elevation MI (STEMI). The overall results of the study demonstrated superiority of fondaparinux to standard therapy (unfractionated heparin or placebo) in reducing risk of death or recurrent heart attack (risk reduction of 14% at day 30, p=0.008), with a significant reduction observed as early as day 9 (risk reduction of 17%, p=0.003). Furthermore, fondaparinux showed a significant reduction in all cause mortality (secondary endpoint) at day 9 (risk reduction 13%, p=0.043), which was maintained until the end of the study (risk reduction 12%, p=0.029). 1

FDA Statement On USDA Announcement Of Positive BSE Test Result - Medical News Today 18/03/06

Following confirmation today by the USDA of a cow found positive for BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy) or "mad cow" disease, the FDA is working with federal and state authorities to investigate the origin of the animal feed consumed by this cow. The USDA also confirmed the cow did not enter the animal feed or human food supply.

Novel Trophy Study Is First To Evaluate Effects Of Pharmacological Intervention In Patients With Prehypertension - Medical News Today 18/03/06

among one of the most exciting and hotly debated areas of medical research today. While the promise of personalized medicine and effective treatments for debilitating diseases drive progress in this area, moral and ethical dilemmas about embryonic cells continues to cloud the field. In research presented today at the American College of Cardiology's 55th Annual Scientific Session, scientists continue to explore mature stem cell sources for potentially significant cardiovascular benefits. ACC.06 is the premier cardiovascular medical meeting, bringing together over 30,000 cardiologists to further breakthroughs in cardiovascular medicine.

Research Mice Help Scientists Understand The Complexities Of Cholesterol - Medical News Today 18/03/06

Scientists at Wake Forest University School of Medicine and colleagues have developed new research mice to help them better understand how the body makes and uses "good" cholesterol to protect against heart attacks and strokes. Their latest findings are reported in the April issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation.

Found: Key 'go-between' In Heart Disease - Medical News Today 18/03/06

Medical researchers at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) have shed light on a little-known mechanism involved in the thickening of arteries, a process associated with heart disease.

Combining Multiple Treatments Improves Multiple Sclerosis Therapy - Medical News Today 18/03/06

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS) in which white blood cells known as lymphocytes attack the myelin insulation on nerves in the spinal cord and brain. Glatiramer acetate (GA) is a drug currently approved for MS treatment, but new therapies are needed to improve effectiveness and reduce side effects. Now, in a study appearing online on March 16 in advance of print publication in the April issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation, Scott S. Zamvil and colleagues at the University of California, San Francisco, show that treating MS with combinations of immune modulating drugs can greatly reduce MS disease. The researchers treated the "EAE mouse" model of MS with GA in combination with atorvastatin (Lipitor), a cholesterol-lowering drug shown to improve MS symptoms in clinical trials. Compared to EAE animals treated with either drug alone (which had no effect on established MS), EAE mice receiving the combination therapy demonstrated a significant prevention and reversal of clinical MS severity, with less myelin loss, CNS inflammation, and MS disease incidence. The authors then treated isolated inflammatory cells called macrophages with these drugs and found that the combination therapy mediated its effects by promoting the secretion of the anti-inflammatory molecule IL-10 and suppressed production of the proinflammatory molecules IL-12 and TNF-alpha. Importantly, the combined drug therapy utilized doses of each drug that were lower than the doses used in the single drug treatment method. These data suggest that combined delivery of drugs which act through different mechanisms may enhance the therapeutic efficacy of MS and reduce the negative side effects that result from treatment strategies which use the single drug delivery approach.

Salt Substitute Significantly Reduces Hypertension Amongst Rural Chinese - Medical News Today 18/03/06

A salt substitute specially formulated to be flavourful and effective has significantly reduced blood pressure among high-risk residents of northern, rural ChResults of the TROPHY study (Trial Of Preventing Hypertension) were presented today in the late-breaking clinical trials session at the American College of Cardiology's 55th Annual Scientific Session. “The TROPHY study is groundbreaking because it's the first study to examine the potential to change the natural history of hypertension through early pharmacological intervention in patients diagnosed with prehypertension,” said principal investigator Stevo Julius, MD, Professor of Internal Medicine and Physiology, University of Michigan. For the primary study end point of development of hypertension, there was a 15.6% relative risk reduction in the group treated with ATACAND® (candesartan cilexetil) compared with the group treated with placebo (53.2% vs 63.0% p<.007). According to Dr Julius, “The TROPHY study was designed to provide proof of principle for the feasibility of using a pharmacologic intervention to affect the natural history of hypertension.”

More Potent And Reliable Platelet Inhibition With Prasugrel Compared To Clopidogrel - Medical News Today 18/03/06

In early phase data announced today, the investigational antiplatelet agent, prasugrel, demonstrated greater and more reliable antiplatelet effect compared to clopidogrel (Plavix®) even in patients with increased platelet reactivity. These data were featured in one of several prasugrel presentations at the 2006 Scientific Sessions of the American College of Cardiology in Atlanta.

Things You Can Do That May Lessen Your Chance Of Having An Ectopic Pregnancy - Medical News Today 18/03/06

When you're pregnant, you want to do everything you possibly can to ensure that your baby is healthy. That means abstaining from smoking and alcohol use, opting for nutrition-rich foods, wearing non-restrictive maternity clothing and throwing out the junk food. You have even established a maternity insurance policy. But is there anything you can possibly do to reduce your risk of having an ectopic pregnancy?

IFPMA Welcomes Proposal To Remove Import Tariffs On Pharmaceuticals - Medical News Today 18/03/06

International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations (IFPMA) welcomes the joint initiative by the United States, Switzerland and Singapore to include removal of import tariffs on pharmaceuticals in the Doha Development Round of World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations.

Memory, Speed Of Thinking Get Worse Over Time With Marijuana Use - Medical News Today 18/03/06

Memory, speed of thinking and other cognitive abilities get worse over time with marijuana use, according to a new study published in the March, 2006, issue of Neurology, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

Newspaper Coverage Of Neurologic Conditions Incorrect 20 Percent Of The Time, Study Shows - Medical News Today 18/03/06

Twenty percent of all examined newspaper articles about common neurologic conditions had medical errors or exaggerations, according to a study partnering Mayo Clinic physicians and school of journalism experts from Arizona State University.

Medication Reduces Risk Of Adverse Events For Patients With Acute Coronary Syndromes Undergoing PCI - Medical News Today 18/03/06

Patients with acute coronary syndromes who were pre-treated with the anti-platelet agent clopidogrel before undergoing a procedure such as balloon angioplasty or stent placement had a reduced risk of adverse events if they received the anti-clotting drug abciximab, according to a study that will appear in the April 5 issue of JAMA. The study is being released early online to coincide with its presentation at the American College of Cardiology annual conference.

Researchers Look To Enhances Lifestyles For The Elderly And Their Pets - Medical News Today 18/03/06

Developing new products and systems to enhance the lives of elderly people and their pets is the focus of a $40,000 competitive grant awarded by Procter & Gamble and the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA) to a Virginia Tech team led by Ed Dorsa, associate professor in the College of Architecture and Urban Affairs.

Gene Therapy May Provide Hope For Patients At High Risk Of Amputation - Medical News Today 18/03/06

A new randomized study presented today at the American College of Cardiology's 55th Annual Scientific Session investigates an innovative treatment for critical limb ischemia, or lack of arterial blood supply and oxygen to the legs, using a therapeutic approach to generate new blood vessels. ACC.06 is the premier cardiovascular medical meeting, bringing together more than 30,000 cardiologists to further breakthroughs in cardiovascular medicine.

‘Pony Scrub' Offers Stylish Solution For Rapunzel RN's - Medical News Today 18/03/06

Leave it up to an industrious anesthesiology resident to come up with the perfect solution for a scrub hat for people with longer hair. blue sky scrubs, an Austin, TX-based scrub attire company founded by Shelby Marquardt, M.D. has introduced a piece of OR apparel that is a breath of fresh air for anyone who has been forced to wear the elasticized bouffant surgical cap.

Protein That Regulates Quiescent Blood Stem Cells May Enhance Recovery From Radiation And Chemo - Medical News Today 18/03/06

Scientists have uncovered new information about what orchestrates the complex balance between blood stem cells and mature blood cells, a relationship that is often disrupted in leukemia. The results, published in the March issue of Cancer Cell, will lead to a better understanding of the behavior of leukemic cells and may have vital clinical applications for patients recovering from chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or bone marrow transplantation.

Dramatic Rise In Ethnic Plastic Surgery In 2005 - Medical News Today 18/03/06

The number of ethnic patients who chose to enhance their appearance or minimize the signs of aging through cosmetic plastic surgery took a substantial jump in 2005, with nearly 2.3 million procedures performed an increase of 65 percent from 2004, according to statistics released today by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). Hispanics continue to lead all ethnic groups with more than 921,000 cosmetic procedures performed, up 67 percent from 2004; followed by African Americans with 769,000 procedures, up 67 percent; and Asians with 437,000 procedures, up 58 percent.

Potential Heart Benefit Found In Stem Cells - Medical News Today 18/03/06

Stem cell transplantation isina, where home-pickled foods are a dietary mainstay and hypertension is rampant.

Targeting The Dosage Compensation Complex - Medical News Today 18/03/06

Three independent research papers in the April 1 issue of G&D detail the chromosome-wide binding of the Drosophila dosage compensation complex (DCC) to the single male X chromosome, shedding new light on the mechanism of DCC targeting.

Early Treatment With Blood Pressure Meds May Reduce Hypertension - Medical News Today 18/03/06

Patients experiencing high normal blood pressure (HNBP), a precursor to hypertension, may benefit from early treatment with pharmacological therapy, according to new research presented today at the American College of Cardiology's 55th Annual Scientific Session. HNBP, often referred to as "prehypertension," is associated with double the normal risk of heart attacks and strokes. ACC.06 is the premier cardiovascular medical meeting, bringing together more than 30,000 cardiologists to further breakthroughs in cardiovascular medicine.

The Greatest Wrinkle Remover And One Of The World's Most Potent Biological Weapons: Botulism Toxin's Insidious Route Into Nerve Cells - Medical News Today 18/03/06

Botulinum neurotoxin A can be either the greatest wrinkle remover or one of the world's most potent biological weapons. To perform either job, however, the toxin must first find a way to enter cells.

Complex Artery Disease Best Treated With Simple Approach - Medical News Today 18/03/06

Cardiologists increasingly use non-invasive methods to treat patients with diseased arteries that previously required open-heart surgery. A late-breaking clinical trial presented today during the American College of Cardiology's inaugural Innovation in Intervention: the i2 Summit 2006. Innovation in Intervention: i2 Summit is an annual meeting for practicing cardiovascular interventionalists sponsored by the American College of Cardiology in partnership with the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions.

Older Breast Cancer Survivors Shared Care Study - Medical News Today 18/03/06

If follow-up mammography is an indicator of quality breast cancer care, then older survivors who receive shared care--provided by both a primary care physician and a cancer specialist--are better cared for than those who don't.

Post-stent Maintenance Therapies Questioned - Medical News Today 18/03/06

Patients admitted to the hospital with an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) are often treated with a catheter-based procedure known as percutaneous coronary intervention, or PCI. But doctors are unclear about the optimal antithrombotic therapy to prescribe after procedure to prevent clotting, and new research suggests a possible alternative, according to a study presented today at the American College of Cardiology's 55th Annual Scientific Session. ACC.06 is the premier cardiovascular medical meeting, bringing together more than 30,000 cardiologists to further breakthroughs in cardiovascular medicine.

Women And Children Are The First Hurt By Welfare Reform - Medical News Today 18/03/06

A study published in the latest issue of Health Services Research finds an unintended consequence of welfare reform. The reduction of insurance coverage is likely to decrease the quantity and quality of health care services of economically disadvantaged women and their children. The replacement of Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) with Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) is found to be associated with a little more than eight percent increase in the likelihood that a welfare-eligible woman was not insured, while TANF implementation was associated with a three percent raise in the probability that a welfare-eligible child lacked insurance.

Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Patients Chose Needle Over Knife - Medical News Today 18/03/06

Rest and relaxation seem like impossible feats to most Americans trying to balance the demands of family and career. This balancing act could account for the continued growth in minimally-invasive cosmetic plastic surgery procedures with 8.4 million performed in 2005. According to the statistics released today by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), minimally-invasive procedures increased 13 percent from the previous year and 53 percent since 2000.

NIAID Media Availability: New Study Describes Key Protein From Highly Pathogenic H5N1 Avian Flu Virus And How It Might Mutate - Medical News Today 18/03/06

WHAT: The recent spread of deadly H5N1 influenza A virus among birds in Asia, Europe, and Africa has been the focus of much attention and concern worldwide--largely because of the danger that the virus will mutate into a form that will become easily transmissible from person to person.

Hospitalized Patients With Schizophrenia More Likely To Have Medical And Surgical Complications - Medical News Today 18/03/06

A Johns Hopkins study of more than 1,700 patients with schizophrenia hospitalized for medical or surgical care unrelated to their mental disorder shows they are at least twice as likely as similar patients without schizophrenia to suffer dangerous and expensive adverse events. The adverse events are associated with poor outcomes, including death.

Diabetes Research Yielding Breakthrough Success - Medical News Today 18/03/06

Freedom from insulin injections and the myriad of health problems related to type 1 diabetes is closer to becoming reality, thanks to University of Calgary researchers who are developing the first bioreactor procedures to grow pancreatic cells in their laboratory. This opens the door to the possibility of providing a steady supply of insulin-producing cells that can be transplanted into patients affected by this serious disease.

Doctors In Training Improve Skills Via Virtual Patient - Medical News Today 18/03/06

An electronic stethoscope that doubles as a virtual patient dramatically improved the accuracy of medical residents in identifying heart sounds, according to a study presented today at the American College of Cardiology.

New Evidence Suggests Statins Could Prove Useful In Treating MS - Medical News Today 18/03/06

Scientists at the University of California, San Francisco and Stanford University Medical Center are reporting compelling new evidence that the cholesterol-lowering drug atorvastatin could prove an effective therapy for preventing the progression of, and reversing the severity of, multiple sclerosis (MS).

Gold Nanorods Allow Safer, Deeper Penetrating Noninvasive Cancer Treatment - Medical News Today 18/03/06

Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology and the University of California, San Francisco, have found an even more effective and safer way to detect and kill cancer cells. By changing the shapes of gold nanospheres into cylindrical gold nanorods, they can detect malignant tumors hidden deeper under the skin, like breast cancer, and selectively destroy them with lasers only half as powerful as before without harming the healthy cells. The method, which allows for a safer, deeper penetrating noninvasive cancer treatment, has just appeared in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, volume 128.

Life May Soon Be Just A Little Easier For Parents Of Autistic Children - Medical News Today 18/03/06

Life may soon be just a little easier for parents of autistic children thanks to a parenting program being trialed at The University of Queensland (UQ).

Prediction Of A Prokaryotic RNA-silencing System - Medical News Today 17/03/06

Researchers have used computational methods to predict what could be a prokaryotic RNA-silencing mechanism similar to the eukaryotic RNA- interference system. A study published today in the open access journal with a novel system of peer review, Biology Direct, provides the first strong evidence that a type of tandem repeats found in archaea and bacteria, the Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindrome Repeats (CRISPR), might act in conjunction with the CRISPR-associated (cas) family of genes as a defence mechanism against phage and plasmid RNA. A number of Cas proteins are shown to contain domains that suggest a functional similarity to eukaryotic proteins involved in the eukaryotic RNA-interference system.

Pathological Gambling Runs In Families, Study Finds - Medical News Today 17/03/06

Problem gambling runs in families according to a University of Iowa study published online in the journal Psychiatry Research. The study also found an excess of alcoholism, drug disorders and antisocial personality disorder in families with pathological gamblers.

Researchers Simulate Complete Structure Of Virus - On A Computer - Medical News Today 17/03/06

When Boeing and Airbus developed their latest aircraft, the companies' engineers designed and tested them on a computer long before the planes were built. Biologists are catching on. They've just completed the first computer simulation of an entire life form -- a virus.

Researchers Unravel DNA Tangles And Enzyme Seamstresses - Medical News Today 17/03/06

Almost three metres of tightly-coiled DNA strands fit into a cell's nucleus. As DNA replicates, the strands unwind and unfold and then re-package into chromosomes, the genetic blueprints of life but what happens if this process becomes entangled?

Health Affairs Web Exclusive Features Interview With Medical Technology Entrepreneur - Medical News Today 17/03/06

Confessions of a Serial Entrepreneur: A Conversation with Alfred E. Mann," Health Affairs: In a Health Affairs Web exclusive, Molly Coye, founder and CEO of the San Francisco-based Health Technology Center, interviews Alfred Mann, CEO of MannKind and Advanced Bionics and chair of the Alfred Mann Foundation for Biomedical Engineering. Mann discusses the medical technology companies with which he is involved and the need to consider cost implications of medical technology in context with efforts to reform health care (Coye, Health Affairs, 3/14).

Workplace Requirements, Family Health Responsibilities Often Conflict, Study Finds - Medical News Today 17/03/06

Inflexible workplace requirements often conflict with family health responsibilities -- such as caring for sick children, grandchildren or parents -- according to a study by the Center for WorkLife Law, APM's "Marketplace" reports. For the study, Joan Williams, director of WorkLife Law, examined approximately 100 arbitrated union cases where parents and grandparents were disciplined or fired for refusing mandatory overtime to handle family responsibilities, such as picking up a sick child from school or the emergency room. According to the study, many unionized workers have limited access to child or elder care and often trade responsibilities with their spouses and rely on help from relatives, APM reports. Netsy Firestein, founder and executive director of the Labor Project for Working Families, said that workers tend to think that work-life issues are their personal problem. However, researchers say that if the workplace is not adapting to employees' needs, it is a workplace issue, according to APM. In addition, some internal productivity studies have found that more flexible work policies, such as compressed work weeks, reduce costs. Ed Porter, executive director of the Northern California Office of the Labor Management Partnership for Kaiser Permanente, said there is a "delicate balance" between providing services and having appropriate staffing levels. The segment also includes comments from Williams and a worker who was fired because of time away from work for family health responsibilities (Wicai, "Marketplace," APM, 3/14).

Diverting Ambulances For Specialized Heart Attack Care May Be Feasible - Medical News Today 17/03/06

Diverting ambulances with patients suffering a heart to a hospital providing emergency angioplasty rather than a closer hospital with no ability to provide this specialized care, may be feasible for the majority of Americans, researchers at Yale School of Medicine and the University of Michigan report in Circulation.

Alzheimer's Study First To Explain Death Of Brain Cells - Medical News Today 17/03/06

Researchers at Children's Hospital & Research Center at Oakland (CHRCO) have published a new study that is the first to explain how brain cells die in patients with Alzheimer's Disease. This discovery is an important first step to helping researchers devise ways to slow, prevent and eventually cure a disease that affects an estimated 4.5 million Americans.

Low-income Patients With Treatable Cardiac Risk Factors May Benefit From Regular Visits With An Internet Based Telemedicine Doctor - Medical News Today 17/03/06

Low-income patients with treatable cardiac risk factors may benefit from regular visits with an Internet based telemedicine doctor, according to interim results of a $4 million dollar study funded by the Pennsylvania State Department of Health and headed by Alfred Bove, MD, chief of cardiology at Temple University School of Medicine and Hospital. Findings will be presented at the American College of Cardiology meeting.

Study Finds Shifts In Treatment Trends Prior To Publication Of Study Results - Medical News Today 17/03/06

The oral presentation of data from a single study at a national scientific conference can have an important impact on patient treatment, even before study publication or Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval, according to a study in the March 15 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Exposure To Volcanic Mineral Associated With Increased Mesothelioma Incidence In Turkey - Medical News Today 17/03/06

High exposure to a fibrous volcanic mineral called erionite was associated with a high incidence of a type of cancer called mesothelioma, according to a study in the March issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Somalia Launches HIV/AIDS Commission To Stem Spread Of Epidemic In South, Central Regions Of Country - Medical News Today 17/03/06

The transitional government of Somalia on Tuesday launched the South Central AIDS Commission in an effort to stem the spread of HIV/AIDS in the south and central region of the country, Xinhua/People's Daily reports (Xinhua/People's Daily, 3/14). Current United Nations programs in Somalia focus on educating people about HIV/AIDS and how to prevent transmission of the virus, but the "ABC" prevention method -- meaning abstinence, be faithful and use condoms -- has met resistance because some Somalians think it promotes promiscuity, which is contrary to the teachings of Islam (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 2/28). The commission was launched in the south Somalia region of Baidoa and is expected to work with UNICEF to organize programs in 11 regions of central and south Somalia, according to a UNICEF statement (Xinhua/People's Daily, 3/14). "The South Central AIDS Commission is the last of three AIDS commissions that have been set up. The first one in the northwest, second one in the northeast and this one now in the central south," Leo Kenny, UNAIDS country coordinator for Somalia, said (De Capua, VOA News, 3/15). According to Xinhua/People's Daily, the commission will provide a single oversight and evaluation structure and work in collaboration with partners to create an effective prevention, treatment, care and support plan. The commission "will also facilitate resource mobilization and most effective use of current resources from The Global Fund To Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, U.N., [Department for International Development] and other donor resources," UNICEF Representative Christian Balslev-Olesen said. "We recognize that HIV/AIDS can derail our efforts to harness our human resources for the reconstruction of our country," Somali Prime Minister Ali Mohammed Gedi said, adding, "Somalis everywhere must be educated on how to protect themselves from the virus, but even more importantly, we must support our brothers and sisters who already are infected so that they are cared for and are not marginalized" (Xinhua/People's Daily, 3/14). According to a 2004 World Health Organization survey that looked at pregnant women in antenatal clinics, Somalia's HIV prevalence is estimated to be 0.9%. However, no thorough studies have been conducted in the country because it has not had a central government in 15 years (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 2/28).

Highlights In The Journal Of The National Cancer Institute - Medical News Today 17/03/06

Dietary Folate Intake Associated with Reduced Pancreatic Cancer Risk

Use Of High Humidity Does Not Improve Symptoms For Children With Croup - Medical News Today 17/03/06

For children with moderate to severe croup treated in the emergency department, use of high humidity did not improve symptoms more than low humidity or mist therapy, according to an article in the March 15 issue of JAMA.

Researchers Link Human Papillomavirus (HPV) To Common Skin Cancer - Medical News Today 17/03/06

Human papillomavirus (HPV) may be a risk factor in developing squamous cell carcinoma, a common form of skin cancer, according to research led by Dartmouth Medical School. The study, published in the March 15 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, used new technology to detect antibodies from a strain of HPV on skin cancer samples.

HIV Prevalence In Uganda Drops To 6.4%, National Survey Says - Medical News Today 17/03/06

Uganda's HIV prevalence has decreased from 6.5% to 6.4%, according to a national AIDS indicator survey, Uganda's New Vision reports. The survey -- which was presented on Monday by Wilford Lordson Kirungi, medical epidemiologist for the country's AIDS Control Program -- was conducted between 2004 and 2005 and involved 10,437 households chosen at random. The survey finds that HIV prevalence fell in the country, and awareness of modes of transmission increased. "Rejection of misconceptions related to HIV is widespread," the survey says, adding that "74% of women and 84% of men know that a healthy-looking person may be HIV-positive, and more than four in five know that HIV cannot be transmitted by witchcraft or by sharing food with someone who has AIDS." Kirungi said women had the highest HIV prevalence, with a 7.5% rate among girls and women ages 15 to 49. According to the survey, boys and men ages 15 to 49 had an HIV prevalence of 6.4%, while children under age five had a prevalence of 0.7%. "We also found out that circumcised men are less likely to be HIV-infected, with 3.7% versus 5.5%," Kirungi said, adding, "This was true for most categories of age groups, ethnicity, region and urban-rural residence" (New Vision, 3/14). Kirungi also said that men who had not had sexual relations in the past year had an HIV prevalence of 5.0%, while those who had engaged in sexual relations with more than three partners in the past year had an HIV prevalence of 9.0%. According to Xinhua News Agency, Uganda's success in controlling HIV/AIDS in recent years can be attributed to government-sponsored national guidelines (Xinhua News Agency, 3/14).
Predicting Chemotherapy Outcome - Medical News Today 17/03/06

Studying the gene-expression profiles of patients with colorectal cancer might help predict their response to chemotherapy.

Coronary Heart Disease Deaths In Ireland Have Halved In 15 Years - Medical News Today 17/03/06

Deaths from coronary artery heart disease in Ireland have halved since the mid 1980s, finds research in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.

Stretch Marks - Prevention, Treatment And Removal - Medical News Today 17/03/06

Most women who have gone through the rigors of pregnancy have a permanent reminder - stretch marks.

HIV/AIDS Therapeutics And Diagnostics Markets Hampered By Economic And Social Malaise - Medical News Today 17/03/06

Assessing the long term epidemiology of global HIV/AIDS, new research released today clearly paints a picture of the disparity between the theoretical and realistic markets for HIV/AIDS therapeutics and diagnostics.

Many Women Are Still Uncertain How To Take The Pill Correctly - Medical News Today 17/03/06

New research reveals that over eight out of ten women using the progestogen-only pill are not aware that it must be taken within three hours of the normal time of intake. The findings suggest that many women are unwittingly putting themselves at risk of pregnancy.

Portrait Of A Diseased Heart Instead Of ECG - Medical News Today 17/03/06

Everybody who underwent a cardiogram at least once knows that the procedure is not quick in all respects.

Women With High Levels Of Fat Tissue Inflammatory Protein Have Increased Asthma Risk - Medical News Today 17/03/06

Women with high levels of an inflammatory protein produced by fat tissue are at significantly increased risk of asthma, finds research in published ahead of print in Thorax.


Low-dose flu shots could stretch supply: study - Reuters 20/03/06

Five people can be protected with just one dose of seasonal flu vaccine, researchers said on Monday, but the development was unlikely to have an effect on the expected coming battle with bird flu.
Parkinson's drug link to gambling probed-newspaper - Reuters 19/03/06

Medical researchers are investigating suspicions that drugs prescribed to treat Parkinson's disease could turn patients into compulsive gamblers, the Washington Post reported on Sunday.

Holy smoke! Chinese city turns cigarettes to medicine - Reuters 19/03/06

A city in China, a country that's home to the world's most enthusiastic smokers, is crushing fake cigarettes to make medicine, Xinhua news agency said on Sunday.

US officials hold smallpox preparedness drill - Reuters 18/03/06

Top aides to President George W. Bush on Saturday looked at ways they might deal with a possible smallpox attack, a drill that included reviewing some lessons learned from the response to Hurricane Katrina.

Women, hit hard by AIDS, need own UN agency: envoy - Reuters 18/03/06

Women and girls are far more vulnerable to AIDS than men and need their own U.N. agency to defend them, just as the U.N. children's fund UNICEF protects young people, a top U.N. envoy said on Friday.

American kids getting high on prescription drugs - Reuters 17/03/06

When Paul Michaud's father died of cancer, the 16-year-old took OxyContin to ease his emotional pain.

Two more deaths after abortion pill reported in US - Reuters 17/03/06

Two more women have died after taking the abortion pill RU-486 but officials do not know if the drug played a role in their deaths, U.S. regulators said on Friday.

Kidney disease rare with early type 1 diabetes onset - Reuters 17/03/06

There may be a silver lining for kids who develop type 1 diabetes at a young age. They seem to be much less likely than children with later onset to develop kidney failure in adulthood, one of the feared consequences of the diabetes, investigators in Sweden report in the medical journal Diabetes Care.

Osteoporosis screening missing highest-risk women - Reuters 17/03/06

The women who would benefit the most from a screening test for osteoporosis are the least likely to get it, a new study shows.

No racial gap seen in US flu vaccine shortage - Reuters 17/03/06

Although the 2004-2005 shortage of influenza vaccine in the US led to lower vaccination rates in adults 65 years or older, the racial and ethnic disparities seen in previous seasons did not increase, according to new findings.

Fibroids can complicate pregnancy - Reuters 17/03/06

Fibroids are quite often discovered on a sonogram after a woman becomes pregnant, and they are associated with an increased likelihood of complications such as cesarean delivery, breech presentation and preterm birth.

Straight men using meth have riskier sex - Reuters 17/03/06

Heterosexual men are more likely to engage in high-risk sex if they use methamphetamine, or "meth," according to results of a study conducted in California.

Decongestant use has no ill effects in pregnancy - Reuters 17/03/06

Women who take decongestants during pregnancy don't appear to risk having poor outcomes or to be putting their baby at risk for birth defects, a Swedish team reports.

WHO calls for urgent studies on best use of Tamiflu - Reuters 17/03/06

The World Health Organization (WHO) called on Friday for urgent studies to determine optimal doses of flu drug Tamiflu to be used in the fight against human bird flu.

US reports two more deaths after abortion pill - Reuters 17/03/06

Two new deaths have been reported after women took the abortion pill known as RU-486 but officials do not know if the fatalities are connected to the drug, U.S. regulators said on Friday.

Body-mind therapy may ease anxiety of IVF - Reuters 17/03/06

A holistic form of group counseling can help calm some of the anxiety that women undergoing in-vitro fertilization (IVF) often feel, a new study suggests.
WHO maps out new strategy to battle tuberculosis - Reuters 17/03/06

The World Health Organization unveiled a new strategy on Friday to fight tuberculosis, an infectious disease that kills about 1.7 million people worldwide each year.

India continues culling birds, no flu in humans - Reuters 17/03/06

Indian health officials said on Friday no flu-like symptoms had been found in any person in a western Indian state where 70,000 chickens are being killed to contain a second outbreak of bird flu in poultry.

Leptin linked to asthma in women - Reuters 16/03/06

High levels of leptin, an inflammatory compound produced by body fat, may raise the risk of asthma in premenopausal women, new research suggests.

Study finds mutations needed for bird flu pandemic - Reuters 16/03/06

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Scientists said on Thursday they had identified some of the mutations the H5N1 avian influenza virus needs to gain a permanent foothold in the human population, causing a greatly feared pandemic.

Malnourished means obese as much as emaciated: UN - Reuters 16/03/06

GENEVA (Reuters) - The overweight are just as malnourished as the starving, and nutritional programs in poor countries need to target rising obesity alongside hunger, a United Nations panel said on Thursday.

New test spots drug-resistant malaria in travelers - Reuters 16/03/06

If travelers become sick after returning from areas in which chloroquine-resistant malaria is endemic, they need to be quickly checked for the disease. A new assay can do just that, Canadian and German researchers report.

Formula feeding doesn't make for heavy kids - Reuters 16/03/06

Whether infants are breastfed or formula-fed does not seem to influence their risk of becoming overweight kids, new study findings show.

Drop in exercise efficiency with age can be eased - Reuters 16/03/06

Older adults may have to work harder than young people to perform the same physical activity, but regular exercise may close that age gap, research findings suggests.
Cheshire and Merseyside News
Study warns of cancer risk - Daily Post 20/03/06

WOMEN with one breast larger than the other are at a higher risk of developing breast cancer, according to a major new study.

Asymmetrical breasts linked to higher cancer risk - The Guardian 20/03/06
Women with asymmetrical breasts may be more prone to cancer - The Independent 20/03/06
Uneven breasts linked to cancer - The Times 20/03/06
Uneven breasts linked to cancer - BBC Health News 19/03/06
Healthy Women Who Go On To Develop Breast Cancer Tend To Have Less Symmetrical Breasts - Medical News Today 20/03/06

Paralysed and blind - but Edith must pay for care - Daily Post 20/03/06

THE last time Marise Thomas had a conversation with her mother, they were feeding ducks at Calderstones Park eight years ago.

'Held to ransom' over care costs - Daily Post 20/03/06

'Exploitation in the worst possible way' - Warrington Guardian 18/03/06

HEALTH minister Liam Bryne has been questioned about the cost of hospital phone calls following a complaint from a Warrington pensioner.

Rise in emergency hospital admissions is 'winter pressures' - Warrington Guardian 18/03/06

AN INCREASE in the number of emergency admissions to Warrington Hospital means that some patients are being transferred to its Halton counterpart.

TB scare at the Countess - Chester Chronicle 17/03/06

NINE patients and two staff at the Countess of Chester Hospital have been offered tests because of concerns they may have contracted tuberculosis from a doctor.

An end to migraine misery - Chester Chronicle 17/03/06

Reporter Jo Henwood has suffered with migraine since childhood so was more than ready to take part in vital new research into the condition being carried out at a North West hospital.

Campaigners fired up for incinerator march - Chester Chronicle 17/03/06

HUNDREDS of residents are to join a protest march against the Ince Marsh Incinerator on Saturday, April 1.

Patients tune in to fight crime - Runcorn Weekly News 16/03/06

PATIENTS at Halton Hospital can now tune into Radio Halton to hear about the latest policing initiatives in Runcorn.

Father to complain about son's treatment - Ellesmere Port Pioneer 16/03/06

A FATHER is making an official complaint over the way his son was treated over a doctor's appointment.

Job cuts loom at hospital - Northwich Chronicle 15/03/06

DEBT-RIDDEN Leighton Hospital is making shock job cuts in a bid to balance its books.
1m well spent on school meals - Liverpool Echo 16/03/06

MERSEYSIDE schools have so far received more than £1m to improve canteen food.

Picture power highlights fight against hepatitis C - Liverpool Echo 16/03/06

FRANCIS Cook could never explain why he felt under the weather.
Fears over hospital unfounded - Ormskirk Advertiser 16/03/06

THE chairman of Ormskirk and Southport Hospital Trust has moved to quash rumours about the fate of Ormskirk & District General Hospital.

Health merger 'victory' - Daily Post 17/03/06
Victory as Trust merger bid axed - Southport Visiter 17/03/06
Victory in merger fight - Ormskirk Advertiser 16/03/06
Petition is presented - Midweek Advertiser 15/03/06

Major role for minor injury unit - Village Visiter 15/03/06

PEOPLE are being reminded that they can still attend Ormskirk Hospital to have simple injuries treated.

NHS changes - Ormskirk Advertiser 16/03/06

A PUBLIC meeting is to be held in Burscough - at 6pm on Thursday, March 23, in the Old People's Club in Lord Street - about changes to local NHS services.
Getting health priorities right - Southport Visiter 17/03/06

SEFTON'S two directors of public health have identified six priority areas which need to be addressed in order to safeguard the health and wellbeing of residents.

Hospital to unveil its ambitious plans - Newton Guardian 13/03/06

THE multi-million pound modernisation plans for Newton Community Hospital will be revealed in a meeting on Monday.

No confidence vote in NHS trust - BBC Health News 15/03/06

A local council has issued a vote of no confidence in the NHS trust which runs mental health services in its area.

Cumbria and Lancashire News
Extra staff plea to help hospitals cope with bug - Carlisle News & Star 18/03/06

A WINTER sickness bug is still affecting hospitals in the area, weeks after the first cases were identified.

Award for three PCTs - Carlisle News & Star 18/03/06

NORTH Cumbria’s three primary care trusts are moving closer to gaining “model employer” status.

60m bill for NHS in equal pay battle - Carlisle News & Star 18/03/06

HOSPITAL chiefs have confirmed that they are about to begin paying out 60 million in compensation to women in north Cumbria who won an historic equal pay battle.

60m payout for NHS women - Carlisle News & Star 17/03/06

Show us your pearly whites... - Lancashire Evening Telegraph 17/03/06

SCHOOL kids in Lancaster and Morecambe could soon be getting their brushes out at lunchtime to keep their pearly whites in tip-top condition.

Dial-A-Ride service is vital for many - Lancashire Evening Telegraph 17/03/06

REGARDING the 90 days notice given to the full and part-time staff of Dial-A-Ride. Does it mean that this valuable and trusted service, mainly used by senior citizens or wheelchair-bound people, is going to come to an end?

Please don't sever my lifeline - Lancashire Evening Telegraph 17/03/06

Drunk caused mayhem at A&E - Lancashire Evening Telegraph 17/03/06

A 55-year-old man racially abused a hospital security officer who had been called to accident and emergency by nursing staff, a court was told.

240 children are taken to hospital over drink and drugs - Carlisle News & Star 17/03/06

MORE than 200 children were taken to two Cumbrian hospitals last year to have emergency treatment for drink or drugs.

Nurses respond to hospital appeal - News & Star 17/03/06

NURSES have responded to the call for help put out by The Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle.
Greater Manchester News

Wound Monitor 'sniffs Out' Harmful Infections - Medical News Today 18/03/06

The University of Manchester has received 1m to develop a new device able to 'sniff out' harmful infections.

100 hit in vomit bug outbreak - Manchester Evening News 17/03/06

ALMOST 100 people are suffering from a vomiting and diarrhoea bug at a Greater Manchester hospital.

Clean-up at bug crisis hospital - Manchester Evening News 18/03/06

THE hospital hit by a virus which has struck down almost a 100 people has ordered emergency cleaning procedures.

GP snub to asylum man - Bolton Evening News 18/03/06

A DOCTOR refused to treat a patient who turned up at his surgery because he was an asylum seeker, the General Medical Council heard.

No parental choice over fluoridation - Bolton Evening News 18/03/06

MAY I thank Guy Harkin for his detailed reply to my letter in the Bolton Evening News.

Hospital staff were so caring - Bolton Evening News 18/03/06

ON Saturday, March 14, my grandson became ill while staying with me at my home.

Babylab To Work Out What Goes On In Babies' Minds - Medical News Today 19/03/06

Psychologists at the University of Manchester have set up a 'BabyLab' within the University, to try and learn more about how babies acquire knowledge.

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