Monday, April 03, 2006

Contents

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National News

Why quit now? I've just met myself - The Observer 02/04/06

When Lorna Martin wrote about going into therapy in The Observer in January, we had a huge response. Now she reports on how it's working out: the tears and the joys, the doubts and the revelations

NHS sell-off firm faces US inquiry - The Observer 02/04/06

The 700m privatisation of the NHS agency that delivers food and medicines to hospitals across Britain is to be announced by the government tomorrow, despite one of the firms involved being investigated by the US Senate.

Children will be hardest hit by dentists quitting NHS - The Observer 02/04/06

Expert warns of rise in decay and extractions among the young as new contracts are refused.

Children's teeth go unfixed in NHS dental crisis - The Sunday Times 02/04/06

Cancer risk in low vitamin D levels - The Observer 02/04/06

Half the population of Britain suffer mild deficiency of the 'sunshine vitamin', vitamin D. As a result, they face increased risks of fractures and of getting cancers and other diseases in later life, a leading specialist has warned. Only regular consumption of supplements is likely to solve the problem, he added.

Having a baby? Then plan your gap year - The Observer 02/04/06

Backpacking around the world for a year was once the domain of adventurous school-leavers trying to 'find themselves'. Then thirtysomethings on a career break and 'empty-nest' retirees jumped on the gap-year bandwagon. Now, hot on their heels, comes the next generation of travellers looking to leave work and study behind - the family gappers.

Time to stop the mean trick that is means-testing for the elderly - The Observer 02/04/06

Sir Derek Wanless is clearly a very humane man. Last week he recommended scrapping means-testing to assess whether elderly people should be entitled to financial help with basic social care. He described means-tested care as a postcode lottery which causes 'anger and distress' for millions of people.

Peter Preston: Our regional press is contracting too fast for comfort - The Observer 02/04/06

Here is a trick question. Which hospital trust manager claimed last week that job cuts current and pending wouldn't affect front-line services? 'Some people are highly sceptical about us saying this, but we are looking for better ways to run our wards while keeping the quality as high as possible,' he added. 'We're not going to move away from that basic philosophy.'

Brown's guru rebukes NHS - The Observer 02/04/06

The business leader who convinced Gordon Brown to pour more than 40bn into the NHS has issued a scathing rebuke over the government's failure to deliver genuinely radical improvements to patient care.

1,000 dentists expected to quit NHS in contract row - The Guardian 01/04/06

An exodus of about 1,000 dentists from the NHS in England was predicted last night by the chief executives of primary care trusts, who take over management of the service from today.

Drill and fill is not the answer - The Guardian 01/04/06
NHS dentistry 'facing problems' - BBC Health News 31/03/06
UK dentists warn on service as deal deadline looms - Reuters 31/03/06

Doctors' orders - The Guardian 01/04/06

There's an epidemic of hospital dramas at the moment, some of them graphically realistic. Who would you want at your bedside? Grace Dent assembles her medical dream team

Nine to be charged over NHS drugs price-fixing - The Guardian 01/04/06

Nine drugs industry executives are to be charged next week following a four-year fraud investigation into an alleged price-fixing cartel believed to have defrauded the NHS out of many millions of pounds by falsely inflating the price of two of Britain's most commonly prescribed medicines.

Drugs firm chiefs face charge over NHS fraud- The Telegraph 01/04/06

Surgeon 'could have put breast cancer patients at risk' - The Guardian 01/04/06

Significant numbers of women may have been put at risk of their breast cancer returning because they were not given the best care at a hospital in the Bradford NHS Trust, according to a cancer statistician.

Hospital 'failed cancer patients' - BBC Health News 01/04/06

Emma Mitchell: Dandruff and fertility fears - The Guardian 01/04/06

A hairdresser once told me, when I asked what caused dandruff, 'It's constitutional.' What does it mean?

Seven headache triggers - The Guardian 01/04/06

We all know the obvious reasons for brain pain - like hangovers or stress - but there may be other more surprising causes. Jacqui Ripley reports

A death foretold - The Guardian 01/04/06

Nearly half the female prison population try to kill themselves. Sarah Campbell succeeded: she should have had psychiatric help, but instead found herself in jail. Simon Hattenstone reports

Call that risky? - The Guardian 01/04/06

They are the issues that panic the nation. But how worried should we really be? Zoe Williams assesses six pressing risks

Mothers' helper - The Guardian 31/03/06

In 1985, obstetric consultant Wendy Savage hit the headlines when her anti-caesarean views led to her suspension. So how does she feel now that caesarean births have soared to one in four? Natasha Walter finds out

Cancer: There are life-saving drugs. So why can't we have them? - The Independent 02/04/06

Thousands of cancer sufferers are being denied life-saving drugs because of delays and bureaucracy in making them available on the NHS.

Cancer: Two women tell their stories - The Independent 02/04/06
Emma Kearns: When I made a fuss I got the drug. Others are not so lucky - The Independent 02/04/06

Our agony, by 'Elephant man' drug trial victims - The Independent 02/04/06

Tests should have been called off when volunteers showed horrific reactions, say the men left damaged by their ordeal

Miracle cures: The pill cabinet of the future - The Independent 02/04/06

The next 10 years promise massive advances as a new generation of designer drugs and treatments turns killers like cancer into chronic complaints. Jeremy Laurance on a brave - and expensive - new world

Bedtime stories - The Independent 02/04/06

Suffer sleepless nights? Can't get out of bed? Katy Guest meets the experts who are finally unravelling the mysteries of the Land of Nod

Jamie is back on the offensive over school dinners - The Independent 02/04/06

Why? Because since his campaign, 400,000 fewer children are eating them. And now they're at the mercy of something worse: 'evil' packed lunches

Diet: 700,000 children in UK are obese - The Independent 02/04/06

Smells a bit iffy: aromatherapy is nothing more than 'bunkum' - The Independent 01/04/06

Britons spend millions of pounds on it every year. Seventy-five per cent of people believe that the ancient Chinese practice of healing by essential oil odours works. But new research claims that aromatherapy is a waste of time and money. In fact, in the words of one expert, it is nothing but "bunkum".

Sceptics sense victory as study dismisses alleged benefits of aromatherapy - The Times 01/04/06
Aromatherapy: Nice smell, but no health benefit - Daily Mail 01/04/06

Pregnancy does not slow the brain down - The Independent 01/04/06

After forgetting to thank her fiancé in her Oscar speech, Rachel Weisz, the actress, blamed it on her pregnancy, saying her brain was "like porridge".

Expectant mothers may not be so scatty - The Times 01/04/06
Pregnant women 'do not deserve scatterbrain image' - The Telegraph 01/04/06

Schoolboy, 13, dies as measles makes a comeback - The Sunday Times 02/04/06

A 13-YEAR-OLD boy has become the first person in Britain for 14 years to die of measles in a sign that the disease, once a common killer, is resurfacing.

Human bird flu victims face end in 'plague pits' - The Sunday Times 02/04/06

FAMILIES may have to wait for four months to bury their dead in the event of an avian flu pandemic, stirring up folk memories of the burial pits of the great plague of 1665, writes David Cracknell.

Mass graves planned if bird flu pandemic reaches Britain - The Telegraph 02/04/06
Bird flu plan for 'mass graves' - BBC Health News 02/04/06
Flu Pandemic Mass Graves Planned By UK Government - Medical News Today 02/04/06

Soft drinks pulled from shelves over cancer fear - The Times 01/04/06

Watchdog demands inquiry over benzene levels in 26 popular brands

Soft drinks are recalled in scare over cancer chemical - The Telegraph 01/04/06
Cancer chemical 'in soft drinks' - BBC Health News 31/03/06

Early twenties 'a bad age' for birth - The Times 01/04/06

CHILDREN do better at school if their mothers wait until their mid to late 20s before starting their families, research suggests.

Science of spring fever - The Times 01/04/06

Feeling chirpy — even a bit sexy? There’s a good reason why we get a bit daffy this time of year

Good news for rows - The Times 01/04/06

IF YOU want to defuse a simmering domestic row, try censoring your partner’s choice of news stories.

S-s-stuck for words - The Times 01/04/06

From Moses to Marilyn, former stutterer Iain Finlayson is in good company

Taking a clean break - The Times 01/04/06

Want to wash that man out of your hair? Visit a spa, says Laura Reznik

Tracking down a killer - The Times 01/04/06

Sandra Hempel unravels the story of the man who solved the mystery of cholera

Bodylicious: wrinkle removers - The Times 01/04/06

If you are striving for a flawless complexion, today’s temporary wrinkle fillers are better than ever.

Field day for little lambs - The Times 01/04/06

The season of fluffy yellow chicks and gambolling lambs is upon us, although if you live anywhere vaguely metropolitan it’s unlikely that you’ll see either. Visiting a farm is a great way to enjoy the outdoors at this time of year, particularly if you have children, as many have petting pens and adventure playgrounds attached. Whether you’re looking for organic food, country walks or a day out with the kids, here is our pick of the best.

Dr Copperfield: inside the mind of a GP - The Times 01/04/06

You could have been forgiven for thinking that April Fool’s Day had come a little early if you read the story of Emily, 9, who cut her finger at school.

Disclose full costs of IVF - The Times 01/04/06

Infertility treatment in Britain remains an overwhelmingly private business. In spite of the Government’s pledge to fund one free cycle of IVF for most couples, more than 70 per cent of patients pay for their therapy, parting with an average of 3,500 for every attempt. The industry is estimated to be worth up to 500 million a year and has made some doctors very rich.

Grandpa, we love you . . . - The Times 01/04/06

He thinks the grandchildren are rude; they think he’s scary. Just try to be patient, says Jane Fearnley- Whittingstall

We need a family helpline - The Times 01/04/06

I have three gorgeous children, 3, 18 months and 3 months, and my husband and I run our own business. We are interested in meeting a trained family or children’s therapist once a month to talk about the challenges we face as a family. Can you point us in the right direction?

Eco-worrier: electric lights - The Times 01/04/06

If you are planning to return to a room within an hour, isn’t it economical to leave the light on? My husband says it’s not.

Agony & ecstasy: spice is nice at bedtime - The Times 01/04/06

At the risk of being rather boring (no swining or gap porn, please), may I have some advice for a happily married woman on keeping her sex life spicy?

What's up doc? Pulling down your eyelids - The Times 01/04/06

Why bother? Your doctor is revealing some mucous membrane, which is the lining of a body cavity exposed to the outside — in this case, the lining inside your eyelid. While he’s there, he might pull back the upper lid, too, to reveal the sclera, or white part of your eyeball.

We need a family helpline - The Times 01/04/06

I have three gorgeous children, 3, 18 months and 3 months, and my husband and I run our own business. We are interested in meeting a trained family or children’s therapist once a month to talk about the challenges we face as a family. Can you point us in the right direction?

Going back to Mother Nature - The Times 01/04/06

Wendy Cook’s life with the comic genius Peter Cook sowed the seeds for interest in food. She tells Rose Shepherd how she returned to her roots

Menu mentor - The Times 01/04/06

Not only are Wagamama noodle bars child-friendly, but there’s something to keep both adults and kids happy. The big bowls of noodles are fun to slurp while being light and tasty, and there can’t be many places where you will see children tucking into bowls of edamame, freshly steamed soya beans. All of which makes Wagamama great for healthy yummy food, to suit your mood and your pocket.

At your table: rhubarb - The Times 01/04/06

Although the markets have been devoid of colour recently, bar the squashes and the dark green leaves of kale and Savoy cabbage, the pretty blush-pink stalks of forced rhubarb have lifted my spirits.

Going back to Mother Nature - The Times 01/04/06

Wendy Cook’s life with the comic genius Peter Cook sowed the seeds for interest in food. She tells Rose Shepherd how she returned to her roots

Listen up — if I can make these, anyone can - The Times 01/04/06

The kitchen's the place for wholesome family fun, says Nora Sands, Jamie Oliver's dinner lady

Not just anybody: Amanda Donahoe - The Times 01/04/06

Actress Amanda Donohoe, 43, worries about world peace but a good wine can lift her spirits

Tests cast doubt on existence of male menopause - The Telegraph 02/04/06

The existence of the male menopause has been called into question by a study designed to test the benefits of male hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

'Paedophiles are outed. Why shouldn't those involved in abortion be, too?' - The Telegraph 02/04/06

James Dowson does not concern himself with moral qualms. The consequences of his inflammatory comments, he believes, are not something with which he should be unduly bothered.

Botox licence issued to put an end to treatment parties - The Telegraph 02/04/06

A government drugs watchdog has handed out its first official licence for the cosmetic use of the anti-wrinkle treatment Botox as part of a crackdown on rogue therapists.

Hewitt letter reveals plan for doctors' pay cut - The Telegraph 02/04/06

The Government wanted consultants in the National Health Service to take a pay cut in real terms by getting a salary increase of just one per cent, an official letter has revealed.

I know where missing NHS billions have gone - The Telegraph 02/04/06

'Mean and vindictive". That was the British Medical Association's verdict last week on the Chancellor's decision to delay until November paying a full 2.2 per cent increase to consultants. You will notice that protests by one group of medical professionals have been notable by their absence: the GPs. They won't even be receiving a 2.2 per cent increase in November - but they have kept quiet.

'Too posh to push' mothers cost NHS 80m - The Telegraph 02/04/06

The NHS is spending more than 80 million a year carrying out Caesarean sections that are not medically necessary.

New drugs for hyperactive children raise doctors' fears - The Telegraph 02/04/06

Doctors have criticised official guidelines recommending new drugs to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in young people.

Savvy shopper: small but perfectly formed- The Telegraph 01/04/06

Rose Prince looks at the wonderful balance of essential nutrients that can be found in seeds

Paying for care without having to sell the home - The Telegraph 01/04/06

Review proposes a fairer system, writes Rosie Murray-West

Pensioners punished for splashing out on heating, not iPods - The Telegraph 01/04/06

Soaring household bills mean inflation for older people is a third higher than government figures, says Alison Steed
Drug test man tells of fury at doctors- The Telegraph 01/04/06

The medical volunteer whose head swelled to three times its normal size after he took an experimental drug spoke about his ordeal for the first time last night.

Drug trial man's fury at ordeal - BBC Health News 31/03/06
Two more drug trial men sent home - BBC Health News 31/03/06

Get a life: pretend to be someone else - The Telegraph 01/04/06

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

Why Gwyneth is not her baby's servant - The Telegraph 31/03/06

Nanny Rachel Waddilove tells Cassandra Jardine about the kind of advice she offers her celebrity clients

Top surgeon quits NHS over red tape - Daily Mail 02/04/06

One of Britain's leading plastic surgeons has quit NHS work because he says red tape is making it impossible for doctors to do their job.

'Anorexia almost killed me' - Daily Mail 31/03/06

A teenage boy has spoken of his three-year battle with anorexia which almost cost him his life.

Cancer drug may end side effects - BBC Health News 31/03/06

A new device for cancer patients could end the side effects of chemotherapy such as hair loss and vomiting, researchers say.

Truly Informed Consent Must Include Talking About Future Fertility, Warn Experts - Medical News Today 02/04/06

Talking about sex and fertility can be just as embarrassing for medical staff as for adolescent cancer patients, the 4th International Conference on Teenage and Young Adult Cancer Medicine heard.

Truly Informed Consent Must Include Talking About Future Fertility, Warn Experts - Medical News Today 01/04/06

Lack Of Specialist Training For Nurses Is Failing Adolescent Cancer Patients - Medical News Today 02/04/06

Teenagers and young adults with cancer are not always cared for appropriately because a lack of specialist training for nurses means that staff are not necessarily equipped to recognise and meet the unique needs of this age group, according to a nurse manager at the Manchester Teenage Cancer Trust Unit.

New Research Identifies Specific Teenage And Young Adult Cancers And Points To Possible Causes - Medical News Today 02/04/06

An analysis of new data by a leading cancer researcher has revealed specific cancers that are most likely to affect teenagers and young adults, and it points to infections, adolescent growth spurts, and hormones as being among the possible causes. Now, international collaborative research is needed to find out more.

New Hope For Tissue Regeneration And Joint Repair - Medical News Today 02/04/06

Inflammation, cartilage and bone erosions, joint destruction--that's the typical progression of arthritis and most rheumatic diseases. While inflammation may be controlled, and perhaps even eliminated, with early aggressive treatment, few therapeutic approaches offer hope for repairing tissue once the damage has been done. One promising strategy is the use of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). MSCs are capable of extensive self-renewal and adaptable to forming all kinds of connective tissues. While detected in several adult human tissues, MSCs have traditionally been obtained from bone marrow, an invasive, painful, and costly process.

Scientists Discover New Gene Responsible For Spread Of Cancer - Medical News Today 02/04/06

Scientists at the University of Liverpool have identified a new gene that causes the spread of cancer.

Waiting Lists Continue To Fall Despite Winter Pressures, UK - Medical News Today 02/04/06

The NHS is still delivering fast access to hospital care and making significant reductions to waiting lists despite winter pressures, new figures released today by the Department of Health show.

General Osteopathic Council Refutes Statement That Spinal Manipulation Does Not Work - Medical News Today 02/04/06

Spinal manipulation is but one potential element of the osteopathic treatment package, which also includes guidance on lifestyle, diet and exercise.

Diabetes - New Website Helps To Improve Care For Over 2 Million People - Medical News Today 02/04/06

The Strategic Alliance for Diabetes - a unique venture in which Diabetes UK is working in partnership with a number of pharmaceutical organisations - launch their new website today (www.diabetesplanning.org), helping Diabetes Leads around the country gain access to latest information on how to confidently manage diabetes in practice, in order to deliver improved standards of care and reduce the burden of the condition for both patients and the National Health Service.

Plaid Supports Welsh NHS Nurses Over Pay - Medical News Today 02/04/06

Plaid's Helen Mary Jones, Shadow Minister for Health today expressed concern at the latest pay increase announced for NHS nurses. She also was disappointed by the lack of support offered by political parties to the new grading system; Agenda for Change.

New NICE Website Set To Be The Most Definitive Source Of Guidance On Health Promotion And Clinical Excellence, UK - Medical News Today 02/04/06

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has re-launched its website to provide a comprehensive, user-friendly, authoritative and up-to-date source of information on public health and clinical guidance for NHS professionals, patients and others working in public and voluntary sectors.

New GP Contract Combines Better Patient Care And Good Value For Money, UK - Medical News Today 02/04/06

GPs encouraged to tackle more long-term conditions, including dementia, depression, kidney disease and obesity.

People With Type 2 Diabetes At Risk Because Important Blood Glucose Targets Not Being Met, UK - Medical News Today 02/04/06

Variations and inconsistencies in the management of Type 2 diabetes may have serious long-term implications both for patients and the National Health Service, according to new audit data presented at the Diabetes UK Annual Conference today. Many of the patients currently diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes are not achieving recommended blood glucose target levels, with huge disparities throughout the UK depending on their age and where they live.

Patients Benefit From New GP Contract, UK - Medical News Today 01/04/06

More than 8,700 patients in England will be saved from potentially life threatening cardiovascular illnesses over the next five years as a direct result of just one aspect of the new GP contract which completes its second full year this weekend (1 April 2006) says the BMA's GPs committee.

101 Ways To Improve Care And Reduce Healthcare Expenditure - Medical News Today 01/04/06

An increasing number of healthcare services are being offered across mobile and wireless networks. The healthcare providers' desire to cut costs, and the arrival of a new generation of mobile ehealth services, will speed up deployment. But can mobile operators afford to stay in the race?

NHS Debts And Waiting Lists Still A Problem For Labour - Plaid Cymru, Wales - Medical News Today 01/04/06

Plaid's Shadow Health Minister Helen Mary Jones AM has welcomed the latest figures showing that there was a slight decrease in the number of patients on a hospital waiting list compared to the previous month.

Doctors Call For Action To Improve Care For The Elderly, UK - Medical News Today 01/04/06

The British Medical Association on 30 March, 2006, welcomed the latest King's Fund recommendations1 for an end to means-testing for social care services for older people, and extra investment to fund substantial reform.

New Device Could Cut Chemotherapy Deaths - Medical News Today 01/04/06

A new method of delivering chemotherapy to cancer patients without incurring side effects such as hair loss and vomiting is being developed.

Parents Need To Be Educated About HPV Vaccinations For Daughters - Medical News Today 01/04/06

Parents of young girls may soon be offered the opportunity to have their daughters immunised against a sexually transmitted virus that is the major cause of cervical cancer, the 4th International Conference on Teenage and Young Adult Cancer Medicine heard.

UK Parents Need To Be Educated About HPV Vaccinations For Daughters - Medical News Today 01/04/03

DTI Safety Biomarker Funding Welcomed By Association Of The British Pharmaceutical Industry - Medical News Today 01/04/06

Faster discovery of new, safer medicines and a reduction in animal research are among potential outcomes of a new £8million fund to stimulate research into safety biomarkers. The fund, set up by the Department of Trade & Industry (DTI), has been warmly welcomed by the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI).

Doctors Must Work Together Better To Improve Survival In Teenage And Young Adult Cancer Patients - Medical News Today 31/03/06

Cancer doctors across the UK and beyond need to make a concerted and coordinated effort to improve the treatment and care of young people with cancer, according to the UK's first Professor of Teenage and Young Adult Cancer.

Vitamin C And E Supplements Do Not Prevent Pre-eclampsia In Pregnant Women At Risk - Medical News Today 31/03/06

Vitamin C and E supplements do not lower the risk of pre-eclampsia in pregnant women with a high chance of developing the condition, according to the results of a randomised trial published online ( March, 2006) by The Lancet. The study also found that vitamin C and E supplements might increase the rate of low birthweight babies.

International News

If you want to get better - don't say a little prayer - The Guardian 01/04/06

If a religious person offers to pray for you next time you fall ill, you may wish politely to ask them not to bother. The largest scientific study into the health effects of prayer seems to suggest it may make matters worse.

Study tests the power of prayer and finds it could make matters worse - The Independent 01/04/06
Praying Doesn't Help The Sick Get Better - Medical News Today 01/04/06

IVF babies hit by EU regulations - The Sunday Times 02/04/06

SOME Irish fertility clinics say they face closure because of a new EU directive forcing them to introduce stringent standards of sterility and air quality.

Parents jailed for killing their babies - The Times 01/04/06

A WOMAN who repeatedly gave birth, only to put her infants in a freezer or entomb them in cement-filled buckets, has been convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison.

Airlines tackle DVT fear- The Telegraph 01/04/06

Emirates has installed a sophisticated new medical system on its aircraft in an attempt to tackle in-flight health problems related to long-haul journeys.

Help health in Africa, EU told - The Telegraph 01/04/06

Britain is to press other EU nations to stop luring away so many doctors and nurses from Africa.

Smart brains 'grow differently' - BBC Health News 01/04/06

Clever people outsmart their peers not because they have more grey matter but because part of their brain develops differently, a Nature study suggests.

Breaking The Transmission Cycle Through Which Malaria Is Passed On - Studying The Relationship Between The Parasite And The Mosquito - Medical News Today 02/04/06

Malaria kills a child every thirty seconds in Sub-Saharan Africa, according to recent estimates. It is a huge problem currently threatening over 40% of the world's population and still on the increase. The infection causes more than 300 million acute illnesses and at least a million deaths annually, and is recognised as a major factor impeding the development of some of the poorest nations.

Food Has Become Too Much A Matter Of Crisis And Not Of Opportunity - Medical News Today 02/04/06

Food has become too much a matter of crisis and not of opportunity,” says Michel Vieillefosse, head of the EUREKA Secretariat, writing in the latest edition of EUREKA News magazine, which focuses on food technologies and safety and will be launched at the Anuga FoodTec event in Cologne, Germany, next 4 April 2006.

Life Or Death Can Depend On Teenage Cancer Patients Taking Their Treatments Properly - Medical News Today 02/04/06

Teenagers and young adults with cancer need to understand the implications of not taking their treatments regularly, at the right time, and for the whole course. Those who don't are seriously compromising their future health - and for some it will be the difference between life and death.

New Evidence Questions The Simple Link Between Prion Proteins And VCJD - Medical News Today 02/04/06

While newly published research confirms that under laboratory circumstances prion-protein can be absorbed across the gut, it also shows that this is unlikely to occur in real life. In addition, the results show that the places in the gut that do take up these disease-associated proteins are different from the locations where infectivity is known to be amplified. The findings will be published in the Journal of Pathology.

Magnetically Guided Catheter Zaps Atrial Fibrillation - Medical News Today 02/04/06

A remotely-controlled catheter device guided by magnetic fields provides a safe and practical method for delivering radio frequency ablation treatment in the hearts of patients with atrial fibrillation, according to a new study in the April 4, 2006, issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Children Who Sleep Less Are Three Times More Likely To Be Overweight - Medical News Today 02/04/06

The less a child sleeps, the more likely he or she is to become overweight, according to researchers from Universite Laval's Faculty of Medicine in an article published in the latest edition of the International Journal of Obesity. The risk of becoming overweight is 3.5 times higher in children who get less sleep than in those who sleep a lot, according to researchers Jean-Philippe Chaput, Marc Brunet, and Angelo Tremblay.

Duke Engineers Building 'erasible' Detectors, 'nanobrushes' And DNA 'highrises' - Medical News Today 02/04/06

A Duke University engineering group is doing pioneering work at very diminutive dimensions. Their basic studies could lead to genetically engineered proteins that can form erasable chemical detectors; self-grown forests of molecular "bottlebrushes" that keep themselves contamination-free; and auto-assembled DNA "towers" that could become anchors for the tiniest of devices.

Therapy Program Export Treats Borderline Personality Disorder - Medical News Today 02/04/06

Trade between countries usually involves products. However, one successful export from the United States to the Netherlands, Norway and several other countries is a cognitive therapy treatment program created by University of Iowa experts to help people with borderline personality disorder.

Fighting Inflammation With Targeted Liposomal Therapy - Medical News Today 02/04/06

Vascular endothelial cells (VECs) form the walls of blood vessels and play a critical role in inflammation. In rheumatoid arthritis (RA), VECs interact with cytokines, proteins that regulate immune response, and allow inflammation to persist, escalate, and progressively damage tissue, and joints. Recognized as potent inflammation inhibitors, corticosteroids work to control the expression of cytokines, adhesion molecules and the growth of endothelial cells. The potential of these drugs, however, has been restricted by their considerable toxicity and short half-life.

Liquid Ventilation Could Help Save The Lives Of Premature Babies, But The Patent-owning Company Will Not Market It, Saying It Lacks Profitability - Medical News Today 02/04/06

To live we need to breathe. Prior to being born we carry this activity out through the placenta and subsequently by means of our lungs. In normal development, the lungs of the foetus are filled with amniotic liquid and, on being born, the first cry activates this respiration surface. But the main problem that premature babies have is that their lungs are not well formed. Moreover, they often lack surfactant, a compound formed by proteins and lipids that avoids the lungs folding in on themselves before the baby gets stronger.

Lamaze International Disputes Recommendations On Elective Cesarean Surgery - Medical News Today 02/04/06

Panelists at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) State-of-the-Science Conference on elective cesarean surgery (March 27-29 in Bethesda, Md.) determined that the quality of the existing research about long-term effects of elective cesarean is “weak.” Lamaze International agrees that the research NIH examined is weak; however, their research also did not consider many recognized long-term adverse outcomes associated with cesarean surgery and they did not take into account the impact that avoidable obstetric practices can cause during vaginal birth. Failure to include these factors in the review of existing research renders their guidance to women and clinicians incomplete and inadequate.

New Insight Into Joint Lubrication That Keeps Osteoarthritis At Bay - Medical News Today 02/04/06

New evidence to explain how the body's natural joint lubricant prevents the wear and tear that can lead to osteoarthritis has been uncovered by researchers at Duke University's Pratt School of Engineering The findings may lead to new methods for treating arthritis, the researchers said.

Certain Metabolites Responsible For Initiating Breast And Prostate Cancer: Could Lead To Early Detection And Prevention, Research Shows - Medical News Today 02/04/06

Cancer researchers have discovered that metabolites of natural estrogens can react with deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) to cause specific damage that initiates the series of events leading to breast, prostate and other human cancers. This understanding of a common mechanism of cancer initiation could result in cancer prevention and in better assessment of cancer risk.

Recent Trends In Children's Stimulant Prescriptions For ADHD, USA - Medical News Today 02/04/06

The percentage of U.S. children taking stimulants for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) remained at a constant level between 1997 and 2002. These data were collected by the federal government and are summarized in an article in the April 2006 issue of The American Journal of Psychiatry (AJP), the official journal of the American Psychiatric Association (APA).

Researchers Identify Obsessive-compulsive Disorder (OCD) Risk Gene - Medical News Today 02/04/06

Scientists at the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) have identified a previously unknown gene variant that doubles an individual's risk for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The new functional variant, or allele, is a component of the serotonin transporter gene (SERT), site of action for the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) that are today's mainstay medications for OCD, other anxiety disorders, and depression.

Tiny Water Purification Packet Helps Save Lives Worldwide - Medical News Today 02/04/06

Chemists have developed a powerful household water purification system that puts the cleansing power of an industrial water treatment plant into a container the size of a ketchup packet. The researchers have shown that the tiny packet, which acts as a chemical filter, can be added to highly contaminated water to dramatically reduce pathogen-induced diarrhea - the top killer of children in much of the developing world.

Mount Sinai School Of Medicine And Bionostra Group Collaborate To Develop Avian Flu Vaccine - Medical News Today 02/04/06

The Mount Sinai School of Medicine announced today it will collaborate with the prestigious Bionostra Group of Spain to develop an avian flu vaccine. The vaccine will protect against the lethal infection of the H5N1 virus.

Supplemental Biologics License Application For First-Line Use Of Rituxan In Low-Grade Or Follicular CD20-Positive B-Cell Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma - Medical News Today 02/04/06

Genentech, Inc. (NYSE: DNA) and Biogen Idec, Inc. (Nasdaq: BIIB) announced today that the companies submitted a supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the use of Rituxan® (Rituximab) as first-line treatment of previously-untreated patients with low-grade or follicular, CD20-positive, B-cell non_Hodgkin's lymphoma in combination with CVP (cyclophosphamide, vincristine and prednisone) or CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone) chemotherapy or following CVP chemotherapy in those patients who achieved a response of stable disease or better.

Brain Imaging Indicates Which Depressed Patients Will Recover With Cognitive Behavior Therapy - Medical News Today 02/04/06

Reactions of two brain regions to reading negative words indicate which depressed patients will be helped by cognitive behavior therapy. This finding appears in an article in the April 2006 issue of The American Journal of Psychiatry (AJP), the official journal of the American Psychiatric Association.

Underutilization Of Partial Nephrectomy For Localized Renal Cell Carcinoma In The United States - Medical News Today 02/04/06

In the past, the gold standard for the treatment of localized renal tumors has been radical nephrectomy. Over time however, experience with nephron sparing surgery and, now, laparoscopic approaches have demonstrated oncologic equipoise and may provide for an improved quality of life for patients as compared to those undergoing radical nephrectomy for localized renal masses. The incidence of localized small renal tumors is increasing (3.8-5.6% annually) and one would predict that the incidence of nephron sparing approaches would increase in concert. Though more technically demanding than radical nephrectomy, nephron sparing offers the intuitive benefit of maximizing residual functioning renal tissue, while maintaining cancer control. A recent evaluation of the SEER database revealed that in 2001, 58% of patients with tumors

Serum Tumor Markers Predict Extravesical Disease In Clinical Stage T2 Bladder Cancer - Medical News Today 02/04/06

Bladder cancer clinical staging is notoriously poor in patients with muscle invasive disease. While prospective randomized trials have demonstrated a small survival benefit when neoadjuvant chemotherapy strategies are employed, the selection criteria for preoperative chemotherapy are not well defined. Improving clinical staging with novel imaging or laboratory modalities remains a challenge.

Exscribe And Data Strategies Create Integrated EMR / Practice Management Solution For Orthopaedics - Medical News Today 02/04/06

Data Strategies, Inc., a leading provider of practice management software and Exscribe, Inc., an innovative pioneer in Orthopaedic documentation today announced their agreement to integrate their flagship products - Data Strategies' elligence practice management system and Exscribe's E-Record EMR - creating an integrated digital office solution for Orthopaedic surgeons.

Randomized Trial Shows Patient-Delivered Partner Treatment Superior To Partner Referral In Male Urethritis - Medical News Today 02/04/06

Ensuring that the sexual partners of patients diagnosed with urethritis are also treated remains a challenge since the traditional methods of partner referral are usually ineffective.

Efficacy Of Tc99m Dimercaptosuccinic Acid Scintigraphy & Ultrasonography In Detecting Renal Scars In Children With Primary Vesicoureteral Reflux (VUR) - Medical News Today 02/04/06

The most worrisome manifestation of the combination of urinary tract infection and vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) that may lead to pyelonephritis-induced renal scarring. It has been shown that in children this may be a major predisposing factor for proteinuria, hypertension, and ultimate renal insufficiency. The aim of this study by Temiz et al was to investigate and compare the efficacy of Tc99m dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) renal scintigraphy and renal ultrasonography (US) in detecting renal scars in children with VUR.

PENN Surgeons Offer Transfusion-Free Heart Surgery To All - Medical News Today 02/04/06

Transfusion-free cardiac surgery is now available at the University of Pennsylvania Health System to anyone who wants it and qualifies as a good candidate. Patients receive no foreign blood, reducing the risk of complications and a long hospital stay.

Men In Nursing: New Journal By Lippincott Williams & Wilkins First To Address Issues Facing Men In A Female-Dominated Profession - Medical News Today 02/04/06

Men in Nursing has been launched as the first professional journal dedicated to addressing the issues and topics facing the growing number of men who work in the nursing field. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, part of Wolters Kluwer Health, and publisher of some of the nation's most popular nursing journals, including American Journal of Nursing (AJN) and Nursing2006 saw the market need for a resource that spoke directly to the minority in the traditionally female profession.

Keys To Greater Happiness For Men During The Golden Years - Medical News Today 02/04/06

A good marriage and an ability to play far outweigh financial security and good health as keys to a satisfying retirement. These findings come from a life-long survey of 265 men from inner-city Boston, reported in the April 2006 issue of The American Journal of Psychiatry (AJP), the official journal of the American Psychiatric Association.

Pain Killer Fights Breast Cancer By Targeting Key Enzyme - Medical News Today 02/04/06

A pain-killing medication appears to halt the production of an enzyme that is key to a common form of breast cancer, a new study using tissue cultures suggests.

Video game helps young people blast cancer - Reuters 02/04/06

Saif Azar, a 14-year-old video game fan, said a new title called "Re-Mission" helped arm him with the knowledge of how to fight cancer after he was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2003.

Cheshire and Merseyside News

Scientists Discover New Gene Responsible For Spread Of Cancer - Medical News Today 02/04/06

Scientists at the University of Liverpool have identified a new gene that causes the spread of cancer.

New protection for vulnerable people - Crosby Herald 30/03/06

AGENCIES across Merseyside have joined forces with Sefton Social Services to create a strategy to protect vulnerable people from abuse.

School hit by flu bug - Formby Times 30/03/06

A VIRUS has struck hundreds of students as well as staff at Range High School.

Parking charges will pay for patient care - Southport Visiter 31/03/06

SOUTHPORT and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust earn more money from car-parking charges than other trusts in Merseyside, according to Department of Health figures.

Cumbria and Lancashire News

Pupils are offered antibiotics - Carlisle News & Star 01/04/06

PUPILS at a west Cumbrian secondary school are being offered antibiotics after a teenager died of meningitis.

Cancelled Operations Down To 6year Low - Lancashire Evening Telegraph 28/03/06

CANCELLED operations at East Lancashire's hospitals have fallen to their lowest figure for six years, new figures have revealed.

Greater Manchester News

DJ Linzi in line for award - Bolton Evening News 01/04/06

HOSPITAL DJ Linzi Nuttall proved a hit with judges when she was shortlisted in the National Hospital Radio Awards.

Lack Of Specialist Training For Nurses Is Failing Adolescent Cancer Patients - Medical News Today 02/04/06

Teenagers and young adults with cancer are not always cared for appropriately because a lack of specialist training for nurses means that staff are not necessarily equipped to recognise and meet the unique needs of this age group, according to a nurse manager at the Manchester Teenage Cancer Trust Unit.

New Research Identifies Specific Teenage And Young Adult Cancers And Points To Possible Causes - Medical News Today 02/04/06

An analysis of new data by a leading cancer researcher has revealed specific cancers that are most likely to affect teenagers and young adults, and it points to infections, adolescent growth spurts, and hormones as being among the possible causes. Now, international collaborative research is needed to find out more.

New Human Retrovirus Originated In Mice - Medical News Today 01/04/06

Howard Hughes Medical Institute researchers and their colleagues have discovered a new retrovirus in humans that is closely related to a cancer-causing virus found in mice. Their findings describe the first documented cases of human infection with a retrovirus that is native to rodents.

Daughters Of Indian Immigrants Continue Trend Of Giving Birth To Small Babies - Medical News Today 01/04/06

U.S.-born Asian-Indian women are more likely than their Mexican-American peers to deliver low birth weight infants, despite having fewer risk factors, say researchers at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital and Stanford's School of Medicine. The finding confirms previous research that showed a similar pattern in more recent immigrants, and suggests that physicians should consider their patients' ethnic backgrounds when planning their care.

Sleep Apnea Treatment Benefits The Heart - Medical News Today 01/04/06

Patients with obstructive sleep apnea have enlarged and thickened hearts that pump less effectively, but the heart abnormalities improve with use of a device that helps patients breathe better during sleep, according to a new study in the April 4, 2006, issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Nanoporous 'sponge' Removes Mercury From Offshore Produced Waters - Medical News Today 01/04/06

Contaminated water resulting from offshore oil and gas platform drilling contains mercury and other toxic heavy metals. Mercury concentrations in these retrieved waters can be as high 2,000 parts per billion, therefore they need to be treated before they can be safely discharged to the environment. The complex mixture of constituents including salts and petroleum hydrocarbons presents a challenge for mercury removal using currently available conventional technologies.

Extensive Cell Phone Use Linked To Brain Tumors, Swedish Study - Medical News Today 01/04/06

According to a Swedish study, if you spend many years using your cell phone for at least an hour a day your risk of developing a brain tumor is 240% higher than a person who never uses one. The results of this study go against another recent one carried out in the UK and published in January, 2006, which indicated that cell phone use is safe for humans.

Long-term mobile phone use raises brain tumor risk: study - Reuters 31/03/06

First Clinical Trial Of Gene Therapy For Muscular Dystrophy Now Under Way - Medical News Today 01/04/06

The first gene therapy human trial in the United States for a form of muscular dystrophy is under way.

Virginia Tech Research Finds Swedish Method Of Human Cartilage Repair Shows Good Durability - Medical News Today 01/04/06

As the population ages, arthritis will become more prevalent. It would be helpful to know more about the causes and treatments of cartilage wear.

Cellular Scale Drug Delivery From The Inside Out May Revolutionise Cancer Treatments - Medical News Today 01/04/06

Delivering a dose of chemotherapy drugs to specific cancer cells without the risk of side affects to healthy cells may one day be possible thanks to a nanoscale drug delivery system being explored by researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's Ames Laboratory.

DNA Gene Vaccine Protects Against Harmful Protein Of Alzheimer's Disease - Medical News Today 01/04/06

Doses of DNA-gene-coated gold particles protect mice against a protein implicated in Alzheimer's disease, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have found.

Cortex Matures Faster In Youth With Highest IQ - Medical News Today 01/04/06

Youths with superior IQ are distinguished by how fast the thinking part of their brains thickens and thins as they grow up, researchers at the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) have discovered. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans showed that their brain's outer mantle, or cortex, thickens more rapidly during childhood, reaching its peak later than in their peers - perhaps reflecting a longer developmental window for high-level thinking circuitry. It also thins faster during the late teens, likely due to the withering of unused neural connections as the brain streamlines its operations. Drs. Philip Shaw, Judith Rapoport, Jay Giedd and colleagues at NIMH and McGill University report on their findings in the March 30, 2006 issue of Nature.

Study Shows Drug Blocks Breast Cancer Migration To Bone - Medical News Today 01/04/06

An international research team has identified what may be a critical molecule in the ability of tumours to metastasize -- or spread -- into bone. The research, initiated at the University of Toronto and continued at the Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (IMBA) in Vienna, found that a protein in bone called RANKL appears to communicate with a receptor in breast, prostate and skin cancer cells -- telling them to migrate. Moreover, a drug already known to block RANKL's activity may prevent cancers from spreading into the bone.

Simple Idea To Dramatically Improve Effectiveness Of Dengue Vaccinations - Medical News Today 01/04/06

An innovative new study explains, for the first time, the failure of previous attempts to vaccinate against the four known Dengue viruses, and it suggests a very simple solution - injecting the four vaccines simultaneously at different locations on the body.

CU, Harvard Researchers Team Up To Break Down Causes Of Alzheimer's - Medical News Today 01/04/06

An enzyme previously associated with preventing the dementia of Alzheimer's disease now appears to play an even bigger role in safeguarding against the disease, bringing the promise of new targets for drug therapies.

The Unchecked Activity Of A Cell Signaling Pathway Crucial In Embryonic Development And The Liver's Response To Injury Leads To Liver Cancer - Medical News Today 01/04/06

The unchecked activity of a cell signaling pathway crucial in embryonic development and the liver's response to injury leads to liver cancer, researchers from Duke University Medical Center and John Hopkins University School of Medicine have found.

Picking Apart How Neurons Learn - Medical News Today 01/04/06

Johns Hopkins researchers have used mouse mutants to define critical steps involved in learning basic motor skills. The study focuses on the behavior of two proteins and the specific steps they take to control a neuron's ability to learn by adapting to signals from other nerve cells.

Researchers Identify New Childhood-onset Epilepsy Disorder And Its Genetic Cause - Medical News Today 01/04/06

Researchers from the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) and the Clinic for Special Children (CSC) in Strasburg, PA, have described a new childhood-onset disorder characterized by severe epilepsy and autistic traits, and identified its genetic basis.

Treatment Reduces Gastric Ulcers In At-risk Patients Using Long-term NSAIDS - Medical News Today 01/04/06

Results from two clinical trials, to be published in the April 2006 edition of the American Journal of Gastroenterology, indicate that esomeprazole magnesium can reduce the incidence of gastric (stomach) ulcers in patients at risk of developing gastric ulcers and who regularly take either non-selective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or COX-2-selective NSAIDs.

Blood Center's High-tech Help For US's Blood Shortage - Medical News Today 01/04/06

Research published in Transfusion reveals that e-mail is an effective way of both attaining new whole-blood donors and increasing donations from current participants. Over the measurement period, new donors with e-mail addresses increased by 74%, while those without e-mail addresses grew only 2%.

Pioneering Strategies To Prevent Pediatric Diabetes To Be Tested In NYC Public Schools - Medical News Today 01/04/06

Interventions To Combat Epidemic Of Obesity And Obesity-Related Diseases Will Be Tailored To 4 Different Ethnic Populations; Genetic Predispositions Also Will Be Tested.

Simple And Inexpensive Follow-up Test For Children With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) Developed By St. Jude - Medical News Today 01/04/06

nvestigators at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital have developed a relatively simple and inexpensive test that identifies children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) who have responded well enough to their first round of chemotherapy that they might be successfully treated with a much less aggressive follow-up treatment.

COPD - AstraZeneca Welcomes Preliminary Results From TORCH - Medical News Today 01/04/06

AstraZeneca (LSE: AZN , NYSE: AZN) has welcomed preliminary results from the TORCH (TOwards a Revolution in COPD Health) study1, suggesting combination therapies containing an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) and long-acting beta 2 agonist (LABA) have the potential to show mortality benefits for COPD patients.

The Less A Child Sleeps, The More Overweight He Or She Is Likely To Become - Medical News Today 01/04/06

The less a child sleeps, the more likely he or she is to become overweight, researchers from Université Laval's Faculty of Medicine report in an article published in the latest edition of the International Journal of Obesity. The risk of becoming overweight is 3.5 times higher in children who get less sleep than in those who sleep a lot, according to researchers Jean-Philippe Chaput, Marc Brunet, and Angelo Tremblay.

Medical International Technology Announces Its Malaysian Distributor Continues To Combat Influenza H5N1 - Medical News Today 01/04/06

Medical International Technology Inc. (OTC BB:MDLH.OB - News) announced today that it has received another order from its Malaysian Distributor, ‘Rhone Ma Malaysia', and has shipped an additional 10 units of its patented AGRO-JET Needle Free Injector. The units will be used in both the pork and poultry industries.

Vidacare® Announces Lithium Battery-Powered EZ-IO® Power Driver - Much Longer Shelf Life, Improved Control And User Experience - Medical News Today 01/04/06

Vidacare®, manufacturer of the EZ-IO® product system, the leading solution for immediate vascular access when conventional IV access is challenging or impossible, today announced the addition of an improved lithium-powered driver to replace the alkaline battery-powered drivers used with the EZ-IO product system.

Teenagers With Cancer Need To Understand That Life Or Death Can Depend On Taking Their Treatments Properly - Medical News Today 01/04/06

Teenagers and young adults with cancer need to understand the implications of not taking their treatments regularly, at the right time, and for the whole course. Those who don't are seriously compromising their future health - and for some it will be the difference between life and death.

Smokeless Tobacco Use Has Dropped Dramatically Among USA's Youth - Medical News Today 01/04/06

The anti-tobacco message seems to have hit home among American adolescents when it comes to smokeless tobacco.

Rise In US C-sections Not Due To Rise In Moms' Risk Factors - Medical News Today 01/04/06

More than one-fourth of all first-time mothers in the United States deliver their babies by cesarean section, and the recent rise in the nation's C-section rate can't be attributed to rising risk factors among mothers.

Living In A Race-conscious Society Make Take Health Toll On American Blacks - Medical News Today 01/04/06

The health of American blacks appears to be worse than that of whites regardless of income, and researchers think living in a race-conscious society may be at least partly to blame.

Weill Cornell Researchers Identify Tumor-Suppressor Gene Important To Diffuse Large B-Cell - Medical News Today 01/04/06

Inactivation of a "tumor suppressor" gene could be a major cause of a class of blood cancers called diffuse large B-cell lymphomas, reports a team of researchers at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University.

Panel Finds Insufficient Evidence To Recommend For Or Against Maternal-request Caesarean Delivery - Medical News Today 31/03/06

An independent panel convened by the National Institutes of Health announced today that the available information comparing the risks and benefits of Caesarean delivery on maternal request (CDMR) versus planned vaginal birth do not provide the basis for a recommendation in either direction.

H5N1 Avian Flu Virus Vaccine Induces Immune Responses In Healthy Adults - Medical News Today 31/03/06

Results from a clinical trial demonstrate that high doses of an experimental H5N1 avian influenza vaccine can induce immune responses in healthy adults. Approximately half of those volunteers who received an initial and a booster dose of the highest dosage of the vaccine tested in the trial developed levels of infection-fighting antibodies that current tests predict would neutralize the virus. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, funded the study, published in the current issue of The New England Journal of Medicine. Preliminary results from this trial were first disclosed late last summer.

Bird-flu Vaccine Works At High Doses; Focus Turns To Ways To Stretch Vaccine Supply - Medical News Today 31/03/06

An experimental vaccine against bird flu is safe and spurs the immune response considered necessary to protect against the deadly illness, at a dose several times larger than the traditional flu shot and in slightly more than half of people who received the largest dose, scientists said in results on March 30 in the New England Journal of Medicine.

HIV Infection Rates Down One-third In South India, University Of Toronto Study - Medical News Today 31/03/06

A University of Toronto Indo-Canadian study reports a remarkable one-third decline in new HIV infections in the worst hit regions of India, indicating that with condom use and awareness programs, the country's AIDS epidemic is far from hopeless.

HIV-1 Prevalence Decreasing In Southern India - Medical News Today 31/03/06

Study Examines Effects Of Aging Population On Inpatient Care - Medical News Today 31/03/06

"The Effect of Population Aging on Future Hospital Demand," Health Affairs: The Health Affairs Web exclusive -- by Bradley Strunk, a consulting health researcher at the Center for Studying Health System Change; Paul Ginsburg, HSC president; and Michelle Banker, an HSC health research assistant -- examines how the aging population will affect demand for inpatient hospital care. According to the study, the aging population's effect on inpatient care will be relatively small over the next decade, while local population trends and advances in medical technology will be more important factors. Inpatient services are expected to increase by 64.8% between 2005 and 2015; however, population aging accounts for only 7.6% of the increase, according to the study (Strunk et al., Health Affairs, 3/28).

Sweetgum Tree Fruit Could Help Lessen Shortage Of Bird Flu Drug - Medical News Today 31/03/06

The sweetgum tree grows widely throughout the country and is known for its mace-like green fruit, which are sometimes called "gumballs." Now, this spiny fruit may become an important source of a chemical needed to make a lifesaving drug against bird flu - a drug that is currently in short supply worldwide, researchers say.

Pfizer Has Cooperated With Federal Investigation Of Alleged Illegal Lipitor Marketing - Medical News Today 31/03/06

Officials for Pfizer on Tuesday said that company has cooperated with a federal investigation related to alleged illegal marketing of the anti-cholesterol medication Lipitor, the AP/Philadelphia Inquirer reports. The investigation, disclosed on Tuesday by the Wall Street Journal, seeks to determine whether Pfizer marketed Lipitor for off-label uses. Andrew McCormick, a spokesperson for Pfizer, said, "We do not know who initiated or why an investigation was initiated in Brooklyn, but we have been cooperating with that investigation and have seen no merit in any of the claims in the matter." A spokesperson for the U.S. attorney's office in New York said that the office does not confirm or deny the existence of investigations. Separately, a Teamsters health insurance fund has filed a lawsuit against Pfizer over allegations that the company has "illegally promoted Lipitor to the public and prescribing physicians by promoting the off-label use of the drug" (AP/Philadelphia Inquirer, 3/29).

Genes And Environment Interact To Promote Cancer - Medical News Today 31/03/06

In the granite-rich region of Western North Carolina, taking a daily shower could pose a risk of developing lung cancer. So could working from home every day. That's because granite emits a carcinogenic gas, radon. Houses that sit atop granite terrain are often contaminated with radon that has seeped into wells and indoor air.

CIHR Launches Casebooks About Canadians Turning Research Into Action - Medical News Today 31/03/06

Improving healthcare for newborn babies at risk; reducing workplace injury and illness; shaping community action plans for early childhood development; and helping Canada's minority communities cope with the Tsunami disaster: these and other Canadian stories about transforming research results into action can be found in two casebooks launched today by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).

US company claims to make stem cells from testes - Reuters 01/04/06

US researchers said on Saturday they had transformed immature cells from men's testicles into powerful stem cells, which they then coaxed into becoming nerve, heart and bone cells.

Bermuda bans smoking in bars and restaurants - Reuters 01/04/06

A smoking ban in Bermuda's bars and restaurants began on Saturday with drinkers who sneak an illegal puff eventually facing fines of $250.

Bausch & Lomb responds to infection in lens wearers - Reuters 31/03/06

Bausch & Lomb Inc. said on Friday it is working with health authorities around the world to determine the cause of an increase in a rare fungus infection among contact lens wearers that first surfaced in parts of Asia.

Canada dairy products take health-conscious hit - Reuters 31/03/06

Health-conscious Canadians are buying less butter and cheese, and on Friday the Canadian Dairy Commission responded by lowering the country's industrial milk quota by 1.7 percent.

Light drinking may not be good for you: study - Reuters 31/03/06

Researchers poured cold water on the idea that moderate drinking helps prevent heart disease on Friday, noting that many studies include teetotalers as a control group but don't ask why they did not drink.

International Study Questions Health Benefits Of Moderate Drinking - Medical News Today 01/04/06

Dermatology society warns of "bogus Botox" - Reuters 31/03/06

Recent reports of "bogus Botox" injections that resulted in the deaths of several women has prompted the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS) to issue a statement warning the public against seeking cosmetic treatments from non-physicians.

Marijuana use affects fertility treatment outcomes - Reuters 31/03/06

The likelihood of a good outcome of fertility treatment is reduced if either the man or the woman uses marijuana, compared with couples that don't use it, the results of a new study suggest.

Enriched fruit drink can lower cholesterol - Reuters 31/03/06

Fruit drinks enriched with the soluble fiber beta-glucan can lower levels of total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol, the "bad" cholesterol, according to results of a study conducted in the Netherlands.

Court upholds Vioxx class action against Merck - Reuters 31/03/06

A New Jersey appellate court on Friday upheld a judge's decision to certify a national class action against Merck & Co. Inc. for some cases involving the drugmaker's withdrawn pain medicine Vioxx, attorneys representing plaintiffs said.

Maintenance therapy controls disruptive behavior - Reuters 31/03/06

In children and adolescents with disruptive behavior disorders who respond to initial treatment with risperidone, continuation of treatment can control symptoms for many over the long term, according to findings published in the American Journal of Psychiatry.

Doctors urged to restrict episiotomies - Reuters 31/03/06

Obstetricians should avoid performing an episiotomy to aid childbirth unless there is a risk of severe tearing or need to speed up a difficult delivery, the group representing doctors dealing with health care for women said on Friday.

Fiber may lower protein linked to heart disease - Reuters 31/03/06

A fiber-rich diet may help control levels of a blood protein linked to an increased risk of heart disease, new research suggests.

Millions at risk in Sudan as diseases rage: WHO - Reuters 31/03/06

Millions of people are at risk from deadly diseases such as cholera and meningitis in Sudan, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Friday, appealing for funds urgently to combat major outbreaks.

Allergies reach epidemic levels in Europe: experts - Reuters 31/03/06

Allergies such as hay fever are reaching epidemic proportions in Europe and a failure to treat them properly is creating a mounting bill for society and the healthcare system, experts said on Friday.

Common painkillers may impair rotator cuff healing - Reuters 31/03/06

Experiments in rats show that the painkillers celecoxib (brand name, Celebrex) and indomethacin, given after repair of a rotator cuff injury, impair the healing process, orthopedists report in The American Journal of Sports Medicine.

Cheshire and Merseyside News

New protection for vulnerable people - Crosby Herald 30/03/06

AGENCIES across Merseyside have joined forces with Sefton Social Services to create a strategy to protect vulnerable people from abuse.

School hit by flu bug - Formby Times 30/03/06

A VIRUS has struck hundreds of students as well as staff at Range High School.

Parking charges will pay for patient care - Southport Visiter 31/03/06

SOUTHPORT and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust earn more money from car-parking charges than other trusts in Merseyside, according to Department of Health figures.

Casualty is not on the move - Ormskirk Advertiser 30/03/06

SOUTHPORT and Ormskirk NHS Trust has scotched suggestions that it should move its A&E department to save money.

Spelling out the future of local health services - Ormskirk Advertiser 30/03/06

MEMBERS of the West Lancashire PCT PPI forum hope the presentation of the McKinsey report will help clarify the future of local healthcare services.

Trust wants to keep A&E - Southport Visiter 31/03/06
Adult A&E is at risk - Midweek Visiter 29/03/06
NHS debt could leave town with no A&E department - Daily Post 29/03/06
Funding switch could spark NHS cash crisis - Daily Post 30/03/06

The whole tooth - Ormskirk Advertiser 30/03/06

NHS dentists face the biggest shake-up in the profession for 50 years.

MP urges all dentists to stay in NHS - Southport Visiter 31/03/06

Hospital sets the standard - Village Vister 29/03/06

ORMSKIRK Hospital is helping lead the way in combating cancer.

Council develops emergency plan as bird flu concern grows - Southport Visiter 31/03/06

SEFTON Council has developed an emergency action plan to deal with a potential outbreak of bird flu.

1m unit officially opened - Southport Visiter 31/03/06

ORMSKIRK & District General Hospital officially opened its new maxillofocial and orthodontic unit on Tuesday.

Health service meltdown - Chester Chronicle 31/03/06

AN EMERGENCY 42m cost-cutting package has been put in place to save Chester's National Health Service from financial meltdown.

Your NHS is sick! - Chester Chronicle 31/03/06

Hospice picks up interest - Weekly News 30/03/06

A HOSPICE has received a cash windfall - thanks to customers who signed up for a building society account.

Rap over closure of hospital ward - Liverpool Echo 30/03/06

HEALTH officials today came under fire over the future of a Liverpool hospital.

Baby boom at the double as four sets of twins arrive at hospital Rap over closure of hospital ward - Daily Post 29/03/06

LIVERPOOL Womens' Hospital has experienced a mini-boom in baby twins after four sets were delivered in less than a week.

New Gene That Causes Spread Of Cancer Identified, University Of Liverpool - Medical News Today 31/03/06

Professor Philip Rudland, Dr Guozheng Wang and Dr Roger Barraclough from the University's Cancer and Polio Research Fund Laboratories have discovered an additional member of the S100 family of protein genes - S100P - that causes the spread of cancerous cells from an original tumour to other parts of the body

Scientists Discover New Gene Responsible For Spread Of Cancer - Medical News Today 02/04/06

Cumbria and Lancashire News

Pupils are offered antibiotics - Carlisle News & Star 01/04/06

PUPILS at a west Cumbrian secondary school are being offered antibiotics after a teenager died of meningitis.

Cancelled Operations Down To 6year Low - Lancashire Evening Telegraph 28/03/06

CANCELLED operations at East Lancashire's hospitals have fallen to their lowest figure for six years, new figures have revealed.

Petition to MP demands respite care for kids stays - Carlisle News & Star 01/04/06

MORE than 700 people have signed to say a respite centre which provides a lifeline to parents of disabled children in Carlisle must not close.

47,000 dental places lost due to contracts - Carlisle News & Star 31/03/06

MORE than 47,000 NHS dental places have been lost in north and west Cumbria as a result of controversial new contracts which come into force tomorrow.

Health trust boundaries - Carlisle News & Star 31/03/06

HEALTH chiefs will meet on April 6 to discuss a proposed restructure of the primary care trust boundaries.

Sickness virus helps hospitals' flu strategy - Carlisle News & Star 30/03/06

LESSONS learnt from a major sickness outbreak at Carlisle’s Cumberland Infirmary are now being used to prepare for a potential flu pandemic.

Cumbria's big protest day - Carlisle News & Star 29/03/06

CUMBRIA’S cottage hospital campaigners are more fired up than ever after taking their fight to the doors of Downing Street yesterday.

Hospital campaigners relaying the message - Carlisle News & Star 30/03/06

MP's Concerns Over A E Move Plans - Lancashire Evening Telegraph 30/03/06

PENDLE MP Gordon Prentice is to question plans to move blue light Accident and Emergency Care from Burnley General to Blackburn's Queens Park Hospital for patients with life-threatening conditions .

Family Waits A Year For MRSA Death Inquest - Lancashire Evening Telegraph 29/03/06

A WIDOW'S legal action over her husband's death from MRSA has prevented his inquest going ahead and left her estranged family in "turmoil".

Its A 30m High Five For Hospital - Lancashire Evening Telegraph 29/03/06

A 30million development at Burnley General Hospital has moved a step nearer completion with the handover of the scheme to the hospital trust.

Burns Victim Oap Went To Bed After Incident - Lancashire Evening Telegraph 29/03/06

AN 81-YEAR-OLD man who suffered 70 per cent burns when his pyjamas caught fire went to bed as normal after the incident, it emerged today.

More Of Elderly Got Flu Vaccine - Lancashire Evening Telegraph 29/03/06

MORE pensioners had a flu jab in Blackburn with Darwen this winter, new figures show.

Operation Man Died On Birthday - Lancashire Evening Telegraph 29/03/06

A BLACKBURN man died on his 78th birthday following hip replacement surgery.

Nearly Killed By MRSA - Preston Citizen 30/03/06

A man who was admitted to hospital for a routine operation ended up fighting for his life after contracting the superbug, MRSA.

Kind Gift For Hospital - Preston Citizen 30/03/06

Motor neurone disease (MND) patients at Royal Preston Hospital will benefit from a new piece of equipment thanks to a kind-hearted donation.

Nurse Revs Up For A Challenge - Blackpool Citizen 30/03/06

A Blackpool nurse is getting on her bike to help raise money for the Fylde Coast's stroke victims.

Pub Grub For The Elderly - Blackburn Citizen 31/03/06

PUB grub and cafe food could soon be on the menu for pensioners receiving daily meals on wheels.

Baby Boy Died In His Parents Bed - Blackburn Citizen 28/03/06

A THREE month old baby boy died after sleeping between his parents on a makeshift bed of mattresses on the floor, an inquest heard.

Health Centres Built At Same Time - Blackburn Citizen 28/03/06

HEALTH chiefs have revealed that two new health centres planned for Accrington could be built at the same time.

Freddies Fantastic Support For Hospice - Chorley Citizen 29/03/06

England cricket hero Andrew Freddie' Flintoff has spoken about how much he admires the work done at Chorley's Derian House Children's Hospice after donating funds to the charity.

Disabled Woman Left Alone On Plane - Chorley Citizen 29/03/06

A disabled gran who was left abandoned on a plane for more than an hour has described her feelings of humiliation and despair'.

Greater Manchester News
DJ Linzi in line for award - Bolton Evening News 01/04/06

HOSPITAL DJ Linzi Nuttall proved a hit with judges when she was shortlisted in the National Hospital Radio Awards.

'Please stop my boy's toothache' - Manchester Evening News 30/03/06

A DISTRAUGHT mum wants a dentist to end her son's agony and take out his aching tooth.

Hospital deaths probe delayed - Manchester Evening News 29/03/06

THE families of three women who died within four months giving birth at a Greater Manchester hospital may have to wait another month for the results of an inquiry into the tragedies.

78% of smokers admit 'anti-social' habit - Manchester Evening News 29/03/06

THREE-QUARTERS of smokers think their habit is anti-social, a new survey revealed today.

Dental Contracts Mean Big Changes - Bolton Evening News 30/03/06

THE biggest changes in NHS dentistry for 50 years are coming into effect as the controversial new dental contracts become a reality.

Trust Raises 1 1million In Car Park Fees - Bolton Evening News 31/03/06

THE trust which runs Fairfield Hospital has raised more than 1 million a year through car parking charges and will be increasing prices this weekend.

MP Backs Fight Againt Euthanasia - Bolton Evening News 31/03/06

BOLTON South-east MP Brian Iddon has been appointed chairman of the steering committee of a coalition of anti-euthanasia groups.

Teenager Who Died In Street Was Epileptic - Bolton Evening News 30/03/06

AN 18-YEAR-OLD epilepsy sufferer collapsed and died in the street, an inquest heard.

March To Save Baby Centre - Bolton Evening News 30/03/06

THOUSANDS of campaigners in Bury will take to the street at the weekend to protest against plans to axe maternity services.

Hundreds In Vaccination Test - Bolton Evening News 30/03/06

PEOPLE fainted and mothers panicked over lost children as emergency medical teams prepared life-saving vaccinations.

Mock Flu Epidemic Hits Town - Bolton Evening News 29/03/06

Bravery Award For RAF Medic - Bolton Evening News 30/03/06

AN RAF medic has been honoured for rescuing British casualties from rioting in Iraq.

Return Of The King - Bolton Evening News 29/03/06

A CENTURY-old statue has been rescued from a store room at the Royal Bolton Hospital.

TV Help For Sufferers Of Agoraphobia - Bolton Evening News 29/03/06

A television production company is seeking agoraphobia sufferers living in Bolton for a new documentary.

Support For Amputees - Bolton Evening News 29/03/06

A GROUP that provides support for amputee patients and their carers meets at the Royal Bolton Hospital.

Doctors Must Work Together Better To Improve Survival In Teenage And Young Adult Cancer Patients Says Leading UK Oncologist - Medical News Today 31/03

Cancer doctors across the UK and beyond need to make a concerted and coordinated effort to improve the treatment and care of young people with cancer, according to the UK's first Professor of Teenage and Young Adult Cancer.

New Research Identifies Specific Teenage And Young Adult Cancers And Points To Possible Causes - Medical News Today 31/03/06

An analysis of new data by a leading cancer researcher has revealed specific cancers that are most likely to affect teenagers and young adults, and it points to infections, adolescent growth spurts, and hormones as being among the possible causes. Now, international collaborative research is needed to find out more.

New Research Identifies Specific Teenage And Young Adult Cancers And Points To Possible Causes - Medical News Today 02/04/06

Lack Of Specialist Training For Nurses Is Failing Adolescent Cancer Patients, UK - Medical News Today 31/03/06

Teenagers and young adults with cancer are not always cared for appropriately because a lack of specialist training for nurses means that staff are not necessarily equipped to recognise and meet the unique needs of this age group, according to a nurse manager at the Manchester Teenage Cancer Trust Unit.

Lack Of Specialist Training For Nurses Is Failing Adolescent Cancer Patients - Medical News Today 02/04/06

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