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

Fertility clinic 'rip-off' fears - The Observer 09/07/06

Days after a woman of 62 gave birth, MPs insist cost and success rate of IVF for older women be made public

Both have cancer. But why can't one get the best care? - The Observer 09/07/06

Observer sports writer Bill Elliott was diagnosed with prostate cancer in April. Within an hour, his wife Val was told she had breast cancer. Now they have had to come to terms with the stark fact that her treatment has 10 times as much funding as his. Health Editor Jo Revill examines the human cost of NHS inequalities

MPs call for better stroke treatment - The Observer 09/07/06

MPs have called for urgent improvements to NHS treatment for stroke sufferers, saying that more than 2,000 lives a year are lost or blighted due to inadequate care. The demand comes as a Commons committee issues what one MP calls a 'hard-hitting' report on failings in stroke treatment. The Public Accounts Committee hopes that its report, due out on Tuesday, will have as great an impact as its push several years ago for urgent efforts to deal with the hospital infection MRSA.

Is weight the new race? - The Observer 09/07/06

Do we demonise the obese purely on health grounds or is it a gut reaction based on prejudice?

Alternative health - The Observer 09/07/06

Natural combatants for raised cholesterol, athlete’s foot and blocked ears

Health panel: How can I manage my epilepsy? - The Observer 09/07/06

She’s had epilepsy for eight years and has frequent seizures, despite taking drugs which leave her exhausted and worried about her fertility. Are there any safer, more effective treatments?

Mentally infirm’s assets to be taxed under new Bill - The Observer 09/07/06

The latest own goal scored by the government in the financial sector came last week, when ministers refused to protect thousands of disabled people from some of the harsher consequences of the Finance Bill.

Experience: I loved feeling hungry - The Guardian 08/07/06

It began in October 2005, about a month after my 16th birthday. I was never disgustingly fat, nor sexually abused when I was six, nor a perfectionist daughter in a long line of high-achievers. I just wanted to lose a bit of weight.

Sally Weale counts the human cost of the 'test tube' baby revolution - The Guardian 08/07/06

When the first 'test tube' baby was born, the world looked on in wonder. Now one in 100 British babies are made this way. Sally Weale counts the human cost of the IVF revolution

Going away to Europe? Get the E111 replacement - The Guardian 08/07/06

New card essential if you need to make a claim. Miles Brignall reports Home insurance: Bank offers cashback and will match rival quotes. Miles Brignall reports

Why would a woman choose an abortion? - The Guardian 08/07/06

I once knew a girl who had an abortion at a cushy clinic in Regent's Park, where they provide flowers and champagne along with "the procedure". She was treated so royally she came out saying, "When can I have another?" Seems like it's getting that way, with the trend of repeats. That was a pattern emerging in this week's record abortion figures. More women are now repeating the abortion experience: a third of women seeking terminations have had them before.

iSoft delays results as it looks to banks for help - The Guardian 08/07/06

The future of iSoft, one of the key software suppliers in the government's £6.2bn upgrade of NHS IT systems, was thrown into doubt yesterday as the company delayed publishing annual results because it was locked in crucial financing talks with its banks.

Olive oil's good, but does it stop wrinkles? - The Guardian 08/07/06

The Nutrition Society was founded in 1941 by Lord Boyd Orr. He was described in his obituary - rather fabulously - as Baron and Nutritional Physiologist and in 1949 he casually picked up a Nobel peace prize. Since his time, the Nutrition Society seems to have gone rather badly downhill.

New food poisoning outbreak leaves 83 ill - The Guardian 08/07/06

A rare food poisoning bug has infected 83 people in just over two weeks, 10 times the level of cases normally reported in a year.

Britain's oldest mother says giving birth is 'absolutely wonderful' - The Guardian 08/07/06

A 62-year-old has become Britain's oldest mother, it emerged last night. Patricia Rashbrook, a child psychiatrist from Lewes, East Sussex, gave birth by caesarian section to a 6lb 10oz (3kg) boy, nicknamed JJ, after having fertility treatment last October.

IVF woman, 62, has baby boy - The Telegraph 08/07/06

Baby boy for oldest mother, 62 - The Guardian 08/07/06

Doctor aged 62 becomes Britain's oldest mother - The Independent 08/07/06

Britain's oldest mother, 62, gives birth to a son - The Times 08/07/06

World exclusive: the first pictures of Britain's oldest mum - Daily Mail 08/07/06

62 Year-old British Woman Becomes Mother - Medical News Today 08/07/06

Letters: Mentally disabled - The Independent 08/07/06

Mentally disabled people need a positive image

Online doctors dole out drugs blind - The Sunday Times 09/07/06

DOCTORS are approving powerful prescription drugs over the internet for weight loss, impotence and baldness without seeing or actually speaking to their patients.

Breathalyser phone stops drinkers making embarrassing calls - The Sunday Times 09/07/06

THE g embarrassingfirst mobile phone aimed at drinkers is about to go on sale in Britain, complete with a breathalyser that tests users’ fitness to drive and a “sobriety lock-out” to stop drunken late-night phone calls.

Fertility experts urge end to ‘selfish’ late motherhood - The Sunday Times 09/07/06

A TOP fertility doctor has called for an end to the practice of elderly women giving birth after a 62-year-old became the oldest mother in Britain.

To Patricia, aged 62, a baby son - and a controversy - The Independent 09/07/06

Hewitt condemns outcry over Britain's oldest mother - The Telegraph 09/07/06

Use of heroin and crack soars - The Sunday Times 09/07/06

THE number of people using crack cocaine and heroin has risen by more than a third over the past two years, according to a Home Office report, writes Daniel Foggo.

Meningitis boy comes back 'from the dead' - The Times 08/07/06

WHEN doctors turned off James Smart’s life-support machine after he had spent ten days in a coma, his mother believed that her two-year-old son could not survive.

Thriving, the boy whose life-support was switched off - Daily Mail 08/07/06

Jail for nurse who tried to kill friend for legacy - The Times 08/07/06

A NURSE who tried to kill an elderly friend as she lay seriously ill in hospital was jailed yesterday for ten years.

Surgeon wins custard damages - The Times 08/07/06

A surgeon whose career suffered because of a knee injury when he slipped on some custard at work has won £38,928 damages.

Dark visions, ancient fears - The Times 08/07/06

Scientists claim that nightmares evolved to help us to deal with daily threats. So dream on, says Roger Dobson

Breakthroughs, tips and trends - The Times 08/07/06

SCIENTISTS have discovered why some lucky people manage to spend their hols unmolested by mosquitoes while others are bitten down to their last drop of plasma.

Second opinion - The Times 08/07/06

Love it or hate it, we want to know what you think

Emercency? It is for me - The Times 08/07/06

No sooner has the notion of giving practices a “Michelin star rating” been consigned to the expanding file marked “dumb ideas” than we GPs discover that there are moves afoot to use “mystery callers” to police our appointment system. This cunning plan involves primary care trust (PCT) officials posing as patients and phoning to book a slot with a GP, thereby ensuring that we’re hitting the magic target of offering appointments within 48 hours.

Junk medicine: cannabis - The Times 08/07/06

Fashionable opinion has long held that cannabis is a soft drug with few risks to health. Its use has become so commonplace that even those who have not tried it usually have friends and relatives who have done so without ill effects. Such widespread personal experience did much to drive the successful campaign to downgrade it from a class B drug to class C.

Why silence is golden - The Times 08/07/06

Jeanette Wright lost her hearing after an ear infection; now she says she much prefers being deaf

Negative path to happiness - The Times 08/07/06

Is being positive and upbeat bad for us? Dr Lisa Nastasi says defensive pessimism may hold the key to lasting joy

Prising off the family limpet - The Times 08/07/06

Granny's home truths: the buttonholer

Wish you were here? How to avoid holiday hell - The Times 08/07/06

From snake bites to sunburn, holidays can carry a big sting. So how can you protect yourself? Here Keith Hopcroft, GP, provides the questions to the 50 things you need to know before you go

An urban retreat that's at your holistic service - The Times 08/07/06

Buddhist chanting and a spiritual detox in the centre of London? Hannah Betts samples five-star wellbeing

Body wrap - The Times 08/07/06

The Universal Contour Wrap looks appealing. Say goodbye to a flabby stomach! Bingo wings! A saggy bum! Just slap on some mud to the aggrieving area, wind it in bandages, hang about for an hour and the inches disappear.

Boys are just so boring... - The Times 08/07/06

'My daughter is 16 and has no interest in boys. I've tried to introduce her to sons of friends but she refuses to meet them. Should I worry?'

Eco-worrier: much ado about watering - The Times 08/07/06

I've filled my roof garden with pot plants. But I feel guilty because they require so much water. Any advice?

Malcolm McLaren: from punk to anti-junk - The Times 08/07/06

The man who gave us the Sex Pistols is an unlikely food crusader. But, as the producer of Fast Food Nation, a film critique of the burger industry, he tells John Naish his politics are now on his plate

Menu mentor - The Times 08/07/06

Summer’s well and truly here now, and an invitation for outdoor drinks after work may lead you to a branch of All Bar One.

No danger of being fruit punch drunk - The Times 08/07/06

As much as I love the idea of a glass of wine, drinking alcohol during the day no longer suits me. Maybe it’s my increasing age or because I’m acutely aware that having a 3½-year-old who is into everything requires every ounce of my concentration and energy. And I know that I’m not the only one who finds that even the smallest amount of alcohol at lunchtime can go straight to the head and cause late afternoon fatigue and headache.

Workout for beach bums - The Times 08/07/06

Going away this summer but worried that your hard work over the past seven months will be undone? In part eight of her series, Gabby has put together two types of ten-minute workouts to do on holiday. If you missed parts one to seven you can download the exercises — for legs, bottom, stomach, heart, arms, chest and core muscles — from www.timesonline.co.uk/healthfitness. You now have a full set from which you can pick ’n’ mix and devise your own routine

Workout for beach bums - The Times 08/07/06

Cycles of family life - The Times 08/07/06

Michele Kirsch took her kids for bike-riding lessons on the mean streets

On a dream wicket - The Times 08/07/06

England star Alastair Cook, 21, says training keeps him in focus and more than fit for the Test

Nish Joshi's Q & A - The Telegraph 09/07/06

I had a very bad cold a few weeks ago and I still seem to have a lot of catarrh, which I am trying to clear up. I eat healthily and am taking garlic and lemon. Can you recommend anything else for me?

Cadbury faces prosecution over tainted chocolate bars - The Telegraph 09/07/06

Cadbury faces prosecution over the salmonella-in-chocolate scare that forced it to recall one million bars last month.

Sweet mystery - The Times 08/07/06

Revealed: the quiet corner of England where you live longest - The Telegraph 09/07/06

Official figures show Bury St Edmunds is the perfect place to grow old - while Middlesbrough is the worst.

The man who had a vasectomy by mistake: who really was to blame? - The Telegraph 09/07/06

It is inevitable in a system as vast and complex as the modern health service that accidents will happen and mistakes will be made. Hence the National Patient Safety Agency set up four years ago (at a cost of £35 million a year) to monitor these "safety incidents", as they are known, and recommend what should be done to prevent them. It is equally inevitable that any publicly-funded organisation with the word "safety" in its title will exaggerate the scale of the problem to be tackled - and the agency's claim this week of nearly a million such "incidents" a year is no exception.

'At risk' baby had 40 fractures when she died after social worker delay - The Telegraph 08/07/06

A baby "well known" to social services suffered a six-week delay in being allocated a new social worker and had 40 broken bones when she died, a coroner said yesterday.

Market report: NHS uncertainty leaves iSoft looking pale - The Telegraph 08/07/06

Troubled software company iSoft Group slumped a further 16pc as it postponed its preliminary results and analysts highlighted the uncertainty over its continued involvement in the NHS IT programme to store patients records electronically.

New ager: Pilates - The Telegraph 08/07/06

Thanks to high-profile fans such as Liz Hurley, Nicole Kidman and Claudia Schiffer, Pilates is growing in popularity in this country. It was invented by a German, Joseph Pilates, during his internment in England in the First World War, as a way of staying fit in a confined space. Essentially a strengthening, stretching routine, it's an exercise method that creates core stability in the body by engaging the deep abdominal muscles. This takes pressure off the spine while realigning the body. Breathing techniques are important, too, which means Pilates has the added bonus of decreasing stress while increasing suppleness.

Get a life: watch what you eat - The Telegraph 08/07/06

Part five of self-help guru Nina Grunfeld's eight-step guide to wellbeing

Dolls 'help Alzheimer's patients' - BBC Health News 08/07/06

Dolls and teddy bears can help people with Alzheimer's disease interact and communicate with others, researchers have found.

Summer smog ‘killing thousands’ - BBC Health News 08/07/06

Summer smog causes the deaths of more than 3,000 people each year, the Liberal Democrats have warned.

Codeine ‘does not relieve cough’ - BBC Health News 08/07/06

Codeine, a common ingredient in cough medicines, is barely more effective than a dummy drug in treating coughing in chronic lung disease, a study finds.

Blood markers for dementia risk - BBC Health News 07/07/06

Blood levels of two proteins important in Alzheimer's disease may predict pending dementia, say scientists.

GPs refuse to give exam 'sickies' - BBC Health News 07/07/06

Doctors are refusing to write sick notes for pupils who miss their exams this summer.

Hospitals 'fail over vCJD safety' - BBC Health News 07/07/06

Hospitals are failing to take the necessary safety precautions to stop the spread of fatal infections such as vCJD, NHS advisers say.

Honey trialled on cancer patients - BBC Health News 07/07/06

A Manchester cancer hospital is importing manuka honey from New Zealand to treat patients after surgery.

Low earners 'live shorter lives' - BBC Health News 07/07/06

People from poorer backgrounds are more unhealthy and die earlier than the rich, according a study measuring the link between health and wealth.

Sixty jobs to go at debt hospital - BBC Health News 07/07/06

Sixty staff including about 30 nurses are to lose their jobs at North Devon Hospital in Barnstaple as the NHS Trust struggles to save money.

Cheaper Contraception Supports Safer Sex, Royal Pharmaceutical Society Says - Medical News Today 09/07/06

The introduction of cheaper condoms, Emergency Hormonal Contraception (EHC) and other contraceptives on 1 July is a positive move towards improving sexual health says the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain.

Sexually Transmitted Infections Figures For 2005, UK - Medical News Today 09/07/06

New figures released today by the Health Protection Agency show that the number of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and other conditions diagnosed in genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics in the UK increased by 3% between 2004 and 2005. However over the same period new cases of gonorrhoea fell by 13%, a substantial decrease for the second successive year.

Accidents And Incidents Involving The Transport Of Radioactive Materials In The UK - Medical News Today 09/07/06

The Health Protection Agency’s Radiation Protection Division has today published a report on accidents and incidents involving the transport of radioactive materials in the UK , from 1958 to 2004 1.

Whooping Cough In School Age Children, UK - Medical News Today 09/07/06

A study published today in the British Medical Journal has found that a substantial proportion of school age children with persistent cough had evidence of a recent whooping cough infection, even though most had been immunised against the disease.

Investigation Finds Widespread Institutional Abuse Of People With Learning Disabilities At An NHS Trust In Cornwall, UK

Commissions recommend special measures to protect people who use services after findings show significant failings in local procedures.

Health And Social Care Inspectorates Set Out Serious Concerns About Services For People With Learning Disabilities - Medical News Today 09/07/06

The heads of two independent health and social care inspectorates on Wednesday joined forces to highlight serious concerns about the care and treatment of people with learning disabilities.

GMC Welcomes New Order From The Government Supporting Further Reform, UK - Medical News Today 09/07/06

The General Medical Council welcomes the debate to be held in the House of Commons on Tuesday July 4 about changes to the Medical Act that will take forward the next stage of the GMC's reforms of medical regulation.

NHS Surges Ahead On Key Care Outside Hospitals Reform, UK - Medical News Today 09/07/06

Suspected Food Poisoning Under Investigation - Medical News Today 09/07/06

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is investigating six reports of suspected food poisoning involving 18 people.

Review Published On Effects Of Diet On Children's Learning - Medical News Today 08/07/06

The Food Standards Agency, UK, has published a systematic review into the effect of diet and nutrition on children's learning, education and school performance.

Cadbury Recall Update - Medical News Today 08/07/06

Representatives of Cadbury, the Food Standards Agency and Herefordshire Council met today. The meeting was constructive, focusing on action to address contamination at the Cadbury Marlbrook plant.

UK Smokers Most Likely To Cash In On Cheap Cigarettes - Medical News Today 08/07/06

Smokers in the UK are much more likely to buy cheap cigarettes at a discount outlet than smokers in Australia, Canada and the USA.

Abortion Statistics, England And Wales: 2005 - Medical News Today 08/07/06

This bulletin summarises information from the abortion notification forms returned to the Chief Medical Officers of England and Wales in respect of abortions carried out in England and Wales in 2005.

Headway For Hydrocephalus: When Cerebrospinal Fluid Can’t Go With The Flow - Medical News Today 07/07/06

Hydrocephalus occurs when there is an abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the brain, usually due to a blockage of CSF outflow. In a study appearing in the July issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation, Sanbing Shen and colleagues from the University of Aberdeen uncover how CSF flow is regulated throughout the brain.

Common pain reliever may lower ovarian cancer risk - Reuters 08/07/06

Using paracetamol (known in the US as acetaminophen) regularly appears to reduce the risk of ovarian cancer by 30 percent, according to the results of a review of several studies, reported in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.

International News

Stressed out? That's a laugh - The Observer 09/07/06

For the past few months, I've been woken in the half-light just before dawn by the noise of crazed laughter coming from the park behind our house. To begin with, it was hard to be sure that it was human laughter and not just the cackle of wild dogs, but later I started seeing people walking home at about 6.30am, clapping their hands and laughing triumphantly to themselves.

Dark side of sunny Spain for Britain’s elderly expatriates - The Observer 09/07/06

Doctors are refusing to treat English patients without an interpreter

Anger at cardinal's cell warning - The Guardian 08/07/06

British scientists reacted angrily last night to the views of a senior Vatican official, who said Catholic researchers working on embryonic stem cells should be excommunicated.

Religious row over stem cell work - BBC Health News 07/07/06

GPs 'fob off poor with sedatives' - The Sunday Times 09/07/06

PEOPLE living in poorer areas of Dublin are more likely to be prescribed potentially addictive sedatives to cope with daily life than those in less socially deprived parts, according to a new report.

Fatty thighs to give breasts uplift - The Sunday Times 09/07/06

SURGEONS are close to developing the ultimate cosmetic treatment to sculpt the female body. They have successfully carried out “natural” breast enlargements where unwanted fat from women’s hips and thighs is transplanted on to their busts.

Spain reports first case of lethal bird flu virus - The Telegraph 08/07/06

The first case of the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus recorded in Spain has been found in a wild bird in the northern Basque country, the agriculture ministry said yesterday.

Spain suffers first bird flu case - BBC Health News 07/07/06

Spanish Authorities Say Bird Flu Case Is Isolated One - Medical News Today 08/07/06

South African soap opera breaks the taboo on Aids - The Telegraph 08/07/06

South Africans are about to witness the Aids epidemic draining the life from one of their country’s most famous faces.

Doubt cast on body clock theory - BBC Health News 09/07/06

Assumptions about the way the first gene known to control the internal clock of the human body works have been turned on their head by US researchers.

New Drug For Stomach Cancer Expected By End Of The Year - Medical News Today 09/07/06

The Swiss pharmaceutical company, Roche, has announced plans to seek a licence to allow prescribing in Europe of its novel cancer drug Xeloda® for stomach cancer. Xeloda, also known as capecitabine, is an oral chemotherapy drug that is activated to a cancer-killing agent called 5-flurouracil (5-FU) within cancer cells themselves.

European Commission Presents Results Of Eurobarometer On Avian Flu - Medical News Today 09/07/06

Europeans are well informed about avian influenza and have confidence in the actions of EU and national authorities to tackle it, but significant gaps in knowledge remain about the risks, according to a special Eurobarometer survey on avian influenza published today by the Commission and conducted in [March and April].

Interim Outcome Of The Single Stage Dorsal Inlay Skin Graft For Complex Hypospadias Reoperations - Medical News Today 09/07/06

Hypospadias remains a technically challenging operation with success rates appearing linked closely to surgeon experience. Primary hypospadias repair success rates have been quoted as high as 95% but nonetheless some cases require multiple procedures for ultimate reconstruction. Schwentner et al reported their experience with single stage dorsal inlay urethroplasty using skin grafts for complex reoperations.

Evaluation Of The Laparoscopic Performance With Alteration In Angle Of Vision - Medical News Today 09/07/06

For laparoscopic surgery positioning of the endoscope and the instruments is critical to the ease by which the procedure can be performed. This has been quantified by this group of researchers who evaluated the optimal placement of the laparoscope positioning between the two working trocars with regards to surgeon performance and correlated this with surgical experience.

Fat Rapid Loss Capsules (Xin Yan Zi Pai Mei Zi Jiao Nang), Canada - Medical News Today 09/07/06

Health Canada is advising consumers not to use the following products listed in the table below due to concerns about possible side effects.

Identifying Infants And Young Children With Developmental Disorders In The Medical Home: An Algorithm For Developmental Surveillance And Screening - Medical News Today 09/07/06

Below is a AAP clinical report appearing in the July issue of Pediatrics, the peer-reviewed, scientific journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

National Survey Shows That 61 Percent Of Youths Believe That Antibiotics Can Protect Them From Catching A Virus - Medical News Today 09/07/06

Today's young people, tweens (ages 8 to 12) and teens (ages 13 to 18) are raised in a world where potentially deadly viruses frequently make news headlines. In addition to Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) the virus that causes Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), recent public attention has also focused on viruses such as those which cause bird flu (avian influenza), Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and Hepatitis C (HepC). Prevention messages often target youth and the success of this messaging may well be influenced by kids' and teens' assessment of their own risk and their understanding of what viruses are.

CV Therapeutics Announces MERLIN TIMI-36 Study To Continue As Planned Based On Final Scheduled DSMB Meeting - Medical News Today 09/07/06

CV Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: CVTX) announced today that the Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) overseeing the MERLIN TIMI-36 study of Ranexa(R) (ranolazine extended-release tablets) had its last scheduled meeting and recommended that the study continue to completion as planned. While the DSMB may convene at any time, no further meetings are planned.

Territory-wide Efforts To Prevent Noroviral Gastroenteritis - Medical News Today 09/07/06

The Inter-departmental Coordinating Committee on Noroviral Gastroenteritis held a meeting today (July 4) to review the latest situation and to map out the territory-wide strategies and control measures.

Laparoscopic Transvesical Urethrorectal Fistula Repair Described - Medical News Today 08/07/06

Urethrorectal fistulas are rare and usually arise from surgical complications or after radiotherapy. The open surgical approaches for management can be technically challenging and include perineal, perianal, and combined abdominoperineal approaches. These procedures can be major undertakings. The laparoscopic approach has had a significant impact on the management of several urologic disorders.

Javelin Pharmaceuticals Wins Phase II SBIR Grant - Medical News Today 08/07/06

Javelin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: JVPH), a specialty pharmaceutical company with three late-stage pain drug candidates, today announced it has been selected to receive a seven hundred and fifty thousand dollar grant to advance clinical development of PMI-150 (intranasal ketamine) for pain control. The grant, awarded through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program of the National Cancer Institute/National Institutes of Health (NCI/NIH), will support safety and efficacy studies of PMI-150 in a multi-center, randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial in patients suffering from episodic acute moderate-to-severe pain.

Science Finds New Fix For UV Damaged Skin In Arthritis Treatment - Medical News Today 08/07/06

For many women, accumulated sun exposure has already permanently damaged their skin cells, causing them to overproduce pigment that shows up as unsightly dark splotches and uneven skin tone over time. But new research indicates that glucosamine -- a compound best known for treating arthritis -- can actually help stop the formation of new age spots, and help fade existing ones.

Cardiome Provides Clinical Update - Medical News Today 08/07/06

Cardiome Pharma Corp. (NASDAQ: CRME / TSX: COM) today announced that representatives from its co-development partner Astellas Pharma US, Inc. and Cardiome have met with the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) to discuss the "refusal to file" (RTF) letter received on May 30, 2006 for the New Drug Application (NDA) for RSD1235 (iv), an investigational new drug for the acute conversion of atrial fibrillation.

Down Syndrome: New Gene Identified By Stanford/Packard Scientists - Medical News Today 08/07/06

Researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital have identified one possible cause of mental retardation in Down syndrome. The culprit is a gene that, when overexpressed, causes neurons responsible for attention and memory to shrivel and stop functioning normally. The finding offers the first glimmer of hope that doctors could one day interfere with or even reverse the cognitive decline that frequently affects those with Down syndrome in middle age.

Developing Countries Take The Lead In A Global Program To Catalogue Human Mutations - Medical News Today 08/07/06

Access to this information could transform the outcomes for many people in developing countries.

DDT In Mothers Linked To Developmental Delays In Children, UC Berkeley Study Finds - Medical News Today 08/07/06

Since the 1970s, scientists have known that when DDT accumulates in a woman's tissues it can be transmitted to her developing fetus across the placenta. Now, a new study led by a team of researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, has found that such in utero exposure is associated with developmental delays in the young child.

Neuronal Death In Down's Syndrome, Alzheimer's Disease: Cause Could Be Surprisingly Simple - Medical News Today 08/07/06

Two papers in the July 6, 2006, Neuron, published by Cell Press, report evidence that surprisingly simple genetic abnormalities in the machinery of critical neuronal growth-regulating molecules can kill neurons in Down's syndrome, Alzheimer's disease, and other neurodegenerative disorders. The researchers said their basic findings could aid progress toward treatment for the cognitive deficits in these disorders.

Congenital Diseases: Genetics Behind Developmental Brain Disorders May Play A Wider Role - Medical News Today 08/07/06

Findings of a recent genetic study on developmental brain disorders may be the "tip of an iceberg" revealing factors involved with a number of congenital diseases, according to UC Irvine researchers.

Cell Survival Depends On Chromosome Integrity - Medical News Today 08/07/06

As part of a large National Institutes of Health-funded Technology Centers for Networks and Pathways project, Johns Hopkins researchers have discovered protein machinery important for cells to keep chromosomes intact.

Measles Mumps Rubella And Mercury-based Immunizations Cleared As Causes Of Autism - Medical News Today 08/07/06

Pervasive developmental disorders (PDD) like autism and Asperger Syndrome have been on the rise for years. Measles Mumps Rubella (MMR) vaccines and thimerosal-containing vaccines (which are approximately 50 percent ethylmercury) have been suggested as possible causes. A new MUHC study published in the scientific journal Pediatrics tomorrow, assesses the link between childhood immunizations and PDD in 28,000 Quebec children and finally clears MMR vaccines and thimerosal-containing immunizations as risk factors.

Common Culturing Surface Shown To Change Fate Of Stem Cells - Medical News Today 08/07/06

Embryonic stem cells, prized for their astonishing ability to apparently transform into any kind of cell in the body, acquire their identities in part by interacting with their surroundings - even when they are outside of the body in a laboratory dish, University of Florida scientists report.

Antibiotic May Protect The Heart New Study Shows - Medical News Today 08/07/06

Virginia Commonwealth University researchers studying rapamycin, an antibiotic used to boost organ survival in transplant patients, have found that the drug may protect the heart against tissue damage following acute heart attack.

Boytox: Possible Treatment For Motoneuronal Diseases - Medical News Today 08/07/06

A winner of UniQuest's 2006 Trailblazer innovation competition, Dr Frederic Meunier, is developing a treatment for motoneuronal diseases based on modifying botox - the popular anti-wrinkle treatment.

Illicit Drug Use And Abuse May Be Genetic

Findings replicated in twin study based in Norway - a country with lower prevalence of drug use than the United States and Australia

Sexuality Of Children And Adolescents With Developmental Disabilities - Medical News Today 08/07/06

Although adolescents with physical disabilities are often as sexually experienced as their peers without disabilities, parents and health care professionals are sometimes pessimistic regarding their adolescents' potential to enjoy intimacy and sexuality in their relationships.

Takara Bio, Okayama University Jointly Confirm That Angelica Utilis Promotes Bone Formation And Increases Bone Mass - Medical News Today 08/07/06

Takara Bio has elucidated a unique property of Angelica Utilis, a kind of wild perennial herb known in Japanese as 'Ashitaba', in collaboration with Okayama University.

Quest Diagnostics Completes Acquisition Of Focus Diagnostics, Inc., A World Leader In Infectious Disease Testing - Medical News Today 08/07/06

Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE: DGX), the nation's leading provider of diagnostic testing, information and services, has completed the previously announced acquisition of Focus Diagnostics, Inc., in a cash transaction valued at approximately $185 million.

RealAge(R) Introduces Smart Search, First-of-Its-Kind Vertical Search Engine Providing Health Articles Hand-Selected By Professionals - Medical News Today 08/07/06

The mother who can kiss a child's boo- boo to make it better will also want to look for health information on Smart Search. It delivers spot-on results by combining a human touch with expert- established standards -- a search system that can't be found anywhere else.

Cell Genesys Announces Publication Of Encouraging Phase 1/2 Clinical Results For GVAX(R) Immunotherapy For Prostate Cancer - Medical News Today 08/07/06

Cell Genesys, Inc. (Nasdaq: CEGE) today announced that the results from an initial clinical trial of GVAX(R) immunotherapy for prostate cancer in patients with early-stage disease have been published in a June issue of Clinical Cancer Research by a team led by Jonathan Simons, M.D., professor of Hematology and Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University School of Medicine.

The Intimate Rejuvenation And Innovative Surgery Center (IRIS) Establishes The Laser Vaginal Rejuvenation Institute(R) Of Arizona - Medical News Today 08/07/06

The Intimate Rejuvenation and Innovative Surgery Center (IRIS) announced today that it has established the Laser Vaginal Rejuvenation Institute of Arizona in nearby Chandler, AZ. Local medical experts Karen Starkey, MD and Todd Malan, MD are the first gynecologists to offer Laser Vaginal Rejuvenation in Arizona, after completing training and accreditation from the Laser Vaginal Rejuvenation Institute of America

Asterand Signs Partnership To Supply Drug Discovery Services To Japan - Medical News Today 08/07/06

Asterand plc (LSE: ATD), the human tissue research company, announced that it had entered into agreements with Mitsui Corporation and Toyobo Co. Ltd., to offer drug discovery services to the Japanese market. The agreement was signed during a visit to Detroit of a high-level delegation from the two Japanese companies.

Barr Confirms Patent Challenge Of Razadyne(R) ER Capsules - Medical News Today 08/07/06

Barr Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE: BRL) today confirmed that Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V., Janssen, L.P., Ortho-McNeil Neurologics, Inc. and Synaptech, Inc. ("Plaintiff") filed suit against it and its subsidiary, Barr Laboratories, Inc., relating to the patent protecting Razadyne(R) ER (Galantamine Hydrobromide Extended-Release Capsules), 8 mg, 16 mg and 24 mg. The Company indicated it believes it is the first to file an Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) with the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for the product.

Needless Fish Warnings Not Good 'Science,' Not 'In The Public Interest,' Says Consumer Group - Medical News Today 08/07/06

The nonprofit Center for Consumer Freedom (CCF) today called on the Food and Drug Administration to dismiss a demand for new warning signs at grocery-store fish counters. While the self- styled "food police" at the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) base their latest complaint on a public opinion poll about mercury in fish, CCF has actually tested the fish Americans are eating -- and found no reason for warnings.

Increased Serum Levels Of Bone-specific Alkaline Phosphatase Correlate With Shorter Survival In Men With Hormone Refractory Prostate Cancer - Medical News Today 08/07/06

Metastatic prostate cancer (CaP) is primarily characterized by osteoblastic bone lesions, although both osteoclasts and osteoblasts demonstrate increased activity. Specific markers associating bone progression with survival in CaP was reported by Dr. Cook and colleagues in the June 1, 2006 issue of Clinical Cancer Research.

Genes Linked To Daily Flux In Drug Toxicity - Medical News Today 07/07/06

Those so-called "PAR-domain basic leucine zipper transcription factors" (PAR bZip) are known to accumulate in body tissues, including the liver and kidneys, in a highly circadian manner, the researchers said. Circadian refers to biological variations within a roughly 24 hour period.

Fibromyalgia Increases Pain And Fatigue For Pregnant Women - Medical News Today 07/07/06

Pregnant women with fibromyalgia (FM) experience significant pain, fatigue and psychological stress, symptoms that are often misdiagnosed or undertreated as a normal part of pregnancy, according to a pilot study by Karen M. Schaefer, D.N.Sc., R.N., assistant professor of nursing at Temple University's College of Health Professions. Her research, the first to look at the impact of pregnancy on women with FM, was recently presented at the 2006 Association of Women's Health, Obstetrics and Neonatal Nurses' convention in Baltimore.

Land Use, Land Cover Affect Human Health, Food Security - Medical News Today 07/07/06

A Kansas State University geography professor is using satellite imagery to research how land use and land cover changes affect human health and food security.

Variations In Detoxifying Genes Linked To Lou Gehrig's Disease - Medical News Today 07/07/06

Genetic variations in three enzymes that detoxify insecticides and nerve gas agents as well as metabolize cholesterol-lowering statin drugs may be a risk factor for developing sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease), and possibly responsible for a reported twofold increased risk of ALS in Gulf War veterans.

Possible Strategy Against Obesity, Diabetes And Infertility: Findings By Einstein Scientists Reveal - Medical News Today 07/07/06

Twelve years ago, scientists discovered leptin--the now-famous hormone that controls appetite, burns calories and performs other crucial physiological activities as well. But the precise mechanism(s) by which leptin carries out these metabolic tasks is still controversial. Now, researchers at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University have shown how leptin exerts some of its most important effects.

The Fat-generated Hormone Adiponectin Plays An Important Role In The Energetic Capacity Of Skeletal Muscle - Medical News Today 07/07/06

This is according to a new study in the July, 2006, Cell Metabolism, published by Cell Press. Adiponectin is unusual among fat hormones in that its levels generally decline in those who are obese.

Autism Conference: Thousands Find Connection And Inspiration - Medical News Today 07/07/06

Autism affects an estimated 1 in 250 births, making the condition more common than childhood cancer, cystic fibrosis and multiple sclerosis combined. Family members of those living with autism are looking for emotional support. Researchers, doctors, and teachers are on a never-ending quest for answers to the latest rumors, to information on the latest finding to emotional support.

New Project Helps GP's Recognise And Treat Mental Illness As A Result Of Drug And Alcohol Use By The Centre For Mental Health Research At ANU - Medical News Today 07/07/06

The project, to be led by Professor Helen Christensen, is one of five selected in the latestround of funding from the Australian Primary Health Care Research Institute (APHCRI).

A New Life-course For An Aging Society - Medical News Today 07/07/06

The population of Europe is aging. A growing number of elderly is facing a declining share of the young. Taking Germany as an example, scientists of the Rostock Center for the Study of Demographic Change show in an article published in "Science" (Vol. 313, Edition 5782) that the total number of hours worked will be reduced soon, should the low participation of the elderly in the labor market continue. To keep the ratio of workers to non-workers and the number of hours worked per capita at current levels, work needs to be distributed more evenly over the ages of life and it needs to become more flexible.

Drug Dials Down The Energy Within Cells, UM Researchers Find - Medical News Today 07/07/06

A drug effective at treating animal models of human autoimmune disorders and other diseases works by dialing down the activity of a key enzyme involved in energy production, University of Michigan researchers have found.

Compounds To Shrink Tumours Discovered By U Of M Researchers - Medical News Today 07/07/06

Researchers at the University of Minnesota have developed novel anti-cancer drugs to treat solid tumors. These "small molecules" belong to a class of pharmaceutical agents called anti-angiogenics. The new compounds are a refined form of drugs that effectively reduce blood flow to the tumor, thereby inhibiting tumor growth. The results of the study appear in the July 5 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Physical Activity Extends Life Of Patients With Peripheral Artery Disease - Medical News Today 07/07/06

Patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) who are physically active have death rates less than one third those in PAD patients who are inactive, according to research reported in the July issue of the journal Circulation.

Indian Government Sets Up Committee To Investigate Validity Of UNAIDS' Estimate Of 5.7M HIV Cases In Country - Medical News Today 07/07/06

The Indian government has created an independent committee of experts to determine the validity of UNAIDS' estimate that there were 5.7 million HIV-positive people living in India at the end of 2005, Sujatha Rao, director-general of the country's National AIDS Control Organization, said on Friday, Reuters reports (Reuters, 6/30).

Steroid Abuse Harms Gingival Tissues - Medical News Today 07/07/06

Researchers found that prolonged use of anabolic androgenic steroid (AAS) is closely associated with significant levels of gingival enlargement, according to a new study published in the Journal of Periodontology.

Very Early Breast Cancer: Boost Radiotherapy Effective - Medical News Today 07/07/06

Radiotherapy of the whole breast followed by a boost could stop the very early stages of breast cancer from returning claim researchers from the international Rare Cancer Network in paper published online today by The Lancet Oncology. This strategy should therefore be considered in addition to surgery for patients with the breast-cancer precursor called ductal carcinoma in situ, or DCIS.

Adenosine Receptors Have A Split Personality - Medical News Today 07/07/06

Adenosine, long known to be a regulator of heart function, has recently been identified as an inhibitor of inflammation that acts primarily by activating the A2A adenosine receptor (A2AAR) on lymphoid and myeloid cells. In a study appearing in the July issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation, Katya Ravid and colleagues from Boston University School of Medicine show that deletion of the gene encoding the A2B adenosine receptor (A2BAR) in mice triggers inflammation. This suggests that activation of A2BARs, particularly those present on macrophages, can have anti-inflammatory effects.

Sunbeds Likely To Increase Skin Cancer Risk, European Commission - Medical News Today 07/07/06

The Scientific Committee on Consumer Products (SCCP) in an opinion report to the European Commission said that devices used to achieve and maintain cosmetic tanning, such as tanning lamps and sunbeds, may significantly increase a user's risk of malignant melanoma of the skin.

LXR Alpha: A New StAR In Balancing Cholesterols Levels In The Adrenal Gland - Medical News Today 07/07/06

Cholesterol is the precursor to all steroid hormones, which control heart rate, blood pressure, and how the body utilizes food. Therefore a constant cholesterol supply must be available to the adrenal gland where such hormones are produced.

Embryonic Stem Cell Researchers Should Be Excommunicated, Says Cardinal Trujillo - Medical News Today 07/07/06

Head of the Pontifical Council for the Family, Cardinal Alfonso Lopes Trujillo, said that scientists who carry out embryonic stem cell research should be excommunicated, according to Famiglia Cristiana, a Catholic magazine. In an interview with the magazine, the Cardinal says he believes embryonic research is no different from abortion.

Desmoplakin Loss Causes Disaster In A Heartbeat - Medical News Today 07/07/06

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is a rare form of cardiomyopathy in which the heart muscle of the right ventricle is replaced by fatty or fibrous tissue. The right ventricle is then unable to contract properly and the heart's ability to pump blood is weakened, often resulting in an abnormal heart rhythm, cardiac arrest or death.

Cardiac Stem Cell Therapy Boosts Blood Vessel Growth And Injury Repair - Medical News Today 07/07/06

Data has suggested that injection or mobilization of bone marrow stem cells into injured heart muscle during or after myocardial infarction would be able to regenerate heart muscle lost due to injury. However, there is a growing consensus that the mechanism of any potential therapeutic benefit is unknown and evidence suggests that any potential improvement in cardiac function observed is largely independent of cardiac muscle regeneration.

The Leak Stops Here: Platelets Deliver Healing Agent For Hemophilia - Medical News Today 07/07/06

Hemophilia is a hereditary genetic illness caused by a deficiency in the coagulation factor VIII (FVIII), and results in the body's inability to control bleeding. Gene therapy is an attractive approach for the treatment of hemophilia, as continuous expression of FVIII DNA would ensure clotting factor replacement at constant circulating levels rather than at the peaks and troughs that characterize current protein infusion therapies. In a study in mice appearing in the July issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation, Robert Montgomery and colleagues from the Blood Research Institute show that targeted expression of FVIII in megakaryocytes (large bone marrow cells that release mature blood platelets), with FVIII storage in the alpha-granules of platelets, has the advantage of delivering clotting factors directly to the site of an injury, where platelets accumulate in large numbers and are activated to release their granule contents.

China conjoined twin critical after separation - Reuters 09/07/06

A conjoined twin girl was in critical condition on Sunday, three days after an operation to separate her from her sister, Xinhua news agency said.

Orthoses provide only temporary relief of heel pain - Reuters 08/07/06

Foot orthoses -- whether customized or prefabricated -- provide only small, short-term improvements in function and pain for patients with heel spurs, also known as plantar fasciitis, according to findings published in the Archives of Internal Medicine

Risk for teens at High-risk subgroups risk for HIV - Reuters 08/07/06

Among teens who engage in unsafe sex, there are different patterns of behavior, with some subgroups being much more at risk of HIV infection than others, a new study shows.

Colonoscopy lowers cancer risk in colitis patients - Reuters 08/08/06

Regular colonoscopy with follow-up treatment if needed can help prevent colon cancer in patients with ulcerative colitis, new research suggests. Likewise, the use of anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin and ibuprofen, seems to reduce the risk as well.

Monday, July 10, 2006