Friday, August 25, 2006

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National News


Troubled iSoft hit by £344m loss - BBC News 2508/06
Troubled software firm iSoft has reported a £344m annual loss and said accounting problems have caused "deep disappointment".


Patients 'miss 16m appointments' - BBC News 25/08/06
Patients miss over 11m GP appointments and 5m practice nurse appointments each year in the UK, a survey suggests.


England to have 13m obese by 2010 - BBC News 25/08/06
More than 12m adults and one million children will be obese by 2010, a report by the Department of Health is expected to predict.

England's obese will total 13m by 2010 - Independent 25/08/06


HIV drug can stop cervical cancer - BBC News 24/08/06
A commonly used HIV drug could be used to prevent cervical cancer, UK researchers believe.

HIV Drug Could Be Used To Prevent Cervical Cancer, Say University Of Manchester Researchers - Medical News Today 25/08/06


Long waits for NHS tests revealed - BBC News 24/08/06
Waits for routine scans and tests are still unacceptably long in many English hospitals, an NHS watchdog has warned.


Cancer patient refused Herceptin - BBC News 24/08/06
An East Sussex woman is angry the NHS will not treat her with the breast cancer drug Herceptin even though it has now been officially approved.


Sterilisation 'may not kill CJD' - BBC News 24/08/06
A survey has found that surgical instruments still have the potential to harbour CJD even after sterilisation.


Childhood allergy epidemic on the rise worldwide - Reuters 25/08/06
LONDON (Reuters) - Childhood allergies are on the rise around the world, including in many developing countries where asthma, eczema and hay fever are emerging as important public health problems, scientists said on Friday.


GPs to lead fight on flab with 'lifestyle' packages - the Daily Mail 25/08/06
Obese patients are to be given diet and exercise plans by family doctors. Thousands of GPs will carry out 'intensive lifestyle interventions' after a nationwide study shows they lead to long-term weight loss.


Pregnancy alert over aspirin - the Daily Mail 25/08/06
Taking painkillers such as aspirin and ibuprofen in the first three months of pregnancy may increase the risk of birth defects, researchers say.


Overhaul NHS cancer plan, says thinktank - Guardian 25/08/06
The King's Fund, the health thinktank, has warned the government to overhaul the NHS cancer plan. It believes that the current strategy would not be adequate to deal with a rise in cancer cases, rapidly ageing population and prescribing expensive treatments, such as Herceptin. It predicted more battles over disparities in the provision of such drugs, and urged the government to open a public debate about spending priorities.


Time limit for NHS scans set at 13 weeks - Guardian 25/08/06
Patients will wait no longer than 13 weeks for scans in NHS hospitals or clinics in England from next April in the government's latest attempt to shorten the periods before treatment can start.


International News


Exposure To Toxins Reduces The Effectiveness Of ImmunisationHIV Drug Could Be Used To Prevent Cervical Cancer, Say University Of Manchester Researchers - Medical News Today 25/08/06
Researchers have found that when children have been accidentally exposed to a group of chemicals widely used in industry (polychlorinated biphenyls or PCBs) vaccination against infections provides them with less protection than is the case for unexposed children.


Are Schools Prepared To Deal With Serious Allergies Of Pupils?HIV Drug Could Be Used To Prevent Cervical Cancer, Say University Of Manchester Researchers - Medical News Today 25/08/06
Severe allergies are on the rise, but a survey of schools in Scotland suggests that many of them are ill-prepared to protect their pupils, as reported by Aziz Sheikh and colleagues in the international open-access medical journal PLoS Medicine.


New Genetic Link To Cot Death IdentifiedHIV Drug Could Be Used To Prevent Cervical Cancer, Say University Of Manchester Researchers - Medical News Today 25/08/06
Babies born with specific variants of three key genes are 14 times more likely to die from cot death, new research has found.


HIV Drug Could Be Used To Prevent Cervical Cancer, Say University Of Manchester Researchers - Medical News Today 25/08/06
Researchers at the University of Manchester are developing a topical treatment against the human papilloma virus (HPV) which is responsible for pre-cancerous and cancerous disease of the cervix as well as other genital malignancies.



Cheshire and Merseyside News


Pack to aid 'blue hand' sufferers - Runcorn Weekly News 24/08/06
HALTON people who suffer from a disease dubbed 'blue hand syndrome' are being offered help in the form of an information pack to put people in the picture about the condition.


Forces battle staff attacks on the wards - Runcorn Weekly News 24/08/06
NORTH Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust has backed a joint national campaign with the police aimed at reducing assaults on healthcare staff.


Cumbria and Lancashire News


District low in cancer spend league table - Skelmersdale Advertiser 24/08/06
WEST Lancashire has been revealed as one of the country's lowest spenders when it comes to treating cancer. The Primary Care Trust has been named as one of the bottom five PCTs in the country for the amount spent on cancer care.


Greater Manchester News


Plunge in patients who are seeing NHS dentist - Manchester Evening News 24/08/06
FEWER people are registered with NHS dentists across Greater Manchester than when Labour came to power in 1997.


Posted by Tracy at 9:01 am 0 comments

Thursday, August 24, 2006

Contents

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National News


Pensioner blocks company’s deal to run GP surgery - The Times 24/08/06
A PENSIONER gave the Department of Health a black eye yesterday by winning a court battle that strikes at the heart of its primary care policy


Britain faces weight crisis with one in three men likely to be obese by 2010 - Guardian 24/08/06
Britain is facing an obesity crisis with one in three men predicted to be dangerously overweight by 2010, a government report will warn tomorrow.


Overseas dentists boost NHS ranks - BBC News 24/08/06
Almost half of the dentists who joined the NHS in England last year qualified abroad, official figures have shown.


MRSA found at new neonatal unit - BBC News 24/08/06
Four babies at a brand new Lancashire hospital were put in isolation after testing positive for MRSA.


NHS 'needs new cancer care plan' - BBC News 24/08/06
The NHS needs an updated plan to set out how cancer services should be delivered, a think-tank has said.


Lung flaw link to cot death risk - BBC News 24/08/06
Babies born with faults in three key lung genes have 14 times the risk of dying from cot death, researchers say.

Scientists find genetic links to cot death risk - the Daily Mail 24/08/06


Bereaved advise on inquest reform - BBC News 24/08/06
Bereaved relatives are to form an advice panel giving MPs feedback on proposed reforms to the inquest system in England and Wales.



'Ethical' stem cell lines created - BBC News 24/08/06
Human embryonic stem cell lines have been generated without embryos being destroyed, according to researchers.

Scientists make human stem cells without destroying the embryo - Guardian 24/08/06

The stem-cell breakthrough that could lift ethical taboo - The Times 24/08/06



UK watchdog probes iSoft accounts - BBC News 24/08/06
The UK financial watchdog has launched a formal investigation into "accounting irregularities" at software firm iSoft

Inquiry into profits of NHS computer firm - Guardian 24/08/06


International News


"Mint" Pain Killer Takes Leaf Out Of Ancient Medical Texts - Medical News Today 24/08/06
A new synthetic treatment inspired by ancient Greek and Chinese remedies could offer pain relief to millions of patients with arthritis and nerve damage, a new University of Edinburgh study suggests.


Brain Responses Dynamically Enhanced By Daytime Light Exposure - Medical News Today 24/08/06
Exposure to light is known to enhance both alertness and performance in humans, but little is understood regarding the neurological basis for these effects, especially those associated with daytime light exposure.


Relief For Chronic Pain By Harnessing Cooling Analgesia - Medical News Today 24/08/06
By experimentally activating a special protein involved in mediating sensations of coolness, researchers have made a breakthrough in understanding how the body's nervous system can be stimulated to relieve chronic pain. The findings are reported by a team led by Susan Fleetwood-Walker and Rory Mitchell of University of Edinburgh and appear in the August issue of the journal Current Biology, published by Cell Press.


Parents Who Punish Antisocial Kids Penalize Themselves - Medical News Today 24/08/06
An evaluation of a child-management training program for parents reveals that four to eight year-old boys who have a "callous-unemotional" temperament are less responsive to discipline, such as time-out, compared to children without these traits.


TV Effective “ Painkiller” For Kids - Medical News Today 24/08/06
TV really does act like a painkiller when it comes to kids, reveals a small study published ahead of print in the Archives of Disease in Childhood.


Nightcap Before Bed May Affect Quality Of Sleep - Medical News Today 24/08/06
While numerous studies have linked alcohol abuse to sleep disruption, especially in males, there has been little research on alcohol and its effects on sleep in females. Now, a new study shows that a moderate amount of alcohol, taken before bed, can impact the quality of sleep for young women.


New Dieting Definitions Feed New Dieting Test - Medical News Today 24/08/06
An eating-problem research and support organisation has developed a unique dieting behaviour self-test to help dieters identify their relationships with food and eating.


Announcing The Launch Of Open Access Central - Medical News Today 24/08/06
Open Access Central was launched today at http://www.openaccesscentral.com. Open Access Central is brought to you from the team that created BioMed Central, the leading biomedical open access publisher.

Posted by Tracy at 10:20 am 0 comments

Wednesday, August 23, 2006

Contents

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National News


School-gate campaign cuts teen pregnancies by 22% - Independent 23/08/06

A controversial scheme to cut teenage pregnancies, which included giving a contraceptive injection to a girl in a McDonald's lavatory, has been highly successful and will be used as an example to others, it was disclosed yesterday.

Trust cuts teen pregnancy rates - BBC News 22/08/06


Unit where 10 mothers died is criticised for poor care - Independent 23/08/06


A maternity unit has been criticised severely by a healthcare watchdog following the deaths of 10 women who gave birth at the same hospital.

Safety plea over maternity deaths - BBC News 22/08/06

Hospital blamed over deaths of mothers - The Times 23/08/06


Herceptin receives final go-ahead - BBC News 22/08/06


The breast cancer drug Herceptin must be funded by the NHS, the drugs watchdog has said.

Herceptin cancer drug wins final British go-ahead - Reuters 23/08/06

Women win breast cancer drug fight - The Times 23/08/06


Cancer patients 'skip medication' - BBC News 22/08/06


More than half of female breast cancer patients admit they have skipped their medication, a survey has found.


Early schizophrenia clue is found - BBC News 22/08/06


Scientists have discovered a new method for the early diagnosis of the mental disorder schizophrenia. The joint study involving Cambridge University found that patients with the condition have high levels of glucose in their brain and spinal fluid.


Lone paramedic sent to dying girl - BBC News 22/08/06

A police officer had to drive a dying girl to hospital in an ambulance after a lone paramedic was sent to the scene.


Probe into private-run NHS centre - BBC News 22/08/06


A privately run NHS walk-in centre has launched a probe after safety complaints by a former doctor.


New warning over doctors' hours - BBC News 22/08/06


Junior doctors are still working so hard their performance can suffer, the British Medical Association said after an inquest into a patient's death.


Soundwaves to zap prostate tumours as tiny as a grain of rice - the Daily Mail 23/08/06


A soundwave device so accurate that it can focus on tissue the size of a grain of rice is being used to treat localised prostate cancer.

Sunshine Vitamin For Prostate Cancer - Medical News Today 23/08/06


Ritalin to carry mental health warning - the Daily Mail 23/08/06


Several drugs to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder must include new warning information about the risk of heart problems and psychotic behavior, U.S. health officials said on Monday.


New scan predicts spread of breast cancer and need for surgery - the Daily Mail 23/08/06


A new scanning technique could help doctors tell if breast cancer has spread before they operate, a study revealed.


Acne treatment has 'serious side effects' - the Daily Mail 23/08/06


Some side effects from an acne treatment which is said to be the most effective available may be more serious than previously realised, a study has found.

Company at heart of NHS reform in serious trouble - Guardian 23/08/06


The full extent of the financial difficulties facing the company at the heart of the NHS's £6.2bn computer upgrade will be revealed later this week. The troubled software company iSoft must release twice-delayed financial results to the stock market by Friday or trading in its shares will be suspended.

One In Ten Teenage Girls Have Self-harmed, Study Shows - Medical News Today 23/08/06


One in ten teenage girls self-harm each year and the problem is far more widespread than was previously thought, shows the largest-ever study of self-harm amongst 15 and 16 year olds in England.

NICE Issues Updated Guidance On Keyhole Surgery For The Treatment Of Colorectal Cancer - Medical News Today 23/08/06


New guidance published today by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommends laparoscopic (“keyhole”) surgery as an option for patients with colorectal cancer. The guidance, which replaces previous NICE guidance published in 2000, applies to patients in whom both laparoscopic and conventional open surgery would be considered as suitable options for treatment

NICE Issues Final Guidance On Trastuzumab (Herceptin) For Early Breast Cancer - Medical News Today 23/08/06

NICE has today (Wednesday 23 August 2006) issued final guidance on Herceptin to the NHS, just three months after the drug was licensed by the regulatory authorities for use in early breast cancer. NICE recommends Herceptin for women with early stage HER2-positive breast cancer, except where there are concerns about the woman's cardiac function.


International News


Sunshine Vitamin For Prostate Cancer - Medical News Today 23/08/06


Relaxing in the bright sunshine on a warm autumn day does more than lift your spirits; it also stimulates your body to produce huge amounts of vitamin D. Often called the “sunshine vitamin,” vitamin D is not really a vitamin at all, but rather a versatile hormone produced by the body in response to sunlight.


Cumbria and Lancashire News


40 Jobs Axed At Nhs Call Centre - Preston Citizen 22/08/06


MORE than 40 people are to lose their jobs at a Lancashire NHS call centre - because the Government said they should be paid more.


New Health Plan - Preston Citizen 22/08/06


Preston will be home to a new medical centre providing a bridge between GP and hospital services.


Ambulance Response Times Suffer - Lancashire Evening Telegraph 22/08/06


AMBULANCE response times for seriously ill patients are increasing because of a surge in calls, with weekend binge-drinkers party to blame.


41 jobs axed at ambulance HQ - Lancashire Evening News 22/08/06


Staff at at Lancashire's ambulance headquarters were given the shock news that 41 full- and part-time posts were to go at the call centre on Garstang Road, Broughton.


Lifesaving service for babies launched - Lancashire Evening News 22/08/06


A transfer scheme which will save the lives of premature babies is to be launched in Preston.


Greater Manchester News

Thieves risking health in raids - Wigan Observer 22/08/06


Thieves are facing a health timebomb by risking their lives to steal copper pipes from the derelict Billinge Hospital site.


Dental hospital tries to cut the queues - Manchester Evening News 22/08/06


MANCHESTER'S only dental hospital has finally recruited more staff after an M.E.N. campaign showed massive queues forming outside.

Posted by Tracy at 10:22 am 0 comments

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Contents

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National News

£61m medical experiment begins - Guardian 22/08/06


The world's biggest medical experiment, aimed at understanding how our genes, environment and lifestyle influence the diseases we develop, is to be rolled out nationally, it will be announced today

Biobank set for national roll out - BBC News 22/08/07


Gene clue to premature birth risk - BBC News 22/08/06


Researchers have discovered a genetic marker that could help to predict the risk of an unexpected premature birth.


The price of life - Telegraph 22/08/06


Allowing patients to contribute towards the cost of cancer drugs is the way forward for the NHS, says Professor Karol Sikora The decision by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) not to pay for two new cancer drugs on the NHS is the beginning of overt rationing in healthcare.


DVT threat in only four hours on bus, train or plane - the Daily Mail 22/08/06


Holidaymakers who take journeys that last more than four hours are doubling their risks of getting a DVT, doctors warned yesterday.


All forms of travel can lead to blood clots, scientists say - The Times 22/08/06


BLOOD clots are linked to many different modes of transport, not just flying, according to a study.


Top acne drug 'increases the risk of liver damage' - The Times 22/08/06


ONE of the most effective treatments for acne has been linked with potentially dan- gerous changes in the blood and damage to the liver.


Hundreds wrongly told they are MS sufferers - The Times 22/08/06


FOR more than two decades, John Simper was resigned to a slow and painful death from multiple sclerosis


International News

Slimming Product Found With Western Drug Ingredient - Medical News Today 22/08/06


The Department of Health (DH) today (August 14) called on members of the public not to buy or use a brand of slimming product called DETOX PEPTIDE which contained sibutramine, a western drug ingredient that may cause side effect.


Eye Screening Should Be On Parents' Back-to-School Checklist - Medical News Today 22/08/06


As parents and students gear up for another school year of pop quizzes, midterm tests and book reports, there is another important test for children to pass: an eye screening.


Multi-Generational Survey Uncovers Behavior Changes As Greatest Challenge In Diabetes Management: Younger Generations Lagging Behind - Medical News Today 22/08/06


A groundbreaking national survey released today looking at three generations of diabetes sufferers revealed that adults ages 18-40, who are at risk for or living with type 2 diabetes, are lagging behind their parents' and grandparents' generations when it comes to changing behaviors to improve their health.


Cheshire and Merseyside News

NHS trust welcomes plan for independent centre - Daily Post 22/08/06


A SECOND independent health centre planned for West Lancashire was yesterday welcomed as "great news" by health chiefs.


Cumbria and Lancashire News

Trust Comes Clean About Agency Staff - Lancashire Evening Telegraph 21/08/06


AGENCY staff from Eastern Europe are cleaning Blackburn's new super hospital. Bosses say the development - which opened last month - needs more cleaners because of the "upheaval" in getting it up and running.

Posted by Tracy at 9:13 am 0 comments

Monday, August 21, 2006

Contents

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National News

Anger at bowel cancer drug ruling - BBC News 21/08/06


Charities have criticised a decision not to make two bowel cancer drugs widely available on the NHS.

UK's NICE rejects two new bowel cancer drugs - Reuters 21/08/07

Bowel cancer drugs ban a scandal, say campaigners - Independent 21/08/06

Patients angered as watchdog refuses to allow bowel cancer drugs on NHS - The Times 21/08/06

Cancer patients denied drugs that prolong life - Guardian 21/08/07


UK probes benefits of body scans - BBC News


The UK has said it will look at the benefits and risks of CT body scans, amid fears about the effects of exposing patients to radiation.


Mother gives rabbit flu warning - BBC News 21/08/06


The mother of a man believed to be Britain's first victim of rabbit flu has issued a warning about the potentially fatal disease.


1 in 3 Britons will be obese within four years - the Daily Mail 21/08/06


Britons are putting on so much weight that nearly a third of the population will be obese within four years, a shocking Government report will reveal this week.


Waistlines hide a ticking time bomb - The Times 21/08/06


A million Britons are unaware that they have type 2 diabetes, and in 80 per cent of cases the condition is linked to obesity



Thumping headache? Try eating a vindaloo - The Times 21/08/06


EATING curry may be a better cure for headaches than aspirin, according to research. A study funded by the Scottish Executive has found that salicylic acid, the active ingredient in aspirin, occurs naturally in Indian food and that curry could help to treat migraines and prevent colon cancers.


International News

More And Better Management Is Key To Fixing The NHS, UK - Medical News Today 21/08/06
Investing more in good managers and appropriate IT may be a far more effective way to improve the working lives of doctors and nurses than recruiting more staff, according to an article in this week's BMJ.


Medical Directors Issue New Guidelines For Fluids During Marathons - Medical News Today 21/08/06


How much and what types of fluids should marathon runners drink during a race? Rather than hard-and-fast rules, drinking when thirsty and drinking the types of fluids the runner has a taste for are the best approaches to fluid replacement in most situations, according to updated recommendations by the International Marathon Medical Directors Association (IMMDA).


A Medical/Health Tip Sheet - Medical News Today 21/08/06


Patients can now benefit from a new, minimally invasive technology for treating chronic sinus inflammation. This balloon catheter system quickly opens and expands blocked sinuses. Many patients who undergo this endoscopic procedure are able to return to normal activities within 24 hours. It is much like angioplasty of the heart arteries, but instead, the balloons expand the sinuses, said Dr. Eugene Alford, head and neck specialist at The Methodist Hospital.


Cheshire and Merseyside News

New pay strikes by 999 workers - Daily Post 19/08/06


AMBULANCE workers stepped up their industrial action last night with the latest in a series of strikes over pay. Ambulance technicians began the 12-hour strike from 7pm, with a further 12-hour stoppage planned to start from 7pm today.


Hospitals press on with private finance plans - Daily Post 19/08/06


TWO of Liverpool's leading hospitals last night reaffirmed their commitment to the Government's controversial private finance initiative (PFI) scheme.


Cumbria and Lancashire News

Vital role in fighting disease - Lancaster Guardian 21/08/06


As the crisis in NHS funding continues, there was good news for Lancaster University this week with the announcement of two major research awards. The university will play a major part in new research into treatment of diseases of the nervous system such as Alzheimer's, Huntington's, Parkinson's and Motor Neurone Disease (MND). Lancaster forms part of a new North West Local Research Network which will receive £400,000 annually to carry out the research.


Greater Manchester News


New hospitals – but at a cost - Wigan Observer 21/08/06


A £1.5bn wave of new hospitals will be built under the controversial private finance initiative, the Government announced today. Six new hospitals will open across England from 2010.


New gum 'targets tooth rot' - Manchester Evening News 21/08/06


A CHEWING gum that prevents tooth decay may be in the shops as early as next year. The gum, developed by the German chemical company BASF, contains a "friendly" bacteria that fights the bugs which rot teeth.


NHS computer report 'watered down' - Manchester Eveing News 19/08/06


A REPORT by the independent Whitehall spending watchdog into a £12bn NHS computer project was watered down under pressure from officials, it has been claimed.


Hospitals get £250m rebuild - Manchester Evening News 19/08/06


PLANS to rebuild two hospitals for more than £250m have marked a pivotal moment for the NHS in Greater Manchester, says health minister Andy Burnham.

Posted by Tracy at 10:12 am 0 comments

Friday, August 18, 2006

Contents

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National News


China warned over rising obesity - BBC Health News 18/08/06


People in China are becoming overweight at an alarming rate, a Chinese medical professor has said.


Any form of tobacco 'is harmful' - BBC Health News 17/08/06


Public health experts are warning that more effort needs to be made to alert people in the developing world to the dangers of smoking tobacco.


Wasp-sting warning after deaths - BBC Health News 17/08/06


The deaths of two men after they were stung by wasps have led experts to reinforce warnings of the dangers of allergic reactions to venom


Stroke risk peaks every 12 hours - BBC Health News 17/08/06


Strokes are most likely to occur during two two-hour periods, one in the morning, and the other in the evening, research suggests.


Giving your baby a helping hand - The Daily Mail 17/08/06


All any mother wants to know is their precious newborn baby is in safe hands. And with the invention of a new 'ergonomically designed fleece pillow' the shape and size of a comforting parental hand, they can be assured their child will sleep more soundly.


'Golden bullet' for cancer - The Daily Mail 18/08/06


Scientists have developed a new 'golden bullet' to help in the fight against deadly cancers.



International News



Commonly Used Anti-depressants Safe And Effective For Treating Postpartum Depression - Medical News Today 18/08/06


Two antidepressants commonly used to treat depression in the general population also can effectively and safely treat postpartum depression, according to a University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine-led study published as a lead article in the August issue of the Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology.


Both Endemic And New Virus Strains To Blame For Bird Flu Recurrence In Asia's Poultry - Medical News Today 18/08/06


Laboratory confirmation points to both old and new isolates of the bird flu virus as sources of recent HPAI outbreaks in Southeast Asia, FAO said today.


Hidden Dangers In The Classroom: Exposures To Hidden Food Allergens Extend Beyond The Cafeteria - Medical News Today 18/08/06


Back-to-school often means last minute doctor's appointments, haircuts, and new clothes. But it's also an anxious time for families who have children with food allergies.


Risk Of Developing Multiple Sclerosis Significantly Reduced With Interferon Beta-1b Early Treatment - Medical News Today 18/08/06


Researchers have found that treatment of patients with interferon beta-1b after a first attack suggestive of multiple sclerosis (MS) cuts their risk of developing the disease in half over the next two years, according to results from the BENEFIT (BEtaferon(R)/BEtaseron(R) in Newly Emerging Multiple Sclerosis for Initial Treatment) clinical trial. The findings were published for the first time in an expedited manner in this week's online issue of Neurology.


The Boomer Generation And Osteoarthritis - Medical News Today 18/08/06


This year, the oldest of the baby boomers will turn 60. This generation places an emphasis on staying fit and eating healthy, but boomers can't avoid aging.


Women With Breast Cancer Experience More Side Effects From Chemotherapy Than Previously Thought, Study Says - Medical News Today 18/08/06


Women with breast cancer ages 64 and younger experience three to four times more serious side effects from chemotherapy than previously hypothesized, according to a study published in the Aug. 16 edition of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, the AP/Philadelphia Inquirer reports.


Asthma Linked To Increased Risk For Sleep Apnea In Young Women By Study - Medical News Today 18/08/06


Researchers from the University of Cincinnati (UC) and Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC) have found that young women with asthma are twice as likely to have symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea--a condition that often goes undetected in women--compared with those who do not have asthma.


There May Be A Biological Basis In The Brain For Being Obese And A Couch Potato - Medical News Today 17/08/06


Some brains may be wired to encourage fidgeting and other restless behaviors that consume calories and help control weight, according to new research published by The American Physiological Society.


Increasing Kids' Activity Should Begin In School - Medical News Today 17/08/06


The American Heart Association recommends that schools lead the way to ensure that all children and youth participate in adequate physical activity during the school day. The scientific statement "Promoting Physical Activity in Children and Youth: A Leadership Role for Schools" is published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.


Mums And Babies At Risk As Two-thirds Of Pregnant Women With Depression Aren't Getting Treatment For It - Medical News Today 17/08/06


The majority of pregnant women who have full-blown major depression aren't getting any treatment for the condition, and neither are most pregnant women who have signs of milder depression or depression risk, a new University of Michigan Depression Center study finds.


New Medication Appears Effective In Helping Smokers Kick The Habit - Medical News Today 17/08/06


A drug recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as an aid to smoking cessation appears effective both short- and long-term for smokers trying to quit, according to two reports in the August 14/28 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.


Combination Of Sight And Sound Helps Adults Learn Basic Visual Tasks More Rapidly Study Shows - Medical News Today 17/08/06


Researchers from Boston University (BU) and UCLA have found that using multi-sensory training programs, a research technique that engages more than one of the senses, helps adults improve their performance of low-level perceptual tasks - such as visually detecting the motion of an object - significantly faster than methods that use only one stimulus.


Cases Of HIV Infections With Multiple Strains More Common Than Previously Believed, Researchers Say - Medical News Today 17/08/06


Cases in which an HIV-positive person is infected with more than one strain of the virus are more common than previously believed, Canadian and U.S. scientists said Monday at the XVI International AIDS Conference in Toronto, CanWest News Service/Vancouver Sun reports. Researchers reported that eight so-called "superinfection" cases have been discovered among 57 HIV-positive women in Mombasa, Kenya. According to the study, many of the women contracted a second strain of the virus within one year of their first infection, while other infections occurred up to five years after their first infection.


Nearly 1 in 5 Chinese overweight or obese: study - Reuters 18/08/06


HONG KONG (Reuters) - Nearly one in every five people in China are overweight or obese and the problem is getting worse among children, especially boys, according to a study.


Plate size influences portion size - Reuters 18/08/06

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Want to lose weight? Try eating off smaller plates. A new study shows that using smaller bowls and spoons may curb the amount of food eaten.


Herbal sleep aids often of low quality: report - Reuters 17/08/06


NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Many valerian-containing herbal sleep supplements do not contain as much of the key ingredient as needed to be effective or as much as the manufacturer claims, according to a ConsumerLab.com report on the topic. And some tested supplements were contaminated with cadmium or lead.


TV more effective than hugs for child pain: study - Reuters 18/08/06


NEW YORK (Reuters) - Television can act like a painkiller when it comes to children and is more effective than a mother's comforting, according to a small Italian study.


All forms of tobacco harmful: study - Reuters 18/08/06


LONDON (Reuters) - All forms of tobacco consumption -- smoking, chewing and second hand smoke -- raise the risk of heart attack by up to three times, according to the results of a new study in Friday's edition of the Lancet medical journal.

Posted by Tracy at 11:20 am 0 comments

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

Contents

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On trial, a drug that can bring back your hearing - the Daily Mail 15/08/06


Clinical trials are under way on a new drug to prevent and treat hearing loss. The drug, which could revolutionise the way noise-induced hearing loss is treated, will also be part of a larger trial involving U.S. Army and Navy personnel.


We've all lost our hair (and we're still beautiful!) - the Daily Mail 15/08/06


We all lose around 75 to 100 hairs every day, although we hardly notice it. But a staggering 4.8 million women suffer from serious hair loss, with dramatic results.


Yellow and green vegetables can guard against blindness - the Daily Mail 15/08/06
Children have long been told that eating carrots will improve their vision. Now it seems peas, sweetcorn and broccoli may also be good for the eyesight.


Blood test to tell you: It's now or never for a baby - the Daily Mail 15/08/06


Women can now find out how much time they have left to start a family with a simple blood test.

Ambulance trusts 'reported 999 response times incorrectly' - Independent 15/08/06


The Government pledged to change ambulance control room systems today after six trusts were found to have "mis-reported" their response times

Ambulance trusts misreported 999 response times - Guardian 15/08/06

Ambulance response figures wrong - BBC News 14/08/06

More call-outs blamed for ambulance targets failure - Daily Post 15/08/06

A&E waiting times cut but hundreds still left waiting - Lancashire Evening News 14/08/06

Postcode lottery continues - The Times 15/08/06


ISLINGTON, in North London, is more chic than cheap – now a report from the King’s Fund, a health think-tank, shows that even the borough’s mental health bill is costly


Choice is no choice - The Times 15/08/06


HOBSON, it is said, offered his customers a wide choice of horses – provided they chose the one nearest the stable door. The NHS, it seems, is offering patients a wide choice of hospitals – as long as they choose the one with the shortest waiting list.


Oo er matron - The Times 15/08/06


District nurses are being forced to take community matron posts or see their pay cut, reports Nursing Times (Aug 8). Primary care trusts (PCTs) are pushing nurses into the posts to help the Government to meet its target of 3,000 matrons by March 2007


Mother of all insults - The Times 15/08/06


THE NATION’S clinics are on a heightened state of alert. Women over the age of 30 are getting pregnant! These deadly women are infiltrating hospitals, public transport, even the childcare sections of bookshops. They are plotting to land unwitting doctors with all sorts of difficulties: high blood pressure, diabetes, career-woman crankiness about hours spent waiting for check-ups — complications that the NHS cannot possibly be expected to handle while it is simultaneously engaged in more important challenges such as treating drunks and coaxing billion-pound computers to spell patients’ names properly.

Study finds greater heart damage risk from Herceptin than thought - Guardian 14/08/06


The much-vaunted breast cancer drug Herceptin carries a greater risk of heart damage than previously thought, research indicates today.

Herceptin 'linked to heart risk' - BBC News 14/08/06

Hormone 'connected to death risk' - BBC News 14/08/06


Men over the age of 40 with low levels of testosterone have an increased risk of dying, according to research.


Union to fight hospital job cuts - BBC News 14/08/06


Union officials have announced plans to fight the loss of nearly 1,200 jobs and 186 beds after the merger of two Nottingham hospitals.

U.K. Might Need New Approaches To Regulate Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis, Commentary Says - Medical News Today 15/08/06


There is a need for new approaches to regulating preimplantation genetic diagnosis in the United Kingdom, Peter Braude, head of the department of women's health at King's College in London, writes in a New England Journal of Medicine commentary published in the Aug. 10 edition of the journal, the AP/Philadelphia Inquirer reports (Cheng, AP/Philadelphia Inquirer, 8/10).


International News


Children Of Smokers More Likely To Have Behavior Problems, Smoke And Use Drugs In Adolescence And Adulthood - Medical News Today 15/08/06

A new study exploring smoking, heavy drinking and marijuana use across three generations indicates that the children of a parent who uses any of these substances are more likely to smoke, binge drink or use marijuana in adolescence and adulthood. Drug transmission across generations, the study found, was for a general tendency to use these substances rather than to use any one specifically, with the exception of tobacco.


Religious Beliefs Can Protect Psychological Well-being During Stressful Experiences - Medical News Today 15/08/06


According to a recent study, faith-based positive religious resources can protect psychological well-being through enhanced hope and perceived social support during stressful experiences, like undergoing cardiac surgery. Furthermore, having negative religious thoughts and struggles may hinder recovery. These results will be presented at the 114th annual convention of the American Psychological Association (APA).


Experts Challenge Popular Belief That Today's Children Are - Medical News Today 15/08/06


Leading child development experts are challenging the popular notion that today's children are "over-scheduled" as a result of the hurried and stressful lives from participating in too many organized activities.


Cheshire and Merseyside News


More call-outs blamed for ambulance targets failure - Daily Post 15/08/06


AMBULANCE chiefs have blamed a rise in the number of 999 emergency call-outs for a failure to meet government targets on response times.


Cumbria and Lancashire News


A&E waiting times cut but hundreds still left waiting - Lancashire Evening News 14/08/06


The majority of people attending accident and emergency in Preston and Chorley's hospitals are seen to in within four hours, latest statistics show.


Syphilis Cases On The Rise In Resort - Blackpool Citizen 14/08/06


Blackpool has the highest numbers of syphilis cases in Cumbria and Lancashire. Forty three cases of the potentially fatal disease were recorded at Blackpool Victoria Hospital in 2005 according to figures released by the Health Protection Agency

Posted by Tracy at 9:03 am 0 comments

Monday, August 14, 2006

Contents

Click on content link below to go to the news from that section: this will open a web page if you receive this by email



National News


Chinese medicine 'aids diabetics' - BBC News 12/08/06


A traditional Chinese medicine may be beneficial for people suffering from type 2 diabetes.

Alarm over huge increase in 'dangerous' herbal remedies - Independent 13/08/06

Official investigations into dangerous Chinese herbal medicines have reached an all-time high.


Emotional patients get wrong idea - BBC News 12/08/06


Some patients are too emotional to remember what a doctors tells them, researchers suggest.


Safe sex message 'not passed on' - BBC News 13/08/06


Young people in the UK are no longer being given the message about the importance of safe sex, the Terrence Higgins Trust has warned.

Third 'have sex below legal age' - BBC News 13/08/06


Olive oil secret to Loren beauty - BBC News 13/08/06


Italian actress Sophia Loren has beaten much younger contenders to be voted the world's most naturally beautiful person at the age of 71 in an online poll.


Protein 'may stop asthma attacks' - BBC News 13/08/06


Scientists have found why colds make people with asthma more likely to have a severe and potentially fatal attack.

Asthma virus discovery could help to save lives - Independent 13/08/06

Asthma attack link to protein gives hope of new treatment - Guardian 14/08/06

Aids: Living with the enemy - Independent 13/08/06


Bill Gates has given $287m this year alone to fights Aids, but as he speaks at the biggest-ever HIV conference, any cure is far away. In this 'Aids Audit', Health Editor Jeremy Laurance, reveals where we are in the fight and finds some signs of hope


Middle-age mums 'put huge strain on NHS' - Independent 12/08/06


Increasing numbers of "middle age pregnancies" are as great a public health problem as teenage mothers, a leading obstetrician has warned.


At last, the research that says eat what you want to get slim - Independent 11/08/06


The most effective way of losing weight is not to try, researchers have found. Instead of dieting, driven by a dissatisfaction with one's body shape and a desire to change it, women who accept their bodies the way they are end up with the lowest body mass index (BMI), a study has shown.


£40,000 shortfall threatens study of childhood obesity and diabetes - Guardian 14/08/06


A unique 12-year study into the links between childhood obesity and diabetes is in jeopardy because the Department of Health is declining to provide funding. The EarlyBird study at the Peninsula Medical School in Plymouth will lay off staff at the end of this month after the government withdrew £40,000 of £90,000 it was understood to have pledged.


Thinktank claims extra NHS billions largely wasted - Guardian 14/08/06


The extra billions invested in the NHS have been largely wasted, an independent thinktank claims today, resulting in far less improvement in services than might have been expected.


Drug errors hit one in five young leukaemia sufferers - The Times 14/08/06


A FIFTH of children treated for leukaemia may not receive the appropriate chemotherapy regime because of medication errors, a study suggests.

Drug Addiction Treatment Sees Drop In Success Rate - Medical News Today 14/08/06

According to new research by Liverpool John Moores University, the proportion of drug users who completed treatment for drug addiction decreased between 1998 and 2002, although the overall number of drug users who entered treatment increased.

Teenagers' Diets Are Low Priority For Poorer Families - Medical News Today 14/08/06

Research among parents in disadvantaged parts of Eastern Scotland reveals that dietary issues are considered less important than other risks facing their teenagers.


International News


Arthritis Drug Helps Debilitating Inflammatory Disease - Medical News Today 13/08/06


For children and young adults who suffer from a rare and debilitating disorder called neonatal-onset multisystem inflammatory disease (NOMID), a drug called anakinra brings marked improvement both in symptoms and the inflammation underlying the disease, a new study shows. The study, published in the August issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, was conducted in the Intramural Research Program of the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), a component of the National Institutes of Health.


Misleading Reports About Latex Allergens In Food Packaging - Medical News Today 14/08/06


Some recent media reports about the potential hazards of contamination of foodstuffs by latex proteins in food contact materials, eg packaging, are highly misleading and likely to cause alarm amongst the general population.


Egg Harvesting For Stem Cell Research - Medical News Today 14/08/06


Women's health and human rights advocates worldwide are increasingly concerned that overzealous pursuit of new scientific discoveries may once again be threatening women's health. This time, young women are being asked to donate or sell their ova, not only for use in fertility clinics, but increasingly for non-clinical use in experimental cloning research.


BMA Response To The Civitas Report, UK - Medical News Today 14/08/06


Commenting today [14 August 2006], on the Civitas1 report, Deputy Chairman of the Consultants Committee, Dr Jonathan Fielden, said it was not true that the extra funds invested in the NHS had been wasted but he agreed that more improvements were needed


Ancient War Paint In Fight Against Breast Cancer - Medical News Today 14/08/06


A plant that gave ancient Britons and Celts their blue war paint, has been found to be a rich source of the anti-cancer compound, glucobrassicin, traditionally associated with broccoli. Glucobrassicin has been found to be effective against breast cancer. The war paint, a blue dye, is obtained from Woad, a member of the Brassicaceae family.


Cheshire and Merseyside News


Trusts facing £32m debts must cut costs - Daily Post 14/08/06


MERSEYSIDE and Cheshire's health economy is poised to end the current financial year in the red for the first time, the Daily Post can reveal.

Drug Addiction Treatment Sees Drop In Success Rate - Medical News Today 14/08/06

According to new research by Liverpool John Moores University, the proportion of drug users who completed treatment for drug addiction decreased between 1998 and 2002, although the overall number of drug users who entered treatment increased.


Cumbria and Lancashire News

Minor Injuries Unit To Be Run By Nurses Only - Lancashire Evening Telegraph 11/08/06


DOCTORS are to be withdrawn from the minor injuries unit at Accrington Victoria Hospital. The unit will be nurse-led from next month, bosses at Hyndburn and Ribble Valley NHS Primary Care Trust have said.


Greater Manchester News

Hospital in cash crisis - Wigan Today 12/08/06


Wrightington Hospital is haemorrhaging millions of pounds a year and may have to close its pioneering hip and knee unit. The bombshell, which would affect almost 16,000 North West patients every year, came as MPs and hospital bosses vowed to lobby Whitehall chiefs to increase funding for specialist centres across the country.

Posted by Tracy at 9:58 am 0 comments

Thursday, August 10, 2006

Contents

Click on content link below to go to the news from that section: this will open a web page if you receive this by email


National News

Getting hospital data to connect to the NHS 'spine' - Guardian 10/08/06


Birmingham university hospital knows who I am. Even though I've never been there before, the ward terminal throws up my NHS "demographic details", including my 10-digit patient identity number, within a couple of seconds of having my name and date of birth. In an age when we can receive mobile phone calls and draw cash from bank machines anywhere in the world, the real-time linking of a hospital administration system to a central register of patients may not impress.


Happiness is a good hug - The Times 10/08/06


KEEPING socially connected as you age has been shown to have marked benefits for health. The advantages of being in a couple include the ability to monitor changes in each other’s health.


Why staying single may flatter your figure but cost your life - The Times 10/08/06


PEOPLE who have never married run a significantly higher risk of dying early, even though they are more likely to exercise and less likely to be overweight in later life.


Drug lowers risk of second stroke - The Times 10/08/06


Lipitor, a drug that lowers cholesterol, can cut the risk of a second stroke by 16 per cent when used in double doses, according to a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine.


International News

Socially Isolated Children May Become Unhealthy Adults - Medical News Today 10/08/06


Social isolation in childhood may be associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular disease in adulthood, according to a report in the August issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.


Children And Teens Taking Antidepressants Might Be More Likely To Attempt, Complete Suicide - Medical News Today 10/08/06


Antidepressant medications may be associated with suicide attempts and death in severely depressed children and adolescents but not in adults, according to an article in the August issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.


Warner Announces Guidelines For Mortuary Staff - 'Care And Respect In Death' Guidance Is Published, UK - Medical News Today 10/08/06


Lord Warner today announced new good practice guidance for NHS mortuary staff to ensure that they deal with the bodies of people who die in hospital, and their friends and family, in a safe, secure and sensitive way.


NHS Research Under Pressure, And Could Face £300 Million Cut, BMA Warns, UK - Medical News Today 10/08/06


The BMA today (Thursday 10 August, 2006) questions the government over a possible £300 million drop in the funding available for health research which, it warns, is already under pressure on several different fronts.


Is There True Authenticity In The Practice Of Evidence-based Health Sciences? - Medical News Today 10/08/06


The healthcare discipline and evidence-based discourse has been producing numerous specialized journals and best practice guidelines in the recent years, with health science scholars eagerly jumping on the bandwagon, mimicking this trend with their contributions to this discourse.


Living With Diabetes - Medical News Today 10/08/06


Everyone living with diabetes has experienced the curious questions from well-meaning, but uninformed, onlookers who might be taken aback by a hypodermic needle, a pump, or a blood glucose kit. "Diabetic Encounters of the First Kind," an article in the August 2006 issue of Diabetes Health Magazine, takes a humorous look at these interesting encounters.


Healthy Mouth - Healthy Body: What's The Connection? - Medical News Today 10/08/06


According to a survey released today, consumers named having "whiter teeth" or a "better smile" most often when asked to list the benefits of practicing good oral hygiene, despite a growing body of evidence that suggests that the gum disease gingivitis, if allowed to progress to periodontitis (advanced gum disease), may increase one's risk for broader health problems over time.


Cheshire and Merseyside News

Cancer 'lottery' for NW patients - Daily Post 10/08/06


CANCER sufferers in Merseyside and Cheshire are the victims of a "postcode lottery" in spending, a key study found yesterday.


Cumbria and Lancashire News

Ward to be axed next month 'due to staff shortages' - Leyland Today 09/08/06


ALZHEIMER patients in Chorley are to be moved out of the town's hospital after health bosses decided to shut down a specialist ward.

Posted by Tracy at 8:29 am 0 comments

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