National and International News
Nurses top league for days off sick - Daily Mail 26/06/05
Nurses take more days off sick than most other public sector workers, a report has shown.
Hospital nurses head public workers' sick list - The Observer 26/06/05
PM's health in 'dire straits', guru - Daily Mail 26/06/05
Lifestyle guru Carole Caplin spoke candidly about her friendship with Tony and Cherie Blair while setting up a business deal, it was reported.
Griddle me this - The Independent 26/06/05
What's the healthy, simple and weather-proof way to delicious summer food? Get grilling, says Mark Hix
Bird flu 'as grave a threat as terrorism' - The Independent 26/06/05
Bird flu is now as much of a danger to Britain as terrorism, ministers have been told by the Government's official emergency body.
MPs call for 20-week limit on abortions - The Independent 26/06/05
MPs are to press for new legislation to cut the time limit for abortions down to 20 weeks in the wake of an expected vote by doctors to change the law.
Stop the diet. Bin the Botox. If you want to look fab, just get fit - The Independent 26/06/05
Models are too skinny. Implants are too big. To attract a mate, experts say, you just need the right weight-to-height ratio.
Letters to the Editor - The Observer 26/06/05
Reading 'Smoking: Blair will push for total ban' and the leading article 'No ifs and butts ...' (last week) on the proposed ban on smoking in public places in England, I was disappointed that a half-hearted policy announced by the Westminster government can receive so many column inches without any acknowledgment of the road travelled by Scotland.
Elderly's health at risk from poor care - The Observer 26/06/05
The government is abandoning hundreds of thousands of elderly people to a care system that steals their dignity, denies them meaningful choice and risks endangering their health, according to a hard-hitting report out tomorrow.
Big food sets up safety watchdog - The Observer 26/06/05
Leading food groups are setting up a food safety watchdog in an industry-funded effort to keep contaminated and potentially harmful products off supermarket shelves.
Dr John Briffa: Empty promise - The Observer 26/06/05
Recent reports have poured cold water on detox diets, but cleaning out the system provides clear health benefits, argues Dr John Briffa
Baroness urges right to end life for elderly - The Observer 26/06/05
The House of Lords' leading expert on elderly care today calls for doctors to be allowed to help people end their lives.
Young, childless, anxious - The Observer 26/06/05
Young women used to be afraid of getting pregnant. Now they worry about the infertility timebomb. Rebecca Seal, 23, explains why
Junk diet 'will fuel surge in bowel cancer' - The Sunday Times 26/06/05
IRELAND faces a surge in bowel cancer within a generation as a result of the junk food diet of Irish schoolchildren, a leading expert has warned.
Life’s a beach, and then you go clubbing - The Sunday Times 26/06/05
IF you are a tourist from Brum sightseeing is likely to be the last thing on your mind. Young people from the West Midlands are among the most hedonistic in Britain when they go on holiday abroad, according to government research.
We’re all going on a sozzled holiday... - The Sunday Times 26/06/05
'Many ignorant' of organ donation' wishes - Daily Mail 26/06/05
More people know their partner's favourite TV programme than what their wishes are on organ donation, a survey reveals.
Health alert as fans wallow in mud - Daily Mail 26/06/05
Festival goers at Glastonbury have been given a health warning as they faced a nightmare of mud.
Paramedics aim for home treatment - Daily Mail 26/06/05
A new breed of paramedics focused on treating patients in their homes rather than taking people to hospital is to be proposed in a major review of the ambulance service.
GPs' cure for obesity? Move the clocks forward - Daily Mail 26/06/05
Doctors are recommending a bizarre 'cure' for child obesity - putting the clocks forward.
BUPA boss gets the healthiest salary for a woman executive - The Telegraph 26/06/05
Valerie Gooding, the chief executive of private healthcare group BUPA, has become the highest-paid female executive in Britain.
I puffed on a Gauloise as a teenager, says minister behind smoking ban - The Telegraph 26/06/05
As the champion of the Government's proposed smoking ban - and a word-perfect New Labour minister - Patricia Hewitt is not the sort to carry a sneaky packet of Benson & Hedges in her handbag.
'Super paramedics' to treat people at home - The Telegraph 26/06/05
A new breed of "super paramedics" will treat patients at home, drastically reducing the number of people sent to Accident and Emergency departments, the Health Secretary has revealed.
Home treatment paramedics planned - BBC Health News 26/06/05
Good looks are important - but a new home comes first when picking a boyfriend - The Telegraph 26/06/05
Forget the perfect man. Most young women are looking for the perfect mortgage.
HIV drugs block malaria in tests - BBC Health News 25/06/05
Powerful drugs used to treat HIV can also block malaria, researchers say they have shown for the first time.
Zebrafish give cancer spread clue - BBC Health News 25/06/05
A tiny tropical fish is giving scientists clues about how the most serious form of skin cancer develops.
Ask Emma - The Guardian 25/06/05
After several years of discomfort caused by an acid stomach, especially in the mornings, my GP prescribed lansoprazole. Six days later I can report no symptoms. It has been wonderful not to be woken by the acidy sensation. Is there a herbal equivalent?
Last orders for magic mushroom enthusiasts - The Guardian 25/06/05
Bad news for psychedelic fungi fans. There are just 24 more shopping days before magic mushrooms are declared illegal - and that's official.
When illness is ignored - The Guardian 25/06/05
People with mental health problems face discrimination from financial providers and retailers, and have no protection under the law. Vanessa Whitting reports on a problem affecting 7m Brits
Sex is China's latest boom industry - The Guardian 25/06/05
From vibrators to plastic vaginas, the country supplies 70% of all 'adult toys'
EU votes to continue ban on GM crops - The Guardian 25/06/05
The UK failed to persuade the rest of Europe to give in to American pressure and lift the ban on genetically modified crops and food yesterday.
Body strategy - The Guardian 25/06/05
Are there any exercises that target just hips and thighs? I am two stone over-weight but most of the weight is on my thighs (giving me 'saddle bags' - errrk!). I can't get trousers or skirts that fit, and my 'J-Lo' bottom is out of proportion with my tiny waist and B-cup bust. Please help, I feel even worse now I've typed this about my body.
Sex matters with Dr Thomas Stuttaford and Suzi Godson - The Times 25/06/05
Recently, aged 50, I was introduced to S&M practices and I loved it. My girlfriend is worried about my constant demands for stronger sensations but to me it is not pain but pleasure. Is this normal?
Chased by your dreams - The Times 25/06/05
We walk naked, fly, have sex and lose our teeth. Why? New studies unravel our reveries
Life guard for moles - The Times 25/06/05
In the fight against skin cancer a new scanning technique is proving quick and accurate
Moving on: that four-letter word - The Times 25/06/05
Before going back to your ex-boyfriend, first ask what each of you means by love My ex-boyfriend and I still see each other regularly and it is always wonderful. We split up a year ago and neither of us has met anyone serious yet. He was a tricky boyfriend with lots of “issues”, but he is calmer now and, without intending to, I seem to have fallen in love with him again. But I don’t know what to do. I feel loved by him and know that he has never had a more important relationship than with me. But he has always had problems with the word “love” and has unrealistic expectations of what it should be. Should I cut my losses — I’ve probably wasted enough time on him — or tell him how I feel?
Shades of pale - The Times 25/06/05
Michael Jackson has it, but little is known about a skin condition that causes unsightly patches and increases the risk of cancer
Spiritual mould - The Times 25/06/05
Dancer and choreographer Akram Khan tells how his mother taught him to have faith in himself and in the power of prayer
Junk medicine: IVF twins and triplets - The Times 25/06/05
A less-is-more policy for infertility treatment makes both medical and financial sense
Don't get sick, it's the weekend - The Times 25/06/05
Where's the staff? The scarcity of senior hospital doctors, especially on Sundays, endangers lives, says Simon Crompton
Straws save teeth - The Times 25/06/05
Breakthroughs, tips and trends WE ALL know that fizzy pop is bad for us and our teeth, but, hey, it’s summer. So if you or your kids can’t resist cooling off with sugary soft drinks, American dental experts have made a cavity-saving discovery: drinking deep with a straw can cut tooth decay.
Analyse this: ape art - The Times 25/06/05
Are we being chumps over the chimp? WE MIGHT be used to hearing tales of paintings being sold at auction for astronomical prices, but the auction sale of three works for a mere £17,000 had the art world aghast last week. While a Warhol failed to reach its reserve price, these paintings went for more than 14 times their estimate. The artist? A chimpanzee called Congo, celebrated for TV appearances on Desmond Morris’s 1950s Zoo Time.
Infertile ground - The Times 25/06/05
Would-be parents are easy prey for media health scares
Tanning: the golden rules laid bare- The Times 25/06/05
No matter how often we're told that the pale and interesting look is in, we still prefer bronzed skin
No need for a bumpy ride - The Times 25/06/05
We took our six-year-old daughter on a plane for the first time last year and she suffered from travel sickness. Would you advise that we give her medication to prevent sickness this time?
The bill of health [Comment ] - The Times 25/06/05
Hospital management is about life, death and value for money
Greater risk of dying for patients who are admitted at weekends - The Times 25/06/05
PEOPLE who get ill over the weekend run a significantly greater risk of dying in hospital because of a shortage of senior doctors and pressure on resources, research suggests.
CMS Announces Medicare Demonstration for Day Care Services under The Home Health Benefit - Medical News Today 25/06/05
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today announced plans for a demonstration project that will allow some Medicare beneficiaries to receive medical adult day care services under the home health benefit.
Home cures or bananas? - The Times 25/06/05
What do potatoes, vinegar and teabags have in common? They're all folk remedies from your larder
The future on a plate - The Times 25/06/05
Putting our food under the microscope is revealing hidden secrets of health. Meet the dedicated young scientists who know what we'll be tucking into in ten years' time
Strawberries: nutritional jewels of goodness - The Times 25/06/05
At your table with Jane Clarke, the Times nutritionist
High on the hills - The Times 25/06/05
Hilly Janes tries to keep her flock fit and well-fed on a farm-based alpine activity holiday
The sand stormer - The Times 25/06/05
It's one of Earth's toughest races: a six-day slog through the Sahara. Meet the City girl who went in search of her ultimate goal
Not just any body: Nick Bollettieri, 73 - The Times 25/06/05
Celebrity tennis coach Nick Bollettieri has a sure-fire formula for winning - you've got to love it
How bionic man's false hands can feel hot and cold - The Times 25/06/05
AN ELECTRICAL worker whose arms were incinerated by 7,400 volts can shave again thanks to "bionic" replacements that herald a revolution in harnessing brainpower.
Fear over men's 'birth blues' - The Telegraph 24/06/05
Post-natal depression in fathers can have a serious effect on children's future behaviour and emotional development and particularly affects sons, researchers say today.
Soaring sales and contact lenses at Tescos - The Telegraph 24/06/05
Tesco has underlined its dominance of the supermarket sector after it announced sales were running 14.6 per cent higher than a year ago.
Meadow 'underestimated' chances - Daily Mail 24/06/05
Professor Sir Roy Meadow hugely underestimated the likelihood that Sally Clark's two sons died a natural death, the General Medical Council heard.
Cot death numbers don't add up, says eminent statistician - The Times 25/06/05
NHS change may spark doctor exodus - Daily Mail 25/06/05
Rated 3 in National and International News on Jun 25, 2005 at 17:24:42 GMT.
Thousands of junior doctors could abandon the NHS because of an emerging "workforce planning disaster", medical leaders have warned.
BMA warns of job shortages threat - BBC Health News 25/06/05
Deadly superbug hits third hospital - Daily Mail 25/06/05
The deadly superbug Clostridium difficile has struck at a third hospital in Britain, it has been confirmed.
Third hospital is hit by new strain of superbug - The Independent 25/06/05
Psychiatrist suspended over therapy - Daily Mail 25/06/05
A psychiatrist has been suspended by the General Medical Council (GMC) after it heard how he used "masturbation therapy" on his secretary.
US 'under-prepared' for pandemic - Daily Mail 25/06/05
More than a half-million people could die and more than 2.3 million could be hospitalised if a moderately severe strain of pandemic flu virus hits the US, a research group has said.
'More patients dying at weekends' - Daily Mail 25/06/05
Hospital patients are at greater risk of dying at weekends, a report has claimed.
Doctors call for halt to unqualified 'surgeons' - Daily Mail 25/06/05
The Government's plans to allow more non-medically qualified staff to carry out minor operations should be put on hold, doctors' leaders warned today.
Brazil may break Aids drug patent - BBC Health News 25/06/05
Brazil has threatened to break the patent on an anti-Aids drug in order to make a cheaper generic version.
U.S. Should Support Brazil's Efforts To Produce Generic Antiretrovirals, Editorial Says - Medical News Today 25/06/05
Brazil's Efforts to Produce Generic AIDS Drugs Will Hamper Economic Growth, Health Standard Progress, Opinion Piece Says - Medical News Today 26/06/05
Public ignorant of smoking threat to kids - Daily Mail 22/06/05
Almost half of us do not realise that the children of smokers are more likely to start smoking themselves, research revealed today.
'I missed my eight heart attacks' - BBC Health News 25/06/05
Evelyn Dytche worked with the pioneering transplant surgeon Dr Christian Barnard - but she still missed the symptoms of the heart disease which almost killed her.
Test 'identifies new stroke risk' - BBC Health News 25/06/05
Doctors have developed a simple checklist to show if patients who have had a mini-stroke are at immediate risk of a more serious attack.
US approves first 'ethnic drug' - BBC Health News 24/06/05
US drugs regulators have approved a heart failure drug specifically for treating black patients.
Guidance 'exaggerates heart risk' - BBC Health News 24/06/05
Doctors say thresholds for "normal" blood pressure and cholesterol levels have been set so low healthy people might be put on unnecessary medication.
NHS failing to deal with complaints - BBC Health News 23/06/05
The NHS is not doing enough to resolve patient complaints at a local level, says the health service inspectorate.
$5.1 billion could save 6 million children - study - Reuters 24/06/05
Six million children who die each year from preventable diseases could be saved if richer nations gave another $5.1 billion a year, researchers said on Friday.
Australia outlaws using Internet to incite suicide - Reuters 24/06/05
People who use the Internet to incite others to commit suicide or teach them how to kill themselves face fines of up to A$550,000 ($430,000) under tough new laws passed in Australia on Friday.
Cock-eyed optimist? Hey, it can't hurt - Reuters 24/06/05
Having an optimistic outlook on life may not always guarantee a better reaction to stress, as measured by a person's immune status, according to a University of Kentucky psychologist. On the other hand, it doesn't seem to do any harm to have a sunny disposition.
Dark chocolate seen healthy for arteries - Reuters 24/06/05
Eating dark chocolate may have a protective effect on the cardiovascular system in healthy people, the results of a new study suggest.
Vegetarian women weigh less than meat-eaters - Reuters 24/06/05
Women who eat little or no meat are less likely to be overweight than their more carnivorous peers, according to a new study.
Heroin users show Alzheimer's-like brain changes - Reuters 24/06/05
Young people who abuse heroin may suffer brain damage similar to what's seen in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease, according to a new study.
More than three-quarters of docs believe in God - Reuters 24/06/05
The majority of doctors believe in God and attend religious services, and more than half say their religious beliefs affect how they practice medicine, according to new survey results.
Serve kids more food, and they'll eat it - Reuters 24/06/05
When it comes to food, kids tend to eat what's put in front of them even if it exceeds their calorie needs, according to new study findings.
U.S. job-based health care flawed, economists say - Reuters 24/06/05
The U.S. health-care system, which relies on insurance provided through employment, restrains productivity and leaves too many people without coverage, but ditching the system would be costly, economists say.
Antiepileptic drug increases birth defect risk - Reuters 24/06/05
The results of a Finnish population-based study confirm that pregnant women taking the antiepileptic drug valproate run the risk of having a child with birth defects.
More Funding, Commercial Incentives, Cooperation Needed for HIV Vaccine Development, Researchers Say - Medical News Today 26/06/05
An HIV/AIDS vaccine can be developed only with more funding, better commercial incentives and more cooperation among scientists, advocates and researchers said Thursday at a... Senate Committee on Foreign Relations hearing, CQ HealthBeat reports. NIH provides $607 million annually for AIDS vaccine research, and $700 million annually is spent on vaccine research and development worldwide. However, AIDS vaccine research needs $1.2 billion annually, Seth Berkley, president and CEO of the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, said. He urged Congress to pass incentives that would encourage the pharmaceutical industry to become more engaged in the search for a vaccine. "A legally binding agreement to pay a decent price to companies that successfully make an AIDS vaccine for use in the developing world would help overcome the substantial scientific and commercial risks they face," Berkley said. Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) condemned colleagues for last year eliminating funding for a provision that would have provided tax credits to the industry to develop a vaccine, CQ HealthBeat reports. "The Congress of the United States is culpable," Kerry said, adding, "The result is billions of more people are infected and millions more are going to die." Committee Chair Richard Lugar (R-Ind.) has introduced a resolution (SR42) that would support accelerated research on an AIDS vaccine. "We are continuing to work to identify legislative options that might help advance vaccine research," he said. Lugar also is urging the Group of Eight industrialized nations to increase their funding to the Global HIV/AIDS Vaccine Enterprise, which the group launched in June 2004. The G8 is scheduled to meet next month in Gleneagles, Scotland. Helene Gayle -- director for HIV, tuberculosis and reproductive health programs at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation -- said that the development of an effective vaccine will take time and "staying the course over the long haul is really what's key" (CQ HealthBeat [1], 6/23).
Myeloïd Leukaemia - Ipsogen SAS receives 2005 ‘Prize for Innovation'- Medical News Today 26/06/05
Ipsogen SAS today received the Siemens Innovation Trophy, in the medium-sized company category, for its M-bcr FusionQuant® diagnostic kit, indicated for the disease management of patients diagnosed with Chronic Myeloïd Leukaemia.
Mulitple stem cells appear to maintain human small intestines - Medical News Today 26/06/05
The adult small intestine is composed of millions of crypts and cells that constantly divide and die. The methylation patterns of cells in the small intestine suggest that the crypts within the small intestine contain multiple stem cells.
Nominations invited for award in inspirational training in General Practice, UK - Medical News Today 26/06/05
The Paul Freeling Award, for innovative and meritorious work in the field of vocational training in general practice enters its second year. The Award presented by the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) is open to GP course organisers and trainers.
GenoMed's West Nile Virus Treatment Abruptly Stopped, Patient Deteriorates - Medical News Today 26/06/05
GenoMed announced today that its first presumed West Nile virus encephalitis patient is doing poorly after GenoMed's treatment was abruptly stopped last week.
‘You can trust any generic drug as much as you trust its brand name equivalent' - Medical News Today 26/06/05
The white pill on the left will restore a person's health. The white pill on the right is advertised as being the same drug, but it costs half as much.
Psychiatric Illnesses Common in Children with Newly Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes - Medical News Today 26/06/05
As many as one in five children with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes may also have a neuropsychiatric disorder, according to a new study. The illnesses include depression, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism, developmental delay, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder. The research suggests that children with a neuropsychiatric disease may be at risk for type 2 diabetes, and vice versa. “Our findings may be important in screening practices for children with either of these conditions,” said the study's leader, pediatric endocrinologist Lorraine E. Levitt Katz, M.D., of The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. “Obese children with neuropsychiatric conditions should be screened for diabetes, and children with insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes should be screened for psychiatric conditions.” The researchers found that 46 (19 percent) of 237 children at Children's Hospital diagnosed with type 2 diabetes had previously been diagnosed with neuropsychiatric disease (NPD). The retrospective study, the first to report the frequency of NPD in a cohort of children with type 2 diabetes, appears in the June issue of Pediatric Diabetes. “Of the subset of children in our sample with neuropsychiatric disorders, a substantial number were treated with psychiatric medications reported to cause weight gain,” said Robert Berkowitz, M.D., chief of Psychiatry at Children's Hospital, and senior author of the study. “However, this is not the only factor at work, as not all of the medications cause weight gain. Depression, as well as other neuropsychiatric illnesses, may itself lead to a sedentary lifestyle, which places children at risk for type 2 diabetes.” While this study examined previously diagnosed neuropsychiatric disease, the true frequency of neuropsychiatric conditions in children with type 2 diabetes may be considerably higher, say the researchers. “For some children, diabetes may occur first, and help contribute to depression and other NPDs,” Dr. Berkowitz added. “Some researchers suspect that both depression and diabetes have a common basis in the neuroendocrine system, and one disease may help to stimulate the other.” Type 2 diabetes, formerly called adult-onset diabetes and still most common in adults, has been increasing sharply among children over the past decade, in parallel with growing numbers of overweight and obese children. Type 2 diabetes has especially been rising among African American adolescents, who comprised a majority of the patients in the current study. Although the most effective treatment for type 2 diabetes in children is not known, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia is participating in a national multicenter trial, comparing medication with the effects of lifestyle changes such as diet and increased exercise. “For most children, a diagnosis of diabetes demands dramatic lifestyle changes,” added Dr. Katz. “If the child has a neuropsychiatric disease as well, there are additional challenges, which physicians and caregivers need to factor into the child's treatment to achieve the best results.” In addition to Drs. Katz and Berkowitz, co-authors were Sanjeev Swami, M.D., Maire Abraham, Kathryn M. Murphy, Abbas F. Jawad, Ph.D., and Heather McKnight-Menci, all of The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. About The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia: The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia was founded in 1855 as the nation's first pediatric hospital. Through its long-standing commitment to providing exceptional patient care, training new generations of pediatric healthcare professionals and pioneering major research initiatives, Children's Hospital has fostered many discoveries that have benefited children worldwide. Its pediatric research program is among the largest in the country, ranking second in National Institutes of Health funding. In addition, its unique family-centered care and public service programs have brought the 430-bed hospital recognition as a leading advocate for children and adolescents. For more information, visit http://www.chop.edu. Children's Hospital of Philadelphia 34th & Civic Center Blvd. Philadelphia, PA 19104 United States http://www.chop.edu For more information on bipolar disorder click here. For more information on depression click here. For more information on diabetes click here. For more information on schizophrenia click here. Huge database of hospitals world wide . Save time! 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Childhood Cancer Survivors Face Educational Challenges Years After Treatment - Medical News Today 26/06/05
Each year in the United States approximately 12,500 children and adolescents-the equivalent of two average size classrooms each school day-are diagnosed with cancer. About half of all children with cancer have a brain tumor or acute leukemia. These types of cancer and their treatment involve the Central Nervous System, often causing problems that will later affect learning.
Children Prone to Ear Infections Have High Rates of Disease Producing Bacteria - Medical News Today 26/06/05
Children who are prone to frequent ear infections may have a high number of potentially infectious bacteria and a relatively low number of protective bacteria in their noses, according to a study in the June issue of Archives of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
Keyhole Surgery Is a Safe Option for Colon Cancer - Medical News Today 26/06/05
Keyhole surgery can be safely used for the removal of tumours from the colon, concludes a study published online today (Tuesday June 21, 2005) by The Lancet Oncology.
Restoring Flow to All Blocked Areas of the Heart Improves 5-Year Survival Rate - Medical News Today 26/06/05
Pointing out that not all coronary artery bypass operations are performed the same way or have equivalent outcomes, cardiothoracic surgeons at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center have found that patients who have blockages of multiple coronary arteries and undergo “complete revascularization” - grafting of arteries to restore blood flow to all affected territories of the heart - have consistently better long-term survival rates than those who have “incomplete revascularization.”
Early Detection of Thick Melanomas - Medical News Today 26/06/05
Despite campaigns promoting early detection and increased awareness of melanoma (skin cancer) the proportion of the most aggressive and deadly form of melanoma remains the same, according to an article in the June issue of Archives of Dermatology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
Link Between Foxp2 Gene and Language Development - Medical News Today 26/06/05
The Foxp2 gene plays an essential role in the development of social communication, according to a study led by researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine.
ADMA May Be New Risk Factor for Progressive Kidney Disease - Medical News Today 26/06/05
For patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), a molecular marker of blood vessel damage may help to predict further loss of kidney function, suggest two studies in the August Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
Endocarditis Infection Commonly Related to Health Care Factors - Medical News Today 26/06/05
An international study reveals that infective endocarditis, infection and inflammation involving the heart valves is commonly associated with health care factors and is increasingly due to staphylococcal infection, according to a study in the June 22/29 issue of JAMA.
Study Examines Characteristics of Cancers of the Esophagus - Medical News Today 26/06/05
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) may be associated with more cases of cancers than previously thought, according to a study in the June issue of Archives of Surgery, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
Identifying People at High-Risk of Stroke After a ‘Mini-Stroke' - Medical News Today 26/06/05
UK researchers have derived a simple risk score to predict stroke in the 7 days after a person has had a transient ischaemic attack (TIA) or mini-stroke, reporting their results in a study published online today (Tuesday June 21, 2005) by The Lancet.
First Trimester Risk Assessment for Down Syndrome: Practical, Ethical Considerations - Medical News Today 26/06/05
Risk Assessment for trisomy 21, also known as Down Syndrome (a condition in which there are three copies of chromosome 21 instead of two), can give parents and healthcare providers the critical information needed to prepare for the birth of a special needs child or make an informed decision about whether to continue a pregnancy. As diagnostic methods have evolved, both the accuracy and the ability to diagnose earlier in the pregnancy have improved.
Cause of Bedsores and Other Chronic Wounds - Medical News Today 26/06/05
A study conducted by NYU School of Medicine researchers, in collaboration with the Wound Healing Program at Columbia University, sheds new light on the molecular mechanisms underlying the development of chronic wounds. The findings may help clinicians predict which wounds are likely to become chronic - a key bit of information, since the sooner treatment is started, the better the outcome. The research also raises the hope for new treatments for chronic wounds by identifying possible targets for intervention.
Know How to Avoid Lightning - Medical News Today 26/06/05
Public education efforts on avoiding lightning strike injuries may be paying off in the form of a 40 percent decrease from predicted fatalities and injuries, according to Dr. Mary Ann Cooper, director of the lightning injury research program and professor in the department of emergency medicine at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Antibiotic Treatment Not Necessary for Most Children with Conjunctivitis - Medical News Today 26/06/05
Most children with infective conjunctivitis (pinkeye) do not need treatment with an antibiotic, suggests a study published online on Wednesday June 22, 2005 by The Lancet.
Researcher Puts Attention on ADHD Drug Treatment - Medical News Today 26/06/05
The use of drugs to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder has grown in the last decade, but it's those who live in the most affluent areas of the United States who are most likely to get medication for the disorder.
Stepping on a nail barefoot - Medical News Today 26/06/05
Going barefoot is a delight, but a puncture wound from stepping on a nail can cure one of such hedonistic pleasures. "Any nail puncture wound requires immediate cleansing with soap and water, followed by evaluation at the local emergency room," said UAB podiatrist James Thomas, D.P.M.
Restoring a More Normal Appearance to Children with Facial Deformities - Medical News Today 26/06/05
“I just want to stand in line in the grocery store and not have people stare at my child or ask me questions about what happened to him.” Mark M. Urata, M.D., D.D.S., director of the Cedars-Sinai Craniofacial Clinic, hears this often from parents of children with craniofacial problems (abnormalities of the head and neck). It's common, he says, for a parent to want other people to see their child the same way they do. But parents of children with craniofacial anomalies sometimes believe this is impossible because their child looks so different from others.
Ramelteon Helped Adults with Chronic Insomnia - Medical News Today 26/06/05
Ramelteon, a novel investigational compound under review with the FDA for the treatment of insomnia, reduced the time it took to fall asleep and increased total sleep time in adults with chronic insomnia, according to results from a Phase 3 study presented this week at the 19th Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies (APSS). Results of the study also showed no evidence of rebound insomnia, next-day impairments or withdrawal effects due to discontinuation.
Stem Cells Grown in Lab Mirror Normal Developmental Steps - Medical News Today 26/06/05
Johns Hopkins scientists have developed a way to study the earliest steps of human blood development using human embryonic stem cells grown in a lab dish instead of the embryos themselves.
UNICEF, Chinese Group Launch Campaign To End Discrimination Against AIDS Orphans in China - Medical News Today 26/06/05
UNICEF and the not-for-profit organization China Youth Concern Committee on Wednesday announced the launch of a public awareness campaign aimed at ending discrimination against Chinese children who have lost one or both parents to HIV/AIDS, the AP/Yahoo! News reports. The campaign -- the first of its kind in China -- includes a pop song sung by celebrity Vicky Zhao and a short cartoon about "a lonely child whose life is changed by making new friends," according to the AP/Yahoo! News. A Chinese law adopted last year prohibits discrimination angainst anyone with an infectious disease, including HIV/AIDS. However, according to Christian Voumard, UNICEF representative in China, many children who are HIV-positive or orphaned are frequently mistreated by classmates and teachers because of a lack of knowledge about the disease. "Despite the achievements made in China to address HIV/AIDS, the associated stigma and discrimination remains a challenge that is yet to be adequately addressed," Voumard said. Zhao said she wants her song "to tell everyone that we need to understand and help these kids and let them know that there can be a brighter tomorrow." According to the Chinese government, there are about 840,000 HIV-positive people and 80,000 people living with AIDS in the country (Olesen, AP/Yahoo! News, 6/22).
New Minimally Invasive Surgery Treats Early Lung Cancers - Medical News Today 25/06/05
A new surgical technique offered at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center is helping people with early stage lung cancer recover more quickly with less pain.
Mutliple Sclerosis - FTY720, a novel once-daily oral medication, shows promising results - Medical News Today 25/06/05
Phase II data presented today at the 15th European Neurological Society (ENS) meeting in Vienna showed that FTY720, a novel oral medication for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS), reduced the rate of clinical relapses by more than 50% and inflammatory disease activity as measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) by up to 80% over six months compared to placebo.
FDA approves new anti-HIV drug Aptivus® for use in combination therapy - Medical News Today 25/06/05
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted accelerated approval of Aptivus (tipranavir) capsules. Accelerated approval is a regulatory process that expedites the approval of therapies for serious or life-threatening illnesses that provide meaningful benefit to patients over existing treatments. This approval is based on 24-week data from ongoing studies. Longer term data will be needed before FDA can consider traditional approval for Aptivus. There are no study results demonstrating the effect of Aptivus on clinical progression of HIV-1.
Robotic System for Laparoscopic Prostatectomy - Medical News Today 25/06/05
The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test was supposed to be a routine part of a routine physical exam. But the level was slightly elevated, leading to a biopsy and the eventual diagnosis of early-stage, moderately aggressive prostate cancer.
FDA grants priority review for Exjade® for the treatment of chronic iron overload due to blood transfusions - Medical News Today 25/06/05
Novartis announced today that its New Drug Application for Exjade® (deferasirox) has been granted priority review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a once-daily oral iron chelator for the treatment of chronic iron overload due to blood transfusions.
Using Botox for Migraine and Headache Treatment, Phase II Studies - Medical News Today 25/06/05
Allergan Inc has completed several exploratory Phase II clinical trials investigating the potential use of BOTOX® (botulinum toxin type A) to treat various forms of headache and levels of headache severity, in an effort to identify a responsive patient population, dose and efficacy endpoints to guide its Phase III program.
PEGASYS Plus Ribavirin COPEGUS, Combination Therapy for Hepatitis C, Trial Results - Medical News Today 25/06/05
Chugai Pharmaceutical (TSE: 4519) announced the results of its phase three clinical trial it had conducted in Japan on combination therapy that used PEGASYS, pegylated interferon alpha-2a (genetic recombination), plus ribavirin COPEGUS, at the 41st Annual Conference of the Japan Society of Hepatology held in Osaka on June 16 and 17.
Osaka Bioscience Institute Verifies Caffeine's Stimulant Effects at Molecular Level - Medical News Today 25/06/05
The National Agriculture and Bio-oriented Research Organization (NARO) announced on June 17 that a research group organized by the Osaka Bioscience Institute (OBI) has verified the mechanism of caffeine's stimulant effects at the molecular level. According to the group, the stimulant effects are regulated by the adenosine A2A receptor.
FDA Approves BiDil, First Racially Targeted Treatment - Medical News Today 25/06/05
FDA on Thursday approved BiDil, a heart failure medication developed by Massachusetts-based... NitroMed, for use in black patients, a "controversial step toward a new frontier of personalized medicine," the New York Times reports. BiDil marks the first medication approved by FDA for use in a specific racial group (Saul, New York Times, 6/24). In a recent study, BiDil reduced the risk of heart disease in black patients. In the study, which involved 1,050 black patients with moderate to advanced heart failure, half of participants received BiDil, a combination of the heart disease medications isosorbide dinitrate and hydralazine, and half received a placebo. After three years, 32 participants who received BiDil died, compared with 54 who received a placebo, the study found. In addition, the study found that the number of first hospital admissions for heart failure among participants who received BiDil was 33% less than the number among those who received a placebo (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Reports, 6/17). According to FDA spokesperson Suzanne Trevino, the BiDil label will state that the medication is effective in self-identified black patients but has not proven effective among other racial groups (Roylance, Baltimore Sun, 6/24). However, physicians likely will prescribe BiDil to patients in other racial groups as an off-label use, according to Flora Sam, who led a BiDil study at Boston Medical Center (Henderson, Boston Globe, 6/24). NitroMed has not announced the price of BiDil. NitroMed officials said that they will begin to market BiDil almost immediately and that sales representatives will focus on physicians who treat a large number of black heart failure patients (New York Times, 6/24).
Microbes Can Produce Miniature Electrical Wires - Medical News Today 25/06/05
Researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst have discovered a tiny biological structure that is highly electrically conductive. This breakthrough helps describe how microorganisms can clean up groundwater and produce electricity from renewable resources. It may also have applications in the emerging field of nanotechnology, which develops advanced materials and devices in extremely small dimensions.
Innovative ideas to protect drinking water - Medical News Today 25/06/05
National Geographic Germany and Bayer AG are committing a total of EUR 250,000 in funding to promote new research on drinking water protection. As part of the "National Geographic Global Exploration Fund", the two companies are supporting scientific projects aimed at researching the exploitation, distribution and responsible use of water around the world. The shortage of freshwater is viewed as the biggest problem facing the world's population today. More than one billion people currently have no access to clean drinking water, and this trend is accelerating. The fund set up by National Geographic and Bayer is aimed particularly at scientists in the German-speaking countries. A scientific committee made up of prominent members will decide which projects are eligible for support.
Protein synthesis can be controlled by light, opening way for new scientific, medical applications - Medical News Today 25/06/05
Proteins are the puzzle-pieces of life, involved in how organisms grow and flourish, but studying their complex biological processes in living systems has been extremely difficult. Now, a team of chemists and neurobiologists led by Timothy Dore at the University of Georgia and Erin M. Schuman at the California Institute of Technology has found a way to use light to regulate protein synthesis in specific locations.
Wrapping Radiation Around Spine to Provide Cancer Pain Relief, Jefferson Neurosurgeons, Radiation Oncologists - Medical News Today 25/06/05
Using the most advanced radiation technology currently available in the region, neurosurgeons and radiation oncologists at the Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience and Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia have for the first time wrapped beams of radiation around a patient's spine, relieving pain from several cancerous tumors there while avoiding the spinal cord.
Japanese doctors likelier to involve patients' families in decisions than US doctors - Medical News Today 25/06/05
Medical residents in Japan are more likely to involve patients' families in end-of-life decision making--and to favor informing family members over the patients first-- than their United States counterparts, who prefer dealing directly with the patient, according to a new study conducted by Dr. Bob Gabbay and colleagues.
Gene changes linked to deficient immune suppression in MS - Medical News Today 25/06/05
Oregon Health & Science University researchers have measured genetic changes reflecting a drop in the body's ability to suppress inflammatory cells that attack nerve fibers and promote progression of multiple sclerosis.
First human trials of anti-cancer drug that targets protein AKT, Moffitt-USF - Medical News Today 25/06/05
H Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, working in partnership with the University of South Florida (USF), has discovered a new use for an old, previously discredited anti-cancer drug that could add another weapon in the arsenal against several cancers, including tumors of the breast, ovary, colon, skin and prostate.
Enzyme's newly discovered role may make it target for arthritis treatment - Medical News Today 25/06/05
Scientists have found a new role for a previously identified enzyme that may make it a target for anti-inflammatory treatments.
New food allergy research consortium focuses on peanut allergy - Medical News Today 25/06/05
The only advice doctors can give to the 4 percent of Americans with potentially life-threatening food allergies is to avoid the culprit food, often nuts or shellfish. But that may change as researchers in a new Food Allergy Research Consortium, announced today, strive to develop therapies to treat and prevent food allergy.
Common drugs can calm essential tremor, new guidelines - Medical News Today 25/06/05
Imagine not being able to hold a glass, tie your shoelaces or write a check. For people with the common movement disorder known as essential tremor, simple tasks requiring fine motor coordination become increasingly difficult, sometimes even impossible. Three times more prevalent than Parkinson's disease, essential tremor involves uncontrollable shaking of the hands, arms, head or voice. The largely hereditary neurological condition can begin in early adulthood and worsen with age.
Condom Promotion Important Part of Responsible HIV/AIDS Prevention Models in Africa, Letter to Editor Says - Medical News Today 25/06/05
"It is both reasonable and necessary to challenge those who promote positions and policies that lead to greater suffering and death from AIDS,"... Catholics for a Free Choice President Frances Kissling writes in a Seattle Times letter to the editor in response to a June 17 Times opinion piece (Kissling, Seattle Times, 6/22). Kathryn Jean Lopez, editor of National Review Online, in a Times opinion piece said condom promotion has been ineffective in Africa but promoting abstinence and fidelity has shown promising results on the continent, especially in Uganda (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 6/20). However, a 2002 study by U.S. and Ugandan researchers showed that the greatest factor in reducing Uganda's HIV prevalence was premature death among HIV-positive people, and the second-most-important factor was condom use, according to Kissling. "It is a shame Lopez has chosen to trivialize the efforts of those working to stem the spread of AIDS in Africa" by showing "a willful disregard of epidemiological studies and a lack of understanding of the complexity of HIV/AIDS prevention work," Kissling says. "Responsible prevention models" in the fight against HIV/AIDS should include "compatible messages and evidence-based strategies that integrate the A, B and C approach (Abstain; Be faithful; use Condoms)," Kissling writes (Seattle Times, 6/22).
S. African Court Reserves Judgment on Treatment Action Campaign Case Against Vitamin Advocate - Medical News Today 25/06/05
A South African court on Tuesday reserved judgment in the South African HIV/AIDS treatment advocacy group... Treatment Action Campaign's defamation lawsuit against German vitamin advocate Matthias Rath, who has accused TAC of being a front for pharmaceutical companies, Reuters AlertNet reports. Judge Siraj Desai said the court will rule on the case within the "next few weeks" (Reuters AlertNet, 6/21). TAC has asked the Cape Town High Court to issue a temporary injunction to prevent Rath and the California-based Dr. Rath Health Foundation from making defamatory statements about TAC. In some of his advertisements, including full-page ads in the New York Times and the International Herald Tribune, Rath claims antiretroviral drugs are toxic and suggests that TAC has misled people to believe that "exorbitantly expensive and highly toxic drugs like AZT and nevirapine" can successfully treat HIV infection. TAC has encouraged the South African government to provide access to antiretroviral drugs for HIV-positive people in the country. Rath and his foundation have filed a response to TAC's request, saying that the foundation's claims about antiretrovirals are true and their criticism of TAC is allowed under the country's constitutional right to free expression (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 5/31). After the court's announcement, TAC Chair Zackie Achmat said his organization will push for Rath to be arrested, South Africa's Cape Times reports (Schroeder/Maclennan, Cape Times, 6/22). TAC has accused Rath's staff of involving township residents in "unauthorized, pseudo-medical experiments," the SAPA/Mail & Guardian reports. The Medicines Control Council is looking into Rath's activities (SAPA/Mail & Guardian, 6/21).
Stevens Approach Successfully Repairs Inverted Nipples and Preserves Milk Ducts - Medical News Today 25/06/05
A Southern California plastic surgeon renowned for his expertise on breast surgery has created an innovative technique for correcting inverted nipples. Approximately 2 percent of the female population suffers from inverted nipples and the deformity can aversely affect self-esteem, sexuality, and, in severe cases, the ability to breastfeed.
Cholera in Afghanistan, WHO - Medical News Today 25/06/05
From 25 May to 16 June, the Ministry of Health, Afghanistan reported a total of 3245 cases of acute watery diarrhoea in Kabul city. Out of these 777 were hospitalised for severe dehydration. Vibrio cholerae has been laboratory confirmed in 30 stool samples out of 44.
Fight Against AIDS in Developing Countries Faces Multibillion-Dollar Shortfall - Medical News Today 25/06/05
Global funding to fight HIV/AIDS in developing countries faces a multibillion-dollar shortfall over the next three years, according to a... UNAIDS report to be released at the end of this month, the AP/Las Vegas Sun reports. UNAIDS officials on Wednesday announced their projections that only $8.9 billion will be available in 2006, although $14.7 billion will be required, and only $10 billion will be available in 2007, despite the need for $17.8 billion that year. The officials did not provide projections on the likely amount of available funding in 2008, but UNAIDS estimates that nearly $22 billion will be needed that year (AP/Las Vegas Sun, 6/22). In 2004, funding from all sources totaled $6.1 billion, and about $8 billion is expected to be available this year (Reuters, 6/22). UNAIDS Executive Director Peter Piot said in a statement, "AIDS poses an exceptional threat to humanity, and the response needs to be equally exceptional, recognizing the urgency as well as the need for long-term planning and financing," adding, "We have come a long way in mobilizing extra funds for AIDS, moving from millions to billions, but we still fall short" (AFP/Yahoo! News, 6/22). If the funding necessary for 2006 through 2008 is provided, 75% of HIV-positive people in need of treatment would have access to antiretrovirals by 2008, more than 1,000 new health centers would be built by 2010, and 19,000 health centers and 800 hospitals could be renovated over the next three years. In addition, prevention efforts could be scaled up, support for AIDS orphans in sub-Saharan Africa could be improved and expanded, and the cost of efforts to recruit and train more physicians, nurses and health workers in low-income countries would be covered (UNAIDS release, 6/21). Roughly 38 million people worldwide -- 25 million of them in sub-Saharan Africa -- are living with HIV/AIDS. The World Health Organization estimates that only about 700,000 of the more than six million HIV-positive people who need antiretroviral treatment had access to antiretrovirals as of December 2004 (Reuters, 6/22).
How Do We Learn Our Way Around New Environments? - Medical News Today 25/06/05
How do we learn our way around new environments, such as when you move to a new city? Scientists have been asking this question for many years, and new findings from brain imaging studies are helping to answer it.
Six months after tsunami, UN agencies say hardest work lies ahead - Medical News Today 24/06/05
Six months after the tsunami ripped through communities across the Indian Ocean last December, the development agencies most involved in the recovery effort said the toughest challenges still lie ahead - including the complex issues of where to re-establish housing, how to quickly restore livelihoods, and what to prioritize now that the immediate relief phase is over.
KQED's 'Health Dialogues' To Examine HIV/AIDS Transmission, Prevention - Medical News Today 24/06/05
KQED's... "Health Dialogues," a live, monthly call-in program sponsored by the California Endowment to examine health care issues in the state, on Thursday will air a discussion about the transmission of HIV -- especially the increasing number of infections among blacks and men who have sex with men -- and efforts to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS. Guests scheduled to appear on the program include Harold Atkins, president of the board of Centerforce, an HIV prevention and education program at San Quentin State Prison; Cynthia Davis, director of HIV education and outreach programs at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science in Los Angeles; Juan Ruiz, chief of the HIV/AIDS epidemiology branch of the California Department of Health Services Office of AIDS; and Michael Siever, director of the Stonewall Project, a San Francisco program addressing safety issues among MSM and crystal methamphetamine users (Shafer, "Health Dialogues," KQED, 6/23). Check state radio stations for availability. Audio of the program will be available online in RealPlayer after the broadcast.
WHO programme to strengthen links between health research and practice - Medical News Today 24/06/05
The World Health Organization will this month launch an innovative programme to reduce the gap between health research and practice.
Researchers Investigating Male Circumcision as HIV/AIDS Prevention Tool in Uganda, 'The World' Reports - Medical News Today 24/06/05
In the absence of an HIV/AIDS vaccine, researchers have begun investigating whether male circumcision could help protect against contracting the virus,... "The World" -- a production of BBC World Service, PRI and WGBH Boston -- reported on Wednesday. Previous studies have shown that African men who are circumcised are less likely than uncircumcised men to be HIV-positive, but because most circumcised men in the region are Muslim, it is unclear if the protective effect is because of the circumcision itself or because Muslim men tend to have fewer extramarital sex partners. In order to evaluate whether circumcision protects against HIV infection, Maria Waver of Columbia University and colleagues have recruited about 3,000 HIV-negative men in Uganda to participate in a clinical trial, in which some men will be circumcised immediately and others will delay undergoing the surgical procedure. The researchers will follow both groups of men to see if there is a difference in HIV prevalence (Fink, "The World," PRI, 6/22). The complete segment is available online in Windows Media.
Stark inequalities for people with mental disorders, WHO - Medical News Today 24/06/05
The World Health Organization (WHO) is giving countries an important new legal tool to help address the often unacceptable conditions in which people with mental disabilities live.
Current GM foods can bring benefits but safety assessments must continue - Medical News Today 24/06/05
New, genetically modified (GM) foods can contribute to enhancing human health and development, the World Health Organization (WHO) concludes in a new report on GM foods, issued today. However the report also stresses the need for continued safety assessments on GM before they are marketed, to prevent risks to both human health and the environment.
FDA Approves Boehringer Ingelheim's Protease Inhibitor Aptivus To Treat Drug-Resistant HIV - Medical News Today 24/06/05
FDA on Wednesday approved Boehringer Ingelheim's protease inhibitor Aptivus to be used in combination with... Abbott Laboratories' Norvir for HIV/AIDS patients who have become resistant to other drugs, Reuters reports. Boehringer on Wednesday said Aptivus -- known generically as tipranavir -- will be available at pharmacies nationwide within two weeks (Reuters, 6/23). Protease inhibitors work by blocking the action of an enzyme that cuts HIV proteins into the shorter sections that the virus needs to replicate (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 5/4). Although FDA has approved eight other protease inhibitors, most HIV/AIDS patients develop resistance to the drugs at some time. Boehringer said it hopes to gain approval of Aptivus from E.U. regulators by the end of this year, according to Andres Barner, the company's head of research (Reuters, 6/23).
Cheshire and Mersey News
Make home a smokefree zone - Maghull & Aintree Star 23/06/05
SEFTON residents are urged to stump out the ciggy in your home and pack in smoking.
A shining light for cancer sufferers - Warrington Guardian 25/06/05
YOUNG women diagnosed with breast cancer can now access a new support network in memory of a truly inspirational figurehead.
Sterilising service to be farmed out? - Warrington Guardian 24/06/05
WARRINGTON Hospital has confirmed that its theatre services sterilising service could be farmed out to a private company in Wythenshawe.
Ward closure would be 'criminal' - family - Warrington Guardian 24/06/05
THE family of a patient on a Warrington Hospital ward threatened with closure say the idea is 'criminal'.
Rise in operations at hospital - Runcorn World 24/06/05
HALTON Hospital is taking on more and more complex operations, says North Cheshire Hospitals boss Ian Dalton.
Greater Manchester News
Home treatment plan for paramedics - Manchester Evening News 26/06/05
PLANS to send highly-trained paramedics to deal with most 999 calls on the spot rather than taking patients to hospital by ambulance have been criticised by union leaders.
Mum identifies gap in the market - Bury Times 25/06/05
A HEART stopping moment inspired Nadine Lewis to turn entrepreneur. The mother-of-three's panic when she lost one of her two toddler twins in a busy Trafford Centre spurred her to create a range of kiddie-tagging ID products that are now taking the country by storm.
Smoking is my religion [Letter] - Bolton Evening News 25/06/05
I HAVE just seen the light and promptly lit up my cigarette and drunk my coffee, a ritual I perform every morning.
Disillusionment in dental health and democracy [Letter] - Bolton Evening News 25/06/05
WHEN Bolton's dentists say they are prepared to fight anti-fluoride protesters through the courts, (Bolton Evening News, June 15), I think that they have a cheek to come out with a statement like that.
Fairfield doctors call on bosses to resign - Bury Times 24/06/05
SENIOR doctors at Fairfield Hospital are calling for their bosses to resign after an overwhelming majority passed a vote of no confidence in their management.
Pure fresh water on tap [Letter] - Bolton Evening News 24/06/05
ON the matter of fluoride in our water supply. I live in Horwich, and the water is undrinkable now due to too much chlorine.
Worsening state of our health [Letter] - Bolton Evening News 24/06/05
MANY thanks to Brian Derbyshire for his well constructed letter. I support his dental health message and the way that he has raised his children. It would be great if all parents were as well motivated.
Patients' plea for more special nurses - Bolton Evening News 24/06/05
PATIENTS suffering from a chronic disease are calling for more specialist nurses to help ease their symptoms.
Hundreds queue for dentist - Manchester Evening News 24/06/05
HUNDREDS of people queued in the pouring rain for up to four hours to register at an NHS dentists last night.
Healthy gardeners find the plot - Manchester Evening News 24/06/05
HEALTH-conscious young families are snapping up allotments across the north west, shaking off their old flat-cap image.
Soccer Mike's a man of vision - Manchester Evening News 24/06/05
MANCHESTER City legend Mike Summerbee was left completely in the dark during an awareness campaign.
