Monday, August 15, 2005

National and International News



'Severe shortage' of sperm donors - The Guardian 15/08/05

Government plans to make fertility treatment more accessible to single women and lesbian couples are likely to be ineffective because of a severe shortage of sperm donors, a leading fertility expert has told the Guardian.


BSE meat curbs to be eased - The Guardian 15/08/05

The long-awaited lifting of the anti-BSE measure that keeps meat from older cattle out of food may finally happen in November, nearly 10 years after the rule was introduced.


Diabetes UK worried at loss of choice - The Guardian 15/08/05

Modern insulin treatments for people with diabetes are making the condition worse for some patients, it is claimed today.


How to reverse a decline - The Guardian 15/08/05

There were, as old hands in public health were quick to point out, unwelcome echoes from the past in the government's report on inequality last week. Like the Black report of 25 years ago, it showed a serious widening of health inequalities. Worse still, like the Black report it was slipped out during the summer parliamentary recess in an attempt to bury the bad news. A wholly inadequate press release, which failed to lead with the report's findings, omitted to provide even the title of the report, let alone its key message. This is hardly the action of a government intent on trying to restore much-needed public trust.


This is not just another act of God - this is ingrained poverty - The Observer 14/08/05

In this eyewitness account from Niamey, the capital of Niger, acclaimed British singer-songwriter Tom McRae finds nature and economics pursuing a relentless assault on the hungry millions


Tragedy of US drugs craze orphans - The Observer 14/08/05

The House of Hope stands on land cleared by a tornado that roared through the woods a few years ago near this little town. But the vulnerable children inside are more concerned with man-made dangers. In this corner of rural America something out there is much worse than a twister: it is called crystal meth.


Voulez-vous boire avec moi ce soir? - The Observer 14/08/05

It's time the British learnt to enjoy drinking, as we do in France, argues Agnes Poirier


Doherty self-harm scenes cut by BBC - The Observer 14/08/05

Graphic footage of rock star Pete Doherty deliberately harming himself will not appear in a forthcoming fly-on-the-wall documentary about the former Libertines' singer, as had been feared by mental health charities.


Teenage kicks - The Observer 14/08/05

At school, novelist Emily Maguire wanted to be told her desires were normal. But sex education let her down - and today's adolescents still get a raw deal


The tooth, the whole tooth... - The Observer 14/08/05

From the biting satire of Swift to Martin Amis's morbid fascination, writers have long been obsessed with pearlies, writes Peter Conrad. Now there's a comic but graphic tale of dentistry showing at a cinema near you. Open wide ...


Drinking classes - The Observer 14/08/05

British holidaymakers face difficult choices. Should they spend their summers within the British Isles, and gamble on being eaten by mako sharks off the Cornish coast, or risk an interminable wait for a flight lying prostrate outside WH Smith at London Heathrow? Global warming looks like tipping the balance in favour of staying home. Latest reports predict that heatwaves in Britain will soon be biennial events, so that holidaymakers, with a few changes in their habits, could enjoy Mediterranean breaks right here.


Sperm-by-post websites facing ban over HIV risk - The Observer 14/08/05

Nightclub pick-ups are more dangerous for women desperate to have a baby, warns MP


Oliver James: The mental block - The Observer 14/08/05

People usually regard wilderness countryside as more beautiful than cultivated nature and unhappy people often find solace in it. However, a series of studies shows that wilderness is also strongly associated with both death and uncontrollability and that in order to feel the beauty, we have to manage these fears. People who had an active attitude to the management of their thoughts and feelings were better at enjoying wilderness. Implication: as you gaze out at your desert or wild forest holiday destination, or from the cliffs by the sea, suppress those morbid thoughts in order to feel inspired.


On the couch - The Observer 14/08/05

Pyschoanalysis has been dismissed by certain medical and academic thinking, says Oliver James. But one man is making Freud's legacy fashionable again


Dear John - The Observer 14/08/05

Eighteen months ago I was diagnosed with coeliac disease (sensitivity to gluten). A year later I was diagnosed with lactose intolerance. My health has improved on elimination of offending foods, but I still feel over-full and bloated after meals. My nutritionist has suggested eliminating other foods, though this has not helped. Have you any advice?


Foodmania! - The Observer 14/08/05

One day we detox, the next we binge. One week it's the organic veg box, the next it's a KFC bucket. And if we're now a nation of foodies how come we spend more than ever on fast food? Have we all got mad chow disease, asks Mimi Spencer


We are family - The Observer 14/08/05

There are 50,000 kids in foster care in the UK. But, according to a new report, we urgently need 10,000 more volunteers to take often troubled young people into their homes. Tom Templeton meets supermum Birdie McDonald, and some of her 850 children


Emergency workers join the blog set - The Observer 14/08/05

There have been blogs about political conspiracies, Hollywood tittle-tattle and care of cats. Ellen MacArthur wrote one as she sailed round the world. Now a new phenomenon is taking over the blogosphere. Underpaid and overworked public sector staff are writing about their daily lives spent trying to keep Britain operating smoothly.


Annabelle Bond - The Observer 14/08/05

The world's fastest female climber


Why I want to be British - The Observer 14/08/05

As the country struggles to define its national identity after the London bombs, the Observer's Ned Temko explains why he will affirm his loyalty by swearing allegiance to the Queen


I should cocoa - The Observer 14/08/05

Move over broccoli and spinach: a daily dose of dark chocolate could lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, says Dr John Briffa


Blair pledges MRSA blitz in letter to angry mother - The Observer 14/08/05

Apologetic Blair reveals hospitals have been told to introduce two-hour test to combat infection


Food & poverty: still hungry - The Observer 14/08/05

The world produces more than enough food for all of us. So why will 200 million children go to sleep tonight hungry? Alex Renton investigates the relationship between food and poverty - and what a child calls supper around the world


NHS 'lottery' rations new cancer drug - The Observer 14/08/05

Rationing of cancer drugs by the NHS will provoke fresh controversy this week with a revelation that a treatment which could help thousands of patients will not be available across the country for at least two years.


Organic? It's kids' stuff - The Observer 14/08/05

Thanks to the hard work of some young parents, fresh organic baby food is now within easy reach of everybody


Dr John Briffa gives ten tips for healthy skin healing - The Observer 14/08/05

Knowing what supplements to eat and ointment to apply speeds healthy healing, says Dr John Briffa


End the cancer drugs lottery now - The Observer 14/08/05

Although it is a bleak thought that one in three of us will develop cancer at some point in our lives, our chances of survival are higher than ever thanks to faster diagnosis and a more streamlined approach to treatment. For women with breast cancer, their five-year survival rates have been increasing by 6 per cent every five years since the mid-Eighties. In men, huge advances have been made in prostate cancer treatment. Why then, given such success, does the government still permit an absurd postcode lottery in the availability of new drugs? Many of the improvements we see are, after all, due to doctors being able to administer the right course of chemotherapy at the right moment.


The 'outsiders' who are really doing the business - The Guardian 13/08/05

At a time of public sensitivity about minority ethnic groups in Britain, Louise Tickle looks at the positive effect of immigrant success stories


Airlines lose lifevests to fit fat flyers - The Guardian 13/08/05

Americans have put on so much weight that airlines have removed phones, magazines and even lifevests from aircraft to compensate.


Big Brother damages our health - The Guardian 13/08/05

Reality TV has stepped into dangerous psychological territory


Fitness expert Joanna Hall answers your questions - The Guardian 13/08/05

I have been trying to lose a stone and am getting nowhere. I do a variety of exercises, but I get bored. I eat a healthy diet - if I do eat chocolate or a takeaway, I always get back on track. Where am I going wrong ?


Natural health therapist Emma Mitchell answers your questions - The Guardian 13/08/05

Since moving to the country, our children spend more time outside. Should we apply suncream more regularly, or is too much bad for the skin? And are there any high-factor brands without nasty additives?


Travel news: Insurance card will replace E111 forms - The Guardian 13/08/05

From next month, travellers to EU countries will no longer have to go through the rigmarole of having to fill in a separate E111 form every time they go on holiday.


Siestas forecast as UK heads for heatwaves - The Guardian 13/08/05

Britain can expect heatwaves similar to the one which killed up to 40,000 people across Europe in August 2003 every other year, say scientists.


Alcohol 'too available' to teens, report says - The Guardian 13/08/05

Substance abuse experts today accused the government of "bewildering complacency" in failing to address the growing problem of binge drinking, after a report found young teenagers have easy access to alcohol.


Just a few drinks in pregnancy could harm baby - The Independent 15/08/05

Mothers who drink even low levels of alcohol during pregnancy could permanently damage their children's intelligence, research suggests.


The secret life of babies: Their young minds are far more grown-up than we thought - The Independent 14/08/05

She can't talk. She just sits there gurgling, if you're lucky. Or screaming, if you're not. But now scientists have found there might be far more going on behind the unfocused eyes of a baby girl than just "I'm tired" or "Feed me. Now!"


'NHS patients must pay', says top doctor - The Independent 14/08/05

One of Britain's leading doctors has called for a shake-up of the health service, which would see taxpayers forced to take out additional social insurance to cover the cost of their treatment.


Sex: why it's good to talk - The Times 15/08/05

THERE’S a scene in the most recent instalment of my series for tween and teen readers, The Princess Diaries, Sixsational, in which Princess Mia gets some important information from the school nurse about condoms.


Make it easy for them to ask questions - The Times 15/08/05

It's a parental responsibility to do the talking


I'm worried about my daughter's selfishness - The Times 15/08/05

The Times clinical psychologist on a child who won't share and a boy who likes wearing girls' clothes My otherwise sensitive, bright and gentle 7-year-old daughter is showing selfish tendencies that I don’t much like. Unlike her little sister, she is reluctant to share her toys, lend things, let people play in her room, etc. I have tried to encourage her to share more graciously, but it seems to be a part of her character. As a child I had similar tendencies; it did me no favours and I had to learn the hard way, so it’s frustrating to see the same trait in my daughter.


Move on drug angers patients - The Times 15/08/05

CANCER patients are angered by moves from NICE, the government drug watchdog, to eliminate use of a hormone that can restore their blood count during chemotherapy.


Come out of the closet - The Times 15/08/05

For women, incontinence is a taboo topic. But for one in three over-18s it is a problem. Now a campaign aims to change that


The pill that's a wake-up call - The Times 15/08/05

JUDGES WHO fall asleep on the bench, Cabinet ministers who can’t keep awake at public functions, and MPs who nod off in front of the television cameras in the House of Commons would all present a more alert and intelligent face to the world, and the cameras, if they took a small dose of Provigil modafinil before their appearance.


Lesbians to win review of IVF laws - The Times 15/08/05

LESBIANS and single women are poised to win the right to seek in-vitro fertilisation treatment in the first overhaul of Britain’s fertility laws for 15 years.


Binge-drink thugs face at least three years in prison - The Times 15/08/05

VIOLENT binge drinkers can expect three years in jail if convicted after the Lord Chief Justice ruled that the courts should hand out substantial sentences because of the need to protect the public.


Government orders bird flu vaccine for 200,000 staff - The Sunday Times 14/05/08

THE Irish government has ordered 200,000 doses of a vaccine to protect frontline medical and emergency staff in the event of a bird flu pandemic.


Patient welfare thefts probed - The Sunday Times 14/05/08

AN INVESTIGATION has been launched into allegations that staff at one of Ireland’s leading psychiatric institutions stole patients’ money.


Abuse report cover-up claim - The Sunday Times 14/05/08

MINISTERS have been accused of suppressing a damning report into the collapse of one of Scotland’s biggest child abuse investigations.


Exodus will undermine NHS - The Sunday Times 14/05/08

AS A junior doctor, working at senior house officer grade, I am concerned by the health department’s disappointing response to the current crisis threatening postgraduate medical education (What’s up doc? Lack of jobs, that’s what, News Review, last week). It is clear there is a shortage of training (and non-training) grade posts at SHO level.


Internet sperm banks face curb - The Sunday Times 14/05/08

THE government is proposing to curb sperm banks that bypass existing laws by selling directly to women over the internet, writes Jonathon Carr-Brown.


Cloud whitener offered as global warming cure - The Sunday Times 14/05/08

THE government is examining a British-designed system for spraying seawater into the air to make clouds whiter. The idea is that they would reflect more radiation away from the Earth and slow the worldwide rise in temperatures.


Councils rebel on late-drinking laws - The Sunday Times 14/05/08

LOCAL councils in areas that have become blighted by binge drinking are refusing new licences to pubs, clubs and bars that want to open late in an unforeseen twist to the new drinking laws.


Compensation ‘ambulance chaser’ uses NHS logo - The Sunday Times 14/05/08

A BUSINESSMAN from northwest England has been branded the worst “ambulance chaser” in the country by an industry watchdog for his policy of targeting sick and injured patients in hospitals to encourage them to lodge compensation claims.


Computer game lets children play the bully - The Sunday Times 14/05/08

THE makers of Grand Theft Auto, the bestselling computer game in which players’ characters deal drugs, steal cars and kill policemen, are set to spark controversy with a new game which rewards school bullying.


Old spice of life - The Times 13/08/05

When Indian cuisine first came to Britain, it was touted as a health food, as these extracts from Lizzie Collingham's new book Curry: a biography show


Tap away the trauma - The Times 13/08/05

Move over Freud - energy therapies may be just as effective


A coffee to go at the gym - The Times 13/08/05

Boost your workout with a caffeine hit that will frappé the fat


Not just anybody: Sosina Wogayehu - The Times 13/08/05

Circus Oz star Sosina Wogayehu, 26, explains why she climbs into popcorn machines for a living


Fit for all the twists and turns - The Times 13/08/05

From fiendish riddles to mammoth hedge puzzles, finding a path through Britain's mazes is a great outdoor challenge


A-Z of relationships: D is for dating - The Times 13/08/05

Freud, fraud and fads What is dating for? Films such as Hitch, in which Will Smith plays a "date doctor", portray dating as an arena for disasters and bad decisions. But dating provides crucial clues for future relationships.


Drawing out the poisons - The Times 13/08/05

Sir Antony Sher overcame cocaine addiction - and stage fright - through art therapy. Now he's the picture of good health


Nature gets a hand . . . - The Times 13/08/05

Positive food additives promise health benefits on a plate, but can they deliver?


Eco-worrier: doing it the green way - The Times 13/08/05

My girlfriend and I have decided to use condoms as she doesn't want to take the contraceptive pill. Is this horribly un-eco?


Home remedies: duct tape for warts - The Times 13/08/05

Keith Hopcroft, GP, looks at the alternative Warts on the skin are unsightly and they can linger for months, but getting rid of them can be quick and simple, says Thomas Simchak - all you need is duct tape. Just take a small bit of the strong adhesive tape and stick it on the wart, covering it completely, and change after bathing. He says that the wart will pretty much just peel off.


If the shoe fits . . . - The Times 13/08/05

...you are less likely to get bunions. Virginia Ironside tries a new technique to correct her toes and slips into her Manolos


Over the counter: ranitidine for indigestion - The Times 13/08/05

Brands Zantac 75, Gavilast-P and others.


Doctor ordered not to drink - The Times 13/08/05

A family doctor who carried out violent alcohol-fuelled attacks was banned from drinking for two years by the General Medical Council's fitness-to-practise panel in London yesterday.


The bare necessity - The Times 13/08/05

You've nothing to lose but your kit: getting naked can boost your self-esteem


Agony aunt Irma Kurtz: A friend in neediness - The Times 13/08/05

I am a 34-year-old woman with a best friend of about eight years. Whenever I was in a serious relationship she used to make it clear that she would not respect me if I spent less time with her. Although her neediness often got on my nerves, I spent at least one day a week with her. Recently she started seriously dating a man and I hardly hear from her. We meet only once a month. She makes a point of going home early and never seems to be having a good time. Although I am happy for her, I am resentful for how she made me feel, like I was never allowed to enjoy a relationship without her demands getting in the way. I have told her she thinks her feelings are more important than mine; she does not agree. She says that I should just be happy for her and does not admit the pressure she put on me when the tables were turned. I have tried to back away. How do I end this fake friendship?


Sex matters with Dr Thomas Stuttaford and Suzi Godson - The Times 13/08/05

I enjoy my sexual encounters with a man I really dislike and who dislikes me. We are both middle-aged, single and very independent people. What is going on?


It's the battle of the exes - The Times 13/08/05

Putting on a brave front can be a healthy way of coping with a painful break-up - just don't let it take over your life


Get over it: work fatigue - The Times 13/08/05

I have lost my passion and energy for work. How can I get it back?


Lunchtime fix: eyebrow threading - The Times 13/08/05

Perfectly groomed eyebrows can have more of an effect on your overall look than any number of expensive facials. However, unlike a facial, shaping your eyebrows is never going to be fun. There are no relaxing lotions rubbed into your skin, no calming face massages or whale song and candles. Instead, some tough eyebrow hairs are yanked out of their natural home.


Dr Copperfield: inside the mind of a GP - The Times 13/08/05

It's the big C: cowardice "Tell me straight, doctor, it's bad news, isn't it?" "Well, look, would you like someone else to be with you while we discuss this?" "No, doc, just go right ahead, I can take it."


Junk medicine: Hollywood science - The Times 13/08/05

A circus of silly clones Hollywood has always had something of a love-hate relationship with science. Film-makers embrace the technologies that enable and enhance their art, from the Lumière brothers' camera to digital special effects, and the enticing plot-lines of science fiction. They are often much more reluctant, however, to ground their work in the real science that makes it possible.


The burger and fags jab - The Times 13/08/05

Obesity and smoking-related diseases might soon be beaten by a shot in the arm. Sam Lister reports


Breast busts stress - The Times 13/08/05

MOTHERHOOD might seem fraught enough without cracked nipples, lactation anxiety and mean stares from people in cafés. But scientists have discovered one of Mother Nature's little ironies - breast-feeding seems designed to calm mums down.


Summer madness - The Times 13/08/05

Why do we take risks on holiday that we wouldn't take at home?


Labour MPs protest as hospitals run out of money - The Times 13/08/05

FIVE Labour MPs have written to Patricia Hewitt, the Health Secretary, protesting at the effects on their local hospital of a new NHS payment system.


Patient familiarity [Letter] - The Times 13/08/05

Dr Stanley Callaghan (letter, August 11) objects to nurses calling patients by first names because it upsets the "power balance" between patients and medical staff.


Happiness is being well-off with poor friends - The Telegraph 15/08/05

Money can indeed buy you happiness, but if you want to stay happy it is a good idea to have relatively poor friends, according to new research.


Labour will never abandon the NHS, says Health Secretary - The Telegraph 15/08/05

Labour will never abandon the National Health Service in favour of a system based on social insurance, Patricia Hewitt said yesterday.


Online sperm clinics may be banned after review - The Telegraph 15/08/05

Internet companies that supply sperm to single women and lesbian couples wanting to have children could be outlawed under a Government review of fertility legislation to be announced tomorrow.


Bigger breasts could become a pain for Britain's women - The Telegraph 15/08/05

The breasts of Britain's women have grown by a cup-size in the past decade and could be changing the shape of the female spine, according to new research.


Online library's novel attraction for bookworms - The Telegraph 15/08/05

The "doors" of Britain's first known online lending library are to open for business next week, bringing reassurance for literary luddites who fear the march of technology could overcome the manuscript.


Doctors face legal action over unlicensed MMR jabs - The Telegraph 14/08/05

Doctors risk being sued by patients after ministers ordered the import of hundreds of thousands of unlicensed MMR vaccinations.


A tale of two doctors - The Telegraph 14/08/05

With 2,000 newly qualified medics in Britain unable to find a position, life on the dole beckons even after six years of training - which is why a growing number are moving to Australia


I held this perfect thing. My son, maybe. How could I be so cruel as to DNA test him? - The Telegraph 14/08/05

It is a doubt that nags at almost every father and, for a significant number, might indeed be an awful reality, according to scientists. Last week, researchers at John Moores University in Liverpool claimed that 1 in 25 dads is unwittingly bringing up a child who is not his own. The findings arose when Professor Mark Bellis and his team examined patterns of "genetic discrepancy" between "father and child".


Tax-funded NHS 'cannot go on' - The Telegraph 13/08/05

A tax-funded National Health Service, free at the point of use for all, is unsustainable and should be scrapped, Britain's most senior doctor says today. In an interview with The Daily Telegraph, Bernie Ribeiro, the new President of the Royal College of Surgeons, says health care in this country should be paid for instead through a social insurance system, similar to that used in France and Germany. Patients would pay a proportion of the cost of their treatment, and take out insurance to cover that cost.


Siestas will help Britons beat global warming - The Telegraph 13/08/05

Siestas will become an increasingly common part of British life as summers get hotter and drier due to climate change, a leading authority on the health hazards of heat has predicted.


Woman ends 'right to die' food protest - The Telegraph 13/08/05

A 28-year-old terminally ill woman who went on hunger strike as an act of voluntary euthanasia has ended her protest after 19 days because of intense pain.


Celebrity birth hospital faces inquiry over Catholic ethics - The Telegraph 12/08/05

The Vatican has become embroiled in an ethics and abortion row involving a private Roman Catholic hospital that is a popular venue for celebrity births.


Health divide widens between rich and poor - The Telegraph 12/08/05

Differences in rates of infant mortality and life expectancy in adults are widening between the richest and poorest families, according to a report commissioned by the Government.


Wanted now: organ donors - The Telegraph 11/08/05

Britain's transplant programme is in trouble. Elizabeth Grice meets some of the beneficiaries


Cancer fighter dies after author's treat - The Telegraph 12/08/05

A woman whose determination to overcome cancer moved a crime writer to pay for her treatment has died.


Unhealthy ways not good for kids - Daily Mail 15/08/05

Overweight parents are being warned that their unhealthy ways are putting their children at high risk of obesity and ill health.


Efforts to improve nation's health - Daily Mail 15/08/05

NHS services for children, smokers and drug users are coming under the microscope as part of efforts to improve the nation's health.


Damage caused by pregnancy drinking - Daily Mail 15/08/05

Mothers could be permanently damaging their babies by drinking even low levels of alcohol during pregnancy, researchers have warned.


Most MPs want workplace smoking ban - Daily Mail 15/08/05

More than two-thirds of MPs want new smokefree laws to cover all workplaces, without any exemptions, campaigners have said.


Scanner could save stroke victims - Daily Mail 14/08/05

A hi-tech portable brain scanner which could revolutionise the care of stroke patients is being developed in the UK.


Proposal to change fertility rules - Daily Mail 14/08/05

Lesbians and single woman may find it easier to have an IVF baby after changes to fertility treatment laws are proposed this week.


Union slams call to end 'free' NHS - Daily Mail 13/08/05

A "public outcry" would follow any attempts to abandon the NHS' founding principles and make patients pay for treatment, a leading union has said.


As summers get hotter, do we need a siesta? - Daily Mail 13/08/05

Siestas should become a normal part of life in Britain as our summers get hotter, say health experts.


Tax-funded NHS 'unsustainable' - Daily Mail 13/08/05

A tax-funded National Health Service which is free for everyone to use is unsustainable and should be scrapped, Britain's most senior doctor said.


'98% seen within four hours in AE' - Daily Mail 12/08/05

The vast majority of A&E departments are seeing and treating patients within four hours, the Government has said.


Injured boy has spine op in India - Daily Mail 12/08/05

A 14-year-old British boy who was told he would have to wait more than a year for treatment in the UK is recovering in a private Indian hospital after an operation to restore his mobility.


Cancer risk cream seized at airport - Daily Mail 12/08/05

A stash of skin cream containing cancer-causing chemicals has been confiscated at Gatwick Airport in the largest seizure of its kind.


Dehydration danger in air-con cars - Daily Mail 12/08/05

Children travelling in the back seats of air-conditioned cars can get dangerously dehydrated, it has been claimed.


Mums-to-be ignore smoking advice - Daily Mail 12/08/05

The majority of women fail to quit smoking during pregnancy - even when given specialist counselling to help them stop, researchers said today.


Energy drinks market grows by 75% - Daily Mail 12/08/05

Sales of energy and stimulant drinks are soaring, according to a new report which suggests a link with Britain's long-hours culture.


Easy for teens to buy drugs and alcohol - Daily Mail 12/08/05

Young people in the UK have little problem getting hold of drugs, cigarettes, and alcohol, researchers said today.


The influence Homer Simpson has on children - Daily Mail 12/08/05

Children are picking up poor eating habits from some of their television heroes, a survey of parents says.


Washing machine capsules warning - Daily Mail 12/08/05

Children may be at risk from washing machine capsules containing liquid detergent that can squirt in their eyes, it has been claimed. Doctors issued the warning after six children aged 18 months to three years were treated for eye injuries in the Irish Republic.


Teenager jailed for street sex - The Mirror 13/08/05

A TEENAGER has been jailed for a month for having sex in the street.


Sizemore 'Hooked on sex' - The Mirror 13/08/05

TROUBLED actor Tom Sizemore is suffering from a rare form of sex addiction which allows him to make love up to nine times without stopping, his manager claims.


Our at-a-glance guide for when you can't resist a treat - The Mirror 12/08/05

ALMOND CROISSANT 481 calories, 30.5g fat May be delicious but is not filling at all, and almost all the calories come from fat.


Diet S.O.S. - The Mirror 12/08/05

WILL hypnosis help me to stop binge eating? Nothing else has worked for me so far.


5 sneaky ways to lose weight - The Mirror 12/08/05

GET off your bottom every time you're on the phone. By standing up for one extra hour a day the average woman will burn 50 more calories.


I wanted liposuction, but my GP sent me to the gym! - The Mirror 12/08/05

AFTER gaining more than five stone since having her first baby, Jackie Thorpe, a full-time housewife from Saffron Walden, Essex, became so depressed she went to her doctor for help. "Can't I have liposuction on the NHS?" she asked in desperation. Her GP had other ideas.


Exclusive: why Carrie's so pleased to be pregnant at 40 - The Mirror 12/08/05

HOW Fame Academy's Carrie Grant fought a painful disease to find happiness.


No sex please ... we're radioactive - The Mirror 12/08/05

NUCLEAR power staff have been told not to have casual sex on hols abroad - in case they are targeted by spies.


1 in 4 girls want sex every day - The Mirror 12/08/05

MORE than one in four women wants to make love every day, a survey revealed yesterday.


Web sperm sites crackdown planned - BBC Health News 14/08/05

Proposals to crack down on internet sites that trade in human sperm and eggs are set to be unveiled this week by the government.


Rice pudding helped fuel Channel swim - BBC Health News 13/08/05

The boat crew following Patrick Turner heaved a collective sigh of relief as the 39-year-old teacher climbed onto the French beach.


Brain surgeon signs on the dole - BBC Health News 13/08/05

A brain surgeon sacked from his £70,000 a year job has signed on at his local JobCentre, it has emerged.


Disease study could shape policy - BBC Health News 13/08/05

Experts are examining if the history of disease outbreaks can teach doctors lessons about how to manage public health in the future.


'Violent' GP given drinking ban - BBC Health News 13/08/05

A North Yorkshire GP who carried out a number of violent attacks while drunk has been banned from drinking by the General Medical Council (GMC).


Top surgeon calls for NHS rethink - BBC Health News 13/08/05

A tax-funded NHS, free at the point of use, is unsustainable and should end, Britain's most senior doctor has said.


Hope over 'stealth' cancer drugs - BBC Health News 12/08/05

A form of covert treatment that sends a "scout" enzyme into a tumour to single it out for destruction has been developed, scientists say.


Gadget to help paralysed exercise - BBC Health News 12/08/05

A gadget that produces electrical signals could help the paralysed to exercise and keep fit.


Siestas 'needed to beat heatwave' - BBC Health News 12/08/05

Continental-style siestas should become a part of British life to help cope with hotter summers, experts say.


'Easy' for teens to buy tobacco - BBC Health News 12/08/05

Young people have little difficulty in getting hold of drugs, cigarettes and alcohol, according to a study by Scottish public health experts.


U.S. Medicare to take close look at adult day care - Reuters 14/08/05

The Medicare insurance program for the elderly and disabled soon will try out a possibly cheaper way to help people recover from health problems outside of the hospital -- adult day care.


FDA unveils tighter restrictions on acne drug - Reuters 13/08/05

Patients and doctors must register with manufacturers and promise to comply with tight restrictions on Roche Holding AG's acne drug Accutane and generic versions, U.S. officials said on Friday.


Idaho probes outbreak of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease - Reuters 12/08/05

Idaho officials said on Friday an initial test has indicated one case of naturally occurring Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and they are investigating five other suspected cases, but said none are believed to be caused by eating infected animals.


FDA unveils tighter restrictions on acne drug - Reuters 12/08/05

Patients and doctors must register with manufacturers and promise to comply with tight restrictions on Roche Holding AG's acne drug Accutane and generic versions, U.S. officials said on Friday.


Second drug should be readied for bird flu -experts - Reuters 12/08/05

A second influenza drug, GlaxoSmithKline's Relenza, should be stockpiled in readiness for a feared global pandemic of avian flu, researchers said on Thursday.


Cannabis-based drugs might relieve bowel disease - Reuters 12/08/05

Derivatives of the active compound in cannabis -- cannabinoids -- may have the potential for treating inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, UK researchers report.


British anti-smoking ad campaign really stinks - Reuters 12/08/05

The new anti-smoking ads from Britain's National Health Service are in bad odor -- literally.


Testosterone treatment linked with prostate cancer - Reuters 12/08/05

Prostate cancer developed in 20 men within months to a few years after they began testosterone supplementation to correct a deficiency of the hormone, investigators report.


Leg strength before knee surgery predicts results - Reuters 12/08/05

For patients undergoing total knee replacement, the strength of their quadriceps muscles before surgery is a good predictor of how well they'll be functioning a year later, study results indicate.


Blood filtering may improve prognosis after CPR - Reuters 12/08/05

After resuscitation from cardiac arrest, there's a high risk of the patient dying from intractable shock, but this may be averted in some cases by a blood filtering procedure, according to a small study.


Liquid detergent capsules a danger to kids' eyes - Reuters 12/08/05

During a 6-month period, doctors treated six cases of severe eye injuries in young children caused by their squeezing capsules containing liquid washing detergent, according to a report released Thursday.


US to require flu shots for nursing home patients - Reuters 12/08/05

U.S. nursing homes must vaccinate all their patients against the flu and pneumonia starting this fall or risk being kicked out of the Medicare and Medicaid programs under a new plan made public on Friday.


Centers for Obesity Related Illness Announces New Website - Medical News Today 15/08/05

Gastric bypass surgery center, CORI (Centers for Obesity Related Illness) recently released a completely redesigned website located at (details and link below). The website features a wide array of information for each obesity procedure performed. These procedures include the Sapala-Wood Micropouch®, Open Roux en Y Gastric Bypass, laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass and laparoscopic adjustable gastric band (LAP-BAND). The website also includes surgeons' profile detailing each doctor's background and expertise.


Tadpole soon to help in the fight against cancer and lymphedema - Medical News Today 15/08/05

Lymph circulates in our bodies through a complex network of lymphatic vessels, of which little is known. This network is, however, of major importance for the support of the immune system and the fluid in our body. Researchers from the Flanders Interuniversity Institute for Biotechnology (VIB) connected with the Catholic University of Leuven, are the first to indicate that this network can be studied with the help of tadpoles. This accelerates research of the lymphatic vessel network. With tadpoles one can now very quickly identify new genes that play a part in the development and functioning of the lymphatic vessel network. This is a first step in the search for solutions for illnesses related to the lymphatic vessel network, such as cancer and lymphedema.


Accidents and Emergency Attendances, UK - Medical News Today 15/08/05

The following statistics were released today by the UK Department of Health: Accident and Emergency attendances; total time spent in A&E from arrival to admission, discahrge or transfer; and waiting for emergency admission through A&E. Quarter ending 30 June 2005


Cheaper dental treatment for Europeans, new website lists dentists - Medical News Today 15/08/05

Along with France, Germany and Sweden, the new EU countries offer cheaper dental treatment. However, the standards vary greatly, and looking up dentists in the local yellow pages can be jeopardising your health. The new portal http://www.OuchMyTooth.com helps find the good dentists, who perform quality treatment at affordable prices.


Medicinal Mushrooms Support Cancer Treatment - Medical News Today 15/08/05

A major study of medicinal mushrooms by Cancer Research UK is the most comprehensive ever undertaken and was very positive.


Animals Warn of Human Health Hazards in New "Canary Database" - Medical News Today 15/08/05

Yale School of Medicine has launched a state-of-the-art database funded in part by the National Library of Medicine, called the Canary Database, containing scientific evidence about how animal disease events can be an early warning system for emerging human diseases.


Gastrin Linked to Body Weight, Insulin; Removal Raised Cancer Risk - Medical News Today 15/08/05

For the first time, researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston have linked the hormone gastrin to the body's ability to maintain normal weight and normal insulin levels. In experiments conducted on mice, the UTMB researchers found that removing gastrin production triggered obesity, insulin resistance and metabolic changes that - in turn - increased the risk of colon cancer in the animals. The discoveries likely will have wide implications for clinical research on obesity, colon cancer and metabolism.


Prevention of Venous Thromboembolism - BAY 59-7939 Phase II Studies Promising Results - Medical News Today 15/08/05

Bayer HealthCare (BHC) today presented promising safety and efficacy results from two large randomized phase II studies for a novel, oral, direct Factor Xa inhibitor (BAY 59-7939) for prevention of venous thromboembolism (VTE). The data were presented at the XXth Congress of the "International Society on Thrombosis & Haemostasis" (ISTH) in Sydney, Australia. Based on these positive data, Bayer HealthCare will begin preparation of phase III clinical program in the fourth quarter of this year.


Ten Tips for Singers to Keep Voices at Prime - Medical News Today 15/08/05

Drink up to 8-10 glasses of pure water every day (any caffeinated drink does not count). Water thins your mucus and lubricates your vocal cords like oil lubricates a car engine. Thick mucous causes friction and trauma to vocal cords. More water, less friction, less trauma, better voice.


The Battle Over Blue Blockers, intraocular lenses that block blue light - Medical News Today 15/08/05

New research at UAB indicates intraocular lenses (IOL) that block blue light might prove detrimental for older persons in dim lighting conditions or at night.


Heat and Your Health - Medical News Today 15/08/05

Over a 20-year period, from 1979 to 1999, more people in the USA died from extreme heat than from hurricanes, lightning, tornadoes, floods and earthquakes combined, according to the CDC.


Expert Warns of Spread of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever - Medical News Today 14/08/05

An infectious disease expert at Johns Hopkins who has spent nearly three decades studying the life-threatening, tick-borne infection known as Rocky Mountain spotted fever warns that the first widespread outbreak of the bacterial disease in Arizona is a growing and dangerous sign of how humans can inadvertently help spread infectious organisms beyond traditional state boundaries.


Lung Cancer Differences Between Women and Men Abound - Medical News Today 14/08/05

The death of longtime ABC News anchor Peter Jennings and the acknowledgement of actress Dana Reeve, widow of “Superman” Christopher Reeve, that she has lung cancer presents an opportunity to remind both women and men that lung cancer is the number one cancer killer of both women and men. It is also important to note the differences between women and men in lung cancer, according to the Society for Women's Health Research.


What's best for sore muscles, heat or cold? Apparently both, cold and then later heat - Medical News Today 14/08/05

If sore muscles have you yearning for relief, what's the best strategy to soothe inflamed muscles, heat or cold?


Can money buy happiness? - Medical News Today 14/08/05

Financially richer people tend to be happier than poorer people, according to sociological researcher Glenn Firebaugh, Pennsylvania State University, and graduate student Laura Tach, Harvard University. Their research is focused on whether the income effect on happiness results largely from the things money can buy (absolute income effect) or from comparing one's income to the income of others (relative income effect). They present their research in a session paper, titled "Relative Income and Happiness: Are Americans on a Hedonic Treadmill?," at the American Sociological Association Centennial Annual Meeting on August 14.


Investing in Employee Health Can Pay Off for Corporations - Medical News Today 14/08/05

If corporate health promotion programs can achieve even minor reductions in employee health risk factors-fractions of a percentage point per year-they can pay for themselves or even achieve net cost savings within a decade, suggests a study in the August Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, official publication of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM).


New Lung Cancer Therapies Are In Development - Medical News Today 14/08/05

D Neil Watkins, MBBS, PhD, FRACP, assistant professor of oncology at Johns Hopkins University, can address new therapies directed against specific cellular pathways in lung cancer that are being developed with the hope of controlling the disease: "These treatments are unlike conventional chemotherapy and do not usually damage normal cells. They include tyrosine kinase inhibitors, like Iressa and angiogenesis inhibitors, as well as other novel therapies."


Keeping Young Athletes With Arthritis In The Game - Medical News Today 14/08/05

Kevin Plancher, MD, MS, FACS, FAAOS, NY-area orthopaedist, sports medicine expert and official orthopaedic surgeon of the US Ski and Snowboard teams, is available to discuss treatment and management techniques to keep athletes active:


Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, The Most Common Form Of Genetic Heart Disease - Medical News Today 14/08/05

Lisa Salberg, president of the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Association (HCMA), is a hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) patient and co-author of "HCM: For Patients, Their Families and Interested Physicians." She can provide simple tips, exercise guidelines, resources and recommended procedures that could potentially save lives:


New Technology for Lung Cancer Detection - Medical News Today 14/08/05

Sam Finkelstein, president of Riverain Medical said: "According to the American Cancer Society, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the U.S., taking more lives annually than breast, colon and prostate cancer combined.


Cancer: The Importance of Early Detection - Medical News Today 14/08/05

Dr James Ehrlich, medical director and founder of Colorado Heart & Body Imaging (CHBI) and president of the Society Of Responsible Preventive Imaging (SRPI) said: "The passing of journalist Peter Jennings should remind all physicians about the critical importance of early detection of our nation's leading cancer killer: lung cancer.


Prevention &Treatment of Ovarian Cancer - Medical News Today 14/08/05

Dr Marc Kahn, medical director of EBT-Heart & Body Imaging said: "The transvaginal ultrasound is a test that the public is demanding, but insurance companies don't pay for. Early detection of ovarian cancer is the key to prevention. The test is safe and takes only a few minutes to perform.


FHI Ends Viread Clinical Trial in Cameroon - Medical News Today 14/08/05

Family Health International announced on Wednesday that it is terminating a clinical trial testing... Gilead's antiretroviral drug Viread among commercial sex workers in Cameroon, IRIN/AllAfrica.com reports (IRIN/AllAfrica.com, 8/10). The Cameroon trial was part of a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial of Viread -- known generically as tenofovir -- among 2,000 HIV-negative volunteers at sites in Africa and Asia. The trial was funded with a $6.5 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. However, Cameroon's Ministry of Health in February announced that it was suspending its trial arm after the advocacy group ACT UP/Paris claimed that volunteers in the study got too little information and care for their participation (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 2/8). According to an FHI statement, the clinic where the trials are taking place will be closed by the end of September after women have made their final visits. The five women who have contracted HIV during the Cameroon trial will have long-term access to HIV/AIDS therapy in accordance with Cameroon National AIDS Control Programme standards, FHI added.


A Powerful New Tool for Decoding Gene Functions in Mammals and Man - Medical News Today 14/08/05

A collaborative project between American and Chinese researchers developed a way to study the function of genes in mice and man by using a moveable genetic element from moths, according to a report in the journal Cell. "We know how many genes are in the mammalian genome, but that does not tell us how they carry out their jobs," said senior author Tian Xu, Professor and Vice Chair of Genetics at Yale University School of Medicine and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator. "We have found a way to systematically inactivate genes in the mouse genome so we can understand the functions of these genes."


EBCT best for evaluating adults with congenital defects in the heart arteries - Medical News Today 14/08/05

Electron-beam computed tomography (EBCT) is more accurate than conventional catheter angiography for identifying which adult patients face the greatest risk of sudden death from congenital abnormalities in the arteries supplying blood to the heart, according to a study in the September 2005 issue of Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions: Journal of the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions.


ADHD Conference to be held in Seattle - Medical News Today 14/08/05

Learn what you need to know about ADHD, how it impacts a person with this disorder, and what can be done about it. Attend the 3rd annual conference on October 8-9,2005 that is sponsored by ADD Resources, a national non-profit organization


Hearing loss in older adults may compromise cognitive resources for memory - Medical News Today 14/08/05

The effort required to correctly hear and identify words may diminish the resources needed to memorize them - Waltham, Mass. - In a new study, Brandeis University researchers conclude that older adults with mild-to-moderate hearing loss may expend so much cognitive energy on hearing accurately that their ability to remember spoken language suffers as a result.


Avian flu prevention should focus on farms, markets - Wildlife Conservation Society - Medical News Today 14/08/05

Wildlife health experts from the Bronx Zoo-based Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) warn that efforts to control the spread of avian flu across Asia and beyond must focus on better management practices on farms and in markets.


Chinese Government Launches First HIV/AIDS Training Center in Yunnan Province - Medical News Today 14/08/05

The Chinese government has launched the first of six HIV/AIDS training centers aimed at educating medical staff on how to treat people with HIV/AIDS, according to the Chinese Ministry of Public Health, the... Xinhua News Agency reports. The first center is located in the southwestern province of Yunnan, and the five others will be located in Beijing, Shanghai and the provinces of Liaoning, Hubei and Sichuan. The centers will provide professional training to five to six of the surrounding provinces and regions to accomplish more effective results in consultation, diagnosis, treatment and assistance in HIV/AIDS prevention and control. The primary focus of the new Yunnan province center -- which is based in the Yunnan Center for Disease Control and Prevention and will serve Guizhou, Hainan and Guangdong provinces and the region of Guanxi Zhuang -- is HIV prevention and early intervention through programs that address containment of HIV/AIDS among injection drug users and commercial sex workers by encouraging the use of sterilized needles and condoms. Yunnan CDC Director Lu Lin said, "Yunnan is one of the regions that suffer most from the disease, and the HIV/AIDS situation here is serious now." The Chinese government in 2004 earmarked about $3.6 million for the establishment of traditional Chinese medicine treatment centers for HIV/AIDS patients, according to the Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Xinhua News Agency, 8/11).


Parental role in helping teens choose 'good' friends - Medical News Today 14/08/05

While parents often worry about the influence peers have on their adolescent children, a new study indicates that they can play a role in helping their teens choose 'good' friends.


Man's battle with mesothelioma and his wife's emotional journey - Medical News Today 14/08/05

This letter came to us from Lorraine Kember, whose husband died of mesothelioma: My name is Lorraine Kember. In December 1999, my husband was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma and given a prognosis of 3 to 9 months. He survived for 2 years during which I cared for him at home until his death in December 2001.


Patients' Multiple Sclerosis Lesion Type Dictates Effective Treatment - Medical News Today 14/08/05

A Mayo Clinic study demonstrates that only those multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with evidence for antibody deposition or complement activation -- immune cells that can cause tissue destruction -- in their lesions are likely to respond to plasma exchange, a treatment for acute MS attacks. This is the first evidence that differences in pathological subtypes of MS may predict response to treatment. The findings will be published in the Aug. 13 issue of The Lancet.


FDA Postpones Decision on Lycopene/Cancer Health Claim for a Fifth Time - Medical News Today 13/08/05

The FDA has requested a fifth extension on giving a decision on American Longevity's health claim petition on the link between lycopene and a reduced risk of developing certain types of cancer until October 10, 2005.


Research Provides Hope in the Fight Against Brain Cancer - Medical News Today 13/08/05

The National Brain Tumor Foundation (NBTF), a non-profit organization dedicated to helping brain tumor patients and funding medical research, is proud to announce this year's research awards.


RCGP Conference on Early Years Identification and Management of Developmental Disorders - Medical News Today 13/08/05

One day conference at the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) 14 Princes Gate, London SW7 aimed at primary care workers in the community, as well as nursery school teachers.


'Spin' claim over surgical helpers, UK - Medical News Today 13/08/05

Ministers have been accused of spin over the status-boosting job title 'surgical care practitioner' for non-medically qualified surgeons.


Changing Customer Priorities to Boost IV Therapy and Enteral Nutrition Device Markets - Medical News Today 13/08/05

Emphasis on Homecare, Demand for Improved Safety and Efficiency Key to Market Expansion - As the mature European IV therapy and enteral nutrition device markets near saturation, replacement demand from hospitals will play a key role in ensuring stability. At the same time, evolving customer priorities and the growing popularity of homecare combined with the continued importance given to nutrition and support therapy as an integral part of treatment from the earliest stages, are set to support steady revenue generation.


Israeli Super Bandage Saves Lives - Medical News Today 13/08/05

An Israeli medical doctor has developed a revolutionary bandage that can replace both ordinary bandages and Tourniquet and can even be used to treat burns. The new bandage has already proved itself by saving lives of soldiers and civilians in Israel and South Africa in recent years. The Israeli military and Red Cross are considering the bandage, and its inventor hopes that when it enters mass production its low price and superior performance will allow it to save lives across the world.


Homebirth Safe, Episiotomy Harmful, Recent Studies Show - Medical News Today 13/08/05

A study in the June 18th issue of the British Medical Journal found that "planned home births for low risk women in the United States are associated with similar safety and less medical intervention as low risk hospital births." With prospective data from more than 5000 births attended in 2000 by Certified Professional Midwives in the US, this is the largest study of its kind.


Health Trainers For Disadvantaged Areas - Medical News Today 13/08/05

Sites for first health trainers announced as report shows progress on reducing health inequalities - Twelve areas have been named as the first sites for the new health trainers, an initiative announced in the Choosing Health White Paper. These areas will each receive 200,000 additional funding to provide personalised plans for individuals to improve their health and prevent diseases such as cancer and coronary heart disease.


Cancer Research UK Scientists Help Narrow The Search For BRCA1 Carriers - Medical News Today 13/08/05

Cancer Research UK scientists have identified a new test which may help narrow the search for breast cancer patients likely to carry the faulty BRCA1 gene.


McMaster recruits top scientist to open cancer institute - Medical News Today 13/08/05

McMaster University has recruited an internationally recognized scientist in stem cell research to establish a new institute focused on human cancer and stem cell biology, the first of its kind in North America.


Errors in the Measurement of Global Warming Corrected - Medical News Today 13/08/05

The effect of the sun's heat on weather balloons largely accounts for a data discrepancy that has long contributed to a dispute over the existence of global warming, according to a report by scientists at Yale University and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).


Long-Term Study Shows Pfizer's Geodon Has Comparable Efficacy With Fewer Adverse Metabolic Effects Than Zyprexa - Medical News Today 13/08/05

The antipsychotic Geodon® (ziprasidone HCl) is as effective as Zyprexa (olanzapine) in maintenance treatment of patients with schizophrenia, but has significantly less adverse effect on body weight, cholesterol, and insulin, according to results from a six-month, double-blind, head-to-head study published in the current issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry.


2nd 2005 Excellence in Healthcare Awards Banquet, Frost & Sullivan - Medical News Today 13/08/05

Frost & Sullivan will host its second Excellence in Healthcare Awards Banquet on Wednesday, 21st September 2005 at the Hotel Russell in London. At the banquet, Frost & Sullivan will honour companies for their business achievements in a variety of regional and global healthcare markets. The companies that are commended as award winners are those with the diligence, perseverance, and dedication required to develop a successful business plan and excel in the increasingly competitive global marketplace.


Wound Management Market Segments Growing at Rates of Up to 17% Annually in Key Product and Regional Market Areas - Medical News Today 13/08/05

Globally, the market for the diverse array of products in surgical, chronic and acute wound management stands at $13 billion, with aggregate growth at 7% annually. Select sectors are demonstrating appreciably stronger growth including active physical stimulation, pharmaceuticals, enzymatic debriders, tissue engineering, and other active therapies for wound management. Differences geographically in the clinical management of wounds and in the adoption of new products are also creating opportunities in local markets. These data are detailed in the August 2005 report by MedMarket Diligence on the worldwide wound management market.


BMA calls for proper planning on doctors' training, UK - Medical News Today 13/08/05

Responding to a government announcement about the new ‘Modernising Medical Careers' training system for junior doctors today (Tuesday 9 August, 2005) Mr Simon Eccles, chairman of the BMA's Junior Doctors Committee, said: "Modernising Medical Careers gives us an opportunity to achieve a streamlined system where a doctor's career progression depends on their ability rather than how much time they've spent at a particular grade.


Major Shake-Up in Medical Training, UK - Medical News Today 13/08/05

A groundbreaking change in postgraduate medical training begins this week as thousands of medical school graduates begin their careers in the NHS as part of a new foundation training programme.


Proposed Yucca Mountain Standards to Protect Public Health For a Million Years, USA - Medical News Today 13/08/05

EPA is proposing public health standards for the planned high-level radioactive waste disposal facility at Yucca Mountain, Nevada that will protect public health for 1 million years. Under the standards, people living close to the facility would not receive total radiation higher than natural levels people experience routinely in other areas of the country.


Global malaria experts meet at Menzies - Medical News Today 13/08/05

A group of the world's foremost malaria experts will meet at Menzies School of Health Research to address the critical issue of global drug resistance, at a malaria symposium starting Sunday.


Infusion nurses examine need for standards of practice in immunoglobulin therapy - Medical News Today 13/08/05

A review article published in the July/August 2005 Journal of Infusion Nursing examines the need for established treatment guidelines to support doctors and nurses in correctly dosing and administering intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) as replacement therapy in patients with primary immunodeficiency (PI) disorders, who do not produce adequate levels of antibodies essential in fighting infectious diseases.1


EMEA consulting on a draft guideline on pharmacovigilance for medicines used in children - Medical News Today 13/08/05

The European Medicines Agency (EMEA) has launched a six-month consultation period on a draft guideline on the conduct of pharmacovigilance for medicines used by the paediatric population, children from birth to 18 years of age. This is the first guideline to focus exclusively on the issues of safety of medicines in children. The EMEA is consulting not only on reporting of adverse drug reactions in children, but also on the possible need for studies designed to follow the long-term safety of medicines in children.


Global warming most evident at high latitudes, but greatest impact will be in tropics - Medical News Today 13/08/05

The impact of global warming has become obvious in high latitude regions, including Alaska, Siberia and the Arctic, where melting ice and softening tundra are causing profound changes. But, contrary to popular belief, the most serious impact in the next century likely will be in the tropics, says a group of researchers headed by a University of Washington ecologist.


Pfizer Announces It Will Limit DTC Ads to Medications That Have Been on Market for at Least Six Months - Medical News Today 13/08/05

Officials for New York-based Pfizer on Thursday announced that the company will implement a six-month moratorium on direct-to-consumer advertisements for new medications and will improve information on safety risks in ads,... USA Today reports. The announcement follows the release of voluntary DTC ad guidelines by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America last week (Schmit/Petrecca, USA Today, 8/11). The PhRMA guidelines, which seek to eliminate misleading ads that can lead to unnecessary prescriptions, recommend that pharmaceutical companies; restrict DTC ads for erectile dysfunction and similar medications to television programs "reasonably expected" to attract an 80% adult audience; spend an appropriate amount of time to educate physicians about new medications before the launch of DTC ads for the treatments; submit TV ads to FDA before they air; end the use of "reminder" TV ads that name medications but do not provide details on their uses or safety risks; and include in DTC ads clear language on the safety risks and benefits of medications. After the release of the guidelines, 23 pharmaceutical companies -- such as Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Schering-Plough, Eli Lilly, Pfizer and GlaxoSmithKline -- agreed to follow them (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 8/3). On Thursday, other large pharmaceutical companies, such as Roche and Novartis, agreed to follow the guidelines. Pfizer Propo


Newsweek International Edition Interviews Global Business Coalition CEO Richard Holbrooke on Status of HIV/AIDS Worldwide - Medical News Today 13/08/05

Newsweek in its Aug 15 issue of its international edition featured an interview with Richard Holbrooke, CEO of the... Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS, that discusses the HIV/AIDS epidemics in several countries and the measures governments are taking to address them. According to Holbrooke, HIV/AIDS already has begun to "wreck the social fabric and security" of countries in some parts of Africa, and numerous other countries -- such as India, China, Russia, Estonia and Papua New Guinea -- could face the same fate, he said. Holbrooke added that the HIV/AIDS pandemic is a perfect example of how an "ounce of prevention" -- including HIV testing, sexual abstinence, condom use, development of microbicides and education -- is worth "a very large pound of cure." Holbrooke also addressed how denial and stigmatization continue to be a barrier to effective HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention and how businesses have a "vital role to play" in such efforts (Guterl, Newsweek, 8/15).


Anti-Convulsant Might Help Eliminate Dormant HIV-Infected Cells, Study Says; Scientists Say Finding Could Lead to HIV Cure - Medical News Today 13/08/05

The anti-convulsant drug valproic acid, when used in combination with highly active antiretroviral treatment, has shown promise in reducing the number of dormant cells infected with HIV, a finding that one day could lead to a cure for HIV/AIDS, according to preliminary research published in the Aug. 12 issue of the.. Lancet, the AP/USA Today reports. Currently available antiretroviral drugs work only when HIV is multiplying, which happens only when it is in an active cell. However, HIV also infects dormant cells, making the virus itself temporarily dormant and undetectable by antiretrovirals. Therefore, an HIV-positive person cannot be cured until all of the HIV-infected dormant cells can be identified and eradicated. In a proof of concept study, David Margolis of the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and colleagues gave four HIV-positive patients valproic acid -- which is used to treat such conditions as bipolar disorder and epilepsy -- twice a day for three months. The patients continued taking combination antiretroviral therapy. The researchers found that latent HIV infection reduced by 75% in three of the patients. Margolis said he believes the drug reactivates HIV in the dormant cell (AP/USA Today, 8/11).


U.S. Group That Provides HIV Prevention Services to Commercial Sex Workers Abroad Sues USAID Over Loss of Grant - Medical News Today 13/08/05

Washington, DC-based... DKT International, a not-for-profit organization that provides HIV/AIDS prevention services to commercial sex workers worldwide, has filed a federal lawsuit against USAID, arguing that the U.S. policy requiring HIV/AIDS organizations seeking funding to provide services in other countries to pledge to oppose commercial sex work violates the group's First Amendment right to free speech, the Wall Street Journal reports (Phillips, Wall Street Journal, 8/12). The policy -- which Bush administration officials made public in June -- stems from two 2003 laws, including an amendment to legislation (HR 1298) authorizing the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief that prohibits funds from going to any group or organization that does not have a policy "explicitly opposing prostitution and sex trafficking" (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 6/10). DKT -- which last year sold about 390 million discount condoms in 11 countries to commercial sex workers and specializes in marketing techniques that promote condom use -- filed the lawsuit against USAID and its administrator, Andrew Natsios, for rejecting an HIV/AIDS subgrant for a project the group has conducted in Vietnam for the past 12 years. According to court documents, DKT in June filed for a $60,000 subgrant from USAID contractor Family Health International to market condom lubricants to reduce the risk of condom breakage. FHI initially approved the subgrant but then later denied it when DKT refused to sign the pledge opposing commercial sex work.


Mozambique's HIV Prevalence Rate Increases to 16.2%, Health Minister Says - Medical News Today 13/08/05

Mozambique's HIV prevalence has increased from about 14% in 2002 to 16.2% in 2004, Health Minister Paulo Ivo said on Wednesday,... Reuters reports. The new figure primarily is based on surveys taken last year of pregnant women nationwide, although other groups also were included. The survey indicates that the virus is spreading most rapidly in the capital city of Maputo and in Gaza province, where many migrant workers from South Africa reside. "HIV/AIDS is a bit 'younger' here than in neighboring countries because it was isolated during the war," Michael Klaus, UNICEF spokesperson in Mozambique, said, referring to the country's 16-year civil war that ended in 1992 (Apps/Chale, Reuters, 8/10). Mozambique earlier this year declared the fight against HIV/AIDS a "national emergency" in a five-year control program being considered by the country's parliament. About 1.4 million HIV-positive people are estimated to be living in the country, 60% of whom are women (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 3/23). About 20% of Mozambique's 100,000 annual deaths from AIDS-related causes are among children, according to UNICEF (Reuters, 8/10).


New approach has potential to treat latent HIV infection - Medical News Today 12/08/05

US scientists have tested a new therapeutic approach that could help eliminate dormant HIV infection that current treatments miss. The researchers report these preliminary findings in a proof-of-concept study in this week's issue of THE LANCET.


Nobel Laureates solve 72 year old, dietary cholesterol puzzle - Medical News Today 12/08/05

72 years ago, the first evidence for end-product feedback regulation of a biosynthetic pathway was demonstrated when Rudolph Shoenheimer observed that mice synthesized large amounts of cholesterol when fed a low-cholesterol diet, but this synthesis stopped when the mice were fed cholesterol.


Metabolic syndrome possible drug targets - Medical News Today 12/08/05

Ongoing studies by researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center and other institutions have uncovered the biochemical basis of many of the factors contributing to what is known as the metabolic syndrome, suggesting potential new drug targets for treating the condition.


Additional drug should be part of contingency plan for avian influenza pandemic - Medical News Today 12/08/05

Governments should consider stockpiling zanamivir as an anti-influenza agent in their pandemic plans, states a comment in this week's issue of THE LANCET.


Liquid detergent tablets pose eye injury risk to children - Medical News Today 12/08/05

Liquid tablet forms of washing detergent pose a new household risk to children, state the authors of a correspondence letter in this week's issue of THE LANCET.


Specialist counselling does not help pregnant smokers quit - Medical News Today 12/08/05

Motivational interviewing by specially trained midwives does not help pregnant smokers to quit, finds new research in this week's BMJ.


Alzheimer's Disease, a novel immunologic - Medical News Today 12/08/05

Alzheimer disease (AD) is the most common form of senile dementia, with no effective treatment available. In a study appearing online on August 11 in advance of print publication of the September 1 issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation, Howard Weiner and colleagues from Harvard describe a novel immunologic approach for the treatment of AD.


Radiotherapy after surgery best option for prostate cancer patients - Medical News Today 12/08/05

Giving prostate cancer patients radiotherapy after surgery could help prevent the progression of their disease, concludes an article in this week's issue of THE LANCET.


Family therapy is effective treatment tool for children for substance abuse and conduct disorders - Medical News Today 12/08/05

Family-based treatments are effective for substance abuse and conduct disorders in children and adolescents, according to a new, ten-year research review released today. The treatment also helps reduce the behavior problems associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and shows promise in treating depression and anxiety.


Medical scandals may have a negative impact on scientific research, UK organ retention controversies - Medical News Today 12/08/05

Media reporting of the UK organ retention controversies was associated with a fall in donations for ethically approved scientific research, finds a study in this week's BMJ.


Age at first period has little or no influence on adult weight - Medical News Today 12/08/05

Although overweight girls are more likely to start their periods earlier than their peers who are at or below normal weight, early menstruation is not by itself a risk factor for later obesity, according to a long-term study released today. In fact, it's more likely that excess body fat jump-starts puberty than the other way around. Additionally, girls who are overweight before their first periods are almost eight times more likely than their slimmer peers to be overweight as adults.


It's easy for UK youth to get hold of drugs, tobacco and alcohol - Medical News Today 12/08/05

Young people in the UK report little difficulty in obtaining cigarettes, alcohol, and other drugs, show public health specialists from Scotland in this week's BMJ.


Natural scientists less religious than are social scientists - Medical News Today 12/08/05

Scientists in the social sciences are more likely to believe in God and attend religious services than are scientists in the natural sciences, according to a survey of 1,646 faculty members at elite research universities by a Rice University sociologist.


'Gadonanotubes' greatly outperform existing MRI contrast agents - Medical News Today 12/08/05

Researchers at Rice University, the Baylor College of Medicine, the University of Houston and the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne in Switzerland have created a new class of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents that are at least 40 times more effective than the best in clinical use.


Erotic images, gore cause temporary 'blindness' - Medical News Today 12/08/05

If your partner seems to be ignoring you after a flash of nudity on the television screen, it might not be his or her fault. New research indicates that people shown erotic or gory images frequently fail to process what they see immediately afterwards.


No strong link seen between violent video games and aggression - Medical News Today 12/08/05

Results from the first long-term study of online videogame playing may be surprising. Contrary to popular opinion and most previous research, the new study found that players' "robust exposure" to a highly violent online game did not cause any substantial real-world aggression.


If oxytocin eating role doesn't mature at birth, what other situations affect its impact? - Medical News Today 12/08/05

More than 15 years ago Edward Stricker and Joseph Verbalis reported that oxytocin (OT) is involved in the neural control of food and salt intake in adult rats. Linda Rinaman at the University of Pittsburgh is investigating the anatomical organization of this system, and also is taking a developmental approach to determine how OT modulates eating and digestion.


Folates more effective in limiting Alzheimer's disease risk than antioxidants, other nutrients - Medical News Today 12/08/05

Major observational study points to importance of healthy diet for long-term brain health - Adults who eat the daily recommended allowance of folates -- B-vitamin nutrients found in oranges, legumes, leafy green vegetables and folic acid supplements -- significantly reduce their risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, according to results from a long-term National Institute on Aging study of diet and brain aging.


Old-fashioned methods best for treating head lice - Medical News Today 12/08/05

Old-fashioned methods of getting rid of head lice in children are far more effective than current chemical treatments, researchers revealed yesterday (FRI).


Killer Hib virtually wiped out in Africa - Medical News Today 12/08/05

A pioneering vaccination programme for children has virtually wiped out a killer bug in the Gambia - and could save hundreds of thousands of young lives across Africa.


Niger crisis - Food aid is reaching children - Medical News Today 12/08/05

More than a week after pictures of starving children in Niger shocked the world into action, relief supplies are reaching their destination, but more needs to be done to get children out of danger.


WFP Pre-Positions Food Stocks to Assist Needy Afghans - Medical News Today 12/08/05

Ahead of the winter freeze, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has started pre-positioning food supplies for nearly half a million impoverished Afghans who will be cut off from markets once the cold weather sets in.


Global Conference on Health Promotion ends with adoption of Charter - Medical News Today 12/08/05

A new Bangkok Charter for Health Promotion has been adopted today by participants at the 6th Global Conference on Health Promotion, co-hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Ministry of Public Health of Thailand. It identifies major challenges, actions and commitments needed to address the determinants of health in a globalized world by engaging the many actors and stakeholders critical to achieving health for all.


Improving understanding of the human brain - Global scientific research project launched - Medical News Today 12/08/05

Seven member countries of the OECD's Global Science Forum have launched a project to promote international collaboration among scientists and create new ways of sharing and analysing data to improve our understanding of how the human brain works.


Body's defense mechanism worsens asthma symptoms, study - Medical News Today 12/08/05

MUHC scientists have discovered that our body's own defense mechanism causes some of the most serious asthma symptoms. The study by MUHC researchers Dr. David Ramos-Barbón, Dr. Elizabeth Fixman and Dr. James Martin, published in a recent issue of Journal of Clinical Investigation (JCI), reveals that T lymphocytes--our body's defense cells--are responsible for the airway thickening, which increases the chances of a dangerous asthma attack. The discovery provides hope that new treatments might be developed to combat the disease, which currently has no cure.


Cheshire and Mersey News


Wheelchair service looks to expand - Warrington Guardian 13/08/05

THE Warrington Disability Partnership's free wheelchair loan service is looking for help to fund 10 new wheelchairs.


Forty minute ambulance wait fury - Nantwich Guardian 12/08/05

AN ELDERLY woman who suffered a bad fall in Nantwich town centre was left lying in agony for almost 40 minutes before paramedics came to her aid.


PCT council office deal falls through - Daily Post 11/08/05

WIRRAL Council must find new tenants for its five storey office block in Birkenhead after the local primary care trust pulled out of a deal to move in.


Patient jailed for attacks on nurses - Chester Chronicle 12/08/05

A PSYCHIATRIC patient who attacked two male nurses while being detained under the Mental Health Act has been sent to prison by magistrates who said they had 'no viable alternative'.


Health tests bid to cut force sickness - Daily Post 12/08/05

EVERY police officer on Merseyside is to be offered a free health screening test as part of efforts to cut sickness absence across the force.


Disabled to have their say - Ormskirk Advertiser 11/08/05

PHYSICALLY disabled people are being invited to say how local services across West Lancashire should be developed.


Cumbria and Lancashire News


Farewell to nurse Maureen - Lancashire Evening Telegraph 12/08/05

STAFF and patients at Fairfield Hospital have bid farewell to a familiar face as nurse Maureen Whittle retires after 46 years.


Waste plant to go ahead at Docklands - Lancashire Evening Telegraph 12/08/05

Controversial plans to build a recycling plant off Preston's Docklands were rubber stamped by the county council's development control committee yesterday.


MP backs more dentists call - Lancashire Evening Telegraph 12/08/05
Rated 3 in Lancashire and Cumbria on Aug 14, 2005 at 13:28:25 GMT.
MORE than one in three children in Lancaster could be suffering from tooth decay, according to the latest official research.


Winning war against MRSA - Lancashire Evening Telegraph 12/08/05

MARTIN Ravenscroft is a man on an education mission to try to stamp out the so-called superbug which killed his brother.


Waste plant legal fight - Lancashire Evening Post 12/08/05

LANCASHIRE County Council could face a legal challenge from developers furious at plans for a waste plant on Preston dock.


Blitz on selling booze to children - Leyland Guardian 12/08/05

A CRACKDOWN on shopkeepers who sell age restricted products to children is being launched in South Ribble today.


Greater Manchester News


Fluoride documents hold secrets - Bolton Evening News 13/08/05

IN your July 22 issue, there was a report that Bolton's children's teeth are getting worse. Commenting on this problem, Chris Brooks, President of Bolton's Dental Society, said: "Two things I feel would be helpful would be a dramatic improvement in access to NHS dentists and fluoridation of the drinking water."


Call for complete Reebok smoke ban - Bolton Evening News 12/08/05

COUNCIL bosses are urging Bolton Wanderers to follow in the footsteps of Manchester United - and ban smoking in the Reebok Stadium.


Pharmacy service fight defeat - Bury Times 12/08/05

ONE man's fight to bring pharmacy services into the heart of the community has failed at the final hurdle.


Nurses' fury over lack of jobs - Bury Times 12/08/05

STUDENT nurses who underwent training placements within the trust which runs Fairfield Hospital claim they are unable to find jobs despite recently qualifying.


Fight begins over closure of lung clinic - Bolton Evening News 12/08/05

CHRONIC lung patient Keith Orton has vowed to fight the closure of a "vital" service for people with severe respiratory problems.


Women `want a busier sex life' - Manchester Evening News 12/08/05

WOMEN are leading a sexual revolution - wanting more sex more often, a survey revealed today.

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