National and International News
The fight against poverty needs actions not words - The Guardian 12/09/05
Five years ago, the world's nations signed up to the UN millennium development goals, aimed at halving world poverty by 2015. This week, the same nations will meet in New York to review progress towards the goals (World summit on UN's future heads for chaos, September 10). This has been uneven at best. On current projections, many African countries will not get there until 2147.
"I just couldn't take work seriously" - The Guardian 12/09/05
Not everyone was born to inhabit a world of desks, photocopiers and water coolers. Novelist Jenny Colgan explains why she decided that office life just wasn't for her
Nursing home doctors face GMC hearing over lax care standards - The Guardian 12/09/05
Two doctors who ran a private nursing home in which 16 people died in circumstances prompting "serious concerns" face disciplinary proceedings before the General Medical Council today amid fresh allegations of lax procedures and inadequate care.
Diseases of rich deprive poor of drugs -The Observer 11/09/05
The world's poorest people are being denied access to drugs because pharmaceutical companies are focusing their resources on diseases suffered by wealthy, middle-aged Americans, such as obesity and heart disease, a leading expert will say tomorrow.
Our last chance -The Observer 11/09/05
This week, the world's rich nations have the chance to end poverty. It will be a major tragedy, argues Jonathan Dimbleby, if they spend it bickering
News in brief -The Observer 11/09/05
Armed police have been introduced at two nuclear power stations in Suffolk, it was confirmed yesterday. Civil Nuclear Constabulary officers have been drafted in to patrol Sizewell A and B near Leiston. Security at the sites was reviewed, along with plants throughout the country, following both the 9/11 attacks and the London bombings in July. Sizewell B director Mark Gorry, talking at a Sizewell A and B stakeholder group meeting on Friday, said the move was intended to boost confidence and act as a deterrent. In January 2003, 30 Greenpeace campaigners scaled the dome containing the pressurised water reactor at the Sizewell B plant. They said the protest was to highlight the station's poor security and vulnerability to attack.
UK: Nappy days -The Observer 11/09/05
Amy Raphael has an uplifting experience at a mother and baby yoga retreat in the Welsh borders
Lucy Siegle: Don't be a drip -The Observer 11/09/05
The bottled water industry uses environmentally unsound processes and is wasteful, says Lucy Siegle. Tap into a source that's much closer to home
John Briffa: Text appeal -The Observer 11/09/05
Mobile phones and computers may have made our lives much easier, but they come equipped with their own health warnings, says Dr John Briffa
Scary? The future is petrifying -The Observer 11/09/05
Laboratory meat grown from a clump of grey cells in a Petri dish has to be a complete no-brainer
What's in your basket? -The Observer 11/09/05
The Observer's cookery writer sets a fine example, despite the Smarties, says Dr John Briffa
Call for more therapists to end Prozac nation - The Observer 11/09/05
Thousands of people are on prescriptions for anti-depression drugs such as Prozac because of a lack of therapists who could be much more effective in treating the condition.
Afghan opium thriving despite EU plan - The Guardian 10/09/05
The home secretary, Charles Clarke, admitted yesterday that Britain and the EU faced "a difficult and complicated struggle" in containing Afghanistan's opium economy.
Two more deaths linked to strong arthritis drug - The Guardian 10/09/05
The deaths of at least two patients have been linked to an effective but toxic drug for rheumatoid arthritis, despite an earlier safety warning to the NHS after some 25 deaths and 26 cases of serious harm in England in a decade.
Does it work? De-stress muscle release - The Guardian 10/09/05
I know I'm in west London because the form I'm asked to fill in prior to my treatment not only asks about the state of my general health but also whether I've recently had Botox or a facial peel. I feel both are big round these parts. Preferring less invasive procedures, I tick the no box and ready myself for my de-stress muscle release - although I'm warned this is no lightweight massage. It's aimed at those with tense, aching muscles, sporty folk, say, or the overworked. Perfect for me, then, as I've just spent weeks bent over a ridiculously low table trying to complete end-of-year college work. And it shows. My therapist, realising my shoulders are as solid as rock, concentrates his energies here, using increasingly firm strokes and rosemary, ginger and black pepper oils to try to alleviate the problem. It's occasionally a little uncomfortable but definitely worth it. Afterwards, I'm so chilled that even if I wanted Botox there would be no need for it.
Natural health therapist Emma Mitchell answers your questions - The Guardian 10/09/05
I have recently seen HGH, Human Growth Hormone, advertised on the internet. This supplement boasts anti-ageing properties. Is it any good or could it be dangerous?
Patients must wait weeks for sex infection check-ups - The Guardian 09/09/05
A quarter of patients are having to wait more than two weeks for a sexual health clinic appointment, research published today shows.
Sellafield struggles with radioactive gulls - The Independent 11/09/05
Under fire for its safety record, accused of poisoning the Irish Sea for decades, Sellafield is wrestling with a new and unexpected threat.
Ecstasy moves out of the nightclubs and into the hands of 10-year-olds - The Independent 11/09/05
The drug that epitomised the acid house scene of the late 1980s is now being taken 20 at a time by children to relieve the boredom and trauma of their everyday lives. Sophie Goodchild, and Andrew Johnson reveal the trend
Revealed: children of 10 hooked on ecstasy - The Independent 11/09/05
'Betrayed' Makosi fights the reality of deportation - The Independent 10/09/05
She has been catapulted to fame by reality television - but is about to discover whether the exposure she so controversially courted will result in her being thrown out of Britain.
Inhaled insulin may mean end for diabetic injections - The Independent 10/09/05
The ubiquitous syringe, carried everywhere by diabetics for their regular dose of insulin, could soon be replaced by a puffer, similar to those carried by asthmatics.
Chirac leaves hospital but the mystery remains - The Independent 10/09/05
In circumstances as stage-managed and puzzling as his illness, Jacques Chirac left hospital yesterday seven days after his "little vascular accident".
Chirac's illness sets off power battle - The Guardian 10/09/05
Chirac bounces back from illness with a body blow for rival - The Telegraph 11/09/05
Health briefs - The Times 12/09/05
Collagen treatment is usually associated with wrinkles, but a worthier use has been suggested in the Journal of Urology. A study has shown that collagen injections may help with bladder control in men with urinary incontinence after prostate surgery. The treatment is said to be effective for six months, but is not suitable for those who have had radiation or cryotherapy.
Homophobic crimes set to be punished more harshly - The Times 12/09/05
SCOTLAND seems certain to follow England and introduce harsher prison sentences and fines for homophobic crimes motivated by hatred of gay, lesbian or bisexual people. Such crimes would be considered an “aggravated” offence in the same way as assaults and other crimes “aggravated” by racism and sectarianism or religious prejudice already do north of the border.
I lead a healthy life, so why is my cholesterol so high? - The Times 12/09/05
My doctor says my cholesterol is a bit high at 5.1. I am 26, a size 10, 5ft 6in (1.68m) and weigh around 9st (57kg). My diet is healthy — typically, breakfast is unsweetened cereal with skimmed milk, lunch vegetable soup with a small brown roll or salad and a sandwich, and for dinner, stir-fry vegetables and chicken or fish. I also have a couple of Brazil nuts and a handful of seeds a day and three or four pieces of fruit. I’ll have chocolate or a rich dessert maybe once a week. I run half an hour every weekday. I am at a loss as to how to reduce my cholesterol.
I want to be alone: the people who act like Greta Garbo - The Times 12/09/05
The film star was not a total recluse but may, like many others, have suffered from a social phobia which made public occasions unbearable
You won't feel a thing . . . - The Times 12/09/05
Hypnosedation may reduce the need for general anaesthetic
Urban worrier - The Times 12/09/05
It is all too easy to get over-excited when a new and terrible plague looms. So often the predicted decimation of the global population doesn’t quite happen (remember Sars?). So I took a cold, hard look at the facts about avian flu before deciding whether or not to start putting in some serious nights of fretting. My considered opinion: no need to panic. But if Richard Branson were to pull his finger out and make intergalactic space tourism affordable and convenient, it might just be worth booking a one-way ticket to a new solar system.
Redheads not so fiery after all - The Times 12/09/05
The phrase “fiery redhead” may not actually be true after all, as scientists have proved that those with a ginger thatch — around one in ten of Scots people, Gordon Strachan, among them — are actually much more cool than anyone else.
Why drive to cut NHS drugs bill may finish up in court - The Times 12/09/05
Three of the most widely prescribed generic products are at centre of inquiry
Graphic: The growth in prescribing generics - The Times 12/09/05
Drug firms face trial over 100m NHS fraud - The Times 12/09/05
Boarding schools for children in care - The Times 12/09/05
A new generation of academies will give opportunities to the vulnerable and save millions of pounds
Medical ‘rich list’ triggered gang attacks, say doctors - The Sunday Times 11/09/05
DOCTORS and pharmacists claim they have been targeted by burglars and criminal gangs since the publication of league tables of fees for treating medical-card holders.
Drunks offered hangover hotels - The Sunday Times 11/09/05
HAD a little too much to drink? Feeling a bit unsteady on your feet as you try to pick your way home without attracting the attention of the police?
MMR scare doctor faces list of charges - The Sunday Times 11/09/05
THE doctor who sparked a worldwide scare over the MMR vaccine faces a six-week hearing before the General Medical Council (GMC) over allegations of serious professional misconduct, including dishonesty and intending to mislead.
Doctors in ‘cash for visas’ scam - The Sunday Times 11/09/05
NATIONAL Health Service doctors are taking cash in return for documents that enable foreign medics and students to come to Britain and work in the black economy.
Doctor helps migrants in for 100 - The Sunday Times 11/09/05
The research institute that advertises foetus body parts on internet - The Times 10/09/05
TATYANA ZAKHAROVA shook her head as she ran her finger down the page and read out the products on offer.
Scandal of newborn babies stolen from their mothers - The Times 10/09/05
Women in Ukraine tell how their children were taken from them in the hospital delivery room, never to be seen again
Graphic: Worldwide traffic in babies - The Times 10/09/05
Heart of the matter - The Times 10/09/05
Women need to know more about the risk of heart disease
Hands-free moan - The Times 10/09/05
Breakthroughs, tips and trends HOW lurid is your imagination? A leading sex researcher is brain-scanning lucky women who can make themselves reach orgasm by simply thinking about sex.
Junk medicine: paediatric drugs - The Times 10/09/05
Kids are not little adults The doctor’s craft will always involve an element of art as well as science. Medicine cannot often boast the black-and-white laws that apply to disciplines like physics: the diagnosis and treatment options are often painted in shades of grey. Modern clinical practice, however, is placing increasing importance on sound evidence. Where once doctors trusted hunches and anecdotal experience to select an appropriate therapy, they are now demanding robust data from well-designed trials.
‘Depression is my default setting’ - The Times 10/09/05
Jack Dee tells Rosie Millard that comedy is his religion and why, funnily enough, he’s an optimist
Give me a break - The Times 10/09/05
Mike Lesser was fed up with society’s negative view of his autism — so he set out to change it
Are we being fed big fat lies? - The Times 10/09/05
In the summer of 2004, the media was obsessed with one sensational story: a three-year-old girl who had apparently died from being overweight. The news, leaked to Radio 4’s Today programme, came from a report on childhood obesity that was expected to kickstart the Government into action.
Work is hard labour - The Times 10/09/05
A new survey reveals that many pregnant women still have to fight for basic rights from employers
Sparkling epitaphs - The Times 10/09/05
From jewels to web portraits, we’ve moved on from the tombstone
Beauty to DIY for - The Times 10/09/05
Are home-made organic beauty products a recipe for success? Anna Shepard gets slap-happy and takes the avocado on the chin
Bodylicious: toe twinklers - The Times 10/09/05
Podiatrist Mike O’Neill picks the best products to keep your feet looking good and in tip-top condition
Agony aunt: Irma kurtz: A change for the better - The Times 10/09/05
I am 56, my wife is 55 and we have been married, I thought happily, for 34 years. We are both retired. We met a man of 65 who was very pleasant and did crosswords, which my wife enjoys. Suddenly, a year ago she said that she wanted a divorce and “space”. I was devastated, as were our two children, in their thirties, and all our friends. Eventually she confessed that she was in love with her new friend. Nevertheless, she has approached me, and I her, to try for a reconciliation six times in as many months. She has slept with me three times, only to change her mind the next day. She acknowledges treating me badly and says that she will seek help from Relate, then refuses. My daughter acknowledges that her mother is not the same. My wife used to drink a bit, as I did; could that have any bearing? Women put this kind of behaviour down to menopause. Could that be the explanation? My children say to leave her to get on with it but it is hard; I have known her since she was 11.
Get over it: not enough time - The Times 10/09/05
I have lots on and never enough hours in the day. How can I get everything done?
Sex matters with Dr Thomas Stuttaford and Suzi Godson - The Times 10/09/05
After a lot of wine, I slept with a very nice but ugly man. The sex was surprisingly good but I don't fancy him. How can I make myself find him sexy?
At that rash age - The Times 10/09/05
My ten-month-old baby often suffers from nappy rash. He eats vegetables, fruit (not citrus in case it makes things worse), potato, pasta, cheese and meat. He is not teething at the moment. What could be causing his problem and is there a good way of dealing with it?
Over the counter: sodium citrate for cystitis - The Times 10/09/05
Brands Cymalon, Cystopurin, Canesten Oasis, among others.
Lunchtime fix: tooth polishing - The Times 10/09/05
Achieve a dazzling smile without the expense of having teeth professionally whitened
Cutting out the drugs - The Times 10/09/05
Would you have surgery without an anaesthetic? Daniel Elkan is mesmerised by a woman who did
Home remedies: dock leaves for nettle stings - The Times 10/09/05
Is it just an old wives’ tale that dock leaves cure the sting from nettles?
The little chefs’ club - The Times 10/09/05
How do you fight the tyranny of junk food? Carol Midgley says school cookery clubs might be the answer — and they may also be a good way to win one of our school awards
Meet Jamie Oliver and go to the top of the class - The Times 10/09/05
At your table: pasta - The Times 10/09/05
Penne for your thoughts, says Jane Clarke, The Times nutritionist
Play but not stationary - The Times 10/09/05
Get the geeks off the couch: Rosie Millard tries a Jane Fonda workout for the computer generation
Undercover cells could fool the immune system - The Times 10/09/05
THE key to unlocking the medical benefits of embryonic stem (ES) cells without recourse to cloning lies in tricking the immune system into regarding transplanted tissue as friendly, scientists said.
Scientists go back to nature for new drugs - The Times 10/09/05
NATURAL sources such as plants, sponges and corals still provide the best starting points for developing drugs, the festival was told yesterday.
Rare coral offers new cancer hope - Daily Mail 09/09/05
Embryos open virgin territory for research - The Times 10/09/05
BRITAIN’S first virgin human embryos, grown directly from an egg without fertilisation or cloning, have been created by scientists at the laboratory that cloned Dolly the sheep.
Embryo created without a father - The Telegraph 10/09/05
Embryos created from single parent - The Guardian 10/09/05
Embryos created by 'virgin conception' - The Independent 10/09/05
'Virgin conception' first for UK - BBC Health News 09/09/05
Free food for the homeless lures people who are too lazy to cook - The Times 10/09/05
SOUP runs in London are being increasingly abused by people who are not poor, needy or homeless, according to research that claims there is now one for every two rough sleepers in the capital.
‘I had sausage legs and a beach-ball face’ - The Times 10/09/05
Well fit. Gabby Logan on shaping up after twins Having always eaten well and exercised since I was a child, I’d be telling a lie if I didn’t admit to having a few fears about the long-term effects that pregnancy would have on my body.
Not just anybody: Manish Bhasin - The Times 10/09/05
You have been called a rising star of the BBC. Are you changing the face of football presenting? I do look different from the majority of football pundits because I’m young and Asian. But I would like to think that I wasn’t chosen for my looks. I’m a football fan first and a journalist second; I don’t sit on the sofa thinking about what I look like.
Healthcare may be free but optional extras (like GP appointments) can now cost 250 - The Telegraph 11/09/05
Patients are being made to pay more than 250 pounds a year to guarantee an appointment with their family doctors.
After 'boulder' row, hospital keeps spending on art - The Telegraph 11/09/05
A hospital criticised for spending 70,000 on a boulder to adorn its main entrance is to spend hundreds of thousands of pounds on more artwork.
Abortion clinic offers cash incentives to women to have terminations - The Telegraph 11/09/05
A private abortion clinic is offering financial kickbacks to women with late-term pregnancies to entice them into having illegal terminations.
For every pill, they invent another ill - The Telegraph 11/09/05
It had never occurred to me, before last week, that big pharmaceutical companies might actually be evil. I knew they could be a bit iffy - bribing doctors, failing to mention horrible side-effects, fudging the science - but I always imagined them to be fundamentally well-intentioned.
Animal organs 'will soon be used for transplants' - The Telegraph 10/09/05
The transplantation of organs from animals to humans could soon be a reality, scientists said yesterday.
Humans may be 'saved by pig organs' - Daily Mail 09/09/05
Animal organ trials 'within five years' - The Guardian 10/09/05
Patients 'bringing MRSA into hospital' - The Telegraph 09/09/05
A quarter of serious MRSA cases are brought into hospitals from the community, new research has shown.
MRSA patients 'bringing superbugs into hospitals' - The Guardian 09/09/05
Experts to assess vCJD dental risk - Daily Mail 12/09/05
Health protection experts have said they are investigating whether the human form of mad cow disease can be passed on through dental procedures.
Heart attack women 'treated worse' - Daily Mail 12/09/05
Women who suffer a heart attack are forced to wait longer than men for treatment in Irish hospitals, new research has revealed.
Sweet dreams are made of cheese - Daily Mail 12/09/05
For decades parents have warned their children not to have cheese before bedtime to prevent bad dreams. But researchers have disproved this old wife's tale and found that cheese could actually aid sleep.
Conference calls for more research - Daily Mail 12/09/05
Scientists and officials from around the world have met in Mumbai, India, to examine what impact poverty has on health problems in the developing world and how to increase research into fighting diseases that affect the poor.
Phones CAN make you ill - Daily Mail 12/09/05
Radiation from mobile phones, computers and microwave ovens could be damaging your health, Government experts are to admit for the first time.
Concern for mental health patients - Daily Mail 12/09/05
Fewer than half of mental health patients are given access to effective "talking therapies" as part of their treatment, a survey has revealed.
Mental health care 'suffers gaps' - BBC Health News 11/09/05
Patients suffering depression 'need therapy more than pills' - The Telegraph 12/09/05
Unhappiness 'is Britain's worst social problem' - The Independent 12/09/05
250 clinics to tackle depression epidemic - The Guardian 12/09/05
Vasectomy video to be shown online - Daily Mail 12/09/05
Men who are thinking about having a vasectomy will be able to watch the procedure beforehand in extreme close-up thanks to the launch of a new short film.
BT workers sign up for 'fit scheme' - Daily Mail 12/09/05
Thousands of workers at telecoms giant BT have signed up to a campaign aimed at improving their health and fitness.
Warning for 'square-eyed' employees - Daily Mail 12/09/05
Britons spend almost 130,000 hours during their working lifetime sitting in front of a TV or computer screen, eye health campaigners have warned.
Antibiotic banned to protect humans - Daily Mail 11/09/05
The first United States ban of a veterinary antibiotic on the grounds that it could produce antibiotic-resistant bacteria in humans takes effect next week.
Mother talks of son's rare illness - Daily Mail 11/09/05
A mother has spoken of the agony of not knowing when her son might die from an illness which affects just seven other people in the world.
'Bollywood' work-out entices Asians - Daily Mail 11/09/05
A new fitness class taking inspiration from Bollywood films has been created to entice more Asian women into the gym.
Free check that can save your life - Daily Mail 11/09/05
Tens of thousands of people in the UK are dying or suffering disability needlessly each year because they are unaware of their most vital statistic - their blood pressure.
Ambulance staff 'using own mobiles' - Daily Mail 11/09/05
Scottish ambulance staff are increasingly having to use their own mobile phones because of radio problems, according to a new report.
Ambulance service under fire - The Times 12/09/05
Pregnancy diet links to be explored - Daily Mail 11/09/05
Researchers across Europe will investigate the effect of a woman's diet during pregnancy on the health of the child in later life.
Stem cells detected in heart tissue - Daily Mail 09/09/05
Japanese researchers have detected stem cells in human heart tissue.
Plans made to 'speed up' NHS tests - Daily Mail 09/09/05
Efforts to speed up diagnostic tests in the NHS have been put at the heart of a major review of pathology services.
The cloned baby with two mothers - Daily Mail 09/09/05
Pro-life campaigners have condemned a controversial decision to grant permission to UK scientists to create a human embryo that will have genetic material from two mothers.
Tribunal ponders pathologist's fate - Daily Mail 09/09/05
A medical tribunal panel has retired to decide whether the pathologist who conducted the post-mortem examination on Jean Charles de Menezes will keep his place on the medical register.
Worker denies charges of misconduct - Daily Mail 09/09/05
A hospital operating theatre worker is facing allegations that he touched the breasts of two female patients who were under anaesthetic.
Union fights for free home care - BBC Health News 12/09/05
Trade unionists who won compensation for thousands of miners are going to court again - fighting for the right to free nursing care at home.
Concern over deadly E.coli strain - BBC Health News 12/09/05
Better monitoring of a deadly antibiotic-resistant strain of E.coli is needed as it threatens to spread more rapidly, government advisers say.
Warning over resistant superbug risk - The Telegraph 12/09/05
New super-resistant 'E. coli' spreads across the country - The Independent 12/09/05
Imported foods could be responsible for growth of superbugs - The Guardian 12/09/05
Infections 'link to imported meat' - Daily Mail 12/09/05
Weak and elderly at risk from fatal new superbug - The Times 12/09/05
NHS hearing aid waits 'increase' - BBC Health News 11/09/05
The average wait for a hearing aid on the NHS has risen in England by seven weeks in the last year, a study says.
'Three-year wait for hearing aid' - Daily Mail 12/09/05
Distractions 'hit ageing memory' - BBC Health News 11/09/05
An inability to ignore distractions is the main reason why older people have memory problems, research suggests.
'Smart' coating to deliver drugs - BBC Health News 10/09/05
US scientists have developed a "smart" coating to deliver drugs precisely when and where they are needed in the body.
Iron absorption mystery 'solved' - BBC Health News 10/09/05
Scientists say they have worked out how the gut absorbs iron from meat into the blood - a discovery they hope could lead to new treatments for anaemia.
Baby fights off MRSA hospital bug - BBC Health News 09/09/05
A prematurely-born baby is said to be recovering well after being diagnosed with the MRSA superbug while at a Bristol hospital.
Smoking 'harms key lung enzyme' - BBC Health News 09/09/05
Smoking appears to reduce a key enzyme in the lungs which helps regulate blood pressure, research suggests.
Brain chemistry link to anorexia - BBC Health News 09/09/05
Scientists have produced evidence that the eating disorder anorexia nervosa is linked to disrupted brain chemistry.
US FDA panel backs Bristol, Merck diabetes drug - Reuters 11/09/05
An experimental diabetes pill to lower blood sugar and certain blood fats won support on Friday from U.S. advisers despite concerns that it might contribute to heart failure.
Merck vows to press ahead with Vioxx defense - Reuters 11/09/05
On the eve of a second court battle over its arthritis drug Vioxx, Merck & Co. Inc. said on Friday it does not plan to enter into any global settlement of the thousands of Vioxx lawsuits it faces and is focused on "defending these cases one at a time."
Bats may have been source of SARS - study - Reuters 11/09/05
Bats found in Hong Kong carry a virus very similar to the severe acute respiratory syndrome or SARS virus and might be able to spread it, Chinese researchers reported on Friday.
FDA panel backs diabetes drug - Reuters 10/09/05
An experimental diabetes pill to lower blood sugar and certain blood fats won support on Friday from U.S. advisers despite concerns that it might contribute to heart failure.
Europeans launch vaccines scheme - Reuters 10/09/05
European countries launched a scheme on Friday to provide $4 billion in life-saving vaccines to millions of poor children, but critics said the project was flawed and much more money was needed to address the problem
Brown's arm twisting helps west keep vaccine promise - The Guardian 10/09/05
Brown hails immunisation scheme - Daily Mail 09/09/05
Pre-teen leg pain lasts in some cases - Reuters 09/09/05
Though leg aches and pains are a common childhood problem that usually fades quickly, some children have persistent problems into their teens, according to a new study.
Switching 'triptans' may improve migraine response - Reuters 09/09/05
There are several so-called triptan drugs designed for treating migraines -- and if one doesn't work, another might, German researchers report.
Some bleeding strokes could be prevented - Reuters 09/09/05
Many young adults who suffer bleeding in the brain, a type of stroke, have risk factors that could be modified, researchers report. This suggests that these strokes might often be preventable.
Blood disorder has little impact on pregnancy - Reuters 09/09/05
Women with hemoglobin SC disease, an inherited blood disorder, can expect relatively normal pregnancy outcomes, according to a report in BJOG: an International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Asthma risk higher for people with bowel disease - Reuters 09/09/05
People with inflammatory bowel disease are 1.5 times as likely to have asthma as individuals in the general population, a large new study shows.
Many people report symptoms of electromagnetic radiation sickness, WHO - Medical News Today 12/09/05
"A lot of people report symptoms similar to yours, and there is even a name for it, electrical hypersensitivity (EHS)", writes Chiyoji Ohkubo of the EMF-radiation project of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in an e-mail to a patient. Though the WHO confirms the problem is serious, there will be a 'fact sheet' by the EMF-project within a few weeks, totally denying the existence of radiation sickness. The information is based on instructions by a working group of five people in Prague, 2004. It reads like a political manifesto, to hush up the epidemic and leave the patients behind without any care.
Human brain continues to evolve, history of two genes shows - Medical News Today 12/09/05
Scientists from the University of Chicago say that the human brain is probably still evolving and has been doing so for, at least, the last five thousand years.
'Proof' our brains are evolving - BBC Health News 09/09/05
Implantable Pacemaker-like Device Sends Pulses to the Brain via Nerve in the Neck to Treat Chronic Depression - Medical News Today 12/09/05
Psychiatrists at Rush University Medical Center are the first in Chicago to use a vagus nerve stimulator (VNS), an implantable, pacemaker-like device, as a therapy to treat long-term, treatment-resistant depression (TRD) in adults. Dr. John Zajecka led the VNS therapy clinical trial at Rush.
New Scientific Yoga and Art of Relaxation - Medical News Today 12/09/05
Imagine the life when you need only 2 hours of sleep to re-energise. "I felt I went into deep relaxation, while all the time remaining aware" comments Giles with smiling face after experiencing Art of Relaxation workshop conducted by Subodh Gupta in London.
The Wheelchair Site.com Launches Wheelchairs Tip Site at LifeTips.com - Medical News Today 12/09/05
LifeTips announces the launch of the Wheelchairs Tip Site in the LifeTips network to the millions of information seekers at LifeTips. TheWheelchairSite.com becomes the exclusive Wheelchair client in the LifeTips network.
Inconsistent Effort May Be Sign of Attention Disorder in Adults and Children - Medical News Today 12/09/05
The adult or child who only concentrates when performing an activity in which they have a deep interest, such as playing a sport or drawing, may have "impotence of the mind," according to a new book by Thomas E. Brown, clinical professor of psychiatry at Yale School of Medicine.
New treatment that promises to revolutionize the treatment of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma - Medical News Today 12/09/05
At a press conference at the Marriott - Chateau Champlain, the MUHC will present the details of a new treatment that promises to revolutionize the treatment of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma.
New anticoagulant faces the challenge of bleeding in PCI - Medical News Today 11/09/05
Contemporary regimens for antithrombotic use during PCI have been successful at preventing ischaemic events, but often result in increased bleeding.
MRC Statement In Response To RSPCA Call For People To Donate Their Tissue 'To Help Replace Testing On Animals', UK - Medical News Today 11/09/05
Studies of human tissue play a vital role in medical research and the Medical Research Council (MRC) supports the RSPCA's (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) call for human volunteers, especially those suffering from medical conditions, to donate tissue for research. However, it is unlikely that this will help significantly to replace testing on animals, at least in the short term since the law forbids the use of animals in research if there is any alternative.
Ranbaxy Provides Relief Services To Victims Of Hurricane Katrina - Medical News Today 11/09/05
Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited (RLL), today announced that the Company's wholly owned subsidiary, Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals Inc. (RPI), USA, has entered into a joint initiative with the City of Jacksonville, Florida, USA, and the Association of Firefighters, Local 122 (also of Jacksonville, Florida). The objective of this cooperative effort will be to provide relief services to victims of Hurricane Katrina that caused widespread destruction in the states of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama last week. This natural disaster has left a number of people homeless and in need of medical care and treatment, which challenges and exceeds the immediate support that could be provided by federal, state and local authorities.
Contaminated Water Presents Bigger Crisis in the Gaza Strip - Medical News Today 11/09/05
A group of Israeli, Palestinian and French scientists have proposed a possible management solution to ameliorate the water quality crisis depriving residents of drinkable water in the Gaza Strip. The study is published in the September-October 2005 issue of the journal Ground Water. This special theme issue contains 14 papers on transboundary ground water.
Greater, more consistent inhibition of platelet aggregation (IPA) compared with current ‘gold standard' treatment, study - Medical News Today 11/09/05
Phase IIa data for the antiplatelet agent AZD6140 demonstrate greater and more consistent inhibition of platelet aggregation (IPA) compared with clopidogrel, according to results of the DISPERSE study presented today at the ESC meeting in Stockholm. DISPERSE, the first study of AZD6140 in patients, examined doses of 50 mg, 100 mg, 200 mg and 400 mg versus the standard 75 mg dose of clopidogrel and confirms the findings of earlier pre-clinical and healthy volunteer studies. AZD6140 is being developed for the prevention of thrombotic events, such as heart attack and stroke, in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).
Latest Medical Imaging Technologies Require Greater End User Awareness, Europe - Medical News Today 11/09/05
With the exception of the United Kingdom where strong government commitment to health care is funding investment in new equipment, the European market for key medical imaging modalities is witnessing capital constraints. As an increasing number of public hospitals lease imaging equipment, there is a growing need for vendors to be more flexible and inventive in their offerings to better compete in the contract market.
Pharmaceutical Companies Identify Excipients and their Strategic Product Applications as Cost-reduction Opportunity - Medical News Today 11/09/05
The global pharmaceutical industry is currently in a state of flux. Imminent patent expiries, growing generic competition and drug failures are combining to create significant cost issues for pharmaceutical companies, compelling them to cut expenditure on product development without compromising on quality. In such a scenario, excipients offer a welcome opportunity to add better functionality to products at lower costs.
Hurricane Survivors Latest Victims Of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - Medical News Today 11/09/05
International Conference on September 11 to Present Latest Research on PTSD - Hurricane Katrina survivors are likely to be the latest victims diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder. Along with survivors of the tsunami, London train bombings, Iraq, and 9/11, they may exhibit symptoms of PTSD within weeks or years, long after their physical conditions have improved. These symptoms include nightmares and flashbacks; insomnia; and a sense of detachment or unreality. Depending upon the individual, these effects can be severe and long-lasting, and may lead to long term medical care and disability.
UK Government ignoring underlying capacity problems says GP Leader - Medical News Today 11/09/05
Dr Hamish Meldrum, chairman of the BMA's General Practitioners Committee (GPC), commenting on the Government's access announcement, said the Government was failing to tackle the underlying capacity problem behind the current difficulties in booking GP appointments.
Common Pesticide May Reduce Fertility in Women, Methoxychlor (MXC) - Medical News Today 11/09/05
Methoxychlor (MXC), a common insect pesticide used on food crops, may interfere with proper development and function of the reproductive tract, leading to reduced fertility in women, researchers at Yale School of Medicine write in the August issue of Endocrinology.
Markers of brain cell development may help success of stem cell transplants - Medical News Today 11/09/05
Four sugar-coated faces made by stem cells as they differentiate into brain cells during development have been identified by scientists.
Two New Treatment Advances For Coronary Artery Disease Patients - Medical News Today 11/09/05
EMEA gives go-ahead for Coversyl® (perindopril) indication in stable CAD and marketing authorisation for Procoralan® (ivabradine), the first exclusive heart-rate reducing agent
Mothers' suicide attempts raise risk in teens - Reuters 09/09/05
Adolescent children of mothers who have attempted suicide are themselves at increased risk of doing the same thing, German research report.
RCGP Response to DoH announcement for patients access to advanced appointments, UK - Medical News Today 11/06/05
Dr Mayur Lakhani, Chairman of the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP), commenting on patient access to advanced GP appointments.
Melanoma Treatment Using Selective Electrochemical Tumor Ablation Therapy - Medical News Today 11/09/05
Inovio Biomedical Corporation a late stage developer of oncology and other therapies using electroporation to deliver drugs and nucleic acids, announced today that a presentation highlighting the applicability of the company's novel MedPulserR selective electrochemical tumor ablation system to treat melanoma will take place at the 6th World Congress on Melanoma, September 6th - 9th, 2005 in Vancouver, Canada. The poster presentation, entitled "Local disease management of melanoma metastases with electroporation plus intralesional bleomycin," is authored by Dr. Peter Radny, a dermatologist with the Dermatology Department, University of Freiburg , and Dr. Thomas Eigentler and Professor Claus Garbe, dermatologists with the Dermatology Department, University of Tubingen, in Germany. Professor Garbe is the lead investigator in Germany for Inovio's pre-marketing study for skin cancers and oversees seven trial sites in Germany.
TV viewing of Katrina will have psychological effects on children - Medical News Today 11/09/05
The devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina have been felt across the USA during the past weeks. Thousands of children are survivors of Katrina, while millions of others around the country have observed horrific sights via media coverage. Although they were not directly involved with the tragedy, repeated television viewing of the disaster puts these children at high risk for developing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), anxiety and depression.
Radiation, chemotherapy with liver transplant improves cancer survival - Medical News Today 11/09/05
A new treatment for patients with a type of bile duct cancer promises a greater chance at survival by combining radiation, chemotherapy and liver transplantation, Mayo Clinic physicians report in the September issue of the Annals of Surgery.
NIEHS website with data for assessing environmental hazards from Hurricane Katrina - Medical News Today 11/09/05
A new website with a Global Information System will provide valuable information for assessing environmental hazards caused by Hurricane Katrina. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), one of the National Institutes of Health, created the website to provide the most up-to-date data to public health and safety workers on contaminants in flood waters, infrastructure and industry maps, as well as demographic information for local populations.
'Ephedra-free' dietary supplements pose potential health risks - Medical News Today 11/09/05
Two common weight loss supplements promoted as ephedra-free and safe for dieters caused increased heart rate among healthy people, and could have harmful health effects in some people, according to a study by UCSF scientists. Their placebo-controlled clinical study is the first to examine the pharmacological effects of these re-formulated dietary supplements.
YouthAIDS, Aldo Awareness Campaign; DHS Survey for Cameroon; AVAC Annual Report; IAVI Literature Review on AIDS, MDGs - Medical News Today 11/09/05
“ALDO, YouthAIDS and Leading Celebrities Team Up To Raise Funds to Fight AIDS Pandemic,"... YouthAIDS, ALDO: The global fundraising and awareness campaign is selling for $5 an "empowerment tag" that is engraved with "Hear," "See" or "Speak" on one tag and the AIDS ribbon on the other, with all proceeds benefiting YouthAIDS. Celebrities Salma Hayek, Ashley Judd, Christina Aguilera, Cindy Crawford, Penelope Cruz, LL Cool J, Elijah Wood and Josh Lucas have donated time for the campaign, and the tags are available at ALDO stores worldwide and on www.youthaids-aldo.org or www.aldoshoes.com (YouthAIDS/ALDO release, June 2005).
Genocide Survivor Counselors Providing Testing, Treatment for Rwandan Women Infected With HIV Through Rape - Medical News Today 11/09/05
Social workers from genocide survivor associations in Rwanda are providing psychosocial support, HIV testing and antiretroviral treatment to women infected with HIV through rape during the country's 1994 genocide,... "The World" -- a coproduction of BBC World Service, PRI and WGBH Boston -- reports. During the genocide, Hutu militia raped Tutsi women in a deliberate plan to use HIV/AIDS as a weapon. Many of the women remain hesitant to seek HIV testing or treatment because "acknowledging their illness means confronting the horror" of the genocide, according to PRI. The segment includes comments from Agnes Binagwaho, head of Rwanda's National AIDS Control Commission; Anne-Christine d'Adesky, executive co-director of Women's Equity in Access to Care and Treatment; and social workers involved in counseling (Fink, "The World," PRI, 9/8).
Former President Clinton Visits HIV-Positive People in China Who Are Receiving Antiretrovirals Through His Foundation - Medical News Today 11/09/05
Former President Clinton on Thursday met with HIV-positive patients in two regions in China who are receiving antiretroviral drugs provided by the... Clinton Foundation, Xinhuanet reports. In Zhengzhou, the capital of central China's Henan province, Clinton met with eight HIV-positive children who are part of a group of 83 children in the province receiving treatment provided by the foundation. Nationwide about 200 HIV-positive children are receiving treatment through the Clinton Foundation (Xinhuanet [1], 9/9). Clinton then traveled to Kunming, the capital of southwest China's Yunnan province, where he visited local hospitals and HIV/AIDS treatment centers and had dinner with patients living with the disease (Xinhuanet [2], 9/9). Clinton's visit is meant to highlight the progress of a three-year program that began in June and aims to provide care and treatment to HIV-positive people at several sites in Yunnan province (Clinton Foundation release, 9/7). Clinton said the projects are "going on very well" (Xinhuanet [2], 9/9).
Medical research funding more important than tax cuts and border protection, Australian poll - Medical News Today 10/09/05
Australians consider medical research to be a more important priority for funding and resources than tax cuts and border protection, a new poll has found.
Obesity strongly linked to pulmonary embolism and deep venous thrombosis - Medical News Today 10/09/05
Since 1927, obesity has been thought to be a risk factor for fatal pulmonary embolism (PE). Because of the high proportion of obesity in the general population, previous studies have not determined whether obesity is an independent risk factor for PE or deep venous thrombosis (DVT). In an extensive study published in the September issue of The American Journal of Medicine, researchers from St. Joseph Mercy Oakland Hospital, Pontiac, Michigan; Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan; and Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan; analyzed over 20 years of patient records compiled by the National Hospital Discharge Survey (NHDS) to further investigate the potential risk of obesity in venous thromboembolism. The investigators concluded that obesity is a risk factor for venous thromboembolic disease in men as well as women, particularly those under age 40.
Blood test for colon cancer risk to be goal of Hopkins project - Medical News Today 10/09/05
An interdisciplinary team of scientists from Johns Hopkins and elsewhere has been selected to receive a $2.25 million, five-year grant from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation to develop a practical test to predict a person's risk of colon cancer by looking for a particular biological marker in the blood.
Old people aren't rude, just uninhibited: new research - Medical News Today 10/09/05
If you suffered from piles, would you want your friends asking about your condition in public? Most people wouldn't, yet new research suggests that the older you become the more likely you are to make someone blush with embarrassment in that way.
Obesity linked to urban sprawl - Medical News Today 10/09/05
Is suburban life making people overweight? Or could it be that overweight people tend to choose the suburban life?
Afghan refugee children and young adults prone to injury - Medical News Today 10/09/05
Long-term refugees require injury prevention strategies - Pakistan is home to 2 million Afghan refugees who fled a communist coup and Soviet occupation in 1978. A study by researchers from the Johns Hopkins University found that Afghan refugees under the age of 29 years experience more injuries than their older counterparts and children in developed countries. In what is believed to be the first study of its kind of Afghan refugees, the authors recommend that injury prevention strategies be implemented in refugee camps. The study is published in the September 2005 issue of Injury Control and Safety Promotion.
Researchers discover key to human embryonic stem-cell potential - Medical News Today 10/09/05
What exactly makes a stem cell a stem cell? The question may seem simplistic, but while we know a great deal of what stem cells can do, we don't yet understand the molecular processes that afford them such unique attributes.
NYU researchers discover mechanism linking color vision and cancer genes - Medical News Today 10/09/05
Biologists at New York University have discovered a system by which a random choice between two distinct cellular fates in the fruit fly eye becomes firmly established. Surprisingly, the genes involved are known 'tumor suppressor genes', i.e. genes that are inactivated in some forms of cancer due to uncontrolled cell proliferation. Because the fly eye is highly amenable to genetic analysis, these findings, published in the latest issue of Cell, could help decipher the mechanisms by which genes that control cell proliferation and cell growth are themselves regulated.
Evidence-based review on radiation for brain tumors consolidates information for researchers - Medical News Today 10/09/05
The American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology gathered a panel of experts to compile and analyze existing studies on the use of radiosurgery, a specialized type of external beam radiation therapy that pinpoints high doses of radiation to treat brain tumors. The panel has developed evidence-based reviews that consolidate the information available and identify questions to be answered in future research. The two new reviews are published in the September 1, 2005 issue of the International Journal of Radiation Oncology*Biology*Physics, the official journal of ASTRO.
UCSD study of nuclear receptors could change anti-inflammatory treatments - Medical News Today 10/09/05
Several nuclear receptor proteins appear to overlap in their ability to exert anti-inflammatory effects, according to new research by scientists at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). Nuclear receptors are important drug targets for a number of diseases, for example, glucocorticoid receptors for asthma and arthritis. But use of drugs targeting these receptors is sometimes limited by unwelcome side effects. The new findings may suggest a way to overcome this obstacle.
Research shows where brain interprets 'pitch' - Medical News Today 10/09/05
Johns Hopkins researchers have discovered a discrete region of the monkey brain that processes pitch, the relative high and low points of sound, by recognizing a single musical note played by different instruments.
UCI neurobiologists uncover evidence of a 'memory code - Medical News Today 10/09/05
Finding may significantly broaden understanding of how the brain selects and retains information.
UF scientist finds unexpected link between cat and human AIDS viruses - Medical News Today 10/09/05
A University of Florida researcher has discovered an unexpected link between the viruses that cause feline and human AIDS: Cats vaccinated with an experimental strain of the human AIDS virus appear to be at least as well-protected against the feline version of the disease as those immunized with the vaccine currently used by veterinarians.
Researchers zero in on estrogen's role in breast-cancer cell growth - Medical News Today 10/09/05
Why do estrogen-dependent breast-cancer cells grow and spread rapidly? Researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign say it may be because estrogen virtually eliminates levels of a vitally important regulatory protein.
Two-thirds of meta-analyses in the critical care literature are of poor quality - Medical News Today 10/09/05
More than two thirds of meta-analyses available to critical care physicians have major methodological flaws and cannot be reliably used to guide clinical practice. Research published today in Critical Care concludes that the overall quality of meta-analyses in this field is poor, but has improved over time, possibly due to the publication of the Quality of Reporting of Meta-analyses statement (QUOROM) in 1999.
Fatty acid DHA - Good for the brain, good for Alzheimer disease - Medical News Today 10/09/05
A number of studies suggest a protective action of the fatty acid DHA in cognitive decline and in Alzheimer disease (AD). However, the molecular mechanism is not understood. In a paper appearing online on September 8 in advance of print publication of the October 1 issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation, Nicolas Bazan and colleagues from Louisiana State University identify a specific mechanism by which DHA is neuroprotective in AD.
Funding the 'war on terror' could cost millions of lives, British Medical Journal - Medical News Today 10/09/05
Funding the "war on terror" could cost the lives of millions of Americans, says a senior doctor in this week's BMJ.
War on terror 'causing US deaths' - BBC Health News 09/09/05
UK Government's alcohol strategy will fail because of partnership approach with drinks industry - Medical News Today 10/09/05
The UK Government's strategy on alcohol will do nothing to tackle problem drinking in Britain, because it "embraces the industry's diagnosis and preferred remedies", says an editorial in this week's BMJ.
Treatments for alcohol abuse save society five times as much as they cost - Medical News Today 10/09/05
Different therapies can work for alcoholism - Reuters 09/09/05
Alcohol treatment 'good value' - The Guardian 09/09/05
Alcohol treatment cost effective - BBC Health News 09/09/05
Drug resistant avian influenza viruses more common in Southeast Asia than North America - Medical News Today 10/09/05
Analysis of a key protein in different subtypes of avian flu viruses shows that resistance to the antiviral drug amantadine in H5N1 occurs worldwide, but is especially prevalent in China, according to St. Jude
A quarter of hospital MRSA bacteraemia occurs in new arrivals - Medical News Today 10/09/05
One in four cases of MRSA blood stream infection in hospital occur in patients who have just arrived from the community. These patients tend to be older and have been in hospital before.
High levels of daily stress may lower risk of breast cancer - Medical News Today 10/09/05
High levels of daily stress appear to result in a lower risk of developing breast cancer for the first time, says a study in this week's BMJ.
Medicine still a white male preserve, but those days are numbered - Medical News Today 10/09/05
Despite a record number of female medical students, medicine remains a white male dominated profession - but its days as such are numbered, says a paper in this week's BMJ.
Clinton Foundation Adds Kazakhstan to Consortium of Countries Receiving Low-Cost AIDS Drugs, Diagnostic Equipment - Medical News Today 10/09/05
Former President Clinton and Kazakhstani Health Minister Erbolat Dossayev on Tuesday signed a memorandum that will add Kazakhstan to the... Clinton Foundation's Procurement Consortium, a group of more than 40 countries that receive antiretroviral drugs and HIV/AIDS diagnostic equipment at reduced prices through the foundation, AFP/Yahoo! News Australia & NZ reports (AFP/Yahoo! News Australia & NZ, 9/8). According to the Clinton Foundation, the prices of the antiretrovirals provided under the consortium are 50% to 90% lower than the lowest price usually available, and the costs for testing machines, training, reagents and maintenance are as much as 80% less expensive than market prices. Speaking in Almaty, Kazakhstan, Clinton said, "Kazakhstan is at a crucial point in its fight against HIV/AIDS, and this agreement will make the investments of the Ministry of Health more cost-effective and will enable the government to reach more HIV-positive people and save more lives" (Clinton Foundation release, 9/6). Kazakhstani President Nursultan Nazarbaev said, "The memorandum that was signed today brings hope to those who suffer from AIDS, and we can say loudly that they can live their normal lives further on without fear of death; now, they think they necessarily will die." Kazakhstan has recorded about 4,600 HIV cases, but health officials estimate there are about 20,000 HIV-positive people living in the country (Saidazimova, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 9/7).
Family Health International Physician Checklist for IUD Use - Medical News Today 10/09/05
Checklist for Initiating Use of the Copper IUD," Family Health International: FHI, with support from USAID, developed the checklist to help providers determine quickly and accurately whether a client can use an intrauterine device, a form of contraception. The checklist is based on the World Health Organization's "Medical Eligibility for Contraceptive Use" (FHI release, 9/2).
Chinese Officials Detain Local Advocate in Beijing for Challenging One-Child Policy - Medical News Today 10/09/05
Local authorities from China's Shandong province on Tuesday detained a Chinese advocate who is seeking to bring a lawsuit for human rights abuses associated with the country's one-child-per-family policy, the... Washington Post reports. Officials detained Chen Guangcheng in an apparent effort to prevent him from meeting with senior government officials who had expressed support for his cause, according to the Post (Pan, Washington Post, 9/7). Chen, who is 34 years old and blind, has recorded testimony from men and women in communities in and around Linyi, China -- a city of about 10 million people in the Shandong province -- who have experienced forced abortions and sterilizations, as well as had family members captured and tortured after they tried to hide or run from authorities. Chen had plans to bring a class-action lawsuit to challenge the government's use of coercive measures to enforce its policy, which has long been restricted from public debate. "What these officials are doing is completely illegal," Chen previously said, adding, "They've committed widespread violations of citizens' basic rights, and they should be held responsible" (Kaiser Daily Reproductive Health Report, 8/30). Chen was detained in Beijing by several Shandong police. In the days before his arrest, Chen met with journalists, diplomats from the U.S. Embassy and attorneys who have volunteered to represent him. Chen had said he was considering meeting with National Population and Family Planning Commission officials but had concerns about being arrested, according to the Post.
Patients, Nurses and Doctors work together in Heart Research Project - Medical News Today 09/09/05
The University of Leicester has played a major role in cardiovascular outcome trials over the past 5 years, and the 423 University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust patients who were involved in the study are about to find out just how great a contribution they have made to research which is likely to change clinical practice in the United Kingdom.
Lack of International Commitment Threatens Search for HIV Vaccine, Lewis Says - Medical News Today 09/09/05
The search for an HIV vaccine is in jeopardy because of a lack of funds and global commitment, U.N. Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa Stephen Lewis said on Tuesday at the... AIDS Vaccine International Conference in Montreal, the CP/Canada.com reports. Lewis said the $640 million went into HIV vaccine research and development in 2004 was about half the funding needed. He also said that vaccine research hardly has been mentioned at recent high-level meetings on HIV/AIDS prevention. Lewis said that there is not a full understanding of "the carnage that is to come" in the HIV/AIDS pandemic, adding that there is a lack of enthusiasm from developed countries to fund vaccine development. "I don't think the world yet realizes the full, incomparable horror of AIDS, and its inexorable spread around the planet," he said (CP/Canada.com [1], 9/7). Lewis urged researchers to raise their "collective voices" to speak about the "funding dimensions of the vaccine," adding, "It can't be left solely to activists" (CBC News [1], 9/7). Rafick-Pierre Sekaly -- the scientific director of CANVAC, a network for Canadian vaccine research -- said on Tuesday at the conference that an HIV vaccine could be developed in five years. Sekaly said that even a vaccine that is partially effective could save millions of lives (CBC News [2], 9/7). However, Michael Keefer, a professor of medicine at the University of Rochester in New York, said that the vaccines currently undergoing human clinical testing probably will not produce an effective vaccine within the next decade. "I would say a partially effective vaccine [is possible] in the midterm future, and then constantly improving on that is the likely scenario," Keefer said (CP/Canada.com [2], 9/7).
New Cases of Poliomyelitis in Ethiopia - Medical News Today 09/09/05
As of 31 August, two new polio cases were reported in Ethiopia, bringing the total number of cases associated with this outbreak to 15 in 2005.
HIV Prevalence Within South African Military Does Not Weaken Force, Defense Minister Says - Medical News Today 09/09/05
South Africa's military is not deteriorating despite news reports of budget constraints, staffing shortages and a 23% HIV prevalence rate among troops, Defense Minister Mosiuoa Lekota said on Monday,... Reuters AlertNet reports (Quinn, Reuters AlertNet, 9/5). He said that the prevalence is an estimate based on a 1.2% incidence rate and a baseline prevalence of 17% gained through 1999-2000 pre-deployment health assessments of a high-risk sample group. "It must be emphasized that this is an extrapolated conclusion," he added. Lekota on Tuesday said that only HIV-positive soldiers who have a CD4+ T-cell count lower than 200 cells per cubic millimeter or symptoms of an opportunistic infection are eligible to receive antiretroviral drugs under World Health Organization and national Department of Health guidelines. He also said that the ages of the HIV-positive soldiers are not known because units tested during health assessments consist of a range of age groups (Pressley, Mail & Guardian, 9/7).
Yellow fever in Guinea, 7 cases and 4 deaths - Medical News Today 09/09/05
WHO has received reports of 7 cases and 4 deaths from yellow fever in the region of Fouta Djalon.
USAID's Withdrawal of Funding for Central American HIV Prevention Programs Damaging, Letter to the Editor Says - Medical News Today 09/09/05
USAID's decision to decrease or cancel funds for some HIV prevention programs in Central America causes "damage" to efforts to control the spread of the virus "from high-risk groups to the general population," Jorge Saavedra, director general of Mexico's National Center for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control, writes in a New York Times letter to the editor in response to an Aug. 26 Times opinion piece (Saavedra, New York Times, 9/7). Times editorial board member Helene Cooper wrote in the opinion piece that USAID's decision to "cu[t] off" funding for Population Services International's Noches Vives program in Central America -- which teaches commercial sex workers and their clients about condom use to prevent the spread of HIV -- "is an absurd approach to curtailing AIDS" and funding should be restored (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 8/29). Although prevention programs emphasizing abstinence and fidelity "have a probability of working within the context of generalized epidemics," they are "completely useless" in reducing the risk of HIV transmission among commercial sex workers, Saavedra writes, concluding that "we need the C -- condoms -- and we still need intitiatives like those developed with American funds by Population Services International/Mexico and the Pan American Social Marketing Organization" to prevent the spread of HIV (New York Times, 9/7).
Key to stem cell transplant success is tricking immune system - Medical News Today 09/09/05
Tricking the body's immune system into ignoring stem cells will be the key to successful stem cell transplants, according to Professor Maggie Dallman, Imperial College London, speaking today at the BA Festival of Science.
New Hope For Elderly Heart Attack Survivors - Medical News Today 09/09/05
PREAMI Study Shows Significant Benefit of Coversyl® in Elderly Post-Heart Attack Patients
Keep up to scratch about chickenpox in pregnancy, says DTB - Medical News Today 09/09/05
Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin (DTB) is reminding doctors of the risks chickenpox can pose to pregnant women and their babies.
Study demonstrates efficacy and safety of AZD7009 iv in restoring sinus rhythm in patients with atrial fibrillation - Medical News Today 09/09/05
Phase II results of its first patient study show that AZD7009 iv, an antiarrhythmic drug in development for the treatment of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), is effective and well tolerated in restoring sinus rhythm.1 In this study, 122 patients were randomised for treatment to seven different concentrations (doses) of AZD7009 or placebo. Thirty-five patients received one of the three highest doses and of these 19 (70%) were restored to sinus rhythm at two hours.
MRC Launches Official Call For Proposals For 'Bench To Bedside' Research, UK - Medical News Today 09/09/05
The Medical Research Council (MRC) has launched a Call for Proposals in experimental medicine_ today as part of its £15 million commitment to promote the translation of laboratory research into clinical practice for the benefit of patients.
EPA Seeks to Prohibit Pesticide Testing Among Pregnant Women, Children, USA - Medical News Today 09/09/05
The Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday proposed excluding children and pregnant women from studies that examine the effects of pesticides on humans, the... AP/Richmond Times-Dispatch reports. The new regulation -- which comes amid criticism that such testing could be detrimental to vulnerable people's health -- would ban all pesticide testing that involves intentionally dosing pregnant women or children. The directive would require researchers who conduct other human testing to submit protocols to EPA for review and states that participants of pesticide tests would have to consent to the risks. In addition, the proposal would create an independent panel, the Human Studies Review Board, which would oversee proposals for human dosing studies. EPA also would be barred from using any data from tests on pregnant women or children, even if they were conducted before the rule took effect (AP/Richmond Times-Dispatch, 9/8). "There is one exception," Jim Jones, director of pesticide programs for EPA, said, adding, "EPA officials can use the data if they would lead to a stronger standard for a pesticide" (Cone, Los Angeles Times, 9/7). The rule is subject to a 90-day public comment period, and the agency seeks to implement it by Jan. 29, 2006 (AP/Richmond Times-Dispatch, 9/8). "This proposed rule contains some of the strongest protections for human subjects ever proposed by the federal government," Jones said on Tuesday (Janofsky, New York Times, 9/6). However, critics said the proposed regulation contains too many loopholes, including allowing the use of data from unintentional or everyday exposure of pregnant women and children to pesticides. "It has so many exceptions, it's not an unvarnished advance," Jeff Ruch, executive director of Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, said, adding, "There are far more safeguards for similar studies for drugs and medicines to help people" (AP/Richmond Times-Dispatch, 9/8).
Secondhand Cigarette Smoke as Harmful to Fetus as Inhaled Smoke, Study Says - Medical News Today 09/09/05
Secondhand cigarette smoke exposure might be as harmful to a fetus as a pregnant woman inhaling smoke directly from a cigarette, according to a study published in... BMC Pediatrics on June 29, the Seattle Times reports. Stephen Grant, an associate professor of environmental and occupational health at the University of Pittsburgh, examined umbilical-cord blood data from three previously published studies that overlooked or disregarded the effects of secondhand smoke on fetuses. According to the study, secondhand cigarette smoke can cause genetic mutations in the fetus that can lead to leukemia and lymphoma. The mutations in fetuses of women exposed to secondhand smoke were indistinguishable from those found in the fetuses of pregnant smokers. Grant said he hopes the study will motivate pregnant women to be more aware of the effects of secondhand smoke and encourage smokers to be more conscientious of those around them. "The perception has been that smoking is the major problem and secondhand smoke is something we deal with down the road," Grant said, adding, "But here we have absolute evidence that passive exposure to cigarette smoke can cause just as much damage as if the mother was doing the smoking herself" (Eskenazi, Seattle Times, 9/7). A different study published in the March 9 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association showed that fetuses of women who had smoked at least 10 cigarettes per day were more than three times as likely to have genetic abnormalities than the fetuses of nonsmokers. Although numerous studies have shown that cigarette smoking during pregnancy causes various adverse effects for developing fetuses, previously, only indirect data have suggested that exposure to cigarette smoking can cause genetic mutations in fetuses (Kaiser Daily Reproductive Health Report, 3/10).
HFEA grants licence to Newcastle Centre at LIFE for Mitochondrial Research - Medical News Today 09/09/05
The application was initially rejected by the HFEA's Research Licence committee which ruled that the proposed research was not permitted by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990.(The HFE Act). Paragraph 3.4 of Schedule 2 of the Act prohibits "altering the genetic structure of any cell while it forms part of an embryo."
Psoriasis advocacy group urges FDA panel to approve abatacept for rheumatoid arthritis - Medical News Today 09/09/05
“Psoriasis Cure Now,” a nonprofit patient advocacy group, today urged the Food and Drug Administration's Arthritis Drugs Advisory Committee to support approval of abatacept for use by rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. The biologic drug would be marketed by Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) under the brand name Orencia.
Bulgaria Set To Provide Equipment, Medicine To Libya in Effort To Free Health Workers Accused of Infecting Children With HIV - Medical News Today 09/09/05
Bulgaria is prepared to send equipment and medicine to Libya to help the country's fight against HIV/AIDS, as part of Bulgaria's efforts to help free five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian physician sentenced to death for allegedly infecting 400 Libyan children with HIV, a government official said on Wednesday, the... Associated Press reports (Associated Press, 9/7). The workers were sentenced to death by firing squad in May 2004 for allegedly infecting the children through contaminated blood products. They also were ordered to pay a total of $1 million to the families of the HIV-positive children. Many HIV/AIDS experts say that the infections likely are the result of the Libyan Health Ministry's failure to screen blood products adequately and poor sterilization practices at Al Fateh Children's Hospital in Benghazi, Libya, where the children were infected. Libya's Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the case on Nov. 15 (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 8/19). Bulgaria has refused to pay compensation to the children's families, saying that the health care workers are innocent. Bulgarian Deputy Foreign Minister Lyubomir Kyuchukov on Wednesday said that the country "will cover 24 of 40 items" requested by Libyan officials. He added that the actions are part of Bulgaria's efforts to create "a favorable atmosphere" ahead of the November trial (Associated Press, 9/7).
Cheshire and Mersey News
Drinks industry blasted - Warrington Guardian 10/09/05
THE 'cynical' drinks industry has been blasted by the north west director of public health over applications by pubs and bars to extend their opening hours.
Beat your bladder problems - Warrington Guardian 10/09/05
A FREE leaflet offering help and advice about a hidden health problem affecting one in five women and almost one in five men will be launched in Warrington as part of Continence Awareness Week.
Road map for equality is a 'fresh start' for disabled people - Warrington Guardian 10/09/05
MP Helen Jones has teamed up with the Disability Rights Commission for a debate on increasing equality for disabled people.
Doctors pass their check up - Warrington Guardian 10/09/05
NHS patients in Warrington are reaping the rewards of the Government's GP incentive scheme.
Time running out for Merseytram scheme - Daily Post 09/09/05
COUNCIL leaders and executives will meet once again today to debate the immediate future of Merseytram.
Surgeries score well in performance quiz - Chester Chronicle 09/09/05
PATIENTS can now give their GP a check-up thanks to figures released last week.
Phone mast nightmare - Chester Chronicle 09/09/05
THREE young children could end up sleeping just two metres away from a mobile phone mast.
Objectors block plan for children's home - Chester Chronicle 09/09/05
A CERTIFICATE of lawfulness was refused for the use of a seven bedroom home for the care and education of children.
New scanner eases trauma for patients - Chester Chronicle 09/09/05
A NEW-generation magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner has been installed in the radiology department of the Countess of Chester Hospital.
Hi-tech way to protect staff - Maghull & Aintree Star 08/09/05
SEFTON Council is one of the first in the UK to introduce the latest technology to protect its staff.
Underage drinkers targeted - Bootle Times 07/09/05
POLICE made more than 50 seizures of alcohol from underage drinkers in the area over the last two weekends.
Cumbria and Lancashire News
Permits could be the answer to parking misery - Lancashire Evening Post 10/09/05
A SCHEME to beat parking chaos around the Royal Preston Hospital is to be discussed with neighbours whose lives are blighted by traffic.
Immigrants on the increase - Lancashire Evening Telegraph 09/09/05
THE number of people living in Bury who were born abroad has risen by 27 per cent in ten years, according to new figures.
Smoking laws talk - Lancashire Evening Telegraph 09/09/05
OWNERS of pubs, clubs and firms are invited to hear how new laws banning smoking at work will affect their business.
Maurice re-styles hair studio for rehearsals - Lancashire Evening Telegraph 09/09/05
A HAIRDRESSER from Whitefield is going to new lengths to raise money for Christie Hospital.
Hospital parking charges explained - Lancashire Evening Telegraph 09/09/05
I'd like to make sure that readers are aware of the car parking charges situation if they have to visit relatives at Fairfield General Hospital over a longer period of time ('Paying to visit relatives leaves a bitter taste', Letters, September 1).
Consultant is new Doctor Beat - Lancashire Evening Telegraph 09/09/05
A consultant at the Royal Preston Hospital will swap his stethoscope for an electric guitar next week to pull in cash for state-of-the-art camera equipment to cancer patients.
'Murderer' nurse case is dropped - Lancashire Evening Telegraph 09/09/05
THE case against a nurse found dead in her home while awaiting trial for murder has been discontinued.
Care worker carpeted over taunts - Lancashire Evening Telegraph 09/09/05
THE parents of a Lancaster boy suffering from cerebal palsy are vowing to stand by their son after claims he was bullied by his care worker.
Greater Manchester News
Final tests for brave donor sister - Bolton Evening News 10/09/05
SPORT teacher Emma Rimmer, is preparing for the final few steps on the road to donating a kidney to her brother, Matthew.
Give smokers a sight warning - Bolton Evening News 10/09/05
EUROPEAN campaigners are backing a Bolton doctor's call for cigarette packets to carry warnings that smoking can cause blindness.
Final tests for brave donor sister - Bolton Evening News 10/09/05
SPORT teacher Emma Rimmer, is preparing for the final few steps on the road to donating a kidney to her brother, Matthew.
Give smokers a sight warning - Bolton Evening News 10/09/05
EUROPEAN campaigners are backing a Bolton doctor's call for cigarette packets to carry warnings that smoking can cause blindness.
Care home staff rewarded for 'extra mile' dedication - Bury Times 09/09/05
CARING staff at a Bury residential home who continued to work during a lengthy flu outbreak have been rewarded for their loyalty and dedication.
Raise cash as a yummy mummy - Bury Times 09/09/05
YUMMY mummies are invited to indulge in a spot of pampering and help raise money for a children's cancer charity.
Rabies death: get jabs, experts say - Bury Times 09/09/05
HOLIDAYMAKERS are being warned to get rabies jabs before jetting off and to stay away from animals, following the death of a Bury woman from the disease.
NHS celebrates - Bury Times 09/09/05
THE North Manchester branch of the National Health Service Retirement Fellowship is holding its 25th anniversary celebration on Tuesday, October 18 at 2pm.
Advice worth listening to - Bury Times 09/09/05
RESIDENTS with hearing problems can listen to some expert advice at next Tuesday's meeting of Bury Hearing Advisory Group.
Diabetics invited to support group event - Bury Times 09/09/05
PEOPLE living with diabetes are invited to the next meeting of the Bury Diabetic Support Group.
Back to the blockades? - Bury Times 09/09/05
CAST your mind back to the balmy late summer of 2000 and the massive queues at petrol stations across East Lancashire.
'Wake up' to homelessness - Bolton Evening News 09/09/05
SHELTER is calling on the north west to "wake up" to homelessness.
Community transport scheme saved from axe - Bolton Evening News 09/09/05
A SERVICE which provides furniture and transport for disadvantaged Bolton people has been saved from closure.
Doctors get clean bill of health - Bolton Evening News 09/09/05
PATIENTS in Bolton are happy with the care they receive from their doctors and dentists - despite almost a third being unable to book an advance appointment with a GP.
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