Tuesday, April 18, 2006

Contents

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National News
John Lynch: Alternative medicine debate - The Guardian 18/04/06

Britain has witnessed a dramatic uptake of alternative medicine. But it is a controversial field and so it is not surprising that BBC2's science series investigating the efficacy of acupuncture, herbal remedies and spiritual healing has triggered debate. Indeed we welcome it.

Migrants ruling leaves trainee doctors jobless - The Guardian 18/04/06

Up to 15,000 medics who came to the UK to train as junior doctors have been left stranded and some destitute without the chance of getting a job after a snap change in the immigration laws earlier this month. Doctors' leaders are holding emergency meetings with government officials this week to try to resolve the problem.

Rory Collins: Blood, sweat and tears - The Guardian 18/04/06

Alok Jha meets the scientist who wants to recruit half a million people for a controversial medical project

Britons turn to alcohol to mask depression - The Guardian 18/04/06

Britons are using "dutch courage" to mask the fact that they are suffering low-level depression, according to research. The soaring drinking rate - consumption has doubled in the past 50 years - is evidence that people are attempting to "self-medicate" their emotional upsets away, the Mental Health Foundation reported today.

Children's hospitals warn ministers of 22m funding crisis - The Guardian 18/04/06

Four children's hospitals have warned health ministers they will have to cut specialist services because of miscalculations in the new payments-by-results system championed by Tony Blair as part of his NHS reforms.

Children's hospital services 'at risk' from tariff system - The Times 18/04/06
Children's hospitals in cash plea - BBC Health News 17/04/06
It's been a while but jobs are an issue again - and Labour's explanations are being challenged - The Guardian 17/04/06

If unemployment keeps rising, the government will be in trouble

Victims could lose out after doubts about insurance cover - The Guardian 17/04/06

Lawyers acting for the six volunteers who suffered multiple organ failure during the trial of a new drug last month fear the men may not get full compensation because the company accepting liability for the injuries was underinsured, the Guardian has learned.

350 jabs bill required a cash injection - The Observer 16/04/05

It's vital to budget for vaccinations when you first plan your trip, says Natalie Graham

Dancer in the dark - The Observer 16/04/05

She is famous for her beautifully executed still lives and short films - and being part of Britart's hottest couple. But the melancholy in Sam Taylor-Wood's work pervades her life. A chaotic childhood preceded the glittering parties, and her second pregnancy is something of a miracle after two types of cancer. Here, she tells Lynn Barber why she's afraid to stand still

When a somebody becomes just a body - The Observer 16/04/05

The body of a 40-year-old woman was found in her flat in north London last week. For more than two years, it had lain decomposing on the living-room floor, beside a bag of shopping.

Mariella Frostrup: Parents - what a conundrum - The Observer 16/04/05

A lifetime's irritation with her father is boiling over. Time to cut him some slack, says Mariella Frostrup

Aids scandal survivors demand new payout - The Observer 16/04/05

Hundreds of survivors of one of the worst medical disasters in the history of the NHS are demanding millions of pounds of compensation from the government to alleviate the acute poverty in which many of them are now living.

These victims deserve justice - The Observer 16/04/05
Left to die: the hidden victims of an NHS blunder - The Observer 16/04/05

NHS launches dignity drive for elderly patients to end neglect - The Observer 16/04/05

The neglect of the elderly in the NHS will be targeted this week under new guidelines forcing hospitals to respect patients' dignity.

Left to die: the hidden victims of an NHS blunder - The Observer 16/04/05

In 1991 The Observer revealed the scandal of patients infected by HIV as a result of the contamination of Health Service blood. Now, beset by illness and poverty, they are launching a final battle for justice. Lorna Martin reports

Big Mac tops 'unethical' poll - The Observer 16/04/05

McDonald's beats Nike to unwelcome accolade in new survey that reveals UK consumers' concerns about the things they buy

Health panel: How can I help my anorexic daughter? - The Observer 16/04/05

Her 17-year-old is a binge/purge anorexic, surviving mostly on fruit - and she won't tolerate any interference in her diet. Our experts offer three solutions to a mother's nightmare

My husband's fatal decision - The Guardian 15/04/06

The doctor was looking expectantly at my husband. We were sitting in his office and he had just told us that unless he accepted some form of treatment, my husband would die. I was astonished when I heard him say, "I am not having treatment or going to hospital." A large space in my heart opened up and I let myself drop in.

Seven reasons to eat seaweed - The Guardian 15/04/06

Good news for sushi fans - their favourite wrap has remarkable health-boosting properties. By Michele Kirsch.

Shorts: Beautiful and useful - The Guardian 15/04/06

It's all very well being healthy and green by getting around town on a bicycle, but where are you meant to put the darned thing once you get home, without it getting in the way every time you go to the front door. Well, Cycloc - a simple and stylish bike-storage device that you fix to the wall and hang your bike on -should put an end to all those arguments about cluttering up the hallway. It's suitable for all kinds of bikes and comes in four colours, including black recycled plastic. Cycloc, 49.95, plus delivery, 07976 901026

Natural health therapist Emma Mitchell answers your questions - The Guardian 15/04/06

My mother, who is 81, is coping well since the recent death of my father, but has developed a nagging cough. Her GP gave her cough mixture and antibiotics, but it refuses to go. Might there be some underlying cause?

Weekend: Sex, now - The Guardian 15/04/06

Our number of sexual partners is on the rise, while the internet tells us what to do in bed. Yes, our sex lives are changing, finds Decca Aitkenhead - but do we want love, or a one-night stand? Case studies by Craig Taylor

Autistic couple bound to each other - and their art - The Guardian 15/04/06

Gilles Tréhin spends his days working on a project he loves, in the flat he shares with Catherine, his girlfriend. Nothing unusual there - except that both Gilles and Catherine are autistic

Family forum - The Guardian 15/04/06

Our seven-year-old grandson weighs about 1.5 times what he should. Last summer his mother, our daughter, who is also overweight, became sufficiently anxious and took action and he lost a significant amount. However, during the winter he has regained all the weight. His other grandparents, who look after him before and after school, consider "chubbiness" in a child a desirable characteristic and think it cruel to deprive him of sweets, cakes and biscuits. Can anyone give advice on how we can deal with this? It has become a highly sensitive issue, and we are very concerned about his health, particularly as there is diabetes on both sides of the family.

This year's Easter message: go organic - The Guardian 15/04/06

Organic and Fairtrade Easter eggs have been selling out at shops and supermarkets around the country as the trend towards ethical consumerism gathers pace. By Easter Sunday, the nation will have consumed almost 1m of Green & Black's organic eggs and hundreds of thousands of Fairtrade ones. Woolworths, traditionally Britain's biggest retailer of Easter eggs, sold out of Green & Black's products earlier this week, and is delighted with the performance of the brand.

Closing up the health gap - The Guardian 15/04/06

Julie Bindel is correct to highlight how wrong it is that those who can afford healthy food "judge the burger and chips brigade" (A diet of prejudice, April 11). It was, perhaps unsurprisingly, the Thatcher government which stopped so much of the regulation of food quality, allowing manufacturers to produce as cheaply as possible and maximise their profits. This has led to a worrying decline in the quality of food that most people regularly buy, and ultimately a decline in the healthiness of the products available.

Karen Higginbottom investigates one of the last workplace taboos, mental health - The Guardian 15/04/06

Sam lost her job when she told her boss she was bipolar, but when Jess was depressed she was offered counselling. Karen Higginbottom investigates one of the last workplace taboos

Genetic discovery offers hope of treatments for obesity - The Guardian 14/04/06

Scientists have discovered the first common genetic mutation to be linked to excessive weight, which they hope will lead to treatments to tackle obesity. People whose genetic makeup includes two copies of the mutation are on average 22% more likely to be obese. But the research suggests the double mutation increases obesity risk in African-Caribbean people by 136%.

Drinks may carry health warning - The Guardian 14/04/06

Ministers are in talks with the drinks industry about health warnings on alcoholic drinks, it emerged last night. Bars, supermarkets and off-licences would also display advice about alcoholic content, said health minister Caroline Flint.

Newborns do not understand feelings of pain, says BMJ paper - The Guardian 14/04/06

Foetuses and newborn babies do not understand feelings of pain, according to research published today in the British Medical Journal.

Fetuses Cannot Feel Pain, Says Senior Psychologist - Medical News Today 17/04/06
25-week foetus 'cannot feel pain' -The Times 14/04/06
Foetuses 'cannot experience pain' - BBC Health News 13/04/06

Women are unfairly denied Herceptin by the NHS - The Guardian 14/04/06

In response to your leader (April 13): when the results of the Herceptin trials on HER2 positive women with early stage breast cancer were released last year, they were widely considered by leading clinicians around the world as exceptional. Herceptin can save lives; it is inhuman to deny access to the drug if your consultant recommends it. Women who are able to afford private medical insurance have been receiving Herceptin since last year, yet women on the NHS are unfairly denied access to the drug.

Teen goths more prone to suicide, study shows - The Guardian 14/04/06

Teenagers who are goths are at increased risk of self-harm or suicidal tendencies than if they took drugs or were depressed, according to research in today's British Medical Journal. They are more likely to inflict injury on themselves or attempt suicide than if they smoke, drink or have divorced parents - all other factors strongly associated with self-harm.

If you are seeking wisdom, ask a goth - The Observer 16/04/05
"Goth" youths more likely to self-harm: study - Reuters 17/04/06
Self Harm High Among Goth Youths - Medical News Today 17/04/06
Teenage 'goths' are four times more likely to self-harm - The Independent 14/04/06
Goths 'more likely to self-harm' - BBC Health News 13/04/06
"Goth" youths more likely to self-harm -study - Reuters 14/04/06

Plea for adults with autistic disorders - The Guardian 14/04/06

Jane Asher (Letters, April 12) raises her concerns over Oliver McCleary's education being conducted in a cupboard, but what about the forgotten half a million adults with autism, who somehow survived the education system before their condition was recognised as being within the autistic spectrum disorder range? Most of the present methods of detection are based upon the conception that autism is a learning disability, when there are many combinations of circumstances that can led the clinician to deciding that the adult or child has a learning disability or a mental health problem.
Chiropractors call doctors' criticism 'scaremongering' - The Independent 18/04/06

The doctors and the back crackers are at war. After years of skirmishes, practitioners of the art of spinal manipulation are taking on one of Britain's most venerable medical institutions.

Stress is linked to depression - The Independent 18/04/06

A hormone released during periods of long-term stress has been directly linked to depression for the first time.

Warning: campaigns to promote health are a waste of money - The Independent 18/04/06

Multimillion-pound health promotion campaigns by the Government are a waste of money and do not change people's behaviour, according to nurses.

Drugs crisis: Prozac nation - The Independent 16/04/06

Britain is in the grip of a damaging dependence on anti-depressant drugs such as Prozac, prompting calls from mental health experts for a radical rethink in the treatment of the 3.5 million people affected.

'I'm not drinking. I'm just self-medicating' - The Independent 16/04/06

It is a familiar ritual for Britons everywhere: the glass of wine or two after a particularly stressful day once the children have been put to bed.

Burgled? It could damage your sex life - The Independent 16/04/06

Victims of burglary are so traumatised that they suffer from sexual problems, turn to drink or drugs and are prone to depression, new research has found.

Dependency Britain: We're in a major drugs crisis. Why it may be better to talk - The Independent 16/04/06

GPs are handing out more pills than ever. But ministers want to promote drug-free therapies. By Sophie Goodchild and Jeremy Laurance

It's official: shared mealtimes mean healthier, happier families - The Independent 16/04/06

Children and parents are united in their appreciation of the benefits of eating together and value the intimacy that this brings, according to new research.

Dying taught me to live - The Independent 16/04/06

On 24 May last year, Eugene O'Kelly, a high-flying businessman, was told he would be dead from brain cancer in weeks. But during his final 100 days he felt he learnt how to really live, and even wrote a book. In this exclusive extract, he offers his lessons for life

Coroner says 'no clear link' between teen deaths and acne drug - The Independent 14/04/06

A 16-year-old boy killed himself just two weeks after taking a controversial acne drug that has been linked to depression and suicides.

'Forgotten' drug lets women have IVF without side-effects - The Times 18/04/06

HUNDREDS of infertile women could be spared the most distressing side effects of IVF by a drug regime too rarely used in Britain, a leading specialist said yesterday.

Treatment keeps dream alive of having a family - The Times 18/04/06

NHS patient groups axed two years after creation - The Times 18/04/06

THE country’s network of patient forums, introduced a little over two years ago to give patients a say in the running of the NHS, is to be abolished in the latest reorganisation of the service, The Times has learnt.

Health forums must stay open - The Times 18/04/06

Is my high-protein diet giving me this terrible insomnia? - The Times 18/04/06

Lack of sleep is really getting me down. It may be the clock adjustment and lighter evenings that are to blame; the only other change is that I have just started a new high-protein diet to help me lose weight.

Youth dies as three swallow painkillers - The Times 17/04/06

ONE teenager has died and two others are seriously ill in hospital after taking huge doses of morphine, police confirmed yesterday.

The late spring adds up to hay fever hell - The Times 17/04/06

Dazzling blooms of the season are bad news for those affected by pollen

Urban Worrier - The Times 17/04/06

Blood in the water: the latest epsiode

Skunk has torn my family apart - I barely speak to my children - The Times 17/04/06

I have two teenage sons, both of whom left school at 16 after not bothering much about study, and receiving poor GCSE results. My eldest was a high achiever but found the temptation of strong marijuana in the form of skunk too much, succumbing at the age of 14 and losing his way. He is now almost 19 and has spent the past five years in various states of anger, depression, paranoia and has not worked, lies often and commits acts of petty theft from the home.

London Marathon 2006: the final week's preparation - The Times 17/04/06

“Advice from friends is either: ‘Give it up: you don’t want to mess your knee up for the whole summer, or the rest of your life’; or ‘Give it a go — you can always stop’. So, what to do?”
Chain of suicide clinics planned - The Sunday Times 16/04/06

A SWISS lawyer who runs a “suicide clinic” that has helped 42 Britons to kill themselves, intends to offer his services to people who are not terminally ill.

Depressives 'could be helped to die' - The Guardian 17/04/06

NHS computer delays surgery - The Sunday Times 16/04/06

ONE of the first hospitals in the country to test the new software of a 6.2 billion NHS computer system has blamed it for the disappearance of patient records, cancelled operations and delays in outpatient appointments.

Scots factory exports bird flu drug amid local shortage - The Sunday Times 16/04/06

ANTIVIRAL drugs produced in Scotland to treat a potential human flu pandemic are being sold to France, Germany and America while Scotland faces a shortage.

Workers subsidising the NHS - The Sunday Times 16/04/06

LUXURY cars for NHS managers and consultants comes as no surprise (How to get a Porsche on the NHS, News, last week). For the clinical staff across the country working in community therapy and nursing teams a car is essential to carry out their work, yet the vast majority are not entitled to one and have to provide and insure their own vehicle for NHS business. The squeeze continues, as my NHS employer now expects its staff to indemnify them for any claim made by a third party, for which their private motor insurance does not provide cover.

Birds being shot down 'for fear of infection' - The Times 15/05/06

SWANS and other wild birds are being shot down by people worried about bird flu, according to a wildlife rescue group.

Avian flu case opens tourists' eyes to beauty of Fife village - The Times 15/05/06

A SCOTTISH fishing village whose future was thrown into doubt by the avian flu scare is hoping for a bumper summer thanks to an influx of “ghoulish tourists” wanting to visit the site of Britain’s first confirmed case of the H5N1 virus.

Little night relief - The Times 15/05/06

A wake-up call on the full dangers of snoring is long overdue

It is rocket science - The Times 15/05/06

CLINICAL blood tests currently require bulky counting machines, trained technicians and about two syringe-fulls of your precious fluid. But a tiny new system designed to monitor astronauts’ health promises to take less of your blood than a mosquito bite.

After death: then what? - The Times 15/05/06

Goodbye Heaven and Hell: we now hold a host of quirky ideas about the afterlife

A site for sore guys - The Times 15/05/06

Lonely? A vintage race-car broker claims to have a cure (and it’s not the car), says John Naish

Three cheers for high-flyers - The Times 15/05/06

An explosive mix of stunts, sport and sweat — this is a very British-style of cheerleading, says Rupert Mellor

Got them ol’ British blues - The Times 15/05/06

We’re in the grips of a glum epidemic: a survey says that only one in ten of us is unaffected

Inside story: peripheral neuropathy - The Times 15/05/06

Susan MacDonald says determination helped her to cope with a debilitating illness

Dr Copperfield: inside the mind of a GP - The Times 15/05/06

One of the core principles of general practice is “continuity of care”. If you see my partner about your painfully immobile shoulder and he asks to see you again next week, don’t expect me to be overjoyed if you turn up in my consulting room instead. If I welcome you with open arms and offer you a “high five”, I’m probably just taking the mickey.

The show-off: look at me, look at me . . . - The Times 15/05/06

Talented children should be praised but not indulged, says Jane Fearnley-Whittingstall

Agony and ecstasy: sex advice - The Times 15/05/06

I'm 19 and a virgin and I feel it's time to have full sex with my boyfriend, but every time we try he ejaculates prematurely. Can you help?

Putting a good face on your day - The Times 15/05/06

Despite the gimmicks and giggling guests, a day at a Leeds spa left Jayne Dowle energised

Much too scared to sleep - The Times 15/05/06

A month ago my daughter, 8, went to a sleepover party at a friend’s where they watched a scary film. Ever since, she has been terrified of going to sleep. She cries to the point of hysteria and wants someone with her until she drops off. How can we reassure her?

What's up doc? Tapping your chest - The Times 15/05/06

Why bother? Your doctor is placing one hand flat on the back of your chest and using his other hand to tap on it. Or, to use the jargon, he’s percussing your chest wall.

It works for me: chiropractic - The Times 15/05/06

This weekend is prime DIY time. But you could end up paying a high prices

Eco-worrier: recycling mobile phones - The Times 15/05/06

Should I upgrade my mobile phone?

Spring into action: Day 8: menu and exercises - The Times 15/05/06

Part two of Gabby Logan and Jane Clarke's 14-day food and fitness plan

Day 9: menu and exercises - The Times 15/05/06
Day 10: menu and exercises - The Times 15/05/06
Day 11: menu and exercises - The Times 15/05/06
Day 12: menu and exercises - The Times 15/05/06
Day 13: menu and exercises - The Times 15/05/06
Day 14: menu and exercises - The Times 15/05/06

Choc full of goodness? - The Times 15/05/06

Extravagant claims are often made for the health benefits of chocolate. But will an Easter egg a day really keep the doctor away? Roger Dobson and Kate Wighton look at the science behind the sell

Catch me if you can - The Times 15/05/06

Frisbee, once the beach bum’s game of choice, is going up in the world. Now with its own league, Ultimate Frisbee is a seven-a-side team sport that includes the features of football and netball. “For those looking for an alternative to more traditional sports, Ultimate is great,” says Laura Pearce, the chairwoman of the UK’s Ultimate Association. “It’s fun, easy to pick up and sociable, as well as providing a great cardiovascular workout.” Here is our pick of the best clubs nationwide.

Not just anybody: Anna Chancellor, 40 - The Times 15/05/06

How the fit and fabulous stay that way. Actress Anna Chancellor, 40, doesn’t smoke or drink but is very partial to a little skinny-dipping

'Don't do drunk' alert to cut binge-drink culture -The Times 14/04/06

HEALTH warnings on cans of lager and bottles of beer and wine are being introduced to cut binge drinking.

Never mind H5N1: virulent outbreaks of bird flu phobia are on the horizon -The Times 14/04/06

FIRST THE GOOD news for Good Friday. It is safe to enjoy your Easter roast chicken. Indeed it would be safe to eat roast swan, were it not still illegal to poach the Queen’s birds.

NHS reforms -The Times 14/04/06

It seems that some of the media are beginning to grasp the root of the crisis in the NHS (report and letters, April 12).

The medicinal oil that no picnic can do without -The Times 14/04/06

Tea tree oil can repel insects, treats cuts and bites and act against fungal infections

The workout -The Times 14/04/06

Lifting weights a couple of times a week may help breast-cancer survivors to look and feel better, according to a study by Dr Tetsuya Ohira and colleagues at the University of Minnesota’s school of epidemiology and community health. Patients were assigned either to a weight-training programme or to no exercise at all. The exercisers were taught how to do nine common weightlifting moves to work the muscles of their chest, back, shoulders, arms, buttocks, hips and thighs. They performed these exercises twice weekly for six months, then had their body fat, weight, bone density and strength assessed, and answered questions on quality of life. In results to be published in next month’s issue of Cancer, the weight-training patients performed better on all measurements. Previous studies have shown that aerobic exercise is also good for improving self-esteem in breast-cancer survivors, says Ohira, who now believes that adding weight training “could improve the quality of life even more”.
View from the surgery - The Telegraph 18/04/06

In my A-Z of health fears two or three weeks ago, I touched on the plight of the compulsive raconteur. This has prompted many afflicted readers to write in, some of them at endless length, a good many of them illustrating their points with up to six anecdotes of an amusing nature. They show how to deal with the anecdotal dreadful virus, which is known to wreck individuals and shatter the lives of their nearest and dearest.

Daily Telegraph letters - The Telegraph 18/04/06

Of course, patients of general practitioners and general hospitals will become known as "clients" if they come under the Sussex Partnership National Health Service Trust (Letters, April 17), and this can only increase the sense of being defined by their illness and consequent stigma.

Dozens of hospitals to close as crisis deepens - The Telegraph 18/04/06

Patricia Hewitt is preparing for a wave of hospital closures as the financial crisis in the National Health Service deepens.
Get a life: move on - The Telegraph 17/04/06

Part 7 of Nina Grunfeld's eight-step guide to greater confidence

'I couldn't even lift my hand to the keyboard' - The Telegraph 17/04/06

When concert pianist Janina Fialkowska was diagnosed with cancer in her left arm, her career appeared to be over. But, she tells Elizabeth Grice, a pioneering operation enabled her to return triumphantly to the stage

It must have been something I ate: diet pills - The Telegraph 17/04/06

The hope that a new appetite-suppressing drug will cure obesity is delusional, says Ian Marber. If it has any effect, its users will probably put on more weight

Home front - The Telegraph 17/04/06

Let us imagine that a pharmaceutical company has developed a wonder drug that means no one need ever get ill again. It can be administered at birth and, barring accidents, guarantees a sickness-free lifespan of 80 years.

Gambling addiction - The Telegraph 17/04/06

In the report on Britain's "gambling addiction" (Saturday), a suggestion that the Government would receive 3 billion in taxes as a result of gaming reforms was wrongly attributed to a report from Nottingham Trent University.

Nish Joshi's Q & A - The Telegraph 16/04/06

I am 41 and overweight. I am on day three of a 21-day detox and am having headaches, pimples and dark, greasy bowel movements. Is this normal? I felt great on days one and two but now feel less than 100 per cent. I am also doing a 30-day vegetable/herb detox with tablets taken morning and night.

Breast cancer pioneer decries hype over 'wonder drug' - The Telegraph 16/04/06

The British breast cancer expert who helped develop Herceptin last night criticised the growing hype over the so-called "wonder drug".

Up to third of dentists won't sign NHS contract - The Telegraph 16/04/06

Nearly a third of dentists in some parts of England have refused to sign controversial NHS contracts - contradicting a recent statement by Tony Blair that "about 90 to 95 per cent" of dentists had signed up.

Drug trial victim 'losing his fingers and toes' - The Telegraph 16/04/06

One of the drug trial victims dubbed "The Elephant Men" after suffering horrific side-effects faces having his hands and feet amputated.

Drug trial man 'may lose fingers' - BBC Health News 16/04/06
Drug trial disaster victim to lose fingers - Daily Mail 16/04/06
NHS trust that has no patients. . . only clients for services - The Telegraph 15/04/06

The head of a new NHS trust has ordered its 4,500 staff not to refer to people receiving medical care as "patients".

Suicide rate is the lowest on record - The Telegraph 14/05/06

The suicide rate in England is at its lowest since records began in 1910.

Suicide rate falls to record low - BBC Health News 13/04/06

Health warnings to go on alcohol bottles - The Telegraph 14/05/06

Cigarette-style health warnings about the dangers of excessive drinking could soon appear on bottles and cans of alcohol as well as in pubs, supermarkets and off-licences, a Government minister said last night.

Drinks may carry health warning - The Guardian 14/04/06
Health warning plan for alcohol sold in pubs and supermarkets - The Independent 14/04/06
Health warnings on wine are 'laughable' - The Times 15/05/06
Health warnings for drinks cans - BBC Health News 13/04/06

Thank you, from Little Miss Sunshine - The Telegraph 14/05/06

A girl who made medical history when her heart transplant was reversed after 10 years paid tribute yesterday to the "very nice man" who saved her life.

The girl whose heart was brought back to life - The Guardian 14/04/06
Heart transplant girl gets own heart back - Daily Mail 13/04/06
Girl Has Heart Transplant Reversed After Ten Years - Medical News Today 13/04/06
GPs 'earn up to 250,000 a year' - BBC Health News 18/04/06

Some GPs are earning as much as 250,000 a year after expenses due to a new GP contract, the BBC has been told.

GPs earn a quarter of million pounds a year - The Telegraph 18/04/06

Blair to make NHS reform pledge - BBC Health News 18/04/06

Tony Blair is to insist now is the time to "hold our nerves" over NHS reforms in the face of criticism.

Patients 'fight to find dentists' - BBC Health News 17/04/06

Some dental patients in England are having to use emergency dental services after their dentists left the NHS.

Cancer reaction linked to gender - BBC Health News 16/04/06

Men and women with cancer look for information about the disease in very different ways, says a study.

Cervical care 'pregnancy risks' - BBC Health News 14/04/06

Techniques used to remove abnormal cervical cells could increase the risk of problems during pregnancy, experts have warned.

Hundreds more hospital jobs to go - BBC Health News 13/04/06

Hundreds of hospital jobs are being axed by a West Midlands health trust.

Mistakes 'aid OCD understanding' - BBC Health News 13/04/06

Everyone is familiar with the sinking feeling you get after deleting a computer file by mistake or leaving the house without your keys.

Suicide rate falls to record low - BBC Health News 13/04/06

The suicide rate in England is at a record low, official figures reveal.

Patients' Hep C detection 'delay' - BBC Health News 13/04/06

Hundreds of patients who contracted Hepatitis C in the 1980s had to wait up to 20 years before learning of their condition, according to a lawyer.

Emphasis On The Development Of Clinical Research Putting Patients At Risk, Senior Doctor Warns - Medical News Today 17/04/06

Patients are suffering because not enough basic clinical research is being done, warns a senior doctor in this week's BMJ. He believes that medical academia is failing patients and clinicians by neglecting this vital area of research.

Lack of research 'patient risk' - BBC Health News 13/04/06

Parents Need Help To Talk To Their Children About Cancer - Medical News Today 17/04/06

Parents need help to talk to their children about cancer, say researchers in a study published online by the BMJ.
Research Could Lead To Better Drugs And Whiter Whites - Medical News Today 17/04/06

Groundbreaking research published today could revolutionise the way drugs are made and have major implications for the industrial sector, say its authors.

BMA Cymru Wales Comment On The Auditor General's Report Into NHS Finances - Medical News Today 17/04/06

Welsh Secretary of the BMA, Dr Richard Lewis said: "While the auditor general's report into the financial position of the NHS in Wales demonstrates some improvement on previous months forecast, it continues to show a significant expected deficit of some £ 32 million in 2005 - 2006.

Urgent Changes Needed For Authorisation Of Phase I Trials - Medical News Today 17/04/06

The disastrous events of the TGN1412 trial indicate that urgent change is needed in the approval processes and regulation of phase I trials of biological agents, states an editorial in this week's issue of The Lancet.

Harsh Famine Ahead For NHS, Warn Experts - Medical News Today 17/04/06

As the "feast" of increased NHS funding comes to an end, we need to prepare for a harsh famine ahead, warn health economists in this week's BMJ.

16 Dead Birds To Be Tested For Bird Flu, UK - Medical News Today 17/04/06

16 birds have been found dead in north Wales, six at Harlech beach, Gwynedd and ten at Criccieth beach. All the dead birds were Guillemots. The Guillemot is not thought of as an importer of bird flu, therefore the bird flu tests are seen as a precaution.

Novel Virus Entry Mechanism Could Lead To New Drugs Against Poxviruses - Medical News Today 16/04/06

Research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on 11 April describes how the Imperial College London team discovered the mechanism allowing Vaccinia virus to shed its outer lipid membrane and enter cells. The mechanism is unique in virology and paves the way for development of new antiviral drugs.

MHRA Takes Action On Tesco's Free Medicines Promotional Offer, UK - Medical News Today 16/04/06

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has upheld a complaint against Tesco plc about a promotional offer for free medicines. Both a community pharmacist and a member of the public complained to the MHRA on 20 March 2006 about the free offer of medicines as an “on-the-shelf” sales promotion in Tesco Stores. The complainants alleged that an eight tablet pack of Nurofen Tablets was being given away with the purchase of a pack of Nurofen Heat patches.

Scientists Step Closer To New Treatments For River Blindness - Medical News Today 15/04/06

Veterinary scientists in Liverpool have found that some African cattle have natural immunity to a parasite, similar to that which causes River Blindness in humans.

Apricot Seeds At High Doses Can Be Fatal - Medical News Today 13/04/06

Apricot seeds are taken by many people as a cancer treatment as they contain high doses of Vitamin B17, an immune system enhancer. However, apricot seeds also contain cyanide, a poison.

International News

The world in their sights - The Guardian 18/04/06

Flushed with success, the US anti-abortion movement is radically expanding its goals

We don't have to buy into health hype - The Guardian 15/04/06

It's not every day that you wake up to find that a favourite bete noir is making headline news, but last week, to my amazement, the media collectively decided to pick up on an obscure report and conference on "medicalisation" in Australia. "Drug companies are inventing diseases to sell more of their products, it has been claimed," said the Daily Mail.

The Corporate Sponsored Creation Of Disease Turns Healthy People Into Patients, Wastes Precious Resources, And Causes Iatrogenic Harm - Medical News Today 13/04/06
Junk medicine: disease-mongering - The Times 15/05/06

Costa Brava beach declares smoking ban - The Guardian 15/04/06

Spain's anti-tobacco crusade has reached tourists on the Costa Brava, where the town of L'Escala has designated the country's first smoke-free beach. On Thursday the town hall placed no-smoking signs at the tiny Miranda beach.

Mediterranean diet shown to cut risk of Alzheimer's by 40% - The Independent 18/04/06

One of the largest studies of the impact of food and drink on mental decline has found that eating a Mediterranean diet cuts the risk of Alzheimer's disease by up to 40 per cent. The diet of southern France, Italy and Spain, rich in olive oil and red wine, is known to protect against heart disease and high blood pressure but this is the first time it has been shown to prevent Alzheimer's disease.

Med diet 'reduces dementia risk' - BBC Health News 17/04/06

Fast food titan McDonald's finds latest attack on its reputation hard to swallow - The Independent 15/04/06

Just when the executives of the world's biggest fast food company were beginning to get over the damage done by the hit film Super Size Me, a new film and book about McDonald's are about to dump a fresh bucket of ordure over the Golden Arches.

The 'eat as much as you like' diet - The Times 17/04/06

Foods such as popcorn score well on the Satiety Index, the latest way to lose weight

I had more energy and needed less sleep - The Times 17/04/06
Sick babies prompt fears over ‘new’ TB vaccine safety - The Sunday Times 16/04/06

A NEW version of the BCG vaccine administered to newborns has led to complications in dozens of Irish babies, prompting doctors to question its suitability.

A&E crisis grows as HSE sits on funding - The Sunday Times 16/04/06

THE Health Service Executive (HSE) and the Department of Finance have failed to reach agreement on the provision of extra staff needed to implement a 10-point plan for accident and emergency (A&E) care introduced 14 months ago.

Hiccups may be sign of a deadly cancer - The Sunday Times 16/04/06

THEY have baffled doctors since the time of Hippocrates, but hiccups may be an early symptom of one of the world’s deadliest cancers, according to a team of Irish experts.
Pope condemns geneticists 'who play at being God' -The Times 14/04/06

THE Pope will deliver a blistering attack on the “satanic” mores of modern society today, warning against an “inane apologia of evil” that is in danger of destroying humanity.

Alien soul theory is no cure for depression - The Telegraph 17/04/06

The Telegraph's Trust Me I'm a Junior Doctor columnist, Max Pemberton, takes issue with the actor Tom Cruise's renewed attack on psychiatrists
Romanian family allowed to keep girl, 2, in a cage - The Telegraph 16/04/06

Romanian child care authorities have ruled that it is acceptable for the family of a two-year-old girl to keep her in a cage for up to 20 hours a day. Gheorghe Bourici, 59, keeps his granddaughter, Mariane, confined behind wooden bars because he does not have time to look after her properly.

France puts smoking ban on the back burner - The Telegraph 16/04/06

The tobacco-loving French will be allowed to carry on puffing their Gitanes and Gauloises in smoky bars and bistros after the government caved in on plans to ban smoking in public places.

The search for Salome's secret - The Telegraph 16/04/06

The place that Salome Simon calls home is a rickety, spearmint-painted shack with a listing tin roof, under which are squeezed two beds offering strikingly different comfort levels. One is a pink-curtained affair of almost Barbara Cartlandesque splendour - the other is low, plain and hard, and it is where Salome's work as a 50p-a-trick Kenyan prostitute is done.
The woman who is unable to cry - Daily Mail 16/04/06

A mother-of-two who suffers from a rare medical condition which has caused her tear ducts to dry up has not been able to cry for three years.

Peppermint 'beats pills for soothing a headache' - Daily Mail 15/04/06

Rubbing peppermint extract across your forehead can cure a headache faster than conventional painkillers, scientists have claimed.

Drug hope for severe asthmatics - Daily Mail 13/04/06

An antibiotic previously used for treating infections such as sinusitis could help people who suffer serious asthma attacks, scientists believe.

Your dietary questions answered - Daily Mail 13/04/06

Our nutrition expert Dr Manny Noakes from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) answers your dietary questions

Happiness is working for yourself - Daily Mail 13/04/06

The job may be long on hours and short on pay.

Fighting food allergy - Daily Mail 13/04/06

The main allergic illnesses - asthma, eczema and hayfever - are well known to the medical profession but food allergies are still a Cinderella subject.
Chernobyl death figures 'too low' - BBC Health News 18/04/06

The explosion at Chernobyl was the world's worst nuclear accident The health effects of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in Ukraine 20 years ago have been grossly under-estimated, says an environmental charity.

Flu health workers may stay home - BBC Health News 17/04/06

Four in 10 US health professionals will stay away from work in the event of a flu pandemic, a study says.
Ginger 'may fight ovarian cancer' - BBC Health News 16/04/06

Ginger may help to fight ovarian cancer, US scientists believe.

Ginger raises new hope in fight against ovarian cancer - The Guardian 18/04/06
Ginger Kills Ovarian Cancer Cells - Medical News Today 17/04/06

Herb 'no aid to prostate health' - BBC Health News 16/04/06

A herb extract for men with a prostate condition has no more effect on it than a dummy version, a study has found.
Lost molecule key to lung cancer - BBC Health News 15/04/06

The loss of a single type of protein molecule may play a key role in the development of 75% of the most common kind of lung cancer, research suggests.

Fat cells link to heart disease - BBC Health News 15/04/06

Fat cells around coronary arteries may play a key role in heart disease, research suggests.

HIV type affects disease progress - BBC Health News 15/04/06

The type of HIV a person has predicts how quickly they will die from Aids, a study has suggested.
Quarter 'skip' vasectomy check-up - BBC Health News 14/04/06

Fears have been raised that men are not taking the necessary steps to ensure their vasectomies have been a success.

'First face transplant' for China - BBC Health News 14/04/06

A man who was disfigured after being attacked by a bear has become the first in China to have a face transplant, a hospital in the country has announced.
Fourth bird flu fatality in Egypt - BBC Health News 13/04/06

A fourth person has died in Egypt after being infected with bird flu, the state news agency, Mena, has said.
Taking Care Of Other Serious Injuries Before Tackling Aortic Trauma May Improve Patient Survival - Medical News Today 17/04/06

Patients who live through the first 24 hours of a blunt (non-penetrating) aortic trauma injury may have a better chance of long-term survival if repair to the damaged artery is delayed, surgeons at the University of Cincinnati (UC) say.

Fluorescent Imaging Technologies To Advance Life-science Research - Medical News Today 17/04/06

An interdisciplinary team of biological imaging experts from the University of California, San Diego has published a review of fluorescent imaging technologies and underscored the importance of those technologies to major advances in the life sciences.

Bile Acids, Receptor Key In Regenerating Livers - Medical News Today 17/04/06

Bile must have been the most important thing in medicine for the physicians of ancient Greece and Rome. Yellow bile and black bile are half of the four humors that they believed made up the body, along with blood and phlegm. In their view, restoring health required correcting imbalances in these four components.

High-resolution Light Microscope Reveals The Fundamental Mechanisms Of Nerve Communication - Medical News Today 17/04/06

In a simultaneous publication (Science Express, April 2006), STED microscopy revealed the spatial distribution of the bruchpilot protein and aided neurobiologists from the European Neuroscience Institute and the University of Würzburg in understanding the protein's central role in the formation of active synaptic zones. STED microscopy radically distinguishes itself from conventional farfield light microscopy in the fact that its resolution is no longer fundamentally limited by the wavelength of light used. Using STED, nanoscale optical studies are now possible inside cells.

Psychologist Explores Human Perception, Finds "Wow Factor" - Medical News Today 17/04/06

Faces tell the stories in UC Riverside Professor Larry Rosenblum's ecological listening lab, as volunteer test subjects show that they can "read" unheard speech -- not just from lips, but from the simple movements of dots placed on lips, teeth and tongue.

Taller People More Likely To Develop Atrial Fibrillation - Medical News Today 17/04/06

Analysis of data from a registry of patients with left ventricular dysfunction indicates that height is an independent risk factor for an arrhythmia of the upper chambers of the heart, according to a new study in the April 18, 2006, issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Placental Growth Factor May Help Body Repair Heart Attack Damage - Medical News Today 17/04/06

Heart attack patients produce higher levels of a natural substance in the body that plays a role in the growth of new blood vessels and this over-expression of placental growth factor (PlGF) may help reduce damage to the heart muscle, according to a new study in the April 2006, issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Study Warns Of Growing Cardiovascular Disease Epidemic In China As Western Diets And Lifestyles Are Adopted - Medical News Today 17/04/06

As more people in China adopt Western diets and lifestyles, many are developing a cluster of cardiovascular disease risk factors, according to a new study in the April 2006, issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Raloxifene Reduces Breast Cancer Risk As Well As Tamoxifen - Medical News Today 17/04/06

A study called STAR, Study of Tamoxifen and Raloxifene has shown, according to initial results, that Raloxifene is as effective as Tomoxifen in the prevention of invasive breast cancer among women who have a higher risk of the disease. Raloxifene is currently used to treat and prevent osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.

Wall Street Journal Profiles Product RED - Medical News Today 17/04/06

The Wall Street Journal on Thursday profiled Product RED, a project that aims to raise money for the Global Fund To Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria by donating a portion of profits from a range of branded products. The Global Fund's creator, U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, envisioned that the private sector would help to support the Global Fund, the Journal reports. According to the Journal, less than $2 million has been donated to the Global Fund by corporations since 2001. The Global Fund "is not an easy sell," according to the Fund's Executive Director Richard Feachem, because it asks for large amounts of money over a long time period, unlike emergency relief efforts. The Fund also does not allow private donors to direct how the money is spent, which is not attractive to many corporate-giving programs, fund officials say. The Fund's generally low profile is another problem, according to the Journal (Stecklow, Wall Street Journal, 4/13). Irish musician Bono announced Product RED at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland, in January. American Express, Converse, Giorgio Armani and Gap are the initial partners in the program and are distributing credit cards and selling tennis shoes, sunglasses and t-shirts, respectively, carrying the Product RED label (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 1/27). The products were launched last month in the United Kingdom. According to officials from the partner companies, it is too soon to tell how well the project is doing, the Journal reports. Product RED CEO Bobby Shriver said it will take 18 months to determine the initiative's success. Stephan Shakespeare, chief executive of YouGov, a British market research company, said consumers in the U.K. have not "reacted in a manner that these companies, at least in private, would have hoped for." Shakespeare indicated that there have been many issue-based products launched in the U.K. recently, which might have led to "consumer apathy towards [Product] RED, which even Bono can't overcome," Shakespeare said (Wall Street Journal, 4/13). The four partner companies have committed to the brand for five years and have pledged to give an average of 40% of profits from the products to the Global Fund. Product RED also hopes to partner with more companies (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 1/27). Officials from the project are hoping to announce a major cellular phone service deal, according to the Journal. Bono, Shriver and fund officials remain hopeful about Product RED's approach (Wall Street Journal, 4/13).

How COX Inhibitors Cause Heart Hazards, And Alternative Treatment Strategy - Medical News Today 17/04/06

Inhibitors of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) were developed to relieve inflammatory pain as effectively as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), but without one of their major side effects, gastrointestinal bleeding. However, an unexpected adverse cardiovascular effect - a higher incidence of myocardial infarction - was subsequently detected, causing the highly publicized withdrawal of COX-2 inhibitors from the market in late 2004. A number of large, randomized, controlled trials designed to test the efficacy of different COX-2 inhibitors for a variety of indications have confirmed the cardiovascular toxicity, suggesting that this is an effect of all drugs in this class. However, just how this class of drug causes this heart hazard has remained controversial. Now, in a study appearing online on April 13 in advance of print publication in the May issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation, Garret FitzGerald and colleagues from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine report how COX-2 inhibitors increase the incidence of myocardial infarction and stroke. In addition, they propose a new therapeutic approach that retains the beneficial anti-inflammatory effects of NSAIDS and COX-2 inhibitors, while avoiding their adverse cardiovascular consequences.


Suspected Mad Cow Disease In Japan, 20 Month Old Holstein - Medical News Today 17/04/06

Japanese authorities say they have found a suspected case of Mad Cow Disease (BSE) in Fukushima Prefecture, north-east Japan. The animal was a 20-months-old Holstein. If confirmed, it will be the youngest head of cattle to test positive in Japan.

Condom Use Needs To Be Heavily Promoted If Bush's Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief Is To Work - Medical News Today 17/04/06

Many more lives will be saved if condom use is heavily promoted alongside messages to abstain and be faithful in the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), states an editorial in this week's issue of The Lancet.

Premarital Sex Declines In Zambia Due To HIV Prevention Strategies, Health Minister Says - Medical News Today 17/04/06

Premarital sex has declined among young people in Zambia, Health Minister Sylvia Masebo said on Tuesday, Xinhua News Agency reports. According to Masebo, the percentage of young people having sex with nonregular partners has decreased to 29% for boys and 16% for girls. Masebo attributed the to the country's multisectoral approach to HIV prevention. She also said the number of people in Zambia who are tested for HIV has increased as the number of voluntary counseling and testing centers in the country has grown (Xinhua News Agency, 4/11). According to Masebo, about 25% of HIV-positive mothers in the country are accessing complete courses of antiretroviral drugs, and she urged governments to include prevention policies in their approach to addressing HIV/AIDS, Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation reports (ZNBC, 4/12).

Combination Of Interventions Can Substantially Reduce Incidence Of Malaria In People With HIV - Medical News Today 17/04/06

Taking antiretroviral therapy (ART) and the antibiotic co-trimoxazole daily, and using insecticide-treated bed nets could reduce the incidence of malaria by 95% in HIV-infected adults, according to a study in this week's issue of The Lancet.

"Resonance" May Explain Virologic Failure In STI Drug Therapy - Medical News Today 17/04/06

Researchers have been puzzled over why HIV-positive patients who have periodic, built in interruptions in their drug therapy reach a point where the therapy no longer reduces their viral loads, even in the absence of any evidence of acquired drug resistance.

Inter Press Service Examines Effects Of HIV/AIDS Stigma On Children Orphaned By Epidemic In Trinidad, Tobago - Medical News Today 17/04/06

The Inter Press Service on Tuesday examined how the "potent" stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS in Trinidad and Tobago affects children who have lost parents to AIDS-related causes. According to official figures, Trinidad and Tobago has recorded more than 15,940 HIV/AIDS cases since 1983, with 73% of new cases among people ages 15 to 49. The HIV prevalence in Trinidad is 2.5%. According to the Inter Press Service, "a growing number of young people" living on the islands who have lost one or both parents to AIDS-related complications are being "shunned by close relatives and friends." Amery Browne -- technical director of the National AIDS Coordinating Committee, which includes youth groups, business associations, regional and international agencies and several government ministries -- said, "Even grandparents, aunts and uncles seem very reluctant to step forward and say, '[T]his is my family member, I am going to continue caring to see about this individual's education, health and welfare.'" Social workers have reported an influx of children who have been abandoned to shelters across the country. According to Browne, the "sad irony" of the situation is that losing one or both parents to AIDS-related complications makes children more vulnerable to HIV (Inter Press Service, 4/11).

Applying Internal Stitches To Support Vagina, Other Internal Organs Reduces Incontinence In Women After Surgery, Study Says - Medical News Today 17/04/06

A procedure that applies two permanent, internal stitches from each side of the vagina to ligaments in the pelvis can help reduce incontinence by 80% in women who have had surgery to correct pelvic prolapse -- a condition that occurs when the pelvic organs weaken and drop into or through the vaginal opening -- according to a study published in the April 13 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, the Chicago Tribune reports. About 200,000 women in the U.S. annually undergo surgery to correct pelvic prolapse, after which up to 60% of the women experience "urinary stress incontinence," which can be caused by laughing, coughing, exercising or other actions, according to the Tribune (Kotulak, Chicago Tribune, 4/13). Linda Brubaker, an OB/GYN professor at Loyola University, and colleagues enrolled 322 women in the study, which was funded by NIH (Marchione, AP/Houston Chronicle, 4/12). Physicians on half of the participants performed the routine surgery for pelvic prolapse, which repositions the vagina and other internal organs, in conjunction with the Burch colposuspension procedure, which applies four internal stitches to support the bladder. The other half of participants underwent only the routine surgery, the Tribune reports. The study finds that performing the additional surgery helped to alleviate the pressure on the bladder's urinary opening and decreased the risk of urinary leakage (Chicago Tribune, 4/13). According to the study, 6% of women who underwent the Burch procedure in conjunction with the routine surgery reported urinary control problems three months later, compared with 25% of the participants who did not have the additional procedure (AP/Houston Chronicle, 4/12). Reaction

Sports-Formulated Jelly Beans To Be Studied For Effectiveness In Improving Exercise Performance And Warding Off Fatigue During Exercise - Medical News Today 17/04/06

Researchers from the UC Davis Sports Medicine Program and Nutrition Department are using competitive endurance athletes in a study that will compare the effectiveness of three different forms of carbohydrate supplementation - including sports-formulated jelly beans - versus plain water in warding off fatigue after prolonged exercise and effects on performance.

Merck To Appeal Punitive And Compensatory Verdicts In New Jersey VIOXX® Product Liability Case - Medical News Today 17/04/06

Merck & Co., Inc. today said it was disappointed that a state court jury in New Jersey awarded punitive damages to a New Jersey resident who claimed that his long-term use of VIOXX contributed to his heart attack. The Company said it will appeal the punitive verdict, as well as Wednesday's split verdict awarding compensatory damages to one of two long-term users of VIOXX.

Novartis Completes Submissions In US And Europe For Glivec As Treatment For Four Rare Types Of Cancer - Medical News Today 17/04/06

Novartis announced today that it has submitted applications in the United States and Europe for Glivec® (imatinib) Known as Gleevec® (imatinib mesylate) Tablets in the U.S. as treatment for four rare types of cancer. These filings underscore how cancers of different origin and location can share common pathways that respond to the same targeted treatment.

Fesoterodine, New Drug Candidate For Treatment For Overactive Bladder - Pfizer To Acquire Exclusive Worldwide Rights - Medical News Today 17/04/06

Pfizer Inc said today that it has entered into an agreement with Schwarz Pharma AG under which Pfizer will acquire exclusive worldwide rights to fesoterodine, a new drug candidate for treatment for overactive bladder.

Avastin Filed In US For Treatment Of Most Common Form Of Lung Cancer - Medical News Today 17/04/06

Roche and Genentech announced today that they have filed Avastin in the US for the treatment of the most common form of lung cancer - non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide.

Astellas Pharma Files Application For Candin Antifungal Agent Micafungin In EU - Medical News Today 17/04/06

Astellas Pharma announced on April 13 that its European subsidiary has filed a Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) for Astellas' proprietary candin antifungal agent, micafungin, with the European Medicines Agency.

Takeda Pharmaceutical To Release Sustained-Release Morphine Hydrochloride Capsule - Medical News Today 17/04/06

Takeda Pharmaceutical has launched Passif, its proprietary sustained release capsule of morphine hydrochloride.

Whether Or Not Children Will Love Books Is Linked To Genes - Medical News Today 17/04/06

“Children don't come into this world as clay to be molded,” said Phillip Dale, professor and chair of the Communication Science and Disorders Department in the School of Health Professions. “They do have their own interests because there is a genetic component.”

Stem Cells Make “Human” Drug Trials In Animals Possible - Medical News Today 17/04/06

By injecting human stem cells into laboratory mice and creating various human tissues, researchers at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology have developed a way to conduct “human” drug trials on animals. Conducting trials on the human cell tissue carried by the mice gives scientists an indication of whether to even proceed with human trials - and what to expect when they are undertaken. The patented findings are reported in the April 1, 2006 issue of Cancer Research.

As Young Girls Enter Their Teens, More Are Turning From Milk To Sodas - Medical News Today 17/04/06

A recently completed nine-year study of more than 2,300 teen-age girls by Wesleyan University and others found that milk consumption decreased more than 25 percent. However, soda intake increased almost threefold during the course of the study.

HIV/AIDS Care Providers Burning Out From Increased Workloads, Flat Funding, AIDS Research Director Says - Medical News Today 17/04/06

Health care workers caring for people living with HIV/AIDS are "burning out" from increased workloads as patients are living longer but funding for care remains stagnant, Michael Saag, director of the Center for AIDS Research at the University of Alabama-Birmingham, said in an interview on Wednesday on NPR's "All Things Considered." According to Saag, who was one of the first U.S. physicians to prescribe antiretroviral medications to HIV-positive people, nurses and social workers are working longer hours without overtime "out of just a love for what they do and a commitment to the cause." Saag said many HIV/AIDS care staff eventually resign because they cannot keep up with the pace, and there are not enough full-time employees to cover the workload. In addition, it is "more and more difficult" to replace staff members because prospective employees could receive the same salary for shift work, according to Saag. "I'm concerned about the future of my clinic because I don't know where the next wave of nurses, where the next wave of doctors are going to come from," Saag said. Saag added that a change in the demographics of individuals living with HIV/AIDS -- who are now those "more disenfranchised from society," such as individuals with low incomes, untreated mental illnesses and substance use problems -- over the last five years is contributing to caregiver stress because their cases are more difficult to manage, and it takes caregivers longer to gain patients' trust (Norris, "All Things Considered," NPR, 4/12).

Soil-bound Prions That Cause CWD Remain Infectious - Medical News Today 17/04/06

Scientists have confirmed that prions, the mysterious proteins thought to cause chronic wasting disease (CWD) in deer, latch on tightly to certain minerals in soil and remain infectious.

Scientists Discover A New Disease-causing Bacterium In An Immune-compromised Patient - Medical News Today 17/04/06

Researchers discovered a new bacterium in an immune-compromised patient, according to a study recently published in PLoS Pathogens. The bacterium belongs to the family Acetobacteraceae and includes bacteria common in the environment, some of which are used in industry, such as vinegar-making. "This is the first reported case of invasive human disease caused by any of the Acetobacteraceae," according to the article.

East African Business Week Examines HIV Awareness Campaign, Radio Drama Series In Uganda - Medical News Today 17/04/06

East African Business Week on Tuesday examined the "Something for Something" awareness campaign and the radio drama series "Rock Point 256" in Uganda, two programs that aim to educate young people about HIV and the risks of engaging in relationships where sex is given in exchange for favors or presents. According to officials from the Uganda AIDS Commission, "something for something" relationships and "sugar daddy" relationships -- in which older men have relationships with and give gifts or money to young, female partners -- are a widespread occurrence in the country. "Something for something love is a real problem in Uganda, but we rarely talk about it," Janet Akao -- project officer for the Young Empowered and Healthy advocacy group, which launched the campaign -- said. According UAC officials, sugar daddy relationships are one of the main factors contributing to the country's high HIV prevalence among girls ages 15 to 24, and something for something relationships often are the reason why girls become sexually active. The Something for Something campaign will run alongside the Rock Point 256, which has been airing since August 2005 on 10 local radio stations in English and several African languages (Mugabe, East African Business Week, 4/11). Rock Point 256 receives funding from a $2.5 million grant from the President's Emergency Plan for HIV/AIDS Relief channeled through USAID (PEPFAR release, 4/12). It also receives funding from UNICEF and Save the Children and is designed to spark discussion about both transactional and cross-generational sex. It uses fictional places and characters to tell stories about youth who were offered gifts by older people in exchange for sex and incorporates music to appeal to teenagers (East African Business Week, 4/11).

Nanofibers Created In Orderly Fashion By UC Berkeley Team - Medical News Today 16/04/06

For 72 years, scientists have been able to use electric fields to spin polymers into tiny fibers. But there's been just one problem: Like worms that won't stop wriggling, the fibers tangle randomly almost as soon as they are created.

New Research Links Metabolism And Appetite Suppression, Opening Door To Obesity Treatments - Medical News Today 16/04/06

A team led by a Canadian researcher has discovered a process by which a small protein acts directly within muscles to increase the body's metabolism to burn fat while simultaneously suppressing appetite. These findings suggest that the protein, known as the ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), could play a key role as a weight loss agent.

Unraveling The Mysteries Of Poison - Medical News Today 16/04/06

Researchers from the Max Planck Institite for Biophysical Chemistry and other German and French colleagues have combined magnetic resonance spectroscopy (solid-state NMR) with special protein synthesis procedures to uncover how potassium channels and toxins combine and change in structure. This work could make it possible to develop medications for high blood pressure and many other diseases connected to potassium channel failure (Nature, April 2006).

Study: Vegan Diets Healthier For Planet, People Than Meat Diets - Medical News Today 16/04/06

The food that people eat is just as important as what kind of cars they drive when it comes to creating the greenhouse-gas emissions that many scientists have linked to global warming, according to a report accepted for publication in the journal Earth Interactions.

Mankind Would Benefit From Eating Less Meat - Medical News Today 15/04/06

Research Milestone Brings Goal Closer Of Cheap Antimalarial Drug For Developing World - Medical News Today 16/04/06

Researchers striving to create a less expensive version of a life-saving antimalarial drug, artemisinin, have cleared a major hurdle, according to a new report in the journal Nature.

The Night Shift May Lead To Family Nightmares - Medical News Today 16/04/06

In the current issue of the Journal of Marriage and Family, researchers examine our 24-hour economy and the effect of its need for workers 24-hours a day, 7 days a week. They find that unsociable work times (hours during evenings, weekends, or nights) are associated with poorer mental health in parents and more social and emotional difficulties in children. Compared with families where both parents work standard daytime hours, families where fathers work nonstandard hours show worse family functioning and more hostile and ineffective parenting. When it is mothers who work these hours, there is also worse family functioning, more hostile and ineffective parenting, and more parent distress. The most problematic family environments occur when both parents work nonstandard hours.

Research Updates 65-year-old Genetic Discovery - Medical News Today 16/04/06

Gene variants determine which humans and which chimpanzees can taste bitter substances. For humans, this taste sensitivity may influence nutritional choices and ultimately their health, as well as behaviors, such as smoking. For chimpanzees, it provides a way to live safely in their environments by avoiding toxic plants and other harmful compounds.

Diabetes And Cancer: Alpha Connection - Medical News Today 16/04/06

A study published by Nature today has defined the function of p110 alpha, the flag-ship molecule of the eight member PI3K family, which is one of the most frequently activated pathways in cancer. The function of p110 alpha in the body has eluded researchers for over a decade but a new approach to generating mouse models, has allowed investigators from the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research's (LICR) UCL Branch and the UCL Centre for Diabetes & Endocrinology to solve the mystery and yield important information for planned clinical trials with PI3K inhibitors.

Bird Flu Outbreak Near Islamabad, Pakistan - Medical News Today 16/04/06

A bird flu (avian flu) outbreak has occurred at a chicken farm in Sihala, near Islamabad, say Pakistani authorities. Laboratory tests have confirmed the presence of the virulent H5N1 strain.

Brain Cells Use A Mix Of Analog And Digital Coding At The Same Time To Communicate Efficiently - Medical News Today 16/04/06

Contrary to popular belief, brain cells use a mix of analog and digital coding at the same time to communicate efficiently, according to a study by Yale School of Medicine researchers published this week in Nature.

April 25 NYAS Conference Highlights Latest Advances In Primary Immunodeficiencies (SCID) - Medical News Today 16/04/06

Thirty years ago, a film entitled "The Boy in the Plastic Bubble" starred John Travolta as a child stricken with Severe Combined Immune Deficiency (SCID) who lived in a plastic enclosure until his death. Until recently, a newborn diagnosed with SCID would not survive to his or her first birthday. Today, clinical diagnosis and treatment advances in PI have cured certain of the "Bubble Boy" diseases as well as other PI disorders.

Antibiotic Proves Successful In Tackling Symptoms Of Acute Asthma - Medical News Today 16/04/06

Researchers have demonstrated that an antibiotic is effective at treating acute asthma attacks, potentially providing a new way to help asthma sufferers.

Drug hope for severe asthmatics - Daily Mail 13/04/06

More Than Half Esophageal Cancer Patients Now Survive - Medical News Today 16/04/06

In part because the nature of the disease has changed, nearly 50 percent of patients with esophageal cancer that undergo an advanced surgical procedure now survive for five years, not 20 percent as once thought, according to an article published in the April edition of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons. Researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center contend that earlier diagnoses, more widespread screening and individualized care have made surgery by far the best way to combat esophageal cancer as it is most often diagnosed today.

New Breath-activated, Dose-counting Inhalers Developed By Accentia Biopharmaceuticals - Medical News Today 16/04/06

Accentia Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:ABPI), through its specialty pharmaceuticals subsidiary, TEAMM Pharmaceuticals, Inc., has received initial inventory of MD Turbo, a patented advancement in respiratory delivery, from its development partner, Respirics Inc. In preparation for launch to healthcare professionals, TEAMM will begin shipping into distribution channels over the next month. MD Turbo is the first and only available product that transforms many of the most commonly prescribed metered dose inhalers (MDIs) into breath-activated, dose-counting inhalers. MD Turbo will be available at pharmacies in May of this year.

Encouraging Data From Islet Transplantation Studies In Primates, MicroIslet, Inc. - Medical News Today 16/04/06

MicroIslet, Inc. (Amex: MII), a biotechnology company engaged in the research, development and commercialization of patented technologies in transplantation therapy for people with insulin-dependent diabetes, today announced encouraging data from preclinical primate studies.

Preliminary Coronary And Breast Cancer Results From Raloxifene Use For The Heart (RUTH) Study - Medical News Today 16/04/06

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) is announcing preliminary results from the Raloxifene Use for The Heart trial (RUTH), a large-scale placebo-controlled study that investigated whether 60 mg daily dose of raloxifene HCl would reduce the risk of coronary events (e.g., heart attack) and the risk of invasive breast cancer in postmenopausal women with known heart disease or at high risk for heart attack.

First Optimizer(TM) Implant In The State Of Illinois - Device For Treatment Of Heart Failure - Medical News Today 16/04/06

Impulse Dynamics today announced that the first implant of its proprietary medical device for the treatment of heart failure called the Optimizer was successfully performed by Dr. Moeen Saleem, Midwest Heart Specialists Electrophysiologist at Edward Heart Hospital in Naperville, Illinois. This procedure is part of the FIX-HF-5 clinical study. Midwest Heart Foundation is a clinical trial site and Dr. Maria Rosa Costanzo, Midwest Heart Specialists Cardiologist, is the principle investigator for the study.

Supplemental Biologics License Application For Avastin(R) With Chemotherapy In First-Line, Non-Squamous, Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer - Medical News Today 16/04/06

Genentech, Inc. (NYSE: DNA) announced today that the company submitted a supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Avastin(R) (bevacizumab) in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy for first-line treatment of advanced, non- squamous, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Genentech has requested Priority Review on the submission, which means that if accepted, the FDA would take action on the application within six months or in October 2006. The company also plans to submit an sBLA for Avastin for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer in the second quarter 2006. Avastin is currently approved as a first-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer in combination with intravenous 5-FU-based chemotherapy.

No Increased Risk Of Breast Cancer With Conjugated Estrogens Alone - New Data From The Women's Health Initiative Study Show - Medical News Today 16/04

Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, a division of Wyeth (NYSE: WYE), reports that data published today in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) showed that in the estrogen-alone sub-study of the Women's Health Initiative (WHI), conjugated estrogens 0.625 mg did not increase breast cancer incidence in postmenopausal women. The authors also noted the possibility of a protective effect of conjugated estrogens against breast cancer incidence in three groups -- women with a low five-year estimated risk of developing breast cancer as measured by the Gail Risk Score*, women with no first-degree relatives with breast cancer, and women with no prior history of benign breast disease. These latest results, in addition to recent WHI study findings on cardiovascular disease, should be reassuring for millions of women who are appropriate candidates for estrogen-alone therapy.

Emisphere Completes Enrollment For Phase II Oral Insulin Clinical Trial - Medical News Today 16/04/06

Emisphere Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: EMIS) today announced it has completed enrollment of the first 120 patients in its Phase II oral insulin clinical trial (the "Trial"), and has received permission from regulatory authorities in India to expand the Trial enrollment from 120 patients to 140 patients. By expanding the Trial, Emisphere will be able to evaluate the performance of all three active arms of the Trial against each other for statistical significance. Without the additional patients, Emisphere would have been limited to evaluating each of the active arms against only the placebo for statistical significance. Based on the current enrollment rate, the Company expects to complete the additional enrollment within the next few weeks.

NxStage(R) Medical Receives FDA Clearance Of Novel Device To Prepare High Purity Dialysate At Home - Medical News Today 16/04/06

NxStage Medical, Inc. (Nasdaq: NXTM), -- today announced that it has received Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510(k) clearance to market its PureFlow SL product and its first clinical use. This first generation device prepares high purity dialysate, which meets and exceeds dialysis industry standards for purity, from ordinary tap water in the dialysis patient's home. This product is designed to help patients with end-stage renal disease more conveniently and effectively manage their home hemodialysis therapy by eliminating the need for bagged fluids.

At-risk Drinking Linked With Higher Death Rates - Medical News Today 16/04/06

Older men who drink as few as two drinks twice a week and also have diseases that could be worsened by alcohol or cause problems with medications taken while drinking alcohol have higher death rates, as compared to men who either drink less or may drink more but don't have such comorbidities.

Long-term Care Shouldn't Be A Last-minute Decision - Medical News Today 16/04/06

Many of us are living longer, meaning we'll need long-term care at some time. However, most people do not learn about the range of services available in their community nor the quality of providers.

Older Children Not Smarter Than Their Younger Siblings - Medical News Today 16/04/06

A recent study provides some of the best evidence to date that birth order really doesn't have an effect on intelligence.

Good Manufacturing Practice For Pharmaceutical Excipients: New Industry Guide Points The Way - Medical News Today 16/04/06

Companies who manufacture excipients for use by pharmaceutical finished dose manufacturers are facing an uncertain regulatory environment as the European Commission draws up its Good Manufacturing Practice Directive for ‘certain' excipient products.

Bone And Cartilage Growth To Blame For Heart Valve Disease - Medical News Today 16/04/06

Research to be published in the April 18 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology provides the first explanation of an active rather than passive process that leads to heart valve degeneration, furthering a Northwestern researcher's effort to lead a paradigm shift in the medical community's beliefs about the cause of valve disease.

Gene Variant Associated With Obesity Risk Found With New Statistical Technique - Medical News Today 15/04/06

A pioneering statistical technique developed at the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) has helped identify a common gene variation associated with an increased risk for obesity. The finding, which has been replicated in four other samples of children and of adults of European and African ancestry, provides an unusually strong association between a gene variant and a complex disease in the field of association mapping.

Relationship Of Brain And Skull More Than Just Packaging - Medical News Today 15/04/06

People usually think of the skull as packaging for the brain and researchers usually investigate them separately, but a team of researchers now thinks that developmentally and evolutionarily that the two are incontrovertibly linked.

"Chemical Companion" Helps First Responders And Hazmat Teams Identify Spilled Chemicals - Medical News Today 15/04/06

When dealing with hazardous materials - whether from a truck spill or a terrorist attack - information is critical. Before first responders can begin to aid victims and decontaminate a scene, they must determine what substances are present and understand the inherent risks to humans and the environment.

Laser Wave Steers Electrons In Chemical Bonds - Medical News Today 15/04/06

As is now reported in Science (April, 2006), a team of scientists from the Netherlands (FOM Institute for Atomic and Molecular Physics (AMOLF), Amsterdam) and Germany (Max-Planck-Institute of Quantum Optics (MPQ), Garching and the Universities of Bielefeld and Hamburg) has demonstrated that the detailed shape of the electric field inside a short light pulse can be used to control the motion of electrons involved in chemical bonding and to change the outcome of a simple chemical reaction. This result - obtained on the dissociation of D2 molecules - may open a new way of steering intra-molecular electron transfer processes like those in DNA base-pairs.

New Antimicrobial Compound Adheres To Skin To Promote Healing And Could Also Lead To A New Treatment For Acne - Medical News Today 15/04/06

University Georgia researchers have developed an anti-microbial treatment that adheres to the skin without being toxic.

Two Tests Better Than One For Diabetes Control, Johns Hopkins Expert Tells Doctors - Medical News Today 15/04/06

In a strongly worded review published in the recent edition of The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), the head of the Johns Hopkins Diabetes Center urges physicians and patients to better use the blood-testing tools at hand to manage the disease and prevent most of its dire impact on the heart, kidneys, nerves and vision.

FDA Grants Accentia Biopharmaceuticals Fast Track Status For SinuNaseTM A Drug To Help Chronic Sinusitis - Medical News Today 15/04/06

Accentia Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq:ABPI) has been notified that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted Fast Track status to SinuNaseTM, the Company's intranasal Amphotericin B formulation. To the best of the Company's knowledge, SinuNase is the first and only drug candidate for chronic sinusitis (CS) to receive Fast Track status from the FDA.

SNM Issues First Procedure Guideline For Imaging Cancer In Adults And Children With PET/CT - Medical News Today 15/04/06

The first procedure guideline for using positron emission tomography (PET) combined with computed tomography (CT) to image tumors in adults and children has been developed by SNM and will be published in the May issue of the Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

ORNL, Protein Discovery Researchers Collaborate On High-profile Paper: Using A Beam Of Light To Trap Protein Molecules - Medical News Today 15/04/06

A paper that outlines a new method to use a beam of light to trap protein molecules and make them dance in space has earned a place in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Early Edition.

Disease-impact Models May Rely On Incorrect Assumptions - Medical News Today 15/04/06

Even when we know how a disease affects individual animals, it is challenging to predict what impact it will have on the whole population, and yet predicting how disease affects a population is a primary concern for wildlife conservation and even public health. In a new study from the May issue of American Naturalist, Anna E. Jolles (Princeton University and University of Groningen), Rampal S. Etienne (University of Groningen), and Han Olff (University of Groningen), contest two assumptions commonly present in models that try to predict how individual disease will impact populations.

Males With Elevated Levels Of Testosterone Lead Shorter Lives But Have More Success Siring Offspring - Medical News Today 15/04/06

Comparative studies have studied testosterone levels and related them to mating systems and aggression, but very few studies have attempted to relate testosterone to fitness, that is, the combination of lifetime reproductive success and survival, in the wild or experimentally. Over nine breeding seasons, Wendy Reed (North Dakota State University) and her colleagues followed a group of dark-eyed juncos, small mountain songbirds found throughout North America. They injected males with elevated levels of testosterone and found that they had shorter lives but that they were very successful at siring more offspring - even with females who were mated with other males.

Nature Paper Shows That Cell Division Is Reversible: Could Open Doors For Treatment Of Cancer, Birth Defects - Medical News Today 15/04/06

Gary J. Gorbsky, Ph.D., a scientist with the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, has found a way to reverse the process of cell division.

Curry Colouring And Fat Mix Could Help Diabetics - Medical News Today 15/04/06

Brisbane immunologist Dr Brendan O'Sullivan hopes to put a dent in skyrocketing rates of diabetes in Australia by creating a new treatment for Type 2 diabetes.

15,000 People With Medical Problems From 9/11 Fall Out - Medical News Today 15/04/06

According to information gathered for the BBC, 15,000 people have suffered medical conditions as a result of breathing the dust from the collapse of the WTC Twin Towers during 9/11.

Paralyzed Girl Forgives Man Who Shot Her And Shattered Her Spine - Medical News Today 15/04/06

A five-year-old girl, Kai Leigh Harriott, wheelchair bound after a bullet paralyzed her three years ago, forgave the man who shot her and told him what he had done to her was wrong. She did this to his face, in court.

New Data On Risks And Consequences Of Seatbelt Non-use - Medical News Today 15/04/06

In the nation's first statewide study of its kind, the Injury Research Center of the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee has revealed new data on an old problem… people who don't use seatbelts. The researchers found that unbelted crash occupants who make it to an emergency department alive are more than three times as likely as belt users to die.

No Link Between Estrogen-only Therapy, Breast Cancer In Postmenopausal Women - Medical News Today 15/04/06

There's a tangle of information about the pros and cons of using hormones to relieve the symptoms of menopause, but a new analysis of data generated by the Women's Health Initiative confirms that one cause of concern can be laid to rest: There is no evidence that taking estrogen alone increases the risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women.

New Findings On The Brain's Response To Costly Mistakes - Medical News Today 15/04/06

It happens to all of us, no matter how hard we try. Whether it's deleting a computer file and realizing a split-second later that we can't get it back, or dropping a bag of groceries, or realizing that our gas tank is nearly empty on a lonely stretch of highway, we all make mistakes that aren't just annoying, but potentially costly.

New Model Of P53 Regulation Proposed That Suggests Novel Anticancer Strategy - Medical News Today 15/04/06

Genetically engineered mice convinced scientists at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies that it was time to overhaul widely held beliefs about how a powerful tumor suppressor called p53 is controlled in cells. Their new model of p53 regulation has important implications for the development of anticancer drugs.

New Vaccine Delivery Methods That Are Practical And Needle-free Being Developed - Medical News Today 15/04/06

People who fear needles may one day have no need to fear the doctor, with the help of a funding injection for The University of Queensland's Professor Mark Kendall.

Protein's Role In Hemoglobin Gene Silencing Identified - Medical News Today 15/04/06

Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center researchers have identified the role of a protein in hemoglobin gene silencing that may one day be a potential target for the treatment of genetic blood disorders like sickle-cell anemia and beta-thalassemia on the molecular level.

Nanomotors And Mechanical Nanoswitches Offer Applications In Medicine And Pharmaceutics - Medical News Today 15/04/06

This year's Julius Springer Prize for Applied Physics will be awarded to Dr. Viola Vogel for her creative and pioneering work on bionanotechnology exploring single molecule mechanics and nanomotors for technical applications. The award, accompanied by USD 5,000, will be presented during the 2006 Spring Meeting of the Materials Research Society (MRS) in San Francisco, CA on 18 April 2006.

Absence Of Wedding Ring Connected To Parental Neglect - Medical News Today 15/04/06

A social psychologist at the University of Alberta claims that people who do not wear wedding rings are more neglectful of children compared to people who wear them. Further, Dr. Andrew Harrell states that young attractive people who do not wear wedding rings are the most neglectful child caretakers of all.

Preliminary Coronary And Breast Cancer Results From Raloxifene Use For The Heart (RUTH) Study - Eli Lilly And Company - Medical News Today 15/04/06

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) is announcing preliminary results from the Raloxifene Use for The Heart trial (RUTH), a large-scale placebo-controlled study that investigated whether 60 mg daily dose of raloxifene HCl would reduce the risk of coronary events (e.g., heart attack) and the risk of invasive breast cancer in postmenopausal women with known heart disease or at high risk for heart attack.

Envision Solutions, LLC Releases First-Ever Comprehensive Report On Blogs And Healthcare - Medical News Today 15/04/06

Envision Solutions, LLC, a full-service healthcare marketing communications consultancy, today announced the release of the first comprehensive report on healthcare blogs. This 110-page report is titled, "The Healthcare Blogosphere: What Is It & Why Does It Matter?" It focuses on how blogs have influenced major players in the healthcare industry, including patients, medical professionals, pharmaceutical companies and non-profit organizations.

Folic Acid Important In Woman's Diet - Medical News Today 15/04/06

Most women do not get enough folic acid in their diet to help protect their babies from life-threatening birth defects like spina bifida, which recently gained national attention when the afflicted Iraqi Baby Noor was taken to Georgia for surgery.

Burning Mouth Syndrome Mysterious But Treatable - Medical News Today 15/04/06

Burning gums and a “thick” tongue that impedes speech are symptoms of what is commonly called “burning mouth syndrome.” The disorder, one of the most mysterious conditions dentists treat, tends to affect women more than men, especially women going through menopause.

GSK & Adolor Complete Enrolment Of Pivotal Entereg (alvimopan) Clinical Studies To Treat GI Side Effects Of Opioids Used For Persistent Pain - Medical News Today 15/04/06

GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE: GSK) and Adolor Corporation (Nasdaq: ADLR) announced today that GSK has completed enrolment of the Phase 3 clinical programme to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the oral investigational drug Entereg (alvimopan) for the treatment of gastrointestinal adverse events caused by opioids used for persistent non-cancer pain. Enrolment of a Phase 2b study in cancer patients with chronic pain has also been completed.

Second Pivotal Phase III Trial Of Alfimeprase Begins For The Treatment Of Acute Peripheral Arterial Occlusion, Bayer HealthCare And Nuvelo Inc - Medical News Today 15/04/06

Bayer HealthCare (BHC) and Nuvelo Inc. (Nasdaq: NUVO) today announced that they had begun patient enrollment in a second pivotal phase III clinical trial of alfimeprase for the treatment of acute peripheral arterial occlusion (PAO). This phase III trial, known as NAPA-3 (Novel Arterial Perfusion with Alfimeprase-3), recently received a Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) agreement from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). An SPA is a written agreement on the design and size of clinical trials intended to form the basis for a new drug application.

Bayer Makes Official Takeover Offer For Schering - Medical News Today 14/04/06

Leverkusen, April, 2006 - The Bayer Group officially published the offer document for the takeover of Schering AG today. As already announced on March 23, 2006, the company is offering EUR 86 for each Schering share. This represents a total transaction value of approximately EUR 16.5 billion. The increase compared with the previously communicated figure of EUR 16.3 billion is primarily attributable to the fact that Schering AG has meanwhile issued shares from its own shareholding for fulfillment of employee options and will likely continue to do so during the validity period of the offer. The offer can be accepted from now until the close of May 31, 2006, and is approximately 61 percent above the unweighted 12-month average price and some 39 percent above the closing price for the Schering share before the first takeover rumors surfaced. “It is thus worthwhile for Schering shareholders to accept our offer,” said Bayer Management Board Chairman Werner Wenning. The planned merger of Schering AG and the Bayer pharmaceuticals division will create a new heavyweight of international standing in pharmaceutical specialty products. The Board of Management and the Supervisory Board of Schering AG have favorably assessed the proposal and lent it their support.

Insulin Pump And Continuous Glucose System A Significant Step Towards Artificial Pancreas Technology - Medical News Today 14/04/06

The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) said today that the federal government's approval of an insulin pump that also provides real-time, continuous glucose monitoring is a significant step on the path to the development of an artificial pancreas, with the potential to significantly improve diabetes care and lower the risk of complications.

Global Warming Capable Of Sparking Mass Species Extinctions - Medical News Today 14/04/06

The Earth could see massive waves of species extinctions around the world if global warming continues unabated, according to a new study published in the scientific journal Conservation Biology.

Periodontal Therapy May Help Diabetic Patients Improve Sugar Control - Medical News Today 14/04/06

Results of a new study support the hypothesis that periodontal therapy may improve metabolic control (lower HbA1c) in diabetic patients. This study appears in April's issue of the Journal of Periodontology.

Benefit Of Chemotherapy In Breast Cancer Depends On Estrogen-receptor Status - Medical News Today 14/04/06

When it comes to chemotherapy treatment for women whose breast cancer has spread to their lymph nodes, the estrogen status of their tumors matters, says a team of researchers in the April 12 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Stress-induced Levels Of Corticotropin-releasing Factor Responsible For Binge Behaviour And Drug-taking - Medical News Today 14/04/06

Stressed individuals might be particularly prone to binge eating or drug addiction because of the high levels of the stress hormone corticotropin-releasing factor in their brain. A study published today in the open access journal BMC Biology (http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmcbiol/) shows that rats with levels of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) in their brain similar to the levels experienced by humans when they are stressed show an exaggerated craving for a reward - a piece of sugar - whenever presented with a cue that had previously been associated with that reward. This result explains why stressed individuals might be more likely to experience strong cravings for rewards and compulsively indulge in pleasurable activities such as eating or taking drugs.

Paramedics Save More Lives With New First Aid Procedure - Medical News Today 14/04/06

Survival rates following the most common form of cardiac arrest increased three-fold when emergency medical personnel used a new form of CPR developed at The University of Arizona Sarver Heart Center. The new approach, called Cardiocerebral Resuscitation, is dramatically different from guideline-directed CPR procedures.

PBS' "Rx For Survival: The Heroes" Profiles Health Leaders Worldwide - Medical News Today 14/04/06

PBS' "Rx for Survival: The Heroes" is a two-hour special documentary containing excerpts from "Rx for Survival: A Global Health Challenge," a six-part miniseries that aired in November 2005 and examined how public health discoveries have more than doubled life expectancy in developed countries over the past 100 years but are not being utilized to stop the spread of preventable diseases in developing countries ("Rx for Survival: The Heroes," PBS, 4/12). "By highlighting a few individual efforts, the film delivers signs of progress and hope," the New York Times said Wednesday in a review of the program, adding, "all the projects seem realistic as well as idealistic" (Stanley, New York Times, 4/12). The series, which is produced by the WGBH/NOVA Science Unit and Vulcan Productions, was filmed in more than 20 nations, and was funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Merck Company Foundation and developed in partnership with the Global Health Council and other global health organizations and individuals (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 11/1/05).

Catholic Hospitals Place "Unnecessary Barriers" On EC Access For Rape Survivors, Letter To Editor Says - Medical News Today 14/04/06

A rape survivor might be given emergency contraception -- which can prevent pregnancy if taken up to 72 hours after intercourse -- at a Catholic hospital, "but only if she is likely to not need it," Frances Kissling, president of Catholics for a Free Choice, writes in a Washington Post letter to the editor written in response to an April 2 Post opinion piece by William Saletan. An Ibis Reproductive Health study in 2005 found that in states that require EC to be prescribed to rape survivors, 35% of Catholic hospitals do not provide EC, Kissling writes. She adds writes that, even among Catholic hospitals that provide EC, many "place unnecessary barriers in the way," such as preventing women who are ovulating from receiving EC, even if an egg has not yet been fertilized (Kissling, Washington Post, 4/11).

Environmental Arsenic To Be Cleaned Up By Genetically Modified Plants - Medical News Today 14/04/06

Environmental arsenic pollution is a serious and growing environmental problem, especially on the Indian subcontinent. Researchers at the University of Georgia had, several years ago, used genetic techniques to create "arsenic-eating" plants that could be planted on polluted sites.

In Changing Health Behaviors, Some Ask, "How Easy?" Others Ask, "How Effective?" - Medical News Today 14/04/06

You know slathering on the SPF helps prevent skin cancer. So why don't you do it? A new study from the June issue of the Journal of Consumer Research explains why many people don't end up trying a new health regimen - like regularly wearing sunscreen or eliminating transfat - even if they believe the product or behavior is effective.

Consumers Don't Always Want Bigger, Better, More - Medical News Today 14/04/06

A study in the June issue of the Journal of Consumer Research reveals that some people don't go for products marketed as better or more effective than its rivals. Individuals who focus on potential gains will go for a product advertised as far superior to its competitors. However, those concerned with potential losses will disregard such campaigns in favor of comparisons that claim a product is similar to or just as good as established brands.

Marketing Products As Remedies Can Promote Risky Behavior - Medical News Today 14/04/06

Just like a "get out of jail free card" makes going to jail seem like no big deal in Monopoly, a new study in the June issue of the Journal of Consumer Research shows that remedy marketing can undermine risk avoidance messages. In fact, consumers exposed to marketing for remedies - including smoking cessation and debt consolidation programs - are more likely to engage in risky behaviors like smoking and overspending.

Obesity Gene Affects One In Ten People - Medical News Today 14/04/06

A recent discovery may have a genetic explanation why some people are obese while others are not. According to scientists from Genetics and Genomics, Boston University Medical School, about 10% of humans have a sequence variation close to the INSIG2 gene.

Hand Held "lab On A Chip" To Simplify Blood Tests - Medical News Today 14/04/06

A cell phone-sized blood-count machine requiring less blood than a mosquito bite will make blood tests easier for many patients, from neonatal units to astronauts in space.

Health Experts "Fear" Impending HIV Epidemic In Southern Sudan After Two-Decade Civil War - Medical News Today 14/04/06

Health experts "fear" that southern Sudan, emerging from more than two decades of civil war, could experience a major HIV epidemic because of low levels of HIV/AIDS awareness among the population, an influx of returning refugees from neighboring countries with higher HIV prevalence and an increase in cross-border trade, IRIN News reports (IRIN News [1], 4/10). HIV prevalence in southern Sudan is estimated to be 2.3%, according to a report by U.N. Population Fund (IRIN News [2], 4/10). The civil war devastated the region and left people without basic services and access to HIV prevention information and support. "It is so hard to disseminate information when literacy levels are so low, and there is a complete lack of television and radio," Sheila Mangan, a UNICEF officer based in Juba, the capital of southern Sudan, said. A series of studies by the World Health Organization, conducted after a peace agreement was reached in January 2005, suggest that authorities in southern Sudan face many obstacles in HIV prevention and education. Health experts also are worried that, as the country rebuilds, increased mobility among people threatens to intensify the spread of HIV (IRIN News [1], 4/10). There is concern that returning refugees will fuel the spread of the virus. More than 4.5 million people fled during the civil war, with four million displaced internally and another half a million living as refugees in neighboring Uganda, Ethiopia and Kenya, all countries with a high HIV prevalence (IRIN News [2], 4/10). Commercial sex work among tea-sellers and low-income women also is increasing as traders and truck drivers from Uganda travel through southern Sudan.

Europe Slow To Add Infant Pneumococcal Vaccine To National Programmes Despite Strong US Results - Medical News Today 13/04/06

Up to 90 per cent of cases of invasive pneumococcal diseases (IPD) - which includes serious infections like meningitis - occur in otherwise healthy young children, according to a study published in the April issue of IJCP, the International Journal of Clinical Practice.

Brain's Reaction To "Uppers" Determined by Gender - Medical News Today 13/04/06

Results from a government-funded study at Johns Hopkins provide what is believed to be the first evidence in people that amphetamines have a greater effect on men's brains than women's -- a discovery that could lead to tailored treatments for drug abuse and neurological diseases.

Big Hips, "Beer" Belly? It's in our genes - Medical News Today 13/04/06

Do you have big hips or a "beer" belly? Are you "apple-shaped" or "pear-shaped"? It makes a difference, since we know that abdominal obesity is linked to diabetes and many other metabolic conditions, i.e., the metabolic syndrome. What's new is that, according to a new study led by researchers at Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston, both obesity and body shape seem to be controlled by important genes that are part of the mechanisms regulating normal development.

First Analysis Of Recent Disease Outbreak In China - Medical News Today 13/04/06

Last year, there was major press coverage of an alarmingly large and deadly outbreak of Streptococcus suis disease in Sichuan province in China (see http://www.who.int/csr/don/2005_08_03/en/). Now George Gao, Yu Wang, Jiaqi Tang, Xiaoning Wang and colleagues from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and other Chinese institutions publish the first scientific description of the outbreak in the international open-access journal PLoS Medicine.

New Risks Identified After Early Breast Cancer - Medical News Today 13/04/06

A new study of women with early stage, localized breast cancer identifies new patterns and risk factors for invasive disease that may influence how patients are treated. Published in the May 15, 2006 issue of CANCER (http://www.interscience.wiley.com/cancer-newsroom), a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the study reveals that patients with lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) are actually at higher risk of developing advanced stage tumors than previously thought. In addition, women with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) who are under 50 years old, African-American or Hispanic are at increased risk of developing advanced stage invasive tumors.

Shock Wave Therapy For Kidney Stones Linked To Increased Risk Of Diabetes, Hypertension - Medical News Today 13/04/06

Mayo Clinic researchers are sounding an alert about side effects of shock wave lithotripsy: in a research study, they found this common treatment for kidney stones to significantly increase the risk for diabetes and hypertension later in life. Risk for diabetes was related to the intensity of the treatment and quantity of the shock waves administered; hypertension was related to treatment of stones in both kidneys.

A Virtual Healthcare Assistant For A Healthier Lifestyle - Medical News Today 13/04/06

The personalised information system being created by the PIPS project will give users access to real-time healthcare advice anywhere at anytime over mobile and fixed-line devices, helping them to consistently make the best choices to lead a healthier lifestyle. People suffering from illnesses such as diabetes or obesity stand to benefit but so too do people considered at risk of developing so-called 'lifestyle diseases' or anyone simply looking to lead a healthier life.

Antioxidants Might Not Protect Against Heart Disease - Medical News Today 13/04/06

Antioxidants, such as beta-carotene and Vitamin E, have been touted for their ability to protect against heart disease. This protective effect is attributed to their ability to prevent the oxidation of bad cholesterol by free radicals - a process thought to contribute to the build-up of disease-causing fatty deposits on artery walls. But a new study, published online on April 10 in The Journal of Experimental Medicine, suggests that the heart-healthy effect of one antioxidant has little to do with cholesterol oxidation.

A Jekyll And Hyde Of Cytokines: IL-25 Both Promotes And Limits Inflammatory Diseases - Medical News Today 13/04/06

The same signal responsible for promoting the type of immune responses that cause asthma and allergy can also limit the type of inflammation associated with debilitating diseases like inflammatory bowel disease, arthritis and multiple sclerosis, according to researchers from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. The researchers discovered how IL-25, a signaling protein known as a cytokine, both prevents destructive inflammation and promotes immune responses associated with asthma and allergic responses.

Help For Siblings Of Children With Special Needs - Medical News Today 13/04/06

Siblings of children with chronic illnesses and developmental disabilities are two to three times more likely than their peers to experience psychological adjustment problems. Young children in particular are at high risk for experiencing these kinds of problems. To address this concern, a report published in the December 2005 issue of the Journal of Pediatric Psychology finds that family-based group intervention can help improve the self-confidence and knowledge of young siblings (ages 4 to 7) of children with special needs.

Appetite-inducing Hormone Receptor Found Active In Breast Cancer - Medical News Today 13/04/06

A hormone receptor with regulatory roles as diverse as food intake, fear response, and cardiovascular function may also be involved in breast cancer, according to University of Cincinnati (UC) researchers.

Indonesia Confirms 31st Human Case Of Bird Flu Infection - Medical News Today 13/04/06

Indonesian authorities have confirmed the country's 31st human case of H5N1 bird flu infection. The patient worked in a poultry farm in West Java, which had had a bird flu outbreak before he started work there.

Pennsylvania Researchers Find Liver Transplants Provide Metabolic Cure For Rare Genetic Disease - Medical News Today 13/04/06

Liver transplants cured the metabolic symptoms of 11 patients with a rare but devastating genetic condition known as Maple Syrup Urine Disease (MSUD), according to a study by researchers from Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh and the Clinic for Special Children.

Egypt Confirms Twelfth Human Bird Flu Case - Medical News Today 13/04/06

Authorities in Egypt have confirmed their twelfth human case of bird (avian) flu infection with the H5N1 strain. The patient comes from Minufiyah (a northern governorate).

High Cholesterol Linked To Raised Prostate Cancer Risk - Medical News Today 13/04/06

According to a study carried out at the Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri Milan, Italy, men who have high (bad) cholesterol levels have a higher risk of developing prostate cancer. The scientists said more research is needed after carrying out a study on 2,745 men - of whom 1,294 had prostate cancer, while the rest had non-cancerous conditions for which they went to hospital.

Zimbabwean Women Have Lowest Life Expectancy In World, Due In Part To HIV/AIDS, WHO Says - Medical News Today 13/04/06

The life expectancy for women in Zimbabwe is 34 years, the lowest in the world, according to the World Health Organization's World Health Report 2006 released Friday, London's Telegraph reports (Thornycroft, Telegraph, 4/9). Men in Zimbabwe have a life expectancy of 37, according to the report, which used data from 2004, the most recent figures available (Reuters AlertNet, 4/7). WHO officials report the life expectancy for Zimbabwean women dropped by two years over a one-year period. BBC correspondents estimate this two-year drop is partly because of the country's HIV/AIDS epidemic (BBC News, 4/8). According to UNICEF, three infants in Zimbabwe contract HIV hourly, and the nation's official Herald newspaper reports that a lack of health workers limits access to HIV/AIDS treatment (IRIN News, 4/7). Many physicians also said the reduction in life expectancy is because of the failing health care system amid Zimbabwe's economic crisis (Telegraph, 4/9).

Growth Factor-promoting Angiogenesis Expressed In Tumor Cells And Normal Neurons - Medical News Today 13/04/06

Scientists have discovered that a stem cell factor overexpressed both in brain tumor cells and in neurons following brain injury promotes tumor survival by inducing angiogenesis. The research study, published in the April issue of Cancer Cell, examines the interaction between tumor cells and surrounding tissues and may have substantial significance for design of more effective therapeutics for one of the most lethal types of tumor, malignant gliomas.

Genome Changes Tracked During Multiple Myeloma Initiation, Progression And Treatment - Medical News Today 13/04/06

Scientists have made significant progress toward elucidating key genetic events associated with the development and progression of multiple myeloma (MM), an incurable malignancy that is the second most common cancer of the blood. The results, published in the April issue of Cancer Cell, provide new genetic and biological insights that open innovative directions for the discovery of effective therapeutics that can be targeted to specific MM patients based on genetic perturbations known to contribute to MM pathogenesis.

Housing Conditions May Contribute To Poor Health In Immigrant Farmworker Families - Medical News Today 13/04/06

Many Hispanic farmworker families in North Carolina live in inadequate housing that puts them at higher risk of exposure to disease, toxins and overcrowding that can affect their psychological well-being, according to new research by Wake Forest University School of Medicine.

Antibiotic, Telithromycin, Can Help Some Asthma Patients - Medical News Today 13/04/06

According to an international study of 278 patients in 70 centres, an antibiotic called Telithromycin reduces asthma symptoms and enhances lung function. Researchers also found that the drug improved recovery times.

Moderate Alcohol Consumption Putting Many Men At Risk Of Death - Medical News Today 13/04/06

Older men who drink as few as two drinks twice a week and also have diseases that could be worsened by alcohol or cause problems with medications taken while drinking alcohol have higher death rates, as compared to men who either drink less or may drink more but don't have such comorbidities.

Legume Compounds May Help Cancer Treatment - Medical News Today 13/04/06

The ARC Centre of Excellence for Integrative Legume Research (CILR) has lodged a complete patent application for compounds to treat cancer.
Evista as good as tamoxifen for breast cancer: study - Reuters 18/04/06

The osteoporosis drug Evista works as well as tamoxifen in reducing the risk of breast cancer in high-risk older women, with fewer dangerous side effects, researchers said on Monday.

Pandemic flu training urged for health workers - Reuters 18/04/06

Researchers called for more training, better equipment and counselling on Tuesday after nearly half of health workers questioned in a U.S. survey said they would not report for work during an influenza pandemic.

Wal-Mart reducing certain prescription co-pays - Reuters 17/04/06

Wal-Mart Stores Inc., under pressure from critics who say that the world's biggest retailer pays poor wages and benefits, on Monday said it plans to reduce employee co-payments for certain prescription drugs to $3 from $10.

Test confirms case of mad cow disease in Canada - Reuters 16/04/06

Tests have confirmed that a six-year-old dairy cow in the Canadian province of British Columbia suffered from mad cow disease, the government said on Sunday.

Cow Suspected Of Having Mad Cow Disease (BSE) In Canada - Medical News Today 15/04/06
Canada Confirms Fifth Case Of Mad Cow Disease - Medical News Today 17/04/06

Women with diabetes breast-feed despite obstacles - Reuters 17/04/06

Mothers with type 1 diabetes are just as likely as other women to be able to breast-feed their babies, despite difficulties with blood sugar levels and health problems in their infants, Danish researchers report.

TV time linked to overweight risk for some kids - Reuters 17/04/06

Too much television watching may increase a child's risk of being overweight, according to a study in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. However, another study in the same journal found that the association is true only for children of obese parents.

Assisted reproduction kids do well psychologically - Reuters 17/04/06

Children born as a result of assisted reproduction technologies are generally well adjusted, survey results suggest.

Lilly bone drug cuts breast cancer risk - study - Reuters 17/04/06

Eli Lilly and Co's Evista osteoporosis drug works as well as the older tamoxifen in reducing the risk of breast cancer in high-risk women, with fewer dangerous side effects, researchers said on Monday.

US readies flu pandemic response plan: report - Reuters 16/04/06

The U.S. government would expand the Internet and possibly permit foreign countries to print U.S. currency during a flu pandemic, under a national response plan that could be approved within days by President George W. Bush, the Washington Post reported on Saturday.

USA National Pandemic Flu Plan Soon To Be Approved - Medical News Today 16/04/06

Clinical web site may be target of porn seekers - Reuters 17/04/06

It seems that online dermatological images, intended as a references for doctors, are sometimes being used pruriently.

Sleep-wake mix-up may lead to near-death sensation - Reuters 17/04/06

The brain's tendency to occasionally blur the line between sleep and wakefulness may help explain the phenomenon of near-death experience, preliminary research suggests.

Experts ponder a future of new sex gizmos, robots - Reuters 17/04/06

When America's top sex researchers gathered recently to discuss the next decade in their field, some envisioned a future in which artificial sex partners could cater to every fantasy.

French puff on as smoking ban goes up in smoke - Reuters17/04/06

Paris smokers and tobacconists puffed their cigarettes in relief on Thursday, happy they would not have to light up in hermetic cabins in the future after the French government postponed legislation to ban smoking in bars.

Triple treatment cuts malaria in HIV patients - Reuters 14/04/06

Combining anti-AIDS drugs, an antibiotic and bed nets treated with insecticide could cut the rate of malaria infections in people infected with HIV by up to 95 percent, researchers said on Friday.

Office parties spoiled by sick sandwich worker - Reuters 14/04/06

A single employee of a sandwich chain who came back to work too early after suffering from a stomach virus infected more than 100 office workers who ate party-sized submarine sandwiches last year, federal health officials reported on Thursday.

Mumps outbreak concerns health officials - Reuters 14/04/06

U.S. Public health officials said on Thursday they were concerned about an outbreak of mumps in the Midwest and said some people may have been infected on airline flights.

Serious Mumps Outbreak Grips Seven US Midwestern States - Medical News Today 14/04/06

Bausch suspends lens solution, faces lawsuit - Reuters 14/04/06

A widely used Bausch & Lomb contact lens solution was pulled from major U.S. retailers' shelves on Thursday at the urging of the company, as a lawsuit was filed charging that it failed to disclose the product's link to serious eye infections among users in Asia.

Sears pulls Bausch & Lomb MoistureLoc solutions - Reuters 13/03/06
Bausch & Lomb Advises Lens Cleanser Users To Switch To Another Solution - Medical News Today 14/04/06

Monthly drug for alcoholism gets FDA approval - Reuters 14/04/06

U.S. health regulators on Thursday approved a new version of a drug to treat alcoholism that needs to be taken only once a month by injection.

Alcoholism Once A Month Injectable Drug, Vivitrol, Approved By FDA - Medical News Today 16/04/06

US fails to meet goal on Listeria as rate rises - Reuters 13/04/06

The United States fell short of its 2005 goal to reduce cases of the foodborne bacteria Listeria by 50 percent, according to a government report released on Thursday.

Study shows how painkillers raise heart risk - Reuters 13/04/06

Painkillers called COX-2 inhibitors may increase the risk of heart attacks by raising blood pressure and making the blood more likely to clot, researchers said on Thursday.

Incontinent girls may suffer overactive bladder later - Reuters 13/03/06

Women who had urinary problems as children are more likely to have overactive bladder as adults, a new study shows.

Breast implants again linked to suicide risk - Reuters 13/03/06

A new study adds to evidence that while women with breast implants are not at greater risk of breast cancer, they do seem to have an elevated rate of suicide.

Cheshire and Merseyside News
Services face 11m in cuts,warns Alder Hey - Daily Post 18/04/06

LIVERPOOL'S Alder Hey Children's Hospital will lose 11m in funding in the next 12 months due to controversial new funding plans, senior managers warned last night.

Robotic health savings - Daily Post 15/04/06

A NEW 500,000 “robotic pharmacy” for dispensing medicines has been introduced at Aintree hospital.

Cash-strapped NHS trust will hit Mersey hospitals - Daily Post 13/04/06

HOSPITALS across Merseyside and Cheshire will suffer because of the cash crisis at Southport and Ormskirk trust, the health secretary admitted yesterday.

Our 300m hospital is a tonic - Liverpool Echo 13/04/06

WHISTON'S new 823-bed general hospital will be open for business in 2009.

A&E move would be irresponsible - Ormskirk Advertiser 13/04/06

HUNDREDS of people packed out Southport Town Hall when health officials met to discuss transferring adult casualty back to Ormskirk Hospital.

No plan to move - Ormskirk Advertiser 13/04/06
Hundreds in A&E battle - Midweek Visiter 12/04/06
A&E option worry - Midweek Visiter 12/04/06

Two tiny miracles who beat the odds - Ormskirk Advertiser 13/04/06

TINY twin boys brought out the best from Ormskirk Hospital's maternity unit.

Duo try to stop tots suffering - Congleton Guardian 13/04/06

CONGLETON mums are publicising a medical condition affecting their babies to prevent other children suffering.

Hospital ward is closed by vomiting bug - Congleton Guardian 13/04/06

HOSPITAL chiefs have closed a ward at Congleton War Memorial Hospital to prevent the spread of diarrhoea and vomiting.

Trying to get dental treatment is like pulling teeth - Runcorn World 13/04/06

I WRITE this letter while in great pain due to what I think is a dental problem.

Have your say on bid to move health services - Warrington Guardian 13/04/06

WARRINGTON Primary Care Trust (PCT) wants to hear your views on the possible relocation of two south Warrington health clinics.
Hospital cuts are set to soar - Midweek Visiter 12/04/06

THE number of posts axed by hospital managers looks set to soar.
Scientists Step Closer To New Treatments For River Blindness - Medical News Today 15/04/06

Veterinary scientists in Liverpool have found that some African cattle have natural immunity to a parasite, similar to that which causes River Blindness in humans.

Cumbria and Lancashire News

Learning the tricks of independence - Carlisle News & Star 17/04/06

A WEST Cumbrian disabled centre has launched a new venture to help members get some of their independence back.

Cancer Patient Praises Doctors - Lancashire Evening Telegraph 17/04/06
Rated 3 in Health; News; Lancashire and Cumbria on Apr 17, 2006 at 20:45:45 GMT.
A PENSIONER who had "fantastically quick" treatment following a third cancer scare has urged patients to put their faith in East Lancashire's hospital authority.

Advice On Style And Health Day - Lancashire Evening Telegraph 17/04/06

YOUNG people are being urged to attend a day of activities aimed at improving health and lifestyle.

Day Ops Axed At Hospital - Lancashire Evening Telegraph 15/04/06

ALL surgery is set to stop at Rossendale Hospital and the first wave of bed cuts are coming to Burnley General as local health bosses try to cut costs.

Two In Three Skin Care Beds To Go - Lancashire Evening Telegraph 15/04/06

THE number of beds is set to be slashed by more than two thirds at the unit which treats East Lancashire's skin patients.


Free advice for the elderly in rural areas - Carlisle News & Star 15/04/06

SHELTER Cumbria is running a free advice service for over 55-year-olds living in rural areas.

Village dentist wins award - Carlisle News & Star 15/04/06

A DENTIST has won an award for the way he promoted the opening of his new practice.

Walking Miracle Now A Teenager - Blackburn Citizen 14/04/06

A GIRL who was not expected to survive the first few weeks of her life was today celebrating becoming a teenager.

Outoftown Treatment - Blackburn Citizen 14/04/06

AROUND 5,700 patients a year from Blackburn and the surrounding area will soon have to travel to Burnley for pre-booked hospital treatment, it has been revealed.

Anaesthetic Supply Alert - Lancashire Evening Telegraph 13/04/06

DENTISTS in East Lancashire could run out of pain relieving local anaesthetic because of a supply crisis, practices warned.

Hospital Trust Awards Boost - Blackpool Citizen 13/04/06

Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre hospitals have scooped a clutch of awards in a prestigious regional competition.

Cash Crisis Deepens For NHS Trust - Blackpool Citizen 13/04/06

More than 60 beds across the Fylde's hospitals are set to stay closed as an NHS trust grapples with a potential 22 million deficit.

NDA cash 'Must be spent on cottage hopsitals' - Carlisle News & Star 12/04/06

AN 18 million cash injection from the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority WILL be spent on cottage hospitals, it has confirmed.

Greater Manchester News

Hospital staff in clear over patient deaths - Manchester Evening News 17/04/06

HOSPITAL staff will not face criminal prosecution after a police probe into claims that painkillers were used to subdue patients.

Parents blame cannabis for son's suicide - Manchester Evening News 17/04/06

A GRIEVING family blame cannabis for causing the mental illness that drove their son to suicide.

Parents Thanks To Baby Unit - Bolton Evening News 15/04/06

HALFWAY through her pregnancy, Joy Wood was told her baby would almost certainly not survive.

150 NHS Jobs To Be Axed - Bolton Evening News 15/04/06

AROUND 150 jobs are set to be axed as part of a shake up at the Bolton office of a Government-run authority.

In search of the perfect bottom - Manchester Evening News 15/04/06

PSYCHOLOGIST Dr David Holmes might just be one of the luckiest men alive - he's spent months studying women's bottoms.

Ward fraud costs 15 nurses - Manchester Evening News 14/04/06

FRAUDSTERS cost Manchester's health services 350,000 last year, enough to pay the salaries of more than 15 nurses.

Enzyme probe team clean-up - Manchester Evening News 14/04/06

NEW research published today could revolutionise the treatment of disease . . . and also lead to cleaner clothes.

Research Could Lead To Better Drugs And Whiter Whites - Medical News Today 17/04/06

Race For Life Runners Breast Cancer Battle - Bolton Evening News 14/04/06

A YEAR ago Debbie Ormsby was given the shock news that she had malignant breast cancer and faced a mastectomy.

Statement By 118 Midwives At Fairfield Hospital - Bury Times 13/04/06

WE understand that there is a need for re-configuration of services.

Closure Plans Put Lives At Risk Say Midwives - Prestwich and Whitefield Guide 13/04/06
Closure Plans Put Lives At Risk Say Midwives - Bury Times 13/04/06
Midwives Battle To Save Services - Bolton Evening News 13/04/06

Craig Fighting Fit Thanks To Baby Unit - Bolton Evening News 13/04/06

A MUM whose son was one of the early babies born in the neonatal ward at the Royal Bolton Hospital is appealing to the Princess Royal, who opened the unit, to support the Bolton Evening News Back The Baby Unit campaign.

Posted by Kieran at 8:57 am

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

My comment is about the news item: It's been a while but jobs are an issue again - and Labour's explanations are being challenged:
I have read the article and I think that outsourcing will soon become a serious issue in UK too like USA.

3:16 pm
Anonymous said...

Sir,
Kindly republish this report which appeared in "The Hindu Business Line"
in India about the Dards who father children at 100 and who eat more
than 100 apricot seeds per day as apricot seeds are their staple food as
nothing edible other than apricots grow at the height of 15000 feet
above sea level.
This will help Jason Vale case.

Click on:


http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/life/2005/01/07/stories/2005010700080200.htm



Anu

2:29 pm
Anonymous said...

Sir,
Kindly republish this report which appeared in "The Hindu Business Line"
in India about the Dards who father children at 100 and who eat more
than 100 apricot seeds per day as apricot seeds are their staple food as
nothing edible other than apricots grow at the height of 15000 feet
above sea level.
This will help Jason Vale case.

Click on:


Click here




Anu

2:30 pm

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