Monday, May 15, 2006

Contents

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National News

Mental health crisis hits UK troops - The Observer 14/05/06

Iraq conflict is causing record levels of depression and post-trauma stress

The bump: a short history - The Observer 14/05/06

Sexual intercourse may have begun in 1963 but the baby bump didn't go public until decades later. Here are some recent iconic moments...

We've come a long way, baby - The Observer 14/05/06

Northern children are top TV fans - The Observer 14/05/06

Children in Northern Ireland aged eight to 15 are the biggest television addicts in the UK. Media watchdog Ofcom has found that they watch for 16 hours every week.

Two new cases in E. coli outbreak at nursery - The Observer 14/05/06

Two more children who attended a nursery in Dunfermline were found yesterday to be infected with E.coli 0157, making a total of seven affected by an outbreak of the potentially deadly bacteria, an NHS official said.

Alternative health - The Observer 14/05/06

Remedies for painful joints and mouth ulcers - and how to keep mosquitoes at bay without smelling like a chemistry experiment

Health panel: How can my mother avoid the MRSA bug? - The Observer 14/05/06

An elderly woman is about to have a hip replacement, but how can she maximise her chances of a speedy recovery? Our panel of experts offer their advice

Ruaridh Nicoll: It's easy to see one benefit of devolution - The Observer 14/05/06

The mistakes now occur with depressing regularity. A few weeks ago, it was a man I know quite well, a man I like, and I confused him with a bald, Green MSP. A Lib Dem sitting nearby gurgled with laughter
Factors that risk being left out of the equation - The Guardian 13/05/06

'Electromagnetic fields stemming from gadgets such as kettles, computers and microwaves contribute towards a cloud of unseen emissions - even when they are switched off." It's a sinister idea, and "electromagnetic hypersensitivity" is sweeping the nation, or at least the Independent and the Daily Mail last week. Symptoms include fatigue, tiredness, concentration difficulties, dizziness, nausea, heart palpitations, and digestive disturbances; and since these are real symptoms, causing genuine distress, the problem deserves to be considered seriously, and carefully.

Antidepressant linked to suicide risk in adults - The Guardian 13/05/06

Britain's bestselling antidepressant, Seroxat, can cause adults as well as children to become suicidal, according to the manufacturer, GlaxoSmithKline.

GSK admits Paxil linked to suicide bids - The Independent 13/05/06
Paxil Raises Suicide Risk For Young Adults - Medical News Today 12/05/06
US cites suicidal acts in adults on Glaxo's Paxil - Reuters 12/05/06

We love each other: David Gledhill & Tracey Wilkinson - The Guardian 13/05/06

David I was told about this eccentric woman who wore crazy clothes and had had a double lung transplant. I thought, I have to meet her. We were at her flat, getting in the mood, when she told me that people with double transplants sometimes don't live that long. I'm pretty reckless now, but I was really reckless then. We moved in within a month. People think the transplant ends worries; it just opens up another hellish room. The cystic fibrosis had completely fucked her lungs. Rejection was a big problem. She's had three bouts of serious rejections, but in the past year she's missed only one of our gigs through ill health. Most people don't know they're going to die - well, they do but they don't. We're always aware, so we enjoy the boring times, the normal. There have been some tense moments. The doctor once said to her, "There's nothing else we can do."

Oliver Robinson: Slaughterhouse blues - The Guardian 13/05/06

For poultry workers it has become a question of which comes first: H5N1 or P45s. A suspected outbreak of avian flu at a slaughterhouse in Norfolk has prompted calls for all UK poultry workers to be vaccinated. This week more than 50,000 leaflets were being delivered across a large area of Norfolk to give reassurances about bird flu.

Matt Keating: Question of the week - The Guardian 13/05/06

Chris Simmons is lucky to be alive. The computer programmer from Bristol collapsed after spending 12 hours at his computer. A few days later he started to cough up blood. An MRI scan showed he had a pulmonary embolism (PE) - a blood clot that had travelled from his leg and lodged in his lung.

Emma Mitchell: Are painful splits at the fingertip genetic? - The Guardian 13/05/06

Can you recommend a treatment for painful splits at the fingertip? My father suffered in the same way and his palms would split when he was older. Is it genetically influenced?

Seven new workouts to try - The Guardian 13/05/06

Bored with your regular yoga and Pilates classes? Maybe it's time to shape up to a different routine. Jini Reddy reports

Childbirth revolution: Mummy State - The Independent 14/05/06

More women should have babies at home, not in hospital, says Health Secretary

Home vs hospital: Where would you rather give birth to your baby? - The Independent 14/05/06

Charles tells doctors of the world to use alternative treatments - The Independent 14/05/06

Herbs and holistic remedies could replace conventional therapies, the Prince of Wales will say next week

Britain's oldest mother-to-be hits out at critics - The Independent 14/05/06

Patricia Rashbrook, who at 62 became Britain's oldest mother-to-be, last night hit out at critics of her decision to become pregnant through IVF treatment, saying the criticism was "extremely upsetting".

Let's grow up about babies - The Sunday Times 14/05/06

Study finds catalogue of failings at Britain's IVF clinics - The Independent 14/05/06

Fertility clinics are undermining women's chances of conceiving because of the stress suffered as a result of inadequate care, according to a new study.
Jeremy Laurance: When nature's weapon of mass destruction strikes - The Independent 13/05/06

For millions of Britons, the symptoms will be familiar: red, hot itchy eyes, a sore throat and a runny nose.

Fear and suspicion as St Ives awaits HIV results - The Independent 13/05/06

The crude police-style body outline daubed on the road behind the harbour is accompanied by a piece of scrawled, ungrammatical advice. "Should of worn a condom," the graffiti reads.

Church of England damns Labour on asylum and poverty - The Sunday Times 14/05/06

THE Church of England is to issue a withering attack on some of Labour’s highest- profile social policies, accusing the government of forcing asylum seekers into destitution and setting the minimum wage too low to relieve poverty.

Children ‘should sleep with parents until they’re five’ - The Sunday Times 14/05/06

ONE of Britain’s leading experts on children’s mental health has advised parents to reject years of convention and allow children to sleep in bed with them until the age of five.

Super-slimmer Winner reveals his ‘fat pig diet’ - The Sunday Times 14/05/06

HE SHED the first 16lb with a strict diet of caviar on toast and now Michael Winner, the bon vivant, is to disclose the full story of his slimming secrets.

Parents freeze umbilical cord cells for future spare part surgery - The Sunday Times 14/05/06

MORE than 11,000 British parents have paid to freeze stem cells from the umbilical cords of their newborn babies in order to grow body parts if their child becomes ill.

First baby in Britain designed cancer-free - The Times 13/05/06

A WOMAN is pregnant with Britain’s first designer baby selected to prevent an inherited cancer, The Times can reveal.

Peers wreck Bill to legalise euthanasia for terminally ill - The Times 13/05/06

PEERS refused to heed calls for a fresh debate on doctor-assisted euthanasia for the terminally ill yesterday after one of the most vociferous political lobbying campaigns in recent years.

The religious and the righteous unite in a moral crusade - The Times 13/05/06
Lords block assisted dying bill - BBC Health News 12/05/06
British parliament blocks assisted suicide law - Reuters 13/05/06

Screening will detect blindness gene in embryos - The Times 13/05/06

BELINDA PLOWMAN lost her left eye to retinoblastoma at 16 months and vowed that she would not have children who might have the disease.

Operation 21st century - The Times 13/05/06

Will the much-vaunted 6.2 billion NHS e-revolution work? Sam Lister visits the first hospital phasing it in

Dr Copperfield: inside the mind of a GP - The Times 13/05/06

According to the number- crunchers, patients who didn’t show up for their hospital outpatient appointments wasted 680 million of NHS money last year. Compared with the billions wasted by those who did show up this looks like small beer, but that’s another issue.

Flatly dangerous - The Times 13/05/06

FLAT-DWELLERS beware: you are far more likely to get injured or even poisoned than people who live in houses, according to a Welsh researcher’s study of more than 58,000 homes.

Junk medicine: altruistic donation - The Times 13/05/06

The widely reported move to allow embryo screening for genes linked to breast cancer was not the only controversial item on the agenda when the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) met in Belfast on Wednesday. The fertility regulator was also asked to consider whether women should be permitted to donate eggs purely for use in medical research.

Bliss! Hippy days are here again - The Times 13/05/06

Sixties survivor Donovan is back but this time, he tells John Naish, he really is going to change the world with transcendental meditation

Mum's having a ball - The Times 13/05/06

In this adaptation of the Cinderella story, the domestic drudge is the victim not of mean stepsisters, but of his own loving mother.

Protection factor - The Times 13/05/06

Before you reach for the sun cream, take a good look at the label, says Amber Cowan

Lunchtime fix: pedicure - The Times 13/05/06

With the weather hotting up it’s time to prepare to bare those feet. If calluses and corns are the bane of your life, a pedicure is the perfect way to turn you into a real twinkle-toes.

Bodylicious: dealing with callusses - The Times 13/05/06

Dish the dirt and clean up your act - The Times 13/05/06

Anna Shepard visits Ecover's HQ and wonders if we are we too hung up on hygiene

Working up a healthy lather - The Times 13/05/06
Green cleaners: we test them - The Times 13/05/06

Agony and ecstasy: sex advice - The Times 13/05/06

I am six months pregnant and my increasingly frustrated husband wants sex. I've heard it can harm the baby, is this true?

He's a little street fighter - The Times 13/05/06

We are worried about our son, aged 4½. He was aggressive at playgroup and now he’s at school he makes silly comments and shrieks to get attention. All I can suggest to his teacher is a star chart for behaviour, which works well at home. We have had a new baby recently and have moved house since he was born. Any suggestions?

Rooting for happiness - The Times 13/05/06

Award-winning horticulturalist Marney Hall is a real earth mother with a strong belief in the healing power of herbs. She tells Hannah Betts why getting her hands dirty is the closest thing to heaven

It's crunchtime for crisps - The Times 13/05/06

With lower salt and fat levels, our favourite snack may become healthy, says Annabelle Thorpe

At your table: hangover remedy - The Times 13/05/06

I am a huge fan of milk thistle (Silybum marianum), which is used by medicinal herbalists mainly in treating the liver, although some readers will know of it as part of a detox regimen.

Menu mentor - The Times 13/05/06

Having breakfast out is very satisfying. At Café Rouge you can choose something that feels nourishing and good, or something that’s harder to digest and won’t sit well on your gut or your waistline. Guess which I’m going for!

In-line skating - The Times 13/05/06

Skating is superb for building up cardiovascular fitness, is a great toner for thighs and behind, and can burn up to 300 calories an hour. National In-line Skating Week, May 15-21, is aimed at people of all abilities with lessons and skating events nationwide. There are no age limits, although children under 8 may be too young to skate safely in a crowd. Here is our pick of places, so get in line.

A law unto himself - The Times 13/05/06

Fame brought actor John Hannah, 44, his own demons; exercise keeps them at bay

Loyd Grossman's drive to improve hospital food has passed sell by date - The Telegraph 14/05/06

The Government initiative to raise the quality of hospital food, led by Loyd Grossman, has been abandoned.

One in six GPs 'to retire within two years' - The Telegraph 14/05/06

One in six family doctors is poised to quit the National Health Service in the next two years, virtually wiping out the increase in the number of general practitioners since 1997.

Tony Blair: Time to act against animal rights protesters - The Telegraph 14/05/06

Writing for The Sunday Telegraph, Tony Blair explains why it is time for the silent majority to act against animal rights protesters who hinder medical research

Blair takes stand on animal tests - BBC Health News 14/05/06

Pregnant at 11 and 'happy to be a mum' - The Telegraph 14/05/06

A 12-year-old girl will become Britain's youngest mother when she gives birth next month.


Boy, 15, charged with rape after 11-year-old becomes pregnant - The Independent 13/05/06
Girl, 11, will be Britain's youngest mother - Daily Mail 12/05/06
Boy charged over child pregnancy - BBC Health News 12/05/06

Whitehall headcount makes a mockery of Gershon - The Telegraph 14/05/06

The Government's flagship efficiency drive to slash 104,000 jobs from the civil service has suffered a major setback with the emergence that several large Whitehall departments are failing to implement the recommendations of Sir Peter Gershon, the waste tsar.

Daddy's girls - The Telegraph 14/05/06

Nothing can compare to the bond between a man and his daughter, says Tamasin Day-Lewis. Here she examines what makes the relationship so special - and recalls the crazy times she had with her own father

Nish Joshi's Q & A - The Telegraph 14/05/06

My 11-year-old daughter is 3st overweight. We have tried many diets, with little success. Are there any ayurvedic supplements I could give her to aid weight loss? I am at the end of the road - every day I wonder if I can cope with another day of fighting about food choices.

You're fired (unless you're a civil servant) - The Telegraph 14/05/06

Tracey Temple, the Deputy Prime Minister's erstwhile paramour, is more deserving of an honour than most Whitehall employees. She has, through her romantic entanglement, performed an invaluable public service, not only by helping to ensure that the hapless John Prescott has been deprived of all serious ministerial duties, but also by providing a fascinating insight into the heart of Government.
Not quite access to all areas - The Telegraph 13/05/06

Ten years after discrimination was outlawed, disabled travellers are still treated as second-class citizens. Judith Cameron reports on her experiences of holidays with her daughter while Fred Mawer assesses how the industry has responded and what it still needs to do.
Adverse drug reactions 'go unreported' - Daily Mail 12/05/06

A quarter of a million patients are admitted to hospital every year with unexpected drug reactions which doctors are failing to report, medical experts say.

The tooth about crazy flossing techniques - Daily Mail 12/05/06

People are damaging their teeth by picking them with household items such as knives, scissors and even screwdrivers.

Bereaved families 'cause donor shortage' - Daily Mail 12/05/06

Bereaved relatives are causing a critical shortage of organ donations in Britain because they are afraid surgery will 'damage' their loved ones.

Fifth child seriously ill with E.coli - Daily Mail 12/05/06

A fifth child has been confirmed as having kidney failure following an outbreak of the potentially deadly E.coli bug at a nursery, health officials said today.

Thousands in hepatitis C screen - BBC Health News 13/05/06

Up to 5,500 patients in Gwynedd are to be screened for hepatitis C after a health care worker was diagnosed with the virus.

Illegal drugs 'common' on wards - BBC Health News 13/05/06

The head of a psychiatric hospital admits more than one in seven patients takes illegal drugs on the wards.

GPs to listen for arthritis clue - BBC Health News 13/05/06

Scientists are devising a way to monitor the progression of osteoarthritis - by listening to a patient's knee.
Autistic brains 'never daydream' - BBC Health News 12/05/06

People with autism do not daydream, a study has found.

Thousands in hepatitis C screen - BBC Health News 12/05/06

Thousands of patients in Gwynedd are to be screened for hepatitis C after a health care worker was diagnosed with the virus.

Hospital to axe jobs to save 84m - BBC Health News 12/05/06

Hundreds of jobs are being axed at an NHS trust in a bid to save 25m.

Beatson centre gave 39 overdoses - BBC Health News 12/05/06

The cancer centre which gave a teenager 19 overdoses of radiation has given 39 other patients radiation overdoses in the last 20 years, the BBC has learned.

Simple test to spot eye infection - BBC Health News 12/05/06

A simple "dipstick" test for an eye infection could potentially help save the sight of millions around the world.

Hospital boss resigns over debts - BBC Health News 12/05/06

The chief executive of a debt-ridden hospital in Warwickshire has resigned.

Jailed addicts suing government - BBC Health News 12/05/06

Drug-addicted prisoners who were forced to go "cold turkey" while in jail are suing the Home Office.

Scientists Unlock More Secrets Of HIV And SARS When They Replicate - Medical News Today 14/05/06

UK scientists have cracked one of the key biological processes used by viruses such as HIV and SARS when they replicate according to a paper published in the journal Nature tomorrow (11 May). Viruses are able to interfere with the host cell processes that our bodies use to replicate cells, and protein synthesis is often one of their targets. For the first time, researchers at the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford have witnessed virus-induced "frameshifting" in action and have been able to identify the crucial role of particular elements.

Europe Wide Study To Examine Causes Of Asthma - Medical News Today 13/05/06

Imperial College London and Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat (LMU) Munich are to take the lead in a Euro 11 million (GBP 8 million) study to examine how genetics and environment influence the development of asthma in Europe.
RCGP Drug Use Conference, UK - Medical News Today 13/05/06

The Royal College of General Practitioners' (RCGP) Sex, Drugs & HIV Group has issued the following consensus statement from its national conference Management of Drug Users in Primary Care.

BMA Response To HFEA New Guidance On Embryo Selection, UK - Medical News Today 13/05/06

Commenting on today's decision by the HFEA* to extend the criteria for pre-implantation embryo selection to prevent the passing on of a genetic predisposition to conditions such as breast cancer, the BMA's Head of Ethics and Science, Dr Vivienne Nathanson, said: “The BMA believes that it is right to use advances in medical technology to reduce suffering and impairment and we therefore welcome today's decision to extend the criteria for embryo selection.

Lasers Targeted On Infection Detection - Medical News Today 13/05/06

The origins, development and applications of lasers, from medical to military, as well as some potential future uses in the speedy detection of medical pathogens, are covered in a special lecture at Heriot-Watt, to be delivered by the 2006 Carnegie Centenary Professor, Professor Jim Piper.

International News

Flip seats on flights to beat DVT - The Observer 14/05/06

Cinema-style 'flip seats' could soon be introduced on planes to give passengers more space and reduce the risk of deep vein thrombosis.

UN food agency deputy resigns over leader's 'culture of silence' - The Observer 14/05/06

The United Nations body which combats world hunger was in turmoil last night after one of its most senior officials resigned, claiming that her boss ruled through 'silence, rumour and fear'.

The perfect divorce - The Observer 14/05/06

In just four hours, Christina McGhee promises to teach feuding couples how to 'divorce with integrity'. Scam, or a badly needed mission of mercy? Either way, a snip at £30. With 50 per cent of marriages failing, classes in 'happy divorce' are mandatory in the US. Their founder tells Polly Vernon why break-ups need not spell devastation.

Brussels set to ban GI diet food labels - The Sunday Times 14/05/06

A NEW regulation from Brussels is threatening one of Britain’s most popular dietary regimes by banning products from publicising their glycaemic index (GI).

Secret A&E film angers doctors - The Sunday Times 14/05/06

RTE is to broadcast secretly filmed footage from inside the country’s busiest accident and emergency units in a television exposé tomorrow that has enraged senior consultants.

Comment: Brenda Power: Stop the sex trade by shaming the clients - The Sunday Times 14/05/06

Full marks for optimism to those European governments that have cooked up an imaginative, but doomed, initiative to liberate trafficked prostitutes. A number of EU states have introduced confidential phone numbers for male clients who suspect the woman they’ve just hired for sex has been working against her will.
Phwoar, lovely mind - The Times 13/05/06

Fancy that — your brain’s on the pull, even when you don’t know it

Have a nice day in Manhattan - The Times 13/05/06

Dorit Baxter’s New York Day Spa may be a bit scruffy but the staff are superb, says Chris Manby
Travel health: bird flu - The Telegraph 13/05/06

Restrictions on international travel would not be an effective way of controlling the global spread of bird flu during a pandemic, delegates attending a forum in Singapore convened by The Lancet, the medical journal, were told last week.

Drinking coffee 'is good for the heart' - The Telegraph 12/05/06

One to three cups of coffee a day may protect people from heart disease and strokes, according to research which contradicts numerous studies that have suggested that coffee is bad for you.

Clue to grapefruit drug reaction - BBC Health News 13/05/06

Scientists say they have the best evidence to date pinpointing the substance in grapefruit that can interact dangerously with some drugs.

Furanocoumarins In Grapefruit Interact Dangerously With Some Medications - Medical News Today 14/05/06
Study Identifies Substances In Grapefruit Juice That Interact Dangerously With Some Drugs - Medical News Today 13/05/06
Exercise 'cuts skin cancer risk' - BBC Health News 12/05/06

Exercise might protect against skin cancer, a US study suggests.

How Internet Addiction Is Affecting Lives - Medical News Today 14/05/06

The Internet: millions of people rely on it for everyday tasks. But when is the line crossed between average use and addiction? An article published in Perspectives in Psychiatric Care states, "The Internet has properties that for some individuals promote addictive behaviors and pseudo-intimate interpersonal relationships." Nurse practitioners will soon find themselves faced with the issues of "internet addicts" and their inability to get offline.

Doctors Protest In India Against Moves To Reserve University Places For Underpriveleged - Medical News Today 14/05/06

As India aims to raise the number of university places for the underprivileged to 49% from its current 22%, strikes and protests by doctors and medical students have affected emergency services in the country, especially New Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore.

Collaborative Care Decreases Some Symptoms Of Dementia For Patients With Alzheimer Disease - Medical News Today 14/05/06

Compared with usual care, patients with Alzheimer disease who were treated with collaborative care had fewer behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia after one year, and caregivers had lower levels of stress and depression, according to a study in the May issue of JAMA.

Multidisciplinary Treatment Program Improves Long-term Outcomes Of Individuals With Parkinson's Disease - Medical News Today 14/05/06

Over 75 percent of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) enrolled in a multidisciplinary rehabilitation program demonstrated stable or improved motor function scores up to 3 years following treatment. Patients' disease progression was measured at baseline and 1, 2, or 3 years follow-up with the motor subscale of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale. Multidisciplinary interventions included neurology, physiatry, nursing, psychology, medication changes, rehabilitation therapies, functional diagnostic testing, support group, home exercise instruction, and disease and wellness education. This is the first long-range study to assess the efficacy of a multidisciplinary clinical program in management of PD patients.

New Understanding Of Parasite Cell Structures May Provide Treatments For Serious Tropical Diseases - Medical News Today 14/05/06

Don't even think about trying to pronounce it. Although it is found in many organisms including humans, glycosylphosphatidylinositol has remained a mouthful for laymen and a puzzle for scientists. And yet GPIs, as science thankfully calls these cellular lipids, are important in numerous biological functions, including disease transmission.

Constraint-induced Movement Therapy Improves Recovery Of Upper-limb Function Following Traumatic Brain Injury - Medical News Today 14/05/06

Constraint-induced therapy may improve upper-limb motor function following chronic traumatic brain injury. A group of 22 participants with chronic traumatic brain injury and upper-limb paralysis participated in constraint-induced movement therapy for 2 weeks. Treatments included massed practice, shaping of the more-affected upper limb, behavioral contracts, and other behavioral techniques for affecting transfer to a real-world setting. Significant improvement was seen in participants' use of the more affected upper limb to accomplish activities of daily living.

Increase In Thyroid Cancer In US Attributed To Improved Early Detection - Medical News Today 14/05/06

Although the incidence of thyroid cancer has more than doubled in the past 30 years, the rise is being attributed to improved diagnostic techniques of previously undetected disease, rather than a true increase in the occurrence of thyroid cancer, according to a study in the May issue of JAMA.

Walking Increases Bone Density Following Stroke - Medical News Today 14/05/06

Daily walking and ground reaction forces can potentially modulate bone loss in stroke survivors with impaired walking ability. Demographics, functional outcomes, bone mineral density (BMD), and gait-related parameters were evaluated in 33 volunteers with poststroke walking deficits. BMD at the hip was significantly lower on the impaired side. Investigators also found a relationship between BMD and a newly developed gait-related parameter that incorporates the number of steps per day and ground reaction force (the reaction to the force the body exerts on the ground). These findings stress that walking is an important component of rehabilitation for maintaining lower-limb bone density in persons with poststroke walking deficits.

Study Finds Most Americans Have Good Vision, But 14 Million Are Visually Impaired - Medical News Today 14/05/06

A National Institutes of Health (NIH) study has found that although 94 percent of Americans aged 12 and older have good vision, the remaining six percent, or 14 million, are visually impaired. Of these, more than 11 million have uncorrected visual impairment, such as nearsightedness. They need eyeglasses or contact lenses to improve their vision. Teenagers, people with diabetes, Hispanics, and people who are economically disadvantaged have higher rates of visual impairment and can most benefit from corrective lenses. This study is published in the May 10, 2006 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Coping Resources Improve Quality Of Life For Caregivers Of Stroke Survivors - Medical News Today 14/05/06

Coping ability is the most important influence on the quality of life for stroke caregivers. Investigators examined data collected at 1 and 6 months poststroke to determine the influence of stroke survivor and caregiver characteristics on quality of life (QOL) for stroke caregivers. At both time points, the most influential factor was sense of coherence (SOC). SOC is the caregiver's ability to mobilize coping resources during periods of stress. Caregivers who effectively mobilized these resources experienced less burden and fewer symptoms of depression.

Study Examines Impact Of Optional Regulations On Heart Attack Treatment - Medical News Today 14/05/06

People who have heart attacks are about 15 percent less likely to be treated with bypass surgery or angioplasty within the first few days of the incident in states with certificate of need (CON) regulatory programs. However, these patients are no more likely to experience adverse events, such as death, than patients who had heart attacks but were treated within the first days in states without CON.

Narrative Discourse Evaluation Identifies Subtle Changes In Language Poststroke - Medical News Today 14/05/06

Researchers used narrative discourse to identify patients experiencing language difficulties poststroke. A cohort of individuals who had experienced a left-hemisphere stroke and had not been diagnosed with a language disorder were evaluated for narrative discourse cohesiveness at 1, 6, and 12 months poststroke. Data indicate that during the first year poststroke, the average number of cohesive ties in narrative discourse remained constant, while the percentage of correct use of cohesive ties increased significantly during. These findings suggest that subtle disruptions in expressive language can be present initially but are recovered naturally over time.

Selectively Blocking Inflammatory Signals May Protect Mice From MS - Medical News Today 14/05/06

A new way to preserve the cells that surround and protect nerves could lead to new treatments for demyelinating diseases such a multiple sclerosis, a research team reports in the May 2006, issue of the Journal of Neuroscience.

Robotics And Functional Neuromuscular Stimulation Improve Arm/hand Use Following Stroke - Medical News Today 14/05/06

Stroke patients improved functional use of their impaired arms and hands by participating in robotics plus motor learning or neuromuscular stimulation plus motor learning. Investigators randomly assigned patients with chronic stroke to one of two treatment groups: robotics with motor learning (ROB-ML) or functional neuromuscular stimulation with motor learning (FNS-ML). All participants received treatment 5 hours a day, 5 days a week for 12 weeks. Results showed that ROB-ML participants had gains in functional tasks, accuracy, and smoothness of movement. FNS-ML participants had gains in upper-limb coordination and hand/wrist function.

Calming An "ADHD" Mouse - Medical News Today 14/05/06

The paradoxical therapeutic actions of psychostimulant drugs in people with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are still mysterious. This week, Tanaka et al. shed some light on this question in mice lacking Adcyap1, the gene that encodes PACAP (pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide). These mice are hyperlocomotive and have deficits in prepulse inhibition (PPI), a measure of sensorimotor gating in which a weak acoustic stimulus reduces the subsequent reaction to a startling stimulus. In the Adcyap1âˆ'/âˆ' mouse, amphetamine normalized PPI responses and diminished hyperlocomotive behavior. Although the dopamine receptor antagonist haloperidol had no effect on PPI, a 5-HT1A receptor antagonist blocked the antihyperkinetic effect of amphetamine. There also was an amphetamine-induced increase in activity in prefrontal cortex as measured by c-Fos labeling. Although not quite an animal model of ADHD, the Adcyap1âˆ'/âˆ' mouse may help explain the antihyperkinetic effect of psychostimulants.

Chronic Stroke Patients Benefit From Robotic Upper-limb Rehabilitation - Medical News Today 14/05/06

Intense, short-term, upper-limb robotic therapy improved motor outcomes among chronic stroke patients. Investigators enrolled 30 patients with upper-limb impairment due to stroke. Over 3 weeks, 18 sessions of robot-assisted therapy were delivered with the use of a robotic exercise device. Significant improvements were observed for severely impaired participants, which indicates that improvement is not limited to individuals with moderate impairments. Moderately and severely impaired patients tolerated intense, frequent, and repetitive treatment. This information is useful for determining the optimal target population, intensity, and duration of robotic therapy and the necessary sample size for a larger trial.

Stem Cell "fusion" Occurs In Tumors, OHSU Study Says - Medical News Today 14/05/06

An Oregon Health & Science University study is adding credence to an increasingly popular theory that fusion is what bonds stem cells with bone marrow cells to regenerate organ tissue.

Gene Variation Linked To Coronary Heart Disease - Medical News Today 14/05/06

New research at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, part of the National Institutes of Health, found that a common genetic variation makes some people more susceptible to coronary heart disease (CHD). Caucasians who carry this gene variation are approximately 1.5 times more likely to have a CHD event, such as a heart attack, than those who do not have the gene variation. Gene variations are also known as polymorphisms. About 15 percent of all Caucasians have this particular polymorphism.

Patients Who Exercise While Hooked Up To Dialysis Show Better Results In Clearing Toxins And Overall Physical Stamina - Medical News Today 14/05/06

A new Queen's study suggests that patients who exercise while hooked up to dialysis show better results in clearing toxins and increasing overall physical stamina.

Middle School Students Feel Safer In Ethnically Diverse Schools, UCLA Psychologists Report - Medical News Today 14/05/06

Middle school students are more likely to feel safer, less bullied and less lonely in ethnically diverse schools, psychologists from UCLA and UC Davis report in a new study of more than 70 sixth-grade classrooms in 11 Los Angeles public middle schools with predominantly minority and low-income students.

Overcoming Allergy To Clopidogrel, Life-saving Anti-clotting Medication - Medical News Today 14/05/06

A careful desensitization protocol can help patients overcome allergic reactions to anti-clotting medication critical to preventing new blockages inside coronary stents, according to a study being presented at the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) 29th Annual Scientific Sessions in Chicago, May 10-13. (Time of Presentation: Thursday, May 11, 10:39 a.m. Central Time).

Statins Improve Survival For Patients With Acute Coronary Syndromes - Medical News Today 14/05/06

Patients who begin aggressive statin therapy while in the hospital for acute coronary syndromes (ACS) have a significantly greater chance of long-term survival, according to an analysis reported at the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) 29th Annual Scientific Sessions in Chicago, May 10-13. (Time of presentation: Thursday, May 11, 11:33 a.m., Central Time)

International Congress Of Neuroendocrinology In Pittsburgh June 19-22 - Medical News Today 14/05/06

Sexual development and behavior, appetite regulation and obesity, response to stress, even the ability to get a good night's sleep - are all determined by various hormones and their interactions with the brain. Indeed, the neuroendocrine system begins to hold sway when we are mere fetuses in the womb - in some cases, influencing behaviors that may not appear until much later in life - and continues to command many facets of our health and mood. Research suggests the activity of certain hormones may even decide our longevity.

Women With Acute Coronary Syndromes Benefit From Quick Trip To Cath Lab - Medical News Today 14/05/06

High-risk women with acute coronary syndrome benefit as much as men from a trip to the cardiac cath lab shortly after being hospitalized, according to a study reported at the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) 29th Annual Scientific Sessions in Chicago, May 10-13. (Time of presentation: Thursday, May 11, 11:42 a.m. Central Time)

Malarial Anemia Severity May Depend On The Patient's Genes - Medical News Today 14/05/06

Cell and animal studies conducted jointly by scientists at Johns Hopkins, Yale and other institutions have uncovered at least one important contributor to the severe anemia that kills almost half of the 2 million people worldwide who die each year of malaria. The culprit is a protein cells make in response to inflammation called MIF, which appears to suppress red blood cell production in people whose red blood cells already are infected by malaria parasites.

Almost 62% Of Sexual Assaults Drug Facilitated, UIC Study Claims - Medical News Today 14/05/06

Almost 62 percent of sexual assaults were found to be drug facilitated, and almost 5 percent of the victims were given classic 'date-rape' drugs, according to a new study at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Ring-like Formations In Drying DNA Drops Could Affect Hybridization Studies - Medical News Today 14/05/06

Coffee drinkers are familiar with the ring-shaped stains that result from spilled drops that have dried, in which the brown stain is not evenly distributed, but instead concentrated at the edge. Now, a team led by Gerard Wong, a professor of materials science and engineering, physics, and bioengineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has found the same "coffee-ring" formation in drying drops of DNA.

MRI And CT Scans For Children - Improving Health Care Delivery - Medical News Today 14/05/06

Having a young child scheduled for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) scan to diagnose a potentially serious condition can be worrying for parents. Adding to the anxiety is the fact that these scans often are done under general anesthetic to ensure that young children remain motionless and calm.

Geeks Come In All Shapes And Sizes - Medical News Today 14/05/06

You don't have to be a nerdy white guy to be a computer geek. In fact, you can be a woman, a minority, a person with a disability or someone who is downright cool.

How To Use The Motors Of Biological Cells In Extremely Small Channels On A Chip - Medical News Today 14/05/06

Researchers from Delft University of Technology's Kavli Institute of Nanoscience have discovered how to use the motors of biological cells in extremely small channels on a chip. Based on this, they built a transport system that uses electrical charges to direct the molecules individually. To demonstrate this, the Delft researchers sorted the individual molecules according to their color. Professor Hess of the University of Florida has called the Delft discovery "the first traffic control system in biomolecular motor nanotechnology". The research findings will be published in Science on May 12.

Bone-marrow Failure And Cancer And Other Disease Susceptibility - Medical News Today 14/05/06

Defective protein production can occur in cells even when the genes controlling those proteins are normal, according to a new study to be published May 12 in Science. The Fox Chase Cancer Center research sheds light on how genetic defects affecting the control of protein synthesis within cells can increase susceptibility to cancer and other human diseases.

Cell-signalling Pathway In Brain Is Key Part Of Networks That Regulate How Much Food We Eat - Medical News Today 14/05/06

A cell-signaling pathway in the brain that is linked to the development of cancer and diabetes is also a key part of networks that regulate food intake, say University of Cincinnati (UC) researchers.

Women Attracted To Men When They See Interest In Children Refected In Their Faces - Medical News Today 14/05/06

Women are able to subconsciously pick up cues of interest in children in men's faces and use those cues to determine if they are attracted to them for long-term relationships, according to new research at the University of Chicago and the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Our Racial Identity Affects Who We See - Medical News Today 13/05/06

A study published in the current issue of Psychological Science finds that a person's racial identity influences who he or she sees. The authors asked biracial participants (one Black and one White parent) to think about their Black parent's ethnicity. After, they could spot the presence or lack of a Black face in a crowd of White faces with the same speed and accuracy as a monoracial Black person. The same held true when asked to think of their White parent. Although all detected Black faces faster than white faces, biracial students were affected by thinking about one half of their racial identity and then behaved as if they were monoracial.

Affairs Of The Heart Matter To Boys, Too, Sociologists Find - Medical News Today 13/05/06

Teenage boys have feelings, too, and when it comes to matters of the heart, they may not be so fleeting after all. Not far beneath the bravado often on display is an unsure adolescent who finds it hard to express emotions that, while new, are nonetheless often sincerely felt.

Indoor Air Purifiers That Produce Even Small Amounts Of Ozone May Be Risky For Health - Medical News Today 13/05/06

In a small, poorly ventilated room, an indoor air purifier that produces even a few milligrams of ozone per hour can create an ozone level that exceeds public health standards, researchers at UC Irvine have found.

Positive Results For ACRUX's Lead Product In US Phase 3 Trial - Medical News Today 13/05/06

Acrux (ASX: ACR), the pharmaceutical company with unique technology for delivering drugs through the skin, today announced positive results in a US Phase 3 clinical trial of Evamist, its daily skin spray for prevention of symptoms associated with menopause. The trial was conducted by its US commercial partner VIVUS Inc. (NASDAQ: VVUS), which will now proceed to file a marketing application with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the second half of 2006.

Rutgers College Of Nursing Hosts International Nursing Computer Conference, May 25-28 2006 - Medical News Today 13/05/06

The 24th Annual International Nursing Computer and Technology Conference, hosted by the College of Nursing Center for Professional Development at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, will focus on how to integrate state-of-the-art technology into nursing education, administration, and practice.

Pediatricians Fail To Screen For Autism, Hopkins Study Finds - Medical News Today 13/05/06

Few Maryland and Delaware primary care pediatricians screen patients regularly for autism and autism-spectrum disorders (ASD) as part of their overall look at possible developmental delays, according to results of a joint study from Johns Hopkins Children's Center and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Gene Linked To Rare Disease Activates Fat Breakdown - Medical News Today 13/05/06

A gene earlier linked to a rare disease plays a critical role in the body's "finely tuned balance" of fat storage and break down, new evidence reported in the May Cell Metabolism reveals. The findings elucidate the mechanism underlying healthy fat metabolism and explain why people with the genetic condition known as Chanarin-Dorfman Syndrome (CDS), who carry a mutant version of the gene, suffer from the widespread buildup of fat in tissues throughout their bodies.

Imbalance In The Lipid Content Of The Liver May Trigger Advance From Fatty Liver To Liver Failure - Medical News Today 13/05/06

An imbalance in the lipid content of the liver appears to trigger the downward spiral that leads some with fatty liver disease to advance to full-blown liver failure, according to a new study in the May Cell Metabolism.

Online Calculator And Chemotherapy Order Systems Reduce Medication Errors In Children - Medical News Today 13/05/06

Two new studies from the Johns Hopkins Children's Center show that computerizing ordering of chemotherapy and other types of intravenous drug infusions for children greatly reduces the risk of potentially dangerous medical errors.

Just Like Us, Social Stress Prompts Hamsters To Overeat, Gain Weight - Medical News Today 13/05/06

Put a mouse or a rat under stress and what does it do? It stops eating. Humans should be so lucky. When people suffer nontraumatic stress they often head for the refrigerator, producing unhealthy extra pounds.

Cleveland Clinic Board Revises Conflict-of-Interest Policies - Medical News Today 13/05/06

The Cleveland Clinic's board of trustees on Monday approved a "broad revision" of the clinic's conflict-of-interest policy that will bar doctors and administrators from making investment decisions, the Wall Street Journal reports. The revisions follow news articles in the past year documenting potential conflicts of interest among some clinic physicians and executives, including CEO Delos Cosgrove. The Cleveland Clinic is regarded as "one of the most entrepreneurial hospitals in the country and has long teamed up with industry to develop devices and drugs," the Journal reports. While partnerships with industry are expected to continue, the hospital "now acknowledges that it needs to do a better job of keeping tabs on those relationships and making sure patients are aware of them as well," the Journal reports.

Promoting Regional Health Cooperation In South Asia - Medical News Today 13/05/06

"South Asia has a long history of hostility and mistrust among its nations, and heavy governmental spending on defense has diverted resources away from investing in health and education," says Rana Jawad Asghar (US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). Forty percent of people in South Asia live on less than one dollar per day, he says, half of all children below the age of five years are malnourished, and the region's 45% illiteracy rate is the highest in the world.

Wheelchair Durability And User Satisfaction - Medical News Today 13/05/06

A pilot study found that users of wheelchairs are generally satisfied with their mobility devices. A convenience sample of 130 participants who use wheelchairs as their primary means of mobility was recruited. Participants completed a questionnaire about their wheelchair, its maintenance and repair history, and their satisfaction levels. Results showed that 26 percent of participants had completed wheelchair repairs in the past 6 months, 16 percent had completed general maintenance, and 27 percent had completed tire repairs. Neither hours of wheelchair use nor wheelchair age affected repair or maintenance frequency. Better understanding of wheelchair maintenance and repair issues will guide improvements in wheelchair design and enhance the community participation of individuals who use wheelchairs.

A New Approach To Exploring The Genetics Of Suicidal Behaviour - Medical News Today 13/05/06

"A deeper understanding of the biology of suicidal behavior may facilitate the development of new pharmacological interventions that could be targeted at vulnerable individuals, potentially saving thousands of lives," say Jonathan Savitz and colleagues from the University of Cape Town. Identifying the genes that contribute to the risk for suicidal behavior is an integral part of this process, say the authors.

Autistic Individuals Do Not Daydream Like Non-autistic People Do - Medical News Today 13/05/06

According to researchers at the Center for Autism Research at the Children's Hospital Research Center in La Jolla, California, autistic individuals do not daydream about themselves and other people whenever their minds have the opportunity to wander off.

New Hearing Loss Test Cuts Clinical Evaluation By Half - Medical News Today 13/05/06

Investigators developed a test that quickly measures speech understanding in background noise. An established 70-word hearing test was reduced to 35 words, which cut testing time in half. A shorter word list will help clinicians rapidly evaluate patients' abilities and address their needs (e.g., hearing aids with directional microphones, FM technology, or digital signal-processing noise-reduction algorithms).

ApoE Plasma Levels And Risk Of Cardiovascular Mortality In Old Age - Medical News Today 13/05/06

Studying 561 patients who were 85 years and older, Simon Mooijaart and colleagues (from Leiden University Medical Center) found that, at least in old age, high apoE concentrations in the blood were associated with an increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease. ApoE is a protein present in the blood that influences how cholesterol and other fats are made and removed from the body. ApoE can also have an effect on inflammation.

Conjoined Twins Separated Successfully After Seven Hour Operation - Medical News Today 13/05/06

Two conjoined twins, Abbigail and Isabelle Carlsen, who were joined at the diaphragm and pancreas and whose livers were weaved together, have been successfully separated after seven hours of surgery. Their hearts had to be re-positioned and part of their intestines, which they shared, had to be separated. For the first time in their short lives, the girls are now sleeping in separate beds.

Neurocognitive Enhancement Therapy Improves Work Outcomes For People With Schizophrenia - Medical News Today 13/05/06

In a recent study, neurocognitive enhancement therapy (NET) significantly improved work outcomes in 145 volunteers with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. Study patients were randomly assigned to 6 months of paid work therapy (WT) or to NET plus WT. Volunteers receiving NET along with WT worked more hours than volunteers receiving WT only. These differences emerged after rehabilitation. Volunteers assigned to the NET plus WT group worked the most during follow-up and tended to have more competitive-wage employment.

Linkage Disequilibrium Mapping Of CHEK2: Common Variation And Breast Cancer Risk - Medical News Today 13/05/06

Remember BRCA1, APC, and p53? The association between rare variants in those genes and familial breast cancer, colon cancer, and multiple cancers, respectively, had been reported over 10 years ago. Initially, many scientists had assumed that more common variants in these and other genes that have high-risk variants associated with familial cancers exist that would convey a more moderate risk to their carriers. For most of the famous "cancer genes", however, that doesn't seem to be the case. Jianjin Liu and colleagues from the Genome Institute of Singapore, the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, and the University of Leeds, now report that CHEK2, a gene whose rare variants had been linked more recently to familial breast cancer, does not seem to have common variants linked to breast cancer either.

New Insight May Help Avoid Unnecessary Hand Surgery In Elderly - Medical News Today 13/05/06

Motor nerve conduction is a common clinical test used to diagnose nerve problems such as carpal tunnel syndrome. Current techniques use a single recording site over a superficial muscle. This approach does not take into account the electrical contributions from the other muscles innervated by the nerve being stimulated. This study recorded 15 sites over the thenar eminence (muscles at the base of the thumb) during motor nerve conduction studies. Data suggest that standard nerve conduction studies in elderly patients with a common arthritic change in the thumb may result in unnecessary hand surgery.

Physicians And Engineers Pool Resources To Prevent Stroke - Medical News Today 13/05/06

A professor at the University of Houston and his research students are working with physicians and scientists at the Methodist Neurological Institute on new technology to help identify which brain aneurysms are at highest risk of rupture and could cause a stroke.

Rigid Pylons As Effective As Shock-absorbing Pylons For Absorbing Gait Impact - Medical News Today 13/05/06

Shock-absorbing pylons (SAP) are as effective as rigid pylons for people with below-the-knee amputations. In this study, a commonly prescribed SAP is compared to a conventional rigid pylon. The pylons were assessed for effect on gait mechanics, transmitted accelerations, and functional outcomes using step counts and questionnaires. The only statistically significant finding was for the prosthetic-side knee angle at initial contact. Volunteers displayed an average of 2.6° more flexion with the rigid pylon than the SAP while walking at a controlled speed. This result indicates that individuals with below-the-knee amputations can adjust the stiffness of their residual limb in response to changes in prosthetic component stiffness.

What Controls Stickiness Of "smart" Chromosomal Glue - Medical News Today 13/05/06

Researchers have a new understanding of the process cells use to ensure that sperm and eggs begin life with exactly one copy of each chromosome - a process that must be exquisitely regulated to prevent problems such as miscarriages and mental retardation. The new work reveals how gluelike protein complexes release pairs of chromosomes at precisely the moment of meiosis - the specialized cell division process that produces sperm and eggs - enabling them to separate properly.

Muscle Vibration May Enhance Controlled Movement In People With Central Motor Disorders - Medical News Today 13/05/06

This study examined whether muscle vibration enhances the brain's ability to control voluntary movement. Sixteen healthy men and women participated in studies involving the application of 15 or 30 minutes of vibration to the wrist extensor muscle. Fifteen minutes of vibration significantly increased muscle twitch responses, which indicates increased output to the muscles. The effects of muscle vibration were not sustained after 20 minutes. These data provide a basis for exploring the effectiveness of muscle vibration in improving muscle function in people with central motor disorders such as stroke.

Interfering RNA Silences Genes In 'slippery' Immune Cells - Medical News Today 13/05/06

A technical advance in laboratory techniques may provide biology researchers broader access to RNA interference, a process of blocking the activity of targeted genes. RNA interference has recently emerged as an important tool in studying how genes function in normal biological processes and in disease.

IAVI To Appoint Two Drug Industry Executives To Top Posts - Medical News Today 13/05/06

The International AIDS Vaccine Initiative on Wednesday said it plans to appoint two pharmaceutical industry executives to top scientific and management jobs, the Wall Street Journal reports. As of June 1, Stephen Udem, vice president of exploratory vaccine discovery research at Wyeth Vaccines Research, a unit of Wyeth, will serve as IAVI's senior vice president of vaccine development. Udem -- who will be replacing Emilio Emini -- also will serve as IAVI's chief scientific officer. In addition, John McGoldrick -- executive vice president of Bristol-Myers Squibb in charge of law, government affairs, philanthropy and global policy -- will be appointed IAVI's senior vice president of external strategy development, a new position that will focus on raising funds and managing resources. McGoldrick begins his new position May 30. According to the Journal, IAVI has "helped to put six AIDS vaccine products into human tests around the world" (Chase, Wall Street Journal, 5/10).

Mothers Use Evasive Action To Protect Sick Children From Smoking Fathers - Medical News Today 13/05/06

Most non-smoking mothers recognise the need to protect sick children from smoking husbands, but persuading their spouse to quit isn't always an option, according to research published in the latest Journal of Advanced Nursing.

Sri Lanka Water Supply Still Suffers Effects Of 2004 Tsunami - Medical News Today 13/05/06

Sri Lanka's coastal drinking water supply continues to suffer the effects of the December 2004 tsunami, which caused major death and destruction in the region. Much of the island nation's coastal area relies on wells, usually hand dug and relatively shallow. Some 40,000 such wells, each typically serving several families, were destroyed or contaminated by the tsunami. The continued sustainability of the aquifers that supply such wells is in doubt, due to continued saltwater contamination, erosion of beaches, and other human impacts, such as sand mining, increased pumping, and pollution, according to an international team of scientists and engineers.

Allergy/asthma And Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Focus Of Awareness In May - Medical News Today 13/05/06

New research initiatives announced just in time for both Allergy/Asthma and Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Awareness Months will focus on developing a better understanding of the ways in which people respond to exposure to infectious agents in the lungs.

GAO Report Examines Competition Among General, Specialty Hospitals - Medical News Today 13/05/06

"General Hospitals: Operational and Clinical Changes Largely Unaffected by Presence of Competing Specialty Hospitals," Government Accountability Office: The GAO report looks at survey responses from 401 general hospitals in markets with and without specialty hospitals to determine how the two types of facilities compete and whether the general hospitals made changes in their operational or clinical services to remain competitive. According to the report, nearly all general hospitals implemented changes to be competitive in the health care market. However, GAO found little evidence that the general hospitals made more or fewer types of changes if they felt their competition came from specialty hospitals (GAO, "General Hospitals: Operational and Clinical Changes Largely Unaffected by Presence of Competing Specialty Hospitals," April 2006).
Developmental Biology : Integrin, The Protein Which Gives Cells A Licence To Roam - Medical News Today 13/05/06

CNRS researchers at the Institut Curie have shown in embryos that a cell-surface protein called ß1 integrin is essential for the formation of the enteric nervous system, which controls the passage of food through the gut. If the cells destined to form the future enteric nervous system lack ß1 integrin, their capacity to migrate is impaired and they fail to colonize the whole intestine. This anomaly resembles Hirschsprung's disease, a rare human congenital malformation. These findings also shed new light on how cancer becomes invasive when tumor cells acquire the ability to move around the body, giving rise to metastases. This discovery, which is reported in the May 2006 edition of Development, should enhance understanding of the development of Hirschsprung's disease and tissue invasion in cancer.

Adjuvanted Formulation Of Sanofi Pasteur H5N1 Pandemic Influenza Vaccine Candidate Demonstrates Significant Immune Response - Medical News Today 13/05/06

A study published online in The Lancet on May 11 demonstrated that multiple dosage formulations of a candidate H5N1 influenza vaccine developed by sanofi pasteur were well- tolerated and generated an immune response, with and without adjuvant. Of the formulations being tested, an alum-adjuvanted 30 microgram dosage generated the most substantive immune response (66.7% HI [haemaggluttination inhibition] seroconversion rate after two vaccinations) and was well-tolerated in the clinical study.

Positive Phase II Clinical Trial Results For Insomnia Drug - Medical News Today 13/05/06

Neurogen Corporation (Nasdaq: NRGN) today announced top-line results of Phase II human testing in transient insomnia for the Company's internally discovered drug candidate for insomnia, NG2-73. The primary endpoint of the study measured the efficacy of NG2-73 in reducing time to onset of persistent sleep in a well established clinical model of transient insomnia in healthy adults. In this multi-center, 369 subject study, NG2-73 was shown to significantly reduce time to onset of persistent sleep versus placebo at all doses tested.

PBT2 Phase IIa Clinical Trial In Alzheimer's Disease Patients - Medical News Today 13/05/06

Prana Biotechnology Limited (Nasdaq: PRAN, ASX: PBT), today announced that it plans to move forward with a Phase IIa clinical trial of its proprietary lead compound, PBT2, in patients with Alzheimer's disease. The study, to be conducted in several sites in Sweden, will evaluate the safety and tolerability of PBT2, as well as measures of the drug's mechanism of action and indicators of potential efficacy in Alzheimer's disease. The study is expected to commence enrollment in the fourth quarter of 2006, subject to final regulatory approval. Results are expected to be reported by the end of 2007.

New OnconaSE(R) Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Data - Medical News Today 13/05/06

Alfacell Corporation (Nasdaq: ACEL) announced today that Intae Lee, Ph.D., Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, is presenting new data on the effectiveness of ONCONASE(R) (ranpirnase) against non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) at the 14th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM), held from May 6-12 in Seattle, WA. Dr. Lee's presentation is entitled, "Ranpirnase-induced Changes in Blood Flow, Lactate, and ATP Levels in A549 Human NSCLC Measured by Non-invasive Near Infra-Red Spectroscopy and Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy."

Conor Medsystems Initiates RAPID Clinical Study For First Pimecrolimus Drug-Eluting Stent - Medical News Today 13/05/06

Conor Medsystems, Inc. (Nasdaq: CONR) today announced that the company has initiated the RAPID (Reduced Anti-platelet therapy with Pimecrolimus Drug-eluting stent) clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the company's pimecrolimus-eluting cobalt chromium coronary stent system, known as Corio(TM). The study will also evaluate a reduced duration of post-procedure anti-platelet therapy.

ETHICON Announces CE Mark Approval Of New Device To Treat Female Stress Incontinence - Medical News Today 13/05/06

ETHICON Women's Health & Urology announced today that it received CE Mark approval in Europe to market the GYNECARE TVT SECUR* System for female stress urinary incontinence (SUI). This new mid-urethral sling device maintains many of the key elements that made GYNECARE TVT the gold standard in SUI surgery, and optimizes safety and convenience through an innovative design that allows for a less invasive approach.

Cordis Corporation Submits Pre-Market Approval Submission For Reblockage In Coronary Stent - Medical News Today 13/05/06

Cordis Corporation today announced that it has filed a pre-market approval submission (PMA) with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for an in-stent restenosis indication for the CYPHER(R) Sirolimus-eluting Coronary Stent. In-stent restenosis is a reblockage of the coronary artery and a potential complication of stenting.

New Poll Shows Women Unaware Of The Rise And Dangers Of Lung Cancer, USA - Medical News Today 13/05/06

A new national poll shows that American women show little concern about developing lung cancer, despite the fact that it is the number one cancer killer of women. Lung cancer will kill more than 70,000 women this year - more than breast cancer (approximately 41,000) and ovarian cancer (approximately 15,000) combined. Lung cancer death rates for U.S. women are among the highest in the world. The poll was commissioned by Cell Therapeutics, Inc. (CTI) (NASDAQ and MTAX: CTIC).

Less Agitation In Patients, Less Stress And Depression In Caregivers When Alzheimer Disease Approached With Collaborative Care Model - Medical News Today 13/05/06

Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia represent a major challenge in the care of older adults with Alzheimer disease. In a study published in the May 10 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers from the Indiana University Center for Aging Research and the Regenstrief Institute, Inc. report improved quality and outcomes of care for Alzheimer disease by restructuring the primary care practice environment to emphasize a team approach to care

Dietary Folate Intake May Decrease Risk Of Bladder Cancer - Medical News Today 13/05/06

Genetic alterations, epigenetic events and environmental exposures all contribute to the development of bladder cancer. It is suggested that some factors, such as vitamins can decrease the risk of bladder cancer. Dr. Schabath and colleagues hypothesized that dietary folate, which is involved in DNA methylation may have a chemopreventive effect in the bladder. Their study results appeared in Nutrition and Cancer.

What Is The Best Laparoscopic Approach For Laparoscopic Radical Nephrectomy? - Medical News Today 13/05/06

Laparoscopic radical nephrectomy is rapidly becoming the gold standard as the surgical procedure of choice in patients with localized renal cell carcinoma. Many laparoscopic approaches exist, including hand assisted (HAL), transperitoneal (TPL), and retroperitoneal (RPL) techniques, each with its own benefits and drawbacks. Nadler and colleagues, out of Northwestern, compared each of these techniques in patients with T1 tumors in a prospective randomized trial.

The Management Of Renal Cell Carcinoma In The Elderly: Physiologic Age Wins Out Over Chronologic Age - Medical News Today 13/05/06

The median age of presentation for patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is in the 6th decade of life, but urologists are not uncommonly confronted with an elderly patient (>=75 years of age) with a renal mass seeking treatment. As the population ages, co-morbidities become more confounding in predicting patient outcome to therapy, and may influence the application of surgical therapy with curative intent to elderly patients. In this study by Berdjis and colleagues out of Germany, the outcome of elderly patients (defined as >=75 years of age) is examined relative to a younger patient cohort.

The World Organization Of Natural Medicine Hosts Grand Unity Congress Of Natural Medicine - Medical News Today 13/05/06

The World Organization of Natural Medicine will host its first “Unity Congress' in Nassau, The Bahamas, June 1-4th, 2006 at the Wydham Resort Crystal Palace Ball Room. The purpose of the congress is to strengthen the informational, educational, scientific and ethical foundations of the Natural Healing Arts globally, enabling the development and improvement of the Natural Health Care delivery and Natural Health Care equity.

Non-Surgical Treatment For Leaky Heart Valves Under Investigation At UC Davis Medical Center - Medical News Today 13/05/06

When Charis Bledsoe learned that her 77-year-old mother and housemate, Mattie Cooksey, was suffering from a severely leaking heart valve, it became evident why her mother had not been feeling well.

First High-Flex Knee Replacement Implant Shaped Specifically To Fit Woman's Anatomy - Medical News Today 13/05/06

The first knee replacement shaped to fit a woman's anatomy has received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and will be distributed to orthopedic surgeons to use next week. Dr. Aaron G. Rosenberg and Dr. Richard A. Berger, orthopedic surgeons at Rush University Medical Center, were two of the 10 developer surgeons who sought to address shape-related differences of a woman's knee.

Genetic Insights May Explain Retinal Growth, Eye Cancer - Medical News Today 13/05/06

Investigators at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital have discovered the role of several key genes in the development of the retina, and in the process have taken a significant step toward understanding how to prevent or cure the potentially deadly eye cancer retinoblastoma. Retinoblastoma is the third most common cancer in infants after leukemia and neuroblastoma (nerve cancer). Retinoblastoma that has spread outside the eye is among the deadliest childhood cancers, with an average survival rate of less than 10 percent.

U.S. Health Care Spending Highest Among Industrialized Countries, Study Says - Medical News Today 12/05/06

The U.S. spent the most money on health care per capita among industrialized countries in 2003, according to a report published Tuesday in the journal Health Affairs, the Baltimore Sun reports. For the report, researchers from Johns Hopkins University and Princeton University examined data from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and found that the U.S. spent $5,635 per person on health care in 2003 -- two-and-a-half times the $2,280 average among industrialized countries. U.S. spending was 48% higher than Norway, which was the second-highest spender per capita at $3,807.

Independent Online Examines "Hurdles" In Access To Post-Exposure Prophylaxis For Rape Survivors In Kenya - Medical News Today 12/05/06

The Independent Online on Tuesday examined the "serious hurdles" that rape survivors in Kenya must overcome to obtain post-exposure prophylaxis, which can reduce their chance of contracting HIV if started within 72 hours after exposure to the virus (Independent Online, 5/9). PEP usually involves taking a 28-day course of the antiretroviral drugs zidovudine and lamivudine (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 3/5/04). Obstacles to receiving PEP in Kenya include lack of treatment availability, lack of post-rape counseling and care availability and lack of clinical PEP oversight in health care facilities across the country, according to the Independent. Many hospitals require patients to pay for PEP, and many women cannot afford the treatment, the Independent reports.

Advocacy Group Protests ACOG Meeting, Calling For Ban Of Misoprostol Use In Inducing Labor - Medical News Today 12/05/06

The advocacy group Women Educating Cytotec Awareness Nationwide on Monday protested outside the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists' 54th Annual Clinical Meeting in Washington, D.C., calling for a ban on the use of misoprostol to induce labor, the Washington Times reports (Howard Price, Washington Times, 5/9). ACOG in November 2000 issued a committee opinion affirming use of misoprostol for induction of labor in response to an August 2000 letter from G.D. Searle & Co. -- the maker of misoprostol then sold as an antiulcer drug under the brand name Cytotec -- that warned physicians against the use of the misoprostol in pregnant women for safety reasons.

Makers Of Cancer Drugs Consider Cost-Containment Measures Amid Public - Medical News Today 12/05/06

The Wall Street Journal on Wednesday examined how some pharmaceutical companies are concerned that the high prices of new cancer medications will "spark the kind of patient outrage that high AIDS-drug prices unleashed more than a decade ago." According to the Journal, the prices of cancer medications have "skyrocketed" in recent years, and employers and private health insurers often require patients to cover 10% to 50% of the cost, which can amount to tens of thousands of dollars.

White Blood Cells From Cancer-resistant Mice Cure Cancers In Ordinary Mice - Medical News Today 12/05/06

White blood cells from a strain of cancer-resistant mice cured advanced cancers in ordinary laboratory mice, researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine reported today.

Up To 40 African Countries Will Not Reach Universal Education Goals In Part Because Of HIV/AIDS, Official Says - Medical News Today 12/05/06

The Africa coordinator for the global teachers union Education International Emmanuel Fatoma on Monday at a meeting of East and Central Africa trade unions in Nairobi, Kenya, said that up to 40 African countries will not achieve the Education for All initiative's 2015 enrollment goals in part because of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, Kenya's Standard reports (Oreyo, Standard, 5/8). The EFA initiative is an international effort that aims to enroll all of the children in the world in school by 2015 (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 5/8/02). According to UNESCO's Web site, representatives from 164 countries meeting at the World Education Forum in Dakar, Senegal, in April 2000 signed a plan to achieve the initiative's goals (UNESCO Web site, 5/9). EI, which comprises 280 teachers unions in 18 African countries and nine Asian countries, has said that HIV/AIDS is "one of the biggest" challenges to reaching the EFA goals in Africa. He said that EI's programs -- which aim to train teachers on HIV/AIDS research, prevention, advocacy, policy and information sharing -- will emphasize access to antiretroviral drugs and condom use, adding that the unions should be educated to critique government policies on the issue (Standard, 8/5).

A New Math Model Finds That The Cochlea's Spiral Shape Enhances Low Frequencies - Medical News Today 12/05/06

The cochlea is the marvelous structure in the inner ear that is shaped like a snail shell and transforms sounds into the nerve impulses that your brain can process and interpret. You may remember learning about it in elementary school anatomy.

A New View On Lyme Disease: Rodents Hold The Key To Annual Risk - Medical News Today 12/05/06

In the United States, Lyme disease incidence has skyrocketed from 497 cases reported in 1982 (the first year national statistics were collected) to a record 23,763 in 2002. Lyme disease, like other zoonoses, is transmitted by a vector that picks up the pathogen during a blood meal from a vertebrate host. In the eastern and central United States, the spirochete bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi infects blacklegged ticks, Ixodes scapularis, which feed on a wide variety of birds, lizards, and mammals, including mice, deer, and humans. Since human risk is a function of the prevalence of infection among vectors, outbreak prevention depends in part on understanding what controls infection rates among the agents of transmission. In a new study published in the open access journal PLoS Biology, Richard Ostfeld, Felicia Keesing, and colleagues examined the ecological determinants of Lyme disease over a 13-year period in southeastern New York, a hot zone for the disease.

IRIN News Examines Sierra Leone Military's Approach To Controlling HIV/AIDS - Medical News Today 12/05/06

IRIN News on Tuesday examined how Sierra Leone's armed forces are addressing HIV/AIDS in the military through HIV/AIDS-related health services, a "pioneering information campaign" and the first HIV/AIDS workplace policy in the country. While there are no official HIV prevalence figures for the country's armed and security forces, it is estimated to be about three to five times the national rate, which is 1.5%, according to James Samba, HIV/AIDS coordinator for the armed forces. The military was the first public sector group in Sierra Leone to institute an HIV/AIDS workplace policy, which protects military personnel from being fired because of their HIV status. The policy also calls for antiretroviral drugs to be provided at no cost to soldiers who need them through grants from the World Bank and the Global Fund To Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, IRIN News reports.

Young Men With Prostate Cancer Benefit From Radiation Therapy - Medical News Today 12/05/06

For men under the age 55 with localized prostate cancer, external beam radiation may be an effective alternative to both conservative and more invasive treatments, according to a new study. Published in the June 15, 2006 issue of CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the study reveals that external beam radiation therapy is as effective in younger prostate cancer patients as it is in older patients with same stage, localized disease. The study is the first to investigate the outcome of radiation in men under 55 years of age.

U.S. Policy Requiring Overseas HIV/AIDS Groups To Condemn Commercial Sex Work Violates Free Speech, District Judge Rules - Medical News Today 12/05/06

U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero on Tuesday in New York ruled that a U.S. policy requiring recipients of federal HIV/AIDS service grants to pledge to oppose commercial sex work violates the groups' First Amendment right to free speech, the AP/Long Island Newsday reports (Neumeister, AP/Long Island Newsday, 5/10). The Bush administration in June 2005 notified U.S. organizations providing HIV/AIDS-related services in other countries that they must sign the pledge to be considered for federal funding. The policy stems from two 2003 laws, including an amendment to legislation (HR 1298) authorizing the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief that prohibits funds from going to any group or organization that does not have a policy "explicitly opposing prostitution and sex trafficking."

Lobular Breast Cancer Can Be Managed As Ductal Cancer - Medical News Today 12/05/06

Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) of the breast can be treated with breast conserving surgery (BCT), as is invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), without greater future risk of radical surgical treatment or additional surgeries, according to a new study. Published in the June 15, 2006 issue of CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the study reveals that when compared to ductal carcinoma, which is far more common, there is no difference in the success rate of BCT or the number of surgical procedures for patients with invasive lobular breast cancer. These findings challenge recent reports suggesting BCT may not be appropriate treatment for ILC.

Despite Laws, Many Pregnant Women Lack HIV Testing - Medical News Today 12/05/06

Despite state laws requiring that every pregnant woman be offered HIV testing multiple times during pregnancy, about 20 percent of women reach their third trimester without it, according to a review of Florida women from 2003-04, researchers say.

Former SA Deputy President Zuma Acquitted Of Raping HIV-Positive Woman - Medical News Today 12/05/06

A South African judge on Monday acquitted former South African Deputy President Jacob Zuma for raping an openly HIV-positive woman but admonished him for having unprotected sex with the woman, the Washington Post reports (Timberg, Washington Post, 5/9). Zuma, a former chair of South Africa's AIDS Council, was tried in the Johannesburg High Court for allegedly raping the 31-year-old woman.

Medical Society Hosts Simulation Training To Help Reduce Medical Complications - Medical News Today 12/05/06

The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) will provide physicians a unique opportunity to practice the latest procedures for treating cardiovascular disease in a risk-free environment. During its 29th Annual Scientific Sessions, May 2006, SCAI will host the Boston Scientific Mobile SimSuite® Simulation Training Unit, a state-of-the-art replication of a cardiac catheterization lab equipped with realistic simulation technology. This hands-on training facility allows physicians to practice new procedures or use new technologies in a realistic, yet safe and risk-free, environment before treating actual patients.

Breath Of Life: A New Diagnostic Technique - Medical News Today 12/05/06

A revolutionary breath analysis machine is going on trial in a clinical environment for the first time. The invention of Professor David Smith and Professor Patrik Spanel from Keele University's Institute for Science and Technology in Medicine, in Staffordshire, is a revolutionary technique known as SIFT-MS, which works by measuring trace gases or metabolites present in the breath.

Nanotubes Used For First Time To Send Signals To Nerve Cells - Medical News Today 12/05/06

Texas scientists have added one more trick to the amazing repertoire of carbon nanotubes -- the ability to carry electrical signals to nerve cells.

Scientists Develop ENDEAVOUR ' A Computer Program For Identifying Disease Genes' - Medical News Today 12/05/06

Genes are the underlying cause of a large number of disorders. But identifying and studying these genes more closely is a major challenge for biotechnologists worldwide. Researchers from ESAT-SCD (Engineering Sciences) and the Flanders Interuniversity Institute for Biotechnology (VIB) connected to the Catholic University of Leuven have now developed ENDEAVOUR: a computer program that compiles and processes data from a variety of databases and identifies the genes that play a key role in the origin of a disorder. ENDEAVOUR will undoubtedly become an indispensable tool for identifying disease genes. In testing their program, the researchers have succeeded in identifying a gene that plays a major role in the development of 'DiGeorge syndrome'.

South Korean Scientist Charged With Fraud, Embezzlement And Violating Bio-Ethics Law - Medical News Today 12/05/06

Hwang Woo-suk, the cloning scientist, who was once a national hero until it was discovered that his stem cell research had been faked, is being charged with fraud, embezzlement and violating laws on bio-ethics. He is accused of spending millions of dollars for private ends. He has not been taken into custody.

Human Bird Flu Case Confirmed In Djibouti - Medical News Today 12/05/06

The Djibouti Ministry of Health has confirmed that a 2-year-old girl is infected with the H5N1 avian influenza virus strain. The girl is from a village in the Arta district. On the 23rd April she started to exhibit bird flu like symptoms. Doctors say her condition is ‘stable'. A further three human cases are currently being investigate

Smokers Seven Times More Likely To Receive Jolt From Heart Devices - Medical News Today 12/05/06

If some patients with heart disease don't take their doctor's advice to quit smoking, they are probably going to get "shocking" reminders. A study conducted at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis found that heart patients who had implanted defibrillators and also smoked were seven times more likely to have the devices jolt their hearts back into normal rhythm than nonsmokers with the devices. When the devices fire, it can feel like a thump or even a strong kick to the chest.

Is The RU-486 Abortion Pill Linked To Dangerous Infections? - Medical News Today 12/05/06

At least five women in the USA and Canada have died as a result of Clostridium sordellii infections after taking the RU-486 abortion drug. It is thought another woman also died in the same way.

Beauty And The Beholder: Why Pretty Faces Don't Always Help Sales - Medical News Today 12/05/06

Beautiful young models are used to sell everything from computer processors to motor oil. But is it really effective to use a pretty face to market something that has nothing to do with physical attractiveness? New research from the June issue of the Journal of Consumer Research argues that an attractive model can actually negatively influence product perception if the model is irrelevant to the quality of the product and the consumer had a very high interest in the product to being with.

Who Should Get Pandemic Vaccine First? The Strong, The Weak, The Young Or The Elderly? - Medical News Today 12/05/06

Public health experts are finding it hard to agree who should get the flu pandemic vaccine first? Should we protect the most vulnerable, such as the elderly and people who suffer from asthma, diabetes and weakened immune systems? Or should we focus on those who are most likely to recover?

Drug Makers Pay Doctors To Write Studies Criticizing Generic Drugs, Opinion Piece Says - Medical News Today 12/05/06

In a "move that may astonish even the most jaded critics of ethically challenged pharmaceutical marketing, makers of sleeping pills are now paying doctors to publish bad things about competing drugs," Daniel Carlat, a professor at the Tufts University School of Medicine, writes in a New York Times opinion piece.

Development Of New Classes On Prescription Drugs Faces Several Challenges, Opinion Piece States - Medical News Today 12/05/06

New classes of medications "hold great promise for the treatment of previously intractable disease," but "several challenges must be met if these new molecules are to be clinically useful," Robert Rubin, a professor at Harvard Medical School and associate director of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Brigham and Women's Hospital, writes in a Boston Globe opinion piece.

Childhood Arthritis Raises Risk Of Broken Bones - Medical News Today 12/05/06

Childhood arthritis increases the risk of fractures, particularly during adolescence, according to a large study of British patient records. The researchers say that more targeted treatments promoting bone health would benefit patients with childhood-onset arthritis throughout their lifespan.

US Infant Mortality Rate Fails To Improve - Medical News Today 12/05/06

Nearly 28,000 babies died before their first birthday, according to new infant mortality statistics for 2003 released by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).
Work conditions raise risk of having a small baby - Reuters 12/05/06

A variety of occupational conditions experienced by pregnant women can increase the likelihood of having a small infant, according to a report in the American Journal of Public Health. One of the main risk factors is having an irregular or shift-work schedule.

Cardiologist says Vioxx still a risk after stopping - Reuters 12/05/06

A leading cardiologist on Friday disputed Merck & Co's interpretation on the safety of patients once they stop taking Vioxx, saying they remained at high risk of heart attacks or strokes for some time afterward.

Chancroid vaccine promising in pigs - Reuters 12/05/06

A vaccine against the bug that causes the sexually transmitted disease known as chancroid has shown promise in experiments conducted in pigs, scientists report. Not only would such a vaccine prevent or reduce the painful open sores of chancroid on the genitals, it could also reduce the transmission of HIV, senior researcher Dr. Christopher Elkins told Reuters Health.

US CDC says eye fungus infections rise to 122 - Reuters 12/05/06

U.S. health officials have now confirmed 122 cases of a fungal infection that may be related to contact lens use, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Friday.

Insufficient combat stress help for US troops faulted - Reuters 12/05/06

Only 22 percent of U.S. troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan seen at risk for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder have been referred by Pentagon officials for mental health evaluation, a report has found.

Cheshire and Merseyside News

Hospital aims for excellence with radical changes - Warrington Guardian 14/05/06

A RADICAL overhaul of services at Warrington Hospital could see it become a centre of excellence, if proposals go ahead.

Sick man spared ban - Warrington Guardian 14/05/06

A Great Sankey man was spared a driving ban because he probably has prostate cancer and would have to commute to Clatterbridge Hospital, Wirral, for chemotherapy.
I'll talk about death with dignity, says widow Win - Daily Post 12/05/06

THE widow of Reg Crew, the terminally-ill Liverpool man who flew to Switzerland to end his life, last night said she would tell a Warrington couple about her experience.

Please let me die at home - Daily Post 11/05/06

I walked 150 miles to say thanks to lifesaver doctors - Daily Post 12/05/06

AN ENGINEER who was hours from having his life support machine turned off after he suffered a massive brain haemorrhage last night told how doctors in Liverpool brought him back from the brink of death.

10,000 a day to sort out NHS problems - Chester Chronicle 12/05/06

A TROUBLE-SHOOTER team hired to sort out a cash crisis in the NHS is costing 10,000 a day.

Hospital chief in jobs promise - Chester Chronicle 12/05/06

THE boss of the cash-strapped Countess of Chester Hospital has told staff compulsory redundancies will be avoided 'as far as possible'.

Speeding surgeon banned - Chester Chronicle 12/05/06

A PLASTIC surgeon at the Countess of Chester hospital has been banned from driving for 56 days after travelling at speeds in excess of 130mph.

Premature baby Isla is first to benefit from incubator gifts - Ormskirk Advertiser 11/05/06

THE baby unit at Ormskirk Hospital has four new incubators thanks to generous contributions from the public.

Eye surgeon suspended - Ormskirk Advertiser 11/05/06

A FORMER Halsall eye surgeon has been suspended for a year after carrying out trials on patients without telling them.

Service'vital to our children' say mums - Ormskirk Advertiser 11/05/06

WEST Lancashire MP Rosie Cooper has joined the fight to protect disabled children's services.

New health post for former chief - Southport Visiter 12/05/06

FORMER Liverpool City Council chief executive Sir David Henshaw will chair the new North West Strategic Health Authority.

Friends get their tops off - Southport Visiter 12/05/06

THREE friends will take to the streets of London in their bras for breast cancer next Saturday - and they are relying on the help of South-port College students.

'Dental care is always at hand' - Southport Visiter 12/05/06

REPORTS of a Marshside woman carrying out emergency dentistry on herself has led the Primary Care Trust to assure NHS patients that urgent care is readily available in the area.

Parents take their case to TV - Southport Visiter 12/05/06

A MOTHER and father who care for their ill son around the clock are to feature in an ITV programme on the financial state of the health service.

Trust axes staff - Southport Visiter 12/05/06

SOUTHPORT and Ormskirk Hospital Trust yesterday announced it is axing 200 posts.

Hospitals to cut 200 jobs in NHS drive to save 10m - Liverpool Echo 12/05/06

Row on hospital vote plan for 11-year-olds - Liverpool Echo 11/05/06

UNION leaders have slammed plans to allow 11-year-old children to vote on major hospital decisions.

Lives are at risk - Wirral News 10/05/06

AMBULANCE workers are warning a new road system near Arrowe Park Hospital is causing delays to emergency calls.

Save centre - Wirral News 10/05/06

A WIRRAL MP has pledged his support to a cash- strapped domestic abuse centre that could be facing closure.

Cumbria and Lancashire News

Petition calls for future for respite care - Carlisle News & Star 13/05/06

A PETITION containing more than 700 signatures protesting against the closure of a Carlisle respite home for children has been handed to health chiefs by city MP Eric Martlew.
Blind Charity Helped Me To Rebuild My Life - Chorley Citizen 10/05/06

A man who lost his sight within a three-week period and then turned his life around with the help of a local charity has won a national award.

Testing Time For New Nurse - Blackpool Citizen 11/05/06

A nurse is leading a new campaign to get more Blackpool women to have potentially life-saving smear tests.

Fears For Disabled If Charity Lottery Bid Fails - Preston Citizen 11/05/06

A charity which helps disabled people in Preston could be forced to cut jobs and services if a bid for lottery funding fails.

Bid To Turn Up Heat On Coinop Tan Centres - Lancashire Evening Telegraph 12/05/06

PENDLE MP Gordon Prentice has called for tight new government restrictions on unstaffed coin-operated tanning salons, to stop children getting skin damage.

Homes Miss Out On Vital Hospital Info - Lancashire Evening Telegraph 12/05/06

ABOUT 15,000 homes have not received a crucial document on controversial hospital changes because of an NHS blunder.

E Lancs Could Lose Out In Shakeup Plan - Lancashire Evening Telegraph 12/05/06

A HEALTH watchdog today warned patient services could suffer under controversial NHS shake-up plans.

Greater Manchester News

Impossible Dilemma Of Tragic Son - Bolton Evening News 13/05/06

THE son of a man who suffered for three years before dying from cancer has told how his father pleaded with him to bring his life to an end.

Stars Want Your Help For Hospice Appeal - Bolton Evening News 13/05/06

CORONATION Street stars enjoyed a cup of tea to help launch a campaign to raise cash for St Ann's Hospice.

Healthy Career Move For MP - Bolton Evening News 12/05/06

THE steady rise in politics for Leigh MP Andy Burnham has continued, with promotion to Health Minister in the latest Government shake-up.

Quitsmoking Success At Hospital - Bolton Evening News 12/04/06

MORE than 80 per cent of smokers working at the Beaumont Hospital in Lostock have quit the habit.

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