Monday, June 05, 2006

Contents

Click on content link below to go to the news from that section: this will open a web page if you receive this by email


National News

Just imagine what the NHS could do with the 20bn wasted on sick IT - The Observer 04/06/06

If you have the money, you can go online today and book a flight to any of the world's major cities. You will certainly be able to reserve a car and hotel room for when you arrive, and maybe you can find websites that allow you to book a seat in a restaurant and tickets for the theatre as well. However, if instead of flying off, you go to your local surgery and ask the GPs to book an appointment online to see a consultant in a hospital a few miles from your home, the odds are they won't be able to do it.

20bn computer left NHS patients waiting longer - The Sunday Times 04/06/06
'Computer says no' to Mr Blair's botched 20bn NHS upgrade - The Telegraph 04/06/06
So where will all that money be spent? - The Telegraph 04/06/06

Now outdoor smokers come under attack too - The Observer 04/06/06

Pavement cafes and beer gardens to be targeted

Why I'm testing the bird flu jab - The Observer 04/06/06

Jo Revill, the Observer's Health Editor, believes medical trials on humans are the only way to stop a killer pandemic - which is why she's volunteered
Shorts: Bone up on osteoporosis - The Guardian 03/06/06

Fancy a break? No pun intended. With osteoporosis affecting one in three women and one in 12 men over the age of 50, there's good reason to find out more about how to prevent and deal with the disease. Dr Susan New, a member of the scientific advisory group of the UK National Osteoporosis Society, and Naomi Linberry, a chartered physiotherapist, will be presenting seminars at a course on the role of nutrition and exercise in bone health. The course, which takes place at Champneys in Hampshire on June 14-16, costs from £240, and includes meals, accommodation, seminars and two treatments; 0870 330 0300 for details

Family life: Changing viewpoints - The Guardian 03/06/06

It's more than five years since our mother died, and, as I get older and more disabled, I see it all differently. The whole responsibility for caring for our ageing and ailing surviving parent fell, by default almost, to me, the spinster daughter. I did it willingly enough, juggling it with a demanding career and clearly I colluded on some levels with what happened, but caring is both rewarding and intensely draining. One is left without the strength to argue or challenge, even when the situation requires it.

Living with teenagers: Breakfast time - The Guardian 03/06/06

Remember the furious toddler days, when you had to allow at least an hour to get them out of the house? Potty, wash hands, wipe faces, socks, find coats. Then - pushchair unfolded - there'd be a sudden explosion: which shoes? The red ones! No, the blue! No, the red! In fewer than three seconds you're in meltdown and you're sitting on the hall floor, keys in lap, as a pair of chubby legs drums a skirting board in fury.

Anne Karpf: Walk this way - The Guardian 03/06/06

If I think about the ways in which I wish I'd parented differently - give me another three pages - one that strikes me powerfully, as washed-out spring gives way to the whisper of summer, is that I'd trained them to walk more. Walk not as in walk to school (I get a B+ on that one). No, walk as in savouring the pleasures of the hedgerow and the descant of the birds, as in climbing without complaining. Walking not in order to get from A to B, only to enjoy the space between them. In short, country pleasures.

Retired, with children - The Guardian 03/06/06

Two fiftysomething mums tell Suzanne Goldenberg why they - like a growing number of older women - sacrificed comfy retirement in order to have babies

Interview: Politics of parenting - The Guardian 03/06/06

Philosopher Stephen Law is on the warpath. Fighting back at the current fashion for Supernanny-style parenting, he argues for a more liberal approach when it comes to raising children.

Emma Mitchell: Ridding the past - The Guardian 03/06/06

I succumbed to a bad bout of chickenpox when I was 15. I am now 73 and still suffering from its after-effects - slight deafness, sneezing fits, itchy nose and throat, and, worst of all, a daily thick mass of mucus. Can you help?

Bowel cancer drugs denied NHS funding - The Guardian 03/06/06

Cancer charities were dismayed yesterday by a preliminary decision from the government's drug watchdog against funding new bowel cancer drugs on the NHS.

Whatever happened to ... - The Guardian 03/06/06

According to a UN report on Aids published this week 38.6 million people are currently living with HIV worldwide. 4.1 million were newly infected with the virus during 2005 and an estimated 2.8 million died of Aids-related illnesses. While statistics such as these are measured in millions, there was one individual case in the UK last year which demanded the world's attention. Andrew Stimpson, 25, was diagnosed as HIV positive in 2002 but subsequently found negative in October 2003 by Chelsea and Westminster Healthcare NHS trust. A year-long investigation concluded that doctors were in no doubt that he had originally been HIV positive. It was "medically remarkable" that he had spontaneously cleared himself of the virus.

Who'd be a Homeopath? - The Guardian 03/06/06

They won't harm you and they might even help you recover, but they don't deserve my cash, says John Crace

Look, no jabs - The Independent 04/06/06

The new route to a line-free face doesn't involve needles or scalpels. Goodbye Botox, hello ultrasound

Aids 25 years on - The Independent 04/06/06

Terrence Higgins was the first Briton officially to die from the disease. His partner says that we are still doing too little, too late...

British men have worst sex lives, Canadians the best - The Independent 04/06/06

Three out of 10 British men have not had sex in the last 12 months, according to new research.

Hundreds of children are slaves in UK, say charities - The Independent 04/06/06

Children, some only six years old, are arriving in the UK in their hundreds each year to work illegally in cannabis factories and sweatshops around the country, according to a report by a coalition of leading charities.

Pilots poisoned by contaminated air - The Independent 04/06/06

Airline pilots have been rendered incapable of flying their planes safely by polluted air pumped into their aircraft, a shocking report reveals.

Geologists unearth more UK sites for nuclear waste storage - The Independent 04/06/06

Around 40 per cent of the UK has the right geology to store the country's 470,000 tons of nuclear waste, according to initial findings by the British Geological Survey (BGS).

Big pharma joins forces to challenge Alzheimer's ruling - The Independent 04/06/06

Executives from five rival pharmaceutical companies will meet at the offices of a City law firm tomorrow to thrash out their response to a government decision to deny Alzheimer's drugs to thousands of patients.

New pill to fight breast cancer - The Sunday Times 04/06/06

A NEW drug is set to extend the lives of thousands of women with advanced breast cancer.

NHS refuses to fund new prostate therapy for men - The Sunday Times 04/06/06

HUNDREDS of men are being denied an alternative to radical surgery for prostate cancer because the National Health Service is refusing to pay for it, writes Sarah-Kate Templeton.

Clinic closes as IVF crisis hits home - The Sunday Times 04/06/06

SCOTLAND’S fertility treatment crisis has deepened with the announcement that a clinic in Aberdeen has become the first to close because of a shortage of sperm.

New pill to fight breast cancer - The Sunday Times 04/06/06

A NEW drug is set to extend the lives of thousands of women with advanced breast cancer.

No 10 scientist urges brain pills for all - The Sunday Times 04/06/06

SMART drugs to make people think faster, improve their memory and reduce tiredness will be commonplace within 20 years, according to the government’s chief scientific adviser.

Doctors treat 14-year-old alcoholics - The Sunday Times 04/06/06

TEENAGERS as young as 14 years old have been diagnosed as alcoholics, according to figures published by the Scottish executive.

Clinic closes as IVF crisis hits home - The Sunday Times 04/06/06

SCOTLAND’S fertility treatment crisis has deepened with the announcement that a clinic in Aberdeen has become the first to close because of a shortage of sperm.

Midwife driven to make Malawi mercy mission - The Sunday Times 04/06/06

The grim reality of childbirth in a Lilongwe hospital has made me determined to help, says Linda McDonald

New test for TB under threat after 250,000 grant refused - The Times 03/06/06

A COMPANY developing a rapid test for tuberculosis has been turned down for a government grant because four of its staff work in South Africa, where they have access to more TB cases.

Care homes told to improve the quality of death - The Times 03/06/06

CARE HOME staff should concentrate as much on ensuring that residents have a good death as they do on maintaining a good quality of life for them, according to new government guidelines that challenge social taboos about mortality.

'I prayed they'd find a heart for my son, not me' - The Times 03/06/06

A dying father's willingness to sacrifice his life to save that of his child who suffered the same illness was not enough, and now he lives with a sense of guilt

Cancer drugs ruled out for use in NHS - The Times 03/06/06

CANCER charities reacted with anger and disappointment yesterday to new recommendations from the health watchdog not to make two new treatments for bowel cancer available on the NHS.

From cancer scare to cashew nut - The Times 03/06/06

Doctors who operated on a pensioner for suspected lung cancer found a cashew nut stuck there.

'Cancer' proves to be cashew nut lodged in lung - The Guardian 03/06/06
It's not cancer... it's a cashew - The Mirror 03/6/06

Boning up on burial - The Times 03/06/06

Is grave-sharing the healthy answer to overcrowded cemeteries?

Laugh yourself thin - The Times 03/06/06

FADDY diets getting you down? Try laughing yourself thin. A new study in the International Journal of Obesity concludes that laughing heartily for 10 to 15 minutes a day can increase your energy expenditure by 10 to 40 kilocalories. Laugh hysterically all the time and you’ll soon be sylph-like (and given some very odd looks).

Memories are played of this - The Times 03/06/06

Could a new computer game improve your recall? Meg Carter plugs in and finds out

Inside story: adult acne: spots of bother - The Times 03/06/06

Acne made Lottie Moggach’s life a misery as an adult. Then she discovered her wrinkles

Junk medicine: early medical abortion - The Times 03/06/06

The advent of early medical abortion (EMA), the drug combination sometimes known as the “abortion pill”, has greatly widened the options for terminating a pregnancy. For the first nine weeks, it allows women to avoid surgery and have an induced miscarriage in the privacy of their own homes. It is increasingly popular: bpas, the abortion provider, announced this week that it accounts for one in three of the 32,000 early terminations it performs each year.

Soul stealers - The Times 03/06/06

What happens when someone else pretends to be you? John Naish looks at the psychological cost

Inside story: adult acne: spots of bother - The Times 03/06/06

Acne made Lottie Moggach’s life a misery as an adult. Then she discovered her wrinkles

Dr Copperfield: inside the mind of a GP - The Times 03/06/06

I teach medical students ranging from freshmen keen to find a cure for cancer to burnt-out souls who don’t give a toss about curing anything but are cramming the presenting symptoms of every disease under the sun in preparation for their final exams. I always set them the same task: “Go and find out why that bloke has come to see me today.”

Won’t stand on her own feet - The Times 03/06/06

My 11-month-old daughter has fine motor skills but isn’t interested in moving. She sits up well but hates being on her tummy. If she falls over from sitting, she cries until moved. We have had her hips scanned to rule out hip dysplasia. Her father and I didn’t walk until 15 months though. What can we do?

A prod in the right direction - The Times 03/06/06

The Selfish Sister is ready and willing to be on the receiving end of handouts, hospitality and presents but where is she when it is time to reciprocate? She accepts with alacrity her sister’s offer to have her children for the day so that she can have a day’s shopping in London. And when such offers are not forthcoming, she has a breezy way of asking a favour that is hard to refuse. She might ring her sister: “Could you bear to pick the kids up from school, the only hair appointment I could get is at 3.30pm. Oh, and pick up my coat from the cleaners?” Before her sister can reply, Selfish Sis says: “Thanks, you’re a star,” and rings off. Other family members also find themselves agreeing to put themselves out for her before they realise what they are letting themselves in for.

Agony and ecstasy: sex advice - The Times 03/06/06

I'm hetero and 40-ish but recently I've had an overwhelming desire to be caned by another man. I don't want sex with him; I love my wife. What should I do?

What's up doc? Tapping your abdomen - The Times 03/06/06

What is the doctor doing? He’s percussing your abdomen. This involves him placing on your belly the flat of one hand and tapping it with the index or middle finger of the other. If, beneath the fingers, there’s gas — a key bowel constituent — a satisfyingly resonant sound is produced. Solid matter, on the other hand, is “dull to percussion”.

Tennis elbow: you're more likely to get it at home than on court - The Times 03/06/06

Wimbledon looms, but most fall victim to the condition through household chores

A third more babies left in full-time care - The Telegraph 04/06/06

A record number of babies and toddlers are being looked after “full-time” in nurseries, Government figures reveal

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

I am 62 and suffer from coeliac disease. although i follow a strict gluten-free diet, I suffer from severe bloating irrespective of what or how much I eat. It's always worse on Mondays, no matter what I eat on Sunday. Do you think I can't tolerate certain meats? I am at my wit's end - it's so depressing.

Brain exercises 'improve' behaviour of criminals - The Telegraph 04/06/06

Prisoners have been successfully treated for the first time with a revolutionary "cure" for dyslexia and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in a trial that aims to stop them re-offending when they leave jail.

Pain, profit and doctored findings - The Telegraph 04/06/06

The painkiller Nurofen, as many readers will know from personal experience, provides near instant relief from toothache, back pain, sprained ankles and much else besides. Over the years, I've prescribed it by the bucket-load in the confident belief that not only is it safe enough to be purchased from the friendly pharmacist, but also has the considerable bonus, like aspirin, of protecting against heart problems. Indeed, its only real drawback is its potential to irritate the lining of the stomach, to cause dyspeptic symptoms such as nausea and heartburn.

'Mothers are made to feel guilty' - The Telegraph 04/06/06

Annette Wiles, who returned to a full-time career as a policy manager when her son, Sam, was 10 months old, feels that working mothers are "lambasted" for trying to do their best for their children, writes Julie Henry.
Why top civil servants say enough is enough - The Telegraph 03/06/06

The First Division Association, representing the country's senior civil servants, is not a notably militant trade union. The last time it had a public punch-up with the government was towards the end of John Major's premiership. Tony Blair's Government now has the same sorry distinction. Jonathan Baum, the FDA general secretary, has launched a strong attack on Labour ministers. He complains that the politicians are unfairly making public scapegoats of civil servants when policies run into difficulty. Policy itself, he says, is badly designed, lacking both clarity and consistency and relying too much on central targets.

GSK finds drug that may outdo Herceptin - The Telegraph 03/06/06

Pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline will publish data today showing its experimental breast cancer pill might be better than the wonder drug Herceptin at fighting the disease in women and arresting the development of other forms of cancer.

GSK to rush out breast cancer treatment after trials success - The Independent 03/06/06
Tykerb Helps Stall Advanced Breast Cancer, Says Glaxo - Medical News Today 03/06/06
Glaxo's Tykerb helps some with kidney cancer: study - Reuters 03/06/06

Travel health: Norovirus - The Telegraph 03/06/06

Two cruise liners have cut short their voyages in the past 10 days following widespread outbreaks of gastroenteritis on board, writes Dr Richard Dawood.

Passengers' fury as 200 are struck down on 'virus' cruise ship - The Independent 03/06/06
In sickness and in health . . . but mainly sickness - The Times 03/06/06
Crew face 'near-impossible' task of disinfecting ship - The Times 03/06/06

Gay equality law will undermine religious belief, claims bishop - The Telegraph 03/06/06

Hotels and bed and breakfasts could face prosecution for turning away homosexual couples under new government proposals to protect gays and lesbians from being denied "goods, facilities and services" because of their sexual orientation.

Woman has baby after cancer treatment - The Telegraph 03/06/06

A woman who had radiotherapy for incurable cancer while pregnant said yesterday that the treatment had given her precious time with her healthy new baby.

First social worker to be jailed for client affair - The Telegraph 03/06/06

A social worker has been jailed for having an affair with a married woman who was suffering from post-natal depression, even though she consented to sex.

Social worker jailed for client sex - The Times 03/06/06

Get a life: know what you want - The Telegraph 03/06/06

Part eight of self-help guru Nina Grunfeld's eight-step guide to better relationships

New ager: Reiki - The Telegraph 03/06/06

Judith Woods on instilling a general sense of wellbeing, relieving high blood pressure and other problems

Your best body ever with Team Telegraph: day 5 - The Telegraph 02/06/06

Our team of experts has put together a five-day guide to diet, fitness, fashion and beauty so you can feel fabulous this summer. Today: health-promoting snacks and juices, the best summer make-up and how to get a trim tumeating for perfect skin

Your best body ever exercise: day 5 - The Telegraph 02/06/06
Jamie Baird's exercises for a trim tum - The Telegraph 02/06/06
Your best body ever beauty: day 5 - The Telegraph 02/06/06
IVF warning over multiple birth clinics - Daily Mail 02/06/06

Couples trying for an IVF baby were yesterday warned to be cautious about approaching clinics which have high rates of multiple births.

Mother dies days after having her stomach stapled - Daily Mail 02/05/06

A mother died from complications four days after having a gastric bypass.

Diet mum dies from stomach staple op - The Mirror 02/06/06

Babies used to dummies 'less willing to be breastfed' - Daily Mail 02/06/06

Dummies stop babies from breastfeeding and are bad for their health, experts have warned.

3 ways to.. stop bingeing for food - The Mirror 02/06/06

NEVER SKIP A MEAL Food cravings are usually triggered by low blood sugar, which happens when your body runs out of energy. Choose foods that release sugar - and energy - gradually. Good examples include porridge, whole grain bread and rice, fish, bananas, nuts and dried fruit.

I lost 12 stone eating mushy peas - The Mirror 02/06/06

MUSHY peas were Sam Douthwaite's secret weapon when she shed more than 12st of fat. She even came up with her own dish so she could still enjoy her favourite side order while dropping almost 10 dress sizes.

Brits on the binge once a fortnight - The Mirror 01/06/06

WE are the third biggest binge drinkers in Europe, with the average adult going on a bender every 13 days, a study revealed yesterday.

Are you safe from Britain's biggest killer - The Mirror 01/06/06

YOU may not smoke, only indulge in the occasional tipple and keep a careful eye on your weight. But you could still be at risk from Britain's biggest killer - cholesterol.

Don't let it get under your skin - The Mirror 01/06/06

ACNE, eczema and other skin problems are on the rise. And although often dismissed as trivial, having a skin condition can be particularly upsetting because it's so difficult to disguise.

'Good' cholesterol drug trialled - BBC Health News 03/06/06

A major international trial has been set up to see whether a treatment to increase so-called "good" cholesterol can prevent heart attacks and strokes.

Fear over health of mentally ill - BBC Health News 03/06/06

Many mental health patients have not had physical health check-ups, putting them at risk of illness, a study says.
Testing on apes 'might be needed' - BBC Health News 03/06/06

The government should not rule out the possibility of allowing apes to be used in animal experiments, the head of the Medical Research Council has said.

Questions raised over ban on research using great apes - The Guardian 03/06/06
Scientists 'should be allowed to test on apes' - The Independent 03/06/06
Vivisection on great apes justified, says top scientist - The Times 03/06/06

Lung cancer 'genetic factor link' - BBC Health News 02/06/06

Hereditary factors can play a role in the development of lung cancer, research suggests.

Cannabis 'reduces surgery pain' - BBC Health News 02/06/06

A cannabis plant extract provides pain relief for patients after major surgery, research has shown.

Jail term for HIV-positive rapist - BBC Health News 02/06/06

A refugee who knew he was HIV positive when he raped a teenager without using a condom has been jailed indefinitely.

HIV-positive rapist faces deportation - The Times 03/06/06

Landmark Target Hit In Reducing Cancer Waiting Times, UK - Medical News Today 04/06/06

Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt today congratulated NHS staff for achieving a landmark target to reduce waiting times for cancer patients. Figures out today confirmed that more people than ever before who are diagnosed with cancer begin their treatment within a month of diagnosis, meaning faster access to treatment is now a reality for thousands of cancer patients.

Cannabis Relieves Pain After Major Surgery - Medical News Today 04/06/06

A study by Imperial College, London, and the Medical Research Council, UK, has shown that a cannabis plant extract, Cannador, effectively relieves pain after major surgery. You can read about this study in the journal Anesthesiology.

Experts Question The Need For More Doctors In The UK - Medical News Today 04/06/06

Research into the health care workforce has examined whether additional medical student numbers are necessary in the UK.

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Denmark, International Trade, Customer Information Notes, UK - Medical News Today 04/06/06

To advise you of the situation in Denmark following outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).

National Farmers' Union Defends Whole Milk, UK - Medical News Today 04/06/06

The NFU has written to the Dfes (Department of Education and Skills) to protest at the decision by the School Meals Review Panel to remove whole milk from the list of foods to be offered to schoolchildren.

Efexor (Venlafaxine) Questions And Answers, MHRA, UK - Medical News Today 04/06/06

Venlafaxine is an anti-depressant, belonging to a class of drugs known as serotonin noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors.

Updated Product Information For Efexor, MHRA, UK - Medical News Today 04/06/06

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has concluded its review into all the latest safety evidence relating to Efexor (venlafaxine), an anti-depressant belonging to a class of medicines known as serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) The review particularly looked at the risks associated with overdose.

MHRA Welcomes Agreement On A European Regulation On Medicines For Children - Medical News Today 04/06/06

Agreement was reached on a European Regulation on medicines for children. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the Department of Health (DH) welcome this agreement.
Children To Benefit From Unique Dental Unit, UK - Medical News Today 03/06/06

A modern multi-disciplinary dental care facility primarily for children will be launched in Liverpool today.

Siesta After Hearty Lunch Is Natural - Medical News Today 02/06/06

The Spaniards may have been right all along - a siesta after a hearty lunch is natural, new research suggests.

Scientists wake up to the importance of an after-dinner nap - The Telegraph 03/06/06

International News
Neighbours of Swiss suicide clinic complain as corpses clog up the lift - The Observer 04/06/06

The Swiss clinic where dozens of people have been helped to die, including British patients, has a new problem: the neighbours are complaining that they are fed up with bodies being taken out of the apartment block, where the clinic is located, in the communal lift.
Publish or be damned - The Guardian 03/06/06

MMR is back. "US scientists back autism link to MMR," squealed the Telegraph. "Scientists fear MMR link to autism," roared the Mail. "US study supports claims of MMR link to autism," croaked the Times, a day later.

Another study raises questions over MMR - Daily Mail 03/06/06

Doctors swamped as quake victims throng hospitals - The Independent 04/06/06

In an airless corridor in the bowels of Bantul's main hospital, 34-year-old Purwanto clutched his swollen left leg and wept for his dead daughter, Ingrid.

Medical students get 0% loans - The Sunday Times 04/06/06

A SENIOR Trinity College professor has condemned Bank of Ireland for providing interest-free loans to students in traditional professions who are likely to become high earners, writes Mark Tighe.
Nations to back male circumcision over HIV - The Times 03/06/06

FIVE southern African countries that have been hit hard by the Aids pandemic want to encourage men to be circumcised after a study indicated that the procedure reduced dramatically the risk of HIV infection.

The most feared man in football - The Times 03/06/06

Simon Crompton meets ‘Healing Hans’, the German World Cup squad’s controversial doctor, who injects injured sports stars with calves’ blood

Spas: A swim with man-eating fish - The Times 03/06/06

Louise Murray visits the “doctor fish” at a Turkish spa, which, it is claimed, can relieve psoriasis
Suntan and alcohol 'keep you young' - Daily Mail 31/05/06

Sunburn and alcohol may help reverse the ageing process, experts have surprisingly claimed. They found small doses of "stressors" normally considered dangerous to health can actually boost the body's self-repair system, and as a side-effect preserve youth.

Rules boost child medicine safety - BBC Health News 02/06/06

Measures to ensure medicines are properly tested for use on children have been agreed by the European Union.

Definition Of Embryo Death Criteria May Open Doors For Stem Cell Research - Medical News Today 04/06/06

A research team from Columbia has, for the first time, identified criteria through which embryo death can be confirmed. The implications for stem cell research are huge - by confirmation of embryo death, embryos could be harvested, just as organs are for transplantation, in order to generate stem cells for research and, ultimately, therapeutic purposes. The team report their findings in a special report entitled Hypocellularity and absence of compaction as criteria for embryonic death published in the landmark journal Regenerative Medicine [1], published by Future Medicine.

Kidney Cancer Patients Live Longer With Temsirolimus And Sutent - Medical News Today 04/06/06

Two drugs, Temsirolimus and Sutent, help kidney cancer patients live longer, according to two international studies. People who do not respond to initial therapy, benefited with Sutent, which is more effective in slowing down the cancer's return when compared to standard care, say Pfizer researchers. Temsirolimus, say Wyeth researchers, prolonged the lives of patients with severe kidney cancer. Wyeth researchers also said Temsirolimus has fewer side effects than chemotherapy

Data suggest Pfizer drug new kidney cancer standard - Reuters 04/06/06

Nanostructures Of The Infective Apparatus Of Salmonella - Medical News Today 04/06/06

In Salmonella, structural changes to the molecular infection apparatus also signal an end to its further assembly. The mechanistic details of this sophisticated feedback system, which takes place at molecular level, have now been published in NATURE. Better understanding of how this pathogen's needle-like secretion injectisome is formed will offer new approaches to preventing the infection process in future. The results obtained by the team of Thomas Marlovits, joint IMP-IMBA Group Leader and head of the new "Spot of Excellence" at the Campus Vienna Biocenter, have now been explained by using modern techniques of three-dimensional cryo electron microscopy.

More Osteoporosis Patients Stay On Treatment With Effective Once-Monthly Bonviva® Treatment Programme Versus Weekly Alendronate - Medical News Today 04/06/06

New data from a 6 month clinical trial shows that women with postmenopausal osteoporosis have a 47% improvement in persistence with the once-monthly Bonviva treatment programme* compared with weekly alendronate.

Wild Birds' Role In HPAI Crisis Confirmed - But Scientific Conference Fingers Poultry Business - Medical News Today 04/06/06

Migrating wild birds have played and will likely continue to play a role in transporting highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus, or bird flu, over long distances. This was among the main conclusions of a two-day international scientific conference called by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).

Free As A Bird - Or Under Surveillance? Plan For Global Wild Birds Tracking System - Medical News Today 04/06/06

Flying backpackers, communications satellites and a network of computers would monitor the movements of wild birds on their annual migrations under a plan proposed by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

Raising Good Cholesterol To Prevent Heart Attacks And Strokes - Medical News Today 04/06/06

Would raising good cholesterol levels be better at preventing heart attacks and strokes rather than just lowering bad cholesterol levels in when treating patients? In other words, wouldn't it be better to do both - raise the good and bring down the bad? This question may be answered by researchers who have set up a large international trial.

Drugs For HIV/AIDS Save Three Million Years Of Life - Medical News Today 04/06/06

The survival time due to drug treatments of AIDS/HIV is adding 2.8 million years of life to individuals in the United States, according to a study published Thursday in the Journal of Infectious Diseases.

Parallel Japan/US Clinical Trials Reveal Patient Differences - Medical News Today 04/06/06

A parallel trial for non-small cell lung cancer was jointly conducted by the Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG) and the Japan Multinational Trials Organization (JMTO) using identical doses and schedules of paclitaxel/carboplatin with outcomes demonstrating significant differences in toxicities between the United States (US) and Japanese patient population.

Indonesian Quake Survivors' Risk Of Bird Flu As They Shelter In Poultry Sheds - Medical News Today 04/06/06

Merlin, a UK based medical aid charity, said Indonesian quake survivors, many of whom are sheltering in poultry sheds, are at increased risk of becoming infected with the H5N1 bird flu virus strain. In the Bantul district, Central Java, poultry sheds were among the few structures left standing - Merlin employees found over 100 people sheltering in poultry sheds.

Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist Shortage Examined In New JAACAP Study - Medical News Today 04/06/06

A new study in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry shows that poor youth and children and adolescents living in rural areas are hardest impacted by the national shortage of child and adolescent psychiatrists. Christopher Thomas, M.D., and Charles E. Holzer III, Ph.D., find that the number of child and adolescent psychiatrists is insufficient in meeting the huge demand for their services.

Poor Survival In Patients With Heart Failure And Kidney Disease - Medical News Today 04/06/06

Over 50 percent of patients with heart failure also have kidney disease and this unstable combination results in poor survival, Yale School of Medicine researchers report in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Seroquel Study Gives Hope For Beating Depression In Bipolar Disorder - Medical News Today 04/06/06

Keeping the manic-depressive illness Bipolar Disorder under control may become simpler in future if psychiatrists implement new research findings from the BOLDER II study presented during the American Psychiatry Association's 159th annual meeting 20-25 May 2006.

MUHC Researchers Link Asthma Drugs And Cataracts In Seniors - Medical News Today 04/06/06

Researchers from the MUHC have found that elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma who take medication to prevent their attacks face an increased risk of developing cataracts. Their findings, which looked at a large group of Quebecers, are released today in the June issue of the European Respiratory Journal.

World's Largest Osteoporosis Congress Opens In Toronto - Medical News Today 04/06/06

The IOF World Congress on Osteoporosis (IOF WCO), the world's largest scientific congress devoted specifically to the bone disease osteoporosis, opened yesterday in Toronto, Canada.

Study Explores Use Of PROCRIT(R) (Epoetin Alfa) Once Every Two Weeks As Initiation Treatment For Chemotherapy-Related Anemia - Medical News Today 04/06/06

New study results presented today suggest that 80,000 units of PROCRIT(R) (Epoetin alfa) administered once every two weeks demonstrated comparable changes in hemoglobin (red blood cell) levels and safety in treating chemotherapy-related anemia in patients with non- myeloid malignancies compared to 40,000 units of PROCRIT once weekly, the current recommended dosage. This study, the first of its kind to evaluate an extended initiation dose of Epoetin alfa in this patient population, was presented today at the 2006 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting. The study is expected to be published in the June issue of Current Medical Research and Opinion.

Genzyme And Berlex Oncology Announce Interim Results Of Campath In First-Line Study Of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia At ASCO - Medical News Today 04/06/06

Genzyme Corporation (Nasdaq: GENZ) and Berlex Oncology, a business unit of Berlex Laboratories, a U.S. affiliate of Schering AG, Germany (FSE: SCH; NYSE: SHR), today announced interim results from CAM307, an international confirmatory Phase III clinical trial comparing Campath(R) (alemtuzumab) with chlorambucil in previously untreated patients with progressive B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL). Preliminary results of the secondary endpoint from this study showed that patients who received the monoclonal antibody Campath exhibited significantly higher overall and complete response rates, with a manageable safety profile, compared with those patients who were treated with chlorambucil. The data were presented at the 42nd Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in Atlanta.

Better Survival Seen For Early Breast Cancer Patients Switched From Tamoxifen To Aromasin - Medical News Today 04/06/06

17% lower chance of dying and 25% lower risk of breast cancer recurrence in postmenopausal hormone sensitive patients switching to Aromasin rather than staying on tamoxifen.

Lilly Breast Cancer Studies Explore Potential Role Of Pharmacogenomics In Customizing Chemotherapy - Medical News Today 04/06/06

At the 42nd American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting in Atlanta, Ga., Eli Lilly and Company, a leader in thoracic cancer, unveiled two breast cancer studies involving pharmacogenomics and its chemotherapies GEMZAR(R) (gemcitabine HCl) and ALIMTA(R) (pemetrexed). They are among the early trials involving pharmacogenomics (the study of gene expression patterns) in breast cancer treatment.

Gene Therapy Completely Suppresses Ovarian Cancer Growth In Animal Model - Medical News Today 04/06/06

University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine researchers have used gene therapy to either completely abolish or significantly inhibit tumor progression in a mouse model of ovarian cancer. The researchers believe these findings, which are being presented at the American Society of Gene Therapy annual meeting in Baltimore, May 31 to June 4, may significantly improve the prognosis for ovarian cancer patients.

Race And Income Converge To Shape Women's Experiences With Advanced Breast Cancer - Medical News Today 04/06/06

To determine the challenges of coping with metastatic breast cancer, researchers at the University of Pittsburgh schools of Nursing and Medicine evaluated the impact of race and income on women's experiences with the disease. They found that low-income African-American women were more likely to report physical and social distress and uncertainty about their future than other groups evaluated in the study. The results of the study were announced today at the 42nd American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting in Atlanta.

Longest Ever Follow-up Study Of A Targeted Cancer Therapy Shows Excellent Results - Medical News Today 04/06/06

The overall survival of most people with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) treated with imatinib (Gleevec, STI-571) is extremely high and the relapse rate is quite low, according to new data from a study out of the Oregon Health & Science University Cancer Institute. The overall survival at five years is 89 percent as compared to no more than 50 percent with prior therapies, and the risk of relapse continues to decrease the longer patients take the drug.

World Leaders Chart Way Forward To Reverse AIDS Epidemic - ‘AIDS: From Local Obscurity To Global Emergency' - Medical News Today 04/06/06

High-level representatives of over 140 UN Member States, including nearly a dozen Heads of State and Government, are meeting over the next three days to report and review progress towards achieving the agreed goals of the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS adopted at the UN General Assembly Special Session on AIDS in 2001. The 2006 High Level Meeting on AIDS will conclude on Friday with a renewed political commitment and agreement on future action to reverse the global AIDS epidemic and reduce its impact.

Steering Group To Review Alcohol Advertising Regulations Announced, New Zealand - Medical News Today 04/06/06

The Ministry of Health has announced the membership and terms of reference for the steering group charged with reviewing alcohol advertising regulations.

Ministry Of Health To Improve Small Water Supplies Over Next Decade With $154 Million, New Zealand - Medical News Today 04/06/06

The Government believes community drinking-water supplies should be safe and of good quality no matter where they are.

Right Kind Of Medical Donations To Indonesia Urged By WHO - Wrong Donations Can Be Counterproductive - Medical News Today 04/06/06

The emergency continues in Indonesia, as World Health Organization (WHO) works with authorities to provide medical care to survivors, to acquire the right kinds of medicines and equipment, and to set up a disease surveillance system in the areas hit by Saturday's earthquake.

Spruce HMR Lignan May Slow Development Of Hormonal Cancers: Health Effects From Bioactive Substances In Tree Knots - Medical News Today 04/06/06

Knot heartwood, i.e. the knot or branch section contained within the tree stem, has been found to contain considerably large amounts of phenolic protective agents. These bioactive substances contained in knot heartwood can be isolated and utilised e.g. in health foods and medicines or as special chemicals in other products. This year has seen the first tree knot extract product brought onto the market. Current interest is centred around HMR lignan, which has been isolated from spruce knot heartwood. Experimental research shows HMR to have a slowing effect on the development of e.g. hormonal cancers.

Report Calls For Greater Focus On Neglected Diseases - Medical News Tday 03/06/06

"Incorporating A Rapid-Impact Package for Neglected Tropical Diseases With Programs for HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria," PLoS Medicine: The report -- by Peter Hotez, chair of the Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Tropical Medicine at the George Washington University, and colleagues -- calls for new health policies that would focus on the relationship between neglected tropical diseases and HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria. The authors write strategies to control neglected diseases -- such schistosomiasis, hookworm and ascariasis -- can be incorporated into existing measures that aim to control the "big three" diseases. By addressing neglected tropical diseases, international health partnerships can help reduce global poverty and disease, the report says (Hotez et al., PLoS Medicine, May 2006).

Center For Global Development Releases New Donor Profiles - Medical News Today 03/03/06

"HIV/AIDS Monitor: Tracking Aid Effectiveness," Center for Global Development: CGD on Wednesday announced the addition of three profiles to its Monitor publication: an overview of The Global Fund To Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria; an overview of The President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief; and an overview of the World Bank's response to HIV/AIDS in Africa. The profiles are summaries of the donor infrastructure and HIV/AIDS initiatives. Each profile also contains a matrix of donor activities (CGD release, 5/31).
Alcohol Consumption Increases Risk Of HIV Infection, Study Says - Medical News Today 03/06/06

"Alcohol Use Before Sex and HIV Acquisition: A Longitudinal Study in Rakai, Uganda," AIDS: Iryna Zablotska of the National Centre in HIV Social Research and colleagues examined approximately 6,800 men and more than 8,000 women ages 15 to 49 in Rakai, Uganda, to determine if consuming alcohol before sexual intercourse is linked to an increased risk of HIV transmission. The study -- conducted between 1994 and 2002 -- finds that consuming alcohol prior to sexual intercourse increases the risk of acquiring HIV by 67% for men and by 40% for women. The study also finds that if both partners consume alcohol, the risk increases by 58% for men and by 81% for women (Xinhuanet, 5/31).

GSK To Reduce Price Of Some Antiretrovirals Sold In Developing Nations - Medical News Today 03/06/06

GlaxoSmithKline on Tuesday announced that it is reducing by about 30% the cost of some of its antiretroviral drugs currently sold at not-for-profit prices in developing countries, Reuters reports. Under the cost reductions, which will take effect on July 1, 60-tablet packs of Trizivir and Ziagen will cost about $70.00 and $52.29, respectively (Reuters, 5/30). The drug company also announced that it will make Kivexa and Telzir available at not-for-profit prices once they have been approved by drug regulatory bodies in developing nations (GSK release, 5/30). GSK plans to differentiate drug shipments intended for not-for-profit markets to ensure they are not diverted back to for profit markets. In addition, the company has signed its eighth voluntary licensing agreement with South Africa-based Sonke Pharmaceuticals, which will allow Sonke to make generic versions of some of its drugs (Reuters, 5/30). In 2003, GSK announced that it was reducing the price of its AIDS drugs by as much as 47% for 63 nations, including all of sub-Saharan Africa. The reduced pricing scheme is available to not-for-profit groups, governments, aid agencies and companies that provide the drugs to their employees (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 4/28/03).

Global Business Coalition Releases Report On Corporate Commitment To HIV/AIDS - Medical News Today 03/06/06

The Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS on Wednesday released a report that examines corporate commitment to fighting HIV/AIDS, the New York Times reports (Altman, New York Times, 6/1). "The State of Business and HIV/AIDS (2006): A Baseline Report" was designed using GBC's Best Practice AIDS Standards Assessment Tool -- a 10-part self-assessment tool that helps companies identify their response to HIV/AIDS and examine their progress -- and was conducted by Booz Allen Hamilton. The report looks at the best practices in businesses' response to the pandemic (GBC release, 5/31).

Women Who Gain Weight Increase Risk Of Experiencing Frequent Heartburn, Worsening Symptoms, Study Says - Medical News Today 03/06/06

Women who gain weight increase their risk of experiencing frequent heartburn or worsening their heartburn symptoms, according to a study published in the June 1 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, the AP/Boston Globe reports. When stomach acid backs up into the esophagus, it causes an acidic taste in the mouth and burning sensation in the chest that is known as heartburn. For the study, Brian Jacobson of Boston University School of Medicine and colleagues over 14 years examined 10,545 female nurses from the Nurses' Health Study and evaluated how weight gain or loss affected the women's heartburn symptoms. The study finds that women who gained weight doubled the chance they would experience heartburn compared with women who did not gain weight. Women who lost weight reduced by 40% their risk of experiencing heartburn (Nano, AP/Boston Globe, 6/1). The researchers concluded, "Even moderate weight gain ... may cause or exacerbate symptoms of [heartburn]" (Jacobson et al., NEJM, 6/1).

Positive Results Of DNA-based Flu Vaccine In Humans, Study In Journal VACCINE - Medical News Today 03/06/06

PowderMed, Ltd. today announced the publication of positive results from a Phase I study evaluating its proprietary prophylactic DNA influenza vaccine in the latest issue (volume 24, issue 21) of the journal VACCINE. Based on these results, PowderMed will start phase II studies using both annual and bird flu strains later this year.

Oncology - ASCO And ESMO Announce Consensus Statement On Quality Cancer Care - Medical News Today 03/06/06

The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO), two of the world's leading oncology societies, today released a joint Consensus Statement on Quality Cancer Care for patients across the globe. The 10-point statement outlines goals to provide access to and continuity of quality cancer care worldwide and will be published jointly in the Journal of Clinical Oncology (JCO) and the Annals of Oncology.

VTT And A*Star Offer New Efficient Healthcare Solutions Technology For An Acute Emergency And Aging Population - Medical News Today 03/06/06

VTT has developed together with A*Star (Agency for Science, Technology and Research) from Singapore, Emtele and Comptel a Global Health Monitoring Platform service that offers an efficient, open, scalable and secure service environment for remote diagnostics and telemedicine services utilization. This makes it possible to streamline the health care system and reach better efficiency money wise as well as improve the quality of health care. At the same time, it is possible to increase business volume through larger geographical reach of the medical service. In elderly care and chronic diseases people can be treated at home which increases the hospital infrastructure capacity. Patients get faster consultation in case of an acute emergency and easy to use solutions without ties to a place and time.

How Cancer Cells Stay Young And Aggressive - Medical News Today 03/06/06

Some of the cancer cells' closest allies have been unveiled. Fortunately, the researchers from BRIC (Biotech Research & Innovation Centre) at University of Copenhagen have also discovered how to beat them. And that could prove to be the first step towards a new remedy for cancer.

Gene Therapy Prevents The Onset Of Diabetic Symptoms In Mice - Medical News Today 03/06/06

Using state-of-the-art gene therapy techniques, University of Pittsburgh investigators have successfully prevented the onset of elevated blood sugar, or hyperglycemia, in diabetes-prone mice by inserting a gene encoding for a cytokine -- a protein that stimulates or inhibits the proliferation or function of immune cells -- into their insulin-producing cells. According to the investigators, these findings, which are being presented at the American Society of Gene Therapy Annual Meeting in Baltimore, May 31 to June 4, have significant implications for the prevention of type 1 diabetes.

New Book Explores Causes Of ADHD - Medical News Today 03/06/06

Theories about what causes attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, are many and varied, with experts speculating on a wide range of probable causes - genetics, environmental pollutants, food allergies and challenging home environments.

Overweight And Obesity Enlarges Teenagers' Hearts - Medical News Today 03/06/06

The effects of excess weight on heart health can be seen even in adolescents, with abnormal enlargement and impaired pumping function evident in subjects by age 20, according to a new study in the June 6, 2006, issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Men And Women May Need Different Heart Transplant Assessment Criteria - Medical News Today 03/06/06

Peak oxygen consumption during an exercise test is one of the key criteria used to determine when a heart failure patient may need a heart transplant, but the standard values currently used may not accurately predict outcomes for female patients, according to a new study in the June 6, 2006, issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

ASCO And ESMO Announce Consensus Statement On Quality Cancer Care - Medical News Today 03/06/06

The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO), two of the world's leading oncology societies, today released a joint Consensus Statement on Quality Cancer Care for patients across the globe. The 10-point statement outlines goals to provide access to and continuity of quality cancer care worldwide and will be published jointly in the Journal of Clinical Oncology (JCO) and the Annals of Oncology.

Children's Hospital Of Pittsburgh Receives Congressional Recognition As Pediatric Transplant Leader - Medical News Today 03/06/06

Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh has received congressional recognition as the world's premiere center for pediatric transplantation for the past 25 years, longer than any other center in the world.

Duke University Study Finds Hearing Aids Are Underused - Medical News Today 03/06/06

Hearing loss can contribute to strained relationships with family and friends, depression and even a deterioration of basic well-being, but only one in five Americans who could benefit from a hearing aid has one - and just one-third of those who have hearing aids use them.

Exercise Reverses Unhealthy Effects Of Inactivity - Medical News Today 03/06/06

Many of the detrimental effects of physical inactivity can be reversed, and in some cases improved, by a similar period of moderate exercise, Duke University Medical Center researchers have found in a new analysis of data from the first randomized clinical trial to evaluate the effects of exercise in sedentary overweight men and women.

Clot-busting Drug Helps Revive Cardiac Arrest Patients - Medical News Today 03/06/06

Using a "clot buster" drug normally reserved for treating patients during a heart attack, emergency room doctors were able to double the number of patients who could be revived from cardiac arrest. This sudden loss of heart function occurs in more than 260,000 people a year nationwide - and at least 93 percent of them die.

Farm Kids Almost Twice As Likely To Die From Injury As Children Overall - Medical News Today 03/06/06

A new retrospective study in the Canadian Medical Association Journal shows that young farm children, particularly boys, are about twice as likely as the total population of young Canadian children to die from an injury.

Treating Obesity May Improve The Efficacy Of Therapy For Hepatitis C - Medical News Today 03/06/06

According to a new study, obese patients chronically infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) and treated with combination drug therapy may have better outcomes if the underlying abnormalities caused by excessive fat tissue are corrected. Weight loss, medications to decrease insulin resistance and extending duration or dosage of therapy are strategies that may improve the efficacy of therapy.

Vitamin D Targets Thrombosis In Cancer Patients - Medical News Today 03/06/06

A clinical trial of a biologically active metabolite of Vitamin D3 demonstrated an unanticipated reduction of thrombosis in cancer patients. Thrombosis is a serious complication in advanced cancers and affects between 15 and 20 per cent of all cancer patients.

Study Finds Sizeable Underutilization Of Hip And Knee Replacement Procedures - Medical News Today 03/06/06

A Duke University study reports that of those men and women whose physicians recommended a total hip or knee replacement, a staggering 92 and 88 percent, respectively, did not take advantage of these surgical procedures, despite their safety, success rates and long-term positive outcomes. Fear of pain or worsened mobility, misperception of advances in the rehabilitation process, and lack of awareness of the full range of benefits afforded by such interventions is behind the high patient refusal rates, the study's investigators surmised.

Repeated Radioimmunotherapy With 131I-Labetuzumab In Colorectal Cancer With Liver Metastases Found Safe And Well-Tolerated In Initial Phase II Study - Medical News Today 03/06/06

Immunomedics, Inc. (Nasdaq: IMMU), a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing monoclonal antibodies, today reported that repeated use of its radiolabeled antibody against the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), 131I-labetuzumab, has been found to be safe and well-tolerated by patients with colorectal cancer that has metastasized to the liver. Results from this study were accepted for publication at the 42nd Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in Atlanta, Georgia.

Gene Therapy Applications Of RNA Interference, Presented At The ASGT 9th Annual Meeting - Medical News Today 03/06/06

A study demonstrating one of the first therapeutic applications to exploit microRNA for the treatment of diseases such as hemophilia will be presented on Saturday, June 3 at the 9th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Gene Therapy (ASGT) in Baltimore.

Results From A Phase IIIb Study Showed Patients With Wet AMD Treated With Lucentis Quarterly Experienced A 16-Letter Benefit Over The Controls - Medical News Today 03/06/06

Genentech, Inc. (NYSE: DNA) announced today that a Phase IIIb clinical study of a quarterly dosing regimen of the investigational drug Lucentis(TM) (ranibizumab) for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) met its primary efficacy endpoint by preventing vision loss as measured by mean change in visual acuity from baseline to month 12. In this study, called PIER, patients receive Lucentis (0.3 mg or 0.5 mg respectively) or sham injections once per month for the first three months followed thereafter by doses once every three months for a total of 24 months. One-year data from this study were presented today at the Retinal Physician Symposium in the Bahamas. The pivotal Phase III studies of Lucentis (MARINA and ANCHOR) evaluate a monthly treatment schedule.

International Training Develops Researcher Skills And Networks To Benefit Research - Medical News Today 02/06/06

Researchers in the medical and health care field who receive postdoctoral training abroad have succeeded very well in their careers. This is demonstrated by the impact report of the Academy of Finland's Research Council for Health. The report is entitled “Strategic funding for enhanced research impact? Three examples from the field of health research” and is part of the Academy's SIGHT2006 publications describing the state, level and impact of Finnish scientific research.

Drug Therapies For Cognitive Disorders - Rehabilitating The Brain - Medical News Today 02/06/06

Cognitive disorders, such as Parkinson's disease (PD), multiple sclerosis (MS), various dementias, epilepsy, vascular disorders and traumatic brain injuries (TBI), exert a heavy burden on sufferers, their families, and on society. The possibility of neuropharmacologic rehabilitation of patients with such deficits is a challenge for clinicians and scientists. In a special issue of Behavioural Neurology, six articles survey the latest developments in pharmacologic treatment of selected clinical disorders.

Glycobiology: The Sheer Versatility Of Sugars - Glycobiology Is A Hot New Topic, A Science That Has Arrived And Blossomed In The Last Decade - Medical News Today 02/06/06

The latest issue of The Biochemist puts glycobiology in perspective with an authoritative article on its origin by Professor Raymond Dwek and with reports from the cutting edge of this fascinating and vitally important new discipline. Read how it is making significant discoveries in the fields of molecular biology and in the fight against disease.

Free Radical Cell Death Switch Identified - Medical News Today 02/06/06

"A common molecular denominator in aging and many age-related diseases is oxidative stress," says the study's lead author Azad Bonni, MD, PhD, HMS associate professor of pathology. The skin of a bitten apple will brown because of its exposure to air, and in some ways that is a good metaphor for the damage that oxidative stress is causing to neurons and other types of cells over time.

Does Sex Late In Pregnancy Hasten Birth? Study Says It Doesn't - Medical News Today 02/06/06

A new study debunks the widely held belief that engaging in sexual intercourse during the final weeks of pregnancy can hasten labor and delivery.

More Accurate, Quicker Diagnoses Possible Via New Elsevier Product - Medical News Today 02/06/06

Path Consult is designed to be used in the workplace as a differential diagnosis tool to provide clinical decision support covering every subspecialty area of general pathology. For the first time, pathologists will be able to conduct a side-by-side comparison of up to three diagnoses at a time, significantly reducing the amount of time spent researching the same information offline.

WHO Expert To Edit First International Influenza Title As Pandemic Fears Grow - Medical News Today 02/06/06

One of the world's leading flu experts, Alan Hampson, a member of the World Health Organization (WHO) Pandemic Influenza Taskforce and advisor to the Australian Government, is to edit the first international journal dedicated to the subject.

Telemedicine Solutions To Optimise Healthcare - Medical News Today 02/06/06

Dr Marco is one of several specialists in Spain, Italy and Denmark who began using a telecounselling service last year developed by HEALTH OPTIMUM, a groundbreaking project funded under the European Commission's eTEN programme that is helping to kick start the deployment of telemedicine across Europe.

Landmark Study On Diabetic Foot Infection Published - Renowned Researchers At 3 Universities Unveil Startling Data About Infection-induced Amputation - Medical News Today 02/06/06

Persons with diabetes who develop an infection are at a 55-fold greater risk for hospitalization, and an alarming 154-fold greater risk for amputation. These are some of the startling figures emanating from the first population-based study on diabetic foot infection. Researchers from Texas A&M University, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, and the University of Washington collected data on nearly 1,700 patients over a two-year period.

Researchers Define The Colon's Genome - For The First Time, Scientists Describe The Busy Microbial World Inside - Medical News Today 02/06/06

For the first time, scientists have defined the collective genome of the human gut, or colon. Up to 100 trillion microbes, representing more than 1,000 species, make up a motley "microbiome" that allows humans to digest much of what we eat, including some vitamins, sugars, and fiber.

High Dose Common Painkillers Raise Heart Risks - Medical News Today 02/06/06

Common painkillers, known as NSAIDs, may raise the risk of having a heart attack or vascular event, say researchers who studied drug trials totalling 140,000 participants. It seems high doses of Ibuprofen may present patients with the same risks as such drugs as Vioxx (cox-2 inhibitors).

Ibuprofen can raise your risk of heart attack by 100% - The Mirror 02/06/06
New Study Re-evaluates Cardiovascular Risks Of Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDS) - Medical News Today 02/06/06

Hormone's Role In Insects Could Give Insight For Cancer Treatment, Malnutrition - Medical News Today 02/06/06

Starvation typically has dire consequences for an organism's growth. In the tobacco hawkmoth, tissues starved during the last stage of larval development stop growing because they lack the proper nutrients.

UB Scientist Publishes First Human Microbiome Analysis - Medical News Today 02/06/06

Researchers have completed the first analysis of the genes of a community of human microbes, an accomplishment that has far-reaching implications for clinical diagnosis and treatment of many human diseases.

Worm Links Cancer Risk To Ageing - Why Is Cancer Risk Greater As You Get Older? - Medical News Today 02/06/06

The reason why people are at greater risk of developing cancer as they get older may be explained by research published today (June 2).

Female Genital Mutilation Raises Infant Mortality And Birth Complications - Medical News Today 02/06/06

Female genital mutilation significantly raises infant mortality rates as well as making a woman more prone to have complications when she gives birth, says the World Health Organization (WHO). Infant mortality can be up to 50% higher.

Female Genital Mutilation Harmful For Mothers And Babies - Medical News Today 02/06/06

Indigenous Cancer Patients In Australia Fare Worse Than Their Non-indigenous Counterparts - Medical News Today 02/06/06

Indigenous cancer patients in Australia have a 30% higher chance of death from cancer than their non-Indigenous counterparts, according to a paper in this week's issue of The Lancet.

Poaching Nurses From Developing World Not The Answer To US Nursing Shortage - Medical News Today 02/06/06

The USA should be creating ways to develop a local workforce rather than poaching nurses from the developing world, states an Editorial in this week's issue of The Lancet.

Are Antibiotics For Suspected Childhood Meningitis Harmful? - Medical News Today 02/06/06

Should children with suspected meningitis be given antibiotics before transfer to hospital?

Concern Over 'aggressive' Cholesterol Recommendations - Medical News Today 02/06/06

New US recommendations for lowering cholesterol levels would increase the risk of harmful side effects with no overall reduction in deaths, warn experts in this week's BMJ.

Pinpointing Causes Of Adverse Reactions To Popular Type 2 Diabetes Drugs, Joslin Diabetes Center - Medical News Today 02/06/06

Used by several million people worldwide, rosiglitazone (RSG) is an oral agent that helps patients with type 2 diabetes maintain good blood glucose levels by improving how their bodies use insulin.


Celgene drug boosts multiple myeloma survival-study - Reuters 04/06/06

Celgene Inc. said on Sunday its cancer drug Thalomid improved survival by a significant amount in elderly patients with multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer.

Sanofi drug adds to survival in head, neck cancer - Reuters 04/06/06

Adding the Sanofi-Aventis drug Taxotere to a two-drug chemotherapy combination raised the odds of surviving advanced head and neck cancer, U.S. researchers said on Sunday.

Sanofi drug adds to survival in head, neck cancer - Reuters 04/06/06

Amgen drug slows bone loss in cancer patients - Reuters 04/06/06

Amgen Inc. said on Sunday that early results from mid-stage trials of its experimental drug denosumab show that it works at least as well as current therapies to limit bone loss in patients with late-stage cancer.

Schering says leukemia drug MabCampath promising - Reuters 04/06/06

German drugmaker Schering AG and U.S. biotech firm Genzyme Corp have seen good preliminary results in a study of the drug MabCampath to treat leukemia, Schering said in a statement.

Wyeth kidney cancer drug shows promise in trial - Reuters 04/06/06

Wyeth said on Sunday that interim results of a late-stage trial of its experimental kidney cancer drug significantly increased survival in patients compared to standard therapy.

Gene therapy works for cancer in mice - Reuters 04/06/06

Gene therapy experiments suppressed hard-to-treat ovarian cancer in mice and also protected them against the effects of toxic radiation, scientists reported on Saturday.

Breast cancer drug switch cuts deaths: study - Reuters 03/06/06

Switching to Pfizer Inc.'s drug Aromasin after a few years on another breast cancer treatment cut some women's risk of dying from the disease by 17 percent in a study released on Saturday.

Combination "smart bombs" future of cancer therapy - Reuters 03/06/06

Using combinations of "smart bomb" cancer drugs that target specific proteins and avoid the indiscriminate cell destruction of chemotherapy may be the wave of the future for cancer patients, experts say.
Nations resist new financial commitments on AIDS - Reuters 03/06/06

A major U.N. meeting on AIDS strategy on Friday fell short of concrete financial commitments but recognized the growing spread of the disease among women and their right to protect themselves.

At UNGASS, U.N. Secretary-General Criticizes Lack Of Efforts To Fight HIV/AIDS Pandemic - Medical News Today 03/06/06
UN agrees global Aids declaration - BBC Health News 02/06/06
Governments shy from concrete AIDS commitments - Reuters 02/06/06
Nations try to patch up splits on sex at AIDS meet - Reuters 02/06/06
First lady proposes worldwide HIV testing day - Reuters 02/06/06

Dark soya sauce healthier than red wine: study - Reuters 03/06/06

Dark soya sauce, widely used in east Asia, may prove to be more effective than red wine and vitamin C in combating human cell damage, researchers in Singapore said.

Virginity pledgers often dishonest about past - Reuters 02/06/06

Teenagers who take pledges to remain virgins until marriage are likely to deny having taken the pledge if they later become sexually active. Conversely, those who were sexually active before taking the pledge frequently deny their sexual history, according to new study findings.

CORRECTED: Virginity pledgers often dishonest about past - Reuters 03/06/06

Restaurants should promote healthy foods: report - Reuters 02/06/06

U.S. restaurants, grocers and other companies that sell prepared foods can help prevent obesity by offering more low-calorie, healthy items and promoting them widely, according to a report released by the federal government on Friday.

Fast food chains 'should shrink portions' - Daily Mail 02/06/06
Cut Portion Sizes To Fight Obesity, Urges FDA-Funded Report - Medical News Today 03/06/06

Kids with cholesterol take statins like mom, dad - Reuters 02/06/06

Kids with cholesterol take statins like mom, dad

Lead exposure on the job tied to brain damage - Reuters 02/06/06

The cumulative exposure to lead can cause degeneration of the brain's white matter, which may explain the previously reported progressive decline in brain function in these individuals, the results of a study of organic lead workers shows.

Hot cocoa for healthier skin? - Reuters 02/06/06

Forget slathering on the cocoa butter. A cup of hot cocoa might be the key to looking younger, the results of a small study suggest.

Hospitals prepare for growing ranks of obese - Reuters 02/06/06

As Americans keep getting bigger, hospitals are revamping themselves to accommodate an influx of obese patients.

Liberal policy leads to drop in new Swiss drug addicts - Reuters 02/06/06

Switzerland's liberal policy of offering drug addicts substitution treatments has results in a drop in the number of new heroin users, according to research published on Friday.

Switzerland's Liberal Drug Policy Seems To Work, Study Says - Medical News Today 02/06/06

GE unit to test new agent for cancer detection - Reuters 02/06/06

An experimental radioactive contrasting agent for use in medical scans that could allow doctors to tailor treatment for cancer patients by tracking the growth pattern of new blood vessels feeding tumors is being tested by GE Healthcare.

Goat-derived drug cleared in Europe - Reuters 02/06/06

The world's first medicine derived from a genetically engineered animal has been recommended for approval by a panel of European experts, following a re-examination of the evidence.

Obesity in puberty linked to hormone disorder - Reuters 02/06/06

Girls who are obese during the early stages of puberty have an increased risk of developing abnormally high levels of androgens, a type of steroid hormone, according to a report in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

Cheshire and Merseyside News

Walking tall for cancer care unit - Chester Chronicle 02/06/06

A CANCER sufferer is hoping to make big strides towards raising 30,000 for life-saving hospital equipment on Sunday.

MP visits threatened centre - Chester Chronicle 02/06/06

CHESTER MP Christine Russell visited the under-threat NHS Direct call centre in Chester which she opened in 2000.

Hospital appeals for crutch control - Chester Chronicle 02/06/06

THE Countess of Chester Hospital has announced a crutch amnesty.

Doctor allays bed worry - Chester Chronicle 02/06/06

A LEADING surgeon at the Countess of Chester Hospital has calmed fears over bed reductions.

Police blitz teen boozers - Chester Chronicle 02/06/06

TEENAGERS boozing on village streets is an 'astronomic' problem say police.

Shocked to read about closure plans for home - Runcorn World 03/06/06

My sister and I were shocked to read of the proposed closure of the Ethel Hanley Home.
Anger as job loss hospital shells out 80,000. . . to tell it how to save money - Liverpool Echo 02/06/06

CONSULTANTS brought in to smash the debt of a hospital facing 200 job losses are charging 80,000 for six weeks' work.

Woodvale nuclear worries - Southport Visiter 02/06/06

RAF WOODVALE could be used as a nuclear waste dump, Greenpeace campaigners are claiming.

Woodvale nuclear waste fears - Formby Times 01/06/06

Dock workers win right to sue - Southport Visiter 02/06/06

A FORMER dock worker from Southport has won the right to sue the government for compensation for asbestos-related illness.

Body parts set to be recycled - Southport Visiter 02/06/06

SOUTHPORT people who are cremated at Southport Crematorium are to have hip replacements and other artificial body parts recycled.

Help my daughter enjoy a better life - Southport Visiter 02/06/06

SALLY Potts has been suffering from cerebellar ataxia for as long as she can remember.

Homegrown revolution - Liverpool Echo 02/06/06

A SCHOOL dinners revolution is seeing children fed solely on food grown locally.

Healthy lessons for youngsters - Formby Times 01/06/06

CHILDREN from schools across Formby have been advised about healthy eating and exercise.

Children To Benefit From Unique Dental Unit, UK - Medical News Today 03/06/06

A modern multi-disciplinary dental care facility primarily for children will be launched in Liverpool today.

Cumbria and Lancashire News

Stores Apology Over Breastfeed Refusal - Blackburn Citizen 03/06/06

CLOTHING giant Next has apologised to an East Lancashire mum after staff refused to allow her to breastfeed her baby in their shop.

Vigil Over Waste Plant Move - Lancashire Evening Telegraph 03/06/06

PROTESTERS are holding a 24-hour vigil in a bid to fight plans to build a waste plant in their village.
Health bosses hit out at foreign staff quota - Carlisle News & Star 03/06/06

HOSPITAL bosses in north Cumbria have criticised a new government policy which limits the number of foreign staff they can employ.

Nuclear waste plan backed by council - Carlisle News & Star 02/06/06

CUMBRIA County Council has backed recommendations on burying nuclear waste in underground bunkers.

Emergency mortuary will hold up to 600 bodies - Carlisle News & Star 01/06/06

PLANS to build an emergency mortuary near Penrith housing up to 600 bodies have been revealed.

Doctor Got Caught In Timewarp - Blackpool Citizen 02/06/06

A Lytham doctor, who drank two "stiff gins" after a stressful day at work, drove more than 50 miles after slipping into his own personal timewarp.

I Grew Cannabis To Ease My Pain - Blackburn Citizen 02/06/06

A BLACKBURN man trying to alleviate back pain, following an industrial accident, resorted to growing cannabis, a court was told.

Mental Heath Plan Rejected - Lancashire Evening Telegraph 01/06/06

PLANS to extend an historic building to provide a new mental health care service in Rossendale have been thrown out by councillors.

Husband Can Cope - Blackburn Citizen 01/06/06

A HUSBAND who "rescued" his wife of 55 years from a care home so they could be together is the "best person" to look after her, her former carer said today.

Your Baby Looks Like It Has Downs - Preston Citizen 01/06/06

The parent of a child who has Down's syndrome has backed claims that families are being unsupported and misinformed by health professionals.

Theft Of Ticket Machines - Preston Citizen 01/06/06

Thieves stole two ticket machines from the Royal Preston Hospital which are used by patients waiting for blood tests or to queue at its fracture clinics.

Greater Manchester News

Miracle Cure Hope For Keir - Bolton Evening News 04/06/06

THE family of six-year-old Keir Platt one of only two sufferers of a rare genetic disease which has robbed him of the ability to walk and talk are one step closer to finding a cure.

Hospital Plans For Terror Attack - Bolton Evening News 04/06/06

STAFF at the Royal Bolton Hospital are being trained in readiness for a potential terrorist attack.

Heart Monitor Saved By Babys Life - Bolton Evening News 04/06/06

A MOTHER has told how a foetal heart monitor saved her baby's life.

Asthma Attack Tragedy Of Boy 4 - Bolton Evening News 03/06/06

A FOUR-year-old boy died from an asthma attack, despite a desperate battle by doctors to save him.

NHS clinic blasts IVF tables - Manchester Evening News 02/06/06

AN NHS IVF clinic in Manchester has one of the lowest success rates in the country, according to a new league table.

Drunk doc in crash after 90mph cop chase - Manchester Evening News 02/06/06

A DRUNKEN hospital doctor crashed his high-powered car, injuring two innocent drivers, after police had clocked him travelling at almost 100 mph.

Barracks In The Front Line Against Poverty - Bolton Evening News 02/06/06

A CHARITY is turning an old army barracks in Bolton into a place where homeless people can live and work independently.

Siesta After Hearty Lunch Is Natural - Medical News Today 02/06/06

The Spaniards may have been right all along - a siesta after a hearty lunch is natural, new research suggests.

Scientists wake up to the importance of an after-dinner nap - The Telegraph 03/06/06

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