National and International News
Scandal of secret school exclusions - The Observer 11/12/05
Confidential letter reveals that local education authorities are deliberately breaking the law to avoid paying for special needs children
Whistleblower wins drugs study inquiry - The Observer 11/12/05
A whistleblower who raised concerns about a study that his research unit carried out with a major drugs company is to have his allegations investigated by the medical journal that published it.
A question of ethics - The Observer 11/12/05
Britain could grind to a halt in a bird flu pandemic, experts fear - The Observer 11/12/05
Britain is not as prepared for bird flu as it should be, an influential Lords committee will say this week, because thousands of companies have not investigated how they would keep going during a pandemic that could last four months and affect a quarter of their employees.
The return of sciatica - The Observer 11/12/05
Orthopaedic chair? You'll need to be a circus contortionist to assemble one
Dr John Briffa: Sweet charity - The Observer 11/12/05
Selling candy to raise funds for breast cancer research sounds like a good idea, but there's an unfortunate link. Dr John Briffa unwraps the evidence
Oliver James: In your dreams - The Observer 11/12/05
Almost 150 years after his birth, Freud's theories are as illuminating as ever. Oliver James explains how he still casts a light on football, politics and comedy
Hail berries - The Observer 11/12/05
The 'new cranberry' is three times as rich in antioxidants as red wine or green tea. It contains high levels of vitamin C, vitamin E and folic acid, all of which help to neutralise 'free radicals' - destructive molecules produced by the body which can also be generated by poor diet, pollution and smoking. These 'molecular sharks' are implicated in cardiovascular disease, cancer and premature ageing.
Her latest squeeze - The Observer 11/12/05
Your starter for 10 - The Observer 11/12/05
From the good, the bad, to the downright disgusting. Rafael Behr sets the ultimate 2005 gustatory challenge
UK kidney patients head for China - The Observer 11/12/05
Britons are being targeted by an internet company offering the organs of dead prisoners in a trade condemned as 'disgusting' by surgeons
World's poor turn their backs on the WTO - The Observer 11/12/05
Without serious European and US offers, the Hong Kong meeting is at risk, writes Nick Mathiason
Our citizens should not live in fear - The Observer 11/12/05
Those who criticise the new criminal justice measures, such as ASBOs, fail to understand that the most important freedom is that of harm from others
Fight against yobs to target children - The Observer 11/12/05
This year's NHS bill is 87bn ... so just where did the cash go? - The Observer 11/12/05
All new spending on the NHS has been blocked. How could a multi-billion pound increase in funding fail to prevent closed wards and cancelled operations? Jo Revill reports
Hewitt denies NHS projects threat - Daily Mail 11/12/05
'Stop spending' memo reveals NHS cash crisis - The Observer 11/12/05
Leaked email reveals NHS 'in cash crisis' - The Independent 11/12/05
Put patients first - The Observer 11/12/05
Health campaigns face axe in cash crisis - The Sunday Times 11/12/05
Gran's test case could force state to fund surgery abroad - The Observer 11/12/05
She had already endured months of pain waiting for her operation, but when grandmother Yvonne Watts shrank to a tiny five-and-a-half stone, because she was too distressed to eat, her family decided that they could wait no longer.
Emma Mitchell: how can you minimise skin damage caused by injections for diabetes? - The Guardian 10/12/05
Our 11-year-old daughter has been diagnosed with diabetes type one. What can you recommend to help minimise the damage being done to her skin at injection and blood test sites?
Why the NHS should apply the brakes - The Guardian 10/12/05
In one of her first interviews as health secretary Patricia Hewitt declared six months ago that it was "not only inevitable but essential" that the government's market reforms would create instability. The aim was to get underperforming units to improve, but it would lead to some units closing if they could not deliver. Over the last 10 days our social affairs editor with the help of the freedom of information act has documented just how unstable the health service has become. About one quarter of NHS trusts are in deficit and currently forecasting an aggregate deficit of 1bn.
Young lives protected by two small tablets - The Guardian 10/12/05
The constant battle to prevent HIV-positive mothers transmitting the virus to their babies
Slim = sad. Fat = happy - The Independent 11/12/05
If you think going on a diet is depressing, you are right. And here's the part that really hurts
Badger cull approved to stop TB spread - The Independent 11/12/05
A cull of badgers to stop the spread of TB amongst cattle has been approved by the Prime Minister.
The sexual revolution sweeps across China - The Independent 11/12/05
HIV, divorce and abortion rates soar as the new generation rejects repression and creates its own permissive society
Infant mortality gap between the rich and poor worsens - The Independent 11/12/05
The health gap between rich and poor has widened dramatically despite Tony Blair's pledge to slash it, new official figures reveal.
Dr Neal Brener: Why you can't just tell an alcoholic to stop drinking - The Independent 11/12/05
Alcoholism is not a silly little self-inflicted illness. It is a major problem for the NHS. One in five beds at any one time is occupied by people with drinking problems. Unfortunately it is often not well recognised by the medical profession, and treatment options in the NHS are limited.
Germany backs bigger brothels to fight World Cup sex explosion - The Independent 10/12/05
It is only a short bus ride from Germany's main World Cup stadium and it boasts a Turkish bath, two saunas, two cinemas and up to 100 prostitutes offering round-the-clock sex.
Three drinks and you're out: the pub rationing plan - The Sunday Times 11/12/05
ONE of Britain’s leading surgeons has called on the government to introduce curbs on the sale of alcohol, limiting the amount that customers can consume per visit to a pub or bar.
British doctors are Europe’s richest - The Sunday Times 11/12/05
BRITISH doctors now earn more than their counterparts on the Continent, according to a new study. It has revealed that hospital consultants’ salaries increased by more than 30% between 2000 and 2004.
Bird flu doctor says fear is exaggerated - The Sunday Times 11/12/05
A DOCTOR at the forefront of treating the east Asian bird flu outbreaks has said fears of a world pandemic may be exaggerated. “It may never happen,” said Dr Jeremy Farrar, director of Oxford University’s clinical research unit at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Face transplant surgeons select second patient - The Sunday Times 11/12/05
THE French surgical team that carried out the world’s first face transplant has selected a 23-year-old man who was disfigured as a child as a potential recipient in a second operation.
Battle to give Africa's Aids orphans new life - The Sunday Times 11/12/05
GENTLY, rescuers coaxed a frightened boy from the clump of banana trees where he had been hiding for years like a wild animal. He had a shred of matting as shelter from the rain. There was nothing else.
Health chiefs to launch advice hotline - The Sunday Times 11/12/05
THE Health Service Executive (HSE) is to set up a national information hotline modelled on NHS Direct, the British nurse-led service that offers health advice to the public.
NHS pensions staff angry over privatisation plans - The Sunday Times 11/12/05
WORKERS at the NHS Pensions Agency, which administers payments to more than 500,000 former health workers, are to be balloted on industrial action over plans to privatise their work.
Hospital 'lottery' blamed for 5,000 deaths - The Times 10/12/05
THOUSANDS of lives could be saved each year if the country’s worst hospitals managed only a small improvement in performance, a study of the NHS has found.
Healthy exercise - The Times 10/12/05
Hospital deaths 'may be prevented' - Daily Mail 10/12/05
Trauma of infertility is worse than cancer, says Winston - The Times 10/12/05
INFERTILITY is more traumatic for many patients than cancer but is still unrecognised by the Government as a serious medical condition, according to Britain’s best known expert in the specialty.
Salesman posing as a doctor 'did real harm' - The Times 10/12/05
A SALESMAN with no medical qualifications tricked his way into a hospital and practised as a psychologist before managers discovered he was bogus, a court was told yesterday.
Auction a leg up for disabled - The Times 10/12/05
Walking sticks decorated by actors, politicians and entertainers were put up for sale in an online auction. The actors Sir Ian McKellen and Robert Lindsay, and Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy were among those who created the sticks, which are being sold on eBay, the auction website, in aid of the Disabled Living Foundation. The auction ends on December 19.
Surgeons tell of fears over disclosure of death rates - The Times 10/12/05
SURGEONS in Scotland gave warning yesterday that a ruling that patient mortality rates are to be published could affect clinical decisions on how individuals are treated.
Merck doctored arthritis drug data - The Times 10/12/05
The drug giant Merck is facing further trouble after it was alleged that it had deleted data on the safety of its bestselling arthritis drug, Vioxx.
Creating a solution that gives leverage for change in health - The Times 10/12/05
GIVING the Gates way is not about charity. It is about identifying health problems and creating solutions that cost less per life saved and will have the greatest impact.
Letters to the Editor - The Times 10/12/05
It must be right for the UK to study health systems in other countries and learn wherever possible, but John A. Blackley (letter, Dec 8) is wrong to suggest that the UK should learn from the health system in the US.
Walking a fine life - The Times 10/12/05
Stories behind the news: A dopey government policy on drugs is simply befuddling us all
Ills in the aisles - The Times 10/12/05
THE department store is piping out Jingle Bells, you’re standing there after three hours of jfootslogging, nothing is ticked off your list, and you want to cry. Know the feeling? A new survey finds that people judge Christmas shopping to be the most stressful element of the festive season.
Junk medicine: animal research - The Times 10/12/05
“The proper study of mankind is man,” wrote Alexander Pope in 1734. His words have become something of a maxim for the animal rights movement. Where anti- vivisectionists would once argue that animal experiments are unjustified, regardless of any medical benefit, many now contend instead that such benefits are illusory and the experiments worthless.
Health atlas: Mapping a revolution - The Times 10/12/05
Is the future bright for our health service? A technique from marketing may help, and, in the next article, how hospital care varies
Health atlas: Battle against the superbug - The Times 10/12/05
Precautions against MRSA vary enormously from hospital to hospital, according to Dr Foster, the health data experts
Interview: Simon Callow: at this stage of my life - The Times 10/12/05
Simon Callow has always been alternative: he’s a fan of acupuncture and cupping, won’t drink water with food, ‘tames’ his body in the gym and is obsessive about work. Rosie Millard meets an original
Happy families: jolly Uncle Jack - The Times 10/12/05
Super-gran Jane Fearnley-Whittingstall continues her new column on coping with tricky family members - how to keep your cool with an adult who overheats the kids
Spas: diva for just one day - The Times 10/12/05
Olivia Lichtenstein polishes up a mother-daughter relationship
High price of elegance - The Times 10/12/05
Partying in heels can be sole-destroying. Rosie Millard learns how to put her best foot forward and, in the next article, feet treats to help you stay on your festive toes
Lunchtime fix: false eyelashes - The Times 10/12/05
False eyelashes can be great for parties, but how do you avoid them heading south?
Bodylicious: party feet - The Times 10/12/05
The celebrity pedicurist Nonie Creme recommends the best feet treatments for when you’re wearing sky-high heels
Agony and ecstasy: that really hits the spot - The Times 10/12/05
I have discovered a soft area behind the pubic bone that just needs to be touched for great pleasure. Is this an external extension of the clitoris?
Gabby Logan's ten-minute toner: bottoms - The Times 10/12/05
Does my bum look big in this? Not if you do these exercises for a more shapely rear view
Remember - a camel is not just for Christmas - The Times 10/12/05
If you thought that ethical giving was worthy but dull, think again. Charity gift catalogues are full of funky gifts for all the family — and you get to spread a little goodwill
Dipping into party winners - The Times 10/12/05
Delicious, quick and nutritious. Jane Clarke makes canapés to hit the Christmas spot
In a spiritual fashion - The Times 10/12/05
How the fit and fabulous stay that way
If we believe, will Mother get her cure? - The Telegraph 11/12/05
On Thursday morning when I should have been at work, I was, instead, sitting on a train, opposite my mother, on the way to see a healer in Guildford. As the train rattled out of Waterloo, I leant forward to check my mother's knees, feeling the weird knobbles of excess bone, the effects of osteoarthritis on her kneecap. "What sort of healer is she?" I asked. "A homeopath? An acupuncturist?" My mother looked up from her sudoko. "I don't know darling, but apparently she works wonders."
Darling how thoughtful: a voucher for buttock reshaping - The Telegraph 11/12/05
I might be tempted to buy some cosmetic surgery gift vouchers as a Christmas present if I thought they would be received in the right spirit. These grisly douceurs are being offered by Transform, of Manchester. It has already made 680 sales this year. "Did you think I needed my buttocks reshaped, darling?" Or "Breast enlargement! How thoughtful. Tch. Your father, he always really buys my presents for himself."
July 7 victim who lost both legs walks down the aisle - The Telegraph 11/12/05
A woman who lost both her legs in the July 7 London bombings yesterday walked down the aisle on prosthetic limbs to marry her fiancé.
Tears as bomb amputee weds - The Sunday Times 11/12/05
Cancelled surgery up 13pc since 1997 - The Telegraph 11/12/05
More than 13,000 operations were cancelled at the last minute this summer, a rise of 13 per cent since Labour came to power in 1997. And there are fears that this number will rise as the NHS struggles to balance its books.
Parents' fad diets 'can lead to obese children' - The Telegraph 11/12/05
Parents obsessed with "healthy eating" and fad diets are raising children who feel guilty about food and risk becoming binge eaters later in life, an obesity expert has warned.
Front-facing buggies blamed for poor speech development - The Telegraph 11/12/05
Modern buggies which seat children facing away from their parents could be impeding the development of youngsters' speech, research has found.
Doctors told not to prescribe Seroxat - The Telegraph 11/12/05
Doctors have been warned not to give pregnant women a leading anti-depressant drug because it may cause birth defects.
Doctor cleared of sex assault tells of his nightmare wait - The Telegraph 10/12/05
A family GP who was falsely accused of assaulting a teenage patient spoke yesterday of a "nightmare" nine months, after a jury took just 20 minutes to clear him.
Heart transplant mother loses her battle for life - The Telegraph 10/12/05
A woman who made medical history when she gave birth after a heart transplant has died.
After the slaughter - The Telegraph 10/12/05
Violet's dream is simple. She wants a pretty dress to wear, enough money to send her brother to school and at least one meal a day. As part of this year's Telegraph Christmas Appeal, Alice Thomson visited her in the remote village of Bweyeye in Rwanda, which was devastated in 1994 by genocide
'Irritant' smoke cloud heads south - Daily Mail 11/12/05
The thick plume of smoke seen rising from the flames caused by the explosions at Buncefield fuel terminal has spread across southern England and is heading towards the Channel, meteorologists have said.
Blast smoke risk for asthmatics - Daily Mail 11/12/05
Fat feeds Britain's most common STD - Daily Mail 11/12/05
A bug responsible for Britain's most common sexually transmitted infection lives off body fat, scientists have found.
Warning to doctors over gifts - Daily Mail 11/12/05
Doctors may want to think twice before accepting gifts from patients this Christmas, experts are warning.
Expert warns over 'wheezy capitals' - Daily Mail 11/12/05
The NHS could soon be overwhelmed by growing numbers of patients suffering from lung disease, experts have warned.
Baby born to mum with two wombs - Daily Mail 09/12/05
When Katherine Harrison collapsed with severe stomach pains just a week before she was due to give birth, doctors at first couldn't detect the cause.
Health fears over seven-year-olds' drink and drug abuse - Daily Mail 09/12/05
Doctors have seen children as young as seven are suffering from the effects of drug or alcohol abuse, according to a new doctors' survey.
Breast cancer drug halves return risk - Daily Mail 09/12/05
The breast cancer drug Herceptin could halve the risk of early stage aggressive cancer returning, according to the latest international study.
Breast cancer drug cuts death risk - Daily Mail 10/12/05
New cancer drug puts NHS under pressure - The Guardian 10/12/05
Mother dies refusing cancer aid - Daily Mail 09/12/05
A mother who refused life-saving treatment to protect her unborn baby has died from cancer.
Cancer woman dies after giving birth - The Telegraph 10/12/05
Boy, 3, choked to death on meatball - Daily Mail 09/12/05
A "lovely, bubbly three-year-old boy" died after choking on a meatball during lunch at a private nursery school, an inquest has heard.
Child No 2 chokes to death on meatball - The Telegraph 10/12/05
False positives in HIV tests - Daily Mail 09/12/05
A promising new oral HIV test that uses fluid swabbed from the mouth to quickly and easily detect the virus that causes Aids incorrectly diagnosed a quarter of the people who tested positive in San Francisco, city health officials have discovered.
Drugs warning after malaria deaths - Daily Mail 09/12/05
Health protection experts have warned travellers to take anti-malaria drugs when going to certain countries following the deaths of visitors returning from Gambia.
Thalidomide compensation doubled - Daily Mail 09/12/05
Thalidomide victims have welcomed a decision to more than double compensation payments as part of a "full and final" financial settlement for the 1960s drugs tragedy.
Surgery death rates to be published - Daily Mail 09/12/05
Scotland's surgeons have given a cautious welcome to a ruling that health chiefs must publish the death rates of their patients.
The secret of 'muscular' old age - BBC Health News 11/12/05
Scientists believe they have found a way to enable the elderly to maintain muscle.
Paying for HIV care failure risk - BBC Health News 11/12/05
Having to pay for HIV care increases the risk of treatment failure, a study by a leading aid agency says.
'Jekyll and Hyde' dementia clue - BBC Health News 10/12/05
A brain protein switches from 'Jekyll to Hyde' - building memories, but also playing a role in killing brain cells in conditions such as dementia.
Hope over chronic epilepsy onset - BBC Health News 10/12/05
Using drugs to block chemical brain signals may stop epileptic seizures in children and the onset of a chronic form of the condition, a study says.
Lung cancer drug 'gets go-ahead' - BBC Health News 09/12/05
Patients across the north east of England are to be given a potentially life-saving lung cancer drug.
Infections follow surgery blitz - BBC Health News 09/12/05
Four people who had cataract operations performed by an Australian surgical team have now developed serious eye infections, the BBC has learned.
Vomiting bug hits over 250 pupils - BBC Health News 09/12/05
At least 250 pupils and 20 staff at a secondary school have been confirmed to be suffering from a contagious virus that causes vomiting and diarrhoea.
Stomach bug sweeps through school - Daily Mail 09/12/05
250 pupils struck down by stomach illness - The Guardian 10/12/05
Stomach virus hits 250 schoolchildren - The Telegraph 10/12/05
Ageing population 'to strain NHS' - BBC Health News 09/12/05
The ageing population will place a huge strain on the NHS, a study says.
US FDA issues alert on study of Abbott antibiotic - Reuters 09/12/05
U.S. regulators alerted the public on Friday to a study showing a higher death rate among heart disease patients a year after taking an Abbott Laboratories Inc. antibiotic, as part of an effort to release early information about potential safety concerns.
Allergic rhinitis treatment key to asthma control - Reuters 09/12/05
Good asthma management requires appropriate treatment of persistent stuffy nose or "allergic rhinitis," researchers report in the journal Chest.
Mom's attitude affects teen's dieting - Reuters 09/12/05
Teenagers who think their mothers put a high value on thinness may be more likely to worry about their weight and frequently diet, new research suggests.
Many return to sports after hip replacement - Reuters 09/12/05
The number of older adults participating in sports activities increases after hip replacement but declines after knee replacement for osteoarthritis, research suggests.
Lean women may be susceptible to endometriosis - Reuters 09/12/05
Women diagnosed with endometriosis have a tendency to be lean, as measured by body mass index (BMI), both at the time of diagnosis and historically, research hints.
HeBirth weight tied to excess mortality in diabetics - Reuters 09/12/05
It is known that the risk of death in adults with diabetes is approximately twofold that of the general population. A new study suggests that the excess mortality associated with diabetes is disproportionately concentrated among those diabetics who were singleton term infants with low or high birth weight.
Low-fat dairy tied to lower blood pressure - Reuters 09/12/05
Middle-aged adults who favor skim milk and other low-fat dairy foods may have lower blood pressure than others their age, a new study suggests.
Kellogg touts soy oil alternative to trans fats - Reuters 09/12/05
Kellogg Co., the world's largest cereal maker, said on Friday it plans to reduce artery-clogging trans fats in some of its products and called on others to invest in a new variety of soybean oil it said is healthier than other trans-fat-free oils.
Merck deleted Vioxx dangers: journal - Reuters 09/12/05
A prestigious medical journal on Thursday said Merck & Co. withheld information about the dangers of arthritis drug Vioxx in a key study, an alleged lapse that analysts said could hurt Merck as it defends itself against Vioxx-related lawsuits.
Smoking lowers chances of surviving throat cancer - Reuters 09/12/05
For people with cancer of the larynx or lower pharynx, continuing to smoke or drink alcohol make it less likely that they'll survive, while eating a diet rich in vegetables and vitamin C improves their survival, a new study shows.
Australian Scientists Join Forces With European Colleagues To Research Auto-immune Diseases - Medical News Today 11/12/05
Two Australian researchers are to join forces with a European Union research team with the aim of developing new treatments for auto-immune diseases such as diabetes and Addison's disease.
BNP Is A More Reliable Marker Of Cardiac Function In Chronic Kidney - Bayer - Medical News Today 11/12/05
In patients with chronic kidney disease and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) the level of BNP (B-type natriuretic peptide) in the plasma is a more reliable marker of cardiac function than NT-proBNP (N-terminal proBNP) since NT-proBNP is excreted less efficiently than BNP as kidney function declines. This is the conclusion of a study published in the October 2005 issue of the American Journal of Kidney Diseases (Vickery et al., 46: 610-620).
Forcing Patients To Pay For AIDS Care Undermines Treatment Success - Medical News Today 11/12/05
Having to pay for HIV/AIDS care increases the risk of treatment failure, according to new research from Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) presented this week at the International Conference on AIDS and Sexually transmitted infections in Africa (ICASA), in Abuja, Nigeria.
Bird Flu Infection Confirmed In Thailand, Boy Of 5 - Medical News Today 11/12/05
The Ministry of Public Health in Thailand has confirmed a further case of human infection with the H5N1 avian influenza virus. The case occurred in a 5-year-old boy, who developed symptoms on 25 November, was hospitalized on 5 December, and died on 7 December. The child resided in the central province of Nakhonnayok.
Ecosystem Imbalance Is Threat To Human Health - Medical News Today 11/12/05
The World Health Organization (WHO) is publishing a report, Ecosystems and Human Well-being: Health Synthesis, which represents an attempt to describe the complex links between the preservation of healthy and biodiverse natural ecosystems and human health.
Researchers Discover A Protein Which Is Deadly For Anthrax Bacteria, Max Planck Institute - Medical News Today 11/12/05
Scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology in Berlin discovered why lung, but not skin, anthrax infections are lethal. As reported in the newest issue of PloS Pathogen (November 2005) Neutrophils, a form of white blood cells, play a key role in anthrax infections.
Broccoli, Cancer Protection - Depending On Your Genes, You May Need To Eat More Than Other People, Or Consume 'super Broccoli' - Medical News Today 11
People who gain less protection from cancer by eating broccoli may be able to compensate for the difference in their genetic make-up by eating ‘super broccoli', a variety with higher levels of the active plant chemical sulforaphane, or by eating larger portions.
Can Food Industry Alter Composition Of Fats In Every Day Foods In Battle Against Metabolic Syndrome? - Medical News Today 11/12/05
Top scientists met in Munich on Friday 9th December 2005, to explore whether the food industry can help in the battle against the metabolic syndrome by altering the composition of fats in every-day foods. The metabolic syndrome is directly linked with increased risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
Do Mobile Telephones Affect Attention? University Of Essex Study On Radio Frequency Magnetic Fields - Medical News Today 11/12/05
Seeking to bring clarity to the debate on mobile phone use, researchers from the University of Essex have published the results of an investigation into the effects of mobiles on attention.
Novel Approach To Treatment Of Depression And Anxiety - Medical News Today 11/12/05
A group of investigators of the University of Bologna (Giovanni Fava, Chiara Ruini and Chiara Rafanelli) have published an article on a novel approach to treatment of depression and anxiety in the November issue of the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry.
Parkinson's Disease - Should We Start Being Genetically Tested For It? - Medical News Today 11/12/05
Should we start being genetically tested for Parkinson's disease (PD)? According to research just published in the December issue of the "journal Movement Disorders" this might be a possibility in the future if you belong to a family affected by G2019S, a genetic mutation responsible for some PD cases.
Groundbreaking Research Into Deadly Diseases - Medical News Today 11/12/05
Pioneering research by a North East (UK) scientist could lead to a cure for some of the most deadly antibiotic-resistant diseases.
Grids To Aid Breast Cancer Diagnosis And Research, Europe - Medical News Today 11/12/05
The millions of mammography exams performed each year in Europe save thousands of women's lives, but if the data from all breast cancer screening procedures was made available to clinicians and researchers across the continent they could save many more. That is the vision behind MammoGrid.
Flu Jab In Tablet Form - Convenient, Safe And Long-term - Medical News Today 11/12/05
Strictly speaking, the ‘choked', that is, inactivated three viruses (A1, A2, B) in the new vaccine will be the same as before. They are included in the vaccine composition on the recommendation of the World Health Organisation.
Genetically Modified Crops Explained - Medical News Today 11/12/05
We are regularly confronted with genetically modified foods, be it in the news or on our plates. In what way are GM crops different from conventional crops? What is known about their possible risks for human health or the environment?
Karolinska Institutet's Osher Centre Opens - Medical News Today 11/12/05
“There's a great deal of interest being shown in working across boundaries by research scientists wanting to bridge the gap between basic research and patient-oriented research,” says Mats Lekander, acting director of the centre. “And we have known for a long time that there is considerable public interest in complementary medicine and in more holistic approaches to healing.”
Cancerous Cells Should Be Urged Commit Suicide - Medical News Today 11/12/05
When fighting cancerous growths, it is very important to use internal cellular mechanisms on top of various external impacts on the tumor. Among internal mechanisms is cells' ability for “suicide” - programmed cell death, which is called apoptosis. The cells resort to apoptosis when something is irreparably broken in them and the cells need to perform self-destruction to avoid causing damage to the entire organism. Apoptosis is executed by intracellular protease enzymes (they are called caspases). Caspases destroy target proteins located in the cytoplasm and the cell's nucleus. Cellular genome is also the target of caspases' action. Caspases' activation occurs as a result of a complicated chain of biochemical reactions which are launched specifically by special receptors on the cellular membrane. Specialists call them dreadly - “receptors of death”.
Launching Of The European Charter For Mountain Quality Food Products - Medical News Today 11/12/05
The European Charter for Mountain Quality Food Products was launched on Wednesday 7 December under the protection of Joseph DAUL, Chairman of the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee of the European Parliament and in presence of Jacques BARROT, Commissioner for Transport and Vice-President of the European Commission.
UK Minister Rewards Outstanding Health Visitor - Medical News Today 11/12/05
The UK Minister for care services, Liam Byrne, recognised the exceptional achievement of NHS health visitor Paula McLachlan at the Mother & Baby magazine awards, the Oscars of the nursery industry, held at the Hilton Park Lane Hotel in London last Thursday 1st December.
UK Chief Medical Officer Reminds Hajj Pilgrims To Get Meningitis Jab - Medical News Today 11/12/05
The Chief Medical Officer, Sir Liam Donaldson, today reminded those travellers to the annual Hajj Muslim Pilgrimage to Mecca to get their quadrivalent meningitis jab before they leave if they haven't already done so. The Hajj takes place between 8th and 12th January 2006.
NHS Ahead Of Schedule To Achieve Efficiency Savings, UK - Medical News Today 11/12/05
Efficiency savings across the NHS are being achieved ahead of schedule, leading to better value for taxpayers and better care for patients, UK Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt announced today.
UK Health Minister Welcomes Landmark Census On Mental Health And Race - Medical News Today 11/12/05
UK Health minister Rosie Winterton today welcomed the publication of 'Count Me In', the first ever census of the ethnicity of people using inpatient mental health services.
Pregnant Women Should Avoid Close Contact With Sheep During The Lambing Season, UK - Medical News Today 11/12/05
The UK Department of Health, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and the Health and Safety Executive advise that pregnant women should avoid close contact with sheep during the lambing season.
Consumer Reports Questions FDA Prescription Drug Approval Process, USA - Medical News Today 11/12/05
Twelve types of drugs sold in 140 prescription medications have "rare but serious" side effects that were unnoticed or underestimated when they received FDA approval, according to a Consumers Union report published Tuesday in Consumer Reports, CQ HealthBeat reports. The report contends that FDA scientists face tight deadlines and pressure from superiors to approve drugs without thorough review, sometimes with personal reservations about a drug's side effects. However, according to Candace Steele, spokesperson for Wyeth -- which manufactures Premarin and Prempro, both cited in the report -- the company works "very closely with the FDA." She said that Wyeth "very proactively" updates its drug labels, adding that risks associated with estrogen therapy, such as breast cancer and cardiovascular disease, "have been a part of the estrogen label for years" (George, CQ HealthBeat, 12/7).
Life Expectancy Increases In USA, Yet Many Older People Overweight, Have High Blood Pressure, Study Says - Medical News Today 10/12/05
Life expectancy in the US increased to 77.6 years in 2003 from 77.3 in 2002, according to a report released on Thursday by the National Center for Health Statistics at CDC, the AP/Arizona Daily Star reports. However, about half of U.S. residents ages 55 to 64 have high blood pressure, and two in five are obese, the report finds. For the report, NCHS researchers examined data collected by the agency and other health agencies and organizations. The report finds that deaths from heart disease, cancer and stroke all decreased by between 2% and 5% in 2003. According to Amy Bernstein, lead author of the report, U.S. life expectancy has increased since 1900 because of advances in prescription drugs and sanitation, as well as decreased rates of unhealthy behaviors such as smoking, despite increased rates of high blood pressure and obesity. Researchers also compared data for U.S. residents ages 55 to 64 in the early 1990s with data from baby boomers, who are currently in that age group. According to the report, 42% of U.S. residents who were ages 55 to 64 in 1990s had high blood pressure, compared with 50% of baby boomers, and 31% of those in the 1990s group were obese, compared with 39% of baby boomers.
Dendrites - How The Neuron Sprouts Its Branches - Medical News Today 10/12/05
Neurobiologists have gained new insights into how neurons control growth of the intricate tracery of branches called dendrites that enable them to connect with their neighbors. Dendritic connections are the basic receiving stations by which neurons form the signaling networks that constitute the brain's circuitry.
Rising To The Challenge - Delivering Quality And Value For Money In The NHS, UK - Medical News Today 10/12/05
For the fifth year running the NHS is treating more patients, reducing waiting times and making good progress in tackling cancer and coronary heart disease Sir Nigel Crisp said today as he published his six monthly Report.
Experimental Therapy For Some Cancers - Combination Of Immune Substances Safe, Study - Medical News Today 10/12/05
New research has shown that the immune-stimulating hormone known as interleukin-12 (IL-12) can safely be administered with interferon, another immune-system protein, as an experimental therapy for some cancers.
Pramipexole Relieves Symptoms Of Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) And Is Well-Tolerated, New Data Suggests - Medical News Today 10/12/05
New data, reported for the first time at this year's European Federation of Neurological Societies (EFNS) Annual Meeting in Athens, Greece, support the efficacy and safety of Boehringer Ingelheim's dopamine agonist pramipexole in treating patients with Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS).(1,2) Restless Legs Syndrome is one of the most common, but treatable, neurological conditions in the world. It is estimated that RLS affects up to one in ten of the population aged between 30 to 79 years.(3)
More Funding Needed To Fight Heart Disease, Australia's Biggest Killer - Medical News Today 10/12/05
The need to increase support for health and medical research in Australia has been highlighted this week by the lack of funds for a major new initiative to address the causes of heart disease - Australia's biggest killer.
Trust Your Doctor And You're More Likely To Have Better Outcomes - Medical News Today 10/12/05
Patients with higher levels of trust in their regular physicians are more likely than patients with less trust to have better care, a new study finds.
Advancements And Solutions For Quality Of Life Assessments, Mayo Clinic Cancer Center - Medical News Today 10/12/05
Mayo Clinic Cancer Center researchers recently published the first series of chapters in a two-part monograph discussing quality of life (QOL) assessment - best practices, promising techniques and revolutionary applications. The monograph was published in the November-December issue of Current Problems in Cancer, with the second half to follow in early 2006.
Phase II Data On E7389, Potential New Therapy For The Treatment Of Breast Cancer - Medical News Today 10/12/05
Researchers today presented preliminary safety and efficacy data for E7389 in the treatment of advanced, refractory breast cancer during the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. E7389 is a synthetic analog of halichondrin B (HB), which is a natural product shown in preclinical studies to have highly potent anti-cancer activity in vitro and in vivo. Halichondrin B was originally isolated from a type of marine sponge.
Beyond Tom Cruise - The Bigger Ultrasound Picture - Medical News Today 10/12/05
"Patient safety and diagnostic excellence are paramount and are best achieved through education, certification, and accreditation of ultrasound facilities" asserted Lennard Greenbaum, MD, president of the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM) in support of the criticism voiced by the medical community regarding Tom Cruise's purchase of an ultrasound machine for personal use. As the association for medical ultrasound, the AIUM leads in addressing the ultrasound community's concerns on a closely related issue: the emergence of businesses promoting ultrasound services for entertainment purposes. The AIUM promotes a 3-pronged approach to safety--for both the mother and the unborn child.
ASU Researchers 'wire' DNA To Identify Mutations - Medical News Today 10/12/05
A team of ASU researchers led by Nongjian Tao and Peiming Zhang has developed a new, breakthrough technique for the detection of DNA mutations.
Life-Changing Effects Of A Heart Attack, Study - Medical News Today 10/12/05
A new survey reveals a majority of heart attack survivors characterize their attack as a life-altering "wake-up call," giving them renewed priorities and a second chance at life. However, many of those surveyed also say their heart attack left them with feelings of depression, hopelessness or fear. In fact, the survey showed that heart attack survivors are more likely to fear having another attack than death. Surprisingly, the survey also showed that while an overwhelming majority acknowledge their increased risk for another attack, 40 percent admit they are not doing everything they can to avoid one.
'Doctor Franklin's Medicine' Explores Founding Father's Vast Medical Legacy, USA - Medical News Today 10/12/05
Benjamin Franklin's myriad contributions as scientist, inventor, publisher and statesman will be back in the spotlight in coming months as America celebrates his 300th birthday on Jan. 17, 2006.
Preventing Atherosclerosis Is All About Going With The Flow - Medical News Today 10/12/05
Despite the presence of risk factors such as high cholesterol, some regions of blood vessels remain relatively resistant to the development of atherosclerotic lesions that can block blood flow to essential organs.
Inflamed About Obesity: CCR2 Keeps Fat Cells In A State Of Inflammation - Medical News Today 10/12/05
Obesity is associated with a state of chronic, low-level inflammation in fatty tissue (adipose tissue), which contains an increased number of macrophages.
Inhibiting Kidney Protein USAG-1 May Help Decrease Dialysis Dependency - Medical News Today 10/12/05
Dialysis has become a necessary form of treatment for the removal of waste products from the blood of patients with end-stage renal disease, a condition that cannot be reversed or repaired by currently available therapies.
New Therapy For Asthma Is A Breath Of Fresh Air - Medical News Today 10/12/05
Glucocorticoids, the treatment of choice for many people with asthma, boost production of the molecule IL-10, which helps decrease airway inflammation. However, some asthmatic patients are resistant to glucocorticoid therapy because their T cells do not produce IL-10 in response to these steroids. In a study appearing online on December 8 in advance of print publication in the January 2006 issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation, Catherine Hawrylowicz and colleagues from King's College London investigate IL-10-producing T cells in the context of human allergic and asthmatic disease.
'Computer-chemistry' Yields New Insight Into A Puzzle Of Cell Division - Medical News Today 10/12/05
Duke University biochemists aided by Duke computer scientists and computational chemists have identified the likely way two key enzymes dock in an intricate three-dimensional puzzle-fit to regulate cell division. Solving the docking puzzle could lead to anticancer drugs to block the runaway cell division behind some cancers, said the researchers.
Herceptin Plus Chemotherapy Improves Disease-free Survival In Early Breast Cancer - Medical News Today 10/12/05
Pairing the targeted therapy Herceptin with chemotherapy in patients with early stage breast cancer significantly increases disease-free survival time in women who test positive for a genetic mutation that results in a particularly aggressive form of the disease, according to large, international study.
Asthma Sufferers Resistant To Steroid Treatment Benefit From Vitamin D3 Supplement - Medical News Today 10/12/05
Asthma patients who don't respond to steroid treatment suffer repeated asthma attacks, and are at greater risk of dying from the condition. Researchers from King's College London have found that vitamin D3 could substantially improve the responsiveness of these patients to steroid treatment, offering them hope of an improvement in their condition. Their results are published today in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.
Breast Cancer Patients Have Raised Risk Of Developing Second Cancer - Medical News Today 10/12/05
A new large-scale study on women with breast cancer found a 25 percent increase in the risk of developing a new non-breast cancer compared to women without cancer. The study, published online December 8, 2005 in the International Journal of Cancer, the official journal of the International Union Against Cancer (UICC), is available via Wiley InterScience (interscience.wiley.com/journal/ijc).
Performing Monkeys In Asia Carry Viruses That Could Jump Species To Humans - Medical News Today 10/12/05
Some urban performing monkeys in Indonesia are carrying several retroviruses that are capable of infecting people, according to a new study led by University of Washington researchers. The results indicate that contact with performing monkeys, which is common in many Asian countries, could represent a little-known path for viruses to jump the species barrier from monkeys to humans and eventually cause human disease. Performing monkeys are animals that are trained to produce tricks in public.
Limiting Damage Caused By Burns And Encourage Skin Tissue Regeneration - Medical News Today 10/12/05
An innovative drug treatment that could limit the damage caused by burns and encourage skin tissue regeneration is the focus of a new partnership between West Australian research groups headed by two Australians of the Year.
Gatton Livestock Studies Spurred A Flu-fighter - Medical News Today 10/12/05
The University of Queensland, Australia, is awarding the Gatton Gold Medal to a scientist whose Gatton studies sowed the seeds of a revolutionary flu drug.
Gastrointestinal Problems May Impede Overweight People From Exercising - Medical News Today 10/12/05
Doctors treating overweight or obese patients often prescribe exercise as part of a regime to take off pounds. However, a new study indicates that some people's ability to exercise may be hampered by a variety of gastrointestinal problems that frequently affect individuals who are overweight.
Lowering Blood Pressure More Important Than Drug Class In Preventing Kidney Disease - Medical News Today 10/12/05
The first-line drug choices to treat high blood pressure in patients with kidney disease may not be the best option, according to an article in this week's issue of The Lancet.
Progress Conference On Child Survival As Called For In 2003 Lancet Series To Take Place Next Week - Medical News Today 10/12/05
An editorial in this week's issue highlights an upcoming conference on child survival that was called for in the 2003 Lancet Bellagio child survival series. As a result of the Bellagio initiative, progress towards improving child survival will be tracked in a series of 2-yearly rolling meetings, the first of which takes place at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine on Dec 13-14. The conference is called Tracking Progress in Child Survival: Countdown to 2015.
How Strong Is Hole In Heart And Stroke Link? - Medical News Today 10/12/05
Mayo Clinic researchers have found that -- contrary to current thinking by some in the medical community -- a patent foramen ovale (PFO), a small hole between the two upper chambers of the heart, does not predestine an individual to a stroke later in life. Findings will appear online on Friday, Dec. 9 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Nurses Key To Restoring Public Confidence In UK Hospital Care, Argues Expert In This Week's BMJ - Medical News Today 10/12/05
Nurses led the transformation of hospitals in the 19th century. So, why after a century of outstanding success, is the future of the large general hospital in question? asks Professor Nick Black of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
Pacifiers Lower Sudden Infant Death, Population Based Case-Control Study - Medical News Today 10/12/05
A study published by the British Medical Journal today indicates clearly that the use of pacifiers significantly reduces the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (cot death).
Dummies Lower Cot Death Risk By 90 Per Cent - Medical News Today 09/12/05
Hundreds Of Thousands Celebrate 'Move It Or Lose It!' World Osteoporosis Day 2005 A Success - Medical News Today 09/12/05
Hundreds of thousands of people around the world joined in the fight against osteoporosis and celebrated World Osteoporosis Day (WOD) 2005, the International Osteoporosis Foundation said today.
Alzheimer's Prevention Easier Than The Cure - Medical News Today 09/12/05
Current hypotheses suggest that it is the accumulation over time of amyloid beta peptide 1-42 (Abeta42) that triggers changes in the brain that lead to cognitive dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease. The reduction of amyloid levels is therefore a major therapeutic objective. Todd Golde and colleagues from the Mayo Clinic Jacksonville report evidence to suggest that prevention of amyloid deposition may be easier than curing established Alzheimer's disease. Their results will appear online on December 8 in advance of print publication in the January 2006 issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation.
How Many Stem Cell Lines Are Needed For A Functional Therapeutic Bank? - Medical News Today 09/12/05
Scientists have estimated the number of human embryonic stem cell (hESC) lines that are needed to create a functional therapeutic hESC bank in the UK. They report their findings in this week's issue of The Lancet.
WHO Must Prepare Health Ministries For Trade Liberalisation - Medical News Today 09/12/05
The World Health Organization (WHO) has an important role in ensuring health ministries everywhere have the knowledge to make future trade in health services accessible and equitable, states an editorial in this week's issue of The Lancet.
Understanding Causes Of Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD) In Young People - Medical News Today 09/12/05
Scientists at the Wales Heart Research Institute, Cardiff University have made a breakthrough in our understanding of the causes of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in young people.
How Reliable Are US Flu Death Figures? - Medical News Today 09/12/05
US data on influenza death may be more PR than science, argues a Harvard University graduate student in this week's BMJ.
Experts Say Facial Transplants Are Justified, British Medical Journal - Medical News Today 09/12/05
With news of the world's first facial transplant hitting the headlines, experts in this week's BMJ debate whether the benefit of this procedure to someone with severe facial deformity outweighs the risk of long term suppression of the immune system.
'No barrier' to face transplants - BBC Health News 09/12/05
Ageing Population Will Impose Huge NHS Burden, UK - Medical News Today 09/12/05
New figures published by Dr Foster in this week's BMJ predict that the UK's ageing population will impose considerable workload and financial pressures on the NHS.
Low-dose Chemotherapy Plus Antiangiogenesis Drug Has Activity In Advanced Breast Cancer - Medical News Today 09/12/05
Chemotherapy given in low, frequent doses - a novel strategy called "metronomic" delivery - achieved partial shrinkage of disease in some advanced breast cancer patients when given concurrently with an angiogenesis inhibitor, report researchers from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston.
New Technique Puts Brain-imaging Research On Its Head - Medical News Today 09/12/05
It's a scene football fans will see over and over during the bowl and NFL playoff seasons: a player, often the quarterback, being slammed to the ground and hitting the back of his head on the landing.
New Muscle-building Agent Beats All Previous Ones - Mouse Study - Medical News Today 09/12/05
The Johns Hopkins scientists who first created "mighty mice" have developed, with pharmaceutical company Wyeth and the biotechnology firm MetaMorphix, an agent that's more effective at increasing muscle mass in mice than a related potential treatment for muscular dystrophy now in clinical trials.
Mathematics Used To Discern Immune Response To Infectious Diseases - Medical News Today 09/12/05
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine a five-year, $9.1 million contract to develop sophisticated mathematical models for investigating how the immune system responds to the pathogens that cause flu, tuberculosis (TB) and tularemia, an especially dangerous infection that some authorities believe could be used as a biological weapon. Such models should help expedite the development of vaccines and therapies against these and other infectious agents and help researchers and public health officials in their efforts to predict or prevent disease outbreaks as well as determine the best courses of treatment.
Researchers Discover A Protein Responsible For Shaping The Nervous System - Medical News Today 09/12/05
A team of researchers led by The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), the University of Toronto (U of T) and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory have discovered a protein that is responsible for shaping the nervous system. This research was made possible with the support of a $1.5-million NeuroScience Canada Brain Repair ProgramTM team grant that enabled scientists from across Canada to work together and fast track their research. This research is reported in the December 8, 2005 issue of the journal Neuron.
Ulcerative Colitis Survey Unmasks Challenges For Patients Beyond Devastating Symptoms - Medical News Today 09/12/05
Results released today from the Voices of UC survey of 1,000 ulcerative colitis (UC) patients underscore the extensive burden of the disease. UC is a debilitating chronic disease affecting more than 500,000 Americans, for whom there is no medical cure. While UC affects more people in the United States than multiple sclerosis or cystic fibrosis, general awareness of the disease is disproportionately lower.
Tamiflu Production To Rise Dramatically After Roche Agrees With 15 US Labs - Medical News Today 09/12/05
US Senator, Charles Schumer, said Roche is in the verge of announcing production agreements with 15 US drug producers to produce more Tamiflu. Tamiflu is an antiviral medication that provides some hope of survival for people infected with bird flu if administered early enough.
TLR4 Gene Found To Protect Against Tumor Development And Chronic Lung Inflammation - Medical News Today 09/12/05
A new study finds that a gene which plays an important role in immune function, known as toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), may also play a critical role in suppressing chronic lung inflammation and tumor development in mice.
Regulating Gene Expression - STAT - Medical News Today 09/12/05
In the December 15th issue of G&D, Dr, Michael Snyder and colleagues (Yale University) explore transcription factor binding under different cell activation conditions. The authors used a ChIP-chip approach to map out STAT1 and STAT2 binding sites along the human chromosome 22 after IFN-alpha or IFN-gamma stimulation.
Cheshire and Mersey News
One power cut could kill our little girl Cody - Liverpool Echo 09/12/05
EVERY time baby Cody Taylor goes home, her parents are gambling with her life.
Special needs plan revealed - Liverpool Echo 09/12/05
SPECIAL needs children are to be moved into mainstream schooling in a massive education shake-up.
Cumbria and Lancashire News
Phone mast is damaging our health - Lancashire Evening Telegraph 10/12/05
I WRITE in response to the headline `Fury At Masts Threat' in the Burnley Citizen, (November 24).
Greater Manchester News
Hospital staff fury over parking charges plan - Bolton Evening News 10/12/05
THOUSANDS of hospital staff will be charged to park at work - a move workers have branded an "outrage".
Switch on for hospice - Bury Times 09/12/05
BURY HOSPICE is asking revellers to dig deep this festive season.
Forum can help in fight to save services - Bury Times 09/12/05
I am very concerned that we do not appear to have an active branch of the Patient and Public Involvement forum (PPI) in Bury at the moment who are willing to fight on the public of Bury's behalf to condemn the closures currently proposed at Fairfield Hospital.
Devastated by maternity proposals - Bury Times 09/12/05
Hear our voices: hands off fairfield maternity services - Bury Times 09/12/05
Fairfield: excellent reasons for change - Bury Times 09/12/05
Burnham welcomes new Aids funding - Bury Times 09/12/05
LEIGH MP Andy Burnham has welcomed new UK funding for the global battle against Aids.
Woman forged GP note for extra tablets - Bury Times 09/12/05
A 45-YEAR-OLD Clitheroe woman altered a prescription to increase the amount of tablets she would receive.
Banning smoking will save lives - Bury Times 09/12/05
BANNING smoking will save lots of lives and lots of nicotine addicts will be thankful for the ban, and so will the children whose parents are still alive when they grow up and have children of their own. Sensible parents make good grandparents.
Helping the relatives of the terminally ill - Bury Times 09/12/05
Following an excellent response from our letter which you kindly printed regarding the service provided by Care Concern, a voluntary Bereavement and Loss Counselling Service in North Manchester, it has become apparent that local residents are unaware of a further service which we provide.
