DOZENS of GP practices will be paid for having stayed open longer - even though they didn't offer appointments with a doctor. Surgeries across Greater Manchester will get an average of £18,000 a year for staying open later and at weekends in a government drive.
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Surgeries paid to stay open, but... - Manchester Evening News 13th August 2008
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
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UK Health News
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
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NHS: Dirty hospitals face hygiene crackdown - The Guardian 12th August 2008
NHS hospitals will be denied a licence to treat patients if they fail to maintain standards of hygiene over the next eight months, under a new inspection regime disclosed yesterday to the Guardian. Barbara Young, the head of the Care Quality Commission (CQC), has set out ground rules for how the 172 NHS acute trusts must make improvements in tackling hospital superbugs
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NHS trusts face fines for poor hygiene - The Independent 12th August 2008
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NHS should not save patients' lives if it costs too much, says watchdog - The Independent 12th August 2008
Michael White's political briefing: Cancer sufferers are at the mercy of NICE - The Guardian 12th August 2008
Britons aren't as scared of cancer as they were generations ago when the C-word was a great unmentionable. Nor are they as helpless in the face of its cruel, often capricious, assaults, thanks to medical advances which improve by the month. But progress creates new problems: who gets what treatment, who pays and how wonderful are the wonder drugs anyway?
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The question: How bad for you is coleslaw? - The Guardian 12th August 2008
In the light of a Food Commission report showing that a large pot of KFC coleslaw contains 22.4g of fat - more than its fillet burger (15.6g) or large fries (19.4g) - it is perhaps reasonable to wonder that if a mix of shredded cabbage, carrot and mayonnaise isn't a healthy option, what on earth is?
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Andy Darling on fitness through the ages - The Guardian 12th August 2008
Keeping active is key to a healthy lifestyle. However, our bodies' needs change as we get older and we need to target our exercise accordingly, says Andy Darling
Michele Hanson on care for the elderly - The Guardian 12th August 2008
Three cheers for Lorna Page, aged 93, who has just written her first novel, a thriller, and with the proceeds has bought a large house. But even more thrilling, she has invited her friends, who she's seen living miserably in care homes, to come and live there with her.
Depressed over-65s 'denied help' - The Independent 12th August 2008
Older people with depression are being denied help, according to a report released today. Those seeking help are often fobbed off, misdiagnosed or given inappropriate treatment. Doctors may prescribe drugs such as Prozac when counselling would offer more benefit. And the numbers given psychological help are far lower than in the general population.
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GPs fail over hepatitis C tests - The Times 12th August 2008
More than a third of GPs are unable to interpret their patients’ hepatitis C test results, potentially putting patients at risk of fatal liver damage, a poll by ICM Healthcare for the Hepatitis C Trust suggests. Nine out of ten GPs routinely administer tests for the infection, but even when they interpret the results correctly, some fail to follow up with patients, the poll of 200 doctors found.
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Evie Bloomer, Britain's first fast-frozen baby, pioneers new fertility treatment - The Times 12 August 2008
A couple have become the first in Britain to have a baby using a new fertility technique, after seven years of trying to become parents. Evie Bloomer was conceived using vitrification - a method of embryo storage that has a higher success rate than the standard slow-freezing process. Her parents, Ian and Rebecca, from Cwmbran, South Wales, have been trying for a baby since marrying in 2001. Mrs Bloomer, 28, suffers endometriosis, a condition in which womb tissue grows elsewhere in the abdomen.
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Clippings from tallest yew hedge key ingredient for cancer drug - The Times 12th August 2008
The tallest yew hedge in Britain has been given a trim at a cost of £5,000 after reaching 40ft (12m), with the tonne of clippings going to produce a cancer drug.
Doctors saved my life after finding a tennis ball-sized brain tumour during an operation on my womb - Daily Mail 12th August 2008
A woman who visited hospital for a routine operation had her life saved by medics who discovered a tumour in her brain the size of a tennis ball. Cara Prestidge needed life-saving surgery after doctors found the massive tumour by chance.
We've got our wires crossed: The bizarre stories of people whose brains have rewired themselves - Daily Mail 12th August 2008
The human brain is the most complex organ in the body and contains 20 billion cells, responsible for everything from dreaming and movement to appetite and emotions. It consists mainly of grey matter - the brain cells or neurons where information is processed.
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Open wide: Laser treatment that takes the drilling out of fillings - Daily Mail 12th August 2008
It is a sound to strike dread into the heart of even the bravest patient. But the squeal of the dentist's drill could soon be a thing of the past, says Emmanouel Koloutsos.
Open wide: Laser treatment that takes the drilling out of fillings - Daily Mail 12th August 2008
It is a sound to strike dread into the heart of even the bravest patient. But the squeal of the dentist's drill could soon be a thing of the past, says Emmanouel Koloutsos.
NICE snubs kidney patient who battled for cancer drug - Daily Mail 12th August 2008
A patient who complained about a controversial decision-making process which could deny life-extending medication to kidney cancer victims has had his objections summarily dismissed. Expert witness Bill Savage, a retired management consultant who has had a diseased kidney removed, lodged a formal protest about the country's drug rationing body, the National Institute for Clinical Excellence.
The new pill that could signal the death of the common cold - Daily Mail 12th August 2008
A pill to cure the common cold has been developed by scientists. The 'holy grail of cold research', it could be used to clear up sniffles in healthy people and prevent life-threatening infections in asthma and cystic fibrosis sufferers. Trials on hundreds of British volunteers started yesterday. If successful, the coldbusting pill could be on the market in five years.
The life-saving heart operation for patients 'too old' for surgery - Daily Mail 11th August 2008
Traditional heart bypass surgery is often too risky for elderly patients, but new techniques mean such patients can now have the life-saving operation.
'When I kept falling over, my wife said I was drunk': One man's battle with the disease that killed Dudley Moore - Daily Mail 11th August 2008
On a good day, Ray Nind falls five times. In the past year, he's been rushed to hospital six times to be treated for the resulting injuries - usually cuts to the back of his head that need stitches. 'When I first began falling, people thought I was drunk,' says Ray, 56. 'Even my wife thought I had been drinking. She kept asking if I'd "had a few" on the quiet, but I honestly hadn't. I didn't know why I kept falling. Now, fortunately, everyone who knows me is aware I fall because I'm ill.'
Food and drink containing E-numbers could have to carry health warnings on the label - Daily Mail 11th August 2008
Food and drinks containing additives linked to hyperactivity in children could have to carry health warnings. Sweets, cakes, cordials and other products including medicines may have to clearly state that they use one or more of six 'E-number' chemicals believed to cause behavioural problems.
Even at my lowest, I can still see the funny side of cancer - Daily Mail 11th August 2008
Meredith Norton was newly married with a baby when she was diagnosed with a rare form of breast cancer four years ago. Warned her chances of survival were slim, Meredith, then 34, decided to write down her experiences as a way of coping. The result is a witty yet deeply poignant account of a woman facing her own mortality. . .
The anti-MMR mothers who are putting us all in danger - Daily Mail 11th August 2008
Measles can be a very serious - even fatal - disease, and it's on the rise as a result of lower uptake of the MMR vaccine. As the Government launches a campaign to encourage parents to give their children the jab, novelist Jonathan Myerson launches a highly provocative broadside at mothers who refuse to do so.
GP deal 'has narrowed care gap' - BBC Health News 12th August 2008
The GP contract introduced in 2004 has helped reduce gaps in care between wealthy and poor areas, a study says. Researchers looked at the performance of over 7,000 GP practices over the first three years of the deal.
Cancer patients 'left suicidal' - BBC Health News 11th August 2008
A significant number of cancer patients regularly believe they would be "better off dead", a survey shows. Patients were most likely to have these thoughts if they had substantial pain and serious emotional distress, the Edinburgh University researchers said.
Lung removed in 'cancer blunder' - BBC Health News 11th August 2008
A man has said his lung was needlessly removed by doctors after he was wrongly diagnosed with cancer. Laurence Ball, who lives in Shetland, had surgery at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary to remove a tumour on his lung.
Pain 'linked with low vitamin D' - BBC Health News 11th August 2008
Low levels of the sunshine vitamin, vitamin D, may contribute to chronic pain among women, scientists believe. The link does not apply to men, suggesting hormones may be involved, according to a study published in the Annals of Rheumatic Diseases said.
New mouth bacteria species found - BBC Health News 11th August 2008
A brand new species of bacteria has been found by scientists among the hundreds which thrive in our mouths. The bug, named "Prevotella histicola" by its discoverers at King's College London, is thought to contribute to gum disease and tooth decay.
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Medical trials explore benefits of hallucinogenic drugs to patients with terminal illnesses - The Guardian 12th August 2008
Scientists are exploring the use of psychedelic drugs such as LSD to treat a range of ailments from depression to cluster headaches and obsessive compulsive disorder. The first clinical trial using LSD since the 1970s began in Switzerland in June. It aims to use "psychedelic psychotherapy" to help patients with terminal illnesses come to terms with their imminent mortality and so improve their quality of life.
Why elderly joggers just keep on running - The Times 12th August 2008
California Couch potatoes might not like to hear it, but running regularly has long-term health benefits that last well into old age, according to a study. Elderly joggers remained fit and active for longer than non-runners and were half as likely to die early, scientists at the University of California at Stanford found. They were also less likely to succumb to age-related illnesses, including heart disease, cancer and neurological disorders.
Immunotherapy: could it be the cure for cancer? - The Telegraph 12th August 2008
The body's own defences could be the key to defeating the disease, reports Roger Highfield It sounds like a hippy approach to medicine: everyone has the power within them to heal cancer and all we have to do is to find a way to unlock our inner potential.
Brussels flies into row over pesticides - The Telegraph 12th August 2008
The European Commission has been accused of meddling with UK farming after it introduced plans that would lead already cash-strapped consumers to face further food price increases. Crop spraying Yield curve: EU rejects criticism of latest pesticide proposals The proposals, agreed by EU farm ministers in June, will see 15pc of pesticides used by UK farmers phased out or banned across the continent.
D stands for 'death-defying' in the vitamin stakes - Daily Mail 12th August 2008
People who do not get enough vitamin D are at greater risk of dying from all causes, say researchers. A study of 13,000 people found a 26 per cent extra risk of death after nine years among those with the lowest vitamin D levels compared with the highest.
Balloons placed in the bladder can cure stress incontinence - Daily Mail 11th August 2008
Two balloons implanted into the bladder in as little as ten minutes may be a new solution for stress incontinence. Research shows that seven out of 10 women were helped by the therapy, which is designed to increase pressure around the bladder neck.
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Lifestyle change needed to stem tide of diabetes - Liverpool Daily Post 12th August 2008
ONE in nine deaths in Merseyside and Cheshire can be attributed to diabetes, according to research from a leading charity. The new figures, compiled by Diabetes UK, shows over 11% of deaths among 20 to 79-year-olds in the area in 2005 were because of the disease.
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‘Taking this drug away is a death sentence’ - Liverpool Daily Post 11th August 2008
A KIDNEY cancer sufferer from Southport says the potential withdrawal of a drug in Merseyside is a “death sentence” for many people with the disease. New preliminary guidelines from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) says the drug Sutent (Suntinib) is not cost-effective, and Merseyside PCTs which currently offer it will be reviewing their policies.
Travellers claim police action at Alder Hey hospital unfair - Liverpool Echo 11th August 2008
A GROUP of travellers accused of running riot at Alder Hey children’s hospital today claimed they were being harassed by police while visiting a critically-ill teenager. Police were stationed at the hospital full-time after a string of complaints from parents and staff about abuse, threats and damage at the West Derby hospital.
Pioneering treatment to help save sight - Liverpool Echo 11th August 2008
THE sight of thousands of people in Merseyside is to be saved or improved by a revolutionary treatment. More than 100 patients each year will benefit from the treatment for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) – the most common cause of poor sight – from the ophthalmology team at St Helens hospital.
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NHS trust showcases its achievements - Carlisle News & Star 11th August 2008
CUMBRIA Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is hosting an event to showcase its work and plans. The trust provides mental health and learning disability services. It scored “excellent” in official ratings last year. The open event, entitled Dare to Dream, will follow its annual general meeting at Rheged, near Penrith, on Thursday October 2.
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£150,000 bait for hospital boss - Manchester Evening News 12th August 2008
A TROUBLED hospital trust hopes a £150,000 salary offer will help it land a new permanent chief executive after a two-year wait. Bosses of Trafford Healthcare Trust say they hope the money will attract a `highly-talented' candidate to join them at an `exciting' time for the trust.
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UK Health News
Monday, August 11, 2008
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Freedom of Information Act shows postcode lottery in cancer care - The Guardian 12th August 2008
A postcode lottery in cancer care was revealed yesterday in returns under the Freedom of Information Act showing where in England patients are most likely to be refused innovative drugs that could extend their lives. The Rarer Cancers Forum found hundreds of cases of patients being denied drugs recommended by their doctors.
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Letters: Big bother - The Guardian 9th August 2008
Unequal access to drugs 'leaves patients to die' - The Independent 11th August 2008
One in four NHS patients denied latest cancer drugs - The Times 11th August 2008
Over 1,000 cancer patients refused drugs by NHS managers - The Sunday Telegraph 10th August 2008
NHS drugs body Nice bullied, ignored and patronised patients, say charities - The Telegraph 11th August 2008
Diabetes link to one in 10 deaths - The Guardian 12th August 2008
Diabetes indirectly kills one person in 10 in England, new figures released yesterday show. It causes strokes, heart attack and kidney failure, and often goes unreported on death certificates, causing people to underestimate the disease.
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Huw Davies: Living with OCD - The Guardian 12th August 2008
Imagine if you couldn't have a conversation without counting the words spoken, if you added an extra letter to every word you wrote, or washed your hands 50 times a day. Huw Davies on battling Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
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Yvonne Roberts: Social innovation has huge potential - The Guardian 12th August 2008
Social innovation is the new global obsession. It might be a nebulous idea but it has huge potential Lord Darzi, following his review of the NHS, is so enamoured of its powers that he's set aside a £50m annual budget to encourage its spread. Governments in Singapore, Denmark and China have also invested generously. Social innovation seems to be the new Klondike. But what exactly is it, and does it have the potential to trigger political change on a scale ruling parties might prefer not to imagine?
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What's the best way to get pregnant? - The Guardian 12th August 2008
For the one in seven UK couples struggling to conceive, the news that common treatments will do nothing to increase their chances will come as a blow. A report in the BMJ has suggested that fertility clinics should send patients home empty-handed after a study by Siladitya Bhattacharya, a professor of reproductive medicine at the University of Aberdeen, found that the fertility pill clomifene and intrauterine insemination (IUI) were no more effective than recommendations on when couples should have sex.
Chaos as £13bn NHS computer system falters - The Observer 11th August 2008
A £13bn overhaul of the NHS records system has suffered so many problems that hospitals have struggled to keep track of people requiring operations, patients with suspected MRSA and potential cancer sufferers needing urgent consultations. Glitches in the roll-out of the Connecting for Health computer system have also resulted in delays at accident and emergency departments, soaring complaints and failures to identify child-abuse victims.
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£13bn NHS computer system failures affecting patient care - The Sunday Telegraph 10th August 2008
The new cancer trial that offers hope to thousands - The Observer 11th August 2008
Across the country 800 terminally ill men and women have agreed to be human guinea pigs in a hunt for new cancer drugs. Here, for the first time, patients and doctors tell Denis Campbell about the medical revolution that offers hope and helps speed the discovery of new treatments
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Andrew Dismore: The time is right for a bill of rights - The Observer 11th August 2008
When personal finances are being squeezed by rising prices and economic fears, debates about bills of rights could seem irrelevant. But it is at such times that the lack of agreed values is most felt. As the experience of other countries shows, a national bill of rights, articulating fundamental rights and freedoms, can be a powerful statement of that society's aspirations.
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Doctor, doctor: Dr Tom Smith answers your questions - The Guardian 9th August 2008
Dr Tom Smith answers your questions on the risks of MDMA, pets vs spouses and conceiving naturally at 43
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Sandwich chain supplier linked to outbreak of salmonella - The Independent 9th August 2008
A fatal salmonella outbreak across the British Isles that has infected 90 people may be linked to sandwiches sold by Subway. Laboratory tests have shown a link between cases of illness and one of the US sandwich chain's ingredient suppliers. Cooked beef, chicken and bacon have been impounded at Dawn Farm Foods in Co Kildare, Ireland.
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Firefighter's healthy lung removed - The Telegraph 11th August 2008
A firefighter's healthy lung was allegedly removed unnecessarily after he was wrongly diagnosed with cancer, it has emerged.
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Doctors prepare to carry out Britain's first hand transplant - The Telegraph 11th August 2008
The UK's first hand transplant and Europe's first voicebox transplant are being planned by British doctors, the Daily Telegraph has learned.
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Miracle gel made from seaweed 'could save thousands from heart attacks' - Daily Mail 11th August 2008
A gel made from seaweed could save the lives of thousands of people who suffer major heart attacks. The substance is injected in liquid form into the area of the heart where the tissue has been damaged by an attack.
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The nurses who will come knocking at the homes of fat primary school pupils - Daily Mail 11th August 2008
Nurses will make unannounced visits to the homes of obese primary school children to try to sign them up to a weight- loss programme. The controversial 'cold-call' project is aimed at securing the help of parents in getting children to reach a healthier weight.
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A mothers sacrifice in family hit by cancer curse: She delayed her own treatment to be strong for her son - Daily Mail 8th August 2008
Melissa Bowmer was prepared for a gruelling programme of treatment when she was told she had cancer. But just a few weeks later her four-year-old son Llewelyn was diagnosed with cancer too. Mrs Bowmer then made a sacrifice only a mother could make - she delayed her own chemotherapy by six months so she could help her son through his treatment for a rare brain tumour.
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I ignored a lump because I believed breastfeeding made me safe from cancer. Now I'm lucky to be alive - Daily Mail 10th August 2008
When Jayne Goss noticed a small lump as she breastfed her three-month-old son Raphael, she dismissed it as a blocked milk duct and forgot all about it. Three months later she finally got it checked out, only to learn she had a highly aggressive form of cancer and would need a double mastectomy.
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'Wine' drug that combats ageing and Alzheimer's could be on sale within five years - Daily Mail 9th August 2008
A drug that holds back the ageing process and prevents cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer's, could be on sale within five years, scientists claim. They say it could also be used to stop the onset of diabetes, reinvigorate patients and give them more stamina.
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Why your 'flushing' could be a red alert to see your doctor - Daily Mail 9th August 2008
It is a normal body response that may occur when we are embarrassed, angry, excited, or experiencing other strong emotions. But 'flushing' - when the face, ears, neck and, occasionally, upper chest, take on a red colour, accompanied by a hot feeling - can also be a sign of a more serious underlying condition.
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Why it's better to snack on a chocolate bar than a cereal bar ...and other facts that debunk the myths about 'healthy foods' - Daily Mail 9th August 2
It's easy to be confused about the nutritional value of 'healthy' products sold in supermarkets and health-food stores. Here we debunk the myths about healthy eating and gives you the facts.
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Organic produce is no better for you than food grown with pesticides, new research claims - Daily Mail 8th August 2008
Organic produce contains no more nutrients than food grown using pesticides and chemicals, researchers say. It can cost up to a third more, but is merely a 'lifestyle choice' for consumers, the study found.
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Campaign targets 'missing' 3m children without MMR jab to head off measles epidemic - Daily Mail 8th August 2008
Millions of children who have missed MMR jabs are being targeted in a campaign to head off a measles epidemic. Extra vaccine and more cash is being promised to NHS trusts in a bid to stem a rise in cases of the illness. In June, a 17-year-old from West Yorkshire became the second person to die of measles in Britain in 16 years.
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The wonder pill that may stop dieters putting weight back on - Daily Mail 7th August 2008
A pill has been shown to stop the natural tendency to pile the pounds back on after a diet. Researchers found alpha-lipoic acid, a dietary supplement widely sold in health food shops, also had an anti-ageing effect.
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Two fertility drugs recommended for childless couples are virtually useless, says study - Daily Mail 8th August 2008
Two fertility treatments recommended for childless couples are of little help, says a study. It found those using the fertility drug Clomid or a form of artificial insemination did not have a significantly higher chance of conceiving than couples not having treatment.
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Mother outraged after NHS only agrees to fix hearing in one ear of her deaf daughter - Daily Mail 7th August 2008
An angry mother and local GP has accused health managers of operating a postcode lottery because they will fund only one cochlear implant for her profoundly deaf child. Hampshire Primary Care Trust is allowing one implant at the cost of £33,000 for 11-month-old Ellie Wheatley, from Winchester in Hampshire. But the trust will not fund the extra £18,000 discounted device for the toddler's other ear.
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Emergency £1.8m fund launched to halt measles epidemic in UK - Daily Mail 7th August 2008
Health bosses have launched an urgent measles vaccination campaign in an attempt to stop the deadly disease sweeping through Britain. Ministers have set up a £1.8 million immunisation fund amid fears the epidemic could rage out of control among vulnerable children.
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The new over-the-counter test and cure for chlamydia - Daily Mail 7th August 2008
A new testing kit and pill for chlamydia which can be bought by teenagers over the counter has been attacked for promoting promiscuity. The £45 service will allow patients who test positive for the sex infection to get the antibiotic azithromycin for themselves and any partners at pharmacies, without seeing a doctor.
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All children under five should get flu jab to cut infection rate by 70%, says study - Daily Mail 5th June 2008
Giving children a flu vaccination could prevent the virus spreading among older people, research suggests. The Health Protection Agency said an annual jab for children under five could help protect the whole population.
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Could your ipod wreck your hearing? - Daily Mail 5th August 2008
Like many of his generation, Tom Wilkinson spent much of his teens and early 20s immersed in the 100-plus decibel surroundings of nightclubs and gigs. When he wasn't listening to live music, Tom was constantly plugged into his MP3 player with the volume turned up.
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Weather alerts boost lung health - BBC Health News 10th August 2008
A scheme warning people with a lung condition about weather which could have an effect on them has cut hospital admissions for the problem by a fifth. The Met Office alerts tell people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) when cold weather is due.
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TV ad 'to bust heart attack myth' - BBC Health News 10th August 2008
Heart health campaigners have made a two-minute TV advert aimed to show the "Hollywood" version of a heart attack is usually a long way from the reality. The British Heart Foundation ad will be shown just once - on ITV1 at 2117 BST on Sunday 10 August.
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Low marks linked to schizophrenia - BBC Health News 9th April 2008
Poor performance at school could indicate an increased risk of later developing schizophrenia, a study says. UK and Swedish researchers followed more than 900,000 children born between 1973 and 1983.
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'I can surf but I can't have a bath' - BBC Health News 9th April 2008
History student Bex Dawes is a keen surfer, who loves nothing better than taking her board out and catching some waves. But despite her love of water Bex, aged 21, from Newport, Gwent, is unable to take a bath. For Bex has epilepsy and has an average of three seizures each day, when she will blank out for seconds at a time.
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Divers guilty of NHS bends fraud - BBC Health News 8th August 2008
Two divers have been found guilty of swindling £250,000 from the NHS for treating bogus cases of the bends. David Welsh, 49, from Plymstock, Devon, and 43-year-old Michael Brass from Liverpool paid strangers to pose as divers needing decompression treatment.
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Beijing heat 'could clear minds' - BBC Health News 8th August 2008
Competitors at this year's Olympics might find an unexpected benefit in the hot, humid Beijing conditions. Conventional wisdom says athletes, particularly those from cooler countries, find it tough to adapt to competing in high temperatures.
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Flu pandemic 'gravest risk to UK' - BBC Health News 8th August 2008
A flu pandemic is the gravest threat to UK security as it could claim up to 750,000 lives, according to a new National Risk Register. The document, published for the first time, weighs up the likelihood of threats and their potential impact.
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California: Marijuana law goes up in smoke as federal agents raid dispensaries - The Guardian 11th August 2008
United States Federal agency takes on California over cannabis use for health reasons The young woman in the bikini top and bottle tan was having a good time in the bright afternoon sun.
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Vampire bats blamed for Venezuela rabies outbreak - The Independent on Sunday 10th August 2008
At least 38 Venezuelans have died as a result of a suspected outbreak of rabies spread by bites from vampire bats. Laboratory tests have yet to confirm the cause, but the symptoms point to rabies, say researchers from the University of California at Berkeley and other medical experts.
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Detox helps to keep mice livers young - The Times 11th August 2008
Deterioration of the liver can be prevented by improving the way it rids itself of toxins, scientists have found. Mice given a double dose of a gene involved in the “detoxing” process had the livers of striplings, even when they reached the mouse equivalent of 80 years old. Although the technique used is impracticable for improving human health, it could point the way to drugs that would have the same effect.
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Cell change 'keeps organs young' - BBC Health News 10th August 2008
Researchers may have found a way to halt the biological clock which slows down our bodies over the decades. A US team thinks it may have found the genetic levers to help boost a system vital to cleaning up faulty proteins within our cells.
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Big heart secrets 'aid athletes' - BBC Health News 8th August 2008
A study of top rowers has found how a naturally-produced hormone can actually make their hearts bigger and more powerful. Italian scientists measured the hormone IGF-1 in 38 people, half of them rowers.
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Dachshund gene 'blindness clue' - BBC Health News 8th August 2008
A genetic mutation in dachshunds could help uncover the roots of some inherited forms of blindness in humans, say scientists. Cone-rod dystrophies are caused by progressive cell loss in the retina.
Aids conference ends with warning - BBC Health News 8th August 2008
An international Aids conference has ended with a warning that commitments made by wealthy countries to fund access to HIV treatment may not be met. The charity Oxfam said there had been an air of complacency from government and UN officials at the Mexico meeting.
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The challenges ahead for HIV care - BBC Health News 8th August 2008
As an international conference of HIV and Aids experts comes to a close in Mexico City, Genevieve Edwards of the Terrence Higgins Trust reports on what has been learnt about the latest challenges in the fight against the disease.
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The little boy with three mums (and they're ALL sisters) - Daily Mail 5th June 2008
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
When Alex Patrick’s second child is born this autumn, she is looking forward more than anything else to introducing the baby to his or her three-year-old brother Charlie. ‘Charlie’s very excited about it,’ says 35-year-old Alex. ‘He understands that the baby’s coming from the same, special place that he did – his Auntie Helen’s tummy.’
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