National and International News
NHS in England heading for 750m deficit, say Tories - The Guardian 11/02/06
The government was accused last night of burying evidence of a worsening financial crisis in the NHS that is starting to seriously damage the quality of patient care.
One-hour breast implant operations raise concerns - The Guardian 11/02/06
Medical experts expressed safety concerns last night after it emerged that a clinic is offering one-hour breast implant operations that can be carried out in the patient's lunch hour.
Get up close and personal to stay healthy - The Guardian 11/02/06
It can help to reduce stress, soothe pain, cure insomnia, lower the risk of a heart attack and, as if that wasn't enough, make your hair shine and your wrinkles vanish.
Emma Mitchell: Vitamins matter - The Guardian 11/02/06
For the past four months, I have experienced an unpleasant burning sensation that travels from the roof of my mouth to the tongue and back. My doctor has prescribed vitamin B and antifungal medication, but there has been no improvement.
Seven things you should know about omega oils - The Guardian 11/02/06
We've all heard that they're incredibly good for you, but have you ever wondered why? Peta Bee finds out
Anne Karpf: I dream of sleep (or would if I could) - The Guardian 11/02/06
One way or another I've been obsessed with sleep for at least 16 years. Of course when you first have a child this obsession is no more than you expect. So fanatic did I become about my stolen hours in those early months that, when my mother rang and asked how my night had been, I'd actually tell her - every waking spell, every hour of sleep. Nobody can love you enough to need to hear all that.
Meet Jane, Sue, Carole and Julie - the guerrilla mothers - The Guardian 11/02/06
They spent years fighting lone battles on behalf of their disabled children, with little success. Then they joined forces - and went to war. Dea Birkett reports on the grassroots movement they started that is about to go national.
Row revealed over vCJD compensation scheme - The Guardian 11/02/06
The Department of Health has written to a leading City law firm accusing it of misleading the families of victims of CJD over 3m in legal fees it has charged for running the government's compensation scheme.
Question of the week: does cost of childcare make sensible for parents to stay at home? - The Guardian 11/02/06
Despite the government's laudable efforts to improve childcare provision, many parents with young children continue to face a dilemma: does it make more financial sense to stay at home rather than return to work?
Resistance is worse than useless - The Guardian 11/02/06
Let me take you back to 2005, and one of several Bad Science stories about Susan Clark and her What's The Alternative column in the Sunday Times. She's no longer in that post - if you're lucky we'll have room to talk about her successor soon - but she stood out on account of her penchant for giving advice on the bigger diseases: MRSA, malaria, that kind of thing.
Ritalin heart attacks warning urged after 51 deaths in US - The Guardian 11/02/06
Move to highlight risks of drug prescribed to hyperactive children
Determining Prevalence Of ADHD Adverse Medication Events, AACAP And APA Pledge To Work With FDA - Medical News Today 11/02/06
Big mistakes - The Times 11/02/06
BET YOU a big fat doughnut that you are more confused this week about food labelling than you were last week.
Double your vision - The Times 11/02/06
MAGIC glasses might sound the stuff of Beano cartoons, but an American inventor has created a high-tech pair of superspecs that can enable you to see twice as far as anyone with perfect vision.
The cure for bad backs, by royal appointment - The Times 11/02/06
Sarah Key’s method of stamping out pain is so successful that the Prince of Wales is a big fan. So is Ginny Dougary, after joining a week-long course that brought tears as well as laughter
Under the microscope - The Times 11/02/06
After a string of scandals, a new watchdog is being set up to spot fraud in scientific studies. John Naish reports
Junk medicine: creationism - The Times 11/02/06
The creationist movement, and its cloak of “intelligent design” theory, is usually seen in Britain as a peculiarly American phenomenon. Most of us are relieved that our schools have not had to fight off a lobby seeking to deny the facts of evolution and enforce teaching of theocratic dogma in its place.
A sleep coach for sweet dreams - The Times 11/02/06
Can a supernanny-style sleep consultant really make broken nights a thing of the past? Leah Hardy finds out
Trying to kiss it better - The Times 11/02/06
Can a candlelit dinner ruin your relationship? Andrew G Marshall on the perils of romantic gestures
A-Z of relationships: Z is for zilch - The Times 11/02/06
Ever had the feeling that you’re not getting what you want? Or, even worse, that your partner is giving you nothing? The more attentive, generous and loving you are, the more they ought to reciprocate and treat you right. Instead, all you get is zilch.
Lunchtime fix: Indian head massage - The Times 11/02/06
When it comes to sybaritic pleasures, our poor bonces are often left out in the cold. But heads can be home to a lot of stress. Tension headaches, teeth grinding, jaw pain, and sore eyes are typical symptoms and, according to Nicola Robinson, a professor of complementary therapy at Thames Valley University, they can be alleviated by an Indian head massage. She says that “our nerves travel up and down the spinal cord to and from our brain, so the head is a key place to focus when managing stress.”
Agony and ecstasy: sex advice - The Times 11/02/06
My wife of 25 years and I are very excited about the prospect of swinging. Any last-minute advice?
At your table: love bites - The Times 11/02/06
It should be all light on the big night
What's up doc? Rectal examination - The Times 11/02/06
Why bother? I’d hope that he’s already explained before inviting you to lie on your left side with your knees up and your pants down, while he lubricates his favoured index finger. If not, you’re in for a surprise because that digit is about to explore your rectum. There are two main reasons why your GP might subject you to this indignity. One: you have some symptoms suggesting a bowel problem, such as anal pain, lumps, bleeding from the back passage or a change in the way your bowels are working. Two: in a man, signs of prostate trouble, such as a poor urinary stream or passing water frequently.
Spa for couples: loving treatment: not a hint of sleaze - The Times 11/02/06
Sarah Vine and her MP husband Michael Gove get the hands-on treatment in a London spa
They're living their dream - The Times 11/02/06
Jumping off the conventional career ladder to retrain as a complementary therapist requires a leap of faith and financial sacrifice. Meet three practitioners who made the break
Italy and Greece report first bird flu cases - The Telegraph 11/02/06
Italy and Greece have both said that the deadly H5N1 bird flu strain had been detected in swans in their countries — the first cases reported in the European Union.
Bird Flu Confirmed In Southern Italy And Greece - Medical News Today 11/02/06
Disinfectant cleans up crime estate - The Telegraph 11/02/06
Police in the heart of the Home Secretary's constituency are handing out smelly disinfectant in an attempt to clean up crime on a troubled estate.
Revealed, how love makes a woman's weight yo-yo - Daily Mail 11/02/06
Women were given new food for thought yesterday about their weight. Apparently, it's not what you eat that dictates your size - it's love, or the lack of it. A lady's weight fluctuates according to the state of her relationship, says a study.
British women die before their time - Daily Mail 10/02/06
British women die younger than those in almost every other European country, according to new figures.
Kissing raises danger of teenage meningitis - Daily Mail 10/02/06
French kissing nearly quadruples the risk of teenagers and students developing meningitis, research suggests.
Third vCJD patient linked to blood transfusion - Daily Mail 10/02/06
A third case of the human form of mad cow disease has been linked with a blood transfusion.
Burger giant admits hidden fatty extras - Daily Mail 10/02/06
McDonald's has revealed its fries have concealed a fatty secret.
'Super-docs' call for recognition - BBC Health News 11/02/06
He calls himself a member of the lost tribe - an under-appreciated group of doctors working at the coal face of the NHS.
Heart patients 'driving to A&E' - BBC Health News 11/02/06
One-in-14 men having a heart attack drove themselves to hospital, Irish research suggests.
How sperm can go into overdrive - BBC Health News 11/02/06
Researchers have identified a key component of the mechanism sperm use to speed up their progress to the egg.
How Sperm Crack The Whip - Medical News Today 11/02/06
UN urges Nigeria bird flu action - BBC Health News 10/02/06
Nigeria must step up its measures to prevent further spread of the deadly bird flu virus, the UN has warned.
Dentist jailed for 200,000 fraud - BBC Health News 10/02/06
A dentist who defrauded the NHS of 200,000 has been jailed for 18 months.
NHS dentist jailed for 300,000 fraud - The Telegraph 11/02/06
Bird flu claims new Asia victims - BBC Health News 10/02/06
An Indonesian woman has died and another is seriously ill after local tests showed they had the deadly H5N1 bird flu strain, health officials say.
Free child dental care 'threat' - BBC Health News 10/02/06
Dentists in some parts of England are telling parents they will no longer offer free treatment for children.
Early Lung Cancer Diagnosis Facilitated With New Navigation Technology - Medical News Today 11/02/06
U.S. hospitals are increasingly embracing the use of a novel imaging technology known as the superDimension®/Bronchus System (SDBS) which enables diagnosis of lung cancer at an earlier stage than the conventional technique.
Children With Severe Epilepsy Need Special Precautions At Home To Prevent Accidents - Medical News Today 11/02/06
Children with severe epilepsy need special safety measures at home to lower their risk of having an accident, states a Seminar in this week's issue of The Lancet.
Excisional Treatments For Pre-cancerous Cervical Cells Could Lead To Problems In Pregnancy - Medical News Today 11/02/06
Some of the techniques used to treat abnormal cervical cells could increase a woman's risk of problems in pregnancy, concludes a meta-analysis in this week's issue of The Lancet.
How Traumatized Children Survive Against The Odds - Academy Meeting Focuses On The Resilience Of Children - Medical News Today 11/02/06
While news about child abuse and children suffering in the face of natural disasters regularly makes headlines around the world and stories often emphasize the need to protect children because they are the most vulnerable citizens in society, little has been said about the success of those children who manage to survive and overcome instances of abuse, poverty, war and natural disasters.
First Paranoid Schizophrenia, And Later Bipolar Disorder - A Personal Account - Medical News Today 11/02/06
You may have been watching a loved one struggling with mental illness. If you have ever wondered what they were actually thinking, and how they were really feeling, this book might give you some insight.
Concern Over Lack Of Services For People With Eating Disorders In Wales - Plaid Cymru - Medical News Today 11/02/06
Plaid Cymru shadow Health and Social Services Helen Mary Jones AM today expressed her anger at the lack of progress made by the Labour Assembly Government in developing services for people suffering from eating disorders.
Health Industry Insights(TM) Survey Reveals Consumers Are Unaware Of US Government's Electronic Health Records Initiative - Medical News Today 11/02/06
Report Calls For Increased Communication on Digital Health Care Initiatives.
A Nap Is A Doctor's "indispensable" Secret Weapon To Survival When Working Nights - Medical News Today 11/02/06
A nap is a doctor's "indispensable" secret weapon to survival when working nights, states an editorial in this week's issue of The Lancet.
Metabolic Acidosis Associated With An Increased Mortality Rate - Medical News Today 11/02/06
Critically ill patients with metabolic acidosis are twice as likely to die as patients who do not have metabolic acidosis. A study published today in the journal Critical Care shows that the mortality rate among patients with metabolic acidosis is highest for patients with lactic acidosis - abnormally acidic blood pH due to an excess of lactate - but it is also considerable for patients with strong ion gap (SIG) acidosis - acidosis due to an excess of unidentified ions. Both lactate and SIG should be carefully monitored in intensive care units (ICUs).
People Falling Ill Near To Chickens With Bird Flu, Nigeria - Medical News Today 11/02/06
Two people have fallen ill with flu-like symptoms near the Sambawa Farms, Kaduna, where chickens are infected with the lethal H5N1 Bird Flu virus strain. Nigerian authorities say they are trying to establish whether these two people have been infected with the bird flu virus.
Concerns Over Influence Of Tobacco Firms In Low Income Countries - Mexico, Uzbekistan And Editorial - Medical News Today 11/02/06
This week's BMJ raises serious concerns about the influence of global tobacco companies when they invest in low income countries.
Worst Off Will Be Most At Risk Under Partial Smoking Ban, UK - Medical News Today 11/02/06
A partial as opposed to a full ban on smoking in public places could put those living in the most socially deprived areas of the country at most risk, warn doctors writing in this week's BMJ.
Eating Less Fat May Lower Breast-cancer Risk, Have Little Impact On Colon-cancer, Heart-disease Risk - Medical News Today 11/02/06
Adopting a low-fat diet in later life and following such a regimen for nearly a decade does not appear to have a significant impact on reducing the overall risk of breast cancer, colorectal cancer or heart disease, according to a Women's Health Initiative study that involved nearly 50,000 postmenopausal women across the United States. The results of the federally funded dietary modification study will be published in a series of three papers - two with lead authors at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and all three involving co-authors from the Hutchinson Center - in the Feb. 8 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, or JAMA.
Low-fat Diet's Benefits For Women Less Than Expected, Stanford Researcher Says - Medical News Today 11/02/06
National Study Finds No Effect From Reducing Total Dietary Fat - Medical News Today 11/02/06
Case Biologists Show That What A Neuron Can Do Is A Function Of Mechanical Context - Medical News Today 11/02/06
The brain as command center for bodily movement was too simple an idea, thought the Russian physiologist Nicolas Bernstein some 60 years ago. After studying human movements for years, Bernstein pointed out in 1940 that the great flexibility of the body, coupled with unexpected events in the world, meant that the nervous system had to prepare the body in advance for what might happen next.
Course Of Bipolar Disorder In Youths Described For The First Time - Medical News Today 11/02/06
Children with bipolar disorder experience more enduring and rapidly changing symptoms of the disease than adults, according to a study that, for the first time, maps the clinical progression of each of the three sub-types of bipolar disorder in children and adolescents. The findings were published today by researchers from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in the February issue of Archives of General Psychiatry. An estimated one out of 100 children and teenagers worldwide has bipolar disorder.
Genetic Factors Important In Development And Timing Of Alzheimer's Disease - Medical News Today 11/02/06
In a large study of twins, Alzheimer's disease appears to be highly heritable and genetic factors may also influence timing of the disease, according to an article in the February Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
Lung Cancer Survival Rates May Be Linked To Access To Care - Medical News Today 11/02/06
New research suggests that the lower survival rates of blacks with lung cancer may be explained by access to care. The study, by Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center researchers and colleagues is reported in the January issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Stable Polymer Nanotubes May Have A Biotech Future - Medical News Today 11/02/06
Scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have created polymer nanotubes that are unusually long (about 1 centimeter) as well as stable enough to maintain their shape indefinitely. Described in a new paper in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,* the NIST nanotubes may have biotechnology applications as channels for tiny volumes of chemicals in nanofluidic reactor devices, for example, or as the "world's smallest hypodermic needles" for injecting molecules one at a time.
Removing DNA Repair Gene Causes Metabolic Syndrome - Medical News Today 11/02/06
Removing a gene involved in repairing damaged DNA causes mice to develop the metabolic syndrome, researchers at Oregon Health & Science University have discovered.
Daily Injection Of Common Antiretroviral Drugs Found To Protect Monkeys From HIV, Study Says - Medical News Today 11/02/06
A daily injection of two commonly used antiretroviral drugs was found to protect monkeys from becoming infected by simian HIV, according to a CDC study presented Monday at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections in Denver, Reuters reports. Walid Heneine, a researcher at the agency, looked at rhesus monkeys that were injected with a version of Gilead Sciences' antiretroviral therapy Truvada -- which contains Viread, also known as tenofovir, and Emtriva, or emtracitibine. The monkeys then were exposed to SHIV daily for 14 days. The six monkeys that received daily antiretroviral injections did not acquire SHIV, while the nine that did not receive any injections all developed the virus. "Study authors believe the findings may be the strongest animal data yet suggesting that potent antiretrovirals given before HIV exposure may prevent sexual HIV transmission," a CDC statement said. However, researchers said that the drug doses given to the monkeys were different from the regimen commonly given to HIV-positive people and that further studies will determine how the findings pertain to humans (Fox, Reuters, 2/6).
Roche To Stop Selling Protease Inhibitor Fortovase Because Of Decreased Demand, New Formulation Of Similar Drug - Medical News Today 11/02/06
Switzerland-based pharmaceutical company Roche on Monday announced that as of Feb. 15 it will stop selling its protease inhibitor Fortovase -- known generically as saquinavir -- in the U.S. because of decreased demand for the drug and increased demand for a newer formulation of saquinavir, called Invirase, Reuters reports. The company in May 2005 announced plans to discontinue the drug (Reuters, 2/6). FDA in December 2004 approved 500 mg Invirase tablets, which are taken twice daily with 100 mg ritonavir as a "booster." A regimen of Invirase uses fewer pills than Fortovase, does not require refrigeration as Fortovase does and is better tolerated by the digestive system (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 5/20/05). Roche said the decision to stop selling Fortovase is voluntary and not a result of concerns about safety or efficacy. The company also said it made the decision in response to updated HIV treatment guidelines from HHS, which no longer recommends the drug be used as a component of a first- or second-line treatment regimen (Roche release, 2/6). Since Roche made the initial announcement last year, the company has been encouraging doctors not to start patients on Fortovase treatments (Reuters, 2/6).
MSF Calls On Gilead To Increase Access To Reduced-Cost Viread - Medical News Today 11/02/06
The international aid organization Medecins Sans Frontieres on Tuesday said Foster City, Calif.-based Gilead Sciences has not met its pledge to provide its antiretroviral drug Viread at reduced costs to programs in developing countries, the AP/South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports (Elias, AP/South Florida Sun-Sentinel, 2/7). The company in December 2002 announced that it would offer Viread, known generically as tenofovir, at-cost to all African nations and 15 other developing countries under its Gilead Access Program. The initiative allows qualified programs to purchase the drug at a lower price (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 3/18/05). Gilead later expanded the program to 97 developing countries, and in August 2005 the company announced it would lower the prices of Viread and its antiretroviral Truvada by 31% and 12%, respectively, for the access program. The company said the not-for-profit price of a 30-day supply is $17 for Viread and $26.25 for Truvada (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 8/31/05). According to MSF, Viread currently is available in six countries -- the Bahamas, Gambia, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and Zambia. The drug also is approved for use in Botswana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Namibia and Ghana, Gilead spokesperson Amy Flood said. She added that the company has submitted applications for the drug to be approved in 48 countries. "The process for regulatory approval has proven to be more time-consuming than we anticipated," Flood said, adding, "In some countries, our application has been pending for more than two years" (Bloomberg/Inside Bay Area.com, 2/8). However, Alexandra Calmy an HIV/AIDS specialist for MSF's Campaign for Access to Essential Medicines, in a release said, "[O]ther than issuing press releases and empty promises, [Gilead] has done little to ensure that the medicine is available to those who need it most in developing countries." According to MSF, Gilead did not complete its application to distribute Viread in South Africa until November 2005, almost three years after it originally announced the program (MSF release, 2/7). Flood said the program to date has provided reduced-cost antiretrovirals to about 20,000 HIV-positive people, adding, "This is a commitment that Gilead takes very seriously" (AP/South Florida Sun-Sentinel, 2/7).
St. Petersburg Times Examines National Campaign To Confront HIV/AIDS Stigma In Russia - Medical News Today 11/02/06
Russia's St. Petersburg Times on Tuesday examined the "Stay Human" campaign, a nationwide media effort in Russia focusing on fighting HIV/AIDS stigma, organized by the Moscow-based Focus-Media Foundation, the Russian Coordination Council for HIV-Positive People, the St. Petersburg Humanitarian Foundation Delo and several other foundations. The three-month campaign, which will use advertisements to spread its message across the country, uses the motto, "HIV isn't transmitted via friendship," the Times reports. According to the Federal Service for the Supervision of Consumer Rights and Human Welfare, the number of HIV infections in Russia has nearly doubled in the past five years, from 121 per 100,000 people in 2001 to 231 per 100,000 by the end of 2005. Yevgenia Alexeyeva, director of Focus-Media Foundation, said she was "stunned" by the widespread misconceptions about HIV/AIDS among people in Russia. According to research conducted in 10 regions of Russia by the foundation prior to the campaign, 70% of people believe that HIV can be transmitted through mosquito bites, 56% of respondents believe that HIV can be acquired by kissing an HIV-positive person, 40% believe HIV can be transmitted by coughing and sneezing, and more than 50% of respondents said it is possible to acquire HIV by sharing an office or workplace with an HIV-positive person, the Times reports.
Brazil To Distribute 25M Condoms During Carnival Festivities As Part Of Efforts To Stem HIV/AIDS Epidemic - Medical News Today 11/02/06
The Brazilian Ministry of Health's National Program for Sexually Transmitted Diseases plans to distribute 25 million condoms at no cost during the 2006 Carnival festivities, scheduled to take place Feb. 25-28, as part of its efforts to prevent the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases, ministry officials on Monday said, Reuters reports (Reuters, 2/6). The number of condoms to be distributed during this year's festivities is more than double the 11 million condoms distributed during last year's Carnival, according to the government news agency Radiobras (Associated Press, 2/6). Nongovernmental organizations will distribute the condoms at parades, dances, parties, hospitals, health stations and on the streets during the four days of the festival. The ministry aims to distribute at least 1.5 billion condoms throughout 2006, up from 251 million in 2005 and 154 million in 2004, Agencia Brasil reports (Lobo, Agencia Brasil, 2/7).
UCI To Study Mitochondrial Role In Diabetes, Obesity And Cardiovascular Disease - Medical News Today 11/02/06
Douglas C. Wallace, a founder of the field of human mitochondrial genetics, has received a $2.25 million award from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation to study how metabolic disorders may be triggered by genetic changes in the mitochondria, the power plants of human cells.
Scientists Call For Hepatitis Treatment Of Young Injection Drug Users - Medical News Today 11/02/06
In a recent study published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases, scientists from New York City, Baltimore, Seattle, and San Diego called for an immediate public health intervention to treat young injection drug users infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV). In a careful review of over 400 individuals who tested positive for hepatitis C virus, 96% had conditions which would typically result in denial of treatment, even though they and society as a whole would benefit from such treatment.
Paternalism Not To Blame For Failure To Implement Resuscitation Policies - Medical News Today 10/02/06
Barriers to implementing a policy not to attempt resuscitation in acute medical admissions: Prospective, cross sectional study of a successive cohort; BMJ online first.
What Is Multiple Sclerosis? - Medical News Today 10/02/06
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease that attacks the central nervous system (brain, spinal cord and optic nerves). Nerve fibres are surrounded by MYELIN. Myelin protects the nerve fibres as well as helping conduct electrical impulses (helps the flow of electricity along the nervous system from the brain).
Turkish Scientist's Discovery Of How Proteins Work - Medical News Today 10/02/06
For his discovery of how proteins work within cells, Ahmet Yildiz, a regional winner from North America and the Grand Prize winner, today was named to receive the $25,000 Young Scientist Award, supported by GE Healthcare and the journal Science.
The Smoking Gun: Elastin Fragments Drive Emphysema - Medical News Today 10/02/06
Pulmonary emphysema is caused primarily by cigarette smoking, and the underlying cellular mechanisms are thought to involve smoke-induced activation of tissue degrading enzymes known as proteases. Elastases are proteases that specifically degrade the structural protein elastin and include enzymes such as MMP-12 (matrix metalloproteinase -12, also called macrophage metalloelastase), which is secreted by inflammatory cells called macrophages.
Sound Nutrition For Children Is An Unmet Human Right - Medical News Today 10/02/06
Experts gathered at the 2005 World Food Prize International Symposium to address the dual global challenges of malnutrition and obesity. The event marked the first time that this symposium focused on nutrition, rather than agriculture or food systems. Patrick Webb, academic dean of the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University, who organized the scientific symposium, spoke on "Child Malnutrition: Trends, Successes and Challenges" on behalf of the United Nations System Standing Committee on Nutrition.
Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Study Launched Nationwide By National Institutes Of Health - Medical News Today 10/02/06
The Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) -- a project developed by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) -- is seeking 800 older adults to participate in a study aimed at identifying biological markers of memory decline and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Ultimately, scientists hope that brain and biological changes can be detected before memory decline and other symptoms appear, allowing the effectiveness of drugs to be evaluated at the earliest possible time.
Chocolates Eaten More Often When They Are Clearly Visible - Out Of Sight Out Of Mouth - Medical News Today 10/02/06
When it comes to candy, it is out of sight, out of the mouth, a Cornell University researcher finds.
Inflammatory Reaction Drives Hormone Resistance In Cancer, Study Suggests - Medical News Today 10/02/06
In the February 10, 2006 Cell, researchers report new evidence to explain why prostate cancer and other hormone-dependent cancers may become resistant to hormone therapies. Their findings further suggest that a similar mechanism may play an essential role in reproductive physiology, including critical events of pregnancy.
Flu Media Coverage Influences Parents To Vaccinate Their Children - Medical News Today 10/02/06
Media coverage about influenza and the importance of flu shots influenced parents to vaccinate their children against the influenza virus, according to a study done by researchers and information officers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
Climate Change May Affect Length Of RSV Respiratory Infection Season - Medical News Today 10/02/06
Rising global temperatures over the past two decades may be responsible for a shortened season of a serious respiratory illness in the United Kingdom, according to an article in the March 1 issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases, now available online.
Visualizing Protein Interaction That May Initiate Viral Infection - Medical News Today 10/02/06
Biologists at Purdue University have taken a "snapshot" of a Velcro-like protein on a cell's surface just after it attached to the dengue virus, a linkup thought to initiate the early stages of infection.
Eat Your Vegetables And Lessen Your Chances Of Developing Cancer - Medical News Today 10/02/06
Need another reason to eat your vegetables? New research shows that some of them contain chemicals that appear to enhance DNA repair in cells, which could lead to protection against cancer development, say Georgetown University Medical Center researchers.
Safety Of Transporting Spent Nuclear Fuel And High-level Waste, National Academies Advisory - Medical News Today 10/02/06
If the U.S. Department of Energy opens a proposed repository for spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste at Yucca Mountain, Nevada, radioactive materials would be shipped there from over 70 sites in 31 states, and most of these shipments would likely pass through or near a major metropolitan area.
Parents Who Fight May Harm Children's Future Emotional Development - Medical News Today 10/02/06
How parents handle everyday marital conflicts has a significant effect on how secure their children feel, which, in turn, significantly affects their future emotional adjustment. This finding, from researchers at the universities of Notre Dame, Rochester (NY) and Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., was published in the January/February 2006 issue of the journal Child Development. It provides powerful new evidence regarding the impact of parental behavior on children's future behavior.
A Clue To Core Problem Of Neurodegenerative Disease And Cell Death - Medical News Today 10/02/06
Misfolded and damaged proteins are common to all human neurodegenerative diseases. Clumps of these aggregated proteins destroy neurons within the brain and cause disease. But explanations for the mechanism that actually causes cell death have varied widely, puzzling scientists and leading them to ask whether Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Huntington's and Creutzfeldt-Jakob diseases and familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are related diseases or very different diseases.
Technology Creates A Faster, More Sensitive AFM Capable Of Creating Nano Movies, Creating Material Properties Images - Medical News Today 10/02/06
While a microphone is useful for many things, you probably wouldn't guess that it could help make movies of molecules or measure physical and chemical properties of a material at the nanoscale with just one poke.
Infants Exposed To SSRIs Late In Pregnancy Experience Increased Risk For Breathing Disorder, Study Says - Medical News Today 10/02/06
Infants exposed late in a pregnancy to a group of antidepressants known as selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors are six times as likely as nonexposed infants to experience a heart and lung disorder called persistent pulmonary hypertension, according to a study published on Thursday in the New England Journal of Medicine, USA Today reports (Rubin, USA Today, 2/9). SSRIs include drugs such as Pfizer's Zoloft and Eli Lilly's Prozac, according to the New York Times (Carey, New York Times, 2/9). According to the Los Angeles Times, PPH is characterized by inadequate oxygen levels in the blood and in severe cases can result in deafness, neurological problems or death (Zarembo/Alonso-Zaldivar, Los Angeles Times, 2/9). According to the New York Times, an estimated 10% to 20% of PPH cases require the infant to be connected to an artificial lung (New York Times, 2/9). PPH occurs in one in 1,000 births, and most infants recover, the Los Angeles Times reports (Los Angeles Times, 2/9). Christine Chambers, an assistant professor at the University of California-San Diego, and researchers from Boston University and Harvard University between 1998 and 2003 looked at 377 women who had given birth to infants diagnosed with PPH. Researchers asked participants about their medical histories and any drugs they took while pregnant. The study finds that 3.7% of the infants had been exposed to SSRIs after 20 weeks' gestation, means exposed infants are six times as likely as nonexposed infants to be diagnosed with the condition (New York Times, 2/9). Researchers said no increased risk was found from SSRI use during the first half of pregnancy or in women taking other types of antidepressants (Nano, AP/Seattle Times, 2/8). Researchers wrote that SSRIs might deter the production of agents in newborns that assist blood vessels in dilation, causing insufficient absorption of oxygen and other respiratory problems. Reaction
Radiologic Signs More Than Double Sensitivity Of MRIs - Medical News Today 10/02/06
Radiologists can make a more accurate preoperative diagnosis of damage to knee cartilage by using four radiologic 'signs', a recent study found. Using the four signs to identify the extent and type of damage to knee cartilage makes interpreting MRIs with higher degrees of accuracy easier for any radiologist, regardless of their level of expertise.
Death-resistant T Cells In Female Mice With Lupus - Medical News Today 10/02/06
Proper defense of the body against germs requires the actions of specialized cells of the immune system, known as T cells. Activated T cells must eventually be silenced, or autoimmune diseases such as lupus can result. Researcher Alessandra Pernis and colleagues at Columbia University in New York now show that genetically modified mice that do not express a T cell protein called IBP (IFN regulatory factor-4-binding protein) develop spontaneous autoimmunity and lupus-like disease.
Mice Lacking Social Memory Molecule Take Bullying In Stride - Medical News Today 10/02/06
The social avoidance that normally develops when a mouse repeatedly experiences defeat by a dominant animal disappears when it lacks a gene for a memory molecule in a brain circuit for social learning, scientists funded by the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) have discovered. Mice engineered to lack this memory molecule continued to welcome strangers in spite of repeated social defeat. Their unaltered peers subjected to the same hard knocks became confirmed loners - unless the researchers treated them with antidepressants.
Eating Disorders - New Position Stand Issued On The Female Athlete Triad - Medical News Today 10/02/06
On the eve of the 2006 Winter Olympics, the International Olympic Committee Medical Commission has issued a Position Stand on the Female Athlete Triad which appears in the International Journal of Eating Disorders today. The article is available online to the general public via Wiley InterScience.
Scientists Re-engineer A Well-known Antibiotic To Counter Drug Resistance - Medical News Today 10/02/06
The scientists replaced a single atom from the molecular structure of vancomycin aglycon, a glycopeptide antibiotic that attacks the bacteria by inhibiting cell wall synthesis, significantly increasing the drug's spectrum of activity. In recent years, a number of the most common strains of enterococci have become resistant to vancomycin and use of the antibiotic has been under scrutiny. This re-engineering effort could help make the drug more effective in treating infections produced by vancomycin resistance enterococci (VRE), a serious and growing problem in the nation's hospitals.
Future Of Nutritional Genomics Is Teamwork - Medical News Today 10/02/06
Nutrigenomics experts worldwide have aligned, and they are calling for teamwork. José Ordovas, PhD, director of the Nutrition and Genomics Laboratory at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University joined more than eighty other leading researchers in the fields of nutrition and genetics to co-author a report outlining their strategy for maximizing the impact of nutrigenomics research on global poverty and health.
Testing Stem Cells For Peripheral Artery Disease - Indiana University School Of Medicine Has Begun Unique Clinical Trial - Medical News Today 10/02/06
.
Indiana University School of Medicine scientists have begun a unique clinical trial using stem cell injections as a treatment that could offer hope to tens of thousands of people who face sores, ulcers and even amputations due to severe peripheral artery disease.
Macrophage Signaling May Affect Hormone Resistance In Prostate Tumors - Medical News Today 10/02/06
Interaction between prostate cancer cells and immune cells called macrophages may be a source of inflammatory signals capable of impacting the effectiveness of androgen antagonists, the most common and effective treatment for prostate cancer, according to a new study by researchers at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine.
Levitra has mental health benefits, study suggests - Reuters 11/02/06
The impotence drug Levitra (also known as vardenafil) improves erectile function and depression in men with both disorders, research shows.
Medical staff morale key in bird flu outbreak: expert - Reuters 11/02/06
Hospitals must prepare their staff for the trauma of a bird flu epidemic or risk a collapse of morale and services at a time when they will be most needed, a medical expert said on Saturday.
S.Koreans grumble, French pleased about sex: survey - Reuters 10/02/06
Married South Korean women are the least happy with their sex lives, Japanese men are the most likely to try and dodge a certain sex problem and French men are the most fond of their frolicking, according to a recent survey.
Early response to anti-bulimia drug a good sign - Reuters 10/02/06
Women with the binge and purge eating disorder, bulimia nervosa, who respond to treatment with the antidepressant desipramine (Norpramin) within the first 2 weeks are likely to maintain that response over time, according to the findings of a new study.
Program gets adolescents to eat better, move more - Reuters 10/02/06
A home-based program that combines a doctor's advice with computer assessment, mailings and phone calls may help teens become more active and improve their diet, a study hints.
Wellbutrin plus reward helps cocaine users cut back - Reuters 10/02/06
Supplementing the antidepressant Wellbutrin (bupropion) with a reward system called "contingency management" (CM) can further reduce cocaine use in addicted subjects maintained with methadone, new research shows.
Prostate cancer testing rates poor in at-risk blacks - Reuters 10/02/06
African-American men with a family history of prostate cancer are less likely to be screened for the deadly disease than African-American men without a family history, survey results suggest.
Depression therapy worth it in elderly diabetics - Reuters 10/02/06
Treating depression in elderly individuals with diabetes is cost-effective, a study shows.
Whole grains good for the diabetic heart - Reuters 10/02/06
Women with type 2 diabetes who incorporate more whole grains, bran, and cereal fiber into their diets may reduce their risk of heart disease, according to a new study.
Cheshire and Mersey News
Fury as Ashworth pays out on Sky telly for patients - Liverpool Echo 10/02/06
THOUSANDS of pounds of NHS money have been spent installing satellite TV for patients at high security Ashworth hospital.
Chemical burns case closes accident unit - Wirral Chronicle 10/02/06
THE accident and emergency unit at a Wirral hospital closed for four hours after a man stumbled in covered with chemical burns.
Marking double success - Southport Visiter 10/02/06
MERSEY Regional Ambulance Service NHS Trust (MRAS) is celebrating a double success this week - response times have improved and more people in cardiac arrest have been resuscitated.
A&E services could move back to resort - Southport Visiter 10/02/06
EMERGENCY hospital services could be moved back to Southport as part of the controversial shake-up of Merseyside and Lancashire hospitals.
Children's A&E may yet return - Southport Visiter 10/02/06
Isn't this where A&E was before? - Liverpool Echo 09/02/06
Doctor is a hidden hero of the NHS - Southport Visiter 10/02/06
AN obstetrics and gynaecology specialist from South-port has been named a 'hidden hero of the NHS' by the British Medical Association.
Care trust to use 'wonder' cancer drug - Chester Chronicle 10/02/06
A CASH-STRAPPED health body is committed to providing an expensive drug for early stage breast cancer.
Government blamed for NHS deficit - Chester Chronicle 10/02/06
A PATIENTS watchdog has blamed the Government for a cash crisis at an NHS funding body.
Midwives project praised - Runcorn World 10/02/06
A DEDICATED team of midwives enjoyed a BAFTA-style night out in London after winning recognition at a prestigious awards ceremony.
Heroin tragedy - Crewe Guardian 10/02/06
A VULNERABLE teenager from Crewe died of a heroin overdose after social services housed her with her boyfriend, who was a known drug addict.
Nurse blasts health trust over cutbacks - Ellesmere Port Pioneer 09/02/06
A NURSE has slammed moves to close a hospital ward for two months.
Medication concerns at homes - Runcorn Weekly News 09/02/06
NEARLY half of all nursing and care homes fail to meet national minimum standards for how they give people medication prescribed by their doctors, according to a report published this week.
Union plans privatisation discussions - Runcorn Weekly News 09/02/06
TRADE union chiefs are to meet NHS bosses over plans to privatise a Runcorn supply depot which could lead to pay and job cuts.
Car park screenings for peace of mind - Runcorn Weekly News 09/02/06
ASDA Widnes has teamed up with the NHS to offer breast-screening services in its car park.
SAS doctors 'unknown NHS heroes' - Liverpool Echo 09/02/06
A group of doctors the majority of the public have never heard of carry out more than one in 10 operations in the UK each year, a report has revealed.
Cumbria and Lancashire News
Legal victory for cancer patient - Carlisle News & Star 10/02/06
A cancer patient who won the right to receive life saving drugs on the NHS believes he has set a precedent which will help others gain access to the same treatment.
GP still waiting for death probe outcome - Carlisle News & Star 10/02/06
A WEST Cumbrian doctor is still waiting to find out if he will be prosecuted a year after he was arrested following the death of a patient.
Dial-a-result scheme for Cumbria - Carlisle News & Star 09/02/06
CUMBRIA will lead a hi-tech revolution in healthcare which will see patients given vital test results within minutes at their GP’s surgery or even in their own homes.
Greater Manchester News
Quick-fix boob jobs over lunch - Manchester Evening News 10/02/06
WOMEN are having a quick-fix breast implant operations during their lunch breaks.
Sainsbury's move to in-store doctors - Manchester Evening News 10/02/06
SUPERMARKET group Sainsbury's today confirmed its interest in adding GP surgeries to branches across the country.
Dentists' anger over new NHS contract - Bury Times 10/02/06
DENTISTS claim Bury's NHS dental service has been plunged into crisis because of a controversial new contract being imposed on them.
Home care charges set to rise? - Bury Times 10/02/06
CHARGES for home care are set to rise as Bury Council struggles to balance its budget.
Brave Aimee in new battle for life - Bury Times 10/02/06
A TEENAGER who spent years battling cancer is fighting for her life once again after contracting a rare virus.
Grandad's anxious wait after heart test errors - Bury Times 10/02/06
GRANDAD David Filkins is facing an anxious wait to find out whether he was wrongly cleared of having a serious heart condition following a blunder at Fairfield Hospital.
Tele-medicine comes to the North-west - Bolton Evening News 10/02/06
PATIENTS can receive vital test results over the telephone rather that going to hospital under a revolutionary scheme launched in the North-west.
Fairfield Hospital boss resigns - Bolton Evening News 10/02/06
THE chairman of an NHS trust in charge of Bury's Fairfield Hospital which was heavily criticised in an independent report last year has resigned.
Town backs MMR jabs - Bolton Evening News 10/02/06
MORE children in Bolton have had the combined MMR jab than almost anywhere else in the region.
United outrage over baby unit closure plan - Bolton Evening News 10/02/06
DOCTORS and midwives have expressed outrage at plans to close down Fairfield Hospital's maternity department, including its treasured special care baby unit.
Firms sign up for bug battle - Bolton Evening News 10/02/06
TWO companies have joined the battle against deadly hospital superbug MRSA.
