Contents
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National News
Patients are a virtue - The Guardian 20/05/06
The NHS has become one of the most attractive places to work, as far as graduates are concerned. Liz Ford reveals Universum's annual survey of students' ideal employers
Why you should have a phone mast as close to your house as possible - The Guardian 20/05/06
I am routinely accused, in long and angry letters, of being in the pay of the pharmaceutical industry, the mobile phone industry and the government. Needless to say, I lap it up, and would never engage in similarly ad hominem attacks in return, since critiques of character and finance are a poor substitute for a sober analysis of the data.
Midwife-led birth centres threatened by cost cutting - The Guardian 20/05/06
More than a quarter of England's popular and successful midwife-led birth centres are being threatened with closure, in spite of government promises to give women more choice over how and where they have their babies.
If I had the time: Grasp some nettles - The Guardian 20/05/06
I've never been keen on nettles, particularly since I fell off a horse into a bed of them at a family gathering as a child, but there's more to nettles than just pain infliction, according to Caroline Ware of the Natural History Museum. She reckons nettles suffer from a bit of an image problem and, in an attempt to rectify the situation, environmentalists have declared this week Be Nice to Nettles Week with nettle-friendly events taking place around the country.
Interview: Karen Richardson of the Centre for Separated Families in York - The Guardian 20/05/06
Karen Richardson runs the small but visionary Centre for Separated Families in York - which is why this feminist single mother now finds herself campaigning to end discrimination against men
Case study: transforming people's health - The Guardian 20/05/06
Abdul Azad is an active member of Birmingham's Bangladeshi community and is involved in a variety of local initiatives both as an employee and volunteer, from anti-smoking organisations to interpreting services. He has a background in report writing and publishing.
Emma Mitchell: What can I do about chronic venous insufficiency? - The Guardian 20/05/06
When travelling in hot countries my ankles and feet often swell. My GP says it's chronic venous insufficiency, but doesn't have any suggestions. On long flights I wear support socks, take aspirin and have tried herbal remedies such as horse chestnut, but none of these strategies helps. I'm in my late 50s, and the problem has become apparent in the past four or five years.
Shorts: Eat Right update - The Guardian 20/05/06
It's time to check in with our two Eat Right competition winners. Emma Chaplin has made a fantastic start, losing a stone in just over a month. 'I've had some ups and downs,' she says, 'but despite the tricky bits - largely down to PMS giving me the appetite of a semi-starved bear - I have stuck to the programme. Small amounts of treats along with trying to eat enough of the right stuff not to get hungry seems to be working.' Trainee midwife Aine Gallagher isn't far behind, having lost 10lb. 'My motivation is high, because the plan is working,' she says. 'It's been a case of applying a different set of rules. Old rules = eat whatever I fancied whenever I fancied. New rules = eat three well-proportioned meals a day and a small snack. I haven't been hungry, or felt deprived - that's been the biggest surprise.' She's struggling to schedule in 'proper' exercise, but has incorporated more activity into her daily routine. 'Leaving for college a bit earlier and walking from the station to work makes a great start to my day,' she says. 'I'm looking forward to becoming fitter, stronger and leaner.'
Parents urged to keep the junk out of lunchboxes - The Times 20/05/06
PARENTS got a double helping of new rules yesterday telling them how to keep their children out of trouble at school.
Packed lunches are 'nutritional disaster' - Daily Mail 19/05/06
Gascoigne maps his path from sporting stardom to despair - The Times 20/05/06
ON THE pitch Paul Gascoigne was the man who could do anything with a football at his feet.
Women to act on youth disorder - The Times 20/05/06
Members of the Townswomen’s Guild are being asked to compile a dossier with the aim of persuading the Government to rewrite its policies on antisocial behaviour.
I've got the power - The Times 20/05/06
IT’S THE new generation game: a tiny implantable device could soon be transforming people into mini power stations.
Love is off the menu - The Times 20/05/06
If avoiding sex becomes an obsession you may be a sexual anorexic
The de Bono code - The Times 20/05/06
The man who invented lateral thinking tells John Naish why he is founding a new religion
Passing the label test - The Times 20/05/06
A new law will outlaw bogus health and nutrition claims. Kate Wighton reports on what it means for consumers
Take a good look at yourself - The Times 20/05/06
A remarkable new book charts the visualisation of the human body over 600 years. Nigel Hawkes reveals the inside story
Junk medicine: clinical trials - The Times 20/05/06
The results of medical research funded by the pharmaceutical industry often now meet with public suspicion. Controversy over drugs such as Vioxx and SSRI antidepressants, in which inconvenient safety data is alleged to have been covered up, has left many critics wondering how far profits influence the outcome of studies that big business pays for.
Dr Copperfield: inside the mind of a GP - The Times 20/05/06
Life on the wards just got tougher. It’s bad enough battling MRSA, bed shortages and arrogant consultants. Now, junior staff have to fight off gift-bearing patients and relatives. Because, according to news reports this week, managers at the Royal Cornwall Hospital NHS trust are performing a “chocolate audit”, the idea being that all presents given to staff must be logged as a proxy measure of patient satisfaction.
The perfectly awful idealist - The Times 20/05/06
It’s hard work living with an idealist, specially when she is a scornful teenager in whose eyes you can do no right.
Where kids can go wild - The Times 20/05/06
There aren’t many occasions when you would encourage your child to handle sharp knives, build fires or eat wild plants. But bushcraft courses not only get them outdoors and build confidence, but learning survival skills also helps to harness their rebellious instincts. We’ve tracked down the best courses for aspiring Ray Mears types.
Turn a darker shade of pale - The Times 20/05/06
Fake tan has come a long way from the mousses that left you with skin like a footballer’s wife. This year’s hot products are moisturisers with a hint of colour, which claim that you can build up a natural-looking glow without turning orange, staining clothes or getting streaky legs. Our guinea pigs put six of the best to the test and gave them marks (stars) out of five.
Agony and ecstasy: sex advice - The Times 20/05/06
I'm getting married this summer but sex with my fiancee has become dull and infrequent. Will it all be downhill with her from now on?
TB: spreading good news - The Times 20/05/06
In your reply to a letter from a reader concerned that routine BCG immunisations for children have been stopped (Body & Soul, April 1), you said: “TB is not very infectious.” If that is so, why did so many people die from it? Seventy years ago my husband’s mother and one of her sisters died from TB; 40 years later his stepmother and her brother developed TB but survived thanks to modern antibiotics. Are children really not at risk?
What's up doc? Asking you to poke your tongue out - The Times 20/05/06
Why bother? The doctor is, unsurprisingly, examining your tongue, checking its size, surface and movement.
Eco-worrier: planet-friendly taxis - The Times 20/05/06
Is it true that there are now green taxis?
Is it true that ... high blood pressure causes headaches? - The Times 20/05/06
Not unless you’re suffering from the vanishingly rare malignant hypertension, in which case, your blood pressure’s stratospherically high and you’re exhibiting other symptoms: you may have kidney problems or even suffer a stroke.
Going loco trying to keep the shopping local - The Times 20/05/06
How close to home can you buy fresh, locally-grown produce? Three urban foodies take up the challenge
At your table: bread - The Times 20/05/06
There’s nothing like a freshly made bread roll, still warm, with a smidgin of unsalted butter. You need only to look in supermarkets and delis to see that although what I call the plastic, tasteless, white sliced loaf can still be found, alongside it are wholemeal, wholegrain, sourdough, raisin and walnut, sun-dried tomato and potato breads, not to mention dark rye/pumpernickel-style varieties that taste almost treacly and are delicious thinly sliced and served with butter and wafer-thin ham or smoked salmon.
Menu mentor - The Times 20/05/06
Jane Clarke's weekly guide to nutricious but delicious eating out: Chinese takeaway
Getting satisfaction - The Times 20/05/06
Rolling Stones wife Jo Wood, 50, says an organic lifestyle keeps her fit for rock and roll
Surgeon used eBay to buy equipment - The Telegraph 20/05/06
A surgeon has upset hospital bosses by ordering medical equipment through the auction website eBay.
Schools to follow Jamie Oliver's recipe - The Telegraph 20/05/06
Your view: Should schools or parents take the blame for childhood obesity?
Churches can play key role, says Williams - The Telegraph 20/05/06
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, said yesterday that churches could play a unique role in the inner cities because they were not perceived as having vested interests to defend.
Seaside gets cleaner bill of health - The Telegraph 20/05/06
A record 120 beaches in England and Wales have been awarded Blue Flag status for their cleanliness and water quality. Seventy-seven of them are in England (20 more than last year) and 43 in Wales (an increase of five).
Taxman kicks away pensioners' healthcare crutch - The Telegraph 20/05/06
The cost of cover is set to rise for some retirees. Nina Montagu-Smith examines the options
Patient's NHS victory - The Telegraph 20/05/06
Waiting lists on the National Health Service and rationing for older patients were in the news again this week.
Travelling hopefully - The Times 20/05/06
Keep an eye on the bills - The Telegraph 20/05/06
We all know that plumbers and mechanics may bump up prices when told "it's an insurance job" but many might be surprised to find doctors doing the same thing.
Savvy shopper: coconuts - The Telegraph 20/05/06
Don't be shy: get to know a coconut and reap the dividends. By Rose Prince
Prisoner and wife 'had sex at hospital' - The Telegraph 20/05/06
A prisoner under guard while he was treated at an NHS hospital sneaked his wife into a lavatory for sex, it was claimed yesterday.
Minister intervenes over Meadow - BBC Health News 19/05/06
The Attorney General is hoping to take part in an appeal arising out of the case of paediatrician Sir Roy Meadow.
NHS trust to axe up to 150 posts - BBC Health News 19/05/06
Up to 150 jobs are to be cut by an NHS trust after it was told to balance its books by the Department of Health.
Private GP deal decision reserved - BBC Health News 19/05/06
The High Court has reserved judgment on a legal challenge to a private US company taking over the provision of GP services in Derbyshire.
PFI hospitals face huge overspend - BBC Health News 19/05/06
The government is attempting to rein in some of the biggest hospital building schemes as they threatened to run 4bn over budget.
Tourette's housemate 'exploited' - BBC Health News 19/05/06
Campaigners have accused Channel 4's Big Brother of exploiting a man with Tourette Syndrome by accepting him as one of this year's housemates.
Junk food banned in school meals - BBC Health News 19/05/06
School dinners in England will be free from chocolate, crisps, fizzy drinks and "low-quality" meat from the autumn, the government has announced.
Pharmacies to sell migraine drug - BBC Health News 19/05/06
A migraine drug is to be made available over-the-counter in the UK for the first time, the medicines watchdog has announced.
Watchdog body hits at hospitals - BBC Health News 19/05/06
Hospitals in NI should make more effort to recover their full costs from private patients, a report says.
Biggest UK hospital revamp begins - BBC Health News 19/05/06
Work has begun on the UK's biggest PFI hospital scheme, the 1.2bn revamp of St Bartholomew's and the Royal London.
Experts Urge Industry And International Donors To Prepare Pneumococcal Vaccines - Medical News Today 20/05/06
In today's online edition of The Lancet, a group of leading global health experts have come together to call for vaccine manufacturers and international donors to negotiate affordable pricing of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines and for governments of developing world countries and their partners to establish disease surveillance networks and begin preparations for pneumococcal vaccine introduction.
Independent Publishes Special Issue To Launch Partnership With Product RED - Medical News Today 19/05/06
London's Independent on Tuesday published a special issue -- including numerous articles on global HIV/AIDS issues -- to launch its partnership with Product RED, the Independent reports (Vallely, Independent, 5/15). The newspaper earlier this month announced that it would become the first media outlet to sign on as a partner in the project, which was launched in January by Irish musician Bono to donate a portion of profits from a range of branded products to the Global Fund To Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. American Express, Converse, Giorgio Armani and Gap were the initial partners in the program and are distributing credit cards and selling tennis shoes, sunglasses and T-shirts, respectively, carrying the Product RED label.
Bigger Ambulance Trusts Will Mean A Better Service, UK - Medical News Today 19/05/06
Health Minister Lord Warner today confirmed details of a major reorganisation of the ambulance service in England.
International News
Top priest told to retire as Pope toughens stand on child abuse - The Guardian 20/05/06
Pope Benedict threw his authority behind a new and uncompromising approach to sex abuse in the Roman Catholic church yesterday when he ordered one of its most influential figures, who faces multiple allegations, to give up his ministry and retire to a life of "prayer and repentance".
Burger giant on defensive against a Big Mac attack - The Telegraph 20/05/06
A British-produced drama attacking the junk food industry was premiered at the Cannes Film Festival last night, prompting McDonald's to prepare a new defence of its burgers.
Fast-food film leaves a nasty taste for big burger chains - The Independent 20/04/06
Scan drug 'boosts cancer therapy' - BBC Health News 19/05/06
A drug used to help doctors interpret medical scans may also help to boost the potency of anti-cancer therapies, research suggests.
WHO urges drug trial registration - BBC Health News 19/05/06
The World Health Organization is calling for tighter registration of clinical drug trials so that negative findings cannot be kept secret.
Knocking The SOCS Off Rheumatoid Arthritis - Medical News Today 20/05/06
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes chronic inflammation of the joints and occurs when the body's tissues are mistakenly attacked by its own immune system. A study by Ian Wicks and colleagues from the Walter and Eliza Hall Research Institute, Australia, appearing online on May 18 in advance of print publication in the June issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation, is the first analysis of the function of the SOCS-3 molecule in a mouse model of inflammatory arthritis.
Mouse Model Reveals Secrets Of Lung Injury That Can Follow Blood Transfusions - Medical News Today 20/05/06
Approximately 1 in every 600 persons who receive a transfusion of a plasma-containing blood product develops transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) within 6 hours of the transfusion. As such, TRALI has emerged as the leading cause of death from a blood transfusion. The mechanisms underlying this condition are poorly understood by researchers, primarily because of the absence of a clinically relevant animal model for study. In a study appearing online on May 18 in advance of print publication in the June issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation, Mark Looney and colleagues from the University of California, San Francisco, describe a new in vivo mouse model of TRALI and provide novel insights into the role of neutrophils and Fc gammna receptors in the pathogenesis of lung injury.
Caffeine Therapy Helps Premature Babies Breathe Better - Medical News Today 20/05/06
Premature babies commonly suffer from ‘Apnea of Prematurity' - as their lungs have not developed completely and their nervous systems are immature, babies literally forget to breathe. A new study has found that caffeine therapy can help these babies breather better.
Mast Cells Regulate Adverse Effects In The Lung In Asthma - Medical News Today 20/05/06
In a study appearing online on May 18 in advance of print publication in the June issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation, Stephen Galli and colleagues from Stanford University developed a mouse model of asthma that more closely mimics human disease than standard asthma models, in order to demonstrate that mast cells are key drivers of the most important inflammatory, structural, and functional changes observed within the lungs in chronic asthma.
Advocates, Health Experts Meet In Moscow For First Conference On HIV/AIDS In Region - Medical News Today 20/05/06
HIV/AIDS advocates and health experts from 50 Eastern European and Central Asian countries gathered on Monday in Moscow for the first joint conference aimed at dealing with HIV/AIDS in the region, Russian Centre TV reports. At the three day conference, delegates plan to discuss ways to promote effective HIV prevention methods and increase access to treatment. Delegates also plan to discuss how to increase tolerance and reduce the stigma surrounding the disease (Russian Centre TV, 5/15). UNAIDS Executive Director Peter Piot in his keynote address at the conference called on delegates to tackle stigma and discrimination "head-on" in order to control the spread of HIV. "Fear and stigma are truly the best friends of HIV," Piot said (UzReport.com, 5/15). According to the U.N., 1.6 million HIV-positive people were living in Eastern Europe and Central Asia at the end of 2005, a figure that has increased tenfold in less than a decade (BBC News, 5/15).
High Benzene Levels Found In Some Soft Drinks - Medical News Today 20/05/06
Rated 3 in Health; News; National and International News on May 20, 2006 at 16:46:00 GMT.
According to a sample of 100 drinks, the FDA found that 5 had benzene levels over the 5 parts per billion limit set for drinking water. In fact, one of them, Safeway Select Diet Orange, had 79 parts per billion. Human consumption of benzene is linked to a higher risk of developing leukaemia.
PAR-1 Proves Integral In Acute Lung Injury - Medical News Today 20/05/06
It has been previously shown that activation of TGF-beta by the alphavbeta6 integrin plays a central role in animal models of several common diseases, including pulmonary fibrosis, emphysema, and acute lung injury.
Organ Development: A Place For Everything And Everything In Its Place - Medical News Today 20/05/06
During development, organ formation is controlled by a strictly coordinated developmental program. Yet at times, these mechanisms do not function properly and can result in an organ of other structure being positioned abnormally within the body (a condition known as ectopia). In a study appearing online on May 18 in advance of print publication in the June issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation, Yoshiya Kawaguchi and colleagues from Kyoto University, Japan, present insights into the molecular mechanisms that control organ development, particularly of the pancreas, in the fore-midgut area.
Epimorphin: Epithelial Master Regulator - Medical News Today 20/05/06
The normal development (morphogenesis) and maintenance of many organs and tissues, including intestine, skin, mammary gland, lung, gallbladder, and liver, are dependent on interaction between mesenchymal and epithelial cells.
Gene Expression Signature Acts As A Prognostic Indicator For Liver Cancer - Medical News Today 20/05/06
The identification of cancer-specific gene expression patterns or "signatures" is a fast growing area of cancer research. Aberrant activation of the Met signaling pathway is frequently associated with tumor growth and tumor spread to other organs. In order to define the Met-dependent gene expression signature, Snorri Thorgeirsson and colleagues from the National Cancer Institute examined the gene expression signatures from healthy as well as Met-deficient mouse liver cells.
How The Body Recognizes A Fungus Among Us - Medical News Today 20/05/06
The fungus Candida albicans can cause a wide variety of infections, ranging from mucosal infections in generally healthy individuals to life-threatening infections in persons with impaired immunity. Beating this infection requires mononuclear immune cells such as neutrophils and macrophages to recognize the fungus, ingest it, and kill it by releasing proinflammatory cytokines that activate the immune response. In a study appearing online on May 18 in advance of print publication in the June issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation, Mihai Netea and colleagues from Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, The Netherlands, show how mononuclear cells recognize the cell surface of C. albicans. They reveal that this process involves multiple recognition systems that recognize various components within the layers of the fungal cell wall.
Testing The Efficacy Of Targeted Therapies Against Human Lung Cancer - Medical News Today 20/05/06
As reported in the June 1 issue of G&D, Drs. Katerina Politi, Harold Varmus and colleagues at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York have developed a novel animal model of lung adenocarcinoma that will be of great use in testing the efficacy of targeted therapies against human lung cancer.
Role Of Partial Nephrectomy In The Treatment Of Upper Tract Transitional Cell Carcinoma - Medical News Today 20/05/06
Traditionally, upper tract transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) is managed with nephroureterectomy with excision of a bladder cuff. In cases of locally advanced or regionally advanced disease, neoadjuvant systemic chemotherapy may be offered prior to surgery. There exists a subset of patients that are not optimal candidates for nephroureterectomy, particularly those with solitary kidneys, those with baseline insufficiency, and those with bilateral synchronous tumors. For these patients, novel, creative approaches are required to establish cancer control while attempting to maintain enough functioning renal mass to avoid renal replacement therapy. While many cases can be managed with endoscopic tumor resection/ablation, some patients are not candidates for or refuse these minimally invasive therapies. In this study, Goel and colleagues, out of the Cleveland Clinic, examine their experience with partial nephrectomy as a surgical therapy for upper tract TCC.
Comparative Study Of Ileocecal Vs. Ileal Neobladders In Radical Cystectomy Patients - Medical News Today 20/05/06
The use of orthotopic urinary diversion has gained increasing popularity in the past 20 years. Intestinal options for neobladders include ileocecal and ileal segments. The choice of intestinal segment has both functional and metabolic implications. In the April issue of the BJU International, Dr. Khafagy and associates from the National Cancer Institute, Cairo, Egypt report a comparative study using either ileocecal or ileal neobladders.
Effect Of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug Use On The Incidence Of Erectile Dysfunction - Medical News Today 20/05/06
Arthritis and erectile dysfunction (ED) affect men more as they age. In this article, R. Shiri and colleagues of the Tampere School of Public Health of Tampere Finland first list several prior articles that show that the occurrence of these two diseases correlates well.
Comparison Of The Effectiveness And Side-Effects Of Tolterodine And Oxybutynin In Children With Detrusor Instability - Medical News Today 20/05/06
Anticholinergic therapy remains the first line treatment for detrusor instability (DI), which is typically characterized by urinary urge incontinence. The aim of this study by Kilic et al was to assess the effectiveness and tolerability of tolterodine and oxybutynin in children with DI. They had a total of 60 children with DI enrolled prospectively and followed for 6 months. Thirty (14 male, 16 female, mean age 7.97 ± 2.71 years) were in the tolterodine group and 30 (12 male, 18 female, mean age 7.33 ± 2.23 years) in the oxybutynin group. All of the patients in the study population had a history of dysfunctional voiding. Urodynamic investigations were conducted in all of the patients before and after anticholinergic treatment. Episodes of urge urinary incontinence and side effects were also evaluated.
How Cells Avoid Becoming Cancerous - Medical News Today 20/05/06
Researchers at the University of California, San Diego and three other institutions have described for the first time a web of inter-related responses that cells use to avoid becoming diseased or cancerous after being exposed to a powerful chemical mutagen. The group led by UCSD bioengineering professor Trey Ideker describe in the May 19 issue of Science an elaborate system of gene control that is triggered by chemical damage to DNA.
ESMO International Symposium On Sarcoma And GIST - Medical News Today 20/05/06
Medical science could soon yield improved therapies for a group of rare and hard to treat cancers known as soft tissue sarcomas, European doctors will hear this month at a highly innovative type of meeting organized by the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO).
Blood Test Predicts Success Of Quitting Smoking Using The Nicotine Patch - Medical News Today 20/05/06
A blood test may enable doctors to predict which smokers using the nicotine patch are likely to experience the least amount of cravings and have the highest probability of success in quitting cigarettes, according to the results of a study in the June issus of the Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics.
Potential New Treatment Strategy For Alzheimer's Disease And Other Brain And Spinal Cord Damage - Medical News Today 20/05/06
A study led by researchers at the San Francisco VA Medical Center and the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill has identified several new compounds that could play a role in preventing or treating Alzheimer's disease and other degenerative conditions of the nervous system.
Positive Results For ACRUX's Lead Product In US Phase 3 Trial Bedsores And Bald Hides: Novel Roles Revealed For A 'scaffolding' Protein - Medical News Today 20/05/06
Acrux (ASX: ACR), the pharmaceutical company with unique technology for delivering drugs through the skin, today announced positive results in a US Phase 3 clinical trial of Evamist, its daily skin spray for prevention of symptoms associated with menopause. The trial was conducted by its US commercial partner VIVUS Inc. (NASDAQ: VVUS), which will now proceed to file a marketing application with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the second half of 2006.
Bedsores And Bald Hides: Novel Roles Revealed For A 'scaffolding' Protein - Medical News Today 20/05/06
A protein long thought to provide only mechanical support for keeping cells and tissues from literally falling apart turns out to have much wider utility. In a pair of reports, the protein K17 has been found to also influence wound healing and maintain the structural integrity of hair follicles, according to Johns Hopkins researchers.
Length Of Deprivation In Infants Affects Intellectual Development For Years - Medical News Today 20/05/06
Following the fall of the Ceau_escu regime in Romania, the world became aware of the dreadful plight of children who had been raised in profound deprivation in institutions. In response, many American and European families adopted these children. When these children left their institutions, most were severely malnourished and severely physically and psychologically delayed. Now a new study published in the May/June issue of the journal Child Development finds that despite having spent at least seven-and-a-half years in their adoptive homes and having had six years of schooling, the early experiences of profound institutional deprivation continue to exert marked adverse effects on the children's IQ even at age 11.
Some Maternal Stress May Enhance Fetal Maturation - Medical News Today 20/05/06
Contrary to popular belief, mild to moderate levels of maternal psychological stress during pregnancy may actually enhance fetal maturation, according to researchers from the Johns Hopkins University and the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. The findings are contrary to expectations, generated primarily by animal studies, which have reported that stress during pregnancy interferes with normal development. The Hopkins study found that the opposite was true in a study of pregnant women and during a follow-up of their 2-year-old children. The study is published in the May/June 2006 edition of the journal Child Development.
Broccoli, Cauliflower And Genetic Cancer - Medical News Today 20/05/06
Need another reason to eat vegetables? A new study at Rutgers shows that certain vegetables - broccoli and cauliflower, in particular - have natural ingredients that may reduce the risk of developing hereditary cancers.
Autism Topic Of Upcoming Conference For Families, Professionals - Medical News Today 20/05/06
The daily transitions most of us negotiate with ease are particularly difficult for individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Parents and professionals play an important role in helping individuals with ASD make these transitions, whether they are working with children newly diagnosed with ASD, or advising the parents of young adults moving into independent living and work environments.
The Brain's Executive Is An 'event Planner' - Medical News Today 20/05/06
Studies in which monkeys were asked to manipulate computer cursors for fruit juice rewards have revealed that the brain's "executive" center plans behaviors not by specifying movements required for given actions, but rather the events that will result from those actions.
Environmental Tobacco Smoke Linked To Allergic Rhinitis,hay Fever, In Infants - Medical News Today 19/05/06
University of Cincinnati (UC) epidemiologists say it's environmental tobacco smoke--not the suspected visible mold--that drastically increases an infant's risk for developing allergic rhinitis by age 1.
Newly Discovered Protein, MCPIP, Could Hold Key To Preventing Heart Disease - Medical News Today 19/05/06
A newly discovered gene known as MCPIP could provide scientists with the key to developing treatments for preventing inflammation that can cause heart disease, University of Central Florida researchers have discovered.
Industry-Sponsored Research Produces More Favorable Results For Experimental Treatments, Study Finds - Medical News Today 19/05/06
Industry-sponsored medical research generated results favorable to experimental heart drugs or medical devices two-thirds of the time, according to a study published Wednesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association, Bloomberg/Arizona Daily Star reports. For the study, researchers from Harvard Medical School examined 324 comparison studies of cardiovascular treatments published between Jan. 1, 2000, and July 30, 2005, in JAMA, the New England Journal of Medicine and the Lancet. In trials funded by not-for-profit sources, 49% were favorable to new products, and studies that combined funding produced favorable results 57% of the time. Researchers found that tests of cardiovascular devices supported the experimental treatments 82% of the time when funded by for-profit companies, 50% when funded by not-for-profits and 69% of the time when funded jointly. For drugs, industry-funded research produced favorable results 66% of the time, 40% of the time in not-for-profit studies, and 54% when funded jointly. According to Bloomberg/Daily Star, the findings "are the latest to indicate funding bias in medical journal articles" (Bloomberg/Arizona Daily Star, 5/17). An abstract of the study is available online.
UC Davis Researchers Reveal Apples' Protective Ways - Molecular Mechanism Of Flavonoid-rich Fruit Discovered - Medical News Today 19/05/06
Doctors have long been encouraging Americans to add more fruits and vegetables to their daily diets. Now, UC Davis researchers have discovered one way in which flavonoid-rich apples inhibit the kinds of cellular activity that leads to the development of chronic diseases, including heart disease and age-related cancers.
'Pinball Protons' Created By Ultraviolet Rays And Other Causes Can Lead To DNA Damage - Medical News Today 19/05/06
Researchers have known for years that damaged DNA can lead to human diseases such as cancer, but how damage occurs--and what causes it--has remained less clear.
New Vaccines To Prevent Cervical Cancer- A Web-based News Conference, Tuesday, May 23, From 1 To 2 Pm EDT - Medical News Today 19/05/06
The National Network for Immunization Information and the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston will co-host a telebriefing about genital human papillomavirus infections and the HPV vaccines, expected to be approved by the FDA soon. Certain HPVs cause cervical as well as other cancers. Reporters may participate in the teleconference from their office or home computers and either email or phone their questions to experts. Experts on all aspects of the vaccine, including one of the inventors, will be available for Q&A.
Do Holes In The Heart Lead To Stroke? More Data Needed - Medical News Today 19/05/06
Broad interpretations exist on data related to patent foramen ovales (PFOs) and whether they cause stroke, writes a physician in the May issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings. Lacking, he says, are good estimates of overall risks or variables that could affect prognosis.
Johns Hopkins University To Launch Global Health Center To Fight HIV/AIDS, Malaria, Other Diseases - Medical News Today 19/05/06
Johns Hopkins University on Monday announced plans to launch a new Center for Global Health, which will coordinate efforts to fight diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, avian flu and heart disease, the Baltimore Sun reports (Kohn, Baltimore Sun, 5/15). The Center for Global Health will integrate the work of the university's medical school, nursing school and the Bloomberg School of Public Health (JHU release, 5/15). Thomas Quinn -- an infectious disease expert who has been studying HIV/AIDS in Africa, Asia and Latin America for 20 years -- will lead the center.
Polycystic Kidney Disease: MRI Provides An Early Alert To Progression - Medical News Today 19/05/06
A new method using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) accurately tracks structural changes that predict functional changes earlier than standard blood and urine tests in people with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (PKD), according to a study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). PKD is a common inherited condition characterized by cysts that grossly distort the kidneys and liver and by high blood pressure and brain aneurysms (bulges in arteries). Findings are in the May 18 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Newborn Hearing Screening Programs May Benefit From The Standardization Of Testing Protocols - Medical News Today 19/05/06
Researchers have identified several changes that could be made to existing newborn screening tests for hearing defects that could advance the standard of care in detecting deaf infants, according to an article in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Drug And Alcohol Addiction Treatment Should Take Front Seat, Australian Medical Association - Medical News Today 19/05/06
The treatment of people with drug and alcohol problems should not take a back seat to the enforcement of anti-drug laws, AMA President, Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, said today.
FDA Statement On Preliminary Bausch & Lomb Inspection Findings - Medical News Today 19/05/06
Yesterday, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued Bausch & Lomb a report detailing its observations at the conclusion of the inspection of the Greenville, SC plant and a related facility as part of an investigation into a recent increase in Fusarium keratitis infections associated with contact lens wearers using the ReNu with MoistureLoc contact lens cleaning solution. Inspectional Observations (FDA 483) issued by the agency details the investigator's observations that were found to deviate from FDA quality system regulation.
Vioxx Starts Adversely Affecting Patients After 4 Months, Not 18 Months - Medical News Today 19/05/06
Merck had initially claimed that Vioxx begins to have adverse effects on the cardiovascular system after 18 months' use, but data the company submitted to the FDA last week shows this starts to happen after just 4 months, according to the Wall Street Journal.
2% Of Teens Wet The Bed At Night - Medical News Today 19/05/06
One in 50 teenagers still wet the bed and almost half of 19 year-olds who have a problem are wetting the bed every night, according to research published in the May issue of the urology journal BJUI International.
How Did Seven Family Members Get Infected With Bird Flu? - Medical News Today 19/05/06
We still don't know how seven members of the same family in Indonesia became infected with the H5N1 bird flu virus strain. Six of them have died. It is vital to know whether some of them infected each other. If they did, this would mean that the virus might be changing.
FDA Advisory Committee Recommends Cervical Cancer Vaccine - Medical News Today 19/05/06
The FDA Advisory Committee unanimously recommended that Gardasil, a vaccine that protects women against 70% of cervical cancers, should be approved. The FDA usually goes along with what the Advisory Committee recommends. The vote, in favour, was 13-0. The FDA is expected to make a final decision regarding approval on June 8.
‘Royalty Free Medical' Image Collection - Medical News Today 19/05/06
The world's leading niche stock photo agency specializing in biotech, medicine, science and healthcare imagery, Custom Medical Stock Photo announces the launch of a new collection of ROYALTY FREE stock images called “Royalty Free Medical.”
DMAA Initiative Produces First Definition Of Obesity With Co-Morbidities - Medical News Today 19/05/06
A new definition of obesity with co-morbid conditions--the first of its kind in the disease management community--provides the foundation for a developing Disease Management Association of America (DMAA) project that responds to the increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity in America.
Witnessing Intimate Partner Violence As Children Does Not Increase Risk Of Victimization As Adults - Medical News Today 19/05/06
There has been some evidence that witnessing Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) as a child might make someone more likely to be victimized as an adult. In a paper presented at the 2006 Society for Academic Emergency Medicine Annual Meeting, May 18-21, 2006 in San Francisco, researchers reported on the results of testing this hypothesis.
Benadryl edges Clarinex for hay fever - Reuters 20/05/06
Diphenhydramine hydrochloride -- more familiarly known as Benadryl -- appears to be more effective than desloratadine, a.k.a. Clarinex, in relieving symptoms of moderate to severe hay fever, according to researchers.
WHO backs dual antiviral therapy for some bird flu cases - Reuters 20/05/06
Bird flu patients should receive Tamiflu as a frontline treatment, but doctors may also consider combining it with an older class of effective flu drugs, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday.
Light shed on fatigue after breast cancer - Reuters 20/05/06
Breast cancer survivors often suffer from persistent fatigue, and now researchers think they may have a handle on what causes it.
Benzene found in some soft drinks, FDA says - Reuters 20/05/06
Government testing found the cancer-causing chemical benzene in some soft drinks but not at high enough levels to cause harm, U.S. regulators said on Friday.
High Benzene Levels Found In Some Soft Drinks - Medical News Today 20/05/06
Statins may help people with low cholesterol: trial - Reuters 20/05/06
Cholesterol-reducing statin drugs such as Lipitor and Zocor could benefit patients with a certain type of heart disease even if they don't have high cholesterol, according to newly analyzed data from a previously reported trial.
Ablation better than drugs for arrhythmia: trial - Reuters 20/05/06
A technique to treat irregular heart beats using a method known as ablation was substantially more effective than anti-arrhythmic drugs in a clinical trial.
J&J drug for Crohn's disease approved - Reuters 19/05/06
U.S. regulators approved wider use of Johnson & Johnson's drug Remicade on Friday but also said a new warning was being added about reports of an often-fatal lymphoma in a small number of users.
CDC report supports Bausch & Lomb recall - Reuters 19/05/06
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a report on Friday that backed Bausch & Lomb Inc.'s decision to recall its ReNu with MoistureLoc contact lens solution, which has been linked to cases of a serious eye infection.
G8 leaders urged to take lead in TB battle - Reuters 19/05/06
Leaders of the G8 group of rich countries should take the lead and fill a funding gap in the global battle against tuberculosis, a World Health Organization (WHO) official said on Friday.
Migraine drug eases severe face pain - Reuters 19/05/06
One of the severest pains that can be experienced is trigeminal neuralgia, affecting nerves in the face, and few medications relieve the condition. Now, for people with treatment-resistant trigeminal neuralgia, a migraine medicine may provide some relief.
Few young cancer survivors get best follow-up - Reuters 19/05/06
Many survivors of childhood cancer are not getting the optimal follow-up care recommended for detecting the long-term consequences of cancer treatment, according to a study of Canadian patients.
Cheshire and Merseyside News
City hospitals in walk-out threat - Liverpool Echo 19/05/06
HOSPITALS in Merseyside could grind to a halt within three weeks if workers decide to strike over pay.
Ward to close in hospital shake-up - Chester Chronicle 19/05/06
CUTBACKS at the Countess of Chester Hospital have started to bite with the announcement of bed reductions and a ward closure.
Research the best way forward - Chester Chronicle 19/05/06
CHESHIRE County Council's Adult and Older People Social Care Services have signed up to a research organisation whose findings can help the way care is delivered to vulnerable people.
Report highlights rise in homelessness - Chester Chronicle 19/05/06
CHESTER district is facing a 25 per cent increase in homeless-ness, according to a report to city councillors.
European ruling will not 'open floodgates' - Chester Chronicle 19/05/06
A HEALTH watchdog believes a European decision allowing patients to be refunded for treatment abroad is not in the best interests of the NHS.
Caring for the carers is aim of the Trust - Chester Chronicle 19/05/06
A CHESTER woman was given the royal seal of approval when The Princess Royal attended Cheshire Carers Centre day at Tarporley's Portal Golf Club.
Shop sold diet pills to children - Southport Visiter 19/05/06
A MOTHER is furious that her 13-year-old daughter was sold diet pills.
NHS shake-up to go ahead - Southport Visiter 19/05/06
SOUTHPORT and Formby and South Sefton Primary Care Trusts are being scrapped and replaced with a single Trust which will cover the whole of Sefton.
Festival promotes equality - Southport Visiter 19/05/06
MERSEYSIDE will host a range of activities next month when the North West celebrates equality and diversity.
NHS Direct may be axed - Southport Visiter 19/05/06
SOUTHPORT'S NHS Direct call centre could be axed.
NHS call centre staff are sacrificed with cuts - Chester Chronicle 19/05/06
Distress over ward closure - Southport Visiter 19/05/06
PATIENTS have spoken of their distress at the closure of the Bob Martin Ward for mental health patients.
Community drug centre opens its doors - Runcorn World 19/05/06
DRUG awareness events are being held across Halton this Tuesday.
Mum's bid to help Holly reach her full potential - Middlewich Guradian 19/05/06
THE mum of a Middlewich girl battling a complex form of epilepsy has spoken of her daughter's educational struggles in the hope of helping other sufferers.
Cumbria and Lancashire News
NHS Dentists: One check up a year claim - Carlisle News & Star 19/05/06
New NHS dental contracts provide for no more than one check up a year for each patient, the Liberal Democrats said today.
Escape From Health Merger Excellent - Lancashire Evening Telegraph 19/05/06
THE boss of an East Lancashire health authority says its escape from controversial merger plans is "excellent news".
Laura Is Regions Top Drug Worker - Lancashire Evening Telegraph 19/05/06
A BURNLEY mum-of-two who works to tackle drugs and alcohol misuse was today named as the best in the North West.
Nurses Shunt After Drinks - Blackburn Citizen 19/05/06
A 56-year-old nurse crashed into a neighbour's van and shunted it into his BMW as she returned from the shops.
View Plans For Health Centre - Chorley Citizen 17/05/06
Plans for a new health centre next to Friday Street, Chorley, are to go on view to patients and members of the public from 3pm-7pm on Wednesday, June 7.
Greater Manchester News
New bid to put fluoride into our water - Manchester Evening News 20/05/06
HEALTH chiefs have ordered United Utilities to work out the cost of adding fluoride to tap water in Greater Manchester.
Dentist is 'forced into going private' - Manchester Evening News 20/05/06
A DENTIST whose NHS clinic opened to huge queues in a glare of publicity claims a lack of funding has forced him to turn private after just five months.
Our baby died after hospital delays - Manchester Evening News 19/05/06
SHOCKING medical notes reveal how an unborn baby died and her twin suffered multiple organ failure.
Downing Street Mums Breastfeed Shock - Prestwich and Whitefield Guide 19/05/06
THIS was the moment Stella Onions was asked to stop breastfeeding her son by an armed policeman as she sat on the Prime Minister's doorstep.
Memorial Stone For Former Patients - Prestwich and Whitefield Guide 19/05/06
FORMER patients of Prestwich Hospital can finally be laid to rest on Sunday with the installation of a memorial stone.
