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Surfing injuries - Wipin’ out wipe out

Much as surfers have their own peculiar lingo, they also incur an array of injuries from the sport that can be just as peculiar to physicians, according to research presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

30 Nov 2004

Imatinib mesylate (Gleevec) inhibits important pathways that spur cancer growth

A new clinical study has shown that imatinib mesylate (Gleevec) has activity in AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma (KS). Imatinib inhibits important pathways that spur cancer growth, resulting in the regression of KS tumors within 4 weeks in some patients. The study will be published November 30 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology (JCO).

30 Nov 2004

Having a job reduces likelihood of drug use

It's said that "idle hands are the devil's workshop." A pair of University of Houston professors studying employment and drug use now provide support for that proverb.

30 Nov 2004

African-Americans and the poor with work-related back injuries clearly fare worse

African-Americans with work-related back injuries have less money spent on their medical care and receive less compensation for their injuries than Caucasians, according to a Saint Louis University study in the December issue of Pain.

30 Nov 2004

Nurses struggle to cope with violent patients

Nurses who bottle up anger triggered by a violent incident at work are more likely to become nervous, worn out and depressed, a team of psychologists at The University of Nottingham has found.

29 Nov 2004

Stress affects molecules believed to play a key role in cellular aging

There have been many studies that have shown that your health is greatly affected by how you react to stressful events in life-setbacks or deadlines at work, conflicts and losses at home.

29 Nov 2004

Lighter air more than doubles COPD patients’ endurance

It certainly makes sense: COPD sufferers have varying degrees of serious breathing difficulties, which keeps them from almost any kind of exercise, especially in advanced stages. So maybe “lighter than air” air would be easier to breath, reduce shortness of breath and perhaps even allow them to do some exercise with all of its physical and mental benefits.

29 Nov 2004

T cells activated in the gut during inflammatory bowel disease can be re-routed to the liver and cause chronic liver disease

The authors explain this detour by showing that an attractant protein that normally directs T cells into the gut is aberrantly produced in the liver during PSC. T cells expressing the receptor for the protein are thus re-routed to the liver

29 Nov 2004

Manufacturers in the European active pharmaceutical ingredients market are struggling to overcome a variety of challenges

Manufacturers in the crowded and highly fragmented European active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) market are struggling to overcome a variety of challenges. One of the most pressing of these is the problem of overcapacity.

29 Nov 2004

Effective management of insomnia begins with recognition and adequate assessment

A seminar in this week’s issue of THE LANCET outlines the common but poorly understood condition of insomnia, concluding that awareness and assessment of insomnia by family doctors is a priority.

29 Nov 2004

4 million extra health workers needed worldwide

Authors of a public-health article in this week’s issue of THE LANCET are calling for urgent international action to address the chronic lack of investment in human resources which is limiting the chance of tackling diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, and TB.

29 Nov 2004

Study finds that stomach cancer originates from bone marrow derived stem cells, rather than from stomach stem cells

A common assumption among cancer specialists is that most cancers originate from tissue stem cells – for example, the gastric stem cells contained in the lining of the stomach.

29 Nov 2004

Scientists join forces to improve the effectiveness of a drug used to treat chronic myeloid leukaemia

Scientists from Glasgow and Liverpool are joining forces to improve the effectiveness of a drug used to treat a form of leukaemia, chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML), which affects 750 people in the UK each year.

24 Nov 2004

Asthma study looks at genetic variation and influence response to microbial exposure

The "hygiene hypothesis" suggests that exposures to microbes early in life may drive immune system development in a way that reduces a person's susceptibility to asthma and other allergic diseases.

24 Nov 2004

FDA approval of Tysabri, for the treatment of multiple sclerosis

Biogen and Elan Corporation have announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Tysabri (natalizumab), as treatment for relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) to reduce the frequency of clinical relapses.

24 Nov 2004

Revolutionary new procedure an alternative to spinal fusion

With the FDA's recent approval of an artificial disc that makes spinal fusion "a thing of the past," one nationally renowned spine surgeon is receiving a flood of phone calls from patients interested in seeking relief from chronic back pain.

24 Nov 2004

High-quality care for depression can improve productivity at work

A two-year program for depressed employees treated at 12 primary care practices nationwide improved productivity at work by an average of 6 percent, or an estimated annual value of $1,491 per depressed full-time employee.

24 Nov 2004

Smoking killed almost 5 million people around the world in 2000

Smoking killed almost 5 million people around the world in 2000, reveals research in Tobacco Control. Over half the deaths were in smokers aged 30 to 69.

24 Nov 2004

Stem cells' repair skills could be link to cancer

Johns Hopkins researchers say there is growing evidence that stem cells gone awry in their efforts to repair tissue damage could help explain why long-term irritation, such as from alcohol or heartburn, can create a breeding ground for certain cancers.

23 Nov 2004

Highly obese women are 12 times more likely to have diabetes

Highly obese women are 12 times more likely to have diabetes or knee replacement surgery, and five times more likely to have high blood pressure than women who are at a normal weight, says a new study.

23 Nov 2004