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Serious medical consequences of smoking, obesity, excessive alcohol consumption and sexually transmitted disease require decisive leadership

The Royal College of Physicians’ response to the consultation document ‘Choosing Health?’ says that the serious medical consequences of smoking, obesity, excessive alcohol consumption and sexually transmitted disease require decisive leadership and action by Government.

2 Jul 2004

How the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria is being implemented in four African countries

The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine will today publish interim findings relating to how the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria is being implemented in four African countries.

2 Jul 2004

One in three Americans born today is predicted to develop diabetes as a consequence of obesity

One in three Americans born today is predicted to develop diabetes as a consequence of obesity, according to a new report by the International Diabetes Federation and the International Obesity Task Force.

2 Jul 2004

Red and processed meats, sweets and desserts may increase risk of stroke

“Western” diets consisting of red and processed meats, refined grains, sweets and desserts may be associated with a greater risk of stroke

2 Jul 2004

Generic fixed-dose combinations (FDCs) of antiretrovirals are a key factor in access to treatment of HIV/AIDS infection in the developing world

Combination therapy with three generic antiretroviral drugs in a single tablet has been validated for the first time in an open clinical study in a developing country. Follow-up of 60 patients treated in Yaoundé, Cameroon, has demonstrated the excellent efficacy and safety of a generic fixed-dose combination.

2 Jul 2004

Findings into the source of the recent SARS outbreak in Beijing and Anhui Province

It has been more than two months since the Ministry of Health of China notified WHO and the world about an outbreak of SARS in Beijing and Anhui Province.

2 Jul 2004

Sweden funds HIV/AIDS prevention and care in China

On Friday, 2 July 2004, the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) and the WHO office in Beijing signed an agreement under which SIDA will fund a three-year WHO project on comprehensive HIV/AIDS prevention and care in China.

2 Jul 2004

19 additional human cases of West Nile virus have been confirmed in Arizona

A teen-ager from Pinal County is the 57th case of West Nile virus in humans in Arizona, and public health officials are urging all residents to take precautions against the disease.

2 Jul 2004

Young gay men experience high rates of anti-gay violence and harassment

A UCSF study of gay and bisexual young men in Phoenix, Austin and Albuquerque found that during a six-month period, over a third reported experiencing anti-gay harassment, 5 percent reported anti-gay violence and 11 percent reported anti-gay discrimination.

1 Jul 2004

New web site dedicated to improving the accuracy of medical news stories

The Newcastle Institute of Public Health (NIPH) has launched a web site dedicated to improving the accuracy of news stories about new medical treatments in the media.

1 Jul 2004

Celiac disease may affect 3 million Americans, ten times higher than previous estimates

Celiac disease is considerably under-diagnosed, according to an independent consensus panel convened this week by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

1 Jul 2004

The medical use of marijuana

The medical use of marijuana enjoys wide public support. More than 70% of respondents to recent surveys agree that marijuana should be available medically. Sources: Pew Research Center for the People & the Press conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates. Feb. 14-19, 2001 and The Gallup Poll. March 19-21, 1999.

30 Jun 2004

Women delay AIDS with vitamins B, C and E

Daily intake of multivitamins appears to delay the progress of the AIDS virus according to the results of a study of HIV infected women in Tanzania by Harvard researchers.

30 Jun 2004

Doctors call on the British Government to make all workplaces smokefree

Today (Wednesday 30 June) at the BMA's annual conference in Llandudno, Dr Peter Maguire signed a giant prescription form in front of 500 doctors calling on the Government to make all workplaces smokefree.

30 Jun 2004

States working to protect public health through fine particle standard

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) informed states and tribes of the status of counties as the country prepare to meet the nation's first fine particle (PM2.5) air quality standard.

29 Jun 2004

The full effects of passive smoking may have been underestimated

Passive smoking and risk of coronary heart disease and stroke: prospective study with cotinine measurement BMJ Online First.

29 Jun 2004

New £18M Medical Research Council facility

A new £18M Medical Research Council (MRC) facility to understand and compare the genetics of disease in mice and humans will be opened today, Wednesday 30 June, by Lord Sainsbury, Minister for Science and Technology.

29 Jun 2004

On-screen smoking by movie stars leads young teens to smoke

Teenage girls who have never smoked, never even puffed on a cigarette, are far more likely to start smoking if their favorite movie star smokes in movies, according to a 3-year study

29 Jun 2004

12 sites testing a new vaccine to prevent anthrax

The phase II trial will evaluate the safety and immunogenic response of a new recombinant anthrax vaccine, known as rPA102. The vaccine candidate consists of recombinant Protective Antigen (rPA), a synthetic protein that induces antibodies designed to prevent illness by neutralizing anthrax toxins, and aluminum hydroxide to enhance the immune response.

29 Jun 2004

Study questions 20,000 people who worked in WTC towers

On Monday, May 24, invitations to complete a comprehensive questionnaire on the evacuation and fire safety practices of the WTC were mailed to 20,000 employees who worked in Towers 1 & 2 of the World Trade Center (WTC).

29 Jun 2004