Medical News

RSS

Gel provides protection from HIV and herpes

Mount Sinai School of Medicine researchers demonstrated that a gel applied in the vagina provides protection from both the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the herpes simplex Virus. The study, presented at the 12th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, is the first to show that a gel can retain anti-viral activity within the human vagina.

27 Feb 2005

Early Alzheimer's disease may be precipitated by a neuron traffic jam

Early Alzheimer's disease may be precipitated by a “traffic jam” within neurons that causes swelling and prevents proper transport of proteins and structures in the cells, according to new studies by Howard Hughes Medical Institute researchers.

27 Feb 2005

New imaging technology may serve as objective outcome measures for orthopedic conditions

New imaging technologies are enabling doctors to not only diagnose a variety of orthopaedic and musculoskeletal conditions with more accuracy, but also to determine with unprecedented precision whether clinical recovery from bone, joint or tendon damage is actually complete and not simply a "placebo effect."

27 Feb 2005

New York City Health statement on rare strain of HIV in a New York City resident

On February 11, 2005, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) reported a case of HIV infection with a strain that is resistant to many drugs in three classes of HIV medications, and which appears to have progressed to AIDS within 4 to 20 months after infection.

27 Feb 2005

Vast majority of products contaminated with the illegal dye Sudan I have been removed from sale

The Food Standards Agency has announced that the vast majority of products contaminated with the illegal dye Sudan I have been removed from sale. This page contains the lists of the products affected plus latest news from the Agency on the situation.

27 Feb 2005

Shigella infects cells by using a secretion system to inject proteins into human cells

According to research published in Science, the team from Imperial College London and Institut Pasteur, Paris, found that shigella, the bacteria which causes dysentery, is able to invade cells, while stopping any response from the immune system.

27 Feb 2005

Massive majority of doctors against pension changes

Doctors could leave the NHS in droves if controversial proposals to raise the retirement age go ahead.

27 Feb 2005

Several causes for concern regarding children's health in general practice in Britain

An editorial in this weeks BMJ highlights several causes for concern regarding children's health in general practice in Britain. Once greatly admired, the British model of general practice raises concern over the future of children's health.

27 Feb 2005

Branding treatment in India should be banned

A letter in this weeks BMJ reports on how researchers are urging rural clinics in India to stop the superstitious practice known as 'branding treatment'.

27 Feb 2005

Is caesarean section linked to postnatal depression?

According to a recent study elective Caesarean section does not protect women from postnatal depression. Emergency caesarean section or assisted vaginal delivery (use of forceps or vacuum extraction) do not indicate a possible increased risk of postnatal depression.

27 Feb 2005

Live surgical webcast of a minimally invasive mitral valve repair procedure

NYU Medical Center's Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery will conduct a live surgical webcast on March 9th at 3 pm ET of a minimally invasive mitral valve repair procedure.

27 Feb 2005

Americans believe drug industry cares more about profits than people

Americans believe prescription drugs are improving their lives, but most also say that the drug industry cares more about profits than people, according to the latest Kaiser Health Poll Report issued by the Kaiser Family Foundation.

27 Feb 2005

Scientific rationale behind the use of antiretroviral therapy

Johns Hopkins researcher and infectious disease specialist Robert Siliciano, M.D., Ph.D., will provide an update on the scientific rationale behind the use of antiretroviral therapy, focusing on the mechanisms that allow life-long persistence of HIV even in patients on potent medication.

27 Feb 2005

Dual testing better for monitoring new cases of HIV

Johns Hopkins researchers will present results showing that tighter, dual testing standards work better for accurately distinguishing between new and old cases of HIV.

27 Feb 2005

Differences in how HIV virus infects males and females

A genetic analysis of viral RNA from 10 heterosexual couples, in which one partner has sexually transmitted HIV to the other, provides the first documentation of some differences in how the virus infects males and females.

27 Feb 2005

Second-generation Antidepressants

A recent article in the prestigious British Medical Journal seems to confirm an increased risk for suicidal behavior among adults taking popular antidepressants. This follows evidence that certain selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may have a similar effect among children and adolescents.

27 Feb 2005

GP leader responds to ban on higher rate telephone numbers

Responding to the Department of Health (England) announcement banning the use of higher rate telephone numbers within the NHS, Dr Hamish Meldrum, chairman of the BMA's General Practitioners Committee said:

27 Feb 2005

Discrimination disguised as public health policy

UK opposition-party leader Michael Howard announced last week that his party would deny visas to prospective immigrants who test positive for tuberculosis (TB). HIV tests would also be mandatory under the Conservative policy.

27 Feb 2005

Poor water supply affects more people than war, terrorism, and WMD's combined

The negative impact of poor water supply and sanitation affects more people than war, terrorism, and weapons of mass destruction combined.

27 Feb 2005

Tobacco industry influences research

At a tobacco industry meeting in 1987 to consider how to ‘improve the industry’s position’on passive smoking, one of the strategies proposed by Philip Morris USA was to ‘establish a genuine scientific journal on indoor air quality’. In 1989 the International Society of the Built Environment, was established.

27 Feb 2005