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Undernutrition is the cause of more than 53 percent of all child deaths

Undernutrition is the underlying cause of more than 53 percent of all child deaths that occur annually, including those from infectious diseases, pneumonia, diarrhea, measles and malaria, according to a new analysis by researchers with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the World Health Organization.

17 Jun 2004

Computer programme simulates emergency response when a city is hit by a natural disaster

Dealing with disasters could become a lot easier thanks to a computer programme developed by a team of researchers at The University of Auckland.

17 Jun 2004

New findings may help better understand how harmless viruses can cause severe disease among patients with weakened immune systems

When a major branch of the mouse immune system is disabled, a normally harmless virus can rapidly mutate into a lethal one, according to researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

17 Jun 2004

Latest research into schizophrenia and links between prenatal vitamin D and growth

The latest research into schizophrenia and links between prenatal vitamin D and growth will be revealed at a public lecture at the Queensland Art Gallery, Australia next Friday (June 25).

17 Jun 2004

More precise and less invasive procedure for prostate cancer detection

Work by a University of Queensland researcher will make the trip to the doctor for a prostate cancer check a lot more appealing for men.

17 Jun 2004

Nurse who developed a life-threatening allergy to latex awarded £350,000 compensation

Cardiff County Court has today awarded a guaranteed £350,000 compensation, with the possibility of further interest, to UNISON member Alison Dugmore (37), who developed a life-threatening allergy to latex while working at two hospitals in Swansea.

17 Jun 2004

£11.5m for new structural proteomics research

The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) has announced that two new research projects will together receive nearly £11.5m under the Structural Proteomics of Rational Targets Initiative (SPORT).

17 Jun 2004

The food we eat plays a crucial role in defining our heritage

Up until the 1950s Australians were still eating British food, consisting of meat and three vegetables. Now in Australia the most popular dish is spaghetti bolognaise, while in Britain the most commonly eaten meal is now curry.

17 Jun 2004

Low back pain research using surface electromyography (SEMG) technology

Low back pain research using surface electromyography (SEMG) technology may lead to the development of a valid and reliable tool to prevent the condition, it was announced today.

17 Jun 2004

New tests to detect potentially fatal nut traces in food

The techniques they developed during the analysis included the discovery of sensitive “marker proteins” that can be used to detect trace amounts of nuts in processed foods.

17 Jun 2004

Art used to reduce stress

Two of the UK’s leading experts on stress were plunged into the media spotlight this week after advising stressed workers and executives to take time out of their busy schedule for art!

17 Jun 2004

Australian researchers awarded funding for new HIV vaccines

Australian researchers at Monash University have been awarded $488,125 in development grants by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) for projects exploring new vaccines for HIV, the development of medical diagnostic devices and the development of drugs to treat metastatic cancers.

17 Jun 2004

Bid to reduce the number of injuries among children in Australia

The University of Ballarat, Australia and WorkSafe K.I.D.S. have joined forces in a bid to reduce the number of injuries among children in Australia by improving child safety education in schools.

17 Jun 2004

Xenobiotic gets patent approval for toxin detection

XDS consultant (and former XDS laboratory director) Michael Chu and President George Clark combined their research skills to develop a rapid and relatively inexpensive methodology to quantify TEQs (Toxic Equivalence -- measures of toxicity adopted by the World Health Organization) for individual toxic chemical groups.

17 Jun 2004

Australian researchers have identified the hormone DHEAS as a new marker of low libido in women under 45 years

Researchers at the Australian based Jean Hailes Foundation are addressing the complex role of hormones. Their aim is to understand what is normal and whether women may benefit from therapy. In one of the world’s most comprehensive studies into women’s health and hormones researchers looked at 1423 randomly selected women aged 18-75.

17 Jun 2004

Free TV Australia today called on the ALP to reconsider imposing bans on food advertising in children’s programs

Chairman of Free TV Australia and Nine Network CEO, David Gyngell said, “This proposal is a kneejerk response to a complex problem. It will not address the many factors contributing to our childhood obesity problem. Advertising bans in other countries such as Sweden* have had no impact on obesity levels.”

17 Jun 2004

Local NHS bodies show lack of vision

Primary Care Organisations, responsible for running the NHS at local level, have in some areas failed to grasp the opportunities given to them in the new national GP contract and displayed instead a timid short-termism, GP leader Dr John Chisholm told the annual conference of family doctors today.

17 Jun 2004

Biotech organization receives $1 million form Bill & Melinda Gates

The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) today announced the launch of BIO Ventures for Global Health (BVGH), a new nonprofit organization that will work to enlist the biotechnology industry in the fight against neglected diseases. BVGH has received a $1 million start-up grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

17 Jun 2004

More help needed for the British people affected by disability

The report from the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit found that disabled people fare less well in society compared to non-disabled people.

17 Jun 2004

Further evidence that a class of drugs that lower blood pressure are a treatment option for older people at high cardiovascular risk

Results of a study in this week’s issue of THE LANCET provide further evidence that a class of drugs that lower blood pressure are a treatment option for older people at high cardiovascular risk. The study also emphasises the importance of early blood-pressure lowering after the start of treatment to reduce the risk of cardiovascular events such as heart attack and stroke.

17 Jun 2004