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Dramatic increase in thyroid cancers following the 1986 Chernobyl disaster

The Nuclear Policy Research Institute (NPRI) today called on the Bush administration to reassess its commitment to the expansion of nuclear power; based on new study reported in the June edition of the International Journal of Epidemiology. The study documents a dramatic increase in thyroid cancers following the 1986 Chernobyl disaster.

11 Jun 2004

In-depth examination of potential improvements for breast cancer screening

A report released today by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) and the National Research Council of the National Academies provides an in-depth examination of potential improvements for breast cancer screening and detection services in the United States.

11 Jun 2004

Enbrel therapy allowed more rheumatoid arthritis patients to achieve clinical remission

New results from TEMPO (Trial of Etanercept and Methotrexate with Radiographic Patient Outcomes) demonstrated that Enbrel® (etanercept) therapy allowed significantly more rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients to achieve clinical remission at two years compared to patients treated with methotrexate alone.

11 Jun 2004

World Blood Donor Day

The world today honours voluntary blood donors for their priceless contribution to their communities. However, while celebrations take place in many cities around the world, numerous patients and trauma victims in those same cities will be dying or suffering unnecessarily because of a shortage of blood.

11 Jun 2004

U.S.$2.8 to study a virus associated with respiratory infections

The Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases (CEID), based in the University of Iowa College of Public Health, has been awarded a five-year, $2.8 million grant by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to study a virus associated with respiratory infections.

11 Jun 2004

The Population Health Complex to improve the health of all New Zealanders

Research teams dedicated to improving the health of all New Zealanders now have a new home at The University of Auckland’s Population Health Complex. The new purpose-built complex is located at the University’s Tamaki Campus, which is distinguished by its collaborative, inter-disciplinary, and research-intensive profile.

11 Jun 2004

Canadians advised of stronger warnings for selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors and other newer anti-depressants

Health Canada is advising Canadians that Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) and other newer anti-depressants, now carry stronger warnings. These new warnings indicate that patients of all ages taking these drugs may experience behavioural and/or emotional changes that may put them at increased risk of self-harm or harm to others.

11 Jun 2004

Virginia Health urges women of childbearing age to take folic acid

According to data from a report released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in January 2004, only 35 percent of Virginia women of childbearing age take a vitamin pill that contains folic acid.

11 Jun 2004

The mother of four boys with one of the world's rarest illnesses has donated her bone marrow to her eldest son

A mum whose four sons all suffer from a rare life threatening disease yesterday donated her bone marrow to her eldest son Josh. Allison Hartley was found to be a match for 12-year-old Joshua, who has the rare degenerative condition XLP.

11 Jun 2004

Just six months of yoga significantly reduces fatigue in people with multiple sclerosis

Just six months of yoga significantly reduces fatigue in people with multiple sclerosis, but it has no effect on alertness and cognitive function, says a new Oregon Health & Science University study.

11 Jun 2004

African Americans suffer from cardiovascular diseases at a rate about five times higher than the rest of the U.S. population

African Americans suffer from cardiovascular diseases at a rate about five times higher than the rest of the U.S. population. In a new study, scientists may have found a culprit: a serious deficiency of nitric oxide, a small molecule vital in the regulation of blood flow and blood pressure.

11 Jun 2004

15 of Sydney’s 24 hospitals could accept only life-threatening cases last night

Reports that ambulances had to bypass or wait almost three hours at 15 overloaded Sydney emergency departments last night will become even more common, particularly as winter approaches, warns AMA (NSW).

11 Jun 2004

Children in hospitals often experience adverse patient safety events

Children in hospitals often experience adverse patient safety events—such as medical injuries or errors—in the course of their care, with those in vulnerable populations, including children under 1 year old, at highest risk

11 Jun 2004

Home monitoring of high blood pressure gives patients better control

Patients with high blood pressure (hypertension) who monitor their blood pressure at home have better control of their condition, according to a new study available on bmj.com and being presented at the European Society of Hypertension in Paris on 16th June.

11 Jun 2004

New York State accuses GlaxoSmithKline of fraudulent behaviour

This week's editorial calls on GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) to make all its research on paroxetine (Seroxat/Paxil) publicly available. This follows the filing of last week's law suit by the state of New York against GSK: the state accuses the company of fraud

11 Jun 2004

Second opinion from another obstetrician could reduce the frequency of caesarean births in Latin America

Latin America has the highest rate of caesarian sections-around a quarter of all deliveries-than any other part of the world. Fernando Althabe from the Centro Latinoamericano de Perinatologia, Montevideo, Uruguay, and colleagues assessed whether a compulsory second opinion from another obstetrician could reduce the frequency of caesarean births.

11 Jun 2004

Pathogens have the ability to cause late-onset sporadic Alzheimer's disease

The possibility of an infectious etiology of chronic diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease, has long been debated and is difficult to prove.

11 Jun 2004

Evidence of a fall in the incidence and severity of stroke

In Oxfordshire,England, for the first time anywhere in the world, there is reliable evidence of a fall in the incidence and severity of stroke in recent years, Oxford University researchers reported in The Lancet this week.

11 Jun 2004

First robotic heart operations in the southern hemisphere

Monash University Department of Surgery staff have made history by performing the first robotic heart operations in the southern hemisphere.

11 Jun 2004

Better understanding of Tamoxifen and how breast cancer patients develop resistance

A new study by researchers at Georgetown’s Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center may have implications for the thousands of breast cancer patients who develop resistance to antiestrogen drugs such as Tamoxifen®. The work is published in the June 1 issue of Cancer Research.

11 Jun 2004