Thursday, November 30, 2006

Health News Bulletin - 30 November 2006

Two broadband virtual-learning packages have been developed to help newly-qualified doctors learn basic skills and surgical procedures. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6172164.stm

Don't sit up, it's bad for the your back. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6187080.stm

Chemotherapy drugs may be more harmful to healthy cells in the brain. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6156961.stm

The Archives of General Psychiatry found older schizophrenia drugs may be as effective as the new medications, contrary to the widely held view that newer and dearer drugs are safer and more effective. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6175992.stm

A computer program that helps doctors find the nearest hospital cot for critically ill newborn babies has been launched. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6180132.stm

Patients survey will determine GP bonuses. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6180176.stm

RCS said it needs 50% increase in hospital consultants to guarantee the safety of patients. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6181966.stm

NEJM - 2 open access perspective articles about the safety of the drug Aprotinin and public health :
1)Dangerous Deception — Hiding the Evidence of Adverse Drug Effects.
2)Observational Studies of Drug Safety — Aprotinin and the Absence of Transparency
http://content.nejm.org/cgi/reprint/355/21/2169.pdf
http://content.nejm.org/cgi/reprint/355/21/2171.pdf

Journal Cell - scientists have discovered that the heart could come from stem cells that give rise to multiple cell types in the same local environment. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6173040.stm

NEJM study - blood thinning drug Bivalirudin (Angiomax) for patients with ACS, had similar rates of serious complications as the other drugs, but had significantly lower rates of serious bleeding. http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/short/355/21/2203?query=nextarrow

JAMA reports 4 cases where patients were given excessively high doses of fatal toxin, botox, in cosmetic treatments. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6165042.stm

Scientists have found how heart disease or stroke may trigger Alzheimer's diseases. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6164854.stm

Poll found GPs and hospital doctors doubted the security of a new national databases with 51% were unwilling to allow people's data to be uploaded without their permission. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6167924.stm

A study shows that people experiencing heart attack symptoms wait an average of 90 minutes before an ambulance is called. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6153402.stm

UK government fails to take account of expert advice to prevent a possible flu pandemic and stockpiles just one antiviral drug . http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6158310.stm

DoH to publish marketing code for hospital ads to attract patients under the Choice agenda. The BMA's GP committee said patients want money to be spent on their healthcare, not spent on advertising. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6164214.stm

A task force poll found doctors miss milk allergy symptoms in babies and did not know the best treatment. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6157490.stm

The Lancet study - Arimidex, a breast cancer drug, already used in Scotland, is more effective than standard treatment, the risk of the disease returning was reduced by almost half. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/6158936.stm

BMJ report - NHS reforms harm patient care, but DoH claims the reforms give local NHS more flexibilty and freedom to run services to suit local needs. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6156152.stm

The Partnership for Patients project will allow members of the public to access choice of health provider through their local library. http://www.gnn.gov.uk/environment/detail.asp?ReleaseID=241528&NewsAreaID=2&NavigatedFromDepartment=True

Two drug companies plan to apply for a judicial review of NICE's restriction on the use of Alzheimer's disease drugs, donepezil, rivastigmine and galantamine. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6154668.stm

A study suggests fathers appear to determine the height of their child while mothers tend to influence how much body fat they will have. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6154220.stm

No comments: