tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11876299677377805832024-03-24T23:09:25.974-07:00Health NewsMistleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06885071324875249287noreply@blogger.comBlogger71125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1187629967737780583.post-38195856493640334822008-07-27T07:20:00.000-07:002008-07-27T07:20:01.135-07:00New guidance for eczema treatment<div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:95%;">Parents have been advised not to use high street allergy tests to help manage children's eczema under new guidelines published by the government's health watchdog.<br /><br />The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) claims that there is 'no evidence' that they are a valuable tool for the management of eczema.<br /><br />In addition, the guidance recommends that doctors offer children a range of un-perfumed emollients for use while bathing and moisturising and suggests that schools and nurseries should be provided with leave-on emollients.<br /><br />The guidance states: 'Healthcare professionals should inform children with atopic eczema and their parents or carers that they should use emollients in larger amounts and more often than other treatments.<br /><br />'Emollients should be used on the whole body, both when the atopic eczema is clear and while using all other treatments.'<br /><br />The recommendations have been welcomed by the British Association of Dermatologists, which claims emollients are 'a tried and tested part of the treatment of eczema'.<br /><br />Spokeswoman Nina Goad said: 'Their use is recommended in all guidelines for the treatment of eczema to date, and it is reassuring that their benefit has been recognised in the new guidance.'</span></div>Mistleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06885071324875249287noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1187629967737780583.post-33193688428172343962008-07-26T07:19:00.000-07:002008-07-26T07:19:00.985-07:00Dermatitis blamed for lost working days<div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:95%;">Dermatitis (eczema) is the second most common health problem and causes half a million working days to be lost each year, experts have claimed.<br /><br />According to the British Association of Dermatologists (Bad), only musculo-skeletal problems are more common than dermatitis, which is often triggered by conditions in the workplace.<br /><br />Spokeswoman Nina Goad revealed: 'Occupational skin disease is very common. In fact, approximately 29 per cent of industrial health problems are contact dermatitis, while many more cases go unreported.'<br /><br />Ms Goad said that prevention is 'extremely important' and urged employers to take measures to protect their staff.<br /><br />She also noted that women tend to be less tolerant of the visible symptoms of dermatitis and have therefore traditionally been more likely to seek help.<br /><br />'However, occupational skin disease affects both men and women, and should not be tolerated as a side effect of a specific job,' the expert concluded.</span></div>Mistleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06885071324875249287noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1187629967737780583.post-80957230892599870392008-07-25T07:18:00.000-07:002008-07-25T07:18:01.433-07:00Balanced diet 'supports the skin'<div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:95%;">Research has revealed that a healthy, balanced diet can help to promote good skin, but foods with a high glycaemic index (GI) should be avoided by people suffering from acne.<br /><br />Acne is a very common skin condition during puberty, but some people find that the problem persists through their late 20s and even into their 30s.<br /><br />According to Nina Goad, a spokeswoman for the British Association of Dermatologists, certain lifestyle factors can contribute to the problem.<br /><br />'Recent research suggests that foods with a high glycaemic index (GI) may aggravate acne. A balanced diet with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables and limited processed foods will help to support the body in general, including the skin,' she revealed.<br /><br />Another lifestyle factor that triggers acne is smoking, according to Ms Goad, who noted that scientists have recently identified a new skin disorder known as 'smoker's acne'.<br /><br />Commenting on the recent research, she revealed: 'Smokers who had suffered acne in their teens were found to be four times more likely to suffer acne as an adult than non-smokers who also had experienced teenage acne.'</span></div>Mistleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06885071324875249287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1187629967737780583.post-60016089804333059242008-07-24T07:17:00.000-07:002008-07-24T07:17:01.717-07:00Consumers advised against illegal skin whitening creams<div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:95%;">Doctors have highlighted the dangers of using illegal skin lightening creams after a woman using one experienced a number of health problems.<br /><br />The 28-year-old was treated by medics at Hammersmith hospital, London, after she gained 12.7kg in three years and had difficulty conceiving for 18 months despite having regular periods.<br /><br />She also had recurrent thrush, bruised easily and had stripes on her arms, back, legs and abdomen.<br /><br />When doctors examined her they discovered a fat pad between her shoulders and a round face, as well as mild hair growth on her back and face.<br /><br />After she denied taking illicit drugs the doctors originally diagnosed Cushing's syndrome - a condition that results from excess levels of steroid hormones in the blood.<br /><br />However the results of blood tests were inconsistent with this and the patient then admitted using black market skin creams.<br /><br />The cream, which she used 60g (two tubes) a week of, contained the potent steroid clobetasol.<br /><br />'Patients are often reluctant to admit that they have used skin-lightening creams - especially if these are supplied illegally,' the doctors write in the Lancet medical journal.<br /><br />'Similarly, doctors can be unaware of the need to inquire. But the market is worth millions of pounds a year in the UK alone. Creams can contain toxic substances, such as steroids and hydroxyquinone - and patients are typically unaware of the risks.'</span></div>Mistleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06885071324875249287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1187629967737780583.post-21977969411150969472008-07-23T07:16:00.000-07:002008-07-23T07:16:03.449-07:00Report criticises NHS psoriasis care<div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:95%;">A new report has claimed that the NHS is failing patients with psoriasis, an uncomfortable skin condition that causes itchy, flaky red patches.<br /><br />A survey of 100 dermatology units found that one in five did not have a single nurse who had specialised in dermatology.<br /><br />One in three units did not have suitable bathing and showering facilities for patients, despite the fact that creams used to treat psoriasis must be washed off if it comes into contact with healthy skin.<br /><br />In addition, the survey found that treatments in 41 per cent of units were applied by nurses with no specialist training, or even by patients themselves.<br /><br />The survey was conducted by the Royal College of Physicians and the British Association of Dermatologists and the latter's president, Dr Colin Holden, voiced concerns over the findings.<br /><br />He commented: 'This audit has produced data clearly showing that on a national level, the NHS is failing to provide patients with the level of care they deserve.<br /><br />'Basic elements such as bathing facilities, appropriately trained staff and access to treatments are lacking to a worrying degree.'<br /><br />The report also revealed that 40 per cent of units do not always offer new psoriasis treatments because of their cost, and 60 per cent offer no clinical psychology services to help distressed patients.</span></div>Mistleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06885071324875249287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1187629967737780583.post-4735113888889501032008-07-22T07:16:00.000-07:002008-07-22T07:16:01.006-07:00Chinese herbs may ease eczema<div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:95%;">A traditional Chinese remedy made from five herbs could help to ease the symptoms of eczema, a new study has found.<br /><br />Eczema, which is also known as dermatitis, is a group of skin conditions characterised by dry, itchy skin that can become raw and bleed in severe cases.<br /><br />Up to one fifth of school-age children and one in 12 adults are affected by eczema, according to the National Eczema Society.<br /><br />Researchers at the Chinese University of Hong Kong have now found that the 'pentaherbs formulation', which contains five herbs including Japanese honeysuckle and peppermint, improved quality of life by a third among five to 21-year-olds and reduced the need for topical steroids.<br /><br />Nina Goad, a spokeswoman for the British Association of Dermatologists, said: 'These early studies show that children with atopic eczema may benefit from a specific concoction of traditional Chinese herbs, which could eventually pave the way for this remedy to find its way into mainstream medicine.'<br /><br />However, the association warned consumers that some retailers of Chinese herbs 'may not be reputable'.<br /></span></div>Mistleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06885071324875249287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1187629967737780583.post-59320312937102422532008-07-21T07:15:00.000-07:002008-07-21T07:15:01.344-07:00Children as young as eight using sunbeds<div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:95%;">Children as young as eight are using sunbeds in Britain, the consumer watchdog Which? has revealed today.<br /><br />Its survey of over 1,000 eight to 15-year-olds found that three per cent had used a sunbed – equivalent to around 170,000 children in Britain.<br /><br />Further interviews with 47 16- to 17-year-olds found that 13 per cent had used a sunbed.<br /><br />Young people using sunbeds increase their risk of a life-threatening form of skin cancer.<br /><br />A recent report from the International Agency for Research into Cancer found that people who use sunbeds before the age of 35 increase their risk of malignant melanoma by over seven times.<br /><br />The Sunbed Association (TSA) instructs its members to ban under 16s and to advise people with type one skin to avoid sunbeds, but its membership covers only a quarter of the UK's 6,000 salons, and other salons are not regulated at all.<br /><br />The World Health Organisation advises that under 18s, fair-skinned people and people with a lot of freckles or moles should never use sunbeds.<br /><br />Despite these guidelines Which? found that many staff are failing to warn potential sunbed users about the associated health risks.<br /><br />The watchdog sent undercover researchers to ten salons. All ten said someone with very pale skin could use a sunbed and just three gave a verbal warning about the risks.<br /><br />A government review is currently underway on possible regulation of the sunbed industry and a proposed public health bill in Scotland includes measures to improve staff training.<br /><br />Which? editor Neil Fowler described the number of children using sunbeds as "shocking".<br /><br />"Without regulation, the industry needs to be responsible about protecting those most at risk, but staff at the salons we visited failed to give adequate health warnings," he added.<br /><br />"We're pleased to see that the government is looking at this issue. And in the meantime if you can't live without a tan, consider faking it with a bottle rather than putting your health at risk."<br /><br />Commenting on the research, Rebecca Russell, Cancer Research UK's SunSmart campaign manager, said it is "extremely shocking" to learn that eight-year-olds are using sunbeds.<br /><br />"This example of poor industry practice is exactly why Cancer Research UK is calling on the government to introduce legislation to regulate the industry," she added.<br /><br />"Tighter control of the industry will help to ensure that children are protected from putting themselves at an increased risk of skin cancer and that adults who choose to use sunbeds themselves are made fully aware of the risks."</span></div>Mistleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06885071324875249287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1187629967737780583.post-57553592429189165272008-07-21T02:49:00.000-07:002008-07-21T02:49:00.309-07:00Researchers discover arthritis gene variant<div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:95%;">Researchers claim to have found a genetic variant that is associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).<br /><br />The team at Manchester University made the discovery after studying nine genetic regions identified earlier this year as potentially holding DNA variants determining susceptibility to RA.<br /><br />Writing in the journal Nature Genetics, they say that the finding has brought scientists one step closer to understanding the genetic risk factors for RA.<br /><br />About 387,000 people in the UK have RA, the most common form of inflammatory arthritis that can affect nearly all joints in the body, particularly the hands and the feet.<br /><br />The researchers 'unequivocally' found an RA-linked variant on chromosome six.<br /><br />Although this variant is not on a gene, Professor Jane Worthington from the Arthritis Research Campaign at Manchester University said it may influence the behaviour of a nearby gene called TNFAIP3 - a gene known to be involved in inflammatory processes.<br /><br />Dr Anne Barton, a clinician on the team, commented: 'We believe the genetic marker we have found may determine who develops RA or how severe the disease becomes.'<br /><br />Work is now underway to understand how the variation within the chromosome six region influences the development of RA, the course of the disease and the response to treatment.<br /><br />'This is a very exciting result; the validation of this association takes us one step closer to understanding the genetic risk factors behind what is a debilitating disease for sufferers and an expensive disease for the NHS,' said Professor Worthington.</span></div>Mistleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06885071324875249287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1187629967737780583.post-31611396693647702082008-07-20T07:13:00.000-07:002008-07-20T07:13:01.508-07:00Tomatoes could play anti-ageing role<div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:95%;">People could protect their skin against sun-induced ageing by eating plenty of tomatoes, a new study suggests.<br /><br />Tomatoes are a rich source of lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that neutralises harmful molecules called reactive oxygen species, which can damage the skin and cause wrinkling.<br /><br />Researchers at the University of Manchester studied 20 people and found that those who ate five tablespoons of tomato paste per day were more able to withstand exposure to UV light than those who did not.<br /><br />Tomato eaters were found to have 33 per cent more protection against sunburn, thereby reducing the risk of premature skin ageing and skin cancer.<br /><br />Dr Muneeza Rizwan, who presented the findings at the British Society for Investigative Dermatology in Oxford, commented: 'These weren't huge amounts of tomato we were feeding the group.<br /><br />'People should not think that tomatoes in any way can replace sun creams, but they may be a good additive. If you can improve your protection through your diet then over several years, this may have a significant effect.'<br /><br />Dr Colin Holden of the British Association of Dermatologists added: 'While the protection offered by lycopene is low, this research suggests that a diet containing high levels of antioxidant-rich tomatoes could provide an extra tool in sun protection.'</span></div>Mistleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06885071324875249287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1187629967737780583.post-71669145197954324052008-07-20T02:48:00.000-07:002008-07-20T02:48:00.943-07:00RSI estimates 'greatly exaggerated', researchers say<div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:95%;">The number of Britons who are actually suffering from repetitive strain injury (RSI) is far smaller than estimates suggest, experts have said.<br /><br />Just one in three people who claim to suffer from RSI actually have genuine symptoms, a study by researchers at the University of Southampton's epidemiology research centre has found.<br /><br />Scientists questioned 5,000 workplace injury patients about their health and jobs, including the physical nature of their job, the state of their mental and physical health, and whether they believed they were suffering from RSI.<br /><br />Their analysis revealed that 46 per cent had suffered from arm pain during the previous 12 months, while 54 per cent blamed their job for either causing or aggravating their symptoms.<br /><br />However, researchers claim that just 14 per cent of arm pain is due to arm-straining activities, suggesting that the contribution of RSI towards workplace injuries has been greatly exaggerated.<br /><br />Writing in the British Medical Journal publication Occupational and Environmental Medicine, they note: 'Statistics from Labour Force Surveys are widely quoted as evidence for the scale of occupational illness.<br /><br />'However, their validity as a measure of the burden of disease caused by work is questionable.'</span></div>Mistleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06885071324875249287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1187629967737780583.post-60517519313650070732008-07-19T07:12:00.000-07:002008-07-19T07:12:00.717-07:00Consumers opting for more ethical beauty products<div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:95%;"><span align="top"> People are turning to ethical and natural products as they become increasingly concerned about their health, an expert has claimed.</span><br /><span align="top"></span><br /><span align="top">Phillip Swinford, a spokesman for the British Association of Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology (Babtac), believes that there is a 'growing awareness of the holistic treatment of the body'.</span><br /><span align="top"></span><br /><span align="top">'That leads to a growing awareness among people of their health, and how it is reflected in beauty,' he claimed.</span><br /><span align="top"></span><br /><span align="top">'Whereas, 40 or 50 years ago people were not eating correctly, they were not drinking the right things, now diet is coming more and more into it,' he added.</span><br /><span align="top"></span><br /><span align="top">According to research by Mintel, over 2,260 ethical cosmetic and skincare products were launched in Europe in 2007, representing a fivefold increase over 2006.</span><br /><span align="top"></span><br /><span align="top">The trend is already continuing this year, with 43 per cent of British women saying that seeking all-natural products is their number one consideration when choosing cosmetic and skincare items.</span></span></div>Mistleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06885071324875249287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1187629967737780583.post-27117448621350367562008-07-19T02:47:00.000-07:002008-07-19T02:47:00.530-07:00Osteoporosis drug may benefit breast cancer patients<div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:95%;">A drug commonly used to treat osteoporosis could benefit women undergoing treatment for breast cancer, research presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium has shown.<br /><br />Patients taking the breast cancer drug anastrozole often experience loss of bone mineral density, placing them at risk of osteoporosis and fractures.<br /><br />A trial involving the osteoporosis drug bisphosphonate has now revealed that breast cancer patients taking the drug had increased bone mineral density after one year, despite having low density at the start of the trial.<br /><br />The results are only preliminary, but the researchers hope that the three-year data from the IBIS-2 trial will confirm the drug's effectiveness.<br /><br />Professor Jack Cuzick, co-chairman of the trial, said: 'Although these are still very early results, they are reassuring for women participating in the IBIS-2 trial and also for those who may be taking anastrozole as part of their treatment for breast cancer.'</span></div>Mistleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06885071324875249287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1187629967737780583.post-78774116427721146822008-07-18T07:12:00.000-07:002008-07-18T07:12:00.361-07:00Biological washing powders 'do not worsen eczema'<div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:95%;">Bio detergents should not always be blamed for skin reactions in people with eczema, skin experts have claimed.<br /><br />The advice follows research that found bio washing detergents are no more harmful to people with eczema than their non-bio counterparts.<br /><br />It has been suggested that bio detergents, which contain enzymes to assist stain removal, can trigger skin reactions and that they should be avoided by people with eczema.<br /><br />But after researchers from London and Nottingham conducted a review of evidence on the issue, they discovered that the possible irritant and allergic reactions that could be caused by enzyme raw materials do not translate into a risk of skin reactions when used in washing powders.<br /><br />'What we have found is that ultimately the balance of all the evidence is that enzymes in laundry detergents are not a cause of either skin irritation or skin allergy,' said researcher Dr Sarah Wakelin from St Mary's hospital in London.<br /><br />'Investigations of numerous individuals with skin complaints attributed to laundry products demonstrate convincingly that enzymes were not responsible.<br /><br />'Indeed, enzyme-containing laundry products have an extensive history of safe use. Thus, the supposed adverse effects of enzymes on skin seem to be a consequence of a mythology.'<br /><br />Commenting on the research, Dr Colin Holden, president of the British Association of Dermatologists, said: 'This study highlights that flare-ups of eczema should not just be written off as caused by washing powder.<br /><br />'This serves as a reminder to medical professionals that an expert dermatologist should explore all the other potential causes, as bio detergents may well not be the culprit.'<br /><br />The research is due to be published in the British Journal of Dermatology.</span></div>Mistleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06885071324875249287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1187629967737780583.post-60805696722810768472008-07-18T02:46:00.000-07:002008-07-18T02:46:00.352-07:00Study finds link between arthritis and height<div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:95%;">Short and tall people may be at an increased risk of arthritis compared to individuals of an average height, research has suggested.<br /><br />A new genetic connection between human height and arthritis has been established, American scientists claim, following analysis of tens of thousands of genomes.<br /><br />According to the University of Michigan school of public health, both extremes of height are associated with osteoarthritis - the most common form of arthritis.<br /><br />Researchers arrived at their findings by analysing the genomes of more than 35,000 people in the US and Europe.<br /><br />They found shorter bones with less cartilage made joints most susceptible to damage, while longer and heavier bones produced greater levels of damaging stress to joints.<br /><br />Study co-author Goncalo Abecasis, an assistant professor at the University of Michigan, said many genes were already known to control height, but only a few were associated with osteoarthritis.<br /><br />'In this case the gene we picked also is important in osteoarthritis and it's actually quite hard to find genes for osteoarthritis,' he explained.<br /><br />'One of the things we were excited about is you could study [height] in many people, and once you've done that you have a short list of genes that you can then study for what they do in terms of osteoarthritis.'<br /><br />The study's results were published today in the journal Nature Genetics.</span></div>Mistleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06885071324875249287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1187629967737780583.post-24808327655798257482008-07-17T07:11:00.000-07:002008-07-17T07:11:01.770-07:00Study provides new hope for alcoholism<div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:95%;">Scientists have found that the epilepsy drug topiramate may help to treat alcoholism by boosting overall health as well as cutting cravings.<br /><br />Researchers have reported on clinical trials which found that the drug decreased heavy drinking and reduced both the physical and psychosocial harm caused by alcohol dependence.<br /><br />The drug was used in a 14-week trial involving 371 men and women who had been diagnosed with alcoholism.<br /><br />The researchers, who are based at the University of Virginia, found that the drug brought about a reduction in obsessive thoughts about alcohol.<br /><br />It also decreased cholesterol, blood pressure, and levels of liver enzymes which are linked to cirrhosis.<br /><br />Lead author Professor Bankole Johnson commented: 'What we've found is that topiramate treats the alcohol addiction, not just the 'symptom' of drinking.'<br /><br />The findings are published in the Archives of Internal Medicine and may lead more doctors to prescribe the drug for alcoholism, despite the fact that it is not currently licensed for the treatment of alcohol addiction in the UK.</span></div>Mistleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06885071324875249287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1187629967737780583.post-21757009065567287512008-07-17T02:45:00.000-07:002008-07-17T02:45:01.087-07:00Home improvements 'may be better than drugs'<div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:95%;">Improvements to the safety of elderly people's homes may be more effective than expensive drugs at preventing bone fractures, researchers have claimed.<br /><br />Finnish experts suggest that drug treatment for osteoporosis can be expensive and that home safety improvements would be cheaper and may have a bigger impact.<br /><br />The team, which included the University of Tampere's Dr Teppo Jarvinen, call for a 'change of approach' as many GPs do not assess elderly patients' risk of falling and consider how fractures could be prevented by reducing this risk.<br /><br />Writing in the British Medical Journal, they reveal: 'Numerous studies show that among older people, falling, not osteoporosis, is the strongest risk factor for fracture.'<br /><br />They conclude: 'It is time to shift the focus in fracture prevention from osteoporosis to falls. Falling is an under-recognised risk factor for fracture, it is preventable, and prevention provides additional health benefits beyond avoiding fractures.'<br /><br />However, Julia Thompson, a spokeswoman for the National Osteoporosis Society, told the BBC: 'Osteoporosis treatment has to go hand-in-hand with falls prevention to help the hundreds of thousands of people in the UK at risk of breaking a bone.'</span></div>Mistleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06885071324875249287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1187629967737780583.post-49590660097878461792008-07-16T07:10:00.000-07:002008-07-16T07:10:01.125-07:00Study investigates gender impact on lung cancer risk<div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:95%;">New research suggests that women who smoke are no more likely to develop lung cancer than male smokers, despite previous studies suggesting that the risk of the disease differs between men and women.<br /><br />The latest study, which is published in the Lancet Oncology medical journal, looked at data on nearly half a million men and women in the US, all of whom were aged between 50 and 71.<br /><br />Analysis revealed that the proportion of people who developed lung cancer was 1.47 per cent in men and 1.21 per cent in women.<br /><br />Female smokers had almost the same risk of developing lung cancer as male smokers.<br /><br />However, women who had never smoked were found to be 1.3 times more likely than men who had never smoked to develop the disease.<br /><br />The researchers, from the US National Cancer Institute, concluded: 'Our findings suggest that women are not more susceptible than men to the carcinogenic effects of cigarette smoking in the lung,' the study's authors conclude.<br /><br />They added that 'vigorous efforts' should be made to eliminate smoking in both men and women, as smokers of more than two packs per day were around 50 times more likely to develop lung cancer than people who had never smoked.</span></div>Mistleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06885071324875249287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1187629967737780583.post-50984012874211964312008-07-16T02:44:00.000-07:002008-07-16T02:44:00.303-07:00Patients' stem cells 'could mend broken bones'<div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:95%;"><span align="top"> Scientists believe they could use patients' own stem cells to help mend damaged bones and cartilage.</span><br /><span align="top"></span><br /><span align="top">They say the treatment could have a major impact on conditions such as osteoarthritis and could treat trauma victims whose bones have been shattered beyond repair.</span><br /><span align="top"></span><br /><span align="top">The treatment puts patients' stem cells - cells that can develop into almost any body cell - into a 'bioactive scaffold' that protects them and stimulates their growth into bone or cartilage.</span><br /><span align="top"></span><br /><span align="top">This scaffold consists of a fairly rigid mesh structure that is coated with a drug that affects patients' cells.</span><br /><span align="top"></span><br /><span align="top">The collaborative team behind the study aim to further the research and hope to set up a clinical trial within two years.</span><br /><span align="top"></span><br /><span align="top">Dr Brendon Noble, of the University of Edinburgh's Medical Research Council Centre for Regenerative Medicine, said: 'This is a novel approach in terms of treating damaged bones and cartilage.</span><br /><span align="top"></span><br /><span align="top">'The aim is to translate the knowledge we have gained from bone biology studies into tangible treatments for patients.'</span><br /><span align="top"></span><br /><span align="top">Dr Anna Krassowska, research manager for the UK Stem Cell Foundation, commented: 'In the UK hip fractures kill 14,000 elderly people every year - more than many cancers.</span><br /><span align="top"></span><br /><span align="top">'The worldwide market for orthopaedic devices alone represents some $17 billion [£8.71 billion]. This research has the potential not only to impact on a significant number of people's lives but to open up one of the largest stem cell markets in the industry.'</span></span></div>Mistleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06885071324875249287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1187629967737780583.post-1577845119889886182008-07-15T07:10:00.000-07:002008-07-15T07:10:00.214-07:00Drink and drugs fuel suicide in Scotland<div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;">High suicide rates in Scotland are being fuelled by alcohol and drug misuse, a new report has claimed.<br /><br />Experts at the University of Manchester found that Scottish people are nearly twice as likely as those in England and Wales to take their own life, and the problem is being blamed on alcohol and drug consumption.<br /><br />Scotland was found to have a suicide rate of 18.7 per 100,000. This compares with 10.2 per 100,000 in England and Wales.<br /><br />Of the 1,373 patient suicides detailed in the Lessons for Mental Health Care in Scotland report, 785 cases were linked to alcohol misuse and 522 cases had a history of drug misuse.<br /><br />'There has been a welcome recent fall in the suicide rates among the general Scottish population but, despite this, the most striking feature of rates north of the border is how much higher they are than in England and Wales,' said Louis Appleby, professor of psychiatry at the University of Manchester and national director for mental health in England.<br /><br />Homicide rates, meanwhile, equated to 2.12 per 100,000 people in Scotland compared to 1.23 per 100,000 in England and Wales, and drug and alcohol dependence were diagnosed in many of the perpetrators.<br /><br />'The findings suggest that alcohol and drugs lie behind Scotland's high rates of suicide and homicide and the frequency with which they occur as antecedents in our report are striking,' Professor Appleby claimed.</span></div>Mistleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06885071324875249287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1187629967737780583.post-26224818431870451842008-07-15T02:43:00.000-07:002008-07-15T02:43:01.087-07:00Study links gene to gout<div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Researchers in Scotland have found a particular gene variant that may increase the risk of gout.<br /><br />Gout is a painful joint condition that tends to affect the big toe, although it can develop in any of the body's joints.<br /><br />Sufferers tend to experience attacks that last for between three and ten days, in which the affected joints become swollen and inflamed.<br /><br />There has recently been an increase in the incidence of gout, which has largely been attributed to unhealthy lifestyles.<br /><br />Researchers at the MRC Human Genetics Unit in Edinburgh have now identified a variant of the SLC2A gene, which they believe makes it harder for the body to remove uric acid.<br /><br />This then builds up in the blood and forms crystals in the joints.<br /><br />Researcher Harry Campbell told the BBC: 'Some people will have higher or lower risk of gout depending on the form of the gene they inherited.<br /><br />'This discovery may allow better diagnostic tools for gout to be developed.'</span></div>Mistleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06885071324875249287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1187629967737780583.post-28758156909188906622008-07-14T07:09:00.000-07:002008-07-14T07:09:00.906-07:00Govt cracks down on teenage drinkers<div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:95%;">A hard-hitting series of adverts are being released by the Home Office to cut down on the number of 18 to 24-year-olds binge drinking.<br /><br />The £4 million campaign will include television, radio, print and online adverts. Its tagline is: 'You wouldn't start a night like this, so why end it that way?'<br /><br />Home secretary Jacqui Smith said: 'I am not prepared to tolerate alcohol-fuelled crime and disorder on our streets and this new campaign will challenge people to think twice about the serious consequences of losing control.'<br /><br />The advert from a key part of the government's new strategy on alcohol which includes new laws on underage drinking in public, a national police campaign to confiscate drink from young people, a clampdown on 'irresponsible retailers', tougher penalties on those shops which sell alcohol to the underage and independent research into the link between alcohol pricing and harm.<br /><br />Don Shenker, chief executive of Alcohol Concern, said: 'It's vital that we challenge the attitude widespread among young people that socialising must always involve heavy drinking.<br /><br />'This will take time, but this sizeable campaign is an important contribution to that process.'<br /><br />The centrepiece of the campaign is two new television adverts which reverse the sequence of a night out gone wrong. The adverts show a man and woman getting ready at home for a night out. They end with the man leaving home bloody and damaged and the woman closing her front door with smeared make-up and vomit in her hair.<br /><br />Chris Allison, deputy assistant commissioner of the metropolitan police and ACPO lead for licensing, said: 'We cannot simply police our way out of this problem. Any new initiative which grabs attention and stimulates action by parents, local agencies and young people themselves is welcome.'<br /><br />But the Conservatives are questioning the government's commitment to tackling drinking among young people.<br /><br />The new shadow home secretary Dominic Grieve said: 'While public information is important this will be nothing more than another gimmick if it is not backed up with proper enforcement of the law.<br /><br />'Prosecutions for drunkenness are down by over a third since 2002 and just a handful of people have been properly punished for selling to underage or drunk customers.<br /><br />'This is not to mention the fact that it was this government that unleashed 24 hour drinking on our towns and cities.'</span></div>Mistleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06885071324875249287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1187629967737780583.post-87562862906262382762008-07-14T02:42:00.000-07:002008-07-14T02:42:01.178-07:00Longer working hours contribute to RSI<div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:95%;">There has been an increase in the number of people being diagnosed with repetitive strain injury (RSI) and an expert has claimed that this could be linked to working conditions and poor preventative care.<br /><br />RSIs, which are musculskeletal disorders of the upper and lower limbs, cost British industry up to £20 billion a year, according to RSI Awareness, making them a major workplace problem.<br /><br />Bronwyn Clifford, a chartered occupational therapist and director of Physio at Work, said that the rising incidence of RSI is concerning because the condition is almost entirely avoidable given the correct preventative measures.<br /><br />Commenting on the increase, she said: "It could be due to greater awareness of RSI among the population or it could be that people are working longer hours and are not taking sufficient breaks, or that employers are not providing the right preventative advice for their staff or the right sort of help for those who develop RSI.<br /><br />"The most important thing is that employers should ensure that their staff have regular training and [understand] the potential risks that may be associated with the tasks that they are doing, such as using a computer all day,' she advised.</span></div>Mistleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06885071324875249287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1187629967737780583.post-56196258446223779472008-07-13T07:07:00.000-07:002008-07-13T07:07:00.787-07:00Scotland considers under-21 supermarket alcohol ban<div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:95%;"><span align="top"> People aged under 21 in Scotland may not be able to buy alcohol in supermarkets and off licences from next year under new proposals announced today.</span><br /><span align="top"></span><br /><span align="top">The Scottish government has suggested the ban as part of its attempt to reduce the country's alcohol misuse, the cost of which health secretary Nicola Sturgeon described as 'enormous and growing'.</span><br /><span align="top"></span><br /><span align="top">Other proposals include setting a minimum price at which a unit of alcohol can be sold and ending 'three for the price of two' type promotions.</span><br /><span align="top"></span><br /><span align="top">The government has also proposed that some alcohol retailers pay a 'social responsibility' fee to help pay for the consequences of alcohol misuse and that supermarkets have alcohol-only checkouts so that alcohol is not seen as just another product.</span><br /><span align="top"></span><br /><span align="top">The consultation on the proposals will run until September 9th and if they are given backing it is likely they will become law from September 2009.</span><br /><span align="top"></span><br /><span align="top">Ministers launched the consultation this morning following a six-week pilot trial in Armadale, West Lothian, which they say resulted in a big drop in calls about antisocial behaviour, youth drinking and vandalism.</span><br /><span align="top"></span><br /><span align="top">Ms Sturgeon said the Scottish government is 'determined to tackle alcohol misuse'.</span><br /><span align="top"></span><br /><span align="top">'I believe this country has so much potential, but we need a healthier relationship with alcohol if we are to maximise it. We all have a personal responsibility to drink sensibly but government also has a responsibility to show leadership,' she added.</span><br /><span align="top"></span><br /><span align="top">'We are not anti-alcohol - but we are concerned about alcohol misuse.'</span><br /><span align="top"></span><br /><span align="top">Justice secretary Kenny MacAskill added: 'We can no longer sit back and let alcohol misuse continue to take its shocking toll on our criminal justice system, health service and economy.</span><br /><span align="top"></span><br /><span align="top">'I'd encourage everyone to take the time to get involved, look at these proposals and think about your own alcohol consumption. Together we can help get Scotland's relationship with alcohol back on the level.'</span></span></div>Mistleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06885071324875249287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1187629967737780583.post-48809542256986568592008-07-13T02:41:00.000-07:002008-07-13T02:41:00.264-07:00Vegan diet may help arthritis patients<div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:95%;">A gluten-free vegan diet could be beneficial for patients with rheumatoid arthritis, researchers have said.<br /><br />Sufferers tend to be at a higher risk for heart attacks and strokes than the general population, as the disease causes inflammation in their arteries.<br /><br />However, a study at Sweden's Karolinska Institute has found that the risk of heart attack and stroke can be reduced by following a vegan diet.<br /><br />Research involving 66 patients - 38 of whom ate a gluten-free vegan diet - found that those on the regime had lower levels of 'bad' low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and tended to have a lower body mass index (BMI) than those on a non-vegan diet.<br /><br />The Arthritis Research Campaign welcomed the study but told the BBC that it is 'difficult to get enough of some important nutrients on a vegan diet'.<br /><br />However, a spokeswoman revealed: 'We do know that, for example, eating oily fish can reduce inflammation, and risk factors for developing the condition include high consumption of red meat and low consumption of fruit and vegetables, so diet does play a role - however limited.'</span></div>Mistleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06885071324875249287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1187629967737780583.post-85835031639444872802008-07-12T06:56:00.000-07:002008-07-12T06:56:00.233-07:00School environment can influence smoking rates<div style="text-align: justify; font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size:95%;">Children who experience a positive environment at high school are less likely to take up smoking, new research suggests.<br /><br />A study at Glasgow's Medical Research Council Social and Public Health Sciences Unit looked at 5,092 pupils from 24 schools in Scotland.<br /><br />The findings, which are published in the journal BMC Public Health, suggest that teachers can help to reduce uptake of smoking by creating a positive environment in which pupils feel included.<br /><br />Lead researcher Marion Henderson revealed that teacher-pupil relationships, pupils' attitudes to school and the school's attention to inclusiveness all have an effect on young people's smoking habits.<br /><br />She commented: 'Our research has shown that this environment acts to either encourage or discourage smoking.<br /><br />'Our results suggest that investing in the social environment of schools and endeavouring to make school a positive experience, even for less academically able pupils, may have the potential to reduce smoking rates, particularly for boys,' she concluded.</span></div>Mistleehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06885071324875249287noreply@blogger.com0