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Health2005 news31 December 2005: MRI tracks transplanted islets in mice. A potential easy noninvasive way for doctors to follow islet cell transplantation in humans 31 December 2005: UAE working to rid drinking water of chemical linked to cancer. Bromate levels too high 30 December 2005: Protect your ears: limit iPod use. Users often crank up volume to block out ambient sound 30 December 2005: About 1 in 10 US teens face major depression – study. Fewer than half were treated 30 December 2005: Gulf war syndrome persists in US troops after 10 years: study. 28.9 percent of those deployed suffered from the affliction a decade after the war 30 December 2005: Coaching women during childbirth has little impact. Study of 320 first-time mothers who had simple pregnancies and did not receive epidural anaesthesia 29 December 2005: Topiramate helpful for bulimia. The drug topiramate, usually used as an anti-seizure treatment, can reduce bingeing and purging in women with bulimia nervosa and improve their quality of life 29 December 2005: Fatty foods can lead to diabetes, researchers say. Can disrupt blood sugar levels 29 December 2005: Smoking linked to severity of psoriasis. Study compared the prevalence of smoking and obesity in 557 psoriasis patients with that seen in the three population databases29 December 2005: Herpes in pregnancy may raise HIV risk for baby. Other studies are needed to confirm the relationship 28 December 2005: Bond with parents helps teens cope with stress. Evaluated the coping strategies and development of 112 girls and boys 28 December 2005: 'Mono' virus may shorten pregnancy duration. If Epstein-Barr virus (or EBV) - the bug responsible for mononucleosis, among other ills - is reactivated during pregnancy, it may lead to early labour or even stillbirth 28 December 2005: Hospital overdoses contribute to bleeding problems in heart. Heart attack patients are often given overdoses of powerful blood-thinning drugs in the emergency room 28 December 2005: Drink-crash research unfortunate case of 'we told you so'. Alcohol was linked to "significantly more" vehicle crashes among 15 to 19-year-olds since the law was changed in 1999 to allow 18-year-olds to buy booze. The rest of the world is paying close attention to the NZ experience of lowering the drinking age 27 December 2005: Milk thistle ineffective for liver disease. Herbal remedy used worldwide for liver disease 27 December 2005: More evidence seen for fibre cutting heart risks. Study of French adults 27 December 2005: Vitamin could prevent common cancers: study. A large daily dose of vitamin D can lower the risk of developing common cancers by as much as 50 percent 25 December 2005: WHO says China must change its farming practices. Long-term solution to preventing outbreaks of deadly bird flu 24 December 2005: Successful aging may be partly in the genes. Researchers have identified genes related to reaching age 90 with preserved brain function 24 December 2005: Impulsivity, alcohol linked to suicide. Men with severe depression are more likely to commit suicide if they abuse alcohol and have "cluster B" personality disorder 24 December 2005: Dogs can take viagra - and breathe a sigh of relief. The use of advanced medical techniques used on humans now used on animals 24 December 2005: Barley products can claim heart benefits - US FDA. Cereals, breads and other products containing whole or milled barley grain can now claim to reduce the risk of heart disease 23 December 2005: Onset of period delayed in young diabetic women. Study also suggests a link between increased levels of total glycosylated hemoglobin (GHb), a measure of blood glucose control, and increased age at first menstruation23 December 2005: EU told not doing enough to combat "super bugs". Must stop the misuse of antibiotics - European Commission 23 December 2005: Low brain estrogen linked to Alzheimer's in women. Post-mortem studies 23 December 2005: Japan deaths exceed births for 1st time in century
[23-12-2005] 23 December 2005: Signs of Tamiflu resistance no cause for alarm – WHO. Some resistance was inevitable with any kind of drug 23 December 2005: NZ research into elephant pheromones paves way to understanding human sixth sense. New research into the ways animals signal each other will be published this week in leading international science journal Nature 23 December 2005: Fish oil curbs heart trouble linked to pollution. Daily supplementation with omega-3 fatty acid (fish oil) prevents a potentially-deadly decline in heart rate variability (HRV) associated with exposure to indoor air pollution 23 December 2005: NSAID gel curbs pain of knee arthritis. Adults with painful osteoarthritis of the knee may find relief by rubbing on a gel containing the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) diclofenac 23 December 2005: Women often opt out of lung cancer studies. Patients opting out of a trial were more likely to be African-American 23 December 2005: Exercise your way to better mental health. Not clear how it works 23 December 2005: Bioethics Council wants Maori educated on animal-to-human transplants. Some Maori are troubled by the fact that xenotransplantation does not appear to be validated by tikanga 23 December 2005: Period before divorce hardest on some kids. Study which followed more than 2800 Canadian children from two-parent homes found that those whose parents eventually divorced tended to show high levels of depression, anxiety and behaviour problems in the years before the separation 23 December 2005: India builds database to stop theft of traditional knowledge. Aims to make information available to patent offices around the world to ensure that traditional remedies are not presented as new discoveries 23 December 2005: The Bioethics Report on Xenotransplantation concludes that in principle animal-to-human transplantation is acceptable to NZers and recommends that it be allowed with appropriate regulations 22 December 2005: Chest x-rays detect early lung cancer. Initial findings from the largest US study of the efficacy of screening for lung cancer22 December 2005: Smoking, even second-hand, ups risk of eye disease. Increases a person's risk of developing a progressively degenerative eye disease known as age-related macular degeneration or AMD 22 December 2005: Americans advised to eat seafood twice a week. Despite the current concern about pollution contamination 22 December 2005: Early hope seen for green tea in fighting leukaemia. Small study at the Mayo Clinic 22 December 2005: Tight diabetes control cuts heart risk – study. Diabetics who used insulin aggressively to control their blood sugar for 6-1/2 years cut their risk of heart attack 22 December 2005: Cervical cancer vaccine shows promise in prevention. Vaccine trains the body's immune system to fight two types of human papillomavirus, or HPV, responsible for about 70 percent of cervical cancers 22 December 2005: Nerves a key to high blood pressure, new study hopes to prove. Study, being carried out by Dr Carolyn Barrett of the Department of Physiology at the University of Auckland, hopes to understand the link between the unconscious bodily functions linked to the central nervous system 22 December 2005: Bird flu's resistance to the anti-viral drug Tamiflu in two Vietnamese fatalities is a worrying development in the fight against the virus. Health experts alarmed at patient resistance to Tamiflu. Experts said the deaths were disturbing because the two girls had received early and aggressive treatment with Tamiflu and had gotten the recommended doses 21 December 2005: Insight into heart condition tied to athlete deaths. John Hopkins School of Medicine has undertaken the first comprehensive study of arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia (ARVD), an inherited disorder that can lead to sudden death 21 December 2005: Impotence early sign of heart disease. The US study, a first to look at a large group of healthy men over time, found impotence was as good a predictor for cardiovascular disease as a family history of heart attack 21 December 2005: Bee sting therapy no help in multiple sclerosis. Findings of the first controlled study to investigate the alternative treatment in MS patients 21 December 2005: Men catching up to women in life expectancy – study. Lung cancer, heart disease declining in middle-age men, increasing in women - Longevity Index 21 December 2005: Poor neighbourhoods, not poor incomes may promote obesity. A survey of almost 5000 randomly selected men and women in Melbourne found on average, people living in the most disadvantaged areas were 3kg heavier than those residing in more affluent neighbourhoods21 December 2005: First nationwide study since 1980s into breast cancer. Run by public health researchers from Massey University, it is the first to specifically recruit Maori and Pacific Island women 21 December 2005: New use for tobacco could save lives - US researcher. One acre of genetically engineered tobacco plants can produce enough anthrax vaccine to inoculate the entire US population 20 December 2005: Eating, exercise habits vary by season. Study examines the effects of seasons on food intake, physical activity and body weight 20 December 2005: Cocaine's heart-damaging effects immediate. Study finds hardening of the arteries occurs immediately after use, not a result from any long-term effects 20 December 2005: Brain stimulation boosts hand function after stroke. While repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) performed on the side of the brain unaffected by stroke significantly improved motor function, the improvement was only short-lived - study 20 December 2005: Dark chocolate may cut heart disease risk. A comparison study of dark and white chocolate on arterial blood flow found dark chocolate significantly improved arterial flow, while white chocolate had no effect 19 December 2005: Cry babies could be mentally ill. Further research needed for babies admitted to hospital for excessive crying, study suggests 19 December 2005: Pick on smokers, not on older women seeking IVF. Australian IVF expert Michael Chapman responds to criticism of the cost involved for women undergoing the fertility treatment 17 December 2005: Family alcoholism may make going decaf tough. Genetic vulnerability towards addiction makes the caffeine habit hard to break for some, study suggests 16 December 2005: Sanofi says human bird flu vaccine tests promising. Encouraging preliminary results of the Phase I trial among 300 healthy volunteers in France 16 December 2005: EU scientists seek big investment in nanomedicine. The US National Institutes of Health last year committed $144 million to cancer-related nanotechnology research, but European researchers have yet to receive such targeted funding 16 December 2005: Conventional cancer treatments 'worse than death'. Random telephone survey of 438 people, carried out by the University of Otago's department of preventive and social medicine 16 December 2005: Exercise your brain and body to improve memory. "The Memory Prescription", a new book based on University of California research16 December 2005: CSL hopes for bird-flu vaccine application by August. Seeks to produce a vaccine with the smallest effective dose possible 15 December 2005: Bedding tied to asthma development in infants. ANU research published in the American Journal of Public Health 15 December 2005: Prototype birdflu vaccine looks promising. Preliminary tests on a prototype pandemic flu vaccine based on the H5N1 strain of bird flu circulating in Asia have shown promise in achieving a practical injection 15 December 2005: Poorer children more likely to die than their richer peers. Study examined the deaths of about 2250 children who died between 1981 and 1999 for the contribution of causes of death and socio-economic inequalities in child mortality 15 December 2005: Study says party pills can induce seizures. Study by a group of Canterbury health professionals, reported in the NZ Medical Journal 14 December 2005: US launches cancer gene mapping project. The Cancer Genome Atlas project will take samples of selected tumour types and use the human genome map to try and find all the changes that mark cancer 14 December 2005: 30 million children can be saved with simple health intervention. UN child survival target unlikely to be achieved by 2015, conference hears 14 December 2005: Eating fish helps keep older people's brains sharp. One serving of fish a week is sufficient to slow mental decline by 10 percent, equivalent to a three-year reduction in mental age, a new study suggests 14 December 2005: New research shows vitamin D may keep lungs healthy. Auckland University's Peter Black and Robert Scragg found there was a substantial difference in lung function between those with the highest and lowest levels, and the effect was more pronounced in Caucasians and African Americans than Hispanics 14 December 2005: Stillbirths more common in older and black women. A study of stillbirths in the US between 1981 and 2000 13 December 2005: EU medical chief says Europe ready for bird flu. 25 percent of European workers expected to be affected 13 December 2005: Green light for animal transplants into humans. Xenotransplantation moves a step closer with the Bioethics Council approving the concept subject to a regulatory framework to deal with special issues that may arise; patients to be registered 13 December 2005: Parents should avoid dummies unless baby is SIDS risk – doctor. An extensive review of studies on dummy use has shown their use generally results in a shorter duration of breast feeding, recommended for boosting immunity and cognitive development13 December 2005: New WHO rules may help fight bird flu. The International Health Regulations - based on lessons learned from SARS - require all events that may constitute a public health emergency to be reported 13 December 2005: US health gains hurt by obesity, smoking. Health Rankings report finds no significant drop in smoking since the early 90s 13 December 2005: Ovarian cancer risk lower in tea drinkers – study. The Karolinska Institute study found a 46 percent lower risk of the cancer in women who drank two or more cups per day, and found additional cups further reduced the risk 12 December 2005: Govt to pay for embryo screening for high-risk couples. Screening for genetic disorders such as haemophilia, cystic fibrosis and Huntington's disease to be included in IVF treatment for some 12 December 2005: Economic factors affect suicide rates says Associate Health Minister Jim Anderton. NZ Government to target all age groups - taking focus off youth suicide - in four-year $10.3 million suicide prevention plan 12 December 2005: Study on chemical factory cancer risk a whitewash, say Greens. Says Ministry of Health study failed to concentrate on the New Plymouth residents most affected by the manufacture of 245T from 1962 to 1987 12 December 2005: Ministry releases study looking at cancer in New Plymouth during time of 2,4,5-T manufacture. A Ministry of Health funded study comparing cancer rates in New Plymouth with the rest of NZ for the last three decades provides a level of reassurance about cancers associated with dioxin 11 December 2005: Dummies reduces risk of cot death: study. Confirms controversial recommendations by the American Academy of Paediatrics that giving a baby a dummy reduces the risk of cot death by more than 90 per cent 10 December 2005: Smoking lowers chances of surviving throat cancer. New study to analyse the survival of patients with laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer 9 December 2005: Atmospheric ozone drop may lead to more cataracts. Researchers created a model of cataract risk in the US population related to increasing ultraviolet radiation arising from falling ozone levels of 5 to 20 percent 9 December 2005: Cancer drug may help short boys be taller. Tamoxifen, usually used to treat or prevent breast cancer, may help short boys attain a normal adult height 9 December 2005: Global standard for avian vaccines needed. Unlike influenza vaccines for humans, which must contain a minimum amount of antigen to stimulate an immune response, no figure had been stipulated for avian vaccines 9 December 2005: Brain cells by millions die during a stroke. Advances in stroke neuroimaging coupled with data from previous research have allowed estimates of the neuron loss that occurs during a typical stroke9 December 2005: Some women prone to carry strep in pregnancy. Black women, health care workers, and overweight women are at increased risk for carrying group B streptococcus (GBS) during pregnancy 9 December 2005: Wear sunscreen under your clothes, Aussie scientist says. Australians should be wearing sunscreen under their clothes as well as on their faces and other exposed parts of their bodies to reduce skin cancer risk - atmospheric physicist Michael Kimlin 8 December 2005: Psychotherapy can help teens control diabetes. The intensive home-based therapy to reduce stress for teenagers with type-1 diabetes and their families, could be adapted to treat a variety of chronic illnesses such as HIV, asthma and obesity, researchers say 8 December 2005: Sleep apnoea tied to higher risk of stroke. New study shows people who have the breathing disorder have a 4 times greater risk of stroke 8 December 2005: A new way to measure inequality in health. Uses the variations in survival across small areas 7 December 2005: First-ever global survey on unmet needs in asthma treatment. The 16-country research study found significant discrepancies between physician and patient assessments of current asthma treatment on issues that may affect health outcomes, including medication side effects, patient education and physician-patient communication 7 December 2005: Botox injections show promise for 'tennis elbow'. Study a first to show that a single injection of botulinum toxin type A can outperform a placebo in reducing the pain for up to three months 7 December 2005: US science panel tells industry to stop marketing junk food. The panel assessed hundreds of studies, then reviewed evidence from 123 of them and completed the most comprehensive review to date on the scientific evidence of how food marketing affects children's diets - On the Net:http://www.iom.edu 7 December 2005: Smallpox vaccine triggers few bad reactions – studies. One hundred out of nearly 38,000 US emergency workers given the vaccine in a voluntary programme became seriously ill 7 December 2005: Public needs preparing for bird flu – experts. WHO officials say the public needs to be warned of the limitations of antiviral drugs such as Tamiflu 7 December 2005: WHO sees big gaps in bird flu surveillance. The organisation's top communicable disease expert in Asia, Hitoshi Oshitani, says a lack of equipment and expertise in the region's rural areas is limiting efforts to curb the spread of the disease 7 December 2005: Good sleep, sociability may keep grandma healthy. By having either helps lower levels of interleukin-6, a protein linked to inflammatory diseases, new research shows7 December 2005: Link between children's fractures and nutrition. Otago University study - a first world-wide to study the bone health and body make-up of children who had broken their forearms at least twice - found contributing factors were low bone density, being overweight, and a diet low in calcium 6 December 2005: New treatments for severe chronic pain. Two novel therapies that involve breaking the circuit that connects pain nerves to the brain through the spine are being developed by US dental and craniofacial researchers 5 December 2005: Tobacco companies accused of targeting poor Nzers. ASH director Becky Freeman responds to Otago University research that showed an increasing number of people from lower socioeconomic groups were dying as a result of smoking 4 December 2005: Smoking study says poorest hit hardest. New Zealand should go completely tobacco-free according to two Otago researchers who say smoking's deadly side-effects are increasingly hitting the poorer members of society 3 December 2005: Earlier menopause tied to earlier death. A large US study has found early menopause - between the ages of 40 and 44 - increased the risk of death from any cause by 4 percent for women aged 75 or older 3 December 2005: Purging disorder is a distinct eating disorder. The disorder has fewer impulsive characteristics than the binging disorder, bulimia nervosa 3 December 2005: Passive smoking is breast cancer risk factor. An analysis of 19 published studies found this to be especially so in premenopausal women 3 December 2005: Blunt trauma raises heart attack risk. First evidence to show direct injury to certain areas of the body can increase the risk of heart attack 3 December 2005: New intestinal bug emerging in North America. Tests show Clostridium difficile is particularly resistant to fluoroquinolone antibiotics, such as Cipro and Levaquin 3 December 2005: "Dr Ecstasy" laments the rave drug's notoriety. The scientist who introduced Ecstasy to the world in the 1970s fears the drug's notoriety and popularity at nightclubs is destroying any chance that it might be used to treat the mentally ill 2 December 2005: Aids reaches record numbers - 40.3 million people 2 December 2005: British stem cell research to get govt cash boost. Britain has one of the world's best regulatory environments for research into stem cells 2 December 2005: Europe must halt pharmaceutical decline - UK govt. Losing ground to the US and Asia 2 December 2005: Many Americans choose couch over treadmill – study. Most US adults failed to exercise at the minimum recommended level in 20032 December 2005: Mum's gum disease raises risk of pre-term birth. Periodontal therapy to get rid of the bacteria that dwell in the plaque that coats the teeth significantly lowers the risk of pre-term/low birth weight 2 December 2005: Worries for anti-malaria drug as resistance signs emerge. New research pinpoints the problem to mutations in a gene in the parasite targeted by artemisinin 2 December 2005: An article in the UK medical journal, The Lancet, by Auckland University researchers suggests the apparent protective effect of alcohol to reduce cardiovascular risk may be due to confused research 1 December 2005: News release: Prime Minister opens new facility at Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences. The Centre has been possible through a $500,000 donation from the Auckland Medical Research Foundation to mark 50 years of support for medical research 1 December 2005: Heart study pioneer dead at 92 in US. Dr Thomas Royle Dawber was instrumental in getting the Framingham Heart Study off the ground and in saving the project when the US government considered shutting it down in 1968 1 December 2005: Aids expert reports progress towards HIV vaccine. The co-discoverer of the HIV virus, Dr Robert Gallo says he hopes to launch a clinical trial of an Aids vaccine in about a year's time 1 December 2005: Binge drinking in middle age tied to dementia risk.
Finnish study tests group of adults for mental decline 25 years after they
provided information on their health and lifestyle,
including drinking habits when they were 40 years of age or older
1 December 2005: Body count from road
toll 390 times terrorism deaths – research. Implications for allocating
resources, says Wellington medical school researcher
1 December 2005: State laws may hurt
US flu efforts, regulators say. More than 20 US states have laws pending
that would limit or forbid the use of thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative
30 November 2005: Stress may raise cholesterol in some. UK study finds healthy middle-age adults whose cholesterol rose in response to a stressful task were more likely than their peers without this increase to have high cholesterol several years later 30 November 2005: Job exposure to pesticide may raise cancer risk. Findings of a US study on the association between diazinon use and lung cancer 30 November 2005: Motherhood a 'rite of passage' for some teens. A small, long-term US study found, that with support, teen motherhood can be a positive turning point30 November 2005: Health Innovation Awards finalist announced. A project to prevent diabetes and an initiative to link rural people to health services through video conferencing are among the 25 finalists 30 November 2005: Kiwi kids slip back towards cretinism as iodine in diet drops. Soon to be published Otago University research shows 30 percent of New Zealand children are at risk of the effects of iodine deficiency partly because of a trend towards adding less salt to food 29 November 2005: Study finds Canadian-US heart survival disparity. US heart failure patients have better short-term outcome than their Canadian counterparts, study finds 29 November 2005: Distance from facility affects cancer therapy. Factors that affect breast cancer treatment reported in the medical journal, Cancer 29 November 2005: Mental disorder signs seen in young children – study. Behavioural problems in pre-schoolers can be the early signs of a mental disorder, and can be treated to prevent problems later in life, a leading psychologist said on Monday 29 November 2005: New Zealand leads project to prevent bird flu spread in Vietnam. Governor General Dame Silvia Cartwright visits a laboratory in Binh Dinh province at the heart of a unique project designed to educate communities about the deadly disease 29 November 2005: Blood tests may help predict stroke. Measuring for the proteins Lp-PLA2 and CRP may help identify people at increased risk, new research suggests 29 November 2005: Home monitoring helps control blood pressure. A Finnish comparison study published in the American Journal of Hypertension 29 November 2005: Expecting benefit from medicine really can help healing. Research shows the placebo effect can be both physical and psychological 29 November 2005: NZ work on protein test provides new tool for heart diagnosis. Researchers at the Christchurch Cardioendocrine Research Group have pioneered a blood test to detect levels of NT-proBNP, a protein linked to heart failure 28 November 2005: Potential for New Zealand to manufacture own vaccine: expert. Visiting US-based New Zealander and international virologist Robert Webster is looking at alternatives for manufacturing bird flu vaccine should the contracted supplier across the Tasman be unable to deliver if borders close 28 November 2005: IVF experts want to limit embryo implants. Australia's experts say the number should be limited to one in the first and second cycles to reduce the number of multiple pregnancies 27 November 2005: Cheaper drug access, but safety risks still high: report. While New Zealanders have greater access to government-subsidised medicines compared to Australia, Canada and the US, as many as one in four reported being the victim of medical errors - new international health survey26 November 2005: Exercise may not slow seniors' mental decline. Findings of the first long-term study of the effects of exercise on cognitive decline 26 November 2005: Herbal extract may treat prostate cancer. Zyflamend, an olive oil based extract, has been shown to reduce prostate cancer cell growth by up to 78 percent in the laboratory 25 November 2005: UK: a swim with a dolphin good for depression – study. The study was done in Honduras, with 30 patients diagnosed with mild or moderate depression 25 November 2005: Health warning on wine? French winemakers wince. A new study upset French wine producers on Thursday by calling for wine bottles to carry public health warnings to combat alcohol abuse 25 November 2005: Cranberries may help prevent cavities – study. The same sticky compounds in the small red fruit that help keep bacteria at bay in the bladder also appear to help prevent bacteria from clinging to teeth 25 November 2005: Health officials hail results of global partnership against TB. Pools the resources of drug companies, universities and international organisations to target a particularly lethal strain of TB 25 November 2005: Child antidepressant use increases. The number of US children and teens who were diagnosed with depression more than doubled between 1995 and 2002, while the use of antidepressant drugs rose and the use of psychotherapy or counselling declined 25 November 2005: News release: WHO domestic violence study includes University of Auckland data. NZ women experience higher lifetime rates of intimate partner violence than women in Japan, Brazil and Serbia 25 November 2005: UK: more diseases will pass from animals to humans – scientist. Closer human contact with wild animals increasing the risk of infection, says Andrew Cunningham of the Zoological Society of London 25 November 2005: Olive oil ingredient may improve circulation. New Spanish study shows phenol-rich olive oils - virgin and extra-virgin - can improve blood vessel function 25 November 2005: Tackling obesity main aim of new health minister. Childhood obesity needs special attention, says Pete Hodgson at the inaugural Otago Obesity Research Conference in Dunedin. Otago University health researchers have formed a consortium to implement a co-ordinated research strategy to address the growing obesity epidemic24 November 2005: High-fat dairy food may lower colorectal cancer risk. Data from a Swedish study of 60,000 women aged between 40 and 76 years - Karolinska Institute research 24 November 2005: Cell phones are safe, Dutch Health Council says. The council studied fresh research from around the world to reach their conclusion 24 November 2005: Stress diet a recipe for overeating. Rat study shows foods that are more palatable induce food intake independently of whether the animal is hungry or not 24 November 2005: Intuitive eating: a way to health. Recognising what the body wants and then regulating how much to eat based on hunger and satiety is healthier than dieting, a new pilot study shows 24 November 2005: Noisy office can increase chances of heart attack. Chronic noise exposure - around 60 decibels - has been linked with a mild to moderate increased risk of heart attack 24 November 2005: Vitamin A compound heals diabetic foot ulcers. Retin-A (tretinoin) is commonly used to treat acne 24 November 2005: Key gene increases lifespan, scientists say. A key gene in suppressing the formation of tumours in humans, p53, has been shown to dramatically lengthen the life in fruit flies 24 November 2005: One in 6 women suffers from domestic violence –
WHO. Victims of domestic violence are twice as likely to suffer from ill
health as other women. Effect of domestic violence the same, no matter
where women live
24 November 2005: Quality mark slashes nearly a third of fat from beef and lamb. The introduction of a meat "quality mark" in domestic sales of beef and lamb has slashed fat from national diet - health researcher 24 November 2005: Maori should be given a bigger say on pandemic plans – agency. During the 1918 pandemic Maori death rates were seven times higher than European 24 November 2005: Bicultural, multicultural tensions surface again. NZ faces a choice - biculturalism or multiculturalism? 23 November 2005: Breastfeeding may reduce mothers' diabetes risk. The longer the period of lactation, the lower the risk of type-2 diabetes, new research shows 23 November 2005: News release: College launches first degree in massage therapy. The new Bachelor of Health Studies (massage and neuromuscular therapy), to be introduced next year at the New Zealand College of Massage, will bring massage therapists in line with other allied health professionals22 November 2005: Overweight kids more at risk for broken bones, joint problems. More likely to be inactive and have poor bone density than their active ideal-weight peers 22 November 2005: Spanking children fuels aggression, anxiety. Findings of an international survey about cultural norms surrounding the use of physical discipline and how it affected behaviour 22 November 2005: Study finds more pregnant women need to get moving. Recommends 30 minutes of moderate physical activity daily for pregnant women without medical or obstetric complications 22 November 2005: Infertility linked to higher testicular cancer risk. A new study published in the Journal of Urology has highlighted the importance of urological screening for men with infertility 21 November 2005: Call for varsity policies against working with tobacco industry. The Smokefree Coalition call comes after revelations that the industry was working with Otago University researchers as recently as 2004 21 November 2005: Mathematician prepares model for spread of bird flu in humans. Massey University's Professor Mick Roberts, currently working at Oxford University, is to return with a member of the Oxford team to put in place a plan for handling an epidemic in New Zealand 21 November 2005: Sweden's Medivir extends China drug research deal. Extending research on protease inhibitors to treat chronic lung disease 21 November 2005: Good germs for old folks. Probiotic drinks recommended for those with ageing digestive tracts and people taking antibiotics 21 November 2005: Evidence shows RU486 may be safer than surgical abortion. The push by Australian doctors and MPs to have the banned abortion pill, RU486, reinstated is being backed by the Royal Australian College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists 19 November 2005: Past bouts of killer flu give few clues. Scientists say the lack of documented information on the 1918, 1957 and 1968 pandemics is not helping with predicting how new killer strains might evolve 18 November 2005: One third of cancer deaths due to avoidable factors. Estimated how many deaths from 12 types of cancer were caused by exposure to nine risk factors 18 November 2005: Glaxo targets India for cancer drug research. The new network - which has initial 3-year funding from Glaxo - will include publicly funded cancer centres in New Delhi, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Mumbai, Kerala and Ahmedabad 18 November 2005: British HIV patients show increasing drug resistance. Suggests a wave of infections from a drug resistant strain of the virus may be on the way18 November 2005: US bird flu funds stall as virus spreads in China. World health experts said they expected to see more human bird flu infections in China, even as the United States (US) Congress stalled funding of President George W Bush's plan to cope with a pandemic 18 November 2005: AgResearch can use GE embryos but lacks commercial herd approval. ERMA gives approval to continue researching the concept of cattle producing human lactoferrin, an immune-boosting milk protein, but has not given the go-ahead for a planned joint venture with a Dutch biotech company to create a herd of genetically engineered cows 18 November 2005: Stroke rates increase for Maori and Pacific peoples. In contrast to the general population where rates have declined - Auckland University study 18 November 2005: New Zealand too dependent on overseas trained doctors – NZMA. New England Journal of Medicine study shows New Zealand has the highest percentage of overseas trained doctors among OECD countries 18 November 2005: Problem-solving abilities taxed by stress. Proceedings of the Society for Neuroscience 18 November 2005: WHO's "war room" prepares for bird flu pandemic. The new Strategic Health Operations Centre in Geneva is equipped with the latest high-tech equipment to monitor global disease outbreaks 18 November 2005: Social inequality seen in SIDS risk. Better off families embrace campaign to place babies on their backs to sleep, US study finds 18 November 2005: Many women victim of 'gendercide'. 200 million women worldwide are 'missing', the author of a study on violence against women tells UN 18 November 2005: News release: Treatment to start again in Kaipara following discovery of a Southern Saltmarsh Mosquito. The southern saltmarsh mosquito, Ochlerotatus camptorhynchus, is a potential vector for Ross River virus disease 17 November 2005: Antidepressant doesn't raise breast cancer risk.
New data shows SSRIs such as Prozac - known to cause mammary tumours in rodents
- do not increase the risk of breast cancer in women when taken for durations
of four to five years
17 November 2005: Govt may take over
coldstores to stockpile corpses in pandemic. Public health director, Mark
Jacobs outlines Government's latest bird flu action plan
17 November 2005: Maori, Pacific Islanders may get extra protection from pandemic. In the 1918 pandemic, Maori mortality rates were nearly six times higher than the death rate among Europeans 17 November 2005: Study tests health effects of decaf coffee. One of the first studies to test coffee like a drug has found decaf drinkers have slightly higher levels - 8 to 18 percent - of fatty acids and precursors of bad cholesterol than regular drinkers, and those that do not drink coffee at all17 November 2005: Two tests cut cervical cancer risk in poor countries. Harvard study suggests screening at age 35, with a follow-up examination at age 40, could reduce the risk by 50 percent 17 November 2005: Food and beverage companies must do more to fight child obesity. WHO calls for a industry-wide approach to improve the nutritional value of products 17 November 2005: UK illegal drugs put pressure on emergency care. Up to a million visits to hospital accident and emergency units in England, and 400,000 hospital stays, could be due to illegal drug use - research 17 November 2005: NZ patients in trial of flu vaccine linked to tumourigenic cells. Chiron Corp is developing a flu vaccine using a "line" of cells line taken decades ago from the kidney of a dog, and has tried it out on 3000 patients in NZ and Europe 17 November 2005: Maori drink less but binge more. Maori pattern of drinking mirrors that of the wider population. More NZers make connection between binge drinking and problems. ALAC today released the results of a survey carried out in March and April this year 16 November 2005: Lots of coffee in pregnancy may be risky. Eight or more cups a day increases the risk of spontaneous abortion and stillbirth, Danish research suggests 16 November 2005: Malaria vaccine gives promising results. The first promising vaccine in 20 years has given partial protection to young Mozambique children for up to 18 months, while cutting the risk of severe malaria by 49 percent 16 November 2005: One million receive meningococcal B vaccine. 77 percent of school students have completed the full course of three doses in the largest ever mass immunisation campaign carried out in New Zealand 16 November 2005: Bird flu pandemic could claim 10,000 NZ lives a week – govt. Ministry of Health predicts as many as 40 percent of the nation's population will fall ill during the first wave of the deadly virus 16 November 2005: NY Museum says Darwin's theory never more relevant. The theory that all life evolves according to natural selection and is constantly changing is helping scientists understand the danger bird flu poses to humans, says a curator at the opening of a new exhibition on Darwin's work at the American Museum of Natural History 16 November 2005: Canadian heroin study struggles for test subjects. The study is seeking to determine whether a therapy using prescription heroin can help treat chronic addicts15 November 2005: Baby's genes affect mum's cholesterol levels. Results of a study on genes and proteins involved in fat metabolism from the blood and placenta of pregnant women have surprised researchers 15 November 2005: Britons' poor diets costs health service billions. Responsible for about 10 percent of morbidity and mortality, and costs the National Health Service about 6 billion pounds a year - Oxford University research 15 November 2005: Condoms protect against genital herpes. US study a first to show condom use can be effective in lowering the risk of type-2 herpes in both women and men 15 November 2005: Exercise can add 3 years to life expectancy, study
finds. Brisk walking for thirty minutes a day is sufficient to maintain heart
health, two studies that looked at routines to improve cardiovascular fitness
suggest
15 November 2005: Pregnant and postpartum
women at higher risk for blood clots. A Mayo Clinic study that looked at
medical records of 50,000 pregnant women over a 30-year period, and focused
on blood clots in leg veins (DVT), and clots in the lungs (pulmonary embolism)
14 November 2005: Medics appeal to patient over HIV 'miracle cure' claims. London health centre says patients should return for further tests 14 November 2005: Jump in suspected bird flu cases in people. Ho Chi Minh Pasteur Institute scientists have been studying the genetic makeup of the virus they say has undergone several mutations this year; Website www.pasteur-hcm.org.vn 14 November 2005: Japan announces plan to cope with birdflu outbreak. Ministry announces six phase plan ranging from ordinary influenza to a worldwide pandemic, with the current situation - transmission from birds to humans - at phase three 14 November 2005: Older mothers may be at risk of baby blues: experts. IVF mothers may be particularly vulnerable say researchers at Sydney's Blackdog Institute; information about depression and anxiety during and after pregnancy is available on its website www.blackdoginstitute.org.au 13 November 2005: Briton may be first person to beat HIV. 25-year-old given the all clear 14 months after testing positive for the virus 12 November 2005: Exercise helps bone mass post stroke. Study
provides first evidence that regular exercise can protect hipbone health
after a stroke
12 November 2005: High IQ in childhood tied to longer life. A new US study has found an association between high IQ and longevity, but health benefits no longer existed once the IQ exceeded 163 11 November 2005: NZ growers eye north Asian markets for yacon as a functional food. Crop and Food scientists are looking for the most suitable soils, climates and crop management techniques to grow the South American tuber researchers say is good for the gut and a suitable food for diabetics due to its low calorie sugars 11 November 2005: Psychological distress tied to bullying. Bullying associated with low-achievement, sense of not belonging - US study 10 November 2005: Fertility after prostate 'seed' therapy possible. Three cases of pregnancy have been recorded in partners of men who had undergone brachytherapy, a prostate cancer treatment believed to make men infertile 10 November 2005: New battle plan urged for hospital "superbug". Study looks at the use of probiotics in hospitals, the prime breeding ground for antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) 10 November 2005: New avian flu test kit detects deadly virus in two hours. Available early next year, the kit detects the virus in both human and chicken samples 10 November 2005: Spiders 'frighten the young - and not so young'. Spiders most feared, followed by snakes, cockroaches and rats - Zoological Society of London survey 10 November 2005: Yoghurt-type drinks can boost workers' health. Immune-boosting probiotic drinks can dramatically reduce days off work through sickness and are especially beneficial to shift workers, a new Swedish study has shown 10 November 2005: Hong Kong researchers urge more accurate fever screenings. Temperature-measuring devices used at border checkpoints may not be as accurate as first thought in spotting travellers with fever, a key symptom of bird flu 10 November 2005: Health research policy conference to be held this week. To discuss evaluation of the impact of health research 10 November 2005: $US1.5 billion estimate cost over 3 years for birdflu fight. Excluding the cost of stockpiling anti-flu drugs 9 November 2005: Women who drink coffee may not suffer high blood pressure. Cola drinkers more likely to have a greater risk of long-term high blood pressure than coffee drinkers, study finds 9 November 2005: Vitamin strategy may curb risk of second stroke. A combination high-dose supplement consisting of B9, B6 and B12 9 November 2005: Gonorrheae rates are down; syphilis and chlamydia are up. Latest STD figures published by the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention9 November 2005: Baby boys' asthma rate doubled during aerial spraying. ESR report shows that, while there was already an underlying trend for respiratory disease in West Auckland, rates doubled for preschool boys during the time of the painted apple moth eradication campaign 9 November 2005: Asia-Pacific leaders to discuss bird flu, trade. On the agenda at the APEC summit, being held later this month in Pusan, South Korea 8 November 2005: Experts warn of human, financial bird flu toll. Pandemic could cost the global economy as much as $NZ1.18 trillion - World Bank report 8 November 2005: New "chip" could provide quick bird flu test. US researchers are developing an on-the-spot test that can detect 11 strains of influenza, including avian flu 8 November 2005: Nicotine users risk PTSD after trauma. A new study shows that individuals who are addicted to cigarettes are at heightened risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder after experiencing a traumatic event 8 November 2005: Most at risk of Alzheimer's would join research trial. Over 90% of the men and women in the US survey said they would be comfortable with a relative enrolling them in low-risk studies such as clinical trials testing new Alzheimer's drugs, but only 50% said they would consent to riskier aspects of research 7 November 2005: China responds to
bird flu under shadow of Sars. Memories of that epidemic two years ago are
shadowing China's increasingly urgent response to the latest health threat
7 November 2005: Experts on flu gather
to strengthen global preparedness. More than 300 scientists, public and animal
health experts, government representatives and others are expected to share
what they have learned and plan the next steps
7 November 2005: Image-conscious Australians
losing social life – report. The Australian Psychological Society surveyed
more than 1600 respondents to find out why people chose to live in a particular
area
7 November 2005: Goat milk formula
just as good as cow milk formula, study shows. The Auckland University study
involved infants from birth to 6 months
5 November 2005: Many docs reluctant to prescribe insulin. This can be a bad thing for patients - new study 5 November 2005: Osteoporosis screening, therapy is cost effective. Screening all postmenopausal women for osteoporosis is highly cost effective, regardless of age 5 November 2005: Pulse pressure predicts stroke recurrence. An increase in 24-hour pulse pressure in patients who have undergone a first stroke indicates an increased risk of experiencing another within a year4 November 2005: Alcohol may help preserve brain health. Study findings imply that mild-to-moderate alcohol consumption may play a role in helping preserve cognitive function 4 November 2005: Depression raises colorectal cancer risk. New analysis of data from the Nurses' Health Study 4 November 2005: Trichomoniasis a common STD in young US adults. Although many persons with trichomoniasis have only mild symptoms or no symptoms at all, the infection can cause significant illness 4 November 2005: News release: Renowned health information resource now available across New Zealand. All NZ residents now have free access to reliable, up-to-date research evidence on medical interventions from the Cochrane Library 4 November 2005: Anti-clotting drug cuts heart attack deaths – study. Thousands of deaths could be prevented each year by giving aspirin and a drug to prevent blood clots to patients who have suffered a heart attack 4 November 2005: Waist and hips best heart attack checks for obese. Waist-to-hip ratio a far more effective way of measuring heart attack risk than the traditional body mass index 3 November 2005: Discovery could lead to new malaria drugs – study. Unusual "wiring" in the cells of the malaria parasite could be a key to developing new treatments for the disease that kills millions of people each year, scientists said on Wednesday 3 November 2005: Time to change bad fast food frying fats and oils, study says. Majority of fast food outlets are still frying in unsuitable fats and oils and are contributing to the risk of heart disease in NZ 3 November 2005: News release: New Zealanders issued with challenge to get grainwise. New research shows that most NZers have extremely poor intakes of wholegrain foods and that the importance of eating them daily is not well-understood 3 November 2005: The World Bank highlighted on Thursday the potentially huge human and economic costs from any bird flu pandemic, while the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said such an outbreak could push the world economy into recession 3 November 2005: Scientists explain why viruses thrive during winter. Mixture of explanations from viruses surviving better in cooler and wetter environments to people crowding together in the festive season 3 November 2005: Being overweight increases chances of leukaemia: study. Proposed mechanism is that people who are overweight and obese have high levels of insulin and that this has a whole range of metabolic consequences 3 November 2005: No plans to ban herbal pills despite health risks. Government wants hard evidence of harm before acting3 November 2005: Academic revises Black November with advice for next pandemic. Lessons to be learned from the 1918 pandemic, NZ's worst public health crisis 2 November 2005: Women survive lung cancer better than men. Regardless of treatment or lack of treatment, a 10-year review of medical records has shown 2 November 2005: Bush proposes $US7.1 billion for avian-flu defence. Includes $US2.8 billion to accelerate new flu-vaccine technology 2 November 2005: Radiation for cervical cancer impacts s*x life. Worse than for women who undergo surgery for the disease, new study finds 2 November 2005: Hot flushes distressing for breast cancer patients. Side-effects of treatment underestimated - UK survey 2 November 2005: Fertile women more attractive – study. Higher oestrogen levels produce more attractive bone structure and smooth skin, and make-up can mask the beauty, researchers say 2 November 2005: High number of cancers due to obesity. New US data shows 10 percent of all cancers - more than 100,000 cases a year - could be avoided 2 November 2005: Tongue has built-in taste for fatty food. A French experiment using rodents is the first to show the tongue harbours receptors for fatty acids, a discovery researchers say could shed new light on appetite control and obesity 2 November 2005: Certain children run high risk with flu - US study. Children with muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy and similar conditions run a much higher risk of respiratory failure from influenza, and should be vaccinated, report concludes 1 November 2005: Eating uncooked soy lowers cholesterol. Two servings a day have been found to lower cholesterol levels by as much as 9 percent - good sources include tofu, soy milk or soy nuts 1 November 2005: Autistic and gifted children most affected by classroom noise. A Massey University study of children with special education needs will be followed up by researchers investigating ways to help those affected 1 November 2005: Edible rice-based vaccine may combat hay fever. Working with mice, Japanese scientists have found that an edible vaccine produced in genetically modified rice can prevent the immune response that triggers allergies 1 November 2005: Fatigue and pain often accompany chronic Lyme disease. Proceedings of the sixth annual Lyme Conference in Philadelphia 1 November 2005: Fighting bird flu in Southeast Asia will cost US$100 million. UN prediction31 October 2005: DNA vaccines may offer defence against flu pandemic. Can be produced in less than half the time it takes to produce vaccines using the standard egg-based process 31 October 2005: Brisbane to host international bird flu talks. International health experts and disaster management coordinators will discuss cooperation in the event of a bird flu outbreak at a major meeting of APEC delegates in Brisbane today 31 October 2005: Avian influenza (bird flu) - the next pandemic? Participants and issues discussed at a seminar organised by the NZ Society for Risk Management 30 October 2005: Teachers can't change major bullies. Schoolyard bullies are likely to become aggressive and controlling in adult relationships - Canadian expert 29 October 2005: Psoriasis sufferers run increased risk of heart disease. Study shows the risk is greatest for young sufferers hospitalised by the disease - Swedish study 29 October 2005: Use of "bioidentical" female hormones questioned. May not be a safe alternative to synthetic hormones recently found to carry risks if used long-term to treat the symptoms of menopause 29 October 2005: Genes aid anti-cancer effects of veggies. Cabbage, broccoli and sprouts, together with the genes GSTM1 and GSTT1, give the greatest protection 29 October 2005: Rat study ties baby stress to middle-aged mental decline. US study believed to be the first to show that early life emotional stress may initiate a slow decline of brain-cell communication in adulthood 29 October 2005: Air pollution tied to stroke risk. Already linked to cardiovascular events, this is the first large US study to look at the specific effect on stroke risk 29 October 2005: UK's Ark seeks EU approval for brain cancer drug. Cerepro uses a form of the common cold virus to inject a gene into healthy brain cells after a tumour has been taken out 28 October 2005: Maori nicotine addiction one of 29 Heart Foundation grants. Dr Lea's ESR project will build on American research that found genetics played a role in how fast people processed nicotine 28 October 2005: Heavy drinking may harm male hormones, sperm. Confirms earlier studies 28 October 2005: Measles outbreak shows vaccination value. A large measles outbreak in Indiana earlier this year shows what can happen when an imported case of measles encounters a group of unvaccinated individuals 28 October 2005: Asthma-reducing programme worth cost. Home-based efforts to reduce the amount of allergy triggers in the homes of children with asthma not only work well but are economic28 October 2005: US senate approves $US8 billion to fight avian flu. Doubles the amount of money approved by Senate last month, mostly for anti-viral drugs 28 October 2005: Experimental drug promising for Alzheimer's. Bryostatin has enhanced long-term memory in rats and mice 27 October 2005: HIV programme shows promise for low-income teens. Workshops and ongoing projects held in local communities can influence the behaviour of teenagers, researchers say 27 October 2005: Smoking pot not a major cancer risk. Review supports recent research findings 27 October 2005: Cholesterol-lowering diet helps mum and foetus. Researchers say further studies are needed before they can recommend the diet that may reduce the risk of early delivery 27 October 2005: Genetic map a step closer to personal medicine. Scientists have charted genetic differences between 269 individuals originating from Africa, the Far East and western Europe 27 October 2005: Mammograms key in breast cancer fight. Both screening mammography and new drug therapies have played a role in the decline in bre 27 October 2005: New questionnaire helps detect alcohol abuse. In NZ around one in six people visiting their doctor meets the criteria for hazardous or harmful drinking26 October 2005: Even low levels of common toxins may be a danger. A new report suggests there are no safe levels of exposure to lead, radon, tobacco smoke and by-products of drinking-water disinfection 26 October 2005: Biodiversity may help slow disease spread – experts. Looking after the planet is a more effective way of preventing emerging diseases than developing vaccines to combat them later, say scientists ahead of an international biodiversity conference 26 October 2005: Bowel cancer screening cuts cases 80 percent – study. Screening, together with colonoscopy 26 October 2005: Interstate travel could be banned in Australian bird flu outbreak. Australian National University researchers also argue Australia should consider locally producing mass supplies of antiviral drugs to prepare for a pandemic 26 October 2005: Diabetes, not bird flu, biggest health threat to Asians. Has the potential to reduce life expectancy globally for the first time in 200 years - WHO 26 October 2005: Regular exercise is good for asthmatics. Findings of a Massey University review of existing studies has been published by an international body that evaluates medical research 25 October 2005: No link between statins and breast cancer. Findings of the largest study to data on the link between the cholesterol-lowering drug and breast cancer 25 October 2005: Simple method can predict child's adult height. The prediction tool is available online at http://www.usask.ca/kinesiology/research-index.php 25 October 2005: Alcohol can act like blood thinner. New research shows moderate alcohol consumption can prevent clotting 25 October 2005: Health ministers, international experts, meet in Canada. Canada is ahead of the curve in pandemic preparedness following the SARS outbreak in 2003 25 October 2005: Study to investigate sleep disturbances in blind and vision-impaired. University of Auckland researchers are conducting a study to find out how to help blind and vision-impaired people better manage the chronic sleeping disorders many face. Investigating the prevalence of disturbances in the circadian rhythms of blind people, and how the hormone melatonin is being used to treat this 25 October 2005: WHO sees good chance of Europe resisting bird flu. Says it is acting with speed and transparency to prevent the spread of the virus 25 October 2005: Revealed: progress is made in reducing inequalities in health. Ministry of Health's Annual Report out now 25 October 2005: Maori more likely to catch Aids, says researcher. Auckland University's Clive Aspin says new data highlights the extent to which the disease was hidden in the past, with Maori rates of diagnosis well above the 14 percent population threshold 25 October 2005: India's mosquito museum a vital weapon in disease fight. Set up in 1938, India's National Institute of Communicable Diseases is a mine of information for scientists and researchers studying mosquito-born diseases 25 October 2005: Australia unprepared for bird flu outbreak, top scientist warns. Bird-flu expert Graeme Laver slams government strategies to quarantine people suspected of carrying the virus and giving emergency service workers priority in receiving anti-viral drugs - the only drug he says that will be effective against the flu 24 October 2005: Aids 'galloping' through Papua New Guinea, UN officials warn. 40,000 people living with the HIV virus 24 October 2005: Otago University researcher Greg Jones has won a $30,000 fellowship awarded by the International Union of Phlebologie, to research varicose veins. 22 October 2005: Fonterra has no say in assessment of raw milk safety – NZFSA. The dairy giant's facilities are being used to assess the safety of raw milk, used in some gourmet imported cheeses, but banned in New Zealand 22 October 2005: Job strain may be hard on young men's arteries. The Finnish study did not find signs of early artery disease in women in their early 30s 22 October 2005: Daily dog walks work off the pounds. New study shows a commitment to walking a dog can work better than some weight-loss programmes in helping sedentary overweight people lose weight 21 October 2005: Many patients not screened for colorectal cancer. Studies are now underway to understand why the screening rate is so low 21 October 2005: Studies show good night's sleep could help weight loss. Strong link between lack of sleep and increased fat 21 October 2005: Medical journal cites risks for diabetes drug. Experimental diabetes drug Pargluva may carry risks of heart attack and cancer 21 October 2005: US government health advisers say antibacterial soaps no better. FDA considers marketing restrictions, says the soaps use synthetic chemicals that pose an environmental risk 21 October 2005: Proposed diabetes pill can double risk of death. Concerned AMA posts study of the type-2 diabetes drug Pargluva on its website ahead of publication 21 October 2005: US approves first brain stem cell transplant. The pioneering procedure will be used on children with Batten disease, a rare, fatal genetic disorder21 October 2005: Study: Flu vaccines may be ineffective against mutating virus. Vaccines are based on the dominant strain of a virus at the end of the previous flu season - US research 21 October 2005: Breakthrough could lead to cure for rare cancer group. Australian researchers have discovered a key gene linked to cutaneous T-cell lymphomas, a finding they say could help in the development of a treatment for the disease 21 October 2005: How many people will the influenza pandemic kill in your street? New MoH figures, based on the 1918 Spanish flu, puts the estimated figure at 33,000 deaths in the first wave of infection 20 October 2005: Obesity worse than alcohol in liver damage? Australian study overturns widely held view that the more a person weighs the more they can tolerate alcohol 20 October 2005: Serve more food and they will eat it. Children less likely to overeat if they serve the food themselves, a study presented at the annual meeting of the North American Association for the Study of Obesity hears 20 October 2005: Breast cancer patients face a `terrible choice' – lobby. Pharmac has previously warned that the potential use of Herceptin in the treatment of some particularly aggressive forms of early breast cancer is a crucial issue in terms of funding 20 October 2005: Ministry develops kit to help combat possible birdflu pandemic. Rioting, loss of essential services and up to half of the population incapacitated with illness are scenarios that officials have raised in a flu pandemic planning kit released today 20 October 2005: Aussie drug could save lives after 'dirty bomb' attack. Scavenger drugs designed to mop up radiation in the human body 19 October 2005: Tension and anxiety boost risk of death. On a par with high blood pressure in raising the risk of death in men, study shows 19 October 2005: Obesity surgery is much riskier than previously thought. Surgery may not be the best option for people with obesity - even young people - a new US study has shown 19 October 2005: Illness causes many prostate surgery problems. New research suggests that age is not nearly as important as the presence of other illness in determining surgical complications from radical prostatectomy 19 October 2005: Doctors' children get fewer antibiotics. Children of physicians were 50 percent less likely to be prescribed antibiotics for common colds, upper respiratory infections and acute bronchitis than children of pharmacists, nurses and non-health personnel, a comparison study of around 21,000 US children reports19 October 2005: Help world's children and fight bird flu: experts. Moving swiftly against age-old child killers such as diarrhoea and pneumonia could help the world get ready to combat a bird flu pandemic, health experts said on Tuesday 18 October 2005: Cannabis smoke less likely to cause cancer – research. The chemical compound in cannabis, THC, is not as carcinogenic as nicotine in tobacco, say American researchers 18 October 2005: Aust research hints at iron tablets link to hyperactive children. While national guidelines for the recommended dietary intake of iron are under review, Australian research suggests a link between the supplement during pregnancy and abnormal behaviour in pre-schoolers 18 October 2005: Australia may vaccinate entire population against bird flu. Would consider vaccinating 20 million people if human trials of a vaccine being developed are successful 18 October 2005: Auckland University experiments on imported foetuses. An article in Investigate Magazine slams the practice of using US aborted foetal tissue in research to help discover why people lose their sight - research supported by the university's ethics committee 18 October 2005: Academic canvasses problems with self-regulation of alcohol ads. The Director of the Centre for Health Behaviour and Communication Research at Australia's Wollongong University, Professor Sandra Jones, will be in the country next week to deliver two seminars on her research into the effects of alcohol advertising 18 October 2005: Weight loss much better s*x life. New obesity research shows the physical and emotional benefits of losing a few pounds 18 October 2005: Latest developments surrounding the spread of bird flu. German scientists say they will have a prototype H5N1 flu vaccine by the end of this year 18 October 2005: Chinese herbal medicine effective against asthma. First herbal drug to perform as well as a traditional steroid drug in treating the condition 17 October 2005: Which end is up? volunteers help researchers study balance. US researchers are developing high-tech devices from inner-ear implants to vibrating belts to help people with balance disorders 16 October 2005: Bird flu fight in Asia key to defeating virus. The president of the International Animal Health Code for the animal health body OIE, Alejandro Theirmann, says money would be better spent tackling the virus at its source by improving animal and public health 14 October 2005: Big, fast-growing babies face later obesity risk. Review of 24 studies published online by the British Medical Journal14 October 2005: Scientists look to DNA for personalised advice on nutrition. Nutrigenomics is still in its infancy 14 October 2005: Menstruation doesn't greatly affect asthma. Perimenstrual exacerbation of asthma, which has wound up even migrating into some textbooks, has been refuted 14 October 2005: Exercise can trim deep abdominal fat. New findings show that even moderate exercise, such as brisk walking, may put the brakes on visceral fat accumulation 14 October 2005: Deprived in childhood, overweight as adults. A trans-Tasman study has found "comfort eaters" turned to food, whether they were hungry or not, to make themselves feel better 14 October 2005: Anti-HIV gel boosted for clinical trials. Australian-invented VivaGel will be tested on about 200 men and women in Melbourne and Thailand from next year 14 October 2005: Mobile phones affect brain waves even when switched off. Findings of an Australian study into mobile phone use and sleep quality 14 October 2005: Implications of the spread of H5N1 bird flu. As the virus spreads, the risk that it could mutate to infect humans becomes greater 14 October 2005: NZ has stronger folk memory of flu horrors. Per capita, New Zealand fared worse than Australia in the 1918 pandemic 13 October 2005: Smoking may be largest preventable cause of cancer deaths. The Harvard study gleaned information from a major US cancer study, and cancer mortality databases at the World Health Organisation and the International Agency for Research on Cancer, to show 1.4 million smokers died from the disease in 2000 13 October 2005: Kidney disease outlook improving in diabetics. Finnish researchers have found a marked drop off in end-stage renal disease in type-1 diabetics over the last 30 years, a finding they say is probably due to advances in treating the disease 13 October 2005: Number of blind people drops for the first time. Fallen from around 45 million in 2000 to about 38 million today - WHO report 13 October 2005: Whooping cough shot could prevent surging adult and teen cases. Two new vaccines have proved 92 percent effective in reducing the incidence of the disease in people aged between 15 and 65; more research needed on the vaccine's suitability for pregnant women and the elderly 13 October 2005: Cooling babies could battle oxygen deprivation, study shows. Experts say the preliminary research that lowered a newborn's temperature to 33.50degC for three days, then gradually rewarmed them back to the normal 37degC, needs further study13 October 2005: Smoking raises breast cancer risk. By up to 40 percent in older postmenopausal women, report finds 13 October 2005: Bird flu virus detected in Romania. Confirming that the virus has arrived in Europe 13 October 2005: EU study suggests PCBS may damage human sperm. But do not seem to dramatically effect male fertility 12 October 2005: Bird flu vaccine may be too late for pandemic – expert. UN official says existing vaccines may be useless if virus mutates 12 October 2005: Early intervention can improve outcome for schizophrenia. New study questions the long held "doomed from the womb" theory 12 October 2005: Most travellers do not need hepatitis booster. One-off course of hepatitis A and B vaccine sufficient for a life-time - travel medicine experts 12 October 2005: Obesity ups odds that prostate cancer will recur. Rapid weight gain between the ages of 25 and 40 can trigger a recurrence of the cancer after surgery - Clinical Cancer Research 12 October 2005: Fish may aid foetal brain development. But not if the fish contains high mercury levels - Harvard study 12 October 2005: Computer-aided mammography improves tumour detection. Not only sees more cancers in the breast, but can also detect smaller tumours at an earlier stage in younger women 11 October 2005: Eating fish regularly delays dementia. Two new studies on the link between diet and dementia have been reported in the Archives of Neurology 11 October 2005: Asia: WHO and US urge cooperation in fighting bird flu. Prepare for a pandemic on the scale of the 1918 Spanish flu, WHO director tells South-East Asian delegates at meeting in Bangkok 11 October 2005: Smoky fires kill hundreds of New Zealanders. Local authorities spending millions on initiatives to meet new air quality standards; statistics show particulate pollution kills more people annually than road accidents 11 October 2005: Crohn's disease study looks at genetic and lifestyle factors. University of Auckland researchers are looking for participants for a study which aims to develop individually tailored diets to alleviate the symptoms of Crohn's disease 11 October 2005: Exercise amount more important than intensity. A study reported in the journal Chest has showed people who walked briskly for about 200 minutes per week were just as fit as those who undertook vigorous exercise for longer periods10 October 2005: Experts say rice cereal may not be the best first food, say more study into how to introduce healthy children to solid food is needed 8 October 2005: Music is good for the heart. New study adds weight to the stress-reducing health benefits of music 7 October 2005: Soy not so smart for lowering breast cancer risk. New study suggests that high consumption may even increase breast cancer among women 7 October 2005: Monthly bone-building pill remedies osteoporosis. Report shows the benefits of ibandronate for postmenopausal women 7 October 2005: US sends mixed message on bird flu threat. President calls for mass production of vaccines, government official plays down risk of pandemic 7 October 2005: First large test shows vaccine prevents cervical cancer. Merck's experimental vaccine found to be 100 percent effective in blocking the human papilloma virus, the most common cause of the disease 7 October 2005: HIV cases continue to climb in South Africa. Life expectancy likely to plummet from 63 to 46 years if more is not done to combat virus, researchers warn 7 October 2005: Access to new cancer drugs unequal across Europe – report. Spain, Austria and Switzerland streets ahead of Britain, Czech Republic, Hungary, Norway and Poland 7 October 2005: Painkillers cut risk of mouth cancer, study finds. But long-term use of NSAIDs could increase the odds of dying from heart disease 7 October 2005: NZers have similar personality to Aussies – researchers. Findings of a landmark global study into human personalities and national character 7 October 2005: People who eat while they're asleep. Research on the involuntary eating condition show those with the disorder snack on weird foods 6 October 2005: Scientists revive 1918 killer virus in combat against birdflu. The H1N1 Spanish flu virus, a strain of bird flu that killed about 50 million people, has been resurrected in a high-security US lab 6 October 2005: Patients still smoke after heart attack – survey. Only 48 percent heed warning - European Heart Journal 6 October 2005: New gym strategy boosts overweight kids' health. Fitness programme reduces diabetes risk, a study published in the Archives of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine shows 6 October 2005: Elderly with diabetes run risk of falling. A US nursing home study found residents with diabetes were more than twice as likely to fall, compared to those without6 October 2005: Women to be injected with experimental drug. New Zealand women with breast cancer tumours are to participate in US trials of PV-10, a drug that targets tumour cells only, leaving normal tissue unharmed 6 October 2005: Health officials preparing to close the borders in flu pandemic. Strategic planning committee meets for the first time 6 October 2005: US plans to fight possible bird flu pandemic by containing it. Not just at home, but anywhere on the globe 6 October 2005: Pricey implantable defibrillators worth it – study. Good value for money at $US28,000 a piece - even for patients with heart disease whose life expectancy isn't great 5 October 2005: Most liver donors do well after the surgery. Survey of 202 live liver donations 5 October 2005: High homocysteine tied to lower mental ability. Suggests to researchers that B vitamin supplements may help prevent homocysteine-related cognitive decline 5 October 2005: Breast milk shows cavity-causing potential. Rat study suggests that breast milk may cause more cavities than cow's milk does 5 October 2005: Finns develop microchip to detect heart problems. Testing it on humans could still be some way off 5 October 2005: Nutrition to be the theme of Mental Health Awareness
Week. New Zealanders not eating enough fish and shellfish to maintain
brain health, study shows
5 October 2005: Young people are better
educated but many illiterate. Almost half of the world's 15- to 24-year-olds
living on less than $US2 a day - UN youth report
5 October 2005: 388 million people
will die from chronic diseases in next 10 yrs. Health agency wants action
to tackle heart disease, diabetes, stroke and cancer
5 October 2005: NZ outranked by neighbour
for liveability. Australia's major cities in top 11, Auckland and Wellington
ranked 20th in a global economic survey that looked at stability, health
care, culture, environment, education and infrastructure
4 October 2005: Reduce salt intake to 6 grams to cut blood pressure. New UK report recommends one heaped teaspoon a day to reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke 4 October 2005: Hollywood movies may be bad for your health. An Australian study on the level of promiscuity and drug use in box-office hits has been published in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine 4 October 2005: Exercise in middle age cuts Alzheimer's risk. Particularly for people with a genetic susceptibility to dementia, a ground-breaking Swedish study has found4 October 2005: Long hours clip wings of social butterflies. Work-life balance survey in UK 3 October 2005: New car smell becomes auto safety issue with Japanese manufacturers. New guidelines on air quality to match those for homes by 2007 3 October 2005: Clowns ease anxiety in young patients – study. Reduced the level of anxiety in pre-schoolers about to undergo surgery, but opposed by health professionals who said they got in the way 3 October 2005: Scientists try human vaccine in possum TB trial. CRI researchers are trialling an oral version of the human tuberculosis vaccine in an effort to reduce the spread of bovine tuberculosis from wild to domestic animals 3 October 2005: TV stunts children's brain development – research. Found the most significant damage occurred from modest levels of viewing - between one and two hours a day 1 October 2005: Computer games help diagnose young kids' asthma. A new set of computer games has been effective in teaching preschoolers how to use a spirometre, an instrument that measures lung function 1 October 2005: Singapore sees dip in dengue cases – experts. 10,951 cases so far this year, 16 percent more than the total number recorded last year when infections rocketed to a 10-year high30 September 2005: Balancing exercises may steady older adults. Researchers found that a series of at-home exercises improved balance among the 55- to 60-year-olds they studied 30 September 2005: Sars came from bats, say researchers. Australian researchers help identify the likely source of the 2002-03 outbreak 30 September 2005: Britain faces growing hepatitis C crisis – report. Only 2 percent of Britons are being treated for the liver disease 30 September 2005: US begins comprehensive study of children's health. A $US2.7 billion 25-year study of 100,000 children from womb to adulthood 29 September 2005: Methadone during pregnancy may harm baby. Prescribed for women with opiate addiction, the treatment was found to reduce foetal movement and impair heartbeat regulation 29 September 2005: Pregnancy complications tied to later stroke risk. US study finds the risk doubles with pregnancy-related high blood pressure and gestational diabetes 29 September 2005: US company to work on jabless avian flu vaccine. MedImmune will try to make an inhaled vaccine by splicing selected genes from avian flu viruses into a weakened human flu virus 29 September 2005: Exercise may prevent pain in older adults. Over 50s who exercise regularly experience less pain in muscles and joints, study finds 29 September 2005: Patients warned against using microwave cancer treatment. After a review found it could be less effective than conventional therapies 29 September 2005: The Australian government went into a spin this week after revelations it may water down one of the world's strictest policies on mad cow 29 September 2005: US doctors develop safer bone marrow transplants to fight cancer. Developing a way to condition the recipient to accept the new marrow and to inactivate the parts of the patient's immune system that would attack it 29 September 2005: Human trials underway into significant diabetes test. Blood test aimed at predicting the likelihood of organ damage in those with elevated blood-sugar levels 28 September 2005: Drugs, s*x may lead to teens' depression. New findings challenge the belief that depressed teenagers engage in risky behaviour as a means of coping with their mental health condition 28 September 2005: Pomegranate juice affects prostate cancer – study. Preliminary US research shows the juice can shrink prostate tumours in mice 28 September 2005: Facial bone loss contributes to looking older. A new US study has shown how the angles of the bones in the mid-face area change over time28 September 2005: Obese women face greater multiple myeloma risk. Results of studies that looked at the potential link between excess weight and bone-marrow cancer 28 September 2005: US experts weigh guidelines for impotence drug use. Draft guidelines call for more studies on whether the medicines increase the rate of HIV infections 28 September 2005: First patients in NZ gene therapy for Parkinson's doing well. Phase 1 trials show patients undergoing the treatment had a 27 percent improvement in motor function after one year 27 September 2005: Oestrogen pills little effect on well-being after menopause. New results back up data from the long-running Women's Health Initiative study 27 September 2005: Kidney transplantees face higher melanoma risk. An article in the journal Cancer reports the rate is 3.6 times higher than in the general population 27 September 2005: Singapore scientists invent quick bird flu test. Can detect the virus in poultry within four hours 27 September 2005: Copper intra-uterine contraception devices under review. Massey University to review the device's effectiveness 26 September 2005: Link between smoking and diabetes, say researchers. A major US study on insulin resistance found 25 percent of participants who smoked and did not have diabetes when the study began, had developed the condition within five years 26 September 2005: Coffee is healthier than you think. The number one source of antioxidants in the average American diet, study finds 25 September 2005: Aids expert advocates circumcision as best available vaccine. South African survey shows circumcised men were 65 percent less likely to contract the disease than men who had not been circumcised 24 September 2005: Low-fat vegan diet may spur weight loss. A comparison study of overweight postmenopausal women has found the diet produced twice the weight loss of a standard low-cholesterol diet 24 September 2005: Complex work may help ward off Alzheimer's. Swedish twin study finds the physical fitness principle "use it or lose it" may apply to the brain as well 24 September 2005: Most breast cancers not linked to ovarian cancer. Preliminary findings show 50 percent of all hereditary breast cancers are not related to BRCA mutations 23 September 2005: Minister halts Italy's first abortion pill trial. Prompting accusations that the decision was politically motivated and not scientific23 September 2005: "Dignity" therapy aids dying patients. Helping dying patients to relive and record important memories and thoughts may ease the distress many feel at the end of life, according to a new study 23 September 2005: Violence exposure may affect teens' blood pressure. Their study findings suggest that exposure to violence may not only have psychological effects, as has been previously demonstrated, but physiological effects as well 23 September 2005: Liver transplant possible without transfusion. Surgeons in California have succeeded in routinely transplanting livers without using blood transfusions in the recipients 23 September 2005: Scientists implant human chromosome in mice. Chromosome 21 breakthrough could reveal new insights into Down's syndrome 22 September 2005: Resistance to anti-flu drugs increases. US study shows a 12 percent resistance in the past decade and suggests some drugs will no longer be effective in the event of a pandemic outbreak 22 September 2005: Light smoking triples risk of heart disease death. In men and women who smoke less than five cigarettes a day 22 September 2005: Flu researchers slam US for hoarding data – journal. CDC failing vaccine researchers by not keeping deposits of the majority of strains sequenced at labs in the US - Nature 22 September 2005: Report says global warming could spark conflict. Could also lead to more droughts, floods and typhoons, and increase the incidence of malaria, dengue fever and cholera 22 September 2005: Worst-case scenarios as world seeks strategy for bird flu. Could kill anything from seven to 100 million people, according to worst-case scenarios being studied by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and scientists 21 September 2005: Diabetes deaths worldwide on the rise. New computerised disease model puts diabetes as the fifth leading cause of death 21 September 2005: Novartis CEO plans more drug research in China. Drug manufacturer to invest in the country's huge scientific skill base 21 September 2005: US medical research spending rises, results lag. Doubled in a decade to more than $US94 billion in 2003; pharmaceutical results down 21 September 2005: Obesity alone not linked to fatal heart attacks. But when combined with high blood pressure the risk of heart attack or stroke doubles, a new French study has shown 21 September 2005: Beer and spirits boost colon tumour risk. A risk factor along with age, smoking and obesity, a new report suggests21 September 2005: Jurors hear of FDA researcher's concerns on Vioxx. David Graham has been outspoken about his employer's ability to monitor the safety of drugs once they are on the market 21 September 2005: Vitamin's effect on cancer varies by smoker status. Beta-carotene supplements have been shown to decrease the risk of tobacco-related cancers among women who have never smoked, and increase the risk among current or past smokers 21 September 2005: Green tea component may fight Alzheimer's – study. Mice injected for several months with the antioxidant EGCG were found to have a 54 percent reduction in plaque formation associated with the disease 21 September 2005: New drugs trying to carve out niche as treatments for alcoholism. Medication, along with the traditional methods of counselling and step programmes, seen as the treatment of the future for recovering alcoholics 21 September 2005: Long-term study to impact on future of spending
and cancer. The study, believed to be the biggest of its type in Australia,
will follow the health of 250,000 over 45s
in NSW for the next 20 years
21 September 2005: Psoriasis drug to be tested on healthy New Zealanders. Celera Genomics to conduct phase 1 clinical tests of its new drug Cathepsin S inhibitor on Christchurch volunteers 20 September 2005: Novartis to file key diabetes, heart drugs in 2006. Seeking approval for two drugs they say will change the way doctors treat diabetes and hypertension 20 September 2005: Lab accidents most likely source of future SARS outbreaks – WHO. While new research suggests bats may be a primary source of the disease, communicable diseases expert Hitoshi Oshitani believes human infection is more likely to result from stocks of the human form of SARS held in laboratories 20 September 2005: Auckland study shows fall in number of strokes, but greater risk. The Australian study of New Zealanders in Auckland suggests the fall of 11 percent over two decades could be due to fewer people smoking, but the study also showed an increase in obesity, diabetes and overall age, factors that increase the likelihood of stroke 19 September 2005: Aust program to help reduce binge drinking in hospitality. Industry to address alcohol misuse following a study that found hospitality workers were twice as likely as workers from any other sector to binge drink 17 September 2005: Vaccine cuts bacterial disease in US. PCV7 effective in preventing childhood infections such as meningitis and pneumonia, US report shows 17 September 2005: Digital mammograms better than film for some – study. Detected 78 percent of cancers in premenopausal women and women with dense breasts, compared to 51 percent for the traditional method16 September 2005: Mice infected with deadly plague missing from US lab. Three mice infected with the bacteria responsible for bubonic plague apparently disappeared from a US laboratory about two weeks ago 16 September 2005: Functioning artificial kidney on the way. The nanotech device for end-stage renal failure will consist of two membranes that mimic filter structures found in a real kidney, and do away with the need for dialysis 16 September 2005: Genes from both parents can cause pregnancy problem. New research has shown that daughters of men born after a pre-eclampsia pregnancy have a raised risk of developing the condition 16 September 2005: Aussie women confront weighty issue. The Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health found that women in their mid to late 20s weighed an average 67.4kg in 2003, compared with 62.6kg when the same women were weighed in 1996 15 September 2005: Risk of cow milk allergy increased after c-section. Infants delivered by caesarean section may not get the benefit of maternal bacteria, making them more susceptible to allergies, new research shows 15 September 2005: Diet and exercise may slow prostate cancer. A comparison study of patients who made dramatic changes to their lifestyle and diet and a group given the usual treatment has found the lifestyle changers did not require treatment one year on for progression of the disease 15 September 2005: Single drug dose effective for childhood cholera. Ciprofloxacin found to work as well as the 12-dose combination antibiotic treatment recommended by the WHO 15 September 2005: Drugs plug gap as world awaits birdflu vaccine. Scientists believe they have the know-how to make an effective vaccine against pandemic bird flu; the problem is how to make enough of it 15 September 2005: Researchers urge China to relax its one-child policy. Critics say the policy has led to forced abortions, sterilisations and a dangerously imbalanced sex ratio 15 September 2005: New drug may treat RA when others fail. FDA approves Orencia, the first of a new class of drugs to treat rheumatoid arthritis 15 September 2005: Life's knocks hit men harder than women - UK study. Women in the study were actually twice as likely to be downwardly mobile but generally avoided the depression and poor psychological wellbeing shown by men 14 September 2005: Overweight and high blood pressure risks heart related death. French study shows the importance of controlling blood pressure while trying to lose weight14 September 2005: Treating sleep-breathing problem may ease blues. New US research shows a higher use of anti-depressants among people with sleep apnoea than in the general population 14 September 2005: Report highlights methods to curb MRSA spread. European research shows hospitals with the highest use of antibiotics had the highest levels of infection 14 September 2005: The pill linked to short-term drop in MS risk. New research adds weight to previous studies that failed to show an association between taking oral contraceptives and the neurological disorder 14 September 2005: Breast milk alternative may prevent food allergies. Study recommends hydrolyzed casein or whey formulas to reduce the incidence of allergy in high risk infants when breast milk supply is inadequate 14 September 2005: Protein diet plus exercise equals more weight loss. A comparison study of four types of diet in women aged 40-56 years 14 September 2005: World risks duplication in AIDS vaccine push – expert. The non-profit International AIDS Vaccine Initiative is calling for stronger scientific consensus on priorities to prevent a wasted use of resources 14 September 2005: Marriage boosts prosperity, helps children - US study. The Brookings Institution and Princeton University study also showed children raised by same-sex couples benefit when those couples marry 14 September 2005: Patients like their surgeon to be a snappy dresser. An Auckland study presented at a conference of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons being held in Hamilton this week 13 September 2005: Soy protein cuts bone fracture risk – study. The Shanghai Women's Health Study found post-menopausal women who ate the most soy protein had a 37 percent lower risk of bone fracture compared to women who consumed the least soy 13 September 2005: Psychotherapy works over the telephone. Overcomes barriers for people with physical impairments suffering depression, study shows 13 September 2005: Acupoint stimulation shows promise for heartburn. Preliminary research showing how the use of small electrical pulses to an acupuncture point on the wrist can ease gastrointestinal symptoms 13 September 2005: Injected vitamin may fight cancer: study. High doses of ascorbate (vitamin C) kills cancer cells, but not normal cells, in laboratory experiment 13 September 2005: Eggs get tick of approval, despite high cholesterol levels. An excellent source of high quality protein containing only a small amount of saturated fat, nutritionists say13 September 2005: Ethics body holds back pig parts transplant report for election. Government advisory says decision on xenotransplantation must be made soon 13 September 2005: TV watching big cause of obesity in children. New research from the landmark Dunedin Multidisciplinary Study 12 September 2005: Home care for some pneumonia patients effective. Christchurch hospital leading the way in community care, new research shows 12 September 2005: Drug-resistant strains of E coli on the increase in England. The new hard-to-treat strains produce an enzyme called Extended-Spectrum Beta Lactamase (ESBL) 12 September 2005: Australia considers subsidizing weight loss programs. Monash nutritionist and president of the International Union of Nutritional Sciences, Mark Wahlqvist, behind the push to have government assistance in the fight against obesity 10 September 2005: Different therapies can work for alcoholism. The established motivational enhancement therapy was compared to the more person-centred approach where patients use a network of people to help them change their behaviour 10 September 2005: Babies show signs of crying in the womb. Auckland University researchers make chance observation during research into the effects of maternal smoking and drug use during pregnancy 9 September 2005: Changes in the brain may explain teenage troubles. Early adolescent brain has difficulty in interpreting emotions, new UK research shows 9 September 2005: High stress may reduce breast cancer risk. Sustained levels of high stress may affect oestrogen levels, a large, long-term Danish study suggests 9 September 2005: Detection of DNA from allergens in foods. The new Lincoln University test could lead to more accurate food choices for allergy sufferers who are hampered by a lack of precise information on food labels at present 8 September 2005: Humiliation influences obese teens' depression. Findings of a large Swedish survey that looked at the psychosocial health of children aged 15 and 17 years 8 September 2005: Ecstasy users more prone to disease – scientist. Party drug shown to affect immune system, induce depression 8 September 2005: Cereal may be best breakfast for the waistline. May help women, but not men, maintain weight control 8 September 2005: Epilepsy patients may be prone to bipolar disorder. Bipolar symptoms appear to be more prevalent among people with epilepsy than among those with other chronic conditions such as migraine, asthma and diabetes, new research indicates7 September 2005: Rheumatoid arthritis may be becoming milder. Long-term study points to earlier treatment and more intense treatment for an overall improvement in symptoms associated with the disease 7 September 2005: Many US doctors ill-trained on cultural gaps. Final year physicians feel ill-equipped to deal with immigrants, cultural customs, study finds 7 September 2005: US turning maligned meat preservative into potential drug. Sodium nitrate being explored as a cheap treatment for common ailments affecting blood flow 7 September 2005: Keeping daily routine helps bipolar sufferers. Normal sleeping, eating and daily routines helps prevent relapses - US study 7 September 2005: Warning issued for pregnant women taking anti-depressants. A warning from the Australian medicines watchdog TGA, following a US study that showed paroxetine given in the first trimester of pregnancy may increase the risk of heart deformities in newborns 6 September 2005: B vitamins no help in stopping heart attacks – study. May actually be harmful to survivors of heart attacks, congress hears 6 September 2005: Diabetes not associated with depression. Two new studies report similar findings 6 September 2005: Excessively sleepy? Could be more than poor sleep. Study shows excessive daytime sleepiness may signal depression or diabetes 6 September 2005: Anorexia patients still restrict food after therapy. Up to 70 percent of patients who responded well to hospital treatment relapsed when they went out into the real world, a new study shows 6 September 2005: Newer blood thinner may be safer for people having heart attack. In the largest study ever conducted on people in the throes of a heart attack, scientists have found that giving a newer blood thinner instead of the traditional one could halve the risk of causing life-threatening bleeding 6 September 2005: New Astra drug restores heart rhythm in early test. The atrial fibrillation drug, AZD7009, shows promise in Phase II trials 6 September 2005: Couples advertising for egg donors, conference told. Practice on the increase in Australia - proceedings of the Fertility Society of Australia's annual scientific meeting being held in Christchurch 6 September 2005: Collaboration on additional funding for breast cancer treatment. Roche/PHARMAC to make Herceptin available for women with early stage HER2 breast cancer5 September 2005: Study shows giving superaspirin before angioplasty saves lives. Giving heart attack victims the drug Plavix when they arrive at the emergency room almost halved the risk of a stroke 4 September 2005: Pregnant women urged to take iodine to reduce low IQ risk. Evidence showing significant and increasing iodine deficiency in pregnant and lactating women in NZ and Australia 3 September 2005: Artery disease seen with sleep-breathing disorder. Direct link between obstructive sleep apnoea and cardiovascular diseases 3 September 2005: US university suspends 25-year smoking study. Thought to be the longest-running US study of smoking attitudes and behaviours in the same subjects 3 September 2005: Bacteria may put sewage treatment workers at risk. Toxins released from both sewage bacteria and the bacteria that are used to remove pollutants from the wastewater 2 September 2005: High-fibre diet may slow atherosclerosis. Same effect as statin drugs 2 September 2005: C-section linked to cavity-causing bug in infants. Mothers appeared to be the main source of transmission of the bacterium, known as Streptococcus mutans 2 September 2005: NZers risk brain damage, goitre because of low iodine levels. Universal salt iodisation may be introduced in NZ 2 September 2005: New theory suggests mad cow disease may have come from humans. May have come from feeding British cattle with meal contaminated with human remains infected with a permutation of the disease 2 September 2005: No alcohol during pregnancy, says ALAC. Alac is currently undertaking research with the Ministry of Health to assess the awareness of NZ women of child bearing age on alcohol consumption during pregnancy, which should be completed early next year 1 September 2005: No allergy problems from GM corn or soy. Allergy-prone adults and children fail to react to four genetically-modified foods 1 September 2005: Scientists find solace in extra-virgin olive oil. Discover a chemical that acted like ibuprofen, an anti-inflammatory, in fresh extra-virgin olive oil 1 September 2005: Chronic disease may start before conception: professor. Mother's health determines baby's health1 September 2005: Women unaware of risks of drinking during pregnancy: study. Found more than three million women were not convinced it was necessary to stop drinking while pregnant and that one million said they strongly disagreed that drinking during pregnancy was dangerous 31 August 2005: Blood pressure-kidney stone risk linked to weight. University of California at Irvine study 31 August 2005: Major study looks at role of genes in diseases affecting Maori. ESR project to investigate whether there are underlying reasons why so many members of Nuhaka's Ngati Rakaipaaka iwi suffer from cancer, diabetes, gout and heart disease 31 August 2005: More New Zealanders will die needlessly from heart
disease if access to medicines is not increased. Comment from eminent cardiologist
Professor Harvey White on an international report that showed
healthcare and medical research in New Zealand is suffering from restrictive
medicine funding policies
31 August 2005: Study finds no risk
of benign tumour from using mobile phones. The latest in a series of studies
to show no increased risk of brain tumours
31 August 2005: Professor promotes
online psychiatry. Otago University professor Helen Christensen has been
using an Internet service run by ANU's Centre for Mental Health Research
to treat New Zealanders with depression
31 August 2005: Govt increased funding
for dental studies. To boost dental therapy student numbers at AUT and Otago
University
30 August 2005: After heart attack,
'statin' drugs save lives. Drug found to offer additional protective effects
against complications if given within 24 hours after a heart attack
30 August 2005: Lab tests for herpes
often give wrong results. Survey finds many US laboratories using outdated
blood tests
30 August 2005: Obese adults get fewer
cancer screens, flu shots. US study finds "anti-fat bias" may be behind the
lower rates of mammography, Pap testing and flu vaccination in obese white
adults compared to their normal-weight peers
30 August 2005: Expect NZ doctors,
nurses to die from birdflu: researcher. 9.3 percent of the nation's primary
healthcare workers are likely to be affected at the peak of the epidemic's
first wave, says Otago University public health researcher, Nick Wilson
30 August 2005: Support for review
of Pharmac funding. Researched Medicines Industry Association endorses survey
that shows New Zealanders want better access to new medicines
30 August 2005: Gallbladder removal
raises colon cancer risk. But not rectal cancer - UK study
29 August 2005: New process may lead to blood test for mad cow disease. US researchers have successfully multiplied the number of prions in the blood of hamsters so a blood test can then diagnose their presence 29 August 2005: Starving won't make
people live longer – researchers. A lifetime of dieting would only
extend human life span by about 7 percent a mathematical model has found
29 August 2005: Scientist wins award
for research into neuroscience. Debbie Young of Auckland University has won
the 2005 Invitrogen Queenstown Molecular Biology Award for her research into
new treatments for brain disorders
29 August 2005: HIV infection explosion
in Pacific to affect New Zealand. Projected boom blamed on rising STD rates
- Otago University Aids Epidemiology Group
28 August 2005: Tetraplegic's warning
of tests on unborn embryos. Proposed new genetic test to eliminate disorders
raises the question of eugenics, ethics committee members tells disability
forum
27 August 2005: War vets with traumatic
stress can kick smoking habit. More likely to quit when smoking-cessation
therapy is included in routine mental health care, than being referred to
a specialised clinic for cessation therapy, new research shows
27 August 2005: Toxins in breast milk
in US and Canada: clinical study. Found levels of the flame retardant PBDE
and PCB in the milk of all women involved in the study
26 August 2005: US National Institutes
of Health releases ethics rules. Revised ethics rules on investments and
consulting in the health industry that are aimed at cleaning up the agency's
image
26 August 2005: Melanoma death rates
of Aussies under 55 falling. Still rising in people aged 80 and older - Queensland
Cancer Fund research
26 August 2005: World first study
finds ancient herb reduces malaria risk. Artesunate, derived from sweet wormwood,
has been used for centuries to treat the disease, but the new landmark Australian
study has found it is more effective than the standard malaria treatment
quinine in reducing deaths from severe malaria
26 August 2005: Regional health ministers
declare tuberculosis an African crisis. Rise linked to the spread of HIV
25 August 2005: Painkillers can cause
fatal stomach bleeding. Low-dose aspirin may be involved in as many as one-third
of all hospitalisations and deaths, new study suggests
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