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21/05/2008 - No sleep 'renders brain erratic' (BBC)
Scientists have shown relying on the sleep deprived-brain to perform well is potentially fraught with danger.
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21/05/2008 - MPs throw out bids to reduce abortion limit (The Independent)
Abortions will remain legal for up to 24 weeks into pregnancy after MPs rejected a series of attempts to cut the limit after an impassioned debate in the House of Commons.
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21/05/2008 - Fertility laws drop need to consider role of father (The Independent)
Single women and lesbian couples will be able to seek fertility treatment without having to consider a father for their children under new laws approved by MPs last night.
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21/05/2008 - Erectile dysfunction and diabetes (NHS Choices)
A 'behind the headlines' assessment of the recent news story that men with diabetes who are having trouble keeping an erection could be at increased risk of serious heart problems.
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21/05/2008 - Cameron reveals plight of disabled son to explain backing for embryo research (The Scotsman)
DAVID Cameron, the Tory leader, yesterday explained his reasons for backing legislation allowing research on human- animal hybrid embryos ' citing the example of his own disab
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21/05/2008 - Call to treat sickle cell better (BBC)
Results of the first national survey of sickle cell and thalassaemia deaths reveal better treatment and monitoring is needed.
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20/05/2008 - Smoothies 'can damage teeth' (BBC)
Dentists have warned the current popularity of fruit smoothies could lead to widespread tooth damage.
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20/05/2008 - Sex problems 'may be heart alert' (BBC)
Diabetic men who are having trouble keeping an erection could be at increased risk of serious heart problems, suggests a study.
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20/05/2008 - HRT hype 'bad for women' (BBC)
Too many women are missing out on hormone replacement therapy because of "overhyped" safety concerns, experts warn.
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20/05/2008 - Diabetes drug to be limited over heart damage fears (The Scotsman)
THE prescribing of a drug widely used to treat diabetes is to be restricted after warnings which linked it to heart problems.
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19/05/2008 - Women not aware of heart disease risk (The Scotsman)
ALMOST two-thirds of women are not aware heart disease is the main cause of death among females, according to research.
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19/05/2008 - Rosehip for osteoarthritis pain (NHS Choices)
'Rosehip 'better than painkillers' for arthritis' is the headline in The Daily Telegraph today. Researchers have found that a powder made from Rosa canina (a wild variety of rosehip)...
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19/05/2008 - MPs to vote on hybrid embryo laws (BBC)
MPs vote later on whether to allow scientists to continue using hybrid human-animal embryos for research.
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19/05/2008 - Mobile pregnancy scare 'inconclusive' (NHS Choices)
A 'shocking' study has found that pregnant women who use mobile phones are 'more likely to have children with behavioural problems', the Daily Mail reported today. They said that...
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19/05/2008 - Mixed-sex NHS 'still a problem' (BBC)
Two thirds of NHS trusts are failing to ensure patients are kept in single-sex wards, figures show.
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19/05/2008 - Meat-free not always good (The Scotsman)
MANY vegetarian burgers and sausages are as salty as their meat equivalents, according to research.
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19/05/2008 - Emergency measles steps ordered (BBC)
Children in London are given two MMR jabs in quick succession to halt a measles outbreak.
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19/05/2008 - Drinkers 'ignorant' about alcohol (BBC)
A survey suggests 77% of drinkers do not know how many units of alcohol are in a glass of typical wine.
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19/05/2008 - Consent guidance for doctors (BBC)
Dementia: The General Medical Council is calling for a fresh approach in the way doctors seek patient consent for treatment.
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19/05/2008 - Breast cancer survival linked to vitamin D (The Independent)
Women with a vitamin D deficiency when they are diagnosed with breast cancer have an increased risk of dying within 10 years, research has found.
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19/05/2008 - Asthma link to pregnancy stress (BBC)
Women who are stressed in pregnancy may raise the risk of their child developing asthma or other allergies, research suggests.
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18/05/2008 - Women 'face raised whiplash risk' (BBC)
Women drivers are three times more likely than men to suffer whiplash injuries in a crash, Swedish researchers say.
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18/05/2008 - Water suits 'butterfly' girl at last (The Scotsman)
FOR YEARS her agonising skin condition has made swimming almost impossible. Ten-year-old Hannah McKandie from Aberdeenshire suffers from blistering, peeling skin and has to we
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18/05/2008 - Warning: Using a mobile phone while pregnant can seriously damage your baby (The Independent)
PUK Comment: In a study of >13,000 children reaching school age, researchers observed increased hyperactivity in children where mothers had used cell phones in pregnancy or the child had been exposed afterwards. More research is required to determine if the phone use was actually a cause.
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18/05/2008 - New drug 'can kill MRSA superbug' (BBC)
British scientists are working on a drug which they say can destroy the most virulent strains of superbug MRSA.
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18/05/2008 - MRSA: The cure (The Independent)
A cure for MRSA appears to be within grasp after scientists claimed to have developed a drug that destroys the most virulent strains of the deadly superbug. The breakthrough by British researchers could save 1,600 lives a year and wipe out the highly infectious bacteria.
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17/05/2008 - Toxic strain of bug kills two in separate hospitals (The Scotsman)
Clostridium Difficile infection: TWO patients have died after contracting a bug which has struck in two different Scottish cities.
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17/05/2008 - Cord blood cancer therapy boost (BBC)
Immune cells grown from cord blood may one day be used to improve leukaemia treatment, say US researchers.
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16/05/2008 - Obese 'adding to food crisis' (The Scotsman)
OBESE people are contributing to the world food crisis because of the amount they eat, experts claim.
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16/05/2008 - NHS IT 'at least four years late' (BBC)
It will be at least 2014 before the NHS in England has a single electronic records system, say auditors.
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16/05/2008 - New treatment for psoriasis (NHS Choices)
A 'behind the headlines' assessment of the recent news story about a new psoriasis treatment giving 'hope' to sufferers.
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16/05/2008 - Local child surgery 'threatened' (BBC)
Surgeons who carry out routine child operations at local hospitals may become in short supply, experts warn.
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16/05/2008 - Hope for psoriasis sufferers (The Independent)
A dramatic advance in the treatment of psoriasis, the debilitating skin condition which affects more than one million people in the UK, was announced by scientists yesterday.
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16/05/2008 - Asbestos cancer chemo questioned (BBC)
Chemotherapy does not help people with asbestos-related cancer, according to UK researchers.
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15/05/2008 - Warning after takeaway tests (BBC)
Lovers of takeaway food could be eating more than their daily allowance of fat and salt in just one meal, scientists have warned.
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15/05/2008 - Superbug victims get green light to sue NHS (The Scotsman)
SCOTLAND'S health service could be hit by compensation claims for millions of pounds after a judge yesterday refused to throw out a raft of damages actions over the hosp
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15/05/2008 - Sunbed regulations 'absolutely useless' to protect public (The Scotsman)
GUIDANCE covering the regulation of sunbed parlours was yesterday branded "absolutely useless" by MSPs.
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15/05/2008 - Staff unaware of free eye tests (The Scotsman)
MORE than a third of workers are not aware of their legal right to a free eye test, while some are too afraid to ask their boss, according to a new report yesterday by the Col
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15/05/2008 - Single anti-flu drug 'not enough' (BBC)
No single drug will be enough to treat all the victims of a global flu pandemic, research suggests.
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15/05/2008 - Powdered passion fruit may cure asthma, say scientists (The Scotsman)
PUK Comment: Giving powdered passion fruit peel (PFP) to Asthmatics in a scientific trial reduced reported wheezing and cough but didn't improve lung function. PFP might have a use in asthma treatment. Further trials are required.
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15/05/2008 - Phone alerts get cocaine warning over to clubbers (The Scotsman)
A MOBILE phone campaign to warn clubbers and pub-goers about the dangers of cocaine has been hailed a success and could now be rolled out across the UK.
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15/05/2008 - Now stroke victims get a Wii bit of extra help (The Scotsman)
DOCTORS at an Edinburgh hospital have found a new tool to nurse stroke victims back to health ' a games console.
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15/05/2008 - Meningitis B trials 'encouraging' (BBC)
Initial results of clinical trials on a possible vaccine against meningitis B show "encouraging" results.
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15/05/2008 - Hope over smear test alternative (BBC)
Testing for human papillomavirus (HPV): A test for a sex infection may be better at screening for cervical cancer than smear tests, a study suggests.
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15/05/2008 - Clampdown on disability bullying (BBC)
Schools in England are being told how to tackle bullying of children with special needs or disabilities.
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14/05/2008 - The other national lottery: the real guide to hospitals (The Independent)
Hospital care survey: The Healthcare Commission's survey provides an unprecedented insight into the performance of NHS trusts across the country. From the standards of hygiene to the quality of the food, Jeremy Laurance reveals which hospitals are in rude health %u2013 and which are on the sick list
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14/05/2008 - Sunbed operators try to stop ban (BBC)
Sunbed parlours attempt to stop a ban on the use of coin-operated tanning machines by teenagers.
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14/05/2008 - Method to spot viable IVF embryos (BBC)
Scientists use gene analysis to identify the genetic profile of IVF embryos that result in a successful pregnancy.
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14/05/2008 - Hospitals' care standards 'vary' (BBC)
Most hospital inpatients are satisfied with their care, but there are problems in certain areas, a survey suggests.
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14/05/2008 - Exercise and breast cancer (NHS Choices)
'Young women can cut their risk of developing breast cancer substantially by taking regular exercise', The Daily Telegraph reported today. It says a US study has found that by doing regular exercise...
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14/05/2008 - Cancer patients may still have to go private for drugs ' Sturgeon (The Scotsman)
SOME cancer sufferers may still be forced to turn to the private sector for life-saving drugs, Nicola Sturgeon, the health secretary, admitted yesterday.
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14/05/2008 - Call for debate on dementia care (BBC)
A debate is needed over the ethical dilemmas facing people caring for dementia patients, experts say.
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14/05/2008 - Beta-blocker surgery risk (NHS Choices)
A 'behind the headlines' assessment of the recent nesw story that 'Beta-blockers have caused 800,000 deaths'.
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13/05/2008 - Viagra 'aids muscular dystrophy' (BBC)
The anti-impotence drug Viagra may potentially aid muscular dystrophy patients, research suggests.
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13/05/2008 - Snack ban 'helps healthy eating' (BBC)
Researchers find that banning all unhealthy food from school is the best way to get pupils to eat healthily.
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13/05/2008 - Prem mothers 'need feeding help' (BBC)
Mothers of premature babies need more advice and support to breastfeed, says baby charity Bliss.
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13/05/2008 - Pollution 'lifts blood clot risk' (BBC)
Deep Vein Thrombosis risk: Breathing in air pollution from traffic fumes can raise the risk of potentially deadly blood clots, a US study says.
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13/05/2008 - Hospital's new breast milk bank (BBC)
Donated breast milk is pasteurised and stored for sick and premature babies at a Devon hospital.
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13/05/2008 - Food warning for Indian children (BBC)
More than 1.5m Indian children are at risk of malnutrition because of rising food prices, Unicef says.
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13/05/2008 - Don't sit still and avoid DVT (NHS Choices)
'Desk-bound workers at double DVT risk,' reads the headline in The Daily Telegraph today. Workers who 'sit at a desk for eight hours a day and spend more than three hours...
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13/05/2008 - Breastfeeding 'may cut arthritis' (BBC)
Breastfeeding can help women cut their chance of developing rheumatoid arthritis by half, research suggests.
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13/05/2008 - Breastfeeding and arthritis (NHS Choices)
A 'behind the headlines' assessment of the recent news story that 'Breast feeding your baby for at least a year can dramatically reduce the chance of contracting rheumatoid arthritis'.
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13/05/2008 - Breast cancer gene test to predict risk of disease (The Scotsman)
THOUSANDS of women could be spared the trauma of breast removal by a breakthrough breast cancer test, it was revealed yesterday.
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13/05/2008 - Beta blockers cost more lives than they save, study claims (The Independent)
PUK Comment: This refers specifically to a study of deaths attributed to beta-blockers given to patients undergoing surgery to reduce cardio-vascular risk in the period after the operation. It does not relate to patients given beta-blockers for other medical reasons.
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13/05/2008 - 1,100 Scots underage drinkers admitted to hospital (The Scotsman)
ALMOST 1,100 underage drinkers were admitted to hospital last year after abusing alcohol, figures showed yesterday.
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12/05/2008 - Scots child diagnosed with rare drink-related disease (The Scotsman)
A CHILD in Lanarkshire has become the youngest person in the UK to be diagnosed with a rare drink-related brain disease that usually affects alcoholics.
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12/05/2008 - NHS Board admits drugs mistakes (BBC)
More than 500 mistakes when issuing drugs are recorded by NHS Tayside over the last three years.
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12/05/2008 - Mentally ill 'go without food' (BBC)
People with mental health problems are struggling to make ends meet, the charity Mind finds.
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12/05/2008 - Japan smokers face age test (BBC)
A Japanese company is developing face recognition software for cigarette vending machines - to curb underage smoking.
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12/05/2008 - Diabetes 'is no extra road risk' (BBC)
People with diabetes who use insulin have no more car accidents than those without the condition, research shows.
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12/05/2008 - City warned of dementia time bomb (The Scotsman)
THE Capital is facing a dementia time bomb, with the number of sufferers set to rocket.
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12/05/2008 - Antidote to lethal germ 'closer' (BBC)
Scientists work on an antidote for botulinum toxin - one of the world's most feared biological weapons.
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12/05/2008 - Antidepressants may help body fight HIV and cancer (The Independent)
Antidepressant drugs may help the immune system fight serious illness, research suggests. They enhance the activity of natural killer cells, key elements of the immune system, and could help the body combat infections such as HIV, and even cancer
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12/05/2008 - Antidepressants and immunity (NHS Choices)
'Antidepressants may help body fight HIV and cancer' was the headline in The Independent today. The newspaper article was on research that suggests that antidepressant drugs may help the immune system to...
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