A review of studies of women concluded that there is no evidence that self-exams for lumps or other changes actually reduce breast cancer risk. – A review of recent studies says there is no evidence that the monthly breast self-exam to check for lumps or other changes that might signal breast cancer actually reduce breast cancer deaths.
Mandatory heart screenings for all athletes could detect potentially fatal problems and save lives, revealed by researchers. – Heart screening for athletes before competition should be mandatory. The findings show that a pre-participation screening programme, which involves checking the activity of the heart during exercise, would detect more athletes at risk of sudden cardiac death and save lives, say the authors.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration – FDA agency unveiled the plan just months ago to help keep Americans enjoying one of the safest food supplies in the world. – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Food Protection Plan Progress Report in conjunction with the Interagency Working Group on Import Safety Action Plan Update, shows significant areas of activity to further improve the safety of America’s food supply since unveiling its Food Protection Plan in November 2007.
Jo’s Trust cervical cancer charity welcomes Department of Health’s announcement about HPV vaccine Cervarix. – The UK’s leading cervical cancer charity, Jo’s Trust, has welcomed the UK’s Department of Health’s announcement that the HPV vaccine, Cervarix will be used in the national immunisation programme for 12/13 year olds starting in September, 2008.
People with diabetes are more likely to become depressed as they face a lifetime of keeping their disease in check, Johns Hopkins researchers said. – Persons with treated type 2 diabetes are at increased risk for developing depression, while a more modest association was found between persons with depression and the risk of diabetes, revealed by researchers.
New research into the causes of cervical cancer appears to lend weight to the promise of a potential early detection method that could help prevent the disease. – Persistent infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) could be a useful clinical marker for increased risk of cervical cancer, the second most common cancer in women worldwide, revealed by researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
MIT reseachers have explained how contaminated batches of the blood-thinner heparin were able to slip past traditional safety screens. – An international team of researchers led by Massachusetts institute of technology (MIT) has explained how contaminated batches of the blood-thinner heparin were able to slip past traditional safety screens and kill dozens of patients recently in the United States and Germany.
Government of Canada is taking action to protect the health of Canadians and the environment from another chemical of concern – Bisphenol A. – Canada is the first country in the world to complete a risk assessment of bisphenol A in consultation with industry and other stakeholders, and to initiate a 60 day public comment period on whether to ban the importation, sale and advertising of polycarbonate baby bottles which contain bisphenol A.
Two studies find mammograms benefit women up to the age of 75, and that three-yearly screening intervals are best. – Breast cancer screening is effective, appropriate and reduces deaths from the disease in women aged up to 75 years old according to new research in over 860,000 women aged 70-75 presented at the 6th European Breast Cancer Conference (EBCC-6) in Berlin.
Royal College of Midwives and NICE UK advise is to avoid alcohol whilst pregnant, and to stop drinking alcohol if they are trying to start a family. – Responding to the release of UK’s NICE antenatal guidelines for pregnant women, Mervi Jokinen of the Royal College of Midwives, UK, said: “We welcome the guidelines which are evidence based, but feel that more clarity is needed about pregnancy and alcohol.
Recognition given to PG medical qualifications granted by medical institutions outside india – The Indian Government, exercising powers conferred upon it by the provisions of the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956, has recognized Post Graduate medical qualifications being awarded in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom and United States of America, with the condition that these degrees should be recognized in the respective country for enrolment of medical practitioners in the concerned specialties.
Methicillin-resistant S aureus?positive surgical site infection is an increasingly problematic issue in all surgical fields. In the future, MRSA-positive infections will be more prevalent and will require well-developed screening, prevention, and treatment strategies. – About one-half percent of patients undergoing facelift surgery at one outpatient surgical center between 2001 and 2007 developed methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections, according to a report in the March/April issue of Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
