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South African sales of MedMira rapid HIV tests begin

MedMira Inc., the international market leader in rapid flow- through diagnostic technology announced today that it has begun shipment of its MiraWell(TM) Rapid HIV Test to its distributor.

26 Sep 2004

Majority of parents concerned about the amount of sex and violence children are exposed to on TV

A majority of parents say they are "very" concerned about the amount of sex (60%) and violence (53%) their children are exposed to on TV

23 Sep 2004

Cosmetic surgery less risky and less painful than plastic surgery

Cosmetic surgery is perceived as less risky with a shorter recovery time and less pain than plastic or reconstructive surgery, according to an article in the September issue of The Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

21 Sep 2004

Disabled people need better specialist equipment

For many disabled people, assistive technology is crucial to their ability to choose how they want to live and whether they can live independently.

20 Sep 2004

Non-human primates should never be considered as source animals for any future clinical trials of animal-to-human transplantation

Australia’s leading health advisory body, the National Health and Medical Research Council, says there should be a five-year moratorium on any clinical research into animal-to-human whole organ transplants in Australia.

20 Sep 2004

Global health is recurrently being threatened by new and re-emerging infectious diseases

Global health is recurrently being threatened by new and re-emerging infectious diseases. Examples of new and re-emerging infectious diseases include SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), new variant CJD (Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease), avian flu and Ebola.

20 Sep 2004

BBC focuses on the rise of complementary or alternative medicines

Broadcaster Anna Ford investigates why people are turning to CAM in a new six part BBC Radio Four series, The Other Medicine. Is there any evidence that CAM works, is it harmful and should the CAM industry, worth £1.6 billion a year, be made more available on the NHS?

20 Sep 2004

Well-rested, refreshed doctors are as important for patient well-being as awake and alert pilots are for safe aviation

Vital rest rooms for junior doctors have been reopened following a sit-in by doctors and pressure from the BMA.

17 Sep 2004

Most people’s diets get healthier from childhood to young adulthood

Adults eat around twice the amount of fruit and vegetables and less fat and sugar than they did as children, a new study suggests.

16 Sep 2004

Spina bifida on the decline in Australia

The number of babies with spina bifida or similar abnormalities has declined by over 40 per cent since 1995, Australia's Minister for Health, Bronwyn Pike, said yesterday.

15 Sep 2004

HHS enhances Medicare drug card program to help seniors

Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy G. Thompson today announced new measures to help seniors get the lowest price possible for their medicines by allowing them -- for the first time -- to compare prices for similar drugs used to treat common diseases such as high cholesterol or blood pressure.

15 Sep 2004

Interim report on blood dioxin study made public

Interim results of state-of-the-art tests carried out for some long term residents in the New Plymouth suburb of Paritutu, New Zealnd, have shown a higher than normal level of dioxin in their blood.

10 Sep 2004

Revised draft Mental Health Bill

The British Government has today published a revised draft Mental Health Bill. The Bill will be subject to pre-legislative scrutiny by a parliamentary committee, which has been asked to present its report by the end of March 2005.

8 Sep 2004

Hospitals should use latex medical gloves with lower protein and powder levels to reduce latex sensitivity rather than synthetic alternatives

The non-profit, independent evaluator of medical devices notes that while some synthetic alternatives may cost less, latex gloves are still the most cost-effective choice when a glove offering a good level of protection is required.

8 Sep 2004

It is amazing how many new health dollars can be found at election time

The Australian Medical Association President, Dr Bill Glasson, said today that the Government had well and truly trumped Labor’s New Deal to Save Medicare with an even newer and better deal to save Medicare.

6 Sep 2004

Study looks at the patient-practitioner relationship in complementary and alternative therapies

Why do patients opt for complementary and alternative therapies when they are ill? Is the relationship and communication between a patient and a practitioner as important in the treatment as the complementary treatments prescribed?

6 Sep 2004

Rural doctors less likely to diagnose depression in men than in women

It is known that doctors are generally less likely to diagnose depression in men than in women. Little research has been undertaken to explore the reasons for this in rural settings, or to compare GPs' and male patients' assessments of perceived depression.

2 Sep 2004

More women and adolescents needed in HIV vaccine clinical trials

Greater participation of women and adolescents is needed in HIV vaccine clinical trials, according to a group of international experts, who attended a consultation on HIV vaccine trials in Lausanne, Switzerland, from 26-28 August.

1 Sep 2004

Knowing more about a gene’s responsibility will stir up a swarm of controversy

Pinning down how genetics contributes to behavior is slippery business. For instance, identifying the genes linked to a likelihood of developing schizophrenia or autism could stigmatize those who possess the genes, and may even play a role in defining the conditions themselves.

1 Sep 2004

Extension of Australia's Medicare safety net will ease the financial burden on pregnant women

Australian Medical Association President, Dr Bill Glasson, said yesterday that the Government’s decision to extend the Medicare safety net to cover out-of-hospital private obstetrics services would ease the financial burden on pregnant women and their families.

1 Sep 2004