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British Government report declares NHS accident and emergency, the envy of the world

With 96 per cent of patients being seen and treated quickly in NHS A&E departments, this country's emergency departments are becoming the envy of the world, according to a British Government Report.

26 Oct 2004

Black Sea coastal area of Turkey is prone to bouts of an unusual type of food poisoning from "mad" honey

The researchers detail 19 patients who all required emergency care in 2002 after eating local Turkish honey. The patients, whose ages ranged from 22 to 61, all had symptoms of nausea, vomiting, low blood pressure, slowed heart rate and fainting. Four of them had also sustained head injuries after falling.

21 Oct 2004

New antibody to prevent respiratory syncytial virus in premature babies

Virginia Commonwealth University researchers are studying the effectiveness of introducing a new antibody in premature infants to manage the most common form of lower respiratory tract infections in children worldwide.

21 Oct 2004

CT use has actually decreased imaging costs by 22% per patient

The increased use of CT from 1992 to 2002 for the imaging of facial trauma has actually decreased imaging costs by 22% per patient, say researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.

16 Sep 2004

Therapeutic hypothermia improves the chances of recovery among those who suffer from cardiac arrest

Lowering the body’s temperature after a cardiac arrest dramatically increases the chances for surviving and improves the neurological outcome.

10 Sep 2004

Spray used by British police forces to control aggressors more harmful than previously thought

The "personal incapacitant" spray or PIS is used for self defence in situations where "lethal force is inappropriate." It combines the compounds CS (o-Chlorobenzylidene malononitrile) with MiBK (Methyl isobutyl keton).

24 Aug 2004

CPR and rapid defibrillation is best for cardiac arrest outside of a hospital

Research published in the New England Journal of Medicine suggests that pre-hospital advanced life support training does not increase the survival rate for people who experience a cardiac arrest outside of a hospital. On the other hand, bystander CardioPulmonary Resuscitation and rapid defibrillation programs are crucial interventions that can significantly impact survival rates.

12 Aug 2004

New twist to the 2001 anthrax attacks in the U.S.

In a new twist to the 2001 anthrax attacks in the U.S., the Federal Bureau of Investigation is searching 2 homes in new York and New Jersey which may be related to the attacks.

5 Aug 2004

People involved in side-impact crashes are three times more likely to suffer a traumatic brain injury than people involved in head-on collisions

Occupants of automobiles involved in side-impact crashes are three times more likely to suffer a traumatic brain injury than people involved in head-on or other types of collisions, according to a University of Rochester study published online for the August edition of Annals of Emergency Medicine.

29 Jul 2004

Special Ops medics training at Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center

They call themselves quiet professionals -- an elite, highly trained group of military experts known for their strength, stealth and speed. Some of their training is coming from doctors and nurses at the Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center.

15 Jun 2004

Preteen girls more likely than boys to retaliate

Girls in middle and elementary schools involved in violent incidents may be more likely than boys of the same age to be retaliating for a previous event, to experience the violence at home, and to have a family member intervene.

9 Jun 2004

Over-the-counter cream protects against jellyfish stings

Two dozen volunteers bravely exposed their arms to jellyfish tentacles as part of a new Stanford University School of Medicine study to test a topical, over-the-counter cream designed to protect against stinging nettles. Fortunately for the volunteers, the cream appeared to be relatively effective.

3 Jun 2004

Parents overestimate their children's use of bicycle helmets and seatbelts

Parents think their children use bicycle helmets and seatbelts more often than children say they use them, according to a new study by a University of Michigan Health System pediatric surgeon.

19 May 2004

Images of violence alter children's attitudes toward aggression

A Johns Hopkins team that included a trauma surgeon renowned for his treatment of gunshot victims has found that exposing at-risk children and teenagers to grizzly videos and photos of these patients' wounds can significantly change the youths' beliefs about the value and consequences of aggression.

12 May 2004

Upsurge in people with mental illness seeking treatment in emergency departments is taking toll on patient care

A recent upsurge in people with mental illness seeking treatment in emergency departments is taking a significant toll on patient care and hospital resources nationwide, according to a new survey of emergency physicians conducted by the nation's leading mental health organizations and the American College of Emergency Physicians.

27 Apr 2004

Number of breaths given during CPR may be linked to survival

Researchers have identified a factor that may improve cardiac arrest survival rates according to a first-of-its-kind study of paramedic responses reported in today’s rapid access issue of Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.

5 Apr 2004

Nickel-Titanium Clot-buster reverses vessel damage

A novel corkscrew-like device that mechanically removes clots from the brain has shown promise in recanalizing occluded vessels and reversing damage caused by ischemic stroke, according to researchers at the 29th International Stroke Conference.

20 Mar 2004