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BMA calls for total ban of smoking in enclosed public places

In his speech today, at the BMA's fringe meeting at the Labour Party Conference in Brighton, BMA Chairman, Mr James Johnson, called upon the Health Secretary, John Reid, to introduce a total ban of smoking in enclosed public places and emphasised that a ban must include pubs and restaurants.

28 Sep 2004

Australian Medical Association backs Labor’s commitment to focus on mental health

Dr Choong-Siew Yong, Psychiatrist and Chair of the AMA’s Public Health and Ethics Committee, today welcomed Labor’s commitment to focus on mental health as a national health priority

28 Sep 2004

Microfluidics help lab-on-a-chip development skyrocket

Lab-on-a-chip (LOC) development has skyrocketed in the last couple of years due to constant efforts in harnessing microfluidics and µTAS to improve the LOC design and function. The distinct advantages that they bestow on applications are pushing the commercial potential of LOCs.

28 Sep 2004

Hong Kong health commitment pledged in Sweden

The SARS crisis was a reminder of the need for a strong commitment to enhancing public health infrastructure and global co-operation against communicable diseases.

28 Sep 2004

Research shows specific damage to nervous system in veterans with Gulf War syndrome

UT Southwestern researchers report that damage to the parasympathetic nervous system may account for nearly half of the typical symptoms - including gallbladder disease, unrefreshing sleep, depression, joint pain, chronic diarrhea and sexual dysfunction - that afflict those with Gulf War syndrome. Their findings will be published in the October issue of the American Journal of Medicine and are currently available online.

27 Sep 2004

Contrary to popular belief, epidemics do not occur spontaneously after a natural disaster

The belief that dead bodies pose a serious health threat often leads authorities to take misguided action, such as mass burials, which can add to the burden of suffering already experienced by survivors. This theme arose Thursday following reports that the death count in Haiti due to flooding from Tropical Storm Jeanne has now climbed above 1,013.

26 Sep 2004

Drug shortages are having major negative effects on patient care and hospital costs

A study to be published in the October 1, 2004, issue of the American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy finds that ongoing drug shortages are having far-ranging, negative effects on patient care and hospital costs.

26 Sep 2004

Arsenic could be toxic at much lower levels than previously thought

Arsenic could be toxic at much lower levels than previously thought, suggesting that the new EPA drinking water standard of 10 parts per billion might still be too high, according to a team of researchers at Dartmouth Medical School.

26 Sep 2004

Pneumonia could be treatable by the oral antibiotic amoxicillin rather than injectable penicillin

Pneumonia - one of the world’s deadliest diseases for young children in developing countries - could be treatable by the oral antibiotic amoxicillin rather than injectable penicillin, with implications for better health outcomes and reduced costs

23 Sep 2004

Folic acid can dramatically reduce the incidence of spina bifida and other birth defects

A study, published today in BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, shows that the proportion of babies born with neural tube defects in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador dropped by 78% after the Canadian Government directed that folic acid must be added to flour, cornmeal and pasta. The study supports the continuation of this food fortification strategy.

23 Sep 2004

Study on the long-term health effects associated with silicone breast implants

It is estimated that between 1.5 million and 2 million women in this country have had breast implants since they first appeared on the market in 1962.

23 Sep 2004

American Lung Association launches online flu shot locator

As the flu season is about to begin, the American Lung Association today launched its online "flu shot locator" to help more people find and obtain flu vaccinations in their neighborhoods.

23 Sep 2004

Potential new way to control drug-resistant bacteria

The researchers, who encountered this genetic property while working on an unrelated project, believe that this discovery could lead to the use of genetically engineered phages to treat bacterial infections that have become resistant to antibiotics.

23 Sep 2004

Four or more glasses of red wine per week may reduce risk of prostate cancer by 50 percent

Drinking a glass of red wine a day may cut a man's risk of prostate cancer in half, and the protective effect appears to be strongest against the most aggressive forms of the disease

23 Sep 2004

THC in marijuana may block the spread of forms of cancer causing herpes viruses

The compound in marijuana that produces a high, delta-9 tetrahydrocannbinol or THC, may block the spread of several forms of cancer causing herpes viruses, University of South Florida College of Medicine scientists report.

22 Sep 2004

Aircraft drinking water tests positive for E.coli

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today is informing the American public of results from initial testing of drinking water onboard 158 randomly selected passenger airplanes.

22 Sep 2004

Ireland’s alcohol related problems cost in excess of €2.65 billion

According to the Second Report of the Strategic Task Force on Alcohol (STFA), Ireland’s alcohol related problems continue to increase and in 2003 cost Irish society in excess of €2.65 billion.

22 Sep 2004

Slimming products may cause health risk

Hong Kong's Department of Health has called on people not to buy or take health products for slimming purpose without proper advice from their family doctors or Chinese medicine practitioners.

22 Sep 2004

Women aged 70 years and older who exercised regularly lower risk of cognitive impairment

Women who engaged in the most activity - for example, walking at least 6 hours per week - had a 20 percent decrease in risk of cognitive impairment compared to those who were inactive and, also demonstrated the cognitive functioning of someone three-years younger than their actual age.

22 Sep 2004

New recommendations which will help pre-empt drinking water contamination

Ensuring drinking water is safe is a challenge in every part of the world, from water piped into people's homes, to rural wells and water provided to refugee camps in an emergency.

22 Sep 2004

Public Health News and Research

BMA calls for total ban of smoking in enclosed public places

Australian Medical Association backs Labor’s commitment to focus on mental health

Microfluidics help lab-on-a-chip development skyrocket

Hong Kong health commitment pledged in Sweden

Research shows specific damage to nervous system in veterans with Gulf War syndrome

Contrary to popular belief, epidemics do not occur spontaneously after a natural disaster

Drug shortages are having major negative effects on patient care and hospital costs

Arsenic could be toxic at much lower levels than previously thought

Pneumonia could be treatable by the oral antibiotic amoxicillin rather than injectable penicillin

Folic acid can dramatically reduce the incidence of spina bifida and other birth defects

Study on the long-term health effects associated with silicone breast implants

American Lung Association launches online flu shot locator

Potential new way to control drug-resistant bacteria

Four or more glasses of red wine per week may reduce risk of prostate cancer by 50 percent

THC in marijuana may block the spread of forms of cancer causing herpes viruses

Aircraft drinking water tests positive for E.coli

Ireland’s alcohol related problems cost in excess of €2.65 billion

Slimming products may cause health risk

Women aged 70 years and older who exercised regularly lower risk of cognitive impairment

New recommendations which will help pre-empt drinking water contamination

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