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Suffering from fatigue, abdominal discomfort or bloody diarrhea? Your doctor might not recommend an uncomfortable endoscopy

People living with fatigue, abdominal discomfort and bloody diarrhea caused by the chronic inflammation of ulcerative colitis may no longer need to undergo frequent and uncomfortable endoscopies, a new study shows.

3 Feb 2005

Male surgeons report highest rate of mistakes in patient care

Male surgeons report the highest rate of mistakes in patient care, reveals a study of doctors' attitudes to "adverse events" in Quality and Safety in Health Care.

3 Feb 2005

Withdrawal of the commonly prescribed painkiller, co-proxamol

A phased withdrawal of the commonly prescribed painkiller, co-proxamol, has been announced by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.

1 Feb 2005

Physical traits, genetic test help with early diagnosis of aneurysm syndrome

A research team led by Johns Hopkins doctors has defined the physical traits and genetic basis of a new aortic aneurysm syndrome that is extremely aggressive and can cause death in early childhood. Early diagnosis of the syndrome and rapid surgical repair of the swollen aorta can save lives, the researchers report in the Jan. 30 advance online section of Nature Genetics.

30 Jan 2005

Doctors under pressure to compromise good health care for athletes

Doctors are repeatedly coming under pressure to compromise principles of good health care when treating athletes, reveals a small preliminary study in the Journal of Medical Ethics.

26 Jan 2005

Viacom and Kaiser launch year three of KNOW HIV/AIDS campaign

Viacom Inc. and the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation today announced the year-three launch of the Emmy and Peabody Award-winning public education initiative KNOW HIV/AIDS, which includes targeted public service announcements (PSAs), HIV-themed programming, and free print and online information resources.

24 Jan 2005

Drink-driving limit must be reduced to save lives

The British Medical Association in Wales is calling on the Government to reduce the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level for driving from 80mg to 50mg per 100ml. In 2003 - the latest year when figures are available - there were 582 drink-related road traffic casualties in Wales, 6 of whom died - 2 of whom were pedestrians and 4 were passengers.

24 Jan 2005

Nasogastric tube after abdominal surgery slows recovery

Routine use of a nasogastric tube after abdominal surgery, once thought to speed the return of normal intestinal functions, actually slows recovery, according to a new review of research.

24 Jan 2005

Annual mammograms best for women who have been treated for early stage breast cancer

Annual mammograms and doctor visits are the best follow-up strategy for women who have been treated for early stage breast cancer, according to a new review of recent research.

24 Jan 2005

Many of George Bush's health policies likely to be controversial in second term

Many health policies under George Bush's second term in office are likely to be controversial, warns a leading British doctor and an American colleague in this week's BMJ.

20 Jan 2005

10 million Americans have osteoporosis, and another 18 million have low bone mass

According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, 10 million Americans have osteoporosis, and another 18 million have low bone mass, making them at risk for osteoporosis. Often referred to as the silent disease because it develops slowly over a number of years without symptoms, osteoporosis is characterized by a gradual weakening of the bones due to bone loss, which can lead to fractures.

20 Jan 2005

Clopidogrel (Plavix®) responses appear normal in largest data set

Although individual patients respond differently to treatment with the anti-platelet medication clopidogrel (brand name Plavix®), those variations appear normal and may not indicate important differences in the effectiveness of treatment, according to a new study (PDF file) in the Jan. 18, 2005 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

19 Jan 2005

Doctor report cards not always clear when comparing quality of care

When choosing a doctor based on increasingly popular “doctor report cards,” patients should be aware that the areas in which physicians are graded are not always clear-cut, according to researchers from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and School of Medicine.

19 Jan 2005

Screening tests find colorectal cancer in its earliest stages when it can be treated more successfully

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is second only to lung cancer as the leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States. In 2004, it’s estimated that CRC caused nearly 57,000 deaths.

18 Jan 2005

Bushfire warning - smoke may trigger asthma symptoms

As Australia's summer temperatures rise and the drought persists, Australia once again is facing the threat of bushfires. While bushfires already rage in South Australia and western Victoria, warnings of fire danger and bushfire ratings remain high across the country.

17 Jan 2005

Few smokers make use of the help that is available

Antidepressant medicines, nicotine replacement products, and counseling can all help a smoker stick with that New Year's resolution to kick the habit. But a study by American Cancer Society researchers finds that few smokers make use of the help that is available.

17 Jan 2005