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New book highlights pros and cons of medical use of cannabis

A new book which brings together the relevant science regarding the beneficial effects of cannabis for identified medical conditions and explains many harmful side effects has been launched at Australia's Southern Cross University today.

19 May 2004

Centre for Life opens with the UK’s first two human embryonic stem cell lines

The UK’s first two human embryonic stem cell lines, developed separately by researchers at King’s College London and the Centre for Life in Newcastle, are to be deposited in the UK Stem Cell Bank. The deposit coincides with the official opening of the Bank by Health Minister, Lord Warner, today (Wednesday 19 May 2004).

19 May 2004

Variability in weight and drug content of split tablet may put patients at risk of receiving wrong dosage

Back and neck pain sufferers who divide the most frequently prescribed muscle relaxant may be getting anywhere from half to one-and-a-half times the amount of medicine they believe they are taking, suggests a new study examining the practice of tablet splitting.

19 May 2004

Music teachers routinely exposed to noise levels could suffer hearing loss

Led by research associate Alberto Behar and electrical and computer engineering professors Hans Kunov and Willy Wong, the team found that while general noise exposure over the course of an average day is marginally acceptable, noise levels during teaching periods could damage the inner ear.

19 May 2004

25% of women in many countries voluntarily take folic acid tablets before conception

By taking folic acid before pregnancy or during the first few weeks after conception, women can markedly lower the risk of neural tube defects in their offspring; the defects commonly manifest themselves as a debilitating health condition known as spina bifida. The neural tube is fully developed 22 to 28 days after conception

19 May 2004

Body size is a major predictor of high blood pressure

Body size is a major predictor of high blood pressure in both blacks and whites but racial differences may affect the association of weight and blood pressure, according to study results presented at the American Society of Hypertension’s Nineteenth Annual Scientific Meeting.

19 May 2004

Dark chocolate and cocoa may help arterial stiffness

“This is the first study to investigate whether chocolate has any favorable effects on cardiovascular function in healthy subjects,” says Charalambos Vlachopoulos, MD, of the Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece. “We found dark chocolate improves endothelial function and decreases arterial stiffness in healthy young adults.”

19 May 2004

Job strain and marital stress factors are a deadly blood pressure increasing duo

“The Double Exposure study was designed to determine if people under stress go on to develop higher levels of ambulatory blood pressure, possibly moving them along the pathway to hypertension,” said Sheldon Tobe, MD, lead investigator from Sunnybrook and Women’s Health Science Centre, Toronto. “Double Exposure refers to the possible interaction between job and marital factors on new and existing hypertension.

19 May 2004

Blood pressure control of people 80 years and older, especially women, must be made a national priority

Blood pressure control of people 80 years and older, especially women, must be made a national priority, urged a Northwestern University researcher at the American Society of Hypertension’s Nineteenth Annual Scientific Meeting.

19 May 2004

Blood pressure screening for children should start at age 3, according to the latest government diagnosis and treatment guidelines

Blood pressure screening for children should start at age 3, according to the latest government diagnosis and treatment guidelines that were presented at the American Society of Hypertension’s Nineteenth Annual Scientific Meeting.

19 May 2004

New generation of programmable chips set to revolutionise medical industry

The MI-3 project is focussing on developing and exploiting a new generation of programmable chips that will produce images that can be transformed even before they leave the camera. Active Pixel Sensors exploit the capabilities of Complimentary Metal Oxide Semi-Conductor (CMOS) Chips by allowing intelligent imaging that can focus right down to individual pixels.

19 May 2004

50 new scientists sought after in the field of biomedical research

The Institute is looking for candidates from the full range of biological and biomedical inquiry who demonstrate exceptional promise early in their careers as independent researchers. Nearly 200 universities, medical schools, and research institutes have been invited to nominate their best scientists for the competition. Between 30 and 50 scientists will be chosen to join the Institute in 2005.

19 May 2004

$1.5 billion annual cost of surgical site infections can be reduced

A research paper published in the American Journal of Infection Control says a systematic approach to preparing patients for surgery can reduce both secondary, hospital-acquired patient infections and related healthcare expenses nationwide.

19 May 2004

Survey shows chicken popular with low-carbohydrate dieters

The chicken industry has benefited even more than beef or pork from the high-protein, low-carbohydrate diets so popular with American consumers, according to a recent survey.

19 May 2004

Inactivating a protective molecule may help chemotherapy for leukemia but harm bone marrow

Inactivating a protective molecule in leukemic cells to make them more vulnerable to chemotherapy might also make healthy blood-forming cells more sensitive to the toxic effects of those same drugs.

19 May 2004

Report rejects childhood vaccines as a cause of autism

A pivotal report issued today by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) rejects childhood vaccines as a cause of autism. The findings, based on reviews of current scientific evidence, are a significant affirmation of vaccine safety, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

19 May 2004

Survey of sulphur dioxide in soft drinks

A Food Standards Agency survey of soft drinks has found that manufacturers are making sure that sulphur dioxide levels are within the legal limits.

19 May 2004

Office of Naval Research harnessing human brain power to control the maneuvers of UUVs

Even the least graceful among us has motor control the most high-tech unmanned undersea vehicle would envy, thanks to a region of the brain that allows our bodies to carry out complex maneuvers. The Office of Naval Research, which traditionally relies on the power of the human mind to achieve breakthroughs in science and technology, now also is harnessing the working principle of the brain to control the maneuvers of UUVs.

19 May 2004

New method for treating the digestive disease, ulcerative colitis (UC)

Research from Bristol University on a new method for treating the digestive disease, ulcerative colitis (UC) will be presented at an international conference of experts in New Orleans on Tuesday, 18 May as part of Digestive Disease Week 2004.

19 May 2004

Study into the duress of space travel as part of a Mars expedition to be staged in the Australian desert later this year

Defiance, detachment, disagreement – harmful emotions in any small group situation, but in Outer Space these feelings are particularly damaging and possibly life endangering.

19 May 2004

Research News and Research

New book highlights pros and cons of medical use of cannabis

Centre for Life opens with the UK’s first two human embryonic stem cell lines

Variability in weight and drug content of split tablet may put patients at risk of receiving wrong dosage

Music teachers routinely exposed to noise levels could suffer hearing loss

25% of women in many countries voluntarily take folic acid tablets before conception

Body size is a major predictor of high blood pressure

Dark chocolate and cocoa may help arterial stiffness

Job strain and marital stress factors are a deadly blood pressure increasing duo

Blood pressure control of people 80 years and older, especially women, must be made a national priority

Blood pressure screening for children should start at age 3, according to the latest government diagnosis and treatment guidelines

New generation of programmable chips set to revolutionise medical industry

50 new scientists sought after in the field of biomedical research

$1.5 billion annual cost of surgical site infections can be reduced

Survey shows chicken popular with low-carbohydrate dieters

Inactivating a protective molecule may help chemotherapy for leukemia but harm bone marrow

Report rejects childhood vaccines as a cause of autism

Survey of sulphur dioxide in soft drinks

Office of Naval Research harnessing human brain power to control the maneuvers of UUVs

New method for treating the digestive disease, ulcerative colitis (UC)

Study into the duress of space travel as part of a Mars expedition to be staged in the Australian desert later this year

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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