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Acne-like rash linked to effectiveness of new targeted cancer treatment – cetuximab

Acne is not a condition that anyone would welcome under normal circumstances, but an international study of a new targeted cancer treatment – cetuximab – has shown that patients who developed an acne-like rash responded better to the treatment than those who did not.

30 Sep 2004

Vitamin supplements not effective in protecting against gastro-intestinal cancer

A systematic review and meta-analysis (pooled analysis) of previously published randomised trials in this week’s issue of THE LANCET provides strong evidence that antioxidant supplements (such as vitamin supplements) are not effective in protecting against gastro-intestinal cancer.

30 Sep 2004

Shorter courses of chemotherapy for children with Wilms’ tumour most beneficial

Results of a European study in this week’s issue of THE LANCET suggest that shorter courses of chemotherapy for children with Wilms’ tumour may be as effective as conventional treatment duration, but have the advantage of reduced toxicity and health-care costs.

30 Sep 2004

Large-scale screening programme of tonsil tissue is the only way of identifying the true incidence of vCJD infection

A study in this week’s issue of THE LANCET describes how two different types of analysis used in conjunction on samples of tonsil tissue is the ‘gold standard’ method for confirming clinical variant CJD

30 Sep 2004

Study reveals 'hidden' curriculum of humiliation in medical school

A 'hidden' curriculum of haphazard tuition and teaching by humiliation exists in undergraduate medical education, finds a study in this week's BMJ.

30 Sep 2004

A new study of Northwest women has found toxic flame retardants in the breastmilk of every woman tested

A new study of 40 mothers from Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, and Montana found PBDEs (polybrominated diphenyl ethers) in the breastmilk of every woman tested.

30 Sep 2004

Even health conscious Americans report low rates of endoscopic screening for colorectal cancer

The study found just over half (54 percent) of men and women reported having ever undergone endoscopy (sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy). The percentage that underwent either procedure in the past five years for screening rather than for disease diagnosis or follow up was just 24 percent.

30 Sep 2004

History of smoking affects survival in patients with cancer of the head and neck

Patients who had smoked fewer than 100 cigarettes in their lifetime were three times more likely to have better overall survival, disease-specific survival, and recurrence-free survival compared with patients who had a current or previous history of regular smoking.

30 Sep 2004

Some New York City stores are selling antibiotics illegally over the counter

In many countries around the world antibiotics are sold without a prescription, a practice that is illegal in the United States.

30 Sep 2004

Male smokers needed for study to investigate new method of improving selenium intake

Around 200 men – including men who smoke – are being sought by researchers in Adelaide, South Australia to take part in a new study aimed at preventing cancer and other health problems.

30 Sep 2004

Scientists embark on a five-year study of the effects of soy isoflavones found in dietary supplements on various body tissues

A multidisciplinary team of scientists at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is embarking on a comprehensive five-year study of the effects of soy isoflavones found in dietary supplements on various body tissues.

29 Sep 2004

As little as one standard cup of coffee a day can produce caffeine addiction

If you missed your morning coffee and now you have a headache and difficulty concentrating, you might be able to blame it on caffeine withdrawal.

29 Sep 2004

Dust collected from the homes of children with persistent allergic symptoms had higher levels of common chemical additives

Dust collected from the homes of children with persistent allergic symptoms had higher levels of certain phthalates, a class of common chemical additives, in it than dust found in homes of children without symptoms, according to a study published in the October 2004 issue of the peer-reviewed journal Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP).

29 Sep 2004

Mouse study suggests that survivors of severe heart attacks may have problems learning certain tasks

A new study in mice suggests that survivors of severe heart attacks may have a difficult time with some learning tasks.

29 Sep 2004

Studies confirm that chronic kidney disease independently increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease

A pair of new epidemiology studies confirms that chronic kidney disease independently increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, even among people with early kidney disease and after considering other risk factors such as diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol.

29 Sep 2004

Parents' injury fears stop kids playing sports

More than a quarter of parents of primary school-aged children stop or discourage their children playing sports because of injury fears, new research has found.

29 Sep 2004

Secure web sites can improve communications about critically ill patients for hometown physicians and loved ones

Password-protected Web sites can improve communications about critically ill patients for hometown physicians and loved ones, according to a study by researchers at Doernbecher Children's Hospital.

29 Sep 2004

Academy of Ophthalmology reacts to recent study on eye exams for children

Sean Donahue, M.D., Ph.D., a pediatric ophthalmologist at Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville Tenn., agrees. "The data used in this paper unfortunately mixes well-conducted clinical trials and weak, poorly conducted and non-controlled studies."

29 Sep 2004

Phase II trials of the first second-generation antisense cancer drug to be used in patients soon to be underway

Phase II trials of the first second-generation antisense cancer drug to be used in patients are soon to be underway in the wake of a successful Phase I study, which has demonstrated that the new drug blocks its target gene in exactly the way it is designed to do.

28 Sep 2004

Study to test the effectiveness of anti-depressants in treating symptoms of Parkinson’s disease

While Parkinson’s disease typically brings to mind symptoms such as tremors and slow movement, researchers have found that nearly half of all Parkinson’s patients also suffer from depression. While it might seem natural that someone who has a disease such as Parkinson’s might become depressed, it’s not so simple, says neurologist Irene Richard, M.D., who leads the study.

27 Sep 2004

Drug Trial News

Acne-like rash linked to effectiveness of new targeted cancer treatment – cetuximab

Vitamin supplements not effective in protecting against gastro-intestinal cancer

Shorter courses of chemotherapy for children with Wilms’ tumour most beneficial

Large-scale screening programme of tonsil tissue is the only way of identifying the true incidence of vCJD infection

Study reveals 'hidden' curriculum of humiliation in medical school

A new study of Northwest women has found toxic flame retardants in the breastmilk of every woman tested

Even health conscious Americans report low rates of endoscopic screening for colorectal cancer

History of smoking affects survival in patients with cancer of the head and neck

Some New York City stores are selling antibiotics illegally over the counter

Male smokers needed for study to investigate new method of improving selenium intake

Scientists embark on a five-year study of the effects of soy isoflavones found in dietary supplements on various body tissues

As little as one standard cup of coffee a day can produce caffeine addiction

Dust collected from the homes of children with persistent allergic symptoms had higher levels of common chemical additives

Mouse study suggests that survivors of severe heart attacks may have problems learning certain tasks

Studies confirm that chronic kidney disease independently increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease

Parents' injury fears stop kids playing sports

Secure web sites can improve communications about critically ill patients for hometown physicians and loved ones

Academy of Ophthalmology reacts to recent study on eye exams for children

Phase II trials of the first second-generation antisense cancer drug to be used in patients soon to be underway

Study to test the effectiveness of anti-depressants in treating symptoms of Parkinson’s disease

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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