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First Parkinson’s gene therapy patient well after 1 year suggesting that the therapy is safe and effective

The first ever patient to have undergone gene therapy for Parkinson’s appears to have come through phase I without a hitch, suggesting that the therapy is safe and effective, reports Marina Murphy in Chemistry & Industry.

2 Sep 2004

Does the popular Atkins diet really work?

Since it’s introduction in the middle 1970’s, the Atkins Protein Diet has grown to be one of the most popular methods of weight loss. Low-carbohydrate, high-protein diets have been criticized by major health organizations including the American Heart Association, the American Dietetic Association, and the American Kidney Fund.

2 Sep 2004

Many low-income countries are unlikely to reach the health targets set for 2015

Many low-income countries are unlikely to reach the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) health targets set for 2015; the main reasons for this are fragile health systems and insufficient investments in understanding how to strengthen them, suggest authors of a Public Health article in this week’s issue of THE LANCET.

2 Sep 2004

Domestic violence costs the UK £3 billion a year

Time off work due to injuries caused by domestic violence is costing employers and workers nearly £3 billion a year according to figures released today by Deputy Women's Minister Jacqui Smith.

2 Sep 2004

Doctors have a horrible track record in their profession of recognizing physicians with difficult personalities and dealing with them effectively

Some doctors yell and scream. Some throw surgical instruments. They berate nurses, other health care workers and even patients with snide remarks and insults.

2 Sep 2004

Launch of one of the US's largest electronic medical record implementations

As part of an ongoing mission to improve the quality and safety of patient care, Buffalo Hospital is the first Allina hospital to transition away from paper processes and begin using an electronic medical record system that will ultimately be shared by all of Allina’s seventy-six sites, including 11 hospitals and sixty-five clinics.

1 Sep 2004

More physicians in graduate medical school than ever

In the 2003 - 2004 academic year, there were 99,964 active medical residents, the highest number ever recorded by the National GME Census. The survey also noted the greatest number of residents entering U.S. medical education programs for the first time (n = 22,444).

1 Sep 2004

Survey finds half of all new medical students are women

A new survey of medical schools in the United States shows that the number of full time faculty members has increased, the number of enrolled students has remained steady, and approximately half of applicants and entering students are women.

1 Sep 2004

Danish medical tycoon buys buying worldwide rights to 25 herbal medical products

Danish medical tycoon, Erik Sprunk-Jansen, former CEO of pharmaceutical company Lundbeck, now implements an ambitious venture to create a global company for herbal medicine.

1 Sep 2004

New cooperation along the United States-Mexico Border

The United States-Mexico Border Field Office of the Pan American Health Organization and the U.S.-Mexico Border Health Association are beginning a new stage of cooperation.

1 Sep 2004

Chiron acquires a variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease research company

Chiron Corporation has announced that it had acquired Prion Solutions Inc., a privately held company based in La Jolla, Calif., focused on research into variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) and other prion-related diseases. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

1 Sep 2004

Extension of Australia's Medicare safety net will ease the financial burden on pregnant women

Australian Medical Association President, Dr Bill Glasson, said yesterday that the Government’s decision to extend the Medicare safety net to cover out-of-hospital private obstetrics services would ease the financial burden on pregnant women and their families.

1 Sep 2004

Royal Society calls for ban on human reproductive cloning

The Royal Society has called on the United Nations to introduce a ban on human reproductive cloning at its 59th General Session in October.

31 Aug 2004

Are Latin America and the Caribbean ready to meet the health challenges of the coming senior boom?

Advances in medicine and public health have dramatically increased life expectancy in Latin America and the Caribbean.But is the region ready to meet the challenges of the coming "senior boom"?

31 Aug 2004

ANSTO challenges doctors’ claims on reactor-produced nuclear medicines

“Such claims are raised regularly by certain groups but have not been found to be justified on either technical or commercial grounds.”

31 Aug 2004

Australian broadband for health suppliers chosen

The Australian Government has announced a list of approved suppliers to implement its $35 million broadband initiative.

31 Aug 2004

The Australian Government response to Senate inquiry into hepatitis C and blood supply

Although the Inquiry found that decision makers had made reasonable decisions in the 80s, based on the evidence available, medically acquired hepatitis C has hurt many people.

30 Aug 2004

U.S. plan for influenza pandemic response

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services has unveiled the draft Pandemic Influenza Response and Preparedness Plan, which outlines a coordinated national strategy to prepare for and respond to an influenza pandemic.

26 Aug 2004

New York Judge strikes down federal abortion ban

Planned Parenthood Los Angeles (PPLA) has applauded the New York court ruling issued today in National Abortion Federation (NAF) v. Ashcroft, a lawsuit challenging the federal abortion ban passed by Congress last October and signed by President Bush. Today's ruling invalidates the ban.

26 Aug 2004