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Decision to cut Alzheimer's drugs challenged

Four major drugs, the only drugs licensed in Britain for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and available on the NHS may be withdrawn. Aricept, Exelon, Reminyl and Ebixa are the only drugs licensed in Britain for the treatment of the disease.

14 Mar 2005

Bird flu could kill 2 million Brits

A UK expert is warning that the bird flu pandemic is imminent and inevitable and two million Britons could die.

14 Mar 2005

New hepatitis drug wins approval by FDA

An experimental hepatitis B drug has earned the praise of US health experts for its effectiveness and has been recommended by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory panel to treat the liver disease in adults.

14 Mar 2005

Speakers cramp new disorder treated with Botox

A research team in Copenhagen, Denmark have named a speech disorder "Speaker's Cramp".

14 Mar 2005

New cancer drug looks promising

Dr. E. Premkumar Reddy from Temple University School of Medicine and colleagues, in a study examining the effects of Plk1 inhibitor ON01910 on tumor growth in several animal models have found that a small molecule inhibitor of polo-like kinase1 (Plk1) could lead to a new avenue for targeted cancer therapy.

14 Mar 2005

Tattoo industry needs closer monitoring

The increased popularity of tattoos is causing a noticable rise in the number of complaints of adverse side effects associated with both their application and removal.

14 Mar 2005

$1.5 million for adult stem cell research in Australia

Australian adult stem cell company, Mesoblast Limited, today announced that its chief scientific advisor and founder, Professor Silviu Itescu, has been awarded a $1.5 million grant for pre-clinical and clinical development of mesenchymal lineage adult stem cells.

14 Mar 2005

2004 FDA drug complaints way up high

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) received a record number of complaints regarding drug side effects and other related health problems in 2004, according to a published report.

14 Mar 2005

Cough medicine may cause seizures

Canadian consumers are being advised by Health Canada not to use specific brands of a generic cough syrup that could possibly result in seizures for children under three years of age.

14 Mar 2005

College in retirement helps stave off mental decline

A new study from the University of Toronto helps explain why higher education appears to slow down cognitive decline as people age. It seems possible that education strengthens the ability to "call in the reserves" of mental prowess.

14 Mar 2005

Gene therapy helps Lou Gehrig's disease

The most common form of motor neurone disease, called amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or Lou Gehrig's disease, is caused when neurones in the spinal cord die, leading to muscle wasting and total paralysis.

14 Mar 2005

Ten more cases of human bird flu in Viet Nam

Full information is desperately needed to assess the risks of a pandemic that in a worst-case scenario could claim tens of millions of lives worldwide says the United Nations health agency.

14 Mar 2005

DNA sabotage may alleviate need for chemotherapeutic medication

Johns Hopkins chemists have discovered a new way to sabotage DNA's ability to reproduce, a finding that could eventually lead to the development of new anti-cancer drugs and therapies.

14 Mar 2005

£800,000 to boost research into fighting viruses

A team of University of Glasgow scientists have received a grant of £800,000 from the Wellcome Trust to research a mechanism that blocks a critical step in the replication cycle of retroviruses. In the long term, the research could lead to the design of new therapeutic strategies or drugs against retroviruses, which cause diseases such as AIDS and certain leukemias.

14 Mar 2005

HIV-1 spread through six transmission lines in the UK

Contrary to the prevailing belief that the HIV epidemic in the UK can be traced back to one source, a new study suggests that HIV spread via at least six independent virus introductions and subsequent transmission chains.

14 Mar 2005

New biocentre which will revolutionise the way future medicines are produced

The University of Manchester has been awarded £6m to open a new biocentre which will revolutionise the way future medicines are produced – making them safer and more effective.

From The University of Manchester 14 Mar 2005

Women prefer men with deep voices

Sarah Evans, a part-time psychology lecturer and PhD student, found that women consider deep voices more attractive, dominant, masculine, sexy, assertive, confident and friendly.

14 Mar 2005

Survey reveals people’s perceptions of life-expectancy

People’s perceptions of their own life expectancy can be linked to their decision on whether or not to invest in a pension, a study led by Nottingham University Business School has revealed.

14 Mar 2005

Molecule called DJ-1 is likely to be involved in the generation of human tumors

Scientists have discovered that a molecule called DJ-1 is likely to be involved in the generation of human tumors through negative regulation of the well-known tumor suppressor, PTEN. The research, published in the March issue of Cancer Cell, has important implications for determining the prognosis of some human cancers, and may prove to be a suitable target for cancer therapy.

14 Mar 2005

Functional magnetic resonance imaging shows that hypnosis eases pain

Although hypnosis has been shown to reduce pain perception, it is not clear how the technique works. Identifying a sound, scientific explanation for hypnosis' effect might increase acceptance and use of this safe pain-reduction option in clinical settings.

14 Mar 2005