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The land of the long white cloud will soon be smoke-free

From 10 December 2004, all enclosed public places in New Zealand will be smoke-free zones.

6 Dec 2004

Cognitive behaviour therapy helps adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome

Psychological support, in the form of cognitive behaviour therapy, is an effective treatment for adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome, finds a new study published on bmj.com today.

6 Dec 2004

Month of birth linked to risk of multiple sclerosis

In the northern hemisphere, being born in May is linked to an increased risk of developing multiple sclerosis later in life, while being born in November carries the lowest risk, finds a new study published on bmj.com today.

6 Dec 2004

Children involved with child welfare systems are at high risk for emotional and behavioral problems

Children in the child welfare system, especially younger children and those remaining in their homes, have low rates of mental health services use, according to an article in the December issue of The Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

6 Dec 2004

Prevalence of overweight increased in children aged two to four years from low-income families

The prevalence of overweight increased from 1989 to 2000 in children aged two to four years from low-income families, according to an article in the December issue of The Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

6 Dec 2004

Majority of hospitalizations for asthma may be the result of people not taking their inhaled steroid medications

Inhaled steroids have become the standard in the treatment of persistent asthma. They have been shown to significantly improve asthma symptoms and reduce asthma complications. However, adherence to the prescribed inhaled steroids is poor among adult asthma patients.

6 Dec 2004

Prescription drug cost increases continuing to outpace inflation

A new report released today by AARP found the annual rate of manufacturers' price increases for the 197 brand name prescription drugs most commonly used by older Americans more than tripled the rate of inflation over the 12-month period ending on September 30, 2004.

6 Dec 2004

ID Biomedical announces strategic alliances for U.S. marketing and distribution of Fluviral vaccine

ID Biomedical Corporation announced today that it has signed long term marketing, distribution and minimum purchase agreements with three of the largest influenza vaccine wholesalers in the United States: Henry Schein, Inc.; AmerisourceBergen Corporation's Specialty Group; and McKesson Corporation.

6 Dec 2004

Electrochemical DNA chip that is able to detect DNA at very low concentrations

Toshiba Corporation has announced the development of a highly sensitive electrochemical DNA chip that is able to detect DNA at very low concentrations, a capability that will support advances in gene detection and analysis for individual treatment regimes, and the monitoring of healthy individuals for any predisposition to certain diseases.

6 Dec 2004

Nanogen issued new patent for active biological sample preparation

Nanogen announced today that it was issued U.S. Patent No. 6,824,740, "Apparatus for Active Biological Sample Preparation," by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

6 Dec 2004

Adenosine Therapeutics awarded grant to develop drug eluting stents to prevent restenosis

Adenosine Therapeutics announced today the award of a Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the National Institutes of Health.

6 Dec 2004

Self-confidence workshops improve depressive symptoms

Self-confidence workshops improve depressive symptoms, distress and self-esteem significantly, according to a study published in the December issue of the British Journal of Psychiatry.

6 Dec 2004

Mental disorders and suicide attempts are caused by social factors

Findings from a new study from Australia suggest that mental disorders and suicide attempts are caused by social factors. There is a need for social and economic responses beyond provision of mental health services.

6 Dec 2004

New research aims to reduce deaths and ease burden on hospitals

New research by scientists at Australia's Macquarie University will investigate antibiotic resistance genes in humans in an effort to combat worldwide death rates due to infectious diseases and reduce the growing burden on our health system by decreasing patients' length of stay.

6 Dec 2004

Smoking, a major problem in plastic surgery

Smoking is known to cause heart disease and cancer, but most patients do not know that smoking can harm the chances of having successful plastic surgery operations.

6 Dec 2004

Health Protection Agency is reminding travellers about the importance of protecting themselves against malaria when travelling

Following twelve recent cases of malaria, mainly amongst European and North American visitors to the Dominican Republic, the Health Protection Agency is reminding travellers about the importance of protecting themselves against malaria when travelling to parts of the world where malaria is commonplace, including the Dominican Republic.

6 Dec 2004

Important genetic risk factor for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Two Hershey, Pa., researchers were part of a team that has uncovered what may be an important genetic risk factor for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

6 Dec 2004

Scientist develops way to deliver promising genetic tool into living cells

By exploiting an HIV protein that readily traverses cell membranes, Carnegie Mellon University scientists have developed a new way to introduce a gene-like molecule called a peptide nucleic acid (PNA) directly into live mammalian cells, including human embryonic stem (ES) cells.

6 Dec 2004

Family history not age greatly affects breast cancer risk

CancerBACUP has published the results of a survey revealing that more over 50s believe that family history - not age - greatly affects breast cancer risk.

6 Dec 2004

Common ingredient in some shampoos (methylisothiazolinone) stunts developing neurons of rats

An antimicrobial agent found in some shampoos and hand creams and widely used in industrial settings inhibits the development of particular neuron structures that are essential for transmitting signals between cells.

6 Dec 2004