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Hong Kong hospital activates infectious disease procedures

The Caritas Medical Centre situated in Shamshuipo, Hong Kong has activated infectious disease procedures following the admission of four more children with respiratory illness symptoms. This brings the total number of cases at the hospital to 28.

16 Nov 2004

Oral contraception can prevent knee injuries as well as unwanted pregnancies

In 1960 the first oral contraception, Enovid-10, was launched in the US market, known as the “pill”. Women were finally enthused about a form of contraception marketed as “safe and effective” and readily used the pill. Within two years oral contraception was used by over 1.2 million women and the numbers continued to rise.

16 Nov 2004

Research shows that even bacteria don't put their eggs in one basket

Diversification helps reduce overall risk by putting your eggs in more than one basket and is a strategy that strengthens groups of all kinds -- from forests challenged with environmental stress to stock market portfolios in uncertain times. Findings from University of Iowa researchers show that even bacteria have learned this important lesson.

16 Nov 2004

Instructions provided with medicines is far too small for people with impaired or partially sighted vision to read

When you're in your local pharmacy, do you ever try to compare the lables on products, only to find that the print is impossible to read? A new study goes a little way to remedy this, at least for those who are visually impaired.

16 Nov 2004

Fifty-seven percent of female surgeons in Austria satisfied in their professional situation

Fifty-seven percent of female surgeons in Austria reported being very satisfied or satisfied in their professional situation, according to an article in the November issue of The Archives of Surgery, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

16 Nov 2004

Cotinine not linked to hearing loss

Levels of cotinine, a chemical that is made by the body from nicotine, which is found in cigarette smoke, does not appear to be linked to hearing loss, according to an article in the November issue of The Archives of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery.

16 Nov 2004

Large increase in male mentally ill drug abusers

The amount of mentally ill male drug abusers has increased by more than 79% in five years across England and Wales, finds research in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.

16 Nov 2004

Computer use may be linked to the development of glaucoma

So, you spend all or part of your day working with computers. Then take notice, a new Japanese study has found that computer use may be linked to the development of glaucoma (an increase in fluid pressure inside the eye that may lead to loss of vision), especially among those who are short sighted.

16 Nov 2004

Silicone facial implants provide HAART patients with a healthier appearance

Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) for the treatment of HIV/AIDS is the name given to treatment regimens recommended by leading HIV experts to aggressively suppress viral replication and progress of HIV disease. These treatment regimens have been shown to reduce the amount of virus so that it becomes undetectable in a patient's blood.

16 Nov 2004

Carbon dioxide laser could be the fix for photoaging or skin damaged by the sun

Excessive exposure to the sun early in life can make a person look older than he/she really is. Premature wrinkling and skin damage from sun exposure is also called photoaging. Photoaging, unlike natural aging, results in course, dry skin, freckling, skin discoloration, leathery skin, and deep wrinkles.

16 Nov 2004

Novel enzyme in sperm is essential for spontaneous and independent movement

A study led by scientists at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has found that a novel enzyme in sperm is essential for spontaneous and independent sperm movement as well as male fertility.

16 Nov 2004

Pioneering surgical technique for treatment of breast cancer

Women in Britain with breast cancer will soon benefit from a pioneering surgical technique developed by Professor Robert Mansel and his team at Cardiff University, Wales College of Medicine in the UK.

16 Nov 2004

Being overweight or obese significantly impairs a persons' sex life

Obese people report sexual problems such as lack of desire, lack of enjoyment, avoiding sex and performance difficulty at a much higher rate than people of normal weight – in some cases, they are 25 times more likely to report problems, according to the Duke study.

16 Nov 2004

Computer vignette effective at measuring quality of physician practice

A new measurement tool called the computerized clinical vignette can help clinicians and policymakers assess and improve the quality of physician practice while potentially reducing costs, according to a study led by a researcher at the San Francisco VA Medical Center (SFVAMC).

16 Nov 2004

Financial impact of diabetes on the American economy

Sick days, disability, early retirement, and premature death of diabetic Americans born between 1931 and 1941 cost the country almost $133.5 billion by the year 2000, according to a new estimate by researchers with the University of Michigan (U-M) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

16 Nov 2004

Expert scientific panel offers recommendations for monitoring adverse events related to dietary supplements

Protecting the health of those that consume dietary supplements is of great importance to public health agencies like the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the product manufacturers.

16 Nov 2004

Combining radiation therapy with surgery and chemotherapy helps patients with rare forms of thyroid cancer live longer

Combining radiation therapy with surgery and chemotherapy helps patients with rare forms of thyroid cancer live longer, according to a study published in the November 15, 2004, issue of the International Journal of Radiation Oncology~Biology~Physics, the official journal of ASTRO, the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology.

16 Nov 2004

Breast cancer study seeks postmenopausal women

Researchers at RMIT University's Department of Food Science are recruiting healthy, postmenopausal women to volunteer for a study to see if diet and lifestyle can improve the treatment of breast cancer.

16 Nov 2004

Fluorescent protein tool may speed identification of molecular changes that reveal cells' inner workings

Scientists at Johns Hopkins and the University of Texas Medical Branch have created a new tool that easily reveals when and where a key cellular signal is active.

16 Nov 2004

World’s strongest acid may have a role in synthesizing pharmaceuticals

Researchers at the University of California, Riverside have discovered the world’s strongest acid. Remarkably it is also the gentlest acid. This non-toxic and non-corrosive acid may have a role in processes such as improving the quality of gasoline, developing polymers and synthesizing pharmaceuticals.

16 Nov 2004