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Clinical Times: April 2008

Increased liver cancer survival with combination treatment

30 April 2008 | Cancer

Combining a type of chemotherapy with radiothermal therapy resulted in longer survival time for patients with advanced liver cancer, compared to receiving the therapies alone, according to a new study. The incidence of liver cancer is increasing worldwide. Most liver... Read more

Refining estimates of breast cancer prognosis

29 April 2008 | Cancer

Incorporating genetic information, known as gene expression signatures, with clinical and other risk factors for breast cancer may help refine estimates of relapse-free survival and predicted response to chemotherapy, according to a new study. In the study, US-based doctors attempted... Read more

Symptoms of depression do not increase in early stages of Alzheimer’s

Archives of General Psychiatry 2008;65:439-446 | 27 April 2008 | Mental Health & CNS

Although individuals with depression may be more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease, symptoms of depression do not appear to increase in the years before a diagnosis is made, according to researchers. Such a finding suggests that depression is not a... Read more

Probiotic cuts respiratory illness rates in athletes

Online First edition of British Journal of Sports Medicine | 25 April 2008 | Respiratory

The probiotic Lactobacillus fermentum substantially cuts the rate and length of respiratory illness in professional long-distance runners, a small study has found. Intensive exercise can subdue the normal immune response, and as a result, some athletes are vulnerable to respiratory... Read more

Surgical procedures in diabetes treatment

Natalya Anderson | 24 April 2008 | Diabetes

Irish Medical Times' UK correspondent Natalya Anderson on the case for transplantation and obesity surgery in the management of diabetes. Pancreas trans-plantation in uraemic diabetic patients may allow them to become insulin-independent as well as dialysis free, according to data... Read more

Blood urate levels linked to progression of Parkinson’s

24 April 2008 | Mental Health & CNS

Higher blood levels of the compound urate may be associated with a slower progression of Parkinson’s disease, according to a new study. In the study, doctors examined 804 individuals with early Parkinson’s disease who were enrolled in a drug trial... Read more

Substance abuse still a major problem

Dr TMR Jackson | 23 April 2008 | Mental Health & CNS

Dr TMR Jackson on the abuse of substances such as cigarettes, alcohol and drugs in the south-west and the recommendations put forward to deal with the problem. Substance use continues to be of major concern to our community. Smoking and... Read more

Biologics and treatment of uveitis

Mr Michael J Gallagher | 22 April 2008 | Eye, Ear, Nose & Throat

Mr Micheal J Gallagher, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon at the Hermitage Medical Clinic, on the treatment of uveitis and how the use of biologic agents has benefited many patients in recent years Intraocular inflammatory disease, or uveitis, is a serious problem... Read more

Longer life is linked to the number of matches played

20 April 2008 | Men's Health

The more test matches a cricketer plays, the longer he is likely to live, according to new research. Despite this finding, the research also found that captaining the team did not extend lifespan. The research, by Prof Paul Boyle at... Read more

Weekly housework can boost mental health

19 April 2008 | Mental Health & CNS

Just 20 minutes of any physical activity, including housework, in a week is enough to boost mental health, a new study has revealed. The findings were based on a representative sample of almost 20,000 men and women who were quizzed... Read more

Anti-platelet drugs improve tPA effect

19 April 2008 | Cardiovascular

Patients given the drug tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) after a stroke appear to have better outcomes if they were already taking anti-platelet medications, according to a new study. According to background information supplied by the researchers, dissolving blood clots by... Read more

Omega-3 fatty acids do not prevent Crohn's relapses

18 April 2008 | Mental Health & CNS

Patients with Crohn’s disease who took omega-3 free fatty acids supplements did not have a significantly different rate of relapse compared to patients who took placebo. Researchers conducted two large-scale trials of high-dose omega-3 free fatty acids as maintenance in... Read more

Lower BP and LDL-cholesterol benefits diabetes patients

18 April 2008 | Diabetes

Patients with diabetes who reduced their blood pressure and LDL-cholesterol to below standard target levels had a greater decrease in carotid artery wall thickness, but they did not have a significant difference in cardiovascular disease events than patients who had... Read more

Better outcomes for sports injuries

17 April 2008 | Musculoskeletal

Mr Ray Moran, Mr Mark Jackson and Dr Eanna Falvey on advances in treating sports injuries and using a multi-disciplinary focus to return athletes to optimum performance. With high demand activity no longer the preserve of the elite athlete, the... Read more

Better outcomes for sports injuries

17 April 2008 | Musculoskeletal

Mr Ray Moran, Mr Mark Jackson and Dr Eanna Falvey on advances in treating sports injuries and using a multi-disciplinary focus to return athletes to optimum performance. With high demand activity no longer the preserve of the elite athlete, the... Read more

Study shows the benefits of CRT

Natalya Anderson | 16 April 2008 | Mental Health & CNS

The Irish Medical Times' UK correspondent Natalya Anderson reports from a recent London conference where cognitive remediation therapy on patients suffering from anorexia nervosa was found to have a positive effect. Cognitive remediation therapy (CRT) may be beneficial to patients... Read more

HIV Europe 2007 - Meeting Report

14 April 2008 | Infections & Immunology

Natalya Anderson reports from HIV Europe in Brussels, where it was revealed that an estimated 30 per cent of HIV-positive people in the EU are unaware that they are infected with the virus. Physicians at all healthcare levels need to... Read more

Cataract breakthrough

14 April 2008 | Eye, Ear, Nose & Throat

New research being carried out in the University of Ulster could lead to new ways of treating cataracts, one of the leading causes of blindness in the world. It is hoped that research being carried out by an academic... Read more

Antibiotics prescribed to advanced dementia patients

13 April 2008 | Mental Health & CNS

Antibiotics appear to be frequently prescribed to individuals with advanced dementia in nursing homes, especially in the two weeks before death, according to a new report. According to the report, doctors studied 214 residents (whose average age was 85.2 years)... Read more

Surgeons play crucial role in treating cancer

Natalya Brown | 12 April 2008 | Cancer

Natalya Brown writes that surgeons must keep up-to-date with breast cancer treatments as they become more integrated with their colleagues in medicine and radiation oncology. Breast surgeons should continue to ensure they have up-to-date and in-depth understanding of the advantages... Read more

Advances in interventional cardiology

Prof David Foley | 12 April 2008 | Cardiovascular

Techniques for treating cardiac problems by the ‘percutaneous’ approach (what we call ‘interventional cardiology’ or, in layman’s terms, ‘keyhole surgery’) continue to develop at an exciting pace. Coronary angiography and stenting are now routinely performed via the radial artery,... Read more

Children of parents with Alzheimer's more likely to develop illness

11 April 2008 | Mental Health & CNS

Adult-age offspring of parents who have both been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease appear to have an increased risk of developing the disease compared with the general population, according to a new study. In the study, doctors assessed the frequency of... Read more

Muscle ruptures and ankle sprains associated with risk of blood clots

10 April 2008 | Cardiovascular

Muscle ruptures, ankle sprains and other common minor leg injuries appear to be associated with a higher risk of blood clots in the legs or lungs, according to a new report. Previous studies have shown that major injuries increase the... Read more

Patients challenge nurses on safety

09 April 2008 | Women's Health

Patients prefer to challenge nurses rather than doctors about safety issues related to their care, new research has found. It also found that women are far more prepared to speak up than men. The findings were based on a validated... Read more

Learning disabilities linked to language problems later in life

Archives of Neurology 2008;65:244-248 | 05 April 2008 | Mental Health & CNS

Individuals with primary progressive aphasiam – a neurodegenerative condition affecting language – appear more likely to have had a history of learning disabilities than those with other types of dementia or with no cognitive problems, according to a new report.... Read more

Depression among trainee doctors leads to medication errors

BMJ Online First: http://press.psprings.co.uk/bmj/february/depression.pdf and http://press.psprings.co.uk/bmj/february/depressionedit.doc | 04 April 2008 | Mental Health & CNS

Doctors in training who are depressed are more than six times as likely to make medication errors as their non-depressed colleagues, a new American study has found. In the study, researchers set out to determine the prevalence of depression and... Read more

Donor's health affects infection rates

Archives of Ophthalmology 2008;126:235-239 | 03 April 2008 | Eye, Ear, Nose & Throat

Corneal grafts obtained from donors dying in a hospital or with cancer may be associated with an increased risk of infection for the recipient, according to a new study. In the study, doctors used data from a surveillance registry to... Read more

Folate deficiency associated with tripling of dementia risk

Early Online Edition of Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry, available at: http://press.psprings.co.uk/jnnp/january/jn131482.pdf | 02 April 2008 | Mental Health & CNS

Folate deficiency is associated with a tripling in the risk of developing dementia among elderly people, new research has suggested. The researchers tracked the development of dementia in 518 people over two years from 2001 to 2003. All participants were... Read more

Allergic rhinitis: new insights, new therapies

Dr Paul Carson | 02 April 2008 | Eye, Ear, Nose & Throat

Dr Paul Carson on how his investment in fibre optic technology has provided some new perspectives on allergic rhinitis and the importance of managing the condition At the risk of boring you about a topic many dismiss as trivial, may... Read more

Extra vitamin D in early childhood cuts the risk of adult diabetes

01 April 2008 | Diabetes

Vitamin D supplements in early childhood may ward off the development of type 1 diabetes in later life, new research has found. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder, in which insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas are destroyed by... Read more