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Clinical Times: June 2009

‘Virtual’ colonoscopy effective alternative to traditional colonoscopy

JAMA | 26 June 2009 | Cancer

Computed tomographic (CT) colonography may offer patients at increased risk of colorectal cancer an alternative to colonoscopy that is less invasive, is better-tolerated and has good diagnostic accuracy, according to a new study led by Italian doctors. In the study,... Read more

Wealth and ethnicity linked to screening

BMJ Online | 26 June 2009 | Cancer

White British women are more likely to have had a cervical screening and there is more chance that women who own a car and/or home have had a mammogram, according to new research. The researchers investigated the rates of take... Read more

Topical use of colon cancer agent may improve appearance of aging skin

Archives of Dermatology | 26 June 2009 | Cancer

Topical application of the chemotherapy medication fluorouracil appears to reduce potentially precancerous skin patches and improve the appearance of sun-damaged skin, according to a new study. According to background information supplied by the study’s authors, fluorouracil stops the body from... Read more

Smoking costs higher than thought

Online edition of Tobacco Control | 26 June 2009 | Cancer

The cost of smoking to the Irish health services for respiratory illnesses and other smoking-related conditions could be much higher than previously believed. That study found that the cost of smoking to the British NHS was about five times higher... Read more

Label may be illegal, warns senior scientist

BMJ Online | 19 June 2009 | Musculoskeletal

The labelling of the first homeopathic product to get a licence from the UK Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) should be illegal, because they breach Unfair Trading regulations, a leading senior scientist has argued. Prof David Colquhoun from... Read more

Roles of alcohol and smoking as risks for pancreatitis reassessed

Archives of Internal Medicine | 19 June 2009 | Men's Health, Women's Health

Although alcohol consumption is known to be associated with chronic pancreatitis, new evidence indicates that a threshold of five or more drinks per day is required to significantly raise risk; however, most patients with chronic pancreatitis do not drink this... Read more

Breastfeeding linked to reduced risk of relapse

Archives of Neurology | 19 June 2009 | Women's Health

Women with multiple sclerosis (MS) who breastfeed exclusively for at least two months appear less likely to experience a relapse within a year after their baby’s birth, according to a new report. The report followed a study in which doctors... Read more

Progesterone does not reduce early preterm birth in twin pregnancy

Lancet Online | 19 June 2009 | Women's Health

Progesterone treatment does not prevent early preterm birth in women who are pregnant with twins, despite showing promise in high-risk singleton pregnancies, a new study has found. According to the study’s authors, previous trials have suggested that progesterone treatment might... Read more

Phoning it in: The telephone clinic for paediatric asthma

Mary McDonald, Marie Roddy, Catherine Carrig, Mary Devitt, Dr Basil Elnazir | 19 June 2009 | Respiratory

Mary McDonald, Marie Roddy, Catherine Carrig, Mary Devitt and Dr Basil Elnazir describe an innovative approach to asthma care in Tallaght Hospital. Asthma is a common childhood chronic illness and a significant healthcare problem in Ireland. The prevalence of asthma... Read more

Childhood stress poses life-long risk for chronic respiratory disease and asthma

JAMA | 15 June 2009 | Respiratory

Physical and mental stress in childhood may have life-long adverse effects on a person’s risk of developing such chronic illnesses as asthma, chronic lung disease, cardiovascular disease and diabetes, according to researchers. “A scientific consensus is emerging that the origins... Read more

Bevacizumab significantly increases risk of gastrointestinal perforation

The Lancet Oncology | 15 June 2009 | Cancer

The addition of bevacizumab to cancer therapy significantly increases the risk of gastrointestinal perforation, according to a new study. Gastrointestinal perforation is a serious adverse event associated with bevacizumab, an inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), according to background... Read more

Has anything changed in the management of CD?

Prof Eoin O'Brien | 15 June 2009 | Cardiovascular

Prof Eoin O'Brien writes that the results from the EUROASPIRE surveys show a continuing gap between the standards set in cardiovascular disease prevention guidelines and the reality of clinical practice. The first EURO-ASPIRE (European Action on Secondary and Primary Pre-vention... Read more

Call to overturn court decision against critic

BMJ Online | 09 June 2009 | Musculoskeletal

Scientific criticism could be harmed if a recent libel judgment the UK is upheld, according to a UK member of Parliament. Evan Harris, MP, has warned that a recent High Court judgment against science writer Simon Singh – if upheld... Read more

Developing our palliative care for all who need it

Dr Liam O'Siorain | 09 June 2009 | Men's Health, Women's Health

Dr Liam O'Síoráin writes that investment in palliative care is not only in the best interests of patients, it is also cost-effective. It is almost a national sport today for people to comment on how we squandered our wealth during... Read more

Diagnosis and treatment of RA

Dr Paul O'Connell and Dr Khalid Ali Khan | 09 June 2009 | Musculoskeletal

Dr Paul O’Connell and Dr Khalid Ali Khan look at the issue of early treatment for rheumatoid arthritis and examine the different treatment options that are available. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common systemic inflammatory arthritis and also the... Read more

Proton-pump inhibitors linked to increased risk of pneumonia

JAMA | 08 June 2009 | Respiratory

Hospitalised patients who receive acid-suppressive medications such as a proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) have 30 per cent increased odds of developing pneumonia while in hospital, according to a new US study. With the introduction of proton-pump inhibitors, used primarily in the... Read more

ED drugs have no visual side effects says study

Archives of Ophthalmology | 08 June 2009 | Eye, Ear, Nose & Throat

ED drugs have no visual side effects says study The erectile dysfunction medications, tadalafil and sildenafil, do not appear to have visual side effects when taken daily for six months, according to a new report. In the research, doctors led... Read more

Women exposed to wood dust have higher risk of respiratory diseases

European Respiratory Journal | 08 June 2009 | Respiratory

A prospective six-year study from Denmark has found that women with occupational exposure to wood dust, even at low levels, have a higher risk of asthma, cough or chronic bronchitis than their non-woodworking counterparts. Interestingly, male colleagues do not seem... Read more

Stockings do not reduce blood clot risk in patients

The Lancet Online | 08 June 2009 | Cardiovascular

Thigh-length graduated support stockings (TL-GCS) do not reduce the risk of blood clots in stroke patients, new research has found. In the study, doctors analysed 2,518 patients from 64 centres in the UK, Italy and Australia. They were admitted to... Read more

Web programmes can help smokers quit

Archives of Internal Medicine | 03 June 2009 | Respiratory

Available evidence supports the use of online or smoking cessation programmes to help adults quit smoking, according to a meta-analysis of previously published studies. In the paper, doctors identified 22 randomised controlled trials of web- and computer-based programmes published between... Read more

An all-in-one approach is necessary in the treatment of diabetes

Gary Culliton | 03 June 2009 | Diabetes

Gary Culliton attended the recent BMJ masterclass in Dublin — given by Dr Diarmuid Smith, Consultant Endocrinologist at Beaumont Hospital — which discussed some targets which should be set for Type 2 diabetes. Dr Diarmuid Smith, Consultant Endocrinologist at Beaumont... Read more

Treating blood clots following surgery

03 June 2009 | Cardiovascular

New drug treatments could play a key role in preventing blood clots in patients undergoing major orthopaedic surgery — according to recent published analysis Data from a pooled analysis of three pivotal Phase III trials, RECORD 1, 2 and 3... Read more

Hair loss can lead to psychological problems

03 June 2009 | Skin

Hair loss can be an indicator of other health problems — as well as causing psychological problems for those affected. While for many people thinning hair will not cause problems, for a significant minority there can be serious psychosocial consequences,... Read more

Combination therapy does not improve Bell's outcome

Archives of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery | 03 June 2009 | Mental Health & CNS

Adding an antiviral agent to corticosteroids for the treatment of Bell’s palsy does not improve the recovery of facial movement function, according to a new meta-analysis of previously published studies. According to the researchers who performed the analysis, the current... Read more