Tagcloud

abortion, accupuncture, ACE inhibitors, acne, ADHD, alcohol, allergies, Alzheimer's, anaemia, anaethesia, anorexia, antibiotics, antidepressants, antihistamine, anxiety, appetite control, arthritis, ASCOT, aspirin, asthma, atherosclerosis, autism, autoantibodies, back pain, beta carotene, beta-blockers, bipolar disorder, birth, bleeding, blindness, blood pressure, body dysmorphic disorder, body mass, breast cancer, breast feeding, bronchitis, Caesarean section, calcium, cancer, carcinogens, carcinoma, cardiac syncope, cardiolgy, cataracts, cervical cancer, chemotherapy, child psychiatry, children, cholesterol, clinical trial, clopidogrel, Clostridium difficile, cognitive behavioural therapy, colectomy, colic, colorectal cancer, complementary and alternative therapies, contraception, COPD, coronary care, coronary stents, Crohn's, cystic fibrosis, defibrillator, dementia, depression, dermatology, diabetes management, diet, disability, DNA, Down's syndrome, eating disorders, echinacea, ECT, eczema, elderly people, endoscopy, epilepsy, erectile dysfunction, euthanasia, exercise, fat, fertility, fitness, flu pandemic, fluoxetine, folic acid, food labelling, fracture, fragile X syndrome, general surgery, genetics, gerontology, GIK infusion therapy, GORD, gout, haemodialysis, hearing, heart attack, heart disease, heart failure, heart health, hepatitis, HIV, hospital care, HPV, HRT, hyperglycaemia, hypertension, hypoglycaemia, IBD, ICU, incontinence, infant, infant mortality, infection, inflammatory bowel disease, influenza, invasive candidiasis, IQ, Irish Heart Foundation, irritable bowel syndrome, keyhole surgery, kidney disease, laser, learning difficulties, leukaemia, liver disease, lumbar disk herniation, lung cancer, lung disease, lymph nodes, macular degeneration, macular oedema, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), malaria, malnutrition, Marfan syndrome, media, medical ethics, medical research, medication, meningitis, mental illness, metabolic syndrome, migraine, miscarriage, mortality rate, MRSA, multiple sclerosis (MS), NCHDs, nephrology, neurology, OAB, obesity, obstetrics, occupational health, ocular medicine, omega-3, opthalmology, oral cancer, organ transplantation, orthopaedics, osteoporosis, otolaryngology, ovarian cancer, paediatrics, pain management, pancreatic cancer, panic, Parkinson’s disease, patient safety, patient-physician communication, personality disorders, physiotherapy, plastic surgery, polio, practice, pre-eclampsia, pregnancy, preventative health care, probiotics, prostate cancer, psoriasis, psychiatric admission, psychiatry, psychotherapy, PTSD, public health, quality of life, radiology, radiotherapy, rectal cancer, reproductive health, research, resuscitation, rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatology, rhinitis, salt, SARS, schizophrenia, screening, seizures, self harm, sexual abuse, sexual health, sexually transmitted infections, SGA, sinusitis, skin cancer, sleep disorders, smoking, smoking ban, spinal injury, sports medicine, statins, stem cells, stress, stroke, substance abuse, suicide, supplement, surgery, syncope, technology, teenagers, testosterone, thoracic surgery, thrombosis, thyroid cancer, tonsillectomy, tonsillitis, Tourette's syndrome, toxicology, travel medicine, tuberculosis, tumour angiogenesis, type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, ulcer, ulcerative colitis, urinary incontinence, vaccine, vitamins, weight, WHO, women's health, World Health Assembly

Clinical Times: January 2010

Depression — the real worldwide epidemic?

Dr Suzanne Milligan | 29 January 2010 | Mental Health & CNS

Depression Supplement: Dr Suzanne Milligan discusses depression as it typically presents in general practice and suggests that the condition, which is on the rise, needs extra vigilance... Read more

Diagnosis and treatment of GAD

Rory Hafford | 29 January 2010 | Mental Health & CNS

Depression Supplement: Rory Hafford puts generalised anxiety disorder under the microscope and discovers a wolf in sheep’s clothing... Read more

Depression, epigenetics and the ‘plastic brain’ — a GP’s view

Dr Harry Barry | 29 January 2010 | Mental Health & CNS

Depression Supplement: Dr Harry Barry takes a look at how developments in neuroscience have changed the ways in which we diagnose and treat conditions such as major depressive disorder... Read more

Treatment through talking

Rory Hafford | 29 January 2010 | Mental Health & CNS

Depression Supplement: Rory Hafford listens to the considerable treatment benefits of one of the most effective talk therapies, cognitive behavioural therapy... Read more

Update on treatment options

Gary Culliton | 28 January 2010 | Respiratory

Clinical update: COPD & Asthma - The main underlying problem with asthma is airways inflammation, which leads to asthma symptoms and reduced lung function. Inhaled steroids are generally the main initial therapy for many asthmatics.... Read more

Quitting is crucial in managing COPD

Gary Culliton | 28 January 2010 | Respiratory

Clinical update: COPD & Asthma - A total of 85-90 per cent of people who develop chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are smokers, the Asthma Society of Ireland reports. COPD is a growing problem and about 30 per cent of... Read more

Genetic mutation may predispose to asthma

Gary Culliton | 28 January 2010 | Respiratory

Clinical update: COPD & Asthma - Mutations in the filaggrin gene among many Irish families predisposes them to develop eczema and this may progress later to asthma, revealed Prof Padraic Fallon, Science Foundation Ireland Stokes Professor of Translational Immunology at... Read more

Researchers study immune system's role in triggering asthma

Gary Culliton | 28 January 2010 | Respiratory

Clinical update: COPD & Asthma - There has been a confluence of two advances in asthma, said Dr Conor Burke, Respiratory Consultant at Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown.... Read more

The Endocrinology Clinic: Hirsutism

Prof T Joseph McKenna and Dr Frances Hayes | 28 January 2010 | Women's Health

Continuing their series on ‘Notes from the Endocrinology Clinic’, Prof T Joseph McKenna and Prof Frances Hayes examine the causes and treatment options available for hirsutism... Read more

Antibiotic doses should be adjusted for bodyweight

27 January 2010 | Infections & Immunology

Doses of antibiotics and other antimicrobial agents should take into account the patient’s bodyweight, to maximise their potential effectiveness, according to leading Greek researchers. “For most widely used antimicrobial agents, dosing recommendations in adults do not take into account adjustment... Read more

High rate of drug errors during treatment of children in hospital

27 January 2010 | Paediatrics

Mistakes are being made in a high number of drug treatments given to children in hospital, either when prescribing or administering the medicines, new study has revealed. Although most of the mistakes were unlikely to cause serious harm, a small... Read more

Discouraging flowers from hospitals not cut and dried

27 January 2010 | Infections & Immunology

Researchers in Britain have questioned the recent decisions by some hospitals there to ban flowers. Researchers from Imperial College London surveyed the literature and talked to patients and staff at the Royal Brompton Hospital and the Chelsea & Westminster Hospital... Read more

Jury still out on e-cigarettes

27 January 2010 | Cardiovascular

More research is needed before consumers can be reassured that electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are safe, according to two leading experts. Andreas Flouris and Dimitris Oikonomou, from the Institute of Human Performance and Rehabilitation in Greece, wrote that say that ‘our... Read more

Medication is available to treat Alzheimer's disease

Gary Culliton | 22 January 2010 | Mental Health & CNS

Clinical Update - Alzheimer's: Evidence from clinical trials show that the behavioural disturbance features of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) can be helped. A subset of patients with dementia can experience significant behavioural disturbance, and it can completely alter their personality.... Read more

Pathways research may help AD

Gary Culliton | 22 January 2010 | Mental Health & CNS

Clinical Update - Alzheimer's: It is thought that in Alzheimer’s disease, accumulations of amyloid deposits (amyloid-beta, known as Ab) destroy synapses, the major communication networks in the brain.... Read more

Scans hold potential to observe ‘moving target’ of degeneration

Gary Culliton | 22 January 2010 | Mental Health & CNS

Clinical Update - Alzheimer's: With the emergence of scan technology over the past 20 years, medics have the potential to investigate the living brain, allowing the ‘moving target’ of degeneration to be observed. Thus the ability of pharmacological treatments to... Read more

Treatment to delay disease progression in pipeline

Gary Culliton | 22 January 2010 | Mental Health & CNS

Clinical Update - Alzheimer's: Senior Research Fellow at TCD’s Institute of Neuroscience Dr Michael Ewers believes that as there are so many different compounds in the pipeline, the expectation is that in the near future, a potential treatment to delay... Read more

The Endocrinology Clinic: PCOS

Dr Frances Hayes and Prof T Joseph McKenna | 21 January 2010 | Women's Health

Continuing their series on ‘Notes from the Endocrinology Clinic’, Dr Frances Hayes and Prof T Joseph McKenna examine polycystic ovary syndrome... Read more

Programme may help prevent knee injuries in soccer players

20 January 2010 | Musculoskeletal

A soccer-specific exercise programme that includes individual instruction of athletes appears to reduce the risk of knee injuries in young female players, according to a new Swedish study. In the study, doctors assessed an intervention programme specifically designed to reduce... Read more

Exercise can reduce risk of mild cognitive impairment — study

20 January 2010 | Cardiovascular

Moderate physical activity performed in midlife or later appears to be associated with a reduced risk of mild cognitive impairment, whereas a six-month high-intensity aerobic exercise programme may improve cognitive function in individuals who already have the condition, according to... Read more

Quitting increases short-term diabetes risk

20 January 2010 | Diabetes

Patients who quit cigarette smoking are at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, a new study has found. Although quitting smoking reduces the risk of lung cancer and cardiovascular disease, the decision to quit does not come without... Read more

Bifocals may slow progression of nearsightedness

20 January 2010 | Eye, Ear, Nose & Throat

Bifocal glasses may be effective in slowing the progression of myopia in children with high rates of progression, according to a new report. The report followed a study in which doctors conducted a randomised, controlled clinical trial among 135 Chinese-Canadian... Read more

New drugs improve diabetes outlook

Gary Culliton | 15 January 2010 | Diabetes

Clinical Update - Diabetes: It is a very exciting time for the management of type 2 diabetes. New medications are being used and they do make a difference, Dr Diarmuid Smith, Consultant Endocrinologist at Dublin’s Beaumont Hospital, believes.... Read more

Gastric bypass 'cures' diabetes?

Gary Culliton | 15 January 2010 | Diabetes

Clinical Update - Diabetes: Bariatic surgeons have been aware for some time that the effects of bypass surgery on diabetes are dramatic. Traditionally, patients referred for such surgery have had a BMI of 35kg/m2 and above. Improvement has been observed... Read more

Peptide Humanin provides more clues to diabetes

Gary Culliton | 15 January 2010 | Diabetes

Clinical Update - Diabetes: Two papers have recently been published on the mitochondrial peptide Humanin (HN), in relation to insulin action. This peptide has an effect on insulin sensitivity. It suppresses hepatic glucose production and increases glucose uptake into the... Read more

The Endocrinology Clinic: Amenorrhoea

Dr Frances Hayes and Prof T Joseph McKenna | 14 January 2010 | Women's Health

In the first in a new series on ‘Notes from the Endocrinology Clinic’, Dr Frances Hayes and Prof T Joseph McKenna examine the causes and treatment options available for amenorrhoea... Read more

Doctors can RE-LY on new therapy

Rory Hafford | 14 January 2010 | Cardiovascular

Rory Hafford finds out from the RE-LY trial that dabigatran is the new therapeutic advance in stroke prevention that patients and treating physicians have been waiting on for decades... Read more

HPV vaccine offers sustained protection

13 January 2010 | Infections & Immunology

The Cervarix human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine from GlaxoSmithKline offers sustained protection beyond six years from infection against the types of HPV most commonly associated with cervical cancer (HPV-16 and HPV-18). According to background information supplied by the study’s authors,... Read more

Smoking cessation in CVD patients effective

13 January 2010 | Cardiovascular

Varenicline, a partial alpha4beta2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist, is effective for smoking cessation in smokers with cardiovascular disease (CVD), a new limited study has suggested. Researchers at the Tobacco Research and Treatment Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston carried out a... Read more

New computerised weighing scale targets childhood obesity rate

13 January 2010 | Nutrition

A new computerised device that tracks portion size and how fast people eat is more successful in helping obese children and adolescents lose weight than standard treatments, according to research in the BMJ. The Mandometer device, a portable computerised weighing... Read more

Reduction in infection risk with POP patients

13 January 2010 | Infections & Immunology

Broad-spectrum antibiotics should be used in intensive care unit (ICU) patients with post-operative peritonitis (POP) who have received antimicrobial therapy in the three months prior to hospitalisation, new research has suggested. The team from Rennes, France also said such treatment... Read more

New guidelines reduce antibiotic use

07 January 2010 | Infections & Immunology

The use of guidelines for treatment of lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) such as bronchitis and pneumonia determined by measurements of procalcitonin (PCT) resulted in lower rates of antibiotic use and associated adverse effects, and similar rates of adverse outcomes... Read more

Costs of Mediterranean diet may put people off

07 January 2010 | Nutrition

Mediterranean diets may be healthier, but they also trim the wallet, which may put people off, a new study has suggested. Researchers assessed the dietary patterns of more than 11,000 Spanish university graduates in 2008.... Read more

Three-day course of antibiotics as effective after tonsillectomy

05 January 2010 | Infections & Immunology

Children who receive a three-day course of antibiotics following tonsillectomy rather than a seven-day course appear to have no differences in pain or how quickly they return to a normal diet and activity level, according to a new report. The... Read more

Myopia has become more common

05 January 2010 | Eye, Ear, Nose & Throat

Myopia may be more common now than 30 years ago, according to a new report. Researchers in the US compared American population prevalence estimates for myopia from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) in 4,436 black and white... Read more