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Health News
Supplementing Diet
From the BBC, The Telegraph & The Daily Mail: Iodine deficiency ‘may lower UK children’s IQ’ Vitamin C kills drug-resistant TB in lab tests Vitamin B could stave off Alzheimers Vitamin D ‘helps beat symptoms of asthma’ Areas to think about: Hardly a day goes by without a news article suggesting that one or other … Continue reading
Angelina Jolie’s Double Mastectomy
From the BBC: Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie has undergone a double mastectomy to reduce her chances of getting breast cancer… She said her doctors estimated she had an 87% risk of breast cancer and a 50% risk of ovarian cancer. “I decided to be proactive and to minimise the risk as much I could,” she … Continue reading
SARS-like virus spreading
From Reuters: World Health Organization (WHO) officials said on Sunday it seemed likely a new coronavirus that has killed at least 18 people in the Middle East and Europe could be passed between humans, but only after prolonged contact… A public health expert who declined to be identified, said “close contact” meant being in the … Continue reading
Antibiotics treat back pain?
From Sky News: Researchers from the University of Southern Denmark say 40% of patients with chronic low back pain are suffering from an infection in their spine. They found that a 100-day course of antibiotics could significantly reduce pain and disability. Dr Hanne Albert, who led the research, told Sky News: “These people suffer constantly. … Continue reading
No more grey hair?
From Sky News: A cure for grey hair which means millions will be able to throw away messy dyes may not be too far off, researchers have said. Scientists found people who are going grey develop “massive oxidative stress” via an accumulation of hydrogen peroxide in the hair follicle, which causes hair to bleach itself … Continue reading
111 Troubles
From the BBC: The new NHS non-emergency 111 telephone service in England is in a fragile state in a number of areas ahead of bank holiday weekend, NHS bosses admit. Reports have been emerging for weeks of calls going unanswered and poor advice being given, leading to hospitals being inundated with patients. The problems plaguing … Continue reading
Welsh Measles epidemic now over 800
From the BBC: The number of measles cases in the Swansea epidemic has increased to 808, officials say. Areas to think about: What is measles? Why was the young population in Wales susceptible to a measles epidemic? How does vaccination work? What was responsible for a drop in MMR vaccination rates, and what do you … Continue reading
Mapping the brain
From the BBC: The project is called Brain Research Through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies – or BRAIN… The project will begin in 2014… The $100m investment will be used to develop new technologies to investigate how the billions of individual cells in the human brain interact. Scientists will also focus on how the brain records, stores … Continue reading
Redefining Good Medical Practice
The GMC have revised Good Medical Practice for 2013. Good Medical Practice outlines the core roles & responsibilities of being a doctor. The latest edition can be found at http://www.gmc-uk.org/gmp2013, with the full PDF being accessible at http://www.gmc-uk.org/GMP_2013.pdf_51447599.pdf Prospective applicants to medical school may find it useful to browse the document, familiarising themselves with the … Continue reading
97% of GPs have recommended placebos
From the BBC: In a poll, 97% of 783 GPs admitted that they had recommended a sugar pill or a treatment with no established efficacy for the ailment their patient came in with. The PLOS One study authors say this may not be a bad thing – doctors are doing it to help, not to … Continue reading
