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Health care
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
GeMS & Get into Medicine UK on Twitter & Facebook
We love blogging but know that many readers prefer getting information via Twitter or Facebook. If you’re one of them, please take a moment to check out the new GeMS – Get into Medical School Twitter and Facebook pages: Twitter: @gemscourses Facebook: Get into Medical School We’ll update those pages with links to the stories … 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
Bionic vision
From Sky News, via Yahoo: A bionic eye has enabled blind people to read letters and simple words. The implant converts images from an external camera into electronic signals that the brain can “see”. Tests on 21 patients with retinitis pigmentosa, a degenerative disease that destroys light-receiving cells at the back of the eye, showed … Continue reading
Conscious under Anaesthesia?
From Science: “We’ve known since the 1930s that brain activity changes dramatically with increasing doses of anesthetic,” says the study’s corresponding author, anesthesiologist Patrick Purdon of Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. “But monitoring a patient’s brain with EEG has never become routine practice.” … The researchers… found a pattern unique to the transition period. During … Continue reading
