Health News

Vitamin D supplements: are they really good for our health?

Date: Jan-30-2014
There is no doubt that our bodies need vitamin D. It helps regulate the absorption of calcium and phosphorus in our bones, helps our cells to communicate with each other, and helps strengthen our immune system. But can vitamin D supplementation really offer additional health benefits?Previous research suggests it can. But other studies indicate that vitamin D supplementation does not do any more than promote bone and immune system health and is only useful for people who have a vitamin D deficiency.

Pre-Filled Syringes America Conference, 31st March - 1st April 2014, Iselin, New Jersey

Date: Jan-30-2014
Pre-Filled Syringes Americas: development, manufacture and regulation news for pre-filled syringes and injector devices Industry Leaders will meet in Iselin, New Jersey, USA to discuss current and emerging trends within the industry.The importance of pre-filled syringes and injection devices have never been more pertinent, especially in the US. The challenges of finding a delivery method with patient centric design that avoids leaching, requires swift and decisive decisions early in the development process to avoid unnecessary costs and delays in development.

Stress reduces when shared

Date: Jan-30-2014
If you get scared when you go skydiving, perhaps a good way to cope is to team up with someone who feels the same. A new study suggests sharing your feelings of stress with someone having a similar emotional reaction to the same situation reduces levels of stress more than sharing them with someone who is not.

Imaging autoimmune diabetes

Date: Jan-30-2014
Researchers at Lund University have managed to develop a technique whereby they can study the inflammatory process that takes place in the pancreas during the natural development of type 1 diabetes, allowing for real time and repeated non-invasive imaging of individual islets of Langerhans. The technique enables the visualisation of a human autoimmune disease in animal models that gives us a way to watch the body´s response to new therapeutic strategies that attempt to save islets from this deadly immune system attack.

UK pancreatic cancer charity launches newly diagnosed patient pack

Date: Jan-30-2014
In a bid to achieve its aim of ensuring everyone diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the UK has access to information about its services, Pancreatic Cancer UK has launched a 'newly diagnosed pack' for patients and will be piloting it's use in hospitals throughout the UK. Targeted at busy specialist nurses, Pancreatic Cancer UK's comprehensive information resource for newly diagnosed patients covers key information about the disease.

Independent quality mark for complementary therapists in the UK

Date: Jan-30-2014
The Federation of Holistic Therapists (FHT)'s voluntary register has been accredited under a new scheme set up by the Department of Health and administered by an independent body, accountable to Parliament. Patients and the public can have confidence in FHT's voluntary register which has been vetted and approved by the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care.

Scientists find new strategy to combat bacterial infections

Date: Jan-30-2014
Increasing numbers of bacteria are developing antibiotic resistance. This forms a significant challenge in the battle against bacterial infections. Alvin Lo and Han Remaut (VIB/Vrije Universiteit Brussel) have identified a chemical substance with the potential of acting as a new drug to treat bacterial infections, particularly urinary tract infections. In contrast to the most popular antibiotics, this candidate drug does not destroy pathogenic bacteria, but rather disarms them.

New study captures the value of new medicines in middle-income countries

Date: Jan-30-2014
An independent study conducted by Charles River Associates (CRA) demonstrates that there is clear evidence that innovative medicines have delivered significant value by reducing healthcare costs and benefitting both patients and wider society. However, there remains enormous untapped potential of adopting innovative medicines more widely in middle-income countries (MICs). This can be achieved by national prioritization, investments in healthcare infrastructure and building better epidemiological and cost databases for effective evaluation of therapies.

Epidural simulator: Working with medical colleagues to improve the patient experience and reduce risk of harm

Date: Jan-30-2014
Thousands of epidurals are performed by doctors every year. The procedure is commonly used for pain-relief during childbirth, the treatment of chronic back pain or as a means to provide anaesthesia during operations.Inserting an epidural needle into the spine requires great skill and extensive training, and can be challenging even for experienced anaesthetists. Obesity poses further difficulties, due to technical problems locating the epidural space.

Final results from the Phase 3 PREVAIL trial of enzalutamide

Date: Jan-30-2014
Medivation Inc. and Astellas Pharma Inc. have announced final results on the primary and secondary efficacy endpoints from the Phase 3 PREVAIL trial of enzalutamide in patients with chemotherapy-naïve metastatic prostate cancer who have failed androgen deprivation therapy and have few or no symptoms. Data will be shared in a late-breaking oral presentation at the upcoming American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 2014 Genitourinary (GU) Cancers Symposium in San Francisco on Thursday, January 30, 2014.