Health News

Report reveals half of lung cancer patients face care delays, UK

Date: Nov-28-2013
Nearly half (46%) of lung cancer patients report experiencing delays at some stage of their care - and only two thirds (64%) say they receive prompt referral to hospital - according to a national report published today (28 November) by leading lung cancer experts.

World's first digital autopsy facility network opens in Sheffield

Date: Nov-28-2013
The U.K. is to become the first nation in the world to have a network of state-of-the-art, non-invasive Digital Autopsy Facilities, offering a significant humanitarian step forward in establishing the cause of unnatural death using sophisticated visualisation software - and a scanner rather than a scalpel.The first £3 million Digital Autopsy Facility will be housed at Sheffield's Medico-Legal Centre and will be opened by the Chief Coroner for England and Wales, His Honour Judge Peter Thornton QC on November 27th 2013.

HIV infections up by 8% across Europe more testing and better treatment coverage recommended

Date: Nov-28-2013
According to new data issued by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the WHO Regional Office for Europe, more than 131 000 new HIV infections were reported in the WHO European Region in 2012:[1] 10 000 (8%) more than in 2011. This confirms a steady increase across the Region over that year: a 9% rise in countries in eastern Europe and central Asia (EECA) and a less than 1% rise in countries in the European Union and European Economic Area (EU/EEA). Of the new HIV infections in the Region, almost 102 000 were reported in the EECA and over 29 000 in the EU/EEA.

People with mental health problems still waiting over a year for talking treatments, UK

Date: Nov-28-2013
More than one in ten (12%) people with mental health problems are stuck on waiting lists for over a year before receiving talking treatments and over half (54%) wait over three months, reveals a new report launched by the We Need to Talk coalition of which the mental health charity Mind is part of (1). The survey (2) of over 1,600 people who have tried to access talking therapies such as counselling and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy on the NHS in England over the last two years also shows how some people are paying for private therapy to get the help they desperately need.

Research finds positive long-term outcomes of cochlear implantation

Date: Nov-28-2013
Penn State Brandywine Assistant Professor of Psychology Daniela Martin is on the frontline of significant, unique research. With the first generation of cochlear implant recipients reaching adulthood, Martin and her colleagues are out to discover the long-term psychological outcomes of this relatively new medical procedure. A cochlear implant is a small electronic device surgically implanted into the inner ear that provides a sense of sound to those who are profoundly deaf or who are hearing impaired.

Quit-smoking drug to make problem drinking 'social'

Date: Nov-28-2013
A drug commonly used to help people quit smoking may also help problem drinkers overcome their addiction.Professor Selena Bartlett from QUT's Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI) and an ambassador for Women in Technology (WiT) said trials would soon begin to test whether varenicline, commonly known as Champix, can effectively treat problem drinkers."It's well known that many people with serious alcohol dependency also smoke so we've been trying to better understand the mechanisms behind that," Professor Bartlett said.

Improved safety measures by mental health service providers help to reduce suicide rates, UK

Date: Nov-28-2013
Mental health service providers looking after patients at risk of suicide need to reduce absconding on in-patient wards and boost specialist community services like crisis resolution to reduce deaths, a report by The University of Manchester out today (28 November) shows.Improved treatments are also needed for patients who have mental health illness and drug or alcohol misuse (dual diagnosis) as well as for those with depression.

Balancing questions of harm with potential for positive impact in video game play

Date: Nov-28-2013
Playing video games, including violent shooter games, may boost children's learning, health and social skills, according to a review of research on the positive effects of video game play to be published by the American Psychological Association.The study comes out as debate continues among psychologists and other health professionals regarding the effects of violent media on youth. An APA task force is conducting a comprehensive review of research on violence in video games and interactive media and will release its findings in 2014.

Improved brain injury outcomes linked to mood improvement

Date: Nov-28-2013
Mayo Clinic researchers found that improvement of mood over the course of post-acute brain rehabilitation is associated with increased participation in day-to-day activities, independent living, and ability to work after rehabilitation is complete. Each year, millions of patients are diagnosed with acquired brain injuries, such as concussion, strokes and brain tumors, many of whom go on to have persistent symptoms. For these patients, brain rehabilitation is an important part of their recovery.

Study: turn up heating to fight fat this holiday season

Date: Nov-28-2013
As millions of Americans prepare to sit down for Thanksgiving dinner, an interesting new study from the UK reveals that people who live in well-heated homes are not as likely to be obese or have a high body mass index, compared with individuals who keep their houses cooler.This is a warming thought, as it has recently been reported that the average Thanksgiving dinner weighs in at a whopping 4,500 calories.