February News
Keep kids Away from Detergent Capsules, parents warned
The alkaline solution in liquid detergent capsules can damage a child's eyes. Parents are being warned to keep washing detergent capsules away from children after an increase in chemical injuries at a London eye hospital. Thirteen children treated for this type of injury who were aged under five had been playing with the capsules. Eye doctors say children are attracted by the colourful and malleable nature of the capsules. If the capsule breaks, it releases a harmful alkaline solution which can cause scarring or even blindness.
Writing in the British Medical Journal, Melanie Corbett, consultant ophthalmologist at the Western Eye Hospital said: "Parents must keep liquid detergent capsules out of children's reach - their contents can cause irreversible damage to the eye. "If any chemical enters your child's eye, you should wash it out immediately, with large quantities of water," she added.
GPs Slow To Refer Older Women with Ovarian Cancer
Older women with suspected ovarian cancer are less likely to be referred by their GP. GPs are less likely to refer older women with suspected ovarian cancer for investigation compared with younger women patients, a study suggests.
Analysis of electronic patient records found that 66% of women aged over 70 had been referred to a specialist, compared with 82% of women under 55. It also took longer for GPs to refer elderly patients for further tests. Survival rates for cancer in the UK are among the lowest in Europe, particularly for older people.
The research, published in the British Journal of Cancer, suggests that age has an impact on how GPs manage women with ovarian cancer.Researchers at the Brighton and Sussex Medical School studied patient records during the period 2002 to 2006.Prompt referral by GPs could play a significant role in improving the UK's poor survival rates for ovarian cancer
Peter Reynolds, Ovarian Cancer Action found that women aged between 45 and 69 years tended to be referred for gynaecological investigation within ten weeks of coming to their GP with symptoms. For women aged 75 to 79 years, the figure rose to 20 weeks.
Sara Hiom, director of health information at Cancer Research UK, echoed his comments: "Ovarian cancer is more common in older women, with four out of five cases in women over 50, so it's concerning if these older women are indeed less likely to be investigated."
Alcohol is No Excuse Campaign is Launched
Alcohol is No Excuse is the message of a new partnership campaign being launched to change the attitudes and behaviour
surrounding alcohol-related domestic violence. The message that
alcohol is no excuse will be delivered across Rhondda Cynon Taf and
Merthyr Tydfil using adverts, banners, posters, leaflets and targeted
campaigns in licensed premises. A website is also supporting the campaign.
To read more please click here
Profiles of Lifestyle and Health Published
Profiles of lifestyle and health have been produced
by the Public Health Wales Observatory as part of a
series following the demography profile released in June 2009.
It aims to assist the health boards in understanding the health of
their population and in their planning activities, as well as provide
a resource on lifestyle for other stakeholders.
To find out more please Click Here
Bowel Cancer Gene Hotspots Find Will Tailor Treatment
Scientists have found genetic hotspots for bowel cancer they say will help doctors better treat the disease.
They say a third of the 37,500 people diagnosed with the cancer in the UK each year harbours the DNA code that renders common drugs ineffective. Being able to identify these patients early will mean they can be started sooner on treatments that will work. The next step, say the authors in the British Journal of Cancer, is to devise screening tests for the gene faults. The hotspots all sit in a gene called K-ras which carries the DNA code needed to switch off and on cell growth. These findings could help health professionals plan and deliver more personalised and effective treatment for people with bowel cancer.
Lesley Walker of Cancer Research UK
Experts already knew that some bowel cancers were caused by faults in this gene that left the growth switch permanently "on". And these patients tend not to respond to cancer drugs like cetuximab and panitumumab.
Genes Behind Stammering Uncovered
Stammering has long been recognised to run in families, but scientists now say they have identified three genes which may cause the problem in some people. They believe that mutations which have already been tied to metabolic disorders may also affect the way in which parts of the brain function. The study involving cases in Pakistan, the US and England appears in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Stammering affects about 1% of all adults worldwide.
Those affected repeat or prolong sounds, syllables or words, disrupting the normal flow of speech. With early intervention children who stammer can overcome the problem, while for adults therapies are based on reducing anxiety and regulating breathing to improve speech. But the team from the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) hopes its discovery may pave the way for new treatments. Nearly one in ten of the sufferers examined were found to have a mutation in one of three genes.
Welsh Assembly Government Press Notice
W100047
21 January 2010
DEPUTY MINISTER MEETS WALES’ CARERS’ CHAMPIONS
Deputy Minister for Social Services, Gwenda Thomas, reaffirmed the Welsh Assembly Government’s commitment to carers in Wales at a meeting of the Carers’ Champions today [Thursday, 21 January].
Carers Champions are local authority elected members who ensure carers’ issues are considered in developing local services.
This All Wales Carers’ Champion Network meeting comes ahead of the Assembly Government laying the Carers’ Measure next week, which aims to put in place arrangements to give carers the right information at the right time to support them in their caring role.
The Deputy Minister said: “I recognise the important role and contribution of carers to society and the Assembly Government is working hard to improve the well being of carers and the people that they care for.
“It’s a pleasure to be here today to listen and discuss the real issues concerning carers in their communities. I realise that there is much more that needs to be done to support unpaid carers in their caring role.
“Today I wanted to emphasise the importance of ensuring that our policies are soundly based on evidence and that we are listening to what carers are telling us they need. This is the approach that we have also taken with the Carers’ Measure, as both carers’ organisations and local authorities have had a key role in helping us consider its content.”
Maggie Titterton Development Officer for Carers Wales said: “We are delighted that Deputy Minister, Gwenda Thomas, could attend the All Wales Meeting of the local government Carers' Champions. Local authorities in Wales have a key role in supporting the 350,000 family carers in Wales and each authority has appointed a cabinet member to drive forward better support and services for unpaid carers and the people they look after. The Carers Champions Network has been meeting in North and South Wales for the past two years. This is the first Wales-wide meeting of the elected representatives where they will share the most up-to-date information on carer’s issues and plan for future support."
Attached photograph: Deputy Minister Gwenda Thomas with the All-Wales Carers Champions pictured at City Hall, Cardiff.
Notes:
The Deputy Minister will speak at the All Wales Carers Champions Network at City Hall, Cardiff at 11.30am today [Thursday, 21 January].
The 2001 Census across England and Wales disclosed that Wales has a higher proportion of carers than any English region (11.7 per cent or 341,000 carers)
Currently unpaid carers provide around 70% of care in the community. However, forecast demographic changes of an increasing ageing population coupled with reducing birth rates, suggest that the pool of potential carers relative to the numbers needing care is likely to decrease over the medium term.
For further information please contact
Glenda Lloyd Davies on 02920 825641
Fish oil supplements 'beat psychotic mental illness'
Taking a daily fish oil capsule can stave off mental illness in those at highest risk, trial findings suggest.
A three-month course of the supplement appeared to be as effective as drugs, cutting the rate of psychotic illness like schizophrenia by a quarter.
The researchers believe it is the omega-3 in fish oil - already hailed for promoting healthy hearts - that has beneficial effects in the brain.
A "natural" remedy would be welcomed, Archives of General Psychiatry says.
"The finding that treatment with a natural substance may prevent, or at least delay, the onset of psychotic disorder gives hope that there may be alternatives to antipsychotic drugs," the study authors said.
Antipsychotic drugs are potent and can have serious side effects, which puts some people off taking them.
Fish oil supplements, on the other hand, are generally well tolerated and easy to take, say the scientists.
The international team from Austria, Australia and Switzerland tested the treatment in 81 people deemed to be at particularly high risk of developing psychosis.
Natural choice
Their high risk was down to a strong family history of schizophrenia, or similar disorders, or them already showing mild symptoms of these conditions themselves.
For the test, half of the individuals took fish oil supplements (1.2 grams of omega-3 fatty acids) for 12 weeks, while the other half took only a dummy pill. Neither group knew which treatment they were receiving.
Dr Paul Amminger and his team followed the groups for a year to see how many, if any, went on to develop illness.
Two in the fish oil group developed a psychotic disorder compared to 11 in the placebo group.
Based on the results, the investigators estimate that one high-risk adult could be protected from developing psychosis for every four treated over a year.
They believe the omega-3 fatty acids found in the supplements may alter brain signalling in the brain with beneficial effects.
Alison Cobb, of the mental health charity Mind, said: "If young people can be treated successfully with fish oils, this is hugely preferable to treating them with antipsychotics, which come with a range of problems from weight gain to sexual dysfunction, whereas omega-3s are actually beneficial to their general state of health.
"These are promising results and more research is needed to show if omega-3s could be an alternative to antipsychotics in the long term."
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