RECENT NEWS

Scientists claim to have created a large number of red blood cells from human embryonic stem cells, opening up the prospect of having a limitless supply of blood for transfusions.

A new report published by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) has failed to find a single cardiac rehabilitation programme in the UK that is meeting minimum staffing levels.

Researchers have developed a more accurate technique for identiying the most aggressive forms of bowel cancer.

EuroSciCon has announced its CPD accredited meeting: “Infection Prevention in Hospitals”, which takes place on 21 November 2008.

Full Support Healthcare has partnered with Global Hand to donate unwanted stock to communities in desperate need of medical supplies.

A leading microbiologist has told the BBC that he fears a major outbreak of new strains of community infections unless public monitoring is given more resources.

NICE has recommended the drug Lucentis after reversing an earlier decision published in draft guidance, last year. The move was welcomed by the Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB), which has campaigned for Lucentis for patients with wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Data presented at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) congress shows that selective heart rate reduction with ivabradine significantly reduces the risk of myocardial infarction by 36%

Bristol Royal Infirmary (BRI) recently installed a Symbia T16 TruePoint SPECT CT from Siemens Healthcare, which was officially opened by actor Charles Dance. The SPECT CT yields particular benefits for oncology diagnosis, completing a full rotation in 0.5 seconds for rapid full body scanning. The hospital recently completed a series of lymphangiograms on the new system.

A drug developed to prevent osteoporosis could dramatically slow the growth of breast cancer tumours, according to research from the University of Sheffield and Kuopio University in Finland.

A new report by the Rarer Cancers Forum reveals there is a postcode lottery with regards to patients’ chances of having an exceptional request for cancer treatment approved.

Cancer Research UK has said that it is “deeply concerned” over NICE’s decision to reject four kidney cancer drugs including: bevacizumab, sorafenib, sunitinib and temsirolimus. Following a preliminary review, NICE has ruled that although the drugs are clinically effective, they are not good value for money for the NHS.

The National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) has issued a Rapid Response Report to healthcare professionals in the UK to offer guidance for arterial line use following reports of problems with infusions and sampling.

Low levels of vitamin D may contribute to chronic pain among women, according to a study published in the Annals of Rheumatic Diseases.

The National Biomedical and Clinical Engineering Conference is scheduled this year for the 15 October at the National Motorcycle Museum. This popular conference attracts a large audience drawn mainly from the EBME profession.

Scientists at Swansea University have discovered a new type of antibiotic in maggot secretions that can tackle up to 12 different strains of MRSA, as well as E. coli and C. difficile. The antibiotic, named Seraticin, is derived from the maggot secretions of the common green bottle fly (Lucilia sericata) and scientists hope to develop it into an injection, pill or ointment.

The National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) has issued guidance on the prescription and administration of vinca alkaloids, a series of intravenous chemotherapy agents, in response to reports of four fatal and serious incidents in which doses of vinca alkaloids intended for intravenous administration were injected in the spine, causing paralysis and death.

In proposals, outlined in the report Medical revalidation – principles and next steps, doctors will be required to renew their professional registration every five years, in order to provide assurance that they are practising to the standard that patients, the public and the profession expect. It will also play a part in putting quality at the heart of NHS care – a key element of the proposals outlined in Lord Darzi’s report High quality care for all.

Trial results from the Institute of Cancer Research that found a new drug, abiraterone, produced significant falls in PSA levels and some tumour shrinkage in men with advanced prostate cancer.

Patients with high blood pressure are up to 600% more likely to develop dementia according to new research, released by the Alzheimer’s Society. High blood pressure led to a six-fold increase in vascular dementia, the second most common form of dementia in the UK.