February 16th 2008
This week in medicine
Trial halted A substudy of the US trial ACCORD has been stopped 18 months early. Researchers noted an increased risk of death in patients with type 2 diabetes and high cardiovascular risk, when blood glucose concentrations were intensively lowered below current guidelines. The cause has not been established, but it is not believed to be related to any specific drugs.
Drug boom Afghanistan has become the world’s biggest supplier of cannabis and is expected to cultivate around 70 000 hectares of the drug this year, according to a new UN survey. The report also warns that the country’s opium production remains “shockingly high” with major health and security consequences for Europe, Russia, and countries along Afghan heroin routes.
Vaccine tattoos German scientists have found a novel way of delivering therapeutic vaccines-a rapidly vibrating tattoo needle. In studies with mice, tattooing a vaccine produced 16 times more antibodies than did conventional methods. However, preventive vaccines delivered in this way would be too painful for children.
Pure genius The Vestergaard Fransden Group designed the revolutionary LifeStraw-a 31 cm long polystyrene tube that can be worn around the neck and is able to filter 99·9% of waterborne bacteria and 98·7% of waterborne viruses by sucking alone. They have now announced the roll-out of a LifeStraw Family version, which will be stationary and supposedly provide clean drinking water for up to 18 months.
Migrant doctors The UK Home Office announced changes to immigra-tion rules preventing doctors on the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme from taking up training posts. These changes will not come into effect until 2009, but if the Department of Health successfully appeals against a High Court judgment, doctors who already have Highly Skilled Migrant Programme status could be prohibited from applying for training jobs later this year.
Contraception clashes The Brazilian city Recife provided emergency contraception during last week’s Carnival, which provoked anger from Catholics, including the city’s archbishop. Recife’s action is the latest attempt by Brazil’s Government to separate reproductive health issues-including abortion, which remains largely illegal-from strict Catholic doctrine.
Mumps epidemic The eastern European country of Moldova is facing a spiralling epidemic of mumps-600 000 doses of vaccine are urgently needed. Having already exceeded its yearly immunisation budget, the Moldovan Government, supported by UNICEF, is appealing for US$1·9 million. Children and young adults are most vulnerable. 65% of all cases are men, who will be susceptible to sterility if the disease takes hold.
Food scare Poisoned dumplings have sparked a huge food scare in Japan. Pesticides were found in food products imported from China after several people became ill. Japanese police are analysing the dumplings amid allegations of intentional poisoning, which have raised questions about China’s food-safety standards, caused widespread unrest in Japan, and damaged trade and relations between the two countries.
Head table 12 butchers at a slaughter-house in Austin, MN, USA have devel-oped a progressive inflammatory neuropathy. An immunological cause, possibly linked to exposure to pig brains removed with compressed air, is being investigated at the nearby Mayo Clinic.
Toddler diets The UK Food Standards Agency has recommended that children aged as young as 2 years should eat less saturated fat, unless they are underweight. The aim is to reduce saturated fat from 13·3%-contained in the average UK diet-to less than 11% by 2010.
No scapegoats The relentless march of the nanny state has led the UK’s Royal Navy to sacrifice its research on goats, which now joins the rum ration and cat o’ nine tails in the pages of history. A small number of animals had been studied to help buck the effects of decompression, owing to similarities between goat and human physiology.
Shoes and sex Wearing high heels might enhance pelvic muscle tone, according to a small study in European Urology. Maria Cerruto, a urologist from the University of Verona and a self-professed lover of high heels, found that 2-5 cm heels resulted in optimal pelvic floor muscle activity. A useful style adjunct, perhaps.
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