Medicine
Gene Study Identifies Heart Disease Risk
Nilesh Samani
REFERENCE: N Engl J Med 2007; 357: 443-53
NILESH SAMANI, University of Leicester UK
Previously unrecognised DNA segments in human genes have been found to significantly increase the risk of coronary artery disease. That’s according to a publication just out in the New England Journal of Medicine. Nilesh Samani from the University of Leicester explained how this will help identify new high-risk groups and target prevention before the disease develops in at risk individuals.
NILESH SAMANI, University of Leicester UK
Previously unrecognised DNA segments in human genes have been found to significantly increase the risk of coronary artery disease. That’s according to a publication just out in the New England Journal of Medicine. Nilesh Samani from the University of Leicester explained how this will help identify new high-risk groups and target prevention before the disease develops in at risk individuals.
Vaginal Progesterone Reduced Risk of Preterm Birth in Women with Short Cervix
Kypros Nicolaides
REFERENCE: N Engl J Med 2007; 357: 426-9
KYPROS NICOLAIDES, Kings College Hospital, London
The risk of giving birth prematurely was reduced among pregnant women with short cervices by treatment with vaginally administered progesterone: whether or not they had a history of preterm delivery. Investigators from London have reported in the New England Journal of Medicine that progesterone therapy significantly reduced the risk of spontaneous delivery before 34 weeks: from a one in three chance with a placebo to one in five with progesterone. Kypros Nicolaides discussed the results with Anna Lacey.
KYPROS NICOLAIDES, Kings College Hospital, London
The risk of giving birth prematurely was reduced among pregnant women with short cervices by treatment with vaginally administered progesterone: whether or not they had a history of preterm delivery. Investigators from London have reported in the New England Journal of Medicine that progesterone therapy significantly reduced the risk of spontaneous delivery before 34 weeks: from a one in three chance with a placebo to one in five with progesterone. Kypros Nicolaides discussed the results with Anna Lacey.
Earlier Interferon Reduces Disability in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis
Ludwig Kappos
REFERENCE: Lancet 2007; 370: 389-97
LUDWIG KAPPOS, University Hospital, Basel
Earlier treatment can reduce the risk of confirmed disability in patients with multiple sclerosis, according to a new study published in the Lancet. Three-year follow-up of the BENEFIT study showed favourable results among patients who began treatment with interferon beta-1b after a first event suggestive of multiple sclerosis, rather than waiting for further confirmatory events. Nicola Solomon interviewed Ludwig Kappos.
LUDWIG KAPPOS, University Hospital, Basel
Earlier treatment can reduce the risk of confirmed disability in patients with multiple sclerosis, according to a new study published in the Lancet. Three-year follow-up of the BENEFIT study showed favourable results among patients who began treatment with interferon beta-1b after a first event suggestive of multiple sclerosis, rather than waiting for further confirmatory events. Nicola Solomon interviewed Ludwig Kappos.
Cortical Grafting Or Intact Ovary Transplantation for Preserving Fertility?
Sherman Silber
REFERENCE: O-149
SHERMAN SILBER, St Luke’s Hospital, St Louis MO
A study from Missouri has shown that transplanting intact ovaries using microvascular surgical techniques is superior in the long term for restoring or preserving fertility to the simpler technique known as cortical grafting. Sarah Maxwell heard about the findings from Sherman Silber during the fertility conference held in Lyon.
SHERMAN SILBER, St Luke’s Hospital, St Louis MO
A study from Missouri has shown that transplanting intact ovaries using microvascular surgical techniques is superior in the long term for restoring or preserving fertility to the simpler technique known as cortical grafting. Sarah Maxwell heard about the findings from Sherman Silber during the fertility conference held in Lyon.
Lapraroscopic Ovarian Diathermy Or Clomifene as First Line Treatment for Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome?
Saad Amer
REFERENCE: O-148
SAAD AMER, The Derby Medical School, Nottingham University
More reassurance about the use of clomifene for treating anovulatory women with polycystic ovarian syndrome has emerged from a randomised study from Nottingham reported to the fertility conference held in Lyon. Laparoscopic ovarian diathermy, normally used as second line treatment (after clomifene), was found to be equivalent for inducing ovulation and pregnancy in a study with over sixty women. But Saad Amer explained to Sarah Maxwell why he still favours clomifene.
SAAD AMER, The Derby Medical School, Nottingham University
More reassurance about the use of clomifene for treating anovulatory women with polycystic ovarian syndrome has emerged from a randomised study from Nottingham reported to the fertility conference held in Lyon. Laparoscopic ovarian diathermy, normally used as second line treatment (after clomifene), was found to be equivalent for inducing ovulation and pregnancy in a study with over sixty women. But Saad Amer explained to Sarah Maxwell why he still favours clomifene.
Audio Journal of Medicine: Single Embryo Transfer: Just as High Live Birth Rates as Double Transfer, But Without Risks
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Kersti Lundin
REFERENCE: O-004
KERSTI LUNDIN, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden
The same birth rates following in-vitro fertilisation can be achieved with single embryo transfer as with double transfer, according to the findings of a study from Sweden. A retrospective investigation looked at whether multiple births, and other risk factors associated with double embryo transfer, can be avoided when single transfer is used whilst still achieving the same live delivery rates. Sarah Maxwell talked with study author Kersti Lundin during the European fertility conference in Lyon.
KERSTI LUNDIN, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden
The same birth rates following in-vitro fertilisation can be achieved with single embryo transfer as with double transfer, according to the findings of a study from Sweden. A retrospective investigation looked at whether multiple births, and other risk factors associated with double embryo transfer, can be avoided when single transfer is used whilst still achieving the same live delivery rates. Sarah Maxwell talked with study author Kersti Lundin during the European fertility conference in Lyon.
Tuberculosis: Non-Adherence to Treatment is a Major Obstacle to Therapy Success
Simon Lewin
REFERENCE: PLoS Med 4(7):e238. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.0040238
SIMON LEWIN, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Non-adherence is a big factor reducing the efficacy of tuberculosis treatment according to a review of research released by the Public Library of Science’s online medical journal, PLoS Medicine. The article suggests that more needs to be done to resolve barriers to therapy compliance in order to help reduce the global burden of tuberculosis. Nicola Solomon interviewed Simon Lewin.
SIMON LEWIN, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Non-adherence is a big factor reducing the efficacy of tuberculosis treatment according to a review of research released by the Public Library of Science’s online medical journal, PLoS Medicine. The article suggests that more needs to be done to resolve barriers to therapy compliance in order to help reduce the global burden of tuberculosis. Nicola Solomon interviewed Simon Lewin.
Etravirine for HIV-1-infected Patients Failing Antiretroviral Therapy
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Margaret Johnson
;em>REFERENCE: Lancet 2007; 370:39-48
MARGARET JOHNSON, Royal Free Hospital, London
A new non-nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitor has demonstrated its activity in patients infected with HIV-1. TMC125, or etravirine, was compared with placebo in over 500 treatment-experienced patients in the DUET-2 trial, and Derek Thorne heard more from Margaret Johnson of the Royal Free Hospital in London.
MARGARET JOHNSON, Royal Free Hospital, London
A new non-nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitor has demonstrated its activity in patients infected with HIV-1. TMC125, or etravirine, was compared with placebo in over 500 treatment-experienced patients in the DUET-2 trial, and Derek Thorne heard more from Margaret Johnson of the Royal Free Hospital in London.
Visual Cervix Cancer Screening Test: Cheap and Effective in the Developing World
Rengaswamy
Sankaranarayanan
REFERENCE: Lancet 2007;370:398-406
RENGASWAMY SANKARANARAYANAN, International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon
An inexpensive visual cervix cancer-screening test has proved its worth in India according to a publication in the Lancet. Inspecting the cervix visually after applying 4% acetic acid can reduce the incidence and mortality from cervical cancer in developing countries. Nicola Solomon interviewed Rengaswamy Sankaranarayanan.
RENGASWAMY SANKARANARAYANAN, International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon
An inexpensive visual cervix cancer-screening test has proved its worth in India according to a publication in the Lancet. Inspecting the cervix visually after applying 4% acetic acid can reduce the incidence and mortality from cervical cancer in developing countries. Nicola Solomon interviewed Rengaswamy Sankaranarayanan.
GnRH Antagonist Protects Ovarian Function During Chemotherapy
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Kate Stern
REFERENCE: O-144
KATE STERN, Royal Women’s Hospital, Melbourne
A potential new way of preserving ovarian function during chemotherapy for cancer could be treatment with an antagonist of gonadotropin-releasing hormone: GnRH. A pilot study from Melbourne looked at 18 young women with cancer or auto immune disease due to receive cyclophosphamide therapy. Sarah Maxwell spoke with Kate Stern and heard more about the study.
KATE STERN, Royal Women’s Hospital, Melbourne
A potential new way of preserving ovarian function during chemotherapy for cancer could be treatment with an antagonist of gonadotropin-releasing hormone: GnRH. A pilot study from Melbourne looked at 18 young women with cancer or auto immune disease due to receive cyclophosphamide therapy. Sarah Maxwell spoke with Kate Stern and heard more about the study.
Ovarian Stimulation Does Not Affect Fetal Birth Weight - reporting from 23rd Annual Conference of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology, 1-4 July 2007, Lyon, France
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Georg Griesinger
REFERENCE: O-103
GEORG GRIESINGER, University Clinic of Schleswig-Holstein, Luebeck, Germany
Although low fetal birth weight is associated with singleton babies born after in-vitro fertilisation, a new prospective study has demonstrated that this is not a result of ovarian stimulation. Correspondent Sarah Maxwell interviewed Georg Griesinger at the ESHRE meeting in Lyon to get more details.
GEORG GRIESINGER, University Clinic of Schleswig-Holstein, Luebeck, Germany
Although low fetal birth weight is associated with singleton babies born after in-vitro fertilisation, a new prospective study has demonstrated that this is not a result of ovarian stimulation. Correspondent Sarah Maxwell interviewed Georg Griesinger at the ESHRE meeting in Lyon to get more details.
Shorter Anti-Viral Treatment for Hepatitis C: Less Effective Than Standard Regimen
Mitchell Shiffman
REFERENCE: N Engl J Med 2007;357:124-34
MITCHELL SHIFFMAN, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond
Standard anti-viral therapy for Hepatitis C needs to be used to the full duration according to a publication in the New England Journal of Medicine. Following provocative evidence from previous smaller studies, suggesting that anti viral therapy can be shortened, the ACCELERATE trial (the largest international study with genotypes 2 and 3) was set up to resolve whether shortening the duration of therapy for patients would give the same virologic response rates as with the standard regimen. It found that full-dose, full-duration therapy with interferon and ribavirin needs to be adhered to. Nicola Solomon interviewed Mitchell Shiffman to find out more.
MITCHELL SHIFFMAN, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond
Standard anti-viral therapy for Hepatitis C needs to be used to the full duration according to a publication in the New England Journal of Medicine. Following provocative evidence from previous smaller studies, suggesting that anti viral therapy can be shortened, the ACCELERATE trial (the largest international study with genotypes 2 and 3) was set up to resolve whether shortening the duration of therapy for patients would give the same virologic response rates as with the standard regimen. It found that full-dose, full-duration therapy with interferon and ribavirin needs to be adhered to. Nicola Solomon interviewed Mitchell Shiffman to find out more.
Health For All 30 Years After Alma Ata? Mental Health And War»
AliaIbrahim Zai, Egbert Sondorp, Gill Walt, Lucy Gilson, Ravi Narayan, Richard Horton, Vikram Patel, Willem Van De Put
Two important symposia have been held in London to discuss healthcare issues posing significant dilemmas to world leaders in the 21st Century. "The Future of Primary Health Care" was attended by public health experts from around the Globe to assess the best options for improving primary health care in the future. It was held on the 30th anniversary of the Alma Ata Declaration made in 1977 which was intended as a blueprint for health provision and identified primary health care as the means through which the global goal of "Health for All" could be achieved. The second meeting, on "Mental Health in Fragile States", was held to raise the profile of mental health care in zones where conflict has taken place or is still happening. Analyses of the key issues and how to deal with them effectively were discussed by top experts from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and associated organisations. Peter Goodwin attended both meetings and talked with some of the key speakers.AliaIbrahim Zai, Egbert Sondorp, Gill Walt, Lucy Gilson, Ravi Narayan, Richard Horton, Vikram Patel, Willem Van De Put
LSHTM Audio News: British Association Special Edition»
Astrid Fletcher, Jo Lines, Sari Kovats, Colin Sutherland, Michel Coleman
Peter Goodwin hears from London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine experts speaking at the annual science festival of the British Association for the Advancement of Science held in Liverpool, September 6-10, 2008, and from recent scientific publications on: the health impact of global warming, a tropical virus reaching temperate zones, inequalities in cancer outcomes, how eating oily fish can save your eyesight, and free internet publishing scientific journals.Astrid Fletcher, Jo Lines, Sari Kovats, Colin Sutherland, Michel Coleman
© 2008 Audio Medica - Medical Audio News Interviews & Podcasts. 
