December
30, 2005
More
than a million Ethiopian cattle herders face extreme food shortages after the
failure of rains that normally replenish water sources and sustain livestock
through the dry season. Pre-famine conditions have already emerged in Ethiopia's
eastern Somali region, including escalating malnutrition and reports of child
deaths; tribal conflicts over scarce resources; early and widespread human and
livestock migration; slaughtering of calves to save cows and rising sorghum
prices, the main staple.
Source:
Environmental News Network
Tooth
Loss and Heart Disease Linked, Even Among Non-smokers
December
31, 2005
There
is a strong, progressive association between tooth loss and heart
disease, researchers report. Heart disease was present in 4.7 percent of
those without tooth loss, 5.7 percent of those with 1 to 5 missing teeth, 7.5
percent of those with 6 to 31 missing teeth, and 8.5 percent of those with total
tooth loss.
Source:
ScienceDaily.com
Radiotherapy
Advance Points Way to Non-invasive Brain Cancer Treatment
January
1, 2005
With
an equal rate of incidence and mortality-the number of those who get it and the
number of those who die from it-Glioblastoma Multiforme is a brain cancer
death sentence. Currently, the only treatments that stretch survival limits are
exceptionally invasive surgeries
to remove the tumor
and radiation treatment with the maximum tolerated dose—all of which leads to
a painfully low quality of life. Because of this, researchers are racing to find
better therapies
to stop or slow GBM.
Source:
ScienceDaily.com
A
Healthy New Year?
January
1, 2005
In
many ways 2006 promises to be one of the most important in health since Labour
came to power.
Source:
BBC NEWS
The
Year of the Digital Citizen
January
2, 2005
2005
was arguably the year citizens really started to do it for themselves. Raising
mobiles aloft, they did not just talk and text, they snapped, shared, and
reported the world around them.
Source:
BBC News
Pill
Linked to Reduction in Women's Sexual Desire
January
3, 2005
Scientists
believe they have uncovered the mechanism that leads to mood swings, health
problems and sexual difficulties among some users of the pill which persist even
when they stop taking it. They say GPs should be aware of the pill's
physiological effects before assuming women's sexual problems are psychological.
Source:
Independence.co.uk
Deep-Sea
Fish Species Decimated in a Generation
January
4, 2005
At
least five species of deepwater exotic fish—only caught since the 1970s—are
now on the critically endangered list, according to Canadian scientists. The
researchers say many other species are likely to be similarly endangered and,
worse, there seems little hope of saving them.
Source:
New Scientist.com
Indian
Government Says Science Needs Rural Focus
January
4, 2005
Senior
figures in India's government have urged the country's scientists to end their
bias towards industrial and high-tech applications, and focus instead on
research that benefits rural areas.
Source:
SciDev.net
Second
Teenager Dies in Turkey Bird Flu Outbreak
January
5, 2005
Turkey
yesterday confirmed two human cases of bird flu, one of whom, a teenage boy,
died on Sunday after developing pneumonia-like symptoms. His sister died in
hospital early today, If the cases—all three are siblings—are confirmed as
being from the deadly H5N1 strain, they will be the first in people outside of
South-east Asia in the current bird flu outbreak.
Source:
Independent.co.uk
