New research suggests that several commonly prescribed drugs for type 2 diabetes may not be as effective at preventing death and cardiovascular diseases, such as heart attacks and stroke, as the oral anti-diabetic drug, metformin. Insulin secretagogues (ISs), such as glimepiride, glibenclamide (known as glyburide in the USA and Canada), gliclazide and tolbutamide, have been […]
Mothers’ obesity increases the risk of foetal and infant death. Obese women have a higher risk of bleeding and infections after hysterectomy
Women who are obese during early pregnancy have a significantly increased risk of their baby dying before, during or up to one year after birth, according to research published in Europe’s leading reproductive medicine journal Human Reproduction today [1]. A second paper [2] also published in the journal today shows that obesity increases the risk […]
Cannabis ingredient can help cancer patients regain their appetites and sense of taste
The active ingredient in cannabis can improve the appetites and sense of taste in cancer patients, according to a new study published online in the cancer journal, Annals of Oncology [1]. Loss of appetite is common among cancer patients [2], either because the cancer itself or its treatment affects the sense of taste and smell, […]
Losing hair at 20 is linked to increased risk of prostate cancer in later life
Men who start to lose hair at the age of 20 are more likely to develop prostate cancer in later life and might benefit from screening for the disease, according to a new study published online in the cancer journal, Annals of Oncology. The French study compared 388 men being treated for prostate cancer with […]
Researchers predict nearly 1.3 million cancer deaths in Europe in 2011
There will be nearly 1.3 million deaths from cancer in Europe in 2011 according to predictions from a study published in the cancer journal, Annals of Oncology [1]. The estimates, which have been reached after researchers used for the first time in Europe a new mathematical model for predicting cancer mortality, show a fall in […]
Childhood cancer research in danger; long-term funding and better collaboration needed to maintain improvements in survival, report says
At a time when the effects of paediatric oncology research have meant that more and more children survive cancer, its funding is too low and dependent on short-term grants to be able to sustain this improvement in the long-term, says a report supported by the EU-funded 7th Framework Programme project Eurocancercoms and published on-line in […]
Traffic noise increases the risk of having a stroke
Exposure to noise from road traffic can increase the risk of stroke, particularly in those aged 65 years and over, according to a study published online on Wednesday 26 January in the European Heart Journal [1]. The study, which is the first to investigate the links between road traffic noise and the risk of stroke, […]
Eating more fruit and vegetables is linked to a lower risk of dying from ischaemic heart disease
A European study investigating the links between diet and disease has found that people who consume more fruit and vegetables have a lower risk of dying from ischaemic heart disease – the most common form of heart disease and one of the leading causes of death in Europe. However, the authors point out that a […]
Important message for journalists about reorganisation of our media databases
We are re-organising our media databases for 2011 to ensure that: a) they only include journalists who want to be on them, b) that you are receiving information on the areas you are interested in, and c) everyone who is on our databases has agreed to abide by our embargoes. We have emailed all our […]
Stand up, move more, more often: study finds more breaks from sitting are good for waistlines and hearts
It is becoming well accepted that, as well as too little exercise, too much sitting is bad for people’s health. Now a new study has found that it is not just the length of time people spend sitting down that can make a difference, but also the number of breaks that they take while sitting […]