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Could a cure for Alzheimer's be on the way? Two European research teams have identified three genes that affect a person's risk of developing the disease.

A major new initiative to help maternity units in England create systems that ensure they consistently deliver the safest possible care during labour to mothers and their babies was launched today. Maternity professionals from 12 units will build on their existing local initiatives aimed at providing safe services to mothers and babies by developing systematic approaches to ensuring safety.

Australian scientists have developed a non-invasive method of diagnosing sleep apnoea.

Scientists at The Institute of cancer Research (ICR) have shed new light on a group of molecules crucial to cancer spread, according to research published today in the journal Science. The study brings hope that a drug will be developed to fight the spread of cancer, known as metastasis, which is responsible for 90 per cent of all cancer patient deaths.

Background: Leptospirosis is a worldwide zoonotic infection that has been recognised for decades, but the problem of the disease has not been fully addressed, particularly in resource-poor, developing countries, where the major burden of the disease occurs. This paper presents an overview of the current situation of leptospirosis in the region. It describes the current trends in the epidemiology of leptospirosis, the existing surveillance systems, and presents the existing prevention and control programs in the Asia Pacific region. Methods: Data on leptospirosis in each member country were sought from official national organizations, international public health organizations, online articles and the scientific literature. Papers were reviewed and relevant data were extracted. Results: Leptospirosis is highly prevalent in the Asia Pacific region. Infections in developed countries arise mainly from occupational exposure, travel to endemic areas, recreational activities, or importation of

Do you have a drinking problem? Take this quiz developed by the Office of Health Care Programs, Johns Hopkins University hospital.

Fears about the cancer causing effects of the second most prescribed group of drugs in the Western world have been put to rest, following the largest ever study into their use. 'Proton pump inhibitors' (PPI) are the most commonly used treatment for chronic acid reflux, or 'heartburn', a painful burning sensation in the chest, neck and throat which is experienced by almost a third of people in developed countries.

The first trial testing a candidate 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine in pregnant women is launching this week, the national institute of allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, announced today. 'Women are at higher risk of developing severe illness if they become infected with influenza virus while pregnant, which is why they are strongly encouraged to receive the seasonal influenza vaccine every year,' says NIAID Director Anthony S.

UroToday.com - The Institute of Medicine has drawn professional and public attention to the safety of patients in our health care system through two prominent publications. The Joint Commission has responded by developing a series of National Patient Safety Goals that must be followed to achieve accreditation.

Thursday, 10 September 2009, 10:52 am Press Release: Malaghan Institute September 10, 2009 The Malaghan Institute of medical Research is to apply its considerable knowledge in developing clinical expertise in cancer immunotherapy to the treatment of breast cancer.