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March 2008
A story in the Daily Mail, "ME, the crippling illness you can catch just by going for a walk" talks about the connection between ME and Lyme disease and an ME sufferer, Sarah Warren. The article states, "For Sarah, it took more than a year to get a diagnosis - and only as a result of further exhaustive blood tests at the private Breakspear Hospital in Hertfordshire, a recognised unit specialising in the diagnosis of unusual conditions."
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Reported on BBC Online news, "There is strong evidence that exposure to pesticides significantly increases the risk of Parkinson's disease, experts believe." The article summarises the findings of a study published in the BMC Neurology journal that made the link to the neurological disease. The US researchers found those exposed to pesticides had a 1.6 times higher risk after studying 600 people.
February 2008
Researchers looked at 500 Israelis and compared their mobile phone usage with 1,300 healthy controls. The results indicated that heavy mobile phone use may be linked to an increased risk of cancer of the salivary gland.
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The headlines on BBC World News read, "Obesity needs to be tackled in the same way as climate change". Professor Philip James said the challenge of obesity was so great that action was needed now, even without clear evidence of the best options.
December 2007
A former airline pilot, who spent 20 years inside the airline industry, has released his debut
expose on controversies over airline air supply.
Tristan Loraine's hard-hitting Michael Moore-style airline industry documentary Welcome Aboard Toxic Airlines seeks to unearth the truth behind allegations aeroplane air supplies contain toxic fumes from lethal engine oil.
Breakspear Hospital offers detoxification programmes to help pilots affected by this exposure.
November 2007
Patients with long term symptoms, lack of a scientific explanation, and insurance companies' reluctance to pay for treatment have created a perfect breeding ground for dissent, Alison Tonks reports in the British Medical Journal.
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"Men who took 50 mg of beta-carotene every other day for a mean of 18 years performed significantly better in congnitive testing compared with men receiving placebo" according to an article on MedPage Today November 2007.
September 2007
The Biomedical Scientist, a monthly magazine with news, science articles and job adverts in the biomedical science profession, reported on immunotherapy, stating that "Allergy is on the increase but immunotherpay appears to offer hope to the many millions of people who have become sensitised to common allergens." The article, by Chris Bird, reports on the discussions at the annual meeting of the British Society for Allery and Clinical Immunology (BSACI).
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The Times featured an article which quotes Dr Glenis Scadding, a consultant allergist at the Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear hospital in central London as saying, "Immunotherapy is the only hope of curing (allergies) at the moment..." Go to The Times website for the article titled "Danger jabs may help stem allergy surge." The widespread use of the treatment is to recommended by a House of Lords committee.
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News of the recent measles outbreaks have caused renewed discussions about MMR fears and dangers. See BBC online's emails from BBC 4 listeners.
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BBC News reported that a Food Standards Agency (FSA) study of 300 random children found they behaved impulsively and lost concentration after a drink containing additives.
The FSA now says hyperactive children might benefit from fewer additives.
August 2007
"High prevalence of low plasma thiamine concentration in diabetes linked to a marker of vascular disease" was the title of a published paper by P. J. Thornalley, R. Babaei-Jadidi, H. Al Ali, N. Rabbani, A. Antonysunil, J. Larkin, A. Ahmed, G. Rayman, and C. W. Bodmer.
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Fresh fears over the health hazards liked to using mobile phones have been raised, according to an article by the Telegraph's Science Correspondent.
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Although the following articles are from May 2007, they were brought to our attention this month.
According to MedPage Today, fish and vitamin D linked to lower risk of macular degeneration. Two studies reported that it was evident that higher dietary levels of omega-3 fatty acides, mainly from fatty fish, reduced the risk of age-related macular degeneration and that vitamin D, mainly from milk, reduced the risk of early disease.
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Another article in MedPage Today pooled 8 studies of grain, vegetable, or fruit fiber intake and 5 of magnesium intake and comparing the highest to lowest intakes, the findings were:
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Reduced diabetes risk with higher cereal fiber intake (RR 0.67, 95% CI 0.62 to 0.72).
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No effect on diabetes risk from fruit fiber (RR 0.96, 95% CI 0.88 to 1.04).
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No effect on diabetes risk from vegetable fiber (RR 1.04, 95% CI 0.94 to 1.15).
- Reduced diabetes risk with greater magnesium intake (RR 0.77, 95% CI 0.72 to 0.84).
See the original article: http://www.medpagetoday.com/tbprint.cfm?tbid=5642&topicid=12
July 2007
The House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology published their Sixth Report which was on allergy and contained information from expert witnesses including Dr Jean Monro. For the full report, which contains recommendations for NICE to consider evaluating immunotherapy within the NHS, go to the Parliamentary Publications and Records website.
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The Times reported, "A report submitted to the Department of Health of data from GPs’ surgeries shows that by 2005 an estimated 12.2 million people in England had been diagnosed with an allergy-related illness such as asthma, eczema, allergic rhinitis, peanut allergy or anaphylaxis, the most severe form of allergic reaction."
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Reported in the Times, by the Science Editor, "The electronic “smog” generated by computers, printers and other office equipment may be exposing workers to raised levels of pollutants and bacteria, a study by Imperial College London has found.
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Polymorphic light eruption (PLE) is a rash that can take many different forms, including small red bumps, larger red areas and blisters after exposure to the sun. According to the British Skin Foundation, this condition is common, perhaps affecting as many as 10% of the population, and it appears that women get PLE more often than men.
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A petition for professionals to oppose fluoridation is circulating with the help of Gerald D. Natzke, D.O. FAAEM, President of the American Academy of Environmental Medicine and Paul Connet <paul@AmericanHealthStudies.org>. The petitition's introduction states, "Water fluoridation involves addiong various fluoride chemicals to the public water supply at a concentration of 1 ppm, ostensibly to fight tooth decay. 1 ppm may seem small, but it is actually 250 times greater than the level of fluoride in mother's milk, 0.0004 ppm. Once the fluoride is put into the public water supply, the dose cannot be controlled and it goes to 'patients' without their consent..."
June 2007
According to MedpageToday, the American Food and Drug Administration has approved pregabalin (Lyrica) for treatment of fibromyalgia. Already approved for partial seizures and symptomatic relief of shingles and diabetic neuropathy, it is the first drug to win an indication for fibromyalgia.
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News release was on 25 May 2007 but brought to our attention this month, "Dangerous toxin detected on passenger jets". The evidence was collected clandestinely by flight crews.
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According to an article written by Catharine Sadler in Community Practitioner June 2007 Volume 80 Number 6, "Latest figures from the Health Protection Agency (HPA) show that tuberculosis in England, Wales and Northern Ireland has experienced its sharpest year-on-year rise since detailed in surveillance began." The figures show an increase from 7,321 reported cases in 2004 to 8,113 in 2005.
For information on Breakspear's immunisation programmes, including TB, goto: Flu, Travel & Other Vaccinations.
May 2007
The headlines of MedpageToday read, "Brain Changes in Gulf War Vets Match Up with Functional Problems". Some veterans of the first Gulf War are showing functional and structural brain changes that may be related to wartime exposures to neurotoxic substances, according to a small study. Regions of the brain involved in cognition, attention, and memory were significantly smaller in Gulf War vets who complained of five or more symptoms than in those who had fewer, reported Frederick Powell, M.D., of Boston University, and colleagues, at the American Academy of Neurology meeting here.
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CAM magazine May 2007 featured an article titled, "Mushroom study builds on Coriolus' immune modulating reputation". The article refers to the work of Dr Jean Monro and also Portuguese researchers at the Institute of Oncology in human papillomavirus which has lead to a study being conducted at Bastyr University, the world's leading naturopathic school in America.
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According to BBC News, "Parents are being advised by experts not to give their children food containing certain additives until the results of a new study are published.
UK researchers tested the effects of a range of artificial colourings on children's behaviour. It is understood the results back previous research linking additives to hyperactivity and poor concentration. " For the full article visit BBC.co.uk
April 2007
The Daily Telegraph reported, "Hormone replacement therapy for symptoms of the menopause, which has been linked to an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes, may not be so dangerous after all, research now shows."
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In The Times 30 March 2007, there was an article titled "Cervical cancer jabs for girls of 12" which explained that some three million teenage girls in Germany are to be urged to take part in a mass vaccination campaign to help to stamp out cervical cancer. Breakspear Hospital offers these HPV vaccines.
March 2007
On 21 March 2007, the BBC Online news ran a story that reported, "major study appears to provide hard evidence that eating a high-fat diet increases a postmenopausal woman's risk of breast cancer." This work, by the National Cancer Institute, asked 188,700 women about their diets, and found a link between breast cancer and eating more fat.
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On the same date, another story was reported which stated, "Women with high blood sugar levels are at an increased risk of developing cancer, a major European study finds." The article goes on to stated that diabetes causes high blood sugar as does eating too much sugary food. The Swedish research, which looked at 64,500 people, linked raised blood sugar with pancreas, skin, womb, and urinary tract cancers in women.
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The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) issued a press release in response to the recent report which was published in the Journal of Americal Medical Association (JAMA) entitled, "Mortality in Randomised Trials of Antioxidant Supplements for Primary and Seconday Prevention, Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis". The press release stated that the report "misuses mata-analysis methods to creat generalised conclusions that many inappropriately confuse and alarm consumers who can benefit from supplementing with antioxidants".
Solgar UK Ltd, a company that researches and manufactures nutritional supplements, issued a response to the JAMA published report from one of the world's leading experts on antioxidants, Dr Richard Passwater, which included the statement, "This poorly designed meta analysis does not undo the overwhelming majority of studies showing the safety and effectiveness of antioxidant supplements that have withstood the test of time. This study will not withstand the test of time."
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BBC News reported that "Damp and mould-infested houses could be the cause of permanent asthma in children, researchers have said. ...Dr Juha Pekkanen, from the National Public Health Institute in Kuopio, suggests that as many as one in five cases of child asthma may be caused by moisture and mould in the home."
February 2007
A preliminary study at Stanford University School of Medicine suggests there may be hope in the offing for some sufferers of chronic fatigue syndrome using a new therapy with the drug valganciclovir — an antiviral often used in treating diseases caused by human herpes viruses — to treat a small number of CFS patients.
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A report was published in January 2007 titled, "A Randomized Controlled Trial on the Effectiveness of Mild Water-filtered Near Infrared Whole-body Hyperthermia as an Adjunct to a Standard Multimodal Rehabilitation in the Treatment of Fibromyalgia" by Thomas Brockow, et al. ImmuneSupport.com . It was apparently the first Randomized Controlled Trial evaluating the effectiveness of mild infrared whole-body hyperthermia in Fibromyalgia and also probably the first published Randomised Controlled Trial testing mild infrared whole-body hyperthermia in a musculoskeletal condition. The study indicates that near infrared whole-body hyperthermia is a worthwhile adjunct to multimodal rehabilitation in the treatment of Fibroyalgia. See Hyperthermia Bed for more information about this equipment available at Breakspear Hospital.
January 2007
Chairman of the Breakspear Hospital Trustees, Ron White, was quoted in Letters to the Editor, The Times 14 January 2006:
CHEMICAL OVERLOAD: What on earth is Miliband talking about when he says there is no “hard evidence” that organic food is healthier than its regular counterpart? The charity I represent sees many people whose health has been irreparably damaged by organophosphates which are a basic ingredient of many products used in everyday agriculture.
Miliband would argue that such chemicals are harmful but not in the volumes we are exposed to; this may be true for someone ingesting them occasionally, but most people take them several times a day.
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According to BBC On-line 3 January 2007, "Womb cell op raises birth risk. The most common operation to remove abnormal cervical cells raises the risk of giving birth early, experts say. A study of 5,000 Australian women found when a heated wire, loop diathermy, was used the risk rose substantially. Young women should not automatically have diathermy, the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (BJOG) says."
December 2006
According to a recent article in the New Straits Times 19 December 2006, “… the exciting news about medicinal mushroom products is that they have been gaining a role in cancer therapy and are increasingly used as adjunct nutrition for immuno-compromised patients.” The article also states that mushroom nutrition helps in fighting off viruses such as Human Herpes Virus-8, Human Papillomavirus (HPV), Epstein-Barr virus, and Hepatitis B Virus.
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Recently posted on the Journal of the American Medical Association, "Epidemiological and experimental evidence suggests that high levels of vitamin D, a potent immunomodulator, may decrease the risk of multiple sclerosis." The full article is titled, "Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Levels and Risk of Multiple Sclerosis" JAMA. 2006;296:2832-2838.
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According to BBC On-line, a study of 182 European men found those who had 25 millilitres of olive oil per day had reduced levels of a substance which indicates cell damage.
The Danish team said it may explain why many cancer rates are higher in northern Europe than the south, where olive oil is a major part of the diet.
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With one in three people will develop an allergy, with one in four developing hay fever, development of a new drug called Grazax may help by providing immunity to the allergens contained in grass pollens and has had an 83% success rate, according to an article in The Times 12 December 2006.
November 2006
Health News in The Times 8 November 2006 read, " Pollution 'putting millions of children at brain damage risk' ". According to the article, which reports on a report in The Lancet medical journal, common pollutants may be causing a “silent pandemic” of neurodevelopmental disorders by impairing the brain development of foetuses and infants.
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On 20 November 2006, BBC online reported, " Milk allergy in babies 'missed' ". The article went on to say that "Nearly 80% of 500 doctors polled by the medical taskforce Act Against Allergy thought their colleagues confused milk allergy symptoms with other conditions... There is also a risk that babies who are allergic to cow's milk will also be allergic to soy milk, and sheep and goat's milk. "
Breakspear Hospital offers a comphrehensive allergy testing and treatment programme for children and adults.
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Next time you're at the supermarket debating whether to pay more for a pint of organic strawberries than you do for your lunch — or deciding if you should choose that wilted organic celery over the crisp green conventional stalks — you might want to refer to the Environmental Working Group's new wallet-size Shoppers' Guide. See article "How to Eat Fewer Pesticides" at www.epicurious.com.
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A molecule, called resveratrol, which is found in red grapes or wine, could counter some of the effects of a high-calorie diet. Studies in mice found that their health improved and their life-span was increased. Previous research has revealed the substance has anti-ageing effects in some organisms, extending the lifespan of yeast by 60%, worms and flies by 30% and fish by about 60%. Visit bbc.co.uk for the full article "Wine 'allows guilt-free gluttony'".
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BBC.co.uk reported a sharp rise in the occurances of tuberculosis and stated "Cases of tuberculosis (TB) in England, Wales and Northern Ireland rose by 10.8% in 2005... The Health Protection Agency (HPA) recorded 8,113 cases during the year, compared to 7,321 in 2004."
Breakspear Hospital offers mercury-free BCG immunisations for people of all ages.
October 2006
Nature Reviews Immunology 6, 761-771 (October 2006) featured an article titled, "Immunological mechanisms of allergen-specific immunotherapy" which evaluates allergen-specific immunotherapy (SAT). For people interested in more information about desensitisation, the full report is available on-line free as a special feature to registered visitors.
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An article available through the Wall Street Journal archives titled, "New Leaf: Seed Firms Bolster Crops Using Traits Of Distant Relatives" by Scott Kilman, 31 October, 2006, talks about the gene maps which permit breeding better varieties of crops quickly without the GM stigma attached. According to the article, critics of GM crops generally accept this new gene technology since it brings in no foreign DNA.
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CBS News reported on a family whose daughter turned out to be the canary in the coal mine. Two-year old Emma became seriously ill; she was severly malnurished and dehydrated and was admitted to hospital where her mother was told "if you had waited 24-hours she would have been dead." Her mother researched the posibilities, insisted on her daughter being tested for coeliac disease, and after her positive results tested the whole family who were suffering from a variety of illnesses such as migraine, IBS and osteoporosis. The results showed the whole family was suffering from coeliac disease.
Breakspear Hospital offers help for testing and dealing with coeliac disease.
September 2006
A review published in MedPage Today 14 September 2006 stated, "A lifetime of exposure to lead can weigh down the minds of older adults, researchers here have found, adding two to six years to the normal cognitive effects of aging." The study of adults 50-70 showed that the higher lead levels in the tibia were associated with worse performance in learning, memory and visual-motor tasks.
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On MedPage Today 13 September 2006, a review read, "The risk of pancreatic cancer, already low, may be cut by as much as 41% by consuming the U.S. recommended daily allowance of vitamin D (400 IU), according to an epidemiologic cohort study of more than 100,000 people."
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There is growing concern about the recent number of cases of tuberculosis in this country. The Sunday Telegraph 10 September 2006 contained the headline, "Ministers could force NHS to tackle spread of drug-resistant TB".
Direct from the article:
X-raying immigrants from high-risk countries has been ineffective because the majority of sufferers, from places such as Sub-Saharan Africa and South East Asia, have latent TB which activates only when they are in the community – up to two years after they arrive in Britain.
Last week, experts from the World Health Organisation issued a warning about XDR-TB, a deadly new strain of TB which has extreme drug resistance and is virtually impossible to treat.
Although there are currently only a handful of XDR-TB cases in Britain, the number of TB cases has risen by 20 per cent to 7,000 a year over the past decade. With patchy TB care across the NHS, it is feared that the number of XDR-TB cases could increase.
Around 60 cases of TB – just over one per cent – are classified as multi-drug resistant, meaning they cannot be treated with two key antibiotics. It is this form of the disease that, if not treated properly, can mutate into XDR-TB.
Immigrants or visitors from “hotspots” such as Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, where multi-drug resistant TB infection rates are as high as 10 per cent, are seen as the most likely to bring the strain into Britain.
_________ CAM magazine September 2006 contained an article titled, "Stress-allergy link uncovered." The article summarised a new study from the Karolinska Insitutute in Sweden which confirms a link between mental stress and the complex physical inflammation reactions characteristic of allergies.
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"Eating nuts 'cuts risk of heart attacks'" read the headline of The Daily Telegraph 6 September 2006. According to the article, only 2 servings a week of 8 grams of nuts can reduce the risk by as much as 11%.
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The Daily Telegraph reported 6 September 2006, "Heart patients eat more fruit and vegetables and take more exercise when their families become involved in their care, says a Europe-wide study."
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An article in the Times by Health Editor, Nigel Hawkes on 4 September 2006, carried the headline "Cervical cancer vaccine may save 800 lives a year". The Times reported that the figures were revealed by a computer model that is used by experts funded by GlaxoSmithKline, the company that makes the Cervarix vaccine. This vaccine protects girls/women against infection from the human papilloma virus (HPV) which causes cervical cancer.
Another article in the Times 4 September 2006 states, "The common mistake is to believe that cervical cancer is the only cancer associated with a few of the many types of HPV. There is also a proven association between pre-malignant warts, HPV warts and vulval and penile cancers. In 80% of anal cancer in men and women, HPV can be shown to be involved, and this association is higher in younger people and in homosexual men."
Breakspear Hospital offers At-home HPV Test Kits as well as HPV tests as part of a complete cervical screening.
In September 2006, our Medical Director, Dr Jean Monro lectured to medical practitioners and nutritionists at Royal College of Physicians, London, on the importance of HPV screening to determine HPV genotype and oncogenic risk in women and men.
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The Daily Telegraph reported 4 September 2006, "Diabetes pill 'halves risk of having a stroke'". The drug, Actos, is primarily used to improve the control of blood sugar in people with Type 2 diabetes.
Another article's headline read, "Japanese get a taste for Western food and fall victim to obesity and early death." According to the article, Okinawans consume more fat, smoke more and drink more than the average Japanese due to the influence of the US administration years.
August 2006
"The potency of diphtheria and tetanus vaccination can be attenuated by children's exposure to the pollutant polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)" according to medpage today. A review of a Dutch study stated, " Early PCB exposure was the major contributor to impaired antibody production in response to diphtheria and tetanus vaccinations, which may indicate a need for stepped up immunization in children at higher exposures, found a study sponsored by the U.S. and Danish Environmental Protection Agencies."
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netdoctor.co.uk had the headlines "Orange juice effective for kidney stones" on 31 August 2006. Apparently orange juice was found to increase levels of citrate in the urine, preventing the crystallization of uric acid and calcium oxalate, which are common ingredients in kidney stones.
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"Breathing pesticides 'can trigger MS and Parkinson's disease'" read the headline of the Daily Mail on 9 August 2006. According to the article, pesticides can cause brain damage and trigger conditions such as epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease, according to a landmark study.
Breakspear Hospital now offers comphrehensive examinations of the autonomic nervous system in its new Neurological Science Department. More information will be posted on the website shortly.
July 2006
Under Health Notes in You magazine 28 July 2006, Sarah Stacey reported that none of the scientists involved in recent studies of MMR vaccines and regressive autism has claimed there is, as yet, proof positive that MMR causes autistic enterocolitis, but they have said there's clearly cause for concern and more research is vital.
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"Allergies linked to Parkinson's disease" read the headlines of the Times 8 July 2006. According to the article, millions of people who suffer from chronic allergies to pets, dust and spores are up to 3 times more likely to develop Parkinson's disease later in life, research suggests.
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The BBC News headlines read, "Richer areas 'child cancer risk'" on 19 July 2006 while the subheadings continued "Child leukaemia rates are higher in richer areas of Britain, an expert group of leading scientists says." A variety of reasons are considered, including pure chance, but also it is suggested that attention has been given to interactions between exposure to infections and immune responses and exposure to environmental agents.
June 2006
The Sunday Telegraph 19 June 2006 reported, " An inquiry into whether the MMR jab has caused autism and bowel disorders in children is to be launched by the Department of Health." The article continued, " Fears of a link between MMR, regressive autism and a rare bowel disorder have fuelled concern over the triple jab - for measles, mumps and rubella..."
Breakspear Hospital offers first-time and booster individual measles, rubella and mumps vaccinations and immunity blood tests. See individual MMR vaccinations for more information.
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Breakspear Medical Group was named runner up in the category of Best Allergy Test/Clinic/Alternative Therapy Centre for 2006 by Allergy magazine. Allergy magazine is available at Tesco stores or on-line at www.allergymagazine.com .
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"British travellers are more at risk of contracting the most deadly form of malaria now than they were 20 years ago, leading medical authorities reported this week" was the summary for an article in the 17 June 2006 Telegraph. According to figures from the Health Protection Agency (HPA), in total, 1,754 Britons were known to have contracted malaria last year - an increase of 94 on the previous year. Of these, 11 cases proved fatal, up from 5 the previous year.
Breakspear Hospital provides anti-malarial information. Pick up your copy before you travel abroad!
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"Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes sharply raise the risk of pregnancy complications, research has found" according to a BBC News article 16 June 2006. UK experts say diabetic women should be offered specialist foetal heart scans because of the increased risk of serious abnormalities and infant death. The experts said women with diabetes should take 5mg of folic acid a day from before conception up to week 12 of pregnancy.
The vitamin is known to reduce the risk of neural tube defects, such as spina bifida.
Changes to diet and nutrition can help reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Talk with a Breakspear doctor about what you can do!
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On the 15th of June 2006, BBC News headlines read "UK 'in grip of measles outbreak'". Health experts are blaming low uptake of the MMR vaccine. The article states, "The number of measles cases in the UK have risen to their highest level in nearly 20 years..."
Shadow Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said: "The government's failure to maintain confidence in the MMR jab has led directly to these outbreaks of measles."
Separate MMR vaccinations are available at Breakspear Hospital. See Individual MMR for more information.
May 2006
"Two doses of MMR 'may not protect from mumps' " was the headline from the Times 11 May 2006. The article quotes a new study, published on-line by the Journal of Epidemiology and Infection, that analysed serum samples from 3,445 patients aged from 1 to 69. According to the article, "In children born between 1986 and 1990, who would be expected to have received one dose of MMR as part of routine vaccination, 34 per cent were found to have low levels of mumps antibodies — indicating potential lack of protection. Of those born between 1991 and 1995, who should have had two doses, 15 per cent were found to have low antibody levels."
Separate MMR vaccinations are available at Breakspear Hospital. See Individual MMR for more information.
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In early May 2006, Greenpeace released a study "Fragile: Our Reproductive Health and Chemical Exposure" which claims that sperm counts have fallen 50% in 50 years and that the rates of infertility and testicular cancer have doubled in 40 years.
The summer 2006 edition of the Breakspear Medical Bulletin contains an article on "New thoughts on erectile dysfunction".
April 2006
In an article in the Times 17 April 2006, "The late spring adds up to hay fever hell". According to Dr Thomas Stuttaford, the atmosphere will be laden with pollen to a greater extent than usual and anyone who suffers from hay fever will certainly notice the change. The doctor recommends that heavy sufferers should consider immuno therapy and injections.
See Breakspear's allergy treatment programme for more information on our allergy treatments.
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In a report featured on netdoctor.co.uk, a new type of "antibiotics may help treat asthma". The trials,
which involved 278 patients at 70 centres worldwide, revealed 61% of patients were positive for the bugs chlamydophila pneumoniae and mycoplasma pneumoniae, which doctors believe may increase the severity of asthma attacks.
The research team believes it is the drug's effect on these bacteria which could explain the sufferers’ improvement.
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In 2000, nearly 5,000 women died from cervical cancer. This has lead to researchers putting more emphasis on testing for the human papillomavirus, which causes genital warts and is a major risk factor for cervical cancer. The HPV test "may be a more sensitive screening tool than what is used currently" according to the article in www.ivanhoe.com, "HPV Test Better Indicator of Cervical Cancer".
Breakspear Hospital offers At-home HPV Test Kits as well as HPV tests as part of a complete cervical screening.
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On 2 April 2006, The Sunday Times reported, "Number of children treated for nut allergies soars" as Department of Health research reveals that the number of children treated for life-threatening allergies to peanuts and other foods has more than doubled in five years.
According to the article, "the number of Adrenalin injections prescribed for children under 6 suffering severe allergic reactions rose from 15,100 to 37,235 between 1999 and 2004, an increase of 146%."
more information.
March 2006
Many papers, such as the Yorkshire Post, featured headlines in March 2006, "MMR jab fears 'may have led to mumps outbreak'". According to the Post's article, "It is understood the big leap in measles cases in Doncaster could be due to some parents refusing to have their children immunised with the MMR vaccine following a doctor's claim it caused bowel problems which he linked to autism."
Separate MMR vaccinations are available at Breakspear Hospital. See Individual MMR for more information.
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On 8 March 2006, The Times reported "Research suggests that carrying a particular gene prevents some people from processing caffeine quickly and makes them more vulnerable to heart attacks." The article goes on to explain that Canadian scientists have discovered that people with slower metabolism gene variation run a dramatically higher risk even if they drink only 2 cups a day.
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"Pregnant Moms' Vitamin D Can Prevent Kids' Wheeze and Asthma" according to an article in MedPage Today 6 March 2006. It explains that study results concluded that pregnant women who get higher doses of vitamin D than are typically recommended have a significantly lower risk of having chilcren with wheezing illnesses.
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"Underarm antiperspirants may contribute to the risk of breast cancer because they contain aluminum salts with metal ions that mimic the effect of estrogen" was the opening statement in an article on medpagetoday.com 1 March 2006.
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BBC News reported, "Scientists have produced more compelling evidence that cocoa is good for your heart." The data came from an anaylsis of 470 men who were studied from 1985 to 1995 with follow-up through 2000.
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The Ivanhoe Newswire posted an article in late February 2006 that read, "A new study reveals organic diets in children provide a dramatic and immediate protective effect against exposures to two pesticides commonly used in United States agricultural production." For more details on the study, see the Ivanhoe article titled, "Organic Diets Protect Children".
February 2006
Medpagetoday.com posted an article "Dueling Diets: Low-Carb Equals Low-Fat for Weight Loss but Boosts Cholesterol". The article stated, "Compared with the low-fat group, [low-carb dieters'] triglycerides were lower with a weighted mean difference."
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According to medpagetoday.com 15 February 2006, "supplementation with calcium and vitamin D increased hip bone density but didn't significantly reduce fracture risk....
[C]alcium and vitamin D supplements did not reduce colorectal cancer risk and are not recommended as part of a cancer prevention strategy."
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According to the British Medical Journal, 18 February 2006, melatonin is "probably [a] safe miracle drug". One article titled, "Does melatonin help people sleep?" goes on to summarise various trials of this prooduct that has the legal status of a nutritional supplement. A second article title "Efficacy and safety of exogenous melatonin for secondary sleep disorders and sleep disorders accompaning sleep restriction: meta-analysis" reviews exogenous melatonin and concludes there is evidence that it is safe for short term use.
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Netdoctor.co.uk, the UK's leading independent health website, featured an article titled "Broccoli cancer link explained". The article reports on the link that scientists have discovered between how such vegetables as broccoli and brussel sprouts can prevent cancer as they contain a compound called 13C and a chemical called genistein. In tests they were shown to boost the amount of essential BRCA proteins in the body.
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According to the Daily Mirror 5 February 2006, "A former Government medical officer [
Dr Peter Fletcher
] responsible for deciding whether medicines are safe has accused the Government of 'utterly inexplicable complacency' over the MMR triple vaccine for children." In the article, it states that Dr Fletcher stated that he has seen a "steady accumulation of evidence" from scientists worldwide that the measles, mumps and rubella jab is causing brain damage in certain children.
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In late January 2006, the NHS National Electronic Library for Health posted an article "Aspirin lowers the risk of heart problems in men and women in different ways reported two newspapers on 18 January 2006." The Daily Mail's 18 January 2006 headline read, "Aspirin, the heart tonic for both sexes" and stated that "the painkiller lowers the risk of heart attacks for men, but cuts the risk of strokes for women."
The 18 January 2006 Daily Mail also had a health story by Julie Wheldon titled, "Pesticide sprayed on fruit 'can make men less fertile'". The article stated that research suggests "The chemical, called chlorpyrifos, can suppress levels of the male hormone testosterone by up to ten percent..." Another article on male fertility was published in the Daily Mail 13 October 2005 which stated, "Men exposed to high levels of the pollutants called PCBs were found to be 60 percent more likely to have damaged sperm.... The toxins are found in food such as oily fish, meat and dairy products."
January 2006
In Archives of Internal Medicine 9 January 2006, an article titled, "Association between protein intake and blood pressure", the conclusion stated that "vegetable protein intake was inversely related to blood pressure. This finding is consistent with recommendations that a diet high in vegetable products be part of healthy lifestyle for prevention of high blood pressure and related diseases."
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Headlines in The Times 17 January 2006 read, "Children frequently exposed to household insecticides used on plants, lawns and in head lice shampoos appear to run double the risk of developing childhood leukaemia..."
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"Cancer chemical found in coffee" was the headline in the Sunday Times 15 January 2006. The article went on to state that coffee is apparently responsible for as much as one third of the daily consumption of the cancer-causing chemical acrylamide.
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Ivanhoe.com reported in December 2005 that "Air Pollution Causes Heart Disease". The newswire quoted new research out of New York's University School of Medicine linking air pollution and atherosclerosis.
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"Boosted Vitamin D Intake for Cancer Prevention" was the headline of medpagetoday.com. In a systematic review of observational studies published 29 December 2005, researchers suggested that vitamin D intake might be a player in the battle to prevent certain malignancies.
December 2005
"Pharmacies to provide chlamydia testing" was the headline of an article on Netdoctor.co.uk which stated that under a university study, women who ask for emergency contraception will be given a box containing a urine sample bottle and confidential questionnaire. The sample will then be tested and the woman will receive a diagnosis within 3 working days.
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Netdoctor.co.uk's headlines read, "Autism breakthrough finds broken mirror neurons". The article goes on the provide information on new research into the causes of autism found children with the condition have no activity in a key part of the brain that allows understanding of other people's emotions.
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The World Health Network reported, "Magnesium good for old bones". The study at the American Geriatric Society concluded that greater magnesium intake is significantly related to higher bone mineral density in men and women.
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Due to the explosions and fires at Buncefield Depot, Hemel Hempstead,
residents have been told by police to keep their windows and doors closed.
If you are concerned with the amount of exposure you have experienced, do make an appointment to start a detoxification programme.
For smoke inhalation, Breakspear Hospital recommends that you have treatment to clear pollutants from your body as fast as possible because the faster the chemicals are excreted from the body, the less likely they are to have a lasting effect.
Some years ago firefighters in the United States, who were caught up in a similar problem, were treated with a detoxification programme.
We suggest that you have various treatments to detoxify yourself. There are only 4 routes for clearing pollutants from the body:
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through the lungs
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through the skin
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through the kidneys
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through the gut
At Breakspear Hospital, we use treatment to clear pollutants from the lungs with oxygen therapy and hyperthermia (which means increasing the body temperature). This means either a sauna or treatment using specialised equipment (see Iratherm®1000), which heats up the body. This allows a faster turnover of activity in the body, and the chemicals can then be excreted through the lungs or the skin.
To improve clearance of chemicals through the kidneys and gut, one has to take various nutrients, which are specifically needed by the detoxification pathways of the body. This helps to transform the chemicals into forms that can be excreted. Through the kidneys they will be water-soluble chemicals and through the gut they will be excreted from the liver through the bile.
November 2005
"The devastated mother of a baby who died of TB in a creche at the hospital where she works hit out at the Government...for cutting back on the number of children immunised against the disease" report the Mail on Sunday 13 November 2005. Breakspear offers mercury-free TB vaccinations.
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Netdoctor.co.uk reports that "Lack of the super-mineral selenium may cause arthritic knees". The study involved 940 volunteers and for every 10th of a part per million of selenium present in the body, individuals were found to have a 15 -20% reduction in risk from arthritis.
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A Japanese study concluded that "fish oil supplements combined with statin therapy deliver a one-two punch that reduces major coronary events, particularly for those with established coronary artery disease." Breakspear Hospital has been recommending fish oils and other cholesterol lowering items for years.
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The Health Protection Agency is hosting its VIIIth International Conference on Chemical Hazards, Poisons and Sustainable Communities 5-7 December 2005 in Cardiff. The conference will focus on national and international developments in identifying the key threats to the health of the public from chemical hazards and poisons. See www.hpachemicalconference.org.uk for more information.
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Headlines of the Ivanhoe Newswire read, "Supplements Cut Cancer Risk" and quoted two new studies as showing that supplements can cut the risk of common cancers in men and women.
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A report has been published (available at www.neurology.org) that claims that riboflavin, which improves energy metabolism similarly to coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), is effective in migraine prophylaxis. In the study, the researchers compared CoQ10 (3 x 100 mg/day) and placebo in 42 migraine patients in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.
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The American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM) releases a newletter free to members which provides specific information on government matters of concern to occupational and environmental physicians.
The July/August 2005 edition contained the following two articles of note. - An article titled "ACOEM Reaffirms Toxicology a Core Content of Occupational and Environmental Medicine" explained about a recent American court decision that found a physician certified in occupational medicine was not competent to serve as an expert in toxicology. In response, the ACOEM clarified that toxicology is a core competency of occupational and environmental medicine and that core competency plus experience could enable an individual to serve as an expert on a toxicology issue.
- "More Than Half of US Population Sensitive to One or More Allergens" was the heading of another article. The statistics that 54.3% of individuals 6 to 59 years old had a positive skin test response to at least one of 10 allergens tests, according to new findings based on data from the third National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES III). Approximately 10,500 individuals participated in the skin testing.
October 2005
Dr Jean Monro's outline on mushroom immunonutrition in chronic fatigue immune dysfunction syndrome is included in the Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients, October 2005.
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Breakspear's Dr Jean Monro was quote in the Sunday Herald 9 October 2005 in an article titled, "Controvery over vitamin jab for autism". Dr Monro stated that "[Breakspear] hospital has been using the injections on autistic children for several months...I saw one boy in his early teens who, from having been a chap who couldn't even sit down, can now co-operate with people. We've also not found any side-effects yet."
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The frontpage headlines in a recent article in The Daily Telegraph read, "Vaccine for cervical cancer". The injection may be given to girls and boys aged 11 and is expected to be available next year.
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"Omega-3 fatty acids can help with agression and may also improve children's cognitive skills, says Dr Thomas Stuttaford" in an article in The Times 5 October, 2005. On BBC Two on 6 October, there was a programme that featured a trial conducted by the Middlesbrough Education Authority on the effect of fish oil on children's cognitive skills and behaviour.
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An article in The Times 27 September 2005 read, "Broccoli, cauliflower and watercress could hold the secret to blocking lunk cancer's progression." There was also news stating, "eating plenty of fruit and vegetables can halve your risk of developing pancreatic cancer."
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The Times on-line headlines 7 October 2005 read, "New cancer vaccine will end routine smear tests" and the article goes on to explain that cervical cancer, which kills 300,000 women a year around the world, could be largely prevented by a vaccine.
September 2005
"Britain is the worst country in Europe at treating the deadly Hepatitis C infection, experts have claimed" according to a newsflash this month at aol.co.uk. Professor William Rosenberg, University of Southampton added: "If we continue to do nothing about Hepatitis C then between 100,000 and 300,000 people will have to endure preventable liver disease."
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"IV Vitamin C Seen as Cancer-Fighter" read the headline of an ariticle by Neil Osterweil, MedPage Today Staff Writer, 14 September 2005. "Vitamin C (ascorbate) delivered to the bloodstream in high concentrations could be a potent killer of cancer cells, especially some lymphomas, suggested researchers at the National Institutes of Health..."
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According to The Times 13 September 2005, "Bacteria may ease common cold". In a study of 479 health adults, half were given vitamin and mineral tablets and the other half a supplement that also contains probiotic bacteria, it seems that "the probiotic bacteria shortened episodes of the common cold and reduce the severity of symptoms."
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"Mobile phone fears for owners, aged five" read the title of an article in The Daily Telegraph 12 September 2005. The article went on to say, "Children as young as five are increasingly being given mobile phones that offer no protection... industry experts say. Parents are so anxious to keep tabs on their offspring that they are sending them to primary school with unsuitable mobile phones designed for adults..."
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Headlines in the Sunday Times 11 September 2005 read, "Electrical fields can make you sick". The article stated, "
A government agency has acknowledged for the first time that people can suffer nausea, headaches and muscle pains when exposed to electromagnetic fields from mobile phones, electricity pylons and computer screens.
The condition known as electrosensitivity, a heightened reaction to electrical energy, will be recognised as a physical impairment."
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"Ginger extract may offer a safe treatment to protect against Alzheimer's diseases inflammation" read the headline of a news release from HerbClip. The author's of the report concluded that ginger extract may help prevent the sustained elevation of the proinflammatory cytokins, as would be seen in people with Alzheimer's disease.
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"Virgin olive oil is the natural way to kill pain" The Daily Telegraph 1 September 2005 reported . The article claims that extra virgin olive oil relieves pain the same way that ibuprofen does.
August 2005
A report 29 August, 2005 at www.ivanhoe.com was headlined, "Does Melatonin Increase Cancer Survival Rates?" The article goes on to explain how melatonin has been linked to a substantial improvement in survival after one year.
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"Epidemiologic studies suggest that the antioxidant potential dietary carotenoids may protect against the oxidative damage that can result in inflammation" is the background statement for an original research communication on the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition website, www.ajcn.org.
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The Guardian 24 August 2005 contained an article titled, "We should have been warned" which was written by mother, Siobhan O'Neil, who was told that the new 5-in-1 jab might leave her daughter irritable for a day or two, leaving her unprepared for the serious side-effects lasting 7 days.
July 2005
"Campaigners have called for action to protect children after research highlighted a link between illness and pesticide use in or near schools" states the subheading of a BBC News Online article. A new study released confirms illnesses in children and school employees from exposure to pesticides. According to an article in the July 27th issue of
Journal of the American Medical Association, the rate of new illnesses associated with pesticide exposure at schools in the US increased significantly in children from 1998 to 2002.
The BBC News Online article was following a press release by Georgina Downs www.pesticidescampaign.co.uk that went out mid July 2005.
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"Studies suggest that pollen gathered from sunflowers may contain deadly traces of pesticides" reports www.moraybeekeepers.co.uk. The article talks about fipronil still being present in the pollen of the flowers when it is gathered by the bees and the theory goes that the bees ingest that fipronil and it either kills them or disprupts the organisation of the hives. Recently several studies suggested that fipronil was also a threat to human health, as it is accumulated in animals fat and milk.
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The Times online headlines on 12 July 2005 read, "Yuppie flu may not be all in the mind - it might be in the genes". The article states that a team at Imperial College, London, "have discovered the first firm evidence that the illness - also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) - leads to clear biological changes in the blood."
Breakspear Hospital has always had a policy of identifying causes and then offering treatment. We look for infectious agents such as Epstein-Barr virus, Parvovirus B19 and bacterial, rickettsial and parasitic organisms.
The treatments we offer are anti-viral treatments, high-dose gamma globulin to treat Parvovirus and complex treatments for rickettsial and bacterial disease. We use hyperthermia treatment to simulate the pyrexia of illness and support nutrition. Where people have developed intolerances to foods, these are also recognised and treated.
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Netdoctor.co.uk 11 July 2005 states, "A major drive [for students to have the MMR] will be launched" to prevent the mumps epidemic from spreading across university campuses.
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The Guardian reports that approximately 90,000 new students will be advised to have the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine before starting their university courses this autumn."
Breakspear Hospital offers separate vaccinations for measles, rubella and mumps. See Individual MMR Vaccinations for more information.
June 2005
Breakspear Hospital's Medical Director, Dr Jean Monro, has been included in Tatler's (June 2005) 150 best private doctors listing.
The magazine states, "...we surveyed hundreds of doctors, asked the experts who they'd send a member of their own family to see and spent plenty of time in Harley Street waiting rooms ourselves....[T]his could be the most useful article you're ever clipped."
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