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ASH Daily News
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13 December 2004
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HEADLINES
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20 minute test 'to reveal heart disease years early'
Legal threats loom to Holyrood's ban=20
Ulster parties aiming to unite over smoking ban in public places=20
FULL TEXT


20 minute test 'to reveal heart disease years early'

A simple blood test could help dramatically cut the number of people
dying from heart disease and strokes.=20

The 20-minute test would allow doctors to treat patients for the disease
years before it becomes potentially fatal.
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Heart disease experts said today it was a major breakthrough in the
battle against heart disease, Britain's number one killer.
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Cardiovascular disease kills over 238,000 people in Britain every year
and costs the NHS over Pounds 7billion a year to treat. The current
obesity epidemic is also believed to have led to an increase in the
number of sufferers.
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To take the test, patients simply place the tip of their finger on a
sensor that uses radio waves to measure the flow and pressure of blood.
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Tiny changes in the flow can reveal the health of the vessels,
researchers at Mayo Clinic in Minnesota discovered.
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They say this reading will point to future heart health.
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"Problems in our extremities, such as the finger, are often a clear sign
the same problem is occurring in the heart," said Dr Amir Lerman, who
developed the new test.=20

"We hope this test could spot any problems several years before there
actually are any problems. The work is at an early stage, but our goal
is to produce something that could be in every doctor's surgery, and is
a part of every check up. We believe that could happen within two years
if all goes well."

The fingertip sensor detects tiny abnormalities in the endothelium, a
lining in our blood vessels that protects them from damage. Experts
believe that if this lining is damaged, then over time that will lead to
arteries becoming damaged. By comparing results from the sensor with
results from surgical testing, researchers were able to "tune" the
sensor to spot these tiny changes in the blood vessel lining.=20

It is hoped a version of the sensor could be produced cheaply enough for
all surgeries to buy.=20
The researchers are currently conducting larger-scale trials of the
device.=20
British experts today backed the breakthrough. June Davison from the
British Heart Foundation said: "This could let us medicate people who do
not yet have any symptoms. It's potentially a huge step forward.=20

"Potentially every patient could take this test when they visit their
doctor. If we know there are problems coming up, we can advise on
lifestyle and diet changes."

She added: "Currently often the first that people know of a heart
problem is when they experience a severe symptom like a heart attack.
With this early warning, we can aggresively treat people we know are at
risk. This research is still at an early stage, but it has an awful lot
of potential."

Source: Evening Standard, 10 December 2004
Article link: http://www.rednova.com/news/display/?id=3D110330=20


Legal threats loom to Holyrood's ban

Ministers could be facing legal challenges over Holyrood's proposed
smoking ban, the BBC reports.=20
But Health minister Andy Kerr has rejected reports that the cabinet
faces a climbdown on the proposals to axe lighting up in enclosed public
places.
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Mr Kerr said on Sunday that he believed the planned bill would not
contravene Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.=20

The legislation is expected to be unveiled next week.=20

Mr Kerr said: "People can bring their own cases if they see the need to
do so. We are certainly clear about our abilities to do what we want to
do."=20

But opposition parties stressed that any new law must be applied fairly
if it is to work.=20
The Scottish National Party's health spokeswoman, Shona Robison, said:
"It must apply equally to private clubs.
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"There would be an inherent unfairness with the system if it did not,
and that wouldn't be fair on the licensed trade."=20

She added: "So the minister has to find a way to make sure it's
enforceable."=20

"The proposals are wide open to a legal challenge," said David
Dickinson, Conservative Health Spokesman.
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Paul Waterson, of the Scottish Licensed Trade Association, insisted: "We
believe the executive hasn't thought through the legislation and we will
be looking at it very closely when it's published."

Source: BBC News, 13 December 2004
Article link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/scotland/4090417.stm



Parties aiming to unite in bid to stub out smoking ban in public places

Plans are being drawn up for an all-party delegation of Ulster
politicians to push for a province-wide smoking ban.

Carmel Hanna, the SDLP's health spokesperson, said it was now time such
a group was set up to press Health Minister, Angela Smith, directly on
the issue.

Mrs Hanna's call follows a six-month progress report from the Office of
Tobacco Control in the Republic on the implementation of smoke-free
workplace legislation.

Dr Jane Wilde, Director of the Institute of Public Health in Ireland,
said: "The figures in today's report highlight the continued success and
support for Smoke-free Workplace legislation in the Republic of Ireland.

"This report states that there has been nationwide compliance at over
90% for the period for April to September 2004.
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"While similar legislation is due to be introduced in Scotland, the
health of hospitality workers and the general public in Northern Ireland
is still at risk."

The Institute of Public Health was set up to identify and develop
practical advantages from building greater co-operation for public
health between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
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Mrs Hanna added: "Listening to the more compelling evidence from the
Ulster Cancer Foundation, it has encouraged us all to redouble our
efforts to get a smoking ban across all public places in the north.

"Currently I am organising an all-party delegation to meet with the
Direct Rule Minister to make it very clear that politicians from all
parties here are in support of a smoking ban and it is about time she
took on board the views of locally elected politicians and implements
this ban as soon as possible."

Sinn Fein Health spokesperson, John O Dowd, added: "The evidence is
overwhelming second hand smoke kills, we can no longer allow a situation
to continue where people are forced to work in an environment which is
slowly but surely killing them.

"Direct rule Ministers have a responsibility to listen to locally
elected representatives," he said.

Source: Belfast Telegraph, 10 December 2004
Article link:
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=3D591789 =20
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