Latest Health Discussions

Spam text pair facing large fines

Thu, 04 Oct 2012 09:29:00 GMT

Fines totalling more than £250,000 are being faced by a pair accused of illegally sending out millions of unsolicited spam text messages, the information watchdog has revealed.

Many of the texts offered pay-outs for accidents the recipients had never had or for Payment Protection Insurance (PPI) claims they were not necessarily entitled to make.

The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) said the two now face the hefty fines unless they could prove, within 28 days, that they had been acting within the law.

The ICO's director of operations, Simon Entwisle, said people were increasingly worried about being bombarded with illegal marketing texts and calls, often made by rogue companies, offering pay-outs.

He said: "While companies can phone people to sell them the latest product or service, the law states that individuals should not receive unsolicited texts or automated marketing calls unless they have given their permission."

Tablets make IT 'even more portable'

Tue, 02 Oct 2012 17:11:00 GMT

Tablet sales continue to rise in the UK IT market, but laptops are still holding their own, according to market watcher GfK, meaning online marketing and social media strategies could be getting more flexible and accessible.

Notebooks accounted for 33.6% of IT sales revenues in August 2012, which was down from 34.5% during the same month in 2011.

However, while tablets accounted for only 19.5% of the market, this was a rise from 11.8% for the same period 12 months ago.

A knock-on effect of increasing tablet sales is a similar rise in accessories. Headphone sales rose 25% from August 2011 and tablet-orientated keyboards also increased significantly.

On average, keyboards specifically for tablets are three times more expensive than traditional keyboards, so IT retailers will be happy to see tablet keyboard sales up by 88% in volume year-on-year, now representing 15% of the total keyboard market.

The rate at which tablets and their associated keyboard sales are increasing suggests the market is seeing a clear preference for that combination, rather than the notebooks or net books that integrate the two.

Botox bladder cure for MS patients

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 16:05:00 GMT

Using Botox to treat bladder problems could help thousands of people who suffer from multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a leading charity.

The treatment, chemically known as botulinum toxin type A, is best known as a cosmetic procedure to banish wrinkles but can also be used to treat chronic migraines.

It has now been licensed by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency for treating bladder problems in MS sufferers and people who have spinal cord injuries.

According to Botox manufacturer Allergan , between 60% and 80% of people with MS or spinal cord injuries living in Britain suffer from bladder dysfunction.

This is often caused by involuntary contractions of the bladder, which can lead to urinary incontinence.
A spokesman for the company said that injecting Botox every eight to 10 months could reduce the involuntary contractions, therefore increasing bladder capacity.

Ed Holloway, head of care and services research at the MS Society, said: "The MS Society funded one of the earliest trials using Botox for bladder control in MS and so we're delighted to see it's now a fully licensed treatment.

"Continence issues are extremely common in people with MS and this treatment could greatly improve the quality of life for thousands of people in the UK."

'Magic' medical devices in pipeline

Fri, 28 Sep 2012 13:44:00 GMT

Scientists in the US are working on technology that could enable medical devices to "disappear" within the body once they have exceeded their useful lifecycle.

The "transient" circuits - designed by a team from Tufts School of Engineering in Medford - would be harmlessly absorbed by the body after their function has been carried out.

Potential uses include measuring brain or heart activity, delivering drugs or killing bacteria with heat.

They could also provide environmentally friendly components for mobile phones or other electrical items thanks to the ability to dissolve rather than end up in landfill.

The scientists have put a number of functioning transient devices to the test in laboratory conditions, including temperature sensors, solar cells, simple radio transmitters and even a digital camera.

One circuit placed inside a rat successfully used heat to fight off an infection in a wound.

Professor Fiorenzo Omenetto, a leading member of the team, pointed out that the technology is the "polar opposite" of conventional electronics which are designed to provide long-term stability.

New medical device rules proposed

Fri, 28 Sep 2012 08:13:00 GMT

New rules on medical devices have been proposed by the European Commission after a series of scandals over breast implants and hip replacement techniques.

The move is designed to bolster the regulatory framework and further protect the safety of patients.

Significant changes have been put forward for the legislation relating to product life cycles, covering areas such as the pre-market assessment of devices, their control once they are marketed, and the transparency of information associated with the devices.

A vast array of devices would be affected by the new rules, from small home-use items such as sticking plasters and pregnancy tests through to x-ray machines, pacemakers and HIV blood tests.

The proposals come after critics hit out at the existing regulations, particularly following the discovery by health authorities in France that the manufacturer Poly Implant Prothese had apparently for several years used industrial instead of medical-grade silicone in the production of breast implants.

Firms 'go mobile and cut desks'

Tue, 25 Sep 2012 13:13:00 GMT

Organisations look set to cut back on office space in the coming years as mobile connectivity is fully embraced, new research suggests.

Office workers in Europe will use an average of five network connected devices throughout the working day, according to a global survey commissioned by Citrix.

The need for organisations to provide employees with their own desks will therefore reduce as workers will increasingly access company information from different locations and devices.

Large organisations expect to have on average 7% less work space within two years and 14% less by 2020, the survey found.

Across all respondents the study showed that organisations expect to be providing three-quarters of a desk per employee by the end of 2020.

The media, entertainment and leisure industries were already providing an average of three-quarters of a desk per worker in 2010 and those sectors forecast the biggest reduction, with an expectation of one desk for every two employees by the end of 2020.

"With workers expecting to work flexibly, and businesses looking to embrace the full benefits of mobile working, the demise of the dedicated desk will be the next phase in the transformation of the office," commented James Stevenson, Citrix area vice-president for the UK, Ireland and South Africa.

Warning over online skin treatments

Tue, 25 Sep 2012 07:59:00 GMT

People who buy injectable anti-wrinkle treatments online could be putting their health at risk, according to an association of plastic surgeons.

The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (Baaps) said that the chemical ingredients of the gel-like substances are often unspecified and have the potential to cause significant problems.

Healthcare professionals such as former Baaps president Nigel Mercer are concerned that people are being targeted by email from locations as far away as China touting the filler treatments.

The president of Baaps, Fazel Fatah, said: "We are worried about the proliferation about multiple fillers spread out in the market without control - people buying them from the internet."

Even the most basic online research uncovers a large number of websites offering treatments for sale.

Incidents of misuse may be multiplied by the attitudes of television personalities to plastic surgery. Mr Fatah warned that young people, in particular, may be influenced when TV stars talk about cosmetic surgery as though it were in vogue and had no complications.

Cosmetic surgeons want end to 'discount' deals

Tue, 25 Sep 2012 07:57:00 GMT

Discount websites offering money off plastic surgery are encouraging people to have work done without carefully considering it beforehand, surgeons claim.

According to the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (Baaps), websites such as Groupon, which offer money-off and discount vouchers, are leading customers to have cosmetic surgery too soon.

Former Baaps president Nigel Mercer says discount websites encourage people to do things straight away that they would otherwise think about, without any cooling off period.

The association says surgeries should not be using such websites and it also wants the industry to stop unethical advertising and targeting customers with aggressive marketing campaigns. It says vulnerable people such as divorcees, new mothers and brides-to-be should not be targeted and wants bans on seasonal incentives, loyalty cards, buy-one-get-one-free deals and limited time only offers.

"Baaps' view has always been that advertising for cosmetic surgery is banned altogether - you don't see advertisements for having a gall bladder removed or your hip replaced. Why should we have them done for cosmetic surgery?" said current Baaps president Fazal Fatah.

Government unveils digital strategy

Fri, 21 Sep 2012 08:05:00 GMT

Culture Secretary Maria Miller has announced the ten UK cities that will share £114 million of funding to help them become "digital leaders".

The investment in broadband infrastructure will enable the selected cities to compete for high-tech business worldwide. Companies will have access to broadband speeds in excess of 80Mbps.

Miller said: "Fast broadband is essential for growth and is key to the country's economic future. These 10 cities have produced ambitious and comprehensive plans which will turn them into digital leaders and give their local economies a real boost."

Awards include £12 million for Manchester, £10 million for Birmingham and £6 million for Cardiff. London will receive the largest investment, £25 million, while Belfast has been allocated £11.3 million and Bristol £11.3 million. Leeds and Bradford are set to gain £14.4 million, Edinburgh £10.7 million and Newcastle £6 million.

The Government aims to extend ultrafast broadband to 230,000 households and 55,000 firms by 2015. The strategy should allow the UK to remain competitive in what is a fast-changing industry.

iPhone 'may drive medical Bluetooth switch'

Fri, 21 Sep 2012 08:05:00 GMT

The health care industry may adopt Bluetooth technology thanks to tech giant Apple, despite the security risks of wireless networks, reports have said.

According to MobiHealthNews, the smaller dock on the Apple iPhone 5 could lead to greater transition toward Bluetooth connectivity for use in medical devices.

At the recent unveiling of the latest iPhone model, Apple bosses revealed how the device, along with the iPod Touch and iPod Nano, would be able to connect to an eight-pin connector called Lightning.

It will replace the 30-pin connector currently in use, they said.

The report in MobiHealthNews claimed users of medical devices that connect to the iPhone, such as glucometers, heart rate monitors and fitness sensors, may have to switch to Bluetooth.

Data can be collected on a patient's vital signs on an iPhone which than then be sent on to their doctor.

In a study carried out by IMS Research, the health care industry still has some way to go before it is ready for medical devices to be connected wirelessly. According to the research, just 9% of medical devices will feature any type of wireless technology within the next four years.

Three parent child is possibility

Fri, 21 Sep 2012 08:04:00 GMT

While the birth of the first "test tube" baby back in 1978 was the source of numerous scare stories in the media, nowadays the use of donated eggs or sperm is standard procedure.

Now the Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) is conducting a consultation exercise to gather the public's thoughts on allowing IVF babies with three separate genetic parents.

If the response is positive, the law could be changed as early as next year, with the new procedure capable of creating a generation free from mitochondrial diseases.

Mitochondria - rod-like bodies that act like internal power stations, supplying energy to the cell - carry their own set of genes, which can only be passed down the maternal line.

Defects in mitochondrial DNA can result in inheritable diseases such as muscular dystrophy and ataxia, which affect 0.5% of births in the UK.

A child created using a third genetic "parent" would retain a full compliment of nuclear DNA from its mother and father, along with a small amount of additional donated mitochondrial DNA.

Boston Scientific boosted by iPad innovation

Mon, 17 Sep 2012 15:52:00 GMT

Boston Scientific was one of the first company's to roll out iPads to its field sales team and it was clear early on that the idea was a good one.

The firm's CIO Rich Adduci sent a colleague to buy a dozen of the tablets when they were first launched.

It was thought that the iPad would replace the brochures and supporting material carried by staff as they went into meetings with doctors, but it went on to become one of the hottest topics at the medical device maker's annual sales meeting.

"The adoption rate is like nothing we've seen before," Adduci says. "It was immediately clear it was a home run."

The project also went on to win a 2012 CIO 100 award for innovation.

Earlier this year when Morgan Stanley quizzed 50 CIOs it discovered that 21% of firms currently buy tablets for employees, while 51% are planning to follow suit this year.

When Boston Scientific introduced the tablets to its sales team last year it did so in two phases, with US-based staff receiving them first before they were rolled out to international workers.

There have now been 5,300 devices deployed, with around 100 custom apps being developed, including functions such as product simulations and component comparison tools.

Any new product launches also include an iPad component to assist the company's field sales workers.

Cosmetic clinics call for regulation

Mon, 17 Sep 2012 09:54:00 GMT

Clinics performing cosmetic surgery procedures should face tighter regulation, two of the UK's leading providers have said.

Financial and operating issues were a result of failures by European regulators over breast implants manufactured by French company Poly Implant Prothese, according to both the Harley Medical Group and Transform.

While the Department of Health has said the UK's regulator had acted appropriately, lessons should be learned over the failures.

The issue came to light after PIP implants were found to have been filled with industrial silicon rather than medical-grade.

In December last year, the French government advised PIP patients to have their implants removed - causing patients, including many women in the UK, to call clinics with worries about their own situation.

Initially, the Harley Medical Group, which had used nearly 14,000 PIP implants, offered free replacements. Due to spiraling costs over the procedure it is now charging patients £2,500.

The European Union is looking at ways to tighten the system of CE marks and improving cooperation between various regulatory bodies across the continent.

Pierre Guillot, managing director of the Harley Medical Group, told BBC Radio 4's The Report programme: "We have a duty of care to our patients and to date we have performed over 1,000 replacement surgeries, in the majority of cases at no cost to the patient."

New drug reference app announced

Fri, 14 Sep 2012 08:07:00 GMT

An American generic drugs manufacturer has launched an app version of its reference guide to drugs to allow healthcare professionals, patients and pharmacy students to quickly identify branded and generic drugs.

Mylan announced that its Generic Brand Reference Guide (GBR), of which the pocket-sized 2012 print edition was made available earlier this year, will now be available in app form.

The guide contains details of thousands of generic and branded drugs in differing forms and is available for free to healthcare professionals.

Tony Mauro, Mylan's North America president, said: "We are pleased to offer Mylan's 2012 GBR to healthcare professionals in the US, including pharmacists, physicians and nurses and chain and wholesale buyers."

"The GBR provides a comprehensive and up-to-date list of the generic and brand names for more than 2,000 separate oral and liquid dosage forms, as well as injectable and transdermal products.

"Mylan is committed to partnering with healthcare providers to optimise their time and together expand access to high-quality medicine."

Asthma app now available for free

Wed, 12 Sep 2012 17:27:00 GMT

A leading medical technology firm has announced that it will be giving its asthma management smartphone app away for free for the remainder of September.

AsthmaSense v.1.0.1 will be made available for free by iSonea Ltd for iPhone, iPad and Android users until September 30. The company hopes that it will help many more asthmatics to manage the condition better at a difficult time of year for them.

The app is widely considered the most intelligent asthma management tool available as it actively offers analysis and advice rather than simply acting as a passive journal. CEO of iSonea Ltd, Michael Thomas, says it will contribute to the fight against asthma.

"Autumn is a tough time for asthmatics, especially children. By offering AsthmaSense for free through September, we are increasing access to the most intelligent, easy-to-use asthma management app on the market during this troublesome season," he said.

"At iSonea, we are committed to helping asthmatics breathe easier and we are continuing to develop tools to help people control this disease."

AsthmaSense assesses symptoms, medication usage and lung function measurements, and compares the data with the National Institute of Health (NIH) asthma guidelines before informing the user if it deems that their asthma may not be well controlled.

Figures from the American Lung Association indicate that more than seven million children suffer from asthma in the USA, making it one of the most chronic childhood disorders in the country.