Prostate Cancer

An exciting new development in the treatment of prostate cancer has been hailed by scientists as a possible revolution in the way the disease is treated.

Experiments have targeted the activity of ‘fibroblast’ cells and successfully changed the way they behave.  Trials on mice have seen a reduction on the growth of prostate cancer.

Dr Axel Thomson, lead researcher at the Medical Research Council in Edinburgh, said: “This is an extremely exciting development that has the potential to form the basis of a revolution in prostate cancer treatments over time if replicated in humans.  By targeting the fibroblasts that control the growth of cancer these new treatments could be both more effective and likely to lead to significantly fewer side effects”.

Fibroblast cells are found next to cancer cells and although not cancerous, they encourage cancer to grow.  By turning on key genes inside fibroblast cells, dramatic reduction has been seen in prostate cancer tumours in mice.  Mr Thomson added: “It will take 10 years and more to bring this approach to the bedside but we believe it is an entirely new way of targeting tumour growth”.

Nursing News – 2nd November 2012

Elderly hearing failure

Action on Hearing Loss has recently completed a study across the UK of the elderly within care homes and discovered that up to 250,000 have undiagnosed or untreated hearing loss. The charity warned that these residents felt their hearing loss was part of getting older but in fact it can be supported through proper training of staff. The high levels of undiagnosed hearing loss were mainly due to a lack of training for staff to enable them to recognise issues.

Depression figures rise

During the previous twelve months GP’s have diagnosed an increasing amount of people with depression. The figures for 2011 were 4.9million sufferers but now stands at 5.1million meaning that one in ten people in the UK have been diagnosed with a mental illness, making it the most common illness at this time. Experts are suggesting that the economic climate is putting further pressure on people and this in turn has lead to the rise in figures as people struggle to cope with job insecurity and financial concerns. Treatment for depression includes tablets and / or counselling.

Supplements during pregnancy

Leading charity, Shine, which assists individuals and families affected by spina bifida and hydrocephalus, is suggesting pregnant women should take vitamin B12 as well as folic acid once a day. It also recommends that those trying to conceive do the same. The theory is that by taking vitamin B12 with folic acid, the latter will become more effective. The new report supporting this advice has been released by the Vitamin Research Institute at the Institute of Molecular Medicine, Trinity College, Dublin. Its founder and leading expert, Professor John Scott, said: It is clear that, as well as the addition of folic acid supplement (400mcg daily), the addition of a vitamin B12 component of at least 2.5mcg per day would bring about a further significant and worthwhile reduction for neural tube defects”.

Flu jab additional benefit

Researchers studying clinical trials dating back to the 1960’s have found an additional benefit of having the flu vaccination. The study suggests the influenza vaccine could also be important in the maintenance of heart health and protecting against cardiovascular problems, such as strokes and heart attacks. Dr Jacob Udell, Cardiologist, carried out the study with a team from the TIMI Study Group and Network for Innovation in Clinical Research and said: For those who had the flu shot, there was a pretty strong risk reduction”. Each year around 20 per cent of adults and 5 per cent of children catch the flu in the UK most people recover easily but around 600 die from complications whilst suffering the illness.

HIV test

British scientists are developing a new HIV test which is anticipated to be ten times more sensitive and a fraction of the cost of the current testing process. The scientists working at the Imperial College of London hope to improve diagnosis and treatment in the developing world with the product. Lead researcher, Molly Stevens, said: “Our approach affords for improved sensitivity, does not require sophisticated instrumentation and it is ten times cheaper”. Although there are simple tests on the market which pick up the virus in saliva, it needs to reach relatively high concentrations in the body first. The new system works by testing blood samples in a disposable containers, which if the HIV virus is present even in minute quantities, will turn the solution blue.

Nursing Personnel Nursing Agency Awarded Platinum Rating by LRANF

Further to Nursing Personnel’s external audit by the London Regional Agency Nursing Framework (LRANF) in conjunction with UCLH we are pleased to have been awarded a platinum rating. This is the highest rating available and equivalent to a compliance score of 95% or higher.

Nursing Personnel work continuously to ensure all nurses and medical staff supplied to the NHS across the UK are fully compliant, competent, and screened to work safely in the clinical area they are supplied to.

We would like to thank all our nurses, operating theatre staff, and healthcare assistants for their continued support and assistance in ensuring all their documentation and compliance is 100% up to date, helping us to achieve a platinum rating.

Nursing Personnel are continuously recruiting nurses, healthcare assistants, and operating theatre staff across the UK. If you are looking for Nursing Jobs anywhere in the UK register with a platinum rating nursing agency online at www.nursing-personnel.com

Nursing Personnel win preferred supplier to London CNWL NHS Foundation Trust

Nursing Personnel are pleased to announce the award of preferred supplier to CNWL (Central and North West London) NHS Foundation Trust for the supply of nursing and health care agency staff.

Nursing Personnel  (part of Medical Professional Personnel Ltd) was selected as a result of being an approved supplier to the NHS under the NHS London Procurement Programme / LPP Framework Agreement. Nursing Personnel are confident that with our competitive charge rates and quality of staff we supply the NHS receives excellent value for money with our service. This is fundamental especially in these challenging economic conditions.

Nursing Personnel will be supplying agency nurses and healthcare assistants to the following locations across London:

• Kensington & Chelsea
• Brent
• Harrow
• Ealing
• Hillingdon
• Westminster
• St Johns Wood
• Hammersmith and Fulham
• Hounslow

Nursing Personnel are looking forward to working with the CNWL NHS Foundation Trust and if you are an agency nurse looking for agency nurse jobs in London please feel free to contact us on 0845 122 0414 or visit our website www.nursing-personnel.com for all the latest nurse jobs across the UK.

For the latest updates and contract awards keep a close eye on Nursing Personnel’s website.

Health News from Around the World

HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy)

HRT has recently been in a study which has revealed new findings to counteract all the years of controversy surrounding it. It is now been hailed as having long-term health benefit to include protecting against heart disease without increasing the risk of cancer. Women who start HRT when it begins and continue taking it for ten years can hope to reduce the risk of heart failure, heart attacks and premature death. Stroke and heart disease risk can be halved. The biggest change in thinking is that there are no extra risks of cancer, strokes or blood clots even 16 years of beginning treatment. The Danish study is the only one of its kind to be carried out and is causing British doctors to call for a re-writing of the prescribing rules for HRT.

Weight loss study

Psychologists have found that dieting with the support of a weight loss group can help dieters to lose three times as much weight. Their study also found that those attending a slimming club, such as Weight Watchers, lose double the weight than those who diet alone. Finding inspiration from people with the same goal is often more successful and enjoyable than following a strict routine set out by a medical professional. The study took place in New York and is the first to look at professionally delivered group weight loss treatment.

Echinacea clinical study

A clinical study into the possible benefits of Echinacea has found it can prevent colds and provides an increased benefit to those who are prone to them. If taken three times daily for four months the herbal remedy reduced the number of colds. It also decreased the length of time the patients suffered the cold for by 26 per cent. The study carried out by experts in Cardiff University Common Cold Centre found that whilst it reduced the risk of cold it reduced the amount of paracetamol a patient needed whilst ill too. Echinacea is a commonly used herbal remedy which is extracted from the Eastern Purple Coneflower, found in North America. British drugs regulator, MHRA, has warned that although the remedy is useful for adults, it should not be given to children under 12 due to the risk of severe allergic reactions.

Flu vaccine shortage

An unexpected test result of the flu vaccine by Crucell, a pharmaceutical company based in the Netherlands, has seen all its supplies suspended. The company provides ten percent of the UK’s flu vaccines but made the decision to protect patient safety. Annually between 2000 and 4000 people die from flu associated illnesses, although mostly elderly, it can be a particular problem for those in other high-risk groups such as pregnant women, children and those with respiratory conditions. Ministers have recently been recommended by an independent expert committee to vaccinate all children between the ages of two and 17 annually by nasal spray although this might not happen until 2014.