In a large-scale, multi-center trial of patients with acute lung injury (ALI) or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), researchers showed that higher levels of nitric oxide (NO) in patient urine were strongly associated with improved survival, more ventilator-free days, and decreased rates of organ failure. [click link for full article]

Black women may not get the full benefits of mammogram screenings because the results are not adequately communicated, according to a new study by Yale Public Health researchers in the March issue of American Journal of Public Health.To help reduce the rate of death and disability from breast cancer, the second most common cause of cancer death in American women, current guidelines recommend routine mammography screening for women aged 40 and older. [click link for full article]

The Department of Health is offering flu vaccination this winter to those who work in close contact with poultry. This is being done as a precautionary public health measure and does not mean that workers are at any higher risk of getting flu this winter than usual. Nor does it mean that there is an increased risk of an outbreak of bird flu in the UK as this risk remains low.For further information please see the leaflet,Q&A sheet, and Directions at the links below. [click link for full article]

A breast cancer treatment based on MIT research originally intended for detecting missiles is documented in a new book by Alan J. Fenn, an MIT researcher and inventor of the technique.The book, “Breast Cancer Treatment by Focused Microwave Thermotherapy” (Jones and Bartlett Publishers, 2007), includes a discussion of promising results from the latest clinical trials of the therapy. [click link for full article]

The United Nations World Food Programme has condemned a kidnapping and armed attack on a WFP-contracted convoy in Eastern Chad early on Sunday (28 January). According to the Libyan company which leased the trucks to WFP, unknown gunmen attacked the convoy of 48 empty vehicles as it was returning from Eastern Chad to Khufra, South Libya, over the weekend. The convoy had delivered food assistance to some 220,000 people living in refugee camps in Eastern Chad. [click link for full article]

Fears that admin staff could call up the smear test results of any women have halted the implementation of a new cervical cancer screening system in Scotland.In an exclusive story this week, BMA News reveals that anyone with a password, including admin staff, would be able to access smear results under the Scottish Cervical Call-Recall System that is currently being piloted in a handful of GP practices. [click link for full article]

Alveolus, Inc., a leading provider of non-vascular interventional stent technology, announced today the U.S. launch of its AERO(TM) Hybrid Tracheobronchial Stent System, which has been cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of malignant pulmonary obstructions. Malignant pulmonary obstruction is the blockage of the airway or tracheobronchial tree. [click link for full article]

Pharmaceutical company Pharmaxis (ASX: PXS; Nasdaq: PXSL) today announced that its Phase III clinical trial of Bronchitol in bronchiectasis has reached the recruitment target of 354 subjects. The double blinded placebo controlled trial, which commenced dosing subjects in May 2006, is being conducted at 22 hospitals across Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. It is expected to complete and report in the middle of 2007. [click link for full article]

Human papillomavirus (HPV), a group of viruses commonly linked to the sexually transmitted disease known as genital HPV infection, has long been associated with the development of certain types of cancers — specifically cervical cancer. However, in some cases, HPV can lead to a type of skin cancer known as squamous cell carcinoma. [click link for full article]