Asian women's 'hidden' cancer
Cervical cancer kills more women in Asia-Pacific than anywhere else, and is the second most common cancer among women in countries such as mainland China, the Philippines, Thailand and Malaysia, a conference in Bangkok has been told. Describing it as the region's hidden cancer, the head of Chiang Mai University's gynaecological and oncology department, Jatupol Srisomboon, said the region accounted for about 266,000 of the world's 500,000 annual fatalities from cervical cancer - largely because of less effective screening, AFP reports.
Alzheimer's cure may be closer
Australian researchers have developed a daily pill that may slow and even block Alzheimer's disease, with human trials about to start after successful tests on mice. 'We think the drug can help best at an early phase of the disease ... nipping it in the bud,' says Mental Health Research Institute of Victoria director George Fink. The medication, PBT2, significantly and quickly reduces the amyloid protein, which is thought to cause Alzheimer's - cutting it by 60 per cent within 24 hours. In trials, mice given the drug showed improved memory performance after four days, Reuters reports. Meanwhile, Swedish researchers report reduced side effects such as nausea and vomiting with the first patch designed to deliver a widely used daily Alzheimer's medication, rivastigmine, healthday.com reports.
Ring the changes on volume
People who listen to MP3 players loudly and for long periods risk going deaf 30 years earlier than they might otherwise, according to charity group Deafness Research UK. In a survey of 1,000 Britons aged 16 to 34, more than a third say they get ringing in the ear, a sign of damage, after listening to loud music, and 14 per cent say they use their music players for 28 hours a week. Deafness Research recommends its 60-60 rule: don't play an MP3 device at greater than 60 per cent of maximum volume, and don't listen for more than 60 minutes at a time.
Lead levels warning