NLH - Hitting The Headlines
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IVF using single embryo transfer strategy boosts success and safety
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In vitro fertilisation (IVF) using single embryo transfer boosts success and safety, reported five newspaper articles on 21 February 2008 (1-5). The generally accurate reports were based on a large before- and after-study that found beneficial effects of a single embryo transfer strategy aimed at a selected group of women.
Source: NLH - Hitting The Headlines - September 5, 2008 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
'Omega-3 can help control eczema'Email this article to a colleague.
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A diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids can reduce the severity of eczema symptoms reported one newspaper (28 March 2008). The newspaper report generally accurately summarised the findings of a well-conducted randomised controlled trial. The small size of the trial means that further research is needed to confirm the findings.
Source: NLH - Hitting The Headlines - March 31, 2008 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Radiotherapy for breast cancer: could fewer doses be equally effective?Email this article to a colleague.
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Women receiving radiotherapy following surgery for breast cancer could receive fewer doses in future, reported two newspapers (19 March 2008). One newspaper generally accurately reported the findings of a well-conducted randomised controlled trial; the other report was very brief. Longer term data are required to confirm the trial findings.
Source: NLH - Hitting The Headlines - March 26, 2008 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Does aspirin reduce the risk of asthma in women?Email this article to a colleague.
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Aspirin reduces the risk of asthma by 10% in women reported two newspapers (13 March 2008). The newspaper reports of a well-conducted trial of 37,270 women with no history of asthma were generally accurate. The study's results appear reliable, but may not apply to all women.
Source: NLH - Hitting The Headlines - March 13, 2008 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
"Research casts doubt on anti-depressants"Email this article to a colleague.
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Millions of Britons are taking anti-depressants for no reason reported eight newspapers (26 February 2008). These reported conclusions of a meta-analysis, which showed a small benefit of certain antidepressants over placebo. Though reports were generally accurate, the analysis did not include all available data on the effects of these drugs.
Source: NLH - Hitting The Headlines - February 28, 2008 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
IVF using single embryo transfer strategy boosts success and safetyEmail this article to a colleague.
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In vitro fertilisation (IVF) using single embryo transfer boosts success and safety, reported five newspaper articles on 21 February 2008 (1-5). The generally accurate reports were based on a large before- and after-study that found beneficial effects of a single embryo transfer strategy aimed at a selected group of women.
Source: NLH - Hitting The Headlines - February 22, 2008 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
MMR vaccination and autismEmail this article to a colleague.
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There is no link between the MMR vaccination and autism, reported eight newspapers (5 February 2008). The newspaper reports were based on a well-conducted case-control study and were generally accurate. The study findings are likely to be reliable.
Source: NLH - Hitting The Headlines - February 6, 2008 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
'Folic acid may cut premature births by 70%'Email this article to a colleague.
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Folic acid taken for at least a year before pregnancy can cut the risks of premature birth by 50 to 70 per cent, reported three newspapers (31 January 2008). The reports were based on a press release that summarised the findings of an unpublished observational study.
Source: NLH - Hitting The Headlines - January 31, 2008 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Non-prescription cough medicines 'could be a waste of money'Email this article to a colleague.
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, reported the Daily Telegraph (23 January 2008). The newspaper was accurate in its reporting of a well-conducted review that appropriately concluded that there was no evidence for or against the effectiveness of over-the-counter medicines due to the lack of good quality trials.
Source: NLH - Hitting The Headlines - January 24, 2008 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
'Vaccine to fight all flu 'on the way''Email this article to a colleague.
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A vaccine that could protect against all forms of flu has been developed by British scientists, reported five newspapers (4 January 2008). The reports are based on limited information about early-stage research distributed in a press release, so the reliability of the evidence cannot be assessed.
Source: NLH - Hitting The Headlines - January 7, 2008 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
MRSA test 'cuts infections by 40%'Email this article to a colleague.
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Rapid testing of patients for MRSA reduced infection rates by nearly 40%, reported the Times (30 November 2007). The newspaper accurately reported the results of a study comparing infections before and after the introduction of the test. The causal relationship between testing and the reduction in infections is uncertain.
Source: NLH - Hitting The Headlines - December 20, 2007 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
'Planned caesareans linked to breathing difficulties'Email this article to a colleague.
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Babies born by planned caesarean section are up to four times more likely to suffer from breathing problems in the first days of life reported four newspapers (12th December 2007). These provided generally accurate summaries of a well-conducted cohort study that looked at the relationship between method of delivery and breathing difficulties in newborns.
Source: NLH - Hitting The Headlines - December 14, 2007 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
'How the Mediterranean diet could help you live longer'Email this article to a colleague.
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Consuming a Mediterranean diet can help people live longer, reported six newspapers (11th December 2007). The newspapers were generally accurate in their reports of a large cohort study, which looked at the relationship between diet and mortality in older people.
Source: NLH - Hitting The Headlines - December 13, 2007 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Honey 'better than cough medicine'Email this article to a colleague.
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Honey is better than dextromorphan for treating children's coughs, reported seven newspapers (4 December 2007). The newspaper articles described a small trial in which buckwheat honey was found to give effective relief to night time cough symptoms. However, the trial only demonstrated honey to be superior to no treatment and not to dextromorphan.
Source: NLH - Hitting The Headlines - December 6, 2007 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Spinal manipulation and or diclofenac for acute low back painEmail this article to a colleague.
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Spinal manipulation (and/ or use of diclofenac) does not speed up recovery from back pain reported five newspapers (9 November 2007). The newspaper reports of a well-conducted trial of people with acute back pain were generally accurate. The study's results appear reliable, and are applicable to people with acute lower back pain.
Source: NLH - Hitting The Headlines - November 13, 2007 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Statins and sleep disturbancesEmail this article to a colleague.
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The Daily Mail reported that the statin simvastatin is linked to sleep problems and weight gain (8 November 2007). The article was based on an abstract published in Circulation and a press release. Full details of the research have not been published, therefore its quality and reliability cannot be assessed.
Source: NLH - Hitting The Headlines - November 9, 2007 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Painkillers and Parkinson's diseaseEmail this article to a colleague.
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Painkillers may reduce the risk of Parkinson's, reported five newspapers (6 November 2007). The newspapers briefly, but generally accurately, reported the results of a case-control study. The study does have some weaknesses, and case control studies rarely provide definitive evidence for cause and effect. The call for further research seems appropriate.
Source: NLH - Hitting The Headlines - November 8, 2007 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Flu vaccination does not reduce hospital admissionsEmail this article to a colleague.
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The flu vaccination does not reduce hospital admissions among the elderly, reported four newspapers (24 October 2007). Some newspaper headlines overstate the results of a reliable study which found flu vaccination had no effect on whether over-65s with respiratory illness needed to be hospitalised.
Source: NLH - Hitting The Headlines - October 25, 2007 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Blood test for Alzheimer's diseaseEmail this article to a colleague.
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A new blood test may identify those at risk of Alzheimer's disease up to six years before symptoms, reported five newspapers (15 October 2007). The articles are based on a laboratory study assessing the diagnostic capability of protein biomarkers in the blood. It will be several years before a viable test is available.
Source: NLH - Hitting The Headlines - October 16, 2007 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Health benefits of moderate and vigorous exerciseEmail this article to a colleague.
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Most British adults wrongly believe that moderate physical activity has more health benefits than vigorous activity, reported four newspapers (10 October 2007). The newspapers accurately reported the opinions expressed in an Internet survey. The research did not directly address the relative health benefits of moderate and vigorous activity.
Source: NLH - Hitting The Headlines - October 11, 2007 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
"Herbal medicine 'may do more harm than good'"Email this article to a colleague.
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Individually tailored herbal medicines may not be beneficial and may cause more harm than good, reported six newspapers (4 October 2007). The newspapers were generally accurate in their reporting of a well conducted review, however the potential for adverse effects was not assessed by this research.
Source: NLH - Hitting The Headlines - October 9, 2007 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
New contraceptive pill 'may end PMT'Email this article to a colleague.
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A new contraceptive pill designed to be taken continuously, potentially eliminating menstrual periods, could soon be available in the UK, reported two newspapers (27 September 2007). The reports were partly based on a general article in New Scientist magazine which provided little information about the new pill.
Source: NLH - Hitting The Headlines - September 29, 2007 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Herceptin 'prolongs survival after relapse'Email this article to a colleague.
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Women with advanced breast cancer survive longer after relapse if they continue to take Herceptin, reported three newspapers (26 September 2007). The reports were based on data presented at a conference and published in abstract form. The reports were broadly accurate but the quality of the research cannot be assessed.
Source: NLH - Hitting The Headlines - September 28, 2007 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Acupuncture "effective therapy for back pain"Email this article to a colleague.
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Acupuncture, including sham acupuncture, is more effective than conventional therapy for back pain, reported four newspapers (25th September 2007). The newspapers were generally accurate in their reports of a well conducted randomised controlled trial.
Source: NLH - Hitting The Headlines - September 27, 2007 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
'Taking Pill cuts cancer risk'Email this article to a colleague.
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On 12 September 2007, seven newspapers (1-7) reported that the contraceptive pill protects women against cancer. These were generally accurate reports of a well conducted large retrospective study. The results are likely to be reliable for a population similar to that studied, but may not be generalisable to current oral contraceptive (OC) pill users.
Source: NLH - Hitting The Headlines - September 14, 2007 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
'Switching statins 'can raise heart attack risk''Email this article to a colleague.
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Patients who switch from branded statins to a generic alternative, could have an increased risk of heat attack or stroke, reported three newspapers (6th September 2007). The reports are based on a conference abstract and press release. The reliability of the findings cannot be assessed as full study details are not available.
Source: NLH - Hitting The Headlines - September 7, 2007 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Diabetes combination pill could save livesEmail this article to a colleague.
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A pill could reduce heart attacks and deaths if given to people with type 2 diabetes, reported three newspapers (3 September, 2007). The newspapers were generally accurate in their reports of a well-conducted trial. The extent to which the findings can be generalised to all individuals with type 2 diabetes is unclear.
Source: NLH - Hitting The Headlines - September 5, 2007 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Statins and incidence of Alzheimer's diseaseEmail this article to a colleague.
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The cholesterol-lowering drugs statins may reduce the likelihood of developing Alzheimer's disease reported seven newspapers (August 28th 2007). These reports were based on a study of 110 brains examined at post mortem. The newspapers generally reported the association found by the study accurately, including the need for cautious interpretation and further research.
Source: NLH - Hitting The Headlines - August 30, 2007 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
'Vitamin breakthrough on diabetes'Email this article to a colleague.
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On 8th August 2007 three newspapers reported that a lack of vitamin B1 has been linked to vascular disease in people with diabetes. The newspapers reflected the conclusions of a case-control study, however, given the prevalence of diabetes, this was a small study on which to base such strong conclusions.
Source: NLH - Hitting The Headlines - August 10, 2007 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Statins for children with familial hypercholesterolemiaEmail this article to a colleague.
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Children as young as eight years old should be given statins, reported four newspapers (7 August 2007). The newspapers generally report results from a well-conducted randomised controlled trial accurately, although the authors stated that the optimal age for statin initiation is not known and further research is needed.
Source: NLH - Hitting The Headlines - August 9, 2007 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Deep brain stimulation for a patient in a minimally conscious stateEmail this article to a colleague.
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Deep brain stimulation (DBS), using electrodes implanted in the brain of a man in a minimally conscious state, restored his ability to feed himself, talk and other basic functions reported five newspapers (2nd August 2007). The articles are based on a study of a single patient and further investigation is required.
Source: NLH - Hitting The Headlines - August 3, 2007 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
National Knowledge Week for Foundation Doctors: 30th July - 5th August 2007Email this article to a colleague.
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The NLH Emergency Care Specialist Library is running a week aimed at giving new doctors the facts they should know...
Source: NLH - Hitting The Headlines - July 28, 2007 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Pumpkin extract for diabetesEmail this article to a colleague.
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Pumpkin extract may cut need for insulin injection reported three newspapers (9 July 2007). The articles are based on a laboratory study involving rats engineered to have type I diabetes. These findings cannot be applied to people at present.
Source: NLH - Hitting The Headlines - July 9, 2007 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Embryo screening may reduce birth rates in older mothersEmail this article to a colleague.
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Women undergoing IVF who have embryo genetic testing could lower their chances of having a baby reported six newspapers (5 July 2007). They were reporting on the results of a reliable, randomised controlled trial comparing preimplantation genetic screening with standard treatment in women aged 35 to 41 receiving IVF treatment.
Source: NLH - Hitting The Headlines - July 6, 2007 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
'Alternative therapies can hamper IVF'Email this article to a colleague.
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Women who turn to alternative medicine to help them become pregnant are actually cutting their chances, reported five newspapers (5 July 2007). Neither the accuracy of the news reports nor the reliability of the research can be assessed from the conference abstract and press release on which the reports are based.
Source: NLH - Hitting The Headlines - July 6, 2007 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
'Echinacea can stave off colds'Email this article to a colleague.
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The herbal remedy echinacea could cut the risk of catching a cold by more than half, reported five newspapers (25 June 2007). The newspapers were largely accurate in reporting the findings of a well-conducted meta-analysis. The review authors caution that more research needs to be done on the safety of echinacea.
Source: NLH - Hitting The Headlines - June 26, 2007 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Isradapine to treat Parkinson's diseaseEmail this article to a colleague.
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A drug used to treat high blood pressure may be an effective treatment for Parkinson's disease reported eight newspapers (11 June 2007). The articles are based on a laboratory study involving mice engineered to have a disease similar to progressive Parkinson's disease. These findings cannot be applied to people at present.
Source: NLH - Hitting The Headlines - June 16, 2007 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
'Statins are safe and they really work'Email this article to a colleague.
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Statins are safe and effective for lowering cholesterol reported the Daily Mail, 7 June 2007. The report is based on a clinically focussed overview of the evidence for the safety of statins, which concluded that they are well-tolerated and safe when used at standard doses.
Source: NLH - Hitting The Headlines - June 8, 2007 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Iron supplementation in pregnancy 'may be harmful'Email this article to a colleague.
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Taking iron supplements during pregnancy may be harmful for non-anaemic women, reported four newspapers (31 May 2007). The newspapers accurately summarised the main findings of a generally well-conducted randomised controlled trial, although some reports included findings not derived from the study.
Source: NLH - Hitting The Headlines - June 1, 2007 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
'HRT raises risk of ovarian cancer'Email this article to a colleague.
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Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) increases the risk of ovarian cancer, reported eight newspapers (19 April 2007). The newspapers were generally accurate in their reports of a large, well-conducted cohort study, the findings of which are likely to be reliable. However, the numbers of deaths attributed to HRT are estimates only.
Source: NLH - Hitting The Headlines - April 26, 2007 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
'Flu vaccine could prevent heart attacks'Email this article to a colleague.
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Flu increases the risk of coronary death and flu vaccinations may help reduce this risk, reported seven newspapers. Reports were based on a study which found an association between influenza epidemics and increases in coronary death. The effects of influenza vaccinations on coronary death were not investigated in this study.
Source: NLH - Hitting The Headlines - April 21, 2007 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Stem cell transplantation for type 1 diabetesEmail this article to a colleague.
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Treatment with their own stem cells could reduce the need for insulin injections in patients with type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes, reported nine newspapers (11 April 2007). The newspapers accurately summarised the main findings of a small uncontrolled study but some headlines overstated the significance of the results.
Source: NLH - Hitting The Headlines - April 13, 2007 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
"'Lung-burning' gives hope for asthma patients"Email this article to a colleague.
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A new way of treating asthma gives hope to millions of sufferers, reported six newspapers on 29 March 2007 (1-6). The reports were based on a small well conducted trial (7) of bronchial thermoplasty; further research is underway. The news reports of the main findings were broadly accurate but some important points were omitted.
Source: NLH - Hitting The Headlines - April 11, 2007 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Stenting may be less effective than full heart bypassEmail this article to a colleague.
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Thousands of patients may be denied their best chance of long-term survival by being given stents rather than undergoing heart bypass surgery reported two newspapers (23 March 2007). The newspapers accurately reported some of the findings of a well-conducted meta-analysis, including that there was no difference in death rates.
Source: NLH - Hitting The Headlines - March 26, 2007 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Fish oil supplements boost brain developmentEmail this article to a colleague.
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Newspapers reports, based on a press release, stated that taking fish oil supplements boosted brain development (12 March 2007). Four overweight children showed improved arithmetical and construction skills, memory, concentration, and brain growth, after three months. The results can not be deemed reliable, or generalisable to other young people.
Source: NLH - Hitting The Headlines - March 13, 2007 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
"Antidepressants linked to fractures"Email this article to a colleague.
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Older people taking antidepressants, such as Prozac and Seroxat, are twice as likely to suffer broken bones, reported two newspapers (23 January 2007). The reports were based on a cohort study which linked daily antidepressant use with an increase risk of fracture. Further research is needed to confirm the findings.
Source: NLH - Hitting The Headlines - January 26, 2007 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
'Anti-hunger hormone to help fight against obesity'Email this article to a colleague.
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Chewing gum containing an appetite suppressing hormone may help treat obesity reported five newspapers (15 January 2007). The articles appear to be based partly on a press release announcing funding into research to develop a synthetic form of pancreatic polypeptide which may be used to suppress appetite.
Source: NLH - Hitting The Headlines - January 21, 2007 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Herceptin and breast cancer survivalEmail this article to a colleague.
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Herceptin can improve survival after surgery and chemotherapy for breast cancer reported four newspapers (5 January 2007). They all accurately reported two year survival results of a large trial, but not all mentioned the increased risk of side-effects. Further publications of long-term efficacy and safety are awaited to confirm these initial results.
Source: NLH - Hitting The Headlines - January 9, 2007 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Hay fever vaccine in a pillEmail this article to a colleague.
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The first vaccine pill for hay fever sufferers will be launched in January 2007 reported seven newspapers (12 December 2006). The reports appear to be based in part on a news item on the MRC website. It is not possible to comment on the reported trial results as we have been unable to identify the source of the information.
Source: NLH - Hitting The Headlines - December 15, 2006 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Breast screening for the under 50sEmail this article to a colleague.
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Screening does not significantly reduce breast cancer death in women aged 40-49, reported two newspapers (8 December 2006). The newspapers accurately reported the main finding of a large randomised controlled trial.
Source: NLH - Hitting The Headlines - December 11, 2006 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
