January 11–17, 2014
1
This Week in Medicine www.thelancet.com Vol 383 January 11, 2014 i Robert Gilhooly/epa/Corbis Getty Images Daniel Munoz/Reuters/Corbis For The Lancet News podcast see http://www.thelancet.com/ lancet-news-audio/ For the US lung cancer screening guidelines see http:// annals.org/article. aspx?articleid=1809422 For details of the Caplow Children’s Prize winner see http://www.youtube.com/watch ?v=lHIzheyeVNc&feature=youtu. be US H1N1 deaths City health authorities have confirmed 13 deaths from H1N1 in the greater Houston area (TX, USA), including one teenager, while the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have so far reported four paediatric deaths from the virus in the USA. The public have been advised not to panic but to be vaccinated for influenza. Killer heat A heat wave affecting Argentina could be the worst since 1906, when meteorological records began. Areas north of Buenos Aires have been hit worst, with temperatures reaching 45°C and higher. Seven deaths have been linked to the extreme conditions after a concurrent energy shortage left many people without air-conditioning. E-cigarettes A member of the Scottish parliament has called for restrictions on the sale of electronic cigarettes to children. MSP Stewart Maxwell also called for clear regulation on advertising. Falls in cigarette smoking have been accompanied by a rise in the use of e-cigarettes, which are due to be regulated as a medicine in the UK from 2016. Mexican food tax On Jan 1, Mexican tax reforms came into effect that impose a levy on high-calorie food and sugary drinks. The tax on high-fat food—approved in October 2013— will be 8% and the price of soda will increase by 10%. The legislation was prompted by Mexico topping a list of the most obese countries in the world. Japan’s people problem Japan’s population was 244 000 (0·2%) lower in 2013 than in 2012 after a fall in births and rise in deaths. If patterns persist, the country’s population will decrease by a third in the next 50 years. There are fears that the increasingly strained welfare system will worsen the country’s national debt, which is already twice that of Japan’s GDP. Hepatitis B vaccine scare Fears that hepatitis B vaccination in China was linked to the deaths of 17 infants have been assuaged after Chinese health authorities announced that the deaths of at least nine children were not linked to the vaccine. Three major suppliers have halted vaccine production since the deaths were reported. Lung cancer screening Smokers and ex-smokers aged 55–80 years should be screened yearly for lung cancer, according to new guidance from US Preventive Services Task Force. The panel of experts recommends low- dose CT screening for people who have a smoking history of 30 pack-years and who currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years. Violence in Afghanistan Between March and September 2013, violent crime against women in Afghanistan increased 25% and became increasingly brutal, including public rape. This rise marks the rolling back of hard won rights as foreign troops and aid workers prepare to withdraw, leaving women exposed to attack. Afghanistan’s Elimination of Violence Against Women Act was implemented in 2009, banning 22 harmful practices against women, but has proven difficult to enforce. Copay controversy A copayment of AUS$5 for every visit to a family doctor would reduce strain on Australia’s Medicare system, according to Terry Barnes, a former advisor to Prime Minister Tony Abbott. The Australian Medical Association has criticised the suggestion as potentially limiting access to care for disadvantaged populations. $1 million child health prize Anita Zaidi—a Pakistani paediatrician—has beaten stiff competition to win the first Caplow Children’s Prize, created by entrepreneur Ted Caplow to encourage reductions in child mortality. Zaidi will use the US$1 million prize money to improve maternal and child health care in a village in Karachi, Pakistan. Liver screening The British Liver Trust has urged the UK Government to fund early liver screening, claiming that early detection could save the NHS £600 million per year. The charity has also called for doctors to thoroughly question patients about their alcohol consumption to identify patients at high risk in an effort to reduce deaths and health-care costs. Asylum seekers in Papua New Guinea Asylum seekers held on Manus Island, Papua New Guinea—a controvesial offshore facility for immigrants to Australia—are often subject to violence according to details from a freedom of information request. Ten detainees were assaulted between March and June 2013, while nine had attempted self-harm and eight had gone on hunger strike. A spokesman for immigration minister Scott Morrison said that individual cases concerning Manus “will not be discussed”.
Transcript of January 11–17, 2014
This Week in Medicine
www.thelancet.com Vol 383 January 11, 2014 i
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For The Lancet News podcast see http://www.thelancet.com/lancet-news-audio/
For the US lung cancer screening guidelines see http://annals.org/article.aspx?articleid=1809422
For details of the Caplow Children’s Prize winner see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHIzheyeVNc&feature=youtu.be
US H1N1 deaths City health authorities have confi rmed 13 deaths from H1N1 in the greater Houston area (TX, USA), including one teenager, while the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have so far reported four paediatric deaths from the virus in the USA. The public have been advised not to panic but to be vaccinated for infl uenza.
Killer heat A heat wave affecting Argentina could be the worst since 1906, when meteorological records began. Areas north of Buenos Aires have been hit worst, with temperatures reaching 45°C and higher. Seven deaths have been linked to the extreme conditions after a concurrent energy shortage left many people without air-conditioning.
E-cigarettes A member of the Scottish parliament has called for restrictions on the sale of electronic cigarettes to children. MSP Stewart Maxwell also called for clear regulation on advertising. Falls in cigarette smoking have been accompanied by a rise in the use of e-cigarettes, which are due to be regulated as a medicine in the UK from 2016.
Mexican food tax On Jan 1, Mexican tax reforms came into effect that impose a levy on high-calorie food and sugary drinks. The tax on high-fat food—approved in October 2013—will be 8% and the price of soda will increase by 10%. The legislation was prompted by Mexico topping a list of the most obese countries in the world.
Japan’s people problem Japan’s population was 244 000 (0·2%) lower in 2013 than in 2012 after a fall in births and rise in deaths. If patterns persist, the country’s population will decrease by a third in the next 50 years. There are fears that the increasingly strained welfare system will worsen the country’s national debt, which is already twice that of Japan’s GDP.
Hepatitis B vaccine scare Fears that hepatitis B vaccination in China was linked to the deaths of 17 infants have been assuaged after Chinese health authorities announced that the deaths of at least nine children were not linked to the vaccine. Three major suppliers have halted vaccine production since the deaths were reported.
Lung cancer screening Smokers and ex-smokers aged 55–80 years should be screened yearly for lung cancer, according to new guidance from US Preventive Services Task Force. The panel of experts recommends low-dose CT screening for people who have a smoking history of 30 pack-years and who currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years.
Violence in Afghanistan Between March and September 2013, violent crime against women in Afghanistan increased 25% and became increasingly brutal, including public rape. This rise marks the rolling back of hard won rights as foreign troops and aid workers prepare to withdraw, leaving women exposed to attack. Afghanistan’s Elimination of Violence Against Women Act was implemented in 2009, banning 22 harmful practices against women, but has proven diffi cult to enforce.
Copay controversy A copayment of AUS$5 for every visit to a family doctor would reduce strain on Australia’s Medicare system, according to Terry Barnes, a former advisor to Prime Minister Tony Abbott. The Australian Medical Association has criticised the suggestion as potentially limiting access to care for disadvantaged populations.
$1 million child health prize Anita Zaidi—a Pakistani paediatrician—has beaten stiff competition to win the fi rst Caplow Children’s Prize, created by entrepreneur Ted Caplow to encourage reductions in child mortality. Zaidi will use the US$1 million prize money to improve maternal and child health care in a village in Karachi, Pakistan.
Liver screening The British Liver Trust has urged the UK Government to fund early liver screening, claiming that early detection could save the NHS £600 million per year. The charity has also called for doctors to thoroughly question patients about their alcohol consumption to identify patients at high risk in an eff ort to reduce deaths and health-care costs.
Asylum seekers in Papua New Guinea Asylum seekers held on Manus Island, Papua New Guinea—a controvesial offshore facility for immigrants to Australia—are often subject to violence according to details from a freedom of information request. Ten detainees were assaulted between March and June 2013, while nine had attempted self-harm and eight had gone on hunger strike. A spokesman for immigration minister Scott Morrison said that individual cases concerning Manus “will not be discussed”.
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