A round up of today's other health stories in brief.
US HEALTHCARE: The dramatic increase in healthcare spending in the United States since 1960 is a major reason that Americans are living longer, making the world's most expensive healthcare system good value, according to a new study.
The study notes that a baby born in 2000 could expect to live for 76.9 years, compared with 69.9 years for a newborn in 1960. The conclusions of the study run counter to the analysts who question whether healthcare costs should consume 16 per cent of the nation's economic output. Such critics point out that in longevity and infant mortality, the US ranks below other countries that spend far less.
SUICIDE PREVENTION: Irish charity 3Ts (Turning the Tide of Suicide) will host a public candlelight vigil on Friday, in the lead-up to World Suicide Prevention Day.
The vigil will take place in the forecourt of The Bank of Ireland, College Green, Dublin, from 9pm-10pm to remember those who have lost their lives through suicide.
The occasion will be marked by a candle ceremony, a minute's silence and music. Well-known TV and radio presenter Des Cahill will make an address and light the first candle. To find out more log on to: www.3ts.ie.
BALD FACTS: Scientists have discovered why some people have more hair than others. Researchers have uncovered the molecular processes that lead to some embryonic cells becoming hair cells.
The research, carried out at the University of Manchester, could have important implications for the treatment of baldness.
The scientists discovered a protein "code" that tells cells to sprout hair. By sending the code to more cells than usual, they were able to breed mice with more fur.
Dr Denis Headon, who led the research, said: "Which cells are transformed into hair follicles is determined by three proteins.
"Our research has identified how one of these proteins working outside of the cell interacts at a molecular level to determine an individual's hair pattern."
FOOD PRESERVATION: University College Cork is to hold a major food industry conference in conjunction with Queen's University Belfast from September 11th to 13th.
The workshop will focus on new developments in processing and preservation technology which are relevant to the food industry, and also have applications for biotechnology. It is being held in association with the Institute of Food Technologists and the European Federation of Food Science and Technology.
For further details, contact Dr Alan Kelly at a.kelly@ucc.ie or visit www.ucc.ie/nonthermalfood2006
HEALTHCARE ABROAD: The Tropical Medical Bureau, a specialised travel vaccination clinic, has a new clinic in the Usit building, Aston Quay, Dublin. It is staffed by doctors and nurses specialising in healthcare for those travelling abroad. It operates both an appointment-based and a walk-in service.
SMOKE-FREE DATING: A dating agency has gone completely smoke-free after new research showed single smokers have a tough time getting a partner.
The Single Solution has banned tobacco at its events in a bid to attract more singletons.
Spokesman Paul Ergatoudis said: "We know from our events and the requests we receive from our daters that many people find non-smokers more attractive and, given the choice, they'd much rather their date didn't smoke.
"Smokers struggle to get the level of interest non-smokers do and many even hide their habit to get a first date."
KIDS FOOD: Bia Kid, an Irish producer of convenient meals for children, has extended its range with a fish pie and a vegetarian dish. The dishes are free from added salt, artificial colours, flavours and preservatives.
The company says its meals, which are manufactured in Co Waterford, are made from fully traceable Irish meat, chicken and fresh vegetables.
Other food in the range include spaghetti bolognese, shepherd's pie and meatballs with spaghetti. The cost per meal ranges from €3.49 to €3.99 and they are available in most major supermarket chains.
For further information log on to www.biakid.ie
SLEEP APNEA RISK: Severe sleep apnea appears to be an independent risk factor for ischemic stroke in elderly patients, according to a report in the September issue of Stroke.
Sleep apnea occurs when breathing is briefly but frequently blocked while someone is sleeping. Ischemic stroke, the most common type, occurs when oxygen to the brain is blocked, usually by a blood clot, causing "ischemia" or tissue death.
A number of reports have supported a causal relationship between sleep apnea and stroke, Dr Roberto Munoz, from Hospital de Navarra in Spain, and colleagues noted.
However, these studies focused primarily on middle-aged subjects, not on elderly populations.
SKINNY MODELS TURNED AWAY: Spain's top fashion show has turned away a slew of models the on grounds that they are too skinny - an apparently unprecedented swipe at body images blamed for encouraging eating disorders among young people.
Organisers of the pageant used a mathematical formula to calculate the models' body mass index - a measure of their weight in relation to their height - and 30 per cent of the women failed, said the Association of Fashion Designers of Spain. The decision was made as part of a voluntary agreement with the Madrid regional government, Jesus del Pozo, a designer who is part of the association, said.
The association said in a statement it wanted models to project "an image of beauty and health" and shun a gaunt, emaciated look. Del Pozo said this was the first time such a thing had happened at a major international fashion show.
DAY AGAINST PAIN: The International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) has designated today as global day against pain.
According to the Irish branch, about 400,000 Irish people suffer from chronic pain. It holds regular workshops and support meetings around the State. It also operates a support phone line (tel: 01- 8047567) and a website (www.chronicpainireland.org).
Ireland currently holds the vice-presidency of the European Pain Network, which is an umbrella organisation comprising various national pain support groups from 12 European countries. The aim is to combat inequality in the treatment of pain across Europe.
It is understood that the Irish Chronic Pain Association (ICPA) will hold a series of events in Ireland within the next few weeks, according to its president Frances Whelan.
MEDICAL AWARD: Dr John F Cryan, senior lecturer in the school of pharmacy and in the department of pharmacology and therapeutics, and principal investigator in the Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre (APC), has been awarded the inaugural Wyeth Psychopharmacology Award (Senior) from the British Association of Psychopharmacology.
The award was made at Oxford University recently.
The Wyeth awards were established to specifically reward outstanding research in pre-clinical psychopharmacology.
Dr Cryan's current research interests include neuropsychopharmacological approaches for the treatment of stress-related disorders including depression, anxiety, functional gastrointestinal disorders, cognitive dysfunction and drug dependence.
BREAKING BAD NEWS: RTÉ's Joe Duffy will launch a training DVD on communication skills entitled Breaking Bad News - Communicating in Difficult Circumstances in Dublin today. The DVD has been developed by the Irish Hospice Foundation. It is aimed at doctors, nurses, allied health professionals and non-professionally qualified staff working in the health services.
MEDICAL DEVICES SUPPORT: The Irish Medical Devices Association (IMDA) has called on the Government to ensure that measures identified in the new partnership agreement, Towards 2016, to drive manufacturing growth are translated into "tangible support for the medical devices and diagnostics sector".
IMDA chairman Michael Loftus said Ireland's rising cost base was a threat to future growth. He called for a number of measures to be taken in the forthcoming budget, including the inclusion of process research expenditure in the existing R&D tax credit scheme.