DOUBLE THE PAIN: Rates of acute pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) have doubled over the past 30 years, particularly among younger age groups. Acute pancreatitis is caused by alcohol abuse and gall stones. It produces a sudden attack of severe upper abdominal pain, often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
An analysis of trends in hospital admission rates for acute pancreatitis found a rise in both men and women, particularly in younger age groups. This partly reflects a rise in alcoholic pancreatitis, related to increasing use of alcohol in the community, suggest the authors. Death rates in the first month after admission were 30 times higher than in the general population of the same age.
ONLINE HELP: A new online group has been set up for people who have visual or hearing impairments. The Visually and Hearing Impaired Association (VAHIA) aims to offer advice on all aspects of blindness, deafness and deaf-blindness. To subscribe, send a blank e-mail to vahia-subscribe@smartgroups.com. A new device, called the UltraCane, which uses ultrasonic echoes to guide the visually impaired user, will be for sale in Ireland this year. See www.soundforsight.co.uk
POPULAR THERAPY: Reality therapy has become a popular therapy among counsellors as it aims to encourage people to make choices to create more satisfying lives based on their current situations regardless of what happened in the past. Its founder, William Glasser, introduced the therapy to Ireland in 1985 and the William Glasser Institute of Ireland was founded thereafter. Week-long courses in the therapy and techniques run in Dublin, Cork, Galway and Kilkenny throughout July and August. Booking details on tel: 041-9887564. See also www.wgii.ie
HELP AFTER STROKE: Virtual reality can help those who have suffered a stroke to regain the use of their upper limbs, following the development of new techniques by researchers at the University of Ulster. A pilot study at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast enables patients to practise upper limb movements with visual feedback from a computer showing them how they are doing.
Lifelines@irish-times.ie