Cannabis trial: The world's biggest clinical trial of the cannabis plant has got underway in Plymouth. The trial is looking at the control of pain and tremor in multiple sclerosis. If all goes to plan, the trial will be slowly extended across the UK, taking in 660 participants in 40 centres. Patients are being administered an increasing dose of the drug over five weeks and then a maintenance dose for a further two months. According to the researchers they are looking for a dose that can help relieve symptoms but with minimal side effects. The study has been approved by the British government, which arranged for the drug to be imported from Switzerland. (British Medical Journal)
Television:
Researchers in California have found that reducing the amount of time that primary school children spend watching television and playing video games can make them less aggressive towards their peers. The study, carried out at Stanford University, looked at 225 nine- and 10-yearold children at two similar schools. Peer reports of aggression were similar at the two schools at the onset, but in the group who used less TV and videos, reports of aggression had dropped by 25 per cent by the end of the study. Children in this group were also involved in 50 per cent fewer incidents of verbally aggressive behaviour than the children at the control school. (Archives of Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine)
HIV risk: Breastfed babies of mothers infected with HIV have no greater risk of HIV infection that those who are bottlefed. New research has found that if these babies are exclusively breastfed for three months or more, they have no excess risk of HIV infection over six months than those who have never been breastfed. Those at greatest risk were infants who were fed on a mixture of breast milk and other foods and liquids. The results could have important implications for public health policy in developing countries, where the total avoidance of breast feeding is not a realistic option for the majority of women. (British Medical Journal)
Literarcy: Patients with limited literacy skills face incredible barriers and bottlenecks in today's healthcare system and doctors need to play a much greater role to address the problem, said a speaker at a recent conference of the American Medical Association. Difficulties included reading prescription labels and following doctor's instructions for follow-up care. (American Medical Association)
Special need: Guidelines for the Care of Children with Special Needs in Hospital
is a valuable little handbook which should be read by all hospital personnel. It covers areas such as communication with such children and their parents, physical care, toys and special play equipment and the need to compile information relevant to each child's special needs. The handbook is available from Children in Hospital Ireland, Carmichael House, North Brunswick St, Dublin 7. Tel: 01 8780448.
Compiled by Muiris Houston and Sylvia Thompson lifelines@irish-times.ie