Friday, July 28, 2006
BBC NEWS
A UK fertility centre is being allowed to ask women undergoing IVF to donate eggs to therapeutic cloning research for cheap treatment for the first time.
Women having IVF will be able to donate eggs for research
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority has issued a licence to the North East England Stem Cell Institute to permit the practice.
But the HFEA has also announced a consultation on the wider issues around egg donation for research.
There are concerns women could feel pressured to give over their eggs.
The Newcastle-based team is investigating stem cell therapies for conditions including Alzheimer's disease, diabetes and Parkinson's.
The human eggs which are donated to research will be used in the creation of embryos from which stem cells can be derived.
It will be the first time that payment can be given for IVF eggs used in research.
Until now, the researchers have been permitted to ask women to donate eggs which have not fertilised for research.
It was an egg obtained in this way which was used to create an early-stage cloned human embryo at Newcastle in 2005.
Since last year, the team has also been allowed to ask women having IVF to donate "spare" eggs, if they produced 12 or more eggs.
But the team said the number of eggs this produced was too small.
Altruistic donation
The HFEA licence will now allow researchers to offer couples who need IVF, but cannot afford it, the chance to have some of their care funded in return for donating eggs for research.
Cutting the cost of IVF through egg sharing is currently permitted in the UK, if eggs are donated to another woman undergoing treatment.
However, it will be at last a year before the Newcastle scheme is up and running as researchers now need to apply for funding.
The team also want it to be possible for women not undergoing IVF to donate their eggs.
So-called altruistic donation is already used to help infertile couples conceive.
The HFEA is to consider if Newcastle should allowed to permitted to pursue altruistic donation as part of its consultation.
The three month process, which runs from September to November, will also consider what safeguards are needed to ensure women do not feel coerced into donating their eggs, and how to ensure a patient's own interests and needs are protected.
'Evidence-based' policy
Angela McNab, chief executive of the HFEA, said: "We know there are a wide variety of views on the subject of donating eggs for research and we anticipate a strong response to the consultation from professional groups, scientists, clinicians and patients as well as the public.
"It's important to capture those views and to understand the issues that are unique to donating eggs for research rather than for treatment so that any policies made as a result of the consultation are well-balanced and evidence-based."
Professor Alison Murdoch, who leads the Newcastle team, said the HFEA's decision was "a step forward for stem cell research and medicine generally".
She added: "It is of paramount importance to ensure that all donors are not recruited to participate in this research against their best interest by coercion or excessive financial inducement.
"All patients involved in egg sharing need IVF treatment to help them have a baby.
"We are helping them to have treatment they may not otherwise be able to afford.
"There is no additional physical risk to the woman as a result of egg sharing."
Professor Murdoch said there were many scientific difficulties to be overcome before the research led to stem cell treatments.
And she admitted it was "unusual" for the HFEA to begin a consultation after issuing a licence.
'Arrogance'
Professor Peter Braude, professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at Kings College London said: "This is a difficult situation because there is a strong need for eggs for research.
"However, this licence surprises me as it is inconsistent with the stance of not paying for eggs for research.
"But the HFEA is about to embark on a consultation, so we will shall wait to see what the public thinks of this issue."
Dr Gillian Lockwood, chair of the ethics sub-committee of the British Fertility Society, said: "It is unlikely to impact negatively on the availability of eggs for donation to recipients, and some women who need to undergo IVF to achieve a family may indeed prefer to donate anonymously to such important medical research."
But Josephine Quintavalle, a co-founder of the Hands Off Our Ovaries group, said: "The primary concern should be what is in the woman's best interests.
"That is to have the most minimally invasive treatment with the minimum use of drugs and the minimum harvesting of eggs."
Ms Quintavalle said the needs of researchers, who would want as many eggs as possible, would go against that.
And she said she was concerned over how the option of donating eggs in return for cheaper treatment would be presented to women.
"It is coercion under another name."
She also criticised the HFEA's handling of the issue, saying it was the "worst example of HFEA arrogance" she had seen.
A UK fertility centre is being allowed to ask women undergoing IVF to donate eggs to therapeutic cloning research for cheap treatment for the first time.
Women having IVF will be able to donate eggs for research
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority has issued a licence to the North East England Stem Cell Institute to permit the practice.
But the HFEA has also announced a consultation on the wider issues around egg donation for research.
There are concerns women could feel pressured to give over their eggs.
We are helping them to have treatment they may not otherwise be able to afford. Professor Alison Murdoch, North East England Stem Cell Institute.
The Newcastle-based team is investigating stem cell therapies for conditions including Alzheimer's disease, diabetes and Parkinson's.
The human eggs which are donated to research will be used in the creation of embryos from which stem cells can be derived.
It will be the first time that payment can be given for IVF eggs used in research.
Until now, the researchers have been permitted to ask women to donate eggs which have not fertilised for research.
It was an egg obtained in this way which was used to create an early-stage cloned human embryo at Newcastle in 2005.
Since last year, the team has also been allowed to ask women having IVF to donate "spare" eggs, if they produced 12 or more eggs.
But the team said the number of eggs this produced was too small.
Altruistic donation
The HFEA licence will now allow researchers to offer couples who need IVF, but cannot afford it, the chance to have some of their care funded in return for donating eggs for research.
Cutting the cost of IVF through egg sharing is currently permitted in the UK, if eggs are donated to another woman undergoing treatment.
However, it will be at last a year before the Newcastle scheme is up and running as researchers now need to apply for funding.
The team also want it to be possible for women not undergoing IVF to donate their eggs.
So-called altruistic donation is already used to help infertile couples conceive.
The HFEA is to consider if Newcastle should allowed to permitted to pursue altruistic donation as part of its consultation.
The three month process, which runs from September to November, will also consider what safeguards are needed to ensure women do not feel coerced into donating their eggs, and how to ensure a patient's own interests and needs are protected.
'Evidence-based' policy
Angela McNab, chief executive of the HFEA, said: "We know there are a wide variety of views on the subject of donating eggs for research and we anticipate a strong response to the consultation from professional groups, scientists, clinicians and patients as well as the public.
"It's important to capture those views and to understand the issues that are unique to donating eggs for research rather than for treatment so that any policies made as a result of the consultation are well-balanced and evidence-based."
The primary concern should be what is in the woman's best interests. Josephine Quintavalle, Hands Off Our Ovaries.
Professor Alison Murdoch, who leads the Newcastle team, said the HFEA's decision was "a step forward for stem cell research and medicine generally".
She added: "It is of paramount importance to ensure that all donors are not recruited to participate in this research against their best interest by coercion or excessive financial inducement.
"All patients involved in egg sharing need IVF treatment to help them have a baby.
"We are helping them to have treatment they may not otherwise be able to afford.
"There is no additional physical risk to the woman as a result of egg sharing."
Professor Murdoch said there were many scientific difficulties to be overcome before the research led to stem cell treatments.
And she admitted it was "unusual" for the HFEA to begin a consultation after issuing a licence.
'Arrogance'
Professor Peter Braude, professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at Kings College London said: "This is a difficult situation because there is a strong need for eggs for research.
"However, this licence surprises me as it is inconsistent with the stance of not paying for eggs for research.
"But the HFEA is about to embark on a consultation, so we will shall wait to see what the public thinks of this issue."
Dr Gillian Lockwood, chair of the ethics sub-committee of the British Fertility Society, said: "It is unlikely to impact negatively on the availability of eggs for donation to recipients, and some women who need to undergo IVF to achieve a family may indeed prefer to donate anonymously to such important medical research."
But Josephine Quintavalle, a co-founder of the Hands Off Our Ovaries group, said: "The primary concern should be what is in the woman's best interests.
"That is to have the most minimally invasive treatment with the minimum use of drugs and the minimum harvesting of eggs."
Ms Quintavalle said the needs of researchers, who would want as many eggs as possible, would go against that.
And she said she was concerned over how the option of donating eggs in return for cheaper treatment would be presented to women.
"It is coercion under another name."
She also criticised the HFEA's handling of the issue, saying it was the "worst example of HFEA arrogance" she had seen.
Thursday, July 27, 2006
BBC NEWS
UK drugs firm GlaxoSmithKline believes it has developed a vaccine for the H5N1 deadly strain of bird flu that may be capable of being mass produced by 2007.
Chicken flu and other viruses often go through a process of mutation
The vaccine has proved effective at two doses of 3.8 micrograms during clinical trials in Belgium, BBC business editor Robert Peston has learned.
It is the size of the dose that is highly significant, Glaxo explained.
Firms want the smallest effective dose so that they can get the maximum number of shots out of a quantity of vaccine.
"It is good news that this vaccine can produce a significant response from a relatively small dose," said Dr Donald Cutler, principal lecturer in infectious diseases at University of East London.
Glaxo has yet to publish the results of its tests.
The news of the work on a potential vaccine came as Glaxo reported its profits had risen 14% in the three months to June to £1.32bn (US$2.4bn).
Delivery
Glaxo said that governments could order the vaccine for delivery and stockpiling in early 2007.
One of Glaxo's main rivals, the French drug company Sanofi Aventis, has also been working on a vaccine.
Drug companies are looking to develop treatments because of concerns that the H5N1 virus will combine with a human flu virus and mutate into a form which can spread between humans.
But a number of firms, including Glaxo, are seeking to develop vaccines based on the existing H5N1 strains to give humans some form of protection.
Its vaccine is on a fast track for approval with the relevant licensing authorities - the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Evaluation Agency (EMEA).
"All being well, we expect to make regulatory filings for the vaccine in the coming months," said Glaxo chief executive Jean-Pierre Garnier.
Prime desire
The UK and US have both indicated a desire to "prime" their respective populations with an initial inoculation.
Mr Garnier said he recently met US President George W Bush to discuss the vaccination programme.
Following that meeting, Glaxo received $272m (£148m) of funding, earmarked in part to develop new technologies to produce vaccines.
If there were a pandemic outbreak in the early autumn, mass manufacture of Glaxo's vaccine could probably be started quickly by collaborating with rival pharmaceutical companies.
Glaxo said it was also talking to the Gates Foundation about how to provide the vaccine to poorer, developing countries.
Shotgun effect
Despite the company's optimism, a number of unanswered questions remain.
Firstly, there is uncertainty over how many doses can be manufactured quickly, and how easy it would be to switch from laboratory testing to mass production.
And secondly, it is not clear how effective the vaccination would be if H5N1 were to mutate significantly.
Glaxo says its vaccine is more akin to shotgun treatment than a "precision-rifle cure", which means that it appears to be effective against small mutations in the virus strain.
Glaxo said the cost of the vaccine is likely to be a little more than for conventional flu vaccines, which retail for about £4 per shot.
"The vaccine is an affordable option ahead of a pandemic emerging," said Ian Jones Virology professor at Reading University.
According to Glaxo, the side effects to its bird flu vaccine have been limited to a fever in a number of patients.
UK drugs firm GlaxoSmithKline believes it has developed a vaccine for the H5N1 deadly strain of bird flu that may be capable of being mass produced by 2007.
Chicken flu and other viruses often go through a process of mutation
The vaccine has proved effective at two doses of 3.8 micrograms during clinical trials in Belgium, BBC business editor Robert Peston has learned.
It is the size of the dose that is highly significant, Glaxo explained.
Firms want the smallest effective dose so that they can get the maximum number of shots out of a quantity of vaccine.
"It is good news that this vaccine can produce a significant response from a relatively small dose," said Dr Donald Cutler, principal lecturer in infectious diseases at University of East London.
Glaxo has yet to publish the results of its tests.
The news of the work on a potential vaccine came as Glaxo reported its profits had risen 14% in the three months to June to £1.32bn (US$2.4bn).
Delivery
Glaxo said that governments could order the vaccine for delivery and stockpiling in early 2007.
All being well, we expect to make regulatory filings for the vaccine in the coming months. Glaxo chief executive Jean-Pierre Garnier.
One of Glaxo's main rivals, the French drug company Sanofi Aventis, has also been working on a vaccine.
Drug companies are looking to develop treatments because of concerns that the H5N1 virus will combine with a human flu virus and mutate into a form which can spread between humans.
But a number of firms, including Glaxo, are seeking to develop vaccines based on the existing H5N1 strains to give humans some form of protection.
Its vaccine is on a fast track for approval with the relevant licensing authorities - the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Evaluation Agency (EMEA).
"All being well, we expect to make regulatory filings for the vaccine in the coming months," said Glaxo chief executive Jean-Pierre Garnier.
Prime desire
The UK and US have both indicated a desire to "prime" their respective populations with an initial inoculation.
Mr Garnier said he recently met US President George W Bush to discuss the vaccination programme.
Following that meeting, Glaxo received $272m (£148m) of funding, earmarked in part to develop new technologies to produce vaccines.
If there were a pandemic outbreak in the early autumn, mass manufacture of Glaxo's vaccine could probably be started quickly by collaborating with rival pharmaceutical companies.
Glaxo said it was also talking to the Gates Foundation about how to provide the vaccine to poorer, developing countries.
Shotgun effect
Despite the company's optimism, a number of unanswered questions remain.
Firstly, there is uncertainty over how many doses can be manufactured quickly, and how easy it would be to switch from laboratory testing to mass production.
And secondly, it is not clear how effective the vaccination would be if H5N1 were to mutate significantly.
Glaxo says its vaccine is more akin to shotgun treatment than a "precision-rifle cure", which means that it appears to be effective against small mutations in the virus strain.
Glaxo said the cost of the vaccine is likely to be a little more than for conventional flu vaccines, which retail for about £4 per shot.
"The vaccine is an affordable option ahead of a pandemic emerging," said Ian Jones Virology professor at Reading University.
According to Glaxo, the side effects to its bird flu vaccine have been limited to a fever in a number of patients.
Monday, July 24, 2006
NU.NL
AMSTERDAM - Twee Amerikaanse uitgemergelde meisjes die naar eigen zeggen alleen aten als hun vader niet op zakenreis was, zijn vrijdag in het ziekenhuis opgenomen nadat de politie hen in een vergevorderd stadium van uithongering had aangetroffen. Dat heeft de politie zondag bekendgemaakt.
"Het is het ergste geval van ondervoeding dat ik ooit heb gezien", zei politieagent E. Bastian en voegde eraan toe dat de meisjes van 6 en 7 jaar die werden gevonden in de kelder van hun ouderlijk huis in Wichita in de staat Kansas eruit zagen alsof ze uit een concentratiekamp kwamen.
De stiefmoeder van de meisjes, die met haar eigen gezonde en weldoorvoede kinderen boven in hetzelfde huis woonde, werd meegenomen voor verhoor. Hun vader, die weg was op zakenreis, zou bij terugkomst eveneens worden ondervraagd.
Tip
Sociaal werkers ontdekten de meisjes na een tip, en schakelden de politie in. De meisjes vertelden de politie dat ze alleen aten als hun vader thuis was, wat niet vaak was. De meisjes worden overgebracht naar een pleeggezin als ze in het ziekenhuis zijn aangesterkt.
AMSTERDAM - Twee Amerikaanse uitgemergelde meisjes die naar eigen zeggen alleen aten als hun vader niet op zakenreis was, zijn vrijdag in het ziekenhuis opgenomen nadat de politie hen in een vergevorderd stadium van uithongering had aangetroffen. Dat heeft de politie zondag bekendgemaakt.
"Het is het ergste geval van ondervoeding dat ik ooit heb gezien", zei politieagent E. Bastian en voegde eraan toe dat de meisjes van 6 en 7 jaar die werden gevonden in de kelder van hun ouderlijk huis in Wichita in de staat Kansas eruit zagen alsof ze uit een concentratiekamp kwamen.
De stiefmoeder van de meisjes, die met haar eigen gezonde en weldoorvoede kinderen boven in hetzelfde huis woonde, werd meegenomen voor verhoor. Hun vader, die weg was op zakenreis, zou bij terugkomst eveneens worden ondervraagd.
Tip
Sociaal werkers ontdekten de meisjes na een tip, en schakelden de politie in. De meisjes vertelden de politie dat ze alleen aten als hun vader thuis was, wat niet vaak was. De meisjes worden overgebracht naar een pleeggezin als ze in het ziekenhuis zijn aangesterkt.
NU.NL
AMSTERDAM - De politie van Amsterdam-Amstelland heeft een netwerk van pedofielen opgerold. In de afgelopen maanden werden vier mannen in de leeftijd van 55 tot 68 jaar aangehouden op verdenking van misbruik van jongens tussen 8 en 16 jaar oud.
De vier aangehouden mannen zijn Amerikanen en werden in Amsterdam en in Portugal aangehouden, liet de politie maandag weten.
Vier slachtoffers hebben aangifte tegen de mannen gedaan, maar de politie vermoedt dat de mannen zich aan meer jongens hebben vergrepen.
Onderzoek
De politie kwam de mannen op het spoor na een onderzoek in verband met seksueel misbruik door een 55-jarige man. De man, toen woonachtig in Amsterdam, zou zich in de periode 1987 tot 1991 hebben vergrepen aan jongens. Het onderzoek wees uit dat de man niet meer in de hoofdstad woonde, maar al sinds 1997 in Portugal. Hier werd hij in maart aangehouden.
De man is vermoedelijk in 1984 naar Nederland uitgeweken, omdat hij in de Verenigde Staten voor vergelijkbare vergrijpen werd gezocht. Toen de man in Portugal werd aangehouden, deed diens zoon aangifte tegen de man en een aantal van diens vrienden. Allen zijn computerspecialisten.
Netwerk
Het onderzoek werd uitgebreid en dat resulteerde in de aanhouding van drie anderen. Eén man werd ook in Portugal aangehouden, twee anderen in Amsterdam. De politie gaat uit van een netwerk.
AMSTERDAM - De politie van Amsterdam-Amstelland heeft een netwerk van pedofielen opgerold. In de afgelopen maanden werden vier mannen in de leeftijd van 55 tot 68 jaar aangehouden op verdenking van misbruik van jongens tussen 8 en 16 jaar oud.
De vier aangehouden mannen zijn Amerikanen en werden in Amsterdam en in Portugal aangehouden, liet de politie maandag weten.
Vier slachtoffers hebben aangifte tegen de mannen gedaan, maar de politie vermoedt dat de mannen zich aan meer jongens hebben vergrepen.
Onderzoek
De politie kwam de mannen op het spoor na een onderzoek in verband met seksueel misbruik door een 55-jarige man. De man, toen woonachtig in Amsterdam, zou zich in de periode 1987 tot 1991 hebben vergrepen aan jongens. Het onderzoek wees uit dat de man niet meer in de hoofdstad woonde, maar al sinds 1997 in Portugal. Hier werd hij in maart aangehouden.
De man is vermoedelijk in 1984 naar Nederland uitgeweken, omdat hij in de Verenigde Staten voor vergelijkbare vergrijpen werd gezocht. Toen de man in Portugal werd aangehouden, deed diens zoon aangifte tegen de man en een aantal van diens vrienden. Allen zijn computerspecialisten.
Netwerk
Het onderzoek werd uitgebreid en dat resulteerde in de aanhouding van drie anderen. Eén man werd ook in Portugal aangehouden, twee anderen in Amsterdam. De politie gaat uit van een netwerk.
Sunday, July 23, 2006
Het Laatste Nieuws
Om het duurste kunstwerk ooit, het portret van Bloch-Bauer van de hand van Gustav Klimt, te kunnen bezichtigen, moeten bezoekers van de New Gallery in New York liefst 50 dollar neertellen. Het schilderij wisselde afgelopen juni van eigenaar voor een recordbedrag van 135 miljoen dollar.
Het portret van Bloch-Bauer.
Cosmeticamiljardair
De New Gallery is gewijd aan de Duitse en Oostenrijkse kunst van de jaren 1890-1940 en werd vijf jaar geleden mee opgericht door de Amerikaanse cosmeticamiljardair Ronald Lauder. Met het toegangsticket van 50 dollar wil de New Gallery er voor zorgen dat kunstliefhebbers niet ontmoedigd raken door de massa wachtenden die een glimp van het schilderij willen opvangen.
Speciale prijs
Normaal gezien kost een toegangsticket van het museum slechts 15 dollar. Het speciale bezoek, zonder mensenmassa maar met een ticketje van 50 dollar, zal elke woensdagnamiddag plaatsvinden. Het idee van een duurder toegangsticket voor de rijke "happy few" is afkomstig van het Metropolitan Museum of Art. Elke maandag kunnen enkele gelukkigen dan voor 50 dollar in alle rust en kalmte enkele populaire tentoonstellingen bezoeken. Het portret van Bloch-Bauer zal nog tot 18 september te bezichtigen zijn, daarna wordt het werk opgenomen in de permanente collectie van het museum.
Om het duurste kunstwerk ooit, het portret van Bloch-Bauer van de hand van Gustav Klimt, te kunnen bezichtigen, moeten bezoekers van de New Gallery in New York liefst 50 dollar neertellen. Het schilderij wisselde afgelopen juni van eigenaar voor een recordbedrag van 135 miljoen dollar.
Het portret van Bloch-Bauer.
Cosmeticamiljardair
De New Gallery is gewijd aan de Duitse en Oostenrijkse kunst van de jaren 1890-1940 en werd vijf jaar geleden mee opgericht door de Amerikaanse cosmeticamiljardair Ronald Lauder. Met het toegangsticket van 50 dollar wil de New Gallery er voor zorgen dat kunstliefhebbers niet ontmoedigd raken door de massa wachtenden die een glimp van het schilderij willen opvangen.
Speciale prijs
Normaal gezien kost een toegangsticket van het museum slechts 15 dollar. Het speciale bezoek, zonder mensenmassa maar met een ticketje van 50 dollar, zal elke woensdagnamiddag plaatsvinden. Het idee van een duurder toegangsticket voor de rijke "happy few" is afkomstig van het Metropolitan Museum of Art. Elke maandag kunnen enkele gelukkigen dan voor 50 dollar in alle rust en kalmte enkele populaire tentoonstellingen bezoeken. Het portret van Bloch-Bauer zal nog tot 18 september te bezichtigen zijn, daarna wordt het werk opgenomen in de permanente collectie van het museum.
BBC NEWS
Two-thirds of the two million people with diabetes in the UK do not take their medication as prescribed, research suggests.
The study also found one in three did not understand what their medication was for or how to take it because they felt stupid asking questions.
Experts warn failure to manage diabetes properly can have serious consequences.
Diabetes UK, the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry and Ask About Medicines commissioned the study.
The report calls on healthcare professionals to do more to help people with diabetes get appropriate information about their condition.
It will be presented to the Department of Health by Adrian Sanders MP, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Diabetes.
Short-term approach
Simon O'Neill, director of care and policy at Diabetes UK, said: "Short-termism is a great enemy of good diabetes care.
"As this research shows, many people struggle to realise the importance of taking their medicines, especially if the consequences are not immediately apparent despite the fact that damage caused by not taking their medicines is irreparable.
"Good diabetes management could be seen to be similar to a pension plan - invest now to gain benefits in the future as in both situations there is no going back."
Joanne Shaw, chair of Ask About Medicine, said: "It's vital that people with diabetes are encouraged and empowered to ask questions, as patients who have a good knowledge of their treatment options are better equipped to make informed decisions about medicines and other treatments."
Richard Tiner, ABPI medical director, said there was no substitute for a good open relationship between diabetes patients and healthcare professionals.
"We hope the report will serve as a call to action to healthcare professionals to experiment with information prescriptions for their patients and encourage them to ask questions about their condition and treatment."
Two-thirds of the two million people with diabetes in the UK do not take their medication as prescribed, research suggests.
The study also found one in three did not understand what their medication was for or how to take it because they felt stupid asking questions.
Experts warn failure to manage diabetes properly can have serious consequences.
Diabetes UK, the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry and Ask About Medicines commissioned the study.
TREATMENT CONFUSION
Nearly two thirds (58%) of people with diabetes don't fully understand the meaning of their diagnosis
Nearly a fifth of people with diabetes don't understand as much as they would like to about difference between available medicines
Nearly 60% find it difficult to ask questions because there is not enough time during their consultation or their doctor/nurse seems too busy
The report calls on healthcare professionals to do more to help people with diabetes get appropriate information about their condition.
It will be presented to the Department of Health by Adrian Sanders MP, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Diabetes.
According to the report:
Half of diabetes patients in the UK have depression
One in five suffers preventable complications as a result of neglecting to take their medicine
More than 60% of pregnant women with diabetes do not realise that stillbirth is a possible complication of not managing their condition or that their baby could be born with congenital malformations such as a heart defect or breathing problems
Almost a third of diabetics (32%) do not realise heart disease is a common complication of diabetes
More than a third of sufferers in the UK do not realise they will have the condition for life
Half of patients do not realise that diabetes may reduce life expectancy
Short-term approach
Simon O'Neill, director of care and policy at Diabetes UK, said: "Short-termism is a great enemy of good diabetes care.
"As this research shows, many people struggle to realise the importance of taking their medicines, especially if the consequences are not immediately apparent despite the fact that damage caused by not taking their medicines is irreparable.
"Good diabetes management could be seen to be similar to a pension plan - invest now to gain benefits in the future as in both situations there is no going back."
Joanne Shaw, chair of Ask About Medicine, said: "It's vital that people with diabetes are encouraged and empowered to ask questions, as patients who have a good knowledge of their treatment options are better equipped to make informed decisions about medicines and other treatments."
Richard Tiner, ABPI medical director, said there was no substitute for a good open relationship between diabetes patients and healthcare professionals.
"We hope the report will serve as a call to action to healthcare professionals to experiment with information prescriptions for their patients and encourage them to ask questions about their condition and treatment."
Friday, July 21, 2006
Elsevier.nl Door Simon Rozendaal
Scherpslijpers als de Amerikaanse president George W. Bush zeggen dat je geen leven mag vernietigen om leven te redden. Dat klinkt logisch. Maar veel restembryo's worden toch door de gootsteen gespoeld. Waarom die niet gebruiken om zieke mensen te genezen?
President George W. Bush wil niet dat er stamcellen uit embryo's worden gewonnen. Hij heeft daarom gisteren een wetsvoorstel dat de mogelijkheden voor stamcelonderzoek wilde uitbreiden met een veto getroffen. Dat was voor het eerst sinds zijn aantreden dat hij dit machtswapen gebruikte.
Waar gaat het om?
Stamcellen zijn een soort oerlichaamscellen die zich nog in alle richtingen kunnen ontwikkelen. In een volwassen lichaam zijn alle cellen gespecialiseerd en zitten ze min of meer op slot. Voor de toekomst van het medisch onderzoek zijn stamcellen van groot belang. Er zijn tal van ziekten waarvoor momenteel geen echte genezing bestaat en waarvoor stamcellen hoop bieden.
Het grote discussiepunt is echter hoe die stamcellen 'geoogst' worden. In het volwassen lichaam komen her en der stamcellen voor, o.a. in het beenmerg, maar die zijn zeldzaam en dus moeilijk te winnen. Ook zijn ze soms toch ook al een tikje gespecialiseerd.
Een embryo daarentegen zit vol met stamcellen – logisch, want er is nog geen specialisatie opgetreden.
Het ethische debat spitst zich dus toe op de vraag of je stamcellen uit embryo's mag splitsen. Scherpslijpers zeggen dat je geen leven mag vernietigen om leven te redden. Dat klinkt onmiskenbaar logisch.
Wel passen er twee kanttekeningen bij. In de eerste plaats worden er meestal ingevroren embryo's gebruikt die zijn overgebleven van reageerbuisbevruchtingen. Uit die embryo's kunnen nog kinderen ontstaan – Bush had zich tijdens een toespraak met dergelijke kinderen omringd – maar doorgaans worden die restembryo's door de gootsteen gespoeld. Als dat toch gebeurt, getuigt het van meer respect voor het leven om die embryo's te gebruiken om zieke mensen te genezen.
Een tweede argument is dat het vanuit een religieuze grondhouding niet vanzelfsprekend is om te stellen dat het leven bij de bevruchting begint. Andere religies leggen de grens van het leven pas bij drie maanden. Dan pas is sprake van een enigszins vatbaar leven.
Scherpslijpers als de Amerikaanse president George W. Bush zeggen dat je geen leven mag vernietigen om leven te redden. Dat klinkt logisch. Maar veel restembryo's worden toch door de gootsteen gespoeld. Waarom die niet gebruiken om zieke mensen te genezen?
President George W. Bush wil niet dat er stamcellen uit embryo's worden gewonnen. Hij heeft daarom gisteren een wetsvoorstel dat de mogelijkheden voor stamcelonderzoek wilde uitbreiden met een veto getroffen. Dat was voor het eerst sinds zijn aantreden dat hij dit machtswapen gebruikte.
Waar gaat het om?
Stamcellen zijn een soort oerlichaamscellen die zich nog in alle richtingen kunnen ontwikkelen. In een volwassen lichaam zijn alle cellen gespecialiseerd en zitten ze min of meer op slot. Voor de toekomst van het medisch onderzoek zijn stamcellen van groot belang. Er zijn tal van ziekten waarvoor momenteel geen echte genezing bestaat en waarvoor stamcellen hoop bieden.
Het grote discussiepunt is echter hoe die stamcellen 'geoogst' worden. In het volwassen lichaam komen her en der stamcellen voor, o.a. in het beenmerg, maar die zijn zeldzaam en dus moeilijk te winnen. Ook zijn ze soms toch ook al een tikje gespecialiseerd.
Een embryo daarentegen zit vol met stamcellen – logisch, want er is nog geen specialisatie opgetreden.
Het ethische debat spitst zich dus toe op de vraag of je stamcellen uit embryo's mag splitsen. Scherpslijpers zeggen dat je geen leven mag vernietigen om leven te redden. Dat klinkt onmiskenbaar logisch.
Wel passen er twee kanttekeningen bij. In de eerste plaats worden er meestal ingevroren embryo's gebruikt die zijn overgebleven van reageerbuisbevruchtingen. Uit die embryo's kunnen nog kinderen ontstaan – Bush had zich tijdens een toespraak met dergelijke kinderen omringd – maar doorgaans worden die restembryo's door de gootsteen gespoeld. Als dat toch gebeurt, getuigt het van meer respect voor het leven om die embryo's te gebruiken om zieke mensen te genezen.
Een tweede argument is dat het vanuit een religieuze grondhouding niet vanzelfsprekend is om te stellen dat het leven bij de bevruchting begint. Andere religies leggen de grens van het leven pas bij drie maanden. Dan pas is sprake van een enigszins vatbaar leven.
Thursday, July 20, 2006
NU.NL
AMSTERDAM - Vrouwen mogen zich op de werkvloer bloter kleden dan mannen. Terwijl vrouwen tijdens de zomerperiode in korte rokjes, topjes en slippers op de werkvloer verschijnen, worden mannen geacht een overhemd en lange broek te dragen. Dit kan in het ergste geval leiden tot klachten over discriminatie.
Dat stelt consultantsbureau Croner, dat onderzoek deed naar kledingvoorschriften bij bedrijven. Ruim de helft van de ondervraagde werknemers zegt dat vrouwen meer kunnen maken dan mannen.
Een kwart van de werknemers ziet geen verschil tussen wat vrouwelijke en mannelijke werknemers mogen dragen tijdens kantoortijd. Acht procent denkt dat de weersomstandigheden geen invloed op kleding hebben.
Klachten
Aangezien zoveel werknemers een sekseverschil waarnemen als het gaat om 'dresscodes', moeten werkgevers zich voorbereiden op eventuele klachten, zo stelt Croner. In het ergste geval kan een bedrijf zelfs aangeklaagd worden wegens seksediscriminatie. Volgens het consultantsbureau mag het probleem dan misschien onschuldig lijken, de werkgever doet er goed aan duidelijke kledingregels op te stellen.
AMSTERDAM - Vrouwen mogen zich op de werkvloer bloter kleden dan mannen. Terwijl vrouwen tijdens de zomerperiode in korte rokjes, topjes en slippers op de werkvloer verschijnen, worden mannen geacht een overhemd en lange broek te dragen. Dit kan in het ergste geval leiden tot klachten over discriminatie.
Dat stelt consultantsbureau Croner, dat onderzoek deed naar kledingvoorschriften bij bedrijven. Ruim de helft van de ondervraagde werknemers zegt dat vrouwen meer kunnen maken dan mannen.
Een kwart van de werknemers ziet geen verschil tussen wat vrouwelijke en mannelijke werknemers mogen dragen tijdens kantoortijd. Acht procent denkt dat de weersomstandigheden geen invloed op kleding hebben.
Klachten
Aangezien zoveel werknemers een sekseverschil waarnemen als het gaat om 'dresscodes', moeten werkgevers zich voorbereiden op eventuele klachten, zo stelt Croner. In het ergste geval kan een bedrijf zelfs aangeklaagd worden wegens seksediscriminatie. Volgens het consultantsbureau mag het probleem dan misschien onschuldig lijken, de werkgever doet er goed aan duidelijke kledingregels op te stellen.
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
nrc.nl
New Orleans, 19 juli. Een kno-arts en twee verpleegsters uit New Orleans zijn gisteren in staat van beschuldiging gesteld wegens viervoudige doodslag. Ze zouden begin september, in de eerste chaotische etmalen na orkaan Katrina, vier patiënten een dodelijke medicijnencocktail hebben gegeven.
Volgens aanklager Charles Foti „was dit geen euthanasie, maar moord”. De beklaagden zouden geen ruggespraak hebben gehad met hun superieuren. Ook euthanasie is overigens illegaal in de VS.
In het Memorial Medical Center waar de drie vrouwen werkten stond het water na de overstroming van de stad drie meter hoog. Eveneens was de stroom uitgevallen en het rioolwater stroomde via de toiletten de ziekenvloer op. De temperatuur steeg ondertussen tot boven de 38 graden. In het ziekenhuis met 317 bedden wachtten ruim 2.000 mensen (ontheemden en patiënten) dagen op evacuatie.
Volgens de aanklacht besloten de drie te midden van deze chaos aan vier patiënten – die het mogelijk niet tot een evacuatie zouden redden – een cocktail van morfine en kalmeringsmiddelen toe te dienen. De patiënten waren 62, 67, 90 en 91 jaar oud.
De aanklacht maakt deel uit van een groter onderzoek. Na ‘Katrina’ vielen in Louisiana ongeveer 200 doden onder patiënten en bejaarden in zes ziekenhuizen en dertien verzorgingstehuizen. Justitie nam bij enkele van deze slachtoffers weefsel af om te bepalen of ze bepaalde stoffen in hun bloed hadden die wezen op zogeheten ‘mercy killing’. In oktober riep aanklager Foti ook 73 medici en verplegers op voor verhoor. Hij zinspeelde er gisteren op dat er meer aanklachten zullen volgen.
New Orleans, 19 juli. Een kno-arts en twee verpleegsters uit New Orleans zijn gisteren in staat van beschuldiging gesteld wegens viervoudige doodslag. Ze zouden begin september, in de eerste chaotische etmalen na orkaan Katrina, vier patiënten een dodelijke medicijnencocktail hebben gegeven.
Volgens aanklager Charles Foti „was dit geen euthanasie, maar moord”. De beklaagden zouden geen ruggespraak hebben gehad met hun superieuren. Ook euthanasie is overigens illegaal in de VS.
In het Memorial Medical Center waar de drie vrouwen werkten stond het water na de overstroming van de stad drie meter hoog. Eveneens was de stroom uitgevallen en het rioolwater stroomde via de toiletten de ziekenvloer op. De temperatuur steeg ondertussen tot boven de 38 graden. In het ziekenhuis met 317 bedden wachtten ruim 2.000 mensen (ontheemden en patiënten) dagen op evacuatie.
Volgens de aanklacht besloten de drie te midden van deze chaos aan vier patiënten – die het mogelijk niet tot een evacuatie zouden redden – een cocktail van morfine en kalmeringsmiddelen toe te dienen. De patiënten waren 62, 67, 90 en 91 jaar oud.
De aanklacht maakt deel uit van een groter onderzoek. Na ‘Katrina’ vielen in Louisiana ongeveer 200 doden onder patiënten en bejaarden in zes ziekenhuizen en dertien verzorgingstehuizen. Justitie nam bij enkele van deze slachtoffers weefsel af om te bepalen of ze bepaalde stoffen in hun bloed hadden die wezen op zogeheten ‘mercy killing’. In oktober riep aanklager Foti ook 73 medici en verplegers op voor verhoor. Hij zinspeelde er gisteren op dat er meer aanklachten zullen volgen.
BLOGT punt NL
De wegenwachters van de ANWB kampen deze dagen in het oosten van het land met een onverwachte tegenstander: de steenmarter.
"Bijna dagelijks krijgen we meldingen binnen over steenmarters die onder de motorkap bedrading hebben kapotgebeten", aldus Annelies Tichelaar van de ANWB. "Met name de bougiekabels zijn erg in trek bij deze dieren". De ANWB weet niet waarom het probleem zich juist nu voordoet. "Dat is ons een raadsel, voorheen kenden we dit fenomeen alleen in Limburg. De steenmarter heeft z'n leefgebied kennelijk uitgebreid. Onze mensen zien aan de tandafdrukken in de kabels dat het gaat om steenmarters".
Autobezitters die gevrijwaard willen blijven van knaagdieren onder hun motorkap, kunnen volgens de ANWB-woordvoerster maatregelen nemen. "Er zijn sprays tegen ongedierte in de handel en de ervaring heeft geleerd dat deze beestjes ook niet houden van de geur van een wc-blokje. Je kunt ook nog een in ammoniak gedrenkte doek onder de auto leggen". De steenmarter is een beschermd roofdier, dat de laatste jaren bezig is met een bescheiden opmars in Nederland. Volwassen exemplaren zijn 40 tot 48 centimeter lang, ongeveer 12 centimeter hoog en ze wegen 1,3 tot 2,5 kilo. Steenmarters verblijven vaak in de buurt van mensen, op zolder, in spouwmuren en dus onder motorkappen van auto's. Volgens kenners zijn het vooral jonge dieren die de bedrading doorbijten, om de eetbaarheid ervan uit te proberen.
De wegenwachters van de ANWB kampen deze dagen in het oosten van het land met een onverwachte tegenstander: de steenmarter.
"Bijna dagelijks krijgen we meldingen binnen over steenmarters die onder de motorkap bedrading hebben kapotgebeten", aldus Annelies Tichelaar van de ANWB. "Met name de bougiekabels zijn erg in trek bij deze dieren". De ANWB weet niet waarom het probleem zich juist nu voordoet. "Dat is ons een raadsel, voorheen kenden we dit fenomeen alleen in Limburg. De steenmarter heeft z'n leefgebied kennelijk uitgebreid. Onze mensen zien aan de tandafdrukken in de kabels dat het gaat om steenmarters".
Autobezitters die gevrijwaard willen blijven van knaagdieren onder hun motorkap, kunnen volgens de ANWB-woordvoerster maatregelen nemen. "Er zijn sprays tegen ongedierte in de handel en de ervaring heeft geleerd dat deze beestjes ook niet houden van de geur van een wc-blokje. Je kunt ook nog een in ammoniak gedrenkte doek onder de auto leggen". De steenmarter is een beschermd roofdier, dat de laatste jaren bezig is met een bescheiden opmars in Nederland. Volwassen exemplaren zijn 40 tot 48 centimeter lang, ongeveer 12 centimeter hoog en ze wegen 1,3 tot 2,5 kilo. Steenmarters verblijven vaak in de buurt van mensen, op zolder, in spouwmuren en dus onder motorkappen van auto's. Volgens kenners zijn het vooral jonge dieren die de bedrading doorbijten, om de eetbaarheid ervan uit te proberen.
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
BBC NEWS
A cloned human would probably consider themselves to be an individual, a study suggests.
Human reproductive cloning is currently not allowed in the UK
Scientists drew their conclusions after interviewing identical twins about their experiences of sharing exactly the same genes with somebody else.
The team said the twins believed their genes played a limited role in shaping their identity.
The UK/Austrian research will shortly be published in the journal of Social Science and Medicine.
Co-author Dr Barbara Prainsack, from the University of Vienna, Austria, who worked with Professor Tim Spector, from the Twins Research Unit, St Thomas' Hospital, London, said: "The birth of Dolly the sheep triggered many questions about what it would be like to be a clone.
"We don't have clones we can interview - but we do have identical twins."
Identical twins are created when a single egg, fertilised by a single sperm, splits into two separate, but genetically identical, embryos.
The researchers said because twins - like potential clones - share the same genes, they offer the only existing method of studying the feelings a clone might experience.
But they also emphasized twins would differ from clones because they are born at the same time, whereas clones would differ in age.
One of a pair?
The scientists carried out 17 interviews of identical, non-identical and non-twin siblings.
The identical twins said being a twin did not compromise their individuality - although they pointed out that people often had preconceptions that they were one of a pair rather than individuals.
Those interviewed viewed being an identical twin as a blessing, and said they would not rather be a non-identical twin or a "singleton".
They also said they believed their genes had no great bearing on their relationship with their twin and their identity.
The twins felt factors such as being brought up in the same environment, having spent a large part of their lives together, and being treated in a similar way by their parents were more important.
One interviewee said: "We spent 20 years together, and so that was a close experience. And that hasn't changed all of these years we've been apart. So I don't feel that genetics made any difference."
From these findings the scientists said they could assume a clone would probably not feel their individuality was compromised by sharing genes with someone else; that their relationship with their co-clone was a blessing; and their uniqueness was not a negative thing.
Dr Prainsack said: "According to the genetically identical people in our study, the problem would not be genetic sameness, but more the motives with which somebody would determine somebody else's genome.
"The cloning debate would benefit from shifting away its focus from genetic sameness to looking more at social reasons for why the deliberate creation of human beings with a certain genetic make-up could hurt society."
Professor Robin Lovell-Badge, a geneticist from the Medical Research Council's National Institute for Medical Research, London, said: "Human reproductive cloning is not safe and should not be attempted with current knowledge.
"In my opinion, there are no strong reasons for even attempting it.
"But this interesting study and, although small, reveals how we should not have any prejudiced feelings about the idea of genetically identical individuals living amongst us."
A cloned human would probably consider themselves to be an individual, a study suggests.
Human reproductive cloning is currently not allowed in the UK
Scientists drew their conclusions after interviewing identical twins about their experiences of sharing exactly the same genes with somebody else.
The team said the twins believed their genes played a limited role in shaping their identity.
The UK/Austrian research will shortly be published in the journal of Social Science and Medicine.
Co-author Dr Barbara Prainsack, from the University of Vienna, Austria, who worked with Professor Tim Spector, from the Twins Research Unit, St Thomas' Hospital, London, said: "The birth of Dolly the sheep triggered many questions about what it would be like to be a clone.
"We don't have clones we can interview - but we do have identical twins."
This interesting study reveals how we should not have any prejudiced feelings about the idea of genetically identical individuals living amongst us. Professor Lovell-Badge.
Identical twins are created when a single egg, fertilised by a single sperm, splits into two separate, but genetically identical, embryos.
The researchers said because twins - like potential clones - share the same genes, they offer the only existing method of studying the feelings a clone might experience.
But they also emphasized twins would differ from clones because they are born at the same time, whereas clones would differ in age.
One of a pair?
The scientists carried out 17 interviews of identical, non-identical and non-twin siblings.
The identical twins said being a twin did not compromise their individuality - although they pointed out that people often had preconceptions that they were one of a pair rather than individuals.
Those interviewed viewed being an identical twin as a blessing, and said they would not rather be a non-identical twin or a "singleton".
They also said they believed their genes had no great bearing on their relationship with their twin and their identity.
The twins felt factors such as being brought up in the same environment, having spent a large part of their lives together, and being treated in a similar way by their parents were more important.
One interviewee said: "We spent 20 years together, and so that was a close experience. And that hasn't changed all of these years we've been apart. So I don't feel that genetics made any difference."
From these findings the scientists said they could assume a clone would probably not feel their individuality was compromised by sharing genes with someone else; that their relationship with their co-clone was a blessing; and their uniqueness was not a negative thing.
Dr Prainsack said: "According to the genetically identical people in our study, the problem would not be genetic sameness, but more the motives with which somebody would determine somebody else's genome.
"The cloning debate would benefit from shifting away its focus from genetic sameness to looking more at social reasons for why the deliberate creation of human beings with a certain genetic make-up could hurt society."
Professor Robin Lovell-Badge, a geneticist from the Medical Research Council's National Institute for Medical Research, London, said: "Human reproductive cloning is not safe and should not be attempted with current knowledge.
"In my opinion, there are no strong reasons for even attempting it.
"But this interesting study and, although small, reveals how we should not have any prejudiced feelings about the idea of genetically identical individuals living amongst us."
Monday, July 17, 2006
BBC NEWS
Most female students worldwide know nothing about the lifestyle habits that can influence breast cancer risk, research shows.
Lifestyle factors can influence risk
A study of more than 10,000 female students from 23 countries found they were no better informed about the disease than their male counterparts.
Fewer than 5% realised that alcohol, exercise or being overweight could influence breast cancer risk.
The European Journal of Cancer study was led by Cancer Research UK.
Just over half of those questioned were aware that genes could play a role in influencing breast cancer risk. Awareness of genetic factors was particularly high in the UK and US.
But awareness of the potential significance of lifestyle factors was much lower.
US students were most likely to be aware of their potential influence - but even here ignorance was widespread.
More than 15% of US students identified obesity as a risk factor, compared with under 7% of their English counterparts.
While 10% of US students pinpointed the role of alcohol, the figure in the UK was just 4%.
And 18% of US female students thought exercise had an influence on breast cancer, compared to just 3.5% of English students.
Students in both the UK and US were more likely to rate stress as a significant factor - even though evidence for its effect is much more sketchy.
Worrying findings
The study focused on university students because they were likely to be the opinion formers of the future, said Professor Jane Wardle, director of Cancer Research UK's health behaviour unit at University College, London.
"If graduates are not aware of risks, then it is unlikely that anyone else knows."
"It is very worrying that information about being overweight, having a high alcohol intake and taking little physical exercise has simply not been effectively communicated to young women in any of the countries we surveyed.
"The results of this study suggest that students could be overestimating the impact of genetic factors and are certainly underestimating the importance of lifestyle factors.
"The danger is that women who do not have relatives with breast cancer may believe that since they have a lower genetic risk they need take no account of lifestyle risks."
Professor John Toy, medical director of Cancer Research UK, said: "The message that lifestyle can influence breast cancer risk is a very important one to get across to all women to enable them to take some control over their future lives."
Most female students worldwide know nothing about the lifestyle habits that can influence breast cancer risk, research shows.
Lifestyle factors can influence risk
A study of more than 10,000 female students from 23 countries found they were no better informed about the disease than their male counterparts.
Fewer than 5% realised that alcohol, exercise or being overweight could influence breast cancer risk.
The European Journal of Cancer study was led by Cancer Research UK.
BREAST CANCER RISK FACTORS
Age
Family history (slight)
Starting periods at a younger age
Late menopause
Using hormone replacement therapy
Using the contraceptive pill (small)
Alcohol
Obesity
Just over half of those questioned were aware that genes could play a role in influencing breast cancer risk. Awareness of genetic factors was particularly high in the UK and US.
But awareness of the potential significance of lifestyle factors was much lower.
US students were most likely to be aware of their potential influence - but even here ignorance was widespread.
More than 15% of US students identified obesity as a risk factor, compared with under 7% of their English counterparts.
While 10% of US students pinpointed the role of alcohol, the figure in the UK was just 4%.
And 18% of US female students thought exercise had an influence on breast cancer, compared to just 3.5% of English students.
Students in both the UK and US were more likely to rate stress as a significant factor - even though evidence for its effect is much more sketchy.
Worrying findings
The study focused on university students because they were likely to be the opinion formers of the future, said Professor Jane Wardle, director of Cancer Research UK's health behaviour unit at University College, London.
"If graduates are not aware of risks, then it is unlikely that anyone else knows."
"It is very worrying that information about being overweight, having a high alcohol intake and taking little physical exercise has simply not been effectively communicated to young women in any of the countries we surveyed.
CUTTING THE RISK
Breastfeed
Have several children, and have them young
Stay in shape
Eat and drink healthily
Don't smoke
"The results of this study suggest that students could be overestimating the impact of genetic factors and are certainly underestimating the importance of lifestyle factors.
"The danger is that women who do not have relatives with breast cancer may believe that since they have a lower genetic risk they need take no account of lifestyle risks."
Professor John Toy, medical director of Cancer Research UK, said: "The message that lifestyle can influence breast cancer risk is a very important one to get across to all women to enable them to take some control over their future lives."
Saturday, July 15, 2006
BBC NEWS
Princes William and Harry have said they are "deeply saddened" at the publication in Italy of a photograph of Princess Diana as she lay dying.
Princess Diana and Dodi Al Fayed died on 31 August 1997
Their comments come after UK magazine distributors were urged not to import copies of the Italian magazine Chi.
In a statement, the princes said they were upset that "such a low has been reached" adding they would make moves to protect her, as she had them.
UK newspapers have condemned Chi but its editor says the photo is "tender".
The princes' statement said: "Despite the support shown to us and our mother's memory by so many people over the last eight years, we feel that as her sons we would be failing in our duty to her now if we did not protect her as she once did us.
"Therefore we appeal to all forms of media throughout the world to appreciate fully that publishing such material causes great hurt to us, our father, our mother's family and all those who so loved and respected her."
'Touching, tender'
Mohamed Al Fayed, whose son Dodi was also killed in the 1997 car crash, also condemned the "vile publication" of the picture.
But Chi's editor Umberto Brindani said the picture was "touching" and "tender".
The photograph shows the princess being given oxygen in the wreckage of the Mercedes car in which she died.
British newspapers have always refused to publish the picture.
Under the headline "world exclusive - the last photo" it has been published in Chi and reproduced in an Italian newspaper.
In Chi, it accompanies an article about a forthcoming book which examines the criminal investigation into Diana's death.
Mr Al Fayed said the publication of the photos represented a "heartless pursuit of money".
"It makes me sad and angry that a magazine would reproduce an image of the princess as she clung desperately to life," he said.
"The editor and the author, who probably have families of their own, have no thought for the feelings of those who loved the princess, first and foremost her sons, Princes William and Harry."
Chi editor Umberto Brindani said he had published the picture for the "very simple reason" that it has never been seen before.
"In my opinion it is not a picture which is offensive to the memory of Princess Diana," he added.
"She is not dead in the picture but looks as if she is a sleeping princess."
Princes William and Harry have said they are "deeply saddened" at the publication in Italy of a photograph of Princess Diana as she lay dying.
Princess Diana and Dodi Al Fayed died on 31 August 1997
Their comments come after UK magazine distributors were urged not to import copies of the Italian magazine Chi.
In a statement, the princes said they were upset that "such a low has been reached" adding they would make moves to protect her, as she had them.
UK newspapers have condemned Chi but its editor says the photo is "tender".
The princes' statement said: "Despite the support shown to us and our mother's memory by so many people over the last eight years, we feel that as her sons we would be failing in our duty to her now if we did not protect her as she once did us.
"Therefore we appeal to all forms of media throughout the world to appreciate fully that publishing such material causes great hurt to us, our father, our mother's family and all those who so loved and respected her."
'Touching, tender'
Mohamed Al Fayed, whose son Dodi was also killed in the 1997 car crash, also condemned the "vile publication" of the picture.
But Chi's editor Umberto Brindani said the picture was "touching" and "tender".
The photograph shows the princess being given oxygen in the wreckage of the Mercedes car in which she died.
British newspapers have always refused to publish the picture.
Under the headline "world exclusive - the last photo" it has been published in Chi and reproduced in an Italian newspaper.
It makes me sad and angry that a magazine would reproduce an image of the Princess as she clung desperately to life. Mohamed Al Fayed.
In Chi, it accompanies an article about a forthcoming book which examines the criminal investigation into Diana's death.
Mr Al Fayed said the publication of the photos represented a "heartless pursuit of money".
"It makes me sad and angry that a magazine would reproduce an image of the princess as she clung desperately to life," he said.
"The editor and the author, who probably have families of their own, have no thought for the feelings of those who loved the princess, first and foremost her sons, Princes William and Harry."
Chi editor Umberto Brindani said he had published the picture for the "very simple reason" that it has never been seen before.
"In my opinion it is not a picture which is offensive to the memory of Princess Diana," he added.
"She is not dead in the picture but looks as if she is a sleeping princess."
Friday, July 14, 2006
BBC NEWS
Meerkat pups do not learn how to eat dangerous animals such as scorpions on their own but are taught by adults, scientists have discovered.
A 10-week-old meerkat pup eats a live scorpion provided by a helping adult. Eating live prey is the final stage in a pup's training. Image: Andrew Radford/Sophie Lanfear/Alex Thornton/Katherine McAuliffe
Researchers found that adults bring dead animals to the youngest pups.
As pups get older, helpers disable live prey for them; finally they coax the youngsters to hunt for themselves.
Writing in the journal Science, the scientists suggest meerkats are only the second non-human animal species found to teach its young actively.
The only other clear demonstration of teaching behaviour in species other than Homo sapiens is, they say, the finding reported earlier this year that ants can help their fellows locate food.
Costly lessons
The scientists, from Cambridge University, have spent a number of years working with wild meerkats in South Africa.
The animals live in groups of up to 40 in very dry conditions.
Most of the individuals in the group will be related to the dominant male-female pair, which produce most of the offspring.
There are lots of other adults to help; and help they evidently do.
"Helpers will gradually introduce pups to live prey," scientist Alex Thornton told the BBC World Service Science in Action programme.
"So when pups are very little they get brought dead prey, like scorpions, lizards, and spiders; as they start to get older, helpers will bring them prey that's been disabled, so if it's a scorpion the helper might bite the sting off before giving it to the pup.
A meerkat pup is begging its helper for food
"Then finally when the pups are approaching independence, the adults will give them live food that the pups have to deal with on their own, and it seems that these changes in helper behaviour are in response to changes in the pup begging calls."
To investigate whether the teaching process actually helped the pups handle the potentially dangerous scorpions, Dr Thornton's group ran several experiments.
In one, they took three groups of pups from the same litter. Over a period of four days, one group was given live scorpions minus their stings, one group was given dead scorpions, and the third received boiled eggs as a control.
"Then on the fourth day we tested them all with a live scorpion," said Dr Thornton, "and lo and behold the one that had practised with the live scorpion was the best out of the three."
Essential tools
Teaching can clearly carry an evolutionary benefit because it transfers skills and information which can keep youngsters alive, but it also carries a cost to the adult.
Meerkats become independent hunters at about three months old
It take time and effort which the adult could be using to find food for itself.
So teaching might be expected only to evolve where pups would find it hard to absorb information just by watching.
The meerkat might be one such species, with the social structure of groups meaning there are adult helpers available to help with education.
"It is costly in meerkats, but I think the benefits of teaching outweigh the costs," said Dr Thornton.
"Pups need to learn how to deal with these difficult food items, it's absolutely imperative, otherwise they probably wouldn't survive into adulthood; and when pups are little, they are just incompetent, they are really bad at finding food.
"I don't think that teaching is restricted to meerkats at all, I think it's probably more common than we realised."
Meerkat pups do not learn how to eat dangerous animals such as scorpions on their own but are taught by adults, scientists have discovered.
A 10-week-old meerkat pup eats a live scorpion provided by a helping adult. Eating live prey is the final stage in a pup's training. Image: Andrew Radford/Sophie Lanfear/Alex Thornton/Katherine McAuliffe
Researchers found that adults bring dead animals to the youngest pups.
As pups get older, helpers disable live prey for them; finally they coax the youngsters to hunt for themselves.
Writing in the journal Science, the scientists suggest meerkats are only the second non-human animal species found to teach its young actively.
The only other clear demonstration of teaching behaviour in species other than Homo sapiens is, they say, the finding reported earlier this year that ants can help their fellows locate food.
Costly lessons
The scientists, from Cambridge University, have spent a number of years working with wild meerkats in South Africa.
The animals live in groups of up to 40 in very dry conditions.
Most of the individuals in the group will be related to the dominant male-female pair, which produce most of the offspring.
There are lots of other adults to help; and help they evidently do.
"Helpers will gradually introduce pups to live prey," scientist Alex Thornton told the BBC World Service Science in Action programme.
"So when pups are very little they get brought dead prey, like scorpions, lizards, and spiders; as they start to get older, helpers will bring them prey that's been disabled, so if it's a scorpion the helper might bite the sting off before giving it to the pup.
A meerkat pup is begging its helper for food
"Then finally when the pups are approaching independence, the adults will give them live food that the pups have to deal with on their own, and it seems that these changes in helper behaviour are in response to changes in the pup begging calls."
To investigate whether the teaching process actually helped the pups handle the potentially dangerous scorpions, Dr Thornton's group ran several experiments.
Pups need to learn how to deal with these difficult food items, it's absolutely imperative, otherwise they probably wouldn't survive into adulthood. Alex Thornton, Report co-author.
In one, they took three groups of pups from the same litter. Over a period of four days, one group was given live scorpions minus their stings, one group was given dead scorpions, and the third received boiled eggs as a control.
"Then on the fourth day we tested them all with a live scorpion," said Dr Thornton, "and lo and behold the one that had practised with the live scorpion was the best out of the three."
Essential tools
Teaching can clearly carry an evolutionary benefit because it transfers skills and information which can keep youngsters alive, but it also carries a cost to the adult.
Meerkats become independent hunters at about three months old
It take time and effort which the adult could be using to find food for itself.
So teaching might be expected only to evolve where pups would find it hard to absorb information just by watching.
The meerkat might be one such species, with the social structure of groups meaning there are adult helpers available to help with education.
"It is costly in meerkats, but I think the benefits of teaching outweigh the costs," said Dr Thornton.
"Pups need to learn how to deal with these difficult food items, it's absolutely imperative, otherwise they probably wouldn't survive into adulthood; and when pups are little, they are just incompetent, they are really bad at finding food.
"I don't think that teaching is restricted to meerkats at all, I think it's probably more common than we realised."
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
SPITS
KABUL (ANP) - De Taliban zorgen er met aanslagen en dreigementen voor dat in Afghanistan steeds meer meisjesscholen sluiten. In eenderde van alle districten zijn er helemaal geen meisjesscholen meer.
Een meisjesschool in Afghanistan. ANP Photo
Ruim vier jaar na de ineenstorting van het Taliban-regime gaan de meeste Afghaanse meisjes nog steeds niet naar school, aldus een studie van de mensenrechtenorganisatie Human Rights Watch.
Opnieuw groeit een generatie Afghaanse meisjes op die onderwijs en de kans op een beter leven ontnomen wordt, aldus Zam Courssen-Neff, een van de auteurs van het rapport. De in New York gevestigde organisatie telde vanaf het begin van 2005 204 aanvallen en pogingen daartoe op leraren, scholieren en scholen. Daarvan vond ruim de helft plaats in de eerste zes maanden van dit jaar. De werkelijke aantallen zouden nog veel hoger liggen.
Bewapende groeperingen
Overigens zijn niet alle aanslagen in de schoenen van de Taliban te schuiven. De aanval op het onderwijs is deels ook te wijten aan de ,,dramatische heropleving van bewapende groeperingen'', die tegen de regering in Kabul en de internationale troepen strijden. Voor al deze groeperingen staan scholen symbool voor de gehate autoriteiten in de relatief veilige hoofdstad Kabul en hun vaak incompetente handlangers in de regio's.
De auteurs houden de internationale gemeenschap medeverantwoordelijk voor de mensenrechtencrisis in het Aziatische land. De buitenlandse troepen zijn er niet in geslaagd de veiligheid in Afghanistan te herstellen. ,,De Taliban en andere groepen vullen het vacuüm.''
De situatie is nog niet hopeloos, aldus de organisatie. De Verenigde Staten en de NAVO moeten voor alles laten zien dat zij het leven van gewone Afghanen veiliger en beter kunnen en willen maken. ,,Als het te gevaarlijk is om kinderen naar school te sturen, is er geen echte veilligheid en geen echte ontwikkeling'', aldus Courssen-Neff.
KABUL (ANP) - De Taliban zorgen er met aanslagen en dreigementen voor dat in Afghanistan steeds meer meisjesscholen sluiten. In eenderde van alle districten zijn er helemaal geen meisjesscholen meer.
Een meisjesschool in Afghanistan. ANP Photo
Ruim vier jaar na de ineenstorting van het Taliban-regime gaan de meeste Afghaanse meisjes nog steeds niet naar school, aldus een studie van de mensenrechtenorganisatie Human Rights Watch.
Opnieuw groeit een generatie Afghaanse meisjes op die onderwijs en de kans op een beter leven ontnomen wordt, aldus Zam Courssen-Neff, een van de auteurs van het rapport. De in New York gevestigde organisatie telde vanaf het begin van 2005 204 aanvallen en pogingen daartoe op leraren, scholieren en scholen. Daarvan vond ruim de helft plaats in de eerste zes maanden van dit jaar. De werkelijke aantallen zouden nog veel hoger liggen.
Bewapende groeperingen
Overigens zijn niet alle aanslagen in de schoenen van de Taliban te schuiven. De aanval op het onderwijs is deels ook te wijten aan de ,,dramatische heropleving van bewapende groeperingen'', die tegen de regering in Kabul en de internationale troepen strijden. Voor al deze groeperingen staan scholen symbool voor de gehate autoriteiten in de relatief veilige hoofdstad Kabul en hun vaak incompetente handlangers in de regio's.
De auteurs houden de internationale gemeenschap medeverantwoordelijk voor de mensenrechtencrisis in het Aziatische land. De buitenlandse troepen zijn er niet in geslaagd de veiligheid in Afghanistan te herstellen. ,,De Taliban en andere groepen vullen het vacuüm.''
De situatie is nog niet hopeloos, aldus de organisatie. De Verenigde Staten en de NAVO moeten voor alles laten zien dat zij het leven van gewone Afghanen veiliger en beter kunnen en willen maken. ,,Als het te gevaarlijk is om kinderen naar school te sturen, is er geen echte veilligheid en geen echte ontwikkeling'', aldus Courssen-Neff.
BBC NEWS
Europe must be careful not to turn itself into a fortress just to keep out immigrants, a French minister has said.
Addressing a European-African migration conference, French Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy said the concept of zero immigration was a dangerous myth.
Ministers from 57 European and African nations are meeting in the Moroccan capital Rabat to discuss ways of dealing with migrants.
Increasing numbers of Africans are coming to Europe in search of work.
Delegates are discussing human trafficking and security but also ways of alleviating the poverty which causes many migrants to seek a better life.
Already this year at least 8,000 African migrants have reached Spain's Canary Islands alone.
'El Dorado'
Speaking at the opening of the two-day conference, Mr Sarkozy, who is known for his hardline view on immigration, warned that it would not be in Europe's interest to turn itself into a fortress.
But he warned that Europe could not absorb all those who saw it as an El Dorado - a move which, he said, would destabilise the continent.
The failure to offer opportunities to African youth today would spell disaster for Europe tomorrow, he warned.
Mr Sarkozy, who has been widely attacked for drafting a controversial new law to curb immigration to France, also called for a new financial institution to help African migrants in Europe to send money home.
Delegates also heard a statement from French President Jacques Chirac in which he called for a joint approach to tackle illegal immigration "with respect for human dignity but with firmness".
Illegal migration required an "energetic fight against trafficking networks" along with "co-operation to improve border surveillance," he said, while stressing the need for Europe to enter a development partnership with Africa.
"Let us offer Africa's youth a future of dignity. Then it will not risk resorting to violence and extremism, or choosing, en masse, the paths of exile," he said.
'Managed' migration
The Rabat conference is supposed to develop a common approach between Europe and Africa - tougher policing and action against human trafficking but also measures to deal with the poverty and conflict which drive would-be migrants to seek a better life elsewhere.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres said that the movement of both refugees and migrants was frequently rooted in the broader problem of under-development.
Presenting delegates with a 10-point action plan, Mr Guterres urged governments to work together to protect the rights of both refugees and migrants.
"I hope that this conference will enable the states of Africa and Europe to formulate cooperative approaches to the challenge of development - approaches which can help us to create the conditions that enable people to migrate out of choice, rather than necessity," he said.
Europe talks increasingly about managed migration, choosing the migrants it wants to fill gaps in the labour market.
But African countries fear that means they will lose their best and brightest, slowing down their development still further.
Morocco is the jumping-off point for migrants from sub-Saharan Africa, from Senegal and Mali, Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
But many get to Morocco only to find they cannot go any further - the land routes are closed and there are more patrols at sea.
The Moroccan authorities do not want them there.
They have stopped granting residence permits even to statutory refugees.
Many of the migrants complain of racism and violence.
They stay because going back would be worse - for some because their countries are at war, for others because the shame of admitting defeat is simply too great to be borne.
Europe must be careful not to turn itself into a fortress just to keep out immigrants, a French minister has said.
Addressing a European-African migration conference, French Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy said the concept of zero immigration was a dangerous myth.
Ministers from 57 European and African nations are meeting in the Moroccan capital Rabat to discuss ways of dealing with migrants.
Increasing numbers of Africans are coming to Europe in search of work.
Delegates are discussing human trafficking and security but also ways of alleviating the poverty which causes many migrants to seek a better life.
Already this year at least 8,000 African migrants have reached Spain's Canary Islands alone.
'El Dorado'
Speaking at the opening of the two-day conference, Mr Sarkozy, who is known for his hardline view on immigration, warned that it would not be in Europe's interest to turn itself into a fortress.
Let us offer Africa's youth a future of dignity. Then it will not risk resorting to violence and extremism, or choosing, en masse, the paths of exile. French President Jacques Chirac.
But he warned that Europe could not absorb all those who saw it as an El Dorado - a move which, he said, would destabilise the continent.
The failure to offer opportunities to African youth today would spell disaster for Europe tomorrow, he warned.
Mr Sarkozy, who has been widely attacked for drafting a controversial new law to curb immigration to France, also called for a new financial institution to help African migrants in Europe to send money home.
Delegates also heard a statement from French President Jacques Chirac in which he called for a joint approach to tackle illegal immigration "with respect for human dignity but with firmness".
Illegal migration required an "energetic fight against trafficking networks" along with "co-operation to improve border surveillance," he said, while stressing the need for Europe to enter a development partnership with Africa.
"Let us offer Africa's youth a future of dignity. Then it will not risk resorting to violence and extremism, or choosing, en masse, the paths of exile," he said.
'Managed' migration
The Rabat conference is supposed to develop a common approach between Europe and Africa - tougher policing and action against human trafficking but also measures to deal with the poverty and conflict which drive would-be migrants to seek a better life elsewhere.
To look into the eyes of a man who has been at sea for seven days, not sure whether he would get to these shores alive or dead - it's just terrible. Austin Taylor, relief co-ordinator.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres said that the movement of both refugees and migrants was frequently rooted in the broader problem of under-development.
Presenting delegates with a 10-point action plan, Mr Guterres urged governments to work together to protect the rights of both refugees and migrants.
"I hope that this conference will enable the states of Africa and Europe to formulate cooperative approaches to the challenge of development - approaches which can help us to create the conditions that enable people to migrate out of choice, rather than necessity," he said.
Europe talks increasingly about managed migration, choosing the migrants it wants to fill gaps in the labour market.
But African countries fear that means they will lose their best and brightest, slowing down their development still further.
Morocco is the jumping-off point for migrants from sub-Saharan Africa, from Senegal and Mali, Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
But many get to Morocco only to find they cannot go any further - the land routes are closed and there are more patrols at sea.
The Moroccan authorities do not want them there.
They have stopped granting residence permits even to statutory refugees.
Many of the migrants complain of racism and violence.
They stay because going back would be worse - for some because their countries are at war, for others because the shame of admitting defeat is simply too great to be borne.
Monday, July 10, 2006
Het Laatste Nieuws
Roger Federer loofde Rafael Nadal zijn zege op het Heilige Gras in vier sets.
"Nadal heeft een schitterend toernooi achter de rug", sprak Federer, die alleen tegen de Spanjaard een set moest inleveren op deze Wimbledon en dit seizoen al vier keer van Rafa verloor. "Ik had nooit gedacht dat hij hier de finale zou spelen. Roddick of Hewitt, ja, maar Nadal? Fantastisch van hem." Om Manolo Santona, de laatste Spaanse Wimbledon-winnaar (1966), op te volgen kwam Nadal echter nog te kort. Maar op zijn twintigste toonde de Mallorcaan dat hij in de toekomst ook Wimbledon op zijn palmaras kan schrijven.
Vijfde zege
Al is Federer zelf er natuurlijk nog altijd maar 24. De Zwitser zelf had nochtans de nodige twijfels tijdens de eerste dagen in Londen. "Ik twijfelde wat aan mezelf. De loting was moeilijk, er lag veel druk op mijn persoontje. Die druk heb ik nu opnieuw van me afgespeeld en dat voelt erg goed. Want na de eerste set ging het erg gelijkopgaand. Naar het einde toe had ik ook last van zenuwen. Uiteindelijk was dit toptennis. Ik heb ervan genoten." Vier opeenvolgende zeges op Wimbledon, dat was in het verleden alleen Borg en Sampras weggelegd. "De echte helden van het tennis. Wimbledon is het belangrijkste toernooi. Ik zal dan ook niet nalaten voor een vijfde zege te gaan."
Tevreden
Ook Nadal liet niet na Federer in de bloemetjes te zetten. "Hij speelde ongelofelijk sterk vandaag", sprak Rafa. "Gras blijft een moeilijke ondergrond voor mij, maar ik heb hier nooit beter gespeeld. Hopelijk kan ik hier ooit eens winnenn, al vrees ik dan wel dat ik het pad van Federer niet moet kruisen. Maar ik ben fel verbeterd op gras en dat stemt me erg tevreden."
Roger Federer loofde Rafael Nadal zijn zege op het Heilige Gras in vier sets.
"Nadal heeft een schitterend toernooi achter de rug", sprak Federer, die alleen tegen de Spanjaard een set moest inleveren op deze Wimbledon en dit seizoen al vier keer van Rafa verloor. "Ik had nooit gedacht dat hij hier de finale zou spelen. Roddick of Hewitt, ja, maar Nadal? Fantastisch van hem." Om Manolo Santona, de laatste Spaanse Wimbledon-winnaar (1966), op te volgen kwam Nadal echter nog te kort. Maar op zijn twintigste toonde de Mallorcaan dat hij in de toekomst ook Wimbledon op zijn palmaras kan schrijven.
Vijfde zege
Al is Federer zelf er natuurlijk nog altijd maar 24. De Zwitser zelf had nochtans de nodige twijfels tijdens de eerste dagen in Londen. "Ik twijfelde wat aan mezelf. De loting was moeilijk, er lag veel druk op mijn persoontje. Die druk heb ik nu opnieuw van me afgespeeld en dat voelt erg goed. Want na de eerste set ging het erg gelijkopgaand. Naar het einde toe had ik ook last van zenuwen. Uiteindelijk was dit toptennis. Ik heb ervan genoten." Vier opeenvolgende zeges op Wimbledon, dat was in het verleden alleen Borg en Sampras weggelegd. "De echte helden van het tennis. Wimbledon is het belangrijkste toernooi. Ik zal dan ook niet nalaten voor een vijfde zege te gaan."
Tevreden
Ook Nadal liet niet na Federer in de bloemetjes te zetten. "Hij speelde ongelofelijk sterk vandaag", sprak Rafa. "Gras blijft een moeilijke ondergrond voor mij, maar ik heb hier nooit beter gespeeld. Hopelijk kan ik hier ooit eens winnenn, al vrees ik dan wel dat ik het pad van Federer niet moet kruisen. Maar ik ben fel verbeterd op gras en dat stemt me erg tevreden."
BLOGT punt NL
Adam Shaw een 41 jarige Engelsman wilde even een vluggertje maken met zijn vrouw Niki (31) toen hij uit bed donderde en gillend van de pijn zijn jongeheer brak.
Adam zag zijn lid opzwellen tot de grote van een komkommer en zijn ballen namen de vorm van een kokosnoot aan. De hevig geschrokken Niki keek er met afschuw naar en dook vervolgens de diepvrieskist in om een zak ijskoude erwten op zijn edele delen te kwakken.
Vervolgens sleepte zij hem mee naar het ziekenhuis waar hij de diagnose gebroken kreeg. Een team van chirurgen waaronder, hoe toepasselijk, ook ene Dr. Cok in zat, heeft de gebroken spier in zijn penis met succes hersteld.
Over enkele weken kan de 41 jarige gymnastiekleraar en vader van 2 kinderen weer beginnen met zijn capriolen in bed.
Adam Shaw een 41 jarige Engelsman wilde even een vluggertje maken met zijn vrouw Niki (31) toen hij uit bed donderde en gillend van de pijn zijn jongeheer brak.
Adam zag zijn lid opzwellen tot de grote van een komkommer en zijn ballen namen de vorm van een kokosnoot aan. De hevig geschrokken Niki keek er met afschuw naar en dook vervolgens de diepvrieskist in om een zak ijskoude erwten op zijn edele delen te kwakken.
Vervolgens sleepte zij hem mee naar het ziekenhuis waar hij de diagnose gebroken kreeg. Een team van chirurgen waaronder, hoe toepasselijk, ook ene Dr. Cok in zat, heeft de gebroken spier in zijn penis met succes hersteld.
Over enkele weken kan de 41 jarige gymnastiekleraar en vader van 2 kinderen weer beginnen met zijn capriolen in bed.
Sunday, July 09, 2006
NU.NL
WIMBLEDON - Na 81 jaar heeft Wimbledon weer een kampioene uit Frankrijk. Amélie Mauresmo volgde Suzanne Lenglen, die in 1925 triomfeerde, op na winst in de finale tegen de Belgische Justine Henin-Hardenne: 2-6 6-3 6-4.
Emoties bij de winnares
Voor de 27-jarige leidster van de wereldranglijst was het de tweede grandslamtitel uit haar lange loopbaan, beide dit jaar veroverd. Eind januari won zij in Melbourne het Australische Open, eveneens in de finale tegen Henin. "Nu mag niemand meer iets beweren over mijn zenuwen", zei de nieuwe kampioene, tot tranen toe geroerd.
Gouden slam
De 24-jarige verliezer liet de kans om het grandslam op haar erelijst te voltooien liggen. Wimbledon was de enige nog ontbrekende titel in haar 'gouden slam', want behalve de Open van Frankrijk (3), Australië en de Verenigde Staten heeft zij ook de olympische titel in haar bezit. In Athene gewonnen in de finale tegen Mauresmo.
Henin verloor zaterdag op het centercourt voor de tweede keer de finale van Wimbledon, in 2001 tegen Venus Williams. Destijds was de kleine stiliste uit Luik (1,76 m) nog onervaren en was de Sister Act uit de VS nog top in de tenniswereld. Nu stond zij opnieuw tegenover de nummer één van de wereld, maar was zij wel de favoriete.
Zwart lint
Henin ging tegen Mauresmo daverend van start. Onder haar pet droeg zij een zwart lint, ter nagedachtenis aan haar grootvader die vijf jaar geleden, precies op de dag van de Wimbledonfinale overleed. In de voorbeschouwing op de eindstrijd zei de Belgische dat ze extra inspiratie putte uit de genegenheid voor haar gestorven opa. In de eerste set heerste de kampioene van Roland Garros. Zij brak de service van de nerveuze Mauresmo onmiddellijk, deed dat in de zevende game nog een keer en nam de leiding met 6-2.
Amélie Mauresmo, een kop groter dan haar tegenstandster en tien kilo spieren zwaarder, wierp in de pauze alle schroom van zich af. Nadat ze de eerste game van de tweede had gewonnen, brak zij de opslag van Henin in de tweede game. Het werd 3-0. De Belgische moest knokken om in de wedstrijd te blijven. Mauresmo haalde veel punten op haar tweede, steeds zuiver geplaatste tweede opslag.
Bij 4-2 brak Henin één keer terug naar 4-3 maar op eigen opslag kon zij niet gelijk trekken. Mauresmo won de set met 6-3. De krachtige Française nam in de derde game van de derde set de leiding en bleef de partij domineren. Wat Henin ook probeerde, zij was en bleef kansloos. De enige breek was voldoende voor een lang verbeide titel. Henin berustte in de nederlaag. "Zij speelde beter dan ik. Mauresmo was gewoon te goed. Ik kom terug en hopelijk krijg ik nog eens een kans."
Drie keer stond Mauresmo op het gras van Wimbledon, haar beste ondergrond, in de halve finales. In haar tiende profjaar brak zij eindelijk door en mocht zij de Venus Rosewater Dish boven het hoofd tillen, 81 jaar na Suzanne Lenglen. "Dit geeft een oneindig fantastisch gevoel."
WIMBLEDON - Na 81 jaar heeft Wimbledon weer een kampioene uit Frankrijk. Amélie Mauresmo volgde Suzanne Lenglen, die in 1925 triomfeerde, op na winst in de finale tegen de Belgische Justine Henin-Hardenne: 2-6 6-3 6-4.
Emoties bij de winnares
Voor de 27-jarige leidster van de wereldranglijst was het de tweede grandslamtitel uit haar lange loopbaan, beide dit jaar veroverd. Eind januari won zij in Melbourne het Australische Open, eveneens in de finale tegen Henin. "Nu mag niemand meer iets beweren over mijn zenuwen", zei de nieuwe kampioene, tot tranen toe geroerd.
Gouden slam
De 24-jarige verliezer liet de kans om het grandslam op haar erelijst te voltooien liggen. Wimbledon was de enige nog ontbrekende titel in haar 'gouden slam', want behalve de Open van Frankrijk (3), Australië en de Verenigde Staten heeft zij ook de olympische titel in haar bezit. In Athene gewonnen in de finale tegen Mauresmo.
Henin verloor zaterdag op het centercourt voor de tweede keer de finale van Wimbledon, in 2001 tegen Venus Williams. Destijds was de kleine stiliste uit Luik (1,76 m) nog onervaren en was de Sister Act uit de VS nog top in de tenniswereld. Nu stond zij opnieuw tegenover de nummer één van de wereld, maar was zij wel de favoriete.
Zwart lint
Henin ging tegen Mauresmo daverend van start. Onder haar pet droeg zij een zwart lint, ter nagedachtenis aan haar grootvader die vijf jaar geleden, precies op de dag van de Wimbledonfinale overleed. In de voorbeschouwing op de eindstrijd zei de Belgische dat ze extra inspiratie putte uit de genegenheid voor haar gestorven opa. In de eerste set heerste de kampioene van Roland Garros. Zij brak de service van de nerveuze Mauresmo onmiddellijk, deed dat in de zevende game nog een keer en nam de leiding met 6-2.
Amélie Mauresmo, een kop groter dan haar tegenstandster en tien kilo spieren zwaarder, wierp in de pauze alle schroom van zich af. Nadat ze de eerste game van de tweede had gewonnen, brak zij de opslag van Henin in de tweede game. Het werd 3-0. De Belgische moest knokken om in de wedstrijd te blijven. Mauresmo haalde veel punten op haar tweede, steeds zuiver geplaatste tweede opslag.
Bij 4-2 brak Henin één keer terug naar 4-3 maar op eigen opslag kon zij niet gelijk trekken. Mauresmo won de set met 6-3. De krachtige Française nam in de derde game van de derde set de leiding en bleef de partij domineren. Wat Henin ook probeerde, zij was en bleef kansloos. De enige breek was voldoende voor een lang verbeide titel. Henin berustte in de nederlaag. "Zij speelde beter dan ik. Mauresmo was gewoon te goed. Ik kom terug en hopelijk krijg ik nog eens een kans."
Drie keer stond Mauresmo op het gras van Wimbledon, haar beste ondergrond, in de halve finales. In haar tiende profjaar brak zij eindelijk door en mocht zij de Venus Rosewater Dish boven het hoofd tillen, 81 jaar na Suzanne Lenglen. "Dit geeft een oneindig fantastisch gevoel."
BBC NEWS
Blood levels of two proteins important in Alzheimer's disease may predict pending dementia, say scientists.
Amyloid plaques occur in the brain with Alzheimer's disease
High levels of one amyloid protein and low levels of another were linked with a more than 10-fold increased dementia risk among the 1,756 people studied.
The Dutch researchers from the Erasmus Medical Centre say more work is now needed to see whether the markers could be used as a dementia blood test.
Diagnosing dementia is often difficult, particularly in the early stages.
There is no simple test to make a diagnosis of dementia, and it can only be confirmed with certainty by examining someone's brain in a post mortem.
In Alzheimer's disease, plaques comprised of amyloid can be seen in the brain.
Past research has also shown that people with mutations that cause early-onset Alzheimer's disease can have high blood concentrations of amyloid proteins.
Dr Monique Breteler and her team set out to investigate whether increased blood concentrations of amyloid proteins might be associated with the development of dementia.
They followed 1,756 people known to be at risk for dementia. Over the eight years, 392 of the people developed dementia.
Disease marker
Increasing blood concentrations of one type of amyloid protein, Aß1-40, was associated with an increased risk of dementia, particularly when the concentration of another amyloid protein, Aß1-42, was low in the blood.
Although the researchers cannot explain why this is, they told The Lancet Neurology that the link could have "a potential role as a marker of incipient dementia".
Clive Ballard from The Alzheimer's Society said: "This is an important new piece of research.
"However, the magnitude of difference is not proficient to provide a reliable diagnostic test.
"It is vital that there is ongoing research into tests that might help identify people who are at a high risk of developing dementia.
"This research is extremely encouraging and we hope that in the future better tests and treatments will be available to help us combat this devastating disease."
Blood levels of two proteins important in Alzheimer's disease may predict pending dementia, say scientists.
Amyloid plaques occur in the brain with Alzheimer's disease
High levels of one amyloid protein and low levels of another were linked with a more than 10-fold increased dementia risk among the 1,756 people studied.
The Dutch researchers from the Erasmus Medical Centre say more work is now needed to see whether the markers could be used as a dementia blood test.
Diagnosing dementia is often difficult, particularly in the early stages.
It is vital that there is ongoing research into tests that might help identify people who are at a high risk of developing dementia. Clive Ballard from The Alzheimer's Society.
There is no simple test to make a diagnosis of dementia, and it can only be confirmed with certainty by examining someone's brain in a post mortem.
In Alzheimer's disease, plaques comprised of amyloid can be seen in the brain.
Past research has also shown that people with mutations that cause early-onset Alzheimer's disease can have high blood concentrations of amyloid proteins.
Dr Monique Breteler and her team set out to investigate whether increased blood concentrations of amyloid proteins might be associated with the development of dementia.
They followed 1,756 people known to be at risk for dementia. Over the eight years, 392 of the people developed dementia.
Disease marker
Increasing blood concentrations of one type of amyloid protein, Aß1-40, was associated with an increased risk of dementia, particularly when the concentration of another amyloid protein, Aß1-42, was low in the blood.
Although the researchers cannot explain why this is, they told The Lancet Neurology that the link could have "a potential role as a marker of incipient dementia".
Clive Ballard from The Alzheimer's Society said: "This is an important new piece of research.
"However, the magnitude of difference is not proficient to provide a reliable diagnostic test.
"It is vital that there is ongoing research into tests that might help identify people who are at a high risk of developing dementia.
"This research is extremely encouraging and we hope that in the future better tests and treatments will be available to help us combat this devastating disease."
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
BBC NEWS By Richard Black, Environment correspondent, BBC News website.
The BBC is to gather expert evidence this week on whether human-induced climate change is a crisis for planet Earth, as James Lovelock believes.
The originator of the Gaia concept wrote in his recent book "...the fever of global heating is real and deadly".
He says nuclear power is the only short-term way to provide enough energy without causing more climatic harm.
The BBC has commissioned a panel of scientists to review Professor Lovelock's evidence and opinions.
Panel members include top British experts on the Antarctic, climate modelling, interactions between oceans and atmosphere, and sustainable development.
It will meet on Monday and Tuesday, with conclusions and comments reported on Thursday on Radio 4's Today programme and on the BBC News website.
Goddess on the edge
The Revenge of Gaia, published earlier this year, is the latest in a series of books in which James Lovelock has developed the Gaia theory, which takes its name from the goddess of the Earth, or the Earth Mother, in Greek mythology.
The key idea is that the segment of Earth from the bottom of its crust to the top of its atmosphere acts as a self-regulating being, keeping conditions suitable for life.
A subtitle for Gaia theory is "the science of planetary medicine"; and in The Revenge of Gaia, James Lovelock argues that the planetary patient is seriously unwell.
"In January 2004, Sandy [his wife] and I were invited to the Hadley Centre in Exeter [part of the UK Met Office], and that visit made us both aware of the deadly seriousness of the Earth's condition," Professor Lovelock told the BBC News website.
"We discussed the rapid melting of ice floating on the Arctic Ocean, and the way that Greenland's glaciers are vanishing. We talked about global heating in the tropics and the threat to the forests there, and about the response of the great boreal forests of Siberia and Canada to climate change.
"It was a deeply gloomy picture; but for me the gloomiest of all things was the detached, almost academic, air with which the grim predictions were presented - almost as if we were discussing some other planet, not the Earth."
Professor Lovelock intends The Revenge of Gaia to be a "wake-up call" to spread awareness that "the Earth is truly in danger".
Nuclear solution
But is he right? Are the Earth's regulatory systems in crisis, with temperatures heading inexorably for a higher level, unpleasant and perhaps uncontrollable?
If he is, what should we make of his contention that renewable energy and the traditional concept of sustainable development are misguided?
Is he right to say that nuclear fission is the only way to provide humanity with the energy it needs until technologies such as nuclear fusion and tidal power can be introduced to a substantial extent? Does "a lack of constraint on the growth of population" lie at the root of modern environmental problems?
James Lovelock's genius has perhaps been to bring such threads together into a logical whole.
"He is a superb scientist, an originator of the view of the Earth, including its life, as a complete interacting system and an all-round free thinker," said Professor Brian Hoskins of Reading University who will chair the panel.
"I hope we can explore Jim's views on why the problem of climate change is so serious, and see if we can agree that it should be a clarion call for positive action rather than the bleak view that some have taken from it."
Professor Lovelock is adamant that his book and his thesis is not defeatist, as some observers have suggested.
"Only those lacking imagination would take the book as a counsel for despair," he said.
"I am hoping that... The Revenge of Gaia will be taken seriously, together with the recognition that we may truly be in grave danger and that few of the present inhabitants of the Earth are likely to survive beyond the 21st Century.
"It would be wonderful to have positive and sensible suggestions for civilised adaptation."
The BBC is to gather expert evidence this week on whether human-induced climate change is a crisis for planet Earth, as James Lovelock believes.
The originator of the Gaia concept wrote in his recent book "...the fever of global heating is real and deadly".
He says nuclear power is the only short-term way to provide enough energy without causing more climatic harm.
The BBC has commissioned a panel of scientists to review Professor Lovelock's evidence and opinions.
Panel members include top British experts on the Antarctic, climate modelling, interactions between oceans and atmosphere, and sustainable development.
It will meet on Monday and Tuesday, with conclusions and comments reported on Thursday on Radio 4's Today programme and on the BBC News website.
Goddess on the edge
The Revenge of Gaia, published earlier this year, is the latest in a series of books in which James Lovelock has developed the Gaia theory, which takes its name from the goddess of the Earth, or the Earth Mother, in Greek mythology.
The key idea is that the segment of Earth from the bottom of its crust to the top of its atmosphere acts as a self-regulating being, keeping conditions suitable for life.
A subtitle for Gaia theory is "the science of planetary medicine"; and in The Revenge of Gaia, James Lovelock argues that the planetary patient is seriously unwell.
We may truly be in grave danger... few of the present inhabitants of the earth are likely to survive beyond the 21st Century. James Lovelock.
"In January 2004, Sandy [his wife] and I were invited to the Hadley Centre in Exeter [part of the UK Met Office], and that visit made us both aware of the deadly seriousness of the Earth's condition," Professor Lovelock told the BBC News website.
"We discussed the rapid melting of ice floating on the Arctic Ocean, and the way that Greenland's glaciers are vanishing. We talked about global heating in the tropics and the threat to the forests there, and about the response of the great boreal forests of Siberia and Canada to climate change.
"It was a deeply gloomy picture; but for me the gloomiest of all things was the detached, almost academic, air with which the grim predictions were presented - almost as if we were discussing some other planet, not the Earth."
Professor Lovelock intends The Revenge of Gaia to be a "wake-up call" to spread awareness that "the Earth is truly in danger".
Nuclear solution
But is he right? Are the Earth's regulatory systems in crisis, with temperatures heading inexorably for a higher level, unpleasant and perhaps uncontrollable?
If he is, what should we make of his contention that renewable energy and the traditional concept of sustainable development are misguided?
Is he right to say that nuclear fission is the only way to provide humanity with the energy it needs until technologies such as nuclear fusion and tidal power can be introduced to a substantial extent? Does "a lack of constraint on the growth of population" lie at the root of modern environmental problems?
James Lovelock's genius has perhaps been to bring such threads together into a logical whole.
"He is a superb scientist, an originator of the view of the Earth, including its life, as a complete interacting system and an all-round free thinker," said Professor Brian Hoskins of Reading University who will chair the panel.
"I hope we can explore Jim's views on why the problem of climate change is so serious, and see if we can agree that it should be a clarion call for positive action rather than the bleak view that some have taken from it."
Professor Lovelock is adamant that his book and his thesis is not defeatist, as some observers have suggested.
"Only those lacking imagination would take the book as a counsel for despair," he said.
"I am hoping that... The Revenge of Gaia will be taken seriously, together with the recognition that we may truly be in grave danger and that few of the present inhabitants of the Earth are likely to survive beyond the 21st Century.
"It would be wonderful to have positive and sensible suggestions for civilised adaptation."
Monday, July 03, 2006
NRC Handelsblad
Rotterdam, 3 juli. De Australische premier, John Howard, heeft tv-zender Ten Network gevraagd om het tv-programma Big Brother uit de lucht te halen na een mogelijke aanranding die afgelopen weekend live op televisie werd uitgezonden.
In de Australische versie van Big Brother was te zien hoe twee mannelijke deelnemers een vrouwelijke ‘huisgenoot’ in bedwang hielden en een van hen zijn kruis in haar gezicht duwde. De politie greep daarna in. De Australische premier riep Ten Network op om de show uit de lucht te halen: „Een mooie kans om aan zelfregulering te doen en dit stomme programma te stoppen.” Het incident is het meest recente in een reeks klachten over het realityprogramma. Big Brother werd in Nederland bedacht en is nu aan zijn zesde Australische seizoen bezig.
Rotterdam, 3 juli. De Australische premier, John Howard, heeft tv-zender Ten Network gevraagd om het tv-programma Big Brother uit de lucht te halen na een mogelijke aanranding die afgelopen weekend live op televisie werd uitgezonden.
In de Australische versie van Big Brother was te zien hoe twee mannelijke deelnemers een vrouwelijke ‘huisgenoot’ in bedwang hielden en een van hen zijn kruis in haar gezicht duwde. De politie greep daarna in. De Australische premier riep Ten Network op om de show uit de lucht te halen: „Een mooie kans om aan zelfregulering te doen en dit stomme programma te stoppen.” Het incident is het meest recente in een reeks klachten over het realityprogramma. Big Brother werd in Nederland bedacht en is nu aan zijn zesde Australische seizoen bezig.
Sunday, July 02, 2006
Denver Post By Karen Rouse, Denver Post Staff Writer
The 14-year-old boy's mother says he needs to learn that such behavior is not tolerated, but thinks the response by Golden police went too far.
A teenage boy who admitted to playing a game of "boob tag" with his friends may be facing charges of unlawful sexual contact, his mother said Wednesday.
Cole Sharpe, a 14-year-old student at Bell Middle School in Golden, was accused of touching a girl's breast while playing the game with other students about two months ago at the school, said his mother, Lynn Sharpe.
Cole played the game with a mix of girls and boys and it was all consensual, she said. "It turns out there's this game called boob tag where you grab somebody's (breast) and they're it," she added.
Lynn Sharpe said her son told her that his accuser was not among the group that played the game.
Cole declined to be interviewed.
Sharpe said school officials called her on Friday and said they were questioning Cole after they learned about the allegations. She said she believed the district's investigation was over, but on Tuesday the school's resource officer asked them to come to the Police Department.
After about an hour of questioning, the officer "said she's placing Cole under arrest," Sharpe said.
That officer couldn't be reached for comment. Golden police spokesman Ryan Custer said Cole was "booked and released," but not arrested.
Fingerprints and a photograph were taken, Custer said. He said there is an ongoing investigation and he could not comment further because it involves a juvenile.
A spokesperson for the Jefferson County School District could not be reached for comment, but Superintendent Cindy Stevenson said the district cooperates with police investigations.
Sharpe said her son needs to learn a lesson, but she fears this one may have gone too far.
"It's a hard lesson for him. And that is what it should be," Sharpe said. "It is an inappropriate game. I'm not condoning any of this. But I'm looking at the seriousness of the charges in relation to what is natural to boys and girls at this age."
The 14-year-old boy's mother says he needs to learn that such behavior is not tolerated, but thinks the response by Golden police went too far.
A teenage boy who admitted to playing a game of "boob tag" with his friends may be facing charges of unlawful sexual contact, his mother said Wednesday.
Cole Sharpe, a 14-year-old student at Bell Middle School in Golden, was accused of touching a girl's breast while playing the game with other students about two months ago at the school, said his mother, Lynn Sharpe.
Cole played the game with a mix of girls and boys and it was all consensual, she said. "It turns out there's this game called boob tag where you grab somebody's (breast) and they're it," she added.
Lynn Sharpe said her son told her that his accuser was not among the group that played the game.
Cole declined to be interviewed.
Sharpe said school officials called her on Friday and said they were questioning Cole after they learned about the allegations. She said she believed the district's investigation was over, but on Tuesday the school's resource officer asked them to come to the Police Department.
After about an hour of questioning, the officer "said she's placing Cole under arrest," Sharpe said.
That officer couldn't be reached for comment. Golden police spokesman Ryan Custer said Cole was "booked and released," but not arrested.
Fingerprints and a photograph were taken, Custer said. He said there is an ongoing investigation and he could not comment further because it involves a juvenile.
A spokesperson for the Jefferson County School District could not be reached for comment, but Superintendent Cindy Stevenson said the district cooperates with police investigations.
Sharpe said her son needs to learn a lesson, but she fears this one may have gone too far.
"It's a hard lesson for him. And that is what it should be," Sharpe said. "It is an inappropriate game. I'm not condoning any of this. But I'm looking at the seriousness of the charges in relation to what is natural to boys and girls at this age."
Saturday, July 01, 2006
Elsevier.nl Door Ingrid van der Chijs
Wat ging er vooraf aan de val van het kabinet Balkenende II? Een overzicht van de gebeurtenissen: hoe de leugens van Ayaan Hirsi Ali bij haar asielaanvraag in 1992 veertien jaar later tot een politieke crisis leidden.
De Somalische Ayaan Hirsi Ali vraagt in 1992 asiel aan in Nederland. Daarbij geeft ze niet haar echte naam op, die Ayaan Hirsi Magan is, maar de naam van haar opa. In 1997 krijgt ze een Nederlands paspoort.
In september 2002 geeft Hirsi Ali in het televisieprogramma Barend en van Dorp openlijk toe dat ze bij haar asielaanvraag gelogen heeft over haar identiteit. Desondanks plaatst de VVD haar een maand later op de kandidatenlijst voor Tweede Kamerverkiezingen.
In december 2002 informeert de Algemene Inlichtingen- en Veiligheidsdienst (AIVD) op verzoek van VVD-minister Johan Remkes bij toenmalig partijvoorzitter Bas Eenhoorn naar de eventuele gevolgen van een onterechte naturalisatie van Hirsi Ali.
Op 11 mei 2006 zegt Hirsi Ali in het televisieprogramma Zembla dat ze bij haar asielaanvraag een valse naam en leeftijd heeft opgegeven. VVD-minister Rita Verdonk voor Vreemdelingenzaken reageert verbijsterd. Ze zegt dat deze informatie nieuw is voor haar en kondigt maatregelen aan. Hirsi Ali begrijpt niets van deze reactie: ‘Over het feit dat ik heb gelogen ben ik altijd zeer open geweest. Sindsdien heb ik dat tientallen keren herhaald.’
Op 15 mei laat minister Verdonk Hirsi Ali weten dat zij ten onrechte het Nederlanderschap heeft verkregen als zij bij asielaanvraag heeft gelogen over naam, leeftijd en land van herkomst. Als Hirsi Ali niet binnen zes weken kan weerleggen dat ze leugens heeft verteld om het Nederlanderschap te krijgen, is haar paspoort ongeldig.
Een dag later, op 16 mei, legt Hirsi Ali per direct haar functie als kamerlid neer. 'Nu de minister een hard oordeel over mij heeft geveld, is het voor mij onmogelijk mijn werk als kamerlid voort te zetten', zei een aangeslagen Hirsi Ali. Ze zei Verdonk niets te verwijten: 'Zij heeft de regels toegepast volgens haar inzicht’.
In een spoeddebat diezelfde dag moet Verdonk zich voor de Kamer verantwoorden voor haar snelle besluit. In een motie riep de Kamer de minister op om haar eigen conclusie te 'heroverwegen'. Lukt het haar niet om tot een ander standpunt te komen, dan moet de minister Ayaan Hirsi Ali zo snel mogelijk alsnog naturaliseren.
Op dinsdag 27 mei maakt Verdonk bekend dat Hirsi Ali haar Nederlandse paspoort toch behoudt, na urenlang overleg met de betrokken ministers en premier Jan Peter Balkenende (CDA). Volgens Verdonk heeft Hirsi Ali alles aan zichzelf te wijten. In een verklaring erkent Hirsi Ali dat ze Verdonk op het verkeerde been heeft gezet, maar later zegt ze deze verklaring onder druk te hebben getekend.
Tijdens een spoeddebat in de nacht van 28 op 29 juni zegt D66 het vertrouwen in Verdonk op. Als blijkt dat het kabinet de minister niet wil laten vallen, trekt D66 haar politieke steun aan het kabinet in. Na crisisberaad besluiten de D66-ministers hun portefeuille ter beschikking te stellen. Daarop dient premier Balkenende het ontslag in van het kabinet.
Wat ging er vooraf aan de val van het kabinet Balkenende II? Een overzicht van de gebeurtenissen: hoe de leugens van Ayaan Hirsi Ali bij haar asielaanvraag in 1992 veertien jaar later tot een politieke crisis leidden.
