WHY RISK IT? is the theme and title of a food safety conference to be held in University College Cork on June 3rd. Organised by Safefood, the food safety promotion board, the aim of the conference is to look at the best strategies to prevent avoidable risks to human health and safety.
A workshop on dealing with food crises led by the European Food Information Council will be held on June 4th. See www.safefoodonline.com for details.
BREAST BENEFIT: Breastfeeding in infancy may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease in adult life, a new study suggests. Researchers studied 216 teenagers who had taken part in milk trials in the early 1980s. Adolescents who had been given breastmilk during infancy were found to have a 14 per cent lower ratio of LDL ('bad') to HDL ('good') cholesterol and lower concentrations of c-reactive protein - which in high concentrations is associated with the development of coronary artery disease - than adolescents who had been given formula milk in infancy.
MS AND STATINS: Results of a preliminary study suggest that statins (cholesterol-lowering drugs) could have potential in the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). Statins promote an anti-inflammatory response from the immune system. In one trial, 30 people with MS were given 80mg simvastatin daily for six months and showed a 44 per cent reduction in the proportion of brain lesions after three months of treatment compared with lesions identified before treatment was started.
RESEARCH DOCTORS: The Health Research Board has announced 2 million funding to provide higher training for doctoral students about to embark on a career in health research. A PhD training site is planned for the Institute of Molecular Medicine based at St James's Hospital and another at the new Institute of Neuroscience on the main TCD campus.
FAMILY TREES: Unhealthy family rules handed down from generation to generation can result in highly dysfunctional family relationships. Opening the Family Album and Exploring the Family Tree is a non-residential summer school in St Patrick's College, Kiltegan, Co Wicklow on July 12th to 16th. Cost: €425. Details on tel: 059 9134865.
AFTER SEPARATION: Life After Separation and Divorce is the theme of a course, which runs over four consecutive Saturday mornings, starting on May 29th in the Marriage and Relationship Counselling Service, 38 Upper Fitzwilliam Street, Dublin. The aim is to help people pick up the pieces following a break-up by informing them on the emotional issues following separation. Cost €100. Bookings on tel: 01 6443901.