BENEFITS OF ALCOHOL: Drinking moderate amounts of alcohol appears to protect older women from developing type 2 or non-insulin-dependent diabetes, according to new research in Holland.
Although an association between alcohol use and reduced diabetes risk has been observed previously, much exploration of this topic has centred on men and few studies have involved older women, Dr Michiel L. Bots of University Medical Centre Utrecht and colleagues note in the journal Diabetes Care.
Because diabetes increases with age and most type 2 diabetic patients are women, they investigated the relationship between alcohol and diabetes onset in older women. The team examined data from a cohort of more than 16,300 women aged 49 to 70 years who were diabetes-free at enrolment and were followed for an average of 6.2 years.
During this period, 760 women were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Compared with abstainers, women consuming moderate amounts of alcohol (5-30g per week) were much less likely to develop diabetes. Ten grams of alcohol constitutes one standard drink. There was no association with type of drink.
AMBITIOUSLY HEALTHY: Nutritionist and author Patrick Holford is running a health workshop on January 7th and 8th at the Cultivate centre, West Essex St, Dublin.
The workshop, 100 per cent Health Weekend, will offer people an opportunity to start fulfilling those freshly made new year's resolutions. It is billed as two days to "transform your diet, your health, your life". Ambitious or what? It costs €299 per person. Tel: 01 6745773 for more details. See also www.cultivate.ie
CANCER RESEARCH: Two new studies to be funded by the Ulster Cancer Foundation will examine how men cope with cancer. The first study will look at the impact of radiotherapy treatment for prostate cancer and the second will explore and compare the coping behaviour of men and women with cancer. The team of researchers will be led by Dr Eilis McCaughan from the University of Ulster.
A HARMONIOUS APPROACH: Organic gardening and cooking, healing with wholefoods and learning how to use herbs medicinally are just a sample of the huge range of courses on offer at the Organic Centre, Rossinver, Co Leitrim this year.
The centre's firm emphasis on living in harmony with nature permeates all courses, from gardening to sustainable house design to homeopathy for animals.
Get your free copy of the 2006 courses and activities programme by contacting the Organic Centre on tel: 071 985 4338. See also www.theorganiccentre.ie
UNDERAGE DRINKING: A HSE West addiction counselling service in Galway has been presented with two breathalyser kits in an effort to tackle the epidemic of underage drinking, writes Michelle McDonagh.
As part of its youth project, Galway Lion's Club donated the two alcometres kits to the specialist unit at Merlin Park Hospital, bringing to three the number of kits available there.
The kits will help staff establish alcohol levels in teenagers attending the addiction counselling services at Merlin Park.
The A&E department of University College Hospital Galway is now using similar kits as more and more teenagers are treated for alcohol-related conditions.
Clinical specialist addiction counsellor with the HSE West, Joe Treacy, warned that unless the problem of underage drinking was tackled, it was going to escalate and create huge social difficulties for families in the west.
RCSI OPEN DAY: Understanding the link between science and medicine is a vital component in the discovery of new treatments for disease, future generations of doctors will be told at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI)'s Open Day for Young People today.
In an address to up to 300 people at the RCSI, Dr Samuel McConkey, newly appointed head of the department of international health and tropical medicine at the RCSI, will say understanding molecular and cellular biology is really "where it is at, in terms of generating new interventions against diseases". According to Dr McConkey, "the area of biomedical research is fascinating and interesting and a very exciting adventure to be involved in".
He is encouraging school leavers not to view medicine simply as "the art of healing", but as "a science of developing new biological products that make a difference to people's lives".
The RCSI Open Day is one of the highlights of the college's year and attracts students from Donegal, Galway, Cork and Kerry with an interest in medicine, pharmacy and physiotherapy. Coupled with practical information on how to apply to the RCSI, students will also be given an opportunity to visit an exhibition hosted by various faculties and meet college staff.