Recent survey by the Health and Safety Executive showed 387 asbestos-related deaths in Sunderland since 1981.

The HSE has launched Asbestos: the Hidden Killer campaign in the region which is running up until the end of November on posters and on radio. This survey also showed that 20 tradesmen a week dye from asbestos-related diseases and that number is likely to rise.

Jill Morrell, head of public affairs at the British Lung Foundation, said: “The HSE campaign is vital because research shows that only one in ten tradesmen know that exposure to asbestos can prove fatal. The asbestos-related cancer mesothelioma is a cruel disease which as yet has no cure. We must do all we can to prevent more people dying from this preventable disease."

Bangkok - The ninth triennial German Technology Symposium & Exhibition will be held in Bangkok next week despite the gloom created by the US financial meltdown and signs of recession in the US and Europe, organizers said Tuesday.

"Economic crisis or not, people want new technology," said Stefan Buerkle, executive director of the German Thai Chamber of Commerce (GTCC), the chief organizer of the event.

The ninth triennial German Technology Symposium & Exhibition will be held as planned at Central World in Bangkok from November 8 to 11 with some 140 exhibitors and an expected 15,000 visitors from Thailand and neighbouring countries, said Buerkle.

Chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh visited the JN hospital complex in Porompat. He was accompanied by MLA Kh Loken, chairman of the PDA and other officials and engineers of the state PWD.

He made an assessment of the progress of the construction works for the proposed institute of medical sciences at the existing hospital site at Porompat. He also inspected the ongoing construction of the new OPD block and the existing conditions of both the new and old operation theatres as well as the gynaecology ward.

A report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that an estimated 25,000 cases of cancers associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) occurred in 38 states and Washington D.C. annually between 1998 and 2003.This analysis was the first and most comprehensive assessment of cancer linked to HPV in the U.S. said the CDC.  

Mona Saraiya, MD, a medical officer in the CDC's Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, in a news release said, "These estimates of HPV-associated cancers were collected prior to the development of the HPV vaccine. This gives us baseline data to measure the impact of HPV vaccine and cervical cancer screening programs in reducing the incidence of cervical cancer and other HPV-associated cancers and pre-cancers.”

Washington, November 4: Rhode Island Hospital researchers say that they have identified genetic proteins that may help detect people who are likely to progress to oesophageal cancer.

Writing about their breakthrough in the journal Clinical Cancer Research, the researchers have pointed out that Barrett''s esophagus
(BE) is a common pre-cancerous condition of the lower oesophagus.

They say that the presence of this condition increases the risk of developing esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), the most common form of oesophageal cancer.

First death anniversary of Veenadhari was celebrated in Kasargod district on Saturday November 1.

Veenadhari was a HIV patient. She devoted her life to create awareness among the HIV/AIDS patients. She wanted to build a strong movement against apathy towards HIV patients.

This programme was inaugurated by Justice Sukumaran K, retired Chief Justice of Maharashtra High Court. He said that there are many HIV/AIDS centers around the country.

But there are no people like Veenadhari to fight against this disease. No one can replace her easily. The programme was organized by NGOs KAVAL, PEACE, JACK India, and the people of Vorkady.