A round-up of this week's other health stories in brief
HEALING CONFERENCE:The Irish Council of Psychotherapy (ICP) is holding a conference, titled Healing The Hurt, in Dublin Castle on Thursday and Friday, June 7th-8th. The conference will be opened by Deputy Dan Neville, president of the Irish Association of Suicidology.
The Friday segment opens with a welcome address by ICP president Dr Brion Sweeney, a consultant psychiatrist specialising in substance abuse with the HSE.
The keynote addresses on Friday will be given by Lord John Alderdice and former hostage Brian Keenan. Lord Alderdice, a senior consultant psychiatrist and head of the Centre for Psychotherapy in Belfast and a visiting professor in the Department of Psychiatric Medicine at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, US, will discuss Protection, Professionalism and Psychological Therapies.
Brian Keenan, speaking on Captivity and Freedom - Climbing out of the chaos, will explain how he overcame his own trauma during his captivity.
Among the topics to be explored in workshops include the idea that babies can be mentally unwell and what may be done to alleviate such situations. Another workshop will examine applying psychodynamic theory and practice to custody and access proceedings in the Family Circuit Court.
HEALTH APPOINTMENT:The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has appointed Jon Billings director of healthcare quality.
Mr Billings joins from the Healthcare Commission in England where he is currently head of Independent healthcare.
In his new role, he and his team will be responsible for setting and monitoring standards for quality and safety in Ireland's health services and undertaking investigations into serious concerns as required.
The HIQA was set up as part of the Government's overall Health Service Reform Programme and the authority's mandate extends across the quality and safety of the public, private and voluntary sectors.
DRUG WITHDRAWAL:Swiss health authorities have ordered the withdrawal of Novartis's Zelmac, known as Zelnorm in the US, for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome.
"After analysing new scientific data, Swissmedic has refused to extend the licence as the risks are greater than the benefit," Switzerland's regulatory agency said in a statement.
Swissmedic said the new analysis showed a higher cardiovascular risk in use of Zelnorm when compared with a placebo.
The move was a blow to prospects for the drug, which previously had run into safety issues and was never approved for use in the European Union, prompting the Swiss drugmaker to cut its 2007 sales forecast.
LEUKAEMIA GENE:The first gene known to be linked to one of the most common forms of leukaemia has been identified by scientists. Research shows that people who inherit a defective form of the gene DAPK1 are more likely to develop the disease.
The mutation greatly reduces the gene's normal ability to trigger the death of problem cells before they become cancerous. It also leaves the gene vulnerable to an environmental chemical change that is not inherited. This can switch the gene off altogether, leading to chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL).
The new discovery could help identify people at risk from chronic leukaemia, and may also lead to new drug treatments.
UNBORN STRESS:Stress may affect an unborn child as early as 17 weeks into the pregnancy, experts have said.
A study found that unborn babies were exposed to their mother's stress hormones from a young gestational age.
While experts already know that stress experienced by a pregnant woman can potentially affect their child, little is known about why or how it happens.
Research published in the journal Clinical Endocrinology found that stress hormones are most likely transferred across the placenta.
AUTISM SUPPORT:Balbriggan Autism and Aspergers Support is holding an autism information day at the Bracken Court Hotel, Balbriggan on Saturday, June 16th. It will provide information, therapies and support services for those affected by ASD.
For more information contact Tina/Fiona at FADE-CIL 01-8417685, or e-mail adhdinfade@eircom.net