NIGHT SHIFT RISKS: Working regular night shifts increases a woman's chances of getting breast cancer by 50 per cent, according to a large study carried out by researchers at Harvard University.
The increased risk is believed to be linked to artificial lighting at night.
This leads to reduced levels of the sleep-regulating hormone, melatonin, and higher production of the female hormone, oestrogen, which induces hormone sensitive tumours in the breast.
The research, published in the European Journal of Cancer last month, adds to concerns that working at night also increases the risk of heart disease, depression and other forms of cancer.
CONFLICT SEMINAR: The American clairvoyant, healer and spiritual teacher, Walter Makichen, will lead a one-day seminar on resolving inner conflict on October 8th in the Brockagh Resource Centre, Laragh, Co Wicklow.
Makichen, whose new book, Spirit Babies - how to communicate with the child you're meant to have (Delta Trade paperbacks), includes a forward by Irish psychiatrist Michael Corry, is a regular visitor to Ireland. Booking for the course is through The Institute of Psychosocial Medicine, 2 Eden Park, Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin. Tel: 01 2800084. Cost €100.
TOO MANY PATIENTS: Conveyor belt medicine is to blame for the rising rates of superbug infection, according to researchers at the University of Ulster.
"If you have a shortage of nurses or cleaners, you wonder if the interval between one patient being discharged from the ward and another being put in the same bed is long enough for proper anti-infection measures to be put in place," said Brian Cunningham, from the faculty of life and health sciences at UU.
He suggested MRSA rates could be tackled, in part, by ensuring that bed occupancy in hospitals do not rise above 82 per cent so that the patient turnover interval is sufficient to allow proper disinfection procedures of the bed and bed space.
IASBAH SEMINAR: IASBAH, the Irish Association for Spina Bifida & Hydrocephalusis, holding its Life Choices: Relationships & Sexuality seminar on Friday, October 14th in the Tullamore Court Hotel, Tullamore, Co Offaly.
The seminar is aimed at professionals and the cost is €75 per person. The organisers say the seminar will focus on issues surrounding all aspects of disability, relationships and sexuality.
It is not exclusive to those working with people with spina bifida or hydrocephalus, according to the organisers.
Speakers will include a sexuality specialist, a clincal nurse specialist in sexual health and a sexual and relationship therapist. For further details contact browneedel@eircom.net.
(Lifelines is compiled by Sylvia Thompson)