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HIV RATES CLIMBING AMONG OVER-50S IN UK AND EUROPE   Older people more likely to be infected through heterosexual sex and to have more advanced disease when it is finally diagnosed, new study reveal HIV rates are climbing in the over-50s in the UK and across  Europe , while the rate of new infections among younger people is dropping, according to new research which warns that the epidemic may be taking a new direction. The study, from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control in Sweden, says that older people are most likely to be infected through heterosexual sex. They are also likely to have more advanced disease – which will be harder to treat and could be life-threatening – when it is finally picked up. The study’s authors suggest that the over-50s may be either complacent or ignorant of the risks of HIV, which has dropped out of the headlines since it became a  treatable disease . Their doctors also tend to assume that older people ar...

PLYMOUTH HOSPITAL REPORT REVEALS ‘UNSAFE’ NIGHT SHIFT PRACTICES Two junior doctors left to care for 400 patients in Derriford hospital due to pressure on staffing Two junior doctors were left to care for more than 400 patients at a Plymouth hospital during a night shift, a report has revealed. The pressures on staffing at the Derriford hospital came to light in an anonymous concern raised by a doctor who said the situation was a “very unsafe shift from the patient perspective”. The report was published as part of the Plymouth  Hospitals  NHS Trust board papers from July, and said the doctor was pulled from a breast surgery day job at 11am to be asked to cover medical nights. The issue was raised on 23 May. The report said: “Told on the phone that the deputy medical director had talked to my consultant and said I must do this, as there would otherwise only be a single SHO (senior house officer) looking after all of the medical patients in the hospita...

THE PERFECT TIME OF THE DAY TO HAVE NAP Power napping is undoubtedly a skill.  Not all of us are able to drop off for 30 minutes in the middle of the day, even when we’re exhausted. But those of us who can nap reap considerable benefits to their health, productivity and brain power. And it turns out there’s actually a perfect time of day to grab some quick shut-eye: 3pm. The reason for this comes down to our circadian rhythm, which dips around 3pm. Many people also experience post-lunch sleepiness or a lack of alertness, making it the perfect time to nap. You should aim to nap for 20 to 30 minutes - any longer and you risk falling into a deep sleep which could actually leave you feeling groggy for an hour after waking up. This is known as sleep inertia. And although a nap can be particularly valuable if you didn’t get enough sleep the night before, napping for too long could make it harder to sleep that night. According to the latest report by the Slee...

INDIA SWINE FLU DEATH TOLL RISES ABOVE 1,000 THIS YEAR India appears to be in the grip of a swine flu outbreak with 1,094 recorded deaths over the past eight months, said an official report on Wednesday. The last three weeks have seen the highest number of fatalities, at 342. A total of 22,186 cases have been reported across the country. The number of deaths this year is four times more than fatalities recorded over the equivalent period in 2016, which itself saw a dip in occurrences of the disease. The western state of Maharashtra is the worst affected, where the death toll stands at 437, according to data revealed by the Union Health Ministry. Neighbouring Gujarat follows closely with 297 deaths, reported news agency PTI. India experienced a severe swine flu wave two years ago, when health officials scrambled to contain an outbreak which killed more than  1,900 people . While 2016 saw a dip in recorded deaths (265) and affected cases (1,786), the numbers for thi...

DOES EXERCISE MAKE YOU EAT MORE? New research has looked into how different exercises affect appetite – but it’s a tricky area to study A fter an hour in the gym you’re feeling pretty good about yourself. Less so two hours later, when you’ve demolished half the fridge. But the relationship between exercise and weight loss is complicated:  not all exercise stimulates appetite to the same extent .  And individuals vary  in how much weight they lose from exercise. This latest research, a small study of 16 healthy young men, measured the effects of different types of exercise on levels of acylated ghrelin, a hormone in the blood that is thought to increase appetite. The researchers provided standardised meals after the exercise and asked the men to rate their hunger levels. The study showed that the more intense and long the exercise, the more the levels of acylated ghrelin were suppressed. Those who ran for 90 minutes still had lower levels an hour after exerci...

SCIENTISTS DISCOVER VITAMIN CAN CUT BIRTH DEFECTS AND MISCARRIAGES Scientists say the discovery that vitamin B3 can cure molecular deficiencies will transform the way pregnant women are cared for. Research has showed that vitamin B3, also known as niacin, can cure molecular deficiencies that stop embryos and babies' organs from developing correctly in the womb. The breakthrough has been described as "one of the most significant discoveries in pregnancy research", as the findings will transform the way expectant mothers are cared for. It emerged after a team of scientists investigated why some women suffer multiple miscarriages - and what causes children to be born with heart, kidney and spinal defects. Professor Sally Dunwoodie, a biomedical researcher at the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute in Sydney, said: "The ramifications are likely to be huge. "This has the potential to significantly reduce the number of miscarriages and birth de...