Thursday, 21 June 2012

'oldest cave art'

Bristol researchers removing samples for dating from Tito Bustillo Cave

The El Castillo Cave has numerous red discs on its walls. One was dated to 40,800 years ago

Red dot becomes 'oldest cave art'

A look inside the Altamira Cave in northern Spain

Red dots, hand stencils and animal figures represent the oldest examples yet found of cave art in Europe.

The symbols on the walls at 11 Spanish locations, including the World Heritage sites of Altamira, El Castillo and Tito Bustillo have long been recognised for their antiquity.
But researchers have now used refined dating techniques to get a more accurate determination of their ages.
One motif - a faint red dot - is said to be more than 40,000 years old.
"In Cantabria, [in] El Castillo, we find hand stencils that are formed by blowing paint against the hands pressed against the wall of a cave," explained Dr Alistair Pike from Bristol University, UK, and the lead author on a scholarly paper published in the journal Science.
"We find one of these to date older than 37,300 years on 'The Panel of Hands', and very nearby there is a red disc made by a very similar technique that dates to older than 40,800 years.
"This now currently is Europe's oldest dated art by at least 4,000 years," he told reporters. It is arguably also the oldest reliably dated cave art anywhere in the world.
The team arrived at the ages by examining the calcium carbonate (calcite) crusts that had formed on top of the paintings.
This material builds up in the exact same way that stalagmites and stalactites form in a cave.
In the process, the calcite incorporates small numbers of naturally occurring radioactive uranium atoms. These atoms decay into thorium at a very precise rate through the ages, and the ratio of the two different elements in any sample can therefore be used as a kind of clock to time the moment when the calcite crust first formed.
Uranium-thorium dating has been around for decades, but the technique has now been so refined that only a tiny sample is required to get a good result.
This enabled the team to take very thin films of deposits from just above the paint pigments; and because the films were on top, the dates they gave were minimum ages - that is, the paintings had to be at least as old as the calcite deposits, and very probably quite a bit older.
The oldest dates coincide with the first known immigration into Europe of modern humans (Homo sapiens). Before about 41,000 years ago, it is their evolutionary cousins, the Neanderthals (Homo neanderthalensis), who dominate the continent.
Dr Pike's and colleagues' work therefore raises some intriguing questions about who might have authored the markings.
If anatomically modern humans were responsible then it means they engaged in the activity almost immediately on their arrival in Europe.
If Neanderthals were the artisans, it adds another layer to our understanding of their capabilities and sophistication.

The Panel of Hands: Produced by blowing paint over a hand pressed against the wall

The great antiquity of the paintings leads co-author Joao Zilhao, a research professor at ICREA, University of Barcelona, to think the Neanderthals produced the motifs. Finding even older paintings than the red dot at El Castillo might confirm that "gut feeling", he said.
"There is a strong chance that these results imply Neanderthal authorship," Prof Zilhao explained.
"But I will not say we have proven it because we haven't, and it cannot be proven at this time.
"What we have to do now is go back, sample more and find out whether we can indeed get dates older than 42, 43, 44,000.
"There is already a sampling programme going on. We have samples from more sites in Spain, from sites in Portugal and from other caves in Western Europe and so eventually we will be able to sort it out."
Tracing the origins of abstract throught and behaviours, and the rate at which they developed, are critical to understanding the human story.
The use of symbolism - the ability to let one thing represent another in the mind - is one of those traits that set our animal species apart from all others.
It is what underpins artistic endeavour and also the use of language.

Saturday, 16 June 2012

Milk fats may alter gut bacteria

Milk fats may alter gut bacteria causing bowel diseases

By James GallagherHealth and science reporter, BBC News

Inflammatory bowel diseases are becoming more common

The rise of inflammatory bowel diseases could be down to our shifting diets causing a "boom in bad bacteria", according to US researchers.

Mouse experiments detailed in the journal Nature linked certain fats, bacteria in the gut and the onset of inflammatory diseases.

The researchers said the high-fat diet changed the way food was digested and encouraged harmful bacteria.

Microbiologists said modifying gut bacteria might treat the disease.

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), such as Crohn's and ulcerative colitis, affect one in every 350 people in the UK. When the gut becomes inflamed it can lead to abdominal pain and diarrhoea.

The researchers at the University of Chicago said the incidence of the diseases was increasing rapidly.

They used genetically modified mice which were more likely to develop IBDs. One in three developed colitis when fed either low-fat diets or meals high in polyunsaturated fats. This jumped to nearly two in three in those fed a diet high in saturated milk fats, which are in many processed foods.

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They also suggest an effective means of dealing with such diseases, by simply reshaping the microbial balance of the gut”

Dr Roy SleatorCork Institute of Technology

These saturated fats are hard for the body to digest and it responds by pumping more bile into the gut. This changes the gut environment and leads to a change in the bacteria growing there, the researchers said.

Treatments

One bacterium in particular, Bilophila wadsworthia, was identified. It thrives in the extra bile produced to break down the fats. It went from being incredibly rare to nearly 6% of all bacteria in the gut in the high-fat diet.

Prof Eugene Chang, of the University of Chicago, said: "Unfortunately, these can be harmful bacteria. Presented with a rich source of sulphur, they bloom, and when they do, they are capable of activating the immune system of genetically prone individuals."

However, he said this could lead to possible treatments as the gut bacteria could be "reshaped" without "significantly affecting the lifestyles of individuals who are genetically prone to these diseases".

Commenting on the research, Dr Roy Sleator, from the Cork Institute of Technology, said: "Not only do the authors provide, what is in my opinion, the first credible explanation as to how Western diet contributes to the unusually high incidence in inflammatory bowel disease; they also suggest an effective means of dealing with such diseases, by simply reshaping the microbial balance of the gut."

Wednesday, 13 June 2012

Elderly denied NHS care

Elderly denied NHS care 'can sue'

By Michelle Roberts Health editor, BBC News online

Wellbeing and dignity must be upheld

Age discrimination by NHS hospitals is to be outlawed, ministers have announced.

From October, elderly patients will have the right to sue if they have been denied care based on age alone, says Care Minister Paul Burstow.
This will not mean patients can demand any treatment they want. Care decisions will still be judged according to clinical need by doctors.
But NHS staff will have a legal duty to consider wellbeing and dignity.

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It sends a clear message to service providers that discrimination law will in future also protect older people”

End Quote Michelle Mitchell Age UK

The decision, which applies to hospitals in England, Wales and Scotland, follows a consultation exercise on the issue by the Home Office.

The charity Age UK said it was long overdue but good news.
Equal rights Age discrimination in the workplace is already unlawful, but until now there was no equivalent legal requirement on public and private services.
This has led to inconsistent practices and unfair treatment, with the needs of older people in particular being ignored, the government says.

Too old?

When Kenneth Worden, from Chester, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of bladder cancer he was told by doctors that he was too old at the age of 78 to have surgery.
But his daughter Michele Halligan, who is trained as a midwife, disagreed. She was determined that her father should have the treatment in a bid to ease his distressing symptoms - he was in a great deal of pain and had disturbed sleep because of he had to use the toilet every half hour.
After more consultations Kenneth was eventually treated by surgeons at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.
Three years on from his surgery he is fit and well with no signs of the cancer returning.

An investigation by The King's Fund recently found treatable conditions such as incontinence and depression were sometimes ignored in older patients.

Last year the Health Service Ombudsman accused the NHS of failing to meet "even the most basic standards of care" for the over-65s in England.
Mr Burstow said: "I have heard numerous stories from people who feel that they have been discriminated against.
"One 84-year-old lady told how her doctor had been treating her for angina for years.
"Two years ago, she had an appointment to have an operation on a bunion on her big toe. However, because of the angina, they sent her for a heart scan.
"They found that it was not angina, but actually a leaky valve. She asked if she could have this fixed and the doctors said: 'What are you bothered about, at your age?'
"I am pleased to say she stuck to her guns and said she wanted the job done. At long last, she has managed to get an appointment but the whole experience made her feel pushed aside.
"This is exactly the kind of discrimination we want to rule out in the NHS."

The ban means:

Chronological age alone will no longer be a barrier to treatment
Clinical decisions should be based on clinical need and how fit someone is regardless of age
There is an onus to consider the wellbeing and dignity of older people

There will be specific exceptions from the new law, for example insurance companies will still be able to use age when assessing risk and deciding prices.

Michelle Mitchell, charity director general of Age UK, said: "We hope the new law which will apply to the NHS, social care and other services will prevent older people being denied proper treatment because of their age.
"It sends a clear message to service providers that discrimination law will in future also protect older people."

Sunday, 10 June 2012

Care for elderly 'let down by fragmented system'

COMMENTS (238)

By Jane DreaperHealth correspondent, BBC News

MPs want a single body for social care

Older people are being let down by a social care system in which they are "passed like a parcel" between services, a committee of MPs has said.

The Commons health select committee wants local areas in England to deliver "joined-up" care, health and housing.

Funding pressures were reducing older people's quality of life, MPs added.

The government said "urgent reform of the care and support system is needed", and that it was creating the conditions for more integration.

The committee's report said that the Health and Social Care Bill - currently making its way through Parliament - would not simplify a fragmented system in England.

Rather than the current system of multiple funding sources, the MPs are calling for a single local body with the power to commission health, support services and housing.

The precise model would depend on local circumstances, they suggest.

The committee says in its report: "Despite repeated attempts to 'bridge' the gap between the NHS and social care... little by way of integration has been achieved over a 40-year period.

"These separate systems are inefficient and lead to poorer outcomes for older people."

Funding gap denied

Evidence was cited in the report that services which worked together to help keep older people well could potentially save the NHS £2.65 for every £1 spent by, for example, avoiding emergency admissions to hospital.

“Start Quote

Growing demand makes it more urgent than ever before to convert fine words into fine deeds”

Stephen Dorrell MPHealth committee chairman

The committee visited projects which had successfully integrated care in Torbay, Devon, and Blackburn, Lancashire.

However, the report points out that the care trusts that had pioneered integration in these areas are due to lose their commissioning functions under the controversial Health and Social Care Bill.

The MPs acknowledged that the government was putting extra money into social care in England - but said they had still received a "weight of evidence" which pointed to funding pressures and service cuts.

The government's commitment of an extra £2bn a year for social care by 2014/15 was "not sufficient to maintain adequate levels of service quality and efficiency", the report claimed.

In a hearing with the committee, Health Minister Paul Burstow denied there was any gap in social care funding.

'Efficiency challenge'

The Conservative MP and former Health Secretary, Stephen Dorrell, who chairs the committee, said: "This government, like its predecessors going back to the 1960s, has stressed the importance it attaches to joined-up services.

"Growing demand, coupled with an unprecedented efficiency challenge, makes it more urgent than ever before to convert these fine words into fine deeds.

"It is impossible to deliver high quality or efficient services when the patient is passed like a parcel from one part of the system to another.

"We recommend that the government should place a duty on the new clinical commissioning groups and local councils to create a single commissioning process for older people's services."

Ministers in England are due to publish a White Paper on social care in the coming months.

The committee is calling on the government to implement the findings of the independent Dilnot Commission, which last year recommended a system in which the costs of care for individuals were capped.

MPs warned though that the future of social care should not be "dominated by a debate about the technical details of funding".

They said carers needed more support - but this was too often not identified by staff such as GPs and social workers.

'Disastrous'

The King's Fund think tank estimates that 890,000 people are not receiving the care services they need - a figure which is disputed by ministers.

A senior fellow at the King's Fund, Richard Humphries, said: "Delivering integrated care must assume the same priority over the next decade as reducing waiting times was given over the last.

"The committee is right to stress that a more ambitious approach is needed to achieve this based on co-ordinated commissioning and pooled budgets.

"We think this could go a stage further by moving towards a single assessment of the funding needs of the NHS and social care in future spending reviews."

The shadow care minister, Liz Kendall, said: "Far from focusing on what older people and their families really need, the government has instead wasted 18 months on its disastrous NHS reorganisation.

"As the committee points out, some of the best examples of integrated care have been achieved by Care Trusts, which will be swept away by the government's own Health and Social Care Bill."

Mr Burstow said: "Integrated care should be the norm. That's why we asked the NHS Future Forum to specifically work on this issue. They told us there is no single silver bullet when it comes to integration.

"What we have already done and continue to do is create the legal and financial conditions for more integration."

Your comments (238)

Wednesday, 30 May 2012

Social care funding gap

Social care funding gap in England 'can be plugged'

The funding gap for reforming social care in England could be plugged by raiding the NHS surplus or restricting access to benefits such as the winter fuel allowance, experts say.

A review published last year suggested care costs should be capped, but this would cost an extra £1.7bn a year.

The Nuffield Trust analysis believes this sum could be found from within existing public sector spending.

The think-tank said tax rises could be used too.

But it questioned whether that would be appropriate in the current financial climate and said if they were to be introduced they should be targeted at elderly people.

The report comes as the government is still finalising its plans for reforming the way people pay for care in their own homes and in care homes.

A White Paper is expected to be published next month.

Controversy

One of the proposals under consideration is the idea of introducing a cap on lifetime care costs of between £35,000 and £50,000.

“

This was put forward by the Dilnot Commission, which was set up by the government to look into the issue.

Funding is the most controversial element of the changes, with the Treasury thought to have concerns about the cost to the public purse of reforming the system.

By 2026, the estimated additional annual cost of £1.7bn is likely to rise to £3.6bn because of the ageing population.

But the Nuffield Trust said it was feasible to look at redistributing current spending to cover the bill.

It pointed out that about £140bn a year is spent on elderly people across the NHS, welfare and social care sectors.

Just 6% of this currently goes on social care.

The Nuffield Trust said the extra cost could be plugged through a variety of measures.

For example, it cited a £1.5bn underspend in the NHS last year.

Money could also be saved by means-testing benefits such as winter fuel payments, travel concessions and free TV licences.

Report author Anita Charlesworth said it was important that the government had an open debate with the public about priorities.

"The government currently spends some £140bn a year on older people.

"If you were starting with a blank sheet of paper is this the best balance of spending to ensure quality of life, dignity and respect in older age?"

Michelle Mitchell, of Age UK, agreed, saying an "honest debate" was needed and she urged ministers to have "courage and conviction" in their attempts to reform the system.

The government said it would be publishing its plans soon.

Doctors target non-urgent care in industrial action

The move comes after a majority of doctors voted in favour of action in a British Medical Association ballot of 104,000 members over pension changes.

The 24-hour day of action will take place on 21 June.

The union said emergency care would still take place, as doctors did not want to put patients at risk.

Of those balloted, half responded. Among the main groups of doctors the results were overwhelming.

Some 79% of GPs, 84% of hospital consultants and 92% of junior doctors who responded voted in favour.

By targeting non-urgent care, patients are likely to be affected in this way:

Elective operations such as knee and hip replacements likely to be postponed

GP practices to remain open, but routine appointments will not take place
Hospital appointments for routine conditions expected to be cancelled

Tests for critical conditions such as cancer will still be available

A&E units and maternity services to run as normal

Analysis

Doctors are among the best-paid public-sector employees - and as such they also have the most lucrative pensions.

The average hospital consultant retiring today will enjoy a pension of £48,000 a year and a lump sum of over £140,000.

Among public-sector pensions being paid out, doctors account for two-thirds of the top 1% of pay outs.

As a result, this government - and the Labour one that preceded it and reformed pensions in 2008 - has taken the judgement that it wants the best-paid to subsidise the pensions of the lowest.

Contributions will rise the greatest for the highest earners. Those earning over £110,000 a year will end up contributing 14.5% of their salary.

Many may understand that approach, but doctors believe they are being unfairly targeted.

They point out that the top-paid civil servants will not be hit in the same way - and that perceived injustice has put the profession at loggerheads with the government.

It will be the first time since 1975 that doctors have taken industrial action.

It is not yet known whether the day of action will be followed by further ones.

Unions representing a host of health professionals, including paramedics, admin staff and porters, have already taken part in strikes over pension changes.

Patient safety 'safeguarded'

But the Royal College of Nursing, one of the most influential voices inside the NHS alongside the BMA, has yet to decide what it will do.

It has held a ballot where the majority rejected the government's pension changes, but the turnout was low.

Under the plans, which apply to England and Wales but could be introduced elsewhere in the UK, the age at which doctors retire would rise from 65 to 68 by 2015.

The contributions doctors have to make are also due to rise.

The union has also questioned government claims that the current scheme - which was only agreed in 2008 - was unsustainable, pointing out it brings in a £2bn-a-year surplus.

BMA leader Dr Hamish Meldrum said while the action would be disruptive, doctors would ensure that patient safety was not compromised.

He added: "We are taking this step very reluctantly and would far prefer to negotiate for a fairer solution.

"But this clear mandate for action - on a very high turnout - reflects just how let down doctors feel by the government's unwillingness to find a fairer approach to the latest pension changes."

But Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said: "The public will not understand or sympathise with the BMA.

"People know that pension reform is needed as people live longer and to be fair in future for everyone."

He said the NHS pension would remain "one of the best available anywhere", pointing out a new doctor joining the revised scheme could still expect a pension of £68,000 a year on retirement.

Dean Royles, director of NHS Employers, added: "We know that doctors are anxious about changes to their pensions. But no-one wants to see patients dragged into the argument.

"Industrial action could potentially mean delays to treatment. It would be particularly distressing for patients and extremely worrying for staff, who are dedicated to putting patients first."

Friday, 18 May 2012

dementia patient 'had 106 carers'

Aberdeen dementia patient 'had 106 carers'

By Eleanor BradfordBBC Scotland Health Correspondent

Jeanette Maitland said the constant stream of different faces sent by agencies working for Aberdeen's social work department contravened her husband Ken's basic human right to dignity.

MrJeanette Maitland said the turnover in carers was an affront to her husband's dignity Maitland died from a dementia-related illness last week.

Aberdeen City Council has pledged to look into the concerns his wife has raised.

Mrs Maitland told BBC Scotland she initially wrote down the names of her husband's carers so that she could get to know them.

She added: "I just started taking note of the names so I could remember properly and put a face to the name.

"Then each time a new face came so I kept writing, writing, writing, until we're here where we are today with 106 carers."Until Mr Maitland's recent admission to hospital he was allocated two carers four times a day to help his wife look after him at home.

Intensely private

She was given the impression that care would be provided by a core group of about 10 staff. Instead, she faced a constant stream of new people which her husband found extremely unsettling.

Mrs Maitland added: "Anyone who knows anything at all about dementia will know that they live in fear 87% of the time. Obviously the more regular the voice, the more regular the regime, the constancy of it all helps them to relax and be calm."

Although she has no complaints about the overall standard of care, Mrs Maitland said her husband was an intensely private man who would have been horrified at the number of people who were involved in his bathing and personal care.

She asked: "Where is respect for his dignity? I feel I should have sold tickets."

Prof June Andrews, director of Stirling University's Dementia Centre, said what happened to Mr Maitland was simply "bad care".Mrs Maitland began keeping a list of new care staff and the list grew longer and longer

She told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme: "It is absolutely not acceptable because of the kind of disruption that is caused to people with dementia if they are faced with too many people.

"This is something that not only happens at home in people's houses, but also in hospitals.

"Familiarity helps reduce the symptoms of dementia, and if you are supposed to be looking after someone with dementia then presenting them with a lot of different faces if just bad care."

Aberdeen City Council chief executive Valerie Watts said: "I would like to extend my sincere condolences to Mrs Maitland and her family following the sad loss of her husband Kenneth.

"I recently had a very positive meeting with Mrs Maitland where we spoke at length about the care package her husband received from Aberdeen City Council.

"I gave Mrs Maitland a personal assurance I would look into the concerns she raised and respond at the earliest opportunity."

She added that council staff worked hard to deliver the best possible care package at all times.

mengele plus

Thursday, 21 June 2012

'oldest cave art'

Red dot becomes 'oldest cave art'

Saturday, 16 June 2012

Milk fats may alter gut bacteria

Milk fats may alter gut bacteria causing bowel diseases

“Start Quote

Wednesday, 13 June 2012

Elderly denied NHS care

Elderly denied NHS care 'can sue'

“Start Quote

Too old?

The ban means:

Sunday, 10 June 2012

Care for elderly 'let down by fragmented system'

Care for elderly 'let down by fragmented system'

“Start Quote

Wednesday, 30 May 2012

Social care funding gap

Social care funding gap in England 'can be plugged'

“

Doctors target non-urgent care in industrial action

Analysis

Friday, 18 May 2012

dementia patient 'had 106 carers'

Aberdeen dementia patient 'had 106 carers'

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Thursday, 21 June 2012

Red dot becomes 'oldest cave art'

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Milk fats may alter gut bacteria causing bowel diseases

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Elderly denied NHS care 'can sue'

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Sunday, 10 June 2012

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Wednesday, 30 May 2012

Social care funding gap in England 'can be plugged'

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Aberdeen dementia patient 'had 106 carers'

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