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People with severe mental illnesses are far more likely to be infected with hepatitis C virus compared to the general population. While the National Institutes of Health once advised doctors against treating HCV-infected patients who continued to use illicit drugs, drink alcohol, or who had a psychiatric history, in 2002, the agency released a statement that said "efforts should be made to increase the availability of the best current treatments" to those patients.

Scientists know that the drug ketamine -- street name "Special K" -- can induce schizophrenia-like symptoms in drug abusers. Ketamine is also used as an anesthetic and, more recently, as an antidepressant -- raising concerns by researchers at the UCSD School of Medicine, who have found that ketamine leads to the impairments in brain circuitry observed in both drug abusers and schizophrenic patients by causing increased production of a toxic free radical called "superoxide."

Complementary and alternative medicines training for students in the health professions improves their ability to provide balanced, evidence-based advice to patients. Overall 96 per cent of pharmacy students believed they need to be equipped to advise patients about complementary and alternative medicines and 90 percent said it should therefore be a core part of their education.

For patients with dialysis-related anemia, the risk of death is increased when hemoglobin levels remain persistently low over a period several months -- not necessarily when they fluctuate over time, according to a new study.

Victims buried by an avalanche only have a chance of survival if they can be quickly and precisely located under the snow. A novel position-ing system, which will use the signals of Europe's future satellite system 'Galileo', is to help improve the search. It's the start of the skiing season: Attracted by bright sunshine and fresh snow, winter sports enthusiasts flock to the snow-covered slopes. But for some, the white splendor will prove fatal, especially for those who wander off the regular slope.

Scientists have shown that green tea has anti-tumor effect in breast cancer cells. A new study observed that green tea can inhibit the invading capacity of breast cancer cells and have also identified the mechanisms involved in death inducing and invasion inhibiting effects of green tea.

Every year, in the United States about 1,500 people have surgical objects accidentally left inside them after surgery, according to medical studies. About two-thirds of the surgical objects left behind are sponges, which can lead to pain, infection, bowel obstructions, problems in healing, longer hospital stays, additional surgeries and in rare cases, death.