British scientists are developing a new type of glass that can dissolve and release calcium into the body. This will enable patients to regrow bones and could signal a move away from bone transplants.

The porous glass, originally developed at Imperial College is capable of acting as an active template for new bone growth, dissolving in the body without leaving any trace of itself or any toxic chemicals. As it dissolves it releases calcium and other elements such as silicon into the adjacent body fluids, stimulating bone growth.

Proposals to overhaul the approach to obtaining patient consent lack detail, contain advice that is non-specific, and might prevent doctors from making major changes to their practice warns an editorial in this week's BMJ.

Writing in response to the publication of the General Medical Council (GMC) guidance on patient consent to be implemented in June, Professor Glyn Elwyn argues that although the guidance appears radical and urges a change in the approach to informed consent, it fails to address how doctors will do this in busy clinical settings.

The process of obtaining consent from patients for procedures such as surgical operations often just involves patients signing a piece of paper declaring that they understand the nature of the procedure and its consequences, only a few hours before an operation. This rarely provides time for patients to read or consider the information about harms and benefits. In addition, evidence shows that patients want to be given more information about risks and consequences.

Simplistic and unpiloted NHS reforms are inadvertently damaging patient care in general practice, according to a group of academics writing in this week's BMJ.

Professor Howie, from the University of Edinburgh, writing with colleagues, criticises recent reforms in general practice and says if they "continue unchallenged [it] will result in the dismemberment of a primary care system that has been the envy of other countries."

They argue that the holistic care patients have always received from their GP, and which has worked in the individual patient's favor, is in danger of being harmed by recent changes.

LONDON and PHILADELPHIA, June 5 /PRNewswire/ --

WATERLOO, Ontario, June 5 /PRNewswire/ -- In a new and generous act of personal philanthropy, Mike Lazaridis has provided an additional $50 million (Canadian) to Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics (PI). This private donation increases his personal contributions to $150 million in the research institute.

The private funding announcement, delivered by The Honourable John Wilkinson, Ontario Minister of Research and Innovation, was celebrated by over 600 people just prior to a PI Public Lecture. The donation was acknowledged by all dignitaries representing the Province of Ontario and the Government of Canada, important members of a public-private partnership that fund the scientific research and outreach operations.

LONDON, June 5 /PRNewswire/ --

LONDON, June 5 /PRNewswire/ --

- Flora Launches 'Cooking With Schools' Initiative to Help Put Healthy Eating at the Heart of the Classroom

Research released by Flora today reveals 93% of primary school teachers want the Government to take more action to improve cookery lessons in school, 99% of teachers believe teaching children how to choose and prepare healthy food is essential to good health.

To help put healthy eating at the heart of the classroom, the Flora team is launching Cooking with Schools, an initiative that will offer free cooking equipment to all primary schools across the UK and Ireland and provide teachers with comprehensive resource packs.

WILMINGTON, Delaware, June 4 /PRNewswire/ --

DuPont Titanium Technologies today announced a price increase for all DuPont(TM) Ti-Pure(R) titanium dioxide grades sold in Europe, Middle East and Africa regions. Effective July 1, or as permitted by contract, prices for all DuPont titanium dioxide grades will increase by 50 Euros per tonne in all Euro markets and by US$200 per tonne in the Middle East, Sub-Sahara Africa and Eastern European markets. The increase will be implemented in two increments: US$100 per tonne effective July 1, and US$100 per tonne effective October 1, 2008.

MANCHESTER, England, June 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Nostalgia has never been hotter and the latest 'must have' gift harps back to the good old days of boy meets girl, vinyl and tape cassettes.

MIXA(TM) is a 1GB USB memory stick, masquerading as a tape cassette, which allows anyone to design their own version and give the gift of music and memories to friends, family or that special someone, creating a unique gift for any occasion.

The thing that makes MIXA(TM) so special is that people can design it completely with the recipient in mind, from the sleeve design to the content itself which could simply be favourite music tracks - just like back in the 80's - as well as photographs, video clips or any other digital stuff.

BOXBOROUGH, Massachusetts, June 4 /PRNewswire/ --

- X-Series Platform Enables Delivery of 'In-the-Cloud' Virtualised Firewall Services to Enterprise Customers

Crossbeam Systems, Inc., a leading provider of next-generation security platforms for high-performance networks, today announced that BT has deployed Crossbeam's X-Series Next Generation Security Platform to help protect its internal network as well as deliver a new generation of "in-the-cloud" virtualised firewall security services to enterprise customers.

ISTANBUL, Turkey, June 4 /PRNewswire/ --

- Experts report on progress and explore promise of rotavirus vaccines

Over 350 of the world's leading scientific experts, policymakers and leading public health professionals from 67 countries convened today during the 8th International Rotavirus Symposium in Istanbul, Turkey, to present new data about rotavirus -- a disease which causes acute diarrhea and often leads to death among young children.

"Regardless of where they live, virtually all children become infected with rotavirus by the age of three. Yet, 90 percent of child deaths due to rotavirus occur in the world's poorest countries," said Dr. Ciro de Quadros, of the Sabin Vaccine Institute.