Runny Nose Turns Out To Be Leaking Brain Fluid

A woman who complained for months about her runny nose was horrified to find out that fluid was leaking from her brain.

Several doctors had reassured Aundrea Aragon from Tucson, Arizona, that the clear liquid was simply caused by allergies.

"I was scared to death and desperate," the 35-year-old mother said. "I knew it could not be allergies. The fluid would come out like a puddle."

The steroids and antibiotics she was prescribed had no effect.

"I was walking around with toilet paper shoved up my nose and changing it every ten minutes," Mrs Aragon recalled.

Cerebral spinal fluid streamed through Aundrea Aragon's nose. (File image)

Surgeons at the University of Arizona eventually noticed two small cracks in the back of her sphenoid sinus, which were caused by cerebral pressure.

While the human body replaces brain fluid, Mrs Aragon was at risk of developing meningitis, according to surgeon Dr Michael Lemole.

"If you are leaking brain fluid out your nose then you have the potential for catastrophic meningitis, the kind where bacteria crawls into your brain and 24 hours later you are essentially in a coma or dead," he explained.

Using an endoscopic procedure, doctors were able to avoid invasive surgery and fix the condition with a minimal recovery period.

They used tissue from her nose and belly to repair the cracks.

Mrs Aragon is now recovering well at home after the operation in October, but she will need to be monitored for the rest of her life in case of another leak.

23.22 | 0 komentar | Read More

Cancer Patient Taken From Hospital By Mother

Fears are mounting for an 11-year-old girl with leukaemia and a heart catheter who was removed from a Phoenix hospital by her parents.

The child, Emily, had been receiving chemotherapy up until last week after an infection forced doctors to amputate her right arm and insert a catheter in her heart.

The device was due to be taken out when her mother unexpectedly changed her clothes and walked her out of the hospital last Wednesday night.

Police have said if the catheter is left in too long, it could lead to serious complications.

"If she contracts an infection, it really could just be a matter of days that could result in the young girl's death," Sgt Steve Martos said. "It's pretty serious."

The authorities had been held back initially by US health privacy laws that kept them from releasing the parents' names.

But police said on Monday that the US Border Patrol stopped the girl's father, Luis Bracamontes, 46, as he crossed into Arizona from Mexico over the weekend.

But he provided no clues to the girl's whereabouts and denied having any involvement in removing her from the hospital.

Police also released his wife's name, Norma Bracamontes, 35.

Neither parent is charged with a crime yet, but authorities want the child brought back to the hospital before it is too late.

The girl's father is a Mexican citizen with US residency. Emily and her mother are US citizens.

Authorities speculated they might have been concerned about paying the hospital bill.

23.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Man Who Threw Rabbit In River Is Jailed

A man has been jailed for snatching a homeless man's rabbit and hurling it into a river.

The animal's owner, John Byrne, had been begging on Dublin's O'Connell Bridge when his pet Barney was taken from his arms and thrown into the River Liffey.

The 37-year-old jumped into the water after his beloved pet and gave him the kiss of life, but was unable to save the rabbit. Both were pulled from the river by firefighters.

Gary Kearney pleaded guilty at Dublin District Court to cruelly torturing or terrifying an animal and was sentenced to four months in prison.

The 20-year-old, who is originally from the Crumlin area of Dublin and was brought up in care, also admitted breach of the peace during the incident on July 3, 2011. He has 138 previous convictions.

Outside the court, Mr Byrne, who has been living on the streets for 23 years, said he was in shock when he saw Barney swimming around in circles, looking up at him.

John Byrne was scared a seal would eat his rabbit

"I wasn't going to leave him there," he said.

"I had to get him, I had to jump in to get him. Barney died in my arms. I got him under the bridge and gave him the kiss of life."

Mr Byrne said the sentence sent out a clear message to people who abuse animals that they will not walk out of court laughing.

He said: "I was scared. Wouldn't anybody (be scared) going into freezing cold water? And there is a seal there that would have eaten Barney.

"I can swim and I'd done life-saving before. Only for that I was gone. The current would have pulled me under."

He added that one of his three dogs, Lily, would not go out begging with him after witnessing the incident.

Within days of his pet's death, Mr Byrne was given a Compassionate Citizen Award for going above and beyond the call of duty to help an animal in need.

23.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Kate Pregnant: William At Wife's Bedside

The Duke of Cambridge has returned to his pregnant wife's bedside as she continues her hospital treatment for severe morning sickness.

Kate was admitted to King Edward VII Hospital in central London on Monday where she is likely to remain for the next few days.

Prince William headed in ignoring the massed ranks of the world's media on the pavement outside.

Presenters and crews from TV networks in America and elsewhere have set up camp since the couple's news was announced on Monday.

It is understood the rest of the royal family were told about the pregnancy only a few hours before the rest of the world.

Prince William arrives at the hospital on Tuesday

The Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Harry and Kate's family are said to be "delighted".

The child will be third in line to the throne, whether it is a boy or girl, after Prince Charles and Prince William.

The Prime Minister was among the first to congratulate the royal couple on Twitter. "I'm delighted ... They will make wonderful parents," David Cameron said.

Deputy Prime Minister and Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg tweeted: "... a perfect way to round off the Queen's Diamond Jubilee year."

Labour leader Ed Miliband tweeted: "A royal baby is something the whole nation will celebrate."

Julia Gillard, prime minister of Australia, called it "delightful news" and Jay Carney, press secretary to US president Barack Obama, said: "On behalf of everyone here in the White House, beginning with the President and the First Lady, we extend our congratulations."

Only last week Kate took to the hockey field while visiting her old school

Thomas Misrachi, a journalist with BFM TV in France, is among the media throng outside the hospital. On Monday he immediately booked the Eurostar from Paris.

He told Sky News: "Their wedding was huge news in France and news of a baby is just the same.

"Your royal family still has a certain magic - it is unusual for us because we don't have a royal family."

St James's Palace would not say when the royal couple became aware of the pregnancy - only that it was "recently".

Royal baby memorabilia is already being created (Pic. Emma Bridgewater)

It is understood that the pregnancy has not passed the 12-week point and the announcement was prompted by the Duchess's medical condition.

It was reported that the Queen's former gynaecologist Marcus Setchell, who delivered the Countess of Wessex's two children, is treating her.

Kate is suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum, a rare condition which causes severe vomiting during pregnancy and can cause dehydration, weight loss and a build-up of toxins in the blood or urine called ketosis.

News that Kate's condition may indicate she is carrying twins has prompted bookmaker William Hill to cut the price of the royal couple having two babies from 33/1 to 25/1 following a number of bets overnight.

The Duchess' engagements this week have all been cancelled, said St James's Palace.

Kate and William were married at Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011.

:: Bookmaker William Hill said the favourite names so far are Frances and John, both at 9/1, while Charles, Victoria and George are 10/1.

23.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Dutch Linesman Death: Teens To Be Charged

Dutch prosecutors say they will charge three teenagers with manslaughter for allegedly taking part in an attack on a linesman over a youth football match.

Volunteer linesman Richard Nieuwenhuizen died in hospital on Monday, a day after he was beaten and kicked by players from Amsterdam team Nieuw Sloten.

Mr Nieuwenhuizen's own son had been playing in the game, which was held in the town of Almere.

Prosecutors said the three males, two 15 and one 16, would be arraigned on Thursday on charges of manslaughter, assault and public violence. Their identities were not released.

Mr Nieuwenhuizen's team, Buitenboys, have not announced the exact cause of his death, but Dutch TV station RTL said he had brain damage.

Mr Nieuwenhuizen left after Sunday's match and was not aware anything was wrong. He returned to his club later that night and collapsed.

"You can't believe this could happen. That kids of 15 or 16 are playing football, you come to watch and see something like that," said Buitenboys chairman Marcel Oost.

"He did it every week. He enjoyed doing it. He was a real football man - he was always here."

FIFA president Sepp Blatter said in a statement he was "deeply shocked" by Mr Nieuwenhuizen's death.

Dutch sports minister Edith Schippers said: "It is absolutely terrible that something like this can happen on a Dutch sports field."      

Parents and other volunteers regularly referee and officiate at sports matches involving their children in The Netherlands, where youth football and hockey is popular and well organised.

Anton Binnenmars, of the Royal Netherlands Football Association, said: "It is too crazy for words that somebody involved in a sporting hobby becomes a victim of this kind of aggression."

Police said they would not rule out arresting more suspects.

Nieuw Sloten said in a statement on their website they had banned the players involved and pulled their team out of the league. Such incidents "do not belong on a football field", the statement added.

The Dutch FA said all Nieuw Sloten's matches next weekend had been cancelled at the club's request.

The attack in Almere was even discussed at a news conference in Spain on the eve of Ajax's Champions League match against Real Madrid.

"You can't imagine it happening," said Ajax coach Frank de Boer. "That boys of 15, 16 years short circuit like that. You wonder about the parenting ... this is too ridiculous for words."

The death is almost exactly a year since a Dutch amateur footballer fatally kicked a 77-year-old supporter following a match.

23.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Autumn Statement: £5bn Investment Boost

Deeper cuts in some Whitehall budgets are to be used to fund an extra £5bn investment in schools and other capital projects.

Government departments will be expected to cut day-to-day spending by 1% (£950m) in 2013/14 and 2% (£2.5bn) in 2014/15.

But under plans to be confirmed in the Autumn Statement, health, schools, international aid, HM Revenue and Customs and nuclear decommissioning will all be protected.

The new investment will target transport, skills, science and education, with an extra £1bn for new academies and free schools.

The cuts only directly apply to England but there will be knock-on effects for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland under the complicated formula which determines UK funding.

Labour claimed the move was an effective admission that the coalition's spending cuts had been a "catastrophic mistake" that has weakened the economy.

But Tory sources insisted the coalition was spending billions more on capital projects than the Labour plans the Government inherited.

David Cameron said the money would "make our country work better" and Nick Clegg added that it would ensure useful cash is not tied up in Whitehall.

George Osborne has very little wriggle room

Local authorities will be exempt from cuts in the first year because they are already having to cut back to deliver a council tax freeze but they will have to meet the second target.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defence will have more flexibility to roll over its underspend to help ease pressure on their budget.

An overhaul of the heavily criticised Private Finance Initiative (PFI) and plans to approve new gas-powered electricity power stations are also expected in Wednesday's mini-budget.

Chancellor George Osborne will outline plans for a "faster and more transparent" system of private funding for public infrastructure projects.

It is understood that safeguards will be built into the new system, to be dubbed PF2, to make sure the costs and risks to the taxpayer are minimised.

These will include limits on the type of services, such as maintenance, that can be incorporated into contracts and more flexible terms allowing the state to opt out.

The taxpayer will also take a minority shareholding in the delivery companies to ensure a share in any profits and allow closer oversight.

Some previous projects have taken up to five years but a new, strict 18-month limit will be imposed on the procurement process and cash reallocated if the deadline is missed.

Efforts will also be made to make the scheme more attractive to long-term investors like pension funds in a bid to reduce the amount of debt involved in the financing.

The reforms will promise more transparency over future liabilities facing the taxpayer, placing a cap on the total charges controversially going "off balance sheet".

Mr Osborne will claim up to £2.5bn in savings has been identified from existing PFI contracts following his review of the "discredited" system.

Safeguards will be built into the new private finance scheme

Set up under John Major's government in 1992, PFI was expanded dramatically under Labour and has been continued under the present coalition administration.

It allows private firms to build, operate and maintain public facilities like hospitals, schools and courthouses under contracts lasting as long as 35 years.

But it has faced harsh criticism over escalating costs, inefficiency and "perverse incentives" to use it over more cost-effective funding methods.

The anticipated approval of up to 30 gas-fired power stations sparked accusations of a "reckless dash for gas" from environmental campaigners.

It is thought Mr Osborne will also try to encourage investment in gas with tax breaks and a new regulatory regime for "fracking" - the extraction of gas from shale.

This week's statement will contain further bleak news for welfare claimants as well as the wealthy in the form of a possible benefit freeze and big cuts to pension tax relief.

And economists expect the Chancellor to make an embarrassing climbdown over one of his key goals - to have debt falling as a share of national income by 2015/16.

He conceded at the weekend that it was "clearly taking longer to deal with Britain's debts, it's clearly taking longer to recover from the financial crisis than one would have hoped".

On the eve of the statement, the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) became the latest respected body to slash growth forecasts.

It now expects the economy to grow 1.2% in 2013 and 1.8% in 2014, compared with previous estimates of 1.2% and 2.2% respectively.

The organisation demanded a "laser-like focus" from the Chancellor on growth-boosting measures such as delivering key infrastructure projects and creating a business bank.

23.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Remembrance Day 'Devil' Sorry For Disruption

A man who skateboarded beside marching troops during a Remembrance Sunday parade has apologised for causing offence.

Jose Paulo Da Silveria who was wearing a pink outfit and horned mask at the time, said he had not intended to disrupt the parade at the Cenotaph in Bristol city centre.

The 38-year-old's lawyer said he suffers from psychiatric problems and was not protesting against the ceremony. 

Da Silveria claims he stumbled upon the service accidentally on his way to College Green.

He said: "I apologise for the distress but I wasn't really thinking. I ran into the middle of this thing and I didn't realise what was going on.

"I just came down from Nelson Street and I don't remember seeing any restrictions and no one was stopping me from carrying on.

"It was only when I saw the photographs in the newspaper that I realised what was going on."

Da Silveria, who was speaking outside Bristol Magistrates' Court, received a £65 fine and was ordered to pay £85 costs and a £20 victims' surcharge.

He pleaded guilty to an offence under the Public Order Act of using threatening words or behaviour to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

Da Silveria wore black and blue striped stockings, red shorts, a turquoise corset, blue blouse, a lace face mask, hat and makeup to court.

Da Silveria, of Somerset House, Lawfords Gate, Bristol, was seen riding through the gathering at 11.45am.

Prosecutor May Li told the court: "He was wearing striped tights, pink frilly knickers, a corset and he had a red and black face cover.

"He was causing harassment, alarm or distress to the public and there was a strong reaction to his presence."

John Roberts, defending, said his client had stopped receiving medication for psychiatric problems but since his arrest his treatment had recommenced.

"As far as he is concerned it was not any form of protest. His care package had come to an end in August and he was not taking any medication."

23.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

BMW Crash: Man Bailed Over Motorway Deaths

A man has been released on police bail after his arrest in connection with a motorway crash that left two people dead and six others injured.

The 25-year-old-man, from east London, was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving after a collision involving two BMWs on the M1 near Watford in Hertfordshire.

The driver and rear seat passengers of one of the cars were killed in the crash, which happened just before 2.40am on Monday.

The two men have not been named by police but were aged 22 and 24 and both from east London.

The injured survivors were taken to hospital for treatment following the crash.

Witnesses reported seeing a scuffle involving survivors and four men who arrived in a Mercedes shortly after the crash.

Five junctions of the motorway and its southbound stretch were closed in both directions for several hours after the crash, which happened between junctions five and four.

The force has appealed for witnesses to the collision or the events leading up to it to contact them on 101.

23.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

'Burglary Takes Courage' Judge Reprimanded

A judge who said burglary took courage has been given a formal reprimand.

Judge Peter Bowers told an offender who raided three homes in five days: "It takes a huge amount of courage, as far as I can see, for somebody to burgle somebody's house. I wouldn't have the nerve."

He admitted he might be "pilloried" when he spared the burglar jail at Teesside Crown Court in September.

The case caused an outcry, with Prime Minister David Cameron commenting that burglars were not brave, but "cowards" and their crimes were "hateful".

Following an investigation, the Lord Chancellor and Lord Chief Justice upheld complaints about the judge's comments and issued him with a reprimand after his remarks "damaged public confidence in the judicial process", the Office for Judicial Complaints (OJC) said.

They believed the use of the word courage was a "serious error of judgement" and "offensive" to those who have been victims of a burglary, according to a letter from the OJC to one of the complainants, radio presenter Nick Ferrari.

The Evening Gazette newspaper reported that when Judge Bowers handed 26-year-old Richard Rochford, from Redcar, a suspended 12-month term, he said: "I'm going to take a chance on you."

After acknowledging the trauma burglary victims face, the judge explained he would not jail Rochford, who had quit drugs since the February break-ins.

He was given a two-year supervision order with drug rehabilitation and 200 hours' unpaid work, with a one-year driving ban.

Following the decision to reprimand the judge, the OJC replied: "Whilst His Honour Judge (HHJ) Bowers regrets his use of the word 'courage' the Lord Chancellor and Lord Chief Justice believe that this was a serious error of judgement and offensive to those who have been victims of a burglary.

"They also believe that HHJ Bowers' conduct has been damaging to the respect of the judicial process. For this reason, HHJ Bowers has been issued with a formal reprimand."

23.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Woman And Child Hurt In Level Crossing Crash

A train has hit a car on a level crossing in South Yorkshire, seriously injuring a woman and child who were in the vehicle.

Emergency crews were at the scene of the accident at the Beech Hill crossing, Finningley.

After some confusion over the number of occupants in the car, the British Transport Police said two people were aboard the vehicle.

"The car contained two occupants, a woman and a child. The child sustained serious injuries and has been airlifted to hospital in Sheffield. The driver, a woman, received minor injuries and has been taken to hospital in Doncaster," a spokesman said.

"The train, a Lincoln to Doncaster service, is damaged but has remained upright and on the tracks. Passengers have been removed from the train and there are no reports of injuries at this time."

Officials were trying to determine what caused the collision.

The East Midlands Trains said the incident had happened at 12.35pm.

"Our staff ensured that passengers were safely escorted from the train and these passengers will be taken forward to Doncaster by alternative road transport," said a spokesman.

"We will work with Network Rail and the British Transport Police to ensure those involved in this incident are given every assistance."

The spokesman added that a bus service is operating on the affected route between Lincoln and Doncaster.

More follows...

23.21 | 0 komentar | Read More