News


HPV STATUS ‘PREDICTS’ CANCER SURVIVAL CHANCES


Researchers from Australia have


discovered that cancer patients with the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) have a greater chance of survival from mouth cancer than those whose cancer is HPV negative.


The study, carried out by scientists at the University of Sydney, monitored 198 patients suffering from mouth cancer after they had surgery or radiotherapy for a period of two years. It was found that those with HPV positive cancer were four times less likely to die than those who were HPV negative. They also found that cancer was three times less likely to reoccur at the primary site in patients with HPV positive cancer.


Dr Angela Hong, who led the research, said: “Our study, which focused on a group of patients with advanced oropharyngeal cancer, found that those with cancer caused by HPV had a significantly better chance of survival than cancer which was not caused by HPV. And this beneficial HPV effect was seen regardless of the type of treatment they had.


“HPV status is now the strongest predictor of whether a patient will survive oropharyngeal cancer or whether the disease will return. Various clinical trials are now in development to tailor treatment according to HPV status of tumours.”


12 Ireland’s Dental magazine


|Tooth preparation p30|Pink Inc p34|21st Century systems p36


Double murder dentist is sentenced


Crown court.GDP who staged a double suicide is jailed for at least 21 years


The full details of how dentist Colin Howell staged a double suicide after murdering his wife and his mistress’s husband have come to light following his conviction. Howell pleaded guilty to the


murders of Lesley Howell, 31, and Trevor Buchanan, 32, at their homes in May 1991. In December he was sentenced to a minimum of 21 years in prison at Belfast Crown Court. At a pre-sentence hearing, the court heard how he drugged both


victims with temazepam before attaching part of a baby’s feeding bottle to a garden hose in order to poison them with carbon monoxide fumes from a car. Judge Mr Justice Hart explained how each murder was carried out while the victims were asleep and defenceless in their own homes, Mrs Howell on the sofa and Mr Buchanan in his bed. The bodies of both victims


were later found in a car parked in a garage in Castlerock, Co Antrim, with a later inquest ruling it as suicide. The ruling stood for nearly 20 years until January 2009 when Howell walked into a police station and told officers that God had told him to confess all. On hearing how Howell


carried out the murders and then staged the double suicide – even going as far as placing family pictures next to his wife’s body – Crown lawyer Kieran Murphy told Mr Justice Hart: “This was a meticulous and devious plan, pre-med- itated in a manner that might be described as professional.” He continued by saying: “The actions of the dentist were calculated, callous, manipulative, evil and wholly without mercy for two defenceless victims, one of whom was his wife and the other the loving husband of his co-accused.” Colin Howell’s former lover


Hazel Stewart is due to stand trial in February for the two murders. She denies the charges.


Royal recognition for Gary


A young Northern Irish dental entrepreneur received royal recognition recently at a dinner to recognise business excellence at Hillsborough Castle (pictured).


Quality Plan NI’s founder and owner Gary Nelson was among 40 young entrepreneurs from across the province invited to the event, which was attended by the Queen, Prince Phillip and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Owen Paterson.


The various entrepreneurs at the royal dinner were from a range of different business sectors, with Gary being the only one representing the dental industry.


He said: “It was a surreal experience, in quite stunning surroundings. I only found out on the day that the Queen and Prince Phillip were the special guests. We had all been told it


would be the Secretary of State and then closer to the time we were told a senior member of the royal family would be attending.


“Everyone had pre-dinner drinks at which we met with and had the chance to speak to the Queen and Prince Phillip. “Although it was me personally who received the


nomination, I see this as recognition for all the team working at Quality Plan NI and the dental practices who have chosen us as their preferred dental plan provider.”


®


Quality Plan NI is a dental plan provider based in N. Ireland, visit www.qualityplan.co.uk


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44