Bristol researchers to help tackle the global problem of antibiotic resistance

Antibiotic resistance has become an escalating health issue that threatens our ability to control bacterial infections. To help tackle this global health problem an international collaboration, comprising researchers from the UK and Canada, has been awarded around £4.5 million to develop new strategies for treating 'superbugs'. 28 Nov 2011 13:15

Popular colorectal cancer drug may cause permanent nerve damage

Oxaliplatin, a platinum-based anticancer drug that's made enormous headway in recent years against colorectal cancer, appears to cause nerve damage that may be permanent and worsens even months after treatment ends. The chemotherapy side effect, described by Johns Hopkins researchers in the September issue of Neurology, was discovered in what is believed to be the first effort to track oxaliplatin-based nerve damage through relatively cheap and easy punch skin biopsies. 10 Oct 2011 10:01

Results of medication studies in top medical journals may be misleading to readers

[Enrique Rivero] A UCLA-Harvard study has highlighted three types of confusing outcome measures. Studies about medications published in the most influential medical journals are frequently designed in a way that yields misleading or confusing results, new research suggests. 26 Aug 2011 09:19

Metallic copper surfaces kill bacteria on contact

Metallic copper surfaces kill microbes on contact, decimating their populations, according to a paper in the February 2011 issue of the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 17 Feb 2011 13:16

Finding cures by the numbers

Researchers develop new method for drug discovery using math to combat HIV, other diseases. 8 Feb 2011 13:28

New WHO report highlights second-hand smoke danger

[Dr Ananya Mandal, MD] A report, a first of its kind, that assessed all deaths related to tobacco showed that second-hand smoke sickens millions and kills more than 600 000 people worldwide each year, including more than 165 000 children under 5. 26 Nov 2010 09:25

Study finds no link between mould growth and development of asthma, allergy among children

A recent PhD study shows that there is no link between mould-spore concentrations in the indoor air and development of asthma and allergy among children. 26 Nov 2010 09:17

Researchers to develop vaccine for plague

Given the many pressing concerns of the day, fear of plague probably isn't what causes most Americans to lose sleep. But for those whose responsibility it is to combat bioterrorism, plague is among the highest priorities. Those charged with that mission include scientists like medical researcher Steve Smiley, whose lab at the Trudeau Institute is working to develop a vaccine that will protect the public against weaponised forms of plague. 21 Sep 2010 14:20

Diabetes set to cripple healthcare in Africa

Diabetes is fast becoming a silent epidemic with over 300 million people worldwide living with the disease, 80% of these are living in developing countries where they have little or no access to proper medical care. In sub-Saharan Africa the disease is becoming what the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon has called a "public emergency (unfolding) in slow motion". 9 Sep 2010 09:58

Hospital offers reassurance, and an update

Netcare Olivedale Hospital today, 8 September 2010, issued a further update following the death of two brothers at the facility a number of days ago. The hospital stated that no new cases of the illness have been reported to date and that close personal contacts all remain in good health. 8 Sep 2010 14:03

Plaque-causing bacteria increases risk of heart attack

Plaque-causing bacteria can jailbreak from the mouth into the bloodstream and increase your risk of heart attack says a scientist at the Society for General Microbiology's autumn meeting in Nottingham. 6 Sep 2010 09:05

Regulatory conference highlights new paradigm for TB drug development

New model is designed to dramatically improve timelines to deliver novel TB regimens to patients. 19 Aug 2010 13:21

No valid, adequate criteria for certifying an illness as terminal: Study

Physicians that have to decide whether an illness is terminal think that "there are not valid and adequate criteria for certifying that an illness is terminal". This is the conclusion drawn from a pioneer study conducted at the University of Granada, and recently published in the International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology (IJCHP). 15 Jul 2010 08:49

Healthgivers to be honoured

The Shoprite Checkers Women of the Year announces finalists in the Health Care-Givers category and three exceptional and visionary women have been selected as finalists in the Health Care-Givers category of the Shoprite Checkers Women of the Year Award. 14 Jul 2010 12:10