Varsity tests plants to find AIDS remedy

[Chester Makana] The University of Venda's contribution to the fight against HIV/AIDS has begun in earnest with its researchers now prospecting in medical plants. Read more >>

Update on HIV/AIDS in Africa conference

The first conference with an update HIV/AIDS in Africa is taking place from the 14 - 17 December 2009 in Accra, Ghana. The aim of the annual event is to gather stakeholders to brainstorm through latest information on HIV/AIDS which will ultimately lead to better clinical and behaviour management of HIV/AIDS. Read more >>

Estrogen levels in women linked to migraine, seizures

The latest data published by the Institute of Psychiatric Research in New York has linked fluctuating estrogen levels in women to both migraines and seizures. According to the findings, “At times of life when estrogen levels change dramatically, such as puberty, post partum, or menopause, there are also dramatic changes in the nervous system.” Read more >>

Favo Health's representatives sales surge with Tracer CQM

Contract marketing and sales specialists for the pharmaceutical industry, Favo Health, has issued its sales staff with hand-held technology from Tracer CQM that allows the daily monitoring of strategic territory management and sales information. Read more >>

Smoking, prime factor in heart disease

While it is commendable that stricter legislation on smoking have been implemented, it remains to be seen how much of an impact they would have on smoking prevalence. There are about 6,8 million adult South Africans (1 in 3) who smoke cigarettes and according to the South African Medical Journal, smoking causes between 42,000 and 46,000 deaths in SA per year. Read more >>

Campaigning for Cancer launches website

Cancer will become the number one cause of death in the world by 2010, confirms John R. Seffrin PhD, CEO of the American Cancer Society. The burden of cancer has shifted from developed countries to developing nations and urgent steps need to be taken to address this problem in Africa. Read more >>

Grow your mo' to raise prostrate cancer awareness

The Prostate Cancer Foundation of South Africa is a non-profit organisation that aims to save men's lives by promoting awareness of prostate cancer and initiatives to fight cancer. The Grow your Mo' campaign is a means for the public to particpate in raising awareness and funds. Read more >>

Stop-start drug regimen helps infants against malaria

PARIS: Giving babies a cheap, standard malaria treatment at key points in their first months of life can reduce their risk of falling sick with the disease, trials reported in The Lancet on Thursday, 17 September 2009, say. Read more >>

Inaugural PACS and RIS Conference to address educational aspects

Picture archiving and communication system (PACS) and Radiology information system (RIS) is being used throughout the medical profession worldwide. This technology, enabling digital storing and transfer of x-ray images, has radically transformed imaging departments and has recently been implemented throughout Africa. Read more >>

Age-related macular degeneration awareness during World Retina Week 2009

Because of the fact that Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is the third leading cause of blindness and vision impairment, the focus of this year's Retina Week falls on this debilitating disease with the 2009 theme being: “Improving Vision, Restoring Hope”. Read more >>

Combination drugs, a dangerous yet popular choice in SA

Two combination painkilling medications both containing propoxyphene - an opiate drug that was withdrawn from use in Great Britain in 2005 as a result of its addictive properties - are among the top 50 products reimbursed by medical schemes in South Africa. Read more >>

Yellow fever innoculation essential before travelling

Travellers are warned that it is essential to be inoculated against yellow fever when travelling to countries where the disease is prevalent. Dr Pete Vincent of Netcare Travel Clinics says that this mosquito-borne disease is endemic in tropical and subtropical areas of Africa and South America. Read more >>

Electronic cigarettes exempt from new smoking laws

As smoking laws place more restrictions on when and where one can smoke, electronic cigarettes are becoming the preferred alternative, offering smokers the opportunity to cut down on the harmful chemicals that they inhale and emit while successfully avoiding prosecution. Read more >>

Dept warns against buying TB saliva

PRETORIA: The Department of Health has warned people who buy saliva from Tuberculosis-infected people that there is no automatic financial benefit for having TB. Read more >>

Kenya: A glove to save a mother's life

KISUMU: The need for gloves for health workers assisting with childbirth may be obvious, but in Yala Sub-District Hospital in western Kenya, obvious does not mean available. Read more >>