Artists give generously for paediatric burns unit

Top South African artists have donated original artworks to be auctioned at the 2011 Art Benefit in aid of the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital, hosted by BoE Private Clients. Read more >>

The Shoprite Checkers Women of the Year Award winners announced

The title winners of the Shoprite Checkers Women of the Year Award which searched for exceptional and visionary women achievers who with determination and foresight are making an impact on the future of fellow South Africans were announced this weekend (23 Saturday July 2011) in Johannesburg. Read more >>

Confidence falls among SA's professionals

Confidence levels among South Africa's 3000 graduate professionals have deteriorated in the second quarter of the year, reports The Citizen. Confidence in the country's healthcare system, was just 46% down from 50% in the previous quarter and the reason appears to be on-going discussions over the introduction of a National Health Insurance scheme. Read more >>

Researchers understand why smokers' lungs don't get better

Cigarette smoke exposure fundamentally alters airway tissue in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and even while other aspects of health improve, the lung damage lasts long after a smoker quits, University of Sydney researchers have found. Read more >>

Autoimmune disease-causing cells can be controlled

A Yale University-led team of scientists has found that cells that drive certain serious, chronic autoimmune diseases can be redirected into the small intestine - and controlled there - potentially neutralising their propensity to trigger illness. The study appears in the advance online publication of Nature. Read more >>

Height gives clue to cancer

Taller people are at increased risk of a wide range of cancers, new research shows. Researchers said that the study was important in shedding light on how cancers develop. Read more >>

Bacterial attack strategy uses special delivery of toxic proteins

Pseudomonas aeruginosa targets opponents' cell walls and immunises itself against its own weapons. Read more >>

Dental researchers find switch that turns on the spread of cancer

Reporting in Nature Cell Biology, researchers describe the discovery of a specific protein called disabled-2 (Dab2) that switches on the process that releases cancer cells from the original tumour and allows the cells to spread and develop into new tumours in other parts of the body. Read more >>

Surprising health benefits of owning a pet

From boosting our activity levels to elevating our moods and staving off loneliness, the benefits of companion animals on our health have been well documented. Here, Dr Roy Page, executive director of the South African Companion Animal Council (SACAC), established in 2008 to raise awareness around responsible pet ownership, suggests four further benefits to owning a furry friend. Read more >>

Yale researchers show how memory is lost - and found

Yale University researchers can't tell you where you left your car keys - but they can tell you why you can't find them. Read more >>

Aging brains are different in humans and chimpanzees

Evolution of human longevity led to both a large brain and brain shrinkage say researchers. Read more >>

Better monitoring of blood pressure in pregnancy could reduce health risks for mother and baby

Pre-eclampsia, which can lead to stillbirths, premature births, low-birth-weight babies and, in extreme cases, the death of the mother, is generally considered to be a unique condition in pregnancy. Read more >>

Bowel cancer risk doubles for UK men

Men's chances of getting bowel cancer in Great Britain have doubled since the mid '70s - according to new figures released today by Cancer Research UK. Read more >>

Sponge on a string' trial launched to try and prevent deadly oesophageal cancer

Cancer Research UK has launched a large multi-centre trial to test a new device for detecting Barrett's oesophagus - a condition that puts sufferers at increased risk of developing cancer of the oesophagus, one of the most deadly cancers. Read more >>

Mom and child collective buying site opens today

A new collective buying site, Gemgem, that focuses on mother and child needs through daily email offers opens today 1 August 2011. It sources items such as clothing, fun outings, toys, educational books and other deals. The concept was born by owner/creator Jade Bush, who manages the business with her partners Anna Carst, an interior designer with a marketing background and Nicholas Rixon on technical strategy and development. Read more >>

Nelson Mandela Children's Hospital - a dream, a necessity, a reality

Advances made towards the establishment of the Nelson Mandela Children's Hospital (NMCH), with construction due to start next year, were announced today at this year's annual Children's Celebration marking the 93rd birthday of former president Nelson Mandela. This is only the fourth dedicated paediatric hospital in Africa, for a total population of approximately 447 million children. Read more >>

New research identifies GP and parental reluctance to address childhood obesity

One in five 11-year-old children is currently defined as obese, and the country faces a potentially huge burden of increased obesity-associated morbidity and early mortality. Read more >>

PIASA welcomes 2011/2012 Executive Council and president

Ashley Pearce, managing director of MSD, has been re-elected president of the Pharmaceutical Industry Association of South Africa (PIASA) for 2011/2012 at its recent Annual General Meeting (AGM). Read more >>

Fight against tobacco gathers steam

Close to a decade ago, the World Health Organisation (WHO) began its global battle against tobacco usage as it identified the substance as one of the World's leading killers and estimated that nearly one billion people would die from tobacco usage in the 21st century.[1] Read more >>

Can zinc cure your cold?

The cure for the common cold could be no more complicated than a mineral supplement, reports IOL Lifestyle. Read more >>

Finding a doctor is just a click away on mapadoc.co.za

After 18 months of sourcing, verifying and geo-locating thousands of records, MIMS - the medical publishing division of Avusa Media Limited - together with business partner MapIT and launch partner Adcock Ingram Generics, have launched www.mapadoc.co.za, a free online directory designed to help consumers locate a wide range of doctors, specialists and health-care services in South Africa. Read more >>

Breast cancer: Many US doctors don't follow evidence-based guidelines

A study found that many doctors in the US don't follow evidence-based guidelines on genetic counselling and testing for hereditary breast and ovarian cancers. As a result, too many average-risk women and too few high-risk women receive these important services. Read more >>