Leprosy is still destroying many lives

Leprosy has long been extinct in Europe, but in parts of Asia, Africa and Latin America, it is still destroying many lives. Read more >>

Plea for liver and kidney gifts

[Zwanga Mukhuthu] Four-year-old Reabetswe was born with a liver and kidney disease that occurs in one to three people in a million. Read more >>

Charity Valentine's Day dinner in aid of newborns

To raise funds in support of the Newborns Groote Schuur Trust, 1800 Degrees at Cape Royale is offering a five-course wine-paired menu, auction, lucky draws, goodie bags and live entertainment, with TV and radio personality, Liezel van der Westhuizen, as MC on Valentine's Day. Read more >>

Unilever Foundation joins global organisations to improve quality of life

In an effort to improve the quality of life in the world, Unilever announced at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Friday 27 January 2012 the launch of the Unilever Foundation, which through the provision of hygiene, sanitation, access to clean drinking water, basic nutrition and enhancing self-esteem will deliver sustainable change worldwide. Read more >>

Inyathelo Philanthropy Symposium has top US speaker

The Inyathelo Philanthropy Symposium, which takes place in Cape Town on 13 February 2012, will feature Chris Page, senior vice president for donor services at Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors (RPA) in New York. He will address South African banks and wealth management services companies on how best to support their clients' philanthropic activities. Read more >>

SA life insurance market robust

Fitch Ratings says in a new special report that the South African life insurance industry performed well in the first half of 2011, despite tough economic conditions. Read more >>

Expect conditional NHI audit grant in Budget

[Evan Pickworth] A conditional grant may be given in February's Budget to help fund an audit of health facilities prior to the National Health Insurance (NHI) rollout, according to a tax expert. Read more >>

Bedwetting can be due to undiagnosed constipation, research shows

Winston-Salem, NC, USA: Bedwetting isn't always due to problems with the bladder, according to new research by Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. Constipation is often the culprit; and if it isn't diagnosed, children and their parents must endure an unnecessarily long, costly and difficult quest to cure nighttime wetting. Read more >>

Professional body on a mission to keep dentists in SA

The South African Dental Association is embarking on a campaign to encourage dentists to stay in SA, saying while there is no surge in emigrations, the high demand for such professionals overseas puts the country at risk of losing its small pool of dentists. Read more >>

Survey suggests family history of psychiatric disorders shapes intellectual interests

A hallmark of the individual is the cultivation of personal interests, but for some people, their intellectual pursuits might actually be genetically predetermined. Survey results published by Princeton University researchers in the journal PLoS ONE suggest that a family history of psychiatric conditions such as autism and depression could influence the subjects a person finds engaging. Read more >>

Yale study: How suppressing the immune system may prevent type 1 diabetes

[Helen Dodson] A new study at Yale School of Medicine has uncovered the mechanism by which a targeted suppression of the immune system may prevent type 1 diabetes or induce sustained remission. The study appears in Science Translational Medicine. Read more >>

Scientists map one of life's molecular mysteries

All living organisms are made up of cells, behind these intricate life forms lie complex cellular processes that allow our bodies to function. Researchers working on protein secretion - a fundamental process in biology - have revealed how protein channels in the membrane are activated by special signals contained in proteins destined for secretion. The results help explain the underlying mechanism responsible for the release of proteins such as hormones and antibodies into the blood stream. Read more >>

'Billions lost' to workplace stress in SA

As much as R3 billion a year is being lost to workplace stress in SA, Vicky Eriksson of the human resources effectiveness group, The People Element, says. Read more >>

South Africa's Biggest Loser launches low-carb range

A new food brand, Low Carb SA, has achieved success with its low-carb food range, reportedly the first of its type in South Africa. Founder, Deon van der Merwe, is a larger than life national figure after winning South Africa's Big Loser contest. Read more >>

Pharmaceutical giant recalls painkiller, Excedrin in SA

[Nashira Davids] Pharmaceutical giant Novartis has, as a precautionary measure, recalled the painkiller Excedrin in South Africa. Read more >>