Early administration of GIK solution lessens severity of heart attacks

[Helen Dodson] USA: A national study under the direction of a Yale physician, involving Yale-New Haven Hospital and New Haven-area paramedics and EMTs, has shown that patients suffering heart attack symptoms who receive early administration of a glucose-insulin-potassium (GIK) solution suffer less-severe heart attacks and fewer cardiac arrests or deaths. Read more >>

Consumers' views on generics changing

More than 50% of South Africans today would rather choose a generic over a brand name prescription drug according to IMS Health South Africa, a marketing research company to the healthcare sector. Read more >>

Is the High Court ruling on PMB's a Pyrrhic victory for consumers?

John Cranke, Regional Head at PSG Konsult Corporate (PSGKC) comments on the decision by the High Court to dismiss the Board of Healthcare Funders (BHF) application to have Prescribed Minimum Benefits (PMBs) reimbursed at medical scheme rates (as opposed to at cost). Read more >>

Non-cancerous brain tumors linked to frequent dental X-rays

People who received frequent dental X-rays in the past, before dosages were lowered, have an increased risk of developing a meningioma, the most common and potentially debilitating type of non-cancerous brain tumor, a new study led by the Yale School of Public Health has found. The study is published online in Cancer, a journal of the American Cancer Society. Read more >>

Diabetes treatment doubles skin cancer drug's effectiveness

Combining the experimental drug Avastin (bevacizumab) with the diabetes drug Metformin almost doubles its ability to reduce skin cancer growth, according to a study in Cancer Discovery*. Read more >>

Yale Nobel laureate creates compound that halts growth of malaria parasite

[Bill Hathaway] A drug candidate that has shown promise for neutralizing dangerous bacteria also prevents growth of the parasite that causes malaria, new research by a Yale University team headed by Nobel laureate Sidney Altman shows. Read more >>

Improved MRI system for LCM

The Life Little Company of Mary Hospital (LCM) in Groenkloof, Pretoria, recently installed a Philips Ingenia 3.0 Tesla MRI system. Delivering crystal clear images, rapid results and patient comfort, the new MRI system combines advanced technology and ambient lighting effects for a much improved patient experience. Read more >>

Women cannot rewind the 'biological clock'

[Karen N. Peart] Many women do not fully appreciate the consequences of delaying motherhood, and expect that assisted reproductive technologies can reverse their aged ovarian function, Yale researchers reported in a study published in a recent issue of Fertility and Sterility. Read more >>

Womb cancer deaths rise by a fifth in the last decade

Deaths from womb (uterine) cancer have risen by nearly 20% in the last decade, according to new figures from Cancer Research UK last week. Read more >>

Scientists find new drug target for hard-to-treat leukaemia

Cancer Research UK scientists have discovered a promising new approach to treat a type of myeloid leukaemia - a cancer with limited treatment options and relatively poor survival, according to research published in Cancer Cell last week. Read more >>

Biovac to manufacture combo vaccines for Sanofi Pasteur

The Biovac Institute will be partnering with multi-national pharmaceutical company, Sanofi Pasteur, in a technology transfer to locally manufacture one of the leading combination vaccines, it was announced yesterday, 2 April 2012. Read more >>

Branded pharmaceutical websites generate highest lifts in Rx conversion and adherence

RESTON, US: comScore, Inc, a leader in measuring the digital world, today released results from its sixth annual Online Marketing Effectiveness Benchmarks for the Pharmaceutical Industry, conducted in partnership with marketing innovation consultancy Evolution Road LLC. Read more >>

HIV infection rate in babies drops in Gauteng

The HIV infection rate in newborn babies has decreased by more than half in Gauteng, says the provincial Department of Health and Social Development. Read more >>

Modest increase in new vehicle sales

[Henrie Geyser: motoring editor] There was a modest 4.8% gain in the sales of cars and commercial vehicle sales in March this year when 56 110 units were sold compared to the 53 558 in March 2011. Read more >>