Aspen prepared to help bridge ARV shortages

The country's biggest pharmaceutical group‚ Aspen Pharamacare gave the assurance on Wednesday, 20 June 2012, it will step in and commit its manufacturing capacity where other suppliers are unable to supply a part or all of their anti-retroviral (ARV) supply commitments. Read more >>

Hey nanny nanny...

NEWSWATCH: In the Supreme Court of Appeal yesterday, 20 June 2012, British American Tobacco lost its appeal against the banning of cigarette advertisements, reports Times Live. Read more >>

Medical scheme protectionism is "irrational"

By moving to curb gap medical cover, government is taking a 'protectionist' stance towards medical schemes that is without any reason, says Neil Kirby, director of healthcare and life sciences law at Werksmans Attorneys. Read more >>

Gauteng health dept probes Tshwane hospital fire

The Gauteng Department of Health is investigating the cause of the fire that broke out at one of the theatres at the Tshwane District Hospital last night, 24 June 2012. Read more >>

Even after Lyme disease is gone, its remains may perpetuate inflammation

[Helen Dodson] Non-infectious proteins of the species of bacteria that causes Lyme disease can remain in the body for a long time after antibiotic therapy, and are capable of causing an inflammatory immune reaction that could contribute to the development of antibiotic-resistant arthritis, Yale researchers have found. The study appears in the online Journal of Clinical Investigation. Read more >>

High-fat/calorie diet accelerates development of pancreatic cancer

LAKE TAHOE, NV, USA: Study results presented at the American Association for Cancer Research's Pancreatic Cancer: Progress and Challenges conference, held from 18 - 21 June 2012, strongly suggest that a diet high in fat and calories can hasten the development of pancreatic cancer in humans. Read more >>

Asbestos and shift work boost work-related cancer deaths to over 8000 a year

UK: Around 8000 cancer deaths in Britain each year are linked to occupations - especially those where asbestos, diesel engine fumes or shift work is involved - a new study showed on Wednesday, 20 June 2012. This equates to around 5% of all cancer deaths in Britain. Read more >>

Neurons that control overeating also drive appetite for cocaine

[Karen N. Peart] Researchers at Yale School of Medicine have zeroed in on a set of neurons in the part of the brain that controls hunger, and found that these neurons are not only associated with overeating, but also linked to non-food associated behaviors, like novelty-seeking and drug addiction. Read more >>

First example of a heritable abnormality affecting semantic cognition found

Four generations of a single family have been found to possess an abnormality within a specific brain region which appears to affect their ability to recall verbal material, a new study by researchers at the University of Bristol and University College London has found. Read more >>

Novel chemotherapy agent appears to be a promising pancreatic cancer treatment

LAKE TAHOE, NV, USA: A novel chemotherapeutic agent, the highly selective MEK1/2 inhibitor BAY 86-9766, may be a promising future treatment for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), according to preclinical results presented at the American Association for Cancer Research's Pancreatic Cancer: Progress and Challenges conference, held here from 18 - 21 June 2012. Read more >>

Fast lifestyles leading to rise in oncology costs

The cost of treating cancer has risen significantly in South Africa in recent years, as more and more people are being diagnosed with the disease. This is largely due to the rise in 'lifestyle cancers' as a direct result of the increasing adoption of 'Westernised' lifestyles. Read more >>

Cancer drug price dropped

The Department of Health has persuaded pharmaceutical company Roche to halve the price of its cancer drug rituximab, opening the way for the government to provide it to more patients. Read more >>

2012 Global Awards: The World's Best Healthcare Advertising: Entries open

NEW YORK, US: The Global Awards for the World's Best Healthcare Advertising, now in its 18th year, has announced the call for entries for the 2012 competition. The competition receives entries from healthcare corporations, hospitals, advertising agencies, production companies, and design studios producing communications for medical, pharmaceutical, and healthcare related products. Read more >>

Depression, attempted suicide among police worrying

The number of police officers suffering from depression and those attempting suicide is worrying, says Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa. Read more >>