EU rejects French scientist report linking GM corn to cancer

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM: The European Food Safety Authority on Thursday, 4 October 2012, said it cannot accept an "inadequate" report by a French scientist on a link between cancer and genetically modified corn when evaluating the risk. Read more >>

Journalists urged to collaborate with health workers

[Maame Agyeiwaa Agyei] The rector of the Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ), David Newton has entreated health reporters to establish a cordial relationship with health workers, as a means of gathering accurate information for their reports. Read more >>

HASA appoints new chairperson

The Hospital Association of South Africa (HASA) has appointed Melanie Da Costa, director of strategy and health policy at Netcare, as its chairperson. Read more >>

Mamba venom holds promise for pain relief

PARIS, FRANCE: Scientists have used the venom of Africa's lethal black mamba to produce a surprising outcome in mice which they hope to replicate in humans, effective pain relief without toxic side effects. Read more >>

Yale scientists explain how ketamine reduces depression within hours

Many chronically depressed and treatment-resistant patients experience immediate relief from symptoms after taking small amounts of the drug ketamine. For a decade, scientists have been trying to explain the observation first made at Yale University. Read more >>

LifeLine reaches out online

With World Mental Health Day being recognised on 10 October, LifeLine Johannesburg has timeously expanded its counselling services to include online counselling. Read more >>

Simple blood test could be used to detect breast cancer

A simple blood test could one day be a more accurate way to test for the early signs of breast cancer than using mammograms to spot a lump researchers said last week, as Breast Cancer Awareness Month got underway. Read more >>

New drug shrinks brain tumours in melanoma patients

Australian researchers have given hope to patients with advanced melanoma by showing that a new drug targeting a common mutation in melanoma successfully shrank tumours that had spread to the brain. Read more >>

Former CEO faces more than 20 charges‚ says Cipla

Cipla Medpro (CMP) on Monday announced in a note that its suspended CEO‚ Jerome Smith‚ is facing more than 20 charges ranging from gross misconduct to gross dishonesty. Read more >>

Cipla CEO quits ahead of hearing

[Tamar Khan] Cipla Medpro's (CMP) suspended CEO‚ Jerome Smith‚ has resigned on the eve of a disciplinary hearing against him‚ a move that analysts say may pave the way for a takeover of the local pharmaceutical company‚ Business Day reported on Monday, 8 October 2012. Read more >>

Medicine in the media: who's holding the bag?

[Chamendran Naidoo] A lack of information isn't something modern society has to worry about. Where previously, news was limited to a wigged horseman riding from town to town delivering his message, we now enter an era where the horse itself may bombard us with endless equestrian ramblings via its Twitter feed. For this reason, it's important for all producers of content to take a certain level of responsibility for their work, especially in the medical field where it can be easy to prey on the public's thoughts of their own mortal fragility. Read more >>

Rise of 'greying generation'

Governments in developing countries, including South Africa, are facing the challenge of having to deal with a growing population of older people. Read more >>

Training to reduce circumcision deaths

A group of 31 male professional nurses in the Eastern Cape Department of Health (DOH) who are responsible for the oversight of traditional circumcision programmes have been undergoing specialised training in preventing and stopping bleeding in boys suffering from Haemophilia. Read more >>

DNA test reveals breast cancer risk

Globally, breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer amongst women in both the developed and developing world. In 2010 alone, more than 1.5 million women were diagnosed with breast cancer with an estimated 10.9% of the world's total female population affected. Locally, one in 29 South African women are impacted with an estimated 3000 dying from the disease each year. Read more >>

people magazine goes pink

In support of breast cancer awareness, the October issues of people magazine will feature a pink logo, in place of the normal red & yellow logo and the pink ribbon of Breast Cancer awareness. Last week's magazine features an article with Giuliana Rancic and fashion in the pink.