Empowering young women to loveLife and take charge

As part of reducing young women's increased vulnerability to HIV infection, loveLife - South Africa's largest HIV prevention programme for young people -further entrenched its Comprehensive Prevention Package for Young Women on World Aids Day, 1 December. Read more >>

AIDS epidemic remains "markedly higher" among MSM population

[Michael Greenwood] AIDS continues to take a heavy toll around the world, but it is men who have sex with men who bear much of the disease's burden. Read more >>

X-rays at airports could damage diabetes devices

Full-body x-ray scanners and luggage x-rays may damage some insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors, both used by people with diabetes to manage their conditions. Read more >>

Footballers give malaria the boot

Africa's most admired football superstars have added their voices to the United Against Malaria (UAM) campaign that will be distributing malaria prevention and treatment messages during the 2013 Orange Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) tournament in South Africa. Read more >>

What to consider when selecting a medical aid option for 2013

Amid increasing costs of living and industry discussions around the readiness of the South African healthcare industry for the impending implementation of NHI, many people will undoubtedly be reassessing their medical schemes and considering switching to an alternative plan in 2013. Read more >>

African expansion remains Discovery's goal

[Phakamisa Ndzamela] Discovery's chief executve, Adrian Gore - who has been at the helm for 20 years - says he is still committed to serving the company and hoped to expand the business into the rest of Africa in the next three to five years. Read more >>

Adjuvant bevacizumab did not improve survival rate - triple-negative breast cancer study

SAN ANTONIO, USA: Patients who received one year of bevacizumab in addition to chemotherapy for the postsurgical treatment of triple-negative breast cancer had no statistically significant improvement in invasive disease-free survival compared with patients treated with chemotherapy alone, according to the primary results of the phase III BEATRICE study. Read more >>

It's genetic: Some smokers have biological resistance to anti-tobacco policies

[Michael Greenwood] Despite concerted government efforts to curtail tobacco use, the number of smokers in the United States has remained stable in recent years, rather than declining. The reason: genetics. Read more >>

Cognitive behavioural therapy effective where antidepressants have failed

Antidepressants are the most widely used treatment for people with moderate to severe depression. However, up to two thirds of people with depression don't respond fully to this type of treatment. New findings, published in The Lancet, have shown cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)*, provided in addition to usual care, can reduce symptoms of depression and help improve patients' quality of life. Read more >>

Johns Hopkins surgeons implant first brain 'pacemaker' for Alzheimer's disease

Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine in November surgically implanted a pacemaker-like device into the brain of a patient in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease, the first such operation in the United States. The device, which provides deep brain stimulation and has been used in thousands of people with Parkinson's disease, is seen as a possible means of boosting memory and reversing cognitive decline. Read more >>

Gene that causes tumor disorder linked to increased breast cancer risk

New Johns Hopkins research showing a more than four-fold increase in the incidence of breast cancer in women with neurofibromatosis-1 (NF1) adds to growing evidence that women with this rare genetic disorder may benefit from early breast cancer screening with mammograms beginning at age 40, and manual breast exams as early as adolescence. Read more >>

Gauteng hospitals to get new machines

At least R12m has been spent buying new equipment for Gauteng hospitals and filling vacancies at these hospitals according to a provincial health department statement. Read more >>

The Global Awards: 2012 award winners

NEW YORK, US: The Global Awards, for the "World's Best Healthcare Advertising," announced its 2012 award winners on Thursday 6 December at two international Global Awards presentations. The ceremonies took place in New York City, USA, and Sydney, Australia. South African agencies received 1 Global Award and 4 Finalist Certificates. Read more >>

BT leads Informa's ranking of top 30 telecom operators in global healthcare markets

LONDON, UK: December 5, 2012 - More than 90% of the world's 40 largest telecom network operator groups are active in the enterprise healthcare market, according to research from Informa Telecoms & Media. And a ranking of all operators - based on their commitment to the healthcare market worldwide - puts BT in top spot, closely followed by Verizon and France Telecom. Read more >>

16 Days campaign to end on significant note

Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe will mark the closing ceremony of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children by launching the National Council Against Gender-Based Violence. Read more >>