FOCUS: THIS WEEK'S TOP STORIES
Bedaquiline significantly reduces XDR- and MDR-TB mortality
July 18th, 2018 Bedaquiline-based regimens are associated with 'striking' reductions in mortality in patients with drug-resistant tuberculosis, University of Cape Town and Department of Health research has found. This is according to a study by researchers at...
Antibody blood test to detect melanoma in its early stages
July 18th, 2018 Australian researchers are claiming a breakthrough with a blood test for early stage melanoma. In a trial involving 105 patients with melanoma and 104 healthy people, the procedure detected early stage melanoma in 79% of cases. Researchers at...
VR success in treating fear of heights — randomised controlled trial
July 18th, 2018 A virtual reality (VR) programme was more successful in treating fear of heights than the results expected with the best psychological intervention delivered face to face with a therapist, one of the largest ever randomised controlled trials...Weekly Roundup
European authorities warn of pneumonia epidemic in the Canaries
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has issued a warning a real epidemic... July 18th, 2018HSRC releases its annual survey on HIV infections in SA
New HIV infections in South Africa have fallen by 44% in the last five years, the country’s... July 18th, 2018Celebrity Brazilian plastic surgeon on the run after woman's dealth
A celebrity Brazilian plastic surgeon known as Dr Bumbum has gone on the run after a woman died... July 18th, 2018Royal College says NHS is 'clueless' about manning levels
The UK’s National Health Service (NHS) “hasn’t got a clue” how many doctors and other... July 18th, 2018SA's medical aids won't have to pay out for 'gaming disorder'
Medical aids in South Africa will not have to provide cover for “gaming disorder” when the... July 18th, 2018Public Health England review on exercise identifies the Cinderella activities
Walking 10,000 steps a day is just not enough, according to a Public Health England review of... July 18th, 2018Nelson Mandela Bay has only a third of the ambulances it needs
Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality has only 35 of the 115 operational ambulances it is supposed to... July 18th, 2018Review of HIV research over the past year
This has been an important year for HIV research. There were five new approvals of new drugs or... July 18th, 2018Amazon looks to disrupt medical-supplies marketplace
Amazon.com has global aspirations for its medical-supplies marketplace, according to a job listing... July 18th, 2018Durban paramedics 'shaken' after gun attack
Two paramedics count themselves lucky for escaping a gun attack unscathed while on duty at the... July 18th, 2018Limpopo Health apologises for HIV 'death by choice' tweet
The Limpopo Health Department has apologised for a tweet from its official Twitter account claiming... July 18th, 2018DERMATOLOGY
First successful treatment of squamous cell carcinoma with HPV vaccine
JAMA Dermatology reports what they believe to be the complete regression of squamous cell skin cancers after combined systemic and direct intratumoral injection of the 9-valent HPV vaccine.
Squamous cell carcinoma is the second-most-common form...
July 18th, 2018
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
Increased MS risk for people exposed to solvents
People who have been exposed to paint,varnish and other solvents and who also carry genes that make them more susceptible to developing multiple sclerosis (MS) may be at much greater risk of developing the disease than people who have only the... July 18th, 2018HIV/AIDS
Insufficient evidence for recommendations on breastfeeding for mothers with HIV
Research is urgently needed to provide clear recommendations on breastfeeding to mothers with HIV who have an undetectable viral load on antiretroviral treatment, a group of researchers led by Catriona Wiatt at the department of molecular and... July 18th, 2018HIV-positive children more likely to have developmental disabilities
HIV-positive children in South Africa are more likely to have developmental disabilities compared to children who are HIV negative, according to researchers at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health. HIV-positive children ages 4 to... July 18th, 2018MEDICAL PRACTICE
End-of-life: The disconnect between patients' wishes and physicians's beliefs
Health care leaders have for years been calling for patients to have a greater say in their care, but, dishearteningly, doctors’ beliefs outweigh patient values at the end of life, a Harvard study into cancer patients found. Stat News writes... July 18th, 2018NEUROLOGY
'Skinny fat' is a predictor of cognitive impairment risk
A US study has found that "skinny fat" – the combination of low muscle mass and strength in the context of high fat mass – may be an important predictor of cognitive performance in older adults. While sarcopenia, the loss of muscle tissue that...
July 18th, 2018
NUTRITION
Omega 3 supplements not protecting against heart disease and stroke – Cochrane review
A Cochrane systematic review shows there is little or no effect of widely promoted omega 3 supplements on the risk of experiencing heart disease, stroke or death.
Omega 3 is a type of fat. Small amounts of omega 3 fats are essential for good...
July 18th, 2018
OBSTETRICS
Violence during pregnancy a way of life for many SA women
Many South African women‚ already in difficult situations‚ are experiencing violence during pregnancy at the hands of their intimate partners‚ The Times reports a study has found. Of the 376 women who took part in the research‚ 15% had... July 18th, 2018ONCOLOGY
Mammogram screening study supports the exclusion of low-risk women
A UK modelling study concluded that excluding the screening of low risk women would improve the quality of life gained, reduce over-diagnosis and save resources, while maintaining the benefits of screening.
The study was funded by Cancer Research...
July 18th, 2018
ORTHOPAEDIC
Positive results from surgery for meniscus tears
Young patients who underwent surgery for isolated meniscus tears between 1990 and 2005 showed positive long-term clinical results, according to research presented at the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine's Annual Meeting in San Diego.... July 18th, 2018PHARMACOLOGY
Anticonvulsants ineffective in treating lower back pain
Use of anti-convulsant drugs to treat low back pain has increased more than fivefold in the past decade, but a study finds they are ineffective and can have adverse effects.
"Clinically, the prescription of anti-convulsants for back and neck...
July 18th, 2018
PSYCHOLOGY
Digital overload may contribute to new ADHD behaviours
According to a US observational study digital overload could be linked to a modest but significant rise in new ADHD behaviours, offering a warning to parents about the potential dangers of too much screen time. A Daily Maverick report says the... July 18th, 2018REPRODUCTIVE MEDICINE
Eating nuts improves human sperm — randomised trial
The inclusion of nuts in a regular diet significantly improves the quality and function of human sperm, according to results of a randomised trial which measured conventional semen parameters and molecular changes over a 14-week study period. The... July 18th, 2018Trial shows no value to 'endometrial scratch' prior to IVF
An add-on treatment commonly offered to female IVF patients to improve their chance of success has been shown in a large randomised trial to be of no value. "Endometrial scratch," a technique whereby a small scratch or tissue biopsy is made to the... July 18th, 2018