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Editor's Pick
Cell replication path discovery may help prevent flu spread – US study
American scientists studying how influenza viruses replicate within cells “accidentally” discovered that different flu viruses use distinct strategies to infiltrate cells in the first...
Pancreatic cancer pill keeps patients alive for twice as long
The highly anticipated results of a clinical trial for pancreatic cancer pill, daraxonrasib, have been released, giving doctors hope for treating the stubbornly lethal...
Optimism as smart drug shrinks tumours by 30% – UK trial
A smart drug that stops cancer cells “hiding” from treatment can shrink tumours by at least 30% in six of the world’s most common...
Aspirin may cut preterm birth risk in extreme heat – US study
Recent research led by scientists-physicians at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Centre (BIDMC) suggests that low-dose aspirin initiated early in pregnancy may mitigate the...
Reusable catheters safe and shave millions from budget – UK study
Reusable catheters could not only slash hospital costs but are just as safe for patients as single-use ones and don’t increase the risk of...
Sleep apnoea pill fast-tracked for FDA approval
After a successful phase 3 clinic trial, a sleep apnoea pill is awaiting fast-tracked approval from the US Food & Drug Administration, a move...
Respectful maternity care can save South African lives – Lancet
A recent study led by the SA Medical Research Council and UKZN and published in The Lancet Regional Health – Africa, found that improving...
Migraine drugs may be linked to lower glaucoma risk – cohort study
Researchers have suggested that a certain type of migraine-prevention medication may be associated with a reduced risk of glaucoma, according to their study published...
Boy’s brain tumour linked to gene treatment
A gene therapy given to a 13-month-old boy has, years later, led to a tumour in his brain after the virus carrying the gene...
Anti-depressants in pregnancy not tied to autism/ADHD – Hong Kong analysis
In an analysis of more than half a million pregnancies, there was no indication that taking anti-depressants during pregnancy increased the risk of children...
Why drinking more water didn’t prevent kidney stones – US study
A US study was recently undertaken to see whether a high-tech hydration programme – complete with smart water bottles, reminders, coaching and even financial...
Common knee surgery ineffective, may make things worse – Finnish study
A major 10-year clinical trial is turning one of the world’s most common knee surgeries on its head, with a study from Finland suggesting...
High BP slashed by a third with legume, soy diet – UK study
Eating a diet with plenty of lentils, chickpeas, beans and soy could dramatically reduce, by almost a third, the risk of developing hypertension, suggests...
AI beats doctors in Harvard emergency triage diagnosis trial
AI systems annihilated human doctors in high-pressure emergency medicine triage, diagnosing more accurately in the potentially life and death moments when people are first...
Aspirin can cut cancer risk – evidence unravels the mystery of why
The 4 000-year-old drug, commonly used to treat pain, prevents certain tumours from forming and spreading across the body, findings that are already changing...
New blood-thinner cuts TIA risk – global trial
Findings from a large phase 3 trial have indicated that the investigational drug asundexian could slash the risk of recurrent ischaemic stroke in those...
Neonatal sepsis drugs mostly ineffective in LMICs – Oxford study
The challenges of treating sepsis in newborns, in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) were highlighted recently in new data presented at the annual meeting...
Cancer risk rises 150% with pesticide exposure – Peru study
A major study published in Nature Health has found that living in pesticide-heavy environments could raise a risk of cancer by up to 150%,...
Too much or too little sleep tied to dementia risk – Canadian review
A lack of good quality sleep has long been linked to an increased risk of developing dementia, but recent research goes further, suggesting an optimal amount...
Fluoride in water has no impact on IQ or brain function – US study
Contrary to the Trump administration’s suggestions that fluoride in drinking water will affect children’s IQ or decrease cognitive abilities, a large-scale study appears to...
Twice-yearly jab may change high BP treatment – eight-country trial
A long-lasting approach could make it easier for patients with high blood pressure to keep their condition under control – and ditch daily pills...
Alzheimer’s drug benefits review sparks debate
A storm has erupted after a recent Cochrane review suggested that drugs intended to slow Alzheimer’s disease progression “make no meaningful difference to patients” and...
Anaemia linked to increased cancer risk – Swedish study
A recent population-based oncology study suggests that anaemia is associated with an increased risk of both cancer and higher mortality, with the scientists saying...
Genetic testing boosts black women's breast cancer survival – US study
Researchers have suggested that advanced genetic testing could help erase the gaping disparities in breast cancer survival rates between white and black patients –...
Certain seniors can drop thyroid meds – Dutch study
An open-label prospective study by Netherlands researchers found that a quarter of older adults on hypothyroidism medication were able to wean off the drug...
Higher meat consumption may delay Alzheimer’s risk in some – Karolinska study
Older people with gene variants associated with higher Alzheimer’s risk didn’t show the expected cognitive decline if they ate relatively high amounts of meat....
Brief bursts of hard exercise may slash disease risk – large global study
Vigorous exercise has a substantial link to a reduced risk of developing eight different conditions or groups of conditions, including type 2 diabetes, immune-mediated...
Simple antiseptic can reduce newborn infections – Cochrane analysis
A Cochrane review finds that chlorhexidine may slash umbilical cord infection rates by about 29% in low- and middle- income countries and reduce newborn...
South Africa’s shame of child stunting and its echoes of HIV
Weeks after pledging to end child stunting by 2030, President Cyril Ramaphosa has kick-started a task team to tackle this crisis. Janet Heard from...
Nicotine vaping linked to lung cancer – Australian analysis
Nicotine vaping is likely to cause lung and oral cancers, a comprehensive review of more than 100 studies has suggested, with the researchers warning...
No link between vaccines and sudden cardiac death – Canadian study
The worldwide roll-out of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) vaccines was controversial, with many claiming it took more lives than the infection itself. However, a recent...
Early menopause linked to higher lifetime heart disease risk – US study
A recent study has linked premature menopause with a 40% higher lifetime risk of coronary heart disease, also finding that black women were more...
Landmark South African study shows efficacy of HPV vaccination
A national HPV vaccination programme can be extremely effective in a high HIV-prevalence setting, a Wits-led research published in The Lancet Global Health shows...
Weight-gain fears after stopping Ozempic unfounded – Cleveland Clinic study
Stopping popular weight-loss injections like Ozempic or Mounjaro might not trigger the dramatic kilogram-laden rebound many fear, according to a study of nearly 8...
Common drug class may increase heart disease risk – Swedish study
People who use drugs with anticholinergic effects, including certain anti-depressants, drugs for urinary incontinence and common antihistamines, could have a higher risk of developing...
Wegovy may have highest risk of blinding condition – Canadian study
The obesity drug semaglutide (Wegovy) conferred a significantly higher risk of ischaemic optic neuropathy (ION) than any other GLP-1 agonist, including semaglutide for diabetes...
Hospitals botching pain management – South African study
Most patients do not receive important pain treatment during and after surgery, reports GroundUp, with a recent local study – published in Lancet Africa...
Under 7.32 hours' sleep ideal for glucose disposal – Chinese study
A cross-sectional study led by researchers from Nantong University in China and published in BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care found that just under...
Higher risk of osteoporosis and gout with GLP drugs – US study
A large analysis has suggested that popular weight loss drugs may carry an increased risk to bone health, and conditions like osteoporosis, reports NBC...
Vegetarians have lower risk of five cancers – large global study
A landmark study on the role of diet – using data from more than 1.8m people – has suggested that vegetarians have a substantially...