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Editor's Pick
Infection from Covid gives same immunity as jabs – US meta-analysis
The largest meta-analysis ever done of its kind shows that the natural immunity provided by Covid-19 infection protects a person against severe illness just...
High number of South African children with severe asthma – experts
Despite being one of the most common non-communicable diseases globally, with highly effective treatments available, asthma is often not well controlled in many low-resource...
New prostate cancer blood test has 94% accuracy – UK study
Researchers have helped develop a new blood test to detect prostate cancer with greater accuracy than current methods, the Prostate Screening EpiSwitch (PSE) blood test being...
Reduced calories slows down ageing – US trial
Trials monitoring long-term calorie restriction showed a slowing down of biological ageing, with participants, who restricted their daily intake of food and drink by...
Fortified staple foods best nutritional value for money – SA study
A 2003 government decision to improve nutrient intake by fortifying maize meal and bread flour with vitamin A, riboflavin, niacin, pyridoxine thiamine, folic acid,...
Prevent ovarian cancer by removing fallopian tubes, urge experts
A top research group is urging more women, even those without genetic risks, to have their fallopian tubes removed under certain circumstances, acknowledging that...
Cancer threat raised by ultra-processed foods – UK-led study
Researchers have produced the most comprehensive assessment to date of the association between ultra-processed foods and the risk of developing cancers.
People consume far too...
Green light for PrEP in HIV negative pregnant women – SA-led study
An international study, led by a University of KwaZulu-Natal professor, has confirmed the safe use of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate/emtricitabine as a pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)...
Genetic link finding in SIDS – Danish study
Genetics may play a role in sudden infant death syndrome, or SIDS, according to a recent study which suggests that if one child in...
Gum infection a risk factor for heart arrhythmia – Japanese study
The gum disease, periodontitis, can cause a number of dental problems, like bad breath, bleeding gums, and tooth loss, but now research suggests it...
Study confirms health lifestyle role in reducing dementia
Over-60s who enjoy a combination of healthy lifestyle choices like eating well, regularly exercising, playing cards and socialising at least twice weekly, are likely...
Steady decline in survival of pancreatitis surgery patients – US study
A recent study has found declining survival rates for pancreatic surgery patients, most of whom have opted for the operation as their only hope...
Study showing gas stove cooking linked to childhood asthma stirs debate
A study linking cooking with natural gas to about 12% of childhood asthma cases has ignited debate about the health risks of kitchen stoves,...
Aspirin as good as Heparin in preventing blood clots – US trial
A multi-centre trial of more than 12 000 orthopaedic trauma patients has shown that cheap aspirin was as effective as injectable blood thinners in...
Smell sense can determine frailty risk – Johns Hopkins study
A recent study has added to a growing body of evidence that loss of smell is a predictive marker for an increased risk of...
Boiled peanuts conquer children’s allergy – Australian study
A recent trial found that boiling peanuts for up to 12 hours could help overcome allergic reactions, with up to 80% of children with...
Hospital patients undernourished and underfed – SA study
More than half of the patients admitted to South Africa’s public hospitals are undernourished – and most of them are the same, if not...
Blood test spots ‘toxic’ protein years before Alzheimer’s signs – US study
Researchers are now able to detect “toxic” small aggregates of a particular protein in the blood of people with Alzheimer’s disease, as well as...
Vitamin D supplement link to reduced melanoma risk – Finnish study
A recent study, involving nearly 500 people with an increased risk of skin cancer, like basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, found that...
US scientists flag lead and cadmium found in dark chocolate
Scientists say some brands of dark chocolate, often punted as a rich source of antioxidants that might improve heart health and other conditions, with...
Moderna-Merck personalised vaccine lowers skin cancer risk in trial
In what it believes could be a game-changer, biotech company Moderna has announced an advance in its efforts to treat cancer, saying its personalised cancer vaccine...
Junk food in pregnancy linked to higher allergy risk for babies – French review
Researchers have warned that billions of nanoparticles found in additives in junk food reach infants in the womb, probably changing their gut microbiome and...
Prone position shows benefits for patients with respiratory distress – global meta-analysis
COVID-19 patients can develop hypoxaemic respiratory failure, potentially necessitating hospitalisation for supplemental oxygen or ICU for mechanical ventilation, and although most will have mild...
Large global study finds air pollution link to 1m annual stillbirths
A global study has revealed that air pollution is responsible for almost 1m stillbirths every year, the research estimating that nearly half might be...
Excessive oxygen in surgery linked to renal, cardiac issues – US cohort study
Excessive amounts of supplemental oxygen, a foundational component of anaesthesia, can have harmful effects in some cases, a recent cohort study in the US...
COVID-19 patients show liver injury months after infection – US study
A recent study has found that COVID-19 infection might lead to liver injury that lasts long after the acute illness, said researchers in a...
No conclusive CVD risk link to ADHD medicines – Swedish meta-analysis
With the increase of medication prescribed for Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in recent years, concern has grown about the possible link with cardiac problems. However,...
Persistent asthma linked to increased heart disease risk – US study
A recent study found that people with persistent asthma had higher levels of inflammation and more artery plaque than those without asthma, suggesting they...
Hike in organ donations up after bike rallies, say experts
Major US motorcycle rallies were linked to increased organ donation and transplants, a retrospective cross-sectional study showed, with medical experts recommending that more safety...
Half of the world’s young people at risk for hearing loss: global meta-analysis
Some 1.35bn young people worldwide risk hearing loss due to “unsafe listening”, according to a study that found at least one in four people...
Long-term injuries, especially in the knees, common for cyclists – SA study
More than half of the injuries suffered by cyclists, especially men over 50, as after-effects of the more gruelling rides and events: the twinges...
Creatine supplements may have wider benefits than thought
Creatine is among the most well-researched and most popular nutritional supplements for exercise and athletic performance, but recent research suggests there’s much more to...
SA team devises cost-effective genetic breast and ovarian cancer screening
In a breakthrough that is hoped will reduce time, money and save lives, a Free State medical scientist in genetics and a PhD candidate...
Promising results from stage 2 MDR-TB STREAM – world’s largest trial
The world’s largest clinical trial for multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) has found that the two new shortened treatment regimens are safe and effective, and not...
Lab-grown blood administered to people in world-first clinical trial
Laboratory-grown blood has been put into people in a world-first clinical trial, with tiny amounts – equivalent to a couple of spoonfuls - being...
Undiagnosed diabetes cases highest in Gauteng – SA analysis
The growing burden of diabetes has long been under the radar in developing countries such as South Africa, which in recent years, has seen...
Insomnia and snoring linked to glaucoma – global study
A large study with more than 400 000 participants found a link between poor sleep and an increased risk of glaucoma, which can lead...
Hidden toll of delirium on hip fracture patients – 2022 report
Hundreds of elderly hip fracture patients suffer from undiagnosed delirium every year in Australian hospitals, leaving them vulnerable to serious complications and death, with...
Short walks could halve premature death risk – Spanish study
A study of more than 3 300 physically inactive people found that those who changed their habits saw a significant reduction in mortality.
Spanish scientists...
Common bacteria linked to higher mortality in kidney patients – US study
A usually harmless and common group of bacteria found in soil, water and shower heads has been associated with an increased risk of dying...