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Editor's Pick
SA study flags growth stunt from paediatric TB
A child health investigation tracking risk factors for respiratory disease and other infections in children in the Western Cape has revealed new facts about...
Reduce dementia risk with hearing aids, suggests Chinese study
A recent study by Chinese scientists has provided the best evidence yet to suggest hearing aids could mitigate the potential impact of hearing loss...
Parkinson’s ‘game changer’ research findings open up new possibilities
Research funded by former film star and Parkinson’s sufferer Michael J Fox has resulted in the clearest evidence yet that the presence of a...
Old age weight loss linked to early death – Australian cohort study
A recent study, which assessed healthcare records of more than 16 000 pensioners and followed them for four-and-a-half-years, found that elderly men who lose...
Prostate cancer risk higher for black men – US study
Not only do black men have more chance of contracting and dying of prostate cancer but they also face longer delays between diagnosis and...
Poor sleep linked to increased asthma risk – Chinese study
Sleeping badly has been linked to an inflammatory response in the body which increases the risk of asthma, say scientists from Shandong University in...
Mediterranean diet benefits high risk people – global review
Following a Mediterranean diet, with or without added exercise and physical activity, can lower the risk of a heart attack, stroke or early death...
Hiccups and their curious connection to cancer
Because hiccups can seem innocuous, they remain mysterious and surprisingly understudied, and yet, they’re one of the most common bodily experiences humans (and rats,...
Probiotics not always beneficial – US study
Taking powders and capsules of live microorganisms can disrupt the balance of bacteria in the intestinal tract of healthy people and lead to less...
Scientists identify Caesarean scar disorder
An international study led by Dutch researchers has identified, for the first time, a condition caused by an abnormal uterine scar, the findings revealing...
Men could live to 140 as human lifespan increases, say scientists
Human lifespan has been increasing over recent decades and is expected to swell again after a setback caused by the pandemic, with one scientist...
E. coli from raw meat causes one in 14 UTIs – US study
Undercooked meat may be responsible for hundreds of thousands of urinary tract infections (UTIs) every year, scientists have warned, with recent research showing that...
BMI a weak indicator of fatty tissue content, large analysis finds
After years of trying to discover how obesity could be an independent risk factor for the development of heart failure but somehow linked to...
Beethoven’s DNA hair tests show genetic ailments, alcohol habits
Beethoven, who had a fondness for alcohol, probably had a genetic predisposition to liver disease, and a hepatitis B infection months before his death,...
Not enough night-time sleep linked to clogged arteries – Swedish study
Sleeping less than five hours a night has been linked to a 74% jump in risk of developing peripheral artery disease (PAD), compared with...
Provincial and public/private sector disparities in kidney treatment – SA study
With end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) continuing to increase worldwide, and the prevalence in South Africa estimated to range from 6% to 17% and predicted...
Vasectomies safer than reported – UK review
Vasectomies are much safer than reported and patient information leaflets need updating to reflect this, says a team of UK doctors after their comprehensive...
Prostate cancer patients can delay treatment without increased death risk – long-term study
A decades-long British study has found that more men with prostate cancer could afford to delay their treatment, and that active monitoring by healthcare...
Link between childhood respiratory infections and early death – UK study
Scientists have found that respiratory infections, like bronchitis or pneumonia, in early childhood, will nearly double the risk of dying prematurely from respiratory diseases...
Sitting eight hours a day linked to increased health risks – Latin American study
A study of almost 8 000 people found that becoming overweight or obese, and an increased risk of chronic disease, are the potential consequences...
Melanoma rates climb among white South Africans – SA study
Researchers have called for urgent intervention after their recent study found melanoma rates, now among the top 10 cancers in South Africa annually, alarmingly...
Daily 11-minute walk reduces early death risk – UK meta-analysis
One in 10 early deaths could be prevented if everyone managed at least half the recommended level of daily physical activity, with just 11...
Women’s reproductive history linked to CVD risk – UK-Yale study
An earlier first birth, a higher number of live births, and starting periods at a younger age are all linked to a higher risk...
Study finds vaginal ring safe in late pregnancy and while breastfeeding
The monthly anti-retroviral vaginal ring can be safely used to prevent HIV infection during late pregnancy and while breastfeeding, research has found, and should...
High rate of eating disorders among children – global meta-analysis
In the first global analysis of its kind, involving 63 000 participants in 32 studies from 16 countries, researchers have found that more than...
Dense breasts a high risk of cancer – US study
Dense breast tissue poses up to four times higher risk of developing breast cancer, yet a recent study found that many women are unaware...
Viral illnesses linked to dementia, neurodegenerative diseases – US study
At least 22 viral illnesses were linked with an increased risk of subsequent neurodegenerative disease, US National Institutes of Health researchers found, with viral...
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,...