Childhood cancer survivors who underwent radiotherapy treatment that exposed their pancreas to radiation may be at higher risk of developing diabetes in later life, according to an article published in The Lancet Oncology.
The specific ingredient in smokeless tobacco products that increases the risk for oral cancer has been identified in research using rodents.
Exposure to secondhand smoke decreases sensitivity to cough-eliciting respiratory irritants in otherwise healthy children and adolescents, new research reveals.
The babies of breast cancer patients who undergo chemotherapy while pregnant do not appear to be at higher risk of complications, according to an article published in The Lancet Oncology.
Although new research illustrates alarming trends in tobacco use in many parts of the world local experts believe that South Africa's tobacco legislation has been effective.
The ruling this week by Australia's high court to uphold its government's right to introduce 'plain packaging' for tobacco products is a landmark event for global health. With the world's eyes watching this decision, the court struck down a challenge from the biggest cigarette manufacturers around the globe.By John R. Seffrin.
In South Africa about 4 300 women die due to complications related to pregnancy and child birth. About 20 000 infants are still-born and a further 23 000 die in the first month of life. In addition 75 000 children never live to reach the age of five. What are the causes for this?
In a landmark ruling, which could potentially strengthen the move to similar legislation in South Africa, the Australian high court dismissed the tobacco industry's challenge to the 'plain packaging law'.
A heart condition, which can be treated with a simple antibiotic, remains the leading cause of cardiac disease in children on the African continent.
The Treatment Action Campaign and Médecins Sans Frontières are calling on government to included fixed dose combination drugs in the new antiretroviral tender. This demand is not new, but for a long time the Medicines Control Council failed to register these drugs making them unavailable for inclusion in the tender. Several FDCs have now been registered. Read the TAC/MSF statement here.
New research, published in the scientific journal Addiction, shows that plain cigarette packaging (standard packages without attractive designs and imagery) may help to draw the attention of some adolescent smokers to the health warnings on the package. If so, this may in turn deter young smokers from continuing to smoke.
People who take aspirin daily may not only be helping their hearts, but also reducing their odds of dying from cancer, according to American Cancer Society researchers.
Repeated promises by the Gauteng Health Department to pay lay counsellors and home-based care givers who have gone without their monthly stipends of R1 500 for four months have still not materialised. The 6000-plus volunteers have voiced their frustration over the non-payment.
The price of a rapid diagnostic test, which slashes the time to reach a diagnosis for the most common drug-resistant strain of tuberculosis, has almost been halved - including in South Africa.
Babies born to mothers in sub-Saharan who are overweight or obese are significantly more likely to die in the first two days after their birth, according to new research.
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