2011 Most Popular lists for Bizcommunity Medical

Here they are, Bizcommunity.com Medical's 2011 lists of most popular articles and those that drew the most comment. So, do you agree with the numbers - or do you have your favourites (and not-so-favourites)? Read more >>

Eating fish boosts heart health in young women

WASHINGTON, USA: Women of childbearing age can reduce their risk of heart problems by regularly eating fish rich in omega 3 fatty acids, said a Danish study out on Monday, 5 December. Read more >>

New HASA CEO, Dr Dumisani Bomela

The Hospital Association of South Africa (HASA) announced the appointment of Dr Dumisani Bomela as the organisation's new CEO on Monday, 5 December. Read more >>

Nighttime images help track disease from the sky

Normally used to spot where people live, satellite images of nighttime lights can help keep tabs on the diseases festering among them, too, according to new research. Read more >>

Novel nanoparticle mimicking virus offers new route to gene therapy

[Eric Gershon] Researchers at Yale University have developed a novel nanoparticle with promising applications in gene therapy, a type of medical treatment that addresses the root causes of diseases now typically treated for symptoms. Read more >>

Orphan experiences lead to changes in children's genome functioning

[Karen N. Peart] Children who experience the stress of separation at birth from biological parents and are brought up in orphanages undergo biological consequences such as changes in their genome functioning, Yale School of Medicine researchers report in a new study. Read more >>

Past abuse leads to loss of grey matter in brains of adolescents

[Bill Hathaway] Adolescents who were abused and neglected have less grey matter in some areas of the brain than young people who have not been maltreated, a new Yale School of Medicine study shows. Read more >>

Holiday stress affects 80% of South Africans

Eight in 10 South Africans admit to being 'stressed out' by the holidays, according to a just-released national year-end survey by a leading pharmaceutical company. Read more >>

Alzheimer's vaccine cures memory of mice

A vaccine that slows the progression of Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia has been developed by researchers at the University of Sydney's Brain and Mind Research Institute (BMRI). Read more >>

New research shows that second biopsy should be considered for some breast cancer patients

Breast cancer therapy has become highly personalized over the last decade, with treatment decisions now routinely based on the presence or absence of certain biomarkers in biopsied tumour samples. A new study led by Dr Mark Clemons and Dr Eitan Amir takes this a step further, by showing that breast cancer metastases often express different biomarkers than primary breast tumours, and knowledge of this difference can open up new and more effective treatment options for some women. Read more >>

Scientists discover how to beat resistance to standard leukaemia drug

Cancer Research UK-funded scientists at The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) have revealed a technique to kill chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) cells that have stopped responding to a targeted drug, according to research published in Cancer Cell on Thursday, 8 December. Read more >>

Tiny genetic variation can predict ovarian cancer outcome

[Bill Hathaway] Yale Cancer Center researchers have shown that a tiny genetic variation predicts chances of survival and response to treatment for patients with ovarian cancer. Read more >>

US baby boomers feed need for joint replacements

WASHINGTON, USA: US baby boomers are fueling a wave of joint replacement surgeries, hoping to use new artificial knees and hips to stay active as they get older. Read more >>

Steroids help very young babies survive

WASHINGTON, USA: Babies born as early as 23 weeks showed better survival rates and less brain damage if their mothers were given steroids in the days preceding their birth, a US study said on Tuesday. Read more >>

Calls for 'fat tax' to fund healthcare

[Harriet McLea] People who eat fatty food and drink sugary soft drinks could be taxed for their unhealthy habits. Read more >>

SABS outlines the requirement standards for condoms

The South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) has participated in the development of standards relating to the requirements and test methods for male and female condoms. This has been done in an effort to ensure that local manufacturers produce safer and better quality condoms, which will ultimately contribute to reducing the spread of the HIV/AIDS virus. Read more >>

Road deaths video footage makes it real

The Western Cape provincial government intends to broadcast CCTV footage of people dying or maimed in car crashes to raise road safety awareness during the festive season. The campaign, "Crash Witness", was launched by MEC for transport Robin Carlisle earlier this week. Read more >>

Pack up your troubles in a first-aid kit

[Graham Anderson] Make sure you have a well-stocked first-aid kit to deal with any minor injuries that could befall your family this holiday season. Read more >>