Category: Features
WHO warns of challenges posed by shortage of HIV testing
Experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) warn of the problems being presented by the shortage of HIV testing against global efforts to diagnose and treat people with the infection. They looked at the responses to the annual surveys sent […]
‘Lab-on-a-stick’ offers fast detection of antibiotic resistance
Academics at Loughborough University and the University of Reading in the UK have developed a portable, power-free test for the rapid detection of bacterial resistance to antibiotics. The new test called Lab-on-a-Stick is an inexpensive microfluidic strip, that consists of […]
Pfizer to buy biopharma firm Medivationin US$14 bn deal
Pfizer is acquiring the cancer drug maker Medivation in a US$14 billion definitive merger agreement. The deal values Medivation at US$81.50 per share, a notable premium to the $52.50-per-share offer Sanofi had made earlier this year. In April, Sanofi went […]
UN has moral responsibility to help Haitian cholera victims, says chief
United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon believes that the global organization has a moral responsibility to help Haiti’s cholera victims and their families. He is currently working to develop material assistance for those affected by the disease, according to his […]
Simple eye test could detect Parkinson’s before symptoms show
Scientists at the University College London (UCL) Institute of Ophthalmology in the UK have shown that changes in rats’ retinas can predict Parkinson’s disease before visible symptoms like muscle tremors and stiffness start to occur. If this same technique proves […]
Cancer now main cause of death in 12 EU countries
Diseases of the heart and blood, also known as cardiovascular diseases (CVD), are still the main cause of death in people worldwide, with 17.3 million victims globally. But in 12 European countries, cancer has overtaken CVD for that top spot. […]
Being sole breadwinner is bad for men’s mental health, says study
A new study suggests that being the sole breadwinner has negative effects to a man’s mental and physical health while sharing the financial burden brings long-term benefits to their well-being. On the other hand, being the only provider benefits women’s […]
Health concerns rise over use of toxic chemicals by Cambodian farmers
Cambodia has seen a spike in the demand for food in recent years due to growing population and rising incomes. To respond to the rising demand, farmers in the country have increased the use of pesticides, some of which are […]
Virus infections are ‘more successful’in the morning, new study suggests
A University of Cambridge study suggests that viruses are more dangerous when they infect their victims in the morning. The study findings showed that the viruses were 10 times more successful if the infection started in the morning. The animal […]
HK watchdog found carcinogenic substances in soy sauce samples
The Hong Kong Consumer Council has found a possible human carcinogen in 11 of 40 soy sauce samples they have tested. The substance, called 4-methylimidazole, is thought to cause cancer if consumed in large amounts. Soy sauces and seasonings are […]
