A saliva test used to diagnose the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), is comparable in accuracy to the traditional blood test, according to a new study led by the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC) and McGill University. The meta-analysis, which compared studies worldwide, showed that the saliva HIV test, OraQuick HIV1/2, had the same
Grief over the death of a loved one can cause a huge spike in a person’s risk of heart attack, especially in the early days after the loss, said a US study. The research tracked nearly 2,000 adults who survived a heart attack and found that among those who had just lost a loved one,
Max Planck researchers have proven something scientifically for the first time that lay people have always known: the mere sight of delicious food stimulates the appetite. A study on healthy young men has documented that the amount of the neurosecretory protein hormone ghrelin in the blood increases as a result of visual stimulation through images of
Medical suppliers cannot afford to buy equipment for Gauteng hospitals because the health department owes them money, the SA Medical Device Industry Association (Samed) said. “Some suppliers have notified the Gauteng Department of Health that they will put orders for medical products and services on hold, which will affect health services in Gauteng public hospitals,” Samed chief
Summer in South Africa is no laughing matter. Everyone knows that sinking feeling when the weather report contains those red patches which indicate temperatures in the 30+ region. So what is there you can do, besides waiting for winter with bated breath? Quite a lot actually. Avoid the sun. It sounds so simple, but clearly not everyone’s
It’s one of the most common reasons we go to the doctor. Here’s everything you need to know to help your aching back. To be human is to have a sore back. By the time we reach age 50, 9 out of 10 of us will have experienced back pain, the leading cause of disability in
Self-perception of weight gain also appears to be significantly influenced by race, ethnicity and contraceptive methods. Race/ethnicity and contraceptive use have been linked to accurate self-perception, with black women and DMPA (a birth control drug) users more likely to correctly perceive weight gain. Despite popular belief about women’s weight concerns, young women commonly fail to recognise recent gain of as
We all make many good resolutions at the start of a New Year, but, being human, most of our earnest resolutions probably will not be kept. Within a week, or two or three of 2012, you may well find that you have broken your resolve. Rest assured that you will not be alone! When it
Speed can save lives – especially in the case of blood poisoning. The more quickly and directly doctors recognise and treat sepsis, the greater the patient’s chances of survival. With the help of a new biochip, physicians will now be able to analyzer blood within their own practise. Is the patient suffering from blood poisoning? To
A 15-minute walk can cut snacking on chocolate at work by half, according to research by the University of Exeter. The study showed that, even in stressful situations, workers eat only half as much chocolate as they normally would after this short burst of physical activity. Published in the Journal Appetite, the research suggests that employees may