MEDICINE

Johnson & Johnson sees its medical device sales growing faster than the industry through 2014 and plans about 80 significant regulatory submissions for its largest unit in the next two years.

Low doses of GlaxoSmithKline's diabetes drug Avandia combined with metformin can prevent diabetes without causing the most common side-effects, Canadian doctors reported on Wednesday.

Caffeine addiction is such a downer that regular coffee drinkers may get no real pick-me-up from their morning cup, according to a study by British scientists.

Children who eat three or more burgers a week may be at a higher risk of asthma and wheezing, but a healthy diet rich in fruit and fish seems to stave off the risk, according to a large international study.

The H1N1 pandemic is not yet over although its most intense activity has passed in many parts of the world, the World Health Organization said on Thursday after a review of the flu outbreak by independent experts.

A collaborative study by scientists from the UK and Kuwait found that the risk of the cancer rose with increasing numbers of dental X-rays.

School programs which include lessons on nutrition and food preparation for school students could be the key to curb Australia's high obesity rate, dietitians have been told.

(Reuters) - Common genetic differences have a limited role in causing breast cancer and work independently of lifestyle factors such as weight, diet and breastfeeding which are still more important, British scientists said on Wednesday.

(Reuters) - Cancer will kill more than 13.2 million people a year by 2030, almost double the number who died from the disease in 2008, the United Nations' cancer research agency said on Tuesday.

THE Australian-made flu vaccine Fluvax, has been identified as being the most likely trigger of 59 convulsions in Western Australia and in about 20 cases elsewhere, including four in NSW and six in Victoria. All the babies, most of them under two years, recovered fully.

An Australian study has shown women who drink at least four cups of tea per day have a reduced risk of ovarian cancer.

Covidien Plc plans to acquire ev3 Inc for $2.6 billion to boost its business in stents and other vascular devices, underscoring the favorable deal climate in the medical technology industry.

(Reuters) - Scientists have identified a chemical compound that can stop the H5N1 bird flu virus as well as seasonal human flu viruses from replicating.

Experts have developed an experimental vaccine which shows promising result in preventing breast cancer in mice.

Australian doctors are considering introducing a controversial form of genital mutilation carried out on baby girls.

A group of British nutritionists fear that the current official advice to women, which recommends they eat no more than two portions of fish a week, could risk an increase of brain disorders in children.

According to researchers, babies born by caesarean section are more vulnerable to asthma, allergies and infection as they miss out on their mothers' good protective bacteria during birth.

The new injection called Prolia, has been shown to significantly cut the risk of fractures in patients with osteoporosis.

(Reuters Health) - A small new study has found that taking soy supplements may help postmenopausal women slim down.

(Reuters) - At midnight Valentine Uwingabire's back began to hurt. Her husband ran to tell Germaine Uwera, a community health worker in their village in the fertile foothills of Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park.

(Reuters Health) - Prescribing heroin to addicts who can't kick their habit helps them stay off street drugs, British researchers said Friday.