A breath of fresh air
A NEW 5mg non-hormone-based chewable anti-asthma tablet has been launched by American-based manufacturer Merck-Sharp-Dohme in Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou.
Anti-cancer agent found in hazelnuts
SAN FRANCISCO - A potent cancer fighting chemical previously found only in the bark of the yew tree has unexpectedly turned up in hazelnuts, a discovery which could mean cheaper anti-cancer drugs, scientists said on Wednesday.
Chemotherapy may dull mental ability
TAMPA, Florida - Standard doses of chemotherapy can lead to permanent mental impairment for some patients, new research released on Tuesday showed.
New sciences offer epileptics hope
BETHESDA, Maryland -Newly emerging sciences that involve mapping all the human genes and using powerful "master cells" known as stem cells may finally offer hope of a cure for epilepsy, researchers said on Thursday.
Vaccine slashes UK meningitis cases by 75%
LONDON - A new vaccine against meningitis introduced five months ago has slashed cases of the infectious disease in Britain by 75 per cent among babies and teenagers, the government said on Tuesday. "This is welcome news for parents and children. We are the first country in the world to have this new vaccine. It puts the UK in the forefront of tackling this devastating disease," Public Health Minister Yvette Cooper said in a statement. The vaccine is for meningitis C which accounts for 40 per cent of cases of the disease and claimed the lives of 150 people in Britain in 1998. So far, the campaign has been limited to the highest risk groups because of short supplies of the vaccine, manufactured by Wyeth Vaccines, part of American Home Products Corp. Britain hopes to extend the programme to all children under five by the summer. "I hope that all parents take up the chance to have their children protected when their invitations arrive. A second vaccine has been licensed and is now being distributed. We aim to offer the vaccine to all young people under 18 by the autumn - a target of 15 million children," Cooper said. The Department of Health figures show that from December to March, cases of the bug in 15- to 17-year-olds fell by 77 per cent. Instead of the 70 cases expected by government health officials there have been only 16 confirmed cases. (Agencies via Xinhua)
Copyright 2000 by Shanghai Star. All rights reserved.