Health (General) – Newsletter for February 17, 2011

Call to ban ‘cancer-causing’ caramel colouring used in Coke, Pepsi

LONDON – An influential health lobby group has urged the US government to ban an artificial brown colouring agent used in Coca-Cola and Pepsi, warning that the ingredients could cause cancer.

“The caramel colouring used in Coca-Cola, Pepsi, and other foods is contaminated with two cancer-causing chemicals and should be banned,” the Daily Mail quoted … Original article on : Call to ban ‘cancer-causing’ caramel colouring used in Coke, Pepsi.

Cuba develops anti-arthritis drug

Havana, Feb 17 (IANS/EFE) Cuban scientists have developed a “promising” drug for chronic joint diseases to replace a product to which the island does not have access due to an economic embargo by the US, government media reported.

Chromic phosphate 32P is a radioactive medication developed by the Isotope Centre under the ministry of science, … Read more : Cuba develops anti-arthritis drug.

Russia to introduce drug tests for students

Moscow, Feb 16 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Russia may introduce mandatory drug tests for students, including schoolchildren, this year, an official said Wednesday.

The issue of students’ drug testing was raised in September 2009 by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who at that time said he backed mandatory drug testing for schoolchildren.
“The earlier we introduce the … Read more »».

Spanish gay couple’s child dream comes true in India

NEW DELHI – A Spanish gay couple who wanted to have a child saw their dream come true in India where, through artificial fertilisation, a surrogate mother delivered their twin babies.

In a press conference in the capital Wednesday, Anoop Gupta, medical director of Delhi IVF fertility research and test tube baby centre, said: “The … Read more >>>.

Take zinc to shake off cold

LONDON – Take zinc to shake off a nasty cold, a review study says.
The latest Cochrane Review found that people who took a zinc syrup solution or lozenge every two hours while they had cold were twice as likely to have shed it within a week as those who took a placebo.

… Read more »».