Medi watch

Call for cervical cancer prevention

Cervical cancer in Asia may be as much as 50 per cent higher than the 250,000 cases reported each year and governments should consider vaccinations because screening is too costly, says a Cambridge University expert. Asia accounts for about half of the world's new cases each year, in large part because of inadequate early detection, Reuters reports. It's caused by the sexually transmitted human papillomavirus, which Margaret Stanley says is associated 'with early marriage, early childbearing, many children and the lack of access to medical services'.

Mainland food fails quality test

China's food-quality monitoring is seriously inadequate and only about 10 per cent of its food producers deliver goods that are eligible for export, says the deputy head of the country's Import and Export Food Safety Bureau. Li Chaowei made the admission at a Beijing seminar on the European Union's rapid-alert food monitoring system, AFP reports, quoting Xinhua.

Synthetic curry cure for tumours

Japanese researchers have created two synthetic versions of an ingredient in curry known for its cancer-fighting potential. Curcumin, the yellowish component in turmeric that gives curry its flavour, appears to suppress tumours, but tends to rapidly lose its anti-cancer properties when ingested. The synthetic versions are up to 30 times more potent and long-lasting in tests on mice with colorectal cancer, Reuters reports. The researchers want to test the synthetic curcumin on gastric cancers, as well as cancers of the breast, pancreas and lung.

Padding that lets you live longer

Being a little overweight isn't so bad, after all - in fact, those who are a bit heavier have a lower risk of dying from most causes than those who are obese, very underweight or even normal weight, say US Centres for Disease Control researchers. They analysed data from the National Health and Nutrition Survey to link deaths from specific causes to body mass index, WebMD reports.

Weed works for youngsters

And having a toke may not be such a bad thing, either. A Swiss study of more than 5,000 young people has found that marijuana smokers often perform as well as or better than those who don't. The same wasn't true for those who used tobacco and marijuana, who tended to be heavier users, Reuters reports. Those who used only marijuana were 'more socially driven ... significantly more likely to practise sports and have a better relationship with their peers' than abstainers, say the University of Lausanne researchers.