Blue pills, love, and perfect pitch

Last updated: Friday, September 21, 2007 Print

It is not exactly a new fear, but the department of health this week once again expressed concerns that many state patients are developing resistance to first-line antiretroviral drugs.

Switching patients to second-line medications is the obvious solution, but since these drugs are significantly more expensive, the cost to the department may end up being astronomical. Even so, rolling out the medicines remains a matter of the utmost urgency, which should not be jeopardised or delayed by cost concerns.

Meanwhile, a major condom recall continued this week, following last week’s shock allegations that a South African Bureau of Standards official was bribed to approve unsafe condoms. The number of recalled condoms has passed 4.5 million.

It seems absurd that, as alleged, it took only a few relatively small bribes to get the condoms approved. The fact that more checks and balances weren’t in place, points to a systemic failure, which points to a lack of proper leadership.

As it is though, there is a very real possibility that some of the defective condoms may have contributed to new HIV infections – a sickening thought indeed.

The key to perfect pitch
Scientists also reported this week that the key to perfect pitch may lie in the genes. Apparently only about one in 10 000 people has this ability to recognise a note without using a reference tone.

Researchers also reported this week that the age difference in most heterosexual couples is as a result of the evolutionary drive to have more children. On average, the men in the study were four to six years older than their female partners.

And, on a similar note, researchers this week reported that viagra may do more than treat erectile dysfunction – it seems to help release a hormone associated with feelings of love. Despite this and other positive studies, it should however be kept in mind that Viagra can be very dangerous when taken inappropriately. On both counts - use with caution. – (Marcus Low, Health24)

Sources include HealthDay, Sapa, EurekAlert and Reuters Health