American cardiologist and researcher Dr. Yerem Yeghiazarians is currently on a visit to the Kingdom to gauge interest in the establishment of a stem-cell research facility here. Leading Saudi businessmen Hamad and Khalid Al-Zamil are interested in advancing the research initiative and invited Yeghiazarians to meet business leaders, arranged lectures and toured him around various hospitals to garner support for his pioneering project.
Dr. Yeghiazarians believes stem cell treatment may be the only hope for thousands of people worldwide who suffer from heart problems. Dr. Yeghiazarians speaks to Arab News journalist Siraj Wahab on the latest developments in the field.
Dr. Yeghiazarians, welcome to Saudi Arabia. Is this your first visit? Please tell us more about yourself and your medical background.
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Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah has allocated 4.5 million sq. meters of land for expansion of health facilities in Taif and Jeddah, Health Minister Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah announced here yesterday.
According to royal directives, the land, adjacent to the King Faisal Hospital in Taif, has been allocated to build a medical tower which would house a maternity and children's hospital. Under the program, 4 million sq. meters shall be demarcated near Taif University for the construction of a general hospital, mental hospital and a rehabilitation hospital.
Under the royal directives, 116,000 sq meters adjacent to the hospital in the north of Jeddah will be acquired for the construction of a maternity hospital and a 400-bed children's hospital. Read More
Nestle USA has Recalled Some of its Nesquik Chocolate Powder, which may be Contaminated with Salmonella Bacteria.
No illnesses have been reported so far. Nesquik contains calcium carbonate made by Omya Inc. Omya has recalled the calcium carbonate "due to possible presence of Salmonella," according to an FDA news release.
Nestle has limited the Nesquik recall to these specific products:
Read MoreA handicapped man in a Madinah rehabilitation center died Tuesday, bringing the total number of inmates who died at the center in a year to eight. This was confirmed by Ibrahim Al-Haliyu, director of the center.
Al-Haliyu refused to give details saying he was not authorized to talk to the media. "You can receive complete information on the incident from the Ministry of Social Affairs," Okaz Arabic daily quoted Al-Haliyu as saying.
Read MoreAl-Faisal University Team Tops Global Medical Research Contest
RIYADH: A group of medical students from Al-Faisal University in Riyadh, received first place in a global contest for medical research and studies, entitled the Cureus Medical Competition, for the year 2012.
The study presented by the Al-Faisal students, titled "Improving breastfeeding in Saudi Arabia", was chosen as the best medical research case, from among 500 competing case studies, presented by the most reputable medical colleges in the world. Read MoreArthritis Patients Who Exercised Regularly Had the Best Results
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Balloon that Fools your Body's Calorie Counter could Help Combat Obesity
A chain of balloons inserted into the gut could help people lose weight.
The device sits in the duodenum (or small intestine) and tricks the brain into thinking the body has consumed more calories than it actually has.
It can be inserted in just five minutes without the need for surgery.
Although balloons are already used in weight-loss surgery to boost feelings of fullness, the new device, called the SatiSphere, is more effective at suppressing appetite, say the manufacturers.
This is because the duodenum is responsible for measuring how much food the body has eaten and how much more it needs.
Early results show that people fitted with the device lost 12 per cent of their body weight in only three months.
Read MoreJEDDAH: Diabetes, also known as the "life style disease," is rapidly turning into a modern-day epidemic. Due to a luxurious, sedentary life style and unhealthy food habits, thousands are joining are its ranks every day.
Globally there are currently 336 million people who have diabetes. This figure is set to rise to over 550 million by 2030. The epidemic is causing the death of 4.6 million a year, or one victim in every 7 seconds. Diabetes is among top 10 causes for disability, resulting in life threatening complications such as heart disease, stroke, lower limb amputations and blindness. Ironically, 50 percent of people with diabetes are undiagnosed.
World Diabetes Day is tomorrow and the Ministry of Health is waging an awareness campaign.
Read MoreLow Vitamin D Levels Associated With Worse Asthma and Lung Function, Study Finds
Read MoreSABYA An unidentified woman gave birth in the parking lot of Sabya General Hospital. A medical team rushed to provide assistance.
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