he global bid to stop the spread of the HIV virus, particularly to women, suffered another major blow. Results of the clinical trial of an anti-AIDS gel was released Monday in South Africa, where it was carried out, and it turned out to be a failure.

The tests, which lasted three years, were carried out on more than 1,300 women in South Africa, Benin, Uganda and India. Half the women were assigned the active ingredient, Carraguard, a gel-like substance derived from seaweed inserted vaginally. The other half received an inert material of the same look and texture. Laboratory results had shown that Carraguard, which was supposed to protect against HIV, did not work

At least 15,000 human kidneys a year are sold and obtained through organ trafficking and many medical professionals are turning a blind eye (and hand) on the practice.

At a United Nations Forum in Vienna, Austria, University of Berkeley Professor Nancy Scheper-Hughes accused surgeons and top medical professionals of being in league with criminal elements in targeting desperate transplant patients

Prescription painkiller fentanyl has been recalled in the U.S. and Canada after manufacturers said that certain defects may cause leaks that can lead to fatal overdoses.

Its manufacturer Johnson & Johnson and Novartis AG's Sandoz voluntarily recalled patches in the U.S. and Canada that release 25 micrograms of fentanyl in an hour with expiration dates on or before December 2009

"Polio will be history, like smallpox," said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, believing total eradication is within sight.

And Ban credits the efforts of Chicago-based Rotary International and other United Nations partners in this effort

"Polio will be history, like smallpox," said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, believing total eradication is within sight.

And Ban credits the efforts of Chicago-based Rotary International and other United Nations partners in this effort