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There’s still quite a bit scientists do not know about the microbiome: the vast collection of microorganisms living within your body. What is becoming increasingly clear, however, is that peoples lifestyle and habits, from the foods they consume to the medications they take, may influence these bacterial colonies.

Even drinking seems to have an effect.

A new study, published Tuesday in the journal Microbiome, finds that drinking alcohol may alter some of the approximately 700 types of bacteria in a person's mouth and probably not for the better.

The study finds that alcohol may give rise to strains of oral bacteria that are linked to a heightened risk of some types of cancer, gum disease and heart disease, while simultaneously suppressing varieties that can protect the body from infection.

Past research has found similar results in animals, but the new paper is among the first to demonstrate such a link in humans.

Pfizer Inc said on Monday that U.S. regulators declined to approve the company’s biosimilar of Roche’s blockbuster treatment for breast cancer, Herceptin, and sought additional technical information.

The company said the requested information did not relate to safety or clinical data submitted in the application.

Eating too much sugar during pregnancy could affect your child's intelligence and memory, a new study published in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine has found.

The study, found that when pregnant women or their offspring consumed large quantities of sugar, more than 50 grams per day, children performed more poorly on cognition tests, particularly those related to memory or learning, according to the Daily Mail.

Substituting diet sodas for those containing real sugar was also associated with poor cognition. Conversely, fruit consumption in young children was linked to higher scores on the same kinds of tests.

Trauma Awareness and Resilience Initiative (TAR), an NGO, has called on the Federal Government to establish special trauma care centres across the country to mitigate traumatic experiences among children. Mr Francis Onyekwue, the Coordinator of TAR, who made the appeal said it was important due to the recent insecurity situation in the country.

The Nigerian government has committed to secure US$300 million from the World Bank, Islamic Development Bank and African Development Bank to eliminate malaria in the country. This is contained in a statement issued by the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA) on the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2018, which just ended in London.

Following perennial industrial action by health workers under the aegis of Joint Health Sector Unions, the Federal Government has set up a committee to review the technical and financial aspects of the demands by the striking workers. Punch reports that the move was part of the decisions reached at a meeting of top government officials held on Sunday night on the crisis in the health sector caused by the ongoing industrial action.